bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Uphill Grime: Process Improvement in Surgical Instrument Cleaning
Authors: Azizi Jahan , Anderson Susan G. , Murphy Shawn , Pryce Susanne 
Published: July 2012

AbstractAfter its investigation of cross‐contamination from arthroscopic shavers, the US Food and Drug Administration issued an alert to hospitals about medical device reprocessing methods. In response to this, a team of risk management and instrument room personnel at a university hospital undertook a project that tested the manufacturer's recommended cleaning methods for surgical instruments with the objective of determining the efficacy of automated instrument reprocessing and identifying a process that would produce a verifiably clean instrument after the cleaning process is performed. The quality improvement project focused on suction tips because they are used in most surgical procedures, are exposed to high levels of organic debris, and are difficult to clean. A variety of suction tips were cleaned and tested with a variety of processes and products to determine best instrument cleaning practices. Results of the project were eye‐opening—debris was found where debris should not be, and the manufacturer's recommended cleaning methods—the current practices—were not effective.
Precambrian and Palaeozoic rocks of the Inner Hebrides
Authors: Anderton R. , Bowes D. R. 
Published: July 2012

SynopsisThe Lewisian complex, which forms the continental basement to north-west Scotland, crops out on the Inner Hebridean islands of Rona, Raasay, Skye, Coll, Tiree, Iona and Islay. Upon this basement, four major rock successions were deposited before the Caledonian orogeny. The upper Precambrian Moine assemblage forms only a small area of metamorphosed rocks on Mull but the c. 790 m.y. (million year) old Torridonian sediments are found on Raasay, Scalpay. the Sleat of Skye, Soay and Rhum. The upper Precambrian to Cambrian Dal radian Supergroup dominates Islay, Jura, Gigha and the islands of the Firth of Lome whilst also forming a partial rim around the Tertiary Northern granite in Arran. Other Precambrian rocks of uncertain affinity are found on Islay, Oronsay, Colonsay and Iona. Cambro-Ordovician sediments are found on Skye where they have been partially metamorphosed by Tertiary intrusions.South-east of the Moine thrust zone, the Precambrian and lower Palaeozoic rocks were deformed and metamorphosed during the late Cambrian to early Devonian Caledonian orogeny which resulted in the development of the Caledonian mountain chain. Subsequently, Scotland north-west of the Highland Boundary fault has tended to persist as a land area undergoing erosion with sedimentation restricted to peripheral areas now preserved around the present coast. Upper Palaeozoic rocks are therefore only well represented on Arran although Old Red Sandstone (Devonian) sediments are found in the Firth of Lome and a very small area of possible Permian rocks occurs on Islay.
Soils of the Inner Hebrides
Authors: Hudson G. , Henderson D. J. 
Published: July 2012

SynopsisThe field mapping of the soils of the Inner Hebrides has revealed a range of major soil subgroups including calcareous regosols, brown forest soils, humus-iron podzols, peaty podzols, peaty gleys and peat. The parent materials, plant communities and Land Capability for Agriculture of the soils are described, and the distribution of soils in relation to various factors controlling their formation discussed.
Fungi in the Inner Hebrides
Authors: Dennis R. W. G. , Watling Roy 
Published: July 2012

SynopsisWhen one speaks of the Inner Hebridean fungi one is referring to the floras of Mull (1,744 spp.) and Rhum (905 spp.) for these are the only islands where the fungi have been seriously studied; only a few collections have been made in Eigg, Coll and Tiree, Raasay and Colonsay while Islay and Jura have been almost entirely neglected by mycologists. Recently attention has been paid to the fungal flora of Skye where over 75 stations have been examined. However, only 6% of the species recorded for VCs 102–104 are not recorded from Mull.
Wildfowl of Islay
Authors: Ogilvie M. A. 
Published: July 2012

SynopsisThe island of Islay posssesses by far the largest population of wintering wildflowl in the Inner Hebrides; there are 18,000-20,000 barnacle geese Branta leucopsis and 4,000 Greenland white-fronted geese Anser albifrons jiavirostris. There is also a small flock of greylag geese A. anser. Most of the commoner dabbling and diving ducks spend the winter in small numbers, with a flock of 1,000 scaup Aythya marila the most important. A few hundred pairs of eider Somateria mollissima breed, and up to 3,000 wintering or moulting birds have occurred offshore. Other breeding duck are few in number, including up to five pairs of common scoter Melanitta nigra. Whooper swans Cygnus cygnus spent the winter in the past but are now common on passage only. Barnacle geese have trebled in numbers in the last twenty years, leading to complaints of agricultural damage, and a subsequent increase in shooting and disturbance followed by a recent decline in numbers. Annual data on populations, productivity and losses are presented. Greenland white-fronted geese have varied less in numbers, but shooting has increased and the situation is reviewed. All other wildfowl occurring on the island are dealt with briefly.
Forests of the Inner Hebrides—status and habitat
Authors: Bramwell A. G. , Cowie G. M. 
Published: July 2012

