bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Possible changes of New-Generation inflammation markers with occupational lead exposure
Authors: Sipahi Hande , Girgin Gozde , Palabiyik Saziye Sezin , Tutkun Engin , Yilmaz Omer Hinc , Baydar Terken 
Published: June 2017

Abstract

Objectives
Occupational lead (Pb) exposure is still an important health problem in the world. Long-term Pb exposure causes several adverse effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes of inflammation markers with chronic Pb exposure by analyzing neopterin levels and kynurenine (Kyn) to tryptophan (Trp) ratio that reflects indolamine 2,3-dioxygenase activity and to compare with healthy volunteers’ parameters.

Methods
Blood lead levels (BLLs) were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry. Urinary neopterin and serum Kyn and Trp levels were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography.

Results
According to our results, mean BLL of the 29 workers was 20.4±9.6 μg/d/. Urinary neopterin levels, serum Kyn levels, and Kyn/Trp of Pb workers (188±52 μmol/mol creatinine, 2.70±0.66 μM, and 43.19±10.38 μmol/mmol, respectively) were significantly higher than controls (144±35 μmol/mol creatinine, 2.08±0.34 μM, and 32.24±7.69 μmol/mmol, respectively). Pb-exposed workers were divided into further three groups according to their BLLs: as 10-19 μg/d/(n=18), 20-29 μg/d/(n=8), and 30-49 μg/d/(n=3). Neopterin levels of the workers with BLL of 30-49 μg/d/were significantly higher than those of BLL with 10-29 μg/d/, while Trp levels decreased. Kyn/Trp of workers with BLL of 30-49 μg/d/were elevated significantly compared with the workers with BLL&lt;30 μg/d/. In addition to neopterin, Kyn and Kyn/Trp levels were positively influenced by Pb exposure.

