bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experimental and theoretical evaluation of structures of Pr2@C72 and its functionalized adduct with adamantylidene carbene
Authors: Zhao Yan-li , Yu Hai-tao , Lian Yong-fu
Published: December 2016

The carbon-cage structure of the lowest-lying Pr2@C72 is C2(10 611)-C72.
Visible-light photocatalytic performances of TiO2nanobelts decorated with iron oxide nanocrystals
Authors: Chaguetmi S. , Sobti N. , Decorse P. , Mouton L. , Nowak S. , Mammeri F. , Achour S. , Ammar S.
Published: December 2016

Anatase TiO2nanobelts supported on Ti sheet and decorated by hematite Fe2O3nanocrystals were prepared by an easy-to-achieve three-step soft chemistry route and evaluated for its visible-light photocatalytic performances.
Magnesium substituted hydroxyapatite whiskers: synthesis, characterization and bioactivity evaluation
Authors: Liangzhi Gong , Weibin Zhang , Yuhui Shen
Published: December 2016

Magnesium (Mg) substituted hydroxyapatite (Mg-HAp) whiskers were hydrothermally synthesized using acetamide as a homogeneous precipitation reagent.
An electrochemical cytosensor for ultrasensitive detection of cancer cells using modified graphene–gold nanostructures
Authors: Yadegari Amir , Omidi Meisam , Yazdian Fatemeh , Zali Hakimeh , Tayebi Lobat
Published: December 2016

The ultrasensitive detection of human prostate metastatic cancer cells (Du-145) was investigated through a novel electrochemical cytosensor.
Impact of instructional decisions on the effectiveness of cooperative learning in chemistry through meta-analysis
Authors: Apugliese Andrew , Lewis Scott E.
Published: December 2016

Meta-analysis can provide a robust description of the impact of educational reforms and also offer an opportunity to explore the conditions where such reforms are more or less effective. This article describes a meta-analysis on the impact of cooperative learning on students’ chemistry understanding. Modifiers in the meta-analysis are purposefully chosen to model instructors’ decisions in implementing cooperative learning. Modifiers investigated include: using cooperative learning periodically or in every class period; setting a maximum group size at four or smallerversusfive or larger; using closed-ended or open-ended assessments; and assessing a single topic or assessing the cumulative topics in the course. The results showed cooperative learning's effectiveness is robust across a wide range of instructional decisions except no evidence of effectiveness was found with cumulative assessments. The overall results from the meta-analysis provide a benchmark for evaluating future efforts to evaluate pedagogical interventions in chemistry.
Impact of solution phase behaviour and external fields on thin film morphology: PCBM and RRa-P3HT model system
Authors: Guilbert A. A. Y. , Cabral J. T.
Published: December 2016

We report the impact of solution phase behaviour and external fields on PCBM crystallisation and thin film morphology.
Configuration-centered photovoltaic applications of metal halide perovskites
Authors: Wang Qiong , Lyu Miaoqiang , Zhang Meng , Yun Jung-Ho , Wang Lianzhou
Published: December 2016

Metal halide perovskites, particularly lead halide perovskites, have seen extraordinary breakthroughs in photovoltaics with power conversion efficiency swiftly surging to over 22% in the past few years, demonstrating their huge potential for rivalry with crystalline silicon solar cells in terms of production cost and performance for the future photovoltaic market.
Strongly coupled MoS2 nanoflake–carbon nanotube nanocomposite as an excellent electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction
Authors: Huang Haoliang , Huang Weihao , Yang Zhuohong , Huang Junying , Lin Jiadong , Liu Weipeng , Liu Yingju
Published: December 2016

Strongly coupled and porous MoS2–CNT with leaves-and-branch structure shows a remarkably improved electrocatalytic activity towards hydrogen evolution reaction.
The effect of quercetin delivery system on osteogenesis and angiogenesis under osteoporotic conditions
Authors: Zhou Yuning , Wu Yuqiong , Ma Wudi , Jiang Xinquan , Takemra Akimichi , Uemura Mamoru , Xia Lunguo , Lin Kaili , Xu Yuanjin
Published: December 2016

Bone regeneration under osteoporotic conditions with impaired angiogenesis, osteogenesis and remodeling represents a great challenge.
A reusable supramolecular platform for the specific capture and release of proteins and bacteria
Authors: Qu Yangcui , Wei Ting , Zhan Wenjun , Hu Changming , Cao Limin , Yu Qian , Chen Hong
Published: December 2016

A re-usable supramolecular platform with the capability of high-efficiency capture and on-demand release of specific proteins and bacteria was developed.
Unimolecular branched block copolymer nanoparticles in methanol for the preparation of poorly water-soluble drug nanoparticles
Authors: Liu Jian-Hua , Wais Ulrike , Zuo Yan-Ming , Xiang Yu , Wang Yan-Hong , Jackson Alexander W. , He Tao , Zhang Haifei
Published: December 2016

Unimolecular branched polymer nanoparticles are formed in methanol via a simple thermal annealing process, which can be used to produce aqueous drug nanoparticle suspensions.
Solution-processed vanadium oxide as an efficient hole injection layer for quantum-dot light-emitting diodes
Authors: Zhang Heng , Wang Siting , Sun Xiaowei , Chen Shuming
Published: December 2016

