bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Comparison of a point of care device against current laboratory methodology using citrated and EDTA samples for the determination of D‐dimers in the exclusion of proximal deep vein thrombosis
Authors: BAKER P. M. , HOWGATE S. J. , ATHERTON J. , KEELING D. M.
Published: February 2010

D‐dimer estimation is a routine part of diagnostic algorithms for the exclusion of venous thromboembolism (VTE). We evaluated a point of care device, Biosite Triage (Inverness Medical UK, Cheshire, UK) for the estimation of D‐dimers in both samples taken into citrate and EDTA against our routine laboratory D‐dimer (Liatest D‐dimer, Diagnostica Stago, Reading, UK) performed on the STA‐R Evolution. With informed consent, 102 consecutive patients presenting with possible deep vein thrombosis (DVT) were enrolled and D‐dimers along with Wells scores and compression ultrasonography (CUS) were recorded. Using the manufacturers’ recommended cut offs of 500 μg/l fibrinogen equivalent units and 400 μg/l for the Stago and Triage, respectively, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were calculated. These were 1.00, 0.42, 0.17, and 1.00 for the Triage machine using citrate samples, 1.00, 0.32, 0.14, and 1.00 using EDTA samples and 1.00, 0.29, 0.16, and 1.00 for the Stago Liatest assay, respectively. Three patients had significantly higher results for the Stago Liatest D‐dimer assay compared with the Biosite Triage device although ultrasound scans were negative. Conclusion: The Biosite Triage D‐dimer assay performed on either citrate or EDTA samples is comparable with the Stago Liatest laboratory D‐dimer assay when used in conjunction with clinical pretest probability scoring and CUS for the exclusion of DVT.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Production of Interleukin‐10 in serum and erythropoietin sensitivity in ESRD patients on hemodialysis
Authors: ATTIA F. M. , TAWFIK G. A. , KALIL K. A. , MOSSALAM M. F.
Published: February 2010

One of the clinical consequences of aberrant cytokines production in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) may be impaired erythropoiesis. To determine the interleukin (IL)‐10 levels in ESRD patients on regular hemodialysis (HD) with good and poor response to recombinant human erythropoietin (Epo). Two groups of ESRD‐HD patients were evaluated; 48 high epo HD patients and 32 low epo HD patients were evaluated for some laboratory tests and Interleukin‐10 by ELISA. The production of IL‐10 is decreased in HD with low epo group than high epo group 32.4 ± 7.9 vs. 45 ± 6.9 pg/ml (P < 0.001). IL‐10 level is well correlated with CRP, ESR, Ferritin, Epo dose, and EPO/Hb ratio in ESRD‐HD patients. These findings suggest that IL‐10 is playing a part in affecting the response to EPO, even in the absence of any obvious infection or inflammatory condition.
Indigenous ectosymbiotic bacteria associated with diverse hydrothermal vent invertebrates
Authors: Goffredi Shana K.
Published: February 2010

Symbioses involving bacteria and invertebrates contribute to the biological diversity and high productivity of both aquatic and terrestrial environments. Well‐known examples from chemosynthetic deep‐sea hydrothermal vent environments involve ectosymbiotic microbes associated with the external surfaces of marine invertebrates. Some of these ectosymbioses confer protection or defence from predators or the environment itself, some are nutritional in nature, and many still are of unknown function. Several recently discovered hydrothermal vent invertebrates, including two populations of yeti crab (Kiwa spp.), a limpet (Symmetromphalus aff. hageni), and the scaly‐foot snail (as yet undescribed), support a consortium of diverse bacteria. Comparisons of these ectosymbioses to those previously described revealed similarities among the associated microorganisms, suggesting that certain microbes are indigenous to the surfaces of marine invertebrates. In particular, members of the Thiovulgaceae (epsilonproteobacteria) and Thiotrichaceae (gammaproteobacteria) appear to preferentially form ectosymbioses with vent crustaceans and gastropods. Interactions between specific Proteobacteria and the surfaces of many marine invertebrates likely have ecological and evolutionary significance at these chemically challenging habitats.
Abundance, spatial distribution and genetic diversity of Ostreococcus tauri viruses in two different environments
Authors: Bellec Laure , Grimsley Nigel , Derelle Evelyne , Moreau Hervé , Desdevises Yves
Published: February 2010

Although large DNA viruses of eukaryotic algae represent a major force in shaping populations of plankton, knowledge about them is often limited to their overall diversity, abundance, and the flux of their constituent matter between ecosystem compartments. In order to gain insight about the genetics and structure of such populations, we used an easily cultivable model unicellular algal species, Ostreococcus tauri (Prasinophyceae), to monitor and compare populations of viruses in different marine environments. The abundance of O. tauri viruses showed very large temporal fluctuations, but remarkably was more than two orders of magnitude higher in lagoons than in coastal waters. We analysed 161 individual viruses found after plating out for lysis plaques on the host during a time series of water samplings. The haplotypes of viruses infecting our host strain were determined by sequence analysis of the partial DNA polymerase gene, permitting a spatiotemporal analysis of their population structure. We found 48 haplotypes, only the two most abundant ones being shared among all of the three study sites (lagoon, coastal and offshore), supporting the hypothesis that there is great diversity among the viruses infecting one host strain. However, our data suggest that the population structure differ between lagoons and coastal sea.
Return to Work and Driving following Arthroscopic Subacromial Decompression and Acromioclavicular Joint Excision
Authors: Charalambous Charalambos P , Sahu Ajay , Alvi Farhan , Batra Sunil , Gullett Thomas K , Ravenscroft Matt
Published: February 2010

Background

Arthroscopic subacromial decompression and acromio-clavicular joint excision are two of the most commonly performed arthroscopic shoulder procedures.

