bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Formation of uniform carrot-like Cu31S16–CuInS2 heteronanostructures assisted by citric acid at the oil/aqueous interface
Authors: Li Yongjie , Tang Aiwei , Liu Zhenyang , Peng Lan , Yuan Yi , Shi Xifeng , Yang Chunhe , Teng Feng
Published: December 2017

We report the formation of uniform carrot-like Cu31S16–CuInS2 heteronanostructures assisted by citric acid at the oil/aqueous interface for the first time.
A sustainable method toward melamine-based conjugated polymer semiconductors for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen production under visible light
Authors: Huang Xiubing , Wu Zhenyu , Zheng Haiyan , Dong Wenjun , Wang Ge
Published: December 2017

A conjugated polymer was derived from melamine and terephthalaldehyde precursors without an external solvent through a Schiff-base reaction.
A strategy of ketalization for the catalytic selective dehydration of biomass-based polyols over H-beta zeolite
Authors: Che Penghua , Lu Fang , Si Xiaoqin , Ma Hong , Nie Xin , Xu Jie
Published: December 2017

A strategy is presented to control the etherification site in sugar alcohols via ketalization of the terminal vicinal-diol group with a ketone.
Converting colour to length based on the coffee-ring effect for quantitative immunoassays using a ruler as readout
Authors: Zhang Dagan , Gao Bingbing , Chen Yangtian , Liu Hong
Published: December 2017

We report a method for converting the colorimetric results of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) into length based on the coffee-ring effect, so that the quantitative detection of analytes can be carried out simply using a ruler.
Light-assisted preparation of a cyclodextrin-based chiral stationary phase and its separation performance in liquid chromatography
Authors: Tang Qi , Yu Bing , Gao Lilong , Cong Hailin , Zhang Shuai
Published: December 2017

A facile light-assisted preparation procedure of a cyclodextrin-based chiral stationary phase was developed for enantioseparations in HPLC.
An efficient synthesis of 4,5-disubstituted-2H-1,2,3-triazoles from nitroallylic derivatives via a cycloaddition–denitration process
Authors: Jannapu Reddy Raju , Waheed Md. , Karthik Thatikonda , Shankar Angothu
Published: December 2017

A variety of nitroallylic derivatives were smoothly reacted with sodium azide in the presence of p-TsOH to form synthetically-viable triazoles.
A palladium nanoparticle-catalyzed aryl–amine coupling reaction: high performance of aryl and pyridyl chlorides as the coupling partner
Authors: Nandi Debkumar , Islam Rafique Ul , Devi Nishu , Siwal Samarjeet , Mallick Kaushik
Published: December 2017

A carbon nitride-supported Pd nanoparticle-catalyzed C–N cross coupling reaction.
Nitrogen rich carbon nitride synthesized by copolymerization with enhanced visible light photocatalytic hydrogen evolution
Authors: Luo Liang , Zhang Mei , Wang Pei , Wang Yuanhao , Wang Fu
Published: December 2017

Nitrogen rich carbon nitride synthesized and application for photocatalytic water-splitting hydrogen production.
Second derivative spectrophotometric and synchronous spectrofluorometric determination of lesinurad in the presence of its oxidative degradation product
Authors: Attia K. A. , El-Abassawi N. M. , El-Olemy A. , Abdelazim A. H.
Published: December 2017

Lesinurad is a novel selective uric acid reabsorption inhibitor which has been recently approved for the treatment of chronic gout.
A facile and efficient procedure for one-pot four-component synthesis of polysubstituted spiro pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole and spiro 1,4-dihydropyridine catalyzed by a Dabco-based ionic liquid under mild conditions
Authors: Liu Tong , Lai Yi-Huan , Yu Ya-Qin , Xu Da-Zhen
Published: December 2017

Spiro pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazoles and spiro 1,4-dihydropyridines were obtained in high yields from different amine components under Dabco-based ionic liquid catalysis.
Synthesis of trifluoroalkyl or difluoroalkyl phenanthridine derivatives via cascade reaction using an intramolecular cyano group as a radical acceptor under photoredox catalysis
Authors: Liu Xu , Wu Zhongjie , Zhang Zeguo , Liu Ping , Sun Peipei
Published: December 2017

In the presence of Ru(phen)3Cl2 or fac-Ir(ppy)3 under visible-light irradiation, the addition of fluorinated radicals to N-arylacrylamides followed by an intramolecular cyano group insertion cascade cyclization process produced the target compounds in moderate to good yields.
Thermo-electrochemical cells empowered by selective inclusion of redox-active ions by polysaccharides
Authors: Zhou H. , Yamada T. , Kimizuka N.
Published: December 2017

Thermo-electrochemical cells (TECs) are a class of thermoelectric materials that offer high thermoelectric voltage (Seebeck coefficient) with potentially lower costs compared to the conventional thermoelectric materials.
Controllable one-step double emulsion formation via phase inversion
Authors: Kim Subeen , Kim KyuHan , Choi Siyoung Q.
Published: December 2017

We propose a simple yet universal/controllable strategy to form double emulsions by phase inversion.
Treatment for Cough: Two Sides to the Story
Authors: Ruddy Bari Hoffman , Sandage Mary J.
Published: December 2017

The role of cough is of interest to speech-language pathologists (SLPs) for two seemingly contradictory reasons: chronic, excessive cough and insufficient cough. Evidence supports the role of the SLP in behavioral strategies for both the reduction and/or elimination of chronic cough, as well as the use of pulmonary exercise to realize improved airway clearance in individuals with a weak, insufficient cough. At both ends of this continuum, anchored at one end by too much coughing and the other end anchored by inadequate cough for airway clearance/pulmonary health, the SLP has an important role.
The Impact of Cumulative Vocal Demands on Vocal Performance of Student Clinicians in Speech-Language Pathology
Authors: Franca Maria Claudia , Boyer Valerie Elise
Published: December 2017

