bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experimental Investigation of Flow Boiling Pressure Drop of R134A in a Microscale Horizontal Smooth Tube
Authors: Tibiriçá Cristiano Bigonha , Diniz da Silva Jaqueline , Ribatski Gherhardt
Published: April 2011

This paper presents new experimental flow boiling pressure drop results in a microscale tube. The experimental data were obtained under diabatic conditions in a horizontal smooth tube with an internal diameter of 2.32 mm. Experiments were performed with R134a as working fluid, mass velocities ranging from 100 kg/m2 s to 600 kg/m2 s, heat flux ranging from 10 kW/m2 to 55 kW/m2, saturation temperatures of 31°C, and exit vapor qualities from 0.20 to 0.99. Flow pattern characterization was also performed from images obtained by high-speed filming. Pressure drop gradients up to 48 kPa/m were measured. These data were carefully analyzed and compared against 13 two-phase frictional pressure drop prediction methods, including both macro- and microscale methods. Comparisons against these methods based on the data segregated according to flow patterns were also performed. Overall, the method by Cioncolini et al. (2009, “Unified Macro-to-Microscale Method to Predict Two-Phase Frictional Pressure Drops of Annular Flows,” Int. J. Multiphase Flow, 35, pp. 1138–1148) provided quite accurate predictions of the present database.
Concordance between Two Phenotypic Assays and Ultradeep Pyrosequencing for Determining HIV-1 Tropism
Authors: Saliou Adrien , Delobel Pierre , Dubois Martine , Nicot Florence , Raymond Stéphanie , Calvez Vincent , Masquelier Bernard , Izopet Jacques ,   the ANRS AC11 Resistance Study Group
Published: April 2011

There have been few studies on the concordance between phenotypic assays for predicting human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) coreceptor usage. The sensitivity of ultradeep pyrosequencing combined with genotyping tools is similar to that of phenotypic assays for detecting minor CXCR4-using variants. We evaluated the agreement between two phenotypic assays, the Toulouse tropism test (TTT) and the Trofile assay, and ultradeep pyrosequencing for determining the tropism of HIV-1 quasispecies. The concordance between the TTT and Trofile assays was assessed for 181 samples successfully phenotyped by both assays. The TTT was 86% concordant with the standard Trofile assay and 91.7% with its enhanced-sensitivity version. The concordance between phenotypic characterization of HIV-1 tropism and ultradeep pyrosequencing genotypic prediction was further studied in selected samples. The HIV-1 tropism inferred from ultradeep pyrosequencing of 11 samples phenotyped as X4 and dualtropic and 12 phenotyped as R5-tropic agreed closely with the results of phenotyping. However, ultradeep pyrosequencing detected minor CXCR4-using variants in 3 of 12 samples phenotyped as R5-tropic. Ultradeep pyrosequencing also detected minor CXCR4-using variants that had been missed by direct sequencing in 6 of 9 samples phenotyped as X4-tropic but genotyped as R5-tropic by direct sequencing. Ultradeep pyrosequencing was 87% concordant with the Trofile and TTT phenotypic assays and was in the same range of sensitivity (0.4%) than these two phenotypic assays (0.3 to 0.5%) for detecting minor CXCR4-using variants. Ultradeep pyrosequencing provides a new way to improve the performance of genotypic prediction of HIV-1 tropism to match that of the phenotypic assays.
A satellite DNA evolutionary analysis in the North American endemic dioecious plantRumex hastatulus(Polygonaceae)
Authors: Quesada del Bosque M.E. , Navajas-Pérez R. , Panero J.L. , Fernández-González A. , Garrido-Ramos M.A.
Published: April 2011

We studied the evolution of RAE180 satellite DNA family in the North American endemic dioecious plant Rumex hastatulus . In this species, the Texas race is characterized by a single XX/XY sex chromosome system, whereas the North Carolina race has evolved a derived complex XX/XY1Y2sex chromosome system. RAE180 repeats were autosomic and poorly represented (2 × 10–4% of the genome) with no differences between individuals of different genders or different races of R. hastatulus. In fact, the sex chromosomes of the North Carolina race are still euchromatic, and they have not accumulated satellite DNA sequences, which contrasts with that occurring in the rest of dioecious XX/XY1Y2Rumex species. In R. hastatulus, we detected the existence of three RAE180 subfamilies. Notwithstanding, while in the Texas race the TX1/NC1 subfamily is the most frequent, the TX2/NC2 subfamily is the most abundant in the North Carolina race. Additionally, the third, less represented subfamily (TX3/NC3) appears currently as relict sequences in both genomes. A common feature of RAE180 satellite is the sudden replacement of one sequence variant by another in different species (or populations as in R. hastatulus races). Thus, the phylogenetic analysis of RAE180 repeats from six dioecious Rumex species supports the “library” hypothesis. According to this hypothesis, we assume that a set of divergent RAE180 variants were present in the ancestral genome of dioecious Rumex species, from which novel tandem arrays originated by the amplification of different variants in different lineages. Differential levels of RAE180 satellite DNA amplification in each lineage, at different evolutionary times, and in different chromosomal positions gave rise to differential patterns of sequence evolution.
Diversity and evolution of four dispersed repetitive DNA sequences in the genus Secale
Authors: Tang Zong-Xiang , Fu Shu-Lan , Ren Zheng-Long , Zhang Tao , Zou Yu-Ting , Yang Zu-Jun , Li Guang-Rong , Zhou Jian-Ping , Zhang Huai-Qiong , Yan Ben-Ju , Zhang Huai-Yu , Tan Fei-Quan
Published: April 2011

