bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Substanzmissbrauch – Entwicklung des Vergiftungsgeschehens im Einzugsbereich des Giftnotrufes Erfurt 2002–2016
Authors: Gollmann Mandy , Frimlova Germaine , Just Simone , Liebetrau Gesine , Prasa Dagmar , Stürzebecher Anne , Deters Michael
Published: May 2018

Ziel der Studie Substanzmissbrauch war in den letzten Jahren starken Veränderungen unterworfen und ist eine große Herausforderung für die Klinische Toxikologie. Deswegen wurden Substanzmissbrauchsfälle der letzten 15 Jahre im Einzugsbereich des Giftnotrufs Erfurt analysiert und mit humanen Expositionsfällen anderer Ursache verglichen.

Methodik Retrospektive Analyse aller Humanexpositionsfälle (Expositionsfälle des Menschen gegenüber einer Substanz unter akzidentellen, missbräuchlichen oder unbekannten Umständen oder im Rahmen eines Suizidversuches) von Anfang 2002 bis Ende 2016 nach Substanzklassen, Symptomschwere, Altersgruppen und Geschlecht.

Ergebnisse Substanzmissbrauchsfälle (7237, 3,5% aller Expositionsfälle) stiegen kontinuierlich von 250 (Einzelsubstanzmissbrauch: 159; Mischkonsum: 91) in 2002 auf 830 in 2016 (Einzelsubstanzmissbrauch: 398; Mischkonsum: 432) an. Die Fallzahl von Methamphetaminmissbrauch stieg von 10 in 2003 auf 100 in 2012 und fiel auf 52 in 2016. Die Anzahl der Missbrauchsfälle mit Neuen Psychoaktiven Substanzen (NPS) erhöhte sich von 1 in 2008 auf 130 in 2015 und sank auf 90 in 2016. Substanzmissbrauchsfälle verursachten signifikant (p<0,001) häufiger mittelschwere (29,1%) und schwere Symptome (5,8%) als Expositionsfälle in suizidaler Absicht (11,6%; 4,9%). Missbrauchsfälle mit NPS und der Untergruppe synthetischer Cannabinoide zeigten signifikant (p<0,001 u. 0,025) öfter mittelschwere und schwere Symptome (46,9% u. 43,6%; 7.9% u. 6,0%) als Missbrauchsfälle mit Cannabis (19,7%; 2,1%).

Schlussfolgerung Die klinische Bedeutung des Substanzmissbrauchs wird daran erkennbar, dass er häufiger mittelschwere und schwere Symptome verursachte als Suizidversuche. Daten zu Substanzmissbrauch von Giftnotrufzentralen könnten offizielle Drogenberichte hinsichtlich klinisch-toxikologischer Aspekte ergänzen.
Welche Faktoren sind mit Verhaltensauffälligkeiten im Vorschulalter assoziiert? Eine Sekundärdatenanalyse der Schuleingangsuntersuchungen von 2010 bis 2014 in der Region Hannover
Authors: Bantel Susanne , Schlaud Martin , Walter Ulla , Dreier Maren
Published: May 2018

Hintergrund und Ziel Die psychische Gesundheit und die Prävalenz von psychischen Auffälligkeiten im Kindes- und Jugendalter haben in den letzten Jahren an Aufmerksamkeit gewonnen. Zur psychischen Gesundheit von Kindern und Jugendlichen in Deutschland gibt es mittlerweile Ergebnisse aus mehreren Studien. Mit der vorliegenden Studie soll untersucht werden, welche Faktoren mit Verhaltensauffälligkeiten im Vorschulalter assoziiert sind. Der Fokus liegt zudem auf der unversorgten Morbidität.

Methodik Die Daten der Schuleingangsuntersuchungen der Einschulungsjahrgänge 2010/11 bis 2014/15 (n=40 675) der Region Hannover wurden ausgewertet. Verhaltensauffälligkeiten und die sozial-emotionalen Kompetenz der Kinder wurde über den Elternfragebogen „Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire“ (SDQ) und durch Beobachtung der Ärztin während der Untersuchung erfasst. Kinder, die sich zum Zeitpunkt der Schuleingangsuntersuchung wegen einer Verhaltensauffälligkeit bereits in Behandlung befanden, wurden aus der Analyse ausgeschlossen. Mittels einer multivariablen logistischen Regressionsanalyse wurde auf Zusammenhänge zwischen Verhaltensauffälligkeiten und soziodemografischen Faktoren, Dauer des Kindergartenbesuchs, Familienkonstellation und Gestationsalter untersucht.

Ergebnisse Ein geringer Bildungsgrad, errechnet aus dem höchst erreichten Schul- und Berufsabschluss beider Elternteile, ist am stärksten mit einer durch die Schuleingangsuntersuchung festgestellten Verhaltensauffälligkeit assoziiert (OR 2,5; 95%-KI 2,3–2,7). Weitere Faktoren sind männliches Geschlecht (OR 1,5; 95%-KI 1,4–1,6), kein Kindergartenbesuch (OR 1,3; 95%-KI 1,02–1,6) oder der Besuch von nur einem Kindergartenjahr (OR 1,4; 95%-KI 1,2–1,6), familiäre Konstellation ohne leibliche Eltern (OR 1,7; 95%-KI 1,2–2,4), Frühgeburtlichkeit (OR 1,5; 95%-KI 1,2–1,8) und ein Alter von 5 ½ Jahre und jünger (OR 1,4; 95%-KI 1,3–1,6) zum Untersuchungszeitpunkt.

