bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of ion implantation energy for the synthesis of Ge nanocrystals in SiN films with HfO2/SiO2 stack tunnel dielectrics for memory application
Authors: Sahu Bhabani Shankar , Gloux Florence , Slaoui Abdelilah , Carrada Marzia , Muller Dominique , Groenen Jesse , Bonafos Caroline , Lhostis Sandrine 
Published: March 2011

AbstractGe nanocrystals (Ge-NCs) embedded in SiN dielectrics with HfO2/SiO2 stack tunnel dielectrics were synthesized by utilizing low-energy (≤5 keV) ion implantation method followed by conventional thermal annealing at 800°C, the key variable being Ge+ ion implantation energy. Two different energies (3 and 5 keV) have been chosen for the evolution of Ge-NCs, which have been found to possess significant changes in structural and chemical properties of the Ge+-implanted dielectric films, and well reflected in the charge storage properties of the Al/SiN/Ge-NC + SiN/HfO2/SiO2/Si metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) memory structures. No Ge-NC was detected with a lower implantation energy of 3 keV at a dose of 1.5 × 1016 cm-2, whereas a well-defined 2D-array of nearly spherical and well-separated Ge-NCs within the SiN matrix was observed for the higher-energy-implanted (5 keV) sample for the same implanted dose. The MIS memory structures implanted with 5 keV exhibits better charge storage and retention characteristics compared to the low-energy-implanted sample, indicating that the charge storage is predominantly in Ge-NCs in the memory capacitor. A significant memory window of 3.95 V has been observed under the low operating voltage of ± 6 V with good retention properties, indicating the feasibility of these stack structures for low operating voltage, non-volatile memory devices.
Effect of annealing treatments on photoluminescence and charge storage mechanism in silicon-rich SiN
x
:H films
Authors: Sahu Bhabani Shankar , Delachat Florian , Slaoui Abdelilah , Carrada Marzia , Ferblantier Gerald , Muller Dominique 
Published: March 2011

AbstractIn this study, a wide range of a-SiN
x
:H films with an excess of silicon (20 to 50%) were prepared with an electron-cyclotron resonance plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition system under the flows of NH3 and SiH4. The silicon-rich a-SiN
x
:H films (SRSN) were sandwiched between a bottom thermal SiO2 and a top Si3N4 layer, and subsequently annealed within the temperature range of 500-1100°C in N2 to study the effect of annealing temperature on light-emitting and charge storage properties. A strong visible photoluminescence (PL) at room temperature has been observed for the as-deposited SRSN films as well as for films annealed up to 1100°C. The possible origins of the PL are briefly discussed. The authors have succeeded in the formation of amorphous Si quantum dots with an average size of about 3 to 3.6 nm by varying excess amount of Si and annealing temperature. Electrical properties have been investigated on Al/Si3N4/SRSN/SiO2/Si structures by capacitance-voltage and conductance-voltage analysis techniques. A significant memory window of 4.45 V was obtained at a low operating voltage of ± 8 V for the sample containing 25% excess silicon and annealed at 1000°C, indicating its utility in low-power memory devices.
Valence band offset of wurtzite InN/SrTiO3 heterojunction measured by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
Authors: Li Zhiwei , Zhang Biao , Wang Jun , Liu Jianming , Liu Xianglin , Yang Shaoyan , Zhu Qinsheng , Wang Zhanguo 
Published: March 2011

AbstractThe valence band offset (VBO) of wurtzite indium nitride/strontium titanate (InN/SrTiO3) heterojunction has been directly measured by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The VBO is determined to be 1.26 ± 0.23 eV and the conduction band offset is deduced to be 1.30 ± 0.23 eV, indicating the heterojunction has a type-I band alignment. The accurate determination of the valence and conduction band offsets paves a way to the applications of integrating InN with the functional oxide SrTiO3.
Factors associated with late presentation to HIV/AIDS care in South Wollo ZoneEthiopia: a case-control study
Authors: Abaynew Yeshewas , Deribew Amare , Deribe Kebede 
Published: March 2011

Abstract

Background
Access to free antiretroviral therapy in Sub-Saharan Africa has been steadily increasing. The success of large-scale antiretroviral therapy programs depends on early initiation of HIV/AIDs care. The purpose of the study was to examine factors associated with late presentation to HIV/AIDS care.