We present the first characterization of 360 sequences in six species of the genus Secale of both cultivated and wild accessions. These include four distinct kinds of dispersed repetitive DNA sequences named pSc20H, pSc119.1, pSaO5411, and pSaD15940 belonging to the Revolver family. During the evolution of the genus Secale from wild to cultivated accessions, the pSaO5411-like sequences became shorter mainly because of the deletion of a trinucleotide tandem repeating unit, the pSc20H-like sequences displayed apparent homogenization in cultivated rye, and the second intron of Revolver became longer. In addition, the pSc20H-, pSc119.1-, and pSaO5411-like sequences cloned from wild rye and cultivated rye could be divided into two large clades. No single case of the four kinds of repetitive elements has been inherited by each Secale accession from a lone ancestor. It is reasonable to consider the vertical transmission of the four repetitive elements during the evolution of the genus Secale. The pSc20H- and pSaO5411-like sequences showed evolutionary elimination at specific chromosomal locations from wild species to cultivated species. These cases imply that different repetitive DNA sequences have played different roles in the chromosome development and genomic evolution of rye. The present study adds important information to the investigations dealing with characterization of dispersed repetitive elements in wild and cultivated rye.
Drosophilagenomes and the development of affordable molecular markers for species genotyping
Authors: Minuk Leigh , Civetta Alberto
Published: April 2011

The recent completion of genome sequencing of 12 species of Drosophila has provided a powerful resource for hypothesis testing, as well as the development of technical tools. Here we take advantage of genome sequence data from two closely related species of Drosophila, Drosophila simulans and Drosophila sechellia, to quickly identify candidate molecular markers for genotyping based on expected insertion or deletion (indel) differences between species. Out of 64 candidate molecular markers selected along the second and third chromosome of Drosophila, 51 molecular markers were validated using PCR and gel electrophoresis. We found that the 20% error rate was due to sequencing errors in the genome data, although we cannot rule out possible indel polymorphisms. The approach has the advantage of being affordable and quick, as it only requires the use of bioinformatics tools for predictions and a PCR and agarose gel based assay for validation. Moreover, the approach could be easily extended to a wide variety of taxa with the only limitation being the availability of complete or partial genome sequence data.
SCALAR FIELD THEORY ON κ-MINKOWSKI SPACE–TIME AND TRANSLATION AND LORENTZ INVARIANCE
Authors: MELJANAC S. , SAMSAROV A.
Published: April 2011

We investigate the properties of κ-Minkowski space–time by using representations of the corresponding deformed algebra in terms of undeformed Heisenberg–Weyl algebra. The deformed algebra consists of κ-Poincaré algebra extended with the generators of the deformed Weyl algebra. The part of deformed algebra, generated by rotation, boost and momentum generators, is described by the Hopf algebra structure. The approach used in our considerations is completely Lorentz covariant. We further use an advantage of this approach to consistently construct a star product, which has a property that under integration sign, it can be replaced by a standard pointwise multiplication, a property that was since known to hold for Moyal but not for κ-Minkowski space–time. This star product also has generalized trace and cyclic properties, and the construction alone is accomplished by considering a classical Dirac operator representation of deformed algebra and requiring it to be Hermitian. We find that the obtained star product is not translationally invariant, leading to a conclusion that the classical Dirac operator representation is the one where translation invariance cannot simultaneously be implemented along with hermiticity. However, due to the integral property satisfied by the star product, noncommutative free scalar field theory does not have a problem with translation symmetry breaking and can be shown to reduce to an ordinary free scalar field theory without nonlocal features and tachyonic modes and basically of the very same form. The issue of Lorentz invariance of the theory is also discussed.
THE EFFECTS OF A FAMILY NONUNIVERSAL Z′ BOSON ON B → ππ DECAYS
Authors: CHANG QIN , LI XIN-QIANG , YANG YA-DONG
Published: April 2011

Motivated by the measured large branching ratio of [Formula: see text] (the so-called ππ puzzle), we investigate the effects of a family nonuniversal Z′ model on the tree-dominated B → ππ decays. We find that the Z′ coupling parameter [Formula: see text] with a nontrivial new weak phase [Formula: see text], which is relevant to the Z′ contributions to the QCD penguin sector △C5, is needed to reconcile the observed discrepancy. Combined with the recent fitting results from B → πK, πK* and ρK decays, the Z′ parameter spaces are severely reduced but still not excluded entirely, implying that both the "ππ" and "πK" puzzles could be accommodated simultaneously within such a family nonuniversal Z′ model.
ANGULAR MOMENTUM AND SPIN EFFECTS ON THE DIQUARK FORMATION
Authors: ANTUNES A. C. B. , ANTUNES L. J.
Published: April 2011

Quark interactions inside baryons depend on the spin states of the quarks. We investigated the contribution of the spin–spin interactions of quarks in comparison with other factors necessary for diquark formation in baryons, concluding that the effects of spin–spin interactions are correlated with the state of angular momentum excitation.
HIDDEN CONFORMAL SYMMETRY OF ROTATING NS5-BRANES
Authors: SETARE M. R. , KAMALI V.
Published: April 2011

In the present paper, we show that for a low frequency limit the wave equation of massless scalar field in the background of rotating NS5-branes can be written as the Casimir of SL (2, R) symmetry. Our result shows that the entropy of the rotating NS5-brane is reproduced by the Cardy formula, also the absorption cross-section is in consistence with the finite temperature absorption cross-section for a 2D CFT.
EXOTIC SMOOTH ℝ4AND CERTAIN CONFIGURATIONS OF NS AND D BRANES IN STRING THEORY
Authors: ASSELMEYER-MALUGA TORSTEN , KRÓL JERZY
Published: April 2011

