bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Relaxor to Ferroelectric Transitions in (Bi1/2Na1/2)TiO3–Bi(Zn1/2Ti1/2)O3Solid Solutions
Authors: Patterson Eric A. , Cann David P. 
Published: July 2012

Recently, (Bi1/2Na1/2)TiO3 solid solutions have been found to exhibit excellent dielectric and piezoelectric properties. In this study, the dielectric and ferroelectric properties of (1–x)(Bi1/2Na1/2)TiO3–xBi(Zn1/2Ti1/2)O3 (BNT–BZT) solid solutions were investigated. Up to a solubility limit of 8% BZT, distortions to the parent cubic perovskite phase were observed in the diffraction data through splitting of the (001), (011), and (111) reflections. At low concentrations of BZT, the material behaved very much like a conventional ferroelectric, with well‐saturated loops with high remanent polarization (Pr ~ 35 μC/cm2). As the BZT content increased, the dielectric behavior displayed characteristics of relaxor behavior. Polarization hysteresis data at elevated temperatures and a thermal hysteresis in the dielectric maximum were evidence for a relaxor to ferroelectric transition.
A High‐Temperature‐Capacitor Dielectric Based on K0.5Na0.5NbO3‐Modified Bi1/2Na1/2TiO3–Bi1/2K1/2TiO3
Authors: Dittmer Robert , Anton Eva‐Maria , Jo Wook , Simons Hugh , Daniels John E. , Hoffman Mark , Pokorny Jan , Reaney Ian M. , Rödel Jürgen 
Published: July 2012

A high‐temperature dielectric, (1–x)(0.6Bi1/2Na1/2TiO3–0.4Bi1/2K1/2TiO3)–xK0.5Na0.5NbO3, off the morphotropic phase boundary of the parent matrix 0.8Bi1/2Na1/2TiO3–0.2Bi1/2K1/2TiO3, has been developed for application as a high‐temperature capacitor. In addition to temperature‐dependent permittivity and dielectric loss, DC conductivity and field‐dependent permittivity are reported. These properties are correlated with temperature‐dependent structure data measured at different length scales using Raman spectroscopy and neutron diffraction. It is suggested that all materials investigated are ergodic relaxors with two types of polar nanoregions providing different relaxation mechanisms. The most attractive properties for application as high‐temperature dielectrics are obtained in a material with x = 0.15 at less than 10% variation of relative permittivity of about 2100 between 54°C and 400°C.
TEM and SAED Characterization of Metakaolin. Pozzolanic Activity
Authors: Trusilewicz L. , Fernández‐Martínez F. , Rahhal V. , Talero R. 
Published: July 2012

The present study deals with a characterization of metakaolin pozzolanic activity and its chemical character exhibited in the Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) blends by means of Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Selected‐Area Electron Diffraction (SAED) techniques principally. Metakaolin sample was prepared by calcination of kaolin rock (Guadalajara, Spain) at 780°C. Two OPC of different chemical composition from the tricalcium aluminate content point of view were chosen and Portland cement blends series elaborated and then submitted to the pozzolanic activity test (EN 196‐5 or Frattini test). The main mineralogical components of the metakaolin are determined qualitatively: χ‐alumina and quartz. The chemical character of the metakaolin is described because of its final composition as well as due to its Al atoms possible coordination. The crystalline order of the material is found to be of both amorphous and polycrystalline, being an intimate amorphous mixture of alumina and silica. Finally, all the alumina capable of reacting chemically is denominated and classified as reactive alumina component, Al2O3r−, of pozzolans, as well as the aluminic chemical character of metakaolin in OPC blends is once again proved and exhibited by means of Friedel's salt formation studied already at 4 h‐age.
Exclusion Constraints Facilitate Statistical Word Learning
Authors: Yoshida Katherine , Rhemtulla Mijke , Vouloumanos Athena 
Published: July 2012

AbstractThe roles of linguistic, cognitive, and social‐pragmatic processes in word learning are well established. If statistical mechanisms also contribute to word learning, they must interact with these processes; however, there exists little evidence for such mechanistic synergy. Adults use co‐occurrence statistics to encode speech–object pairings with detailed sensitivity in stochastic learning environments (Vouloumanos, 2008). Here, we replicate this statistical work with nonspeech sounds and compare the results with the previous speech studies to examine whether exclusion constraints contribute equally to the statistical learning of speech–object and nonspeech–object associations. In environments in which performance could benefit from exclusion, we find a learning advantage for speech over nonspeech, revealing an interaction between statistical and exclusion processes in associative word learning.
Impact of increasing temperatures and exposure duration on egg hatch in the hemlock looper, Lambdina fiscellaria
Authors: Delisle Johanne , Royer Lucie , le Bernier‐Cardou Michè , Labrecque Alain 
Published: July 2012

