bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of the combinations between pea proteins and soluble fibres on cholesterolaemia and cholesterol metabolism in rats
Authors: Parolini Cinzia , Manzini Stefano , Busnelli Marco , Rigamonti Elena , Marchesi Marta , Diani Erika , Sirtori Cesare R. , Chiesa Giulia
Published: March 2013

Many functional foods and dietary supplements have been reported to be beneficial for the management of dyslipidaemia, one of the major risk factors for CVD. Soluble fibres and legume proteins are known to be a safe and practical approach for cholesterol reduction. The present study aimed at investigating the hypocholesterolaemic effect of the combinations of these bioactive vegetable ingredients and their possible effects on the expression of genes regulating cholesterol homeostasis. A total of six groups of twelve rats each were fed, for 28 d, Nath's hypercholesterolaemic diets, differing in protein and fibre sources, being, respectively, casein and cellulose (control), pea proteins and cellulose (pea), casein and oat fibres (oat), casein and apple pectin (pectin), pea proteins and oat fibres (pea+oat) and pea proteins and apple pectin (pea+pectin). Administration of each vegetable-containing diet was associated with lower total cholesterol concentrations compared with the control. The combinations (pea+oat and pea+pectin) were more efficacious than fibres alone in modulating cholesterolaemia ( − 53 and − 54 %, respectively, at 28 d;P< 0·005). In rats fed the diets containing oat fibres or apple pectin, alone or in combination with pea proteins, a lower hepatic cholesterol content (P< 0·005) and higher hepatic mRNA concentrations ofCYP7A1andNTCPwere found when compared with the control rats (P< 0·05). In summary, the dietary combinations of pea proteins and oat fibres or apple pectin are extremely effective in lowering plasma cholesterol concentrations in rats and affect cellular cholesterol homeostasis by up-regulating genes involved in hepatic cholesterol turnover.
DYNASTY, LAW, AND THE IMPERIAL PROVINCIAL MADRASA: THE CASE OF AL-MADRASA AL-ʿUTHMANIYYA IN OTTOMAN JERUSALEM
Authors: Burak Guy
Published: March 2013

This study looks at the history of two madrasas in Jerusalem, al-Madrasa al-ʿUthmaniyya and al-Madrasa al-Fanariyya from the 15th to the 18th centuries, in order to examine an understudied Ottoman institution: the imperial provincial madrasa. The imperial madrasas were assigned to the state-appointed Hanafi muftis of different localities across the empire. This essay argues that these learning institutions helped to consolidate the connection between the Ottoman dynasty, its appointed jurisconsults, and its broader imperial learned hierarchy. Beyond revealing some of its important institutional aspects, examining the imperial provincial madrasa casts light on the doctrinal role the Ottoman dynasty assumed in regulating the content of Hanafi jurisprudence that members of the imperial learned hierarchy were to apply. This role and the connections between the dynasty and its appointed jurisconsults had important effects within the diverse legal landscape of the empire, where multiple Sunni (especially Hanafi) legal and scholarly traditions coexisted. In further analyzing the identity of the endowers of these imperial madrasas, the article opens up new avenues for exploring how the Ottoman dynasty was defined in different contexts.
Afghan Histories beyond the State, War, and Tribe
Authors: Nichols Robert
Published: March 2013

Increased access to archival and other textual sources and the situating of “Afghan” history within wider theoretical, comparative, and interdisciplinary thinking have opened Afghanistan-related studies to new fields of research and analysis. This offers new opportunities to reimagine and move beyond established historical narratives and preoccupations. At a point when English-language archives have been comprehensively mined for the political histories of Afghan dynasties, intruding Western empires, and the dynamics of modernity and state-building, non-English-language primary-source material has become increasingly available, including in translation and in online digital archival formats. The recent English translation by M. Mehdi Khorrami and Robert D. McChesney of volume three ofThe History of Afghanistanby the Afghan Hazara historian Fayz Muhammad Katib (c. 1863–1931) offers new material with which to reconsider not only elite political careers but also ethnic identity and competition, the sociology of provincial political networks, and the creation of governing rules codified by ʿAbd al-Rahman and Habibullah.
SAVE OUR STATE: A DECADE OF WRITING ON JURISDICTION AND SOVEREIGNTY IN EAST AND WEST ASIA
Authors: Miller Ruth
Published: March 2013

On 2 November 2010, the voters of Oklahoma passed the so-called “Save Our State Amendment.” This amendment to Oklahoma's constitution prohibited Oklahoma courts from “look[ing] to the legal precepts of other nations or cultures. Specifically,” it asserted, “the courts shall not consider international law or Sharia Law.” This legislative moment in middle America passed quickly. Commentators both inside and outside the United States responded to the amendment with bewilderment—and in 2012, a federal appeals court ruled the amendment unconstitutional. “Save Our State” died before it could have any far-reaching effect.
Climate variability and potential distribution of selected pest species in south Moravia and north-east Austria in the past 200 years – lessons for the future
Authors: SVOBODOVÁ E. , TRNKA M. , ŽALUD Z. , SEMERÁDOVÁ D. , DUBROVSKÝ M. , EITZINGER J. , ŠTĚPÁNEK P. , BRÁZDIL R.
Published: March 2013

