bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Buoyancy Effects on Thermal Boundary Layer Over a Vertical Plate With a Convective Surface Boundary Condition
Authors: Makinde O. D. , Olanrewaju P. O.
Published: April 2010

This study aims to analyze the effects of thermal buoyancy on the laminar boundary layer about a vertical plate in a uniform stream of fluid under a convective surface boundary condition. Using a similarity variable, the governing nonlinear partial differential equations have been transformed into a set of coupled nonlinear ordinary differential equations, which are solved numerically by applying shooting iteration technique together with fourth-order Runge–Kutta integration scheme. The variations in dimensionless surface temperature and fluid-solid interface characteristics for different values of Prandtl number (Pr), local Grashof number Grx, and local convective heat transfer parameter Bix are graphed and tabulated. A comparison with previously published results on special case of the problem shows excellent agreement.
Direct transfer of gold nanoislands from a MoS2 stamp to a Si–H surface
Authors: Deng Jie , Troadec Cedric , Hui Hui Kim , Joachim Christian
Published: April 2010

A printing technique is proposed for the transfer of metallic nanoislands between two semiconductor surfaces in UHV. For the preparation of the stamp, a systematic study of the growth conditions of small, flat triangular shape Au nanoislands at the top surface of microfabricated MoS2 pillars is presented. Those pillars are organized in a stamping matrix to increase the transfer rate. Up to 10% of Au nanoislands can be transferred to a H-Si(100) surface. The atomic scale quality of the interface between the Au nanoislands and the semiconductor surface is characterized by transmission electron microscopy cross-sectional imaging. This MoS2 stamping technique is extended to other surfaces such as mica, SiO2, and graphite. It permits to handle well shaped Au nanoislands on surfaces where a direct growth of flat nanoislands is not possible. This printing of well defined triangular Au nanoislands offers the unique possibility to construct ultraclean interconnecting nanopad systems by scanning tunneling microscope on atomically clean and electronically suitable substrates, manipulating those nanopads one at a time. The apex of the triangular shaped island is suitable for nanocontact to a surface atomic scale conducting wire.
Cathodoluminescent properties of nanocrystalline Lu3Ga5O12:Tb3+ phosphor for field emission display application
Authors: Xu X. G. , Chen Jun , Deng S. Z. , Xu N. S. , Lin J.
Published: April 2010

The cathodoluminescent properties of nanocrystalline Lu3Ga5O12:Tb3+ phosphor films were investigated. Phosphor films were prepared on indium tin oxide coated glass by a screen printing method. The Lu3Ga5O12:Tb3+ phosphor is mixed with In2O3 nanoparticles to improve the luminescence and degradation properties of phosphor films under electron excitation. Cathodoluminescent spectra and luminance degradation behavior of the Lu3Ga5O12:Tb3+ phosphor films under electron bombardment were studied. Enhancement of the luminescence was observed after being mixed with In2O3 nanoparticles. Also, the In2O3 mixed Lu3Ga5O12:Tb3+ phosphor shows improvement of the resistance to the electron bombardment. The results show that the Lu3Ga5O12:Tb3+ phosphor is stable under electron bombardment and has potential for application in field emission display devices.
Systems Pharmacology of Arrhythmias
Authors: Berger Seth I. , Ma’ayan Avi , Iyengar Ravi
Published: April 2010

Integration of drug and protein interaction data with genetic data enables prediction of adverse drug effects.
Deadly Diced DNA
Authors: Ray L. Bryan
Published: April 2010

An enzyme that chops up RNA can be switched to DNA fragmentation and can trigger programmed cell death in worms.
Orphan No More
Authors: Stern Peter R.
Published: April 2010

A signaling complex serves as a synapse organizer that acts bidirectionally on both pre- and postsynaptic components.
Domain Swaps to Phenotype Shifts
Authors: Ray L. Bryan
Published: April 2010

Systematic swapping of modular protein domains verifies a mechanism for generation of phenotypic diversity in yeast.
Yin-Yang T Cell Signaling
Authors: Mueller Kristen
Published: April 2010

Suppressive T cells repurpose inflammatory signaling pathways to promote their suppressive functions.
Receptor and Channel Pair
Authors: Ray L. Bryan
Published: April 2010

A wavy hair phenotype reveals channel-receptor crosstalk in the mouse.
Competitive Outgrowth of Neural Processes Arising from Long-Distance cAMP Signaling
Authors: Hutchins B. Ian
Published: April 2010

Differences in neurite cyclic nucleotide concentrations regulate their differential outgrowth.
T Cells with Commitment Issues
Authors: Schneider Raphael
Published: April 2010

Some subsets of differentiated T cells retain phenotypic plasticity.
Comparison of
In Vitro
Activities of Fluoroquinolone-Like 2,4- and 1,3-Diones
Authors: Oppegard Lisa M. , Streck Kathryn R. , Rosen Jonathan D. , Schwanz Heidi A. , Drlica Karl , Kerns Robert J. , Hiasa Hiroshi
Published: April 2010

Bacterial resistance presents a difficult issue for fluoroquinolone treatment of bacterial infections. In previous work, we reported that 8-methoxy-quinazoline-2,4-diones are active against quinolone-resistant mutants of
Escherichia coli
. Here, we demonstrate the activity of a representative 8-methoxy-quinazoline-2,4-dione against quinolone-resistant gyrases. Furthermore, 8-methoxy-quinazoline-2,4-dione and other diones are shown to inhibit
Staphylococcus aureus
gyrase and topoisomerase IV with similar degrees of efficacy, suggesting that the diones might act as dual-targeting agents against
S. aureus
.
Nitazoxanide Inhibits Biofilm Formation by
Staphylococcus epidermidis
by Blocking Accumulation on Surfaces
Authors: Tchouaffi-Nana Florence , Ballard T. Eric , Cary Christine H. , Macdonald Timothy L. , Sifri Costi D. , Hoffman Paul S.
Published: April 2010