Methods
A case-control study was conducted in Dessie referral and Borumeda district hospitals from March 1 to 31, 2010, northern Ethiopia. A total of 320 study participants (160 cases and 160 controls) were included in the study. Cases were people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) who had a WHO clinical stage of III or IV or a CD4 lymphocyte count of less than 200/uL at the time of the first presentation to antiretroviral treatment (ART) clinics. Controls were PLHA who had WHO stage I or II or a CD4 lymphocyte count of 200/uL or more irrespective of clinical staging at the time of first presentation to the ART clinics of the hospitals cases and controls were interviewed by trained nurses using a pre-tested and structured questionnaire. In-depth interviews were conducted with ten health workers and eight PLHA.

Results
PLHA who live with their families [OR = 3.29, 95%CI: 1.28-8.45)], lived in a rented house [OR = 2.52, 95%CI: 1.09-5.79], non-pregnant women [OR = 9.3, 95% CI: 1.93-44.82], who perceived ART have many side effects [OR = 6.23, 95%CI:1.63,23.82)], who perceived HIV as stigmatizing disease [OR = 3.1, 95% CI: 1.09-8.76], who tested with sickness/symptoms [OR = 2.62, 95% CI: 1.26-5.44], who did not disclose their HIV status for their partner [OR = 2.78, 95% CI: 1.02-7.56], frequent alcohol users [OR = 3.55, 95% CI: 1.63-7.71] and who spent more than 120 months with partner at HIV diagnosis[OR = 5.86, 95% CI: 1.35-25.41] were significantly associated with late presentation to HIV/AIDS care. The qualitative finding revealed low awareness, non-disclosure, perceived ART side effects and HIV stigma were the major barriers for late presentation to HIV/AIDS care.

Conclusions
Efforts to increase early initiation of HIV/AIDS care should focus on addressing patient's concerns such as stigma, drug side effects and disclosure.
Acral post-traumatic tumoral calcinosis in pregnancy: a case report
Authors: Hutt Nick , Baghla Davinder PS , Gulati Vivek , Pastides Philip S , Beverly Mike C , Bashir Wassim A 
Published: March 2011

Abstract

Introduction
Tumoral calcinosis is an uncommon disorder characterized by the development of calcified masses within the peri-articular soft tissues of large joints, but rarely occurs within the hand.

Case presentation
We present the case of a 31-year-old pregnant Indian woman with a three-month history of painful swelling within the tip of her right middle finger following a superficial laceration. She was otherwise well and had normal serum calcium and phosphate levels. Plain radiography demonstrated a dense, lobulated cluster of calcified nodules within the soft tissues of the volar pulp space, consistent with a diagnosis of tumoral calcinosis. This diagnosis was confirmed on the basis of the histopathological examination following surgical excision.

Conclusion
To the best of our knowledge, we present the only reported case of acral tumoral calcinosis within the finger, and the first description of its occurrence during pregnancy. We review the etiology, pathogenesis and treatment of tumoral calcinosis.
Experimental design, preprocessing, normalization and differential expression analysis of small RNA sequencing experiments
Authors: McCormick Kevin P , Willmann Matthew R , Meyers Blake C 
Published: March 2011

Abstract
Prior to the advent of new, deep sequencing methods, small RNA (sRNA) discovery was dependent on Sanger sequencing, which was time-consuming and limited knowledge to only the most abundant sRNA. The innovation of large-scale, next-generation sequencing has exponentially increased knowledge of the biology, diversity and abundance of sRNA populations. In this review, we discuss issues involved in the design of sRNA sequencing experiments, including choosing a sequencing platform, inherent biases that affect sRNA measurements and replication. We outline the steps involved in preprocessing sRNA sequencing data and review both the principles behind and the current options for normalization. Finally, we discuss differential expression analysis in the absence and presence of biological replicates. While our focus is on sRNA sequencing experiments, many of the principles discussed are applicable to the sequencing of other RNA populations.
Undergraduate psychiatry education: the challenges ahead
Authors: Masson Neil 
Published: March 2011

SummaryThis commentary discusses the key issues facing undergraduate psychiatry teaching and the factors inhibiting psychiatrists' roles as medical educators. Potential solutions to allow psychiatrists to fully embrace their teaching role are presented. A particular focus is on enhancing teaching skills, challenging student perceptions of psychiatry and ensuring that teaching is protected, valued and appropriately rewarded. This requires a concerted approach on individual, organisational and policy levels.
Regional brain activation/deactivation during word generation in schizophrenia: fMRI study
Authors: John John P. , Halahalli Harsha N. , Vasudev Mandapati K. , Jayakumar Peruvumba N. , Jain Sanjeev 
Published: March 2011

