bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Serotypes of Salmonella Isolated from Faeces of Patients with Acute Diarrhoea in Gwangju Area, Korea, During 2000–2009
Authors: Kim T. S. , Kim M. J. , Kim S. H. , Seo J. J. , Kee H. Y. , Jung J. K. , Ha D. R. , Kim E. S. , Moon Y. W. , Lim S. K. , Kim M. K. , Nam H. M.
Published: September 2012

The purpose of this study was to determine the changing pattern of Salmonella serotypes causing acute diarrhoea in humans in Gwangju area, Korea, during 2000–2009. A total of 596 Salmonella isolated from culture of 29 896 faecal samples of patients with acute diarrhoea were included in this study. Faecal samples were collected from local hospitals and clinics in Gwangju area during January 2000–December 2009. The mean annual frequency of isolates for the 10 years was 2.0% (range, 0.9–6.0). The isolates were serologically classified into 43 different serotypes. The 10 most common serotypes were Salmonella Enteritidis (47.9%), S. Typhimurium (20.4%), S. Braenderup (3.2%), S. Montevideo (2.9%), S. Paratyphi B (2.9%), S. London (2.3%), S. Bardo (1.7%), S. Virchow (1.7%), S. Infantis (1.5%) and S. Typhi (1.5%), accounting for 86% of all the isolates. Temporal variations were observed in the distribution of different Salmonella serotypes over the years, and only S. Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium were persistent throughout the study period. Although age specificity varied with serotypes, Salmonella was isolated most frequently from children below 5 years of age (179/596, 30.0%). A seasonal trend was apparent, and the highest rates were found in the summer months. This is the first report of the annual frequency of isolation of Salmonella serotypes, and seasonal and age‐specific patterns of salmonellosis in humans in Gwangju area, Korea, over a decade‐long period.
Homogeneous Material Constructed Acoustic Cloak Based on Coordinate Transformation
Authors: Li Tinghua , Huang Ming , Yang Jingjing , Lan Yaozhong , Sun Jing
Published: September 2012

The two-dimensional and three-dimensional acoustic cloaks composed of homogeneous and nonsingular materials are designed by choosing appropriate spatial transformation. The mass density tensor and bulk modulus of the acoustic cloaks with diamond shape are derived, and extended to an acoustic carpet cloak. Performance of the acoustic cloaks is confirmed by full-wave simulation. The work represents an important progress towards the practical realization of the metamaterial-assisted acoustic cloak and expands the application of the coordinate transformation method.
Reduced Order Models for Blade-To-Blade Damping Variability in Mistuned Blisks
Authors: Joshi Anish G. S. , Epureanu Bogdan I.
Published: September 2012

A novel reduced order modeling methodology to capture blade-to-blade variability in damping in blisks is presented. This new approach generalizes the concept of component mode mistuning (CMM), which was developed to capture stiffness and mass mistuning (and did not include variability in damping among the blades). This work focuses on modeling large variability in damping. Such variability is significant in many applications and particularly important for modeling damping coatings. Similar to the CMM based studies, structural damping is used to capture the damping effects due to the mechanical energy dissipation caused by internal friction within the blade material. The steady state harmonic responses of the blades are obtained using the novel reduced order modeling methodology and are validated by comparison with simulation results obtained using a full order model in ANSYS with a maximum amplitude error of 0.3%. It is observed that there is no strong correlation between the engine order of excitation and both the variation in the response from blade to blade and the blade amplification factors. The effects of damping mistuning are studied statistically through Monte Carlo simulations. For this purpose, the blisk model is subjected to multiple traveling wave excitations. The uncertainty in the various mechanisms responsible for dissipation of energy and the uncontrollability of these dissipation mechanisms makes it difficult to assign a reliable value for the loss factor of each blade. Hence, large variations (up to ±80%) in the structural damping coefficients of the blades are simulated.
Metal versus rare-gas ion irradiation during Ti1−xAlxN film growth by hybrid high power pulsed magnetron/dc magnetron co-sputtering using synchronized pulsed substrate bias
Authors: Greczynski Grzegorz , Lu Jun , Jensen Jens , Petrov Ivan , Greene Joseph E. , Bolz Stephan , Kölker Werner , Schiffers Christoph , Lemmer Oliver , Hultman Lars
Published: September 2012

Metastable NaCl-structure Ti1 − xAlxN is employed as a model system to probe the effects of metal versus rare-gas ion irradiation during film growth using reactive high-power pulsed magnetron sputtering (HIPIMS) of Al and dc magnetron sputtering of Ti. The alloy film composition is chosen to be x = 0.61, near the kinetic solubility limit at the growth temperature of 500  °C. Three sets of experiments are carried out: a −60 V substrate bias is applied either continuously, in synchronous with the full HIPIMS pulse, or in synchronous only with the metal-rich-plasma portion of the HIPIMS pulse. Alloy films grown under continuous dc bias exhibit a thickness-invariant small-grain, two-phase nanostructure (wurtzite AlN and cubic Ti1−xAlxN) with random orientation, due primarily to intense Ar+ irradiation leading to Ar incorporation (0.2 at. %), high compressive stress (−4.6 GPa), and material loss by resputtering. Synchronizing the bias with the full HIPIMS pulse results in films that exhibit much lower stress levels (−1.8 GPa) with no measureable Ar incorporation, larger grains elongated in the growth direction, a very small volume fraction of wurtzite AlN, and random orientation. By synchronizing the bias with the metal-plasma phase of the HIPIMS pulses, energetic Ar+ ion bombardment is greatly reduced in favor of irradiation predominantly by Al+ ions. The resulting films are single phase with a dense competitive columnar structure, strong 111 orientation, no measureable trapped Ar concentration, and even lower stress (−0.9 GPa). Thus, switching from Ar+ to Al+ bombardment, while maintaining the same integrated incident ion/metal ratio, eliminates phase separation, minimizes renucleation during growth, and reduces the high concentration of residual point defects, which give rise to compressive stress.
Wnt5a Potentiates TGF-β Signaling to Promote Colonic Crypt Regeneration After Tissue Injury
Authors: Miyoshi Hiroyuki , Ajima Rieko , Luo Christine T. , Yamaguchi Terry P. , Stappenbeck Thaddeus S.
Published: September 2012