Coagulase-negative species of
Staphylococcus
are often associated with opportunistic hospital-acquired infections that arise from the colonization of indwelling catheters. Here we show that the antiparasitic drug nitazoxanide (NTZ) and its active metabolite, tizoxanide (TIZ), are inhibitory to the growth of
Staphylococcus epidermidis
and other staphylococci, including methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
strains, under aerobic and microaerobic conditions (MICs, 8 to 16 μg/ml). At sub-MIC levels, NTZ and TIZ also inhibited biofilm production under static conditions by strains of
S. epidermidis
and
Staphylococcus haemolyticus
with a 50% inhibitory concentration of ∼2.5 μg/ml (8 μM). The 5-nitro group was required for biological activity, and a hydrophilic derivative of NTZ (AMIX) also inhibited biofilm formation. NTZ did not disperse the existing biofilm but did block further accumulation. Sub-MICs of NTZ had no effect on primary attachment to surfaces at either 4 or 37°C. The inhibitory action of NTZ and TIZ, but not vancomycin, on biofilm production could be reversed by the addition of zinc salts (2.5 to 40 μM) but not other metals, suggesting that NTZ might target the zinc-dependent accumulation-associated protein (Aap) that mediates accumulation on surfaces. However, neither NTZ nor TIZ formed chelation complexes with zinc salts, based on spectrophotometric and nuclear magnetic resonance analyses, and addition of excess zinc to NTZ-grown bacteria (apo-Aap) did not restore the accumulation phenotype. Our studies suggest that sub-MIC levels of NTZ may affect the assembly or function of cell structures associated with the biofilm phenotype.
In
V
itro
Activity of the Aminoglycoside Antibiotic Arbekacin against
Acinetobacter baumannii-calcoaceticus
Isolated from War-Wounded Patients at Walter Reed Army Medical Center
Authors: Zapor Michael J. , Barber Melissa , Summers Amy , Miller George H. , Feeney Lee Ann , Eberly Lynn E. , Wortmann Glenn
Published: April 2010

We determined the
in vitro
MIC of arbekacin against 200
Acinetobacter
isolates recovered from wounded soldiers. The median MIC was 2 μg/ml (range, 0.5 to >64 μg/ml). A total of 97.5% of the isolates had arbekacin MICs of <8 μg/ml and 86.5% had MICs of ≤4 μg/ml. There was no association between the arbekacin MIC and susceptibility to 16 other antibiotics or the specimen source (
P
= 0.7239). Synergy testing suggested an enhanced effect of arbekacin-carbapenem combinations.
Prophylactic Activity of Intramuscular Peramivir in Mice Infected with a Recombinant Influenza A/WSN/33 (H1N1) Virus Containing the H274Y Neuraminidase Mutation
Authors: Abed Yacine , Simon Philippe , Boivin Guy
Published: April 2010

Peramivir is a neuraminidase (NA) inhibitor (NAI) under development that must be administered by the systemic route. The prophylactic activity of intramuscular (IM) peramivir was evaluated with mice infected with wild-type (WT) and oseltamivir-resistant (H274Y NA mutant) recombinant influenza A/WSN/33 (H1N1) viruses. Treatment regimens consisted of IM injections starting 1 h before viral challenge that were single (45 mg/kg or 90 mg/kg) or multiple (45 mg/kg daily for 5 days). All peramivir regimens prevented mortality and weight loss while significantly reducing lung viral titers (LVT) in mice infected with the WT virus. For animals infected with the H274Y mutant, the multiple-dose regimen completely prevented mortality and was associated with significant reduction in weight loss and LVT compared to untreated animals. In contrast, both single-treatment regimens reduced mortality and weight loss but did not significantly reduce LVT. Although further experiments using different influenza A/H1N1 virus strains and other animal models are needed, our results suggest that 5-day IM peramivir therapy may be considered a prophylactic alternative to control influenza infections caused by oseltamivir-resistant viruses with the H274Y mutation.
Effects of Ravuconazole Treatment on Parasite Load and Immune Response in Dogs Experimentally Infected with
Trypanosoma cruzi
Authors: Diniz Lívia de Figueiredo , Caldas Ivo Santana , Guedes Paulo Marcos da Matta , Crepalde Geovam , de Lana Marta , Carneiro Cláudia Martins , Talvani André , Urbina Julio Alberto , Bahia Maria Terezinha
Published: April 2010

In this work, we investigated the
in vivo
activity of ravuconazole against the Y and Berenice-78
Trypanosoma cruzi
strains using acutely infected dogs as hosts. Ravuconazole was well tolerated, as no significant side effects were observed during the treatment using 6.0 mg/kg twice a day (12 mg/kg/day) for up to 90 days. In all treated animals, parasitemia was permanently suppressed by the first day of treatment, independently of the parasite strain. Cultures of blood obtained posttreatment were negative for 90% of the animals, confirming that the drug induced a marked reduction in the parasite load. The results of PCR tests for
T. cruzi
in blood performed 1 month posttreatment were consistently negative for three of five and two of five animals infected with the Y and Berenice-78 strains, respectively. All ravuconazole-treated dogs consistently had negative serological test results during and until 30 days after treatment, regardless of the therapeutic scheme used. However, after the end of treatment, an increase in specific antibody levels was observed in all treated animals, although the antibody levels were always significantly lower than those of the nontreated control dogs. Despite being unable to induce a parasitological cure, ravuconazole treatment led to significant reductions in the levels of gamma interferon expression and lesions in cardiac tissues in animals infected with the Y strain, while the level of interleukin-10 mRNA expression increased. We conclude that ravuconazole has potent suppressive but not curative activity in the canine model of acute Chagas' disease, probably due to its unfavorable pharmacokinetic properties (half-life, 8.8 h). The longer half-life of ravuconazole in humans (4 to 8 days) makes it a promising drug for assessment for use as chemotherapy in human Chagas' disease.
Effects of Probiotics on Acquisition and Spread of Multiresistant Enterococci
Authors: de Regt Marieke J. A. , Willems Rob J. L. , Hené Ronald J. , Siersema Peter D. , Verhaar Harald J. J. , Hopmans Titia E. M. , Bonten Marc J. M.
Published: April 2010

