bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Monitoring steel microbiologically induced corrosion using a new electrochemical cell
Authors: Miranda D. A. , Fajardo S. , Jaimes S. A. , Bastidas J. M.
Published: February 2014

A new test electrochemical cell is described for monitoring the steel microbiologically induced corrosion and numerical simulations were performed using finite element method to demonstrate the suitability of the device. Carbon steel concentric ring‐monitoring electrochemical cells were exposed to sterile and inoculated media for acid‐producing bacteria and sulfate‐reducing bacteria consortia. A relationship between impedance data and microbial growth was proposed by statistical analysis based on the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.
Ordered Organic Nanostructures Fabricated from Anodic Alumina Oxide Templates for Organic Bulk‐Heterojunction Photovoltaics
Authors: Wu Hui , Yang Junliang , Cao Shilin , Huang Liulian , Chen Lihui
Published: February 2014

Solution‐processable organic photovoltaics (OPVs) attract much attention due to their potential as low‐cost and lightweight sources of renewable energy. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of state‐of‐the‐art OPVs based on bulk‐heterojunction and tandem structures can reach over 10.0%, resulting from the progress in new materials, device engineering, device physics, etc. In particular, the fabrication and controllability of solution‐processable organic active‐layer thin films play an important role in the performance of OPV devices. The anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template method is a versatile and fascinating technique for fabricating ordered organic nanostructures with controlled properties. Here, a review is given on the solution‐based fabrication of ordered organic semiconductor nanostructures by AAO templates, as well as its application in OPVs.

image
Increased LINGO1 in the cerebellum of essential tremor patients
Authors: Delay Charlotte , Tremblay Cyntia , Brochu Elodie , Paris‐Robidas Sarah , Emond Vincent , Rajput Ali H. , Rajput Alex , Calon Frédéric
Published: February 2014

Essential tremor (ET) is the most prevalent adult‐onset movement disorder. Despite its health burden, no clear pathognomonic sign has been identified to date because of the rarity of clinicopathological studies. Moreover, treatment options are still scarce and have not significantly changed in the last 30 years, underscoring the urgent need to develop new treatment avenues. In the recent years, leucine‐rich repeat (LRR) and immunoglobulin (Ig) domain‐containing Nogo receptor‐interacting proteins 1 and 2 (LINGO1 and LINGO2, respectively) have been increasingly regarded as possible ET modulators due to emerging genetic association studies linking LINGO with ET. We have investigated LINGO protein and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in the cerebellum of patients with ET, patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), and a control group using Western immunoblotting and in situ hybridization. Protein levels of LINGO1, but not LINGO2, were significantly increased in the cerebellar cortex of ET patients compared with controls, particularly in individuals with longer disease duration. Compared with controls, LINGO1 protein levels were increased in the cerebellar white matter of PD and ET patients but, for the latter, only when disease duration exceeded 20 years. However, no alteration in LINGO1 mRNA was observed between groups in either the cerebellar cortex or the white matter. We observed alterations in LINGO expression in diseased brain that seemed to progress along with the disease, being initiated in the cerebellar cortex before reaching the white matter. Because LINGO up‐regulation has been identified as a potential pathological response to ongoing neurodegenerative processes, the present data suggest that LINGO1 is a potential drug target for ET. © 2014 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
A phase 2 trial of the GSK‐3 inhibitor tideglusib in progressive supranuclear palsy
Authors: Tolosa Eduardo , Litvan Irene , Höglinger Günter U. , Burn David , Lees Andrew , Andrés María V. , Gómez‐Carrillo Belén , León Teresa , del Ser Teodoro ,   for the TAUROS Investigators
Published: February 2014

It is believed that glycogen synthase kinase‐3 (GSK‐3) hyperphosphorylates tau protein in progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). The Tau Restoration on PSP (TAUROS) study was a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, randomized trial to assess the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of tideglusib, a GSK‐3 inhibitor, as potential treatment for PSP. The study enrolled 146 PSP patients with mild‐to‐moderate disease who were randomized to receive once‐daily 600 mg tideglusib, 800 mg tideglusib, or placebo (ratio, 2:2:1) administered orally over 52 weeks. The primary endpoint was the change from baseline to week 52 on the PSP rating scale. Secondary endpoints were safety and tolerability of tideglusib, changes in motor function (the Timed Up and Go Test), cognition (Dementia Rating Scale‐2, Frontal Assessment Battery, verbal fluency), apathy (Starkstein scale), activities of daily living (Schwab and England scale; Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, part II), quality of life (EuroQol), and Global Clinical Assessment. Brain atrophy on magnetic resonance imaging and several biomarkers in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid also were examined. No significant differences were detected in the primary or secondary endpoints at week 52 between placebo and either dose of tideglusib. Tideglusib was safe, with the exception of some asymptomatic, transient, and reversible transaminase elevations (mainly alanine aminotransferase) in 9% of patients, and diarrhea in 13% of patients. Tideglusib was generally well tolerated but it did not show clinical efficacy in patients with mild‐to‐moderate PSP. © 2014 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Blinking in patients with clinically probable multiple system atrophy
Authors: Bologna Matteo , Marsili Luca , Khan Nashaba , Parvez Ahmad Khandker , Paparella Giulia , Modugno Nicola , Colosimo Carlo , Fabbrini Giovanni , Berardelli Alfredo
Published: February 2014

Background

Clinical studies in patients with MSA document facial motor abnormalities, but no studies have objectively assessed blinking abnormalities in this condition.