Effects of cumulative vocal demands on voice performance of student clinicians majoring in speech-language pathology were observed at three distinct points over the period of an academic semester. Acoustic and aerodynamic voice parameters were monitored in controlled and natural settings; participants also provided subjective information related to their voice usage. Comparisons of voice parameters in student clinicians repeatedly measured throughout an extended period of time did not lead to statistically significant differences. Self-reported data revealed a satisfactory level of knowledge and awareness regarding voice concerns in this population. These outcomes suggested consistent voice stability in this group, over the cycle of an academic semester.
Supergiant fast X-ray transients versus classical supergiant high mass X-ray binaries: Does the difference lie in the companion wind?
Authors: Pradhan P. , Bozzo E. , Paul B.
Published: December 2017

We present a comparative study of stellar winds in classical supergiant high mass X-ray binaries (SgXBs) and supergiant fast X-ray transients (SFXTs) based on the analysis of publicly available out-of-eclipse observations performed with Suzaku and XMM-Newton. Our data set includes 55 observations of classical SgXBs and 21 observations of SFXTs. We found that classical SgXBs are characterized by a systematically higher absorption and luminosity compared to the SFXTs, confirming the results of previous works in the literature. Additionally, we show that the equivalent width of the fluorescence Kα iron line in the classical SgXBs is significantly larger than that of the SFXTs (outside X-ray eclipses). Based on our current understanding of the physics of accretion in these systems, we conclude that the most likely explanation of these differences is ascribed to the presence of mechanisms inhibiting accretion most of the time in SFXTs, thereby leading to a much less efficient photoionization of the stellar wind compared to classical SgXBs. We do not find evidence for the previously reported anticorrelation between the equivalent width of the fluorescence iron line and the luminosity of SgXBs.
Spectral shifting strongly constrains molecular cloud disruption by radiation pressure on dust
Authors: Reissl Stefan , Klessen Ralf S. , Mac Low Mordecai-Mark , Pellegrini Eric W.
Published: December 2017

Aim. We aim to test the hypothesis that radiation pressure from young star clusters acting on dust is the dominant feedback agent disrupting the largest star-forming molecular clouds and thus regulating the star-formation process.

Methods. We performed multi-frequency, 3D, radiative transfer calculations including both scattering and absorption and re-emission to longer wavelengths for model clouds with masses of 104–107 M⊙, containing embedded clusters with star formation efficiencies of 0.009–91%, and varying maximum grain sizes up to 200 μm. We calculated the ratio between radiative and gravitational forces to determine whether radiation pressure can disrupt clouds.

Results. We find that radiation pressure acting on dust almost never disrupts star-forming clouds. Ultraviolet and optical photons from young stars to which the cloud is optically thick do not scatter much. Instead, they quickly get absorbed and re-emitted by the dust at thermal wavelengths. As the cloud is typically optically thin to far-infrared radiation, it promptly escapes, depositing little momentum in the cloud. The resulting spectrum is more narrowly peaked than the corresponding Planck function, and exhibits an extended tail at longer wavelengths. As the opacity drops significantly across the sub-mm and mm wavelength regime, the resulting radiative force is even smaller than for the corresponding single-temperature blackbody. We find that the force from radiation pressure falls below the strength of gravitational attraction by an order of magnitude or more for either Milky Way or moderate starbust conditions. Only for unrealistically large maximum grain sizes, and star formation efficiencies far exceeding 50% do we find that the strength of radiation pressure can exceed gravity.

Conclusions. We conclude that radiation pressure acting on dust does not disrupt star-forming molecular clouds in any Local Group galaxies. Radiation pressure thus appears unlikely to regulate the star-formation process on either local or global scales.
ATLASGAL-selected massive clumps in the inner Galaxy
Authors: Tang X. D. , Henkel C. , Wyrowski F. , Giannetti A. , Menten K. M. , Csengeri T. , Leurini S. , Urquhart J. S. , König C. , Güsten R. , Lin Y. X. , Zheng X. W. , Esimbek J. , Zhou J. J.
Published: December 2017

Context. Formaldehyde (H2CO) is a reliable tracer to accurately measure the physical parameters of dense gas in star-forming regions.

Aim. We aim to determine directly the kinetic temperature and spatial density with formaldehyde for the ~100 brightest ATLASGAL-selected clumps (the TOP100 sample) at 870 μm representing various evolutionary stages of high-mass star formation.

Methods. Ten transitions (J = 3–2 and 4–3) of ortho- and para-H2CO near 211, 218, 225, and 291 GHz were observed with the Atacama Pathfinder EXperiment (APEX) 12 m telescope.

Results. Using non-LTE models with RADEX, we derived the gas kinetic temperature and spatial density with the measured para-H2CO 321–220/303–202, 422–321/404–303, and 404–303/303–202 ratios. The gas kinetic temperatures derived from the para-H2CO 321–220/303–202 and 422–321/404–303 line ratios are high, ranging from 43 to >300 K with an unweighted average of 91 ± 4 K. Deduced Tkin values from the J = 3–2 and 4–3 transitions are similar. Spatial densities of the gas derived from the para-H2CO 404–303/303–202 line ratios yield 0.6–8.3 × 106 cm−3 with an unweighted average of 1.5 (±0.1) × 106 cm−3. A comparison of kinetic temperatures derived from para-H2CO, NH3, and dust emission indicates that para-H2CO traces a distinctly higher temperature than the NH3 (2, 2)/(1, 1) transitions and the dust, tracing heated gas more directly associated with the star formation process. The H2CO line widths are found to be correlated with bolometric luminosity and increase with the evolutionary stage of the clumps, which suggests that higher luminosities tend to be associated with a more turbulent molecular medium. It seems that the spatial densities measured with H2CO do not vary significantly with the evolutionary stage of the clumps. However, averaged gas kinetic temperatures derived from H2CO increase with time through the evolution of the clumps. The high temperature of the gas traced by H2CO may be mainly caused by radiation from embedded young massive stars and the interaction of outflows with the ambient medium. For Lbol/Mclump ≳ 10 L⊙/M⊙, we find a rough correlation between gas kinetic temperature and this ratio, which is indicative of the evolutionary stage of the individual clumps. The strong relationship between H2CO line luminosities and clump masses is apparently linear during the late evolutionary stages of the clumps, indicating that LH_2CO does reliably trace the mass of warm dense molecular gas. In our massive clumps H2CO line luminosities are approximately linearly correlated with bolometric luminosities over about four orders of magnitude in Lbol, which suggests that the mass of dense molecular gas traced by the H2CO line luminosity is well correlated with star formation.
Synthesis and Characterization of Carboxylic Acids Bearing
Poly(ethylene glycol) Chains
Authors: Fujihara Tetsuaki , Tsuji Yasushi , Satou Motoi , Terao Jun
Published: December 2017

