bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Untersuchungen zur Verbesserung der mechanischen Eigenschaften von Mauerwerk durch Elastomerlager
Authors: Aldoghaim Eyad
Published: April 2012

Erdbeben verursachen große Wirtschafts‐ und Gesundheitsprobleme durch das spröde Bauteil‐ und Materialversagen von Lebens‐ und Wohnraum. Unbewehrtes Mauerwerk gehört zur Klasse der Baustoffe, die nur einen begrenzten Erdbebenwiderstand aufweisen, da Bauteile aus Mauerwerk Zugspannungen und Zugkräfte nicht wie Stahlbeton‐ und Stahlbauten aufnehmen können. Aus diesem Grund wurde bereits mit unterschiedlichen Methoden versucht, die Schäden und Probleme durch Verbesserung der Tragfähigkeit von Mauerwerk im Erdbebenfall zu minimieren. Modernes Mauerwerk kann auch als bewehrtes oder eingefasstes Mauerwerk erstellt werden. Der Widerstand kann in bewehrtem Mauerwerk deutlich erhöht werden aufgrund der Aufnahme der Zugspannungen durch die Bewehrung. Durch Einfassung mit Stahlbetonelementen können die Tragfähigkeit sowie der Verbund zu angrenzenden Bauteilen verbessert werden. Weitere praktische Möglichkeiten zur Erhöhung des Widerstands bestehen im Aufbringen von Geweben oder hochfesten Lamellen.

In diesem Artikel wird ein ganz anderer Weg beschritten, indem weiche Fugen Spannungsspitzen reduzieren sowie eine höhere Verformbarkeit der Bauteile gewährleisten. Dies bedeutet eine Entwicklung der Mauerwerksstruktur mit einer neuartigen Ausbildung der Mauerwerksfugen, nämlich mit Elastomerlagern und Epoxidharzkleber anstatt des üblichen Dünnbettmörtels.

Masonry mechanical properties improvement by means of elastomeric material. As earthquake strikes, the brittle failure of living space may cause considerable economic and health problems. Unreinforced masonry which classified as a building material has a limited earthquake resistance, because it does not possess tensile and tension forces like reinforced concrete and steel. Hence, in the case of earthquake, a variety of methods were conducted in order to minimize problems by improving the load bearing capacity of masonry.

Modern masonry can be produced as reinforced or constrained one, wherein its resistance significantly increases because its tensile stresses and forces are carried by the reinforcement. The load bearing capacity of masonry as well as its connection to adjacent components can be improved by constraining masonry with reinforced concrete elements. In addition, the application of high‐strength textile or lamella are other possibilities.

In this project, a different approach is carried out. Soft bed‐joints lead to reduce stress‐peaks in units and generate higher ductility in masonry. Therefore, a development in the masonry structure by using a novel design of masonry bed‐joints, namely, elastomeric materials combined with epoxy glue; is better than conventional thin mortar.
Salivary cortisol measurement in developmental research: Where do we go from here?
Authors: Clements Andrea D.
Published: April 2012

Salivary cortisol has been measured extensively in developmental research over the last three decades. The purpose of this article is to summarize the contributions to and limitations of salivary cortisol measurement in developmental research and propose future directions for research that includes salivary cortisol measurement. The properties of cortisol, the history of its burgeoning popularity, and the utility and limitations of (a) cortisol as a biological indicator, (b) saliva as a source of cortisol, and (c) various saliva collection methodologies are described. The current state of understanding about what is and is not reliably predictable from cortisol is summarized and the value of salivary cortisol measurement in developmental research is discussed, addressing whether methodology could be driving research design. Recommendations are made for streamlining study design and reporting within developmental research. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 55: 205–220, 2013
Microsatellite variation and genetic structure of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) populations in Labrador and neighboring Atlantic Canada: evidence for ongoing gene flow and dual routes of post‐Wisconsinan colonization
Authors: Pilgrim Brettney L. , Perry Robert C. , Keefe Donald G. , Perry Elizabeth A. , Dawn Marshall H.
Published: April 2012

In conservation genetics and management, it is important to understand the contribution of historical and contemporary processes to geographic patterns of genetic structure in order to characterize and preserve diversity. As part of a 10‐year monitoring program by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, we measured the population genetic structure of the world's most northern native populations of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) in Labrador to gather baseline data to facilitate monitoring of future impacts of the recently opened Trans‐Labrador Highway. Six‐locus microsatellite profiles were obtained from 1130 fish representing 32 populations from six local regions. Genetic diversity in brook trout populations in Labrador (average HE= 0.620) is within the spectrum of variability found in other brook trout across their northeastern range, with limited ongoing gene flow occurring between populations (average pairwise FST= 0.139). Evidence for some contribution of historical processes shaping genetic structure was inferred from an isolation‐by‐distance analysis, while dual routes of post‐Wisconsinan recolonization were indicated by STRUCTURE analysis: K= 2 was the most likely number of genetic groups, revealing a separation between northern and west‐central Labrador from all remaining populations. Our results represent the first data from the nuclear genome of brook trout in Labrador and emphasize the usefulness of microsatellite data for revealing the extent to which genetic structure is shaped by both historical and contemporary processes.
Transition‐Metal‐Catalyzed Cyclization of Alkynals via Oxametallacycle Intermediates
Authors: Tanaka Ken , Tajima Yuki
Published: April 2012