Conclusions
Increased level of inflammation markers confirms the adverse effects of Pb even low BLLs, and we suggest that monitoring BLLs with inflammation markers could help to prevent serious occupational health problems.
High-k Materials for Advanced Gate Stack Dielectrics: a Comparison of ALCVD and MOCVD as Deposition Technologies
Authors: Caymax Matty , Bender H. , Brijs B. , Conard T. , DeGendt S. , Delabie A. , Heyns M. , Onsia B. , Ragnarsson L. , Richard O. , Vandervorst W. , Elshocht S. Van , Zhao C. , Maes J.W. , Daté L. , Pique D. , Young E. , Tsai W. , Shimamoto Y. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractIn the quest for ever smaller transistor dimensions, the well-known and reliable SiO2 gate dielectric material needs to be replaced by alternatives whith higher dielectric constants in order to reduce the gate leakage. Candidate materials are metal oxides such as HfO2. Themost promising deposition techniques, next to Physical Vapor Deposition, appear to be ALCVD and MOCVD. In this paper, we compare the most important characteristics of layers from both proces techniques and assess their relevance to gate stack applications: density, crystallisation, impurities, growth mechanism, interfacial layers, dielectric constant, mobility. Although we find some minor differences, layers from both techniques mostly show striking similarities in many aspects, both positive and negative.
Low temperature Si0.85 Ge0.15 oxynitridation in wet-nitric oxide ambient
Authors: Dasgupta Anindya , Takoudis Christos G. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractNitric oxide (NO) aided Si0.85Ge0.15 wet-oxynitridation has been performed at 400 700°C, while the wet-NO feed gas was preheated to higher temperatures before entering the reaction zone. X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) data suggests that both nitrogen and oxygen incorporation increases within the dielectric bulk with increasing wet-oxynitridation temperature, while there is no apparent germanium segregation towards the dielectric/substrate interface at all temperatures studied. Angle-resolved XPS analysis shows that increase in wetoxynitridation temperature above 600°C is likely to volatilize some germanium oxide from the surface region. Nitrogen incorporation is found to hinder germanium segregation. These results are discussed in the context of an overall mechanism of SiGe wet-oxynitridation.
Limiting Native Oxide Regrowth for High-k Gate Dielectrics
Authors: Choi K. , Harris H. , Gangopadhyay S. , Temkin H. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractA cleaning process resulting in atomically smooth, hydrogen-terminated, silicon surface that would inhibit formation of native silicon oxide is needed for high-k gate dielectric deposition. Various cleaning methods thus need to be tested in terms of resistance to native oxide formation. Native oxide re-growth is studied as a function of exposure time to atmospheric ambient using ellipsometry. Hafnium dioxide film (k ~23) is deposited on the as-cleaned substrates by electron beam evaporation and subsequently annealed in hydrogen. The difference in the effective oxide thickness re-grown on surfaces treated with the conventional RCA and modified Shiraki cleaning methods, after one-hour exposure, can be as large as 2 Å. This is significant in device applications demanding equivalent oxide thickness less than 20 Å. The degree of hydrogen passivation, surface micro-roughness and organic removal capability are considered to be the main factors that explain the differences between the cleaning methods. Data derived from capacitance-voltage analysis of test capacitors verified the trend observed in the native oxide thickness measurements. An increase of 10~15 % in accumulation capacitance is observed in the samples treated by the new cleaning method.
Relaxation of SiGe Films for the Fabrication of Strained Si Devices
Authors: Maa J.S. , Tweet D. J. , Lee J.J. , Hsu S.T. , Fujii K. , Naka T. , Ueda T. , Baba T. , Awaya N. , Sakiyama K. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractFor the fabrication of bulk strained Si devices, a thin Si layer is deposited on a virtual substrate consisting of a several μm thick compositionally graded SiGe layer. A simpler approach utilizing H or He implantation to enhance relaxation of a thin SiGe film was recently reported. In this current work, hydrogen implantation is used to enhance the SiGe relaxation; and, relaxation beyond the previous reported limit is demonstrated. Experiments are performed on CVD deposited SiGe films with Ge fractions ranging from 20% to 40 % and thickness in the range of 100nm to about 500nm. After annealing at 800°C, relaxation of more than 80% is achieved. PMOS and NMOS devices are successfully fabricated and much enhanced hole and electron mobilities are demonstrated.
Ultra-Shallow Junction Formation by Excimer Laser Annealing of Ultra-Low Energy B Implanted in Si
Authors: Fortunato G. , Mariucci L. , Privitera V. , Magna A. La , Whelan S. , Mannino G. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractFormation of ultra-shallow junctions by excimer laser annealing (ELA) of ultra-low energy (1keV –250 eV) B implanted in Si has been investigated. High resolution TEM has been used to assess the as-implanted damage and the crystal recovery following ELA. The electrical activation and redistribution of B in Si during ELA has been studied as a function of the laser energy density (melt depth), the implant dose and the number of laser pulses (melt duration). Under appropriate ELA conditions, ultra-shallow profiles, extending to a depth as low as 35 nm with an abrupt profile (2.5 nm/dec), have been achieved. A significant amount of the implanted dopant was lost from the sample following ELA. However, the dopant that was retained in crystal material was fully activated following rapid re-solidification. We developed a theoretical model, that considers the dopant redistribution during melting and regrowth, showing that the fraction of the implanted dopant not activated during ELA was lost from the sample through out diffusion. The lateral distribution of the implanted B following laser annealing has been studied with 2-D measurements, using selective etching and cross-section TEM on samples where the implanted dopant was confined by using test structures including windows opened in silicon dioxide masks and patterned gate stack structures.
The Requirements for the Inclusion of Standard Terms in International Sales Contracts
Authors: Eiselen Sieg 
Published: June 2017

