bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Stimuli responsive nanomaterials for controlled release applications
Authors: Li Song , Li Wengang , Khashab Niveen M. 
Published: November 2012

AbstractThe controlled release of therapeutics has been one of the major challenges for scientists and engineers during the past three decades. Coupled with excellent biocompatibility profiles, various nanomaterials have showed great promise for biomedical applications. Stimuli-responsive nanomaterials guarantee the controlled release of cargo to a given location, at a specific time, and with an accurate amount. In this review, we have combined the major stimuli that are currently used to achieve the ultimate goal of controlled and targeted release by “smart” nanomaterials. The most heavily explored strategies include (1) pH, (2) enzymes, (3) redox, (4) magnetic, and (5) light-triggered release.
Laser therapy applications for osteoarthritis and chronic joint pain – A randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial
Authors: Marquina Nelson , Dumoulin-White Roger , Mandel Arkady , Lilge Lothar 
Published: November 2012

AbstractA randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial to evaluate an adjunctive treatment modality for pain associated with knee disorders was conducted utilizing a therapeutic laser system (low energy, non-surgical).The therapeutic laser system utilized a dual wavelength, multiple diode laser cluster probe with five super-pulsed 905 nm near-infrared (NIR) laser diodes, each emitting at 40 mW average power and four continuous wave 660 nm visible (VIS) red laser diodes, each emitting at 25 mW. It was used as an adjunctive modality providing 12 treatments, three times a week to a homogeneous patient population (n=126), in combination with standardized chiropractic techniques, to evaluate effectiveness on subjects presenting with osteoarthritis and knee pain. The primary endpoint was measured by the visual analog scale (VAS) to assess pain levels on a scale of 0–10. The success criteria for an individual patient in this study were identified as an improvement of 30% or more in the VAS from baseline to 12th treatment and/or an improvement of 20% or more in the VAS from baseline to 30-day follow-up evaluation.The data obtained in the study demonstrated that the present therapeutic laser system provided significant pain relief and osteoarthritic improvements in all primary evaluation criteria, with a statistical and clinical significance of
Current situation on analysis of marine toxins
Authors: Botana Ana M. , Otero Paz , Rodríguez Paula , Alfonso Amparo , Botana Luis M. 
Published: November 2012

Abstract
Marine toxins are a food safety concern worldwide. This review discusses current analytical methods for those toxins that are legally regulated in Europe, namely domoic acid, saxitoxin, okadaic acid, yessotoxin, pectenotoxin and azaspiracids, and all their analogues, and those that are not regularly monitored but are a threat to humans, such as tetrodotoxin, ciguatoxins and cyclic imines. Because of legislative changes that were implemented in 2011, most legally required methods are chromatographic. Saxitoxin and domoic acid are monitored by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescent and ultraviolet detection, respectively. All other toxins are monitored nowadays by means of chromatographic separation and mass spectrometry detection.
Influence of nanoparticle on hygroscopic thickness swelling rate of composites from hemp fiber and recycled plastic
Authors: Kord Behzad 
Published: November 2012

AbstractIn this study, the effect of nanoparticle on hygroscopic thickness swelling rate of composites from hemp fiber and recycled plastic was investigated. To meet this objective, hemp fiber was mixed with either virgin or recycled polypropylene (PP) at 50% by weight fiber loading. The samples were made by melt compounding and then injection molding. The concentration was varied as 0, 1, and 3 per hundred compounds (phc) for nanoclay. The amount of coupling agent was fixed at 2 phc for all formulations. The long-term thickness swelling rate of samples was evaluated by immersing them in water at room temperature for several weeks (up to 3000 h). The results indicated that whether or not virgin plastic is used has a significant effect on the thickness swelling of composites. The thickness swelling of the hemp fiber/recycled plastic composites was higher than those of virgin plastics. Furthermore, with the addition of nanoclay content in composites, thickness swelling decreased. The swelling rate parameter (KSR) of the composites was influenced by plastics virginity and nanoclay. The minimum KSR values were observed in composites made of 50VPP/50F/2C/3N. Morphological findings showed that samples containing 1 phc of nanoclay had higher order of intercalation and better dispersion.
Hänge ihn an den Baum des Unheils (Liv. 1,26,11) – das Kreuz in römischen Hochverrats-Prozessen
Authors: Zilling Henrike Maria 
Published: November 2012