Gut, Heal Thyself

Foods, drugs, and pathogens all represent possible threats to our guts on a daily basis. Fortunately, the gut is quite good at repairing itself—but how? Working in mice,

Miyoshi
et al.

(p.
108
, published online 6 September; see the Perspective by

Barrett

) selectively injured intestinal crypts containing intestinal stem cells and observed therepair process. The noncanonical Wnt ligand, Wnt5a, was required for crypt regeneration. Wnt5a inhibited intestinal stem cell proliferation, which paradoxically promoted regeneration of crypt tissue.
Mutations in
BCKD-kinase
Lead to a Potentially Treatable Form of Autism with Epilepsy
Authors: Novarino Gaia , El-Fishawy Paul , Kayserili Hulya , Meguid Nagwa A. , Scott Eric M. , Schroth Jana , Silhavy Jennifer L. , Kara Majdi , Khalil Rehab O. , Ben-Omran Tawfeg , Ercan-Sencicek A. Gulhan , Hashish Adel F. , Sanders Stephan J. , Gupta Abha R. , Hashem Hebatalla S. , Matern Dietrich , Gabriel Stacey , Sweetman Larry , Rahimi Yasmeen , Harris Robert A. , State Matthew W. , Gleeson Joseph G.
Published: September 2012

A Fine Balance

Intellectual and neurological disabilities can arise from diverse developmental aberrations.

Novarino
et al.

(p.
394
, published online 6 September; see the Perspective by

Beaudet

) have now determined the genetic basis for one such disorder for a small group of patients. Exome sequencing led to identification of mutations in a kinase
BCKDK
(
Branched Chain Ketoacid Dehydrogenase Kinase
) that regulates metabolism of branched-chain amino acids such as valine, leucine, and isoleucine. Mice with homozygous mutations in the
BCKDK
gene showed developmental and neurological abnormalities resembling those in certain mouse autism models. Analysis of transport mechanisms responsible for carrying amino acids across the blood-brain barrier revealed competition between the branched-chain amino acids and large neutral amino acids. Nutritional supplementation with extra branched-chain amino acids in the diet of mice carrying homozygous mutations in the
BCKDK
gene normalized their phenotype.
Clostridium septicumsepsis and its implications
Authors: Khalid Muhammad , Lazarus Rajeka , Bowler Ian CJW , Darby Chris
Published: September 2012

An elderly gentleman, who had 12 years earlier been successfully treated for colon cancer, presented with fever, rigours, right upper quadrant abdominal pain and tenderness. A CT of the abdomen revealed a colonic mass distal to the hepatic flexure with multiple gas locules and a walled off perforation. He underwent a right hemicolectomy. Histology confirmed multifocal colonic adenocarcinoma. His admission blood cultures grewClostridium septicum. A week postoperatively he developed intermittent fevers and abdominal pain. Repeat CT revealed an abdominal collection adjacent to the new anastomosis, but more importantly, a sharply shouldered aneurysmal dilation of the infra-renal abdominal aorta. These findings prompted immediate surgical drainage of the collection, repair of the anastomostic leak, resection of the infected aortic aneurysm and replacement with a tube graft. This case highlights the clinical significance ofC septicumbacteraemia: its association with occult colonic malignancy and with mycotic aneurysm formation. Clostridia isolated from blood cultures should not be dismissed as contaminants but fully identified to ensure appropriate patient management.
An uncommon anatomy presenting with a common disease: Figure 1
Authors: Tantiongco John-Paul
Published: September 2012

Coronary artery fistulas are rare anomalous communications, between coronary arteries and cardiac chambers and great vessels. They are often congenital, but usually present in adulthood. They can affect cardiac haemodynamic stability and are thought to predispose patients to heart failure, myocardial ischaemia, myocardial infarction, infective endocarditis, arrythmias and rupture. Herein, a case is discussed where a patient with long-standing stable angina was found to have a coronary artery fistula to the main pulmonary artery and concomitant ischaemic heart disease with a chronically occluded left anterior descending artery, proximal to the fistula. It is thought that the fistula probably predisposed the patient’s ischaemic heart disease. He underwent a successful coronary artery bypass grafting plus surgical ligation of the coronary artery fistula. This uncommon coronary artery anomaly, presenting with ischaemic heart disease, a common disease in adulthood, is discussed in the context of current recommedations.
Complicated appearance of an abdominal mass in the I-131 MIBG and Tc-99m bone scintigraphy of a patient with neuroblastoma: Figure 1
Authors: Koç Zehra Pınar , Karayalcin Binnur
Published: September 2012