Methods

In the present study, we prospectively evaluated the timing of return to work and driving following these procedures in a British population.

Results

Median time of returning to work was 22 days (range 2 days to 72 days). Median time of returning to driving was 14 days (range 2 days to 70 days). Ninety percent of patients returned to work by 6 weeks and to driving by 4 weeks.

Discussion

The results obtained suggest that most patients having arthroscopic subacromial decompression or acromio-clavicular joint excision will return to work and driving by 6 weeks post surgery.
Application of Combined Feedforward and Feedback Controller With Shaped Input to Benchmark Problem
Authors: Shin Young Joo , Meckl Peter H.
Published: February 2010

Benchmark problems have been used to evaluate the performance of a variety of robust control design methodologies by many control engineers over the past 2 decades. A benchmark is a simple but meaningful problem to highlight the advantages and disadvantages of different control strategies. This paper verifies the performance of a new control strategy, which is called combined feedforward and feedback control with shaped input (CFFS), through a benchmark problem applied to a two-mass-spring system. CFFS, which consists of feedback and feedforward controllers and shaped input, can achieve high performance with a simple controller design. This control strategy has several unique characteristics. First, the shaped input is designed to extract energy from the flexible modes, which means that a simpler feedback control design based on a rigid-body model can be used. In addition, only a single frequency must be attenuated to reduce residual vibration of both masses. Second, only the dynamics between control force and the first mass need to be considered in designing both feedback and feedforward controllers. The proposed control strategy is applied to a benchmark problem and its performance is compared with that obtained using two alternative control strategies.
Parameter Reduction in Estimated Model Sets for Robust Control
Authors: Nagamune Ryozo , Choi Jongeun
Published: February 2010

This paper proposes two techniques for reducing the number of uncertain parameters in order to simplify robust controller design and to reduce conservatism inherent in robust controllers. The system is assumed to have a known structure with parametric uncertainties that represent plant dynamics variation. An original set of parameters is estimated by nonlinear least-squares (NLS) optimization using noisy frequency response functions. Utilizing the property of asymptotic normality for NLS estimates, the original parameter set can be reparameterized by an affine function of the smaller number of uncorrelated parameters. The correlation among uncertain parameters is detected by the principal component analysis in one technique and optimization with a bilinear matrix inequality in the other. Numerical examples illustrate the usefulness of the proposed techniques.
Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System in Fuzzy Measurement to Track Association
Authors: Tafti Abdolreza Dehghani , Sadati Nasser
Published: February 2010

The main issue in a surveillance environment is the target tracking. The most important concern in this problem is the association of the various measurements with the existing target tracks. The fuzzy c-means data association (FCMDA) algorithm, based on the fuzzy c-means (FCM) algorithm, is an efficient solution for the problem of measurement to track association in a multisensor multitarget environment. It has a high accuracy in measurement to track association when targets are far from each other. However, its accuracy remains low when targets are close to one another. The FCMDA algorithm performance is usually lost in this environment, especially when measurement noise is high. In the FCMDA algorithm, the association between measurements and tracks is determined using an optimal membership function derived from the FCM algorithm for the fixed predicted state of targets. The prediction of the target state deviates from its correct value based on updating the tracker/filter with the wrong associated measurement. Consequently, the wrong association can take place using a deviated prediction of target state in the FCMDA algorithm. In this paper, to overcome this shortcoming of the FCMDA algorithm, the predicted state of every target in a surveillance environment is compensated for the effect of wrong associated measurement by an adaptive neurofuzzy inference system (ANFIS). An ANFIS has both the advantages of expert knowledge of a fuzzy inference system and the learning capability of neural networks. So a trained ANFIS is able to compensate the effect of a wrong associated measurement on the prediction of target state. Using the compensated prediction of target state in the FCMDA algorithm can always save the performance of the FCMDA algorithm and extend its domain of usage in practical applications. The simulation results demonstrate that considerable improvements in terms of accuracy and performance are achieved by using the compensated prediction of target state in the FCMDA algorithm.
Development and Utilization of Ontologies in Design for Manufacturing
Authors: Chang Xiaomeng , Rai Rahul , Terpenny Janis
Published: February 2010

