bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Absorption Mechanism of Cyclosporine A Loaded pH-Sensitive Nanoparticles in Rats
Authors: Wang Xue-Qing , Dai Jun-Dong , Zhang Hua , Zhang Xuan , Wang Jian-Cheng , Zhang Qiang
Published: April 2020

CyA was prepared into CyA Eudragit S100 nanoparticles (CyA-S100 NP) and the mechanisms of CyA-S100 NP improving the CyA absorption in gastrointestinal tract (GI) were studied systematically in rats. In the GI distribution study, the emptying rates of CyA-S100 NP in duodenum, jejunum,
ileum and colon were all lower than these of Neoral®, while in stomach, it was larger than that of Neoral®. In in situ recirculating intestine perfusion experiment, the largest absorption in CyA-S100 NP group occurred in ileum while that in Neoral®
group arised in duodenum. The sequence of (AUC0–240 min/A for CyA-S100 NP and Neoral® group was ileum > duodenum > jejunum > colon and duodenum > jejunum > ileum > colon, respectively. CyA in nanoparticles degradated by luminal contents
and subcellular fractions were more slowly than these in Neoral®, suggesting the significant protect effect of nanoparticles. Mucoadhesion study in small intestine showed that among all the parts of intestine, CyA-S100 NP exhibited larger mucoadhesive characteristics than Neoral®
microemulsion. The sequence of mucoadhesion for CyA-S100 NP group was duodenum > ileum > jejunum and colon, while that for Neoral® group was duodenum > ileum, jejunum and colon, suggesting different site-specific behaves. These results illustrated that nanoparticles
increased the absorption of CyA could be attributed to fast stomach empting rate, absorption site specific, small degradation rate by luminal contents, high bioadhension of nanoparticles to intestine mucosa and the use of P-Glycoprotein inhibitor if there is any. This investigation is helpful
for the dosage form design for other peptide or protein drugs.
Functionalisation of Glass with Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Produced by Laser Pyrolysis
Authors: de Castro V. , Benito G. , Hurst S. , Cebollada F. , Serna C. J. , Morales M. P. , Veintemillas-Verdaguer S.
Published: April 2020

In the present work, a new process for depositing nanoparticle layers onto glass has been developed by using one of the most interesting nanoparticle generation technologies at the moment, which is based on the pyrolysis induced by laser of vapours combined with CVD of the particles
onto glass. Nanoparticles prepared by this method were deposited into a hot silica substrate obtaining new nanocomposites with unique properties. The coated glasses present new specific functionalities such as colour, and interesting magnetic and optical properties. Control of the thickness
and the iron oxide phase, either magnetic or not, has been achieved by adjusting the experimental conditions. Thus, thickness is controlled by the glass and the precursor temperature, while the iron phase is controlled by the precursor temperature and the nature and the flow of the carrier
gas. This process is inexpensive, adaptable to current glass production technologies and takes place at atmospheric pressure.
Effect of Ta Nanobarrier in Magnetron Sputtering of Nd-Doped SrBi2Ta2O9 Thin Films
Authors: Li Yibin , Zhang Sam , Sritharan Thirumany , Li Xiaomin , Liu Yang , Chen T. P.
Published: April 2020

SrBi2Ta2O9 (SBT) is a bismuth layered perovskite with attractive ferroelectric properties for random access memory applications. Our previous studies showed that Nd-doped SBT (SNBT) thin films exhibited an improved remnant polarization and reduced coercivity.
This paper concentrates on the effect of Ta nanobarrier in between the SNBT and the Pt layers. Without the nanobarrier, severe bismuth diffusion is revealed by the secondary ion mass spectroscopy. However, with a nano layer (up to 2 nm) of Ta metal, the interfacial diffusion is effectively
suppressed even at 800 °C. Details of the composition profiling, film crystallinity and remnant polarization are discussed in view of the nanobarrier thickness.
Effects of Process Conditions on the Synthesis and Microstructure of Nano-Scale Metal-Containing Amorphous Carbon Thin Films
Authors: Wu Wan-Yu , Ting Jyh-Ming
Published: April 2020

Thin films of metal-containing amorphous carbon (a-C:Me) were deposited on a number of substrates, including silicon, Pt coated silicon, carbon coated silicon, polymer, and glass. The deposition was performed in a dc reactive sputter deposition system equipped with one single magnetron
gun. The gases used were various mixtures of CH4 + Ar. The gas mixture was admitted to the deposition chamber at constant flow rate and ratio. Self-assembled alternating layer structure was observed under certain deposition conditions. Correlation between the self-assembled alternating
layer structure and deposition parameters is presented and discussed. The role of carbon energy in the segregation of metal and carbon to form the layer structure is addressed.
Synthesis of Calcium Carbonate-Polyethylene Oxide Hybrid Nanofibers Through In-Situ Electrospinning
Authors: Faridi-Majidi Reza , Sharifi-Sanjani Naser , Madani Mohammad
Published: April 2020

