bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Important malignant and new nail tumors
Authors: Haneke Eckart
Published: April 2017

The nail apparatus is an integral part of the functional unit of the digital tip. Although overall uncommon, all cells and tissues occurring in this area can give rise to neoplastic lesions. Given the special anatomical location, such tumors frequently show morphological and symptom‐related differences compared to similar lesions located elsewhere on the skin. Though particularly threatening, there is often a substantial delay in the diagnosis of Bowen's disease, ungual squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Nevertheless, local excision with sufficient surgical margins is usually sufficient and superior to amputation of the distal phalanx. In recent years, a number of nail‐specific tumors have been described. Tumors such as onychomatricoma, onychocytic matricoma, onychocytic carcinoma, and onychopapilloma originate from the nail matrix. Onycholemmal cysts, onycholemmal horn, and the proliferating onycholemmal tumor are characteristic nail bed tumors. Onycholemmal carcinoma is a slowly growing low‐grade malignancy.

Using modern diagnostic methods, careful examination – including biopsy and histopathology – of nail changes not responding to conservative treatment will help identify nail‐specific neoplasms and prevent the progression of malignant nail tumors.
Wichtige maligne und neue Nageltumoren
Authors: Haneke Eckart
Published: April 2017

Der Nagelapparat ist Teil der Funktionseinheit Finger‐ bzw. Zehenspitze. Alle von den hier vorkommenden Zellen und Geweben ausgehenden Tumoren können beobachtet werden, wenn sie auch insgesamt selten sind. Die besondere anatomische Lage führt dazu, dass sie morphologisch und symptomatologisch oft unterschiedlich sind im Vergleich zu denen der übrigen Haut. Morbus Bowen, unguales Plattenepithelkarzinom und Melanom sind besonders bedrohlich, werden jedoch meist erst nach Jahren diagnostiziert. Trotzdem ist die Exzision mit Sicherheitsabstand im Allgemeinen ausreichend und einer Amputation des Endgliedes überlegen. In den letzten Jahren wurden eine Reihe nagelspezifischer Tumoren beobachtet. Onychomatrikom, onychozytisches Matrikom, onychozytisches Karzinom und Onychopapillom gehen von der Matrix aus. Onycholemmale Zysten, onycholemmales Horn und proliferierender onycholemmaler Tumor sind typische Nagelbetttumoren. Das onycholemmale Karzinom ist ein langsam wachsendes Karzinom niedrigen Malignitätsgrades.

Die sorgfältige Beobachtung einschließlich Biopsie und Histologie unter Nutzung der modernen diagnostischen Methoden von Nagelveränderungen, die auf konservative Therapie nicht ansprechen, hilft, nagelspezifische Tumoren zu diagnostizieren und die Progression maligner Nageltumoren zu vermeiden.
Cross‐sensory modulation of alpha oscillatory activity: suppression, idling, and default resource allocation
Authors: van Diepen Rosanne Maria , Mazaheri Ali
Published: April 2017

Alpha oscillations (~10 Hz) have been suggested to have an inhibitory influence on stimulus processing within the context of attention being coordinated across space, with an increase in the power of alpha activity occurring in spatially irrelevant regions. However, with respect to cross‐sensory attention (distribution of attention to different sensory modalities) an increase in alpha activity from baseline has not yet been definitively linked to active inhibition of distraction. In the current study, we examined the role of top‐down alpha modulation in facilitating and suppressing stimulus processing between the visual and auditory domain. We utilized two cross‐sensory paradigms, one containing distractors while the other paradigm only contained targets, in order to separate distractor related activity. We found a cue induced increase from baseline for the power of occipital alpha activity in posterior cortex when participants anticipated the occurrence of auditory targets combined with visual distractors. Interestingly, there was no increase in alpha power observed in the condition where auditory targets occurred without distractors. These findings suggest that the increase in alpha activity from baseline reflects top‐down drive processes serving to inhibit distracting input. However, we found that there was no significant difference in the absolute occipital alpha power between when participants were expecting a visual distractor, and the session where no visual distractors were present. We account for these findings by suggesting that an increase in alpha power in the anticipation of visual distractors, rather than being exclusively inhibitory, could also signal the re‐allocation of resources in the sensory systems.
The effect of pH modification on wetting kinetics of a naturally water‐repellent coniferous forest soil
Authors: Amer A. , Schaumann G. E. , Diehl D.
Published: April 2017

The interfacial dynamics of soil–water interactions are greatly affected by the hydrophobic properties of organic matter. The causes and underlying mechanisms responsible for the development of soil water repellency (SWR) are still under discussion. Various environmental factors control the appearance and degree of SWR. In addition to water content and temperature, the wetting of soil depends greatly on the physicochemical characteristics of soil surfaces, which in turn depend on pH. In this contribution, we propose a reaction mechanism for the change in SWR that is observed when soil pH is changed. Wetting kinetics were studied by time‐dependent sessile drop measurements (TISED) of the contact angle, the work of spreading and the diameter of the base of the drop as time elapsed under controlled relative humidity. Modification of pH strongly affected the wetting kinetics, suggesting maximum resistance to wetting at the control pH (3.6), with decreased resistance to wetting as pH was changed in either direction. The enhancement in wetting kinetics by the modification of soil pH can be attributed to the chemical modification in organic materials that coat the soil particles. This conclusion is based on the magnitude of activation energy associated with the spreading process. The combined effect of pH and temperature on the wetting kinetics, together with the compensation effect seen between the logarithmic pre‐exponential factor and activation energy, suggests acid–base catalysed hydrolysis–condensation reactions are the dominant processes responsible for the chemical nature of SWR.