There are many challenges associated with the design and realization of fast changing highly customized products. One promising approach is to implement design for manufacturing (DFM) strategies aimed at reducing production costs without compromising product quality. For manufacturers doing business in a globally distributed market place, effective reuse and sharing of the DFM knowledge in a collaborative environment is essential. In recent years, ontologies are increasingly used for knowledge management in engineering. Here, ontology is defined as a formal specification of domain knowledge that can be used to define a set of data and structure that enables experts to share information in a domain of interest, to aid information reasoning, and to manage and reuse data. The primary goal of this paper is to put forward the process of ontology development and utilization for DFM and to study the most important phases in the process, including: the concept categorization and class hierarchy development, slot categorization and development, identification and realization of relations among slots, and methods to support knowledge capture and reuse. Four cases are presented to illustrate the promising use of a DFM ontology. These cases prove that the DFM ontology and the process of ontology development and utilization for the DFM can facilitate the reuse of existing data, find the inconsistency and errors in data, reduce the work associated with populating the knowledge base of the ontology, and help designers make decisions by considering complex technical and economical criteria.
Theoretical Analysis of an Original Rotary Machine
Authors: Bonandrini Giovanni , Mimmi Giovanni , Rottenbacher Carlo
Published: February 2010

In this study an original analysis of the geometric design of a particular internal rotary machine and an investigation on its theoretical performances are presented. The first part of the work is focused on the geometry of the machine, characterized by more complex rotor profiles compared with the classical epitrochoidal pumps. Suitable parameters are pointed out to completely define the geometry of the machine. In the second part of the study, proper indices are set and evaluated as functions of the design parameters, in order to evaluate the performance of the machine. Finally a specific configuration of the considered pump is compared with the conventional trochoidal pumps in terms of flow-rate indices. The analysis performed allows one to highlight the basic advantages and drawbacks of this original design in comparison with the classical trochoidal profiles and can be used as a basis for CAD/CAE (Computer-Aided Design and Engineering) or experimental studies.
A Sequential Linear Programming Coordination Algorithm for Analytical Target Cascading
Authors: Han Jeongwoo , Papalambros Panos Y.
Published: February 2010

Decomposition-based strategies, such as analytical target cascading (ATC), are often employed in design optimization of complex systems. Achieving convergence and computational efficiency in the coordination strategy that solves the partitioned problem is a key challenge. A new convergent strategy is proposed for ATC that coordinates interactions among subproblems using sequential linearizations. The linearity of subproblems is maintained using infinity norms to measure deviations between targets and responses. A subproblem suspension strategy is used to suspend temporarily inclusion of subproblems that do not need significant redesign, based on trust region and target value step size. An individual subproblem trust region method is introduced for faster convergence. The proposed strategy is intended for use in design optimization problems where sequential linearizations are typically effective, such as problems with extensive monotonicities, a large number of constraints relative to variables, and propagation of probabilities with normal distributions. Experiments with test problems show that, relative to standard ATC coordination, the number of subproblem evaluations is reduced considerably while the solution accuracy depends on the degree of monotonicity and nonlinearity.
A Platform for Grasp Performance Assessment in Compliant or Underactuated Hands
Authors: Kragten Gert A. , Herder Just L.
Published: February 2010

This paper presents the design and evaluation of a platform for the assessment of the performance of compliant or underactuated hands. The position of objects relative to the hand can be varied in order to assess the successful grasp region. The boundary positions of this region can be measured with a precision of 3 mm. In addition, the force required to pull an object all the way out of the hand from a stable initial configuration is measured with a precision of 0.2 N for frictionless grasping. These experiments are proposed as benchmark tests to quantify the functional performance of compliant or underactuated robotic hands. This platform considers planar symmetrical grasps, where objects can move along the line of symmetry. An innovative approach to emulate frictionless grasps of circular objects is proposed as well.
Design and Testing of a Nanometer Positioning System
Authors: Lihua Lu , Yingchun Liang , Yongfeng Guo , Akira Shimokohbe
Published: February 2010

This paper presents the design and implementation of a positioning system with a dc servomotor and ball-screw mechanism used to realize high-precision positioning over a wide travel range with nanometer level positioning error and near zero overshoot. Instead of the popular dual-model control strategy and friction compensation, a high-gain proportional-integral-derivative controller is used to realize a single-step point-to-point positioning. The controller parameters are obtained by placing closed-loop poles according to the macrodynamics of a ball-screw mechanism only to avoid identification of microdynamics and friction modeling. In order to suppress the overshoot caused by actuator saturation in long-stroke positioning, a trajectory planning method is applied to calculate the input of the closed-loop system. Experimental and simulation results demonstrate that single-step precision positioning responses to different size commands are achieved without producing any large overshoot. In point-to-point positioning from 100 mm down to 10 nm, the positioning error is within 2 nm and the response dynamics is satisfactory.
Application of dc Servomotor on Airflow Measurement
Authors: Leephakpreeda Thananchai
Published: February 2010

The aim of this research paper is to systematically present an optimal control of a dc servomotor for the airflow measurement in both the magnitude and the direction. During measuring airflow, the dc servomotor drives a paddle around the rotor axis in a field. The torsional load of the dc servomotor is caused from resistance of the airflow over the moving paddle normal to the flow. The variations on the torsional load in one revolution of rotation can be characterized from the magnitude and direction of the airflow. In other words, the magnitude and direction of airflow cause a periodic function of the torsional load with respect to the angular position of the paddle. By using Fourier analysis, it is found that the magnitude and direction of the airflow can be determined from the coefficients of the Fourier series. Typically, the torsional load of the dc servomotor, unlike the rotor speed, cannot be measured by the built-in device. In this work, it is determined by applying the extended Luenberger observer method. A state-feedback controller with the observer based on H2 control design is implemented to regulate the dc servomotor. The experimental results on the measurement of airflow show the viability of the proposed methodology.
Identification of a Variable Mass Underwater Vehicle Via Volterra Neural Network
Authors: Binazadeh T. , Yazdanpanah M. J. , Shafiei M. H.
Published: February 2010

