bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Impairs Advanced Social Cognition
Authors: Schacher Martina , Winkler Rebecca , Grunwald Thomas , Kraemer Guenter , Kurthen Martin , Reed Victoria , Jokeit Hennric 
Published: November 2006

Summary:  Purpose: Although memory, language, and executive functions have been extensively studied in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE), investigations into advanced social cognitive abilities have been neglected. In the present study, we investigated the ability to detect social faux pas and studied possible mediating clinical and demographic variables in patients with MTLE compared with patients with an epilepsy not originating within the MTLE and healthy controls. Methods: The 27 MTLE patients (16 were investigated pre‐ and 11 postoperatively), 27 patients with an extramesiotemporal epilepsy (except frontal lobe epilepsy), and 12 healthy controls performed a shortened version of the faux‐pas test. Additionally, we used standardized tests to measure intelligence. Only patients with intact reading‐comprehension abilities were included in the study. Results: MTLE patients, both pre‐ and postoperative, performed the faux‐pas test significantly worse than patients with extramesiotemporal lobe epilepsy and healthy controls. The latter two groups showed comparable performance. No statistical association was found between the MTLE patients' deficit in recognizing a faux pas and the variables IQ, age, age at seizure onset, and duration of epilepsy. Conclusions: We report for the first time that patients with MTLE are specifically impaired in recognizing faux pas, suggesting that MTLE as such is a specific etiology of deficits in higher‐order social cognition.
Regeneration of the epithelium in organ‐cultured donor corneas with extended post‐mortem time
Authors: Slettedal Jon Klokk , Lyberg Torstein , Ramstad Hanne , Beraki Kahsai , Nicolaissen Bjørn 
Published: November 2006

Abstract.Purpose:  The maximum post‐mortem time limit for obtaining donor corneas varies between eye banks. It is not known for how long a time the epithelial cells survive post‐mortem, nor is it known if donor corneas with extended post‐mortem time are able to regenerate the epithelium. Therefore, we wanted to examine the epithelium in donor corneas for regenerative ability during storage in an eye bank organ culture system.Methods:  Twenty‐four paired donor corneas with post‐mortem time from 28 to 163 hr were obtained. One cornea of a pair was fixed immediately to serve as a control, and the second was cultured in eye bank medium at 32°C for 3 days. Examination of the specimens was performed with light and scanning electron microscopy. Immunohistochemical staining methods with antibodies against K 3, K 19, vimentin and p63 were used to further characterize the cells.Results:  The control corneas showed decreasing amounts of epithelial cells with increasing post‐mortem time. All the cultured corneas demonstrated rapid regeneration of the epithelium. After 3 days in organ culture, 10 of 12 donor corneas were covered with epithelium.Conclusion:  Even up to 7 days post‐mortem, viable cells reside in the corneal epithelium. The study demonstrates the hardiness and enormous regenerative potential of peripheral corneal cells. Donor corneas processed in an eye bank organ culture storage system will obtain an intact epithelial layer within a few days.
The Synoptic Problem and Statistics
Authors: Abakuks Andris 
Published: November 2006

Abstract
In New Testament studies, the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke are known as the synoptic gospels. They contain much common material, and this is particularly clear when their texts are laid out side by side. The gospel of John has a very different style, and there is not such a close correspondence between it and the synoptic gospels. Andris Abakuks focuses on the synoptic problem, hypotheses that attempt to explain the relationships between the synoptic gospels.
The iron K feature in narrow line Seyfert 1 galaxies: evidence for a P Cygni profile?
Authors: Done Chris , Sobolewska Małgorzata A. , Gierliński Marek , Schurch Nicholas J. 
Published: November 2006