Neuroblastoma is a common childhood neoplasia arising from neurogenic tissues. Main symptoms of this disease are bone pain, fewer, weight loss and anaemia. I-131 metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) is a highly sensitive and specific method in the detection of this disease and method of choice in staging, treatment response and recurrence detection as well as prognostification. In determination of the bone metastasis Tc-99m methylenediphosphonate (MDP) bone scintigraphy should be included to staging protocol. Abdominal masses originated from neurogenic tissues (neuroblastoma) can accumulate Tc-99m MDP. We want to present a child with neuroblastoma and abdominal mass displacing the adjacent kidney and accumulating both I-131 MIBG and Tc-99m MDP.
Use of cautery as a therapeutic modality in skin metastasis due to renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Dias Lorraine Simone , Vivek G , Rao Anuradha C K , Acharya Raviraja
Published: September 2012

Renal cell carcinoma commonly metastasises to the lungs, lymphatics and bone; it uncommonly metastasises to the skin. Several studies and reports have noted skin metastasis to be an indicator of high death rates. The best treatment for a single skin metastasis is surgical excision. However, local radiotherapy has been found to be equally effective. We present a case report where cautery was used at the site of skin metastasis, with good results.
Increased frequency of headache and change in visual aura due to occipital cysticercus granuloma
Authors: Verma Rajesh , Lalla Rakesh
Published: September 2012

Migraine is a common clinical disorder, quite disabling and affecting the quality of life in majority of patients. The visual aura is the commonest among all types of aura. Various types of migraine aura described in the literature are photopsia, fortification spectra, scotoma, visual distortion, haemianopia and metamorphsia. The epileptic visual aura differs from aura associated with migraine in certain features: short lasting for 2-3 minutes, occurring in clusters, multicoloured and circular in shape. The ictal manifestations of occipital lobe lesions can mimic episodes of migraine with visual aura according to some reports. In this case report, we intended to highlight aggravation and increased frequency of headache attacks and changed pattern of aura induced by occipital lobe cysticercus granuloma in a patient diagnosed of migraine with aura. The importance of neuroimaging of brain in state of unexpected increased frequency of headache episodes has been emphasised.
Missed sclera buckle as a cause of recurrent conjunctivitis: Figure 1
Authors: Rostron Egle , Abdelaziz Lamis , Barbara Ramez , Metcalfe Timothy
Published: September 2012

A 63-year-old woman was referred to the eye clinic with a 2-year history of unresolving right eye discomfort, irritation and recurrent conjunctivitis, managed by her general practitioner, where frequent use of topical antibiotics and ocular lubricants provided little and transient relief. The right eye was blind following a complicated retinal detachment surgery 30 years ago. Examination revealed an extruding silicone sponge scleral buckle from a previous retinal detachment surgery in the superior conjunctival fornix, under the right upper lid. This was subsequently surgically removed and her symptoms resolved.
Community mobilisation programme for female sex workers in coastal Andhra Pradesh, India: processes and their effects
Authors: Chakravarthy J B R , Joseph Shaju V , Pelto Pertti , Kovvali Dolly
Published: September 2012

Background

This paper describes the process of setting up community-based organisations (CBOs) of sex workers during the 5-year community mobilisation initiative of the Swagati project, an HIV prevention programme in nine coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh.

Method

The Swagati project facilitated the formation of 11 CBOs through partnerships with local non-governmental organisations and meetings with groups of sex workers. Activities included peer-led outreach, information campaigns, institution building through community committees and capacity building for organisational development.

Results

In 2010, a Community Ownership and Preparedness Index tool assessed the CBOs in terms of leadership, democratic governance, decision making and others qualities. All except two CBOs scored in the ‘promising’ category. One of these CBOs moved to promising stage by the year 2011 indicating good progress, considering how recently they were established. The Community Ownership and Preparedness Index assessments of organisational strengths showed wide variations among the CBOs, despite the essentially similar organisational steps taken by the Swagati programme. A Behavioural Tracking Survey (2010) of individual CBO members also showed district-level differences in sex workers' expressions of confidence in collective action, participation in organisational activities and other indicators.

Conclusion

Mobilising marginalised populations such as sex workers to form CBOs is a complex process and can be affected by many influences, including the qualities of CBO leadership. Although the CBOs have not yet reached full ‘maturity’, they have made significant improvements in terms of collectivisation and its translation into collective action as reported by individual sex workers.
SOME CONSIDERATIONS ON SUPERFLUIDITY
Authors: YU YONGLE
Published: September 2012

We review a natural universal theoretical framework of superfluidity and its analogues, superconductivity and supersolidity. This framework has the potential to describe all physical properties of superfluids to a high level of satisfaction. A unified description of both the "intrinsic" and "extrinsic" critical velocity of liquid 4 He is suggested. A recent clarification of the so-call pseudogap phase of a superconductor based on this framework is introduced. This paper reflects the current author's views of superfluidity, rather than being an attempt to review on a vast literature on this subject.
LOCALIZATION EFFECT AND PSEUDOGAP IN PRASEODYMIUM DOPED Y1-zPrzBa2Cu3O7-δ SINGLE CRYSTALS
Authors: VOVK R. V. , NAZYROV Z. F. , GOULATIS I. L. , CHRONEOS A.
Published: September 2012