The transition‐metal‐catalyzed cyclization of alkynals viaoxametallacycle intermediates is a useful method for thestereoselective synthesis of cyclic allylic alcohol derivatives. The reductive cyclization reactions are catalyzed by titanium and nickel complexes using organosilanes, organoboranes, and organozincs as reducing agents. The alkylative, arylative, and alkenylative cyclization reactions are catalyzed by nickel complexes using organozincs and alkenylzirconiums. On the other hand, the recently developed rhodium‐catalyzed reductive cyclization reactions of alkynals allow using dihydrogen as a reducing agent without the use of organometalloid and organometallic reagents. Furthermore, very recently, the rhodium‐catalyzed acylative cyclization reactions of alkynals were accomplished by using aldehydes and acyl phosphonates as acylating reagents. Importantly, the use of the rhodium catalysts realized the enantioselective cyclization reactions of alkynals with excellent levels of enantioselection.
Vedeggio‐Cassarate Tunnel: tunnelling in groundwater under pressure / Tunnel Vedeggio‐Cassarate: Vortrieb in gespanntem Grundwasser
Authors: Neuenschwander Matthias , Como Giovanni , Ferrari Alessandro , Gubler Gabriele
Published: April 2012

Many thousand people commute daily into Lugano in the south of Switzerland and the city has been suffering under this heavy traffic for decades. Therefore the Canton of Tessin and the local councils in the Lugano local transport area agreed twenty years ago a mobility plan including numerous construction measures. On of the most impressive structures is the Vedeggio‐Cassarate Tunnel on the approach route to Lugano from the north. This has a length of 2,630 m and links the Vedeggio Valley to the west with the Cassarate Valley to the east. The three main sections of the tunnel are described as the rock section, the loose ground section and the cut‐and‐cover section. The tunnel was driven under a built‐up area, with one school and several blocks of flats inside the area affected by the works. The essential construction challenges were tunnelling under the most important Swiss railway line under continued operation, the protection of listed historic buildings and tunnelling through loose ground below the groundwater table.

Nach Lugano in der Südschweiz pendeln täglich mehrere zehntausend Menschen. Unter diesem hohen Verkehrsaufkommen leidet die Stadt seit Jahrzehnten. Deshalb beschlossen der Kanton Tessin und die Gemeinden des Nahverkehrsbereichs von Lugano bereits vor über zwanzig Jahren einen Mobilitätsplan, der auch zahlreiche Baumaßnahmen umfasst. Eines der herausragenden Bauwerke ist der Tunnel Vedeggio‐Cassarate, der die nördliche Einfallachse nach Lugano darstellt. Mit einer Länge von 2.630 m verbindet er das Vedeggio‐Tal im Westen mit dem Cassarate‐Tal im Osten. Drei Hauptstrecken des Bauwerks sind als Felsstrecke, Lockergesteins‐ und Tagebaustrecke gekennzeichnet. Der Tunnelvortrieb erfolgte unter bebautem Stadtgebiet; eine Schule und einige Mehrfamilienhäuser befanden sich im direkten Einflussbereich der Arbeiten. Die wesentlichen bautechnischen Herausforderungen waren die Unterquerung der wichtigsten Schweizer Bahnlinie unter Verkehr, der Schutz der geschützten historischen Bauten und die Durchquerung der Lockergesteinsstrecke im Grundwasser.
Bidirectional esophageal dilatation in pharyngoesophageal stenosis postradiotherapy
Authors: Gavriel Haim , Duong Cuong , Spillane John , Sizeland Andrew
Published: April 2012

Severely stenosed radiation‐induced benign strictures around the level of cricopharyngeus post–radical chemoradiation for head and neck or upper esophageal cancers pose significant management problems. We report our technique of bidirectional assessment and dilatation of pharyngoesophageal strictures in patients with an in situ percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube. The upper gastrointestinal surgeon approached the area of stenosis in a retrograde manner through the PEG tube to guide the otolaryngeal surgeon who performed anterograde dilatation via a rigid laryngoscope. Between 2005 and 2009, bidirectional esophageal dilatation was performed on 5 patients at our institution. Video fluoroscopy confirmed improved patency of stenosed esophagus in all cases and good improvement in swallowing ability in 4 patients. The ability to accurately assess pharyngoesophageal strictures using bidirectional visualization and transillumination is the key modification of our technique. We suggest using bidirectional esophageal dilatation on difficult cases with severe pharyngoesophageal stenoses although extreme care is required. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2013
The Validity of The Washburne Social Adjustment Inventory in Measuring College Freshman Adjustment
Authors: KORZI JOHN R.
Published: April 2012

Often the usefulness of an adjustment inventory is questioned on the basis of the appropriateness of its application for a certain group or its accuracy in producing a valid appraisal of the traits it purports to measure. In this study, one of these types of adjustment inventories was examined.
Fellowships, Scholarships, and Assistantships for Guidance and Personnel Graduate Training 1962–1963
Authors: McDANIELS CARL
Published: April 2012

This is the sixth in a series of annual articles reporting on fellowships, scholarships, and assistantships available to students in guidance and personnel graduate training. George D. Changaris, formerly Administrative Assistant at APGA, was the author of the first three articles. The present author has written the last three articles. The first article appeared in the January, 1957, issue of the Journal and included a table of requirements for admission to guidance and personnel graduate training. This has not been repeated in later articles.