Schlussfolgerung Die Ergebnisse verweisen auf die Wichtigkeit der frühkindlichen Förderung und Unterstützung sozial benachteiligter Familien und deren Kinder. Sie liefern public-health-relevante Ansatzpunkte und ermöglichen der Region Hannover, zukünftige Präventionsmaßnahmen im Vorschulalter zielgruppenspezifischer zu verbessern.
Low-Dose and Standard Overnight and Low Dose-Two Day Dexamethasone Suppression Tests in Patients with Mild and/or Episodic Hypercortisolism
Authors: Mojtahedzadeh Mona , Shaesteh Nesyah , Haykani Mastaneh , Tran Jennifer , Mangubat Michael , Shahinian Hraya , Nachnani Rahul , Zopey Mohan , Saidian Jason , Thomas Antolice , Lee Martin , McCutcheon Ian , Friedman Theodore
Published: May 2018

We previously reported on the lack of utility of the 1 mg overnight dexamethasone (DEX) test in mild and/or periodic Cushing’s syndrome, as most patients with the condition suppressed to 1 mg DEX. It is possible that a lower dose of DEX as part of an overnight DEX test might be able to distinguish between mild and/or periodic Cushing’s syndrome and those without the condition. The objective of the current study is to determine the sensitivity and specificity of a 0.25 mg overnight DEX suppression test, the standard 1 mg overnight DEX suppression test, and the two-day low-dose (Liddle test) DEX suppression test with and without correction for DEX levels in patients evaluated for mild and/or periodic Cushing’s syndrome. Thirty patients determined to have Cushing’s syndrome by biochemical testing and 14 patients determined not to have the condition had the 0.25 mg and standard 1 mg overnight DEX suppression test and the two-day low-dose DEX suppression tests. Our results show that morning serum cortisol and cortisol/DEX ratios following an overnight dexamethasone suppression test were similar in patients with Cushing’s syndrome and those not having Cushing’s syndrome. However, a morning cortisol value above 7.6 μg/dl following a dose of DEX of 0.25 mg was found in 12 patients with Cushing’s syndrome and none in those not having Cushing’s syndrome, suggesting that a high cortisol value after this low dose of dexamethasone can indicate that further testing for Cushing’s syndrome is warranted. Our data suggest that the traditional 1 mg overnight or the 2 mg/2 day DEX suppression testing should no longer be used as a screening test in patients who could have mild and/or periodic Cushing’s syndrome, while the 0.25 mg dose of DEX may pick up some patients with mild Cushing’s syndrome.
Der Lift-off-Test
Authors: Petermann Jenny
Published: May 2018

Das Schultergelenk ist ein muskelgeführtes Gelenk und besitzt kaum knöcherne Führung. Umso wichtiger ist, dass die Arbeit aller umgebenden Muskeln aufeinander
abgestimmt ist und keine Disharmonie entsteht. Die Rotatorenmanschette ist an der Sicherung des Schultergelenks beteiligt. Der Lift-off-Test ist ein Assessment
zur Beurteilung der schultergelenkumgebenden Muskulatur.
Physiotherapie bei SAPS
Authors: Ophey Martin
Published: May 2018

Subakromiales Schmerzsyndrom ist die meist gestellte medizinische Diagnose bei Schulterbeschwerden (subacromial pain syndrome, kurz SAPS). Eine neue
Studie legt nahe, dass Physiotherapie dabei das erste Mittel der Wahl ist. Erst wenn Therapieerfolge ausbleiben, sollte man eine Operation in Betracht
ziehen.
Bedeutung von Ausdauersport für die Verbesserung von Kognition und Remission bei post-akuter Schizophrenie
Authors: Malchow B. , Lembeck M. , Maurus I. , Roeh A. , Papiol S. , Hasan A. , Falkai P. , Schmitt A.
Published: May 2018

Die Schizophrenie geht häufig mit einer verminderten sozialen Funktion aufgrund kognitiver Defizite einher, die mit gehirnstrukturellen Veränderungen wie einer Verminderung des Hippocampusvolumens assoziiert sind. In einer ersten Studie haben wir eine Verbesserung des episodischen Gedächtnisses und eine Volumenvergrößerung des Hippocampus nach aerobem Sporttraining bei Menschen mit einer Mehrfacherkrankung einer Schizophrenie gefunden. In einer Folgestudie unter Kombination mit kognitivem Training konnten wir eine Vergrößerung des temporalen Kortex zeigen, allerdings fanden wir für die Gesamtgruppe keine signifikante Zunahme des Hippocampusvolumens. Bei diesen Patienten war jedoch ein erhöhter polygenetischer Risikofaktor (Polygenetic Risk Score, PRS) mit einer verminderten Volumenzunahme des Hippocampus assoziiert sowie verbesserter körperlicher Fitness und psychosozialen Funktionsniveau. In der Sportstudie (Clinical-Trials.gov ID: NCT03466112) des „Enhancing Schizophrenia Prevention and Recovery through Innovative Treatments” (ESPRIT) Forschungsnetzwerkes zu psychischen Erkrankungen erweitern wir die Dauer des Trainings nach den Richtlinien des American College of Sports Medicine. Langzeiteffekte des Ausdauertrainings auf Kognition, Symptome und funktionelle Genesung werden verglichen mit einer Kontrollgruppe, die Gleichgewichtsübungen und Muskeltonustraining durchführt.
Verbesserung der sozialen Funktionsfähigkeit schizophren Kranker
Authors: Eißler L. , Wölwer W. ,   für die ISST-Studiengruppe
Published: May 2018