SynopsisForestry development in the Inner Hebrides is largely confined to Islay, Jura, Mull, Skye, Raasay and Scalpay. Tue value of the forest industry is highlighted in producing a raw material for industry, providing employment and supporting the island infrastructure. Factors such as exposure, degraded soils and problems of marketing which force the forester to limit the choice of species to a few hardy saleable species are also described. Established consultation procedures are preserving the essential interests of competing land users by the rational apportionment of land to various uses and by good forest design. Creation of diversity in commercial plantations which is essential for habitat improvement by both natural means and modern management practices is described.A checklist of vertebrate fauna which frequent these new forests is provided together with an assessment of their status.
Measurements of regional‐scale aerosol impacts on cloud microphysics over the East China Sea: Possible influences of warm sea surface temperature over the Kuroshio ocean current
Authors: Koike M. , Takegawa N. , Moteki N. , Kondo Y. , Nakamura H. , Kita K. , Matsui H. , Oshima N. , Kajino M. , Nakajima T. Y. 
Published: July 2012

Cloud microphysical properties and aerosol concentrations were measured aboard an aircraft over the East China Sea and Yellow Sea in April 2009 during the Aerosol Radiative Forcing in East Asia (A‐FORCE) experiment. We sampled stratocumulus and shallow cumulus clouds over the ocean in 9 cases during 7 flights 500–900 km off the east coast of Mainland China. In this study we report aerosol impacts on cloud microphysical properties by focusing on regional characteristics of two key parameters, namely updraft velocity and aerosol size distribution. First, we show that the cloud droplet number concentration (highest 5%, Nc_max) correlates well with the accumulation‐mode aerosol number concentration (Na) below the clouds. We then show that Nc_maxcorrelates partly with near‐surface stratification evaluated as the difference between the sea surface temperature (SST) and 950‐hPa temperature (SST − T950). Cold air advection from China to the East China Sea was found to bring not only a large number of aerosols but also a dry and cold air mass that destabilized the atmospheric boundary layer, especially over the warm Kuroshio ocean current. Over this high‐SST region, greater updraft velocities and hence greater Nc_maxlikely resulted. We hypothesize that the low‐level static stability determined by SST and regional‐scale airflow modulates both the cloud microphysics (aerosol impact on clouds) and macro‐structure of clouds (cloud base and top altitudes, hence cloud liquid water path). Second, we show that not only higher aerosol loading in terms of total aerosol number concentration (NCN, D > 10 nm) but also larger aerosol mode diameters likely contributed to high Ncduring A‐FORCE. The mean Nc of 650 ± 240 cm−3was more than a factor of 2 larger than the global average for clouds influenced by continental sources. A crude estimate of the aerosol‐induced cloud albedo radiative forcing is also given.
Aviation induced diurnal North Atlantic cirrus cover cycle
Authors: Graf Kaspar , Schumann Ulrich , Mannstein Hermann , Mayer Bernhard 
Published: July 2012

Aviation induced cirrus (AIC) cover is identified from mean diurnal cycles of cirrus cover and air traffic density in the North Atlantic flight corridor. Traffic data for this region show an aviation “fingerprint” with two maxima during morning eastbound and afternoon westbound traffic. The same aviation fingerprint is found in cirrus cover. Cycle differences between west and east domain parts allow separating between aviation and natural diurnal changes. Cirrus cover is derived from 8 years of Meteosat infrared data. Linear contrail cover is estimated from the same data. Background cirrus without aviation impact is estimated from cirrus observations over the South Atlantic and from numerical weather prediction forecast. The cirrus cover cycle is well approximated by linear response to traffic density with fitted delay times of 2.3–4.1 h, implying AIC cover of 1–2%, more than expected from recent models.
TEC ingestion into NeQuick 2 to model the East African equatorial ionosphere
Authors: Nigussie M. , Radicella S. M. , Damtie B. , Nava B. , Yizengaw E. , Ciraolo L. 
Published: July 2012