Carboxylic acids 1a and 1b bearing three poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chains and carboxylic acid 1c bearing one PEG chain were designed and synthesized. The carboxylic acids 1a–c were fully characterized by NMR and ESI-HRMS analyses. In a Pd-catalyzed aerobic oxidation of 1-phenylethanol, 1a and 1b worked well as carboxylate ligands.
Architektonische Belange einer nuklearmedizinischen Praxis
Authors: Knoop Anja
Published: December 2017

Die Grundlage einer gut laufenden Praxis ist eine solide Planung – hier mit dem Schwerpunkt der Architektur. Ob die Praxis neugegründet wird oder bereits besteht, ist weniger relevant. Wichtiger ist, dass zu Beginn der Planung klare Ziele und Vorgehensweisen definiert werden. Diese beinhalten neben der Festlegung zur internen Praxisaufstellung u. a. das Raumprogramm und die Beschaffenheit der vorgesehenen Räume. Aber auch Vorschriften und Richtlinien müssen beachtet werden sowie die richtige mediale Positionierung.

Diese Komplexität bedarf einer professionellen Steuerung durch Architekten. Sie stehen Ihnen zur Seite und führen Sie zu einer zukunftsfähig aufgestellten Praxis.
Strukturierte Befundung in der Nuklearmedizin
Authors: Froelich Matthias , Dresel Stefan , Todica Andrei , Sommer Wieland
Published: December 2017

Der medizinische Befundbericht als zentrales Kommunikationsmittel zwischen Ärzten wird traditionell als Freitext formuliert. Im Rahmen der zunehmenden strukturiert geplanten Abläufe in der Medizin (z. B. SOP-Entwicklungen, grundsätzliche Therapieentscheidungen in Tumorboards) wird die Praxis der Freitextbefundung durch Initiativen zur strukturierten Befundung in Frage gestellt.

Als Hauptargumente für eine zunehmende Befundstrukturierung werden Vollständigkeit, linguistische Qualität, Überweiserzufriedenheit, inhaltliche Struktur, bessere Wahrnehmbarkeit der wichtigen Befundergebnisse und daraus folgend bessere klinische Therapieentscheidungen angeführt. Zusätzlich ergeben sich deutliche Verbesserungen in Bezug auf die gesamte klinische Arbeitskette. Demgegenüber stehen Bedenken in Bezug auf Effizienz und Individualisierbarkeit und es zeigen sich gerade bei erfahrenen Befundern Hürden hinsichtlich der Anpassung an vorgegebene Befundstrukturen.

Moderne, computergestützte Systeme zur strukturierten Befundung haben das Potenzial die Vorteile strukturierter Befunde bei Erhaltung von Individualisierbarkeit und Arbeitseffizienz zu realisieren.
Wirkungen des Presssaftes aus Artischockenblütenknospen beim metabolischen Syndrom
Authors: Wegener Tankred , Melzig Matthias , Görne Rainer
Published: December 2017

Die Wirkungen der Artischocke (Extrakte, Presssaft aus Artischockenblütenknospen, isolierte Einzelstoffe bzw. Fraktionen) auf die metabolische Stoffwechselleistung der Leber sind in experimentellen und klinischen Studien belegt. Nachdem in vitro eine ausgeprägte Hemmung der α-Amylase gemessen wurde, zeigte sich in Bestätigung einer früheren Untersuchung an gesunden Probanden auch in einem Individualversuch bei 6 Typ-2-Diabetikern eine Senkung der postprandialen Blutzuckerspiegel nach der Gabe des Presssaftes, der ein traditionelles pflanzliches Arzneimittel ist, vor Verzehr einer auf Kohlenhydrate standardisierten Testmahlzeit. Im Rahmen einer nicht-interventionellen Studie, in der dieser Presssaft bei Diabetikern mit Verdauungsbeschwerden (leichte Verdauungsbeschwerden sind die traditionelle Indikation) angewandt wurde, zeigte sich bei 52 Patienten nach 12 Wochen neben der Verbesserung der Symptomatik eine hochsignifikante Senkung des Nüchternblutzuckers um 8 % und des glykosylierten Hämoglobins um 5 %. Die Ergebnisse der insgesamt vorliegenden Daten zeigen, dass die Anwendung des Presssaftes aus der Artischocke auch bei Patienten mit Diabetes von Nutzen sein kann, was im kontrollierten Studiendesign zu verifizieren wäre.
„Java-Tee“ (Orthosiphon) reduziert Übergewicht und hohe Lipidwerte
Authors: Andres Ulrike
Published: December 2017

Übergewicht hat längst epidemische Ausmaße angenommen und betrifft in industrialisierten Ländern mittlerweile 65 % der Bevölkerung. Hintergrund der Erkrankung ist das chronische Missverhältnis zwischen Energieaufnahme und -verbrauch. Medikamentöse Ansätze drehen sich v. a. um die Resorption bzw. Verwertung der Nahrungsfette. Die anfängliche Euphorie bezüglich der Lipasehemmer wie Orlistat hat sich jedoch wegen deren Nebenwirkungsprofil wieder gelegt, sodass weiterhin nach effektiven und sicheren Hemmern der Darmlipasen gesucht wird – synthetisch hergestellt oder aus natürlichen Quellen. Ist Java-Tee ein Kandidat?
Kommunikation: Risiken und Nebenwirkungen
Authors: Freudenberg Lutz , Christen Roland , Henke Uwe
Published: December 2017

Die immer komplexeren Strukturen im Gesundheitswesen erfordern neben der medizinischen Kompetenz auch eine hohe kommunikative Wachsamkeit.