Ampicillin-resistant
Enterococcus faecium
(ARE) and vancomycin-resistant
E. faecium
(VRE) are important nosocomial pathogens. We quantified effects of probiotics and antibiotics on intestinal acquisition of ARE colonization in patients hospitalized in two non-intensive care unit (non-ICU) wards with high ARE prevalence. In a prospective cohort study with crossover design, all patients with a length of stay of >48 h were offered a multispecies probiotic product twice daily until discharge (4.5 months, intervention period) or not (4.5 months, control period). Perianal ARE carriage was determined <48 h after admission, twice weekly, and <48 h before discharge. The first isolates were genotyped by multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA). Risk factors for acquisition were determined by Cox proportional hazards modeling, with special emphasis on ecological postantibiotic effects and delays between actual acquisition and culture positivity. Of 530 patients included, 94 (18%) were ARE colonized on admission. Of the remaining 436 noncolonized patients, 92 acquired ARE colonization: 28 (25%) of 110 probiotic users and 64 (20%) of 326 control patients (χ
2
test,
P
= 0.325). In all, 661 ARE strains were isolated from 186 patients, of which 186 were genotyped. In both wards, two MLVA types (MTs; MT1 and MT159) were responsible for >80% of acquisitions. Both MTs were genetically different from the probiotic
E. faecium
strain. Antibiotics to which ARE is resistant (hazard ratio [HR], 7.73 [95% confidence interval (CI), 4.52 to 13.22]), an ecological postantibiotic effect (HR, 7.11 [95% CI, 3.10 to 16.30]), and age (HR, 1.01 [95% CI, 0.99 to 1.02]) were associated with ARE acquisition. The HR of probiotics was 1.43 (95% CI, 0.88 to 2.34). In a setting with high selective antibiotic pressure, probiotics failed to prevent acquisition of multiresistant enterococci.
HIV-1 Protease Codon 36 Polymorphisms and Differential Development of Resistance to Nelfinavir, Lopinavir, and Atazanavir in Different HIV-1 Subtypes
Authors: Lisovsky Irene , Schader Susan M. , Martinez-Cajas Jorge-Luis , Oliveira Maureen , Moisi Daniela , Wainberg Mark A.
Published: April 2010

The amino acid at position 36 of the HIV-1 protease differs among various viral subtypes, in that methionine is usually found in subtype B viruses but isoleucine is common in other subtypes. This polymorphism is associated with higher rates of treatment failure involving protease inhibitors (PIs) in non-subtype B-infected patients. To investigate this, we generated genetically homogeneous wild-type viruses from subtype B, subtype C, and CRF02_AG full-length molecular clones and showed that subtype C and CRF02_AG I36 viruses exhibited higher levels of resistance to various PIs than their respective M36 counterparts, while the opposite was observed for subtype B viruses. Selections for resistance with each variant were performed with nelfinavir (NFV), lopinavir (LPV), and atazanavir (ATV). Sequence analysis of the protease gene at week 35 revealed that the major NFV resistance mutation D30N emerged in NFV-selected subtype B viruses and in I36 subtype C viruses, despite polymorphic variation. A unique mutational pattern developed in subtype C M36 viruses selected with NFV or ATV. The presence of I47A in LPV-selected I36 CRF02_AG virus conferred higher-level resistance than L76V in LPV-selected M36 CRF02_AG virus. Phenotypic analysis revealed a >1,000-fold increase in NFV resistance in I36 subtype C NFV-selected virus with no apparent impact on viral replication capacity. Thus, the position 36 polymorphism in the HIV-1 protease appears to have a differential effect on both drug susceptibility and the viral replication capacity, depending on both the viral subtype and the drug being evaluated.
Prevalence of Fosfomycin Resistance among CTX-M-Producing
Escherichia coli
Clinical Isolates in Japan and Identification of Novel Plasmid-Mediated Fosfomycin-Modifying Enzymes
Authors: Wachino Jun-ichi , Yamane Kunikazu , Suzuki Satowa , Kimura Kouji , Arakawa Yoshichika
Published: April 2010

We evaluated the
in vitro
activity of fosfomycin against a total of 192 CTX-M β-lactamase-producing
Escherichia coli
strains isolated in 70 Japanese clinical settings. Most of the isolates (96.4%) were found to be susceptible to fosfomycin. On the other hand, some of the resistant isolates were confirmed to harbor the novel transferable fosfomycin resistance determinants named FosA3 and FosC2, which efficaciously inactivate fosfomycin through glutathione
S
-transferase activity.
Functional Characterization of LcpA, a Surface-Exposed Protein ofLeptospiraspp. That Binds the Human Complement Regulator C4BP
Authors: Barbosa Angela S. , Monaris Denize , Silva Ludmila B. , Morais Zenaide M. , Vasconcellos Sílvio A. , Cianciarullo Aurora M. , Isaac Lourdes , Abreu Patricia A. E.
Published: April 2010

