bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Novel materials for electronic, optoelectronic, photovoltaic, and energy saving applications
Authors: Godlewski M. , Zakrzewski A. J. 
Published: September 2014

AbstractThe Symposium F: “Novel materials for electronic, optoelectronic, photovoltaic and energy saving applications” of the 2013 E‐MRS Fall Meeting (held in Warsaw, Poland, on 16–20 September 2013) was organized to cover many important aspects of basic and applied research of novel materials for present and future industrial applications. Particular emphasis was given to new technological and application concepts concerning both bulk crystals and various quantum structures of reduced dimensionality, like quantum wells and quantum dots (nanoparticles). The presented results on application‐oriented materials were mostly focused on light emitting structures, light detectors, solar cells and materials for spintronics. Special attention was given to the technological aspects and challenges: growth techniques, defect control and structure optimization, doping procedures, optical properties and degradation processes. Relevant experimental techniques and crystal growth procedures were also discussed. Experimental results were compared with theoretical calculations giving deeper insight into many problems of modern materials science. Over 100 researchers from all over the world participated in this symposium, giving in all 15 invited lectures, 38 contributed talks and 70 poster presentations.
Eurocode 2 – analysis of National Annexes
Authors: Ignatiadis Anett , Fingerloos Frank , Hegger Josef , Teworte Frederik 
Published: September 2014

AbstractEurocode 2 consists of four parts that have to be applied in conjunction with the respective National Annexes of the CEN member states. The National Annexes were introduced, in particular, to maintain national safety levels and to account for regional aspects in the different states.The CEN (European Committee for Standardization) will revise and extend all structural Eurocodes by 2018. As part of that process, two main objectives for revising Eurocodes have been formulated: a reduction in the number of Nationally Determined Parameters (NDP) and improving the “ease of use”.In order to reduce the number of NDP, improve the ease of use and allow for further harmonization without changing the main structure and the design models of Eurocode 2, the National Annexes of EN 1992‐1‐1 for the different CEN member states have been compared and analysed. Furthermore, the analysis of the National Annexes may help to identify some main aspects for the revision of Eurocode 2.This paper summarizes the analysis of the National annexes of EN 1992‐1‐1 and makes first proposals for further harmonization.
My Favorite Aromatic Compounds—A Tribute to Friedrich August Kekulé
Authors: Hopf Henning 
Published: September 2014

graphic[For a discussion of this picture, please see the Editor’s postscript at the end of the paper]Note from the Editor:We are all collectors. All one needs to do is explore a flea market, an antique fair or especially a weekend street market to understand the range of human collections. Tetsuo Nozoe, whom this project celebrates, collected autographs as well as the friendship of those who signed his books! What we collect doesn't necessarily have to be tangible. We all collect memories, stories, and anecdotes. We chemists are particularly privileged: we also collect molecules and reactions. In the essay that follows, Professor Henning Hopf shares with us his collection of favorite aromatic compounds. Hopf is the perfect chemist to have undertaken this sharing, for he has been active in the field of novel aromatic compounds for over four decades. Furthermore, Hopf is a deeply philosophical scientist. I very much admire his 2008 paper with Roald Hoffmann, “Learning from Molecules in Distress” published in Angewandte Chemie, a journal from the same pubilshers as The Chemical Record. As you read the paper that follows, imagine that Professor Hopf has just welcomed you to his home and is giving you a tour of his artwork. The walls are covered with works of Boekelheide, Cram, Fittig, Hückel, Kuck, Müllen, Newman, Scott, and Willstätter among others. Oh, yes, there's a Hopf or two! Enjoy your time in this very special museum.—Jeffrey I. SeemanGuest EditorUniversity of RichmondRichmond, Virginia 23173, USAE‐mail: jseeman@richmond.edu
GC‐EI‐MS Analysis of Fatty Acid Composition in Brain and Serum of Twitcher Mouse
Authors: Zanfini Assunta , Dreassi Elena , Berardi Anna , Piomboni Paola , Costantino‐Ceccarini Elvira , Luddi Alice 
Published: September 2014