Methods

We enrolled patients diagnosed as having clinically probable MSA, 20 patients of the parkinsonian phenotype (MSA‐P) and 10 patients of the cerebellar phenotype (MSA‐C) and 20 healthy controls (HCs). Blinking was recorded with a three‐dimensional optoelectronic motion system equipped with dedicated software for data analysis.

Results

During voluntary blinking, the interphase pause duration between the closing and opening phases lasted longer in MSA‐P and in MSA‐C patients than in HCs; the opening phase had increased duration and reduced peak velocity in MSA‐P. During reflex blinking, the opening blink phase also lasted longer in MSA‐P patients than in HCs. During spontaneous blinking, the rate and kinematics of the closing and opening blinking phases were lower in MSA‐P and in MSA‐C patients than in HCs. Blink reflex recovery was higher in patients than in HCs. No difference was found between MSA‐P patients receiving or not receiving dopaminergic medication.

Conclusions

Our objective assessment of upper facial movement documents abnormalities of voluntary, spontaneous, and reflex blinking in patients with MSA‐P and MSA‐C, reflecting cortical‐basal ganglia and brainstem dysfunction. © 2014 Movement Disorder Society
The effect of deep brain stimulation randomized by site on balance in Parkinson's disease
Authors: St George Rebecca J. , Carlson‐Kuhta Patricia , Nutt John G. , Hogarth Penelope , Burchiel Kim J. , Horak Fay B.
Published: February 2014

Background

The effect of the surgical site of DBS on balance and gait in Parkinson's Disease (PD) is uncertain. This is the first double‐blind study of subjects randomized to either the STN (N = 14) or GPi (N = 14) who were assessed on a range of clinical balance measures.

Methods

Balance testing occurred before and 6 months postsurgery. A control PD group was tested over the same period without surgery (N = 9). All subjects were tested on and off medication and DBS subjects were also tested on and off DBS. The Postural Instability and Gait Disability items of the UPDRS and additional functional tests, which we call the Balance and Gait scale, were assessed. Activities of Balance Confidence and Activities of Daily Living questionnaires were also recorded.

Results

Balance was not different between the best‐treated states before and after DBS surgery for both sites. Switching DBS on improved balance scores, and scores further improved with medication, compared to the off state. The GPi group showed improved performance in the postsurgery off state and better ratings of balance confidence after surgery, compared to the STN group.

Conclusions

Clinical measures of balance function for both the STN and GPi sites showed that balance did not improve beyond the best medically treated state before surgery. Both clinical balance testing in the off/off state and self‐reported balance confidence after surgery showed better performance in the GPi than the STN group. © 2014 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
In vivo double quantum filtered sodium magnetic resonance imaging of human brain
Authors: Tsang Adrian , Stobbe Robert W. , Beaulieu Christian
Published: February 2014

Purpose

Sodium signal from ordered environments can be selectively detected using a double‐quantum magic angle (DQ‐MA) sequence. This study presents the first DQ‐MA sodium images of the human brain and evaluates the effect of preparation time (τ) on the signal.

Theory and Methods

Three phantoms of saline, agar gel, and xanthan gum were used to test the correct functioning of the DQ‐MA sequence. Five healthy volunteers were imaged using DQ‐MA with varying τ to determine the optimal preparation time. DQ‐MA images were acquired with 1 or 2 averages and nominal resolution of 15 mm isotropic in 3.5 or 7 min, respectively. In addition, higher nominal resolution (8.4 mm isotropic) DQ‐MA images were acquired from another subject in 48 min. Post hoc simulations were performed to explain the effect of τ on imaging results.

Results

The DQ‐MA sequence generates signal from only the xanthan gum phantom, correctly suppressing signal from environments in which the time‐averaged quadrupolar interaction is expected to be zero (saline, agar). This sequence generates signal throughout the brain with maximum detection when τ = 3 ms.

Conclusion

The existence of DQ‐MA signal in the human brain indicates the presence of sodium nuclei in ordered environments and provides a novel contrast mechanism. Magn Reson Med 73:497–504, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Securing a border under asymmetric information
Authors: Sullivan Kelly M. , Morton David P. , Pan Feng , Cole Smith J.
Published: February 2014

We study a stochastic interdiction model of Morton et al. IIE Transactions, 39 (2007):3–14 that locates radiation sensors at border crossings to detect and prevent the smuggling of nuclear material. In this model, an interdictor places sensors at customs checkpoints to minimize a potential smuggler's maximum probability of crossing a border undetected. We focus on a model variant in which the interdictor has different, and likely more accurate, perceptions of the system's parameters than the smuggler does. We introduce a model that is tighter and uses fewer constraints than that of Morton et al. We also develop a class of valid inequalities along with a corresponding separation procedure that can be used within a cutting‐plane approach to reduce computational effort. Computational results demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach.Copyright © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 61: 91–100, 2014
Reduction of Non‐adherent Behaviour in a Mexican‐American Adolescent with Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Piven Emily , Duran Rene
Published: February 2014