In this paper, we show that in some important cases, four-dimensional data can be extracted from superstring theory such that (i) the data are Euclidean four-geometries embedded in standard ℝ4, (ii) these data depend on NS and D brane charges of some string backgrounds, (iii) it is of potential relevance to four-dimensional physics, (iv) the compactification and stabilization techniques are not in use, but are rather replaced. We analyze certain configurations of NS and D-branes in the context of SU(2) WZW model and find the correlations with different exotic smoothings of ℝ4. First, the dynamics of D-branes in SU(2) WZW model at finite k, i.e. the charges of the branes, refers to the exoticness of ambient ℝ4. Next, the correspondence between exotic smoothness on four-space, transversal to the world volume of NS5 branes in type IIA, and the number of these NS5 branes follows. Finally, the translation of ten-dimensional string backgrounds to Euclidean four-spaces embedded as open subsets in the standard ℝ4is achieved.
ONSET OF SYMMETRY BREAKING BY THE FUNCTIONAL RG METHOD
Authors: PANGON V. , NAGY S. , POLONYI J. , SAILER K.
Published: April 2011

A numerical algorithm is used to solve the bare and the effective potential for the scalar ϕ4 model in the local potential approximation. An approximate dynamical Maxwell-cut is found which reveals itself in the degeneracy of the action for modes at some scale. This result indicates that the potential develop singular field dependence as far as one can see it by an algorithm of limited numerical accuracy.
ON LAGRANGE STRUCTURE OF UNFOLDED FIELD THEORY
Authors: KAPARULIN D. S. , LYAKHOVICH S. L. , SHARAPOV A. A.
Published: April 2011

Any local field theory can be equivalently reformulated in the so-called unfolded form. General unfolded equations are non-Lagrangian even though the original theory is Lagrangian. Making use of the unfolded massless scalar field equations as a basic example, the concept of Lagrange anchor is applied to perform a consistent path-integral quantization of unfolded dynamics. It is shown that the unfolded representation for the canonical Lagrange anchor of the d'Alembert equation inevitably involves an infinite number of space–time derivatives.
EXACTLY COMPLETE SOLUTIONS OF THE DIRAC EQUATION WITH PSEUDOHARMONIC POTENTIAL INCLUDING LINEAR PLUS COULOMB-LIKE TENSOR POTENTIAL
Authors: HAMZAVI M. , RAJABI A. A. , HASSANABADI H.
Published: April 2011

In this paper, we present exact solutions of the Dirac equation with the pseudoharmonic potential including linear as well as Coulomb-like tensor potential with arbitrary spin–orbit coupling number κ under spin and pseudospin symmetry limits. The Nikiforov–Uvarov method is used to obtain energy eigenvalues and corresponding eigenfunctions in closed forms. We show that tensor interaction removes degeneracies between spin and pseudospin doublets. Some numerical results are also given.
A NUMERICAL TEST OF THE Y-SYSTEM IN THE SMALL SIZE LIMIT OF THE SU(2) × SU(2) PRINCIPAL CHIRAL MODEL
Authors: BECCARIA MATTEO , MACORINI GUIDO
Published: April 2011

Recently, Kazakov, Gromov and Vieira applied the discrete Hirota dynamics to study the finite size spectra of integrable two dimensional quantum field theories. The method has been tested from large values of the size L down to moderate values using the SU (2) × SU (2) principal chiral model as a theoretical laboratory. We continue the numerical analysis of the proposed nonlinear integral equations showing that the deep ultraviolet region L → 0 is numerically accessible. To this aim, we introduce a relaxed iterative algorithm for the numerical computation of the low-lying part of the spectrum in the U (1) sector. We discuss in detail the systematic errors involved in the computation. When a comparison is possible, full agreement is found with previous thermodynamical Bethe ansatz computations.
FOUR NORMAL SIZE LIMIT CYCLES IN TWO-DIMENSIONAL QUADRATIC SYSTEMS
Authors: LEONOV G. A.
Published: April 2011

The existence criterion of three normal size limit cycles in quadratic systems with a weak focus of first order is obtained. Further, giving a finite disturbance for weak focus, the fourth normal size limit cycle is obtained. Bifurcation of appearance of two limit cycles via semistable cycle is given.
THE USE OF TESSELLATION IN THREE-DIMENSIONAL PARABOLIC EQUATION MODELING
Authors: AUSTIN MELANIE E. , CHAPMAN N. ROSS
Published: April 2011

A full three-dimensional parabolic equation model (MONM3D) has been developed that incorporates techniques that reduce the required number of model grid points and reduces computation time. The concept of tessellation is implemented in MONM3D, which allows the number of radial paths in the model grid to vary with range from the source, reducing the number of computational points in the horizontal plane. This design establishes a grid layout that is both numerically and computationally desirable. A benchmark test case is used to illustrate the accuracy and efficiency of the model.
NUMERICAL PROCEDURE FOR SOLVING THE STRIP PROBLEM BY THE SPECTRAL EQUATION
Authors: SHANIN A. V. , VALYAEV V. YU.
Published: April 2011

Recently, a new technique has been proposed by one of the authors for solving diffraction problems belonging to certain class. The class includes 2D problems that can be reduced to propagation problems on branched surfaces by applying the method of images. One of the simplest problems belonging to this class is diffraction by an infinitely thin ideal strip. Within the framework of the new method, a "spectral equation" is derived, which is an ordinary differential equation for the components of the directivity of the scattered field. The coefficients of the spectral equation are known up to several numerical parameters, and these are found by a complicated numerical procedure from the a-priori known monodromy data for the equation. In the current paper the numerical procedure is described and its accuracy and efficiency are analyzed.
AXIOMATIZATIONS OF SIGNED DISCRETE CHOQUET INTEGRALS
Authors: CARDIN MARTA , COUCEIRO MIGUEL , GIOVE SILVIO , MARICHAL JEAN-LUC
Published: April 2011