The problem dealing with the inclusion of standard terms and conditions in contracts is a problem that has engaged most legal systems. The United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods, Vienna 1980 (CISG) does not expressly deal with this problem. Accordingly the solution to the issue must be found in an interpretation and application of the general principles found in articles 8, 14 and 18. One of the main objects of the CISG is the harmonisation of international trade law. It is generally recognised that in order to achieve harmonisation it is necessary that courts should interpret and apply the convention in a consistent and harmonious manner. Unfortunately a number of approaches have emerged from courts around the world in regard to the inclusion of standard terms. German courts have developed a strict approach which requires that the standard terms be made available to the addressee at the time of the conclusion of the contract. They also require that the standard terms be couched in the language of the main contract. In stark contrast an American court has used an approach which is very lax in regard to incorporation, even allowing incorporation after the conclusion of the contract. There is, however a more moderate approach set out in decisions of the Austrian Supreme Court where the court adopted an approach which is more akin to that found in most legal systems, namely that a clear incorporation clause in the contract is sufficient for the effective incorporation of standard terms. The author critically examines the case law, the various approaches and the underlying arguments on which they are based, before reaching the conclusion that the two extreme approaches should be rejected in favour of the more moderate approach. This approach is founded on a proper interpretation of the provisions of the CISG as well as being in step with international trade practice.
Korporatiewe Identiteit as Grondslag van die Strafregtelike Aanspreeklikheid van Regspersone (1): Teoretiese Grondbeginsels
Authors: Du Toit Pieter , Pienaar Gerrit 
Published: June 2017

The different models for the criminal liability of juristic persons reveal a tension between individualist and realistic approaches. For individualists a corporation is the product of a union of individuals. This means that a juristic person can only be held criminally responsible if the conduct and fault of an individual involved in the entity are attributed to the juristic person. For realists a corporate entity has an existence independent of its individual members. The juristic person is blameworthy because its corporate identity or corporate ethos encouraged the criminal conduct. A study of organisational theory reveals that corporate crime may not necessarily be traced to the fault of specific individuals. Corporate criminality often is the result of complex decisions on different levels of the corporate hierarchy and furthermore is encouraged by the manner in which the organisation is structured. Prominent scholars such as the American philosopher Peter A French and the Australian Brent Fisse rejected an individualist approach and attempted to develop models of corporate fault based on the corporate identity idea. The failure of a corporation to take preventative or corrective measures in reaction to corporate criminal conduct is regarded as the basis for corporate fault by these authors. French calls this the "principle of responsive adjustment" whilst Fisse names it the concept of "reactive fault." A more sophisticated model (the "corporate ethos" model), which is also more reconcilable with the basic notions of criminal law, was developed by the American legal scholar Pamela Bucy.

*

A corporation will be held criminally responsible if its corporate ethos has encouraged the criminal conduct. The corporate ethos can be established with reference to numerous factors such as the corporate hierarchy, corporate goals, the existing monitoring and compliance systems and the question whether employees are rewarded or indemnified for inappropriate behavior.
Assessment of the state of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant system in children with nephrotic form of glomerulonephritis
Authors: Beglyarov R O 
Published: June 2017

Aim. Study of the activity of lipid peroxidation and state of antioxidant system in children with a nephrotic form of chronic glomerulonephritis.
Methods. 104 children with a nephrotic form of glomerulonephritis were examined. The average age of children was 10.18±4.03 years. 46.2% of children were in remission, 32.7% of children had 1st degree of activity, 14.4% had 2nd degree, and 6.7% had 3d degree of nephrotic syndrome. Control group included 30 children without chronic glomerulonephritis. The levels of diene conjugates, malonic dialdehyde, catalase, reduced glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase in blood plasma and erythrocytes were determined.
Results. In children with chronic glomerulonephritis the concentration of diene conjugates and malonic dialdehyde was elevated in blood plasma and erythrocytes. In erythrocytes their concentration was statistically significantly higher at all degrees of activity of nephrotic syndrome than in control group. The level of catalase in patients’ blood plasma in comparison with the control value was reduced by 16.6%, in erythrocyte mass - by 25.9% (p
Structure of emergency outpatient adult visits in Naberezhnye Chelny
Authors: Iskandarov I R , Gil’manov A A 
Published: June 2017