This single‐subject research aimed to evaluate the effect of occupation‐based activities to improve diabetes self‐management skills in a non‐adherent 19‐year‐old Mexican‐American adolescent transitioning to young adulthood. Using a pre‐test/post‐test design, the subject's performance was re‐evaluated with five standardized measures following an 8‐week intervention. The subject made major improvements on the Diabetes Self‐Efficacy Scale, Exercise Behaviour and in goal attainment of targeted behaviours on the basis of the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure. The Adapted Intrusiveness Rating Scale and the Social/Role Activities Limitations Scale revealed increased intrusiveness of diabetes in his life, once he finally embraced his need to prioritize diabetes self‐care. The study illuminated how a culturally sensitive, occupation‐based early intervention might potentially prevent or reduce debilitating complications in adulthood. The value of this study is its contribution to body of diabetes literature on the role of occupational therapist in secondary prevention with Mexican‐Americans. Research suggestions included expansion of single‐subject design with larger samples and higher‐level research studies with adolescents from various cultural backgrounds. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Does dexamethasone induce more neuropsychological side effects than prednisone in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia? A systematic review
Authors: Warris L.T. , van den Heuvel‐Eibrink M.M. , den Hoed M.A.H. , Aarsen F.K. , Pieters R. , van den Akker E.L.T.
Published: February 2014

Steroid‐induced neuropsychological side effects impact quality of life in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Dexamethasone induces more metabolic side effects than prednisone. To evaluate whether dexamethasone also leads to more neuropsychological side effects, we reviewed all available literature. Randomized controlled trials with neuropsychological function as the primary or secondary outcome did not show clinically meaningful differences between dexamethasone and prednisone on cognition, mood or behavior. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2014;61:1313–1318. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Birefringence and interface in sequential co‐injection molding of amorphous polymers: Simulation and experiment
Authors: Kim Nam Hyung , Isayev Avraam I.
Published: February 2014

Modelings of the interface distribution and flow‐induced residual stresses and birefringence in the sequential co‐injection molding (CIM) of a center‐gated disk were carried out using a numerical scheme based on a hybrid finite element/finite difference/control volume method. A nonlinear viscoelastic constitutive equation and stress‐optical rule were used to model the frozen‐in flow stresses in disks. The compressibility of melts is included in modeling of the packing and cooling stages and not in the filling stage. The thermally induced residual birefringence was calculated using the linear viscoelastic and photoviscoelastic constitutive equations combined with the first‐order rate equation for volume relaxation and the master curves for the relaxation modulus and strain‐optical coefficient functions of each polymer. The influence of the processing variables including melt and mold temperatures and volume of skin melt on the birefringence and interface distribution was analyzed for multilayered PS‐PC‐PS, PS‐PMMA‐PS, and PMMA–PC–PMMA molded disks obtained by CIM. The interface distribution and residual birefringence in the molded disks were measured. The measured interface distributions and the gapwise birefringence distributions in CIM disks were found to be in a fair agreement with the predicted interface distributions and the total residual birefringence obtained by the summation of the predicted frozen‐in flow and thermal birefringence. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 55:88–106, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers
Evaluation of advanced p‐PERL and n‐PERT large area silicon solar cells with 20.5% energy conversion efficiencies
Authors: Tous L. , Aleman M. , Russell R. , Cornagliotti E. , Choulat P. , Uruena A. , Singh S. , John J. , Duerinckx F. , Poortmans J. , Mertens R.
Published: February 2014

In this paper, we evaluate p‐type passivated emitter and rear locally diffused (p‐PERL) and n‐type passivated emitter and rear totally diffused (n‐PERT) large area silicon solar cells featuring nickel/copper/silver (Ni/Cu/Ag) plated front side contacts. By using front emitter p‐PERL and rear emitter n‐PERT, both cell structures can be produced with only a few adaptations in the entire process sequence because both feature the same front side design: homogeneous n+ diffused region with low surface concentration, SiO2/SiNx:H passivation, Ni/Cu/Ag plated contacts. Energy conversion efficiencies up to 20.5% (externally confirmed at FhG‐ISE Callab) are presented for both cell structures on large area cells together with power‐loss analysis and potential efficiency improvements based on PC1D simulations. We demonstrate that the use of a rear emitter n‐PERT cell design with Ni/Cu/Ag plated front side contacts enables to reach open‐circuit voltage values up to 676 mV on 1–2 Ω cm n‐type CZ Si. We show that rear emitter n‐PERT cells present the potential for energy conversion efficiencies above 21.5% together with a strong tolerance to wafer thickness and bulk resistivity. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Broadband enhancement of coaxial heterogeneous gallium arsenide single‐nanowire solar cells
Authors: Li Xiaofeng , Zhan Yaohui , Wang Chinhua
Published: February 2014

Coaxial gallium arsenide single‐nanowire solar cells with multiple electrically and optically functional nanoshells are presented in this paper. Both optical absorption and light‐conversion characteristics are extensively examined by performing a comprehensive device‐oriented simulation. It is found that a window layer with a large semiconductor bandgap is necessary for the nanowire gallium arsenide solar cells, which allow internal quantum efficiency ~100% in ~75% of the absorption band of gallium arsenide. Results also reveal the role of nanofocusing effect in enhancing the performance of nanowire devices that show both absorption and external quantum efficiencies over 100% under resonances. A dielectric cladding shell is introduced and optimized, which enhances the nanofocusing effect and leads to extraordinary enhancement of both absorption and light‐conversion capabilities in a very broad band. This design contributes a short‐circuit current density increased by 2.4 times and an open‐circuit voltage over 1.1 V. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Global identification of O‐GlcNAc transferase (OGT) interactors by a human proteome microarray and the construction of an OGT interactome
Authors: Deng Rui‐Ping , He Xiang , Guo Shu‐Juan , Liu Wei‐Feng , Tao Yong , Tao Sheng‐Ce
Published: February 2014