NeQuick 2 ionospheric empirical model depends on global ionospheric coefficients that are estimated from unevenly distributed ionosonde measurements. In regions, like Africa, where very few observational data were available until recently, the model estimated the ionospheric peak parameters by interpolation. When one wants to employ the model to specify the ionosphere where very few data have been used for model development, the performances of the model need careful validation. This study investigates the performances of NeQuick 2 in the East African region by assisting the model with measurements from a single Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, which has been deployed recently. This can be done by first calculating an effective ionization level that drives NeQuick 2 to compute slant total electron content (sTEC) which fits, in the least square sense, with the measurements taken from a single GPS receiver. We then quantify the performances of NeQuick 2 in reproducing the measured TEC by running the model at four other locations, where GPS stations are available, using the same effective ionization level that we calculated from a single GPS station as a driver of the model. Finally, the performances of the model before and after data ingestion have been investigated by comparing the model results with the experimental sTEC and vertical TEC (vTEC) obtained from the four test stations. Three months data during low solar activity conditions have been used for this study. We have shown that the capability of NeQuick 2, in describing the East African region of the ionosphere, can be improved substantially by data ingestion. We found that the model after ingestion reproduces the experimental TEC better as far as about 620 km away from the reference station than that before adaptation. The statistical comparisons of the performances of the model in reproducing sTEC before and after ingestion are also discussed in this study.
Cardiovascular disease is associated with high-fat-diet-induced liver damage and up-regulation of the hepatic expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α in a rat model
Authors: Burgueño Adriana L. , Gianotti Tomas F. , Mansilla Noelia G. , Pirola Carlos J. , Sookoian Silvia 
Published: July 2012

CVD (cardiovascular disease) is associated with abnormal liver enzymes, and NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) is independently associated with cardiovascular risk. To gain insights into the molecular events underlying the association between liver enzymes and CVD, we developed an HFD (high-fat diet)-induced NAFLD in the SHR (spontaneously hypertensive rat) and its control WKY (Wistar–Kyoto) rat strain. We hypothesized that hepatic induction of Hif1a (hypoxia-inducible factor 1α) might be the link between CVD and liver injury. Male SHRs (n=13) and WKY rats (n=14) at 16 weeks of age were divided into two experimental groups: standard chow diet and HFD (10 weeks). HFD-fed rats, irrespective of the strain, developed NAFLD; however, only HFD-SHRs had focus of lobular inflammation and high levels of hepatic TNFα (tumour necrosis factor α). SHRs had significantly higher liver weight and ALT (alanine aminotransferase) levels, irrespective of NAFLD. Liver abundance of Hif1a mRNA and Hif1α protein were overexpressed in SHRs (P&lt;0.04) and were significantly correlated with ALT levels (R=0.50, P&lt;0.006). This effect was not reverted by a direct acting splanchnic vasodilator (hydralazine). Angiogenesis may be induced by the HFD, but the disease model showed significantly higher hepatic Vegf (vascular endothelial growth factor) levels (P&lt;0.025) even in absence of dietary insult. Hif1a mRNA overexpression was not observed in other tissues. Liver mRNA of Nr1d1 (nuclear receptor subfamily 1, group D, member 1; P&lt;0.04), Ppara [Ppar (peroxisome-proliferatoractivated receptor) α; P&lt;0.05], Pparg (Pparγ; P&lt;0.001) and Sirt1 (Sirtuin 1; P&lt;0.001) were significantly upregulated in SHRs, irrespective of NAFLD. Sirt1 and Hif1a mRNAs were significantly correlated (R=0.71, P&lt;0.00002). In conclusion, CVD is associated with Hif1a-related liver damage, hepatomegaly and reprogramming of liver metabolism, probably to compensate metabolic demands.
Micromagnetic simulations using Graphics Processing Units
Authors: Lopez-Diaz L , Aurelio D , Torres L , Martinez E , Hernandez-Lopez M A , Gomez J , Alejos O , Carpentieri M , Finocchio G , Consolo G 
Published: July 2012

Abstract
The methodology for adapting a standard micromagnetic code to run on graphics processing units (GPUs) and exploit the potential for parallel calculations of this platform is discussed. GPMagnet, a general purpose finite-difference GPU-based micromagnetic tool, is used as an example. Speed-up factors of two orders of magnitude can be achieved with GPMagnet with respect to a serial code. This allows for running extensive simulations, nearly inaccessible with a standard micromagnetic solver, at reasonable computational times.
Transparent indium oxide films doped with high Lewis acid strength Ge dopant for phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes
Authors: Kang Sin-Bi , Lim Jong-Wook , Lee Sunghun , Kim Jang-Joo , Kim Han-Ki 
Published: July 2012