Beeinträchtigungen in der sozialen Funktionsfähigkeit sind schwerwiegende, subjektiv sehr belastende Merkmale schizophrener Erkrankungen. Sie führen zu einer reduzierten Lebensqualität und stehen einer umfassenden „Recovery” entgegen. Medikamentöse und psychosoziale Therapiemaßnahmen haben diesbezüglich nur unzureichende Effekte, ebenso wie spezifische Behandlungsansätze, die isoliert auf basale Kognitionen, soziale Kognitionen und soziale Verhaltenskompetenzen als wesentliche Determinanten der Funktionsfähigkeit abzielen. Daher wird in einer laufenden multizentrischen randomisierten kontrollierten klinischen Studie des Forschungsverbunds ESPRIT versucht, die Funktionsfähigkeit durch die Integration von sozial kognitiven und sozialen verhaltensbezogenen Behandlungsstrategien wirksamer als bisher möglich zu verbessern. Neben der Haltequote in der Therapie als gemeinsamer Endpunkt aller klinischen Studien des ESPRIT-Verbunds werden insbesondere die soziale Funktionsfähigkeit und subjektive Lebensqualität als Wirksamkeitsindikatoren vor (V1) und nach Abschluss der jeweils sechsmonatigen Behandlung (V6) sowie nach sechs Monaten Nachbeobachtung (V12) erfasst.
Totale Laryngektomie: Wundinfektionen sind bei Diabetespatienten häufiger
Authors: Dyckhoff Gerhard
Published: May 2018

Filimonov A et al. Postoperative Complications of Total Laryngectomy in Diabetic Patients. Laryngoscope 2017; 127: 2247–2251

Diabetes Mellitus gilt als Risikofaktor vieler Komorbiditäten und Komplikationen. Ob sich die Stoffwechselerkrankung ebenso negativ auf das Ergebnis einer
totalen Laryngektomie auswirken kann, haben Filimonov und Kolleginnen/Kollegen jetzt anhand einer retrospektiven Datenanalyse genauer betrachtet.
EGFR im Speichel: neuer Tumormarker für Plattenepithelkarzinom im Mund?
Authors: Albers Andreas E. , Kaufmann Andreas M.
Published: May 2018

Zanotti L et al. Epidermal growth factor receptor detection in serum and saliva as a diagnostic and prognostic tool in oral cancer. Laryngoscope 2017; 127:
E408–E414

Der EGF-Rezeptor (EGFR) ist ein Transmembranrezeptor mit intrinsischer Tyrosinkinase-Aktivität, der in allen Zellarten vorkommt. Die Überexpression des EGFR
ist bei verschiedenen Tumorarten nachweisbar, so auch beim Plattenepithelkarzinom im Mundraum (OSCC). Den diagnostischen und prognostischen Wert des EGFR
beim OSCC aus Serum und Speichel bestimmten italienische Ärzte der Universität von Brescia.
Die neue Leitlinie Rhinosinusitis – eine Miniaturversion
Authors: Stuck Boris A. , Beule Achim , Jobst Detmar , Klimek Ludger , Laudien Martin , Lell Michael , Vogl Thomas , Popert Uwe
Published: May 2018

Zu Beginn dieses Jahres wurde die neue Leitlinie „Rhinosinusitis“ als gemeinsame Leitlinie der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde, Kopf- und
Hals-Chirurgie e. V. (DGHNOKHC) und der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Allgemeinmedizin und Familienmedizin (DEGAM) veröffentlicht. Die Zielgruppe der neuen
Leitlinie sind erwachsene Patienten mit einer entzündlichen Erkrankung der Nasennebenhöhlen und sie richtet sich an alle ärztlichen Berufsgruppen, die mit der
Diagnostik und Therapie dieser Patienten befasst sind. Die aktuelle Herausforderung besteht darin, die Inhalte der Leitlinie in die klinische Praxis zu
implementieren. Hierzu wurde eine Miniaturversion für den Klinik- und Praxisalltag entwickelt, die eine schnelle Hilfe bei klinischen Fragestellungen bieten
soll.
Spin transport and spin accumulation signals in Si studied in tunnel junctions with a Fe/Mg ferromagnetic multilayer and an amorphous SiOxNy tunnel barrier
Authors: Nakane Ryosho , Hada Takato , Sato Shoichi , Tanaka Masaaki
Published: May 2018

We studied the spin accumulation signals in phosphorus-doped n+-Si (8 × 1019 cm−3) by measuring the spin transport in three-terminal vertical devices with Fe(3 nm)/Mg(0 and 1 nm)/SiOxNy(1 nm)/n+-Si(001) tunnel junctions, where the amorphous SiOxNy layer was formed by oxnitridation of the Si substrate with radio frequency plasma. Obvious spin accumulation signals were observed at 4–300 K in the spin extraction geometry when the thickness of the Mg insertion layer was 1 nm. We found that by inserting a thin (1 nm) Mg layer, intermixing of Fe and SiOxNy is suppressed, leading to the appearance of the spin accumulation signals, and this result is consistent with the dead layer model recently proposed by our group [S. Sato et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 107, 032407 (2015)]. We obtained relatively high spin polarization (PS) of electrons tunneling through the junction and long spin lifetime (τS): PS = 16% and τS = 5.6 ns at 4 K and PS = 7.5% and τS = 2.7 ns at 300 K. Tunnel junctions with an amorphous SiOxNy tunnel barrier are very promising for Si-based spintronic devices, since they can be formed by the method compatible with the silicon complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor technology.
Controlling of the electromagnetic solitary waves generation in the wake of a two-color laser
Authors: Pan K. Q. , Li S. W. , Guo L. , Yang D. , Li Z. C. , Zheng C. Y. , Jiang S. E. , Zhang B. H. , He X. T.
Published: May 2018

Electromagnetic solitary waves generated by a two-color laser interaction with an underdense plasma are investigated. It is shown that, when the former wave packet of the two-color laser is intense enough, it will excite nonlinear wakefields and generate electron density cavities. The latter wave packets will beat with the nonlinear wakefield and generate both high-frequency and low-frequency components. When the peak density of the cavities exceeds the critical density of the low-frequency component, this part of the electromagnetic field will be trapped to generate electromagnetic solitary waves. By changing the laser and plasma parameters, we can control the wakefield generation, which will also control the generation of the solitary waves. One-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations are performed to prove the controlling of the solitary waves. The simulation results also show that solitary waves generated by higher laser intensities will become moving solitary waves. The two-dimensional particle-in-cell also shows the generation of the solitary waves. In the two-dimensional case, solitary waves are distributed in the transverse directions because of the filamentation instability.
Further experiments for mean velocity profile of pipe flow at high Reynolds number
Authors: Furuichi N. , Terao Y. , Wada Y. , Tsuji Y.
Published: May 2018

