bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Phosphorylated Akt up‐regulates angiotensin II type‐1 receptor expression in castration resistant prostate cancer
Authors: Kosaka Takeo , Miyajima Akira , Shirotake Suguru , Kikuchi Eiji , Oya Mototsugu 
Published: February 2011

AbstractBACKGROUNDAccumulating evidences has suggested that the renin‐angiotensin system (RAS) participates in the regulation of tumor angiogenesis. We previously demonstrated that castration‐resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) showed significantly higher angiotensin II (Ang II) type‐1 receptor (AT1R) expression, and that AT1R blockade (ARB) exerted protective effects by inhibiting angiogenesis. However, the detailed molecular mechanisms for the increase of AT1R expression in CRPC has not been fully elucidated yet.METHODSIn this study we used C4‐2 and C4‐2AT6 cells, which were PTEN‐null, androgen receptor (AR) positive, PSA‐producing CRPC cell lines. We investigated the association between phosphorylated Akt (pAkt) and AT1R expression, and used LY294002 as a PI3K/Akt inhibitor.RESULTSWestern blot analysis revealed C4‐2AT6 cells showed significantly higher pAkt expression than C4‐2 cells, although there were no significant differences in total Akt (tAkt) expression. Immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis also revealed significant higher pAkt expression in C4‐2AT6 tumors obtained from castrated male nude mice. These results indicated that C4‐2AT6 cells acquired elevated pAkt status under androgen‐ablated treatment in vitro. Treatment with LY294002 at the same dose reduced the viability of C4‐2AT6 more effectively than that of C4‐2, reflecting the dependency of cancer cells on PI3K/Akt pathway. The up‐regulated AT1R expression in C4‐2AT6 cells was reduced by LY294002 in a dose‐dependent manner. On the other hand, in C4‐2 cells, serum starvation induced pAkt up‐regulation, which led to an increase of AT1R expression.CONCLUSIONSThese findings indicated that up‐regulation of pAkt contributed to elevated AT1R expression in CRPC. Prostate 71:1510–1517, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A facile approach for synthesis and in situ modification of onion‐like carbon with molybdenum carbide
Authors: Du Jianping , Zhao Ruihua , Zhu Zhenping 
Published: February 2011

AbstractUniform small onion‐like carbon (OLC) modified with molybdenum carbide has been synthesized by a one‐step process, using detonation‐assisted chemical vapor deposition. The obtained material was characterized by transmission electron microscope, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X‐ray diffraction. The results show that the OLC have almost perfect onion structures containing about 7–10 closed shells and exhibit a narrow distribution of 4–6 nm when the C/Mo ratio is about 150. The hexagonal molybdenum carbide (Mo2C) is dispersed on the surface of OLC. The size of OLC can be controlled by adjusting the C/Mo ratios. The formation mechanism of the nanocomposites of OLC and Mo2C is briefly discussed.
Reproducible resistive‐switching behavior in copper‐nitride thin film prepared by plasma‐immersion ion implantation
Authors: Lu Qian , Zhang Xin , Zhu Wei , Zhou Yongning , Zhou Qianfei , Liu Lilong , Wu Xiaojing 
Published: February 2011

AbstractCopper nitride film prepared by plasma‐immersion ion implantation (PIII) is demonstrated to exhibit reversible resistance variance character. By forming a gradually distributed nitrogen concentration in the Cu‐nitride film, the nitride‐based memory devices show bipolar nature with a low operation voltage, forming‐free characteristics and a distinguishable resistance ratio. The bipolar switching behavior is attributed to the formation and rupture of conductive filaments within a cycle, which is confirmed by spreading‐resistance images of a conducting atomic force microscope. Based on X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis, semiconducting Cu3N phase and metallic Cu4N phase coexist in the copper nitride film and local conducting filaments might be formed by interconnection of the metallic phases by migration of Cu+ ions under a bias voltage.
Comparison of fitting procedures in the study of plasma‐induced defect formation in carbon nanotubes
Authors: Lee Szetsen , Peng Jr‐Wei 
Published: February 2011