The data were collected by sending questionnaires to the 269 institutions listed in “Preparation Programs and Course Offerings in School and College Personnel Work 1959–60,” published by the U. S. Office of Education and additional listings. Two hundred and twenty‐eight institutions returned questionnaires for a 85 per cent return; 139 offered financial assistance and are included in this report. It may be of interest to note that a comparison of tuitions at 46 institutions represented in the current survey and the survey of the 1961–1962 academic year indicate an over‐all increase of approximately 29 per cent. A similar comparison was made of institutions relating to the specific number of scholarships, assistantships, and fellowships available in the present survey and the survey of the 1961–1962 academic year. It was found that in this comparison, scholarships went from 161 in 1961–1962 to 182 in 1962–1963; fellowships from 181 in 1961–1962 to 271 in 1962–1963; and assistantships from 372 in 1961–1962 to 573 in 1962–1963.
Interest‐Aptitude Congruency: A Theoretical Synthesis and A Suggested Method of Investigation
Authors: NUGENT FRANK A.
Published: April 2012

During the past four decades, vocational interests have come to be considered one of the most crucial aspects of human behavior. It is evident from the reviews of research [2, 7, 10, 22] that this facet of behavior has been intriguing and challenging to psychologists and educators, for in few areas has so much research been done with such little success in developing a cohesive theoretical framework.

In this paper, a synthesis of the theoretical and empirical findings about vocational interest phenomena is attempted. First, the literature on vocational interests is evaluated in order to point up some of the possible reasons for confusion and to determine if any unifying concepts have been overlooked. On the basis of this evaluation, then, a basic assumption which appears to underlie most major interest theories is presented. Next, an approach to testing this basic assumption is considered, and further hypotheses are formulated related to the basic assumption which it is hoped will lead to further research. Finally, the implications of the theoretical framework to counselors is discussed.
A Plan for Developing Appropriate Techniques for Responding to Counselee Statements
Authors: CHENEY TRUMAN M.
Published: April 2012

In the counselor training program at the University of Nevada we found that these worksheets were useful in Supervised Counseling Practice. They seemed to help develop an understanding of counseling techniques and they improved the counselor's ability to respond appropriately to counselees. The first worksheet was used to demonstrate correct answers, to give practice in correcting answers which were almost appropriate, and to give the counselors practice in making completely new responses to the counselee.
Motivating Boys to Read: Inquiry, Modeling, and Choice Matter
Authors: Fisher Douglas , Frey Nancy
Published: April 2012

A great deal of attention is being paid to the lack of reading and academic success for adolescent males. In this article, we discuss three structures in a school where boys read (and perform) as well as girls. When instruction is guided by inquiry, when teachers model their thinking while reading, and when book choices are honored, all students read more and read better. In this article, we present the voices of several students who share their thinking about these three curricular reforms.
Double protein‐coated poly‐ε‐caprolactone scaffolds: Successful 2D to 3D transfer
Authors: Berneel E. , Desmet T. , Declercq H. , Dubruel P. , Cornelissen M.
Published: April 2012

In the past decade, tissue engineering has evolved from a promising technology to an established scientific field. Large attention has focussed on developing scaffolds from both biodegradable and nondegradable polymers to be cultivated with cells, to replace human body defects. The major drawback of most polymers is however their limited cell‐interactive properties. An additional complication when developing a surface modification protocol for those materials is the transferability of protocols from 2D substrates to 3D scaffolds. In the present work, we therefore report on possible biological effects originating from the transfer of a double protein coating protocol, involving gelatin type B and fibronectin, from 2D poly‐ε‐caprolactone (PCL) films to 3D PCL scaffolds produced by rapid prototyping. A variety of techniques including scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and confocal fluorescence microscopy confirmed a successful and homogeneous protein‐coating on both 2D and 3D substrates. Interestingly, the biological performance of the double protein‐coated PCL substrates, reflected by the initial cell adhesion, proliferation, and colonization was superior compared to the other surface modification steps, independent of the material dimension. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A, 2012.
Control of size dispersity of chitosan biopolymer microparticles and nanoparticles to influence vaccine trafficking and cell uptake
Authors: Kobiasi Mohammad Al , Chua Brendon Y. , Tonkin David , Jackson David C. , Mainwaring David E.
Published: April 2012

Structurally related surfactant molecules were exploited to generate chitosan emulsions to provide systematic variation in micelle radii of curvature and size. These compositions provide precise control of chitosan particle dispersity, that is, size distribution according to three quantitative distribution parameters as well as shape distribution. This resulted in a suite of particle size distributions spanning 71 nm to 3.7 μm and a very high degree of particle sphericity, allowing the influence of particle size to be isolated in two in vivo studies relating biopolymer particle size to cellular uptake and trafficking to lymph nodes. Flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy indicated that the three cell lines examined preferentially internalized chitosan microparticles to a greater extent than nanoparticles over a 24 h period. In an in vivo mouse model, nanoparticles initially trafficked rapidly to lymph nodes draining the site of inoculation followed by further slower uptake. Microparticles trafficked to the lymph nodes with a similar pattern except that the initial discharge was ∼50‐fold less than that observed with nanoparticles indicating a profound difference in the physiological transport properties of the two particle types. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A, 2012.
Insulator–metal transition driven by pressure and B‐site disorder in double perovskite La2CoMnO6
Authors: Lv Shuhui , Liu Xiaojuan , Li Hongping , Han Lin , Wang Zhongchang , Meng Jian
Published: April 2012