We study the so-called signed discrete Choquet integral (also called non-monotonic discrete Choquet integral) regarded as the Lovász extension of a pseudo-Boolean function which vanishes at the origin. We present axiomatizations of this generalized Choquet integral, given in terms of certain functional equations, as well as by necessary and sufficient conditions which reveal desirable properties in aggregation theory.
INDUCED AGGREGATION UNDER CONFIDENCE LEVELS
Authors: XIA MEIMEI , XU ZESHUI , CHEN NA
Published: April 2011

This paper proposes a series of aggregation operators considering the confidence levels of the aggregated arguments. Due to the complex connections among the arguments, we further give two nonlinear aggregation operators and discuss their properties. Then we extend these aggregation operators to hesitant fuzzy environments in which there are some difficulties in determining the membership of an element to a set. Several numerical examples are used to compare the proposed aggregation operators.
IMPROVING LATENT FACTOR MODEL BASED COLLABORATIVE FILTERING VIA INTEGRATED FOLKSONOMY FACTORS
Authors: XIN LUO , OUYANG YUANXIN , ZHANG XIONG
Published: April 2011

Latent Factor Model (LFM) based approaches are becoming popular when implementing Collaborative Filtering (CF) recommenders, due to their high recommendation accuracy. However, current LFM approaches address the accuracy issue only based on the rating data, whereas early research indicates that integrating information from additional data sources is helpful to the recommendation accuracy. In this work we focus on improving the recommendation accuracy of a LFM based CF recommender by integrating folksonomy information. To implement this approach, we first propose a novel model named Item Folsonomy Relevance (IFR) to analyze the item relevance inside the folksonomy; we subsequently integrate the latent factors of the IFR model and rating data through probabilistic matrix factorization (PMF), a state-of-the-art matrix factorization technique, to produce recommendations based on information from both the ratings and folksonomy simultaneously. The experiments on MovieLens dataset showed that compared to two state-of-the-art LFM approaches and another folksonomy-augmented recommder, our approach could obtain advantage in recommendation accuracy.
ROBUST ADAPTIVE FUZZY CONTROLLER DESIGN FOR A CLASS OF UNCERTAIN NONLINEAR TIME-DELAY SYSTEMS
Authors: LIU YAN-JUN , WANG RUI , CHEN C. L. PHILIP
Published: April 2011

In this paper, the problems of stability and control for a class of uncertain nonlinear systems with unknown state time-delay are studied by using the fuzzy logic systems. Because the dynamic surface control technique is introduced to deal with the uncertain time-delay systems, the designed adaptive fuzzy controller can avoid the issue of "explosion of complexity", which comes from the traditional backstepping design procedure. Compared with the existing results in the literature, the robustness to the fuzzy approximation errors is improved by adjusting the estimations of the unknown bounds for the approximation errors. It is shown that the resulting closed-loop system is stable in the sense that all the signals are bounded and the system output track the reference signal in a small neighborhood of the origin by choosing design parameters appropriately. Three simulation examples are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed techniques.
UNIQUENESS OF DECOMPOSITIONS OF SKOROHOD-SEMIMARTINGALES
Authors: DI NUNNO GIULIA , ØKSENDAL BERNT , PAMEN OLIVIER MENOUKEU , PROSKE FRANK
Published: April 2011

In this paper, we introduce Skorohod-semimartingales as an expanded concept of classical semimartingales in the setting of Lévy processes. We show under mild conditions that Skorohod-semimartingales similarly to semimartingales admit a unique decomposition.
OPTIMAL GAUSSIAN DENSITY ESTIMATES FOR A CLASS OF STOCHASTIC EQUATIONS WITH ADDITIVE NOISE
Authors: NUALART DAVID , QUER-SARDANYONS LLUÍS
Published: April 2011

In this note, we establish optimal lower and upper Gaussian bounds for the density of the solution to a class of stochastic integral equations driven by an additive spatially homogeneous Gaussian random field. The proof is based on the techniques of the Malliavin calculus and a density formula obtained by Nourdin and Viens. Then, the main result is applied to the mild solution of a general class of SPDEs driven by a Gaussian noise which is white in time and has a spatially homogeneous correlation. In particular, this covers the case of the stochastic heat and wave equations in ℝd with d ≥ 1 and d ∈ {1, 2, 3}, respectively. The upper and lower Gaussian bounds have the same form and are given in terms of the variance of the stochastic integral term in the mild form of the equation.
ERGODICITY FOR THE PHASE-FIELD EQUATIONS PERTURBED BY GAUSSIAN NOISE
Authors: BARBU VIOREL , DA PRATO GIUSEPPE
Published: April 2011

We prove that the transition semigroup associated with the phase-field equations perturbed by a Gaussian noise has an invariant measure and it is irreducible and strong Feller. This implies by Doob's theorem that it possesses a unique invariant measure which is ergodic and strongly mixing. This implies the ergodicity of the flow associated with the phase-field model of phase transition in the sense of Birkhoff–von Neumann theorem. Such a result seems to be new in this context.
TAGGED PARTICLE PROCESS IN CONTINUUM WITH SINGULAR INTERACTIONS
Authors: FATTLER TORBEN , GROTHAUS MARTIN
Published: April 2011