BackgroundExamination of the brain regions that show aberrant activations and/or deactivations during semantic word generation could pave the way for a better understanding of the neurobiology of cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia.AimsTo examine the pattern of functional magnetic resonance imaging blood oxygen level dependent activations and deactivations during semantic word generation in schizophrenia.MethodFunctional magnetic resonance imaging was performed on 24 participants with schizophrenia and 24 matched healthy controls during an overt, paced, ‘semantic category word generation’ condition and a baseline ‘word repetition’ condition that modelled all the lead-in/associated processes involved in the performance of the generation task.ResultsThe brain regions activated during word generation in healthy individuals were replicated with minimal redundancies in participants with schizophrenia. The individuals with schizophrenia showed additional activations of temporo-parieto-occipital cortical regions as well as subcortical regions, despite significantly poorer behavioural performance than the healthy participants. Importantly, the extensive deactivations in other brain regions during word generation in healthy individuals could not be replicated in those with schizophrenia.ConclusionsMore widespread activations and deficient deactivations in the poorly performing participants with schizophrenia may reflect an inability to inhibit competing cognitive processes, which in turn could constitute the core information-processing deficit underlying impaired word generation in schizophrenia.
Attitudes towards mental disorders and emotional empathy in mental health and other healthcare professionals
Authors: Gateshill Georgina , Kucharska-Pietura Kate , Wattis John 
Published: March 2011

Aims and methodTo compare attitudes towards mental disorders in professionals working in mental health and professionals working in different areas of medicine. Levels of emotional empathy in both groups were also investigated. In total, 58 mental healthcare professionals and 60 non-mental healthcare professionals completed our attitudes towards mental disorders questionnaire and Balanced Emotional Empathy Scale.ResultsThe results reveal generally positive attitudes towards people with mental disorders in both groups. Non-mental healthcare professionals regarded people with a mental disorder as significantly more dangerous and unpredictable than did mental healthcare professionals. There was no statistically significant difference in emotional empathy between the two groups. Both groups cited illicit drug use as one of the most significant causes of mental disorder.Clinical implicationsMental healthcare professionals and non-mental healthcare professionals show broadly similar attitudes and a similar degree of empathy towards people with a mental disorder. However, non-mental healthcare professionals regard people with mental health problems as significantly more dangerous and unpredictable. There is scope for further research including examining the effects of educational interventions.
Results of the Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study Group D9602 Protocol, Using Vincristine and Dactinomycin With or Without Cyclophosphamide and Radiation Therapy, for Newly Diagnosed Patients With Low-Risk Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma: A Report From the Soft Tissue Sarcoma Committee of the Children's Oncology Group
Authors: Beverly Raney R. , Walterhouse David O. , Meza Jane L. , Andrassy Richard J. , Breneman John C. , Crist William M. , Maurer Harold M. , Meyer William H. , Parham David M. , Anderson James R. 
Published: March 2011

Purpose Patients with localized, grossly resected, or gross residual (orbital only) embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS) had 5-year failure-free survival (FFS) rates of 83% and overall survival rates of 95% on Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study Group (IRSG) protocols III/IV. IRSG D9602 protocol (1997 to 2004) objectives were to decrease toxicity in similar patients by reducing radiotherapy (RT) doses and eliminating cyclophosphamide for the lowest-risk patients. Patients and Methods Subgroup A patients (lowest risk, with ERMS, stage 1 group I/IIA, stage 1 group III orbit, stage 2 group I) received vincristine plus dactinomycin (VA). Subgroup B patients (ERMS, stage 1 group IIB/C, stage I group III nonorbit, stage 2 group II, stage 3 group I/II) received VA plus cyclophosphamide. Patients in group II/III received RT. Compared with IRS-IV, doses were reduced from 41.4 to 36 Gy for stage 1 group IIA patients and from 50 or 59 to 45 Gy for group III orbit patients. Results Estimated 5-year FFS rates were 89% (95% CI, 84% to 92%) for subgroup A patients (n = 264) and 85% (95% CI, 74%, 91%) for subgroup B patients (n = 78); median follow-up: 5.1 years. Estimated 5-year FFS rates were 81% (95% CI, 68% to 90%) for patients with stage 1 group IIA tumors (n = 62) and 86% (95% CI, 76% to 92%) for patients with group III orbit tumors (n = 77). Conclusion Five-year FFS and OS rates were similar to those observed in comparable IRS-III patients, including patients receiving reduced RT doses, but were lower than in comparable IRS-IV patients receiving VA plus cyclophosphamide. Five-year FFS rates were similar among subgroups A and B patients.
Impact of Comorbidity on Survival Among Men With Localized Prostate Cancer
Authors: Albertsen Peter C. , Moore Dirk F. , Shih Weichung , Lin Yong , Li Hui , Lu-Yao Grace L. 
Published: March 2011