In this work, calcium carbonate nanoparticles-polyethylene oxide nanofibers as organic–inorganic hybrid were prepared via in-situ electrospinning. Thus, electrospinning of polyethylene oxide solution saturated with calcium hydroxide was carried out in gaseous carbon dioxide
atmosphere. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that calcium carbonate (CaCO3) nanoparticles were formed on the produced nanofibers of 200–300 nm in diameter. The existence of the formed CaCO3 was also proved by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) via loss
of gaseous CO2 related to the decomposition of CaCO3 at about 500–840 °C. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of the nanofibers showed that the formed CaCO3 nanoparticles have vaterite morphology. DSC analysis was used to determine melting point and
to calculate the crystallinity of the produced hybrid nanofibers. The TEM, TGA, XRD and DSC analyses results of the obtained nanofibers were compared with those of the nanofibers produced in electrospinning of pure polyethylene oxide solution and polyethylene oxide solution having calcium
hydroxide, both in air.
Formation of Copper Nanowires by Electroless Deposition Using Microtubules as Templates
Authors: Valenzuela K. , Raghavan S. , Deymier P. A. , Hoying J.
Published: April 2020

Microtubules (MTs) are self-assembling, protein-based, tubular structures several micrometers long with outer and inner diameters of 25 nm and 15 nm, respectively. This aspect ratio makes MTs ideal templates for producing nanowires for applications such as electrical nano-interconnects.
MTs are poorly conductive and their use as interconnects necessitates their metallization. We report a process for metallization of MTs with copper using a biologically benign electroless deposition chemistry consisting of copper sulfate solution containing acetic acid as a complexant and
ascorbic acid as reducing agent. The pH of the plating bath is controlled such that copper metallization occurs without disassembling the MTs. Electron microscopic characterization of the morphology and dimensions of the copper nanowires shows that metallization for approximately 1 minute
produces a uniform nanowire with an average diameter of approximately 15 nm, suggesting that metallization is initiated selectively from the MT inner core.
Self-Assembly of Au-Ag Alloy Nanoparticles by Thermal Annealing
Authors: Yao R. H. , She J. C. , Xu N. S. , Deng S. Z. , Chen Jun
Published: April 2020

Hemispherical Au-Ag alloy nanoparticles were prepared on 2-inch Si wafer by thermal annealing Au-Ag alloy thin film in protective ambient. The nanoparticles were evenly distributed on the substrate surface. The diameter of the nanoparticles is dependent of the deposition duration of
the Au-Ag alloy thin film, and also the separation between the nanoparticles. The minimum and maximum diameters of the nanoparticles obtained so far are about 5nm and 160 nm, respectively. Experimental evidences indicated that the formation of the hemispherical nanoparticles is due to the
surface tensile stressing induced by the lattice expansion.
A Numerical Algorithm for Magnetohydrodynamics of Ablated Materials
Authors: Lu Tianshi , Du Jian , Samulyak Roman
Published: April 2020

A numerical algorithm for the simulation of magnetohydrodynamics in partially ionized ablated material is described. For the hydro part, the hyperbolic conservation laws with electromagnetic terms is solved using techniques developed for free surface flows; for the electromagnetic part,
the electrostatic approximation is applied and an elliptic equation for electric potential is solved. The algorithm has been implemented in the frame of front tracking, which explicitly tracks geometrically complex evolving interfaces. An elliptic solver based on the embedded boundary method
were implemented for both two- and three-dimensional simulations. A surface model on the interface between the solid target and the ablated vapor has also been developed as well as a numerical model for the equation of state which accounts for atomic processes in the ablated material. The
code has been applied to simulations of the pellet ablation in a magnetically confined plasma and the laser-ablated plasma plume expansion in magnetic fields.
Effect of Slip Boundary Condition on the Design of Nanoparticle Focusing Lenses
Authors: Cho Dae-Geun , Na Jung-Gil , Choi Jae-Boong , Kim Young-Jin , Kim Taesung
Published: April 2020

The importance of nanoparticles as a building block for novel application has been emphasized in various fields. Especially, nanoparticle beam has been widely used to measure particle size distribution, synthesize materials, and generate micro-patterns, as it can enhance the measurement
resolution and transport efficiency. The aerodynamic lens system has been developed to focus particles in a certain size range. The manufacturing of nanoparticles in gas phase is typically performed at the low pressure conditions and the design and simulation of lens at low pressure have been
steadily reported. The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has been utilized to analyze the flow field and obtain particle trajectories. However, previous work has used no-slip boundary condition at low pressure. This paper describes the lens design and simulation with slip boundary condition
at low pressure (∼1 Torr). The design of lens is discussed on the basis of the Wang et al.'s guidelines and the commercial code FLUENT is used for simulation. The results of this study show that the difference of particle beam radius between no-slip and slip boundary conditions is 0.03∼0.9
mm for particle size ranging from 3 to 200 nm with Brownian diffusion and that the transport efficiency is slightly higher with slip boundary condition.
CdS/Cyclohexylamine Inorganic–Organic Hybrid Semiconductor Nanofibers with Strong Quantum Confinement Effect
Authors: Fan Libo , Song Hongwei , Zhao Haifeng , Pan Guohui , Liu Lina , Dong Biao , Wang Fang , Bai Xue , Qin Ruifei , Kong Xianggui , Ren Xinguang
Published: April 2020