AbstractAs the growing season is expected to begin earlier under climate change, insects should initiate reproduction several days or weeks earlier than they used to. In eastern Canada, hemlock looper (HL) Lambdina fiscellaria (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) females generally oviposit in September, with eggs entering an obligatory diapause quickly after their deposition. We therefore simulated an early start of the HL reproduction cycle of 2, 4, 6, or 8 weeks to examine the extent to which freshly laid eggs from two populations (island and mainland) can withstand exposure to four temperature conditions (15, 20, 25 °C, or fluctuating temperature in an outdoor insectary), with all treatments ending on 1 September 2007. On this date, half the eggs from each population were immediately incubated at 15 °C, while the rest were stored in an outdoor insectary until their incubation at 15 °C the following spring. In a separate experiment, the effect of temperature on pre‐diapause duration was determined from the number of days required for eggs to change colour after oviposition. The pre‐diapause phase was completed faster as temperature increased. Regardless of incubation date and population, percent hatch decreased significantly after 6‐8 weeks of exposure to 25 °C or in the outdoor insectary. Under most treatments, the odds of dying as pharate larvae increased with exposure duration. When eggs were incubated at 15 °C immediately after treatment, time to hatch and diapause duration remained constant over treatments, except at 25 °C when they both decreased. After 8 weeks of exposure to 15 or 20 °C, eggs transferred outdoors were more likely to hatch precociously than those exposed to 25 °C or insectary conditions. Globally, mortality seemed greater among eggs stored outdoors than among those kept indoors. Most eggs that survived the winter hatched synchronously after incubation in spring. Overall, larger eggs from the island population survived better than smaller eggs from the mainland population.
Effects of inbreeding on variation in diapause duration and early fecundity in the Kanzawa spider mite
Authors: Ito Katsura , Yokoyama Nanako , Kumekawa Yoshimasa , Hayakawa Hiroshi , Minamiya Yukio , Nakaishi Kazuhide , Fukuda Tatsuya , Arakawa Ryo , Saito Yutaka 
Published: July 2012

AbstractIn arthropods, both diapause duration and ability to produce eggs in early adult life (early fecundity) are important life‐history traits for successful settling in a new habitat. In herbivorous spider mites (Acari: Tetranychidae), inbreeding frequently occurs because new colonies are established by only one or a few females. In the present study, we investigated the impact of inbreeding on the phenotypic variance in diapause duration and early fecundity in the Kanzawa spider mite, Tetranychus kanzawai Kishida. Diapause duration was compared between the inbreeding treatment (strongly inbred strains) and the control (strains immediately taken from the stock culture) under winter‐mimicking laboratory conditions. The variance in diapause duration was smaller in the inbreeding treatment than in the control, though the magnitude of decrease of variance was less than expected. On the other hand, early fecundity did not show any reduction of variance. The present results revealed that inbreeding reduces phenotypic variation, as expected in theory.
The effects of adjunctive metronidazole plus amoxicillin in the treatment of generalized aggressive periodontitis: a 1‐year double‐blinded, placebo‐controlled, randomized clinical trial
Authors: Mestnik Maria J. , Feres Magda , Figueiredo Luciene C. , Soares Geisla , Teles Ricardo P. , Fermiano Daiane , Duarte Poliana M. , Faveri Marcelo 
Published: July 2012

