bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Application of measurements of internal friction amplitude dependences for tests of ceramic materials
Authors: Bruś Beata , Zachariasz Radosław , Zarycka Aldona , Czerwiec Marek , Ilczuk Jan 
Published: March 2008

AbstractAn aim of this work was to show possibilities of the application of internal friction (IF) measurements in investigations of processes taking place in ceramic materials responsible for dissipation of energy and an application of IF for an interpretation of maxima observed for the temperature dependences of the IF. For the measurements, ceramic specimens of a PZT type were used. Three peaks of IF, relaxation PR1, PR2 and phase transition PF, were observed for the IF temperature dependences obtained. In order to determine the mechanisms responsible for relaxation and phase transition peak formation, measurements of amplitude of internal friction (AIF) relationships were performed. An explanation of the Q–1 = f (εam) AIF dependences was made on the basis of the Granato–Lücke model. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Ferrimagnetism and antiferro‐ magnetism in half‐metallic Heusler alloys
Authors: Galanakis Iosif , Özdoğan Kemal , Şaşıoğlu Ersoy , Aktaş Bekir 
Published: March 2008

AbstractHalf‐metallic Heusler alloys are among the most promising materials for future applications in spintronic devices. Although most Heusler alloys are ferromagnets, ferrimagnetic or antiferromagnetic (also called fully‐compensated ferrimagnetic) alloys would be more desirable for applications due to the lower stray fields. Ferrimagnetism can be either found in perfect Heusler compounds or achieved through the creation of defects in ferromagnetic Heusler alloys. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Lattice absorption of Be‐containing semiconductor alloys determined by spectroscopic ellipsometry
Authors: Wronkowska A. A. , Skowroński Ł. , Wronkowski A. , Zieliński Ł. , Firszt F. , Marasek A. , Paszkowicz W. , Arwin H. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractLattice absorption of Zn1–x –y Bex Mgy Se and Cd1–x –y Bex Zny Se mixed crystals grown by a high pressure Bridgman method has been investigated by infrared spectroscopic ellipsometry in the wave number range from 230 cm–1 to 5000 cm–1. Ellipsometric spectra of Cd1–x –y Bex Zny Se crystals display features in the spectral range 350–550 cm–1 associated with BeSe‐type phonon modes. In the optical spectra of Zn1–x –y Bex Mgy Se crystals both BeSe‐type and MgSe‐type lattice absorption bands are detected. The MgSe‐like modes are located at approximately 300 cm–1. The frequencies and oscillator strengths of optical phonon modes depend strongly on the alloy composition. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Stress and stress monitoring in SiC–Si heterostructures
Authors: Pezoldt Jörg , Nader Richard , Niebelschütz Florentina , Cimalla Volker , Stauden Thomas , Zgheib Charbel , Masri Pierre 
Published: March 2008

AbstractInfrared ellipsometry is a valuable tool to investigate the average stress and the stress distribution in thin silicon carbide layers grown on silicon as well as to monitor the changes in the stress state during device processing. It was obtained that low temperature carbonization in combination with low temperature epitaxial growth led to a compressive stress component in the SiC–Si interface region, whereas the average stress state is tensile. Ge incorporation in the interface lowered the tensile residual stress component. Metallization of SiC increases the tensile stress in the SiC on Si. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Monitoring critical dimensions of bidimensional gratings by spectroscopic ellipsometry and Mueller polarimetry
Authors: Foldyna M. , De Martino A. , Garcia‐Caurel E. , Ossikovski R. , Bertin F. , Hazart J. , Postava K. , Drevillon B. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractIn this work we characterized two bidimensional gratings consisting each of a square array of square holes etched in a photoresist layer deposited on silicon. Data were taken on both samples with a spectroscopic UV–VIS ellipsometer (SE) operated at 70° incidence and zero azimuth (with the incidence plane parallel to the lines of holes) and a VIS Mueller matrix polarimeter (MMP) at various incidence and azimuthal angles. The robustness of the parameters derived from the MMP data was evaluated from the stability of the values provided by regression the spectra taken at different angles. The optimal measurement geometries, featuring high sensitivity and low correlation of the fitting parameters, were determined theoretically, and validated experimentally with the sample featuring wider holes (500 × 500 nm), for which 45° incidence provided better results than the usual 70° value. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Development of biosensor based on imaging ellipsometry
Authors: Jin G. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractThe concept of biosensor based on imaging ellipsometry was proposed ten years ago. Its principle and the methodology as well as some solutions to problems which have to be faced during the development are mentioned. Its properties of phase sensitive, high throughput and fast sampling, as well as label‐free, sensitivity better than 1 ng/ml for Immunoglobulin G, and real‐time analysis for protein interaction process, etc. provide a potential for applications in biomedicine field. The recent biosensing development with total internal reflection imaging ellipsometry is presented also. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
In vitro inhibition of Helicobacter pylori growth and adherence to gastric mucosal cells by Pycnogenol®
Authors: Rohdewald Peter , Beil Winfried 
Published: March 2008