Ziel dieses Artikels ist es, grundsätzliche Kommunikationsmodelle zu erläutern und ein Modell darzustellen, das die Mechanismen von Konflikten erklärt. Das Wissen um diese Modelle schützt uns zwar nicht vor Kommunikationsproblemen und Konflikten, aber es erleichtert die Reflexion und damit oft auch die Lösung der Situation.
Bodycontouring durch Kryolipolyse – Forschung und Praxis
Authors: Hauenstein E.
Published: December 2017

Kryolipolyse ist ein nicht invasives körperformendes Verfahren zur Reduktion lokaler diät-und trainingsresistenter subkutaner Fettpolster durch zeitlich und räumlich umschriebene kontrollierte Kälteeinwirkung. Pathophysiologisches Wirkprinzip ist die Apoptose, der durch die Kälte ausgelöste programmierte Zelltod. Kryolipolyse ist eine vielversprechende nicht invasive Methode zur Körperformung und damit eine Alternative zur Liposuktion und anderen deutlich invasiveren Methoden. Die Kryolipolyse ist zwar risikoarm, aber keineswegs risikolos. Neben tiefgreifenden Gewebeveränderungen mit Einfluss auf Autoimmunprozesse sind Komplikationen z. B. bei internistischen/allgemeinärztlichen Krankheitsbildern zu beachten.
Evidenz und Tradition am Beispiel der Phytopharmaka
Authors: Jütte Robert , Heinrich Michael , Helmstädter Axel , Langhorst Jost , Günter Meng , Niebling Wilhelm , Pommerening Tanja , Trampisch Hans
Published: December 2017

Hintergrund: Neben voll zugelassenen Phytopharmaka gibt es auch Produkte auf dem europäischen Arzneimittelmarkt, die auf Basis langjähriger Anwendung als traditionelle Arzneimittel registriert sind. Diese fallen durch das Raster des normalen Zulassungsverfahrens, weil sie den Wirksamkeitsnachweis, wie er zur Vollzulassung gesetzlich aufgrund einer EU-Richtlinie vorgeschrieben ist, derzeit nicht erbracht haben. Zur Zulassung ist unter anderem ein Traditionsnachweis erforderlich, der bislang unterschiedlich gehandhabt wird und nicht den erforderlichen Good Practice-Kriterien entspricht.

Methode: Selektive Literaturrecherche in PubMed und medizin- und pharmaziehistorischen Datenbanken, Befragung von mit der Zulassung befassten Experten, Konsensuskonferenz mit Teilnehmern aus Allgemeinmedizin, Phytotherapie, Medizingeschichte, Pharmaziegeschichte, Biometrie, Ethnopharmakologie und Pharmazeutischer Industrie.

Ergebnisse: Die derzeit für die Zulassung traditioneller pflanzlicher Arzneimittel geltende EU-Richtlinie aus dem Jahr 2004, in der ein Traditionsnachweis gefordert wird, ist ein regulatorisches Konstrukt und vor allem das Ergebnis eines politischen Prozesses, der zu einem pragmatischen Kompromiss führte. In dieser Richtlinie wird ein Traditionsbegriff verwendet, der den Bedeutungsumfang dieses Terminus nicht hinreichend reflektiert. Maßstab ist einzig das 30-jährige Vorhandensein eines definierten Handelspräparates auf dem Markt (davon 15 Jahre in der EU). Damit wird der wissenschaftliche Gehalt in Hinblick auf die verfügbare Evidenz nicht ausgeschöpft, da sich aus richtig aufbereiteten Informationen aus historischen Quellen wertvolle Erkenntnisse gewinnen lassen, die bislang ungenutzt bleiben. Dies gilt für Indikationen, Anwendungsmodalitäten und Effektivität ebenso wie für Aspekte der Anwendungssicherheit (‚Unschädlichkeit‘), die vollumfänglich in die Nutzen-Risiko-Bewertung angewandter Präparate im Registrierungsverfahren, aber auch in der therapeutischen Praxis einfließen sollten.

Schlussfolgerung: Um das Kriterium einer evidenzbasierten Medizin zu erfüllen, ist es bei der Zulassung traditioneller pflanzlicher Heilmittel unabdingbar, über die formal-regulatorischen Vorgaben (30 Jahre, Produktbezug) hinaus alle zur Verfügung stehenden Fakten zu erfassen und zu bewerten. Dazu ist die jeweilige anerkannte wissenschaftliche Methodik (aus den Natur-, Lebens- und Geisteswissenschaften) anzuwenden.
Andrographis paniculata: Kurzzeitige Mehrfachdosierung ist sicher
Authors: Andres Ulrike
Published: December 2017

Obwohl Kalmegh eine traditionelle Heilpflanze ist, fehlen bisher Untersuchungen über mögliche Veränderungen klinischer Parameter während der Einnahme. Zehn gesunde Probanden lieferten nun entsprechende Daten.
Fritz Kemper und die wissenschaftliche Phytotherapie
Authors: Steinhoff Barbara
Published: December 2017