We study the dynamics of a tagged particle in an environment of infinitely many Brownian particles in continuum. All the particles interact via the gradient of an interaction potential. Our strategy is to construct the infinite particle environment process at first and afterwards the process coupling the motion of the tagged particle and the motion of the environment. First we derive an integration by parts formula with respect to the standard gradient ∇Γon configuration spaces Γ for a general class of grand canonical Gibbs measures μ, corresponding to pair potentials ϕ and intensity measures σ = z exp (-ϕ)dx, 0 < z < ∞, having correlation functions fulfilling a Ruelle bound. Combining this with a second integration by parts formula with respect to the gradient ∇Γin direction γ ∈ Γ, by Dirichlet form techniques we can construct the environment process and the coupled process, respectively. Our results give the first mathematically rigorous and complete construction of the tagged particle process in continuum with interaction potential. In particular, we can treat interaction potentials which might have a singularity at the origin, nontrivial negative part and infinite range as e.g., the Lennard–Jones potential.
Carboniferous Scaphopoda (Mollusca) and non-scaphopods from Scotland
Authors: Yochelson E. L.
Published: April 2011

Synopsis

This study of the Palaeozoic Scaphopoda collection of National Museums Scotland (NMS) is concerned exclusively with material of Carboniferous age. A type specimen, described in 1825, is reconfirmed as a member of ‘Vermes’ rather than Mollusca. Most of the collection is in several informal groups ranging from probable worm tubes though possible worm tubes to Cephalopoda. One new species of a valid member of the Scaphopoda is identified in the collection.
Stratigraphical context and geochemistry of Tournaisian (pre-Clyde Plateau Volcanic Formation) tuffs, Great Cumbrae, western Midland Valley of Scotland
Authors: Young G. M. , Caldwell W. G. E.
Published: April 2011

Synopsis

In the western part of the Midland Valley of Scotland, Carboniferous volcanic activity is considered to have been initiated at
c
. 335 Ma with extrusion of the first lavas of the Clyde Plateau Volcanic Formation (CPF). On the island of Little Cumbrae, in the Firth of Clyde, the basal flow of the CPF lies disconformably on sandstones and conglomerates of the upper part of the Clyde Sandstone Formation. However, at the south end of adjacent Great Cumbrae, the lower part of the Clyde Sandstone Formation (Tournaisian) is host to a series of thin concordant igneous bodies that resemble sills but lack features such as chilled margins. Some display fine bedding and lamination near the base and top. These rocks are interpreted as tuffs with chemical affinities to alkali basalts such as those of the CPF on the neighbouring island of Little Cumbrae and in south Bute. Their major element content has been modified by addition of Ca and volatiles, possibly during ascent of magma through caliche-bearing rocks and water-rich sediments. The tuffs have chondrite-normalized rare earth element patterns similar to those of basaltic rocks forming the lower part of the CPF. They provide new evidence of Tournaisian volcanic activity in the western part of the Midland Valley, thus bringing it into line with that in parts of the Southern Uplands and Scottish Borders region. The Bessy's Port tuffs occur near the base of the Clyde Sandstone Formation whereas, on Little Cumbrae, the first lava of the CPF is near its top. Early magmatic activity is also indicated by the occurrence of peperites associated with mafic dykes intruding mudstones of the Lower Foul Port Member, near the base of the Kinnesswood Formation, in southwestern Great Cumbrae, and by basaltic tuffs in the Ascog Member of the Clyde Sandstone Formation (or basal part of the Birgidale Formation) in east–central Bute.
Fracture size, frequency, and strain in the Cambrian Eriboll Formation sandstones, NW Scotland
Authors: Hooker J. N. , Laubach S. E. , Gomez L. , Marrett R. , Eichhubl P. , Diaz-Tushman K. , Pinzon E.
Published: April 2011

Synopsis

We investigated fracture intensity of the Cambrian Eriboll Formation sandstone exposures west of the Palaeozoic Moine Thrust Belt (MTB) in NW Scotland, by measuring the number and size of fractures encountered per unit length along lines of observation orientated perpendicular to fracture strike. Eriboll Formation sandstones have at least five fracture sets, each of which includes penetrative arrays of opening-mode microfractures (quartz-filled micro-veins). The size distributions of the fractures can be described by power laws over more than three orders of magnitude. The observed power-law equation parameters suggest that strain is dominated by the largest fractures present in each set; however, field evidence suggests that opening-mode fractures with apertures greater than 1 cm are rare. Strain from microscopic fractures is heterogeneous compared with strain caused by fractures that are sufficiently wide (0.1 mm and above) to be measured on exposures, reflecting greater variation in fracture size apparent at microscopic scales. Although size patterns are from sets formed at different times, consistent cumulative frequency versus aperture slopes suggests that a common mechanism governs organization of fracture sizes. The penetrative sets of natural fractures within the Eriboll Formation record a strain history spanning burial, Caledonian orogenesis, and uplift.
MOS Capacitors Fabricated on 3C-SiC(111) Layers Grown on 6H-SiC(0001)
Authors: Lorenzzi Jean , Esteve Romain , Jegenyes Nikoletta , Reshanov Sergey A. , Schöner Adolf , Ferro Gabriel
Published: April 2011

