bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Electronic Retail Lending in Estonia: Legal Limits on the Cost of Credit
Authors: Ulst Ingrid 
Published: September 2010

AbstractIn 2009, a legal limit to the annual percentage rate of charge (APRC) was established in Estonia. The limit is 'soft' in its nature, allowing a lender to opt to exceed it; simultaneously, however, the burden of proof is placed on the lender who argues that such a lending transaction should not be declared void on the ground on the basis of being contrary to good morals. This article examines the legal function of the APRC limit and addresses the legal problems with regard to the nature and extent of the burden of proof; it also makes suggestions as to how lenders could comply with their legal obligation in respect of the burden of proof when engaging in their daily practice of electronic retail lending. The legal function of an APRC limit, which is linked to the market of consumer credit, is to reduce the willingness to conclude credit agreements in which mutual obligations are unreasonably out of balance. The author suggests that identifying the extent of the lender's burden of proof could be based on the principles of reasonableness and effectiveness. Accordingly, the lender would be reasonably expected to use due care to ensure the understanding and willingness of the borrower with regard to the lending transaction, and be convinced about the repayment ability of the borrower. The principle of effectiveness implies that, at a minimum, the extent of the lender's burden of proof should include the identification of a borrower profile and, furthermore, that due care should be exercised in such identification. As there are no legal directions about the meaning of 'due care' or the details of 'profile identification' in lending, the author suggests applying the analogy of law (e.g., the provisions of the 2001 Estonian Securities Market Act). On this basis, electronic retail lenders could attempt to identify the purpose of a loan, prior lending experience, education, profession, income, assets and obligations, payment discipline and repayment sources of the borrower in order to design good practices which, in turn, should assist lenders to comply with the obligations deriving from the legal limit of the APRC.
Making Chengdu “The Kingdom of God as Jesus Conceived It”: The Urban Work of West China Union University's Sociology Department
Authors: Kyong-McClain Jeff 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThis paper uses the case of West China Union University's Sociology Department as an example to study the mutually beneficial relationships that generally prevailed between Protestant colleges in China and local governments during the Republican era (1912-1949). In most cases, Protestant colleges and local administrations shared a vision of modern urban society that led quite naturally to collaboration. Drawing from modernist theologizing about the city, West China's Sociology Department played an important role both in research on and social work in Chengdu. To theorize this cooperative relationship, this paper takes West China's sociological work as an instrument of globalizing modernity, which was changing the West in many of the same ways as the East. Cet article se penche sur le département de sociologie de la West China Union University afin d'étudier les relations mutuellement bénéfique qui se tissèrent entre les instituts de formation supérieure protestants et les gouvernements locaux en Chine durant la période républicaine (1912-1949). Dans la majorité des cas, les instituts protestants et les administrations locales avaient des vues convergentes sur la société moderne, ce qui entraina une collaboration naturelle entre les deux. S'inspirant de la pensée théologique moderniste sur les villes, le département de sociologie de l'université de la West China Union joua un rôle crucial aussi bien en termes de recherche que de travail social à Chengdu. Afin de théoriser cette relation de coopération, l'article considère le travail sociologique de l'université de la West China Union comme un instrument d'une modernité globalisante qui était en train de transformer le monde occidental de manière similaire à l'Asie.
Laser induced forward transfer of conducting polymers
Authors: Kandyla M. , Chatzandroulis S. , Zergioti I. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractWe report on laser printing of conducting polymers directly from the solid phase. Laser induced forward transfer is employed to deposit P3HT:PCBM films on glass/ITO/PEDOT:PSS substrates. P3HT:PCBM is widely used as the active material in organic solar cells. Polyaniline films, which are also printed by laser induced forward transfer, find many applications in the field of biotechnology. Laser printing parameters are optimized and results are presented. To apply solid-phase laser printing, P3HT:PCBM films are spun cast on quartz substrates, while aniline is in-situ polymerized on quartz substrates.
Absorption loss influence on optical characteristics of multilayer distributed Bragg reflector: wavelength-scale analysis by the method of single expression
Authors: Baghdasaryan H.V. , Knyazyan T.M. , Baghdasaryan T.H. , Witzigmann B. , Roemer F. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractElectrodynamical model of a classical distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) consisting of alternating quarter-wave layers of high and low permittivity is considered at the plane wave normal incidence. Reflective characteristics of DBR possessing absorption loss in constituting layers are analysed via correct wavelength-scale boundary problem solution by the method of single expression (MSE). Analysis of optical field and power flow density distributions within the lossy DBR structures explained the peculiarities of their reflective characteristics. Optimal configurations of lossless and lossy DBRs are revealed. Specific DBR structures possessing full transparency at definite number of layers are also analysed.
The Impact of Managers on Successful ERP Implementation
Authors: Ravnikar Franc 
Published: September 2010