We have previously shown that pathogenic leptospiral strains are able to bind C4b binding protein (C4BP). Surface-bound C4BP retains its cofactor activity, indicating that acquisition of this complement regulator may contribute to leptospiral serum resistance. In the present study, the abilities of seven recombinant putative leptospiral outer membrane proteins to interact with C4BP were evaluated. The protein encoded by LIC11947 interacted with this human complement regulator in a dose-dependent manner. The cofactor activity of C4BP bound to immobilized recombinant LIC11947 (rLIC11947) was confirmed by detecting factor I-mediated cleavage of C4b. rLIC11947 was therefore named LcpA (forleptospiralcomplement regulator-acquiringproteinA). LcpA was shown to be an outer membrane protein by using immunoelectron microscopy, cell surface proteolysis, and Triton X-114 fractionation. The gene coding for LcpA is conserved among pathogenic leptospiral strains. This is the first characterization of aLeptospirasurface protein that binds to the human complement regulator C4BP in a manner that allows this important regulator to control complement system activation mediated either by the classical pathway or by the lectin pathway. This newly identified protein may play a role in immune evasion byLeptospiraspp. and may therefore represent a target for the development of a human vaccine against leptospirosis.
The Lyme Disease SpirocheteBorrelia burgdorferiUtilizes Multiple Ligands, Including RNA, for Interferon Regulatory Factor 3-Dependent Induction of Type I Interferon-Responsive Genes
Authors: Miller Jennifer C. , Maylor-Hagen Heather , Ma Ying , Weis John H. , Weis Janis J.
Published: April 2010

We recently discovered a critical role for type I interferon (IFN) in the development of murine Lyme arthritis.Borrelia burgdorferi-mediated induction of IFN-responsive genes by bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) was dependent upon a functional type I IFN receptor but independent of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), TLR4, TLR9, and the adapter molecule MyD88. We now demonstrate that induction of the IFN transcriptional profile inB. burgdorferi-stimulated BMDMs occurs independently of the adapter TRIF and of the cytoplasmic sensor NOD2. In contrast,B. burgdorferi-induced transcription of these genes was dependent upon a rapid STAT1 feedback amplification pathway. IFN profile gene transcription was IRF3 dependent but did not utilizeB. burgdorferi-derived DNA or DNase-sensitive ligands. Instead, IFN-responsive gene expression could be induced byB. burgdorferi-derived RNA. Interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3)-dependent IFN profile gene transcription was also induced by sonicated bacteria, by the lipoprotein OspA, and by factors released into the BSKII medium during culture ofB. burgdorferi. The IFN-stimulatory activity ofB. burgdorfericulture supernatants was not destroyed by nuclease treatment. Nuclease digestion also had no effect on IFN profile induction mediated by sonicatedB. burgdorferi. Thus,B. burgdorferi-derived RNA, OspA, and non-nucleic acid ligands present in both sonicated bacteria andB. burgdorfericulture medium contribute to type I IFN-responsive gene induction. These findings suggest thatB. burgdorferiinvasion of joint tissue and the resultant type I IFN induction associated with Lyme arthritis development may involve multiple triggering ligands.
Chronic Intestinal Helminth Infections Are Associated with Immune Hyporesponsiveness and Induction of a Regulatory Network
Authors: Figueiredo Camila Alexandrina , Barreto Mauricio L. , Rodrigues Laura C. , Cooper Philip J. , Silva Nívea Bispo , Amorim Leila D. , Alcantara-Neves Neuza Maria
Published: April 2010

Helminth infections have been associated with protection against allergy and autoimmune diseases. We investigated the effects of chronic infections withAscaris lumbricoidesandTrichuris trichiura(measured twice over a 5-year period) on cytokine and antibody responses. We collected blood from 1,060 children aged 4 to 11 years living in a poor urban area of Brazil and measured Th1 (gamma interferon [IFN-γ]) and Th2 (interleukin-5 [IL-5] and IL-13) cytokines and the regulatory cytokine IL-10 in unstimulated and stimulated (with mitogen orA.lumbricoidesantigens) cultures of peripheral blood leukocytes and levels of total IgE and anti-A.lumbricoidesIgG4 and IgE in serum. Intestinal helminth infections were associated with an increased proportion of children producing IL-5 in response toA.lumbricoidesand producing IL-10 spontaneously, especially among coinfected and chronically infected children. Helminth infections were associated with a generalized suppression of cytokine responses to mitogen. Levels of total IgE and anti-A.lumbricoidesIgG4 and IgE were especially elevated in chronically infected children. In conclusion, intestinal helminth infections were associated with a typical Th2 immune response profile and with the induction of immune hyporesponsiveness that was associated with greater frequencies of the production of spontaneous IL-10.
Human Brucellosis Is Characterized by an Intense Th1 Profile Associated with a Defective Monocyte Function
Authors: Rodríguez-Zapata Manuel , Matías Marlene J. , Prieto Alfredo , Jonde Marco A. , Monserrat Jorge , Sánchez Lorenzo , Reyes Eduardo , De la Hera Antonio , Alvarez-Mon Melchor
Published: April 2010

In animal models, a defective Th1 response appears to be critical in the pathogenesis of brucellosis, but the Th1 response in human brucellosis patients remains partially undefined. Peripheral blood from 24 brucellosis patients was studied before and 45 days after antibiotherapy. Twenty-four sex- and age-matched healthy donors were analyzed in parallel. Significantly increased levels of interleukin 1β (IL-1β), IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-12p40, gamma interferon (IFN-γ), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), but not of IL-10, in serum and/or significantly increased percentages of samples with detectable levels of these cytokines, measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), were found for untreated brucellosis patients, but these levels were reduced and/or normalized after treatment. Flow cytometry studies showed that the intracytoplasmic expression of IFN-γ, IL-2, and TNF-α, but not that of IL-4, by phorbol myristate-activated CD4+CD3+and CD8+CD3+T lymphocytes was significantly increased in untreated brucellosis patients and was also partially normalized after antibiotherapy. The percentage of phagocytic cells, the mean phagocytic activity per cell, and the phagocytic indices for monocytes at baseline were defective and had only partially reverted at follow-up. T lymphocytes from untreated brucellosis patients are activatedin vivoand show Th1 cytokine production polarization, with strikingly high serum IFN-γ levels. In spite of this Th1 environment, we found deficient effector phagocytic activity in peripheral blood monocytes.
The definition of exertion-related cardiac events
Authors: Rai M , Thompson P D
Published: April 2010