Aim. The study of the structure of emergency outpatient adult visits in Naberezhnye Chelny.
Methods. 2471 cases of primary outpatient visits for acute and chronic diseases of adult population of the city of Naberezhnye Chelny in 2011-2013 were analyzed. For statistical analysis of the data analysis of contingency tables with the assessment of statistical significance using Pearson criterion χ2 was used. The critical level of significance was set at p=0.05.
Results. In the studied population 48.4% of primary outpatient visits were made by males and 51.6% - by females. In the general structure of visits patients aged 50 to 59 years were prevalent. Up to a quarter of the emergency outpatients noted the beginning of the disease on the weekends and holidays. The percent of visits to the polyclinic on weekends or holidays was extremely low (3.0% in the general structure of visits), while the highest rates of emergency visits to the polyclinic by adults were observed during the first half of the week. The highest number of primary emergency visits to the polyclinic among both males and females was on Mondays (28.8%).
Conclusion. In the structure of visits made on Mondays and Tuesdays, the proportion of patients who became ill on weekends and holidays, amounted almost 30%.
Comparative analysis of children’s physical development in different age groups in Voronezh region 15 years apart (1997-1999 and 2011-2014)
Authors: Zhdanova O A 
Published: June 2017

Aim. To investigate physical development of children in Voronezh region in different age groups in 2011-2014 in comparison with the regional studies data in 1997-1999.
Methods. The study was performed on 5644 children aged 1-18 years of health groups I and II in comparison with the data of 10 247 children aged 1-14 years examined in 1997-1999. Body height, weight and body mass index Z-scores, calculated using WHO AnthroPlus software, were evaluated.
Results. Children’s Z-score values for body height in 2011-2014 were higher than in 1997-1999 in all age groups and at the age of 1-9 years these values exceeded World Health Organization (WHO) standards. Girls’ height approached the standards in 10-14 and 15-18 years, and boys’ height - in 15-18 years. Body weight of children aged 2-8 years was higher than the regional data in 1997-1999 and WHO standards approaching them at the age of 9. Body mass index increase compared to WHO standards was revealed in children aged 1-4 years (p=0.000), and in 2011-2014 the reported differences were less prominent than in 1997-1999. In 2011-2014 among 15-18-years-old girls the shift of body mass index values to the lack of body weight was noted, in 1997-1999 the same changes were found out for 10-14-years-old girls.
Conclusion. In 2011-2014 specific attention was required to be paid to physical development of children at the age from 1 to 4 years due to overweight risk of and girls aged 15-18 years due to probable underweight risk.
RANDOMIZED ANTICANCER AND CYTOTOXICITY ACTIVITIES OF GUIBOURTIA COLEOSPERMA AND DIOSPYROS CHAMAETHAMNUS.
Authors: Dushimemaria Florence , Preez C. Iwanette Du , Mumbengegwi Davis R. 
Published: June 2017

Background: Plants have consistently proven to be a reliable and yet not fully explored source of medicines. In light of
this, there is a constant demand for new treatment regimens for cancer. Namibia has a rich diversity of plant species of
over 4300 with 17 % of them being endemic to Namibia. Plants growing in Namibia’s diverse climatic zones produce
many secondary metabolites as part of adaptation to their environment. This article focused on the screening of such
phytochemicals and their cytotoxic and anticancer properties in vitro. Two Namibian plants Diospyros chamaethamnus
and Guibourtia coleosperma were randomly selected for this purpose.
Materials and Methods: The plants were screened for the presence of coumarins, alkaloids, flavonoids,
anthraquinones, steroids and terpenoids using thin layer chromatography. Anticancer screening was performed on a
panel of three cancer cell lines, while cytotoxicity was determined using a human fibroblast cell line, both using the
SRB method.
Results: Alkaloids, anthraquinones, flavonoids and steroids were detected in both organic and aqueous extracts of the
two plants. The organic plant extracts had a greater anti-proliferative effect on the cancer cell lines than the aqueous
extracts; the D. chamaethamnus organic root extract was the most potent with an IC50 of 16.08, 29.12 and 24.67 μg/mL
against TK10, UACC62 and MCF7 cells, respectively. Furthermore, cytotoxicity analysis revealed the non-toxic nature
of the extracts, except for the organic root extract of D. chamaethamnus that showed significant cytotoxicity (IC50 13.03
μg/mL).
Conclusion: D. chamaethamnus is a potential candidate for the development of a plant based cancer treatment. The
study showed the value of random screening in drug discovery from plants for pharmacological activity that is
unrelated to their ethnomedicinal uses.
APOPTOSIS INDUCTION OF EPIFRIEDELINOL ON HUMAN CERVICAL CANCER CELL LINE
Authors: Yang Jie , Fa Jing , Li Bingxing 
Published: June 2017