Abstract
Narrow line Seyfert 1 galaxies are generally accreting at high fractions of the Eddington limit. They can show complex X-ray spectra, with a strong ‘soft excess’ below 2 keV and a sharp drop at ∼7 keV. There is strong evidence linking the soft excess to either reflection or absorption from relativistic, partially ionized material close to the black hole. The reflection models can also simultaneously produce the 7-keV feature from fluorescent iron Kα line emission from the disc. Here we show that absorption can also produce a sharp feature at 7 keV from the P Cygni profile which results from absorption/scattering/emission of He- and H-like iron Kα resonance lines in the wind. We demonstrate this explicitly by fitting the iron feature seen in XMM–Newton data from 1H 0707-495 to a P Cygni profile. The resulting column and ionization required to produce this feature are probably larger than those needed to produce the soft excess. Nonetheless, the absorbing material could still be a single structure with stratified ionization such as that produced by the ionization instability.
Gene Expression Pattern in Human Brain Endothelial Cells in Response to
Neisseria meningitidis
Authors: Schubert-Unkmeir Alexandra , Sokolova Olga , Panzner Ursula , Eigenthaler Martin , Frosch Matthias 
Published: November 2006

ABSTRACT

To extend our knowledge of target proteins in endothelial cells infected with the meningitis-causing pathogen
Neisseria meningitidis
, we characterized the interaction between the bacterial and human brain microvascular endothelial cell (HBMEC) monolayers. By use of human cDNA microarrays, transcriptional analysis revealed distinct responses to 4 and 8 h of infection. We also addressed the question of whether the major virulence factor of meningococci, i.e., the capsule, influences the host cell response. Of the 1,493 (at 4 h postinfection) and 1,246 (at 8 h postinfection) genes with altered expression upon bacterial contact, about 49.4% and 45%, respectively, depended on capsule expression. In particular, we identified an increase of expression for genes encoding proteins involved in bacterial adhesion and invasion. High levels of apoptosis-related gene (
bad
,
bak
,
asp
, and immediate-early response gene 1) expression could also be detected in infected cells. Further analyses confirmed that HBMECs displayed several hallmarks of apoptosis in response to
N. meningitidis
infection, namely, phosphatidylserine translocation and activation of caspase 3 and AMP-activated protein kinase α. Moreover, several differentially regulated genes not previously known to respond to meningococcal infection were identified. Of these, genes encoding cell adhesion proteins (CD44, CD98, and CD99), genes involved in downstream signaling of integrins (integrin-linked kinase, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1, and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 10) as well as negative regulators of these pathways (dual-specificity phosphatases 1, 5, and 14 and G protein pathway suppressor 2), and genes involved in cytoskeleton reorganization (those encoding Arp2/3, p34-arc, actinin alpha 1, vasodilatator-stimulated protein, and Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein) were the most prominent. This global transcriptional analysis creates a new platform for further molecular and cellular analysis of the interaction between
N. meningitidis
and target cells.
Perceptions of industry responsibility and tobacco control policy by US tobacco company executives in trial testimony
Authors: Chaiton Michael , Ferrence Roberta , LeGresley Eric 
Published: November 2006

Objective:Trial testimony from the United States provides a unique opportunity to examine strategies of the American tobacco industry. This paper examines congruence between the arguments for tobacco control policy presented by representatives of the American tobacco industry at trial and the stages of responsibility associated with corporate social responsibility principles in other industries.Data sources:Trial testimony collected and coded by the Deposition and Trial Testimony Archive (DATTA).Study selection:All available testimony was gathered from representative senior staff from major tobacco companies: Brown & Williamson, Philip Morris, RJ Reynolds, and Liggett.Data extraction:Transcripts from each witness selected were collected and imported in text format into WinMax, a qualitative data program. The documents were searched for terms relating to tobacco control policies, and relevant terms were extracted. A hand search of the documents was also conducted by reading through the testimony. Inferred responsibility for various tobacco control policies (health information, second-hand smoking, youth smoking) was coded.Data synthesis:The level of responsibility for tobacco control policy varied according to the maturity of the issue. For emerging issues, US tobacco company representatives expressed defensiveness while, for more mature issues, such as youth smoking, they showed increased willingness to deal with the issue. This response to social issues is consistent with corporate social responsibility strategies in other industries.Conclusion:While other industries use corporate social responsibility programmes to address social issues to protect their core business product, the fundamental social issue with tobacco is the product itself. As such, the corporate nature of tobacco companies is a structural obstacle to reducing harm caused by tobacco use.
“Stay away from them until you’re old enough to make a decision”: tobacco company testimony about youth smoking initiation
Authors: Wakefield Melanie , McLeod Kim , Perry Cheryl L 
Published: November 2006