Am 13. Oktober 2017 veranstaltete die GPT im historischen Hörsaal des Anatomischen Institutes der Universität Bonn ein Ehrensymposium für ihren langjährigen Präsidenten (1992 bis 2008) und späteren Ehrenpräsidenten Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Fritz H. Kemper, der am 28. März 2017 im Alter von 90 Jahren verstorben war. Freunde und Weggefährten ließen in ihren Beiträgen sein Wirken und seine Verdienste lebendig werden.
Recent Progresses in Breast Reconstruction: Stem Cells, Biomaterials, and Growth Factors
Authors: Zarei Farshad , Daraee Hadis
Published: December 2017

Breast cancer is one of the most deadly tumors in women, and new procedures for post- surgical breast reconstruction have been developed which includes autologous stromal vascular fraction (SVF), platelet-derived growth factors, biomaterials and various stem cells. Adipose derived-stem cells (ASCs) has been reported to be one of the most widely used stem cell for breast reconstruction because of their ability to form new functional adipose tissue and vessels and in combination with stromal vascular fraction has been also reported efficient for breast reconstruction. Biomaterials include acellular dermal matrix, bone substitutes, and injectable have also been reported to be applicable for several clinical applications, including breast reconstruction surgery. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to explicitly define methodological procedures and to confirm the safety of all theses procedures during post-surgical breast reconstruction. The purpose of this mini-review is to summarize various recent and old applications of stem cells, biomaterials as well as growth factors in breast reconstruction.
Primary Aldosteronism and Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Is This A Bidirectional Relationship?
Authors: Prejbisz Aleksander , Kołodziejczyk-Kruk Sylwia , Lenders Jacques , Januszewicz Andrzej
Published: December 2017

It has been suggested that the high prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in resistant hypertension (RHT) may be related to the high prevalence of primary aldosteronism (PA) in patients with RHT. It has been also hypothesized that the relationship between aldosterone and OSA might be bidirectional. In patients with RHT, it has been shown that aldosterone levels correlate with severity of OSA and that blockade of aldosterone reduces the severity of OSA. It has been postulated that aldosterone worsens OSA by promoting accumulation of fluid, which shifted in the supine position to the neck, contributes to increased upper airway resistance. Also there is growing data that PA is more frequent in patients with OSA and that the treatment of PA positively influences OSA course. Also in some studies it has been shown that patients with OSA are characterized by higher aldosterone levels and higher prevalence of PA than patients without OSA and that causal treatment of OSA might decrease aldosterone levels. Moreover, the recent guideline of the Endocrine Society on management of PA recommends to screen hypertensive patients with OSA for PA.
In Vitro Anti-inflammatory Effects of Equisetum arvense Are Not Solely Mediated by Silica
Authors: Steinborn Carmen , Potterat Olivier , Meyer Ulrich , Trittler Rainer , Stadlbauer Sven , Huber Roman , Gründemann Carsten
Published: December 2017

Equisetum arvense, known as common horsetail, is used for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and is the plant with the highest concentration of silica. Yet it is unknown if the medicinal properties are mediated by its silica content. In the current study, optimal conditions for silica-rich horsetail preparations were identified. Bioactivity of the preparations was analyzed in vitro using flow cytometry-based activity and functionality profiling of primary human lymphocytes as well as cytokine measurement using a classical ELISA technique. Experiments revealed that horsetail preparations suppress activation and proliferation of lymphocytes by an interleukin-2-dependent mechanism. The effect increased with the silica concentration in the decoctions. Lymphocytesʼ polyfunctionality was also influenced, shown by a downregulation of IFN-γ. Analytical profiling by HPLC-UV-MS and bioactivity testing revealed relevant immunosuppressive concentrations of a component that has been identified as isoquercitrin. Our results show that both silica and isoquercitrin are active compounds of horsetail preparations.
A Simple and Rapid UPLC-PDA Method for Quality Control of Nardostachys jatamansi
Authors: Zhang Weize , Nan Guo , Wu Hong-Hua , Jiang Miaomiao , Li Tian-Xiang , Wang Meng , Gao Xiu-Mei , Zhu Yan , Song Yun , Wang Jiaming , Xu Yan-Tong
Published: December 2017

Nardostachys jatamansi is a well-documented herbal agent used to treat digestive and neuropsychiatric disorders in oriental medicinal systems. However, few simple, rapid, and comprehensive methods were reported for quality assessment and control of N. jatamansi. Herein, a UPLC with photodiode array detection method was developed for both fingerprint investigation of N. jatamansi and simultaneous quantitative analysis of the six serotonin transporter modulatory constituents in N. jatamansi. For chromatographic fingerprinting, 24 common peaks were selected as characteristic peaks to assess the consistency of N. jatamansi samples from different retail sources. Six of the common peaks (5, 7, 12, and 16 – 18) were identified as desoxo-narchinol A, buddleoside, isonardosinone, nardosinone, kanshone H, and (−)-aristolone, respectively, by phytochemical investigation. Five of the six compounds significantly either enhanced or inhibited serotonin transporter activity, while (−)-aristolone (18) didnʼt show any serotonin transporter activity. In quantitative analysis, the six compounds showed good linearity (r > 0.999) within test ranges. The precision, expressed as relative standard deviation, was in the range of 0.25 – 2.77%, and the recovery of the method was in the range of 92 – 105%. The UPLC-photodiode array detection-based fingerprint analysis and quantitative methods reported here could be used for routine quality control of N. jatamansi.
Water-anion hydrogen bonding dynamics: Ultrafast IR experiments and simulations
Authors: Yamada Steven A. , Thompson Ward H. , Fayer Michael D.
Published: December 2017