The ground state of double perovskite oxide La2CoMnO6 (LCMO) and how it is influenced by external pressure and antisite disorder are investigated systematically by first‐principles calculations. We find, on the consideration of both the electron correlation and spin–orbital coupling effect, that the LCMO takes on insulating nature, yet is transformed to half metallicity once the external pressure is introduced. Such tuning is accompanied by a spin‐state transition of Co2+ from the high‐spin state (te) to low‐spin state (te) because of the enhancement of crystal‐field splitting under pressure. Using mean‐field approximation theory, Curie temperature of LCMO with Co2+ being in low‐spin state is predicted to be higher than that in high‐spin state, which is attributed to the enhanced ferromagnetic double exchange interaction arising from the shrinkage of CoO and MnO bonds as well as to the increase in bond angle of CoOMn under pressure. We also find that antisite disorder in LCMO enables such transition from insulating to half‐metallic state as well, which is associated with the spin‐state transition of antisite Co from high to low state. It is proposed that the substitution of La3+ for the rare‐earth (RE) ions with smaller ionic radii could open up an avenue to induce a spin‐state transition of Co, rendering thereby the RE2CoMnO6 a promising half‐metallic material. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Randomized trials and quality assurance in gastric cancer surgery
Authors: Dikken Johan L. , Cats Annemieke , Verheij Marcel , van de Velde Cornelis J.H.
Published: April 2012

A D2 lymphadenectomy can be considered standard of surgical care for advanced resectable gastric cancer. Currently, several multimodality strategies are used, including postoperative monochemotherapy in Asia, postoperative chemoradiotherapy in the United States, and perioperative chemotherapy in Europe. As the majority of gastric cancer patients are treated outside the framework of clinical trials, quality assurance programs, including referral to high‐volume centers and clinical auditing are needed to improve gastric cancer care on a nationwide level. J. Surg. Oncol. 2013;107:298–305. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The role of radiation therapy in the management of adrenal carcinoma and adrenal metastases
Authors: Milgrom Sarah A. , Goodman Karyn A.
Published: April 2012

The use of radiation therapy (RT) to treat adrenal tumors has historically been limited by the risk of normal tissue toxicity, given the proximity of the adrenals to radiosensitive structures, such as the kidney, stomach, intestine, and spinal cord. However, contemporary techniques have made RT safe and effective for use in the management of adrenal carcinoma and adrenal metastases. Data on recent advances in the use of RT to treat adrenocortical carcinoma and adrenal metastases are reviewed, in both surgical and non‐surgical settings. J. Surg. Oncol. 2012; 106:647–650. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Enhanced Selectivity for the Hydrolysis of Block Copoly(2‐oxazoline)s in Ethanol–Water Resulting in Linear Poly(ethylene imine) Copolymers
Authors: van Kuringen Huub P. C. , de la Rosa Victor R. , Fijten Martin W. M. , Heuts Johan P. A. , Hoogenboom Richard
Published: April 2012

The ability of merging the properties of poly(2‐oxazoline)s and poly(ethylene imine) is of high interest for various biomedical applications, including gene delivery, biosensors, and switchable surfaces and nanoparticles. In the present research, a methodology for the controlled and selective hydrolysis of (co)poly(2‐oxazoline)s is developed in an ethanol–water solvent mixture, opening the path toward a wide range of block poly(2‐oxazoline‐co‐ethylene imine) (POx‐PEI) copolymers with tunable properties. The unexpected influence of the selected ethanol–water binary solvent mixture on the hydrolysis kinetics and selectivity is highlighted in the pursue of well‐defined POx‐PEI block copolymers.
Functional perfusion imaging using pseudocontinuous arterial spin labeling with low‐flip‐angle segmented 3D spiral readouts
Authors: Nielsen Jon‐Fredrik , Hernandez‐Garcia Luis
Published: April 2012

Arterial spin labeling (ASL) provides quantitative and reproducible measurements of regional cerebral blood flow, and is therefore an attractive method for functional MRI. However, most existing ASL functional MRI protocols are based on either two‐dimensional (2D) multislice or 3D spin‐echo and suffer from very low image signal‐to‐noise ratio or through‐plane blurring. 3D ASL with multishot (segmented) readouts can improve the signal‐to‐noise ratio efficiency relative to 2D multislice and does not suffer from T2‐blurring. However, segmented readouts require lower imaging flip‐angles and may increase the susceptibility to temporal signal fluctuations (e.g., due to physiology) relative to 2D multislice. In this article, we characterize the temporal signal‐to‐noise ratio of a segmented 3D spiral ASL sequence, and investigate the effects of radiofrequency phase cycling scheme and flip‐angle schedule on image properties. We show that radiofrequency‐spoiling is essential in segmented 3D spiral ASL, and that 3D ASL can improve temporal signal‐to‐noise ratio 2‐fold relative to 2D multislice when using a simple polynomial (cubic) flip‐angle schedule. Functional MRI results using the proposed optimized segmented 3D spiral ASL protocol show excellent activation in the visual cortex. Magn Reson Med, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Bunt und mit Zähnen durchs IYC
Authors: Sander Manfred
Published: April 2012

Ein Rückblick auf die Briefmarken im Internationalen Jahr der Chemie zeigt die Vielfalt der Motive und offenbart: Kleinere Länder wie Guinea‐Bissau fürchten weniger, auf Chemie aufmerksam zu machen, als etablierte Chemienationen wie Deutschland.
Biotech: behauptet mit gedämpftem Optimismus
Authors: Bengs Holger
Published: April 2012