Abstract
We report on Ge-doped In2O3(IGO) films prepared by co-sputtering GeO2 and In2O3 targets for anode of phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes (POLEDs). Under optimized annealing conditions, the IGO film exhibited a low sheet resistance of 14.0 Ω/square, a high optical transmittance of 86.9% and a work function of 5.2 eV, comparable to conventional Sn-doped In2O3 (ITO) films. Due to the higher Lewis acid strength of the Ge4+ ion (3.06) than that of Sn3+(1.62), the IGO film showed higher transparency in the near infrared and higher carrier mobility of 39.16 cm2 V−1 s−1 than the ITO films. In addition, the strongly preferred (2 2 2) orientation of the IGO grains, caused by Zone II grain growth during rapid thermal annealing, increased the carrier mobility and improved the surface morphology of the IGO film. POLEDs fabricated on IGO anodes showed identical current density–voltage–luminance curves and efficiencies to POLEDs with ITO electrodes due to the low sheet resistance and high transmittance of the IGO anode.
Facet temperature distribution of a room temperature continuous-wave operating quantum cascade laser
Authors: Hu Yongzheng , Wang Lijun , Zhang Jinchuan , Li Lu , Liu Junqi , Liu Fengqi , Wang Zhanguo 
Published: July 2012

Abstract
The facet temperature distribution of a room temperature continuous-wave (CW) operating quantum cascade laser was experimentally measured based on the micro-Raman intensity ratio analysis of the Stokes and anti-Stokes phonon lines. A ‘W’-shaped temperature distribution was observed in the active region. We found that the traditional thermal simulation using the Fourier law is not sufficient in explaining our experimental results and other simulation models need to be explored. The active region temperatures at different CW operating currents were also measured. Our work is useful for device failure analysis and optimization of thermal management.
Oxygen vacancy induced phase formation and room temperature ferromagnetism in undoped and Co-doped TiO2 thin films
Authors: Mohanty P , Mishra N C , Choudhary R J , Banerjee A , Shripathi T , Lalla N P , Annapoorni S , Rath Chandana 
Published: July 2012

Abstract
TiO2 and Co-doped TiO2 (CTO) thin films deposited at various oxygen partial pressures by pulsed laser deposition exhibit room temperature ferromagnetism (RTFM) independent of their phase. Films deposited at 0.1 mTorr oxygen partial pressure show a complete rutile phase confirmed from glancing angle x-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. At the highest oxygen partial pressure, i.e. 300 mTorr, although the TiO2 film shows a complete anatase phase, a small peak corresponding to the rutile phase along with the anatase phase is identified in the case of CTO film. An increase in O to Ti/(Ti+Co) ratio with increase in oxygen partial pressure is observed from Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy. It is revealed from x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) that oxygen vacancies are found to be higher in the CTO film than TiO2, while the valency of cobalt remains in the +2 state. Therefore, the CTO film deposited at 300 mTorr does not show a complete anatase phase unlike the TiO2 film deposited at the same partial pressure. We conclude that RTFM in both films is not due to impurities/contaminants, as confirmed from XPS depth profiling and cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (TEM), but due to oxygen vacancies. The magnitude of moment, however, depends not only on the phase of TiO2 but also on the crystallinity of the films.
Circulating growth differentiation factor‐15 correlates with myocardial fibrosis in patients with non‐ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy and decreases rapidly after left ventricular assist device support
Authors: Lok Sjoukje I. , Winkens Bjorn , Goldschmeding Roel , van Geffen Ankie J.P. , Nous Fay M.A. , van Kuik Joyce , van der Weide Petra , Klöpping Corinne , Kirkels J. Hans , Lahpor Jaap R. , Doevendans Pieter A. , de Jonge Nicolaas , de Weger Roel A. 
Published: July 2012