Solution processed V2O5 is used as a replacement for PEDOT:PSS to improve the stability of QLEDs.
Emission color tuning through manipulating the energy transfer from VO43− to Eu3+ in single-phased LuVO4:Eu3+ phosphors
Authors: Kang Fengwen , Li Lejing , Han Jin , Lei Dang Yuan , Peng Mingying
Published: December 2016

Recently, rare earth (RE) ion doped single-phased phosphors, which can emit tunable colors upon single wavelength excitation, have received a great deal of attention, but most of them involve multiple dopants as luminescence centers.
Surfactant-assisted self-assembled polymorphs of AIEgen di(4-propoxyphenyl)dibenzofulvene
Authors: Peng Lufang , Chen Ya-Nan , Qiang Dong Yong , He Changcheng , Wang Huiliang
Published: December 2016

Diverse morphologies with different emissions can be self-assembled from a single AIEgen (DBF) in the presence of surfactants.
Isolated switched‐boost push–pull DC–DC converter for step‐up applications
Authors: Gorji S.A. , Ektesabi M. , Zheng J.
Published: December 2016

A high voltage ratio DC–DC converter is proposed which is comprised of four stages. First, an impedance network along with a switching network have been used to boost the input voltage. The boosted voltage waveform is then followed by an isolation transformer to provide another degree of freedom and obtain higher boost ability. Finally, a voltage multiplier rectifier is utilised to rectify the secondary voltage of the transformer. No switching dead‐time is required, which increases the reliability of the converter. The proposed converter benefits from the continuous input current. Besides, a comparison with the existing step‐up topologies indicates that the number of passive elements and hence the weight and size have been reduced. The operating principles were analysed and the experimental tests on a 260 W prototype reveal that a high efficiency above 91% can be achieved.
Femtocell‐enhanced multi‐target spectrum allocation strategy in LTE‐A HetNets
Authors: Niu Chongyu , Li Yibing , Qingyang Hu Rose , Ye Fang
Published: December 2016

Due to prominent advantages in local coverage enhancement and indoor cellular capacity improvement, femtocell (FC) is considered as a vital component in long‐term evolution advanced (LTE‐A) heterogeneous networks (HetNets). A two‐tier LTE‐A HetNet with conventional macro base stations in the first tier and femto base stations in the second tier is considered. Under this architecture, a new downlink interference evaluation scheme is proposed, based on which a FC enhanced multi‐target resource allocation algorithm is developed to maximise user equipment (UE) throughput in a dense FC deployment scenario meanwhile providing every UE a minimum signal to interference plus noise rate (SINR) guarantee. The optimal resource allocation problem is formulated as a MAX‐K cut problem based on the graph theory approach. System‐level simulations reveal that intra‐cell interference is greatly reduced and the spectral efficiency is significantly improved by using the proposed resource allocation scheme. Femtocell throughput is elevated significantly without causing much degradation on the macrocell throughput.
Analysis of the impact of online identification on model predictive current control applied to permanent magnet synchronous motors
Authors: Sawma Jean , Khatounian Flavia , Monmasson Eric , Idkhajine Lahoucine , Ghosn Ragi
Published: December 2016

Model predictive control (MPC) is a model‐based control strategy that introduces many advantages but also some drawbacks. The biggest challenge that faces MPC controller is its sensitivity towards parametric variation. This study aims to robustify MPCs by adding a least mean square (LMS) identification algorithm within their structure. The feasibility of this method is tested on a simple example which is the MPC current control of a permanent magnet synchronous motor driven by a two‐level power converter. Many tests are firstly performed without including inside the MPC algorithms the LMS online tuning procedure. These tests are later compared with the ones obtained with the same control technique but where the identification algorithm is turned on. Results clearly show all the benefits of using this approach on the controller performances.
QV interaction evaluation and pilot voltage‐reactive power coupling area partitioning in bulk power systems
Authors: Jiang Tao , Bai Linquan , Yuan Haoyu , Jia Hongjie , Li Fangxing , Cui Hantao
Published: December 2016

This study presents a novel methodology to evaluate the QV interactions among buses and to partition the pilot voltage‐reactive power coupling areas (VRPCAs) using relative gain (RG). According to the concept of a multi‐input multi‐output system, the QV coupling RG is first calculated based on the QV matrix, which is extracted from power flow Jacobian matrix, to evaluate the QV interactions among different buses and then to determine the VRPCAs. The voltage stability critical buses are first identified through a modified loading margin. For each critical bus, the other buses that have strong QV coupling are detected via the cross RG and are clustered into a VRPCA piloted by the corresponding critical bus. New England 39‐bus system and Polish power system are used to test the performance of the proposed approach. Simulation results verify the effectiveness of the proposed approach in evaluating the QV interactions and partitioning the VRPCAs.
Identification of invalid time‐delay‐groups using discriminant and Jacobian‐determinant in acoustic emission PD source localisation
Authors: Antony Deepthi , Punekar Gururaj S.
Published: December 2016