Vigorous physical activity increases the risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) but there is no standard definition as to what constitutes an exertion-related cardiac event, specifically the time interval between physical exertion and cardiac event. A systematic review of studies related to exertion-related cardiac events was performed and the time interval between exertion and the event or the symptoms leading to the event was looked for in all the articles selected for inclusion. A total of 12 of 26 articles “suggested” or “defined” exertion-related events as those events whose symptoms started during or within 1 h of exertion. Others used definitions of 0.5 h, 2 h, “during exertion”, “during or immediately post exertion” and “during or within several hours after exertion”. It is suggested, therefore, that the definition of an exertion-related cardiac event be established as a cardiac event in which symptoms started during or within 1 h of physical exertion.
Can we detect non-functional overreaching in young elite soccer players and middle-long distance runners using field performance tests?
Authors: Schmikli S L , Brink M S , de Vries W R , Backx F J G
Published: April 2010

Objective

To study whether field performance tests can make a valid distinction between non-functionally overreaching (NFO) athletes and control athletes.

Design

Monthly field performance tests were used to determine a performance decrement (PD) throughout a season. Athletes with a minimum of 1 month PD were compared with control athletes without a PD on mood characteristics and resting levels of stress hormones.

Setting

Sporting field and sports medical laboratory.

Participants

129 young elite athletes, 77 soccer players and 52 middle-long distance runners were followed prospectively during the 2006–2007 season. Fifteen of them were invited to the laboratory. Eight athletes showed a performance decrease lasting longer than 1 month, and seven athletes without a performance decrease acted as their controls.

Main outcome measures

Performance changes over time were measured using field tests. Profile of Mood States and resting levels of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol in blood were measured in the laboratory.

Results

PD athletes showed several symptoms typical of the non-functional state of overreaching (OR). The PD group scored higher on depression and anger than controls. They also showed a specific pattern of correlations between negative mood subscales (tension, fatigue and depression), which was absent in controls. ACTH levels at rest were similar, but lower cortisol levels in PD athletes pointed at a blunted cortisol response. Cortisol levels were decoupled from ACTH levels only in PD athletes.

Conclusions

Implementing performance-related criteria in field tests can help coaches and sports physicians to distinguish NFO athletes from athletes with balanced workload and recovery.
ON A NONLOCAL FUNCTIONAL ARISING IN THE STUDY OF THIN-FILM BLISTERING
Authors: ANSINI N. , VALENTE V.
Published: April 2010

The energy of a Von Kármán circular plate is described by a nonlocal nonconvex one-dimensional functional depending on the thickness ε. Here we perform the asymptotic analysis via Γ-convergence as the parameter ε goes to zero.
ON A CLASS OF FOURTH ORDER NONLINEAR ELLIPTIC EQUATIONS UNDER NAVIER BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
Authors: CORRÊA F. J. S. A. , GONCALVES J. V. , RONCALLI ANGELO
Published: April 2010

We employ arguments involving continua of fixed points of suitable nonlinear compact operators and the Lyapunov–Schmidt method to prove existence and multiplicity of solutions in a class of fourth order non-homogeneous resonant elliptic problems. Our main result extends even similar ones known for the Laplacian.
UNIFORM ASYMPTOTIC EXPANSIONS FOR HYPERGEOMETRIC FUNCTIONS WITH LARGE PARAMETERS III
Authors: OLDE DAALHUIS A. B.
Published: April 2010

In this paper, we discuss asymptotic expansions for the Gauss hypergeometric function 2F1(a + e1λ, b + e2λ; c + e3λ; z), where ej = 0, ±1, as |λ| → ∞. We complete the results of two previous publications, extend the sectors of validity, and give more details on the computation of the coefficients.
SEMILINEAR NONLOCAL PROBLEMS WITHOUT THE ASSUMPTIONS OF COMPACTNESS IN BANACH SPACES
Authors: XUE XINGMEI
Published: April 2010

In this paper, we study the semilinear differential equations with nonlocal initial conditions in the separable Banach spaces. We derive conditions expressed in terms of the Hausdorff measure of noncompactness under which the mild solutions exit. For illustration, a partial integral differential system is worked out.
CARBON NANOTUBE-GRAFT-BLOCK COPOLYMERS CONTAINING SILVER NANOPARTICLES
Authors: ADELI MOHSEN , SEPAHVAND REZA , BAHARI ALI , ASTINCHAP BANDAR
Published: April 2010

Polycaprolactone-polylactide block copolymers (PCL-block-PLA) were grafted onto filled multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) successfully. In this synthesis, MWCNTs were opened and functionalized, and then they were filled by silver nanoparticles. The filled MWCNT were used as macroinitiator for ring opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone and L-lactide. Then the end hydroxyl functional groups of MWCNT-graft-PCL or MWCNT-graft-PLA were used as initiator for ring opening polymerization of lactide and ε-caprolactone and MWCNT-graft-PCL-block-PLA or MWCNT-graft-PLA-block-PCL were obtained, respectively. Length of grafted copolymer chains onto the MWCNT was controlled using CNT/monomer ratio. Nanocomposites' properties depend on the length of polymer blocks strongly. Structure of nanocomposites was evaluated by TEM and spectroscopy methods.
EFFECT OF EMBEDDING NANOPARTICLES ON THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY OF CRYSTALLINE SEMICONDUCTORS: PHONON SCATTERING MECHANISM
Authors: CHOUDHARY K. K. , PRASAD D. , JAYAKUMAR K. , VARSHNEY DINESH
Published: April 2010