In this paper, we investigate the temperature dependence of the transverse conductivity in Y 1-z Pr z Ba 2 Cu 3 O 7-δ single crystals with different praseodymium concentrations. It is determined that the increase of the praseodymium concentration in Y 1-z Pr z Ba 2 Cu 3 O 7-δ leads to the enhancement of localization effects. This in turn results to the transition from the pseudo-gap regime to the variable-range-hopping regime.
GAUGE TRANSFORMATION AND SOLITON SOLUTIONS FOR THE WHITHAM–BROER–KAUP SYSTEM IN THE SHALLOW WATER
Authors: SHAN WEN-RUI , ZHAN YAN , TIAN BO
Published: September 2012

In the shallow-water studies, the Whitham–Broer–Kaup (WBK) system can be used to describe the propagation of the long waves. In this paper, based on the Lax pair of the WBK system, we derive the gauge transformation from the WBK system to the Ablowitz–Kaup–Newell–Segur (AKNS) system with the help of symbolic computation. Applying the Darboux transformation of the AKNS system, we obtain some soliton solutions of the WBK system. Those results might be useful in the investigations on the propagation of solitons in such situation as shallow water.
QUANTUM CORRELATIONS OF TWO QUBITS COUPLED IN A THERMAL EQUILIBRIUM ENVIRONMENT
Authors: ZHANG AIPING , LI FULI
Published: September 2012

Quantum correlations (including entanglement and quantum discord) of two qubits symmetrically coupled to the surrounding XY spin chain in the presence of a transverse magnetic field are studied. We investigate the dynamic evolution of the quantum correlations of the two qubits when the surrounding spin chain is in the thermal equilibrium state. Numerical results show that the thermal effects can accelerate the decay process of the quantum correlations if the initial state of the composite system is not in the decoherence free space. When the temperature is high enough, the quantum phase transition driven by the external magnetic field completely disappear.
STRAIN EFFECTS ON ENHANCED HYDROGEN SULPHIDE DETECTION CAPABILITY OF Ag-DECORATED DEFECTIVE GRAPHENE: A FIRST-PRINCIPLES INVESTIGATION
Authors: QIN XIAN , MENG QINGYUAN , FENG YUAN PING
Published: September 2012

Strain effects on hydrogen sulphide ( H 2 S ) adsorption on Ag -decorated Stone–Wales (SW) defect in graphene were investigated by density functional theory calculations. The results indicate that an Ag adatom is easily pinned chemically on the top of the most stretched C – C bond at the SW defect in graphene without mechanical strains. A modest uniform tensile strain (8%) applied in defective graphene greatly increases the binding energy of Ag by 44%, indicating the strain enhanced stabilization of Ag on SW defect. Using the resulting Ag -decorated defective graphene ( Ag –SW–g) composite as a model for H 2 S molecule detection, we found that the tensile strain has little effects on the interaction between the molecule and the composite, and the adsorption energies of H 2 S around 1.6 eV which is six times larger than that on pristine graphene are produced. The enhanced H 2 S adsorption on Ag –SW–g is attributed to charge transfer from the molecule to the graphene through the bridge-like Ag adatom. In addition, the electronic property of the Ag –SW–g under different strains changes from a metallic state to a semiconductor state upon H 2 S adsorption, which should lead to an observable change in its conductivity. These findings pave the way for future development of graphene-based gas sensor.
PRICING IN ONLINE AUCTION PROCUREMENT A REVIEW OF EMPIRICAL METHODS AND CURRENT UNDERSTANDINGS
Authors: ZHOU MING , JIANG WILLIAM Y. , CAO MENGLIN
Published: September 2012

The online auction has become an important channel for procurement and sourcing management. As firms often expect lower procurement prices through online auctions, how the prices are determined in online auctions should be of major interest to procurement managers and supply chain researchers. Despite the abundant empirical studies on online auction prices, an aggregated view is still absent. This study fills this gap with a review of extant studies. More specifically, this study provides summaries of all major theories behind online auction pricing, defines and analyzes often encountered econometric issues, and discusses how the treatments of these issues have been operationalized. Towards the end, existing findings on determinants of online auction prices are integrated and examined. The purpose of this study is to provide a convenient and precise package of current studies for researchers and professionals.
DEVELOPING WHAT CUSTOMERS REALLY NEED: INVOLVING CUSTOMERS IN INNOVATIONS
Authors: WEBER MARCEL E. A. , WEGGEMAN MATHIEU C. D. P. , VAN AKEN JOAN E.
Published: September 2012

Involving users in new product design and development is in itself not a new phenomenon. Academic research on the subject, however, is relatively new. Since this new millennium research on user involvement in innovations has multiplied, exhibiting that firms who actively involve users in their innovation process can benefit from this initiative, even though literature also warns us for relying too much and too actively on the participation of customers in innovation. However, research is mainly descriptive and explanatory of nature, and is seldom a prescription for firm managers on what to do should they decide to involve their customers in an innovation initiative.