O‐Linked β‐N‐acetylglucosamine (O‐GlcNAcylation) is an important protein PTM, which is very abundant in mammalian cells. O‐GlcNAcylation is catalyzed by O‐GlcNAc transferase (OGT), whose substrate specificity is believed to be regulated through interactions with other proteins. There are a handful of known human OGT interactors, which is far from enough for fully elucidating the substrate specificity of OGT. To address this challenge, we used a human proteome microarray containing ∼17 000 affinity‐purified human proteins to globally identify OGT interactors and identified 25 OGT‐binding proteins. Bioinformatics analysis showed that these interacting proteins play a variety of roles in a wide range of cellular functions and are highly enriched in intra‐Golgi vesicle‐mediated transport and vitamin biosynthetic processes. Combining newly identified OGT interactors with the interactors identified prior to this study, we have constructed the first OGT interactome. Bioinformatics analysis suggests that the OGT interactome plays important roles in protein transportation/localization and transcriptional regulation. The novel OGT interactors that we identified in this study could serve as a starting point for further functional analysis. Because of its high‐throughput and parallel analysis capability, we strongly believe that protein microarrays could be easily applied for the global identification of regulators for other key enzymes.
Qualitative and quantitative top‐down mass spectral analysis of crustacean hyperglycemic hormones in response to feeding
Authors: Jia Chenxi , Yu Qing , Wang Jingxin , Li Lingjun
Published: February 2014

An efficient pipeline for peptide discovery accelerates peptidomic analysis and facilitates a better understanding of the functional roles of neuropeptides. However, qualitative and quantitative analysis of large neuropeptides is challenging due to the bigger molecular sizes, multiple PTMs, and interference by homologous isoforms. Herein, we refined two methodologies in the pipeline for highly confident and efficient MS‐based peptide discovery. For the qualitative analysis, the so‐called “high resolution/accurate mass” measurement on Orbitrap mass spectrometers was integrated with computer‐assisted homology search, which was successfully applied to decipher the substituted amino acid residues in large neuropeptides by referring to homologous sequences. For the quantitative analysis, a new isotopic labeling‐assisted top‐down MS strategy was developed, which enabled direct monitoring of the abundance changes of endogenous large neuropeptides. By using the refined peptide discovery pipeline, one novel crustacean hyperglycemic hormone (CHH) from the Dungeness crab sinus glands was confidently identified and de novo sequenced, and its relative abundance was quantified. Comparative analysis of CHHs in unfed and fed crabs revealed that the peptide abundance in the sinus glands was significantly increased after food intake, suggesting that the release of CHHs might be altered by feeding behavior.
Physicochemical characterization of paramagnetic ionic liquids 1‐vinyl‐3‐alkylimidazolium tetrahalogenidoferrate(III) [VRIM][FeClmBr4 − m]
Authors: Tang Yimei , Hu Xiaoling , Guan Ping , Lin Xiangping , Li Xiaoqian
Published: February 2014

Using microwave‐assisted synthesis method, a series of paramagnetic ionic liquids comprising 1‐vinyl‐3‐alkylimidazolium VRIM+ cation and tetrahalogenidoferrate (III) FeClmBr4 − m− anion were designed and synthesized. The structure was analyzed using 1H NMR and Raman spectroscopy. Ultraviolet–visible absorption spectra, thermal stability, magnetic susceptibility, viscosity, ionic conductivity, and solubility were characterized. Results show that elongation of the alkyl chain leads to replacement of bromides with a small amount of chlorides in the anion, shifting of UV maximum absorption peaks to shorter wavelengths, reduction of ionic conductivity, and solubility in polar solvents, as well as increase in fluidity, magnetic susceptibility, and solubility in nonpolar solvents. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The effect of water content on chain dynamics in nafion membranes measured by neutron spin echo and dielectric spectroscopy
Authors: Page Kirt A. , Rowe Brandon W. , Masser Kevin A. , Faraone Antonio
Published: February 2014

Neutron spin‐echo spectroscopy has been used to measure the time‐scale of fluctuations associated with the inter‐chain correlation peak observed in the diffraction pattern of the perfluorosulfonate ionomer, Nafion®. We have successfully measured the chain dynamics as a function of water content and temperature and have demonstrated that the chain dynamics become faster with increasing temperature. The addition of water also results in shorter relaxation times due to a plasticization of the chain motions. At water contents above aλ≈ 6, the chain dynamics seem to approach a plateau and the relaxation times of the chains are no longer being plasticized by the presence of additional water molecules. The increased mobility in molecular relaxations induced by the presence of water points to the molecular origins of the temperature‐ and humidity‐dependent softening mechanisms in Nafion and other perfluorinated sulfonic acid membrane materials. Moreover, these results show that there is a strong inter‐dependence of the dynamics of water and the polymer chains in Nafion membranes. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. Part B: Polym.2014,52, 624–632
Navigating healthcare: a qualitative study exploring prostate cancer patients' and doctors' experience of consultations using a decision‐support intervention
Authors: Hacking B. , Scott S. E. , Wallace L. M. , Shepherd S. C. , Belkora J.
Published: February 2014

Background

Men with prostate cancer face preference‐sensitive decisions when choosing among treatments with similar survival outcomes but different procedures, risks and potential complications. A decision‐support intervention, ‘Decision Navigation’ assists men with prostate cancer to prepare a question list (consultation plan) for their doctors and provides them with a consultation summary and audio recording. A randomised controlled trial of Decision Navigation showed advantages over usual care on quantitative measures including confidence in decision‐making and regret.

