bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Construct Rigidity after Fatigue Loading in Pedicle Subtraction Osteotomy with or without Adjacent Interbody Structural Cages
Authors: Deviren Vedat , Tang Jessica A. , Scheer Justin K. , Buckley Jenni M. , Pekmezci Murat , McClellan R. Trigg , Ames Christopher P. 
Published: December 2012

Introduction Studies document rod fracture in pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO) settings where disk spaces were preserved above or adjacent to the PSO. This study compares the multidirectional bending rigidity and fatigue life of PSO segments with or without interbody support. Methods Twelve specimens received bilateral T12–S1 posterior fixation and L3 PSO. Six received extreme lateral interbody fusion (XLIF) cages in addition to PSO at L2–L3 and L3–L4; six had PSO only. Flexion-extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation (AR) tests were conducted up to 7.5 Newton-meters (Nm) for groups: (1) posterior fixation, (2) L3 PSO, (3) addition of cages (six specimens). Relative motion across the osteotomy (L2–L4) and entire fixation site (T12–S1) was measured. All specimens were then fatigue tested for 35K cycles. Results Regardingmultiaxial bending, there was a significant 25.7% reduction in AR range of motion across L2–L4 following addition of cages. Regarding fatigue bending, dynamic stiffness, though not significant ( p = 0.095), was 22.2% greater in the PSO + XLIF group than in the PSO-only group. Conclusions Results suggest that placement of interbody cages in PSO settings has a potential stabilizing effect, which is modestly evident in the acute setting. Inserting cages in a second-stage surgery remains a viable option and may benefit patients in terms of recovery but additional clinical studies are necessary to confirm this.
The Vicious Circle
Authors: Mieriņa Inta 
Published: December 2012

ABSTRACT
The reaction of citizens deeply disappointed with their government and its decisions differs from country to country, and in some cases, such as Latvia during the recent economic crisis, has been surprisingly passive. In this paper I argue that political passivity can be partly explained by psychological mechanisms triggered by constant under-performance and unresponsiveness of political authorities. Using International Social Survey Program 2006–2007 data, I construct a structural equation model which shows that government's performance can facilitate or hinder the development of civil society through its impact on (1) a sense of political efficacy, (2) political competence, and (3) interpersonal trust. Poor institutional performance and the following loss of trust in political authorities has a negative effect on people's perceptions of politics, of themselves and of each other, discouraging further engagement in all kinds of political activities. Considering the importance of civic participation for the quality of governance this creates a vicious circle which might not be easy to break. Finally, several theoretical perspectives are discussed that help to explain the formation and persistence of the vicious circle.
Show Me the Honey! Effects of Social Exclusion on Financial Risk-Taking
Authors: Duclos Rod , Wan Echo Wen , Jiang Yuwei 
Published: December 2012

Abstract
This research examines the effects of social exclusion on a critical aspect of consumer behavior, financial decision-making. Specifically, four lab experiments and one field survey uncover how feeling isolated or ostracized causes consumers to pursue riskier but potentially more profitable financial opportunities. These daring proclivities do not appear driven by impaired affect or self-esteem. Rather, interpersonal rejection exacerbates financial risk-taking by heightening the instrumentality of money (as a substitute for popularity) to obtain benefits in life. Invariably, the quest for wealth that ensues tends to adopt a riskier but potentially more lucrative road. The article concludes by discussing the implications of its findings for behavioral research as well as for societal and individual welfare.
Magnetic heterostructures with low coercivity for high-performance magneto-optic devices
Authors: Kotov V A , Popkov A F , Soloviev S V , Vasiliev M , Alameh K , Nur-E-Alam M , Balabanov D E 
Published: December 2012