Highlights

How does the modification of pH affect soil wetting mechanisms?

The dynamic sessile drop method was used to measure the wetting activation energy.

Modification of soil pH decreases resistance to wetting and increases activation energy of wetting.

Acid or base catalysed hydrolysis reactions increase chemical sorption sites for water molecules in soil.
Network evolution in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy revealed by diffusion tensor imaging
Authors: Wang Helen , Huang Yuegao , Coman Daniel , Munbodh Reshma , Dhaher Roni , Zaveri Hitten P. , Hyder Fahmeed , Eid Tore
Published: April 2017

Objective

The objective of the present study is to identify novel, time‐indexed imaging biomarkers of epileptogenesis in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE).

Methods

We used high‐resolution brain diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) of the translationally relevant methionine sulfoximine (MSO) brain infusion model of MTLE. MSO inhibits astroglial glutamine synthetase, which is deficient in the epileptogenic hippocampal formation of patients with MTLE. MSO‐infused (epileptogenic) rats were compared with phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS)–infused (nonepileptogenic) rats at early (3–4 days) and late (6–9 weeks) time points during epileptogenesis.

Results

The epileptogenic rats exhibited significant changes in DTI‐measured fractional anisotropy (FA) in numerous brain regions versus nonepileptogenic rats. Changes included decreases and increases in FA in regions such as the entorhinal‐hippocampal area, amygdala, corpus callosum, thalamus, striatum, accumbens, and neocortex. The FA changes evolved over time as animals transitioned from early to late epileptogenesis. For example, some areas with significant decreases in FA early in epileptogenesis changed to significant increases late in epileptogenesis. Finally, the FA changes significantly correlated with the seizure load.

Significance

Our results suggest (1) that high‐resolution DTI can be used for early identification and tracking of the epileptogenic process in MTLE, and (2) that the process identified by DTI is present in multiple brain areas, even though infusion of MSO is restricted to the unilateral entorhinal‐hippocampal region.
A large‐strain intrinsic default‐based fracture criterion for polymers: assessment in biaxial loading and application to ageing
Authors: Sadeg L. , Naït‐Abdelaziz M. , Zaïri F. , Ben Hassine M. , Ismail J. , Qu Z. , Aberkane M.
Published: April 2017

In this contribution, we attempt to give a general methodology allowing the fracture prediction of polymers under biaxial monotonic loading. Using the intrinsic defect concept, we assume that fracture at a macroscopic level is the consequence of the presence of defects at lower scales. We also assume that the fracture is governed by a macroscopic parameter, the strain energy release rate or the J‐integral. Intrinsic defect size, constitutive response and fracture toughness being the criterion inputs; the principal stretches at break can be therefore estimated for any biaxial and monotonic loading path. The proposed methodology includes the estimation of the J‐integral for any biaxial loading using a unified expression of this parameter which is a generalised form of that developed in the literature for uniaxial tension. Using different set of experimental data obtained in our team, the methodology is then successfully applied to various kinds of polymers: a natural rubber, a styrene‐butadiene rubber, a polyurethane, a thermoplastic elastomer and a high‐density polyethylene. We show also that such a methodology can be applied to predict the ageing effects on the stretches at break.
Habitat connectivity and dispersal ability drive the assembly mechanisms of macroinvertebrate communities in river networks
Authors: Sarremejane Romain , Mykrä Heikki , Bonada Núria , Aroviita Jukka , Muotka Timo
Published: April 2017

Metacommunity studies commonly use spatial distances or, more recently, landscape resistance measures between study sites as a surrogate for connectivity. However, local communities are connected to many other sources of colonisation than the sites included in a study, and the availability and distance to potential colonisation sources may be better surrogates for dispersal than distances to other sampling sites.

Here we test the effect of habitat connectivity on the assembly of stream‐riffle macroinvertebrates with different dispersal abilities, after controlling for habitat heterogeneity and among‐site distances (62 km on average). We used a null model approach to compare observed community dissimilarity to random expectation. Significant deviations from randomness were expected due to the hierarchical structure of river networks with their increasing flux of organisms from headwaters to mainstem reaches.

We found a gradual shift in dispersal‐based processes driving assembly mechanisms, from dispersal limitation in the isolated headwater streams to randomness in connected headwater and isolated mid‐order streams, and to mass effects in the most connected mid‐order streams.

Weak flyers were constrained by dispersal limitation in the most isolated sites, whereas strong flyers were not restricted by the river network structure and were mainly assembled through mass effects.

The approach taken was sufficient to unravel the importance of dispersal and habitat connectivity on community assembly and may therefore be particularly well suited to other large data sets with isolated sites (i.e. low geographical density of sites).
Means-Tested Long-Term Care and Family Transfers
Authors: Cremer Helmuth , Pestieau Pierre
Published: April 2017

One of the pervasive problems with means-tested public long-term care programs is their inability to prevent individuals who could afford private long-term services from taking advantage of public care. They often manage to elude the means-test net through ‘strategic impoverishment’. We show in a simple model how this problem comes about, how it affects welfare and how it can be mitigated.
Film and Video
Authors: Raban Shirin
Published: April 2017

Film reviewed in this issue.