Inorganic–organic hybrid semiconductor nanofibers of CdS/CHA (CHA = cyclohexylamine) were successfully synthesized by a simple solvothermal method. The fibers obtained had average diameter of 20 nm and length of several micrometers. In these fibers, periodic layer-like sub-nanometer
structures with thickness of ∼3 nm were identified by high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM). The absorption of the hybrids exhibited a large blue-shift in contrast to the bulk, which was attributed to strong quantum confinement effect (QCE) induced by internal sub-nanometer
structures. Pure hexagonal wurtzite CdS (H-CdS) nanorods were also obtained by extracting the CdS/CHA hybrids with dimethyl formamide (DMF). The rods obtained had average diameter of 20 nm and length of 200 nm. A CdS/CHA/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) composite film emitting white light was prepared
by spin coating.
A Simple Route to Growth of Silicon Nanowires
Authors: Pan Hui , Ni Zhenhua , Poh Cheekok , Feng Yuan Ping , Lin Jianyi , Shen Zexiang
Published: April 2020

Silicon nanowires (SiNWs) have been produced by a simple thermal heating method with gold as a catalyst. The grown silicon nanowires were highly crystalline with little impurities such as amorphous Si and silicon oxides. Photoluminescence (PL) study has indicated that the Si band gap
increases from 1.1 eV of bulk Si to 1.59 eV for the as-grown SiNWs due to quantum confinement effect. A strong PL peak around 540 nm (2.28 eV) is attributed to the relaxation of photon-induced self-trapped state in the form of surface Si–Si dimmers, while the blue light emission around
390 nm is attributed to the silicon oxide impurity on the SiNWs surface.
Water-Dispersible Carbon Nanotubes for Aqueous Surface-Initiated Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization
Authors: Xu F. J. , Li J. , Su F. , Zhao X. S. , Kang E. T. , Neoh K. G.
Published: April 2020

A simple one-pot process was developed for the covalent immobilization of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) initiators with quaternized triethylamine moieties on the carboxyl-functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The initiator-coupled MWCNTs exhibited good
dispersion in water and could be used directly to prepare water-dispersion of polymer-MWCNT hybrids, such as stimuli-responsive poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide)-MWCNT hybrids, via surface-initiated ATRP of N-isopropylacrylamide in an aqueous medium. The present one-pot synthesis
of the ATRP initiator-immobilized MWCNTs with good dispersion in water provides an alternative route to the direct preparation of water-soluble polymer-MWCNT hybrids in aqueous media.
Synthesis and Luminescence Properties of Alumina Encapsulated InN Nanorods
Authors: Mann Ajay Kumar , Varandani Deepak , Mehta Bodh Raj , Malhotra Lalit Kumar , Mangamma G. , Tyagi A. K.
Published: April 2020

The present study reports a two-step procedure to synthesize InN nanorods inside the pores of an anodic alumina membrane. In the first step, pores of the membrane are filled with indium via electrodeposition. The second step involves nitridation of the as-deposited nanorods by room
temperature plasma annealing. X-ray diffraction studies reveal that as-deposited nanorods consist of In, In2O3 and In(OH)3 phases which get converted to mixed hexagonal and cubic phase InN on plasma annealing. Cross sectional scanning electron microscope study
reveals nanorod diameter and length to be 150 nm and 1 μm respectively. X-ray mapping results establish that uniform distribution of nitrogen throughout the length of nanorod has been achieved as a result of plasma annealing. Observation of photoluminescence peaks at 1.4 and 1.6
eV corresponding, to the absorption edges of cubic and hexagonal phases of InN show that room temperature photoemission is due to band to band recombination. The use of alumina as a template for nanorod growth prevents postdeposition agglomeration and provides mechanical strength. Possibility
of total internal reflection at the InN-Al2O3 interface makes these structures ideally suitable to reduce the emitted light intensity losses.
Effect of Vinyl-Modified Silica and Raw Silica Particles on the Properties of As-Prepared Polymer-Silica Nanocomposite Foams
Authors: Yeh Jui-Ming , Chang Kung-Chin , Peng Chih-Wei , Chiou Sheng-Che , Hwang Shyh-Shin , Yang Jen-Chang , Lin Hong-Ru
Published: April 2020

In this study, the first comparative studies for the effect of vinyl-modified silica (VMS) and raw silica (RS) particles on the physical properties of as-prepared polymer-silica nanocomposite (PSN) foams are presented. First of all, the VMS particles were synthesized by performing conventional
acid-catalyzed sol–gel reactions of TEOS in the presence/absence of MSMA molecules. The as-prepared VMS particles were then characterized through Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), solid-state 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance (13C-NMR) and 29Si-NMR spectroscopy.
Subsequently, a series of PSN materials have been prepared through bulk polymerization of MMA monomers in the presence of VMS and RS particles with BPO as initiator. The dispersion capability of silica particles in polymer matrix was further observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM)
studies. The PSN foams can be further obtained by performing batch-foaming process on as-prepared bulky PSN materials with N2 as foaming agent. The cell structure analysis of the PSN foams was subsequently examined by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. Gel permeation
chromatography (GPC) was used to determine the molecular weights of as-prepared samples. It should be noted that the incorporated VMS and RS particles served as heterogeneous nucleation agent in polymer matrix under foaming process to reduce the cell size and increase the cell density of the
PSN foams. Furthermore, the VMS particles exhibited a better dispersion capability of silica particles in PMMA matrix as compared to that of RS particles, leading to the PSN foams with smaller cell size and higher cell density. Effect of material composition on the thermal transport properties,
thermal stability and mechanical strength of PSN foams were investigated by transient plane source (TPS) technique, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), respectively.
Synthesis of Hierarchical Pure ZnO Nanostructures with Controllable Morphology
Authors: Fan D. H. , Zhu Y. F. , Shen W. Z.
Published: April 2020