Objective

The aim of this study was to gain a qualitative understanding of patient's and doctor's perspectives on Decision Navigation.

Methods

Six patients who received Decision Navigation were purposively selected for interview out of 62 randomised controlled trial participants. All four doctors who consulted Navigated patients were interviewed. Interview data was analysed using framework analysis.

Results

Patients reported that planning for the consultation helped them to frame their questions, enabling them to participate in consultations and take responsibility for making decisions. They reported feeling more confident in the decisions made, having a written report of the key information and an audio recording. Patients considered routine information relating to side effects was inadequate. Doctors reported that consultation plans made them aware of patients' concerns and ensured comprehensive responses to questions posed. Doctors also endorsed implementing Decision Navigation as part of routine care.

Conclusion

Results suggest that Decision Navigation facilitated patients' involvement in treatment decision‐making. Prostate patients engaging in preference‐sensitive decision‐making welcomed this approach to personalised tailored support. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Attachment style and respiratory sinus arrhythmia predict post‐treatment quality of life in breast cancer survivors
Authors: Fagundes Christopher P. , Jaremka Lisa M. , Malarkey William B. , Kiecolt‐Glaser Janice K.
Published: February 2014

Objective

Breast cancer is the most frequent malignant tumor among women in the industrialized world. The vast majority of these tumors can now be successfully treated. A subset of breast cancer survivors report quality of life (QOL) difficulties well after treatment is completed. The current study examined how individual differences in attachment style and self‐regulatory capacity (as indexed by respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA)) were associated QOL among post‐treatment breast cancer survivors.

Methods

Women who had completed treatment for stage 0–IIIA breast cancer within the past 2 years participated in the study (N = 96). RSA was assessed using electrocardiography data that was continuously measured non‐invasively for 10 min. Attachment orientation was measured using a modified version of the Experiences in Close Relationships Scale and overall QOL by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy‐Breast scale.

Results

Breast cancer survivors with more attachment anxiety reported poorer QOL than those with less attachment anxiety. Women who were more avoidantly attached also reported poorer QOL compared with those who were less avoidantly attached. Furthermore, attachment avoidance interacted with RSA to predict QOL such that those with higher attachment avoidance were only vulnerable to poorer QOL if they also had lower self‐regulatory capacity, as indexed by lower RSA.

Conclusion

A better understanding of how attachment style and RSA contribute to breast cancer survivors QOL will help identify people at risk for QOL problems after treatment completion. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Advantages of proteins being disordered
Authors: Liu Zhirong , Huang Yongqi
Published: February 2014

The past decade has witnessed great advances in our understanding of protein structure‐function relationships in terms of the ubiquitous existence of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) and intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs). The structural disorder of IDPs/IDRs enables them to play essential functions that are complementary to those of ordered proteins. In addition, IDPs/IDRs are persistent in evolution. Therefore, they are expected to possess some advantages over ordered proteins. In this review, we summarize and survey nine possible advantages of IDPs/IDRs: economizing genome/protein resources, overcoming steric restrictions in binding, achieving high specificity with low affinity, increasing binding rate, facilitating posttranslational modifications, enabling flexible linkers, preventing aggregation, providing resistance to non‐native conditions, and allowing compatibility with more available sequences. Some potential advantages of IDPs/IDRs are not well understood and require both experimental and theoretical approaches to decipher. The connection with protein design is also briefly discussed.
Explosion and flame characteristics of methane/air mixtures in a large‐scale vessel
Authors: Zhang Bo , Bai Chunhua , Xiu Guangli , Liu Qingming , Gong Guangdong
Published: February 2014

In this study, experiments of explosions and flame characteristics in methane/air mixtures are performed in a 10‐m3 vessel. Pressure gauges and a high‐speed camera are utilized to record the pressure trajectories and the flame propagation process of ignition growth. The experimental results show that the maximum value of overpressure and the maximum rate of the explosion pressure rise are 0.596 MPa and 1.82 MPa/s for the methane (9.5% in volume)/air mixture at atmospheric conditions, respectively. Both values are higher than for other mixtures with different compositions. The results also indicate that the overpressure from the large‐scale vessel in this study is lower than that of a smaller apparatus (e.g., 5‐L closed cylindrical vessel). This difference occurs due to the cooling effect and because the reflected sonic disturbances by the vessel wall affect the explosion process and weaken the energy during the pressure attenuation stage, thus rendering the value of overpressure in the large‐scale apparatus lower than in the tiny cylindrical vessels. The maximum overpressure is observed at 0.75 m for C = 7% (“C” means the methane concentration) and 9.5% but at 1.3 m for C = 5%, 6.5%, 11.2%, and 13%. These results indicate that methane/air is an easier means to generate overpressure and that the overpressure is higher near the stoichiometric condition. Based on the analysis of the flame propagation process, the mean value of the flame speed of methane (C = 9.5%)/air is calculated to be approximately 2.43 m/s because the nonuniformity of the chemical reaction at the flame front results in a maximum fluctuation of flame speed of approximately 28.5%. The flame thickness (θ) of methane (C = 9.5%)/air fluctuates between 9.84 and 10.95 mm, with a mean value of 10.53 mm. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog 33: 362–368, 2014
The impact of growth parameters on trench defects in InGaN/GaN quantum wells
Authors: Massabuau F. C.‐P. , Le Fol A. , Pamenter S. K. , Oehler F. , Kappers M. J. , Humphreys C. J. , Oliver R. A.
Published: February 2014

