bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Comparison of Ambulatory Care and Selected Procedure Rates in the Health Care Systems of the Province of Manitoba, Canada; Kaiser Permanente Health Maintenance Organization; and the United States
Authors: DeCoster Carolyn A. , Smoller Marvin , Roos Noralou P. , Thomas Edward
Published: July 2010

To determine if there are differences in physician services in different health care systems, we compared ambulatory visit rates and procedure rates for three surgical procedures in the province of Manitoba, Canada; Kaiser Permanente Health Maintenance Organization; and the United States. The KP system, with its single payer and low financial barriers, is not unlike the Canadian system. But, for most of the United States, the primary payment mechanism is fee-for-service, with the patient paying a significant amount, thereby militating against preventive and early primary care. Manitoba and KP data were extracted from computerized administrative records. U.S. data were obtained from publicly available reports, Manitoba provides 1.8 times and KP 1.2 times (1.4 when allied health visits are included) as many primary care physician visits as the United States. For the surgical procedures studied, U.S. rates were higher than those in either the KP HMO or in Manitoba. We conclude that (1) the U.S. system leads to more surgical intervention, and (2) removal of financial barriers leads to higher use of primary care services where more preventive and ameliorative care can occur.
Public-Private Partnerships in the Canadian Environment: Options for Hospital Pharmacies
Authors: Uddin Zahava , Bear Robert A.
Published: July 2010

This brief report explores the direction being pursued by hospitals interested in outsourcing non-core activities within the pharmacy department. Private sector logistics companies are looking to position themselves in the drug product supply chain to facilitate seamless transfers of drug products, ordering information and payments between drug manufacturers and hospitals. Opportunities for implementing consolidated purchasing, unit dosing, just-in-time inventory and electronic commerce systems are discussed.
Recommandations sur la gestion de la fermeture d'un hôpital
Authors: van der Wal Rena , Bouthillette France , Havlovic Stephen J.
Published: July 2010

Le ministère de la Santé de la Colombie-Britannique a fermé un hôpital de soins aigus en 1993. On a mené une étude sur les façons dont cette fermeture a touché les employés de l'hôpital pour déterminer des moyens de faciliter le processus de fermeture et de réorganisation. On a interviewé en privé 25 employés au moment de la fermeture et six mois plus tard. Six thèmes se sont dégagés de l'analyse qualitative dans la catégorie « vivre la fermeture ». Ces thèmes sont: (1) la communication de l'information, (2) l'effet de la fermeture sur le milieu de travail et sur les collègues, (3) le stress perçu, (4) la reconnaissance de sa propre valeur, (5) la prestation de services de soutien et (6) le processus d'avoir un nouvel emploi.

Les auteurs off rent des recommandations émanant de cette analyse pour aider d'autres person nes à planilier les futures réorganisations ou fermetures d'hôpitaux.
Early Rabbinic Writings
Authors: MacCoby Hyam
Published: July 2010

Rabbinic texts are often cited in New Testament and Old Testament studies, but hitherto there has been no easy way for a student to grasp the scope and variety of the relevant rabbinic writings. This book introduces the student to the full range of the early rabbinic writings, with a thorough introduction and notes, so that both a bird's eye view of the literature as well as close aquaintance with typical and important texts can be obtained. This will enable the reader to embark on further study with a clearer orientation. The book also aims to correct many mistaken views about rabbinic Judaism arising from outdated conceptions of the relation between Christianity and Judaism.
The Concept of Non-International Armed Conflict in International Humanitarian Law
Authors: Cullen Anthony
Published: July 2010

Anthony Cullen advances an argument for a particular approach to the interpretation of non-international armed conflict in international humanitarian law. The first part examines the origins of the 'armed conflict' concept and its development as the lower threshold for the application of international humanitarian law. Here the meaning of the term is traced from its use in the Hague Regulations of 1899 until the present day. The second part focuses on a number of contemporary developments which have affected the scope of non-international armed conflict. The case law of the International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia has been especially influential and the definition of non-international armed conflict provided by this institution is examined in detail. It is argued that this concept represents the most authoritative definition of the threshold and that, despite differences in interpretation, there exist reasons to interpret an identical threshold of application in the Rome Statute.
Thucydides, Pericles, and Periclean Imperialism
Authors: Foster Edith
Published: July 2010

Edith Foster compares Thucydides' narrative explanations and descriptions of the Peloponnesian War in Books One and Two of the History with the arguments about warfare and war materials offered by the Athenian statesman Pericles in those same books. In Thucydides' narrative presentations, she argues, the aggressive deployment of armed force is frequently unproductive or counterproductive, and even the threat to use armed force against others causes consequences that can be impossible for the aggressor to predict or contain. By contrast, Pericles' speeches demonstrate that he shared with many other figures in the History a mistaken confidence in the power, glory, and reliability of warfare and the instruments of force. Foster argues that Pericles does not speak for Thucydides, and that Thucydides should not be associated with Pericles' intransigent imperialism.
Charging Ahead
Authors: Mann Ronald J.
Published: July 2010

