bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Towards a sustainable consumer model: the case study of Bulgarian recyclers
Authors: Vasileva Elka , Ivanova Daniela 
Published: July 2014

AbstractFor several years, Bulgaria has been implementing systems for separate collection of packaging waste as elements of environment policy, which aims to decrease the quantity of the municipal‐generated waste deposited in land. The effectiveness of these systems is largely determined by consumers' recycling behaviour in post‐socialist countries with emerging sustainable behaviour patterns. The aim of this article is to identify different segments among Bulgarians based on their attitudes towards recycling in order to highlight the characteristics of recyclers and non‐recycler groups and, subsequently, to elaborate on possible tailored marketing and communication plans to promote recycling among Bulgarians. A national survey was conducted with 968 people over 18 years of age from the municipalities covered by the system for separate collection of packaging waste. The cluster analysis of the results of the survey made possible the segmentation according to the attitudes towards recycling. The following four clusters were identified: the ‘Environmentally sensitive’ (18.46%); the ‘Inert’ who do not appreciate the benefits of recycling for the environment (26.14%); the ‘Indifferent’ to the separate collection of waste (29.57%); and the ‘Recycling’ (25.83%). The composition of each of the clusters is analysed both according to recycling practices and according to other types of sustainable behaviour (buying of organic foods, non‐food ecological products, energy‐efficient household appliances, etc.). The contextual factors that have demotivating effects on consumer behaviour for separate collection of waste in the country are also discussed. The correlations between cluster belonging and socio‐demographic characteristics of the participants in the study are examined. The implications of the study may be associated with the development and implementation of public policy strategies for the separate collection of waste and the promotion of sustainable consumer behaviour patterns.
Apelin and G212A apelin receptor gene polymorphism in obese and diabese youth
Authors: Kotanidou E. P. , Kalinderi K. , Kyrgios I. , Efraimidou S. , Fidani L. , Papadopoulou‐Alataki E. , Eboriadou‐Petikopoulou M. , Galli‐Tsinopoulou A. 
Published: July 2014

SummaryObjectiveThe apelinergic system has been previously described to participate in fluid homeostasis, cardiac contractility, blood pressure and neo‐vascularization. The role of apelin in obesity and glucose metabolism has also lately gained interest; however, it still remains obscure. This study aimed to assess serum apelin levels in obese youngsters and to investigate any possible association with the G212A polymorphism of the apelin receptor (APLNR) gene.MethodsNinety obese individuals and 90 matched for age and gender lean controls were included. Anthropometric measurements, data of glucose metabolism, including an oral glucose tolerance test, and serum apelin levels were obtained. The presence of the G212A polymorphism of the APLNR gene was also analyzed in the obese group.ResultsObese participants had significantly lower serum apelin levels as compared with controls (P = 0.011). After being grouped according to their status of glucose metabolism, only obese subjects with impaired glucose metabolism (diabese) exhibited lower apelin levels as compared with controls. The presence of the G212A polymorphism did not differ from the HapMap‐reported frequencies in Caucasians (GG = 53.3%/GA = 38.9%/ΑΑ = 7.8% vs. GG = 46.9%/GA = 39.8%/ΑΑ = 13.3%, P = 0.232). The GG and GA obese subgroups had significantly lower apelin levels as compared with the AA group (P = 0.013 and P = 0.016, respectively).ConclusionObese (especially diabese) youngsters demonstrated lower serum apelin levels; the G212A polymorphism of the APLNR gene was found to exert a favourable effect on circulating apelin levels in childhood obesity.
The role of dietary habits in urinary stone disease
Authors: Shirazi Fatemeh , Heidari Shiva , Sanjari Mahnaz , Khachian Alice , Shahpourian Farangis 
Published: July 2014