The first step in designing a control system for a rigid body is to understand its dynamics. Underwater vehicle dynamics may be complex and difficult to model, mainly due to difficulties in observing and measuring actual underwater vehicle hydrodynamics response. This paper is concerned with structure selection of nonlinear polynomials in a Volterra polynomial basis function neural network and recursive parameter estimation of the selected model, in order to obtain a model of a variable mass underwater vehicle with six degrees of freedom using an input-output data set. The simulation results reveal the efficiency of the approach.
Minimizing Residual Vibration in Short-Maneuver Pulse-Width Control
Authors: Buffinton Keith W. , Hoffman Katie L. , Berg Martin C.
Published: February 2010

Two problems encountered in precision manufacturing are friction and flexibility. With regard to friction, pulse-width control has been shown to be exceptionally effective for rigid systems; however, when used to control flexible systems residual vibrations often result, limiting speed and precision. In previous work, a pulse-width controller was developed that uses two pulses in sequence such that the second pulse minimizes vibration induced by the first. This controller used a brute-force numerical process and obtained solutions similar to optimal zero vibration techniques. Additionally, trends in numerical solutions were identified that approached limiting values for short pulse durations. In the present paper, a theoretical foundation for these limiting values is derived. This derivation shows that for short maneuvers approximate analytical expressions for pulse-widths and their application times are easily obtained. These analytical expressions are used as the basis of a pulse-width controller that is shown to effectively minimize residual vibration in simulations and experiments.
TaN metal gate etch mechanisms in BCl3-based plasmas
Authors: Shamiryan Denis , Danila Andrey , Baklanov Mikhail R. , Boullart Werner
Published: February 2010

TaN is a potential candidate for metal gates. BCl3-based plasma is used to pattern metal gates because it has a high selectivity over Si substrate and capable of etching metal oxides (native oxides on metal gates and high-k dielectrics). During metal gate etch in inductively coupled plasma reactor, the authors found that the TaN metal gate profile depends on the composition of BCl3-based plasma. Pure BCl3 results in an undercut of TaN. The undercut can be avoided by addition of 5% O2, further increase in O2 concentration (until 10%) does not change the TaN profile. When N2 is added to BCl3 plasma, first the undercut disappears (at about 6% of N2) and then a slope appears as N2 concentration increases further (toward 10%). It was found that the profile is controlled by a film deposited from BCl3-based plasma. In the case of pure BCl3 plasma, the film consists of B (50%), Cl (30%), and O (20%). When 5% of O2 is added, no film is observed, but strong BO and BO2 peaks appear in the plasma emission spectra. When 5% N2 is added to the BCl3 plasma, again a film is deposited, but it contains less Cl (18%). Based on our research, the authors propose the following etch mechanism to explain the observed profile notching/footing. In pure BCl3 plasma, a B- and Cl-containing film is deposited on the sidewalls of the gate. Cl from this film will react with TaN producing an undercut. When O2 is added, no film is formed and the TaN profile is straight as B apparently reacts with O in the gas phase, forming volatile BOx species. Further increase of O2 content does not change the profile as no film is formed. When N2 is added to BCl3, a film is formed but in this case N replaces Cl and the film becomes passivating leading to a straight TaN profile. As more N2 is added, the film passivates TaN more efficiently leading to a sloped profile.
ARD1 Stabilization of TSC2 Suppresses Tumorigenesis Through the mTOR Signaling Pathway
Authors: Kuo Hsu-Ping , Lee Dung-Fang , Chen Chun-Te , Liu Mo , Chou Chao-Kai , Lee Hong-Jen , Du Yi , Xie Xiaoming , Wei Yongkun , Xia Weiya , Weihua Zhang , Yang Jer-Yen , Yen Chia-Jui , Huang Tzu-Hsuan , Tan Minjia , Xing Gang , Zhao Yingming , Lin Chien-Hsing , Tsai Shih-Feng , Fidler Isaiah J. , Hung Mien-Chie
Published: February 2010

Acetylation by ARD1 of an inhibitor of mammalian target of rapamycin may inhibit cancer growth.
From PINK1 to Parkin to Mitophagy
Authors: Adler Elizabeth M.
Published: February 2010

Parkin-dependent ubiquitylation of VDAC1 links PINK1 activity to autophagy of dysfunctional mitochondria.
Two’s Company
Authors: Foley John F.
Published: February 2010

Transgenic mice that coexpress binding-defective and signaling-defective forms of luteinizing hormone receptor respond normally to its ligand.
BMPs Rescue Regeneration
Authors: VanHook Annalisa M.
Published: February 2010

BMPs can induce redeployment of the developmental program to restore regenerative potential in the mouse digit tip.
Management of pregnancy in women with acquired and congenital heart disease
Authors: Bowater S E , Thorne S A
Published: February 2010