The key problem in locating a source of partial discharge (PD) using the acoustic emission technique is the error in estimating the signal arrival time from the source to the multiple sensors. When the time difference of arrival approach is used for the PD‐source‐localisation, some of the measured time‐delay‐groups will have solution for the time‐difference equation in the complex‐number‐field. This is due to the significant error in the arrival time estimation. Such time‐delay‐groups should be considered to be invalid. In this study, a function is proposed for identifying the invalid time‐delay‐groups for the fixed set of coordinates of four sensors and the specific velocity of the acoustic signal used. The negative sign of this function value indicates that the solution is in the complex‐number‐field. An alternative method for identifying the invalid time‐delay‐groups is by using Newton's method. The multiple sign changes of the Jacobian‐determinant in the iterations of Newton's method shows that the solution is in the complex‐number‐field. The proposed methods have been tested with data from the existing literature, and results have confirmed the efficacy of these methods in the identification of the invalid time‐delay‐groups. Discarding such groups of time delays improves the accuracy of statistical PD‐source‐localisation.
Dispersed fluorescence spectroscopy of the SiCN Ã2Δ – X̃2Π system: Observation of some vibrational levels with chaotic characteristics
Authors: Fukushima Masaru , Ishiwata Takashi
Published: December 2016

The laser induced fluorescence (LIF) spectrum of the Ã 2Δ – X̃ 2Π transition was obtained for SiCN generated by laser ablation under supersonic free jet expansion. The vibrational structures of the dispersed fluorescence (DF) spectra from single vibronic levels (SVL’s) were analyzed with consideration of the Renner-Teller (R-T) interaction. Analysis of the pure bending (ν2) structure by a perturbation approach including R-T, anharmonicity, spin-orbit (SO), and Herzberg-Teller (H-T) interactions indicated considerably different spin splitting for the μ and κ levels of the X̃ 2Π state of SiCN, in contrast to identical spin splitting for general species derived from the perturbation approach, where μ and κ specify the lower and upper levels, respectively, separated by R-T. Further analysis of the vibrational structure including R-T, anharmonicity, SO, H-T, Fermi, and Sears interactions was carried out via a direct diagonalization procedure, where Sears resonance is a second-order interaction combined from SO and H-T interactions with Δ K = ± 1, ΔΣ = ∓1, and Δ P = 0, and where P is a quantum number, P = K + Σ. The later numerical analysis reproduced the observed structure, not only the pure ν2 structure but also the combination structure of the ν2 and the Si–CN stretching (ν3) modes. As an example, the analysis demonstrates Sears resonance between vibronic levels, (0110) κ Σ(+) and (0200)μΠ12, with Δ K = ± 1 and Δ P = 0. On the basis of coefficients of their eigen vectors derived from the numerical analysis, it is interpreted as an almost one-to-one mixing between the two levels. The mixing coefficients of the two vibronic levels agree with those obtained from computational studies. The numerical analysis also indicates that some of the vibronic levels show chaotic characteristics in view of the two-dimensional harmonic oscillator (2D-HO) basis which is used as the basis function in the present numerical analysis; i.e., the eigen vectors for some of the observed levels have several components of the basis, and we have not been able to give precise vibronic assignments for the levels, but just vibronically labeled, referring the largest component in their vectors. (To emphasize this situation, we do not use the word “assignment,” but prefer to use “label” as the meaning of just “label,” but not “assign,” throughout this paper.) The latter shows that the vibronic labels of the levels are meaningless, and the P quantum number and the order of their eigen states in the P matrix block derived in the numerical analysis only characterize the vibronic levels. Comparing the constants obtained for all of the interactions with those of species showing Sears resonance and studied previously, it is found that none of them are strong, but are moderate. It is thus concluded that the chaotic appearance is not derived by any strong interaction, but is induced by complex and accidental proximities of the vibronic levels caused by the moderate interactions.
Thermal transport in suspended silicon membranes measured by laser-induced transient gratings
Authors: Vega-Flick A. , Duncan R. A. , Eliason J. K. , Cuffe J. , Johnson J. A. , Peraud J.-P. M. , Zeng L. , Lu Z. , Maznev A. A. , Wang E. N. , Alvarado-Gil J. J. , Sledzinska M. , Sotomayor Torres C. M. , Chen G. , Nelson K. A.
Published: December 2016

Studying thermal transport at the nanoscale poses formidable experimental challenges due both to the physics of the measurement process and to the issues of accuracy and reproducibility. The laser-induced transient thermal grating (TTG) technique permits non-contact measurements on nanostructured samples without a need for metal heaters or any other extraneous structures, offering the advantage of inherently high absolute accuracy. We present a review of recent studies of thermal transport in nanoscale silicon membranes using the TTG technique. An overview of the methodology, including an analysis of measurements errors, is followed by a discussion of new findings obtained from measurements on both “solid” and nanopatterned membranes. The most important results have been a direct observation of non-diffusive phonon-mediated transport at room temperature and measurements of thickness-dependent thermal conductivity of suspended membranes across a wide thickness range, showing good agreement with first-principles-based theory assuming diffuse scattering at the boundaries. Measurements on a membrane with a periodic pattern of nanosized holes (135nm) indicated fully diffusive transport and yielded thermal diffusivity values in agreement with Monte Carlo simulations. Based on the results obtained to-date, we conclude that room-temperature thermal transport in membrane-based silicon nanostructures is now reasonably well understood.
Integrated phononic crystal resonators based on adiabatically-terminated phononic crystal waveguides
Authors: Dehghannasiri Razi , Pourabolghasem Reza , Eftekhar Ali Asghar , Adibi Ali
Published: December 2016