We evolve a theoretical model for quantitative analysis of decrease in thermal conductivity (κ) by embedding ErAs nanoparticles in In0.53Ga0.47As crystalline semiconductors. The lattice thermal conductivity by incorporating the scattering of phonons with defects, grain boundaries, electrons, and phonons in the model Hamiltonian are evaluated. It is noticed that the ErAs nanoparticles provide an additional scattering mechanism for phonons. The embedding of ErAs nanoparticles in In0.53Ga0.47As crystalline semiconductors, the phonon scattering with point defects and grain boundaries become more efficient, which cause in the decrease of thermal conductivity up to half of its value of pure crystal. Conclusively, the temperature dependent of thermal conductivity is determined by competition among the several operating scattering mechanisms for the heat carriers. Numerical analysis of thermal conductivity from the present model shows similar results as those revealed from experiments.
EFFECT OF MASS ON SHEAR VISCOSITY OF BINARY FLUID MIXTURE CONFINED TO NANOCHANNELS
Authors: KAUSHAL ROHAN , SRIVASTAVA SUNITA , TANKESHWAR K.
Published: April 2010

Flow of fluid in nanochannel has been studied by evaluating transverse stress auto-correlation function and shear viscosity of the Ar–Kr and isotopic fluid mixture interacting via Lennard Jones potential. The enhancement in viscosity due to confinement has been investigated for different mass ratios and concentration of one of the fluids in a binary fluid mixture. It has been found that at a given number density and temperature, mixing fluid of lower molar weight reduces the enhancement in viscosity and also lower the chances of freezing of liquid near the walls. We have also studied the effect of concentration of two species on the viscosity. It is found that the enhancement in viscosity is less when the concentration of particles with lighter mass increases.
HOLLOW, BRANCHED AND MULTIFUNCTIONAL NANOPARTICLES: SYNTHESIS, PROPERTIES AND APPLICATIONS
Authors: MA DONGLING , KELL ARNOLD
Published: April 2010

Nanoscale materials with various structures have attracted extensive research interest during the past decade. Among them, hollow, branched and multifunctional nanoparticles comprised of two different nanoparticle components are emerging as new classes of interesting nanomaterials owing to the unique optical, catalytic, electrical, magnetic and mechanical properties associated with their unusual morphologies as well as their potential wide range of applications in various fields such as photothermal therapy, diagnosis, drug delivery, catalysis, optoelectronic, electronics and biodiagnostics. In particular, branched nanoparticles promise to serve as building blocks for more complex materials and advanced devices through self-assembly and self-alignment and heterodimeric nanoparticles show promise for the development of tunable magnetic materials and multimodal biodiagnostic imaging tools.
ELECTRON TRANSPORT IN SILICON QUANTUM WIRE DEVICES
Authors: OSSIG GERALD , SCHÜRRER FERDINAND
Published: April 2010

The simulation of the electron transport in silicon devices is usually based on a coupling of the semiclassical Boltzmann transport equation with the Poisson equation. We follow this successful approach and extend it with the effective mass Schrödinger equation leading to a Schrödinger–Poisson–Boltzmann system for the description of the electron transport in silicon quantum wire devices. Phonon-scattering is taken into account by phonon distributions in thermal equilibrium. In addition, we study the nonsteady state behavior of the electron transport in the considered device.
LOCAL ELECTRONIC STATES ON TWO-DIMENSIONAL NANOSCALE ISLAND OF Si AND Ge FABRICATED ON Si(111) 7 × 7 SUBSTRATE
Authors: SHIGETA YUKICHI , NEGISHI RYOTA , SUZUKI MASAHIKO
Published: April 2010

Nanoscale islands on semiconductor are a strong candidate as building block in nanodevices. In the nanoisland, some local deformation is induced by the surface tension, which has a great influence on the electronic property of the nanoislands. To study the electronic structure of two-dimensional (2D) nanoislands of Si and Ge on the Si(111) 7 × 7 surface, we formed nanoislands of the same size and measured with angle resolved ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (ARUPS), scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS). We found that the nanoisland shows a characteristic fine structure due to some strain. We also calculated a relation between the strain and electronic state based on the density-functional theory. In the calculation, the dangling-bond state at the strained adatom on the nanoisland (SR state) shifts to lower energy, which has liner dependence with the height of the adatoms. The ARUPS spectrum and the STS show characteristic peaks corresponding to the SR state, whose energy depends on the deformation of the adatom. The height of the adatom on the nanoisland estimated from the energy difference is consistent with a result of the STM measurement. The strain of adatoms can be estimated from the electronic structure.
FINITE TIME EMERGENCE OF A SHOCK WAVE FOR SCALAR CONSERVATION LAWS
Authors: SHEARER MICHAEL , DAFERMOS CONSTANTINE
Published: April 2010

For a convex conservation law [Formula: see text] bounded initial data u0(x), are considered that take on constant values u- to the left of a bounded interval, and u+ to the right, with u- > u+. The solution of the initial value problem is shown to collapse in finite time to a single shock wave joining u- to u+. The proof involves comparison with a solution having piecewise constant initial data, for which the evolution to a single shock involves straightforward rarefaction-shock interactions. This result has a significant application to steady granular flow in a chute, and the result is reformulated to apply to the Lighthill–Whitham–Richards equation of traffic flow.
ASYMPTOTICALLY LINEAR SOLUTIONS IN H1OF THE 2-D DEFOCUSING NONLINEAR SCHRöDINGER AND HARTREE EQUATIONS
Authors: HOLMER JUSTIN , TZIRAKIS NIKOLAOS
Published: April 2010