In this work we report on the various steps, from growth to processing, required for the fabrication of metaloxide-semiconductor (MOS) capacitors using 3C-SiC(111) material and with superior interfacial quality. The layers were first heteroepitaxially grown by vapour-liquid-solid mechanism on 6H-SiC(0001) substrate. Then the surface was polished before homoepitaxial thickening by chemical vapour deposition. On such 3C-SiC material, the MOS capacitors were fabricated using an advanced oxidation process combining Plasma-Enhanced Chemical Vapour Deposition of SiO2 and short post-oxidation steps in wet oxygen (H2O:O2). Electrical measurements of these MOS capacitors led to very low density of interface traps, D
it = 1.2 × 1010 eV−1 cm−2 at 0.63 eV below the conduction band, and fixed oxide charges Q
eff
/q estimated to −7 × 109 cm−2. These characteristics, which are, to the author’s knowledge, the best values found for SiC based MOS capacitors, represent a significant advance towards the fabrication of MOS devices based on 3C-SiC.
Electrodeposition of Pt100−xPbx Metastable Alloys and Intermetallics
Authors: Hwang Sun-Mi , Bonevich John E. , Kim Jae Jeong , Moffat Thomas P.
Published: April 2011

The electrodeposition of a series of metastable Pt-Pb alloys and intermetallic phases as well as elemental Pt is demonstrated using an acid electrolyte comprised of 0.05 mol/l Pb(ClO4)2 and/or 0.001 mol/l K2PtCl4. Pt-Pb films were deposited at various potentials relative to the reversible potential for Pb/Pb2+ (EPb/Pb2+ = −0.80 V SSE). A metastable fcc Pt-Pb solid solution is formed at potentials between −0.2 and −0.78 V SSE. A monotonic increase in the fcc lattice parameter with decreasing potential corresponds to a rise in Pb content that spans the composition range from Pt to beyond Pt3Pb. The intermetallics, PtPb, PtPb4 and elemental Pb form at more negative potentials. The films are single or multiphase depending on the growth potential and substrate. Thermal annealing leads to phase separation of the deposits into the respective equilibrium intermetallic phases whose volume fractions enable the overall film composition to be determined. At more negative potentials, between −0.79 and −0.82 V SSE, the ordered hexagonal PtPb intermetallic phase is directly formed by electrodeposition. Co-deposition of Pt100−xPbx at potentials positive of −0.8 V SSE (EPb/Pb2+) occurs by a combination of Pb underpotential deposition with overpotential Pt deposition.
IL‐1b, IL‐6 and IL‐8 Levels in Gyneco‐Obstetric Infections
Authors: Basso Beatriz , Giménez Francisco , López Carlos
Published: April 2011

Objective. During pregnancy cytokines and inflammatory mediators stimulate the expression of prostaglandin, the levels of which determine the onset of labor. The aim of this work was to study interleukin IL‐1β, IL‐6 and IL‐8 levels in the vaginal discharge, serum and urine of pregnant women with genitourinary infection before and after specific treatment. One hundred and fifty‐one patients were studied during the second or third trimester of their pregnancy.

Methods. The selected patients were: healthy or control group (n = 52), those with bacterial vaginosis (n = 47), those with vaginitis (n = 37), those with asymptomatic urinary infection (n = 15) and post‐treatment. The level of cytokines was assayed by ELISA test. The Mann–Whitney U‐test was used for statistical analysis.

Results. The IL‐1β levels in vaginal discharge were: control 103.5 ± 24.2 pg/ml, bacterial vaginosis 1030 ± 59.5, vaginitis
749.14 ± 66.7l (p < 0.0001), post‐treatment 101.4 ± 28.7. IL‐6 values were similar in both control and infected groups, and there were no patients with chorioamnionitis. In vaginal discharge IL‐6: control 14.2 ± 3.9 pg/ml, bacterial vaginosis 13.2 ±3.8, vaginitis 13 ±4.2. IL‐8 levels were: control 1643 ± 130.3 pg/ml, bacterial vaginosis 2612.7 ±257.7, vaginitis 3437 ± 460 (p < 0.0001), post‐treatment 1693 ±126.6. In urine the results were: control 40.2 ±17 pg/ml, asymptomatic urinary infection 1200.7 ±375 (p < 0.0001). In patients with therapeutic success both IL‐1β and IL‐8 returned to normal levels.

Conclusions. Genitourinary infections induce a significant increase in IL‐1β and IL‐8 levels in vaginal secretions, and IL‐8 in urine as well. Both cytokines could be useful as evolutive markers of infection.
Complexity of Vaginal Microflora as Analyzed by PCR DenaturingGradient Gel Electrophoresis in a Patient With Recurrent Bacterial Vaginosis
Authors: Devillard Estelle , Burton Jeremy P. , Reid Gregor
Published: April 2011

Objective:Gardnerella vaginalis has long been the most common pathogen associated with bacterial vaginosis (BV). We aimed to test our hypothesis that symptoms and signs of BV do not necessarily indicate colonization by this organism, and often will not respond to standard metronidazole or clindamycin treatment.

Methods: Using a relatively new molecular tool, PCR denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), the vaginal microflora of a woman with recalcitrant signs and symptoms of BV was investigated over a 6‐week timeframe.

Results: The vagina was colonized by pathogenic enterobacteriaceae, staphylococci and Candida albicans. The detection of the yeast by PCR‐DGGE is particularly novel and enhances the ability of this tool to examine the true nature of the vaginal microflora. The patient had not responded to antifungal treatment, antibiotic therapy targeted at anaerobic Gram‐negative pathogens such as Gardnerella, nor daily oral probiotic intake of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG. The failure to find the GG strain in the vagina indicated it did not reach the site, and the low counts of lactobacilli demonstrated that therapy with this probiotic did not appear to influence the vaginal flora.

Conclusions: BV is not well understood in terms of its causative organisms, and further studies appear warranted using non‐culture, molecular methods. Only when the identities of infecting organisms are confirmed can effective therapy be
devized. Such therapy may include the use of probiotic lactobacilli, but only using strains which confer a benefit on the vagina of pre‐ and postmenopausal women.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease During the Post‐Partum Year
Authors: Mahon Barbara E. , Temkit M′hamed , Wang Jane , Rosenman Marc B. , Katz Barry P.
Published: April 2011

Objective. To investigate the occurrence of, and risk factors for, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) occurring during the
post‐partum year.

