Bibliometric analysis of biotechnology

Although Derwent Biotechnology Abstractshas been used in a variety of bibliometric studies, it has never undergone a systematic examination of its reliability and validity. The objective of this paper is to assess its quality for bibliometric studies attempting to analyse the evolution of biotechnology research, to map leading organizations, and to study the interaction between science and technology. The first part reviews the tools used in bibliometric studies of biotechnology and describes the Derwent Biotechnology Abstracts database. The second part is a case study of plant genetic research, with special emphasis on Canada.     

Total quality control for a surface mount technology process for the manufacture of printed circuit board assemblies

Surface mount technology is used widely nowadays in the manufacture of printed circuit board assemblies in the electronics industry. The occurrence of defective products when this technology is used is mostly caused by technological problems, but sometimes it is also caused by management problems or human errors. When technological problems are being tackled, human interactions will always be involved. This is because the quality of a product is related to the quality of the material, the design of the product and the manufacturing process, and as tasks are subdivided, problems occurring in production cannot be solved completely by the sole effort of a single individual. Hence improvement of product quality involes man, machine, and material. This article explains how quality problems arising from surface mount technology are tackled by team effort in an organization via the implementation of a process-oriented total quality control system.     

Tungsten work function engineering for dual metal gate nano-CMOS

A buffer layer technology for work function engineering of tungsten for dual metal gate Nano-CMOS is investigated. For the first time, tungsten is used as a p-type gate material using 1 nm of sputtered Aluminum Nitride (AlN_x) as a buffer layer on silicon dioxide (SiO₂) gate dielectric. A tungsten work function of 5.12 eV is realized using this technology in contrast to a mid-gap value of 4.6 eV without a buffer layer. Device characteristics of a p-MOSFET on silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate fabricated with this technology are presented.     

An Analysis of the Articles in the Journal of Engineering Education

Twenty issues of the Journal of Engineering Education from 1993 through 1997 were analyzed. The most common keywords used were teaching, design, and computers. An average of 10.4 percent of the articles require discipline specific knowledge for complete understanding. Approximately 60 percent of the articles included a teaching component, and most of these articles included an assessment. Only 13.4 percent of the articles used an educational theory. Women comprised 22 percent of all authors, but only 15.3 percent of authors who had a degree in engineering, computer science or engineering technology were women. The average number of usable references per article was 15.2. The mean number of times a source was cited is one. Only 20 sources were cited five or more times. Twenty-four authors or organizations were cited 10 or more times. Of the most-cited authors 48 percent do not have a degree in engineering, computer science or engineering technology. The keyword and citation analyses showed that the Journal has great breadth of both content and sources for references. The mean number of times articles published in the Journal during 1993 and 1994 were later cited in the Journal was zero. The content of the Journal has become more professional and the quality has improved in the five years studied.     

Enhanced oral bioavailability of paclitaxel by solid dispersion granulation

The main objective of this study was to develop novel orally administrable tablets containing solid dispersion granules (SDG) of amorphous paclitaxel (PTX) prepared by fluid bed technology, and to evaluate its in vitro dissolution and in vivo pharmacokinetics (PK) in beagle dogs. The SDG were prepared using optimized composition by fluid bed technology, and characterized for solid-state properties. The release study of SDG tablet (SDG-T) in simulated gastric fluid showed a rapid release of PTX, reaching maximum dissolution within 20?min. Finally, the PK profile of SDG-T and a reference formulation Oraxol? (oral solution formulation used in Phase I clinical study) at a dose of 60?mg orally with co-administration of P-gp inhibitor HM38101, and Taxol® at a dose of 10?mg intravenously (i.v.) was investigated in beagle dogs. The mean absolute BA% of PTX following SDG-T and Oraxol? solution was 8.23 and 6.22% in comparison to i.v. administration of Taxol®. The relative BA% of PTX from SDG-T in comparison to Oraxol? solution was 132.25% at a dose of 60?mg following oral administration. In conclusion, we have successfully prepared PTX tablets with solid dispersion granules (SDG) of amorphous PTX using fluid bed technology that could provide plasma PTX concentration in the range of 10–150?ng/mL for a period of 24?h following oral administration in dogs with a P-gp inhibitor. Hence, this could be a promising formulation for PTX oral delivery and could be used in our intended clinical studies following pre-clinical efficacy studies.     

Generation of multiphoton Greenberger–Horne–Zeilinger state and its two kinds of teleportation

We propose a comprehensive experimental scheme to generate and teleport GHZ states of any number of photons as well as to accomplish the process of open-destination teleportation of a single photon's arbitrary state. The equipment and techniques which are used in our scheme are all feasible under current technology. Moreover, we make a direct extension of the above cases and investigate the open-destination teleportation of any M-photon general GHZ states with a brief diagram.     