Heart disease is the leading cause of maternal mortality in the UK. Deaths from acquired conditions such as ischaemic heart disease are increasing and often occur in patients with no history of heart disease, thus emphasising the need for vigilance for risk factors in women of childbearing age. All women with known heart disease should have pre-pregnancy counselling to assess for maternal and fetal risk. Women deemed to be at moderate or high risk should be under the care of a specialist antenatal team with experience of managing women with heart disease in pregnancy. Conditions that are considered particularly high risk (mortality >10%) include Marfan syndrome with dilated aortic root, severe left heart obstructive lesions, pulmonary hypertension, and severe left ventricular dysfunction. This article reviews the management of women with heart disease during pregnancy, labour and in the puerperium.
An audit of the effect of oxygen prescription charts on clinical practice
Authors: Wijesinghe Meme , Shirtcliffe Philippa , Perrin Kyle , Healy Bridget , James Kate , Weatherall Mark , Beasley Richard
Published: February 2010

Problem

The need to improve the prescription, administration and monitoring of oxygen therapy.

Design

An interventional, prospective audit.

Background and setting

Wellington Hospital, a teaching and tertiary referral hospital in New Zealand in 2007 and 2008.

Key measures for improvement

Demonstration of adequate oxygen prescribing, administration and monitoring of oxygen therapy.

Strategies for improvement

The introduction of a new drug chart with a specific oxygen prescription section. Targeted educational lectures primarily to medical staff.

Effects of change

610 and 566 patients were reviewed in the first and second audits. After introduction of the new oxygen prescription section on the drug chart the proportion of patients whose oxygen therapy was prescribed increased from 15/85 (17.6%) to 39/98 (39.8%), relative risk 2.3 (95% CI 1.3 to 3.9). The proportion with adequate oxygen prescription, with documentation of device, flow rate or inspired oxygen concentration, and the target oxygen saturation increased from 5/85 (5.9%) to 36/98 (36.7%), relative risk 6.2 (95% CI 2.5 to 15.0). Introduction of the new charts was not associated with changes in clinical practice in terms of assessment of oxygen saturations on room air and commencement if ≤92%, or the titration of oxygen therapy in response to oxygen saturations ≤92%.

Lessons learnt

An oxygen prescription section on hospital drug charts improved the prescription of oxygen but did not improve clinical practice. Additional strategies are required to improve the administration of oxygen therapy in hospitals.
EFFECTS OF EXTRA DEGREES OF FREEDOM ON A DECAY RATE OF METASTABLE TOPOLOGICAL OBJECTS
Authors: MONIN A. , VOLOSHIN M. B.
Published: February 2010

We review the recent results on a decay rate of metastable topological configurations such as strings and domain walls. The transition from a state with higher tension to a state with lower one proceeds through quantum tunneling or through thermally catalyzed quantum tunneling (at sufficiently small temperatures). It is shown that the effects of the motion in transverse direction lead to the renormalization of a mass (tension) parameter of a particle (string) associated with a boundary of a string (wall) in the semiclassical exponent. For a non-zero temperature we derive the catalysis factor for the decay rates. It is discovered that the catalysis factor is closely related to the probability (effective length) of the collision of the the Goldstone bosons, corresponding to the transverse waves on a string (wall). We find that the destruction of a string only takes place in collisions of even number of the bosons, while the destruction of the wall can occur in a collision of any number of particles.
BRANE TILINGS: THE NSVZ BETA FUNCTION
Authors: HANANY AMIHAY
Published: February 2010

In honor of Misha Shifman's 60th birthday this note will start with one of Misha's many contributions, the famous NSVZ beta function, and study how it affects the construction of Brane Tilings. The main features of Brane Tilings for 3+1 dimensions SCFT's are reviewed and the generalization to 2+1 dimensional SCFT's is discussed.
HIGH-ENERGY AMPLITUDES IN ${\cal N}\, = \,4$ SYM IN THE NEXT-TO-LEADING ORDER
Authors: BALITSKY IAN
Published: February 2010

The high-energy behavior of the of [Formula: see text] SYM amplitudes in the Regge limit can be calculated order by order in perturbation theory using the high-energy operator expansion in Wilson lines. At large Nc, a typical four-point amplitude is determined by a single BFKL pomeron. The conformal structure of the four-point amplitude is fixed in terms of two functions: pomeron intercept and the coefficient function in front of the pomeron (the product of two residues). The pomeron intercept is universal while the coefficient function depends on the correlator in question. The intercept is known in first two orders in coupling constant : LO BFKL intercept and NLO BFKL calculated in Ref. [1]. As an example of using the Wilson-line OPE, we calculate the coefficient function in front of the pomeron for the correlator of four Z2 currents in the leading and next-to-leading order.
HOW WELL DOES AdS/QCD DESCRIBE QCD?
Authors: ERLICH J.
Published: February 2010

AdS/QCD is an extra-dimensional approach to modeling hadronic physics, motivated by the AdS/CFT correspondence in string theory. AdS/QCD models are often more accurate than would have been expected at energies below a few GeV. We address the question of why these models are so successful, and respond to some of the criticisms that have been waged against these models.
PROBING UNIVERSALITY IN AdS/CFT
Authors: RITZ A.
Published: February 2010