Objective:To determine common themes used by US tobacco industry witnesses pertaining to youth smoking initiation during litigation in the United States.Methods:Qualitative thematic analysis of transcripts from 29 tobacco litigation cases dating from 1992 to 2002.Results:Youth smoking is portrayed by the tobacco industry as a source of great concern to them. Youth smoking prevention programmes developed by US tobacco companies are supposedly intended to delay decision-making about smoking until age 18, when individuals are then seen to be of an age where they are able to “choose to smoke”. Tobacco industry media campaigns, youth access, community and school-based programmes are predicated on peer influence, parental factors, and commercial access being the primary influences on youth smoking uptake, rather than tobacco marketing, inaccurate risk appraisal, price and other factors known to influence youth smoking. Despite substantial financial investment in tobacco industry programmes, their witnesses were able to describe only weak evaluation methods, being preoccupied with measures of message comprehension, programme reach and uptake, and the associated costs of their efforts, rather than any evaluation designed to assess effects on youth smoking behaviour.Conclusion:Stated concerns about youth smoking and youth smoking prevention programmes are put forward in litigation as evidence that the tobacco industry is “serious” about tackling youth smoking, and serve as a primary strategy to improve the tobacco industry’s public image. The tobacco industry’s evaluation of the effectiveness of their youth smoking prevention programmes is demonstrably insufficient under current public health evaluation standards. Public health and welfare agencies should avoid engagement with tobacco industry-sponsored programmes.
The association of retail promotions for cigarettes with the Master Settlement Agreement, tobacco control programmes and cigarette excise taxes
Authors: Loomis Brett R , Farrelly Matthew C , Mann Nathan H 
Published: November 2006

Background:Retail stores are the primary medium for marketing cigarettes to smokers in the US. The prevalence and characteristics of cigarette retail advertising and promotions have been described by several investigators. Less is known about the proportion of cigarette sales occurring as part of a retail promotion and about the effects of tobacco control policies on cigarette promotions.Objective:To estimate the effect of the Master Settlement Agreement (MSA), state tobacco control programme funding and cigarette taxes on retail promotions for cigarettes in supermarkets in the US.Outcome measures:Proportion of cigarette sales occurring under a retail promotion and the value of multipack promotions (eg, buy one pack, get one pack free) and cents-off promotions, measured using scanner data in supermarkets from 50 retail market areas from 1994 to 2004.Results:Promoted cigarette sales have increased significantly since the MSA (p<0.01), and are higher in market areas with high tobacco control programme funding (p<0.01) and high cigarette tax (p<0.01). The value of a multipack promotion is higher since the MSA (p<0.01) and in market areas with high cigarette tax (p<0.01). The value of a cents-off promotion is negatively related to the MSA (p<0.01), with mixed results for tobacco control programme funding (p<0.05), and is unassociated with tax.Conclusions:Higher promoted cigarette sales and increased promotional values in market areas with strong tobacco control policies, compared with market areas with weaker tobacco control policies, may partially offset the decline in smoking achieved in those areas.
Tobacco manufacturers’ defence against plaintiffs’ claims of cancer causation: throwing mud at the wall and hoping some of it will stick
Authors: Milberger Sharon , Davis Ronald M , Douglas Clifford E , Beasley John K , Burns David , Houston Thomas , Shopland Donald 
Published: November 2006