In the 2-d setting, given an H1solution v(t) to the linear Schrödinger equation i∂tv + Δ v = 0, we prove the existence (but not uniqueness) of an H1solution u(t) to the defocusing nonlinear Schrödinger (NLS) equation i∂tu + Δu -|u|p-1u = 0 for nonlinear powers 2 < p < 3 and the existence of an H1solution u(t) to the defocusing Hartree equation i∂tu + Δu -(|x|-γ⋆|u|2)u = 0 for interaction powers 1 < γ < 2, such that ‖u(t) - v(t)‖H1→ 0 as t → + ∞. This is a partial result toward the existence of well-defined continuous wave operators H1→ H1for these equations. For NLS in 2-d, such wave operators are known to exist for p ≥ 3, while for p ≤ 2 it is known that they cannot exist. The Hartree equation in 2-d only makes sense for 0 < γ < 2, and it was previously known that wave operators cannot exist for 0 < γ ≤ 1, while no result was previously known in the range 1 < γ < 2. Our proof in the case of NLS applies a new estimate of Colliander–Grillakis–Tzirakis to a strategy devised by Nakanishi. For the Hartree equation, we prove a new correlation estimate following the method of Colliander–Grillakis–Tzirakis.
GLOBAL EXISTENCE TO THE EINSTEIN-SCALAR FIELD SYSTEM ON THE ROBERTSON–WALKER SPACE-TIMES WITH HYPERBOLIC AND SPHERICAL SYMMETRIES
Authors: NOUTCHEGUEME NORBERT , NANGUE ALEXIS
Published: April 2010

Global existence of solutions is proved and asymptotic behavior is investigated, in the case of a positive cosmological constant and positive initial velocity of the cosmological expansion factor.
RECONSTRUCTION OF TWO SUBCLASSES OF 2L-CONVEX POLYOMINOES
Authors: TAWBE K.
Published: April 2010

A polyomino P is called 2L-convex if for every two cells there exists a monotone path included in P with at most 2 changes of direction. This paper studies the geometrical and the tomographical aspects of two subclasses of 2L-convex polyominoes called δ2Land [Formula: see text]. In a first part, we give the characterization of each class. The unicity results are investigated using the switching components (that is the elements of these subclasses that have the same projections). In a second part, using the unicity results and some other properties we are able to reconstruct directly 2L-convex polyominoes in the classes δ2Land [Formula: see text].
BIPARTITE MATCHING EXTENDABILITY AND TOUGHNESS
Authors: WANG XIUMEI , ZHOU SUJING , LIN YIXUN
Published: April 2010

Let G be a simple graph containing a perfect matching. G is said to be bipartite matching extendable (BM-extendable) if every matching M which is a perfect matching of an induced bipartite subgraph extends to a perfect matching of G. In this paper, we study some relations between toughness and BM-extendability of a graph, including some sufficient or necessary conditions about toughness for a graph to be BM-extendable, and a sufficient condition for a BM-extendable graph to be 1-tough.
GENERALIZED REDUCTION TO COMPUTE TORIC IDEALS
Authors: KESH DEEPANJAN , MEHTA SHASHANK K.
Published: April 2010

Toric ideals have many applications including solving integer programs. Several algorithms for computing the toric ideal of an integer matrix are available in the literature. Since it is an NP hard problem the present approaches can only solve relatively small problems. We propose a new approach which improves upon a well known technique to compute ideal saturation, which leads to a faster algorithm to compute toric ideals.
NEW TERNARY AND QUATERNARY CONSTANT-WEIGHT EQUIDISTANT CODES
Authors: BOGDANOVA GALINA , TODOROV TODOR , YORGOVA TEODORA
Published: April 2010

In this paper we consider the problem of finding bounds on the size of ternary and quaternary constant-weight equidistant codes with 2 ≤ w < n ≤ 10. Optimal ternary and quaternary constant-weight equidistant codes have been constructed by combinatorial and computer methods. All open cases for the size of optimal ternary and quaternary constant-weight equidistant codes have been closed.
ROMAN DOMINATION AND ITS VARIANTS IN UNIT DISK GRAPHS
Authors: SHANG WEIPING , WANG XIUMEI , HU XIAODONG
Published: April 2010

Unit disk graphs are the intersection graphs of equal sized disks in the plane, they are widely used as a mathematical model for wireless ad-hoc networks and some problems in computational geometry. In this paper we first show that Roman dominating set and connected Roman dominating set problems in unit disk graphs are NP-complete, and then present two approximation algorithms for these problems.
FAST INFORMATION PROPAGATION IN SOCIAL NETWORKS
Authors: ZOU FENG , WILLSON JAMES K. , ZHANG ZHAO , WU WEILI
Published: April 2010

Social networks are attracting more attention from both industry and academia. Prior works on social networks focus on analyzing their roles in information propagation and decision making. However, few of these works consider the latency of information propagation, which is an essential issue especially in time-critical scenarios in social networks. In this paper, we introduce a new problem called FAST INFORMATION PROPAGATION PROBLEM, which is an optimization problem to identify the minimum set of influential nodes that could influence the whole network within a given latency bound d. We show our complexity result on this problem in the deterministic threshold models and present a greedy hill-climbing algorithm as the solution. For the d = 1 case, we prove that under the majority threshold model, this approximation algorithm has a performance ratio of H(Δ + 1) - 1 + ⌈ Δ/2⌉. Extensive experiments are conducted on a large collaboration network and the results show that our approximation algorithm outperforms the node-selection heuristics, which utilize the well-known approaches based on the node centrality in the social network analysis.
Study of High-Quality and Crack-Free GaN Growth on 3C-SiC/Separation by Implanted Oxygen (111)
Authors: Narukawa Mitsuhisa , Asamura Hidetoshi , Kawamura Keisuke , Miyake Hideto , Hiramatsu Kazumasa
Published: April 2010