ABSTRACTUrolithiasis is the third most common urinary disease and evidence shows that the incidence of urolithiasis has increased continually during the past decades. The relationship between urinary stones and diet has been known to some extent but there are different opinions about it. This research was done to determine the relationship between dietary habit, food resources intake and urinary stone disease. This is a case–control study on 161 adult patients with urinary stone disease who referred to Hasheminejad Urology Center and 254 healthy subjects who were matched with the cases for age and gender. All the subjects were interviewed through a questionnaire. Data were analysed using spss, version 14. An independent t‐test, χ2‐test and regression analysis were used to examine the differences. The findings showed that the intake of resources of calcium (p = 0·048), phosphorus (p = 0·001), potassium (p < 0·0001), vitamin A (p < 0·0001), vitamin D (p < 0·0001) and vitamin C (p = 0·004) was significantly lower in patients in comparison with the healthy subjects, but the intake of resources of oxalate, magnesium and vitamin B6 was not significantly different. Results showed that among food resources that were significantly different in the two groups, the resources of vitamins A, C, D, resources of calcium and potassium and liquid were significantly different, as shown by the results of the regression test. Thus findings suggest that urinary stone formation has a relationship with dietary habit. Considering the challenges of treatment and the costs of this disease, dietary recommendations may be an easy and cost‐effective way to reduce the health care burden of renal stone.
An analysis of influenza prevention measures from air travellers’ perspective
Authors: Chou P‐F. 
Published: July 2014

BackgroundThe influenza A virus is easily transmitted through airborne saliva droplets disseminated by unprotected coughing or sneezing, particularly in a crowded, enclosed space.AimThe purpose of this study was to analyse the knowledge, attitudes and practices of air travellers regarding influenza A preventive measures and to examine any significant differences in perceptions among different types of traveller groups.MethodsThis study used a 5‐point Likert scale questionnaire and surveyed 1684 passengers at Taoyuan International Airport in Taiwan. The frequencies, mean score and ranking of descriptive analyses were used to evaluate respondents’ demographic profiles. t‐Test, one‐way analysis of variance and Scheffe post hoc analyses were used to evaluate the relationship among knowledge, attitudes and practices, and respondents’ characteristics.ResultsThere were significant differences in the knowledge, attitudes and practices measures among groups with different types of trip purposes and among occupation groups. Most passengers expressed common knowledge regarding influenza A; however, their attitudes and their degree of perception were not consistent with their prevention practices.LimitationsThis research is limited because it only examined surveyed air travellers in Taiwan.ConclusionAir travellers could benefit greatly if the government and airlines were to implement a health policy that includes education on the importance of influenza prevention measures, such as frequent hand washing, to citizens. Nurses could be involved in this important health promotion activity.Implications for Nursing and Health PolicySchools should implement a health education policy to communicate the importance of prevention measures. Nurses can consider how they can be involved in emphasizing the importance of prevention and health promotion regarding this. Airlines should also include basic preventive measures as a component of flight attendant training.
Microstructure Evolution and Cation Interdiffusion in Thin Sm2O3 Films on CeO2 Substrates
Authors: Rockenhäuser Christian , Butz Benjamin , Störmer Heike , Gerthsen Dagmar 
Published: July 2014

Samaria (Sm2O3) thin films with a thickness of 180 nm were deposited on polycrystalline CeO2 substrates by pulsed layer deposition to study phase formation and bulk cation interdiffusion in the Ce1−xSmxO2−x/2 system after annealing at temperatures between 987°C and 1266°C. Transmission electron microscopy combined with electron diffraction and analytical techniques was applied for phase determination. The cubic fluorite and cubic bixbyite phases were observed at low and intermediate Sm concentrations. The monoclinic phase occurs only at very high Sm concentrations due to the low Ce‐solubility in Sm2O3. Furthermore, a cubic phase with I213 structure was observed at higher Sm concentrations. Cation interdiffusion coefficients were derived from Sm concentration profiles across the Sm2O3/CeO2 interface using the diffusion–couple solution of the diffusion equation. The temperature dependence of interdiffusion coefficients is well described by an Arrhenius‐type relation, which yields an activation enthalpy of 2.26 eV/atom for bulk cation interdiffusion.
Magnetic Properties of Mn‐doped SnO2 Thin Films Prepared by the Sol–Gel Dip Coating Method for Dilute Magnetic Semiconductors
Authors: Sujatha Lekshmy Sivashankaran Nair , Anitha Vijayam Sukumaran Nair , Thomas PuthenKadathil Vargehese , Joy Kunjkunju 
Published: July 2014