This paper addresses this omission in literature and tries to give some first building blocks for a protocol for firms that want to involve their customers in innovations. This protocol will be the result of the author's further research on literature, previously executed projects by the author, expert interviews and a design and development process, in continuation of this paper.
STABILITY OF BI-θ-DERIVATIONS ON JB*-TRIPLES
Authors: EBADIAN A. , GHOBADIPOUR N. , BAGHBAN H.
Published: September 2012

In this paper we prove the generalized Hyers–Ulam stability of bi-θ-derivations on JB*-triples.
Optical Properties of Undoped a-Plane GaN Grown with Different Initial Growth Pressures
Authors: Song Keun Man , Kim Hogyoung
Published: September 2012

The optical properties of undoped a-plane GaN films grown by metal organic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE) with different initial growth pressures were investigated using photoluminescence (PL) measurements. Compared to GaN sample grown with higher initial grown pressure, which exhibited the dominant emission band at 3.423 eV, the dominant PL spectra for GaN sample grown with lower initial growth pressure was the donor-acceptor pair (DAP) band at 3.268 eV. Interestingly, the PL intensity of DAP longitudinal optical (LO) phonon replica was stronger than DAP emission above 50 K, indicating strong phonon coupling. The emission band at 3.359 eV observed for the sample grown with higher initial growth pressure was not observed for the sample grown with lower initial growth pressure. Based on the results obtained from Si doping, it was suggested that this band might be related with the improved crystalline quality through Si doping.
Epitaxy of Orthorhombic BaSi2 with Preferential In-Plane Crystal Orientation on Si(001): Effects of Vicinal Substrate and Annealing Temperature
Authors: Toh Katsuaki , Hara Kosuke O. , Usami Noritaka , Saito Noriyuki , Yoshizawa Noriko , Toko Kaoru , Suemasu Takashi
Published: September 2012

We attempted to grow orthorhombic BaSi2 epitaxial films having preferential in-plane crystallographic orientation on both exact and vicinal Si(001) substrates with a miscut angle of 2° toward Si[1̄10] by reactive deposition epitaxy (RDE) and subsequent molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). On the vicinal Si(001) substrate, the initial BaSi2 nuclei formed by RDE tended to grow unidirectionally with the [010] direction parallel to Si[110] when the annealing temperature of the Si substrate before the growth was increased from 830 to 1000 °C. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the grain size of the BaSi2 films grown by MBE increased up to approximately 9 µm on the vicinal Si(001) substrate when the substrate annealing temperature was 1000 °C. This is the largest grain size ever obtained for BaSi2. Even in the case of the exact Si(001) substrate, the MBE-grown BaSi2 grains preferentially grew with the [010] direction along Si[110] when the annealing temperature was 1000 °C.
Direct Observation of Local Shielding Currents in Superconducting Thin Films under Low Magnetic Field by Scanning Superconducting Quantum Interference Device Microscopy
Authors: Arisawa Shunichi , Mochiduki Kazuya , Yun Kyungsung , Hatano Takeshi , Iguchi Ienari , Endo Kazuhiro
Published: September 2012

We have observed local shielding current flows in oxide superconducting thin films under low magnetic field by scanning probe microscopy using a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID). The strength and direction of current flow were characterized simultaneously and directly by observing magnetic signals around artificial holes. This method allows us to map the current flow without reverse Fourier transform. In this paper, experimental data and analyses of the current flows in oxide superconducting thin films up to 50 µT are shown. Furthermore, results of calculation based on a very simple model are also presented. The possibility of using scanning SQUID microscopy to characterize current flow is presented.
Effects of Low-k Stack Structure on Performance of Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor Devices and Chip Package Interaction Failure
Authors: Tagami Masayoshi , Inoue Naoya , Ueki Makoto , Narihiro Mitsuru , Tada Munehiro , Yamamoto Hironori , Ito Fuminori , Furutake Naoya , Saito Shinobu , Onodera Takahiro , Takeuchi Tsuneo , Hayashi Yoshihiro
Published: September 2012

Low capacitance and highly reliable Cu dual-damascene (DD) interconnects have been developed with self-organized “seamless low-k SiOCH stacks” (SEALS) structure. A carbon-rich sub-nano porous SiOCH (k=2.5) was directly stacked on an oxygen-rich porous SiOCH (k=2.7) in the SEALS structure, without a hard-mask (HM) and etch-stop (ES) layer of SiO2. The effective k-value (k
eff) of the Cu DD interconnect including the SiCN capping layer (k=4.9) was reduced to 2.9 compared to 3.4 on a conventional hybrid structure with SiO2-HM and ES, which had been used in 65-nm-node mass production. The interconnect delay of a 45-nm-node complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) ring oscillator (RO) was reduced by 15% referring to that of the conventional hybrid structure. Interconnect reliabilities, such as the interline time dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) and thermal cycles, were unchanged from those of the conventional hybrid interconnects. No failure was detected for chip package interaction (CPI) during reliability tests in a plastic ball grid array (PBGA) package. SEALS is a promising structure for scaled down ultra large scale integrations (ULSIs) for highly reliable and high speed operation, and low power consumption.
A Method for Probing the Liquid–Liquid Interface
Authors: Ren Lichun , Song Tianqi , Yoo Il-sou , Ren Hongwen
Published: September 2012

A simple method for probing the interface of a liquid–liquid system is proposed. Two immiscible liquids are chosen and one is a UV curable monomer. When the two liquids meet, a curved interface is formed. Such an interface can be fixed once the liquid monomer has been solidified by UV exposure. After removing the uncured liquid, the solidified surface, which records the information of the liquid–liquid interface, can be observed directly. Our result shows that the surface of the cured monomer is smooth as the liquid–liquid contact time is less than 12 h. As the contact time is long enough, the surface becomes rough. However, the roughness does not go worse when the contact time is over 1000 h. Atomic force microscope (AFM) shows that the roughness of the interface is due to the formed tiny holes and bumps. Detailed results are given and the impact of surface roughness on the device performance, such as liquid lenses, is analyzed.
Laser-Irradiation-Induced Enrichment of Metallic Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes from As-Synthesized Nanotubes Individually Dispersed in Aqueous Solution
Authors: Tsuchiya Koji , Kumazawa Akira , Tajima Isamu , Uchida Katsumi , Ishii Tadahiro , Yajima Hirofumi
Published: September 2012