In this letter, we demonstrate a new design for integrated phononic crystal (PnC) resonators based on confining acoustic waves in a heterogeneous waveguide-based PnC structure. In this architecture, a PnC waveguide that supports a single mode at the desired resonance frequencies is terminated by two waveguide sections with no propagating mode at those frequencies (i.e., have mode gap). The proposed PnC resonators are designed through combining the spatial-domain and the spatial-frequency domain (i.e., the k-domain) analysis to achieve a smooth mode envelope. This design approach can benefit both membrane-based and surface-acoustic-wave-based architectures by confining the mode spreading in k-domain that leads to improved electromechanical excitation/detection coupling and reduced loss through propagating bulk modes.
Band gaps in bubble phononic crystals
Authors: Leroy V. , Bretagne A. , Lanoy M. , Tourin A.
Published: December 2016

We investigate the interaction between Bragg and hybridization effects on the band gap properties of bubble phononic crystals. These latter consist of air cavities periodically arranged in an elastomer matrix and are fabricated using soft-lithography techniques. Their transmission properties are affected by Bragg effects due to the periodicity of the structure as well as hybridization between the propagating mode of the embedding medium and bubble resonance. The hybridization gap survives disorder while the Bragg gap requires a periodic distribution of bubbles. The distance between two bubble layers can be tuned to make the two gaps overlap or to create a transmission peak in the hybridization gap.
The method of pulsed x-ray detection with a diode laser
Authors: Liu Jun , Ouyang Xiaoping , Zhang Zhongbing , Sheng Liang , Chen Liang , Tan Xinjian , Weng Xiufeng
Published: December 2016

A new class of pulsed X-ray detection methods by sensing carrier changes in a diode laser cavity has been presented and demonstrated. The proof-of-principle experiments on detecting pulsed X-ray temporal profile have been done through the diode laser with a multiple quantum well active layer. The result shows that our method can achieve the aim of detecting the temporal profile of a pulsed X-ray source. We predict that there is a minimum value for the pre-bias current of the diode laser by analyzing the carrier rate equation, which exists near the threshold current of the diode laser chip in experiments. This behaviour generally agrees with the characterizations of theoretical analysis. The relative sensitivity is estimated at about 3.3 × 10−17 C ⋅ cm2. We have analyzed the time scale of about 10 ps response with both rate equation and Monte Carlo methods.
Migration processes of the As interstitial in GaAs
Authors: Wright A. F. , Modine N. A.
Published: December 2016

Thermal migration processes of the As interstitial in GaAs were investigated using density-functional theory and the local-density approximation for exchange and correlation. The lowest-energy processes were found to involve the −1, 0, and +1 charge states, and to produce migration along ⟨110⟩-type directions. In the −1 and 0 charge states, migration proceeds via hops between split-interstitial stable configurations at bulk As sites through bridging saddle-point configurations in which the interstitial atom is equidistant from two adjacent bulk As sites. In the +1 charge state, the roles of these two configurations are approximately reversed and migration proceeds via hops between bridging stable configurations through higher-energy split-interstitial stable configurations bounded by a pair of distorted split-interstitial saddle-point configurations. The predicted activation energies for migration in the 0 and +1 charge states agree well with measurements in semi-insulating and p-type material, respectively. Also consistent with experiments, the approximate reversal of the stable and saddle-point configurations between the 0 and +1 charge states is predicted to enable carrier-induced migration with a residual activation energy of 0.05 eV.
The influence of capping layers on pore formation in Ge during ion implantation
Authors: Alkhaldi H. S. , Tran Tuan T. , Kremer F. , Williams J. S.
Published: December 2016

Ion induced porosity in Ge has been investigated with and without a cap layer for two ion species, Ge and Sn, with respect to ion fluence and temperature. Results without a cap are consistent with a previous work in terms of an observed ion fluence and temperature dependence of porosity, but with a clear ion species effect where heavier Sn ions induce porosity at lower temperature (and fluence) than Ge. The effect of a cap layer is to suppress porosity for both Sn and Ge at lower temperatures but in different temperatures and fluence regimes. At room temperature, a cap does not suppress porosity and results in a more organised pore structure under conditions where sputtering of the underlying Ge does not occur. Finally, we observed an interesting effect in which a barrier layer of a-Ge that is denuded of pores formed directly below the cap layer. The thickness of this layer (∼ 8 nm) is largely independent of ion species, fluence, temperature, and cap material, and we suggest that this is due to viscous flow of a-Ge under ion irradiation and wetting of the cap layer to minimize the interfacial free energy.
Physically sound parameterization of incomplete ionization in aluminum-doped silicon
Authors: Steinkemper Heiko , Altermatt Pietro P. , Hermle Martin
Published: December 2016