Hierarchical pure ZnO nanostructures with controllable morphology were synthesized by two-step oxygen-controlled thermal evaporation method without any catalyst. Zn nanowires with little oxidation were deposited firstly on Si substrates located at the low temperature area at step one.
The morphology of hierarchical ZnO nanostructures can be effectively modulated at step two by oxygen flow rate, taking advantage of the controllable oxidation rate of Zn and concentration of ZnOx under various oxygen supplies. Transmission electron microscope images and corresponding
selected area electron diffraction patterns suggest that low oxygen supplementation causes the epitaxial growth of nanorods from the surface of the Zn nanowire, while high oxygen flow rate will lead to the preferential growth of nanorods along the [001] orientation. Room-temperature photoluminescence
measurements demonstrate that the variety of nanostructures can cause the variation of the ultraviolet to green peak intensity ratio, suggesting that the controlled morphologies can be used to modulate the optical properties of ZnO nanostructures.
Synthesis of Ni-Mo-W Sulfide Nanorods as Catalyst for Hydrodesulfurization of Dibenzothiophene
Authors: Paraguay-Delgado F. , García-Alamilla R. , Lumbreras J. A. , Cizniega E. , Alonso-Núñez G.
Published: April 2020

Two trimetallic sulfurs, MoWNiS and MoWSNi, were synthesized to be used as a catalyst in hydrodesulfurization reactions. The mixed oxide mesoporous nanostructured MoO3-WO3 with an Mo:W atomic ratio of 1:1 was used as the precursor. The first catalyst was prepared
by impregnating nickel in the oxide precursor and then subsequent sulfiding with an H2S/H2 mix at 400 °C for 2 hours. The second catalyst was prepared by sulfiding the precursor and then impregnating the nickel, and finally reducing the material with a H2/N2
at 350 °C. In both catalysts the Mo:W:Ni atomic ratio was maintained at 1:1:0.5. The materials obtained were characterized by physical adsorption of nitrogen, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy. Furthermore, the materials obtained were evaluated
by a dibenzothiophene hydrodesulfuration reaction. The diffraction patterns show that both materials are polycrystalline and mainly of MoS2 and WS2 phases.
Co(Ni)/MoS2 Nanostructured Catalysts for the Hydrodesulphurization of Dibenzothiophene
Authors: Albiter M. A. , Huirache-Acuña R. , Paraguay-Delgado F. , Zaera F. , Alonso-Núñez G.
Published: April 2020

In this study Co(Ni)/MoS2 unsupported nanocatalysts (nanorods and nanoribbons) were synthesized with Co(Ni)/(Co(Ni)+Mo)=0.3, 0.5 molar ratios for Co and Ni respectively. First the α-MoO3 nanostructures were impregnated with an aqueous solution of Co(Ni)Cl2·6H2O
or Co(Ni)(NO3)2·6H2O, then were treated for 2 h at 473 K, and finally the precursors were activated under a H2S/H2 mixture (15% v/v H2S) by ramping the temperature from room temperature to 773 K and keeping it at that
value for 2 h. The resulting materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, specific surface area and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and tested as catalysts for the hydrodesulfurization
(HDS) of dibenzothiophene (DBT). It was found that these materials presented specific surface areas below 25 m2/g. The catalytic test showed that only when Co is added a promoter effect is observed compared with MoS2 unpromoted catalysts. Among the materials prepared,
the Co/MoS2 catalyst made from cobalt chloride presented the highest catalytic activity (6.95 mol s−1 g−1catalyst) for the HDS of DBT. The selectivity for the latter indicated a clear preference for the direct desulphurization over the
hydrogenating pathway.
Synthesis of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes by Spray-Pyrolysis Using a New Iron Organometallic Complex as Catalytic Agent
Authors: Valenzuela-Muñiz A. M. , Verde Y. , Miki-Yoshida M. , Alonso-Núñez G.
Published: April 2020

An organometallic catalytic agent ([(Hexyl)4N]3FeCl3Br3) has been synthesized through the reaction of tetrahexylammonium bromide ((Hexyl)4NBr) and iron chloride (FeCl3) aqueous solutions. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes
(MWCNTs) were obtained by spray pyrolysis of toluene (carbon source) using the new organometallic compound as catalyst. The synthesized catalytic agent was characterized by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermal analysis (TA)
techniques. Spectroscopic results indicated that the new iron organometallic compound has suitable characteristics to grow MWCNTs by spray pyrolysis. The MWCNTs were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques.
The MWCNTs grow in a disordered way without orientation with diameters ranging from 20 to 50 nanometers. XRD patterns exhibit the 2-H graphite characteristics peaks of the MWCNTs.
Nanopositioning for Polarimetric Characterization
Authors: Qureshi Naser , Kolokoltsev Oleg V. , Ortega-Martínez Roberto , Ordoñez-Romero C. L.
Published: April 2020

A positioning system with approximately nanometer resolution has been developed based on a new implementation of a motor-driven screw scheme. In contrast to conventional positioning systems based on piezoelectric elements, this system shows remarkably low levels of drift and vibration,
and eliminates the need for position feedback during typical data acquisition processes. During positioning or scanning processes, non-repeatability and hysteresis problems inherent in mechanical positioning systems are greatly reduced using a software feedback scheme. As a result, we are
able to demonstrate an average mechanical resolution of 1.45 nm and near diffraction-limited imaging using scanning optical microscopy. We propose this approach to nanopositioning as a readily accessible alternative enabling high spatial resolution scanning probe characterization (e.g., polarimetry)
and provide practical details for its implementation.
Size Effect on the Physical Properties of CdS Thin Films Prepared by Integrated Physical-Chemical Approach
Authors: Sathyamoorthy R. , Sudhagar P. , Chandramohan S. , Pal U.
Published: April 2020