This book was the first comprehensive treatment of credit cards in the global economy. The topic is timely not only because of the attention focused on cards as a contributor to the substantial rise in consumer borrowing, but also because of the role of cards in the recent retrenchment in the U.S. bankruptcy system. Relying on data from the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, and Japan, Charging Ahead includes the first careful statistical analysis of the relation between the rise of credit card use and broader macroeconomic phenomena like consumer borrowing, savings, and bankruptcy. It also provides a broad narrative of how credit cards have come to be used so differently around the world. Finally, it sets out a detailed and coherent program for regulatory intervention grounded in both empirical analysis and the existing theoretical literature.
Japan since 1980
Authors: Cargill Thomas F. , Sakamoto Takayuki
Published: July 2010

An analysis of the performance of Japan's economic and political institutions from late 1970s to 2007. The authors explain how Japan's flawed response to new economic, political, and technological forces ushered in a lost decade and a half of economic development from 1990. Impressive economic performance in the 1980s masked an 'accident waiting to happen' - the collapse in equity and real estate prices in 1990–1. Japan's iron triangle of politicians, bureaucrats, and client industries, combined with a flawed financial liberalization process and policy errors by the Bank of Japan and the Ministry of Finance, brought Japan to an abyss of deflation, recession, and insolvency by the late 1990s. The turning point was the election of Koizumi as prime minister in 2001. The book explores Koizumi's economic reform, new developments in socioeconomic conditions, the politics and economy after Koizumi, and the economic and political challenges facing Japan in the new century.
A Modern Approach to Critical Phenomena
Authors: Herbut Igor
Published: July 2010

Critical phenomena is one of the most exciting areas of modern physics. This 2007 book provides a thorough but economic introduction into the principles and techniques of the theory of critical phenomena and the renormalization group, from the perspective of modern condensed matter physics. Assuming basic knowledge of quantum and statistical mechanics, the book discusses phase transitions in magnets, superfluids, superconductors, and gauge field theories. Particular attention is given to topics such as gauge field fluctuations in superconductors, the Kosterlitz-Thouless transition, duality transformations, and quantum phase transitions - all of which are at the forefront of physics research. This book contains numerous problems of varying degrees of difficulty, with solutions. These problems provide readers with a wealth of material to test their understanding of the subject. It is ideal for graduate students and more experienced researchers in the fields of condensed matter physics, statistical physics, and many-body physics.
Union and Unionisms
Authors: Kidd Colin
Published: July 2010

Although the dominant political ideology in Scotland between 1707 and the present, unionism has suffered serious neglect. One of the most distinguished Scottish historians of our time looks afresh at this central theme in Britain's history, politics and law, and traces the history of Scottish unionist ideas from the early sixteenth century to the present day. Colin Kidd demonstrates that unionism had impeccably indigenous origins long predating the Union of 1707, and that it emerged in reaction to the English vision of Britain as an empire. Far from being the antithesis of nationalism, modern Scottish unionism has largely occupied a middle ground between the extremes of assimilation to England or separation from it. At a time when the future of the Scottish union is under scrutiny as never before, its history demands Colin Kidd's lucid and cogent examination, which will doubtless generate major debate, both within Scotland and beyond.
Law, Politics and Society in Early Modern England
Authors: Brooks Christopher W.
Published: July 2010

Law, like religion, provided one of the principal discourses through which early-modern English people conceptualised the world in which they lived. Transcending traditional boundaries between social, legal and political history, this innovative and authoritative study examines the development of legal thought and practice from the later middle ages through to the outbreak of the English civil war, and explores the ways in which law mediated and constituted social and economic relationships within the household, the community, and the state at all levels. By arguing that English common law was essentially the creation of the wider community, it challenges many current assumptions and opens new perspectives about how early-modern society should be understood. Its magisterial scope and lucid exposition will make it essential reading for those interested in subjects ranging from high politics and constitutional theory to the history of the family, as well as the history of law.
Bipolar Disorder in Young People
Authors: Macneil Craig A. , Hasty Melissa K. , Conus Philippe , Berk Michael , Scott Jan
Published: July 2010

As research emerges on the effectiveness of psychological therapies for bipolar disorder, this is the first manual guiding the treatment of those in adolescence and early adulthood, taking into account the developmental issues which can have significant impact on therapeutic outcomes. Core issues covered include engagement difficulties, how cognitive therapy should be adapted for adolescents, the impact of the disorder on the person's psychosocial development, managing comorbidity (particularly alcohol and substance use), medication adherence, the impact of family dynamics, and issues around control and independence in the therapeutic relationship. The manual is illustrated with case studies and text boxes describing tips and techniques for the therapist. Providing clear clinical guidance, backed by an extensive literature review and theoretical overview, this is essential reading for all mental health specialists implementing psychological interventions for young people with bipolar disorder.
Bacterial Physiology and Metabolism
Authors: Kim Byung Hong , Gadd Geoffrey Michael
Published: July 2010