Incomplete ionization is an important issue when modeling silicon devices featuring aluminum-doped p+ (Al-p+) regions. Aluminum has a rather deep state in the band gap compared to boron or phosphorus, causing strong incomplete ionization. In this paper, we considerably improve our recent parameterization [Steinkemper et al., J. Appl. Phys. 117, 074504 (2015)]. On the one hand, we found a fundamental criterion to further reduce the number of free parameters in our fitting procedure. And on the other hand, we address a mistake in the original publication of the incomplete ionization formalism in Altermatt et al., J. Appl. Phys. 100, 113715 (2006).
Structural and electronic properties of wurtzite MgZnO and BeMgZnO alloys and their thermodynamic stability
Authors: Gorczyca I. , Teisseyre H. , Suski T. , Christensen N. E. , Svane A.
Published: December 2016

Structural and electronic properties of MgZnO and BeMgZnO alloys are studied by the ab-initio Density Functional Theory method. Large band gap bowings are found for both kinds of alloys. The total energies as functions of the lattice constants are calculated and used to determine the ranges of composition in which the alloys are stable in the wurtzite structure. It is shown that the addition of 6% of Be can already help in stabilization of the MgZnO alloy in the wurtzite structure. The band gap can reach 7 eV for the wurtzite BexMg0.5Zn0.5-xO alloys with x approaching 0.5 and about 5.0 eV for Be0.125MgxZn0.875-xO type alloys for x approaching 0.6. Varying the alloy composition according to the presented stabilization diagram showing ranges of the x, y, for which BexMgyZn1-x-yO is stable in the wurtzite phase, one may tune band gaps over a wide spectral range, which provides flexibility in band gap engineering.
Power capacity from earcanal dynamic motion
Authors: Carioli Johan , Delnavaz Aidin , Zednik Ricardo J. , Voix Jérémie
Published: December 2016

In-ear devices, such as a hearing aids, electronic earplugs, and wearables, need electrical power to operate. Batteries are the current solution, but unfortunately they also create other problems. For example, several hundred million users, mostly elderly, must change their hearing aid batteries on a weekly basis, which represents not only significant financial costs but a negative environmental impact. A promising alternative involves harvesting energy by converting the dynamic jaw movements into electrical energy via the earcanal. The extent that jaw movements distort the earcanal is still unknown, making it difficult to design the appropriate energy harvesting system for the earplug. Moreover, the finite element methods are barely capable to model the behavior of the earcanal distortion because of the complexity of mechanisms that deform the earcanal. However, this paper presents an alternative method, based on analytical considerations, to understand in-ear mechanical quasi-static deformations using earcanal point clouds. This model quantifies the bending and compressive movements of the earcanal. It can therefore be used to select an appropriate deformation mode for harvesting energy from the earcanal’s dynamic motion. The value of this approach was illustrated by calculating the obtainable mechanical energy from 12 human subjects. On average, the bending energy in a human earcanal was found to be three times greater than the radial compression energy. This key finding will need to be considered in the design of future in-ear energy harvesting devices. Such an energy harvesting device has the potential to revolutionize the market for in-ear wearable devices and hearing aids by complementing or replacing battery technology.
The effect of three different methods of adding O2 additive on O concentration of atmospheric pressure plasma jets (APPJs)
Authors: Yue Y. , Xian Y. , Pei X. , Lu X.
Published: December 2016

In order to maximize the O concentration generated by the atmospheric pressure plasma jets (APPJs), several different methods of adding O2 additive to working gas have been proposed. However, it is not clear, which method is capable of generating the highest concentration of O atom. In this paper, the concentration of O atoms in an APPJs by adding O2 to (1) the working gas, to (2) the downstream inside the tube, and (3) to the shielding gas is investigated by two-photon absorption laser-induced fluorescence spectrometry. The results clearly demonstrate that the highest O density is achieved when 1.5% of O2 is added to the working gas rather than the other two methods. In other words, the most effective way to generate O atoms is by premixing O2 with the working gas. Further investigation suggests that O atoms are mainly generated around the electrode region, where the electric field is highest. In addition, when O2 is added to the working gas, if in the meantime extra O2 is added to the downstream inside the tube, a significant decrease of O density is observed.
Zero-field spin transfer oscillators based on magnetic tunnel junction having perpendicular polarizer and planar free layer
Authors: Fang Bin , Feng Jiafeng , Gan Huadong , Malmhall Roger , Huai Yiming , Xiong Rongxin , Wei Hongxiang , Han Xiufeng , Zhang Baoshun , Zeng Zhongming
Published: December 2016

We experimentally studied spin-transfer-torque induced magnetization oscillations in an asymmetric MgO-based magnetic tunnel junction device consisting of an in-plane magnetized free layer and an out-of-plane magnetized polarizer. A steady auto-oscillation was achieved at zero magnetic field and room temperature, with an oscillation frequency that was strongly dependent on bias currents, with a large frequency tunability of 1.39 GHz/mA. Our results suggest that this new structure has a high potential for new microwave device designs.
The fabrication of high sensitivity gold nanorod H2S gas sensors utilizing the highly uniform anodic aluminum oxide template
Authors: Li Chien-Yu , Li Ciao-Yu , Wu You-Lin , Hsu Chung-Ping , Lee Ming-Ching , Houng Mau-Phon
Published: December 2016