The impact of the InGaN growth temperature and of the trimethylindium flux on trench defects has been investigated. We show that the density of defects is affected by both conditions but also their morphology and their emission properties. Therefore, the impact of such defect on the performance of quantum well structures can be controlled by adjusting these two growth conditions. Under usual conditions for making blue light emitting diodes, we observe that the enclosed region of the defect emits light at a longer wavelength. Nevertheless, our data also demonstrate that emission at a shorter wavelength is possible under certain growth conditions.
Highly sensitive magnetometer based on the off‐diagonal GMI effect in Co‐rich glass‐coated microwire
Authors: Gudoshnikov Sergey , Usov Nikolai , Nozdrin Alexey , Ipatov Mihail , Zhukov Arcady , Zhukova Valentina
Published: February 2014

The design and performance of a magnetometer based on the off‐diagonal GMI effect in Co‐rich glass‐coated microwire are presented. The sensing element of the magnetometer is a 10‐mm long piece of Co–Fe–Ni–B–Si–Mo microwire with a small pick‐up coil of 85 turns wounded around the microwire. The electronics with a feedback circuit is used to register an electromotive force proportional to the external magnetic field applied along the wire axis. In the absence of the feedback current the magnetometer is capable of measuring a narrow range of magnetic fields, ±3.5 μT, in the frequency range of 0–1 kHz, the level of the equivalent magnetic noise being about 10 pT Hz−1/2 at a frequency of 300 Hz. The use of the feedback circuit increases the range of the measured magnetic fields up to ±250 μT.

Photo of the giant magnetoimpedance magnetometer based on the off‐diagonal GMI effect in Co‐rich glass‐coated microwire.
P–I–N–P top‐emitting organic light‐emitting diodes with MoOx as the electrical and optical modification layers
Authors: Xie Guohua , Fehse Karsten , Leo Karl , Gather Malte C.
Published: February 2014

We report a P–I–N–P top‐emitting organic light‐emitting diode (TEOLED) that contains an additional p‐doped hole transporting layer between the conventional n‐doped electron transporting layer and the top cathode. The TEOLED comprises MoOx in different positions of the device stack (i) as a buffer layer and a p‐dopant to improve the hole injection efficiency from the anode side and to form an abrupt tunnel junction at the cathode side and (ii) a capping layer to tailor the out‐coupling efficiency. The N–P tunnel junction provides a simple approach for balancing charge injection and thus results in simultaneous improvements on current, power and external quantum efficiencies (maxima of 39, 35, and 45%, respectively).
Exchange–correlation and temperature effects on plasmons in strongly correlated two‐dimensional electron systems: Finite‐temperature local‐field‐correction theory combined with angle‐resolved Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Inaoka Takeshi , Sugiyama Yosuke , Sato Koji
Published: February 2014

Using the two types of the finite‐temperature (T) local‐field corrections, namely, the Singwi–Tosi–Land–Sjölander (STLS) and Hubbard (H) approximations, we investigate the exchange–correlation (XC) and T effects on plasmons (PLs) in strongly‐correlated two‐dimensional electron systems with ultralow density. In a density‐parameter range of and in a Fermi‐T normalized T range of 0.5 ≤ T/TF ≤ 8.4, we analyse those PL dispersions, which were observed extensively from single quantum wells by angle‐resolved Raman spectroscopy, but which have not been analysed theoretically so far. Even in our strongly correlated electron systems, the size of the XC holes can be well normalized by the inverse Fermi wave number . Close comparison with the experiment shows that the STLS approximation can be expected to give a quantitative description of the PLs in a smaller wave‐number (q) range of q  kF, but that it overestimates the XC effect in a larger q range of q  kF. The H approximation is insufficient to explain the remarkable XC effects. The conspicuous T dependence in the PL dispersion can be ascribed largely to the T dependence of the constituent electronic transitions of the PLs through the Fermi–Dirac distribution function.
Spin transport and spin manipulation in GaAs (110) and (111) quantum wells
Authors: Hernández‐Mínguez A. , Biermann K. , Hey R. , Santos P. V.
Published: February 2014

Spin dephasing via the spin–orbit interaction is a major mechanism limiting the electron spin lifetime in zincblende III–V quantum wells (QWs). QWs grown along the non‐conventional crystallographic directions [111] and [110] offer new interesting perspectives for the control of spin–orbit (SO) related spin dephasing mechanisms due to the special symmetries of the SO fields in these structures. In this contribution, we show that the combination of such special symmetries with the transport of carriers by the type II modulation accompanying a surface acoustic wave allows the transport of spin polarized carriers over distances of tens of m in GaAs(110) QWs. In the case of GaAs(111), the Rashba contribution to the SO field generated by an electric field perpendicular to the QW plane is used to compensate the Dresselhaus contribution at low temperatures, leading to spin lifetimes of up to 100 ns. The compensation mechanism is less effective at high temperatures due to nonlinear terms of the Dresselhaus contribution. Perspectives to overcome this limitation via the combination of (111) structures with the transport of spins by surface acoustic waves are discussed.
High‐efficiency yellow light‐emitting diodes grown on sapphire (0001) substrates
Authors: Hashimoto Rei , Hwang Jongil , Saito Shinji , Nunoue Shinya
Published: February 2014