Background:In the late 1990s and the early part of this decade, the major US cigarette manufacturers admitted, to varying degrees, that smoking causes cancer and other diseases.Objective:To examine how tobacco manufacturers have defended themselves against charges that their products caused cancer in plaintiffs in 34 personal injury lawsuits, all but one of which were litigated between the years 1986 and 2003.Methods:Defence opening and closing statements, trial testimony, and depositions for these cases were obtained from the Tobacco Deposition and Trial Testimony Archive (http://tobaccodocuments.org/datta/). All available defence-related transcripts from these cases were reviewed and a content analysis was conducted to identify common themes in the defendants’ arguments.Results:After review of the transcripts, defendants’ arguments were grouped into seven categories: (1) there is no scientific proof that cigarette smoking causes lung cancer; (2) the plaintiff did not have lung cancer as claimed; (3) the plaintiff had a type of lung cancer not associated with cigarette smoking; (4) the plaintiff had cancer that may have been associated with cigarette smoking or smokeless tobacco use, but tobacco products were not to blame in this particular case; (5) the plaintiff had cancer that may have been associated with cigarette smoking, but the defendant’s cigarette brands were not to blame; (6) the defendant’s cigarettes (or smokeless tobacco) may have played a role in the plaintiff’s illness/death, but other risk factors were present that negate or mitigate the defendant’s responsibility; and (7) the defendant’s cigarettes may have been a factor in the plaintiff’s illness/death, but the plaintiff knew of the health risks and exercised free will in choosing to smoke and declining to quit. Use of the argument that smoking is not a proven cause of lung cancer declined in frequency during and after the period when tobacco companies began to publicly admit that smoking causes disease. Corresponding increases occurred over time in the use of other arguments (namely, presence of other risk factors and “free will”).Conclusions:Despite the vast body of literature showing that cigarette smoking causes cancer, and despite tobacco companies’ recent admissions that smoking causes cancer, defendants used numerous arguments in these cases to deny that their products had caused cancer in plaintiffs. The cigarette companies, through their public admissions and courtroom arguments, seem to be saying, “Yes, smoking causes lung cancer, but not in people who sue us”.
Interface Trap Characterization and Fermi Level Pinning in Si-Passivated Ge/HfO2 Capacitors
Authors: Martens Koen , Kaczer Ben , Roussel Philippe , Groeseneken Guido , Maes Herman 
Published: November 2006

Recently germanium MOSFETs have attracted attention due to the promising carrier mobility of germanium compared to silicon. To understand the germanium MOSFET interface, the conductance interface trap density extraction technique was verified for the first time on germanium MOSFETs. In order to know the characteristics of the (near-) interface traps it is essential to confirm the validity of the model on which their extraction is based. It cannot be simply assumed that the interface will behave as in Si. For this purpose low temperature measurements were performed at 80 K and a variation on the ac conductance technique was developed. Typical Si impedance behavior is found for Ge but Si extraction methods cannot be applied to Ge capacitors in general.	Indications for weak Fermi-level pinning near the conduction band were found in Si-passivated Ge/HfO2 capacitors. This explains the weak performance of the corresponding nMOSFET.
Advanced High K Dielectrics for Nano Electronics - Science and Technologies
Authors: Hong Minghwei , Kwo Jueinai 
Published: November 2006

Our research activities on high k dielectrics on GaAs, Si, and GaN are reviewed. Novel Ga2O3(Gd2O3) has unpinned the GaAs Fermi level for the first time. Systematic heat treatments under various gases and temperatures were studied to achieve low leakage currents of 10-8 - 10-9 A/cm2 and low Dit's in the range of 4-9 x 1010 cm-2V-1. By removing moisture from the oxide, thermodynamic stability of Ga2O3(Gd2O3)/GaAs is achieved. The mechanism of Fermi-level unpinning in ALD-Al2O3 on InGaAs was unveiled. Single crystal Gd2O3 was found to grow epitaxially on GaAs and unpin its Fermi level. Inversion- channel, depletion-mode, and power GaAs MOSFET's using Ga2O3 (Gd2O3) as the gate dielectric are discussed. The advances in MBE-HfO2 on Si and the MOSFET's with metal gate of TiN and gate dielectric of HfO2 are discussed.	Recent work of nano- thick single crystal oxides of Al2O3 and Sc2O3 epitaxially grown on Si (111) is discussed.
Band Edge Traps at Spectroscopically-Detected O-Atom Vacancies in Nanocrystalline ZrO2 and HfO2: An Engineering Solution for Elimination of O-Atom Vacancy Defects in Non-crystalline Ternary Silicate Alloys
Authors: Lucovsky Gerald , Luning J. , Stoute N. A. , Seo H. , Hinkle C. L. , Ju B. 
Published: November 2006