I Am Handmade: Crafting in the Age of Computers
Physicochemical properties and cytotoxicity of an experimental resin‐based pulp capping material containing the quaternary ammonium salt and Portland cement
Authors: Yang Y. W. , Yu F. , Zhang H. C. , Dong Y. , Qiu Y. N. , Jiao Y. , Xing X. D. , Tian M. , Huang L. , Chen J. H.
Published: April 2017

Aim

To evaluate in vitro the physicochemical properties, cytotoxicity and calcium phosphate nucleation of an experimental light‐curable pulp capping material composed of a resin with antibacterial monomer (MAE‐DB) and Portland cement (PC).

Methodology

The experimental material was prepared by mixing PC with a resin containing MAE‐DB at a 2 : 1 ratio. Cured pure resin containing MAE‐DB served as control resin. ProRoot MTA and Dycal served as commercial controls. The depth of cure, degree of monomer conversion, water absorption and solubility of dry samples, calcium release, alkalinizing activity, calcium phosphate nucleation and the cytotoxicity of materials were evaluated. Statistical analysis was carried out using anova followed by Tukey's HSD test (equal variance assumed) or Tamhane test (equal variance not assumed) and independent‐samples t‐tests.

Results

The experimental material had a cure depth of 1.19 mm, and the mean degree of monomer conversion was 70.93% immediately post‐cure and 88.75% at 24 h post‐cure. The water absorption of the experimental material was between those of MTA and Dycal, and its solubility was significantly less (P < 0.05) than that of Dycal and higher than that of MTA. The experimental material exhibited continuous calcium release and an alkalinizing power between those of MTA and Dycal throughout the test period. Freshly set experimental material, control resin and all 24‐h set materials had acceptable cytotoxicity. The experimental material, MTA and Dycal all exhibited the formation of apatite precipitates after immersion in phosphate‐buffered saline.

Conclusions

The experimental material possessed adequate physicochemical properties, low cytotoxicity and good calcium phosphate nucleation.
Aging‐related Atg5 defect impairs neutrophil extracellular traps formation
Authors: Xu Fengying , Zhang Chengmi , Zou Zui , Fan Erica K. Y. , Chen Linsong , Li Yuehua , Billiar Timothy R. , Wilson Mark A. , Shi Xueyin , Fan Jie
Published: April 2017

Formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) is an important function of the innate immune system against infections. It has been proven that aging dysregulates immunity and impairs neutrophil function. However, the influence of aging on the ability to produce NETs has yet to be fully addressed. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that a lower level of autophagy in neutrophils from aged mice was responsible for the decrease in NET formation. We demonstrated that a broad range of Toll‐like receptor 2 (TLR2) ligands could efficiently induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) ‐dependent NET release in young mice, but not in aged ones. We further explored that the difference between young and aged mice in TLR2 ligand‐induced NETosis is the result of an Atg5 defect and subsequent impaired autophagy. Furthermore, we found that lower autophagy capacity led to not only reduced NET formation, but also increased apoptosis. Our results suggest an important role of Atg5 and autophagy in maintaining the function of NETs formation in response to infection and in regulating neutrophil death. Targeting autophagy‐promoted NETs may present a therapeutic strategy to improve infection defence in an aged population.
Evaluation of the Psychometric Properties of the Gap‐Overlap Task in 10‐Month‐Old Infants
Authors: Cousijn Janna , Hessels Roy S. , Van der Stigchel Stefan , Kemner Chantal
Published: April 2017

Understanding the development of attention is key to understanding cognitive maturation. The gap‐overlap task can be administered at all ages and is widely used to study the development of overt visual attention. However, studies using the gap‐overlap task report different measures and little is known about the tasks’ psychometric properties, especially in infants. We tested the 1‐week test–retest reliability of two frequently used gap‐overlap measures of attentional disengagement in 10‐month‐old infants; the gap effect as measured by the difference between the gap and overlap condition and the gap effect as measured by the difference between the gap and baseline condition. Sixty‐seven infants performed the gap‐overlap task twice, of which 45 infants had sufficient data quality for further analyses. Test–retest reliability of the overlap‐gap gap effect was higher (r = .50) than the baseline‐gap gap effect (r = .29). Moreover, the shared variance between overlap and baseline saccadic reaction times was moderate to high across sessions. In light of these results and the methodological challenges and limitations of infant research, we consider the overlap‐gap gap effect to be a good measure to study the development of attentional disengagement in infants and suggest the exclusion of the baseline condition in future studies.
Patterns and correlates of benzodiazepine use in nurses: A nationwide, population‐based study
Authors: Sang Elaine , Liao Yuan‐Mei , Miao Nae‐Fang , Chou Kuei‐Ru , Chung Min‐Huey
Published: April 2017