In the present study, we developed a novel technique for the enrichment of metallic (m-) single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) from as-synthesized SWNTs that are individually dispersed in carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) aqueous solution by irradiation with a nanosecond-pulsed optical parametric oscillator (OPO) laser with wavelength tunability. The 507 nm laser irradiation in the m-SWNT first-transition band (M11) resulted in the collapse of both m- and semiconducting (s-) SWNTs. In contrast, the irradiation with a laser with a wavelength (778 or 989 nm) corresponding to the typical absorption peaks in the s-SWNT second (S22)- or first (S11)-transition bands caused a preferential collapse of s-SWNTs, resulting in enriched m-SWNTs of high purity and in large quantity. The present m-SWNT collection technique can be generalized for various SWNT dispersion systems using different dispersing agents. The OPO laser irradiation discussed in this study is a promising technique for the selective separation of dispersed m-SWNTs.
Sedimentary and structural evidence for two-phase Upper Cretaceous and Eocene emplacement of the Tauride thrust sheets in central southern Turkey
Authors: Mackintosh Peter W. , Robertson Alastair H. F.
Published: September 2012

The development of the central Tauride region was dominated by rifting and passive margin development during Triassic–Early Cretaceous. The Tauride continental margin was later destabilized, followed by subsidence and collapse to form a flexurally controlled foredeep. Volcanic–sedimentary mélange and ophiolitic rocks were thrust onto the northern margin of the Tauride carbonate platform (Geyik Dağ) during Campanian–Maastrichtian. The remaining non-emplaced Tauride shelf subsided to form a second-stage foredeep during the Eocene. This basin was finally over-ridden by large thrust slices of Tauride shelf sediments, represented by the Hadim and Bolkar nappes, together with previously emplaced continental margin and ophiolitic units. Large- and small-scale field kinematic data indicate regional emplacement towards the west or SW. The ophiolitic rocks and related mélange were emplaced directly onto the Tauride autochthon (Geyik Dağ) in response to regional-scale out-of-sequence thrusting. Localized backthrusting to the NE took place in a transpressive setting. In the south, the relatively distal Bolkar nappe was emplaced over the more proximal Hadim nappe to produce the present thrust stacking order. The two-phase emplacement reflects initial northward subduction, which culminated in trench-continental margin collision (Campanian–Maastrichtian). This was followed by continent–continent collision (Eocene) related to suturing of a Mesozoic ocean basin to the north.
Cenozoic tectonics and evolution of the Euphrates valley in Syria
Authors: Trifonov V. G. , Bachmanov D. M. , Ali O. , Dodonov A. E. , Ivanova T. P. , Syas'ko A. A. , Kachaev A. V. , Grib N. N. , Imaev V. S. , Ali M. , Al-Kafri A. M.
Published: September 2012

Late Cenozoic tectonics affected the evolution of the Euphrates river valley in northern Syria. Data on the height and composition of terraces and new K–Ar dating of overlying basalts are presented for the area between the Assad Reservoir and the town of Abou Kamal. The presence of the Late Cenozoic Euphrates Fault, longitudinal with respect to the valley, is established by the lower height of the terraces on the NE side of the valley compared with the same terraces on the SW side. Geophysical profiling (dipole axial sounding; correlation refraction method and georadar) across the southern side of the valley (opposite the town of Ar Raqqa) confirms the offset on the fault as >25 m. Movements along the transverse Rasafeh–El Faid fault zone and the Halabiyeh–Zalabiyeh deformation zone have resulted in local uplift and the splitting of river terraces. During the Pliocene–Early Pleistocene, uplift and strong incision of the Euphrates valley propagated from near the Syrian–Turkish border to near the Iraq–Syrian border. The Euphrates began to deposit alluvium onto the pre-existing low-lying Mesopotamian Foredeep at
c.
3.5 Ma. Intense incision began by late Late-Pliocene time to form terrace IV. Comparable incision further downstream began during the Early Pleistocene to form terrace III.
Advances in cholangiocyte immunobiology
Authors: Syal Gaurav , Fausther Michel , Dranoff Jonathan A.
Published: September 2012

Cholangiocytes, or bile duct epithelia, were once thought to be the simple lining of the conduit system comprising the intra- and extrahepatic bile ducts. Growing experimental evidence demonstrated that cholangiocytes are in fact the first line of defense of the biliary system against foreign substances. Experimental advances in recent years have unveiled previously unknown roles of cholangiocytes in both innate and adaptive immune responses. Cholangiocytes can release inflammatory modulators in a regulated fashion. Moreover, they express specialized pattern-recognizing molecules that identify microbial components and activate intracellular signaling cascades leading to a variety of downstream responses. The cytokines secreted by cholangiocytes, in conjunction with the adhesion molecules expressed on their surface, play a role in recruitment, localization, and modulation of immune responses in the liver and biliary tract. Cholangiocyte survival and function is further modulated by cytokines and inflammatory mediators secreted by immune cells and cholangiocytes themselves. Because cholangiocytes act as professional APCs via expression of major histocompatibility complex antigens and secrete antimicrobial peptides in bile, their role in response to biliary infection is critical. Finally, because cholangiocytes release mediators critical to myofibroblastic differentiation of portal fibroblasts and hepatic stellate cells, cholangiocytes may be essential in the pathogenesis of biliary cirrhosis.
Neuronal plasticity in chronic pancreatitis is mediated via the neurturin/GFRα2 axis
Authors: Demir Ihsan Ekin , Wang Kun , Tieftrunk Elke , Giese Nathalia A. , Xing Baocai , Friess Helmut , Kehl Timo , Ceyhan Güralp O.
Published: September 2012

The glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) family member neurturin (NRTN) and its receptor GFRα2 play a deciding role in the normal development of pancreatic parasympathetic innervation. In this study, we aimed at investigating the role of NRTN/GFRα2 axis in pancreatic neuropathy in human chronic pancreatitis (CP). Expression of NRTN/GFRα2 was compared between normal human pancreas (NP) and CP tissues via immunohistochemistry, immunoblotting, and quantitative RT-PCR and correlated to abdominal pain sensation. To elucidate the impact of NRTN in pancreatic neuroplasticity, neuronal phenotype and glial density were quantified via an in vitro neuroplasticity assay in dissociated newborn rat dorsal root ganglia (DRG) cultured 1) in CP tissue extracts depleted from NRTN, 2) in NP, 3) in untreated CP tissue extracts, and 4) CP extracts in which nerve growth factor, glial cell derived-neurotrophic factor, or TGF-β1was depleted. NRTN and GFRα2 were highly upregulated in CP, especially in intrapancreatic nerves and the extracellular matrix. CP tissue demonstrated increased amounts of mature multimeric NRTN and elevated levels of GFRα2. The noticeable neurotrophic effect of CP tissue extracts on DRG neurons was diminished upon blockade of NRTN from these extracts. However, blockade of NRTN from CP extracts did not influence the density of DRG glia cells. In conclusion, the NRTN/GFRα2 axis is activated during the course of CP and represents a major key player in the reactive neural alterations in CP. This is the first study to provide functional evidence for the contribution of neurotrophic factors to neuroplasticity in CP.
Reactive oxygen species are not a required trigger for exercise-induced late preconditioning in the rat heart
Authors: Taylor Ryan P. , Starnes Joseph W.
Published: September 2012

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been reported to play a primary role in triggering the cardioprotective adaptations by some preconditioning procedures, but whether they are required for exercise-induced preconditioning is unclear. Thus in this study we used the free radical scavenger N-(2-mercaptopropionyl)glycine (MPG) to test the hypothesis that ROS is the trigger for exercise-induced preconditioning of the heart against ischemia-reperfusion injury. Male F344 rats were assigned to four groups: sedentary (SED, n = 7), SED/MPG (100 mg/kg ip daily for 2 days, n = 12), exercised on a treadmill for 2 days at 20 m/min, 6° grade, for 60 min (RUN, n = 7), and RUN/MPG with 100 mg/kg MPG injected 15 min before exercise ( n = 10). Preliminary experiments verified that MPG administration maintained myocardial redox status during the exercise bout. Twenty-four hours postexercise or MPG treatment isolated perfused working hearts were subjected to global ischemia for 22.5 min followed by reperfusion for 30 min. Recovery of myocardial external work (percentage of preischemic systolic pressure times cardiac output) for SED (50.4 ± 4.5) and SED/RUN (54.7 ± 6.6) was similar and improved in both exercise groups ( P < 0.05) to 77.9 ± 3.0 in RUN and 76.7 ± 4.5 in RUN/MPG. A 2 × 2 ANOVA also revealed that exercise decreased lactate dehydrogenase release from the heart during reperfusion (marker of cell damage) without MPG effects or interactions. Expression of the cytoprotective protein inducible heat shock protein 70 increased by similar amounts in the left ventricles of RUN and RUN/MPG compared with sedentary groups ( P < 0.05). We conclude that ROS are not a necessary trigger for exercise-induced preconditioning in rats.
Fentanyl decreases discharges of C and A nociceptors to suprathreshold mechanical stimulation in chronic inflammation
Authors: Moshourab Rabih , Stein Christoph
Published: September 2012

An essential component of mechanical hyperalgesia resulting from tissue injury is an enhanced excitability of nociceptive neurons, termed mechanical sensitization. Local application of opioids to inflamed rat paws attenuates mechanical hyperalgesia and reduces electrical excitability of C-fiber nociceptors in acute injury. Here, we examined the effects of the opioid receptor agonist fentanyl on the mechanical coding properties of not only C- but also A-fiber nociceptors innervating the rat hind paw in a model of chronic pain, i.e., 4 days after Freund's complete adjuvant-induced inflammation. The peripheral mechanosensitive terminals of C-fibers ( n = 143), A-fibers ( n = 79), and low-threshold mechanoreceptors ( n = 25) were characterized using the in vitro skin-nerve preparation from the saphenous nerve. Although mechanical activation thresholds were not changed, discharges to suprathreshold mechanical stimuli were elevated significantly in both A- and C-fiber nociceptors from inflamed tissue. In addition, the proportion of nociceptors as well as the frequency of spontaneous discharges in A (14% vs. 0%)- and C (28% vs. 8%)-fibers were increased in inflamed compared with normal tissue. Fentanyl inhibited responses to suprathreshold stimuli in a significantly higher proportion of not only C (36% vs. 7%)- but also A (41% vs. 8%)-fibers in inflamed tissue in a naloxone-reversible and concentration-dependent manner. Our results demonstrate that mechanical sensitization persists in chronic inflammation, in correlation with behavioral hyperalgesia. Opioid sensitivity of both A- and C-fibers is markedly augmented. This is consistent with an upregulation or enhanced functionality of opioid receptors located at the peripheral terminals of sensitized nociceptors.
An involuntary stereotypical grasp tendency pervades voluntary dynamic multifinger manipulation
Authors: Rácz Kornelius , Brown Daniel , Valero-Cuevas Francisco J.
Published: September 2012