Unternehmen passen sich an die Finanzsituation an und sind so erfolgreich.
Tailoring the morphology and properties of poly(lactic acid)/poly(ethylene)‐co‐(vinyl acetate)/starch blends via reactive compatibilization
Authors: Ma Piming , Hristova‐Bogaerds Denka G , Schmit Pauline , Goossens Johannes G P , Lemstra Piet J
Published: April 2012

Poly(lactic acid)/poly(ethylene‐co‐vinyl acetate)/starch (PLA/EVA/starch) ternary blends were prepared by multi‐step melt processing (reactive extrusion) in the presence of maleic anhydride (MA), benzoyl peroxide and glycerol. The effects of MA and glycerol concentration on the morphology and properties of the PLA/EVA/starch blends were studied using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, the Molau experiment, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis and differential scanning calorimetry etc. The plasticization and compatibilization provided a synergistic effect to these blends accompanied by a significant reduction in starch particle size and an increase in interfacial adhesion. Starch was finely dispersed in the ternary blends with a dimension of 0.5 − 2 µm. Furthermore, EVA‐coated starch or a starch‐in‐EVA type of morphology was observed for the reactively compatibilized PLA/EVA/starch blends. The EVA with starch gradually changed into a co‐continuous phase with increasing MA concentration. Consequently, the toughness of the blends was improved. Since property stability of starch is an issue, the tensile properties of these blends were measured after different storage times and the blends showed good property stability. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
Development and experimental evaluation of a complete solar thermophotovoltaic system
Authors: Datas Alejandro , Algora Carlos
Published: April 2012

We present a practical implementation of a solar thermophotovoltaic (TPV) system. The system presented in this paper comprises a sunlight concentrator system, a cylindrical cup‐shaped absorber/emitter (made of tungsten coated with HfO2), and an hexagonal‐shaped water‐cooled TPV generator comprising 24 germanium TPV cells, which is surrounding the cylindrical absorber/emitter. This paper focuses on the development of shingled TPV cell arrays, the characterization of the sunlight concentrator system, the estimation of the temperature achieved by the cylindrical emitters operated under concentrated sunlight, and the evaluation of the full system performance under real outdoor irradiance conditions. From the system characterization, we have measured short‐circuit current densities up to 0.95 A/cm2, electric power densities of 67 mW/cm2, and a global conversion efficiency of about 0.8%. To our knowledge, this is the first overall solar‐to‐electricity efficiency reported for a complete solar thermophotovoltaic system. The very low efficiency is mainly due to the overheating of the cells (up to 120 °C) and to the high optical concentrator losses, which prevent the achievement of the optimum emitter temperature. The loss analysis shows that by improving both aspects, efficiencies above 5% could be achievable in the very short term and efficiencies above 10% could be achieved with further improvements. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A self‐help coping intervention can reduce anxiety and avoidant health behaviours whilst waiting for cancer genetic risk information: results of a phase III randomised trial
Authors: Phelps Ceri , Bennett Paul , Hood Kerenza , Brain Kate , Murray Alexandra
Published: April 2012

Objective

The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a self‐help coping intervention in reducing intrusive negative thoughts while waiting for cancer genetic risk information.

Methods

Between August 2007 and November 2008, 1958 new referrals for cancer genetic risk assessment were invited to participate in a randomised trial. The control group received standard information. The intervention group received this information plus a written self‐help coping leaflet. The primary outcome measure was the intrusion subscale of the Impact of Event Scale.

Results

The intervention significantly reduced intrusive thoughts during the waiting period in those reporting moderate baseline levels of intrusion (p = 0.03). Following risk provision, those in the intervention group reporting low and moderate intrusive worries at baseline reported less intrusive thoughts than those in the control group (p = 0.04 and p = 0.03, respectively). The intervention had no adverse impact in the sample as a whole. Participants in the intervention group with high baseline avoidance and negative affect scores were significantly more likely to remain in the study than those in the control group (p = 0.05 and p = 0.004).

Conclusions

Findings that the intervention both reduced distress in those with moderate levels of distress and had no adverse effects following notification of cancer genetic risk suggest that this simple intervention can be implemented across a range of oncology settings involving periods of waiting and uncertainty. The intervention may also reduce the number of individuals dropping out of cancer genetic risk assessment or screening. However, those with clinically high levels of psychological distress are likely to require a more intensive psychological intervention. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reactive Metals in Explosives
Authors: Yen Ng Hsiao , Wang Lee Yiew
Published: April 2012

This paper reviews several classes of reactive metals that have been considered for energetic applications. These include elemental metals, thermites/intermolecular composites (MIC), metastable alloys, encapsulated metals, and “surface activated” metals. Properties, processing techniques, ignition and combustion characteristics of these materials were reported. Field performance of the reactive metals in explosive formulations were also reported, if available. Finally, some potential reactive metals were identified in this review.
Crystal Morphology Controlling of TATB by High Temperature Anti‐Solvent Recrystallization
Authors: Zhang Haobin , Sun Jie , Kang Bin , Shu Yuanjie , Shu Xiaoyan , Liu Yu , Liu Xiaofeng
Published: April 2012