In the present study, we examined patterns of benzodiazepine (BZD) use in nurses, and compared the characteristics of frequent users with those of infrequent users. Data on all nurses enrolled in the study were derived from the reimbursement claim records in Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database for the period 2004–2008. The case group comprised 33 588 nurses with BZD use, and the control group was exactly matched to each case according to age and sex. The patterns of occasional, frequent, and daily BZD use demonstrated an increasing trend from 2004 to 2008. This trend was observed for most of the BZD with a short or intermediate half‐life. Older nurses (>45 years) and those with greater experience (≥5 years) were more likely to use BZD frequently. Moreover, the risk of frequent BZD use increased significantly when nurses exhibited comorbid depression (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 2.58), anxiety (aOR: 1.78), or sleep disorders (aOR: 2.29) compared with infrequent BZD use. The results indicated that nurses with BZD use had comorbidities of anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders. The increasing trend of patterns of BZD use and its association with sleep disorders, depression, and anxiety can be used as references for stress and sleep management in nurses.
A Ticklish Problem
Authors: Tirlea Marius A. , Tavakoli Shahin , Pigoli Davide , Aston John A. D.
Published: April 2017

The book Mr. Tickle is a childhood favourite for many. But this fantastical story of a man with “extraordinary long arms” is helping statisticians derive a more realistic understanding of the differences in regional accents. By Marius A. Tirlea, Shahin Tavakoli, Davide Pigoli and John A. D. Aston
Effect of magnesium aluminum silicate glass on the thermal shock resistance of BN matrix composite ceramics
Authors: Cai Delong , Jia Dechang , Yang Zhihua , Zhu Qishuai , Ocelik Vaclav , Vainchtein Ilia D. , De Hosson Jeff Th.M. , Zhou Yu
Published: April 2017

The effects of magnesium aluminum silicate (MAS) glass on the thermal shock resistance and the oxidation behavior of h‐BN matrix composites were systematically investigated at temperature differences from 600°C up to 1400°C. The retained strength rate of the composites rose with the increasing content of MAS showing a maximum value at the 60 wt% MAS. Compared with the original strength, the retained strength of the specimen after thermal shock increased to 77% (ΔT=1000°C). The strengthening effect of MAS and the surface microstructural evolution of composites are responsible for the improved thermal shock resistance. Surface oxidation of the composites during the thermal shock process plays a positive role in enhancing the retained strength by self‐healing cracks and the appearance of the compressive stress. The oxide layer also acted as a thermal barrier to decelerate the actual thermal stress. Furthermore, this dense layer also improved the oxidation resistance of h‐BN matrix composites by prevent diffusion of oxygen. These results indicated that short‐term surface oxidation during thermal shock process is favorable to the enhancement of the thermal shock resistance of BN‐MAS composite ceramics.
Uranium speciation and its site occupancy in alkaline‐earth borophosphates
Authors: Rout Annapurna , Panigrahi Bhabani Shankar , Nayak Chandrani , Bhattacharyya Dibeyndu , Jha Shambhu Nath
Published: April 2017

Alkaline‐earth (calcium, strontium, and barium) borophosphates doped with uranium (U) are prepared through conventional solid‐state reaction route. The form of stabilized uranium in these solid matrices was characterized and investigated using X‐ray diffraction (XRD), photo luminescence (PL) and extended X‐ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS). XRD measurements confirmed the single phase formation of uranium‐doped alkaline‐earth borophosphate samples. The PL characteristics of uranium in calcium and barium borophosphate are studied for the first time. Photoluminescence studies indicated presence of uranium as Uranyl in SrBPO5 and CaBPO5 matrices whereas in case of BaBPO5 the indication was for uranate species. The life time data corroborated the presence of a different uranium species in SrBPO5, CaBPO5, and BaBPO5. The site occupancy of uranium was further probed using EXAFS which confirmed that in case of BaBPO5, uranium enters the host as uranate whereas in case of SrBPO5 and CaBPO5, uranium enters as Uranyl.
Relationship between surface μ‐roughness and interface slurry particle spatial distribution during glass polishing
Authors: Suratwala Tayyab , Steele William , Feit Michael , Shen Nan , Wong Lana , Dylla‐Spears Rebecca , Desjardin Richard , Elhadj Selim , Miller Phil
Published: April 2017

During optical glass polishing, a number of interactions between the workpiece (i.e., glass), polishing slurry, and pad can influence the resulting workpiece roughness at different spatial scale lengths. In our previous studies, the particle size distribution of the slurry, the pad topography, and the amount of material removed by a single particle on the workpiece were shown to strongly correlate with roughness at AFM scale lengths (nm‐μm) and weakly at μ‐roughness scale lengths (μm‐mm). In this study, the polishing slurry pH and the generation of glass removal products are shown to influence the slurry particle spatial and height distribution at the polishing interface and the resulting μ‐roughness of the glass workpiece. A series of fused silica and phosphate glass samples were polished with various ceria and colloidal silica slurries over a range of slurry pH, and the resulting AFM roughness and μ‐roughness were measured. The AFM roughness was largely invariant with pH, suggesting that the removal function of a single particle is unchanged with pH. However, the μ‐roughness changed significantly, increasing linearly with pH for phosphate glass and having a maximum at an intermediate pH for fused silica. In addition, the spatial and height distribution of slurry particles on the pad (as measured by laser confocal microscopy) was determined to be distinctly different at low and high pH during phosphate glass polishing. Also, the zeta potential as a function of pH was measured for the workpiece, slurry, and pad with and without surrogate glass products (K3PO4 for phosphate glass and Si(OH)4 for silica) to assess the role of interfacial charge during polishing. The addition of K3PO4 significantly raised the zeta potential, whereas addition of Si(OH)4 had little effect on the zeta potential. An electrostatic DLVO three‐body force model, using the measured zeta potentials, was used to calculate the particle–particle, particle–workpiece, and particle–pad attractive and repulsive forces as a function of pH and the incorporation of glass products at the interface. The model predicted an increase in particle–pad attraction with an increase in pH and phosphate glass products consistent with the measured slurry distribution on the pads during phosphate glass polishing. Finally, a slurry “island” distribution gap (IDG) model has been formulated which utilizes the measured interface slurry distributions and a load balance to determine the interface gap, the contact area fraction, and the load on each slurry “island”. The IDG model was then used to simulate the workpiece surface topography and μ‐roughness; the results show an increase in roughness with pH similar to that observed experimentally.
Strength improvement and purification of Yb2Si2O7‐SiC nanocomposites by surface oxidation treatment
Authors: Nguyen Son T. , Nakayama Tadachika , Suematsu Hisayuki , Suzuki Tsuneo , He Lingfeng , Cho Hong‐Baek , Niihara Koichi
Published: April 2017