Pressure difference across the free surface of a stable static meniscus in a possible Ge1−XSiX ribbon growth by edge-defined film-fed growth (E.F.G.) technique

In this paper, it is shown in which kind the pressure difference across the free surface has to be chosen to obtain a stable convex static meniscus with a prescribed size in the case of a Ge_1−XSi_X single crystal ribbon growth by E.F.G. technique. The dependence of the pressure difference on the composition X is analyzed. The same tools as for a Ge or Si single crystal ribbon growth are used. The results can be useful in a future experiment planning or manufacturing technology design.     

Production of Fullerenes from Plant Materials and used Carbon Materials by Means of a Chip-Injection-Type J×B Arc Reactor

Abstract

By using a chip-injection-type J×B arc reactor, carbon material chips of, for example, charcoal, activated carbon, sumi (Chinese ink stick), synthetic rubber and carbon black are well arc-sublimated in He gas and fullerenes are successfully produced from these materials. From the viewpoints of effective use of plant resources, recycling of used carbon materials and environmental low-emission technology, the utilization of these materials to produce fullerenes has potential as an environment-friendly technology.     

Biocompatibility of Dental Alloys

Modern dental alloys have been used for 50 years to produce prosthetic dental restorations. Generally, the crowns and frames of a prosthesis are prepared in dental alloys, and then veneered by feldspar ceramics or composites. In use, the alloys are exposed to the corrosive influence of saliva and bacteria. Metallic dental materials can be classified as precious and non‐precious alloys. Precious alloys consist of gold, platinum, and small amounts of non‐precious components such as copper, tin, or zinc. The non‐precious alloys are based on either nickel or cobalt, alloyed with chrome, molybdenum, manganese, etc. Titanium is used as Grade 2 quality for dental purposes. As well as the dental casting alloys, high purity electroplated gold (99.8 wt.‐%) is used in dental technology. This review discusses the corrosion behavior of metallic dental materials with saliva in “in vitro” tests and the influence of alloy components on bacteria (Lactobacillus casei and Streptococcus mutans). The test results show that alloys with high gold content, cobalt‐based alloys, titanium, and electroplated gold are suitable for use as dental materials.     

Comparison of algorithms for converting 3D objects into rolls,using a spiral coordinate system

The definition of a point’s location in volume by Cartesian, spherical and cylindrical coordinate systems requires three dimensions (x, y, z), (r, θ, ?) and (ρ, ?, z) accordingly. It is obvious that superfluity, only two dimensions and the constant (a point’s height or plane thickness) are enough because, when the plane is transformed into a roll, the third dimension appears. It is easy to convert a three-dimensional space to a two-dimensional one if you know the thickness of the spatial layer and the equation of equivalence between 3D and 2D spaces. This work discusses several advantages of conformal transformation methods to convert different volume objects into a ribbon, based on its symmetry and the spiral coordinate system for roll powder sintering (RPS) [Shulunov, V.R., 2014. A high performance, high precision, low cost rapid prototyping and manufacturing technology. AUSMT Copyright ©. International Journal of Automation Smart Technology, 4 (3). doi:10.5875/ausmt.v4i3.718, Shulunov, V.R., 2015a. A roll powder sintering additive manufacturing technology. Applied Mechanics and Materials, 789–790, 1212–1216. © Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland. doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.789-790.1212, Shulunov, V.R., 2015b. Several advantages of the ultra high-precision additive manufacturing technology, © Springer-Verlag London. International Journal of Advance Manufacturing Technology. doi:10.1007/s00170-015-7533-0] additive manufacturing technology. RPS requires slicing a 3D object with Archimedes spiral scanning. The proposed methods can be used to transform 3D objects into 2D objects.     

Comments on “international indicators of science and technology”

Science Indicators-1976 has been prepared with a great deal of skill and is a valuable document. The fact that it reflects the unsatisfactory state of basic knowledge of the ways in which science and technology affect, and are affected by, various economic, social, and political variables of interest to policy makers is no fault of its authors. Nonetheless, in handling some topics, the report might have gone further in indicating the limitations of the measures used. Also, several topics omitted from the report might be considered for inclusion in subsequent editions.     