AbstractThe emergence of antibiotic resistant H. pylori strains has necessitated the identification of alternative additive therapies for the treatment of this infection. The study tested whether a specific pine bark extract (Pycnogenol®) is effective in inhibiting the growth and adherence of H. pylori in vitro.Inhibition of H. pylori growth by Pycnogenol® was tested in liquid medium as well as in an in vitro model by using sessile bacteria attached to AGS cells. Adherence was determined by co‐incubation of gastric cells with Pycnogenol® and H. pylori in vitro.Pycnogenol® inhibited H. pylori growth in suspension with an MIC50 of 12.5 µg/mL. Growth of H. pylori in infected cells was reduced to 10% of the control value by 125 µg/mL Pycnogenol®. Adherence of H. pylori to gastric cells was reduced by 70% after 3 h incubation with 125 µg/mL Pycnogenol®.The results show a significant, yet limited inhibition of growth and adherence of H. pylori to gastric cells by Pycnogenol®. In vivo studies have to demonstrate the clinical relevance of these findings. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A new rapid micro‐method for the molecular‐chemical characterization of rhizodeposits by field‐ionization mass spectrometry
Authors: Leinweber Peter , Eckhardt Kai‐Uwe , Fischer Holger , Kuzyakov Yakov 
Published: March 2008

AbstractTime‐consuming investigation of rhizodeposit composition by leaching, freeze‐drying of leachate, and pyrolysis‐field ionization mass spectrometry (Py‐FIMS) of solid samples was replaced by direct Py‐FIMS of a 5 µL liquid rhizodeposit sample which was evaporated overnight in the quartz tube of a mass spectrometer inlet system. Application of this new rapid technique to a set of 14 liquid rhizodeposit samples from maize (Zea mays L.), leached twice with a time lag of 80 min, unequivocally showed the effect of soil texture on the chemical composition of the rhizodeposits. Irrespective of leaching time, a partial least‐squares analysis separated the Py‐FI mass spectra of the maize rhizodeposits leached from a soil from those leached from a soil + quartz sand‐mixture (prepared by addition of 50% w/w quartz sand to the original soil). The signals which had the strongest discrimination power and were significantly enriched in leachates from the soil + quartz sand were assigned to sugars, peptides and polyamines. Mass signals of putrescine and cadaverine, a priori not expected in the rhizodeposits, were indicators of modified root environment and rhizosphere processes in the soil + quartz sand. In conclusion, the new rapid mass spectrometric profiling method is suitable for rhizosphere research because it requires very small sample volumes, is fast and highly sensitive to detect and quantify a wide range of a priori expected and unexpected organic substances. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
PeakSelect: preprocessing tandem mass spectra for better peptide identification
Authors: Zhang Jingfen , He Simin , Ling Charles X. , Cao Xingjun , Zeng Rong , Gao Wen 
Published: March 2008