The present study investigated the historical occurrence of the European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis), the European grape vine moth (Lobesia botrana) and the Codling moth (Cydia pomonella) in southern Moravia and northern Austria from 1803–2008 by using climate and pest models. The pest model used, CLIMEX, indicates areas that are climatically favourable for the pest's development and long-term survival, considering the climatic parameters, especially daily air temperature, as determining factors for pest development. For model input parameters, two sets of meteorological data were prepared: (i) a generated meteorological series for 1803–2008 and (ii) a measured reference meteorological series for 1976–2008. In addition to estimating the historical climatic suitability for the persistence of a given pest, a second aim of the present study was to specify the core of the climatic niche during the continued presence of the pest and evaluate the applicability of the meteorological data generated for climate, based on pest mapping. This evaluation resulted in a partial overestimation of pest occurrence for L. botrana when using the generated meteorological data set. This species, native to warmer areas, has proved to be a sensitive indicator of increased temperatures.
“The Dusky Doughboys”: Interaction between African American Soldiers and the Population of Northern Ireland during the Second World War
Authors: TOPPING SIMON
Published: March 2013

This article will examine the ways in which the people of Northern Ireland and African American troops stationed there during the Second World War reacted to each other. It will also consider the effect of institutional racism in the American military on this relationship, concluding that, for the most part, the population welcomed black soldiers and refused to endorse American racial attitudes or enforce Jim Crow segregation. This piece argues that, bearing in mind the latent racism of the time, the response of the Northern Irish to African Americans was essentially colour-blind, and this was true in both the Protestant and Catholic communities.
Unfair Ground: Girlhood and Theme Parks in Contemporary Fiction
Authors: GRAHAM SARAH
Published: March 2013

This essay explores the representation of adolescence in three contemporary American novels set in theme parks. It argues that, as a microcosm of American society, the theme park reproduces the norms of gender and sexuality even as it reveals them to be constructed. In contrast to the way that theme parks foster coming of age for boys, Lorrie Moore's Who Will Run the Frog Hospital? (1995), Miriam Toews's A Complicated Kindness (2004), and Karen Russell's Swamplandia! (2011) demonstrate the limitations imposed on girls. Although female protagonists challenge gender norms, heteronormativity proves impossible to resist, despite being disempowering or disappointing. Thus, by demonstrating that coming of age in America takes place on unfair ground, the novels point to the continuing importance of feminism in the face of post-feminist myths of equality.
Advantages of early replacement therapy for mucopolysaccharidosis type VI: echocardiographic follow-up of siblings
Authors: Leal Gabriela N. , de Paula Ana C. , Morhy Samira S. , Andrade José L. , Kim Chong A.
Published: March 2013

Mucopolysaccharidosis type VI (Marateaux–Lamy syndrome) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by deficient activity of the enzyme N-acetylgalactosamine-4-sulphatase (arylsulphatase B). Cytoplasmic vacuoles full of dermatan sulphate are observed in endothelial cells, myocyte, and fibroblasts, compromising the function of cardiovascular structures and contributing significantly towards morbidity and mortality. The primary objective of this study was to assess the advantages of early replacement therapy with recombinant human arylsulphatase B through the echocardiographic follow-up of sisters who started treatment at quite different ages: one at 9 years and the other at 1 year and 7 months. The older sibling showed striking mitral and aortic valve compromise when she was only 2 years old and finally needed cardiac surgery at the age of 8, even before starting enzyme replacement. Differently, the younger one has developed only mild mitral and aortic lesions throughout the follow-up period of 3 years. The two siblings had left ventricle cardiomyopathy, but partial reverse remodelling was induced by enzyme replacement therapy in both cases. The younger sibling has never received any cardiovascular drugs, whereas the older one has been using β-blockers and diuretics in addition to enzyme therapy to cope with heart failure. Comparing the outcomes of these two sisters with a very aggressive phenotype of mucopolysaccharidosis type VI, the conclusion was that early onset of therapy may slow down the disease progression and prevent severe cardiac lesions to be established. Moreover, patients’ compliance is essential for the success of treatment, as sequential echocardiographic evaluation demonstrated worsening of some cardiac lesions whenever infusions were missed.
Second messenger/signal transduction pathways in major mood disorders: moving from membrane to mechanism of action, part I: major depressive disorder
Authors: Niciu Mark J. , Ionescu Dawn F. , Mathews Daniel C. , Richards Erica M. , Zarate Carlos A.
Published: March 2013

The etiopathogenesis and treatment of major mood disorders have historically focused on modulation of monoaminergic (serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine) and amino acid [γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamate] receptors at the plasma membrane. Although the activation and inhibition of these receptors acutely alter local neurotransmitter levels, their neuropsychiatric effects are not immediately observed. This time lag implicates intracellular neuroplasticity as primary in the mechanism of action of antidepressants and mood stabilizers. The modulation of intracellular second messenger/signal transduction cascades affects neurotrophic pathways that are both necessary and sufficient for monoaminergic and amino acid–based treatments. In this review, we will discuss the evidence in support of intracellular mediators in the pathophysiology and treatment of preclinical models of despair and major depressive disorder (MDD). More specifically, we will focus on the following pathways: cAMP/PKA/CREB, neurotrophin-mediated (MAPK and others), p11, Wnt/Fz/Dvl/GSK3β, and NFκB/ΔFosB. We will also discuss recent discoveries with rapidly acting antidepressants, which activate the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and release of inhibition on local translation via elongation factor stimulation. Throughout this discourse, we will highlight potential intracellular targets for therapeutic intervention. Finally, future clinical implications are discussed.
Integrating soil science into agricultural production frontiers
Authors: Ekbom Anders , Alem Yonas , Sterner Thomas
Published: March 2013