AimsGrowth differentiation factor‐15 (GDF‐15) is a stress‐responsive cytokine and is emerging as a biomarker of cardiac remodelling. Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) provide unloading of the left ventricle, resulting in partial reverse remodelling. Our aim was to study GDF‐15 in patients with a non‐ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) during LVAD support.Methods and resultsWe analysed circulating GDF‐15 in 30 patients before and 1, 3, and 6 months after LVAD implantation and before heart transplantation or explantation. In addition, mRNA and protein expression of GDF‐15 were evaluated in myocardial tissue obtained prior to and after LVAD support. Circulating GDF‐15 was significantly higher before LVAD implantation as compared with healthy controls (P < 0.001). After 1 month of mechanical support, GDF‐15 levels were significantly decreased compared with pre‐implantation levels (P < 0.001) and remained stable thereafter. Circulating GDF‐15 was significantly correlated with kidney function and the severity of myocardial fibrosis. Interestingly, GDF‐15 mRNA and protein expression in the myocardium were hardly detectable.ConclusionsHigh circulating levels of GDF‐15 in patients with end‐stage non‐ischaemic DCM correlate with myocardial fibrosis and kidney function and decline strongly after 1 month of mechanical unloading, remaining stable thereafter. However, cardiac mRNA and protein expression of GDF‐15 are very low, suggesting that the heart is not an important source of GDF‐15 production in these patients.
Analysis of stem-cell-like properties of human CD161++IL-18Rα+ memory CD8+ T cells
Authors: Havenith Simone H. C. , Yong Si La , Henson Sian M. , Piet Berber , Idu Mirza M. , Koch &#x2028;Sven D. , Jonkers René E. , Kragten Natasja A. M. , Akbar Arne N. , van Lier René A. W. , ten Berge Ineke J. M. 
Published: July 2012

Abstract
CD161++IL-18Rα+CD8+ human T cells have recently been identified as a new subset of memory cells but their exact role remains unclear. CD161++IL-18Rα+CD8+, mucosal-associated invariant T cells express a semi-invariant TCR Vα7.2-Jα33, which recognizes the MHC-related protein 1. On the basis of properties including the expression of the ABC-B1 transporter, cKit expression and survival after chemotherapy, CD161++IL-18Rα+CD8+ T cells have been designated as ‘stem’ cells. Here we analyse location and functional properties of CD161++IL-18Rα+ CD8+ T cells and question whether they have other traits that would mark them as genuine ‘stem’ cells. CD161++IL-18Rα+CD8+ T cells were found in peripheral blood, spleen and bone marrow but interestingly hardly at all in lymph nodes (LNs), which may possibly be explained by the finding that these cells express a specific set of chemokine receptors that allows migration to inflamed tissue rather than to LNs. In addition to TCR ligation and co-stimulation, CD161++IL-18Rα+ CD8+ T cells require cytokines for proliferation. The CD161++IL-18Rα+ CD8+ pool contains cells reactive towards peptides, derived from both persisting and cleared viruses. Although CD161++IL-18Rα+ CD8+ T cells express the ABC-B1 transporter, they have shorter telomeres and less telomerase activity and do not express aldehyde dehydrogenase. Finally, CD161++IL-18Rα+ CD8+ T cells show similarities to terminally differentiated T cells, expressing IFNγ, KLRG1 and the transcription factor Blimp-1. In conclusion, CD161++IL-18Rα+ CD8+ T cells lack many features of typical ‘stem’ cells, but appear rather to be a subset of effector-type cells.
Auxin and Epigenetic Regulation of SKP2B, an F-Box That Represses Lateral Root Formation
Authors: Manzano Concepción , Ramirez-Parra Elena , Casimiro Ilda , Otero Sofía , Desvoyes Bénédicte , De Rybel Bert , Beeckman Tom , Casero Pedro , Gutierrez Crisanto , C. del Pozo Juan 
Published: July 2012

Abstract
In plants, lateral roots originate from pericycle founder cells that are specified at regular intervals along the main root. Here, we show that Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) SKP2B (for S-Phase Kinase-Associated Protein2B), an F-box protein, negatively regulates cell cycle and lateral root formation as it represses meristematic and founder cell divisions. According to its function, SKP2B is expressed in founder cells, lateral root primordia and the root apical meristem. We identified a novel motif in the SKP2B promoter that is required for its specific root expression and auxin-dependent induction in the pericycle cells. Next to a transcriptional control by auxin, SKP2B expression is regulated by histone H3.1/H3.3 deposition in a CAF-dependent manner. The SKP2B promoter and the 5′ end of the transcribed region are enriched in H3.3, which is associated with active chromatin states, over H3.1. Furthermore, the SKP2B promoter is also regulated by H3 acetylation in an auxin- and IAA14-dependent manner, reinforcing the idea that epigenetics represents an important regulatory mechanism during lateral root formation.