Zusammenfassung
Bevor diese Untersuchung sich auf den Kerngegenstand, die Kreuzigungspraxis im römischen Hochverrats-Prozeß bezieht, werden die antiken Wurzeln dieser Todesstrafe skizziert. Ausführlich wird auf die von Mommsen in seinem Strafrecht vorgenommene Analyse der Kreuzesstrafe in römischen Hochverrats-Prozessen Bezug genommen. Besonders wird die Exekutionspraxis nach altem Brauch untersucht, die, anders als Mommsen es dargestellt hat, nicht immer als Kreuzigung im engeren Sinne zu sehen ist, insbesondere, wenn es sich um Hinrichtungen freier römischer Bürger handelte. Diese Untersuchung steht vielmehr in einem Forschungsdiskurs, der deutliche Belege für eine Rechtspraxis sieht, die die Kreuzigung Barbaren und Sklaven vorbehält. Der Aufsatz befaßt sich eingehend mit der Kreuzigungspraxis zur Zeit Jesu. Auch hier stützt der Quellenbefund Mommsens Sichtweise nicht, letztlich wegen dessen definitorisch unscharfer Relation zwischen Kreuzigung und furca. Die Praxis der Geißelung wird im weiteren eingehend im Zusammenhang mit der Kreuzigung untersucht. Die auch als Einzelstrafe angewandte Geißelung erfolgte wegen ihrer Härte zumeist vor einer Kreuzigung. Zum Abschluß des Aufsatzes wird die Kreuzigung Jesu rekonstruiert und in ihren historisch-sozialen Kontext der Hinrichtungspraxis Roms gestellt.
Bad Emperors on the Rise: Negative assessments of imperial investitures, AD 284–395
Authors: Icks Martijn 
Published: November 2012

AbstractIn this article, the author examines how imperial investiture rituals, which normally served to boost the prestige of aspiring rulers, could be turned against them by hostile authors. In their descriptions, these authors deviated from the ideal patterns to make imperial candidates look bad or ridiculous. The focus is on the period AD 284–395. Three cases are analyzed in detail, namely those of Maximinus Daia (AD 305), Jovian (AD 363) and Procopius (AD 365), followed by an analysis of negative descriptions of investitures in late antiquity in general. Contrary to accounts from the principate, when criticism focussed on a candidate’s immoral behaviour during his investiture, negative descriptions from the late third and fourth centuries also put great emphasis on uninspired acclamations and the use of improper attributes to signal that someone was/would be a bad ruler. Thus authors not only questioned a candidate’s morality, but his legitimacy as well.
Radiation-induced nitration of organic compounds in aqueous solutions
Authors: Ershov B. G. , Gordeev A. V. , Bykov G. L. , Moisy Philippe 
Published: November 2012

Abstract
Radiolysis in aqueous nitrate and acetic acid solutions and nitrate/nitric acid and phenol was studied. The radiolysis of these solutes occurs with •NO2 radical, which is the active nitrating agent. Accumulation of nitromethane and nitrite was determined during γ-irradiation of aqueous solutions containing acetic and nitrate solutions. Irradiation of aqueous phenol–nitrate/nitric acid solutions results in the formation of 2- and 4-nitrophenols.
Explanation for the stacking disorder in tris(bicyclo[2.1.1]hexeno)benzene using lattice-energy minimisations
Authors: Schmidt Martin U. , Glinnemann Jürgen 
Published: November 2012

AbstractThe stacking disorder in the hexagonal polymorph of tris(bicyclo[2.1.1]hexeno)benzene, C18H18, is explained by lattice-energy minimisations. The compound crystallises in layers withP(-6)2mlayer-group symmetry. Each layer can be placed in one of three possible positions. Possible stacking sequences were derived from order-disorder (OD) theory and by a combinatorial approach. The resulting periodic model structures were optimised by lattice-energy minimisations. The calculations show thateclipsedarrangements of layers (sequencee.g. ABA) are energetically less favourable thannon-eclipsedones (sequencee.g. ABC). The reason was found in the deviation fromP(-6)2msymmetry. Molecules ineclipsedlayers are almost parallel to the layer plane, whereas molecules innon-eclipsedlayers are inclined to it by about 3° leading to a more efficient packing. The influence of the next-nearest layers was found to be not a direct one, but mediated by the distortion of the layers between them. Using Boltzmann statistics, the stacking probabilities for all four-layer sequences were calculated. The results match well with the probabilities derived from the diffuse scattering by Bürgiet al.(2005) (Z. Kristallogr. 220, 1066–1075). The lattice-energy minimisations allowed to determine the actual local structures in all individual layers including packing effects like rotation of molecules, lateral shifts, and to calculate the stacking layer thickness, depending on the actual layer sequences.The diffraction pattern, calculated from a lattice-energy optimised structure with 54 layers, is similar to the experimental one, and even approximates the diffuse scattering.
Associations of Work Hours and Actual Availability of Weekly Rest Days with Cardiovascular Risk Factors
Authors: Itani Osamu , Kaneita Yoshitaka , Ikeda Maki , Kondo Shuji , Murata Atsushi , Ohida Takashi 
Published: November 2012