Spectroscopic studies, supported by theory indicate that neutral and negatively charged O-atom vacancies are the most important intrinsic defects in nanocrystalline thin films of Hf (Zr)O2. O-atom	vacancy defects are identified in this paper by different spectroscopic technique: vacuum ultra-violet spectroscopic ellipsometry, near edge x-ray absorption spectroscopy, and cathodo-luminescence spectroscopy. O-vacancy defects are active as i) interface traps for Si substrate injection of holes, and ii) bulk film traps for Si substrate injection of electrons. The markedly different electron and hole trapping properties are a potentially serious problem for threshold voltage control and stability in CMOS inverter FETs using nanocrystalline Hf(Zr)O2 dielectrics. O-vacancy defects are not observed specrtroscopically in thermally and chemically stable Zr Si oxynitride alloy films, (SiO2)x(Si3N4)y(ZrO2)z, that have been annealed at 1100ºC in Ar. Si3N4 concentrations in these alloys must be controlled within narrow limits, ~0.36 to 0.4, with equal SiO2 and ZrO2 concentrations of approximately 0.32 to 0.3.
Study of the Intrinsic Safety Features in a Cylindrical Li-Ion Cell
Authors: Jeevarajan Judith A. , Hall Albert 
Published: November 2006

Li-ion cell manufacturers have been looking into solving the issue of catastrophic hazards due to the flammability property of the cells and cell failure due to overdischarge conditions.	The current program involves testing of cells that have a self- extinguishing electrolyte and a zero voltage tolerance. Under this program, fresh and cycled cells with a self- extinguishing electrolyte and zero-voltage tolerance were tested. The tests performed were heat-to-vent, overcharge, overdischarge, short circuits and crush. The results of the tests and the behavior of the cells will be compared to results from standard cells that do not have these properties.
Comparison of Safety of Two Primary Lithium Batteries for the Orbiter Wing Leading Edge Impact Sensors
Authors: Jeevarajan Judith A. 
Published: November 2006

The Extended Wide Band Micro-Tri-axial Assembly Wing Leading Edge (EWBMTAU-WLE) consists of impact sensor, receiver and relay units that are installed in the Orbiter for its two flights. There are 22 sensor and 2 relay units on each wing. There are two receiver units inside the cabin.	All sensor, relay and receiver units are powered by batteries. The batteries used for the first two flights after the Orbiter returns to flight are made up of battery assemblies that contain two LiFeS2 cells in series. Extensive testing was performed on the LiFeS2 and LiBCX cells to determine the safety of these cells under nominal and abuse conditions. The LiFeS2 cells were found to be extremely safe under all the conditions tested. The battery pack has diodes on each cell to prevent cell reversal and a fuse to prevent external short circuits from affecting the cells. The cells are internally fitted with PTCs (positive temperature coefficient) to reduce the load on the cell in the event of an external short. The batteries have undergone extreme environmental tests as single cells, battery packs and as part of the sensor units.	This paper will discuss the results of the tests performed on the LiBCX and LiFeS2 cells.
Using Dynamic Signal Analyzers for Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy
Authors: Lee James I. 
Published: November 2006

This publication summarizes the advantages of using a dynamic signal analyzer (DSA) for electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The built-in fast Fourier transform (FFT) technique can provide a significant improvement in speed of data acquisition at the cost of dynamic range.	The two-pane plotting of data in real time can provide a rapid assessment of data quality. The fact that a DSA does not require a computer makes it a good candidate for field measurements.
Tantalum Nitride and Oxynitride for New Cathode of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell
Authors: Ishihara Akimitsu , Doi Shotaro , Liu Q. Y. , Mitsushima Shigenori , Kamiya Nobuyuki , Ota Ken-Ichiro 
Published: November 2006

Tantalum (oxy)nitrides (TaOxNy) have been investigated as a new cathode of polymer electrolyte fuel cells without platinum. TaOxNy films were prepared by radio frequency magnetron sputtering under Ar + O2 + N2 atmosphere with heating the substrate, and the effect of heat treatment on the catalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and the properties of TaOxNy films were examined.	The solubility of Ta in 0.1 mol dm-3 sulfuric acid at 30oC under atmospheric condition was about 2×10-7 mol dm-3, indicating that TaOxNy had high chemical stability. The ORR current density on TaOxNy deposited at 800oC was about 20 times larger than that on TaOxNy deposited at 50oC. Both the degree of crystallinity and the relative nitrogen content increased with increasing the heat treatment temperature.