The spheroidizing of TATB (1,3,5‐triamino‐2,4,6‐trinitrobenzene) can help to control preferred orientation and anisotropic expansion of TATB based PBXs, as well as to improve crystal quality, desensitizing efficiency, packing density, and even explosive energy. In this paper, TATB crystals with different morphology were obtained by high temperature recrystallization from anti‐solvents. TATB was dispersed into DMSO and heated to dissolve. Water as an anti‐solvent was added to the solution with different conrol parameters. We designed additional experiments to study the particular influence of these parameters. It was shown that the crystal morphology is strongly affected by the stirring rate and the amount of water added. The recrystallized TATB samples have similar thermal stability as starting TATB, but higher densities and purities, which indicates that the quality of TATB crystals was improved. By slowly adding an appropriate amount of water and cooling, regular crystals of TATB were obtained, which proves that water is a good morphology modifier for TATB.
Preparation and Characterization of Fe2O3/Ammonium Perchlorate (AP) Nanocomposites through Ceramic Membrane Anti‐Solvent Crystallization
Authors: Ma Zhenye , Wu Rujun , Song Jun , Li Cheng , Chen Rizhi , Zhang Lixiong
Published: April 2012

A novel ceramic membrane anti‐solvent crystallization (CMASC) method was proposed to prepare Fe2O3/AP nanocomposites with core‐shell structure. For the preparation of Fe2O3/AP nanocomposites, several key advantages of the CMASC method are as follows. Firstly, both well‐dispersed Fe2O3 nanoparticles and the superfine AP preparation can be achieved at one step. Secondly, no non‐component of solid propellant was involved in this composite process. Thirdly, the size and morphology of Fe2O3/AP nanocomposites can be effectively controlled by using the ceramic membrane with regular pore structure as feeding template. The morphology and structure of Fe2O3/AP nanocomposites were characterized by inductively coupled plasma spectrophotometry (ICP), IR spectroscopy, SEM, and HRTEM. The results verified that the size and morphology of Fe2O3/AP nanocomposites are controllable, and the dispersion of Fe2O3 nanoparticles is greatly improved in Fe2O3/AP nanocomposites. Moreover, the thermal decomposition of the as‐prepared Fe2O3/AP nanocomposites was measured with TG‐DSC. The results showed that the Fe2O3 nanoparticles in Fe2O3/AP nanocomposites exhibit better catalytic activity on the thermal decomposition of AP. In addition, the mechanism was also discussed.
Synthesis, Structure, and Explosive Properties of a New Trinitrate Derivative of an Unexpected Condensation Product of Nitromethane with Glyoxal
Authors: Cudziło Stanisław , Nita Marcin , Chołuj Artur , Szala Mateusz , Danikiewicz Witod , Spólnik Grzegorz , Krompiec Stanisław , Michalik Sławomir , Krompiec Michał , Świtlicka Anna
Published: April 2012

In the condensation reaction of nitromethane with glyoxal carried out in an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide, 3,6‐dinitro‐cyclohexane‐1,2,4,5‐tetraol was obtained (the expected product, described in the literature) and, unexpectedly, also tricyclic nitro‐triol (6b‐nitrohexahydro‐2H‐1,3,5‐trioxacyclopenta[cd]‐pentalene‐2,4,6‐triol), which has been unknown until now, was obtained as the main product. The structure of the compound was confirmed with1H NMR and13C NMR spectroscopy, LR, and HR‐MS techniques and with single‐crystal X‐ray diffractometry. The tricyclic triol (formally a hemiacetal) was transformed into 6b‐nitrohexahydro‐2H‐1,3,5‐trioxacyclopenta[cd]‐pentalene‐2,4,6‐triyl trinitrate by reaction with 98 % HNO3. Some explosive properties of this compound were determined including: friction and impact sensitivity, activation energy, detonation velocity, heat of combustion in an oxygen atmosphere and enthalpy of formation. The nitrate ester is a powerful explosive with performance close to that of pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN).
Impacts of chemical crop protection applications on related CO2 emissions and CO2 assimilation of crops
Authors: Kern Manfred , Noleppa Steffen , Schwarz Gerald
Published: April 2012

BACKGROUND: A major global challenge is to provide agricultural production systems that are able to sustain growing demands for food, feed, fibre and renewable raw materials without exacerbating climate change. Detailed and reliable data on the CO2 balance of different agricultural management activities and inputs as a basis to quantify carbon footprints of agriculture are still lacking. This study aims to fill this gap further by quantifying the net balance of emitted and assimilated CO2 due to the application of crop protection treatments on the farm, and by assessing their partial contribution to GHG emissions and mitigation in agriculture. The study focuses on key agricultural crops including wheat, corn, oilseeds and sugar crops.

RESULTS: The final CO2 balance, considering GHG emissions due to on‐farm CPP treatment in comparison with CO2 storage in additional biomass, CO2 protected with respect to agrotechnical inputs and land inputs and CO2 saved with respect to associated global land use changes, is positive and may reach multiples of up to nearly 2000.