The Impact of Managers on Successful ERP Implementation
Lately, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) has been implemented in public organizations and organizations without competition in the marketplace. It is the ERP system that is almost as badly needed for the competitiveness and success of those organizations in the marketplace. The main reason lies in the fact that operating costs have to be reduced and the optimization of business processes is an option which nowadays is normally implemented together with new ERP. The success rate of ERP implementation remains very low with up to a 90% failure rate, as it is quoted in a lot of researches. Critical success factors (CSF) which influence successful ERP implementation are identical in all organizations. The main goal of this research is to find out the managers' impact on the critical success factors and thus their impact on the successful ERP implementation. Top management support is the most important critical success factor for successful ERP implementation, regardless of the fact whether the organization is on the market or not.
Effectiveness of a Web-Based Cognitive Behavioral Self-Help Intervention for Binge Eating Disorder
Authors: Pruessner Luise , Timm Christina , Barnow Sven , Rubel Julian A. , Lalk Christopher , Hartmann Steffen 
Published: May 2024

ImportanceBinge eating disorder (BED) is one of the most frequent eating pathologies and imposes substantial emotional and physical distress, yet insufficient health care resources limit access to specialized treatment. Web-based self-help interventions emerge as a promising solution, offering more accessible care.ObjectiveTo examine the effectiveness of a web-based cognitive behavioral self-help intervention for individuals with BED.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis 2-arm, parallel-group randomized clinical trial conducted from January 15, 2021, to August 3, 2022, in Germany and other German-speaking countries enrolled patients aged 18 to 65 years who met the diagnostic criteria for BED (according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders [Fifth Edition]). Data analysis occurred between January 27 and September 4, 2023, following our statistical analysis plan.InterventionsParticipants were randomized to a web-based self-help intervention or a waiting-list control condition.Main Outcomes and MeasuresThe primary outcome was a change in objective binge eating episodes from baseline to after treatment. Secondary outcomes included global eating pathology, clinical impairment, work capacity, well-being, comorbid psychopathology, self-esteem, and emotion regulation.ResultsA total of 1602 patients were screened, of whom 154 (mean [SD] age, 35.93 [10.59] years; 148 female [96.10%]) fulfilled the criteria for BED and were randomized (77 each to the intervention and control groups). The web-based intervention led to significant improvements in binge eating episodes (Cohen d, −0.79 [95% CI, −1.17 to −0.42]; P &amp;lt; .001), global eating psychopathology (Cohen d, −0.71 [95% CI, −1.07 to −0.35]; P &amp;lt; .001), weekly binge eating (Cohen d, −0.49 [95% CI, −0.74 to −0.24]; P &amp;lt; .001), clinical impairment (Cohen d, −0.75 [95% CI, −1.13 to −0.37]; P &amp;lt; .001), well-being (Cohen d, 0.38 [95% CI, 0.01 to 0.75]; P = .047), depression (Cohen d, −0.49 [95% CI, −0.86 to −0.12]; P = .01), anxiety (Cohen d, −0.37 [95% CI, −0.67 to −0.07]; P = .02), self-esteem (Cohen d, 0.36 [95% CI, 0.13 to 0.59]; P = .003), and emotion regulation (difficulties: Cohen d, −0.36 [95% CI, −0.65 to −0.07]; P = .01 and repertoire: Cohen d, 0.52 [95% CI, 0.19 to 0.84]; P = .003).Conclusion and RelevanceIn this randomized clinical trial of a web-based self-help intervention for patients with BED, the findings confirmed its effectiveness in reducing binge eating episodes and improving various mental health outcomes, highlighting a scalable solution to bridge the treatment gap for this condition.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04876183
Data‐driven forecasting of ship motions in waves using machine learning and dynamic mode decomposition
Authors: Diez Matteo , Gaggero Mauro , Serani Andrea 
Published: May 2024