This paper reports further experimental results obtained in high Reynolds number actual flow facility in Japan. The experiments were performed in a pipe flow with water, and the friction Reynolds number was varied up to Reτ = 5.3 × 104. This high Reynolds number was achieved by using water as the working fluid and adopting a large-diameter pipe (387 mm) while controlling the flow rate and temperature with high accuracy and precision. The streamwise velocity was measured by laser Doppler velocimetry close to the wall, and the mean velocity profile, called log-law profile U+ = (1/κ) ln(y+) + B, is especially focused. After careful verification of the mean velocity profiles in terms of the flow rate accuracy and an evaluation of the consistency of the present results with those from previously measurements in a smaller pipe (100 mm), it was found that the value of κ asymptotically approaches a constant value of κ = 0.384.
Effect of strain on the Curie temperature and band structure of low-dimensional SbSI
Authors: Wang Yiping , Hu Yang , Chen Zhizhong , Guo Yuwei , Wang Dong , Wertz Esther A. , Shi Jian
Published: May 2018

Photoferroelectric materials show great promise for developing alternative photovoltaics and photovoltaic-type non-volatile memories. However, the localized nature of the d orbital and large bandgap of most natural photoferroelectric materials lead to low electron/hole mobility and limit the realization of technologically practical devices. Antimony sulpho-iodide (SbSI) is a photoferroelectric material which is expected to have high electron/hole mobility in the ferroelectric state due to its non-local band dispersion and narrow bandgap. However, SbSI exhibits the paraelectric state close to room temperature. In this report, as a proof of concept, we explore the possibility to stabilize the SbSI ferroelectric phase above room temperature via mechanical strain engineering. We synthesized thin low-dimensional crystals of SbSI by chemical vapor deposition, confirmed its crystal structure with electron diffraction, studied its optical properties via photoluminescence spectroscopy and time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy, and probed its phase transition using temperature-dependent steady-state photoluminescence spectroscopy. We found that introducing external mechanical strain to these low-dimensional crystals may lead to an increase in their Curie temperature (by ∼60 K), derived by the strain-modified optical phase transition in SbSI and quantified by Kern formulation and Landau theory. The study suggests that strain engineering could be an effective way to stabilize the ferroelectric phase of SbSI at above room temperature, providing a solution enabling its application for technologically useful photoferroelectric devices.
Thermal conductivity and rectification in asymmetric archaeal lipid membranes
Authors: Youssefian Sina , Rahbar Nima , Van Dessel Steven
Published: May 2018

Nature employs lipids to construct nanostructured membranes that self-assemble in an aqueous environment to separate the cell interior from the exterior environment. Membrane composition changes among species and according to environmental conditions, which allows organisms to occupy a wide variety of different habitats. Lipid bilayers are phase-change materials that exhibit strong thermotropic and lyotropic phase behavior in an aqueous environment, which may also cause thermal rectification. Among different types of lipids, archaeal lipids are of great interest due to their ability to withstand extreme conditions. In this paper, nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations were employed to study the nanostructures and thermal properties of different archaeols and to investigate thermal rectification effects in asymmetric archaeal membranes. In particular, we are interested in understanding the role of bridged phytanyl chains and cyclopentane groups in controlling the phase transition temperature and heat flow across the membrane. Our results indicate that the bridged phytanyl chains decrease the molecular packing of lipids, whereas the existence of cyclopentane rings on the tail groups increases the molecular packing by enhancing the interactions between isoprenoid chains. We found that macrocyclic archaeols have the highest thermal conductivity, whereas macrocyclic archaeols with two cyclopentane rings have the lowest. The effect of the temperature on the variation of thermal conductivity was found to be progressive. Our results further indicate that small thermal rectification effects occur in asymmetric archaeol bilayer membranes at around 25 K temperature gradient. The calculated thermal rectification factor was around 0.09 which is in the range of rectification factor obtained experimentally for nanostructures such as carbon nanotubes (0.07). Such phenomena may be of biological significance and could also be optimized for use in various engineering applications.
An experimental device for characterizing degassing processes and related elastic fingerprints: Analog volcano seismo-acoustic observations
Authors: Spina Laura , Morgavi Daniele , Cannata Andrea , Campeggi Carlo , Perugini Diego
Published: May 2018

A challenging objective of modern volcanology is to quantitatively characterize eruptive/degassing regimes from geophysical signals (in particular seismic and infrasonic), for both research and monitoring purposes. However, the outcomes of the attempts made so far are still considered very uncertain because volcanoes remain inaccessible when deriving quantitative information on crucial parameters such as plumbing system geometry and magma viscosity. In order to improve our knowledge of volcanic systems, a novel experimental device, which is capable of mimicking volcanic degassing processes with different regimes and gas flow rates, and allowing for the investigation of the related seismo-acoustic emissions, was designed and developed. The benefits of integrating observations on real volcanoes with seismo-acoustic signals generated in laboratory are many and include (i) the possibility to fix the controlling parameters such as the geometry of the structure where the gas flows, the gas flow rate, and the fluid viscosity; (ii) the possibility of performing acoustic measurements at different azimuthal and zenithal angles around the opening of the analog conduit, hence constraining the radiation pattern of different acoustic sources; (iii) the possibility to measure micro-seismic signals in distinct points of the analog conduit; (iv) finally, thanks to the transparent structure, it is possible to directly observe the degassing pattern through the optically clear analog magma and define the degassing regime producing the seismo-acoustic radiations. The above-described device represents a step forward in the analog volcano seismo-acoustic measurements.
Three dimensional live-cell STED microscopy at increased depth using a water immersion objective
Authors: Heine Jörn , Wurm Christian A. , Keller-Findeisen Jan , Schönle Andreas , Harke Benjamin , Reuss Matthias , Winter Franziska R. , Donnert Gerald
Published: May 2018