CONCLUSION: The results highlight the importance of the positive yield effects of the CPP programme applications on the farm, resulting in additional assimilated biomass at the farm level and less land use changes at the global level, and thus lower pressure on environmentally important indicators of overall agricultural sustainability. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
Knockdown of several components of cytochrome P450 enzyme systems by RNA interference enhances the susceptibility of Helicoverpa armigera to fenvalerate
Authors: Tang Tao , Zhao Chunqing , Feng Xiaoyun , Liu Xueyuan , Qiu Lihong
Published: April 2012

BACKGROUND: The function of cytochrome P450 proteins (P450s) in the metabolism of a variety of compounds by oxidation and reduction is well elucidated, but its interactions with other electron transfer components in the pyrethroid resistance of insect pests have been a mystery for a long time. In previous studies the authors cloned and characterised CYP6B7 and cytochrome b5 (Cyt‐b5) in the fenvalerate‐resistant HDFR strain of cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera Hübner) and showed that CYP6B7 mRNA was overexpressed and important for resistance to fenvalerate. In the present study, the functional interactions of CYP6B7, NADPH‐dependent cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR) and Cyt‐b5 were assessed using RNA interference (RNAi) strategies and monitoring for fenvalerate resistance levels.

RESULTS: RT‐qPCR analyses indicated that the expression levels of CYP6B7, CPR and Cyt‐b5 mRNA were decreased drastically in the midgut of fourth‐instar larvae of the H. armigera HDFR strain after corresponding double‐stranded RNA (dsRNA) injection, compared with that of the control. The knockdown of CYP6B7, CPR and Cyt‐b5 transcripts was time course dependent during a 12–48 h period after dsRNA injection. At the earlier time points analysed, significant suppression of CYP6B7 mRNA levels was observed in larvae injected with dsCYP6B7‐313 as compared with controls, and further suppression was observed in larvae injected with dsCYP6B7‐313, dsCPR‐403 and dsCyt‐b5. The injection of dsCYP6B7‐313 together with dsCPR‐403 and dsCyt‐b5 increased larval susceptibility of the HDFR strain to fenvalerate.

CONCLUSION: The results demonstrated that silencing of CYP6B7 alone or CYP6B7 together with CPR and/or Cyt‐b5 increased the susceptibility of H. armigera to fenvalerate, suggesting that CYP6B7, CPR and Cyt‐b5 collaboratively participated in enhanced metabolism of fenvalerate and played an important role in the resistance of H. armigera to fenvalerate. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
Amorphous phase of GeTe‐based phase‐change memory alloys: Polyvalency of GeTe bonding and polyamorphism
Authors: Kolobov Alexander V. , Fons Paul , Krbal Milos , Tominaga Junji
Published: April 2012

The structure of the amorphous phase of GeTe‐based phase‐change materials is discussed. Comparison of the Ge(4):Te(2) and Ge(3):Te(3) configurations present in the amorphous phase suggests that the former is locally more stable while the latter can lower its energy due to ‘resonance’ interactions in structures within more extended order. We further demonstrate that polyvalency of the GeTe bonds can lead to the formation of negative‐U defects accounting for the high resistivity of the amorphous phase. Finally, polyamorphysm of the amorphous phase of Ge2Sb2Te5 is discussed.
Lattice dynamics and dielectric response of Ba0.4Sr0.6−yMnyTiO3 ceramics in a wide frequency range
Authors: Zhang Jingji , Zhai Jiwei , Xu Zhengkui , Zhang Yewen
Published: April 2012

Lattice dynamics and dielectric behavior in a wide frequency range of Ba0.4Sr0.6−yMnyTiO3 ceramics were investigated by using infrared (IR) spectroscopy and dielectric measurements. X‐ray diffraction results revealed that only perovskite phase was visible for all compositions. Mn occupied A‐site preferably as Mn2+ when y ≤ 0.02; whereas when y ≥ 0.05, Mn occupied B‐site and was oxidized to Mn3+. Dielectric measurements and IR analysis indicated that the hardening of the softest mode was not remarkable with increasing Mn concentration, which resulted in an unremarkable change in tunability. Compared to the samples with y ≤ 0.02, those with y ≥ 0.05 had a higher fitted damping factor, resulting from the distortion of the perovskite lattice caused by the incorporation of Mn at the Ti‐site, which led to a low intrinsic quality factor.
Quantum criticality in CaRuO3 – Influence of Ti substitution
Authors: Baran A. , Zorkovská A. , Kajňaková M. , Šebek J. , Šantavá E. , Bradarić I. , Feher A.
Published: April 2012

Thermodynamic and transport properties of the CaRu1–xTixO3 system with x = 0, 0.03, 0.07, 0.10, and 0.15 in magnetic field up to 9 T have been studied. The unconventional temperature dependences of magnetic susceptibility, specific heat, and electrical resistivity observed for CaRuO3 are typical for non‐Fermi liquids and they support the assumption about the proximity of the system to the quantum critical point. The analysis of the experimental results suggests the electronic phase separation in CaRuO3 into ferromagnetic itinerant regions coexisting with strongly correlated ones. Substitution by titanium seems to push the system towards ferromagnetism, and drives it away from the quantum criticality.
Texture mechanisms and microstructure of biaxial thin films grown by oblique angle deposition
Authors: Shetty A. R. , Karimi A.
Published: April 2012