SummaryData‐driven forecasting of ship motions in waves is investigated through feedforward and recurrent neural networks as well as dynamic mode decomposition. The goal is to predict future ship motion variables based on past data collected on the field, using equation‐free approaches. Numerical results in two case studies involving the course‐keeping of a naval destroyer in a high sea state using simulation data at model scale are presented. The proposed methods reveal successful in predicting ship motions both in short‐term and medium‐term perspectives with accuracy and reduced computational effort, thus enabling further advances in the identification, control, and optimization of ships operating in waves.
Covalent Attachment of Horseradish Peroxidase to Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes for Hydrogen Peroxide Detection
Authors: Ledesma Francis , Nishitani Shoichi , Cunningham Francis J. , Hubbard Joshua D. , Yim Dabin , Lui Alison , Chio Linda , Murali Aishwarya , Landry Markita P. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractSingle‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are desirable nanoparticles for sensing biological analytes due to their photostability and intrinsic near‐infrared fluorescence. Previous strategies for generating SWCNT nanosensors have leveraged nonspecific adsorption of sensing modalities to the hydrophobic SWCNT surface that often require engineering new molecular recognition elements. An attractive alternate strategy is to leverage pre‐existing molecular recognition of proteins for analyte specificity, yet attaching proteins to SWCNT for nanosensor generation remains challenging. Toward this end, a generalizable platform is introduced to generate protein‐SWCNT‐based optical sensors and use this strategy to synthesize a hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) nanosensor by covalently attaching horseradish peroxidase (HRP) to the SWCNT surface. A concentration‐dependent response is demonstrated to H2O2, confirming the nanosensor can image H2O2 in real‐time, and assess the nanosensor's selectivity for H2O2 against a panel of biologically relevant analytes. Taken together, these results demonstrate successful covalent attachment of enzymes to SWCNTs while preserving both intrinsic SWCNT fluorescence and enzyme function. It is anticipated this platform can be adapted to covalently attach other proteins of interest including other enzymes for sensing or antibodies for targeted imaging and cargo delivery.
Highly Biocompatible Composites as Cigarette Smoke Purifiers for Free Radical Scavenging and Pungent Odor Masking
Authors: Guo Zining , Shen Ruling , Chen Yanjuan , Huo Yujia , Li Jia , Zhou Lulu , Hu Jing 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe modification of cigarette filters with nanozymes has gradually emerged as a promising strategy for reducing the harmful effects of smoking by eliminating excessive harmful free radicals and remediating oxidative stress‐induced pulmonary injury. However, currently, available nanozymes‐integrated filters usually ignore safety concerns and fail to address the pungent odor of smoke, making it challenging to develop an individual system with high safety and effectiveness while considering these important factors. Herein, a novel smoke purifier (CDs/ME@MOF) is developed by alternatively introducing carbon dots nanozymes with excellent free radicals scavenging activity and Menthone masking the miscellaneous gas into a biocompatible γ‐cyclodextrin‐based metal–organic framework. The CDs/ME@MOF can act as a profitable additive incorporated with cigarette filters to achieve over 90% scavenging efficiency for cigarette smoke radicals and reduce the odor irritation. In the mice model, the CDs/ME@MOF composites demonstrated the significant inflammation suppression, antioxidant levels promotion, and notable lung tissues protection effect through elimination of free radicals. This work highlights the potential of CDs/ME@MOF as a safe, environmentally friendly, and multipurpose additive for modifying cigarette filter.
β‐Ketoenamine‐Linked Covalent Organic Frameworks Synthesized via Gel‐to‐Gel Monomer Exchange Reaction: From Aerogel Monoliths to Electrodes for Supercapacitors
Authors: Martín‐Illán Jesús Á. , Sierra Laura , Guillem‐Navajas Ana , Suárez José Antonio , Royuela Sergio , Rodríguez‐San‐Miguel David , Maspoch Daniel , Ocón Pilar , Zamora Félix 
Published: May 2024