Methods. Demographic and clinical data for women who delivered a term infant with 5‐minute Apgar score ≥ 8 from 1992
through 1999 at a large urban hospital were extracted from an electronic medical record system.

Results. During the study period, 15 206 deliveries occurred among 12 549 women. PID was diagnosed during the postpartum
year of 148 (1.0%) deliveries. In univariate analysis, young age, black race, and both pre‐delivery history and postpartum
diagnosis of chlamydial and gonococcal infection were associated with PID. In multivariate analysis, only young age
and a positive test for gonorrhea before delivery or post‐partum were independent predictors of PID.

Conclusions. Pelvic inflammatory disease was diagnosed during the post‐partum year in 1% of women studied. Young
maternal age was an important demographic risk factor. Further investigation of post‐partum STD acquisition and
progression to PID is needed to determine whether women are at increased risk following delivery.
Opportunities to Reduce Overuse of Antibiotics for Perinatal Group BStreptococcal Disease Prevention and Management of Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes
Authors: Glass Nina E. , Schulkin Jay , Chamany Shadi , Riley Laura E. , Schuchat Anne , Schrag Stephanie
Published: April 2011

Objective: To identify opportunities to reduce overuse of antibiotics for prevention of perinatal group B streptococcal (GBS) disease and management of preterm premature rupture of membranes (pPROM).

Methods: An anonymous written questionnaire was sent to each of 1031 Fellows of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the responses were subjected to statistical analysis.

Results: Among those of the 404 respondents who saw obstetric patients in 2001, most (84%) screened for GBS colonization, and 22% of these prescribed prenatal antibiotics to try to eradicate GBS colonization. Of the 382 respondents
(95%) who prescribed antibiotics for pPROM, 36% continued antibiotics for more than 7 days despite negative results from GBS cultures collected before initiation of treatment. Having more years of clinical experience (adjusted odds ratio (OR)
3.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.5 to 6.2), working in a non‐academic setting (adjusted OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.0 to 6.9), and prescribing antibiotics prenatally for GBS colonization (adjusted OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.1 to 3.4) were associated with prescribing prolonged antibiotics for pPROM.

Conclusion: Prenatal antibiotic treatment for GBS colonization and prolonged antibiotic treatment for pPROM contribute to overuse of antibiotics in obstetrics.
Maternal Preeclampsia and Neonatal Outcomes
Authors: Backes Carl H. , Markham Kara , Moorehead Pamela , Cordero Leandro , Nankervis Craig A. , Giannone Peter J.
Published: April 2011

Preeclampsia is a multiorgan, heterogeneous disorder of pregnancy associated with significant maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Optimal strategies in the care of the women with preeclampsia have not been fully elucidated, leaving physicians with incomplete data to guide their clinical decision making. Because preeclampsia is a progressive disorder, in some circumstances, delivery is needed to halt the progression to the benefit of the mother and fetus. However, the need for premature delivery has adverse effects on important neonatal outcomes not limited to the most premature infants. Late-preterm infants account for approximately two thirds of all preterm deliveries and are at significant risk for morbidity and mortality. Reviewed is the current literature in the diagnosis and obstetrical management of preeclampsia, the outcomes of late-preterm infants, and potential strategies to optimize fetal outcomes in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia.
Flash FPGA-Based Numerical Pulse-Width Modulator
Authors: Arias Ricardo , Mediote Hernán , Tacca Hernán
Published: April 2011

A pulse-width modulator to drive three-phase AC motors is described. It performs a numerical modulation technique, also known as optimum or calculated modulation, but, in order to reduce hardware resources, a hybrid approach merging that calculated modulation with proportional modulation is proposed. The modulator is tested in a flash-based field programmable gate array (FPGA) implementation.
Outcome of Glansectomy and Skin Grafting in the Management of Penile Cancer
Authors: O'Kane Hugh F. , Pahuja Ajay , Ho K. J. , Thwaini Ali , Nambirajan Thaigarajan , Keane Patrick
Published: April 2011

Purpose. To report outcome data for patients with penile cancer treated surgically with glansectomy and skin grafting.Materials and Methods. We retrospectively reviewed data on all patients undergoing surgical management of penile cancer by a single surgeon between 1998 and 2008. Outcomes in patients who underwent glansectomy and skin grafting were analysed.Results. Between 1998 and 2008 a total of 25 patients with a mean age 60 (39–83) underwent glansectomy and skin grafting. Six patients had carcinoma in situ (CIS); the stage in the remaining patients ranged from T1G1 to T3G3. Mean followup for patients was 28 months (range 6–66). Disease specific survival was 92% with 2 patients who had positive nodes at lymph node dissection developing groin recurrence. One patient developed a local recurrence requiring a partial penectomy.Conclusions. Penile preserving surgery with glansectomy and skin grafting is a successful technique with minimal complications for local control of penile carcinoma arising on the glans. Careful followup to exclude local recurrence is required.
Dependence of Spreading and Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Micropatterned Surface Area
Authors: Song Wei , Kawazoe Naoki , Chen Guoping
Published: April 2011