Abstract
In this work, we analyse the method of forming magneto-optically active heterostructures based on magnetic layers with different magnetic properties. Layers of one type possess a high effective constant of uniaxial magnetic anisotropy

for which the condition

is fulfilled, where K
u is the constant of uniaxial magnetic anisotropy and

is the demagnetizing energy, and layers of the second type used possess in-plane or quasi-in-plane magnetization, in which the condition

holds true. The layers of the first type, which we refer to as layers of positive effective uniaxial magnetic anisotropy, may have the composition Bi2Dy1Fe4Ga1O12 and the layers of second type the composition Bi3Fe5O12, which may have very high magneto-optic (MO) figure of merit and are therefore very attractive for the development of MO transparencies and ultra-fast switches. We discuss the optimization of triple-layer structure parameters aimed at achieving a high MO figure of merit simultaneously with low coercivity and high remanent magnetization and possessing rectangular hysteresis loops. The results of the experimental study of the MO properties achieved in garnet heterostructures fabricated using RF sputtering are also described. We show that the proposed paradigm of using new magnetic material combinations demonstrating significantly improved magnetic and MO properties may be realized when working with heterostructures based on Bi-substituted ferrite garnets grown on (1 1 1)-oriented garnet substrates.
Characteristics of ZnO : As/GaN heterojunction diodes obtained by PA-MBE
Authors: Przezdziecka E , Wierzbicka A , Reszka A , Goscinski K , Droba A , Jakiela R , Dobosz D , Krajewski T A , Kopalko K , Sajkowski J M , Stachowicz M , Pietrzyk M A , Kozanecki A 
Published: December 2012

Abstract
We report on the characterization of wide-band-gap heterojunction diodes based on the p-ZnO/n-GaN material system. The layer structure consists of 11 µm GaN on sapphire substrates and As-doped ZnO film of thickness 0.4 µm obtained by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy (PA-MBE). The quality of the heterojunction was examined by x-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The arsenic concentration in ZnO, measured by secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS), is 5 × 1020 cm−3. The maximum forward-to-reverse current ratio I
F/I
R is of about 105 in the applied voltage ±3 V, a very good result for this type of heterojunction.
The effect of various solvents on the back channel of solution-processed In–Ga–Zn–O thin-film transistors intended for biosensor applications
Authors: Kim Si Joon , Jung Joohye , Yoon Doo Hyun , Kim Hyun Jae 
Published: December 2012

Abstract
This study investigated the effects of exposing solution-processed In–Ga–Zn–O (IGZO) thin-film transistors (TFTs), intended for biosensor applications, to various solvents. Various solvents, such as the nonpolar solvent chlorobenzene and the polar solvents ethanol and deionized (DI) water, were dropped and adsorbed on exposed IGZO channel surfaces. All IGZO TFT devices exhibited a negative threshold voltage shift and a sub-threshold swing degradation, without an accompanying degradation in field-effect mobility. These variations depended on the dielectric constant of the solvents; with the exception of the IGZO TFT device exposed to DI water, they all gradually returned to their initial states.
Multiscale analysis of adsorption-induced surface stress of alkanethiol on microcantilever
Authors: Chen Chuin-Shan , Chou Chia-Ching , Chang Shu-Wei 
Published: December 2012

Abstract
A multiscale scheme was developed to evaluate adsorption-induced surface stresses in an alkanethiol-passivated Au(1 1 1)-modified microcantilever surface using first-principle density-functional theory calculations. In particular, the effect of alkyl chain length on the generated surface stresses was considered in detail. It was found that the majority of the surface stress originated from re-organization of the first two Au atom layers that lie in close proximity to the adsorption site. The difference in the calculated surface stresses, which were consistent with experimental measurements, was determined to be approximately −0.05 N m−1 per two carbons added to the alkanethiol chain.
Coefficients of sliding friction of single crystals of high explosives under different rubbing conditions
Authors: Wu Y Q , Chaudhri M Munawar 
Published: December 2012

AbstractThe coefficients of sliding friction of single crystals of commonly used high explosives pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), cyclotrimethylene trinitramine (RDX) and beta-cyclotetramethylene tetranitramine (β-HMX) under several rubbing configurations and at a relative sliding speed of 0.22 mm s−1were measured. The sliding configurations were (1) crystal–polished steel pairs, (2) like-crystal pairs and (3) unlike-crystal pairs. For every rubbing configuration the friction force showed oscillations, which are thought to be caused by the formation and shearing of the adhesive junctions formed at the surface of the rubbing crystals. This shearing of the adhesive junctions led to the formation of microscopic and sub-microscopic particles, which were confirmed by an environmental scanning electron microscope study. For every rubbing configuration and for relatively high normal loads pressing the rubbing crystals together, the coefficient of friction was generally in the range 0.2–0.25 and it has been concluded that the coefficient of friction is controlled by the adhesion with almost negligible contribution from the ploughing component. From a knowledge of the coefficient of friction and the uniaxial yield stress values of single crystals of RDX andβ-HMX, the shear strength of these crystals were determined to be ∼13.4 MPa and ∼16.8 MPa, respectively.
Synthesis and characterization of nano- and microcrystalline cubes of pure and Ag-doped LiF
Authors: Alharbi Najlaa D , Salah Numan , Habib Sami S , Alarfaj Esam 
Published: December 2012