Manganese‐doped tin oxide (SnO2:Mn) thin films were deposited on glass substrates by the sol–gel dip coating technique. The effect on structural, morphological, magnetic, electrical, and optical properties in the films with different Mn concentrations (0–5 mol%) were investigated. X‐ray diffraction patterns (XRD) showed the deterioration of crystallinity with increase in Mn‐doping concentration. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies showed an inhibition of grain growth with an increase in Mn concentration. X ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) revealed the presence of Sn4+ and Mn3+ in SnO2: Mn films. SnO2: Mn films show ferromagnetic and paramagnetic behavior. These SnO2:Mn films acquire n‐type conductivity for 0–3 mol% (SnO2 ‐ Sn0.97Mn0.03O2) ‐doping concentration and p type for 5 mol% Mn‐doping concentration(Sn0.95Mn0.05O2) in SnO2 films. An average transmittance of > 75% (in UV‐Vis region) was observed for all the SnO2:Mn films. Optical band gap energy of SnO2: Mn films were found to vary in the range 3.55 to 3.71 eV with the increase in Mn‐doping concentration. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra of the films exhibited an increase in the emission intensity with increase in Mn‐doping concentration which may be due to structural defects or luminescent centers, such as nanocrystals and defects in the SnO2. Such SnO2:Mn films with structural, magnetic and optical properties can be used as dilute magnetic semiconductors.
Preparation of Porous Glass‐Based Thick Film Using Diffusion‐Induced Phase Separation from Scrap Glass
Authors: Zhang Yabin , Cao Xu , Fan Wenbin , Wang Shaodi , Xiao Changfa 
Published: July 2014

The porous glass thick film was fabricated by the diffusion‐induced phase separation and the sintering technique from scrap glass, polyvinylidene fluoride, and dimethylacetamide (DMAc). Pores formed due to the dissolution of DMAc in water. As heat treatment temperature increases, densification of porous glass was gradually enhanced while the pore channels were maintained. Porosity data of ~62% and 55% were obtained at 700°C and 800°C, respectively. The pore size diameters were 91.1 μm (700°C) and 90.8 μm (800°C) separately. The porous materials showed acid durability partially because flower‐like crystals were dissolved in 1M HCl solution. The process reported in this paper provided a simple method to prepare porous glass under one‐step calcinations at low temperature and was helpful for the reuse technology of scrap glass.
A Novel Way to Prepare Hollow Sphere Ceramics
Authors: Qi Fei , Xu Xingxing , Xu Jie , Wang Yali , Yang Jinlong 
Published: July 2014

Recent developments in the fabrication of hollow spheres have allowed our group to prepare a new type of macroporous ceramics: hollow sphere ceramics (HSCs). Alumina hollow spheres were first produced by centrifugal spray‐drying of particle‐stabilized foam slurry. The obtained hollow spheres were sintered together to form HSC at high temperatures. The effect of the sintering temperature on the linear shrinkage, porosity and compressive strength of HSC samples was investigated. When the sintering temperature was increased from 1400°C to 1600°C, the samples shrunk increasingly and the porosity decreased from 59% to 42%, which lead to an increase in the strength of the alumina foams from 6.9 (at 1400°C) to 100.0 MPa (at 1550°C). The mechanical strength of the HSC highly depends on the contact area between the hollow spheres, which could be increased by increasing the sintering temperature, decreasing the size of hollow spheres or by slurry infiltration.
Tunable Electromagnetic Properties in Co/Al2O3 Cermets Prepared by Wet Chemical Method
Authors: Wang Xu‐ai , Shi Zhi‐cheng , Chen Min , Fan Run‐hua , Yan Ke‐lan , Sun Kai , Pan Shi‐bing , Yu Ming‐xun 
Published: July 2014

Cobalt/alumina composites with three‐dimensional cobalt networks hosted in porous alumina matrix were prepared by a facile impregnation process under low temperature. The effects of composition and microstructure on their electromagnetic properties were investigated. A percolation phenomenon appeared with cobalt content increasing, and an interesting feature of negative permittivity was obtained in the percolative composites due to the appearance of equivalent inductances, while the composites were equivalent to circuit models composed of capacitance and resistance with Co content below the percolation threshold. Meanwhile, negative permeability was obtained in the frequency range of 500 MHz ~ 1 GHz. Further investigations showed that the electromagnetic properties of the composites could be changed significantly when the cobalt particles networks turned into sheet structure. That was to say, the electromagnetic properties of metal–ceramic composites could be tailored by their compositions and microstructures, which make it available for microwave‐absorbing materials, attenuation ceramics and microwave dielectrics, etc.
Sol–Gel‐Derived High‐Performance Stacked Transparent Conductive Oxide Thin Films
Authors: Sugahara Tohru , Hirose Yukiko , Cong Shuren , Koga Hirotaka , Jiu Jinting , Nogi Masaya , Nagao Shijo , Suganuma Katsuaki 
Published: July 2014