AbstractWe present a new preprocessing method, PeakSelect, to improve the accuracy and efficiency of Tandem Mass‐Spec peptide (protein) identification. The fundamental difference between noise and fragment ions in spectra is that ions have isotopes but noise does not. We propose a new and important concept of an Isotope Pattern Vector (IPV) which characterizes the isotope cluster of fragment ions. Then the noise and real peaks can be distinguished by the quantitative IPV values. PeakSelect first uses a new method of the Gaussian Mixture Model and Expectation‐Maximization (EM) algorithm to find the base intensity level (baseline) in a spectrum. Then PeakSelect selects features based on the IPV and baseline, and constructs a decision tree to automatically classify the peaks into different categories such as noise, single ion peaks, and overlapping peaks. Experiments show that PeakSelect can help to reduce the Mascot searching time and increase the reliability of peptide identifications. In particular, PeakSelect performs well on complex spectra with a large number of peaks from large peptides, and supports more sequence identification than other well‐known systems. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An entrepreneurial perspective on the firm‐environment relationship
Authors: Smith Ken G. , Cao Qing 
Published: March 2008

AbstractIn the organizational theory literature, two perspectives to explain the firm‐environment relationship—the ecology view and the adaptation view—are dominant. We review these perspectives and present a third, less recognized perspective—the entrepreneurial view. The entrepreneurial view recognizes the potential for top managers and firms to, on occasion, proactively shape and influence their environment. Purposeful individual top managers with their variable belief systems take primacy in the entrepreneurial model as they are motivated to engage in aspirational search and take entrepreneurial actions. Entrepreneurial actions potentially disrupt the existing belief systems of market participants by disseminating new information that causes dissonance. This dissonance and debate as part of the market process can lead to a revision in the belief systems of market participants. We show that although the multilevel entrepreneurial perspective is distinct from the ecology and adaptation perspectives, they are, in fact, complementary. Copyright © 2008 Strategic Management Society.
Entrepreneurship and economic growth
Authors: Baumol William J. , Strom Robert J. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractEntrepreneurs who focus on innovation in their products, their production techniques, and their markets play a key role in economic growth. The direction of their activity is guided by their goals: wealth, power, and prestige. Current institutions, shaped by history and government are critical in determining where entrepreneurs will find it most promising to direct their efforts, sometimes, but not always, benefiting the general welfare. One goal of good policy, therefore, is redesign of institutions so as to attract entrepreneurial activity to beneficial directions. Copyright © 2008 Strategic Management Society.
Networks and strategic entrepreneurship: comments on Comparing alliance network structure across industries: observations and explanations and Strategic networks and entrepreneurial ventures
Authors: Schulze William 
Published: March 2008

AbstractWhile a growing body of research supports the notion that interorganizational networks play an important role in shaping the competitive context and influencing a variety of outcomes for growing and established firms alike, concerns about the boundaries and limitations of the theory are rising. This commentary addresses the contributions of the aforementioned articles while underscoring the various theoretical challenges that await those seeking to apply network theory to the nascent field of strategic entrepreneurship. Copyright © 2008 Strategic Management Society.
Entrepreneurship and macroeconomic performance
Authors: Casson Mark , Wadeson Nigel 
Published: March 2008

AbstractThis paper develops a formal model of the impact of entrepreneurship on macroeconomic performance. It examines the role of entrepreneurs in creating markets for novel products. Entrepreneurs take over the coordination role that in traditional neoclassical economic models is performed by the Walrasian auctioneer. Entrepreneurs specialize in collecting information that permits them to make judgmental decisions about innovation. The quality of their judgment determines the success of innovations, and thereby impacts the long‐run performance of the economy. The model demonstrates rigorously that constraints on the supply of entrepreneurship reduce economic performance, and serves to identify the policy instruments that can improve performance by alleviating these constraints. Copyright © 2008 Strategic Management Society.
Use of Quality Management Methods in the Transition from Efficacious Prevention Programs to Effective Prevention Services
Authors: Daniels Vicki-Smith , Sandler Irwin 
Published: March 2008