AbstractAimTo evaluate the clinical effects of the adjunctive use of metronidazole (MTZ) and amoxicillin (AMX) in the treatment of generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAgP).MethodsThirty subjects were randomly assigned to receive scaling and root planing (SRP) alone or combined with MTZ (400 mg/TID) and AMX (500 mg/TID) for 14 days. Subjects were clinically monitored at baseline, 6 months and 1 year post‐therapies.ResultsBoth therapies led to a statistically significant improvement in all clinical parameters at 1 year post‐therapy (p < 0.05). Subjects receiving MTZ plus AMX exhibited the deepest reductions in mean probing depth (PD) and gain in clinical attachment between baseline and 1 year post‐therapy in the full‐mouth analysis and in initially intermediate (PD 4–6 mm) and deep (PD≥7 mm) sites (p < 0.01). In addition, the antibiotic group presented lower mean number of residual sites with PD≥5 or 6 mm as well as fewer subjects still presenting nine or more sites with PD≥5 mm or three or more sites with PD≥6 mm at the end of the study period.ConclusionThe non‐surgical treatment of GAgP is markedly improved by the adjunctive use of MTZ+AMX, up to 1 year post‐treatment.
Continuing professional development systems and requirements for graduate dentists in the EU: survey results from the DentCPD project
Authors: Bullock A. , Bailey S. , Cowpe J. , Barnes E. , Thomas H. , Thomas R. , Phillips S. , Kavadella A. , Kossioni A. , Tsiklakis K. , Karaharju‐Suvanto T. , Suomalainen K. , Kersten H. , Povel E. , Giles M. , Walmsley A. D. , Soboleva U. , Liepa A. , Akota I. 
Published: July 2012

AbstractIntroductionBy maintaining skills and keeping dentists up‐to‐date, continuing professional development (CPD) supports safe clinical practice. However, CPD for dentists across Europe is not harmonised.AimOne aim of the ‘DentCPD’ project (www.dentcpd.org) was to identify and agree essential CPD requirements for EU dentists. As part of the process, data were collected on existing approaches to CPD for EU dentists. This paper reports those findings.MethodsInformed by a review of the literature and internet search, the
CPD for Graduate Dentists questionnaire gathered data from dental educators on CPD systems, requirements, provision and accreditation in Europe. It sought opinion on mandatory CPD and e‐learning.ResultsResponses were received from 143 individuals from 30 EU countries. About half the countries had a compulsory CPD system which typically included mandatory core topics. Elsewhere CPD was optional or based on recommended hours. University dental schools and professional dental associations were the most common CPD providers. National regulatory bodies were the most common accrediting body. Only 41% of respondents thought they knew the criteria for successful accreditation of CPD. Eighty‐one percent agreed that ‘CPD should be obligatory for all dentists’.ConclusionThese results present an overview of the status of CPD for EU dentists. Despite a notable trend towards regulated CPD systems, current requirements for dentists to engage in CPD show variation. The harmonisation of requirements would enhance both dentist mobility and safe clinical practice.
Faculty staff and rural placement supervisors' pre‐ and post‐placement perceptions of a clinical rural placement programme in NSW Australia
Authors: Johnson G. , Blinkhorn A. 
Published: July 2012

AbstractIntroductionStaff views on a rural clinical placement involving 4th year dental undergraduates from the University of Sydney (Australia) were collected in order to monitor whether the programme was feasible and acceptable to the academic Faculty Staff and the rural clinical supervisors.Materials and methodsAn evaluation of the rural placement programme was undertaken in 2009 at three rural sites in New South Wales (Australia). Semi‐structured pre‐ and post‐placement in person interviews recorded the views of three University Faculty Staff whilst similar data were collected by telephone interviews for three supervising clinicians at the rural clinical sites. Interviews gathered opinions on the organisation, implementation and outcomes of the rural placement programme.ResultsEight qualitative analysis identified themes were specified and included communication, programme duration, effect on students and staff, benefits of the programme, rural intentions, programme sustainability and the success of the programme. Positive pre‐placement aspects were potentially good clinical experience, new environment, sharing of knowledge and interaction with a rural community. Negative issues were anxieties about students' clinical ability to offer a service, missing lectures and maintaining clinical training quotas. The post‐placement themes were generally positive; staff reported that the students enjoyed the rural community experience, their communication and clinical skills improved.ConclusionAccording to the staff, the placement programme was feasible and provided acceptable positive clinical and personal development for the students. This research will help educators planning to incorporate a rural clinical programme into a University curriculum.
Coexistence of sickle cell disease and severe congenital neutropenia: first impressions can be deceiving
Authors: Wali Yasser , Beshlawi Ismail , Fawaz Naglaa , Alkhayat Aisha , Zalabany Mahmoud , Elshinawy Mohamed , Al‐Kindi Salam , Al‐Rawas Abdul Hakim A. , Klein Christoph 
Published: July 2012