Micropatterning technology is a highly advantageous approach for directly assessing and comparing the effects of different factors on stem cell functions. In this study, poly(vinyl alcohol)- (PVA-) micropatterned polystyrene surfaces were prepared using photoreactive PVA and ultraviolet photolithography with a photomask. The micropatterned surface was suitable for single-cell array formation and long-term cell culture due to the nanometer thickness of nonadhesive PVA layer. Different degrees of cell spreading with the same cell shape were established by adjusting the sizes of circular, cell-adhesive polystyrene micropatterns. Cell spreading and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on the micropatterns were investigated at the single-cell level. The assembly and organization of the cytoskeleton were regulated by the degree of cell spreading. Individual MSCs on large circular micropatterns exhibited a more highly ordered arrangement of actin filaments than did those on the small circular micropatterns. Furthermore, the differentiation of MSCs was dependent on the degree of cell spreading. Increased cell spreading facilitated the osteogenic differentiation but suppressed the adipogenic differentiation of MSCs. This micropatterning method is valuable for stem cell research in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
Determination of Nitrogen Oxides with Rhodamine B by Fluorescence Quenching Method
Authors: Pugen Yan , Haiou Qiu , Cuili Lu , Zhiyong Tang
Published: April 2011

NO2 can be transformed into nitrite by the absorption of Rhodamine B solution, which will make fluorescence quenching of Rhodamine B in acidic medium. According to this mechanism, a new method for detecting nitrogen oxides in the air is developed by a fluorescence spectrophotometry. The influence of environmental media and interfering substances in the fluorescence intensity of system was studied. Under the optimal experimental conditions, the decrease of fluorescence intensity varies linearly with the concentration of NO2  − over the range of 0.009~0.500 μg/ml with a correlation coefficient of 0.9992. The method is simple and has a lower limit of detection than the common methods. It can be a referee for the environmental evaluation.
A New Model for Simulating TSS Washoff in Urban Areas
Authors: Crobeddu E. , Bennis S.
Published: April 2011

This paper presents the formulation and validation of the conceptual Runoff Quality Simulation Model (RQSM) that was developed to simulate the erosion and transport of solid particles in urban areas. The RQSM assumes that solid particle accumulation on pervious and impervious areas is infinite. The RQSM simulates soil erosion using rainfall kinetic energy and solid particle transport with linear system theory. A sensitivity analysis was conducted on the RQSM to show the influence of each parameter on the simulated load. Total suspended solid (TSS) loads monitored at the outlet of the borough of Verdun in Canada and at three catchment outlets of the City of Champaign in the United States were used to validate the RQSM. TSS loads simulated by the RQSM were compared to measured loads and to loads simulated by the Rating Curve model and the Exponential model of the SWMM software. The simulation performance of the RQSM was comparable to the Exponential and Rating Curve models.
Decoration of Carbon Nanotubes with CoO and Co Nanoparticles
Authors: Belesi M. , Panagiotopoulos I. , Pal S. , Hariharan S. , Tsitrouli D. , Papavassiliou G. , Niarchos D. , Boukos N. , Fardis M. , Tzitzios V.
Published: April 2011

Multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) decorated with CoO nanocrystals were synthesized by in-situ thermal decomposition of Co(acac)2 in oleyl amine under reflux conditions open in the air. The CoO/MWNTs composite material can be easily converted to metallic Co/MWNTs through annealing under reducing atmosphere (4%  H2) at 500°C without any significant sintering effect. The composite materials characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The structural and morphological characterization shows that the CoO has cubic face (fcc) and the particles deposited uniformly on the external surface of the carbon nanotubes. In the annealed materials, the NMR shows that the fcc and hcp metallic Co phases coexist with a significant percentage of stacking faults. The magnetic measurements indicated that the CoO/MWNTs composite is largely composed of CoO nanoparticles with uncompensated surface spins. The fluctuations of spins persist in partially reduced CoO grains as shown by nuclear spin-lattice relaxation measurements.
Effects of Orally Administered Lactoferrin and Lactoperoxidase-Containing Tablets on Clinical and Bacteriological Profiles in Chronic Periodontitis Patients
Authors: Shimizu Eiju , Kobayashi Tetsuo , Wakabayashi Hiroyuki , Yamauchi Koji , Iwatsuki Keiji , Yoshie Hiromasa
Published: April 2011

This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of oral administration of lactoferrin (LF) and lactoperoxidase-(LPO-)containing tablet on periodontal condition. Seventy-two individuals with chronic periodontitis were randomly assigned to take either bovine LF and LPO-containing tablets (test group,n=37) or control tablets (control group,n=35) every day for 12 weeks. Periodontal parameters and levels of subgingival plaque bacteria, human and bovine LF, and endotoxin in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) were evaluated at baseline, 1 week, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks. Significant differences were observed in GCF levels of bovine LF between the test and control groups throughout the study (P<.05). However, clinical and bacteriological parameter values proved comparable between the two groups at 1 week to 12 weeks. Therefore, the effect of oral administration of LF and LPO-containing tablets might be weak on periodontal and bacteriological profile in this study.
Contribution of Cholesterol and Oxysterols in the Physiopathology of Cataract: Implication for the Development of Pharmacological Treatments
Authors: Vejux Anne , Samadi Mohammad , Lizard Gérard
Published: April 2011

The development of cataract is associated with some lipid changes in human lens fibers, especially with increased accumulation and redistribution of cholesterol inside these cells. Some direct and indirect lines of evidence, also suggest an involvement of cholesterol oxide derivatives (also named oxysterols) in the development of cataract. Oxysterol formation can result either from nonenzymatic or enzymatic processes, and some oxysterols can induce a wide range of cytotoxic effects (overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS); phospholipidosis) which might contribute to the initiation and progression of cataract. Thus, the conception of molecules capable of regulating cholesterol homeostasia and oxysterol levels in human lens fibers can have some interests and constitute an alternative to surgery at least at early stages of the disease.