AbstractThis paper applies concepts and methods developed in management to translate efficacious prevention programs into effective prevention services. The paper describes Quality Function Deployment (QFD) as a method for structured planning and development that connects the needs and wants of the consumer with the design of the product or service. The paper describes basic tools used in quality management, and discusses how they might be applied to prepare a prevention program for implementation by community agencies. Prevention programs are conceptualized as having multiple consumers (i.e., stakeholders), including the participants who receive the service, the service providers, the organizations that deliver the program, and the researchers who evaluate the programs. As an illustration of one step in the application of QFD to translate efficacious prevention programs into effective prevention services, analysis of the needs and preferences of Family Courts for the implementation of an the New Beginnings Program is presented.
The impact of employee satisfaction on quality and profitability in high‐contact service industries
Authors: Yee Rachel W.Y. , Yeung Andy C.L. , Cheng T.C. Edwin 
Published: March 2008

AbstractThe extant operations management literature has extensively investigated the associations among quality, customer satisfaction, and firm profitability. However, the influence of employee attributes on these performance dimensions has rarely been examined. In this study we investigate the impact of employee satisfaction on operational performance in high‐contact service industries. Based on an empirical study of 206 service shops in Hong Kong, we examined the hypothesized relationships among employee satisfaction, service quality, customer satisfaction, and firm profitability. Using structural equations modeling, we found that employee satisfaction is significantly related to service quality and to customer satisfaction, while the latter in turn influences firm profitability. We also found that firm profitability has a moderate non‐recursive effect on employee satisfaction, leading to a “satisfaction–quality–profit cycle”. Our empirical investigation suggests that employee satisfaction is an important consideration for operations managers to boost service quality and customer satisfaction. We provide empirical evidence that employee satisfaction plays a significant role in enhancing the operational performance of organizations in the high‐contact service sector.
Natural convection along a heated vertical plate immersed in a nonlinearly stratified medium: application to liquefied gas storage
Authors: FORESTIER M. , HALDENWANG P. 
Published: March 2008

We consider free convection driven by a heated vertical plate immersed in a nonlinearly stratified medium. The plate supplies a uniform horizontal heat flux to a fluid, the bulk of which has a stable stratification, characterized by a non-uniform vertical temperature gradient. This gradient is assumed to have a typical length scale of variation, denoted Z0, while Ψ0 is the order of magnitude of the related heat flux that crosses the medium vertically.We derive an analytic solution to the Boussinesq equations that extends the classical solution of Prandtl to the case of nonlinearly stratified media. This novel solution is asymptotically valid in the regime RaS ≫ 1, where RaS denotes the Rayleigh number of nonlinear stratification, based on Z0, Ψ0, and the physical properties of the medium.We then apply the new theory to the natural convection affecting the vapour phase in a liquefied pure gas tank (e.g. the cryogenic storage of hydrogen). It is assumed that the cylindrical storage tank is subject to a constant uniform heat flux on its lateral and top walls. We are interested in the vapour motion above a residual layer of liquid in equilibrium with the vapour. High-precision axisymmetric numerical computations show that the flow remains steady for a large range of parameters, and that a bulk stratification characterized by a quadratic temperature profile is undoubtedly present. The application of the theory permits a comparison of the numerical and analytic results, showing that the theory satisfactorily predicts the primary dynamical and thermal properties of the storage tank.
Two alternatives for solving hyperbolic boundary value problems of geophysical fluid dynamics
Authors: HARLANDER UWE , MAAS LEO R. M. 
Published: March 2008