AbstractWe report an Omani family in whom the propositus had a rare coexistence of sickle cell disease and severe congenital neutropenia associated with a mutation in ELANE. In contrast to his siblings with sickle cell disease, the severity of HbSS‐associated complications such as painful crises and acute chest syndrome was significantly reduced. His course of the disease had markedly worsened after initiating G‐CSF therapy. These clinical observations suggest that neutropenia may ameliorate inflammatory responses and thus display a modulating factor with respect to the clinical course of sickle cell disease.
Role of TRPM in melanocytes and melanoma
Authors: Guo Huazhang , Carlson John Andrew , Slominski Andrzej 
Published: July 2012

AbstractTransient receptor potential (TRP) cation channel superfamily plays important roles in variety cellular processes including polymodal cellular sensing, cell adhesion, cell polarity, proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. One of its subfamilies are TRPM channels. mRNA expression of its founding member, TRPM1 (melastatin), correlates with terminal melanocytic differentiation and loss of its expression has been identified as an important diagnostic and prognostic marker for primary cutaneous melanoma. Because TRPM1 gene codes two transcripts: TRPM1 channel protein in its exons and miR‐211 in one of its introns, we propose a dual role for TRPM1 gene where the loss of TRPM1 channel protein is an excellent marker of melanoma aggressiveness, while the expression of miR‐211 is linked to the tumor suppressor function of TRPM1. In addition, three other members of this subfamily, TRPM 2, 7 and 8 are implicated in the regulation of melanocytic behaviour. TRPM2 is capable of inducing melanoma apoptosis and necrosis. TRPM7 can be a protector and detoxifier in both melanocytes and melanoma cells. TRPM8 can mediate agonist‐induced melanoma cell death. Therefore, we propose that TRPM1, TRPM2, TRPM7 and TRPM8 play crucial roles in melanocyte physiology and melanoma oncology and are excellent diagnostic markers and theraputic targets.
Late better than early elective term Cesarean section
Authors: Nir Vered , Nadir Erez , Feldman Michael 
Published: July 2012

AbstractAim:  Caesarean section (CS) deliveries have increased, mostly because of patient/obstetrician preference. Although CS decreases the risk of delivery‐related injuries, it increases the risk for respiratory and neurological complications. Complication rates are reportedly higher for elective CSs for term infants performed at 37–38 gestational weeks than later. We investigated this difference in an Israeli cohort.Methods:  Data on all births in our medical centre during 2007–2009 were reviewed. Those on elective CSs for term infants were retrieved and divided into ‘early’ (37–38 gestational weeks) or ‘late’ (week 39 or later) groups whose epidemiological and outcome characteristics were compared.Result:  Of the 12 276 births, 596 were early and 454 were late elective CSs. There were no differences in gender, ethnicity, Apgar score or length of hospital stay. Twenty‐six infants from the early group and 11 infants from the late group were transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit. Within them, compared with all elective CSs, the morbidity rate was higher for the former infants than for the latter.Conclusion:  Morbidity was higher among infants who were delivered at 37–38 gestational weeks by elective CS. We recommend postponing elective CSs to ≥39 weeks.
Flow regulation is associated with riverine soil seed bank composition within an agricultural landscape: potential implications for restoration
Authors: Greet Joe , Cousens Roger D. , Webb J. Angus 
Published: July 2012

AbstractQuestionsDoes altered flow timing affect seed bank dynamics within river margins of agricultural areas? Are seed banks of degraded riparian zones important for contributing to native riverine plant diversity?Location
Murray‐Darling Basin, SE Australia.MethodsWe surveyed the seed banks of five lowland rivers, three of which have large dams that alter the seasonal timing of flow peaks. Three sites on each river with a remnant native overstorey were selected and classified into three levels of regulation based on the extent to which their seasonal flow timing was altered. Soil samples were collected from each site, and seed bank composition determined using the seedling emergence method. We also experimentally tested the effect of seasonal timing of flow peaks on germination by wetting seed bank subsamples in both spring and autumn.ResultsMore than 28 000 seedlings from 115 taxa germinated from the seed bank samples; 262 taxa had previously been recorded in the extant vegetation. In general, seed bank and extant vegetation compositions were dissimilar, and the seed banks surveyed were dominated by ruderal (and often exotic) species. More seedlings and taxa (both native and exotic) germinated from the seed banks of regulated sites than unregulated sites. Spring wetting favoured the germination of some native species, while exotic grass taxa germinated in greater numbers in autumn.ConclusionsOur results suggest that flow regulation affects the composition of riverine seed banks. This is likely to be driven by changes in the extant vegetation, and altered patterns of germination and water‐borne seed dispersal (hydrochory). Regardless, the role of seed banks in degraded riverine systems in promoting native plant diversity may be limited. In particular, riparian woody species often do not develop persistent soil seed banks; rather, their recruitment may rely on newly released seeds being dispersed and deposited at appropriate times for germination. Our study corroborates previous research suggesting that flow regulation affects riverine seed bank dynamics, and that natural seasonal flow peaks are important for the persistence of some native riverine plant species.
The structure of Clostridium difficile toxin A glucosyltransferase domain bound to Mn2+ and UDP provides insights into glucosyltransferase activity and product release
Authors: D’Urzo Nunzia , Malito Enrico , Biancucci Marco , Bottomley Matthew J. , Maione Domenico , Scarselli Maria , Martinelli Manuele 
Published: July 2012