AbstractCovalent organic frameworks (COFs) possess intrinsic nanoscale pores, limiting mass transport and impacting their utility in many applications, such as catalysis, supercapacitors, and gas storage, demanding efficient diffusion throughout the material. Hierarchical porous structures, integrating larger macropores with inherent micro‐/meso‐pores, facilitate rapid mass transport. Recently, the fabrication of aerogel monoliths is reported exclusively from imine‐linked COFs, offering flexibility in aerogel composition. However, challenges in synthesizing robust β‐ketoenamine‐based COFs with comparable surface areas prompted innovative synthetic approaches. Leveraging the dynamic nature of COF bonds, in this work efficient monomer exchange from imine to partially β‐ketoenamine‐linked COFs within the gel phase is demonstrated. These aerogels can be transformed into electrodes using the compression technique. The new flexible electrodes‐based β‐ketoenamine‐linked COF composites with C super P exhibit superior durability and redox activity. Through supercapacitor assembly, the β‐ketoenamine‐linked COF electrodes outperform their imine‐based counterparts, showcasing enhanced capacitance (88 mF cm−2) and stability at high current densities (2.0 mA cm−2). These findings underscore the promise of β‐ketoenamine‐linked COFs for pseudocapacitor energy storage applications.
Solvent‐Independent 3D Printing of Organogels
Authors: Kuzina Mariia A. , Hoffmann Maxi , Mandsberg Nikolaj K. , Domínguez Carmen M. , Niemeyer Christof M. , Wilhelm Manfred , Levkin Pavel A. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractOrganogels are polymer networks extended by a liquid organic phase, offering a wide range of properties due to the many combinations of polymer networks, solvents, and shapes achievable through 3D printing. However, current printing methods limit solvent choice and composition, which in turn limits organogels' properties, applications, and potential for innovation. As a solution, a method for solvent‐independent printing of 3D organogel structures is presented. In this method, the printing step is decoupled from the choice of solvent, allowing access to the full spectrum of solvent diversity, thereby significantly expanding the range of achievable properties in organogel structures. With no changes to the polymer network, the 3D geometry, or the printing methodology itself, the choice of solvent alone is shown to have an enormous impact on organogel properties. As demonstrated, it can modulate the thermo‐mechanical properties of the organogels, both shifting and extending their thermal stability range to span from ‐30 to over 100 °C. The choice of solvent can also transition the organogels from highly adhesive to extremely slippery. Finally, the method also improves the surface smoothness of prints. Such advances have potential applications in soft robotics, actuators, and sensors, and represent a versatile approach to expanding the functionality of 3D‐printed organogels.
Novel TMDC/Si Heterojunction Based Direct Current UV Sensitive Tribovoltaic Nanogenerator and Visual‐Image Sensors
Authors: Bhattacharya Didhiti , Mukherjee Shubhrasish , Chowdhury Avijit , Ray Samit Kumar 
Published: May 2024

AbstractTriboelectric nanogenerators have recently gained enormous attention as a low‐cost method for converting abundant mechanical energy into electricity. Here, a continuous direct current (DC) output from a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is achieved using two dimensional (2D)‐WS2/Si heterojunctions, without any need for a rectifier circuit element. At the interface of the p–Si and n–WS2 heterojunction, the “Tribo‐photovoltaic effect” is observed, responsible for the generation of direct tribo‐outputs. The demonstrated multifunctional DC‐TENG with remarkable performance can concurrently convert mechanical and photonic energy into an electrical one. In comparison to dark conditions, the device's output performance is enhanced under UV illumination (365 nm, 1022 µW cm−2), and the exhibited output voltage (10.75 V) and current (466 nA) are higher by a factor of 3.9 and 2.4, with excellent power harvesting ability and outstanding robustness. This versatile DC‐TENG is demonstrated to be an attractive platform for high‐performance vision sensors and UV detection, which has significant implications for the rapid development of self‐powered portable sensing and IoT devices based on Si CMOS technology.
Bifunctional Piezo‐Enhanced PLLA/ZA Coating Prevents Aseptic Loosening of Bone Implants
Authors: Cui Xi , Shan Yizhu , Li Jiaxuan , Xiao Meng , Xi Yuan , Ji Jianying , Wang Engui , Zhang Baokun , Xu Lingling , Zhang Mingzhu , Li Zhou , Zhang Yingzi 
Published: May 2024