AbstractGloboid cell leukodystrophy or Krabbe disease is an inherited autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the galactosylceramidase gene. The objective of the study was to present information about the fatty acid (FA) composition of the brain and serum of twitcher mice, a mouse model of Krabbe disease, compared to wild type, in order to identify biomarker of disease progression. We defined the FA profiles by identifying the main components present in serum and brain using GC‐EI‐MS analysis. The FA percentage composition was measured and data were analyzed considering the disease and the mouse age as experimental factors. Significant correlations were established, both in brain and in serum, in the fatty acid percentage composition of twitcher compared to wild type mice. The most abundant saturated fatty acid in brain was the palmitic acid (C16:0) with mean values significantly increased in twitcher mouse (p = 0.0142); moreover, three monounsaturated, three polyunsaturated (PUFA) and a plasmalogen were significantly correlated to disease. In the serum highly significant differences were observed between the two groups for three polyunsaturated fatty acids. In fact, the docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6n3c) content was significantly increased (p = 0.0116), while the C20 PUFA (C20:3n6c and C20:5n3c) were significantly decreased in twitcher serum samples. Our study shows a specific FA profile that may help to define a possible pattern that could distinguish between twitcher and wild type; these data are likely to provide insight in the identification of new biomarkers to monitor the disease progression and thereby permit the critical analysis of therapeutic approaches.
Measurement of Distance Walked by Older Adults Participating in Subacute Rehabilitation
Authors: Bohannon Richard W. , Gorack Walter 
Published: September 2014

AbstractBackgroundManaging in the community without accommodation requires that persons be able to walk an adequate distance. However, little information is available regarding how walking distance changes over the course of inpatient rehabilitation.ObjectivesTo describe, for inpatients participating in subacute rehabilitation, the distances walked without stopping at admission and discharge and to document the reliability and responsiveness of the measure.DesignObservational longitudinal study.SettingSubacute rehabilitation.PatientsMale and female inpatients of multiple diagnostic groups who were at least 60 years old (n = 130).MethodsParticipants were asked to walk at a self‐selected speed as far as they could without stopping. They walked on a 15.2‐m out‐and‐back course for a maximum of 2 minutes upon admission, the next day, and at discharge.ResultsThe mean distances walked upon admission, the next day, and at discharge were 35.6, 39.9, and 77.0 m, respectively. Good test‐retest reliability was demonstrated for the distances walked upon admission and the next day (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.948). The distance walked increased significantly between admission and discharge (t = 22.22, P < .001). The effect size and standardized response mean for these distances were large—2.36 and 1.95, respectively. The minimum detectable change was 11.1 m. The minimal clinically important difference determined by receiver operator characteristic curve analysis ranged from 28.8 m to 43.6 m depending on the anchor used. The associated areas under the curve ranged from 0.700‐0.897.ConclusionsBased on our findings, we conclude that distance walked without stopping is an informative, reliable, and responsive measure of gait performance for patients undergoing subacute rehabilitation. We therefore encourage the systematic documentation of distance walked among inpatients undergoing subacute rehabilitation.
Effects of an Aquatic‐Based Exercise Program to Improve Cardiometabolic Profile, Quality of Life, and Physical Activity Levels in Men With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Cugusi Lucia , Cadeddu Christian , Nocco Silvio , Orrù Fabio , Bandino Stefano , Deidda Martino , Caria Alessandra , Bassareo Pier Paolo , Piras Alessandra , Cabras Sergio , Mercuro Giuseppe 
Published: September 2014