A two‐step processing was developed to prepare Yb2Si2O7‐SiC nanocomposites. Yb2Si2O7‐Yb2SiO5‐SiC composites were first fabricated by a solid‐state reaction/hot‐pressing method. The composites were then annealed at 1250°C in air for 2 hours to activate the oxidation of SiC, which effectively transformed the Yb2SiO5into Yb2Si2O7. The surface cracks purposely induced can be fully healed during the oxidation treatment. The treated composites have improved flexural strength compared to their pristine composites. The mechanism for crack healing and silicate transformation have been proposed and discussed in detail.
Improved thermal stability of the piezoelectric properties of (Li, Ag)‐co‐modified (K, Na) NbO3‐based ceramics prepared by spark plasma sintering
Authors: Li Mingyu , Chan Ngai Yui , Wang Danyang
Published: April 2017

High‐performance lead‐free piezoelectric ceramics 0.94(K0.45Na0.55)1−xLix(Nb0.85Ta0.15)O3–0.06AgNbO3 (KNNLTAg‐x) were successfully prepared by spark plasma sintering technique. The doping effect of Li on the structural and electrical properties of KNNLTAg‐x (x=0, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08 and 0.10) ceramics was studied. The lattice structure, ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of the KNLNTAg‐x ceramics are highly dependent on the Li doping level. In particular, the Li dopant has a great impact on both Curie temperature Tc and orthorhombic‐tetragonal transition temperature TO‐T. The 4% Li‐doped sample exhibited relatively high TO‐T of 95°C, leading to a stable dynamic piezoelectric coefficient (d33*) of 220‐240 pm/V in a broad temperature range from 25°C to 105°C. Additionally, the 2% Li‐doped sample shows a high d33* of 320 pm/V at 135°C, suggesting its great potential for high‐temperature applications.
Microwave dielectric and nonlinear optical studies on radio‐frequency sputtered Dy2O3‐doped KNN thin films
Authors: Peddigari Mahesh , Patel Vivek , Bharti Gyan Prakash , Khare Alika , Pamu Dobbidi
Published: April 2017

We report the effect of oxygen mixing percentage (OMP) on structural, microstructural, dielectric, linear, and nonlinear optical properties of Dy2O3‐doped (K0.5Na0.5)NbO3 thin films. The (K0.5Na0.5)NbO3 + 0.5 wt%Dy2O3 (KNN05D) ferroelectric thin films were deposited on to quartz and Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si substrates by RF magnetron sputtering. An increase in the refractive index from 2.08 to 2.21 and a decrease in the optical bandgap from 4.30 to 4.28 eV indicate the improvement in crystallinity, which is also confirmed from Raman studies. A high relative permittivity (εr=281‐332) and low loss tangent (tanδ=1.2%‐1.9%) were obtained for the films deposited in 100% OMP, measured at microwave frequencies (5‐15 GHz). The leakage current of the films found to be as low as 9.90×10−9 A/cm2 at 150 kV/cm and Poole‐Frenkel emission is the dominant conduction mechanism in the films. The third order nonlinear optical properties of the KNN05D films were investigated using modified single beam z‐scan method. The third order nonlinear susceptibility (ǀχ(3)ǀ) values of KNN05D films increased from 0.69×10−3 esu to 1.40×10−3 esu with an increase in OMP. The larger and positive nonlinear refractive index n2=7.04×10−6 cm2/W, and nonlinear absorption coefficient β=1.70 cm/W were obtained for the 100% OMP film, indicating that KNN05D films are good candidates for the applications in nonlinear photonics and high‐frequency devices.
Structure and optical properties of Er‐doped CaO‐Al2O3 (Ga2O3) glasses fabricated by aerodynamic levitation
Authors: Xu Cheng , Wang Chaoyue , Yu Jianding , Zhang Ruili , Ren Jinjun , Liu Xiaofeng , Qiu Jianrong
Published: April 2017