This paper integrates soil science variables into an economic analysis of agricultural output among small-scale farmers in Kenya's highlands. The integration is valuable because farmers’ choice of inputs depends on both the status of the soil and socioeconomic conditions. The study uses a stochastic production frontier in which the individual farm's distance to the frontier depends systematically on individual factors. We show the importance of including key soil properties and find that phosphorus has a negative output elasticity, suggesting that farms may be using the wrong fertilizer mix. Hence, the central policy implication is that while fertilizers are generally beneficial, their application needs to be based on better soil information. This highlights the importance of strengthening agricultural extension, increased access to markets and more diversified supply of production inputs.
Facility Implementation and Comparative Performance Evaluation of Probe-Corrected TEM/STEM with Schottky and Cold Field Emission Illumination
Authors: Xin Yan , Kynoch John , Han Ke , Liang Zhiyong , Lee Peter J. , Larbalestier David C. , Su Yi-Feng , Nagahata Kohei , Aoki Toshihiro , Longo Paolo
Published: March 2013

We report the installation and performance evaluation of a probe aberration-corrected high-resolution JEOL JEM-ARM200F transmission electron microscope (TEM). We provide details on construction of the room that enables us to obtain scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) data without any evident distortions/noise from the external environment. The microscope routinely delivers expected performance. We show that the highest STEM spatial resolution and energy resolution achieved with this microscope are 0.078 nm and 0.34 eV, respectively. We report a direct comparative evaluation of the performance of this microscope with a Schottky thermal field-emission gun versus a cold field-emission gun. Cold field-emission illumination improves spatial resolution of the high current probe for analytical spectroscopy, the TEM information limit, and the electron energy resolution compared to the Schottky thermal field-emission source.
New order selection technique using information criteria applied to SISO and MIMO systems predistortion
Authors: Amiri M.V. , Bassam S.A. , Helaoui M. , Ghannouchi F.M.
Published: March 2013

This paper presents a new order selection technique of matrix memory polynomial technique that models the nonlinearities of single-branch and multi-branch transmitters. The new criteria take into account the complexity of the model in addition to its mean-square error in the selection criteria. The quasi-convexity of the proposed criteria was proven in this work. By using this proposed Akaike information criterion (AIC) and Bayesian information criterion (BIC) criteria, the model order selection was cast as a cost minimization problem. To minimize the criteria, modified gradient descent and simulated annealing algorithms were utilized which resulted in a considerable reduction in the number of search iterations. The performances of the criteria were shown by comparing the normalized mean square error (NMSE) of a higher-order model and the optimum model. It has been shown that the NMSE difference is <0.5 dB, but the complexity is much smaller.
Pragmatic trials of complex psychosocial interventions: methodological challenges
Authors: Dunn G.
Published: March 2013

Having first introduced the pragmatic health care trial, the discussion then focuses on a selected list of technical problems that are important for the design, analysis and inference from such trials. The first is lack of independence of participants’ outcomes do to clustering either arising from a cluster randomized design or to the way treatment is delivered (therapist and group effects). The second and third concern the implications of non-adherence to treatment and subsequent loss to follow-up, particularly, when non-adherence is associated with missing outcome data. Finally, it is argued that pragmatism and a desire for a scientific explanation should not be regarded as mutually exclusive.
Traumafokussierte kognitive Verhaltenstherapie mit Kindern und Jugendlichen
Authors: Kirsch Veronica , Goldbeck Lutz
Published: March 2013

In diesem Beitrag wird die traumafokussierte kognitive Verhaltenstherapie zunächst mit ihrem theoretischen Hintergrund und ihrer umfangreichen Evidenzbasis dargestellt. Dann erfolgt ein Überblick über den Aufbau und die praktische Umsetzung dieser multimodalen ambulanten Therapie mit ihren zentralen Elementen Psychoedukation, Aufbau von Bewältigungsstrategien, graduierte Exposition und Sicherheitsplan. Schließlich werden erste Erfahrungen mit der Implementierung in der Versorgungspraxis berichtet und Maßnahmen zur weiteren Verbreitung evidenzbasierter Traumatherapien diskutiert.
Stellt ein niedriges Selbstkonzept einen Risikofaktor für Anpassungsprobleme nach dem Schuleintritt dar?
Authors: Cimeli Patrizia , Röthlisberger Marianne , Neuenschwander Regula , Roebers Claudia M.
Published: March 2013

Kinder im Vorschul- und frühen Grundschulalter schätzen sich sehr positiv ein. Man vermutet, dass ein hohes Selbstkonzept eine erfolgreiche Bewältigung von Entwicklungsaufgaben begünstigt. Für diese junge Altersgruppe liegen jedoch erst wenige empirische Belege dazu vor. Ziel der vorliegenden prospektiven Längsschnittstudie war es zu überprüfen, ob ein niedriges Selbstkonzept einen Risikofaktor für Anpassungsprobleme unmittelbar nach dem Schuleintritt darstellt. Dazu wurden die Entwicklungsverläufe von Kindern mit niedrigem Selbstkonzept (unterstes Terzil, n = 31) und Kindern mit hohem Selbstkonzept (n = 72) miteinander verglichen. Im Kindergarten unterschieden sich die beiden Gruppen weder in soziodemographischen noch in kognitiven Merkmalen. Nach dem Schuleintritt wiesen Kinder mit niedrigem Selbstkonzept jedoch sowohl sozial als auch leistungsmäßig eine schlechtere schulische Anpassung auf als Kinder mit hohem Selbstkonzept. Die Ergebnisse werden hinsichtlich ihrer praktischen Bedeutsamkeit diskutiert.
Störungen des Sozialverhaltens bei Jugendlichen mit Migrationshintergrund
Authors: Kouider Esmahan Belhadj , Koglin Ute , Lorenz Alfred L. , Dupont Marc , Petermann Franz
Published: March 2013