Recent determination of genome sequences for a wide range of bacteria has made in-depth knowledge of prokaryotic metabolic function essential in order to give biochemical, physiological, and ecological meaning to the genomic information. Clearly describing the important metabolic processes that occur in prokaryotes under different conditions and in different environments, this advanced text provides an overview of the key cellular processes that determine bacterial roles in the environment, biotechnology, and human health. Prokaryotic structure is described as well as the means by which nutrients are transported into cells across membranes. Glucose metabolism through glycolysis and the TCA cycle are discussed, as well as other trophic variations found in prokaryotes, including the use of organic compounds, anaerobic fermentation, anaerobic respiratory processes, and photosynthesis. The regulation of metabolism through control of gene expression and control of the activity of enzymes is also covered, as well as survival mechanisms used under starvation conditions.
Political Women and American Democracy
Authors: Wolbrecht Christina , Beckwith Karen , Baldez Lisa
Published: July 2010

What do we know about women, politics, and democracy in the United States? The last thirty years have witnessed a remarkable increase in women's participation in American politics and an explosion of research on female political actors, and the transformations effected by them, during the same period. Political Women and American Democracy provides a critical synthesis of scholarly research by leading experts in the field. The collected essays examine women as citizens, voters, participants, movement activists, partisans, candidates, and legislators. The authors provide frameworks for understanding and organizing existing scholarship; focus on theoretical, methodological, and empirical debates; and map out productive directions for future research. Political Women and American Democracy is an invaluable resource for scholars and students studying and conducting women and politics research.
High-fat diet results in postprandial insulin resistance that involves parasympathetic dysfunction
Authors: Afonso Ricardo A. , Lautt W. Wayne , Schafer Josh , Legare Dallas J. , Oliveira Antonio G. , Macedo M. Paula
Published: July 2010

Different diets have distinct impacts on glucose homoeostasis, for which insulin sensitivity (IS) after a meal (postprandial IS) is highly relevant. Postprandial IS depends upon hepatic parasympathetic activation and glutathione content elevation. We tested the hypothesis that postprandial IS is compromised in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity. Sprague–Dawley rats were fed a standard diet (STD, n 10), 1-week HFD (n 9) or 4-week HFD (n 8). IS was tested in postprandial state using the rapid IS test (RIST) before and after the blockade of the parasympathetic nerves (atropine, 1 mg/kg); parasympathetic-dependent IS was obtained from the difference between control and post-atropine RIST. Fasting IS was also assessed in the STD-fed rats (n 4) and 4-week HFD-fed rats (n 3) using the RIST. Whole-body fat and regional fat pads were heavier in the 1-week HFD-fed rats (79·8 (se 7·9) and 23·7 (se 1·0) g, respectively) or 4-week HFD-fed rats (106·5 (se 6·1) and 30·1 (se 1·4) g, respectively) than in the STD-fed rats (32·5 (se 3·7) and 13·7 (se 1·0) g, respectively; P < 0·001). Fasted-state IS was similar between the groups studied. Postprandial IS was higher in the STD-fed rats (185·8 (se 5·6) mg glucose/kg body weight (bw)) than in both the 1-week HFD-fed rats (108·8 (se 2·9) mg glucose/kg bw; P < 0·001) and 4-week HFD-fed rats (69·3 (se 2·6) mg glucose/kg bw; P < 0·001). Parasympathetic-dependent IS was impaired in both HFD-fed groups (STD, 108·9 (se 3·9) mg glucose/kg bw; 1-week HFD, 38·6 (se 4·2) mg glucose/kg bw; 4-week HFD, 5·4 (se 1·7) mg glucose/kg bw; P < 0·001). Total (postprandial) and parasympathetic-dependent IS correlated negatively with whole-body fat (R2 0·81 and 0·87) and regional adiposity (R2 0·85 and 0·79). In conclusion, fat accumulation induced by HFD is associated with postprandial insulin resistance, but not with fasting insulin resistance. HFD-associated postprandial insulin resistance is largely mediated by impairment of parasympathetic-dependent insulin action, which correlates with adiposity.
Jack Benny and America's Mission after World War II: Openness, Pluralism, Internationalism, and Supreme Confidence
Authors: WILSON JAMES GRAHAM
Published: June 2010

This article argues that the Jack Benny radio program reflected and illuminated America's sense of mission coming out of World War II by providing listeners with a conceptualization of a world in which the promotion of universal values was to usher in an era of lasting peace. A study of the Jack Benny Program from 1945 to 1950 illustrates how World War II changed the purpose of the show; how Jack Benny, his writers, and his cast understood notions of openness, pluralism, and internationalism; how the correlation they drew between social equality at home and international priorities abroad sometimes preempted official US policies; and how they provided, in the form of the show's central character, a model of supremely confident leadership in an era fraught with anxieties.
The true cost of in-patient obesity: impact of obesity on inflammatory stress and morbidity
Authors: Grimble Robert F.
Published: July 2010