We discuss some universal relations that hold for conformal field theories which admit a dual classical gravitational description in anti-de Sitter space. These relations therefore apply in a suitable large N limit, and imply that various hydrodynamic transport coefficients for conserved currents and thermodynamic state functions are entirely fixed by central charges.
QCD AND SUPERSYMMETRY
Authors: ARMONI ADI
Published: February 2010

We review the connection between QCD and supersymmetric theories. We focus on the non-perturbative large- N (planar) correspondence between one-flavor QCD and pure supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory ([Formula: see text]). We explain how non-perturbative quantities in QCD, such as the quark condensate, can be evaluated by using the corresponding non-perturbative results in supersymmetric gauge theories. The review consists of three parts. The first part is devoted to a review of pure [Formula: see text]. In the second part we introduce "orientifold planar equivalence". The third part is devoted to the implications of planar equivalence for QCD.
QUARK COUNTING RULES: OLD AND NEW APPROACHES
Authors: RADYUSHKIN A.
Published: February 2010

I discuss the subject of powerlike asymptotic behavior of hadronic form factors in pre-QCD analyses of soft (Feynman/Drell-Yan) and hard (West) mechanisms, and also recent derivation of 1/Q2 asymptotics of meson form factors in AdS/QCD. At the end, I briefly comment on "light-front holography" ansatz.
HIGH ENERGY HADRONIC SCATTERING – THE QUANTUM EVOLUTION
Authors: KOVNER ALEX
Published: February 2010

I review the modern approach to quantum evolution of hadronic observables with energy. Recent developments relating the (eikonal) evolution equation to the QCD Reggeon field theory and the approach to including the Pomeron loops is discussed.
DECONFINEMENT, MONOPOLES AND NEW PHENOMENA IN HEAVY ION COLLISIONS
Authors: SHURYAK EDWARD
Published: February 2010

We discuss various manifestations of the "magnetic scenario" for the quark-gluon plasma viewed as a mixture of two plasmas, of electrically (quark and gluons) as well as magnetically charged quasiparticles. Near the deconfinement phase transition, T ≈ Tc very small density of free quarks should lead to negligible screening of electric field while magnetic screening remains strong. The consequence of this should be existence of a "corona" of the QGP, in a way similar to that of the Sun, in which electric fields influence propagation of perturbations and even form metastable flux tubes. The natural tool for its description is (dual) magnetohydrodynamics: among observable consequences is splitting of sound into two modes, with larger and smaller velocity. The latter can be zero, hinting for formation of pressure-stabilized flux tubes. Remarkably, recent experimental discoveries at RHIC show effects similar to expected for "corona structures". In dihadron correlation function with large-pt trigger there are a "cone" and a "hard ridge", while the so called "soft ridge" is a similar structure seen without hard trigger. They seem to be remnants of flux tubes, which – contrary to naive expectations – seem to break less often in near-Tc matter than do confining strings in vacuum.
CONFINEMENT–DECONFINEMENT PHASE TRANSITION IN HOT AND DENSE QCD AT LARGE N
Authors: ZHITNITSKY ARIEL R.
Published: February 2010

We conjecture that the confinement–deconfinement phase transition in QCD at large number of colors N and Nf ≪ N at T ≠ 0 and µ ≠ 0 is triggered by the drastic change in θ behavior. The conjecture is motivated by the holographic model of QCD where confinement–deconfinement phase transition indeed happens precisely at T = Tc where θ dependence experiences a sudden change in behavior. The conjecture is also supported by quantum field theory arguments when the instanton calculations (which trigger the θ dependence) are under complete theoretical control for T > Tc, suddenly break down immediately below T < Tc with sharp changes in the θ dependence. Finally, the conjecture is supported by a number of numerical lattice results. We employ this conjecture to study confinement–deconfinement phase transition of hot and dense QCD in large N limit by analyzing the θ dependence. We estimate the critical values for Tc and µc where the phase transition happens by approaching the critical values from the hot and/or dense regions where the instanton calculations are under complete theoretical control. We also describe some defects of various codimensions within a holographic model of QCD by focusing on their role around the phase transition point.
THE LEE-WICK STANDARD MODEL
Authors: WISE MARK B.
Published: February 2010

This article reviews some recent work on a version of the standard model (the Lee-Wick standard model) that contains higher derivative kinetic terms that improve the convergence of loop diagrams removing the quadratic divergence in the Higgs boson mass. Naively higher derivative theories of this type are not acceptable since the higher derivative terms either cause instabilities (from negative energies) or a loss of unitarity (from negative norm states). Lee and Wick provided an interpretation for such theories arguing that theories with higher derivative kinetic terms can be unitary and stable if the states associated with the massive propagator poles, that arise from the higher derivatives, have widths and hence decay and are not in the spectrum of the theory.
FLAVOR MIXING, QUARK MASSES, NEUTRINO MASSES AND NEUTRINO OSCILLATIONS
Authors: FRITZSCH H.
Published: February 2010