We fabricated a series of stable Er‐doped CaO‐Al2O3(Ga2O3) glasses by aerodynamic levitation (ADL) method. Using thermal analysis, we studied the influence of composition on the thermal stability of the glasses. The results unraveled the significance of composition on the stability of glasses. Magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS‐NMR) and Raman spectra were used to analyze the glass microstructure. The optical and spectroscopic properties were examined by UV‐Vis absorption, steady‐state fluorescence spectroscopy, transient state fluorescence spectroscopy, and luminescence quantum yield measurements. The results unraveled a clear concentration‐dependent up‐conversion and NIR emissions of Er3+, with obvious spectral broadening and redshift. The related mechanisms of decrease in fluorescent lifetime (from about 9 ms to 2 ms) and quantum yield (from about 75% to 5%) are discussed.
Nanoscale mechanism of rare‐earth doping in Ga‐codoped glassy As‐Sb selenides
Authors: Shpotyuk Yaroslav
Published: April 2017

The method of annihilating positrons in positron annihilation lifetime measuring mode is applied to study mechanism of rare‐earth doping in Ga‐codoped arsenic selenide As2Se3 glass modified with Sb. The atomic‐deficient structure of parent As2Se3 glass is imagined as containing positron‐trapping sites in the form of free‐volume voids within cycle‐type arrangement of corner‐sharing trigonal AsSe3/2 pyramids, composed of atomic‐accessible geometrical holes arrested by surrounding atomic‐inaccessible Se‐based bond‐free solid angles. The Ga codoping in As2Se3 glass causes gradual decrease in trapping rate and fraction of trapped positrons due to agglomeration of free‐volume voids. Partial As‐to‐Sb replacement in Ga‐codoped As‐Se glasses leads to better stability against crystallization processes and possibility to further rare‐earth doping without principal changes in the type of positron‐trapping defects. Effect of 500 wppm of Pr3+ in Ga2(As0.28Sb0.12Se0.60)98 glass is explained in terms of competitive contribution of changed occupancy sites in Ga‐modified glassy network available for rare‐earth ions and annihilating positrons.
Application of Powers’ model to modern portland and portland limestone cement pastes
Authors: Nadelman Elizabeth I. , Kurtis Kimberly E.
Published: April 2017

Powers’ model is a simple approach for estimating the relative volumes of hydration products, porosity, and chemical shrinkage present in portland cement paste as a function of its starting water‐to‐cement ratio (w/c) and current degree of hydration. It forms an important link between cement composition, microstructure, and performance, necessary for modeling cement‐based systems. Previous researchers have adapted Powers’ model for inert fillers to illustrate their effects on the hydration, porosity, and chemical shrinkage of blended cements; however, it is well‐documented that limestone is not, in fact, an inert filler, but rather participates in cement hydration through both chemical and physical processes. This research experimentally investigates the applicability of Powers’ model to modern portland cements containing up to 15% by mass finely divided limestone. The results demonstrate that the modified Powers’ model is insufficient for predicting the influence of finely divided limestone additions on the chemical shrinkage of both ordinary portland cement pastes and portland limestone cement pastes. Possible explanations for the discrepancy are discussed and a plausible source is proposed.
Li2MoO4‐based composite ceramics fabricated from temperature‐ and atmosphere‐sensitive MnZn ferrite at room temperature
Authors: Väätäjä Maria , Kähäri Hanna , Juuti Jari , Jantunen Heli
Published: April 2017

The first magnetic ceramic composites manufactured, using the room‐temperature densification method are reported. The samples were prepared at room temperature using Li2MoO4 as a matrix and MnZn ferrite with loading levels of 10‐30 vol‐% followed by postprocessing at 120°C. The method utilizes the water solubility of the dielectric Li2MoO4 and compression pressure instead of high temperatures typical of conventional solid‐state sintering. Hence, composite manufacturing using temperature‐ and atmosphere‐sensitive materials is possible without special conditions. This was demonstrated with MnZn ferrite, which is prone to oxidation when heat treated in air. Samples manufactured with room‐temperature densification showed no signs of reactivity during processing, whereas reference samples sintered at 685°C suffered from oxidation and formation of an additional reaction phase. The densities achieved with different loading levels of MnZn ferrite with both methods were very similar. Measurements up to 1 GHz showed relatively high values of relative permittivity (21.7 at 1 GHz) and permeability (2.6 at 1 GHz) with 30 vol‐% loading of MnZn ferrite in the samples manufactured by room‐temperature densification. In addition, pre‐granulation is proposed to improve the processability of the composite powders in room‐temperature densification.
On shrinkage and structure changes of pure and blended Portland concretes
Authors: Zhang Yao , Davy Catherine A. , Tricot Gregory , Albert‐Mercier Cyrille , Henry Natacha , Bertier Pieter , Cazaux Frédéric , Damidot Denis , Bourbon Xavier
Published: April 2017

This research investigates the long‐term shrinkage and Relative Mass Loss (RML) of mature Portland concretes (pure CEMI and blended CEMV/A), at temperatures of 20°C and 80°C. When placed at 80°C and at relative humidities (RH) below 50‐60%, concrete shrinkage increases with very slow stabilization kinetics by several hundreds of μm/m, while RML remains of about 0.2%. The origins of this continued shrinkage, simultaneously with limited RML, are investigated through the changes in (i) the pore structure of the concretes (by Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry and nitrogen adsorption) and in (ii) their solid phases (by TGA/DTA, FTIR spectroscopy coupled to DVS, quantitative X‐Ray Diffraction by Rietveld analysis, and 29Si and 27Al MAS NMR). While the pore structure coarsens during continued shrinkage, several phase transformations occur, namely ettringite decomposition and changes in the silicate chain length of the C–A–S–H. While these structural changes are documented, their relationship with shrinkage/RML and to the pore structure is novel.
Effects of Bi0.5Na0.5HfO3 addition on the phase structure and piezoelectric properties of (K, Na)NbO3‐based ceramics
Authors: Chen Yi , Xue Dandan , Shi Meng , Jiang Xianquan , Chen Zhiqian , Liu Xiaokui , Liu Gang , Xu Zunping
Published: April 2017