The objective of the present review is to provide an overview of the metabolic effects of pro-inflammatory cytokine production during infection and injury; to highlight the disadvantages of pro-inflammatory cytokine production and inflammatory stress on morbidity and mortality of patients; to identify the influence of genetics and adiposity on inflammatory stress in patients and to indicate how nutrients may modulate the inflammatory response in patients. Recent research has shown clearly that adipose tissue actively secretes a wide range of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Paradoxically, although inflammation is an essential part of the response of the body to infection, surgery and trauma, it can adversely affect patient outcome. The metabolic effects of inflammation are mediated by pro-inflammatory cytokines. Metabolic effects include insulin insensitivity, hyperlipidaemia, muscle protein loss and oxidant stress. These effects, as well as being present during infective disease, are also present in diseases with a covert inflammatory basis. These latter diseases include obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Inflammatory stress also increases during aging. The level of cytokine production, within individuals, is influenced by single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in cytokine genes. The combination of SNP controls the relative level of inflammatory stress in both overt and covert inflammatory diseases. The impact of cytokine genotype on the intensity of inflammatory stress derived from an obese state is unknown. While studies remain to be done in the latter context, evidence shows that these genomic characteristics influence morbidity and mortality in infectious disease and diseases with an underlying inflammatory basis and thereby influence the cost of in-patient obesity. Antioxidants andn-3 PUFA alter the intensity of the inflammatory process. Recent studies show that genotypic factors influence the effectiveness of immunonutrients. A better understanding of this aspect of nutrient–gene interactions and of the genomic factors that influence the intensity of inflammation during disease will help in the more effective targeting of nutritional therapy.
Toward scientifically useful quantitative models of psychopathology: The importance of a comparative approach
Authors: Krueger Robert F. , DeYoung Colin G. , Markon Kristian E.
Published: June 2010

Cramer et al. articulate a novel perspective on comorbidity. However, their network models must be compared with more parsimonious latent variable models before conclusions can be drawn about network models as plausible accounts of comorbidity. Latent variable models have proven generative in studying psychopathology and its external correlates, and we doubt network models will prove as useful for psychopathology research.
Quality-adjusted life expectancy benefits of laparoscopic bariatric surgery: A United States perspective
Authors: Hernandez Lyndon V. , Klyve Dominic
Published: June 2010

Objectives: The method of choice for bariatric surgery remains controversial. The aim of this study was to compare the outcome of laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (L-RYGB) versus laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) using quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs).

Methods: We developed a Markov model of the quality of life and survival of L-RYGB and LAGB in obese patients. Using census data, we estimated the probability of dying and quality of life for each year of each cohort.

Results: For all cohorts, L-RYGB offers the highest advantage in QALYs compared with gastric banding. The youngest cohort showed the greatest discrepancy between the two surgical methods, with 7.8, 6.4, and 4.7 QALYs gained with L-RYGB over LAGB for the age groups 35, 45, and 55, respectively. Those with the highest presurgical body mass index (BMI) acquired the most advantage with L-RYGB, with 2.8, 6.4, and 9.6 QALYs gained with L-RYGB over LAGB for the BMI groups 40, 50, and 60. Males had a slightly higher advantage with L-RYGB, with 6.5 QALYs gained with L-RYGB over LAGB compared with 6.0 QALYs for females.

Conclusions: For the cohorts studied, L-RYGB is the preferred surgical treatment for obesity if the sole metric is QALYs. The young and extremely obese are core groups who will gain the most QALYs following L-RYGB.
On the socio-economic determinants of antenatal care utilization in Azerbaijan: evidence and policy implications for reforms
Authors: Habibov Nazim N.
Published: July 2010

Azerbaijan is a country with one of the highest child mortality rates in the regions of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Drawing on the nationally representative Demographic and Health Survey, this study examines the utilization of antenatal care in Azerbaijan to identify the socio-economic determinants of the usage, and its frequency, timing and quality. Consequently, binomial logit, two ordered logit and negative binomial regression models are specified to estimate the effect of various socio-economic characteristics on the likelihood of utilization. Place of living is an important determinant of antenatal healthcare utilization in Azerbaijan. It is important in determining the likelihood of utilization, its timing and quality of care received, whereas it is not significant in the model predicting the frequency of antenatal utilization. Women’s education is also significant in three models out of four. Education is important in explaining the frequency and timing of utilization as well as the quality of services received, but it is not significant in predicting the likelihood of utilization. Wealth gradient is another important determinant of antenatal care utilization in Azerbaijan inasmuch as it is significant in explaining the likelihood of prenatal care utilization and its frequency. In addition, two variables, birth order and desirability of the last child or current pregnancy, are significant only in explaining the likelihood of utilization. Therefore, we confirm the findings of previous studies, which reported that the utilization of prenatal health care is a multistage process in which decisions are sequential. Although the same set of factors may affect decision-making at all stages, the effect of these factors is different at different stages. Implications for reforms in the healthcare sector to improve antenatal care utilization in Azerbaijan are provided and discussed.
Bewältigung alltäglicher Stresssituationen von Kindern und Jugendlichen
Authors: Eschenbeck Heike
Published: July 2010