Linear internal waves in inviscid bounded fluids generally give a mathematically ill-posed problem since hyperbolic equations are combined with elliptic boundary conditions. Such problems are difficult to solve. Two new approaches are added to the existing methods: the first solves the two-dimensional spatial wave equation by iteratively adjusting Cauchy data such that boundary conditions are satisfied along a predefined boundary. After specifying the data in this way, solutions can be computed using the d'Alembert formula.The second new approach can numerically solve a wider class of two dimensional linear hyperbolic boundary value problems by using a ‘boundary collocation’ technique. This method gives solutions in the form of a partial sum of analytic functions that are, from a practical point of view, more easy to handle than solutions obtained from characteristics. Collocation points have to be prescribed along certain segments of the boundary but also in the so-called fundamental intervals, regions along the boundary where Cauchy data can be given arbitrarily without over-or under-determining the problem. Three prototypical hyperbolic boundary value problems are solved with this method: the Poincaré, the Telegraph, and the Tricomi boundary value problem. All solutions show boundary-detached internal shear layers, typical for hyperbolic boundary value problems. For the Tricomi problem it is found that the matrix that has to be inverted to find solutions from the collocation approach is ill-conditioned; thus solutions depend on the distribution of the collocation points and need to be regularized.
Prevalence and severity of external auditory exostoses in breath-hold divers
Authors: Sheard P W , Doherty M 
Published: March 2008

AbstractObjective:To explore the prevalence and severity of external auditory exostoses in a population of experienced breath-hold divers, and to compare these to the same parameters within surfing and self-contained underwater breathing apparatus diving populations.Design:A stepwise, multiple regression analysis of cross-sectional data examining the relative contributions of sea surface temperature, latitude of exposure and years of exposure to the prevalence and severity of stenosis due to external auditory exostoses. A chi-square analysis of the prevalence and severity of external auditory exostosis stenosis in the breath-hold divers was compared with previously published data for surfers and self-contained underwater breathing apparatus divers.Subjects:Seventy-six male and thirty-five female breath-hold divers attending an international ‘freedive’ competition completed a questionnaire describing aquatic sports habits, geography of participation and symptomatology. Those completing the questionnaire (111/154 attendees) were examined otoscopically for evidence of external auditory exostoses. Images were digitally recorded, scored and graded.Results:Exostoses were evident in 87.7 per cent of the 204 ears scored and graded for severity of stenosis due to external auditory exostoses. The prevalence of exostoses was no different from that found in previous studies of surfers and self-contained underwater breathing apparatus divers (p = 0.101). However, the pattern of affliction was more similar to that found in surfers. The severity of exostoses was significantly less than that found in surfing populations (p ≤ 0.001 to 0.007), but greater than that found in self-contained underwater breathing apparatus diving populations (p ≤ 0.001). Sea surface temperature at the location of open-water exposure was the most significant predictor of the prevalence and severity of external auditory exostoses in breath-hold divers (p = 0.019).Conclusion:The prevalence and severity patterns of stenosis due to external auditory exostoses in breath-hold divers are more similar to previously published results for surfing populations than to previously published results for self-contained underwater breathing apparatus diving populations. In breath-hold divers, sea surface temperature is the strongest predictor of severity of stenosis due to external auditory exostoses.
Radiographic properties of injected calcium hydroxylapatite: potential false positive findings on positron emission tomography
Authors: Damrose E J 
Published: March 2008

AbstractObjectives:To describe the positron emission tomography and computed tomography features of injected calcium hydroxylapatite, and to discuss how these may be mistaken for malignancy.Case report:Positron emission tomography is now readily employed in the staging and monitoring of patients with head and neck carcinoma. Concomitant with the growing use of this modality has been the increasing popularity of injected calcium hydroxylapatite to treat glottic incompetence secondary to vocal fold paralysis or following partial laryngectomy. A patient developed aspiration following near-total laryngectomy and subsequently underwent injection of calcium hydroxylapatite, with effective resolution of the aspiration. The patient underwent positron emission tomography scanning as part of routine tumour surveillance; this showed intense tracer uptake at the site of injection, and this pattern persisted for one year following injection.Conclusions:As injectable calcium hydroxylapatite becomes more widely used, especially in the treatment of patients with a history of head and neck cancer, physicians should be aware it may cause a potentially misleading, false positive positron emission tomography finding.