Gold nanorod were fabricated using anodic alumina oxide template for H2S gas detection. The nanorod gas sensor exhibits high surface density and contact area, which can increase detection sensitivity. The anodic alumina oxide template contains an array of pores, with a width of 70 nm and a length of 27μm. Au nanorod were obtained through electro-deposition under a pulse bias of −1 V. The resistance of the Au nanorod was recorded upon exposure to various concentrations of H2S. The resistance could be attributed to the high electron affinity between sulfide and Au nanorod. Au–sulfide bonds provide strong bonding, which could alter the conductivity of the sensor. The gas sensor exhibits high sensitivity and short response time for H2S detection at room temperature.
Fabrication and magnetic control of alginate-based rolling microrobots
Authors: Ali Jamel , Cheang U. Kei , Liu Yigong , Kim Hoyeon , Rogowski Louis , Sheckman Sam , Patel Prem , Sun Wei , Kim Min Jun
Published: December 2016

Advances in microrobotics for biological applications are often limited due to their complex manufacturing processes, which often utilize cytotoxic materials, as well as limitations in the ability to manipulate these small devices wirelessly. In an effort to overcome these challenges, we investigated a facile method for generating biocompatible hydrogel based robots that are capable of being manipulated using an externally generated magnetic field. Here, we experimentally demonstrate the fabrication and autonomous control of loaded-alginate microspheres, which we term artificial cells. In order to generate these microparticles, we employed a centrifuge-based method in which microspheres were rapidly ejected from a nozzle tip. Specifically, we used two mixtures of sodium alginate; one containing iron oxide nanoparticles and the other containing mammalian cells. This mixture was loaded into a needle that was fixed on top of a microtube containing calcium chloride, and then briefly centrifuged to generate hundreds of Janus microspheres. The fabricated microparticles were then magnetically actuated with a rotating magnetic field, generated using electromagnetic coils, prompting the particles to roll across a glass substrate. Also, using vision-based feedback control, a single artificial cell was manipulated to autonomously move in a programmed pattern.
Photoluminescence at room temperature of liquid-phase crystallized silicon on glass
Authors: Vetter Michael , Schwuchow Anka , Andrä Gudrun
Published: December 2016

The room temperature photoluminescence (PL) spectrum due band-to-band recombination in an only 8 μm thick liquid-phase crystallized silicon on glass solar cell absorber is measured over 3 orders of magnitude with a thin 400 μm thick optical fiber directly coupled to the spectrometer. High PL signal is achieved by the possibility to capture the PL spectrum very near to the silicon surface. The spectra measured within microcrystals of the absorber present the same features as spectra of crystalline silicon wafers without showing defect luminescence indicating the high electronic material quality of the liquid-phase multi-crystalline layer after hydrogen plasma treatment.
Temperature coefficients of crystalline-quartz elastic constants over the cryogenic range [4 K, 15 K]
Authors: Bon Jérémy , Galliou Serge , Bourquin Roger
Published: December 2016

This paper brings out the temperature coefficients of synthetic-quartz elastic constants at liquid helium temperature. The method is based on the relationship between the resonance frequencies of a quartz acoustic cavity and the elastic constants of the material. The temperature coefficients of the elastic constants are extracted from experimental frequency-temperature data collected within the very useful cryogenic range [4 K–15 K] from a set of resonators of various cut angles, because of the anisotropy of quartz.
Polarization conversion based on plasmonic phase control by an ultra-thin metallic nano-strips
Authors: Wei Helei , Hu Dejiao , Deng Yunsheng , Wu Xuannan , Xiao Xiao , Hou Yidong , Wang Yunjiao , Shi Ruiying , Wang Deqiang , Du Jinglei
Published: December 2016

Ultra-thin metallic nano-strips (thinner than skin depth) can lead to anomalous reflection for a transverse magnetic (TM) incidence of some wave-lengths, due to the phase modulation of localized surface plasmon resonance. Based on the principle above, we proposed a method of polarization modulation using ultra-thin metallic nano-strips. When irradiating nano-strips vertically by light with a given polarized angle, we can utilize the phase difference of the TM transmission and transverse electric (TE) transmission near anomalous reflection region to modulate transmission polarization. We have designed and fabricated the ultra-thin metallic nano-strips with the function of quarter-wave plate, the attained transmission Stokes parameter S3 is 0.95. The nano-strips is easy to design and fabricate, also compatible with other optics devices, hence has the potential applications in integrated optics field.
Thermal rectification in inhomogeneous nanotubes
Authors: Budaev Bair V. , Bogy David B.
Published: December 2016

Heat transfer in axially inhomogeneous nanotubes is known to be asymmetric with respect to the direction of transfer. This phenomenon is known as the thermal rectification. We demonstrate that thermal rectification in such nanotubes arises due to the interference of phonons excited in the different parts of the nanotube. It is shown that the rectification does not vanish when the thickness of nanotube increases, but it vanishes as the external diameter of nanotubes decreases to a few nanometers. The understanding of the origin of thermal rectification opens a way to the design of devices controlling heat flows that could perform as efficiently as their electronic counterparts controlling electric currents.
On the synthesis and microstructure analysis of high performance MnBi
Authors: Chen Yu-Chun , Sawatzki Simon , Ener Semih , Sepehri-Amin Hossein , Leineweber Andreas , Gregori Giuliano , Qu Fei , Muralidhar Shreyas , Ohkubo Tadakatsu , Hono Kazuhiro , Gutfleisch Oliver , Kronmüller Helmut , Schütz Gisela , Goering Eberhard
Published: December 2016