Associations of Work Hours and Actual Availability of Weekly Rest Days with Cardiovascular Risk Factors: Osamu ITANI, et al. Division of Public Health, Department of Social Medicine, Nihon University School of Medicine—ObjectivesThe aim of study was to determine the associations of work hours and actual availability of weekly rest days with the onset of lifestyle‐related diseases such as obesity, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, low levels of high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and hyperglycemia.MethodsFor this longitudinal study, we used data from checkups conducted in 1999 and 2006 for 30,194 men who worked for a local public institution in Japan. We calculated the cumulative incidence rates of onset of obesity, hypertension, hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia and low HDL cholesterol over this 7‐year period and performed a χ2test to determine the association between the above diseases and work conditions (work hours and actual availability of weekly rest days) at the time of the baseline survey. We then performed multiple logistic regression analysis of the diseases that showed significant associations.ResultsThe adjusted odds ratio for the onset of hypertriglyceridemia in subjects who worked ≥9 hours was high (1.11 [95% CI: 1.02−1.22], p=0.02) in comparison with those who worked <9 hours. The adjusted odds ratio for the onset of hypertriglyceridemia in subjects who could not often take weekly rest days was high (1.13 [95% CI: 1.01−1.27], p=0.03) in comparison with those who were able to take most of the available weekly rest days off work.ConclusionsThese results show that work hours and actual availability of weekly rest days independently predict the onset of hypertriglyceridemia. Working only regular hours and taking advantage of weekly rest days can contribute to the prevention of hypertriglyceridemia.
Personality and Resilience Associated with Perceived Fatigue of Local Government Employees Responding to Disasters
Authors: Kitamura Hideaki , Shindo Masanobu , Tachibana Akira , Honma Hiroko , Someya Toshiyuki 
Published: November 2012

Personality and Resilience Associated with Perceived Fatigue of Local Government Employees Responding to Disasters: Hideaki KITAMURA, et al. Department of Psychiatry, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences—ObjectivesAccording to some newspapers, concerns are growing over the health of local government employees in the Great East Japan Earthquake disaster areas. Concerns were consistently present after the Hanshin‐Awaji and Niigata‐Chuetsu earthquakes but not studied analytically.MethodsMunicipal employees responding to the disasters after an earthquake and floods answered a questionnaire about the degrees of workload, fatigue, psychological distress, resilience and personality traits.ResultsTwothirds of the employees suffered fatigue and psychological distress, which were significantly correlated with workload but inversely correlated with emotional stability personality traits and psychological resilience.ConclusionsTogether with substantial workload, individual differences in emotional stability and to lesser degree in resilience were found to have an impact on perceived fatigue. These individual factors should be considered as potential mediators of distresses among local government employees responding to disasters.
A 3‐dB Quadrature WLP Coupler for 60 GHz Applications
Authors: Kiumarsi Hamid , Ito Hiroyuki , Ishihara Noboru , Okada Kenichi , Uemichi Yusuke , Chiba Yasuto , Masu Kazuya 
Published: November 2012

ABSTRACTA 60 GHz tandem coupler using offset broadside coupled lines is proposed in a WLP (Wafer Level Packaging) technology. The fabricated coupler has a core chip area of 750 μm × 385 μm (0.288 mm2). The measured results show an insertion loss of 0.44 dB, an amplitude imbalance of 0.03 dB and a phase difference of 87.6° at 60 GHz. Also the measurement shows an insertion loss of less than 0.67 dB, an amplitude imbalance of less than 0.31 dB, a phase error of less than 3.7°, an isolation of more than 29.7 dB and a return loss of more than 27.9 dB at the input ant coupled ports and more than 14.3 dB at the direct and isolated ports over the frequency band of 57-66 GHz, covering 60 GHz band both in Japan and US. To the best of our knowledge the proposed coupler achieves the lowest ever reported insertion loss and amplitude imbalance for a 3-dB coupler on a silicon substrate. With its superior performance and lower cost compared to the CMOS counterparts, the proposed coupler is a suitable candidate for low-cost high-performance millimeter-wave systems.
A Green Approach to Reversibly Tuning the Optical Properties of Metal Oxides
Authors: Lee Szetsen , Peng Jr-Wei 
Published: November 2012