Aggressives Verhalten tritt bei Jugendlichen mit Migrationshintergrund nach groß angelegten nationalen Schülerbefragungen häufiger auf. Die vorliegende empirische Studie umfasst 779 behandelte Jugendliche mit unterschiedlichen psychosozialen Belastungen wie Aggressionen, Depressionen oder Ängsten der institutionellen psychiatrischen Einrichtungen des Klinikverbundes Bremen aus dem Jahr 2010 und analysiert 185 Jugendliche mit einer Diagnose im Bereich der F91 oder F92 nach ICD-10. Es wird deutlich, dass im Verhältnis zur Bevölkerungsstruktur Jugendliche mit Migrationshintergrund durch die psychiatrische Versorgung noch nicht ausreichend erreicht werden. Binäre logistische Regressionsanalysen zeigen auf, dass ein Migrationshintergrund kein Prädiktor für eine Störung des Sozialverhaltens darstellt. Bedeutsame Einflussfaktoren einer Störung des Sozialverhaltens sind bei den behandelten Jugendlichen ein männliches Geschlecht, ein niedriger Bildungsstatus der Eltern, ein unangemessener elterlicher Erziehungsstil, eine unzureichende psychosoziale Anpassung, die Anzahl psychosozialer Belastungsfaktoren und chronischer schulischer Stress.
ORE1 balances leaf senescence against maintenance by antagonizing G2‐like‐mediated transcription
Authors: Rauf Mamoona , Arif Muhammad , Dortay Hakan , Matallana‐Ramírez Lilian P , Waters Mark T , Gil Nam Hong , Lim Pyung‐Ok , Mueller‐Roeber Bernd , Balazadeh Salma
Published: March 2013

Leaf senescence is a key physiological process in all plants. Its onset is tightly controlled by transcription factors, of which NAC factor ORE1 (ANAC092) is crucial in Arabidopsis thaliana. Enhanced expression of ORE1 triggers early senescence by controlling a downstream gene network that includes various senescence‐associated genes. Here, we report that unexpectedly ORE1 interacts with the G2‐like transcription factors GLK1 and GLK2, which are important for chloroplast development and maintenance, and thereby for leaf maintenance. ORE1 antagonizes GLK transcriptional activity, shifting the balance from chloroplast maintenance towards deterioration. Our finding identifies a new mechanism important for the control of senescence by ORE1.
Shedding light on cutaneous innate immune responses: the intravital microscopy approach
Authors: Jain Rohit , Weninger Wolfgang
Published: March 2013

The skin is under constant assault by environmental factors and microbes. Innate immune cells in epidermis and dermis regulate immune responses against pathogens while maintaining tolerance against commensal bacteria and autoantigens. The introduction of intravital imaging approaches, in particular multiphoton microscopy, has enabled studying the cellular and molecular regulation of cutaneous immunity in real time within intact skin. Here, we discuss recent advances in our understanding of innate immune cell behaviour in the skin, as unravelled by intravital microscopy, with emphasis on the function of myeloid cells, including dendritic cells, neutrophils and monocytes.
Adaptive iterative learning control for consensus of multi‐agent systems
Authors: Li Jinsha , Li Junmin
Published: March 2013

In this study, a new consensus problem is introduced for leader–follower multi‐agent systems with non‐linearity and a distributed adaptive iterative learning control is presented for the consensus problem. With the dynamic of the leader unknown to any of the agent, the proper protocol guarantees that the follower agents can track the leader. The consensus is analysed based on the Lyapunov stability theory. Finally, simulation examples are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method in this study.
On necessary conditions and sufficient conditions for controllability of discrete‐time bilinear systems
Authors: Tie Lin
Published: March 2013

In this study, controllability of discrete‐time bilinear systems is studied. Necessary conditions and sufficient conditions for the systems to be controllable are presented. In particular, the sufficient conditions improve some existing results and the necessary conditions are new and easy to verify. Examples and simulations are provided to demonstrate the results of the paper.
Coupled‐least‐squares identification for multivariable systems
Authors: Ding Feng
Published: March 2013

This article studies identification problems of multiple linear regression models, which may be described a class of multi‐input multi‐output systems (i.e. multivariable systems). Based on the coupling identification concept, a novel coupled‐least‐squares (C‐LS) parameter identification algorithm is introduced for the purpose of avoiding the matrix inversion in the multivariable recursive least‐squares (RLS) algorithm for estimating the parameters of the multiple linear regression models. The analysis indicates that the C‐LS algorithm does not involve the matrix inversion and requires less computationally efforts than the multivariable RLS algorithm, and that the parameter estimates given by the C‐LS algorithm converge to their true values. Simulation results confirm the presented convergence theorems.
Consensus and performance optimisation of multi‐agent systems with position‐only information via impulsive control
Authors: Ding Li , Yu Pian , Liu Zhi‐Wei , Guan Zhi‐Hong
Published: March 2013