AbstractPrevention of aseptic loosening, the main reason for secondary surgery of bone implants, is of great crucial clinical importance. As a promising bioactive material to promote bone regeneration, the piezoelectric materials for preventing aseptic loosening has not been reported. Here, a surface coating is presented for implants based on piezoelectric poly(L‐lactic acid) (PLLA). The coating ingeniously utilizes zoledronic acid (ZA), a drug used to treat osteoporosis, as a nucleating agent to enhance the piezoelectricity of PLLA. The coating can not only provide a continuous porous piezoelectric environment to stimulate osteogenic differentiation without intervention, but also effectively inhibit the osteolytic activity of osteoclasts through the slow release of ZA, achieving long‐term effectiveness with a single implantation. The rat femur cavity implantation experiment suggests that, the PLLA/ZA coating can rapidly initiate osseointegration of the implant and effectively mitigate the risk of aseptic loosening, even in the presence of metal submicroscopic particles that induce aseptic loosening. This strategy of piezo‐enhanced PLLA drug‐loaded coating may provide a new idea for the surface modification of bone implants.
Wearable Aptalyzer Integrates Microneedle and Electrochemical Sensing for In Vivo Monitoring of Glucose and Lactate in Live Animals
Authors: Bakhshandeh Fatemeh , Zheng Hanjia , Barra Nicole G. , Sadeghzadeh Sadegh , Ausri Irfani , Sen Payel , Keyvani Fatemeh , Rahman Fasih , Quadrilatero Joe , Liu Juewen , Schertzer Jonathan D. , Soleymani Leyla , Poudineh Mahla 
Published: May 2024

AbstractContinuous monitoring of clinically relevant biomarkers within the interstitial fluid (ISF) using microneedle (MN)‐based assays, has the potential to transform healthcare. This study introduces the Wearable Aptalyzer, an integrated system fabricated by combining biocompatible hydrogel MN arrays for ISF extraction with an electrochemical aptamer‐based biosensor for in situ monitoring of blood analytes. The use of aptamers enables continuous monitoring of a wide range of analytes, beyond what is possible with enzymatic monitoring. The Wearable Aptalyzer is used for real‐time and multiplexed monitoring of glucose and lactate in ISF. Validation experiments using live mice and rat models of type 1 diabetes demonstrate strong correlation between the measurements collected from the Wearable Aptalyzer in ISF and those obtained from gold‐standard techniques for blood glucose and lactate, for each analyte alone and in combination. The Wearable Aptalyzer effectively addresses the limitations inherent in enzymatic detection methods as well as solid MN biosensors and the need for reliable and multiplexed bioanalytical monitoring in vivo.
Deterministic Fabrication and Quantum‐Well Modulation of Phase‐Pure 2D Perovskite Heterostructures for Encrypted Light Communication
Authors: Hong Enliu , Li Ziqing , Zhang Xinyu , Fan Xueshuo , Fang Xiaosheng 
Published: May 2024

AbstractDeterministic integration of phase‐pure Ruddlesden–Popper (RP) perovskites has great significance for realizing functional optoelectronic devices. However, precise fabrications of artificial perovskite heterostructures with pristine interfaces and rational design over electronic structure configurations remain a challenge. Here, the controllable synthesis of large‐area ultrathin single‐crystalline RP perovskite nanosheets and the deterministic fabrication of arbitrary 2D vertical perovskite heterostructures are reported. The 2D heterostructures exhibit intriguing dual‐peak emission phenomenon and dual‐band photoresponse characteristic. Importantly, the interlayer energy transfer behaviors from wide‐bandgap component to narrow‐bandgap component modulated by comprising quantum wells are thoroughly revealed. Functional nanoscale photodetectors are further constructed based on the 2D heterostructures. Moreover, by combining the modulated dual‐band photoresponse characteristic with double‐beam irradiation modes, and introducing an encryption algorithm mechanism, a light communication system with high security and reliability is achieved. This work can greatly promote the development of heterogeneous integration technologies of 2D perovskites, and could provide a competitive candidate for advanced integrated optoelectronics.