ABSTRACTMetal oxide (MO) films (ZnO and CuO) were synthesized by hydrothermal methods and treated with hydrogen and oxygen plasmas. From uv-visible transmittance spectra, we have found that the optical band gaps of MO films blue-shifted with hydrogen plasma treatment, but red-shifted with oxygen plasma treatment. By alternating the treatment sequence of hydrogen and oxygen plasmas, the MO optical band gap values can be reversibly tuned with the tunable ranges as wide as 80 and 550 meV for ZnO and CuO, respectively. The mechanism for reversible tuning of optical property is proposed based on the results of optical emission, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy characterization. Compared to conventional metal ion doping and high temperature annealing methods, the use of low-temperature hydrogen and oxygen plasmas is more environmentally friendly.
Engineered Bone-Inspired Multicomponent Bionanocomposite Scaffolds with Tunable Hardness and Modulus
Authors: Labriola Matthew , Slaboch Constance , Ovaert Timothy C. , Wang Tao , Csaba George , Bayer Ilker S. , Dervishi Enkeleda , Biris Alexandru S. , Ghosh Anindya , Gupta Rajeev , Biswas Abhijit 
Published: November 2012

ABSTRACTWe show a novel, bioengineered, moldable platform for bone regeneration composed of porous bionanocomposite scaffolds made of components that are normally found in bone tissue (calcium, collagen, carbonate, sodium, and phosphorous). To accommodate high- or low-stress environments, the hardness and modulus (stiffness) of these scaffolds can be tuned in a wide range in Megapascal (MPa) to Gigapascal (GPa) regions, while maintaining the required viscoelasticity. Our approach to control the mechanical properties is based on a new formulation of mineralized bioscaffolds by incorporation of calcium carbonate in which, calcium and phosphorous are in the form of calcite, calcium polyphosphate (CPP) and hydroxyapatite (HAP). The variation in the calcium carbonate concentration allows tuning of calcite/CPP contents in the bioscaffold to tailor the degree of mineralization and mechanical and viscoelastic properties that closely match those of natural bone. Our results demonstrate an ideal framework for new bone scaffold designs for advanced bone substitute applications.
On the Electrical and Photoluminescence Properties of Erbium Doped ZnO Thin Film
Authors: Chao Liang-Chiun , Liau Chung-Chi , Chang Wan-Chun 
Published: November 2012

ABSTRACTEr doped ZnO (Er:ZnO) thin films with Er concentration from 0.1 to 3.6 at. % were prepared by dual beam ion beam sputter deposition at room temperature. Experimental results show that as Er concentration increases from 0.1 to 1.1 at. %, the resistivity of the as-deposited Er:ZnO film decreases from 560 Ω·cm to a minimum of 0.23 Ω·cm, while further increasing Er concentration to 3.6 at. % results in increase of the resistivity to 4.2 kΩ·cm. The as-deposited Er:ZnO with Er concentration of 1.1 at.% also exhibits the highest carrier concentration of 2.3×1019 cm-3. None of the as-deposited Er:ZnO films show 1.5 μm emission without post-growth annealing. Er:ZnO film with Er concentration at 0.5~1.1 at.% shows the strongest 1.5 μm emission after annealing at 700 ~ 900°C, while all the Er:ZnO film becomes semi-insulating after annealing. The discrepancy between the processing conditions for optimized carrier concentration and optimized optically activated Er ions may due to the formation of the pseudo-octahedral structure after annealing that favors the 1.5 μm emission.
Protic Ionic Liquids Based on a Super-Strong Base: Correlation between Physicochemical Properties and ΔpKa
Authors: Miran Muhammed Shah , Kinoshita Hiroshi , Yasuda Tomohiro , Bin Hasan Susan Md. Abu , Dokko Kaoru , Watanabe Masayoshi 
Published: November 2012