AbstractWe have adopted different fitting procedures to study the Raman dispersion behavior of the G′ band in plasma‐treated multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Our analysis shows that the trend of the G′ band dispersion is related to the presence of defects in the MWCNTs. The intensity ratio dispersions involving the $G'_{21} $, $G'_{32} $, $G'_{41} $, and $G'_{42} $ components of the G band behave in a similar way to the well known D to G band ratio ($D/G$), which is a good criterion for estimating the defect content in MWCNTs. The $G'_{21} $, $G'_{32} $, $G'_{41} $, and $G'_{42} $ peaks are shown to belong to the lower‐frequency components of the G′ band by using two‐, three‐, and four‐peak fitting procedures. Conversely, the higher‐frequency components $G'_{22} $, $G'_{33} $, $G'_{43} $, and $G'_{44} $ behave like the G band and are related to the non‐defect content. Consequently, the intensity ratios $G'_{21} /G'_{22} $, $G'_{32} /G'_{33} $, and $G'_{41 + 42} /G'_{43 + 44} $ show the same dispersion behavior as that of $D/G$. The difference of band position between the high and low frequency G′ band components is found to be sensitive to plasma treatment.
Preface: Phys. Status Solidi C 8/2
Authors: Hirayama Yoshiro , Fujita Shizuo 
Published: February 2011

AbstractThe present issue of physica status solidi contains the papers presented at the 37th International Symposium on Compound Semiconductors (ISCS 2010). The symposium was held in Takamatsu, Kagawa, Japan, May 31–June 4, 2010. This symposium was one in an annual series that is held throughout North America, Europe and Asia. The last three conferences were held in Santa Barbara, USA (2009), Rust, Germany (2008) and Kyoto, Japan (2007).The symposium, which began in 1966 under the name “International Symposium on GaAs and Related Compounds” has a long standing tradition in science, technology, and applications of compound semiconductors. At the 2010 conference, 11 subcommittees (Growth and Nanostructure Formation; Electron Devices; Photonic Devices; New Properties and Physics; Spintronics; Nanocharacterization and Nanodevices; GaN and Related Semiconductors; Oxide Semiconductors; Carbon Related Materials; Organic Semiconductors and Other Soft Materials; Solar Cells) covered the entire spectrum of III–V compound semiconductors as well as II–VI, oxide semiconductors, and carbon related materials.The symposium was first collocated with the International Conference on Indium Phosphide and Related Materials (IPRM 2010) as “Compound Semiconductor Week 2010”. The ISCS and IPRM conferences attracted about 670 participants in total and the ISCS 2010 attended by 462 registered participants from more than 22 countries all over the world. Over the course of the symposium, 3 general plenary talks (conducted with IPRM), 3 plenary talks, 41 invited papers, 22 late news papers as well as 368 contributed papers were given as oral or poster presentations. The ISCS 2010 highlighted emerging wide‐band gap and oxide semiconductor materials and devices as well as high‐speed electronics, next generation photonics, and physics studies based on traditional compound semiconductors. The importance of the green application of compound semiconductors was also well addressed.The symposium is also the venue for the attribution of three prestigious scientific awards, the Welker Award, the Quantum Device Award and the Young Scientist Award.The Proceedings contains many of the papers presented at the symposium.We would like to thank all the participants of the ISCS 2010 for contributing to the success of the symposium and acknowledge the diligent work of the committee members and referees of the manuscripts.We would also like to thank Prof. Hiroshi Itoh and other members of Kagawa University for their excellent local organization. Takamatsu, a beautiful city facing an inland sea called “Setonaikai”, has Japanese style gardens, local culture, and the delicious Japanese noodle “Udon”, giving us the ideal location to combine a scientific conference with motivating entertainment.The 38th International Symposium on Compound Semiconductors, organized by Prof. Oliver Ambacher will be held at Berlin, Germany, May 22–26, 2011.January 2011
Are adaptation studies effective, and what can enhance their practical impact?
Authors: Eakin Hallie C. , Patt Anthony 
Published: February 2011