Lead‐free perovskite (1‐x)(K0.48Na0.48Li0.04)Nb0.95Sb0.05O3‐x(Bi0.5Na0.5)HfO3 piezoelectric ceramics were prepared by a traditional ceramic fabrication method. An investigation was conducted to assess the effects of (Bi0.5Na0.5)HfO3 content on the crystal structure, microstructure, phase‐transition temperatures, and piezoelectric properties of the ceramics. The X‐ray diffraction results, combined with the temperature dependence of dielectric properties, revealed that the ceramics experienced a structural transition from an orthorhombic phase to a tetragonal phase with the addition of (Bi0.5Na0.5)HfO3, and a coexistence of orthorhombic and tetragonal phases was identified in the composition range of 0.005≤x≤0.015. An obviously improved piezoelectric activity was obtained for the ceramics with compositions near the orthorhombic‐tetragonal phase boundary, among which the composition x=0.005 exhibited the maximum values of piezoelectric constant d33, and planar and thickness electromechanical coupling coefficients (kp and kt) of 246 pC/N, 0.435, and 0.554, respectively. Furthermore, the Curie temperature of the ceramics was found decreasing with the increase in (Bi0.5Na0.5)HfO3 content, but still maintaining above 300°C for the phase boundary compositions. These results indicate that the ceramics are promising lead‐free candidate materials for piezoelectric applications.
The effectiveness of massage and touch on behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia: A quantitative systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Wu Jie , Wang Yi , Wang Zhiwen
Published: April 2017

Background

Many original studies have explored the effectiveness of massage and touch on behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia. However, the study design, interventions, measurements and outcomes varied among studies.

Aim

To systematically evaluate the effectiveness of massage and touch on the behavioural and psychological symptoms of older people with dementia.

Design

A quantitative systematic review and meta‐analysis.

Data sources

Cochrane Library, The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Library, PubMed, CINAHL, ProQuest Health & Medical Complete, SinoMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Wanfang were searched from the date the database established to January 2016.

Review methods

Randomized, controlled trials or quasi‐experimental studies, involving massage and touch intervention for older people with dementia were considered to be included. Risk of bias assessment was performed using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool and meta‐analysis was performed using Revman 5.3.

Results

A total of 11 studies, involving 526 older people were included. The results of the meta‐analysis showed the total score of behavioural and psychological problems with older people with dementia and subgroup scores of physical aggressive behaviour, physical non‐aggressive behaviour, verbal aggressive behaviour and verbal non‐aggressive behaviour decreased significantly after receiving massage or touch, while the subgroups scores of anxiety, sadness and anger did not decreased significantly.

Conclusions

Due to relatively small sample size and low quality of the included studies in this review, it is difficult to draw a conclusion on the effect of massage and touch on behavioural and psychological syndrome of dementia or implications for practice.
“I'm still here”: Exploring what matters to people with intellectual disability during advance care planning
Authors: McKenzie Nicola , Mirfin‐Veitch Brigit , Conder Jennifer , Brandford Sharon
Published: April 2017

Background

This study sought to identify, from the perspective of people with intellectual disabilities and life limiting conditions, the factors that strengthened and inhibited their Advance Care Planning.

Methods

This in depth qualitative study explored the experiences of four people with intellectual disability and life limiting conditions, through interviews and documentation reviews.

Results

There was strong agreement across all participants about what positively influenced Advance Care Planning, namely; going at my pace; supporting me to make my own choices; adapting the process to suit me, and, most importantly; continuing to support and plan the life I'm still living. With the exception of being comfortable/skilled in end‐of‐life support, the skills required of facilitators were similar to those required for all forms of person‐centred planning.

Conclusion

The findings are encouraging and demonstrate that Advance Care Planning is a useful tool in ensuring that people with intellectual disability have control and choice over their lives, right to the end.
Contributions of feather microstructure to eider down insulation properties
Authors: D'alba Liliana , Carlsen Thomas Holm , Ásgeirsson Árni , Shawkey Matthew D. , Jónsson Jón Einar
Published: April 2017

Insulation is an essential component of nest structure that helps provide incubation requirements for birds. Many species of waterfowl breed in high latitudes where rapid heat loss can necessitate a high energetic input from parents and use down feathers to line their nests. Common eider Somateria mollissima nest down has exceptional insulating properties but the microstructural mechanisms behind the feather properties have not been thoroughly examined.