In this study, the consensus problem of second‐order multi‐agent systems (MAS) with position‐only information is studied. Allowable sampling period for which second‐order consensus can be achieved is obtained with two impulsive consensus algorithms. It is shown that if there is at least one eigenvalue of the Laplcian matrix with a non‐zero imaginary part, consensus cannot be achieved for sufficiently small or large impulsive periods for both algorithms. Furthermore, the convergence performance of the MAS is optimised. Convergence speed, asymptotical decay factor and per‐step decay factor of the error energy are utilised to investigate the convergence performance, and the relationship among impulsive period, topology structure and convergence performance is derived. Finally, numerical examples are given to validate our theoretical results.
Cervical Intradural Abscess Masquerading as an Epidural Collection
Authors: Hasan Muhammed Yaser , Kumar K. Karuppiah , Lwin Sein , Lau Leok-Lim , Kumar Naresh
Published: March 2013

Intradural spinal cord abscesses especially in the cervical spine are a rare occurrence. We report a rare presentation of an intradural extramedullary abscess at the atlantoaxial level, initially misdiagnosed as an epidural collection. The patient presented with worsening quadriparesis preceded by a 2-week history of upper respiratory tract infection and neck pain. Magnetic resonance imaging showed evidence of an epidural abscess on the left side abutting the cervicomedullary junction. We performed occipitocervical fixation and surgical decompression. Absence of a suspected epidural abscess led us to consider a durotomy, and an intradural abscess was recognized and drained. Presence of an intradural abscess, though extremely rare, must always be considered in suspected spinal epidural collections as radiological and clinical findings are indistinguishable between the two conditions.
Ultrafast hydrogen migration in acetylene cation driven by non-adiabatic effects
Authors: Madjet Mohamed El-Amine , Li Zheng , Vendrell Oriol
Published: March 2013

Non-adiabatic dynamics of the acetylene cation is investigated using mixed quantum-classical dynamics based on trajectory surface hopping. To describe the non-adiabatic effects, two surface hopping methods are used, namely, Tully's fewest switches and Landau-Zener surface hopping. Similarities and differences between the results based on those two methods are discussed. We find that the photoionization of acetylene into the first excited state \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\begin{document}$A^{2}\Sigma _{g}^{+}$\end{document}A2Σg+ drives the molecule from the linear structure to a trans-bent structure. Through a conical intersection the acetylene cation can relax back to either the ground state of acetylene or vinylidene. We conclude that hydrogen migration always takes place after non-radiative electronic relaxation to the ground state of the monocation. Based on the analysis of correlation functions we identify coherent oscillations between acetylene and vinylidene with a period of about 70 fs after the electronic relaxation.
Non-Born-Oppenheimer dynamics of the photoionized Zundel cation: A quantum wavepacket and surface-hopping study
Authors: Li Zheng , Madjet Mohamed El-Amine , Vendrell Oriol
Published: March 2013

The ultrafast fragmentation of the Zundel cation H+(H2O)2 after photoionization is studied by quantum-dynamics with the multiconfiguration time-dependent Hartree method and with surface-hopping approaches. A picture emerges in which the correlated motion of the electron hole and the shared proton leads to localization of the two positively charged entities at opposite sides of the Zundel dication in less than 10 fs followed by Coulomb explosion. Electronic non-adiabatic effects play a crucial role in the fragmentation dynamics. The photoionization spectrum of the cluster between 20 and 24 eV is calculated quantum-dynamically and its features explained. Two- and three-body fragmentation channels accessible by outer-valence ionization are also calculated and the branching ratios as a function of ionization energy are discussed. A good agreement between the quantum-dynamical treatment and surface-hopping is obtained for observables for which both methods are applied.
Design and fabrication of a bending rotation fatigue test rig for in situ electrochemical analysis during fatigue testing of NiTi shape memory alloy wires
Authors: Neelakantan Lakshman , Zglinski Jenni Kristin , Frotscher Matthias , Eggeler Gunther
Published: March 2013

The current investigation proposes a novel method for simultaneous assessment of the electrochemical and structural fatigue properties of nickel-titanium shape memory alloy (NiTi SMA) wires. The design and layout of an in situ electrochemical cell in a custom-made bending rotation fatigue (BRF) test rig is presented. This newly designed test rig allows performing a wide spectrum of experiments for studying the influence of fatigue on corrosion and vice versa. This can be achieved by performing ex situ and/or in situ measurements. The versatility of the combined electrochemical/mechanical test rig is demonstrated by studying the electrochemical behavior of NiTi SMA wires in 0.9% NaCl electrolyte under load. The ex situ measurements allow addressing various issues, for example, the influence of pre-fatigue on the localized corrosion resistance, or the influence of hydrogen on fatigue life. Ex situ experiments showed that a pre-fatigued wire is more susceptible to localized corrosion. The synergetic effect can be concluded from the polarization studies and specifically from an in situ study of the open circuit potential (OCP) transients, which sensitively react to the elementary repassivation events related to the local failure of the oxide layer. It can also be used as an indicator for identifying the onset of the fatigue failure.
Polycrystalline indium phosphide on silicon using a simple chemical route
Authors: Metaferia Wondwosen , Dagur Pritesh , Junesand Carl , Hu Chen , Lourdudoss Sebastian
Published: March 2013