AbstractBackgroundThe role of structured exercise in improving cardiometabolic profile and quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (2DM) has been widely demonstrated. Little is known about the effects of an aquatic‐based exercise program in patients with 2DM.ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of a supervised aquatic‐based exercise program on cardiometabolic profile, quality of life, and physical activity levels in patients with 2DM.Design and SettingObservational study, community pre‐post aquatic‐based exercise program, primary care intervention.PatientsEighteen men diagnosed with 2DM (52.2 ± 9.3 years).Methodsand Main Outcome Measurements: Cardiometabolic profile, quality of life, and physical activity levels were assessed before and after 12 weeks of an aquatic‐based exercise program.ResultsThe results show a significant improvement of cardiometabolic assessments (maximum oxygen consumption: 24.1 versus 21.1 mL/kg/min, P < .05; blood pressure: 125.4/77 versus 130.7/82.5 mm Hg, P < .05; fasting blood glucose: 119.6 versus 132.5 mg/dL, P < .05; body mass index: 29.9 versus 31.1 kg/m², P < .005; low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol: 95.2 versus 104.9 mg/dL, P < .05; and diastolic function: E/E′ 9.1 versus 10.1, P < .005) and an increase in quality of life and physical activity levels (Medical Outcome Study 36‐item Short Form Health Survey mental component summary: 72.3 versus 67, P < .05; Problems Area About Diabetes: 20.1 versus 33.2, P < .005) and energy expenditure in general physical activity (physical activity: 3888.7 versus 1239.5 kcal/wk, P < .05).ConclusionsThese findings demonstrate that an aquatic‐based exercise program produces benefits for the cardiovascular system and metabolic profile and appears to be safe and effective in improving quality of life and increasing physical activity levels in patients with 2DM.
Climate and Biomass Control on Fire Activity during the Late-Glacial/Early-Holocene Transition in Temperate Ecosystems of the Upper Rhone Valley (France)
Authors: Doyen Élise , Vannière Boris , Rius Damien , Bégeot Carole , Millet Laurent 
Published: September 2014

AbstractThe main objective of this study is to document paleofire activity during the late-glacial/early-Holocene transition in temperate ecosystems. For this purpose, we cored lakes Paladru and Moras (Rhone valley, France) and quantified sedimentary charcoal accumulation rate and fire frequency. To assess the role of climate and vegetation in paleofire activity, charcoal data were compared to vegetation dynamics based on pollen analyses and to climate reconstructions. The first increase in paleofire activity occurred at the beginning of the Bølling/Allerød Interstadial period (14,500 cal yr BP), synchronous with temperature and fire-prone vegetation increases. During the Younger Dryas, paleofire activity first decreased (12,600–12,200 cal yr BP) and then abruptly increased (12,200–11,600 cal yr BP). This change corresponds to a known climate partitioning that occurred during the Younger Dryas and implies that a sufficient quantity of biomass was available during the second period. At the beginning of the Holocene, fire activity remained high. This is in agreement with the increases in temperature and vegetation density. The change in forest composition since ca. 11,200 cal yr BP partly explains the decrease in paleofire activity, whereas warm climate conditions seem suitable for fire ignition and propagation.
Control of a two-wheel robotic vehicle for personal transportation
Authors: Kim H. W. , Jung S. 
Published: September 2014

SUMMARYRecently, small-sized compact electric vehicles have been in demand for short-distance travel in urban areas, although battery charging in electric vehicles present in the market is still problematic. Borrowing from the concept of a mobile inverted pendulum system, in this paper, a two-wheel robotic vehicle system is implemented and controlled as the future personal transportation device called the TransBOT. The TransBOT has two driving modes: a regular vehicle mode, where stable contact on the ground is maintained by two wheels and two casters, and the balancing mode, which maintains the stable posture with two wheels on the ground. The two-wheel balancing mechanism can be used as a transportation vehicle in narrow and busy urban areas. Gain scheduling control methods based on linear controllers are used for different drivers. In addition, desired balancing angles are specified for the different sizes of drivers in order to have a stable balancing control performance. These desired balancing angle values have been found by empirical studies. Experimental studies with drivers of different weights, as well as indoor and outdoor driving tasks, were conducted to ensure the feasibility of TransBOT.
A new method for evaluating kinesthetic acuity during haptic interaction
Authors: De Santis D. , Zenzeri J. , Casadio M. , Masia L. , Morasso P. , Squeri V. 
Published: September 2014