Abstract
Lithium fluoride (LiF) produced in single crystals and doped with proper activators is a highly sensitive phosphor used in several applications such as integrated optics, colour centre laser and radiation dosimetry. In this work, we have developed a new synthetic chemical co-precipitation route for the synthesis of well-crystallized micro- and nanocrystalline cubes of pure and silver (Ag)-doped LiF. The as-synthesized samples were characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy, absorption spectrum, photoluminescence (PL) and Raman spectroscopy. Size of the produced cubes could be controlled in the range 10 µm–50 nm by varying the solvent : co-solvent ratio. Micro-sized cubes could be grown in the presence of water as a solvent, while ethanol, which acts as a co-solvent, is found to be effective in reducing the size to the nanoscale. XRD results show complete crystalline structures in a griceite phase. The PL result of pure nanocubes exhibits a broad band in the range 370–550 nm, while that doped with Ag shows a prominent band at 420 nm. Raman spectra of the pure and Ag-doped LiF samples display several bands located in the range 80–236 cm−1. These results show that pure nanocubes of LiF have active colour centres without irradiation, which could be enhanced/modified by Ag dopants. This implies that these nanocubes might be useful in the development of optical devices.
Characterization and antimicrobial efficacy against E. coli of a helium/air plasma at atmospheric pressure created in a plastic package
Authors: Connolly J , Valdramidis V P , Byrne E , Karatzas K A , Cullen P J , Keener K M , Mosnier J P 
Published: December 2012

Abstract
A plasma source, sustained by the application of a floating high voltage (±15 kV) to parallel-plate electrodes at 50 Hz, has been achieved in a helium/air mixture at atmospheric pressure (P = 105 Pa) contained in a zip-locked plastic package placed in the electrode gap. Some of the physical and antimicrobial properties of this apparatus were established with a view to ascertain its performance as a prototype for the disinfection of fresh produce. The current–voltage (I–V) and charge–voltage (Q–V) characteristics of the system were measured as a function of gap distance d, in the range (3 × 103 ⩽ Pd ⩽ 1.0 × 104 Pa m). The electrical measurements showed this plasma source to exhibit the characteristic behaviour of a dielectric barrier discharge in the filamentary mode and its properties could be accurately interpreted by the two-capacitance in series model. The power consumed by the discharge and the reduced field strength were found to decrease quadratically from 12.0 W to 4.5 W and linearly from 140 Td to 50 Td, respectively, in the range studied. Emission spectra of the discharge were recorded on a relative intensity scale and the dominant spectral features could be assigned to strong vibrational bands in the 2+ and 1− systems of N2 and

, respectively, with other weak signatures from the NO and OH radicals and the N+, He and O atomic species. Absolute spectral intensities were also recorded and interpreted by comparison with the non-equilibrium synthetic spectra generated by the computer code SPECAIR. At an inter-electrode gap of 0.04 m, this comparison yielded typical values for the electron, vibrational and translational (gas) temperatures of (4980 ± 100) K, (2700 ± 200) K and (300 ± 100) K, respectively and an electron density of 1.0 × 1017 m−3. A Boltzmann plot also provided a value of (3200 ± 200 K) for the vibrational temperature. The antimicrobial efficacy was assessed by studying the resistance of both Escherichia coli K12 its isogenic mutants in soxR, soxS, oxyR, rpoS and dnaK selected to identify possible cellular responses and targets related with 5 min exposure to the active gas in proximity of, but not directly in, the path of the discharge filaments. Both the parent strain and mutants populations were significantly reduced by more than 1.5 log cycles in these conditions, showing the potential of the system. Post-treatment storage studies showed that some transcription regulators and specific genes related to oxidative stress play an important role in the E. coli repair mechanism and that plasma exposure affects specific cell regulator systems.
Mini-Oort clouds: compact isotropic planetesimal clouds from planet–planet scattering
Authors: Raymond Sean N. , Armitage Philip J. 
Published: December 2012