Background: Present investigation evaluates the antitumor activity of epifriedelinol for the management of cervical cancer
by inducing process of apoptosis.
Methods: Human Cervical Cancer Cell Line, C33A and HeLa were selected for study and treated with epifriedelinol at a
concentration of (50-1000 μg/ml). Cytotoxicity of epifriedelinol was estimated by MTT assay and induction of apoptosis
was assessed by estimating the activity of caspase 3, 8 and 9 enzyme, apoptosis assay and translocation of cytochrome c.
Moreover an expression of several proteins that plays role in the apoptosis process was estimated by western blot method.
Results: Result of the study suggested that treatment with epifriedelinol significantly decrease the viability count of
cancerous cell in a dose perndent manner and also enhances the formation of oligonucleosome in both the cell lines.
However activity of caspase enzymes and translocation of cytochrome c were enhanced after treatment with epifriedelinol.
It was also observed that epifriedelinol treatment alters the ratio of pro-apoptotic to anti-apoptotic proteins and enhances the
expressions of inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAP).
Conclusion: Result of our study proves the anticancer activity of epifriedelinol in cervical cancer by inducing apoptosis as
treatment with it enhances the production of oligonucleosomes, translocation of cytochrome c and activity caspase
enzymes.
HEMORHEOLOGY INDEX CHANGES IN A RAT ACUTE BLOOD STASIS MODEL: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS
Authors: Zhang Jun-Xiu , Feng Yu , Zhang Yin , Liu Yi , Li Shao-Dan , Yang Ming-Hui 
Published: June 2017

Background: Blood stasis has received increasing attention in research related to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)
and integrative Chinese and Western medicine. More than 90% of research studies use hemorheology indexes to
evaluate the establishment of animal blood stasis models rather than pathological methods, as hemorheology index
evaluations of blood stasis were short of the consolidated standard. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy
of hemorheology indexes in rat models of acute blood stasis (ABS) based on studies in which the ABS model had been
confirmed by pathological methods.
Materials and Methods: We searched the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure database (CNKI), Chinese
Medical Journal Database (CMJD), Chinese Biology Medicine disc (CBM), Wanfang database, and PubMed for studies
of rat blood stasis models; the search identified 18 studies of rat ABS models induced by subcutaneous injection of
epinephrine combined with an ice bath. Each included study received a modified Collaborative Approach to
Meta-Analysis and Review of Animal Data from Experimental Studies (CAMARADES) score list and methodological
quality assessment, then data related to whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, platelet aggregation rate, erythrocyte
aggregation index, and fibrinogen concentration were extracted. Extracted data were analyzed using Revman 5.3;
heterogeneity was tested using Egger's test.
Results: A total of 343 studies of rat blood stasis were reviewed. Eighteen studies were included in this meta-analysis;
the mean CAMARADES score was 3.5. The rat ABS model revealed a significant increase in whole blood viscosity
(medium shear rate), whole blood viscosity (high shear rate), plasma viscosity, platelet aggregation rate, erythrocyte
aggregation index, and fibrinogen concentration compared to controls, with weighted mean differences (WMD) of 2.42
mPa/s (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.73 - 3.10); 1.76 mPa/s (95% CI = 1.28 - 2.24); 0.39 mPa/s (95% CI = 0.24 -
0.55); 13.66% (95% CI = 9.78 - 17.55); 0.84 (95% CI = 0.53 - 1.16); and 1.22 g/L (95% CI = 0.76 - 1.67), respectively.
Subgroup analysis showed that whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, and the platelet aggregation rate test methods
were more sensitive when measured at 0-24 h than at 24-72 h after induction of blood stasis.
Conclusions: Rat blood stasis studies have incomplete experimental design and quality controls, and thus need an
integrated improvement. Meta-analysis of included studies indicated that the unified hemorheology index of whole
blood viscosity (medium and high shear rate), platelet aggregation rate, erythrocyte aggregation rate, and fibrinogen
concentration might be used for assessment of rat ABS models independent of pathology methods.