Purpose To provide patients and clinicians more accurate estimates of comorbidity-specific survival stratified by patient age, tumor stage, and tumor grade. Patients and Methods We conducted a 10-year competing risk analysis of 19,639 men 66 years of age and older identified by the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program linked to Medicare program files. All men were diagnosed with localized prostate cancer and received no surgery or radiation within 180 days of diagnosis. The analysis was stratified by tumor grade and stage and by age and comorbidity at diagnosis classified using the Charlson comorbidity index. Underlying causes of death were obtained from SEER. Results During the first 10 years after diagnosis, men with moderately and poorly differentiated prostate cancer were more likely to die from causes other than their disease. Depending on patient age, Gleason score, and number of comorbidities present at diagnosis, 5-year overall mortality rates for men with stage T1c disease ranged from 11.7% (95% CI, 10.2% to 13.1%) to 65.7% (95% CI, 55.9% to 70.1%), and prostate cancer–specific mortality rates ranged from 1.1% (95% CI, 0.0% to 2.7%) to 16.3% (95% CI, 13.8% to 19.4%). Ten-year overall mortality rates ranged from 28.8% (95% CI, 25.3% to 32.6%) to 94.3% (95% CI, 87.4% to 100%), and prostate cancer–specific mortality rates ranged from 2.0% (95% CI, 0.0% to 5.3%) to 27.5% (95% CI, 21.5% to 36.5%). Conclusion Patients and clinicians should consider using comorbidity-specific data to estimate the threat posed by newly diagnosed localized prostate cancer and the threat posed by competing medical hazards.
Assessment of Quality of Cancer-Related Follow-Up Care From the Cancer Survivor's Perspective
Authors: Arora Neeraj K. , Reeve Bryce B. , Hays Ron D. , Clauser Steven B. , Oakley-Girvan Ingrid 
Published: March 2011

Purpose We assessed cancer survivors' perceptions of the quality of their follow-up care. Methods We surveyed a population-based cohort of leukemia, bladder, and colorectal cancer survivors diagnosed 2 to 5 years previously in northern California (N = 623; participation rate, 69.2%; overall response rate, 49.2%). Data were collected between April 2003 and November 2004. Ten scales assessed survivors' perceptions of different aspects of care in the last 12 months, and an eleventh scale measured their overall ratings of care. Results On nine of the 11 scales, mean scores ranged from 88 to 97 on a 0 to 100 response format, indicating very positive experiences. The two areas where quality perceptions were lower were discussions about health promotion and the physician's knowledge of the whole patient. In adjusted analyses, those without private health insurance (P = .02) and Hispanic and Asian survivors compared with whites (P < .001) reported worse timeliness of care. Survivors who had multiple comorbidities reported better scores on timeliness of care (P < .01) and physicians' knowledge (P = .05) than survivors without any comorbidity. Length of the patient-physician relationship was the variable most consistently found to be significantly associated with survivors' quality assessments. Physicians' information exchange had the strongest relationship with overall ratings of care, followed by physicians' affective behavior, their knowledge of the survivor, and survivors' perceptions of coordination of care (P < .001 for all). Conclusion Delivery of quality follow-up care to cancer survivors may require efforts to improve patient-centered communication and coordination. Special emphasis may need to be placed on health promotion discussions and adoption of a whole-person orientation.
Glioma-Associated Oncogene Family Zinc Finger 1 Expression and Metastasis in Patients With Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Treated With Radiation Therapy (RTOG 9003)
Authors: Chung Christine H. , Dignam James J. , Elizabeth Hammond M. , Klimowicz Alexander C. , Petrillo Stephanie K. , Magliocco Anthony , Jordan Richard , Trotti Andy , Spencer Sharon , Cooper Jay S. , Le Quynh-Thu , Ang K. Kian 
Published: March 2011