Modern fluorescence superresolution microscopes are capable of imaging living cells on the nanometer scale. One of those techniques is stimulated emission depletion (STED) which increases the microscope’s resolution many times in the lateral and the axial directions. To achieve these high resolutions not only close to the coverslip but also at greater depths, the choice of objective becomes crucial. Oil immersion objectives have frequently been used for STED imaging since their high numerical aperture (NA) leads to high spatial resolutions. But during live-cell imaging, especially at great penetration depths, these objectives have a distinct disadvantage. The refractive index mismatch between the immersion oil and the usually aqueous embedding media of living specimens results in unwanted spherical aberrations. These aberrations distort the point spread functions (PSFs). Notably, during z- and 3D-STED imaging, the resolution increase along the optical axis is majorly hampered if at all possible. To overcome this limitation, we here use a water immersion objective in combination with a spatial light modulator for z-STED measurements of living samples at great depths. This compact design allows for switching between objectives without having to adapt the STED beam path and enables on the fly alterations of the STED PSF to correct for aberrations. Furthermore, we derive the influence of the NA on the axial STED resolution theoretically and experimentally. We show under live-cell imaging conditions that a water immersion objective leads to far superior results than an oil immersion objective at penetration depths of 5–180 μm.
Modeling analysis of pulsed magnetization process of magnetic core based on inverse Jiles-Atherton model
Authors: Liu Yi , Zhang He , Liu Siwei , Lin Fuchang
Published: May 2018

The J-A (Jiles-Atherton) model is widely used to describe the magnetization characteristics of magnetic cores in a low-frequency alternating field. However, this model is deficient in the quantitative analysis of the eddy current loss and residual loss in a high-frequency magnetic field. Based on the decomposition of magnetization intensity, an inverse J-A model is established which uses magnetic flux density B as an input variable. Static and dynamic core losses under high frequency excitation are separated based on the inverse J-A model. Optimized parameters of the inverse J-A model are obtained based on particle swarm optimization. The platform for the pulsed magnetization characteristic test is designed and constructed. The hysteresis curves of ferrite and Fe-based nanocrystalline cores at high magnetization rates are measured. The simulated and measured hysteresis curves are presented and compared. It is found that the inverse J-A model can be used to describe the magnetization characteristics at high magnetization rates and to separate the static loss and dynamic loss accurately.
Contact angle hysteresis and motion behaviors of a water nano-droplet on suspended graphene under temperature gradient
Authors: Foroutan Masumeh , Fatemi S. Mahmood , Esmaeilian Farshad , Fadaei Naeini Vahid , Baniassadi Majid
Published: May 2018

In the present work, the effect of temperature gradient on the behavior of a water nano-droplet resting on a suspended graphene was studied based on a non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulation. The acquired results indicate that the applied temperature gradient to the suspended graphene drives the water nano-droplet to the colder region. The droplet accelerates its motion toward the cold reservoir as the temperature gradient is increased. In addition to the translational motion of the nano-droplet, the vortical motion of the water molecules was also observed. Contact angle analysis was also utilized to describe the directional motion of the nano-droplet. The translational motion of the droplet leads to the estimation of contact angle hysteresis through advancing and receding contact angles while the rotational motion resulted in the advancing and receding fronts being switched with one another through the simulation. The average displacement vector of the water molecules shows that parts of the droplet seem to stagnate while other parts rotate around them. The reason behind this particular behavior was studied based on interaction energy contours between a water molecule and the suspended graphene. The obtained data indicate that the rotational motion is in agreement with the migration of the water molecules to low interaction energy regions in order to avoid high interaction energy areas.
Ambipolar SnOx thin-film transistors achieved at high sputtering power
Authors: Li Yunpeng , Yang Jia , Qu Yunxiu , Zhang Jiawei , Zhou Li , Yang Zaixing , Lin Zhaojun , Wang Qingpu , Song Aimin , Xin Qian
Published: May 2018

SnO is the only oxide semiconductor to date that has exhibited ambipolar behavior in thin-film transistors (TFTs). In this work, ambipolar behavior was observed in SnOx TFTs fabricated at a high sputtering power of 200 W and post-annealed at 150–250 °C in ambient air. X-ray-diffraction patterns showed polycrystallisation of SnO and Sn in the annealed SnOx films. Scanning-electron-microscopy images revealed that microgrooves appeared after the films were annealed. Clusters subsequently segregated along the microgrooves, and our experiments suggest that they were most likely Sn clusters. Atomic force microscopy images indicate an abrupt increase in film roughness due to the cluster segregations. An important implication of this work is that excess Sn in the film, which has generally been thought to be detrimental to the film quality, may promote the ambipolar conduction when it is segregated from the film to enhance the stoichiometric balance.
Enhancement of the conversion efficiency of thin film kesterite solar cell
Authors: Khattak Yousaf Hameed , Baig Faisal , Ullah Shafi , Marí Bernabé , Beg Saira , Ullah Hanif
Published: May 2018