Single‐ and multi‐layer transparent conductive oxide (TCO) thin films exhibiting high performance, good packing density and low surface/interface roughness are deposited on silica glass substrates by the sol–gel method. The crystal and microstructural properties of the TCO thin films are evaluated as an alternate to films prepared by ultra‐high vacuum deposition. Tin‐doped indium oxide (ITO) thin films produced using a two‐step drying process showed low surface roughness because of dense packing structure not only horizontal but also vertical directions. As a result, electrical conductivity, carrier concentration, carrier mobility, and optical transmittance of 2.3 × 103 S/cm, 8 × 1020 cm−3, 18 cm2/Vs, and over 98% at 500 nm, respectively, were achieved. A multilayer ZnO/ITO stacked structure was also fabricated using the sol–gel process. Our findings suggest that solution‐based methods show promise as an alternative to existing ultra‐high vacuum methods to fabricate TCO thin films.
Effect of Zirconium on the Densification of Reactively Hot‐Pressed Zirconium Carbide
Authors: Chakrabarti Tamoghna , Rangaraj Lingappa , Jayaram Vikram 
Published: July 2014

Densification mechanisms involved during reactive hot pressing (RHP) of zirconium carbide (ZrC) have been studied.RHPhas been carried out using zirconium (Zr) and graphite (C) powders in the molar ratios 1:0.5, 1:0.67, 1:0.8, and 1:1 at 40 MPa, 800°C–1200°C for different durations. The volume fractions of phases formed, including porosity, are determined from the measured density and from Rietveld analysis. Increased densification with an increasing nonstoichiometry in carbon has been observed. Microstructural and X‐ray diffraction observations coupled with the predictions of a model based on the constitutive laws governing plastic flow of zirconium suggest that the better densification of nonstoichiometric compositions arise from the higher amount of starting Zr and also the longer duration of its availability for plastic flow duringRHP. Volume shrinkage due to reaction betweenZrandCand the gradual elimination of the soft metal phase limit the final density achievable. Based on these observations, a two‐stepRHPcarried out at 800°C and 1200°C leads to a better densification than a singleRHPat 1200°C.
Processing, Mechanical Characterization, and Alkali Resistance of SiliconBoronOxycarbide (SiBOC) Glass Fibers
Authors: Nguyen Van Lam , Proust Vanessa , Quievryn Caroline , Bernard Samuel , Miele Philippe , Soraru Gian Domenico 
Published: July 2014

A borosilicate sol–gel solution is synthesized using a mixture of methyltriethoxysilane, dimethyldiethoxysilane, and boric acid. SiBOC gel fibers are produced from the as‐synthesized sol–gel solution using a spinning apparatus. Subsequently, SiBOC glass fibers are prepared through pyrolysis under argon atmosphere at 1000°C and 1200°C. Mechanical properties of the SiBOC glass fibers are studied by measuring the tensile strength and the elastic modulus. The results show a high tensile strength −1300 and 1058 MPa, and a high Young modulus −79 and 95.5 GPa, for the fibers prepared at 1000°C and 1200°C, respectively. Furthermore, alkali resistance of the SiBOC fibers is investigated by measuring the tensile strength after soaking them for 20 h in NaOH and Ca(OH)2 solutions at 100°C. For comparison, the same measurements are performed on commercial AR and E glass fibers. The SiBOC fibers show excellent alkaline resistance and perform better than commercial AR fibers. Indeed, SiBOC fibers retain 80%–90% of the initial strength after Ca(OH)2 attack.
Preceramic Polymer‐Derived SiAlON as Sintering Aid for Silicon Nitride
Authors: Parcianello Giulio , Bernardo Enrico , Colombo Paolo , Lenčéš Zoltan , Vetrecín Michal , Šajgalík Pavol , Kašiarová Monika 
Published: July 2014