Clostridium difficile toxin A (TcdA) is a member of the large clostridial toxin family, and is responsible, together with C. difficile toxin B (TcdB), for many clinical symptoms during human infections. Like other large clostridial toxins, TcdA catalyzes the glucosylation of GTPases, and is able to inactivate small GTPases within the host cell. Here, we report the crystal structures of the TcdA glucosyltransferase domain (TcdA‐GT) in the apo form and in the presence of Mn2+ and hydrolyzed UDP‐glucose. These structures, together with the recently reported crystal structure of TcdA‐GT bound to UDP‐glucose, provide a detailed understanding of the conformational changes of TcdA that occur during the catalytic cycle. Indeed, we present a new intermediate conformation of a so‐called ‘lid’ loop (residues 510–522 in TcdA), concomitant with the absence of glucose in the catalytic domain. The recombinant TcdA was expressed in Brevibacillus in the inactive apo form. High thermal stability of wild‐type TcdA was observed only after the addition of both Mn2+ and UDP‐glucose. The glucosylhydrolase activity, which is readily restored after reconstitution with both these cofactors, was similar to that reported for TcdB. Interestingly, we found that ammonium, like K+, is able to activate the UDP‐glucose hydrolase activities of TcdA. Consequently, the presence of ammonium in the crystallization buffer enabled us to obtain the first crystal structure of TcdA‐GT bound to the hydrolysis product UDP.Database• Coordinates of apo‐TcdA‐GT and Mn2+–UDP–TcdA‐GT are available in the Protein Data Bank under the accession numbers 4DMV and 4DMW, respectively
Health‐related quality of life and associated factors in patients with primary lymphedema
Authors: Okajima Shizuko , Hirota Akio , Kimura Emiko , Inagaki Misako , Tamai Nao , Iizaka Shinji , Nakagami Gojiro , Mori Taketoshi , Sugama Junko , Sanada Hiromi 
Published: July 2012

AbstractAim:  Primary lymphedema requires continuous conservative treatment during the patient's life, which may affect their health‐related quality of life (HRQOL). Physical and psychosocial characteristics related to lymphedema are associated with their HRQOL. This study aimed to assess HRQOL in those patients undergoing conservative treatment and to determine the factors associated with their HRQOL.Methods:  This was a cross‐sectional, observational study that included 83 patients with primary lymphedema at an outpatient clinic for lymphedema. HRQOL was assessed with the Medical Outcomes Study 36‐Item Short Form Survey (SF‐36) and EuroQol 5‐Dimension (EQ‐5D). Lymphedema status/complications and psychosocial status were evaluated by medical records, physical assessment, and self‐administrative questionnaires.Results:  The general health perception score in the SF‐36 was lower than the age‐ and sex‐stratified national norms (P = 0.001). In the EQ‐5D, the proportions of patients with some/moderate or severe problems were 42.2% for pain/discomfort, 21.7% for usual activities, and 20.5% for anxiety/depression. By multiple regression analyses, a lower physical component summary score in the SF‐36 was associated with a higher lymphedema stage (P = 0.021), cellulitis within 30 days (P = 0.003), exercise (P = 0.010), and more substance use coping (P = 0.012). A lower mental component summary score was associated with skin lesions over edematous limbs (P = 0.008), less humor coping (P = 0.005), and more self‐blame coping (P = 0.014).Conclusion:  Patients with primary lymphedema have problems in health perception, discomfort, usual activities, and anxiety/depression. Preventing cellulitis and skin lesions and humor coping may be able to improve HRQOL.