Abstract
Starting from planetary systems with three giant planets and an outer disc of planetesimals, we use dynamical simulations to show how dynamical instabilities can transform planetesimal discs into 102–103 au-scale isotropic clouds. The instabilities involve a phase of planet–planet scattering that concludes with the ejection of one or more planets and the inward-scattering of the surviving gas giant(s) to remove them from direct dynamical contact with the planetesimals. ‘Mini-Oort clouds’ are thus formed from scattered planetesimals whose orbits are frozen by the abrupt disappearance of the perturbing giant planet. Although the planetesimal orbits are virtually isotropic, the surviving giant planets tend to have modest inclinations (typically ∼10°) with respect to the initial orbital plane. The collisional lifetimes of mini-Oort clouds are long (10 Myr to &gt;10 Gyr) and there is a window of ∼100 Myr or longer during which they produce spherical clouds of potentially observable dust at 70 μm. If the formation channel for hot Jupiters commonly involves planetary close encounters, we predict a correlation between this subset of extrasolar planetary systems and mini-Oort clouds.
Pustular‐type drug‐induced hypersensitivity syndrome/drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms due to carbamazepine with systemic muscle involvement
Authors: Matsuda Haruna , Saito Kanami , Takayanagi Yoshikazu , Okazaki Toshio , Kashima Kenji , Ishikawa Kazushi , Kai Yoshitaka , Takeo Naoko , Hatano Yutaka , Okamoto Osamu , Fujiwara Sakuhei 
Published: December 2012

AbstractDrug‐induced hypersensitivity syndrome (DIHS)/drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) is a severe reaction usually associated with maculopapular eruptions and systemic involvement. Here we report the first case, to our knowledge, of DIHS/DRESS due to carbamazepine with acute generalized pustular bacterid‐like (AGPB‐like) eruptions and skeletal muscle involvement. Reviewing our case and the published work, we discuss pustular‐type DIHS/DRESS which, in most cases, involves acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP)‐like skin eruptions in response to carbamazepine. Pustular eruptions may appear in relatively few cases of DIHS/DRESS, in particular, when the causative drug is carbamazepine and, even in cases of intractable pustular bacterid‐like eruptions, a reaction to a drug should be suspected. Skeletal muscle involvement may be associated with DIHS/DRESS as one of its systemic manifestations.
Anti‐topoisomerase I antibody levels as serum markers of skin sclerosis in systemic sclerosis
Authors: Hasegawa Minoru , Imura‐Kumada Sayako , Matsushita Takashi , Hamaguchi Yasuhito , Fujimoto Manabu , Takehara Kazuhiko 
Published: December 2012

AbstractThe aim of the present study was to clarify the clinical significance of anti‐topoisomerase I antibody (Ab) levels in Japanese patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Using immunoprecipitation assays and enzyme‐linked immunoassay (ELISA), anti‐topoisomerase I Ab was detected in 53 SSc patients who visited Kanazawa University Hospital between 2001 and 2010. In these patients, the association between serum anti‐topoisomerase I Ab levels measured with ELISA and clinical features were compared using univariate analysis and multiple regression analysis. There were significantly positive correlations between anti‐topoisomerase I Ab levels and the modified Rodnan total skin thickness score (MRSS) and skin thickness progression rate, and a significantly negative correlation with disease duration. On the other hand, anti‐topoisomerase I Ab levels were not significantly associated with other clinical features including lung involvement. In a longitudinal study, anti‐topoisomerase I Ab levels were decreased significantly in patients that had decreased MRSS, but not in patients that had unchanged or increased MRSS. There was a significantly positive association between anti‐topoisomerase I Ab levels and MRSS and a significantly negative association with disease duration by multiple regression analysis. Our findings suggest that serum levels of anti‐topoisomerase I Ab reflect the severity of skin sclerosis in patients with SSc.
Exploring the mesofilter as a novel operational scale in conservation planning
Authors: Crous Casparus J. , Samways Michael J. , Pryke James S. 
Published: December 2012

Summary

Increased emphasis is being placed on developing effective biodiversity conservation tools for practical conservation planning. The mesofilter is such a biodiversity planning tool, but has yet to be fully explored to appreciate its effectiveness. The key premise of the mesofilter is that ecosystems contain certain physical elements that are specifically associated with a diversity of species. Identifying such mesofilters could therefore complement existing conservation planning tools such as coarse and fine filters.