We investigated the growth of GaN on 3C-SiC fabricated by the deposition and carbonization of a separation by implanted oxygen (SIMOX) surface. The dependences of AlN buffer thickness on the crystalline quality and surface morphology of the GaN grown on 3C-SiC/SIMOX (111) by low-pressure metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy (LP-MOVPE) were examined. We studied the stress of GaN by the in situ monitoring of the reflectance and substrate curvature. High-quality GaN with a smooth surface was obtained using an AlN buffer of 10 nm thickness. Moreover, the fabrication of crack-free GaN was achieved using an AlN/GaN superlattice (SL) structure on an AlGaN/AlN buffer.
SiNx Prepassivation of AlGaN/GaN High-Electron-Mobility Transistors Using Remote-Mode Plasma-Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition
Authors: Her Jin-Cherl , Cho Hyun-Jun , Yoo Chan-Sei , Cha Ho-Young , Oh Jae-Eung , Seo Kwang-Seok
Published: April 2010

The surface of AlGaN/GaN high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs) tends to be easily damaged during device fabrication, especially during high-temperature annealing. In order to resolve this problem, a prepassivation process was developed using remote-mode plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (RPECVD) systems. It is important in the prepassivation process to protect the region under the gate during high-temperature ohmic annealing and utilize a low-damage SiN
x
etching process to minimize any surface damage. It was observed that the DC characteristics were significantly improved and the current collapse phenomenon was markedly suppressed for AlGaN/GaN HEMTs by employing the prepassivation process proposed in this work in comparison with a conventional process. According to the experimental results, the prepassivation process coupled with a gate field plate successfully suppressed the current collapse phenomenon in AlGaN/GaN HEMTs. RF output power densities of 6.9 W/mm at 2.3 GHz and >8.9 W/mm at 4 GHz were achieved for AlGaN/GaN HEMTs on Si and SiC substrates, respectively.
In-situ Analyses on Reactive Sputtering Processes to Deposit Photocatalytic TiO2 Films
Authors: Ito Norihiro , Miyatake Shohei , Tsukamoto Naoki , Oka Nobuto , Sato Yasushi , Shigesato Yuzo
Published: April 2010

In-situ analyses on reactive sputtering processes used to deposit photocatalytic TiO2 were carried out using a quadrupole mass spectrometer combined with an energy analyzer. High-energy negative oxygen ions (O-) accelerated by the cathode sheath electric field of several hundred volts and fragments sputtered from the target were analyzed in relation to the oxygen flow ratio and total gas pressure (P
tot). With increasing the oxygen flow ratio over 15%, the deposition rate decreased markedly where the target surface was fully oxidized confirmed by in-vacuo X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis on the target surface. High-energy O- ions with a kinetic energy of several hundred eV corresponding quantitatively to the full cathode voltage were distinctly observed. Such high-energy O- species dominant at P
tot = 1.0 Pa showed a marked decrease and disappeared at 3.0 Pa. The photocatalytic activity of the anatase TiO2 films deposited at 3.0 Pa was much higher than that of the film deposited at 1.0 Pa, which could be attributed to the presence of many more recombination centers introduced by the bombardment of high-energy O- ions.
Low-Density InAs Quantum Dots Grown on InP(001) Using Solid-Source Molecular Beam Epitaxy with a Post-Growth Annealing Process
Authors: Kubota Ryosuke , Saiki Toshiharu , Regreny Philippe , Benamrouche Aziz , Gendry Michel
Published: April 2010

Low-density InAs quantum dots (QDs) with a large lateral size were grown on InP(001) by solid-source molecular beam epitaxy with a post-growth annealing process. A decrease in QD density with the amount of InAs deposited was shown by atomic force microscopy, and a density of 5×108 QDs/cm2 was obtained for 0.8 monolayer InAs deposition. Moreover, we found that the growth mechanism of QDs changed significantly depending on the amount of InAs deposited in the vicinity of critical thickness, even if the same annealing condition was applied. Near-field photoluminescence spectroscopy of single QDs demonstrated the high optical qualities of low-density QDs.
Characteristics of Excimer Laser-Annealed Thin-Film Transistors on the Polycrystalline Silicon Morphology Formed in the Single and Double (Overlap) Scanned Area
Authors: Jin GuangHai , Kim Moojin
Published: April 2010

In this work we investigated the material properties and electrical performance of polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si) films formed in the single and double (overlap) scanned area of excimer laser in the long axis direction at various energy densities. Poly-Si thin film transistors (TFTs) were fabricated by using the material formed by the excimer laser annealing (ELA) process. We found that the device performance of poly-Si films formed at the energy density of 200 mJ/cm2 is approximately equal to the single and double scanned area, whose overlapping irradiation does not change the characteristics of TFTs. Based on this result, a large poly-Si panel using the ELA method can be fabricated by overlapping the laser scans in the long axis direction.
Mobility Degradation in (110)-Oriented Ultrathin-Body Double-Gate p-Type Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistors with Silicon-on-Insulator Thickness of Less than 5 nm
Authors: Shimizu Ken , Hiramoto Toshiro
Published: April 2010

Mobility degradation in (110)-oriented ultrathin-body double-gate p-type metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistors is experimentally demonstrated for the first time. The physical origin of the mobility degradation can be attributed to the increase in the larger population in the higher-energy subband, leading to a stronger inter-subband scattering.