bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Origami-structures in nature: lessons in designing “smart” materials
Authors: Kresling Biruta 
Published: November 2012

ABSTRACTOrigami – the Japanese term for “paper-folding” – in natural structures such as leaves of trees, fructifications and insect organs, has fascinated scientists and designers for over two decades. Technical origami, at the other hand, that focuses on the mechanical and functional properties of deployable lightweight structures, finds its way into the fields of biology, biomechanics and biomimetic engineering.
Metal Electroplating of Three Dimensional (3D) Electrode in Electrolyte-less Dye Sensitized Solar Cells (ELDSC)
Authors: Ong Duen Yang , Lim Meng Keong , Jin Ziyu , Gan Chee Lip , Leong Kam Chew , Wong C. C. 
Published: November 2012

ABSTRACTThe first Electrolyte-less dye sensitized solar cell (ELDSC) is proposed with the architecture of FTO-TiO2-dye-metal. In the ELDSC design, the most significant contact is the TiO2-dye-metal interface, whereby the metal electrode acts as the charge replenishment layer as well as the external electrode. In previous work, ELDSC has an inferior Fill Factor (FF) due to insufficient metal coverage from top-down physical vapor deposition. In this work, a three dimensional (3D) metal network plated through the mesoporous TiO2 network is achieved through bottom-up metal electroplating. This study focuses on the characteristics of electro deposition onto insulating planar TiO2 as well as mesoporous TiO2 network. For planar TiO2, gold (Au) islands form readily, becoming worm-like structures as they coalesce, subsequently becoming a continuous layer. (The plated metal on the insulating TiO2 layer is made possible by plane defects within the insulator layer that serve as the conductive supply path.) In contrast, electroplating carried out on a FTO-planar TiO2-mesoporous TiO2 substrate results in a 3D Au network within the mesoporous TiO2, where Au cords were observed as the connections among Au islands. This study demonstrates that a continuous metal layer can be electroplated onto an insulating TiO2 layer, borrowing its intrinsic planar defect network. Further, applying the same principle, a 3D metal network can be formed within mesoporous TiO2.
Systematic Process Development for Optimization of Manufacturable Organic Solar Cells
Authors: Weiss J. A. , Zhu L. , Kariuki P. N. , Arfaei B. , Jones W. E. , Borgesen P. 
Published: November 2012

ABSTRACTThe commercial viability of solar power will depend on a careful balance of reliability, efficiency, and overall cost. A systematic approach to the optimization of the latter two for the case of organic solar cells is outlined. This relies among other on the development of a detailed understanding of the charge generation process and the systematic application of analytical tools such as UV-vis, photoluminescence, lifetime measurements, and current-voltage (I-V) curves.
The Spanish Radioactive Waste Management and the associated research ensuring its development from sound technical and scientific basis
Authors: Zuloaga Pablo , Astudillo Julio 
Published: November 2012

ABSTRACTSpanish Radioactive Waste Management policy is established by the Government and implemented by ENRESA. The General Plan (GRWP) covers the analysis of the actual and foreseen inventories of spent fuel and all categories of radioactive waste, their present situation, the management strategy and actions identified, as well as funding and financial provisions. Very Low (VLLW) and Low and Intermediate Level Waste (LILW) are disposed of at El Cabril facility, which has two separate disposal areas: one intended for VLLW, based on clay and polyethylene and started up in 2006; and one for LILW conditioned in retrievable concrete containers, commissioned in 1992. Spent fuel (SF) is being stored in pools and in two dry storage installations. The priority is the development of the SF and HLW centralized storage facility. In 2009, the Government launched a call for candidate municipalities, in a public, participative process. In September 2010 a report was sent to the Cabinet, proposing eight volunteer communities, four of them deemed preferred. In the 90’s a deep geological repository (DGR) site identification program was carried out. DGR basic designs and associated performance assessments were developed in three rock types. ENRESA has set a research program that includes research projects in order to strengthen the link between management and scientific basis and improve the performance assessment, directed to the behavior of barriers, fuel or waste forms in different storage and final disposal conditions, and characterization techniques. There is also a participation in connected fields or supporting decision-making, such as advanced separation and transmutation.
Used Fuel Disposition Campaign – Objectives, Mission, Plans and Current Activities
Authors: McMahon Kevin , Swift Peter , Sorenson Ken , Nutt Mark , Peters Mark 
Published: November 2012