C u 2 ZnSn S 4 ( CZTS ) is a non-toxic earth abundant material and a promising quaternary semiconductor compound of groups I−II−IV−VI having a kesterite symmetrical structure. Due to its optimum direct bandgap, it has been considered as a suitable material for absorber layers for photovoltaic cell applications. This paper presents the numerical simulation and modeling of CZTS based thin film kesterite photovoltaic cells using SCAP-1D software. The influence of device parameters such as the carrier concentration, thickness, densities of absorber, buffer and window layers, defect densities and the temperature effect on the performance of the ZnO/CdS/CZTS/Mo photovoltaic cell structure are analyzed. Defect densities are added to the absorber layer and the interface between the buffer layer and the absorber layer. This type of solar cell does not comprise any toxic material and can lead to non-toxic thin film photovoltaic cells with outstanding optical properties. In this work, promising optimized results had been achieved with a conversion efficiency of 23.72%, a fill factor of 82.54%, a short-circuit current (Jsc) of 44.87 mA/cm2, and an open circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.64V.
Homogeneous molybdenum disulfide tunnel diode formed via chemical doping
Authors: Liu Xiaochi , Qu Deshun , Choi Min Sup , Lee Changmin , Kim Hyoungsub , Yoo Won Jong
Published: May 2018

We report on a simple, controllable chemical doping method to fabricate a lateral homogeneous MoS2 tunnel diode. MoS2 was doped to degenerate n- (1.6 × 1013 cm−2) and p-type (1.1 × 1013 cm−2) by benzyl viologen and AuCl3, respectively. The n- and p-doping can be patterned on the same MoS2 flake, and the high doping concentration can be maintained by Al2O3 masking together with vacuum annealing. A forward rectifying p-n diode and a band-to-band tunneling induced backward rectifying diode were realized by modulating the doping concentration of both the n- and p-sides. Our approach is a universal stratagem to fabricate diverse 2D homogeneous diodes with various functions.
Tunable magnetization of infrared epsilon-near-zero media via field-effect modulation
Authors: Salary Mohammad Mahdi , Mosallaei Hossein
Published: May 2018

In this letter, we demonstrate that field effect modulation enables electrical tuning of the effective permeability of epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) media at infrared frequencies. In particular, hexagonal silicon carbide (6H-SiC) is incorporated as an epsilon-near-zero host in a gated 6H-SiC/SiO2/Si heterostructure. The change in the applied voltage leads to a change in the carrier concentration of the accumulation layer formed at the interface of 6H-SiC and SiO2 which can alter the effective permeability of the heterostructure by virtue of the photonic doping effect. We will rigorously model and analyze the structure by linking charge transport and electromagnetic models. The presented mechanism allows for tuning the impedance and magnetization of ENZ materials in real-time while capturing extreme cases of epsilon-and-mu-near-zero and magnetic conductor. As such, it can be used for various applications such as real-time engineering of thermal emission, dynamic switching, reconfigurable tunneling, and holography.
Models of fold-related hysteresis
Authors: Shtern Vladimir
Published: May 2018

Hysteresis is a strongly nonlinear physics phenomenon observed in many fluid mechanics flows. This paper composes evolution equations of the minimal nonlinearity and dimension which describe three hysteresis kinds related to a fold catastrophe formed by (i) two fold bifurcations, (ii) fold and transcritical bifurcations, and (iii) fold and subcritical bifurcations.
The influence of excess K2O on the electrical properties of (K,Na)1/2Bi1/2TiO3 ceramics
Authors: Li Linhao , Li Ming , Sinclair Derek C.
Published: May 2018

The solid solution (KxNa0.50-x)Bi0.50TiO3 (KNBT) between Na1/2Bi1/2TiO3 and K1/2Bi1/2TiO3 (KBT) has been extensively researched as a candidate lead-free piezoelectric material because of its relatively high Curie temperature and good piezoelectric properties, especially near the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) at x ∼ 0.10 (20 mol. % KBT). Here, we show that low levels of excess K2O in the starting compositions, i.e., (Ky+0.03Na0.50-y)Bi0.50TiO3.015 (y-series), can significantly change the conduction mechanism and electrical properties compared to a nominally stoichiometric KNBT series (KxNa0.50-x)Bi0.50TiO3 (x-series). Impedance spectroscopy measurements reveal significantly higher bulk conductivity (σb) values for y ≥ 0.10 samples [activation energy (Ea) ≤ 0.95 eV] compared to the corresponding x-series samples which possess bandgap type electronic conduction (Ea ∼ 1.26–1.85 eV). The largest difference in electrical properties occurs close to the MPB composition (20 mol. % KBT) where y = 0.10 ceramics possess σb (at 300 °C) that is 4 orders of magnitude higher than that of x = 0.10 and the oxide-ion transport number in the former is ∼0.70–0.75 compared to <0.05 in the latter (between 600 and 800 °C). The effect of excess K2O can be rationalised on the basis of the (K + Na):Bi ratio in the starting composition prior to ceramic processing. This demonstrates the electrical properties of KNBT to be sensitive to low levels of A-site nonstoichiometry and indicates that excess K2O in KNBT starting compositions to compensate for volatilisation can lead to undesirable high dielectric loss and leakage currents at elevated temperatures.
Evolution of the magnetoresistance lineshape with temperature and electric field across Nb-doped SrTiO3 interface
Authors: Das A. , Jousma S. T. , Majumdar A. , Banerjee T.
Published: May 2018

We report on the temperature and electric field driven evolution of the magnetoresistance lineshape at an interface between Ni/AlOx and Nb-doped SrTiO3. This is manifested as a superposition of the Lorentzian lineshape due to spin accumulation and a parabolic background related to tunneling anisotropic magnetoresistance (TAMR). The characteristic Lorentzian line shape of the spin voltage is retrieved only at low temperatures and large positive applied bias. This is caused by the reduction of the electric field at large positive applied bias which results in a simultaneous reduction of the background TAMR and a sharp enhancement in spin injection. Such mechanisms to tune magnetoresistance are uncommon in conventional semiconductors.
Engineering few-layer MoTe2 devices by Co/hBN tunnel contacts
Authors: Zhu Mengjian , Luo Wei , Wu Nannan , Zhang Xue-ao , Qin Shiqiao
Published: May 2018