We describe a simple, aqueous and low thermal budget process for deposition of polycrystalline indium phosphide on silicon substrate. Using stoichiometric indium oxide films prepared from its spin-coated precursor on silicon as an intermediate step, we achieve stoichiometric indium phosphide films through phosphidisation. Both indium oxide and indium phosphide have been characterized for surface morphology, chemical composition, and crystallinity. The morphology and crystalline structure of the films have been explained in terms of the process steps involved in our deposition method. Incomplete phosphidisation of indium oxide to indium phosphide results in the restructuring of the partly unconverted oxide at the phosphidisation temperature. The optical properties of the indium phosphide films have been analyzed using micro photoluminescence and the results compared with those of a homoepitaxial layer and a theoretical model. The results indicate that good optical quality polycrystalline indium phosphide has been achieved. The Hall measurements indicate that the carrier mobilities of our samples are among the best available in the literature. Although this paper presents the results of indium phosphide deposition on silicon substrate, the method that we present is generic and can be used for deposition on any suitable substrate that is flexible and cheap which makes it attractive as a batch process for photovoltaic applications.
Surface-induced charge at a Ge (100) dimer surface and its interaction with vacancies and self-interstitials
Authors: Kamiyama Eiji , Sueoka Koji , Vanhellemont Jan
Published: March 2013

The behavior of intrinsic point defects near the Ge (100) surface was investigated by using ab initio calculations. A thin plate model with clean Ge surfaces including a dimer structure on both sides was examined. A decrease of the formation energies of both types of intrinsic point defects near the surface is obtained similar as was reported before for Si. An important difference, however, is that the impact of the electric charges at the Si surface vanishes around the fifth layer, while for Ge, the effect of negative charges near the surface remains and positive charges are observed even deeper than the fifteenth layer from the surface. In bulk Ge, negatively charged vacancies are reported to be stable. Opposite to this, the neighbouring atoms around a vacancy near the Ge surface have a strong positive charge, compared with the case of Si. Taking these facts into consideration, the difference of the charge state of a vacancy in the bulk and that near the surface can be explained by band bending due to the surface-induced charge. A self-interstitial in bulk Ge most likely has a positive charge state (+2 or +1). It is also shown that a self-interstitial except for the position in the second layer away from the surface is positively charged. This charging can lead to a reflection of self-interstitials by the Ge surface because of the repulsive force between the positive charges of surface atoms and those of self-interstitials. Such interstitial reflection was suggested to explain experimental diffusion observations when self-interstitials are generated inside a bulk crystal by knocking-on Ge atoms in an implantation or irradiation process during a thermal anneal.
Ambient-dependent optomechanical control of cantilever with mechanical nonlinearity by cavity-induced radiation force
Authors: Duy Vy Nguyen , Iida Takuya
Published: March 2013

Theoretical aspects of the nonlinear dynamics of a cantilever for a scanning probe microscope are studied using the extended Duffing equation incorporating the cavity-induced radiation force (CIRF) and environmental fluctuations. Cantilever vibrations can be significantly damped with negative optical rigidity by mechanical frequency shifts with a near-resonant CIRF depending on the laser intensity. Furthermore, under the fluctuations induced by fast collisions with ambient molecules about several tens of nanoseconds, laser intensities of several hundreds of microwatts are sufficient to attain effective temperatures of 10 mK. Such cooling may be expected to offer a method for super-sensitive detections of ambient molecules.
Disorder effect on conductance in a doped C60 molecular bridge
Authors: Shokri Aliasghar
Published: March 2013

In this work, we study electrical conductance in a C60 molecular nanobridge with randomly point dopants sandwiched between two (5,5) carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in two cases with opened end and closed end. Two different ways of coupling C60 fullerene through one and five carbon atoms to the uncap- and cap-edges are considered in each case. Our calculations are based on the Green's function technique in the tight-binding approximation. The CNT surface self-energy is also obtained, analytically. The effects of contacts, various strengths of random disorder, cage type, and the bond dimerization on the conductance are investigated. Our results indicate that the appearance of conductance resonances is a manifestation of resonant states of CNT caps, which lie within the molecular HOMO-LUMO gap and consequently they change by disorder concentration. By controlling the disorder concentration, bond dimerization, and contact geometries, this kind of system can explain the extended states from the localized states. The numerical results can serve as a base for developments in designing nanoelectronic devices.
Study of the Fe-Al alloys in the Ising model for S = 2 spin by employing the effective field theory
Authors: Freitas A. S. , de Albuquerque Douglas F. , Fittipaldi I. P. , Moreno N. O.
Published: March 2013

In this work, we study the phase diagram of Fe1−qAlq alloys via site diluted spin-2 ferromagnetic Ising model by employing effective field theory. In contrast with previous studies, here, we incorporate in such model the high-spin S = 2 Fe2+ ion. We consider the same kind of the exchange interaction that of the iron-nickel alloys and we obtain an excellent theoretical description of the experimental data of the T–q phase diagram over the entire range of Al concentration q. In particular, the present calculation provides an excellent agreement with the experimental results for both the anomalous region of Al concentration q (i.e., q<0.2) and for the value of q at which the critical temperature Tc(q) vanishes (i.e., q=qc).
Thermal equation of state and thermodynamic properties of molybdenum at high pressures
Authors: Litasov Konstantin D. , Dorogokupets Peter I. , Ohtani Eiji , Fei Yingwei , Shatskiy Anton , Sharygin Igor S. , Gavryushkin Pavel N. , Rashchenko Sergey V. , Seryotkin Yury V. , Higo Yiji , Funakoshi Kenichi , Chanyshev Artem D. , Lobanov Sergey S.
Published: March 2013