ABSTRACTThe safe management and disposition of used nuclear fuel and/or high level nuclear waste is a fundamental aspect of the nuclear fuel cycle. The United States currently utilizes a once-through fuel cycle where used nuclear fuel is stored on-site in either wet pools or in dry storage systems with ultimate disposal in a deep mined geologic repository envisioned. However, a decision not to use the proposed Yucca Mountain Repository will result in longer interim storage at reactor sites than previously planned. In addition, alternatives to the once-through fuel cycle are being considered and a variety of options are being explored under the U.S. Department of Energy’s Fuel Cycle Technologies Program.These two factors lead to the need to develop a credible strategy for managing radioactive wastes from any future nuclear fuel cycle in order to provide acceptable disposition pathways for all wastes regardless of transmutation system technology, fuel reprocessing scheme(s), and/or the selected fuel cycle. These disposition paths will involve both the storing of radioactive material for some period of time and the ultimate disposal of radioactive waste.To address the challenges associated with waste management, the DOE Office of Nuclear Energy established the Used Fuel Disposition Campaign in the summer of 2009. The mission of the Used Fuel Disposition Campaign is to identify alternatives and conduct scientific research and technology development to enable storage, transportation, and disposal of used nuclear fuel and wastes generated by existing and future nuclear fuel cycles. The near-and long-term objectives of the Fuel Cycle Technologies Program and its’ Used Fuel Disposition Campaign are presented.
Synthesis of Self-glowing Crystals of Zircon and Zirconia Doped with Plutonium-238 and Terbium
Authors: Burakov Boris E. , Ipatova Julia P. , Petrova Marina A. , Kuznetsova Yana V. , Zamoryanskaya Maria V. 
Published: November 2012

ABSTRACTDurable crystalline actinide host phases of ceramic waste forms are considered as advanced materials which are prospective for safe use of Pu and minor actinides before their final disposal. Development of self-glowing actinide-doped materials with matrices that are chemically inert and resistant to radiation damage may significantly change the approaches to actinide immobilization. Single crystals of zircon doped with different amount of Tb and 238Pu were synthesized by the flux method. Different non-radioactive crystals of Tb-doped zircon were studied first by cathodoluminescence method in order to identify the optimal content of Tb3+ that provides the highest luminescence emission. Then self-glowing crystals of zircon were grown with the optimal Tb content and small admixture of 238Pu (less than 0.1 wt. %). It was proposed that the valence state of Tb incorporated into zircon crystals can be (3+) and (4+), but only trivalent Tb is responsible for intensive luminescence. It is demonstrated that a small addition of Zr-phosphate to the flux supports Tb incorporation into zircon lattice and stabilizes preferably Tb3+. At the same time the addition of Zr-phosphate caused the crystallization of zirconia as a minor phase. Zircon crystals with very intensive self-glowing were successfully synthesized. The 238Pu content was 0.02 wt.% and the Tb concentration varied between 0.2 and 0.3 wt.%. Zirconia crystals obtained from the same experiment are characterized by weak self-glowing, although the Tb content was only 0.02 wt.%, while the content of 238Pu was comparable to that of zircon, i.e. 0.03 wt. %.
Review of spatial relations between uraninite and coffinite - implications for alteration mechanisms
Authors: Evins Lena Z. , Jensen Keld A. 
Published: November 2012

ABSTRACTCoffinite (USiO4•nH2O) is a common mineral in uranium ores. It is often observed to replace uraninite during alteration under reducing conditions. However, it has proven difficult to synthesize coffinite in the laboratory and quantitative thermodynamic data for coffinite are lacking. Despite these experimental difficulties, there is ample evidence in nature that many uranium deposits have encountered conditions where formation of coffinite has been favoured over uraninite during postgenetic alteration events. Coffinite is also found as a primary mineral in sandstone uranium deposits. This review elucidates the spatial relation between coffinite and uraninite as seen on different scales with different analytical methods. Some further insight into the mechanism of uraninite alteration in natural, reducing, Si-rich environments is gained and some new arguments put forward, including the question of the effect of impurities and dopants, defects, and grain size. The replacement of uraninite by coffinite is discussed in terms of solid-fluid interaction.
The Characterization of Irradiation Damage in Reactor Graphite Using High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy and Raman Spectroscopy
Authors: Jones A. N. , McDermott L. , Marsden B. J. 
Published: November 2012