Many of water’s remarkable properties arise from its tendency to form an intricate and robust hydrogen bond network. Understanding the dynamics that govern this network is fundamental to elucidating the behavior of pure water and water in biological and physical systems. In ultrafast nonlinear infrared experiments, the accessible time scales are limited by water’s rapid vibrational relaxation (1.8 ps for dilute HOD in H2O), precluding interrogation of slow hydrogen bond evolution in non-bulk systems. Here, hydrogen bonding dynamics in bulk D2O were studied from the perspective of the much longer lived (36.2 ps) CN stretch mode of selenocyanate (SeCN−) using polarization selective pump-probe (PSPP) experiments, two-dimensional infrared (2D IR) vibrational echo spectroscopy, and molecular dynamics simulations. The simulations make use of the empirical frequency mapping approach, applied to SeCN− for the first time. The PSPP experiments and simulations show that the orientational correlation function decays via fast (2.0 ps) restricted angular diffusion (wobbling-in-a-cone) and complete orientational diffusive randomization (4.5 ps). Spectral diffusion, quantified in terms of the frequency-frequency correlation function, occurs on two time scales. The initial 0.6 ps time scale is attributed to small length and angle fluctuations of the hydrogen bonds between water and SeCN−. The second 1.4 ps measured time scale, identical to that for HOD in bulk D2O, reports on the collective reorganization of the water hydrogen bond network around the anion. The experiments and simulations provide details of the anion-water hydrogen bonding and demonstrate that SeCN− is a reliable vibrational probe of the ultrafast spectroscopy of water.
Doping induced enhanced density of states in bismuth telluride
Authors: Narendra Namita , Norouzzadeh Payam , Vashaee Daryoosh , Kim Ki Wook
Published: December 2017

Power factor enhancement through resonant doping is explored in Bi2Te3 based on a detailed first-principles study. Of the dopant atoms investigated, it is found that the formation of resonant states may be achieved with In, Po, and Na, leading potentially to a significant increase in the thermoelectric efficiency at room temperature. While doping with Po forms twin resonant state peaks in the valence and conduction bands, the incorporation of Na or In results in the resonant states close to the valence band edge. Further analysis reveals the origin of these resonant states. Transport calculations are also carried out to estimate the anticipated level of enhancement.
Low temperature fabrication of CuxO thin-film transistors and investigation on the origin of low field effect mobility
Authors: Shijeesh M. R. , Jayaraj M. K.
Published: December 2017

Cuprous (Cu2O) and cupric (CuO) oxide thin films have been deposited by radio frequency magnetron sputtering with two different oxygen partial pressures. The as-deposited copper oxide films were subjected to post-annealing at 300 °C for 30 min to improve the microstructural, morphological, and optical properties of thin films. Optical absorption studies revealed the existence of a large number of subgap states inside CuO films than Cu2O films. Cu2O and CuO thin film transistors (TFTs) were fabricated in an inverted staggered structure by using a post-annealed channel layer. The field effect mobility values of Cu2O and CuO TFTs were 5.20 × 10−4 cm2 V−1 s−1 and 2.33 × 10−4 cm2 V−1 s−1, respectively. The poor values of subthreshold swing, threshold voltage, and field effect mobility of the TFTs were due to the charge trap density at the copper oxide/dielectric interface as well as defect induced trap states originated from the oxygen vacancies inside the bulk copper oxide. In order to study the distribution of the trap states in the Cu2O and CuO active layer, the temperature dependent transfer characteristics of transistors in the temperature range between 310 K and 340 K were studied. The observed subgap states were found to be decreasing exponentially inside the bandgap, with CuO TFT showing higher subgap states than Cu2O TFT. The high-density hole trap states in the CuO channel are one of the plausible reasons for the lower mobility in CuO TFT than in Cu2O TFT. The origin of these subgap states was attributed to the impurities or oxygen vacancies present in the CuO channel layer.
Island dynamics and anisotropy during vapor phase epitaxy of m-plane GaN
Authors: Perret Edith , Xu Dongwei , Highland M. J. , Stephenson G. B. , Zapol P. , Fuoss P. H. , Munkholm A. , Thompson Carol
Published: December 2017

Using in situ grazing-incidence x-ray scattering, we have measured the diffuse scattering from islands that form during layer-by-layer growth of GaN by metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy on the (101¯0) m-plane surface. The diffuse scattering is extended in the (0001) in-plane direction in reciprocal space, indicating a strong anisotropy with islands elongated along [12¯10] and closely spaced along [0001]. This is confirmed by atomic force microscopy of a quenched sample. Islands were characterized as a function of growth rate F and temperature. The island spacing along [0001] observed during the growth of the first monolayer obeys a power-law dependence on growth rate F−n, with an exponent n=0.25±0.02. The results are in agreement with recent kinetic Monte Carlo simulations, indicating that elongated islands result from the dominant anisotropy in step edge energy and not from surface diffusion anisotropy. The observed power-law exponent can be explained using a simple steady-state model, which gives n = 1/4.
Polariton condensation in S- and P-flatbands in a two-dimensional Lieb lattice
Authors: Klembt S. , Harder T. H. , Egorov O. A. , Winkler K. , Suchomel H. , Beierlein J. , Emmerling M. , Schneider C. , Höfling S.
Published: December 2017

We study the condensation of exciton-polaritons in a two-dimensional Lieb lattice of micropillars. We show selective polariton condensation into the flatbands formed by S and Px,y orbital modes of the micropillars under non-resonant laser excitation. The real space mode patterns of these condensates are accurately reproduced by the calculation of related Bloch modes of S- and P-flatbands. Our work emphasizes the potential of exciton-polariton lattices in emulating Hamiltonians of advanced potential landscapes. Furthermore, the obtained results provide a deeper insight into the physics of flatbands known mostly within the tight-binding limit.
Upgrade of the Mirnov probe arrays on the J-TEXT tokamak
Authors: Guo Daojing , Hu Qiming , Li Da , Shen Chengshuo , Wang Nengchao , Huang Zhuo , Huang Mingxiang , Ding Yonghua , Xu Guo , Yu Qingquan , Tang Yuejin , Zhuang Ge
Published: December 2017