A comprehensive P-V-T dataset for bcc-Mo was obtained at pressures up to 31 GPa and temperatures from 300 to 1673 K using MgO and Au pressure calibrants. The thermodynamic analysis of these data was performed using high-temperature Birch-Murnaghan (HTBM) equations of state (EOS), Mie-Grüneisen-Debye (MGD) relation combined with the room-temperature Vinet EOS, and newly proposed Kunc-Einstein (KE) approach. The analysis of room-temperature compression data with the Vinet EOS yields V0 = 31.14 ± 0.02 Å3, KT = 260 ± 1 GPa, and KT′ = 4.21 ± 0.05. The derived thermoelastic parameters for the HTBM include (∂KT/∂T)P = −0.019 ± 0.001 GPa/K and thermal expansion α = a0 + a1T with a0 = 1.55 ( ± 0.05) × 10−5 K−1 and a1 = 0.68 ( ± 0.07) × 10−8 K−2. Fitting to the MGD relation yields γ0 = 2.03 ± 0.02 and q = 0.24 ± 0.02 with the Debye temperature (θ0) fixed at 455-470 K. Two models are proposed for the KE EOS. The model 1 (Mo-1) is the best fit to our P-V-T data, whereas the second model (Mo-2) is derived by including the shock compression and other experimental measurements. Nevertheless, both models provide similar thermoelastic parameters. Parameters used on Mo-1 include two Einstein temperatures ΘE10 = 366 K and ΘE20 = 208 K; Grüneisen parameter at ambient condition γ0 = 1.64 and infinite compression γ∞ = 0.358 with β  = 0.323; and additional fitting parameters m = 0.195, e0 = 0.9 × 10−6 K−1, and g = 5.6. Fixed parameters include k = 2 in Kunc EOS, mE1 = mE2 = 1.5 in expression for Einstein temperature, and a0 = 0 (an intrinsic anharmonicity parameter). These parameters are the best representation of the experimental data for Mo and can be used for variety of thermodynamic calculations for Mo and Mo-containing systems including phase diagrams, chemical reactions, and electronic structure.
Chaotic synchronization of two microresonators with application in mass sensors
Authors: Jin Leisheng , Wang Xiaoping , Li Lijie
Published: March 2013

Chaotic synchronization of two identical microresonators has been theoretically achieved using open-plus-closed-loop (OPCL) method. The coupled resonating system is used as a mass detector, where one of the resonators is functioning as a reference, and the other is used as the sensor. Simulation results show that mass changes on the sensing resonator affect the overall synchronization, which is quantitatively characterized by a similarity measure. A practical system based on electrostatically driven resonators is discussed. The sensor design will possess high resistance to noise by taking advantage of the OPCL method that was traditionally used in secure communication.
The effect of magnetic annealing on the magnetostriction for Sm-Dy-Fe rod alloys
Authors: Wang Bowen , Wang Zhihua , Weng Ling , Huang Wenmei , Sun Ying , Cui Baozhi
Published: March 2013

The Sm0.86Dy0.14Fex (x = 1.85−2.05) magnetostrictive alloys have been prepared with arc-melting and then cast into a copper mold with a diameter of 8 mm. It is found that the magnetostriction (λ// − λ⊥) increases from −900 × 10−6 for untreated rod alloys to −1200 × 10−6 for magnetically annealed rod alloys at the magnetic field of 640 kA/m. In the magnetic annealing temperature range of 483−643 K, the magnetostriction value exhibits a peak at 543 K. The variation of magnetostriction and magnetization with magnetic fields has been determined and the mechanism of domains' movements has been discussed. This result is very important to improve the magnetostrictive property of Sm-Dy-Fe rod alloys.
Quantitative investigation of magnetic domains with in-plane and out-of-plane easy axes in GaMnAs films by Hall effect
Authors: Lee Sangyeop , Lee Hakjoon , Yoo Taehee , Lee Sanghoon , Liu X. , Furdyna J. K.
Published: March 2013

Magnetic anisotropy of ferromagnetic semiconductor GaMnAs film with a low Mn concentration grown on a (001) GaAs substrate was investigated by Hall effect measurements. The presence of domains with in-plane and out-of-plane easy axes was identified in the film by analyzing hysteresis loops observed via the Hall resistance measured in various geometries. Quantitative analysis of the planar Hall resistance showed that the fraction of the sample with magnetic domains having a dominant out-of-plane easy axis was about 6 times larger than the fraction corresponding to domains with easy axis in the sample plane.
Critical switching current and thermal stability of magnetic tunnel junctions with uncompensated CoFeB/Ru/CoFeB synthetic free layers
Authors: Young Lee Tae , Ahn Chiyui , Min Byoung-Chul , Shin Kyung-Ho , Min Lee Jong , Lee Kyung-Jin , Ho Lim Sang , Park Seung-Young , Jo Younghun , Langer Jürgen , Ocker Berthold , Maass Wolfram
Published: March 2013

The critical switching current and thermal stability parameter are investigated for magnetic tunnel junctions with uncompensated synthetic ferrimagnetic free layers. The parameters are obtained by analyzing the experimental results for the thermally activated magnetization switching probability as functions of both a bias current and an applied magnetic field. The analysis is greatly facilitated by the use of an analytical equation for the applied magnetic field dependence of the energy barrier. A figure of merit given by the ratio of the two parameters differs substantially depending on the direction of the magnetization switching.
Ion heating and short wavelength fluctuations in a helicon plasma source
Authors: Scime E. E. , Carr J. , Galante M. , Magee R. M. , Hardin R.
Published: March 2013