Purpose Glioma-associated oncogene family zinc finger 1 (GLI1) expression was assessed to determine a potential role of hedgehog (Hh) signaling in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Additional proteins known to be modulated by Hh signaling, including beta-catenin (CTNNB1) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), were also assessed to determine the correlation among these distinct signaling pathways. Patients and Methods Nuclear GLI1 and CTNNB1 expression levels were determined in tumors from patients enrolled on Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) 9003, a radiation fractionation trial. The results were also correlated with previously determined EGFR expression. The expression levels were evaluated in relation to three end points: time to metastasis (TTM), time to disease progression (TDP), and overall survival (OS). Results Among 1,068 eligible patients, data on GLI1, CTNNB1, and EGFR were available in 339, 164, and 300 patients, respectively. Although CTNNB1 expression did not differentiate prognosis, GLI1 was associated with poorer outcomes, adjusted for age, TNM stages, and Karnofsky performance score, and the significant influence persisted in a multivariable analysis (quartile 4 [Q4] v Q1 to Q3: TTM hazard ratio [HR], 2.7; 95% CI, 1.5 to 4.9; TDP HR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.1 to 2.5; OS HR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.4 to 2.7). The significance of GLI1 persisted in a multivariable analysis that included EGFR expression levels. Conclusion These data suggest that Hh signaling may play an important role in metastasis and that GLI1 could serve as a marker in HNSCC, but the regulatory mechanisms and oncogenic significance need further investigation. Risk classification based on this analysis needs a validation in independent cohorts.
Cellular Mechanism of Zinc–Hinokitiol Complexes in Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Naito Yuki , Yoshikawa Yutaka , Yasui Hiroyuki 
Published: March 2011

Abstract
Zinc complexes exhibit high insulin-like and antidiabetic activities in animals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). However, molecular mechanisms underlying these activities have not yet been determined. In this study, we investigated activation of the insulin signaling pathway by Zn in 3T3-L1 adipocytes using di(hinokitiolato)zinc complex (hinokitiol: 2-hydroxy-4-isopropylcyclohepta-2,4,6-trienone, [Zn(hnk)2]), which exhibits antidiabetic effect in animals with type 2 DM. Our results show that [Zn(hnk)2] strongly induced Akt/protein kinase B (Akt/PKB) phosphorylation, and optimal phosphorylation was achieved at a concentration of 50 µM. The [Zn(hnk)2]-induced Akt/PKB phosphorylation was almost completely inhibited by wortmannin, whereas [Zn(hnk)2]-induced phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β) was partially inhibited by wortmannin. Further, we examined cellular Zn uptake by [Zn(hnk)2] stimulation and evaluated cellular glucose uptake at the same time point. The intracellular Zn concentration incubated with [Zn(hnk)2] was approximately 4.7-fold higher than that in the control cells. Moreover, the glucose uptake of [Zn(hnk)2]-treated adipocytes was 3.7-fold higher than that of the control adipocytes. These results suggest that [Zn(hnk)2] was able to translocate glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) protein to the plasma membrane. Thus, we propose that [Zn(hnk)2] produces the antidiabetic effect by inducing insulin signaling pathways and glucose uptake.
Hydrogen Generation Using a Photoinduced Electron-transport System with a Molecular Catalyst in Vesicles
Authors: Watanabe Kentaro , Takizawa Shin-ya , Murata Shigeru 
Published: March 2011

Abstract
We constructed a novel H2 generation system mimicking natural photosynthesis, in which an electron is transported photochemically from ascorbate entrapped in the inner waterpool of vesicles to MV2+ dissolved in the outer aqueous solution and relayed to a Pt(II) complex embedded in the vesicle membrane that acts as a molecular catalyst.
Alkali Metal Ion Sensing Using Absorbance Changes Based on Aggregation of Silica Nanoparticles Modified Chemically with Crown Ethers
Authors: Nakahara Yoshio , Hayashi Takafumi , Kawa Haruna , Kimura Keiichi 
Published: March 2011

Abstract
Crown-ether-modified silica nanoparticles (Crown–SNPs) were successfully prepared by simple chemical modifications of silica nanoparticles. The organic moiety introduced into silica nanoparticles was characterized by solid-state 13C NMR and elemental analysis. No morphological damage of silica nanoparticles was recognized according to SEM observation. When an alkali metal salt was added to a solution containing Crown–SNPs, the absorbance changes, whose extent was dependent on the kind and the concentration of a metal ion, were observed.