We used a novel apparatus with three hinged finger pads to characterize collaborative multifinger interactions during dynamic manipulation requiring individuated control of fingertip motions and forces. Subjects placed the thumb, index, and middle fingertips on each hinged finger pad and held it—unsupported—with constant total grasp force while voluntarily oscillating the thumb's pad. This task combines the need to 1) hold the object against gravity while 2) dynamically reconfiguring the grasp. Fingertip force variability in this combined motion and force task exhibited strong synchrony among normal (i.e., grasp) forces. Mechanical analysis and simulation show that such synchronous variability is unnecessary and cannot be explained solely by signal-dependent noise. Surprisingly, such variability also pervaded control tasks requiring different individuated fingertip motions and forces, but not tasks without finger individuation such as static grasp. These results critically extend notions of finger force variability by exposing and quantifying a pervasive challenge to dynamic multifinger manipulation: the need for the neural controller to carefully and continuously overlay individuated finger actions over mechanically unnecessary synchronous interactions. This is compatible with—and may explain—the phenomenology of strong coupling of hand muscles when this delicate balance is not yet developed, as in early childhood, or when disrupted, as in brain injury. We conclude that the control of healthy multifinger dynamic manipulation has barely enough neuromechanical degrees of freedom to meet the multiple demands of ecological tasks and critically depends on the continuous inhibition of synchronous grasp tendencies, which we speculate may be of vestigial evolutionary origin.
Somatic and dendritic GABAB receptors regulate neuronal excitability via different mechanisms
Authors: Breton Jean-Didier , Stuart Greg J.
Published: September 2012

GABAB receptors play a key role in regulating neuronal excitability in the brain. Whereas the impact of somatic GABAB receptors on neuronal excitability has been studied in some detail, much less is known about the role of dendritic GABAB receptors. Here, we investigate the impact of GABAB receptor activation on the somato-dendritic excitability of layer 5 pyramidal neurons in the rat barrel cortex. Activation of GABAB receptors led to hyperpolarization and a decrease in membrane resistance that was greatest at somatic and proximal dendritic locations. These effects were occluded by low concentrations of barium (100 μM), suggesting that they are mediated by potassium channels. In contrast, activation of dendritic GABAB receptors decreased the width of backpropagating action potential (APs) and abolished dendritic calcium electrogenesis, indicating that dendritic GABAB receptors regulate excitability, primarily via inhibition of voltage-dependent calcium channels. These distinct actions of somatic and dendritic GABAB receptors regulated neuronal output in different ways. Activation of somatic GABAB receptors led to a reduction in neuronal output, primarily by increasing the AP rheobase, whereas activation of dendritic GABAB receptors blocked burst firing, decreasing AP output in the absence of a significant change in somatic membrane properties. Taken together, our results show that GABAB receptors regulate somatic and dendritic excitability of cortical pyramidal neurons via different cellular mechanisms. Somatic GABAB receptors activate potassium channels, leading primarily to a subtractive or shunting form of inhibition, whereas dendritic GABAB receptors inhibit dendritic calcium electrogenesis, leading to a reduction in bursting firing.
Euler Basis, Identities, and Their Applications
Authors: Kim D. S. , Kim T.
Published: September 2012

LetVn={p(x)∈ℚ[x]|deg  p(x)≤n}be the(n+1)-dimensional vector space overℚ. We show that{E0(x),E1(x),…,En(x)}is a good basis for the spaceVn, for our purpose of arithmetical and combinatorial applications. Thus, ifp(x)∈ℚ[x]is of degreen, thenp(x)=∑l=0nblEl(x)for some uniquely determinedbl∈ℚ. In this paper we develop method for computingblfrom the information ofp(x).
Molecular Pathways: Tumor Cells Co-opt the Brain-Specific Metabolism GeneCPT1Cto Promote Survival
Authors: Reilly Patrick T. , Mak Tak W.
Published: September 2012

The metabolic adaptations of cancer cells are receiving renewed attention as potential targets for therapeutic exploitation. Recent work has highlighted the importance of fatty acid catabolism through β-oxidation to cellular energy homeostasis. In this article, we describe recent preclinical studies suggesting that a gene usually expressed only in the brain, carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT)1C, promotes cancer cell survival and tumor growth. CTP1C confers rapamycin resistance on breast cancer cells, indicating that this gene may act in a pathway parallel to mTOR-enhanced glycolysis. Because of CPT1C's normally brain-restricted expression and the inability of most drugs to pass the blood–brain barrier, CPT1C may be an ideal candidate for specific small-molecule inhibition. We further speculate that concurrent targeting of CPT1C activity and glycolysis in tumor cells could be a highly effective anticancer approach. Clin Cancer Res; 18(21); 5850–5. ©2012 AACR.