2H phase Molybdenum ditelluride (MoTe2) is a layered two-dimensional (2D) semiconductor that has recently gained extensive attention for its intriguing properties, demonstrating great potential for nanoelectronics and optoelectronics. Optimizing the electric contacts to MoTe2 is a critical step for realizing high performance devices. Here, we demonstrate Co/hBN tunnel contacts to few-layer MoTe2. In sharp contrast to the p-type conduction of Co contacted MoTe2, Co/hBN tunnel contacted MoTe2 devices show clear n-type transport properties. Our first principles calculation reveals that the inserted few-layer hBN strongly interacts with Co and significantly reduces its work-function by ∼1.2 eV, while MoTe2 itself has a much weaker influence on the work-function of Co. This allows us to build MoTe2 diodes using the mixed Co/hBN and Co contact architecture, which can be switched from p-n type to n-p type by changing the gate-voltage, paving the way for engineering multi-functional devices based on atomically thin 2D semiconductors.
Immersed boundary-simplified lattice Boltzmann method for incompressible viscous flows
Authors: Chen Z. , Shu C. , Tan D.
Published: May 2018

An immersed boundary-simplified lattice Boltzmann method is developed in this paper for simulations of two-dimensional incompressible viscous flows with immersed objects. Assisted by the fractional step technique, the problem is resolved in a predictor-corrector scheme. The predictor step solves the flow field without considering immersed objects, and the corrector step imposes the effect of immersed boundaries on the velocity field. Different from the previous immersed boundary-lattice Boltzmann method which adopts the standard lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) as the flow solver in the predictor step, a recently developed simplified lattice Boltzmann method (SLBM) is applied in the present method to evaluate intermediate flow variables. Compared to the standard LBM, SLBM requires lower virtual memories, facilitates the implementation of physical boundary conditions, and shows better numerical stability. The boundary condition-enforced immersed boundary method, which accurately ensures no-slip boundary conditions, is implemented as the boundary solver in the corrector step. Four typical numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the stability, the flexibility, and the accuracy of the present method.
Thermal analysis of epidermal electronic devices integrated with human skin considering the effects of interfacial thermal resistance
Authors: Li Yuhang , Zhang Jianpeng , Xing Yufeng , Song Jizhou
Published: May 2018

Epidermal electronic devices (EEDs) have similar mechanical properties as those of human skin such that they can be integrated with human skin for potential applications in monitoring of human vital signs for diagnostic, therapeutic or surgical functions. Thermal management is critical for EEDs in these applications since excessive heating may cause discomfort. Comprehensive analytical studies, finite element analysis and experiments are carried out to study the effects of interfacial thermal resistance between EEDs and human skin on thermal properties of the EED/skin system in this paper. The coupling between the Fourier heat transfer in EEDs and the bio-heat transfer in human skin is accounted in the analytical model based on the transfer matrix method to give accurate predictions on temperatures, which agree well with finite element analysis and experimental measurements. It is shown that the maximum temperature increase of the EED for the case of imperfect bonding between EED and skin is much higher than that of perfect bonding. These results may help the design of EEDs in bi-integrated applications and suggest a valuable route to evaluate the bonding condition between EEDs and biological tissues.
Standing wave performance test of IDT-SAW transducer prepared by silk-screen printing
Authors: Wang Ziping , Jiang Zhengxuan , Chen Liangbin , Li Yefei , Li Meixia , Wang Shaohan
Published: May 2018

With the advantages of high performance and low loss, interdigital surface acoustic wave (IDT-SAW) transducers are widely used in the fields of nondestructive testing, communication and broadcasting. The production, performance and application of surface acoustic wave (SAW) actuators has become a research hotspot. Based on the basic principle of SAW, an IDT-SAW transducer is designed and fabricated using silk-screen printing in this work. The experiment results show that in terms of SAW performance, the fabricated IDT-SAW transducer can generate standing wave fields comparable to those generated using traditional fabrication methods. The resonant frequency response of the IDT-SAW transducer and SAW attenuation coefficient were obtained by experiments. It has provided a method to test the transducer sensing performance by using fabricated IDT-SAW transducer.
Note: Design of FPGA based system identification module with application to atomic force microscopy
Authors: Ghosal Sayan , Pradhan Sourav , Salapaka Murti
Published: May 2018

The science of system identification is widely utilized in modeling input-output relationships of diverse systems. In this article, we report field programmable gate array (FPGA) based implementation of a real-time system identification algorithm which employs forgetting factors and bias compensation techniques. The FPGA module is employed to estimate the mechanical properties of surfaces of materials at the nano-scale with an atomic force microscope (AFM). The FPGA module is user friendly which can be interfaced with commercially available AFMs. Extensive simulation and experimental results validate the design.
The “Democratic Counterrevolution” of 1918 in Siberia
Authors: Pereira Norman G. O.
Published: May 2018

The conventional distinction between Soviet and Western uses of the term democracy juxtaposes socioeconomic against political considerations— that is, for the former the stress is upon social equality and economic security, whereas for the latter it is upon civil liberty and political freedom. The tone and character of the Bolshevik approach to institutions which in the West are associated with liberal, parliamentary democracy can best be captured in the words of Lenin himself:

[T]he democratic republic, the Constituent Assembly, general elections, etc., are, in practice, the dictatorship of the bourgeoisie, and for the emancipation of labour from the yoke of capital there is no otherwaybut to replace this dictatorship with the dictatorship of the proletariat… This means replacing democracy for the rich by democracy for the poor.
Friction stir welding of thick section reduced activation ferritic–martensitic steel
Authors: Manugula Vijaya L. , Rajulapati Koteswararao V. , Reddy G. Madhusudhan , Rajendra Kumar E. , Rao K. Bhanu Sankara
Published: May 2018