Zusammenfassung. Dieser Artikel liefert einen Überblick über Befunde zu situativen und personalen Einflussfaktoren auf die Bewältigung alltäglicher Anforderungen von klinisch unauffälligen Kindern und Jugendlichen. Hierzu wurden insgesamt 28 Studien aufgenommen. Mit dem Ziel einer ersten Bestandsaufnahme wird die Frage beantwortet, welchen Einfluss die Faktoren Belastungssituation, Alter und Geschlecht auf das Bewältigungsverhalten der Kinder und Jungendlichen zeigen. Ausgehend vom dargestellten Forschungsstand werden Empfehlungen für zukünftige Studien abgeleitet und Perspektiven für die Gesundheitspsychologie aufgezeigt.
Evidence for dynamical coupling from the lower atmosphere to the thermosphere during a major stratospheric warming
Authors: Funke B. , López‐Puertas M. , Bermejo‐Pantaleón D. , García‐Comas M. , Stiller G. P. , von Clarmann T. , Kiefer M. , Linden A.
Published: July 2010

We used temperature data from the Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding on board ESA's Envisat satellite to analyze the temperature responses in the mesosphere and thermosphere up to 170 km to a major stratospheric sudden warming (SSW) which occurred in January 2009. The temperature observations show clear signatures of a mesospheric cooling and a thermospheric warming, the latter peaking at 120–140 km in agreement with model predictions. From the analysis of the zonal temperature structure during the SSW a pronounced wave 1 pattern was found in the entire middle and upper polar atmosphere with maximum amplitudes around 50 and 140 km. In the mesosphere, the wave amplitude is significantly damped. The wave amplification above is most likely produced by in situ forced planetary waves in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere region. Our observations represent the first experimental evidence of a dynamical coupling of the lower atmosphere and the thermosphere in the 120–150 km range by means of satellite data.
Dielectrophoresis of DNA: Quantification by impedance measurements
Authors: Henning Anja , Bier Frank. F. , Hölzel Ralph
Published: June 2010

Dielectrophoretic properties of DNA have been determined by measuring capacitance changes between planar microelectrodes. DNA sizes ranged from 100 bp to 48 kbp, DNA concentrations from below 0.1 to 70 μg/ml. Dielectrophoretic spectra exhibited maximum response around 3 kHz and 3 MHz. The strongest response was found for very long DNA (above 10 kbp) and for short 100 bp fragments, which corresponds to the persistence length of DNA. The method allows for an uncomplicated, automatic acquisition of the dielectrophoretic properties of submicroscopical objects without the need for labeling protocols or optical accessibility.
Construction by dielectrophoresis of microbial aggregates for the study of bacterial cell dormancy
Authors: Zhu Ke , Kaprelyants Arseny S. , Salina Elena G. , Schuler Martin , Markx Gerard H.
Published: June 2010

A study of the effect of aggregate size on the resuscitation of dormant M. smegmatis was conducted by constructing cell aggregates with defined sizes and shapes using dielectrophoresis and monitoring the resuscitation process under controlled laboratorial conditions in a long-term cell feeding system. Differently sized cell aggregates were created on the surface of indium tin oxide coated microelectrodes, their heights and shapes controlled by the strength of the induced electric field and the shape of the microelectrodes. Both two-dimensional (ring-patterned) and three-dimensional cell aggregates were produced. The cell aggregates were maintained under sterile conditions at 37 °C for up to 14 days by continuously flushing Sauton’s medium through the chamber. Resuscitation of dormant M. smegmatis was evaluated by the production of the fluorescent dye 5-cyano-2,3-ditolyltetrazolium chloride. The results confirm that the resuscitation of dormant M. smegmatis is triggered by the accumulation of a resuscitation promoting factor inside the aggregates by diffusion limitation.
Hot nanoindentation in inert environments
Authors: Trenkle Jonathan C. , Packard Corinne E. , Schuh Christopher A.
Published: July 2010

An instrument capable of performing nanoindentation at temperatures up to 500 °C in inert atmospheres, including partial vacuum and gas near atmospheric pressures, is described. Technical issues associated with the technique (such as drift and noise) and the instrument (such as tip erosion and radiative heating of the transducer) are identified and addressed. Based on these considerations, preferred operation conditions are identified for testing on various materials. As a proof-of-concept demonstration, the hardness and elastic modulus of three materials are measured: fused silica (nonoxidizing), aluminum, and copper (both oxidizing). In all cases, the properties match reasonably well with published data acquired by more conventional test methods.
Exciton coherence length fluctuations in chromophore aggregates probed by multidimensional optical spectroscopy
Authors: Šanda František , Perlík Václav , Mukamel Shaul
Published: July 2010

The coherent third order optical response of molecular aggregates with fluctuating frequencies, couplings, and transition dipole moments is studied. We derived stochastic nonlinear exciton equations (SNEEs) by combining the quasiparticle picture of excitons with the path integral over stochastic bath paths described by the stochastic Liouville equations. Coherent two-dimensional (2D) spectra are calculated for a tetramer model system whose transition dipole orientations undergo two-state stochastic jumps on an arbitrary timescale. Correspondence between domains of ordered dipoles, which determine the exciton coherence length and the absorption peaks, is established. Signatures of domain coherence length fluctuations are observed in the cross peak dynamics of the 2D spectra in specific pulse polarization configurations.
Matrix-free application of Hamiltonian operators in Coifman wavelet bases
Authors: Acevedo Ramiro , Lombardini Richard , Johnson Bruce R.
Published: June 2010