Highly anisotropic MnBi powder with over 90 wt% low-temperature phase can be prepared using conventional arc-melting and 2 hour-low energy ball milling (BM) followed by magnetic separation. After proper alignment, the purified Mn55Bi45(Mn45Bi55) powder show remarkable magnetic properties: mass remanence of 71(65) Am2/kg and coercivity of 1.23(1.18) T at 300 K. The nominal maximum energy product of 120 kJ/m3 is achieved in the purified 2h-BM Mn55Bi45 powder, close to theoretical value of 140.8 kJ/m3. The Mn55Bi45(Mn45Bi55) bulk magnets show the highest volume remanence of 0.68(0.57) T at 300 K, while they were consolidated at 573(523) K by a pressure of 200 MPa for 5 minutes using hot-compaction method. In addition to the observed grain size, the coercivity of the hot-compacted samples at 300 K was found to be strongly related to the amount of metallic Mn and Bi residue at the grain-boundary. Our study proves that the magnetic properties of the Mn45Bi55 bulk magnets are stable up to 500 K, and the nominal (BH)max values are still above 40 kJ/m3 at 500 K showing the potential ability for high-temperature applications.
Relationship between the fatty acid composition of uropygial gland secretion and blood of meat chickens receiving different dietary fats
Authors: Kanakri Khaled , Muhlhausler Beverly , Carragher John , Gibson Robert , Barekatain Reza , Dekoning Carolyn , Drake Kelly , Hughes Robert
Published: December 2016

Manipulation of the fatty acid composition of chicken feed has been shown to be effective for improving the nutritional value of chicken products. Currently, however, evaluation of the effectiveness of this approach requires invasive blood sampling or post mortem tissue sampling of the birds. Preen oil can be collected non-invasively from live birds. So this study aimed to test the hypothesis that the fatty acid composition of preen oil reflects that of the blood. Male and female meat chickens (Cobb 500) were fed a diet supplemented with 4% (w/w) flaxseed oil (high n-3 polyunsaturates) or beef tallow (mostly monounsaturates and saturates) for 6 weeks. Preen oil and whole blood samples (n = 9 birds per sex/diet treatment group) were collected freshly post mortem for fatty acid analysis. Preen oil analysis showed that ~97% of fatty acids were saturates, with a small percentage of n-6 polyunsaturates and traces of other types. There were negligible n-3 polyunsaturates in preen oil. Proportions of some saturated fatty acids were slightly, but significantly, affected by diet (C16:0 (P < 0.05) and C17:0 (P < 0.01)) or by gender (C10:0 and C18:0) (P < 0.05). Some fatty acids with odd numbers of carbon atoms (e.g. C17:0 and C19:0) were found in relatively high concentrations in preen oil, despite not being detectable in either the diet or blood. In conclusion, the fatty acid composition of preen oil does not accurately reflect the fatty acid profile of the blood; it is not, therefore, a suitable alternative for determining fatty acid status of meat chickens.
Homeward bound
Authors: Ulfseth Lena A. , Josephsson Staffan , Alsaker Sissel
Published: December 2016

With a focus on enacted narratives, this ethnographic study addresses how people with mental illness communicate returning home after a treatment stay at a psychiatric centre. Data were analysed based on Ricoeur’s theory of narrative and action. Our analysis consisted of three analytic layers: the significant issue of discharge, identifying three stories of how being on the way home is enacted, and a further interpretation and discussion. The narrative analysis shows how significant issues of returning home are enacted among persons in everyday activities at one centre, and how an inherent ambiguity raised some challenges within the field of mental health. This study shows how conducting everyday activities enable people use the available narrative resources to negotiate the self; hence they reflect and create thoughts about the return home that are shared among persons at the centre.
Stories of (self)-introduction for communicative effectiveness of an institutionalized storytelling performance
Authors: Lwin Soe Marlar
Published: December 2016

Over the last few decades, increasing interest in oral narratives as a point of entry into understanding self-presentation and construction of personal and social identities has led to several studies which adopt a contextualized approach to analyses of everyday conversational narratives. In this study, adopting a similar contextualized approach but focusing on a less spontaneous and more institutionalized type of oral storytelling, I examine the narrative told as an introduction to a professional storyteller before her storytelling performance, as well as the oral tale inscribed with institutional messages told during her storytelling performance. I discuss how the construction of storyteller’s identities in the narrative of introduction preceding the telling of an oral tale was an important strategy that enhanced the communicative effectiveness of the storytelling performance in disseminating the institutional messages. The study extends our understanding of the ways in which various institutions in contemporary society have been using storytelling performances by professional storytellers as a communicative, educative and meaning-making tool.
Narrative integration of identity following trauma Life-stories of immigrants granted asylum in Australia following prolonged detention
Authors: Witney Andrew J. , Bates Glen
Published: December 2016