AbstractIn this piece we explore the interface between adaptation research and adaptation policy, planning, and investment. We ask, ‘How is research on adaptation informing the nascent domain of adaptation policy and practice?’ To inform this discussion, we extract a few of the more salient lessons from four different domains of adaptation research: risk assessment and impact response, social vulnerability and adaptive capacity, resilience, and the science of decision making and policy implementation. Through a few select case studies of adaptation planning, we explore the extent to which we see these lessons taking hold in adaptation practice. The cases reviewed suggest that there may be significant differences in the type of research that informs planning in more industrial contexts compared to the developing world. Risk assessment and cost/benefit analysis appear to dominate adaptation planning in the industrialized world, while insights concerning governance, the social and economic constraints to adaptation, and building systemic resilience are featured more in planning documents from the developing world. The focus on risk assessment and associated technological interventions in the industrialized world illustrates the difficulty of addressing underlying structural and cognitive barriers to change, as well as the policy implications of conceptualizing adaptation as an outcome rather than a dynamic process. More broadly, the challenge of adaptation now offers an opportunity for innovative and collaborative research in which networks of academics, policy makers, at‐risk populations, and other stakeholders actively participate in understanding the process of adaptation, experimenting in responses to change and learning from that process. WIREs Clim Change 2011 2 141–153 DOI: 10.1002/wcc.100This article is categorized under:

Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change > Institutions for Adaptation
Social Status of Climate Change Knowledge > Knowledge and Practice
Is There Any Benefit to Incorporating a Laparoscopic Procedure into Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy? The Impact on Perioperative Results in Patients with Esophageal Cancer
Authors: Lee Jang‐Ming , Cheng Jen‐Wei , Lin Ming‐Tsang , Huang Pei‐Ming , Chen Jin‐Shing , Lee Yung‐Chie 
Published: February 2011

AbstractBackgroundThe benefit of using the laparoscopic approach in minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) has not been established. We therefore compared the outcome of esophagectomy for patients with esophageal cancer performed with open surgery, video‐assisted thoracic surgery (VATS)/laparotomy (hybrid MIE), and VATS/ laparoscopy (total MIE).MethodsPatients with esophageal cancer undergoing tri‐incisional esophagectomy with three different approaches between 2005 and 2009 were analyzed from a prospective database.ResultsThree groups of patients underwent esophagectomy by open surgery (n = 64), hybrid MIE (n = 44), and total MIE (n = 30). The total MIE group had significantly longer operative times but had shorter postoperative ventilator usage times postoperative hospital stay, and they began jejunostomy feeding sooner (P < 0.05, compared with the other groups). There was a significant trend toward a decrease in postoperative pulmonary complications and anastomotic leakage in parallel to the proportion of minimally invasive procedures for esophagectomy (P < 0.05 for the trend test), with a significant difference between the open surgery and total MIE groups (30% vs. 6.7%, and 28% vs. 6.7%, respectively; P < 0.05).ConclusionsUse of a laparoscopic procedure in MIE for patients with esophageal cancer might provide benefit by facilitating postoperative recovery and reducing the rates of post‐esophagectomy pulmonary complications and anastomotic leakage.
Surgical Simulation Tasks Challenge Visual Working Memory and Visual‐Spatial Ability Differently
Authors: Schlickum Marcus , Hedman Leif , Enochsson Lars , Henningsohn Lars , Kjellin Ann , Felländer‐Tsai Li 
Published: February 2011