In order to understand the texture formation mechanism in thin films grown under oblique angle deposition (OAD), TiAlN films were deposited at room temperature (RT) under various incident angles. We show that both in‐plane and out‐of‐plane crystallographic orientations respond strongly to the deposition angle. For α = 0°, the pole figures show a (111) and (200) mixed out‐of‐plane orientation with random in‐plane alignment. In contrast, under OAD, inclined textures are observed with the (111) direction moving toward the incident flux direction and the (200) moving away, showing substantial in‐plane alignment. This observation suggests that TiAlN crystals prefer to grow with the (200) direction perpendicular to the substrate while maintaining the minimization of the surface free energy by maximizing the (111) surface area toward the incident flux. The in‐plane texture, which is randomly oriented at normal incidence, gives rise to two preferred orientations under oblique angles – one along the direction of flux and other away from the deposition source. The biaxial texture results from a competition among texture mechanism related to surface mobilities of adatoms, geometrical and directional effects. The surface and cross‐section of the films were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). OAD films develop a kind of smooth tiles of a roof structure, with no faceted crystallites. The columns of these films were tilted toward the direction of incident flux. The dependence of (111) texture tilt angle and column angle β on the incidence flux angle α is evaluated using four well‐known models. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) study reveals a voided, intercolumnar structure with oblique growth toward the flux direction. The selected area diffraction pattern (SAED) pattern supports the pole figure observations. Measurements of the nanoindentation test were performed in order to discuss the change of mechanical properties as a function of incident flux angle.
Impact of substrate temperature and film thickness on the interfacial evolution during atomic layer deposition of HfO2 on InP
Authors: An Chee‐Hong , Byun Young‐Chul , Lee Myung Soo , Kim Hyoungsub
Published: April 2012

The effects of both the deposition temperature and the HfO2 film thickness on the interfacial layer (IL) evolution were studied when tetrakis(ethylmethylamino)hafnium and H2O based atomic layer deposition (ALD) was performed on InP substrates. While the self‐cleaning effect resulted in an IL‐free structure after formation of ∼2 nm thick HfO2 at 200 °C and 250 °C, substantial IL growth occurred at 300 °C, probably due to simultaneous InP oxidation. Following further growth to ∼8 nm at 300 °C, the IL was almost removed and, in particular, a significant In incorporation into the HfO2 film was observed, which was attributed to IL decomposition and subsequent out‐diffusion of the constituent elements. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Validation of a Model of Plastic Deformation of Niobium Microalloyed Steels in the Two‐Phase Temperature Region
Authors: Niżnik Barbara , Kuziak Roman , Pietrzyk Maciej
Published: April 2012

This article describes a thermo‐mechanical‐microstructural model for deformation of niobium microalloyed steel in the two‐phase range of temperatures. Results of physical and numerical modeling are presented. The physical simulation experiments include plastometric and dilatometric tests, as well as industrial rolling trial. Plastometric tests were performed to describe the flow stress for the wide range of temperatures, including ferritic, two‐phase, and austenitic states. Two‐stage deformation tests were performed to identify the microstructure evolution model. Dilatometric tests were used to identify the model of phase transformation. A model of the kinetics of the precipitation was adapted from the literature. The coefficients in all the models were identified using inverse analysis. Developed models were implemented in the finite element code. In order to improve the accuracy of the flow stress predictions in the two‐phase phase temperature range, internal variable dislocation density model was included, as well. The proposed combination of models correctly predicted microstructure changes and mechanical properties in the two‐phase range, during the transformations of the thermo‐mechanical treatment. Industrial trials were performed for the final validation of the models.
Martensitic Transformation Behavior of B‐Bearing Steel During Isothermal Deformation
Authors: Salari Sina , Saeed‐Akbari Alireza , Naderi Malek , Bleck Wolfgang
Published: April 2012

The purpose of the present research is to study the martensitic transformation in 22MnB5 steel under thermomechanical conditions by means of dilatation data. To reach this aim, the effects of deformation temperature and strain rate on the martensitic dilatation as well as martensite start temperature (Ms) were investigated. Thermomechanical treatments were performed in a deformation dilatometer including the isothermal deformation of samples in the temperature range of 550–900°C up to the final strain of 0.5 in three strain rates of 0.1, 1, and 10 s−1. Finally, deformation temperatures were divided into two regimes of lower and higher than 800°C. In the former, strain‐induced phase transformations, while in the latter, occurrence of dynamic recovery against mechanical stabilization of austenite influenced martensitic transformation.
Concise Review: Stem Cells in the Corneal Stroma
Authors: Pinnamaneni Niveditha , Funderburgh James L.
Published: April 2012

The cornea is a tough transparent tissue admitting and focusing light in the eye. More than 90% of the cornea is stroma, a highly organized, transparent connective tissue maintained by keratocytes, quiescent mesenchymal cells of neural crest origin. A small population of cells in the mammalian stroma displays properties of mesenchymal stem cells, including clonal growth, multipotent differentiation, and expression of an array of stem cell-specific markers. Unlike keratocytes, the corneal stromal stem cells (CSSCs) undergo extensive expansion in vitro without loss of the ability to adopt a keratocyte phenotype. Several lines of evidence suggest CSSCs to be of neural crest lineage and not from bone marrow. CSSCs are localized in the anterior peripheral (limbal) stroma near to stem cells of the corneal epithelium. CSSCs may function to support potency of the epithelial stem cells in their unique limbal niche. On the other hand, little information is available documenting a role for CSSCs in vivo in stromal wound healing or regeneration. In vitro CSSCs reproduce the highly organized connective tissue of the stroma, demonstrating a potential use of these cells in tissue bioengineering. Direct introduction of CSSCs into the corneal stroma generated transparent tissue in a mouse model of corneal opacity. Human CSSCs injected into mice corneas did not elicit immune rejection over an extended period of time. The CSSCs therefore appear offer an opportunity to develop cell- and tissue-based therapies for irreversible corneal blindness, conditions affecting more than 10 million individuals worldwide.

Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.