A means of evaluating the action of Hamiltonian operators on functions expanded in orthogonal compact support wavelet bases is developed, avoiding the direct construction and storage of operator matrices that complicate extension to coupled multidimensional quantum applications. Application of a potential energy operator is accomplished by simple multiplication of the two sets of expansion coefficients without any convolution. The errors of this coefficient product approximation are quantified and lead to use of particular generalized coiflet bases, derived here, that maximize the number of moment conditions satisfied by the scaling function. This is at the expense of the number of vanishing moments of the wavelet function (approximation order), which appears to be a disadvantage but is shown surmountable. In particular, application of the kinetic energy operator, which is accomplished through the use of one-dimensional (1D) [or at most two-dimensional (2D)] differentiation filters, then degrades in accuracy if the standard choice is made. However, it is determined that use of high-order finite-difference filters yields strongly reduced absolute errors. Eigensolvers that ordinarily use only matrix-vector multiplications, such as the Lanczos algorithm, can then be used with this more efficient procedure. Applications are made to anharmonic vibrational problems: a 1D Morse oscillator, a 2D model of proton transfer, and three-dimensional vibrations of nitrosyl chloride on a global potential energy surface.
Identification of superconducting phases in ceramic particles by magnetic field induced forces using a magnetized wire
Authors: Pérez Daniel , Hulliger Jürg
Published: June 2010

A new equipment for minority phase analysis of superconducting (SC) phases within chemically inhomogeneous ceramic grains using a high gradient magnetic field or field induced effect of torque is presented. Single grains down to 20 μm are either captured by a magnetized iron wire or identified because of their torque movement in a pulsed magnetic field. An assembly of many hundreds of grains can be investigated for minor quantities of SC phases from 80 K up to room temperature. A maximum field of up to 100–140 mT allows us to reliably identify SC grains and evaluate their SC critical temperatures Tc. Localization of SC grains allows us to extract them for further analysis. Experiments with YBa2Cu3O2−δ grains demonstrated that Tc values evaluated in such a way are rather close to those, which are determined by magnetization measurements.
Density fitting of intramonomer correlation effects in symmetry-adapted perturbation theory
Authors: Hohenstein Edward G. , Sherrill C. David
Published: July 2010

Symmetry-adapted perturbation theory (SAPT) offers insight into the nature of intermolecular interactions. In addition, accurate energies can be obtained from the wave function-based variant of SAPT provided that intramonomer electron correlation effects are included. We apply density-fitting (DF) approximations to the intramonomer correlation corrections in SAPT. The introduction of this approximation leads to an improvement in the computational cost of SAPT by reducing the scaling of certain SAPT terms, reducing the amount of disk I/O, and avoiding the explicit computation of certain types of MO integrals. We have implemented all the intramonomer correlation corrections to SAPT through second-order under the DF approximation. Additionally, leading third-order terms are also implemented. The accuracy of this truncation of SAPT is tested against the S22 test set of Hobza and co-workers [Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 8, 1985 (2006)]. When the intramonomer corrections to dispersion are included in SAPT, a mean absolute deviation of 0.3–0.4 kcal mol−1 is observed for the S22 test set when using an aug-cc-pVDZ basis. The computations on the adenine-thymine complexes in the S22 test set with an aug-cc-pVDZ basis represent the largest SAPT computations to date that include this degree of intramonomer correlation. Computations of this size can now be performed routinely with our newly developed DF-SAPT program.
Communications: Signatures of quasiparticle entanglement in multidimensional nonlinear optical spectroscopy of aggregates
Authors: Mukamel Shaul
Published: June 2010

Excitons represent collective optical excitations in which the motions of electrons belonging to different chromophores are correlated. We discuss the utility of the notion of entanglement commonly used in quantum information processing, in the description of these excitations. A distinction is made between some apparent entanglement effects associated with the linear response that may be removed by a transformation of coordinates and can be handled classically, and genuine entanglement that is fundamentally quantum in nature and shows up only in the nonlinear optical response.
Thermal exchange radius measurement: Application to nanowire thermal imaging
Authors: Puyoo Etienne , Grauby Stéphane , Rampnoux Jean-Michel , Rouvière Emmanuelle , Dilhaire Stefan
Published: July 2010