AbstractBackgroundNew strategies for selection and training of physicians are emerging. Previous studies have demonstrated a correlation between visual‐spatial ability and visual working memory with surgical simulator performance. The aim of this study was to perform a detailed analysis on how these abilities are associated with metrics in simulator performance with different task content. The hypothesis is that the importance of visual‐spatial ability and visual working memory varies with different task contents.MethodsTwenty‐five medical students participated in the study that involved testing visual‐spatial ability using the MRT‐A test and visual working memory using the RoboMemo computer program. Subjects were also trained and tested for performance in three different surgical simulators. The scores from the psychometric tests and the performance metrics were then correlated using multivariate analysis.ResultsMRT‐A score correlated significantly with the performance metrics Efficiency of screening (p = 0.006) and Total time (p = 0.01) in the GI Mentor II task and Total score (p = 0.02) in the MIST‐VR simulator task. In the Uro Mentor task, both the MRT‐A score and the visual working memory 3‐D cube test score as presented in the RoboMemo program (p = 0.02) correlated with Total score (p = 0.004).ConclusionsIn this study we have shown that some differences exist regarding the impact of visual abilities and task content on simulator performance. When designing future cognitive training programs and testing regimes, one might have to consider that the design must be adjusted in accordance with the specific surgical task to be trained in mind.
Changing Incidence of Acute Appendicitis and Nonspecific Abdominal Pain Between 1987 and 2007 in Finland
Authors: Ilves Imre , Paajanen Hannu E. K. , Herzig Karl‐Heinz , Fagerström Anne , Miettinen Pekka J. 
Published: February 2011

AbstractBackgroundThe incidence of acute appendicitis has declined in many countries. The aim of this study was to determine the trends in incidence of acute appendicitis (AA), appendectomies for AA, and nonspecific abdominal pain (NSAP) in Finland between 1987 and 2007.MethodsWe carried out a national register study. Demographic features were investigated. Diagnoses and procedures were classified according to the World Health Organization International Classification of Diseases. Data were analyzed for each of all five University Hospital districts (UHD) of Finland.ResultsDuring the observation period of 21 years, 186,558 appendectomies were performed in Finland, of which 137,528 (74%) cases were reported as AA. The incidence of acute appendicitis declined 32%. The diagnostic accuracy improved from 73 to 82% and was higher in men. The accuracy rate among the male patients was stable throughout the two decades; among the female patients it rose from 63 to 75%. The incidence of appendicitis was highest in patients aged 15–24 years. The average incidence of NSAP was 34/10,000/year, and it was higher in older age groups. There was a large geographical disparity in the incidence of NSAP.ConclusionThe incidence of acute appendicitis as well as the incidence of appendectomies is declining in Finland. The incidence of the NSAP has also been declining but we did not find any correlations between the incidences of the acute appendicitis and NSAP. There were clear geographical differences in the incidence of NSAP but not in the incidence of AA.
Preoperative Biliary MRSA Infection in Patients Undergoing Hepatobiliary Resection with Cholangiojejunostomy: Incidence, Antibiotic Treatment, and Surgical Outcome
Authors: Takara Daisuke , Sugawara Gen , Ebata Tomoki , Yokoyama Yukihiro , Igami Tsuyoshi , Nagino Masato 
Published: February 2011

AbstractBackgroundThere have been no reports on the impact of preoperative biliary MRSA infection on the outcome of major hepatectomy. The aim of this study was to review the surgical outcome of patients who underwent hepatobiliary resection after biliary drainage and to evaluate the impact of preoperative biliary MRSA infection.MethodsMedical records from 350 patients who underwent hepatobiliary resection with cholangiojejunostomy after external biliary drainage were retrospectively reviewed.ResultsOf the 350 study patients, 14 (4.0%) had MRSA‐positive bile culture, 246 (70.3%) had positive bile culture without MRSA growth, and the remaining 90 (25.7%) had negative bile culture. In all of the patients with MRSA‐positive bile culture, vancomycin was prophylactically administered after surgery. Of the 14 patients, 6 (42.9%) had surgical site infections, including wound infection in 5 patients and intra‐abdominal abscess in 2 patients. The incidence of surgical site infection in the 14 MRSA‐positive patients was higher but not statistically significant compared to the incidence in other patient groups. All 14 patients tolerated difficult hepatobiliary resection. Of the 350 study patients, 28 (8.0%) had postoperative MRSA infections. Multivariate analysis identified preoperative MRSA‐positive bile culture as a significant independent risk factor for postoperative MRSA infection.ConclusionsPreoperative biliary MRSA infection is troublesome as it is an independent risk factor of postoperative MRSA infection. Even in such troublesome situations, however, difficult hepatobiliary resection can be performed with acceptable rates of morbidity and mortality using appropriate antibiotic prophylaxis, including vancomycin, based on bile culture.
Response of litter decomposition and related soil enzyme activities to different forms of nitrogen fertilization in a subtropical forest
Authors: Wang Congyan , Han Guomin , Jia Yong , Feng Xiaoguang , Guo Peng , Tian Xingjun 
Published: February 2011