ABSTRACTNuclear graphite components are produced from polycrystalline artificial graphite manufactured from binder and filler coke material with approximately 20% porosity. During the operational lifetime of a nuclear reactor the graphite moderator is subjected to fast neutron irradiation which contributes to changes in material and physical properties such as thermal expansion co-efficient, young’s modulus and dimensional change. These changes are directly driven by irradiation induced changes to the crystal structure as reflected through the bulk microstructure. Therefore it is important that irradiation changes and there implications on component property changes are understood. Work carried out under the FP7 CARBOWASTE consortium under work package three is underway to characterize both structural and radiological damage in graphite. This study examines a range of irradiated graphite samples removed from the British Experimental Pile Zero (BEPO) reactor. Raman spectroscopy and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) have been used to compare the effect of increased irradiation Fluence on graphite microstructure. Irradiation induced crystal defects and changes in crystallite size are observed using TEM and related to Raman Spectroscopy, comparisons are also made to virgin nuclear grade graphite.
The osmosis-induced swelling and NaNO3 leaching of radioactive and artificially aged Eurobitum bituminized waste
Authors: Mariën An , Valcke Elie , Bleyen Nele , Smets Steven 
Published: November 2012

ABSTRACTThe behavior of Eurobitum bituminized radioactive waste under geological disposal conditions is studied in water uptake tests at the Belgian Nuclear Research Centre SCK•CEN to assess the feasibility of geological disposal for the long-term management of this waste. The hydro-mechanical behavior of this waste is affected by the continuous evolution of the rheological properties of bitumen due to radio-oxidation (i.e. ageing).The effect of the bitumen ageing degree on the kinetics of the water uptake, swelling and NaNO3 leaching is investigated in water uptake tests with ∼30 years old radioactive samples and inactive samples that were artificially aged. The first results of swelling and NaNO3 leaching of (i) radioactive samples that have been hydrated for more than 2 years at a constant total stress of 2.2 MPa, and (ii) a thermally aged sample that has been hydrated for ∼1.5 years under nearly zero effective stress conditions, revealed lower swelling and higher leach rates for these samples compared to non-aged samples. The effect of ageing on the osmotic efficiency of bitumen as a semi-permeable membrane is less pronounced when swelling of the samples is limited, and changes in time, probably because of the formation of low porosity layers, which seems to mask the difference in bitumen membrane efficiency of aged and non-aged bituminized waste.
Benchmarking the Research Productivity of Accounting Doctorates
Authors: Hasselback James R. , Reinstein Alan , Abdolmohammadi Mohammad 
Published: November 2012

ABSTRACT
Increasing attention to faculty research productivity suggests a need for reliable benchmarks, which the literature has provided. We add to this literature by providing alternative benchmarks based on records of 5,607 accounting doctoral graduates from 1971–2005. We measure research productivity in four ways: (1) unadjusted number of published articles in the Best 3, Best 13, Best 24, and Best 40 journals, (2) published articles adjusted for journal quality scores, (3) published articles adjusted for coauthorship, and (4) published articles adjusted for both journal quality and coauthorship. We find evidence that average publication productivity of accounting faculty per year has steadily increased over the 35 years under study. We present benchmark measures based on faculty productivity in four sets of journals both from 1971–2005 and for each year of 2001–2005. The former shows that a significant proportion of doctoral graduates have never published in any of the 40 journals studied. The latter shows nine years of productivity in the most recent years. These data can be useful as a benchmark for promotion and tenure decisions. We also present productivity percentiles as another benchmark, followed by research productivity of the top 10 most productive faculty (based on the most conservative measure of published articles adjusted for both journal quality and coauthorship) from 1971–2005 as yet another benchmark.
Additional analysis indicates very high correlations between productivity measures. This evidence indicates that productive researchers rank high regardless of the productivity measure used to evaluate them. Finally, multivariate tests reveal effects for gender (male faculty generally scoring higher than female faculty), school of affiliation (faculty at doctoral granting institutions as significantly more productive than their counterparts at nondoctoral schools), professorial rank (professors scoring higher than those in administrative and other roles), and teaching years since doctorate (those with 10 years or less of service since doctoral year being more productive than those with 11 years or more).
The benchmarks identified in the study can help with tenure, promotion, merit pay, appointment and renewal of chaired professorships, and other resource allocation decisions.
Cloud Computing: Overview and Risk Analysis
Authors: Alali Fatima A. , Yeh Chia-Lun 
Published: November 2012