Using an integrated physical-chemical approach, nanocrystalline cadmium sulfide (CdS) thin films were prepared by evaporating chemically synthesized CdS nanorods. Both the CdS nanorods and nanocrystalline thin films exhibited hexagonal wurtzite structure. Chemically synthesized CdS
nanorods of about 7 nm average diameter were flexible, frequently folded to have elliptical cage linked chain structures and aggregate to form nanorod bundles. The bandgap energy of the nanocrystalline CdS films suffered a blue shift of about 0.07 eV due to intermediate quantum confinement
of charge carriers. The reaction atmosphere was found to have strong effects on the particle size control of the nanostructures. Room temperature photoluminescence (PL) spectra of the films revealed a broad emission at about 429 nm related to recombination of excitons and shallowly trapped
electron–hole pairs, along with the near-band-edge emission. Influence of particle size and defects on the structural and optical properties of CdS nanorods and nanocrystalline thin films are discussed.
Magnetic Properties of Co Nanoparticles: Role of the Coexistence of Different Geometrical Phases
Authors: Montejano-Carrizales J. M. , Guirado-López R. A.
Published: April 2020

Following the experimental results of Respaud et al. [Phys. Rev. B 57, 2925 (1998)] we report self-consistent electronic structure calculations in order to analyze the magnetic properties of Co nanoparticles in which a coexistence of bcc and compact (fcc) phases are present within the
particles. In all cases, the local spin moments S(i) are found to be saturated (∼1.7 μB) while, in contrast, the local orbital moments L(i) and the magnetic anisotropy energy (MAE) are found to be very sensitive to the size and structure
of the systems. Interestingly, we obtain considerably enhanced values for L(i) at the internal bcc/fcc interfaces which can be even larger than at surfaces sites and, in addition, we found that by varying the fraction of bcc and fcc phases within the particles, several reorientations
of the magnetization can be induced, a result that could open new possibilities to tune the MAE of magnetic nanoparticles.
Incorporation of Sb in ZnO Nanostructures Through Hydrothermal Process
Authors: Morales A. Escobedo , Pal U. , Zaldivar M. Herrera
Published: April 2020

Incorporation of dopants in optoelectronic semiconductor nanostructures has been a matter of great interest in recent times. While such doping has been performed almost routinely using physical methods, use of low-cost chemical techniques for that purpose is still rare. We incorporated
antimony in zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures through a low temperature hydrothermal method. In as-grown nanostructures, antimony remains partially in Sb2O3 phase. On thermal annealing at 500 °C, it dissociates and antimony incorporates into ZnO mainly by substituting
zinc from the crystal lattice. Incorporation of Sb drastically modifies the morphology of the ZnO nanostructures. While incorporation of Sb in low concentration promotes the formation of uniform prismatic ZnO nanorods probably due to catalytic effect, high concentration of Sb causes the formation
of rounded shaped nanoparticles due to high interfacial compressive stress. Incorporated Sb in the ZnO nanostructures remains inhomogeneously distributed. The optical band gap of the ZnO nanostructures increases a bit for lightly doped samples but it decreases for heavy doping.
Scanning Tunneling Microscopy Study of the Relaxation Mechanism of a Au(100) Nanostructure
Authors: González-Carrazco A. , Valenzuela-Benavides J.
Published: April 2020

The three-dimensional shape relaxation of gold nanostructures was studied by scanning tunneling microscopy in real time and at ambient conditions. The nanostructures were fabricated on a Au(100) single crystal by a two step-process: electrochemical etching to produced a rough surface,
followed by thermal annealing. The nanostructures can be described as mounds having small semicircular facets that shrink in time, peeling away layer by layer as a result of the sudden temperature change and evolving towards thermodynamic equilibrium. A model developed by Uwaha is used to
describe the dynamic evolution of the peeling layers, where good agreement was found despite the presence of adsorbates due to ambient exposure.
X-Ray Diffraction, and Raman Scattering Study of Nanostructured ZrO2-TiO2 Oxides Prepared by Sol–Gel
Authors: Manriquez M. E. , Picquart M. , Bokhimi X. , López T. , Quintana P. , Coronado J. M.
Published: April 2020

In the present work, we study the phase composition of ZrO2-TiO2 system by means of XRD and Raman spectroscopy, using also TG-ATD, and N2 adsorption isotherms as complementary characterization techniques. TiO2-ZrO2 samples of selected
compositions (0, 10, 90, 50 and 100% in weight of TiO2) were prepared by sol–gel method and annealed at three different temperatures (400, 600 and 800 °C). Structural characterization reveals that only the pure oxides are crystalline at 400 °C: TiO2 as anatasa
with a minor brookite component, and ZrO2 as a mixture of tetragonal (majority) and monoclinic phases. Following the 600 °C calcination, the TiO2-ZrO2 50–50% sample forms the ZrTiO4 mixed oxide, although this materials remains partly amorphous.
In contrast, samples with higher and lower TiO2 content form solid solutions with, respectively, anatasa and tetragonal ZrO2 structures. Zirconium incorporation into the TiO2 lattice leads to the expansion of the unit cell parameters, and it stabilizes the
anatase phase, hindering its transformation into rutile. Similarly, dissolving titanium atoms into the ZrO2 structure delays the transformation from the tetragonal to the monoclinic polymorph.
L'objection de conscience opposable, nouvelle stratégie légale et judiciaire des acteurs religieux aux Etats-Unis (2011-2018)
Authors: Gayte Marie , Chelini-Pont Blandine
Published: April 2020