In scanning thermal microscopy (SThM) techniques, the thermal exchange radius between tip and sample is a crucial parameter. Indeed, it limits the lateral spatial resolution but, in addition, an accurate value of this parameter is necessary for a precise identification of thermal properties. But until now, the thermal exchange radius is usually estimated but not measured. This paper presents an experimental procedure, based on the 3ω-SThM method, to measure its value. We apply this procedure to evaluate the thermal exchange radius of two commercial probes: the well-known Wollaston one and a new probe constituted of a palladium film on a SiO2 substrate. Finally, presenting silicon nanowire images, we clearly demonstrate that this new probe can reach a spatial resolution better than 100 nm whereas the Wollaston probe hardly reaches a submicronic spatial resolution.
Electronic structure variation during aging for Mg–Zr–O protective films in alternating current plasma display panel
Authors: Wu Huiyan , Wang Jianfeng , Song Zhongxiao , Xu Kewei , Li Yanhuai , Liu Chunliang
Published: July 2010

The variation in both the discharge characteristic and microstructure during aging for Mg–Zr–O protective films was investigated. In the aging process, the firing voltage and the minimum sustain voltage were reduced by 18 V and 10 V, respectively. Meanwhile, the results of x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurement revealed that the valence band edge of Mg–Zr–O protective films was slightly shifted to a low binding state and the density of states for valence bands was increased. The electronic structure variation related to the changes in crystal structure had an obvious influence on the improvement of discharge characteristic of Mg–Zr–O films.
Synergistic effect on the efficiency of polymer light-emitting diodes upon blending of two green-emitting polymers
Authors: Bernardo G. , Ferreira Q. , Brotas G. , Di Paolo R. E. , Charas A. , Morgado J.
Published: July 2010

Light-emitting diodes based on blends of the two green-emitting polymers, poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene-alt-benzothiadiazole), F8BT, and poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene-alt-bithiophene), F8T2, show efficiencies that lie in between those of the devices based on the neat polymers (with a maximum efficiency of approximately 4 cd/A for the devices with magnesium cathodes based on F8BT), except for the blend with 5% by weight of F8T2, which is more efficient than the device based on neat F8BT (a maximum efficiency of approximately 5 cd/A is obtained). In view of the lower photoluminescence efficiency of F8T2, we attribute this improvement to the improved hole transport brought about by F8T2, though is surprising that 5% by weight, is enough to significantly improve the charge balance within the emissive layer. A detailed photophysics study was carried out for the neat polymers and their blends and no clear evidence for energy transfer between the components was found. This unanticipated devices performance improvement points to the need of a deeper screening of available conjugated luminescent polymers.
Novel index for micromixing characterization and comparative analysis
Authors: Jain Mranal , Nandakumar K.
Published: July 2010

The most basic micromixer is a T- or Y-mixer, where two confluent streams mix due to transverse diffusion. To enhance micromixing, various modifications of T-mixers are reported such as heterogeneously charged walls, grooves on the channel base, geometric variations by introducing physical constrictions, etc. The performance of these reported designs is evaluated against the T-mixer in terms of the deviation from perfectly mixed state and mixing length (device length required to achieve perfect mixing). Although many studies have noticed the reduced flow rates for improved mixer designs, the residence time is not taken into consideration for micromixing performance evaluation. In this work, we propose a novel index, based on residence time, for micromixing characterization and comparative analysis. For any given mixer, the proposed index identifies the nondiffusive mixing enhancement with respect to the T-mixer. Various micromixers are evaluated using the proposed index to demonstrate the usefulness of the index. It is also shown that physical constriction mixer types are equivalent to T-mixers. The proposed index is found to be insightful and could be used as a benchmark for comparing different mixing strategies.
Simultaneous force and current mapping of the Si(111)-(7×7) surface by dynamic force microscopy
Authors: Sugimoto Yoshiaki , Yi Insook , Morita Ken-ichi , Abe Masayuki , Morita Seizo
Published: July 2010

We simultaneously obtain spatial maps of the interaction force and current between conductive tips and the Si(111)-(7×7) surface. The difference in the topographic profiles between atomic force microscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy is clearly visualized. We observe a current drop in the region where the chemical bonding force between the tip and surface atoms becomes significant. The peak values of the conductance above adatom sites are in good agreement with the value previously obtained by the theoretical simulation.
Metal-related gate sinking due to interfacial oxygen layer in Ir/InAlN high electron mobility transistors
Authors: Ostermaier C. , Pozzovivo G. , Basnar B. , Schrenk W. , Schmid M. , Tóth L. , Pécz B. , Carlin J.-F. , Gonschorek M. , Grandjean N. , Strasser G. , Pogany D. , Kuzmik J.
Published: July 2010

We report on an annealing-induced “gate sinking” effect in a 2-nm-thin In0.17Al0.83N/AlN barrier high electron mobility transistor with Ir gate. Investigations by transmission electron microscopy linked the effect to an oxygen containing interlayer between the gate metal and the InAlN layer and revealed diffusion of oxygen into iridium during annealing. Below 700 °C the diffusion is inhomogeneous and seems to occur along grain boundaries, which is consistent with the capacitance-voltage analysis. Annealing at 700 °C increased the gate capacitance over a factor 2, shifted the threshold voltage from +0.3 to +1 V and increased the transconductance from 400 to 640 mS/mm.
A simple alcohol-chemical vapor deposition synthesis of single-layer graphenes using flash cooling
Authors: Miyata Yasumitsu , Kamon Keiichi , Ohashi Kazunori , Kitaura Ryo , Yoshimura Masamichi , Shinohara Hisanori
Published: June 2010