To explore the value of the mesofilter as an operational scale in conservation planning, we studied 18 remnant patches of endangered montane grassland in KwaZulu‐Natal, South Africa, using the physical landscape feature of patch rockiness as an abiotic surrogate for biodiversity. The objective was to determine whether the mesofilter of rockiness can predict variation in species richness and composition for three dominant grassland taxa (plants, butterflies and grasshoppers) at the landscape scale.

Variable levels of rockiness had significant interactions with all three focal taxa. Higher species richness of all taxa was closely associated with higher levels of rockiness in a patch. The rocky mesofilter only predicted significant differences in species composition for butterflies. Elevation was also important, possibly another mesofilter for plants and grasshoppers in this landscape.

Synthesis and applications. The results indicate that the use of an abiotic surrogate such as rockiness can predict biodiversity value across multiple taxa. The mesofilter is therefore a valuable surrogacy and congruency tool for practical biodiversity conservation across this landscape and would likely have similar value if explored elsewhere. It also has value in the design and management of protected areas.
Comparative community gene expression analysis of Aquificales‐dominated geothermal springs
Authors: Hamamura Natsuko , Meneghin Jennifer , Reysenbach Anna‐Louise 
Published: December 2012

SummaryMembers of Sulfurihydrogenibium are often observed as visible filamentous biomass in circumneutral hot springs and play roles in sulfur‐cycling, hydrogen oxidation and iron mineralization. To gain insight into the ecophysiology of Sulfurihydrogenibium populations, we conducted preliminary metatranscriptomic analysis of three distinct thermal springs; Calcite Springs (YNP‐CS) and Mammoth Springs (YNP‐MHS) in Yellowstone National Park, USA, and Furnas Springs (AZ) in Azores, Portugal. Genes to which transcripts were assigned revealed commonly expressed functions among the sites, while several differences were also observed. All three sites, Sulfurihydrogenibium spp. dominate and are obtaining energy via metabolism of sulfur compounds under microaerophilic conditions. Cell motility was one of the expressed functions in two sites (YNP‐CS and AZ) with slower stream flow rates and thicker well‐formed biofilms. The transcripts from YNP‐CS and ‐MHS exhibited varying levels of sequence divergence from the reference genomes and corresponding metagenomes, suggesting the presence of microdiversity among Sulfurihydrogenibium populations in situ. Conversely, the majority of the AZ transcripts were identical to the S. azorense genome. Our initial results show that the metatranscriptomes in these similar Aquificales‐dominated communities can reveal community‐level gene function in geochemically distinct thermal environments.
Type II toxin/antitoxin MqsR/MqsA controls type V toxin/antitoxin GhoT/GhoS
Authors: Wang Xiaoxue , Lord Dana M. , Hong Seok Hoon , Peti Wolfgang , Benedik Michael J. , Page Rebecca , Wood Thomas K. 
Published: December 2012

SummaryToxin endoribonucleases of toxin/antitoxin (TA) systems regulate protein production by selectively degrading mRNAs but have never been shown to control other TA systems. Here we demonstrate that toxin MqsR of the MqsR/MqsA system enriches toxin ghoT mRNA in vivo and in vitro, since this transcript lacks the primary MqsR cleavage site 5′‐GCU. GhoT is a membrane toxin that causes the ghost cell phenotype, and is part of a type V TA system with antitoxin GhoS that cleaves specifically ghoT mRNA. Introduction of MqsR primary 5′‐GCU cleavage sites into ghoT mRNA reduces ghost cell production and cell death likely due to increased degradation of the altered ghoT mRNA by MqsR. GhoT also prevents cell elongation upon the addition of low levels of ampicillin. Therefore, during stress, antitoxin GhoS mRNA is degraded by toxin MqsR allowing ghoT mRNA translation to yield another free toxin that forms ghost cells and increases persistence. Hence, we show that GhoT/GhoS is the first TA system regulated by another TA system.