SUMMARYAlthough proprioceptive impairment is likely to affect in a significant manner the capacity of stroke patients to recover functionality of upper limb, clinical assessment methods currently in use are rather crude, with a low level of reliability and a limited capacity to discriminate the relevant features of this severe deficit. In the present paper, we describe a new technique based on robot technology, with the goal of providing a reliable, accurate, and quantitative evaluation of kinesthetic acuity, which can be integrated in robot therapy. The proposed technique, based on a pulsed assistance paradigm, has been evaluated on a group of healthy subjects.
Gain tuning of position domain PID control using particle swarm optimization
Authors: Pano V. , Ouyang P. R. 
Published: September 2014

SUMMARYParticle swarm optimization (PSO) is a heuristic optimization algorithm and is commonly used for the tuning of PD/PID-type controllers. In this paper, PSO is applied for control gain tuning of a position domain PID controller in order to improve contour tracking performances of linear and nonlinear contours for a serial multi-DOF robotic manipulator. A new fitness function is proposed for gain tuning based on the statistics of the contour error, and pre-existed fitness functions are also applied for the optimization process, followed by some comparison studies. The PSO tuning technique demonstrated the same effectiveness in position domain controllers as in time domain controllers with the results being quite satisfying with low contour errors for both linear and nonlinear contours, and the proposed fitness function is proved to be on par with the pre-existed fitness functions.
Aetiological stratification as a conceptual framework for gene-by-environment interaction research in psychiatry
Authors: van Winkel Ruud 
Published: September 2014

It has been argued that gene-by-environment interactions (G × E) research is unlikely to progress knowledge about psychiatric disorders, in contrast to genome-wide association (GWA) studies. However, G × E approaches are not alternatives for gene-hunting but a way to identify genetic and biological mechanisms within subgroups of patients exposed to a similar aetiological (environmental) factor via a process of ‘aetiological stratification’. This is important as diagnostic categories targeted by GWA studies are inherently heterogeneous and lack biological validity. Aetiological stratification builds on examining possible phenotypic and/or molecular specificity associated with exposure to the environmental factor across multiple potentially relevant disorders, combined with efforts to identify an underlying biological substrate. G × E hypotheses within this framework investigate (1) which genes influence the degree to which individuals develop identified biological alterations that link environmental exposure to specific phenotypic and/or molecular characteristics within or across psychiatric disorders and (2) which genes are implicated in determining the development of psychopathology once this biological alteration has been brought about. As gene-hunting is not a goal in itself, the examination of pathway and/or polygenic risk scores may be more informative than the examination of individual markers, at the same time reducing multiple testing and the associated risk of spurious findings.
A Critical Role for Immune System Response in Mediating Anti‐influenza Drug Synergies Assessed by Mechanistic Modeling
Authors: Li Z , Zhou H , Lu Y , Colatsky T 
Published: September 2014

Influenza virus infections represent a serious public health problem worldwide, due to the rapid emergence of drug resistance. One strategy to improve treatment efficacy is to combine drugs that act synergistically. Potentially useful drug combinations are typically identified through empirical testing using in vitro and animal models, but the complexity of the clinical situation warrants the use of more careful analysis and sophisticated approaches. To explore new approaches, we constructed a mechanistic model representing the interaction of antiviral drugs with the viral replication pathway and human immune responses. Simulation of combination therapy using oseltamivir and amantadine predicted significant therapeutic synergy only when immune response was included, in agreement with previous in vitro and in vivo studies using amantadine‐resistant strains. Our model can be used to predict the optimal doses for combination therapy, and also raises questions about current drug evaluation methods that do not account for immune system interactions.CPT Pharmacometrics Syst. Pharmacol. (2014) 3, e135; doi:10.1038/psp.2014.32; published online 10 September 2014
Anorectal autotransplantation in a canine model: the first successful report in the short term with the non-laparotomy approach
Authors: Araki Jun , Nishizawa Yuji , Nakamura Tatsuo , Sato Tomoyuki , Naito Munekazu , Hatayama Naoyuki , Hirai Shuichi , Tashiro Kensuke , Koshima Isao 
Published: September 2014