Drawing on narrative theories of personality this study proposed a model of narrative integration to explain how traumatic experiences are incorporated within the self-construct. A qualitative design was employed, using semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis of interview data. The sample included former asylum-seekers now living in Australia after spending two years or more in mandatory detention centers. Ten males aged between 19 and 51 recalled their experiences of mandatory detention within the context of their lives. Findings supported the use of the proposed model of narrative integration for understanding trauma associated with mandatory detention. Thematic analysis revealed disturbances to people’s narratives as a result of detention, with attempts to adapt to narrative disturbance adhering to constructs outlined in the model. Three groups representing different levels of narrative integration were identified using the model, including: robust integration, limited integration, and fragmentation. This study extended the narrative approach by offering a conceptual framework for assessing narrative integration following a traumatic event. Findings suggest scope for further research applying the model of narrative integration to other trauma populations, and exploring the utility of the model in a therapeutic context.
Narrative, trauma, and self-interpretation
Authors: Affleck William , Fiasse Gaëlle , Macdonald Mary Ellen
Published: December 2016

Although past research has explored the experience of bereaved fathers, few attempts have been made to situate this experience within a pre-existing theoretical framework. This article demonstrates how the narrative moral framework of the philosopher Paul Ricœur, known as his “Petite éthique” can help illuminate some of the features within this experience that contribute to the high rates of mortality and morbidity among these men. To demonstrate its utility, this framework is explored through a secondary analysis of data collected in an earlier phenomenological study that explored the moral experience of bereaved fathers. By clarifying some of the nuance and complexity of the experience of bereaved fathers, Ricœur’s “Petite éthique” framework has implications for health-care professionals, bereaved families, and bereaved fathers themselves.
Requests and counters in Russian traffic police officer-citizen encounters
Authors: Márquez Reiter Rosina , Ganchenko Kristina , Charalambidou Anna
Published: December 2016

This paper analyses video recorded interactions between police officers and drivers in traffic stops in Russia. The interactions were recorded via cameras installed on the drivers’ car dashboards, and subsequently uploaded to YouTube; a practice to which over one million Russian motorists have resorted to counterbalance perceived high levels of bribery and corruption (Griaznova 2007). The analysis focuses on responses to opening requests for identification in five different encounters. These show that the drivers repeatedly engage in potentially interpersonally sensitive activities in which the vulnerability of face, especially that of the police officer, is interactionally manifested by launching counter requests in return. The organisation of the request–counter request sequences highlights how face and identity related concerns are interwoven in the participants’ attempts to contest each other’s authority.
Evading and resisting answering
Authors: Vázquez Carranza Ariel
Published: December 2016

This investigation is a conversation-analytic study of Mexican Spanish news interviews. It focuses on the question-answer adjacency pair in which interviewees (IE) are questioned, directly or indirectly, by the interviewers (IR) about the legality of their wealth in light of corruption allegations. The questions examined display strategies to generate news: content questions elicit a contrast; statement formulated questions followed by a request for confirmation give the opportunity to accept or deny the allegations, in contrast to statements which create a confrontational context. Non-type-conforming answers evade answering and type-conforming answers contain resistance elements. The IE minimize the allegations by repairing and providing a downgraded version, or use other resources to suggest that their activities are of common order, hence not newsworthy. The IE display evasion by addressing only certain elements of the question and counter the allegations by casting doubt on the professionalism of the IR.
When routine calls for information become interpersonally sensitive
Authors: Orthaber Sara , Márquez Reiter Rosina
Published: December 2016

This paper examines interpersonally sensitive exchanges in two calls for information to the call centre of a public transport company. In order to provide relevant information and facilitate sequence progressivity, the agents need to go through specific steps. Although this is typical of institutional settings, customers may not necessarily be aware of them. The excerpts examined in this paper show how the customers’ lack of knowledge of the institutional steps the agents have to go through to attend to their requests and customers’ claims to product knowledge, coupled with the agents’ labour intensive work at the call centre, provide fertile ground for the agents’ verbal outbursts which are oriented to as interpersonally sensitive by the customers in so far as they are interpreted as inappropriate and potentially impolite. The analysis draws on the notion of face and incorporates a variety of concepts from pragmatics and Conversation Analysis.
Climate, stress and satisfaction: a multilevel study in the public sector / Clima, estrés y satisfacción: un estudio multinivel en el sector público
Authors: Pecino-Medina Vicente , Díaz-Fúnez Pedro A. , Mañas-Rodríguez Miguel A.
Published: December 2016

The aim of this study was to examine the mediating effect of role ambiguity on the relationship between climate and job satisfaction in local public administration. Taking the job demands-resources model (JD-R) as the starting point, a multilevel mediation analysis was used to determine the influence of the different services within the sample. The sample consisted of 196 employees in 29 integrated services of two local corporations. Results confirm the job demands-resources model by showing multilevel partial mediation of role ambiguity in the relationship between climate and job satisfaction of public employees. These results indicate the importance of climate in organizational contexts and its implications for reducing role stressors while strengthening and maintaining the wellbeing of employees.