Two kinds of sintering additives based on the polysiloxanes or polysilazanes filled with nano‐sized powders as SiAlON precursors were tested for the densification of Si3N4‐based ceramics. The results showed that both systems can be successfully used as additives for the preparation of Si3N4 ceramics with favorable mechanical characteristics. The ceramics were sintered with 18 wt% of preceramic polymer‐based mixture, and good fracture resistance and high hardness values were obtained after sintering in optimized conditions (temperature, dwell time, nitrogen pressure). Higher densification temperatures and longer holding times were required for sintering of samples with polysilazane‐based precursors. The best toughness values were approximately 5 MPa·m0.5, while the highest hardness was about 19 GPa. The differences in mechanical properties of the prepared composites can be related to the phase composition, microstructure and different chemical bonds present in the ceramic residue generated upon pyrolysis and final densification.
Phase Diagram and Enhanced Piezoelectric Response of Lead‐Free BaTiO3–CaTiO3–BaHfO3 System
Authors: Wang Dali , Jiang Zhaohua , Yang Bin , Zhang Shantao , Zhang Mingfu , Guo Feifei , Cao Wenwu 
Published: July 2014

Three composition groups in the BaTiO3–CaTiO3–BaHfO3 ternary system, (1 − x)Ba(HfyTi1−y)O3–x(Ba1−zCaz)TiO3 (abbreviated as BHyT–xBCzT with x = 0–1.0, y = 0.16, z = 0.20; x = 0–1.0, y = 0.16, z = 0.30; x = 0–1.0, y = 0.20, z = 0.30, respectively), have been designed for investigating the variation of the intermediate O‐phase region and its effect on the electrical properties. The temperature‐composition phase diagram of each group has been proposed based on the X‐ray diffraction patterns and the temperature‐dependent dielectric behaviors. The enhanced piezoelectric properties are achieved in the O–T phase boundary compositions of the three groups, which are BH0.16T–0.58BC0.20T, BH0.16T–0.48BC0.30T and BH0.20T–0.53BC0.30T, respectively. Piezoelectric coefficient d33 of 448 pC/N is obtained in BH0.20T–0.53BC0.30T, which is higher than those of the other two phase boundary compositions. The O‐phase zone in BH0.20T–xBC0.30T is narrower than those in the BH0.16T–xBC0.20T and BH0.16T–xBC0.30T. In spite of its small O‐phase volume occupancy, the O‐phase plays a key role in the properties of the system. Our work confirms that the enhancement in piezoelectric properties is not only related to the O–T phase boundary near room temperature (RT), but also related to the shift of TR‐O toward RT. In addition, a quantitative relation between the phase boundary composition and atomic mole ratio of Hf to Ca (Rm) is proposed, which the Rm value corresponding to the phase boundary is about 0.58. The results clearly demonstrate that in this system high piezoelectric properties are achieved by tuning the specific Rm value. Such a work may provide new clues for designing lead‐free piezoelectric materials with enhanced piezoelectric property.
Effect of Ferroelectric Polarization on Ionic Transport and Resistance Degradation in BaTiO3 by Phase‐Field Approach
Authors: Cao Ye , Shen Jie , Randall Clive , Chen Long‐Qing 
Published: July 2014

We proposed a model to study the resistance degradation behavior of ferroelectric oxides in the presence of ferroelectric spontaneous polarization by combining the phase‐field model of ferroelectric domains and nonlinear diffusion equations for ionic/electronic transport. We took into account the nonperiodic boundary conditions for solving the electrochemical transport equations and Ginzburg–Landau equations using the Chebyshev collocation algorithm. We considered a single domain structure relative to a thin film BaTiO3 single crystal orientated to the normal of the electrode plates (Ni) in a single parallel plate capacitor configuration. The capacitor was subjected to a dc bias of 0.5 V either along the polarization direction or opposite to the polarization direction at 25°C. It is shown that the polarization bound charges at the metal/ferroelectric interface play an important role in charge carrier transport and leakage current evolution in BaTiO3 capacitor.
Telocytes in mice bone marrow: electron microscope evidence
Authors: Li Hua , Zhang Hongqi , Yang Lin , Lu Shanshan , Ge Junbo 
Published: July 2014

AbstractTelocytes (TCs) are a novel type of interstitial cell of whom presence has been recently documented in many tissues and organs. However, whether TCs exists in bone marrow is still not reported. This study aims to find out TCs in mice bone marrow by using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). SEM images showed that in mice bone marrow most of TCs have small spherical cell body (usually 4–6 μm diameter) with thin long telopodes (Tps; usually one to three). The longest Tp observed was about 70 μm, with an uneven calibre. Direct intercellular contacts exist between TCs. TEM shows mitochondria within dilations of Tps. Also, by TEM, we show the close spatial relations of Tps with blood vessels. In conclusion, this study provides ultrastructural evidence regarding the existence of TCs in mice bone marrow, in situ.