ABSTRACT1,8-Diazabicyclo[5,4,0]undec-7-ene (DBU) was neutralized by a range of Brønsted acids with a wide variation in the ΔpKa values of their constituent acids and base. The salts exhibited properties characteristic of an ionic liquid, such as high thermal stability and liquidity near ambient temperature. Analyses of thermal behaviors and temperature dependencies of density, viscosity (η), and ionic conductivity were made to correlate the physicochemical properties with the ΔpKa value of the obtained protic ionic liquids (PILs). Differential thermal analyses (DTA) revealed that PILs with high ΔpKa values underwent thermal decomposition resembling their aprotic counterparts; however, PILs with a low ΔpKa exhibited the evaporation of neutral species progressively generated from the shifting of the equilibrium toward neutral components during the weight loss process. The ionicity of the PILs, determined from Walden plots utilizing density, conductivity, and viscosity data, was found to decrease as temperature increased, and this effect was more pronounced for low ΔpKa values, possibly because of the shifting of the equilibrium and the imbalance between strong hydrogen bonds and Coulombic interactions. Fragility, estimated from plots of log(η) versus the scaled temperature Tg/T was found to be lower for PILs than for DBU owing to neutralization. [DBU]-based PILs exhibit intermediate fragility in nature, but this fragility becomes more prominent for PILs with low ΔpKa values
Room Temperature Process for Chemical Vapor Deposition of Amorphous Silicon Carbide Thin Film Using Monomethylsilane Gas
Authors: Habuka Hitoshi , Ando Yusuke , Tsuji Masaki 
Published: November 2012

ABSTRACTThe silicon carbide thin film formation process, completely performed at room temperature, was developed by argon plasma and a chemical vapor deposition using monomethylsilane gas. Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry showed that siliconcarbon bonds existed in the obtained film, the surface of which could remain specular after the exposure to hydrogen chloride gas at 800 °C. The silicon dangling bonds formed at the silicon surface by the argon plasma are considered to easily accept the monomethylsilane molecules at room temperature to produce the amorphous silicon carbide film.
Effects of Post-Deposition Annealing Temperature on Band Alignment and Electrical Characteristics of Lanthanum Cerium Oxide on 4H-SiC
Authors: Lim Way F. , Cheong Kuan Y. 
Published: November 2012

ABSTRACTInvestigation of lanthanum cerium oxide as a gate oxide on 4H-SiC was performed by varying post-deposition annealing temperature from 400 to 1000°C. Energy band alignment and band gap of bulk oxide and interfacial layer (IL) with respect to SiC were extracted using X-ray photoelectron microscopy. Two band alignment structures were proposed and the change of band alignment was affected by the changes in chemical composition in bulk oxide and in IL that may induce lattice strains and dipoles. A conduction band offset of IL/SiC was 0.97 eV for sample annealed at 1000°C, which was comparable to the value extracted from Fowler-Nordheim model. The acquisition of sufficient conduction band offset, coupled with the lowest slow trap density, effective oxide charges, interface trap density, as well as total interface trap density, yielded the lowest leakage current density for this sample.
Growth mechanism during selective epitaxy of p-doped SiC using VLS transport
Authors: Carole D. , Vo-Ha A. , Lazar M. , Thierry-Jebali N. , Tournier D. , Brosselard P. , Thomas A. , Soulière V. , Ferro G. 
Published: November 2012

ABSTRACTSince a few years, VLS transport is studied not only for homoepitaxial SiC growth but also for SiC selective epitaxial growth (SEG). In this approach, a stacking of silicon and aluminum layers is deposited on the substrate and patterns are created by photolithography. Upon melting, the Al-Si liquid droplets are fed by propane to obtain the SEG of p-doped SiC. In this work, the growth mechanisms were deeper investigated, in particular the influence of the carrier gas (H2 or Ar) and the growth temperature. SEG experiments showed higher growth rates than those measured in the standard configuration (nonselective growth). Moreover, the SiC layers exhibited step-bunched areas characteristic of liquid phase growth but also areas with morphological features due to a disruption of the step-bunching growth mode.
Argon incorporation on silicon carbide thin films deposited by bias co-sputtering technique
Authors: Medeiros H. S. , Pessoa R. S. , Fraga M. A. , Santos L. V. , Maciel H. S. , Massi M. , da Silva Sobrinho A. S. 
Published: November 2012

ABSTRACTThe influence of negative substrate bias on the chemical, electrical and mechanical properties of silicon carbide (SiC) thin films deposited onto (100) silicon substrate by dc magnetron cosputtering without external substrate heating is reported. These studies were performed by using the following techniques: Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS), profilometry, Raman spectroscopy, four-point probe method and nanoindentation. The results indicate that there is a good correlation between the substrate bias voltage and the argon incorporation into SiC film, namely, the SiC films deposited under substrate bias of –200 V and –300 V have higher argon content and higher elastic modulus and hardness than those deposited at 0 V. An opposite behavior was found for electrical resistivity: the SiC deposited at –300 V has resistivity of 0.45 Ω.cm whereas the deposited at 0 V has 7.0 Ω.cm.