High‐efficiency yellow InGaN‐based light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) were grown by metal‐organic chemical vapor deposition on conventional c‐plane sapphire (0001) substrates. Optimization of the growth temperature of barrier layers eliminated surface inclusions and resulted in improved output properties of the fabricated yellow LEDs. They exhibited a high output power of 8.4 mW and external quantum efficiency of 19.3% for yellow light (570 nm) at an injection direct current of 20 mA. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Thermally robust RuOx Schottky diodes and HEMTs on III‐nitrides
Authors: Kyaw Lwin Min , Saju Aju Abraham , Liu Yi , Bera Milan Kumar , Singh Sarab Preet , Tripathy Sudhiranjan , Chor Eng Fong
Published: February 2014

The potential usage of thermally robust RuOx Schottky contacts in III‐nitride‐based Schottky diodes and high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) has been investigated. RuOx is deposited on nitride surface by sputtering Ru in Ar/O2 ambient. The influence of post sputtering annealing ambient and temperature on the characteristics of RuOx Schottky diodes on n‐type GaN on Si(111) substrate is addressed. We also report the comparative study of thermal stability between RuOx and Ni/Au Schottky diodes on InxAl1‐xN/GaN on Si(111) substrate in terms of the reverse bias leakage current and Schottky barrier height (SBH). RuOx contact shows a higher SBH of 1.24 eV and a lower leakage current of ∼10‐5 Acm‐2 (∼four orders of magnitude lower than that of Ni/Au) on InxAl1‐xN/GaN at –40 V after annealing at 800 oC in N2. In addition, RuOx Schottky gate HEMT on InxAl1‐xN/GaN on Si(111) substrate has shown a low gate leakage current of ∼6×10‐8 A/mm at ‐8 V after annealing at 700 oC in N2 for 1 minute. The lower gate leakage current has resulted in a transistor ON/OFF current ratio of ∼105. The maximum transconductance and ON‐resistance achieved by such HEMTs are about 0.18 S/mm and 8.33 Ωmm, respectively, for a gate length of 1.5 µm. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Improved theoretical model of InN optical properties
Authors: Ferreira da Silva A. , Chubaci J. F. D. , Matsuoka M. , Freitas J. A. , Tischler J. G. , Baldissera G. , Persson C.
Published: February 2014

The optical properties of InN are investigated theoretically by employing the projector augmented wave (PAW) method within Green's function and the screened Coulomb interaction approximation (GWo). The calculated results are compared to previously reported calculations which use local density approximation combined with the scissors‐operator approximation. The results of the present calculation are compared with reported values of the InN bandgap and with low temperature near infrared luminescence measurements of InN films deposited by a modified Ion Beam Assisted Deposition technique. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
AlN/AlGaN/GaN buffer optimization on silicon (111): bow and crystal quality control for Si‐CMOS fabs
Authors: Kandaswamy Prem Kumar , Liang Hu , Zhao Ming , Yoga Saripalli , Carlson Eric Porter , Thapa Sarad Bahadur , Hove Marleen Van , Richard Olivier , DeVos Brecht , Vancoille Eric , Dutta Barun
Published: February 2014

In GaN‐on‐silicon there are many challenges which are currently encountered when making this technology compatible with standard Si‐CMOS fabs especially the bow. Bringing this technology to CMOS fabs can potentially drive the costs down, in addition to the cost advantage expected from large wafer sizes. We report here on the impact of AlN nucleation layer on crystal quality and bow. The focus will be on V/III ratios and pre‐dose conditions for AlN, which have considerable effect on the AlN/AlGaN/GaN buffer structures. We will also discuss how AlN thickness can be used to tune the bow. Finally, a brief description on the effect of surface pits will be presented.(© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Vacancy defects in UV‐transparent HVPE‐AlN
Authors: Kuittinen Tanja , Tuomisto Filip , Kumagai Yoshinao , Nagashima Toru , Kinoshita Toru , Koukitu Akinori , Collazo Ramón , Sitar Zlatko
Published: February 2014

We used positron annihilation spectroscopy to study bulk AlN single crystals grown by physical vapor transport (PVT) and hydride vapor phase epitaxy (HVPE). Unlike in previous measurements in AlN, we see a clear Alvacancy related lifetime component already at room temperature in HVPE‐AlN. Overall, our results show the more UV‐transparent HVPE‐AlN to have higher concentration of Al‐vacancy related defects than PVT‐AlN, suggesting that Al‐vacancies are not the origin of UV absorption in AlN. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
First‐principles study on the conduction band electron states of GaAsN alloys
Authors: Sakamoto Kei , Yaguchi Hiroyuki
Published: February 2014