We discuss first the flavor mixing of the quarks, using the texture zero mass matrices. Then we study a similar model for the mass matrices of the leptons. We are able to relate the mass eigenvalues of the charged leptons and of the neutrinos to the mixing angles and can predict the masses of the neutrinos. We find a normal hierarchy - the masses are 0.004 eV, 0.01 eV and 0.05 eV. The atmospheric mixing angle is given by the mass ratios of the charged leptons and the neutrinos. We find about 40°, consistent with the experiments. The mixing element, connecting the first neutrino with the electron, is predicted to be 0.05. This prediction can soon be checked by the Daya Bay experiment.
INFRARED SPECTRA OF CALCIUM PHOSPHATE GLASSES
Authors: TOLOMAN D. , MAGDAS D. A. , BRATU I. , GIURGIU L. M. , ARDELEAN I.
Published: February 2010

Infrared absorption spectra of calcium phosphate glasses, x CaO ·(100-x) P 2 O 5 have been investigated by FT-IR spectroscopy. By increasing CaO content, the characteristic bands due to the stretching and bending vibrations were identified and analyzed. The deconvolution of each experimental spectrum was made using a Gaussian-type function. Based on this, the specific structural units of these glasses were identified.
QUINTET PAIRING AND NON-ABELIAN VORTEX STRING IN SPIN-3/2 COLD ATOMIC SYSTEMS
Authors: WU CONGJUN , HU JIANGPING , ZHANG SHOU-CHENG
Published: February 2010

We study the s-wave quintet Cooper pairing phase (S pair = 2) in spin-3/2 cold atomic systems and identify various novel features which do not appear in spin-1/2 pairing systems. A single quantum vortex is shown to be energetically less stable than a pair of half-quantum vortices. The half-quantum vortex exhibits the global analogue of the non-Abelian Alice string and SO(4) Cheshire charge in gauge theories. The non-Abelian half-quantum vortex loop enables topological generation of quantum entanglement.
ON THE MEASUREMENT AND INTERPRETATION OF RESIDUAL STRESS AT THE MICRO-SCALE
Authors: KORSUNSKY ALEXANDER M. , BEMPORAD EDOARDO , SEBASTIANI MARCO , HOFMANN FELIX , DAVE SARAANSH
Published: February 2010

In the present paper we consider two representative methods for residual stress evaluation at the micro-scale: a (semi-)destructive method involving material removal and the measurement of strain relief; and a non-destructive X-ray diffraction technique involving the use of micro-focused synchrotron X-ray beam. A recently developed strain relief approach is described using a Focused Ion Beam (FIB) to create a circular trench of progressively increasing depth around a circular "island". Residual stress is evaluated by the comparison of the strain relief (measured by digital correlation of displacements or strains) with Finite Element simulations. The technique is illustrated for a thin TiN coating layer. The second approach uses focused synchrotron X-ray beams for white beam Laue diffraction. Demonstration experiments described involve in situ loading of commercially pure nickel foil. Procedures for validation and improvement of accuracy are discussed.
OPTICAL AND DYNAMIC MECHANICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF THIN FILM POLYMER NANOCOMPOSITES
Authors: TRIPATHI BALRAM , AWASTHI KAMLENDRA , KULSHRESTHA VAIBHAV , SHARMA ANSHU , AGRAWAL SHWETA , KUMAR SUMIT , SHARMA S. S. , GARG ANKITA , SINGH M. , VIJAY Y. K.
Published: February 2010

Polymer composites in various forms and configuration are being developed in an effort to provide lighter weight construction, better optical and thermal properties to maintain adequate strength and stability. To this end thin film polymer (PMMA) nanocomposites synthesized for purpose of influencing optical luminescence using CdS nanocrystals as filler without incurring losses in mechanical properties, were examined to determine elastic modulus and degree of dispersion. Optical absorption spectroscopy has been used for finding discrete energy levels in CdS /polymer.
IMPROVED MECHANICAL PROPERTY OF HYDROTHERMALLY SYNTHESIZED HYDROXYAPATITE NANORODS REINFORCED WITH POLYETHYLENE
Authors: NATHANAEL A. JOSEPH , MANGALARAJ D. , CHEN PAO CHI , NATARAJ D.
Published: February 2010

Single crystalline hydroxyapatite nanorods ( HAp - NRs ) were synthesized using a simple hydrothermal method. The synthesized HAp NRs have an aspect ratio of about 8-10. A closer inspection of the nanostructure of a single nanorod revealed a highly regular and defect-free lattice with unique crystallographic plane orientations. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) pattern shows the highly crystalline nature of the product. The Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopic (FESEM) image shows the uniform size distributed rod like morphology of length 100-150nm and diameter of about 15-20nm. Transmission Electron Microscopic analysis (TEM) and High-Resolution TEM (HRTEM) images provide further insight into the microstructure and morphology of the product. The selected area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern confirms that the nanorods are single crystal in nature. The mechanical strength of hydroxyapatite was studied by reinforcing hydroxyapatite with High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (HMWPE). It clearly shows that the mechanical properties of the nanorods are high when compared to that of bulk HAp . Finally the composites were characterized by means of thermal analysis including thermogravimetry analysis and differential thermal analysis (TGA-DTA) in order to study the thermal stability of the composite and the effect of filler in HMWPE.
Central Venous Catheter-Associated Pericardial Tamponade in a 6-Day Old: A Case Report
Authors: Arya Swati O. , Hiremath Gurumurthy M. , Okonkwo Kingsley C. , Pettersen Michael D.
Published: February 2010