ABSTRACT
We provide an overview of cloud computing: evolution, benefits, and challenges. Then we examine the risk characteristics identified in accounting and auditing literature by comparing a hand-collected sample of cloud computing companies with a matched sample of non-cloud computing companies. The study uses a comprehensive set of factors used in accounting and auditing literature to describe client business risk, audit risk, and auditor-related risk. Unsurprisingly, the findings show that large companies in the historically high-risk information technology industries provide cloud computing. More interestingly, the results show that cloud computing is more leveraged, and more likely to have a material weakness and longer audit tenure. Cloud computing companies are also more likely to restate their financial statement after providing cloud technologies. Some of the risk variables we used in the study are not statistically significant in capturing the risks of cloud providers (e.g., security, privacy, availability, confidentiality). The study contributes to the literature in IT outsourcing in general, and in cloud computing more specifically. The study also responds to the recent call for insightful research in cloud computing.
Prehabilitation Improves Physical Function of Individuals with Severe Disability from Hip or Knee Osteoarthritis
Authors: Desmeules François , Hall Jayne , Woodhouse Linda June 
Published: November 2012

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of prehabilitation (enhancing physical capacity before total hip or knee joint arthroplasty) on pain and physical function of adults with severe hip and knee osteoarthritis (OA). Methods: Consecutive patients (n=650) from 2006 to 2008 with hip or knee OA awaiting total joint arthroplasty (TJA) attended a hospital outpatient clinic for a prehabilitation assessment. All participants completed self-report (Lower Extremity Functional Scale [LEFS] and visual analogue scale for pain [VAS]) and functional performance measures (self-paced walk [SPW], timed stair, and timed up-and-go [TUG] tests). A subset of 28 participants with severe disability participated in a structured outpatient prehabilitation programme. Between-group differences were assessed via independent t-tests; paired Student's t-tests and Wilcoxon signed rank tests were used to compare changes in pain and function following the prehabilitation programme. Results: A total of 28 individuals (16 female) with mean age 67 (SD 10) years and BMI 33 (8) kg/m2 awaiting TJA (10 hips, 18 knees) participated in a prehabilitation programme of 9 (6) weeks' duration. Relative to baseline, there was significant improvement in LEFS score (mean change 7.6; 95% CI, 1.7–13.5; p=0.013), SPW (mean change 0.17 m/s; 95% CI, 0.07–0.26; p=0.001), TUG (mean change 4.2 s; 95% CI, 2.0–6.4; p<0.001), and stair test performance (mean change 3.8 s [SD 14.6]; p=0.005) following prehabilitation. Conclusion: This study presents preliminary evidence that prehabilitation improves physical function even in the most severely compromised patients with OA awaiting TJA.
Beliefs and Practice Patterns in Spinal Manipulation and Spinal Motion Palpation Reported by Canadian Manipulative Physiotherapists
Authors: Carlesso Lisa C. , Macdermid Joy C. , Santaguida P. Lina , Thabane Lehana , Giulekas Kevin , Larocque Leo , Millard James , Williams Caitlin , Miller Jack , Chesworth Bert M. 
Published: November 2012