For typical helicon source parameters, the driving antenna can couple to two plasma modes; the weakly damped “helicon” wave, and the strongly damped, short wavelength, slow wave. Here, we present direct measurements, obtained with two different techniques, of few hundred kHz, short wavelength fluctuations that are parametrically driven by the primary antenna and localized to the edge of the plasma. The short wavelength fluctuations appear for plasma source parameters such that the driving frequency is approximately equal to the lower hybrid frequency. Measurements of the steady-state ion temperature and fluctuation amplitude radial profiles suggest that the anomalously high ion temperatures observed at the edge of helicon sources result from damping of the short wavelength fluctuations. Additional measurements of the time evolution of the ion temperature and fluctuation profiles in pulsed helicon source plasmas support the same conclusion.
Electron trapping at the high-κ/GeO2 interface: The role of bound states
Authors: Sedghi N. , Ralph J. F. , Mitrovic I. Z. , Chalker P. R. , Hall S.
Published: March 2013

Passivation of the germanium interface using native oxide results in a potential well at the interface of GeO2 and high-κ dielectric for n-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistors. The well forms a potential trapping site for electrons, which could result in threshold voltage instability. We present calculations for the bound states and their occupancy in the well. The significance of threshold voltage shift in an 8-nm node field effect transistor and those with larger dimensions is investigated. The main conclusion is that charge storage in the well is insignificant at the 8-nm technology node but can have a significant effect on larger devices.
Thermomechanical noise measurement of polydimethylsiloxane microcantilevers fabricated by multilayer soft lithography
Authors: Yu Ting-Rong , Yang Ya-Tang
Published: March 2013

Polydimethylsiloxane microstructures such as cantilevers are useful for nanomechanical measurements of biomolecules, living cells, and soft matter. As a fundamental characterization, we report thermomechanical noise measurements of the flexural modes of polydimethylsiloxane cantilevers, which were fabricated by multilayer soft lithography. From the resonance frequency data, we extracted the values of Young's moduli for different cross-linking ratios. Our devices have measured resonance frequencies and quality factors ranging from 405 Hz to 1.63 kHz and from 5 to 10, respectively. Our analysis shows that these cantilevers will be able to perform nanomechanical measurements with piconewton force resolution.
Rate-limiting processes in the fast SET operation of a gapless-type Cu-Ta2O5 atomic switch
Authors: Tsuruoka T. , Hasegawa T. , Valov I. , Waser R. , Aono M.
Published: March 2013

The speed of the SET operation of a Cu/Ta2O5/Pt atomic switch from a high-resistance state to a low-resistance state was measured by transient current measurements under the application of a short voltage pulse. The SET time decreased exponentially with increasing pulse amplitude, reaching as low as 1 ns using moderate pulse voltages. This observation shows that oxide-based atomic switches hold potential for fast-switching memory applications. From a comparison with atomistic nucleation theory, Cu nucleation on the Pt electrode was found to be the likely rate-limiting process determining the SET time.
Room temperature giant electrocaloric properties of relaxor ferroelectric 0.93PMN-0.07PT thin film
Authors: Hamad Mahmoud A.
Published: March 2013

In this paper, 0.93PMN-0.07PT thin film shows a giant electrocaloric effect at room temperature. At electric field shift of 723 kV/cm, the peak value of ΔS of 0.93PMN-0.07PT thin film is 13.05 J/K.kg. The largest change (12.24 °C in 15.18 V, i.e. 0.8 K/V) at TC = 27 °C is more than the previous results obtained in giant electrocaloric PbZr0.95Ti0.05O3 films near the ferroelectric Curie temperature of 222°C (12 K in 25 V, i.e. 0.48 K/V) [A.S. Mischenko, et.al. Science 311, 1270 (2006)].
Use of mineral mix supplements to modify the grazing patterns by cattle for the restoration of sub-alpine and alpine shrub-encroached grasslands
Authors: Probo Massimiliano , Massolo Alessandro , Lonati Michele , Bailey Derek W. , Gorlier Alessandra , Maurino Luca , Lombardi Giampiero
Published: March 2013

Throughout the last decades, agricultural abandonment in European mountain areas has caused changes in traditional livestock management with consequences for semi-natural grassland use and vegetation. In the Western Italian Alps, continuous extensive grazing has become the simplest and the most common system for managing large cattle herds. As a result, limited grazing in many rugged locations has led to an extensive shrub-encroachment of semi-natural grasslands in the sub-alpine and alpine belts. A study was conducted to assess if the provision of mineral mix supplements (MMS): (1) increases the use of steep and shrub-encroached locations by beef cows, and (2) helps restore meso-eutrophic grassland vegetation around supplement-deployment sites. During the summer grazing season, MMS were placed within 10 steep and shrub-encroached areas in two adjacent pastures (364 and 366 ha), and 12 cows were tracked with GPS collars. For each supplement site, a paired control site was identified, and vegetation surveys were performed in the surrounding areas of both sites. Placement of MMS increased the use of areas within 12 m of supplement locations compared with corresponding control areas. Cattle use of areas within 100 m of the MMS sites was also greater than expected by chance. The use by cattle, associated with trampling, grazing and faecal deposition, reduced the cover of shrubs and oligotrophic herbaceous species and increased the average nutrient N-value and forage pastoral value of the new vegetation types established around MMS sites 2 years after their use by cattle. Strategic placement of MMS appears to be a sustainable practice to restore sub-alpine and alpine shrub-encroached grasslands. Nevertheless these results must be considered preliminary as a longer period is needed to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of this practice for the restoration of semi-natural grasslands.