The magnetic diagnostic of Mirnov probe arrays has been upgraded on the J-TEXT tokamak to measure the magnetohydrodynamic instabilities with higher spatial resolution and better amplitude-frequency characteristics. The upgraded Mirnov probe array contains one poloidal array with 48 probe modules and two toroidal arrays with 25 probe modules. Each probe module contains two probes which measure both the poloidal and the radial magnetic fields (Bp and Br). To ensure that the Mirnov probe possess better amplitude-frequency characteristics, a novel kind of Mirnov probe made of low temperature co-fired ceramics is utilized. The parameters and frequency response of the probe are measured and can meet the experiment requirement. The new Mirnov arrays have been normally applied for a round of experiments, including the observation of tearing modes and their coupling as well as high frequency magnetic perturbation due to the Alfvén eigenmode. In order to extract useful information from raw signals, visualization processing methods based on singular value decomposition and cross-power spectrum are applied to decompose the coupled modes and to determine the mode number.
Manipulation of acoustic transmission by zero-index metamaterial with rectangular defect
Authors: Ji Wen-Qian , Wei Qi , Zhu Xing-Feng , Wu Da-Jian , Liu Xiao-Jun
Published: December 2017

Acoustic zero-index metamaterials (ZIMs) with extremely large phase velocity can be used to manipulate the acoustic transmission by introducing various kinds of defects. However, previous works are based on ideal effective zero-index materials and are restricted to cylindrical defects to predigest the model complexity, which may hamper the practical applications. Here, we theoretically and numerically investigate the acoustic transmission through a ZIM waveguide structure embedded with a rectangular defect. The consistent results demonstrate that the total reflection, total transmission, and cloaking effect can be achieved by introducing suitable rectangular defect into the ideal ZIM. Moreover, the labyrinthine metamaterial, whose effective mass density and reciprocal modulus are simultaneously near zero in a certain frequency region, is further employed to implement a practical ZIM. Numerical simulations show that the transmission amplitude of the labyrinthine ZIM waveguide can cover an entire range of [0, 1] by tailoring the acoustic parameters of the rectangular defect, resulting in the similar intriguing transmission properties obtained with the ideal ZIM. This work provides a systematical study in manipulating acoustic wave propagation through labyrinthine ZIM with rectangular defect in addition to the widely studied cylindrical defects.
Hybrid density functional study of bandgaps for 27 new proposed half-Heusler semiconductors
Authors: Shi Fangyi , Si M. S. , Xie Jiafeng , Mi Kui , Xiao Chuntao , Luo Qiangjun
Published: December 2017

Recently, 27 new half-Heusler compounds XYZ (X = Co, Rh, Fe, Ru, Ni; Y = Sc, Ti, V; Z = P, As, Sb, Si, Ge, Sn, Al, Ga, In) with 18 valence electrons are proposed and their bandgaps span a wide range of 0.10–1.39 eV, which have a great potential of applications in varied areas. Note that the bandgaps are predicted on the gradient-corrected Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof functional, which underestimates the magnitude of bandgap. To obtain the accurate bandgaps, we recalculate them based on the Heyd-Scuseria-Ernzerhof (HSE06) hybrid functional. Our results show that the nonlocal correction from the HSE06 functional mainly acts on the two lowest conduction bands. The variation in energy separation between these two bands dominates the relative increment of bandgap. More importantly, the band ordering is distinguished in the presence of HSE06 functional, where the dz2 orbital exhibits. When the lattice constant varies, such a band ordering can be inverted, similar to the case of topological insulators. In addition, we find an abnormal behavior of the bandgap related to the Pauling electronegativity difference between the X- and Z-sites, which arises from the delocalization of charge on the Y-site. We expect that our work can provide guidance to the study of bandgap based on the hybrid density functional theory in the half-Heusler semiconductors.
Oxygen vibrational modes in ZnS1−xOx alloys
Authors: Huso Jesse , Ritter Jacob R. , Thapa Dinesh , Yu Kin Man , Bergman Leah , McCluskey Matthew D.
Published: December 2017

ZnS1−xOx alloy films were studied via resonant Raman spectroscopy. Films with a low oxygen content exhibit ZnS longitudinal optical modes and additional modes attributed to O local vibrational modes (LVMs). The frequencies of these modes are explained by a simple mass-defect model. As the O content increases, pairs and larger clusters form, causing the O mode to transition from an LVM to a delocalized phonon. The composition dependence of the modes shows agreement with the modified random element isodisplacement model. Low-temperature measurements show that the O-related mode is composed of multiple features, attributed to zincblende and wurtzite structural regions.
Inverse generators in the algebraic description of quantum confined systems: Properties and connections with nonlinear quantum deformation process and phase operators
Authors: Aleixo A. N. F. , Balantekin A. B.
Published: December 2017

We introduce, via their action on the eigenstate basis, the inverse or the one-sided inverse of the algebraic generators for a class of important potentials used to model quantum confined systems in several fields of physics. We obtain the complete algebraic formulation of the systems with the inclusion of the inverse generators. We establish the relations of this complete algebraic approach with the nonlinear quantum deformation approach and the generalization of the phase operators’ definition for these systems. We outline extensions for all the results obtained in this study for the case of the two-parameter quantum deformed systems which preserves the algebraic nature of the undeformed systems.
An isocenter estimation tool for proton gantry alignment
Authors: Hansen Peter , Hu Dongming
Published: December 2017