Purpose: This practice survey describes how Fellows of the Canadian Academy of Manipulative Physiotherapy (FCAMPT) use spinal manipulation and mobilization and how they perceive their competence in performing spinal assessment; it also quantifies relationships between clinical experience and use of spinal manipulation. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was designed based on input from experts and the literature was administered to a random sample of the FCAMPT mailing list. Descriptive (including frequencies) and inferential statistical analyses (including linear regression) were performed. Results: The response rate was 82% (278/338 eligible FCAMPTs). Most (99%) used spinal manipulation. Two-thirds (62%) used clinical presentation as a factor when deciding to mobilize or manipulate. The least frequently manipulated spinal region was the cervical spine (2% of patients); 60% felt that cervical manipulation generated more adverse events. Increased experience was associated with increased use of upper cervical manipulation among male respondents (14% more often for every 10 years after certification; β, 95% CI=1.37, 0.89–1.85, p<0.001) but not among female respondents. Confidence in palpation accuracy decreased in lower regions of the spine. Conclusion: The use of spinal manipulation/mobilization is prevalent among FCAMPTs, but is less commonly used in the neck because of a perceived association with adverse events.
Attitude of Physicians Towards Automatic Alerting in Computerized Physician Order Entry Systems
Authors: Jung M. , Hackl W. O. , Kirrane F. , Borbolla D. , Jaspers M. W. , Oertle M. , Koutkias V. , Ferret L. , Massari P. , Lawton K. , Riedmann D. , Darmoni S. , Maglaveras N. , Lovis C. , Ammenwerth E. , Hoerbst A. 
Published: November 2012

SummaryObjectives: To analyze the attitude of physicians towards alerting in CPOE systems in different hospitals in different countries, addressing various organizational and technical settings and the view of physicians not currently using a CPOE.Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative and qualitative questionnaire survey. We invited 2,600 physicians in eleven hospitals from nine countries to participate. Eight of the hospitals had different CPOE systems in use, and three of the participating hospitals were not using a CPOE system.Results: 1,018 physicians participated. The general attitude of the physicians towards CPOE alerting is positive and is found to be mostly independent of the country, the specific organizational settings in the hospitals and their personal experience with CPOE systems. Both quantitative and qualitative results show that the majority of the physicians, both CPOE-users and non-users, appreciate the benefits of alerting in CPOE systems on medication safety. However, alerting should be better adapted to the clinical context and make use of more sophisticated ways to present alert information. The vast majority of physicians agree that additional information regarding interactions is useful on demand. Around half of the respondents see possible alert overload as a major problem; in this regard, physicians in hospitals with sophisticated alerting strategies show partly better attitude scores.Conclusions: Our results indicate that the way alerting information is presented to the physicians may play a role in their general attitude towards alerting, and that hospitals with a sophisticated alerting strategy with less interruptive alerts tend towards more positive attitudes. This aspect needs to be further investigated in future studies.
Influenza monitoring in Sardinia, Italy identifies H3 subtype in Mediterranean wild migratory birds
Authors: Kelvin Alyson Ann , Meloni Dionigia , Sansonetti Paola , Borghetto Ilaria , Rowe Thomas , Santangelo Rosaria , Pisu Danilo , Cameron Cheryl M. , Paglietti Bianca , Banner David , Farooqui Amber , Marongiu Patrizia , Santona Antonella , Fadda Giovanni , Kelvin David J. , Rubino Salvatore 
Published: November 2012

Introduction: Wild migratory birds are global distributors of pathogens. Sardinia, Italy, is the second largest Island in the Mediterranean and is a land bridge between Europe and Africa. Methodology: We designed a surveillance protocol to investigate wild migratory birds for presence, frequency, and type of avian influenza viruses. We collected over 4,000 avian samples and compared three sampling methods, fecal, cloacal, and tracheal, to determine the most productive for virus identification. To determine frequency of infection, RNA was extracted and RT-PCRs for avian influenza virus genes were run. Positive samples were cultivated for live virus, sub typed and sequenced. Results: Forty-four samples were positive for influenza nucleoprotein gene. We identified two previously unidentified H3 subtype strains and found cloacae to have the highest rate of virus identification and fecal sampling to provide quality RNA and repeatable results for determination of virus presence. Conclusion: Our investigation provides information on the frequency of Mediterranean avian influenza viruses, and validates the initiation of an avian influenza surveillance protocol. Taken together with global avian influenza findings, these results give insight into infectious disease distributions which is important for viral pandemic monitoring and design of preventative measures.