AbstractWith the continuing increase in the impact of human activities on ecosystems, ecologists are increasingly becoming interested in understanding the effects of nitrogen deposition on litter decomposition. At present, numerous studies have investigated the effects of single form of nitrogen fertilization on litter decomposition in forest ecosystems. However, forms of N deposition vary, and changes in the relative importance of different forms of N deposition are expected in the future. Thus, identifying the effects of different forms of N deposition on litter decomposition in forest ecosystems is a pressing task. In this study, two dominant litter types were chosen from Zijin Mountain in China: Quercus acutissima leaves from a late succession broad‐leaved forest and Pinus massoniana needles from an early succession coniferous forest. The litter samples were incubated in microcosms with original forest soil and treated with four different forms of nitrogen fertilization [NH4+, NO3−, CO(NH2)2, and a mix of all three]. During a 5‐month incubation period, litter mass losses, soil pH values, and soil enzyme activities were determined. Results show that all four forms of nitrogen fertilization significantly accelerate litter decomposition rates in the broadleaf forest, while only two forms of nitrogen fertilization [i.e., mixed nitrogen and CO(NH2)2] significantly accelerate litter decomposition rates in the coniferous forest. Litter decomposition rates with the mixed nitrogen fertilization were higher than those in any single form of nitrogen fertilization. All forms of nitrogen fertilization enhanced soil enzyme activities (i.e., catalase, cellulase, invertase, polyphenol oxidase, nitrate reductase, urease, and acid phosphatase) during the litter decomposition process for the two forest types. Soil enzyme activities under the mixed nitrogen fertilization were higher than those under any single form of nitrogen fertilization. These results suggest that the type and activity of the major degradative enzymes involved in litter decomposition vary in different forest types under different forms of nitrogen fertilization. They also indicate that a long‐term consequence of N deposition‐induced acceleration of litter decomposition rates in subtropical forests may be the release of carbon stored belowground to the atmosphere.
Quantitative Analysis of Phospholipids Using Nanostructured Laser Desorption Ionization Targets
Authors: Colantonio Simona , Simpson John T. , Fisher Robert J. , Yavlovich Amichai , Belanger Julie M. , Puri Anu , Blumenthal Robert 
Published: February 2011

AbstractSince its introduction as an ionization technique in mass spectrometry, matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) has been applied to a wide range of applications. Quantitative small molecule analysis by MALDI, however, is limited due to the presence of intense signals from the matrix coupled with non‐homogeneous surfaces. The surface used in nano‐structured laser desorption ionization (NALDI) eliminates the need for a matrix and the resulting interferences, and allows for quantitative analysis of small molecules. This study was designed to analyze and quantitate phospholipid components of liposomes. Here we have developed an assay to quantitate the DPPC and DC8,9PC in liposomes by NALDI following various treatments. To test our method we chose to analyze a liposome system composed of DPPC (1,2‐dipalmitoyl‐sn‐glycero‐3‐phosphocholine) and DC8,9PC (1,2‐bis(tricosa‐10,12‐diynoyl)‐sn‐glycero‐3‐phosphocholine), as DC8,9PC is known to undergo cross‐linking upon treatment with UV (254 nm) and this reaction converts the monomer into a polymer. First, calibration curves for pure lipids (DPPC and DC8,9PC) were created using DMPC (1,2‐dimyristoyl‐sn‐glycero‐3‐phosphocholine) as an internal standard. The calibration curve for both DPPC and DC8,9PC showed an R2 of 0.992, obtained using the intensity ratio of analyte and internal standard. Next, DPPC:DC8,9PC liposomes were treated with UV radiation (254 nm). Following this treatment, lipids were extracted from the liposomes and analyzed. The analysis of the lipids before and after UV exposure confirmed a decrease in the signal of DC8,9PC of about 90%. In contrast, there was no reduction in DPPC signal.