Here, we hypothesized that insulating properties of nest down are correlated to down feather (plumule) microstructure. We tested the thermal efficiency (fill power) and cohesion of plumules from nests of two Icelandic colonies of wild common eiders and compared them to properties of plumules of wild greylag goose Anser anser. We then used electron microscopy to examine the morphological basis of feather insulating properties. We found that greylag goose down has higher fill power (i.e. traps more air) but much lower cohesion (i.e. less prone to stick together) compared to common eider down. These differences were related to interspecific variation in feather microstructure. Down cohesion increased with the number of barbule microstructures (prongs) that create strong points of contact among feathers. Eider down feathers also had longer barbules than greylag goose down feathers, likely increasing their air‐trapping capacity. Feather properties of these two species might reflect the demands of their contrasting evolutionary history. In greylag goose, a temperate, terrestrial species, plumule microstructure may optimize heat trapping. In common eiders, a diving duck that nests in arctic and subarctic waters, plumule structure may have evolved to maximize cohesion over thermal insulation, which would both reduce buoyancy during their foraging dives and enable nest down to withstand strong arctic winds.
GC‐MS metabolomics‐based approach for the identification of a potential VOC‐biomarker panel in the urine of renal cell carcinoma patients
Authors: Monteiro Márcia , Moreira Nathalie , Pinto Joana , Pires‐Luís Ana S. , Henrique Rui , Jerónimo Carmen , Bastos Maria de Lourdes , Gil Ana M. , Carvalho Márcia , Guedes de Pinho Paula
Published: April 2017

The analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emanating from biological samples appears as one of the most promising approaches in metabolomics for the study of diseases, namely cancer. In fact, it offers advantages, such as non‐invasiveness and robustness for high‐throughput applications. The purpose of this work was to study the urinary volatile metabolic profile of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) (n = 30) and controls (n = 37) with the aim of identifying a potential specific urinary volatile pattern as a non‐invasive strategy to detect RCC. Moreover, the effect of some confounding factors such as age, gender, smoking habits and body mass index was evaluated as well as the ability of urinary VOCs to discriminate RCC subtypes and stages. A headspace solid‐phase microextraction/gas chromatography–mass spectrometry‐based method was performed, followed by multivariate data analysis. A variable selection method was applied to reduce the impact of potential redundant and noisy chromatographic variables, and all models were validated by Monte Carlo cross‐validation and permutation tests. Regarding the effect of RCC on the urine VOCs composition, a panel of 21 VOCs descriptive of RCC was defined, capable of discriminating RCC patients from controls in principal component analysis. Discriminant VOCs were further individually validated in two independent samples sets (nine RCC patients and 12 controls, seven RCC patients with diabetes mellitus type 2) by univariate statistical analysis. Two VOCs were found consistently and significantly altered between RCC and controls (2‐oxopropanal and, according to identification using NIST14, 2,5,8‐trimethyl‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydronaphthalene‐1‐ol), strongly suggesting enhanced potential as RCC biomarkers. Gender, smoking habits and body mass index showed negligible and age‐only minimal effects on the urinary VOCs, compared to the deviations resultant from the disease. Moreover, in this cohort, the urinary volatilome did not show ability to discriminate RCC stages and histological subtypes. The results validated the value of urinary volatilome for the detection of RCC and advanced with the identification of potential RCC urinary biomarkers.
The Impact of the Eurozone Crisis on National Foreign Policy: Enhancing Europeanization in the Case of Cyprus*
Authors: Christou George , Kyris George
Published: April 2017

This article investigates the impact of the eurozone crisis on the foreign policy of an EU Member State, Cyprus. Drawing on the literature on Europeanization of national foreign policies, it is argued that Cypriot foreign policy, despite the general frustration caused by the financial crisis within broader society, has actually undergone further Europeanization. We show that leadership is a critical intervening variable in this enhanced Europeanization, as well as pointing to the salience of the explanatory mechanisms of social and instrumental learning. The contribution of the article is twofold. It offers an empirical account of contemporary Cypriot foreign policy and contributes to the discussion of the impact of the Eurozone crisis on national foreign policy. Both, we contend, remain relatively neglected topics in the literature.
Larval development and allometric growth of the black‐faced blenny Tripterygion delaisi
Authors: Solomon F. N. , Rodrigues D. , Gonçalves E. J. , Serrão E. A. , Borges R.
Published: April 2017

Larval development and allometric growth patterns of the black‐faced blenny Tripterygion delaisi are described from a larval series (body length, LB = 3·30–12·10 mm) caught by light traps at the Arrábida Marine Park, Portugal. Larvae of T. delaisi possess distinctive morphometric and meristic characteristics which can be used to identify this species from related taxa. Pigmentation is sparse but characteristic, consisting of pigmented eyes, gas bladder pigmentation in the dorsal region, anal pigmentation and a row of regularly spaced postanal ventral melanophores. This pattern is present from as early as the yolk‐sac stage and persists throughout all stages with just the addition of head and caudal pigmentation during the flexion and postflexion stages, respectively. The majority of fin development (with the exception of the caudal fin), occurs in the later stages of development. Myomere counts range between 37 and 45 for all stages. Growth is allometric during larval development. When inflexion points of growth were detected, growth was found to be biphasic with the inflexion points occurring within a very narrow range of LB (8·70–8·90 mm) close to the mean ± s.d. (9·44 ± 1·48 mm LB) of postflexion larvae. Considering allometric growth patterns and ontogenetic descriptions together, the first developmental phase includes the preflexion and flexion stage larvae, while the second phase characterises the postflexion larvae prior to the transition from larvae to juvenile.