Full penetration friction stir welding was conducted on 12 mm thick reduced activation ferritic–martensitic steel at tool rotational speeds of 500 and 900 rev min−1. Comparator welds at 500 rev min−1 were also produced in 6 mm thick reduced activation ferritic–martensitic steel plate to evaluate section thickness effects. Increase in section thickness led to an increase in heat input, which strongly influenced the microstructure evolution in stir zone (SZ), thermo-mechanical affected zone and the overall hardness in the SZ of this steel. In the as-welded condition, the base metal microstructure was significantly altered and resulted in carbide-free grain boundaries. The desirable microstructure and mechanical properties were achieved by subjecting the as-welded joints to appropriate post-weld heat treatments.
Canonical methods in classical and quantum gravity: An invitation to canonical LQG
Authors: Reyes Juan D
Published: May 2018

Loop Quantum Gravity (LQG) is a candidate quantum theory of gravity still under construction. LQG was originally conceived as a background independent canonical quantization of Einstein’s general relativity theory. This contribution provides some physical motivations and an overview of some mathematical tools employed in canonical Loop Quantum Gravity. First, Hamiltonian classical methods are reviewed from a geometric perspective. Canonical Dirac quantization of general gauge systems is sketched next. The Hamiltonian formultation of gravity in geometric ADM and connection-triad variables is then presented to finally lay down the canonical loop quantization program. The presentation is geared toward advanced undergradute or graduate students in physics and/or non-specialists curious about LQG.
Overdetermined problems for the normalized 𝑝-Laplacian
Authors: Banerjee Agnid , Kawohl Bernd
Published: May 2018

We extend the symmetry result of Serrin \cite{S} and Weinberger \cite{W} from the Laplacian operator to the highly degenerate game-theoretic

p
p

-Laplacian operator and show that viscosity solutions of

−

Δ
p
N

u
=
1

-\Delta _p^Nu=1

in

Ω
\Omega

,

u
=
0

u=0

and

∂
u

∂
ν

=
−
c
≠
0

\tfrac {\partial u}{\partial \nu }=-c\neq 0

on

∂
Ω

\partial \Omega

can only exist on a bounded domain

Ω
\Omega

if

Ω
\Omega

is a ball.
A remark on the ultrapower algebra of the hyperfinite factor
Authors: Chifan Ionut , Das Sayan
Published: May 2018

On page 43 in [Adv. in Math. 50 (1983), pp. 27–48] Sorin Popa asked whether the following property holds: If

ω
\omega

is a free ultrafilter on

N

\mathbb N

and

R

1

⊆

R

\mathcal {R}_1\subseteq \mathcal {R}

is an irreducible inclusion of hyperfinite II

1

_1

factors such that

R

′

∩

R

ω

⊆

R

1
ω

\mathcal {R}’\cap \mathcal {R}^\omega \subseteq \mathcal {R}^\omega _1

does it follows that

R

1

=

R

\mathcal {R}_1=\mathcal {R}

? In this short note we provide an affirmative answer to this question.
Bounding Harish-Chandra series
Authors: Dudas Olivier , Malle Gunter
Published: May 2018

We use the progenerator constructed in a previous work to give a necessary condition for a simple module of a finite reductive group to be cuspidal, or more generally to obtain information on which Harish-Chandra series it can lie in. As a first application we show the irreducibility of the smallest unipotent character in any Harish-Chandra series. Secondly, we determine a unitriangular approximation to part of the unipotent decomposition matrix of finite orthogonal groups and prove a gap result on certain Brauer character degrees.
Molecular Evolution of the Rab-Escort-Protein/Guanine-Nucleotide-Dissociation-Inhibitor Superfamily
Authors: Alory Christelle , Balch William E.
Published: May 2018

Prenylation of Rab GTPases regulating vesicle traffic by Rab geranylgeranyltransferase (RabGGTase) requires a complex formed by the association of newly synthesized Rab proteins with Rab-escort-protein (REP), the choroideremia-gene-product that is mutated in disease, leading to loss of vision. After delivery to the membrane by the REP–Rab complex, subsequent recycling to the cytosol requires the REP-related guanine-nucleotide-dissociation-inhibitor (GDI). Although REP and GDI share common Rab-binding properties, GDI cannot assist in Rab prenylation and REP cannot retrieve Rab proteins from the membranes. We have now isolated REP mutant proteins that are able to partially function as both REP and GDI. These results provide molecular insight into the functional and evolutionary organization of the REP/GDI superfamily.
Mutant Kinesin-2 Motor Subunits Increase Chromosome Loss
Authors: Miller Mark S. , Esparza Jessica M. , Lippa Andrew M. , Lux Fordyce G. , Cole Douglas G. , Dutcher Susan K.
Published: May 2018

The Chlamydomonas anterograde intraflagellar transport motor, kinesin-2, is isolated as a heterotrimeric complex containing two motor subunits and a nonmotor subunit known as kinesin-associated polypeptide or KAP. One of the two motor subunits is encoded by the FLA10 gene. The sequence of the second motor subunit was obtained by mass spectrometry and sequencing. It shows 46.9% identity with the Fla10 motor subunit and the gene maps to linkage group XII/XIII near RPL9. The temperature-sensitive flagellar assembly mutants fla1 and fla8 are linked to this kinesin-2 motor subunit. In each strain, a unique single point mutation gives rise to a unique single amino acid substitution within the motor domain. The fla8 strain is named fla8-1 and the fla1 strain is named fla8-2. The fla8 and fla10 alleles show a chromosome loss phenotype. To analyze this chromosome loss phenotype, intragenic revertants of fla8-1, fla8-2, and fla10-14 were generated. The analysis of the mutants and the revertants demonstrates the importance of a pocket in the amino terminus of these motor subunits for both motor activity and for a novel, dominant effect on the fidelity of chromosome segregation.