AbstractColostomy is conventional treatment for anal dysfunction. Recently, a few trials of anorectal transplantation in animals have been published as a potential alternative to colostomies; however, further development of this technique is required. In this study, we utilized a canine model of anorectal transplantation, evaluated the patency of our microsurgical anastomoses and assessed the perfusion of the transplanted anus. We designed a canine anorectal transplantation model, wherein anorectal autotransplantation was performed in four healthy beagle dogs by anastomoses of the lower rectum, the bilateral pudendal arteries (PAs) and veins (PVs) and pudendal nerves (PNs). Postoperative graft perfusion was measured by indocyanine green (ICG) angiography and histological examination. The length of the anorectal graft including perianal skin, anal sphincter muscle, bilateral PAs, PVs and PNs was 4.9 ± 0.3 cm. All diameters of the PAs, PVs and PNs were large enough to be microscopically anastomosed. Both ICG angiography and histological examination demonstrated good graft perfusion, except for one case that lead to venous congestion. These results show that anastomosis of the bilateral PAs, PVs and PNs is required for anorectal transplantation. This is the first successful report of canine anorectal autotransplantation.
Structural, electronic, vibrational and dielectric properties of selected high-shape K semiconductor oxides
Authors: Scolfaro L M R , Alves H W Leite , Borges P D , Garcia J C , da Silva E F 
Published: September 2014

Abstract
The semiconductor oxides SnO2, HfO2, ZrO2, TiO2 and SrTiO3 are interesting materials for applications as high-K dielectric gate materials in silicon-based devices and spintronics, among others. Here we review our theoretical work about the structural, electronic and vibrational properties of these oxides in their most stable structural phases, including dielectric properties as derived from the electronic structure taking into account the lattice contribution. Finally, we address the recent role played by the presence of transition metal atoms in semiconductor oxides, considering in particular SnO2 as an example in forming diluted magnetic alloys.
The role of coercivity and dislocations for films with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy
Authors: Corredor E C , Coffey D , Arnaudas J I , Proietti M G , Ciria M 
Published: September 2014

Abstract
Understanding and controlling macroscopic quantities directly associated with a random field, such as the coercive field H
c and dislocations in magnetic materials, is important for many applications that include films with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. Here, using a model system with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, Cu/Ni/Cu, we show that H
c in double 4 nm thick Ni films is about 0.65 times the value obtained for the single Ni film, a fact that can be understood if the propagation of misfit dislocations is not transmitted to the second magnetic block, implying that its statistical distribution remains unchanged whereas the magnetic driving force increases with the nickel thickness. This interpretation is based on the direct measurement of the in-plane and out-of-plane lattice parameters of the Ni blocks by the extended x-ray absorption fine structure method, a chemically selective technique tuned to probe exclusively the environment of the Ni atoms. With this finding and applying the rigid domain walls model, the H
c ratio between double and single Ni films is calculated, yielding a value of 0.71.
Quantitative determination of In clustering in In-rich InxGa1−xN thin films
Authors: Shang Xiaoxia , Luca Marta De , Pettinari Giorgio , Bisognin Gabriele , Amidani Lucia , Fonda Emiliano , Boscherini Federico , Berti Marina , Ciatto Gianluca 
Published: September 2014

Abstract
We investigated atomic ordering in In-rich In
x
Ga1−x
N epilayers in order to obtain an understanding of whether a deviation from a random distribution of In atoms in the group-III sublattice could be the origin of the strong carrier localization and defect-insensitive emission of these semiconductor alloys. This phenomenon can be exploited for application in optoelectronics. By coupling In K-edge x-ray absorption spectroscopy and high resolution x-ray diffraction, we were able to discard the hypothesis of significant phase separation into InN + GaN, in agreement with previous N K-edge absorption spectroscopy. However, we found an enrichment of In neighbours in the second atomic shell of In as compared to random statistics (clustering) for x = 0.82, while this is not the case for x = 0.46. This result, which is also supported by optical spectroscopy, is likely to stimulate new theoretical studies on In
x
Ga1−x
N alloys with a very high In concentration.