Introduction. Pericardial effusion (PCE) and tamponade can cause significant morbidity and mortality in neonates. Such cases have been reported in the literature in various contexts.Case Presentation. A 6-day old neonate with meconium aspiration syndrome and persistent pulmonary hypertension of newborn on high frequency oscillator ventilation and inhaled nitric oxide was referred to our hospital with a large pericardial effusion causing hemodynamic compromise. Prompt pericardiocentesis led to significant improvement in the cardio-respiratory status and removal of the central line prevented the fluid from reaccumulating. Cellular and biochemical analysis aided in the diagnosis of catheter related etiology with possibility of infusate diffusion into the pericardial space.Conclusion. We present this paper to emphasize the importance of recognizing this uncommon but serious complication of central venous catheters in intensive care units. We also discuss the proposed hypothesis for the mechanism of production of PCE.
Duplication Cyst of the Sigmoid Colon
Authors: Domajnko Bastian , Salloum Rabih M.
Published: February 2010

A 21-year-old male with developmental delay presented with abdominal pain of two days' duration. He was afebrile and his abdomen was soft with mild diffuse tenderness. There were no peritoneal signs. Plain x-ray demonstrated a large air-filled structure in the right upper quadrant. Computed tomography of the abdomen revealed a cm structure adjacent to the hepatic flexure containing an air-fluid level. It did not contain oral contrast and had no apparent communication with the colon. At operation, the cystic lesion was identified as a duplication cyst of the sigmoid colon that was adherent to the right upper quadrant. The cyst was excised with a segment of the sigmoid colon and a stapled colo-colostomy was performed. Recovery was uneventful. Final pathology was consistent with a duplication cyst of the sigmoid colon. The cyst was attached to the colon but did not communicate with the lumen.
Gene Polymorphisms in Chronic Periodontitis
Authors: Laine Marja L. , Loos Bruno G. , Crielaard W.
Published: February 2010

We aimed to conduct a review of the literature for gene polymorphisms associated with chronic periodontitis (CP) susceptibility. A comprehensive search of the literature in English was performed using the keywords: periodontitis, periodontal disease, combined with the words genes, mutation, or polymorphism. Candidate gene polymorphism studies with a case-control design and reported genotype frequencies in CP patients were searched and reviewed. There is growing evidence that polymorphisms in theIL1, IL6, IL10, vitamin D receptor, andCD14genes may be associated with CP in certain populations. However, carriage rates of the rare -allele of any polymorphism varied considerably among studies and most of the studies appeared under-powered and did not correct for other risk factors. Larger cohorts, well-defined phenotypes, control for other risk factors, and analysis of multiple genes and polymorphisms within the same pathway are needed to get a more comprehensive insight into the contribution of gene polymorphisms in CP.
Selective Excitations of Transverse Vibrational Modes of a Carbon Nanotube through a “Shuttle-Like” Electromechanical Instability
Authors: Santandrea F.
Published: February 2010

We study the dynamics of transverse oscillations of a suspended carbon nanotube into which electron current is injected from the tip of a scanning tunneling microscope (STM). In this case
the correlations between the displacement of the nanotube and its charge state, determined by the
position-dependent electron tunneling rate, can lead to a “shuttle-like” instability for the transverse
vibrational modes. We find that selective excitation of a specific mode can be achieved by an
accurate positioning of the STM tip. This result suggests a feasible way to control the dynamics of
this nano-electromechanical system (NEMS) based on the “shuttle instability.”
Sign‐Changing Solutions for Nonlinear Elliptic Problems Depending on Parameters
Authors: Carl Siegfried , Motreanu Dumitru
Published: February 2010

The study of multiple solutions for quasilinear
elliptic problems under Dirichlet or nonlinear Neumann type
boundary conditions has received much attention over the last
decades. The main goal of this paper is to present multiple
solutions results for elliptic inclusions of Clarke′s gradient
type under Dirichlet boundary condition involving the p‐Laplacian which, in general, depend on two parameters.
Assuming different structure and smoothness assumptions on the
nonlinearities generating the multivalued term, we prove the
existence of multiple constant‐sign and sign‐changing (nodal)
solutions for parameters specified in terms of the Fučik
spectrum of the p‐Laplacian. Our approach will be based on
truncation techniques and comparison principles (sub‐supersolution
method) for elliptic inclusions combined with variational and
topological arguments for, in general, nonsmooth functionals, such
as, critical point theory, Mountain Pass Theorem, Second
Deformation Lemma, and the variational characterization of the
“beginning”of the Fu\v cik spectrum of the p‐Laplacian. In particular, the existence of extremal constant‐sign solutions and
their variational characterization as global (resp., local) minima
of the associated energy functional will play a key‐role in the
proof of sign‐changing solutions.
Common Fixed Point of Multivalued Generalized "Equation missing" -Weak Contractive Mappings
Authors: Djafari Rouhani Behzad , Moradi Sirous
Published: February 2010

Fixed point and coincidence results are presented for multivalued generalized "Equation missing"-weak contractive mappings on complete metric spaces, where "Equation missing" is a lower semicontinuous function with "Equation missing" and "Equation missing" for all "Equation missing". Our results extend previous results by Zhang and Song (2009), as well as by Rhoades (2001), Nadler (1969), and Daffer and Kaneko (1995).