En mars 2010, Barack Obama fait adopter par le Congrès une réforme visant à élargir au maximum la couverture maladie des Américains. Parmi les points de la réforme, dans le cadre des plans collectifs, les employeurs ont l’obligation de fournir à leurs salariés un panier de soins préventifs dont le contenu, édicté par le ministère de la santé, inclut les moyens de contraception. Le ministère de la Santé a écarté la prise en charge des soins contraceptifs par les employeurs religieux au sens strict comme les Eglises, puis les organisations religieuses sans but lucratif dont les universités et les hôpitaux. Mais ces exemptions ne vont pas empêcher une levée de boucliers au sein de l’épiscopat catholique qui dénonce le contraceptive mandate comme une atteinte à la liberté religieuse et en appelle à la désobéissance civile. Il est bientôt rejoint par de nombreuses organisations évangéliques, avec lesquelles il finit par faire cause commune pour défendre le droit à l’objection de conscience des chrétiens à accepter la contraception comme un soin pris en charge. Ce droit recouvre également leur refus de la légalité de l’avortement et du mariage homosexuel. Depuis 2010, plusieurs Etats, sur la base de cette posture et grâce à des majorités républicaines ont adopté des textes protégeant prioritairement la liberté religieuse incluant l’objection en cas de conflit de conscience face à la loi. Cette présentation s’attachera à mettre en évidence les racines de l’objection de conscience dans le contexte religieux américain ainsi que sa direction actuelle. Elle dressera un premier état des lieux de l’efficacité, légale et judiciaire, de cette stratégie d’objection religieuse
La mère de 2 Maccabées 7 chez Ambroise, Augustin et quelques rabbins
Authors: Lemelin Isabelle
Published: April 2020

Cet article propose un survol de quelques textes des traditions patristiques et rabbiniques où la mère anonyme du chapitre 7 du 2ème livre des Maccabées occupe une place importante. Dans un premier temps, je présenterai les textes chrétiens et juifs retenus. Puis, dans un deuxième temps, j’examinerai certains des thèmes soulevés tant dans les textes des Pères de l’Église latine que ceux des sages du Talmud de Babylone, c’est-à-dire la dénomination, la maternité et la joie de la mère. Enfin, j’examinerai les comparaisons les plus fréquemment rencontrées dans les textes des deux traditions. De la sorte, les multiples visages de la première martyre de la littérature monothéiste et les processus de christianisation et de rabbinisation à l’œuvre dans la réception des martyrs de 2 M et 4 M seront mis au jour.
The effects of the gang truce on Salvadoran communities and development agents
Authors: Martínez-Reyes Alberto , Navarro-Pérez José-Javier
Published: April 2020

This study analyses how the Salvadoran government neglected its responsibilities to communities during the gang truce process, resorting to short-term, non-transparent, anti-democratic and counterproductive measures that allowed gangs to reorganize and take control of the territories and therefore the daily lives of the civilian population. This article focuses on the role played by the communities and how they sought to develop with the support of social workers, third-sector organizations and other development agents.
Oral Microbiome Signatures in Diabetes Mellitus and Periodontal Disease
Authors: Matsha T.E. , Prince Y. , Davids S. , Chikte U. , Erasmus R.T. , Kengne A.P. , Davison G.M.
Published: April 2020

Disturbances in the oral microbiome are associated with periodontal disease initiation and progression and diabetes mellitus (DM), but how this contributes to the cause-and-effect relationship between periodontal disease and DM is poorly understood. We examined the bacterial composition in plaque samples from 128 South Africans with periodontal disease across glycemic statuses using 16S rDNA sequencing of regions 2, 3, 4, 6-7, 8, and 9. Of the 9 phyla identified, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Fusobacteria, and Actinobacteria made up >98%. Fusobacteria and Actinobacteria were significantly more abundant in subjects with diabetes, while Proteobacteria were less abundant. However, in the presence of gingival bleeding and DM, as compared with DM without gingival bleeding, Actinobacteria were markedly reduced while Bacteroidetes were more abundant. In contrast, no differences in Actinobacteria or Bacteroidetes abundance were observed between DM with and without pocket depth (PD) ≥4 mm. At the genus level, similar changes in relative abundance were observed in the presence of DM and periodontal disease. Our findings remained in conditional logistic regression models adjusted for age, sex, waist circumference, and the 5 most dominant phyla. For example, Actinobacteria significantly increased the odds of diabetes by 10% in subjects with gingival bleeding, while Fusobacteria increased this odd by 14%; yet, among subjects with PD ≥4 mm, Fusobacteria decreased the odds of DM by 47%. Our findings have confirmed the alterations in the composition of the oral microbiota across glycemic statuses as well as different stages of periodontal disease. However, it is not clear whether these differences were the consequence of hyperglycemia or the presence of periodontal diseases. Therefore, we recommend further investigations in a longitudinal study design.
Caries-Associated Biosynthetic Gene Clusters in Streptococcus mutans
Authors: Momeni S.S. , Beno S.M. , Baker J.L. , Edlund A. , Ghazal T. , Childers N.K. , Wu H.
Published: April 2020