We have analyzed the electronic states of the lowest conduction band of GaAsN alloys based on the first‐principles calculation. In order to study the nitrogen concentration dependence of the electron effective mass, we calculated the electronic structure of GaAsN alloys using a full‐potential density functional theory program. The calculated effective mass of GaAsN with a dilute nitrogen concentration is about twice as heavy as that of GaAs. In addition, the effective mass is found to decrease with increasing nitrogen concentration although it is always heavier than that of GaAs. In addition, we calculated the density of states of GaAsN to examine what the cause of the decrease in the effective mass is. Our calculations suggest the discontinuity of the physical property from GaAs to GaAsN and provide an important insight into the formation of the conduction band states of GaAsN alloys. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
In situ temperature measurements for selective epitaxy of GaN nanowires
Authors: Bertness Kris A. , Brubaker Matt D. , Harvey Todd E. , Duff Shannon M. , Sanders Aric W. , Sanford Norman A.
Published: February 2014

We demonstrate with spatially resolved, in situ temperature measurements and ex situ reflectance measurements that differences in appearance for masked and unmasked surfaces on patterned growth substrates arise from wavelength‐dependent emissivity variations and not from actual temperature differences. For this study, Si(111) substrates were coated with thin AlN buffer layers (about 40 nm thick) and then further coated with a SiNx mask layer (about 60 nm thick). “Blackbody” emission spectra were collected from homogeneous regions at growth temperatures near those that allow the selective epitaxy of catalyst‐free GaN nanowires on the AlN by molecular beam epitaxy. The data were acquired with a commercial in situ diagnostic system that incorporates optical fiber collection to limit the sampling area to a circle about 5 mm in diameter on the substrate. The emittance spectra are estimated from room‐temperature reflectance measurements. The implication for selectivity mechanisms and temperature measurements in molecular beam epitaxy in general are also discussed. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Cross slip of dislocation loops in GaN under shear
Authors: Wu Chi‐Chin , Weingarten N. Scott , Chung Peter W.
Published: February 2014

This work explores possible cross‐slip mechanisms of gliding type  = a /3[1 –2 1 0] dislocation loops in wurtzite gallium nitride (GaN) as a function of slip plane. A modified form of the dislocation dynamics code ParaDiS was employed using isotropic linear elasticity and dislocation mobilities estimated in part from molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Under an externally applied uniform stress, the occurrence of cross slip events is highly dependent on the initial dislocation slip plane. The basal plane is the preferred active plane, owing to the greater mobility of  type segments on that plane, over the other planes considered including the prismatic (–1 0 1 0) and two equivalent pyramidal planes (–1 0 1 1) and (1 0 –1 1). For an applied stress state, cross slip processes are more readily seen from the prismatic‐to‐basal planes or the pyramidal‐to‐basal planes, and neither is found to occur in reverse. Cross slip by climb is not presently considered. In all cases, cross‐slip events occur after the loop expands until a greater number of screw‐oriented segments are able to access the cross slip plane and the resolved stresses on the plane become sufficiently large. In comparison to dislocations found in GaN previously, the calculations suggest that some threading dislocations along the [0001] direction that have edge character may have been formed from loops whose screw segments slip and escape on basal planes leaving only the edge segments.
Growth techniques to reduce V‐defect density in GaN and AlGaN layers grown on 200 mm Si (111) substrate
Authors: Liang Hu , Saripalli Yoga , Kandaswamy Prem Kumar , Carlson Eric Porter , Favia Paola , Richard Olivier , Bender Hugo , Zhao Ming , Thapa Sarad Bahadur , Vancoille Eric
Published: February 2014

V‐defects can be very detrimental to the functionality of GaN based light emitting diodes (LEDs) and high power transistors grown on 200 mm Si (111) substrates. This work focuses on reducing these detrimental defects in the GaN/AlGaN/AlN stacks grown in a Veeco Turbodisc Maxbright MOCVD system. The origins of V‐defects in GaN/AlGaN/AlN material were studied by cross‐sectional transmission electron microscope (TEM) and high angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF‐STEM). It was found that V‐defects were associated with inversion domain boundary (IDB) like defects, which started from the interface between the AlN nucleation layers and the Si (111) substrates. These IDB‐like defects were terminated by generating V‐defects in the upper layers. Encouraging the 2‐D GaN growth mode helped to close these V‐defects in the GaN layers, but relaxed the built‐in compressive stress faster and resulted in excessive wafer bow. Optimizing the V/III ratio during the AlN nucleation step improved AlN crystal quality and surface morphology, and close V‐defects in GaN without degrading wafers stress condition.
Retention properties with high‐temperature resistance in (Bi,Pr)(Fe,Mn)O3 thin film capacitor
Authors: Nomura Yukihiro , Nomura Keisuke , Kinoshita Koyo , Kawae Takeshi , Morimoto Akiharu
Published: February 2014

magnified image

(Bi0.9Pr0.1)(Fe0.97Mn0.03)O3 (BPFM) thin film was deposited on Pt‐coated Si(100) substrate by chemical solution deposition. Remnant polarization and coercive field in the BPFM film capacitor were 113 °C/cm2 and 630 kV/cm at the maximum electric field of 1000 kV/cm, respectively. Switching charge measured by a rectangular pulse measurement was 118 °C/cm2. Almost no polarization losses of BPFM film capacitor were observed even after retention time of 104 s at room temperature. Furthermore, the polarization loss at 450 °C was only 3.7% even after 104 s. These results indicate that BPFM film capacitor is suitable for non‐volatile memory applications at high temperature. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)