A novel tool has been developed to automate the process of locating the isocenter, center of rotation, and sphere of confusion of a proton therapy gantry. The tool uses a Radian laser tracker to estimate how the coordinate frame of the front-end beam-line components changes as the gantry rotates. The coordinate frames serve as an empirical model of gantry flexing. Using this model, the alignment of the front and back-end beam-line components can be chosen to minimize the sphere of confusion, improving the overall beam positioning accuracy of the gantry. This alignment can be performed without the beam active, improving the efficiency of installing new systems at customer sites.
Cubic crystalline erbium oxide growth on GaN(0001) by atomic layer deposition
Authors: Chen Pei-Yu , Posadas Agham B. , Kwon Sunah , Wang Qingxiao , Kim Moon J. , Demkov Alexander A. , Ekerdt John G.
Published: December 2017

Growth of crystalline Er2O3, a rare earth sesquioxide, on GaN(0001) is described. Ex situ HCl and NH4OH solutions and an in situ N2 plasma are used to remove impurities on the GaN surface and result in a Ga/N stoichiometry of 1.02. Using atomic layer deposition with erbium tris(isopropylcyclopentadienyl) [Er(iPrCp)3] and water, crystalline cubic Er2O3 (C-Er2O3) is grown on GaN at 250 °C. The orientation relationships between the C-Er2O3 film and the GaN substrate are C-Er2O3(222) ǁ GaN(0001), C-Er2O3⟨-440⟩ ǁ GaN ⟨11-20⟩, and C-Er2O3⟨-211⟩ ǁ GaN ⟨1-100⟩. Scanning transmission electron microscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy are used to examine the microstructure of C-Er2O3 and its interface with GaN. With post-deposition annealing at 600 °C, a thicker interfacial layer is observed, and two transition layers, crystalline GaNwOz and crystalline GaErxOy, are found between GaN and C-Er2O3. The tensile strain in the C-Er2O3 film is studied with x-ray diffraction by changes in both out-of-plane and in-plane d-spacing. Fully relaxed C-Er2O3 films on GaN are obtained when the film thickness is around 13 nm. Additionally, a valence band offset of 0.7 eV and a conduction band offset of 1.2 eV are obtained using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.
Ion implantation for deterministic single atom devices
Authors: Pacheco J. L. , Singh M. , Perry D. L. , Wendt J. R. , Ten Eyck G. , Manginell R. P. , Pluym T. , Luhman D. R. , Lilly M. P. , Carroll M. S. , Bielejec E.
Published: December 2017

We demonstrate a capability of deterministic doping at the single atom level using a combination of direct write focused ion beam and solid-state ion detectors. The focused ion beam system can position a single ion to within 35 nm of a targeted location and the detection system is sensitive to single low energy heavy ions. This platform can be used to deterministically fabricate single atom devices in materials where the nanostructure and ion detectors can be integrated, including donor-based qubits in Si and color centers in diamond.
Analytical energy gradients for explicitly correlated wave functions. I. Explicitly correlated second-order Møller-Plesset perturbation theory
Authors: Győrffy Werner , Knizia Gerald , Werner Hans-Joachim
Published: December 2017

We present the theory and algorithms for computing analytical energy gradients for explicitly correlated second-order Møller–Plesset perturbation theory (MP2-F12). The main difficulty in F12 gradient theory arises from the large number of two-electron integrals for which effective two-body density matrices and integral derivatives need to be calculated. For efficiency, the density fitting approximation is used for evaluating all two-electron integrals and their derivatives. The accuracies of various previously proposed MP2-F12 approximations [3C, 3C(HY1), 3*C(HY1), and 3*A] are demonstrated by computing equilibrium geometries for a set of molecules containing first- and second-row elements, using double-ζ to quintuple-ζ basis sets. Generally, the convergence of the bond lengths and angles with respect to the basis set size is strongly improved by the F12 treatment, and augmented triple-ζ basis sets are sufficient to closely approach the basis set limit. The results obtained with the different approximations differ only very slightly. This paper is the first step towards analytical gradients for coupled-cluster singles and doubles with perturbative treatment of triple excitations, which will be presented in the second part of this series.
Field-assisted Shockley-Read-Hall recombinations in III-nitride quantum wells
Authors: David Aurelien , Hurni Christophe A. , Young Nathan G. , Craven Michael D.
Published: December 2017

The physical process driving low-current non-radiative recombinations in high-quality III-nitride quantum wells is investigated. Lifetime measurements reveal that these recombinations scale with the overlap of the electron and hole wavefunctions and show a weak temperature dependence, in contrast to common empirical expectations for Shockley-Read-Hall recombinations. A model of field-assisted multiphonon point defect recombination in quantum wells is introduced and shown to quantitatively explain the data. This study clarifies how III-nitride LEDs can achieve high efficiency despite the presence of strong polarization fields.
Acoustic metamaterials with synergetic coupling
Authors: Ma Fuyin , Huang Meng , Wu Jiu Hui
Published: December 2017

In this paper, we propose a general design concept for acoustic metamaterials that introduces a ubiquitous synergetic behavior into the design procedure, in which the structure of the design is driven by its functional requirements. Since the physical properties of the widely used, resonant-type metamaterials are mainly determined by the eigenmodes of the structure, we first introduce the design concept through the modal displacement distributions on two typical plate-type structures. Next, by employing broadband sound attenuations that involve both the insulation and absorption as the typical targets, two synergetic coupling behaviors are systematically revealed among the dense resonant modes and multi-cell. Furthermore, through plate-type multiple-cell structures assembled from nine oscillators, the design is shown to realize strong broadband attenuations with either the average sound transmission loss (STL) below 2000 Hz higher than 40 dB or the absorption approximately 0.99 in the range of 400–700 Hz wherein the average absorption below 800 Hz remains higher than 0.8. Finally, two multi-cell plate-type samples are fabricated and then used experimentally to measure the STLs in support of the proposed synergetic coupling design method. Both the computational and experimental results demonstrate that the proposed synergetic design concept could effectively initiate a design for metamaterials that offer a new degree of freedom for broadband sound attenuations.