Early childhood caries (ECC) is a chronic disease affecting the oral health of children globally. This disease is multifactorial, but a primary factor is cariogenic microorganisms such as Streptococcus mutans. Biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) encode small molecules with diverse biological activities that influence the development of many microbial diseases, including caries. The purpose of this study was to identify BGCs in S. mutans from a high-caries risk study population using whole-genome sequencing and assess their association with ECC. Forty representative S. mutans isolates were selected for genome sequencing from a large-scale epidemiological study of oral microbiology and dental caries in children from a localized Alabama population. A total of 252 BGCs were identified using the antiSMASH BGC-mining tool. Three types of BGCs identified herein—butyrolactone-like, ladderane-like, and butyrolactone-ladderane-like hybrid (BL-BGC)—have not been reported in S. mutans. These 3 BGCs were cross-referenced against public transcriptomics data, and were found to be highly expressed in caries subjects. Furthermore, based on a polymerase chain reaction screening for core BL genes, 93% of children with BL-BGC had ECC. The role of BL-BGC was further investigated by examining cariogenic traits and strain fitness in a deletion mutant using in vitro biofilm models. Deletion of the BL-BGC significantly increased biofilm pH as compared to the parent strain, while other virulence and fitness properties remained unchanged. Intriguingly, BL-BGC containing strains produced more acid, a key cariogenic feature, and less biofilm than the model cariogenic strain S. mutans UA159, suggesting the importance of this BL-BGC in S. mutans–mediated cariogenesity. The structure of any BL-BGC derived metabolites, their functions, and mechanistic connection with acid production remain to be elucidated. Nevertheless, this study is the first to report the clinical significance of a BL-BGC in S. mutans. This study also highlights pangenomic diversity, which is likely to affect phenotype and virulence.
‘A Baby Is a Baby’: The Asha Protests and the Sociology of Affective Post-Nationalism
Authors: Tonkiss Katherine
Published: April 2020

Theories of post-nationalism are concerned with deconstructing the relationship between citizenship and national identity. While literature in this field has tended towards macro-institutionalist analysis, recent research has re-articulated post-nationalism as micro-level practice. This article builds on this development by attending to the ‘affective conditions’ of such micro-political practices. The article draws on research into protests in Brisbane in February 2016 to prevent ‘Asha’, a child seeking asylum, from being returned to offshore detention. The analysis of this case demonstrates that affect performs a dual function in the practice of post-nationalism, to catalyse action in solidarity with the noncitizen informed primarily by the emotional resonance of a particular rendering of vulnerability, and in re-imagined solidarity with the co-citizen around a post-national community of feeling. Informed by this analysis, the article highlights the complex and fragile nature of a post-national solidarity dependent on intersecting, overlapping and at times problematic, affective conditions.
Future and Organization Studies: On the rediscovery of a problematic temporal category in organizations
Authors: Wenzel Matthias , Krämer Hannes , Koch Jochen , Reckwitz Andreas
Published: April 2020

Even though organizational activities have always been future-oriented, actors’ fascination with the future is not a universal phenomenon of organizational life. Human experience of the future is a rather young product of modernity, in which actors discovered the indeterminacy of the future, as well as their abilities to ‘make’ and, in part, even control and de-problematize it through ever-more sophisticated planning practices. In this essay, we argue that actors have recently ‘rediscovered’ the future as a problematic, open-ended category in organizational life, one that they cannot delineate through planning practices alone. This, we suggest, has been produced through a pluralization of what we refer to as ‘future-making practices’, a set of practices through which actors produce and enact the future. Based on illustrations of the experienced problematic open-endedness of the future in prevalent discourses such as climate change, digital transformation and post-truth politics, we invite scholars to explore future-making practices as an important but under-appreciated organizational phenomenon.
The Many Forms of Multiple Migrations: Evidence from a Sequence Analysis in Switzerland, 1998 to 2008
Authors: Zufferey Jonathan , Steiner Ilka , Ruedin Didier
Published: April 2020

This article provides estimates of different kinds of contemporary migration trajectories, highlighting multiple or repeated migrations. Using sequence analysis on linked longitudinal register data, we identify different migration trajectories for three cohorts (1998, 2003, and 2008) of 315,000 immigrants in Switzerland. Multinomial regression analysis reveals the demographic characteristics associated with specific migration trajectories. We demonstrate high heterogeneity in migration practices, showing that direct and definitive settlement in the destination country remains a common trajectory and that highly mobile immigrants are less common. We conclude that accounts of a fundamental “mobility turn” have been overstated.
Calculating the Expected Value of Sample Information in Practice: Considerations from 3 Case Studies
Authors: Heath Anna , Kunst Natalia , Jackson Christopher , Strong Mark , Alarid-Escudero Fernando , Goldhaber-Fiebert Jeremy D. , Baio Gianluca , Menzies Nicolas A. , Jalal Hawre
Published: April 2020