We report the synthesis of single-layer graphenes from ethanol using, what we call, “flash cooling” just after chemical vapor deposition. The single-layer graphenes synthesized are high-quality and several micrometers in grain size as revealed by Raman spectroscopy. Detailed comparison of the cooling processes suggests that the single-layer graphene growth does not occur during the carbon precipitation but rather stems from surface diffusions of carbon on a nickel substrate. Because of the present simple and easiness for the large-scale synthesis under an inert gas atmosphere and at atmospheric pressure, the present method can easily be applied for the future large-scale and low-cost graphene production.
High magnetomechanical coupling on magnetic microwire for sensors with biological applications
Authors: Marín P. , Marcos M. , Hernando A.
Published: July 2010

In this letter, we report the experimental work carried out to study and improve the magnetomechanical coupling on magnetic microwires. A good magnetoelastic response, with magnetoelastic coupling factor k=0.43, has been obtained by control of both wire diameter and sample microstructure. The study addresses two following aspects: (a) analysis of the suitability of amorphous magnetoelastic microwire as promising tiny sensor element to be used as wireless biosensors as well as environment detectors. In particular, its potential as liquids viscosity sensor has been confirmed. (b) Study, as the first time in this kind of magnetic microwire, of the effects of nanocrystallization on the sample magnetoelastic behavior.
Surface-emitting dye-doped polymer laser coupled with stimulated resonant Raman scattering
Authors: Yanagi Hisao , Miyamoto Hidetaka , Ishizumi Atsushi , Tomita Satoshi , Yamashita Kenichi , Oe Kunishige
Published: July 2010

Surface-emitting polymer laser was fabricated with 1,4-bis[2-[4-[N,N-di(p-totyl)amino]phenyl]vinyl]benzene-doped poly(vinyl-pyrrolidone) thin films sandwiched between two distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) mirrors. Under pulsed optical pumping, Fabry–Perot (FP) type resonation resulted in multi-mode laser oscillations depending upon the active film thickness. With increasing excitation wavelengths, an emission peak based on stimulated resonant Raman scattering (SRRS) was superimposed on the multimode band region. When the SRRS peak just overlapped with one of the FP modes, the emission intensity was enhanced and the line width was considerably narrowed. Such SRRS-coupled FP oscillations can be applied to realize a tunable single-mode surface-emitting polymer laser.
Nanopyramid surface plasmon resonance sensors
Authors: Chung Pei-Yu , Lin Tzung-Hua , Schultz Gregory , Batich Christopher , Jiang Peng
Published: July 2010

We report the achievement of sensitive chemical and biological sensing using periodic gold nanopyramids with nanoscale sharp tips created by a simple and scalable colloidal templating approach. The sharp tips and the long-range periodic structure of the nanopyramid arrays enable the excitement of both localized and propagating surface plasmons. The optical reflection and the detection sensitivity of the templated nanopyramid surface plasmon resonance sensors agree reasonably well with the theoretical predictions using a finite-difference time-domain model. We have also demonstrated that specific antigen-antibody binding can be detected by using nanopyramid arrays in a real-time and label-free manner.
Control of transmission in disordered graphene nanojunctions through stochastic resonance
Authors: Jiang Luo-Luo , Huang Liang , Yang Rui , Lai Ying-Cheng
Published: July 2010

We investigate electronic transport in graphene nanojunctions and find that the transmission (or the conductance) can exhibit a nonmonotonic behavior with respect to variation in the strength of disorder, mimicking a stochastic resonance. The general setting for this remarkable phenomenon is where the graphene device possesses localized states in the absence of disorder, i.e., the localized edge states specific to graphene. A small amount of disorder can then break the localization and lead to an enhancement in the transmission. For strong disorder, Anderson localization [Phys. Rev. 109, 1492 (1958)] sets in, causing the transmission to decrease. The phenomenon is robust and can occur with or without magnetic field.
Programmable matter by folding
Authors: Hawkes E. , An B. , Benbernou N. M. , Tanaka H. , Kim S. , Demaine E. D. , Rus D. , Wood R. J.
Published: June 2010

Programmable matter is a material whose properties can be programmed to achieve specific shapes or stiffnesses upon command. This concept requires constituent elements to interact and rearrange intelligently in order to meet the goal. This paper considers achieving programmable sheets that can form themselves in different shapes autonomously by folding. Past approaches to creating transforming machines have been limited by the small feature sizes, the large number of components, and the associated complexity of communication among the units. We seek to mitigate these difficulties through the unique concept of self-folding origami with universal crease patterns. This approach exploits a single sheet composed of interconnected triangular sections. The sheet is able to fold into a set of predetermined shapes using embedded actuation. To implement this self-folding origami concept, we have developed a scalable end-to-end planning and fabrication process. Given a set of desired objects, the system computes an optimized design for a single sheet and multiple controllers to achieve each of the desired objects. The material, called programmable matter by folding, is an example of a system capable of achieving multiple shapes for multiple functions.