Background. Investing efficiently in future research to improve policy decisions is an important goal. Expected value of sample information (EVSI) can be used to select the specific design and sample size of a proposed study by assessing the benefit of a range of different studies. Estimating EVSI with the standard nested Monte Carlo algorithm has a notoriously high computational burden, especially when using a complex decision model or when optimizing over study sample sizes and designs. Recently, several more efficient EVSI approximation methods have been developed. However, these approximation methods have not been compared, and therefore their comparative performance across different examples has not been explored. Methods. We compared 4 EVSI methods using 3 previously published health economic models. The examples were chosen to represent a range of real-world contexts, including situations with multiple study outcomes, missing data, and data from an observational rather than a randomized study. The computational speed and accuracy of each method were compared. Results. In each example, the approximation methods took minutes or hours to achieve reasonably accurate EVSI estimates, whereas the traditional Monte Carlo method took weeks. Specific methods are particularly suited to problems where we wish to compare multiple proposed sample sizes, when the proposed sample size is large, or when the health economic model is computationally expensive. Conclusions. As all the evaluated methods gave estimates similar to those given by traditional Monte Carlo, we suggest that EVSI can now be efficiently computed with confidence in realistic examples. No systematically superior EVSI computation method exists as the properties of the different methods depend on the underlying health economic model, data generation process, and user expertise.
Exploring the Impact of Quality of Life on Survival: A Case Study in Total Knee Replacement Surgery
Authors: Tew Michelle , Dalziel Kim , Dowsey Michelle , Choong Peter F. , Clarke Philip
Published: April 2020

Background. There is growing evidence that quality of life (QoL) has a strong association with mortality. However, incorporation of QoL is uncommon in standard survival modeling. Methods. Using data extracted from a registry of patients undergoing total knee replacement (TKR), the impact of incorporating QoL in survival modeling was explored using 4 parametric survival models. QoL was incorporated and tested in 2 forms, which are baseline and change in QoL due to intervention. Life expectancy and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were calculated and comparisons made to a reference model (no QoL) to translate the findings in the context of modeled economic evaluations. Results. A total of 2858 TKR cases (2309 patients) who had TKR between 2006 and 2015 were included in this analysis. Increases in baseline and change in QoL were associated with a reduction in mortality. Compared to the reference model, differences of up to 0.32 life years and 0.53 QALYs were observed, and these translated into a 9.5% change in incremental effectiveness. These differences were much larger as the strength of the association between QoL and mortality increased. Conclusions. This work has demonstrated that the inclusion of QoL measures (at baseline and change from baseline) when extrapolating survival does matter. It can influence health outcomes such as life expectancy and QALYs, which are relevant in cost-effectiveness analysis. This is important because neglecting the correlation between QoL and mortality can lead to imprecise extrapolations and thus risk misleading results affecting subsequent decisions made by policy makers.
Initial experience of irreversible electroporation for locally advanced pancreatic cancer in a Korean population
Authors: Kwon Joon Ho , Chung Moon Jae , Park Jeong Youp , Lee Hee Seung , Hwang Ho Kyoung , Kang Chang Moo , Lee Woo Jung , Park Mi-Suk , Kim Namo , Bang Seungmin , Kim Man-Deuk
Published: April 2020

Background

Locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) is one of the most aggressive malignancies. Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a novel technique that uses a non-thermal ablation to avoid vessel or duct injury.

Purpose

To investigate the safety and efficacy of IRE for the management of LAPC in a Korean population.

Material and Methods

Twelve patients (median age 64 years; age range 46–73 years) treated between December 2015 and March 2017 underwent intraoperative IRE for LAPC. Technical success and clinical outcomes, including complications, serum pancreatic enzyme levels, overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS), were evaluated.

Results

Tumors were located in the pancreas head in 7 (58.3%) patients and in the body/tail in 5 (41.7%) patients. The median tumor diameter in the longest axis was 3.1 cm. Vascular invasion was observed in all patients and bowel abutment in 3 (25%) patients. Technical success was achieved in all patients. The median serum levels of amylase and lipase were 55 U/L and 31 U/L, respectively, at baseline, increased to 141.5 U/L ( P = 0.008) and 53 U/L ( P = 0.505), respectively, one day after IRE, and normalized after one week. The rate of 30-day mortality of unknown relation was 8.3% (one individual experienced massive hematemesis 12 days after IRE). The median OS from diagnosis and IRE was 24.5 months and 13.5 months, respectively. The median PFS from diagnosis and IRE was 19.2 months and 8.6 months, respectively.

Conclusion

For patients with LAPC, IRE appears to be a promising treatment modality with an acceptable safety profile.
Nutcracker syndrome mimicking new daily persistent headache: A case report
Authors: Stubberud Anker , Cheema Sanjay , Tronvik Erling , Matharu Manjit
Published: April 2020

Introduction

Compression of the duodenum and left renal vein between the aorta and superior mesenteric artery usually leads to symptoms of proximal bowel obstruction or hematuria and, more rarely, nonspecific mild headaches.

Case

A young woman presented with new daily persistent headache refractory to numerous pharmacological treatments, onabotulinumtoxinA, nerve blocks, and occipital nerve stimulation. Following several years of daily severe headache, worsening abdominal pain and intolerance for food intake led to the discovery of aortomesenteric compression. Surgical treatment gave prompt improvement in gastric symptoms but also essentially resolved the headache.

Conclusion

This is the first description of new daily persistent headache in association with aortomesenteric compression as well as marked improvement of headache following aortomesenteric decompression. In patients with new daily persistent headache and orthostatic symptoms one may consider a differential diagnosis of Nutcracker syndrome, especially in patients with comorbid hypermobility syndromes, hematuria or gastric symptoms.