Investigations into the application of a combination of bioventing and biotrickling filter technologies for soil decontamination processes—A transition regime between bioventing and soil vapour extraction

Bioventing has emerged as one of the most cost-effective in situ technologies available to address petroleum light-hydrocarbon spills, one of the most common sources of soil pollution. However, the major drawback associated with this technology is the extended treatment time often required. The present study aimed to illustrate how an intended air-injection bioventing technology can be transformed into a soil vapour extraction effort when the air flow rates are pushed to a stripping mode, thus leading to the treatment of the off-gas resulting from volatilisation. As such, a combination of an air-injection bioventing system and a biotrickling filter was applied for the treatment of contaminated soil, the latter aiming at the treatment of the emissions resulting from the bioventing process. With a moisture content of 10%, soil contaminated with toluene at two different concentrations, namely 2 and 14 mg g soil⁻¹, were treated successfully using an air-injection bioventing system at a constant air flow rate of ca. 0.13 dm³ min⁻¹, which led to the removal of ca. 99% toluene, after a period of ca. 5 days of treatment. A biotrickling filter was simultaneously used to treat the outlet gas emissions, which presented average removal efficiencies of ca. 86%. The proposed combination of biotechnologies proved to be an efficient solution for the decontamination process, when an excessive air flow rate was applied, reducing both the soil contamination and the outlet gas emissions, whilst being able to reduce the treatment time required by bioventing only.     

Fabrication of Patchy Silica Microspheres with Tailor-Made Patch Functionality using Photo-Iniferter Reversible-Addition-Fragmentation Chain-Transfer (PI-RAFT) Polymerization (Small 43/2023)

Their inherent directional information renders patchy particles interesting building blocks for advanced applications in materials science. In this study, a feasible method to fabricate patchy silicon dioxide microspheres is demonstrated, which they are able to equip with tailor-made polymeric materials as patches. Their fabrication method relies on a solid-state supported microcontact printing (µCP) routine optimized for the transfer of functional groups to capillary-active substrates, which is used to introduce amino functionalities as patches to a monolayer of particles. Acting as anchor groups for polymerization, photo-iniferter reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) is used to graft polymer from the patch areas. Accordingly, particles with poly(N-acryloyl morpholine), poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide), and poly(n-butyl acrylate) are prepared as representative acrylic acid-derived functional patch materials. To facilitate their handling in water, a passivation strategy of the particles for aqueous systems is introduced. The protocol introduced here, therefore, promises a vast degree of freedom in engineering the surface properties of highly functional patchy particles. This feature is unmatched by other techniques to fabricate anisotropic colloids. The method, thus, can be considered a platform technology, culminating in the fabrication of particles that possess locally precisely formed patches on particles at a low µm scale with a high material functionality.     

Simultaneous transport of an organic liquid and gas in concrete

Organic fluids are widely used in our personal world and in technology. Since most of them are hazardous when they join the groundwater, concrete structures are built for environmental protection. Due to its porosity, concrete is nota priori impervious, and it has to be tested to determine the requirements to be met for technical applications. Tests are presented for measuring capillary absorption and diffusion coefficients continuously. Five concrete mixes were examined with acetone as test fluid, and the results are discussed.     

基于近红外的PE包装蓝莓新鲜度无损检测

目的 将近红外无损检测技术应用于智能包装生产线上，以快速、准确地检测 PE 包装蓝莓的新鲜度。方法 以蓝莓含水率和可溶性固形物（SSC）为评价指标，使用 SNV、MSC 和 DT 结合 UVE 处理所获得的光谱数据，通过 PLSR 和 RF 建立散装蓝莓和 PE 保鲜膜包装蓝莓的含水率和 SSC 预测模型，通过比较校正决定系数 R_c²、验证决定系数 R_p²和均方根误差来验证模型的准确性。结果 建立散装蓝莓含水率预测模型，选择最佳预处理方法为 SNV，使用 PLSR 建模，最佳主成分数为 9,R_c²为 0.971,R_p²为 0.933；建立 PE 保鲜膜包装蓝莓含水率预测模型，选择最佳预处理方法为 SNV，使用 RF 建模，R_c²为 0.923,R_p²为 0.876；建立散装蓝莓 SSC 预测模型，选择最佳预处理方法为 D...     

On the supplementary functions of science and technology indicators

Starting from a simple phase model for scientific and technological progress the supplementary functions of various science and technology indicators are discussed. In particular, patent and literature indicators in the field of telecommunicationsR&D in West Germany are presented and compared. In addition, a few selected technometric,R&D expenditure, and trade data are included for the sake of completeness. This network of science and technology indicators is employed to analyse the institutional set up and the trends in telecommunicationsR&D on the macro-level (national level) as well as for singleR&D actors (institutional or micro-level). Further, the role of academic and other publicR&D in West Germany, including the regional distribution of activities and the specialization with respect to telecommunication subfields, are assessed. It is concluded that the various science and technology indicators — at least in the case of West German telecommunications —supplement each other. Synergisms between indicators do exist and should be explored better in future work. The case of telecommunications is ideal for such an exploratory assessment as it includes basic and applied research as well as strong industrial development activities.     

Quantitative methodology for strategic assessment of the sustainability of bauxite residue management

Decisions on sustainable technologies are surrounded by high degrees of uncertainty and absence of agreed indicators and metrics. The alumina industry therefore supported the development of a quantitative methodology for strategic assessment of the sustainability of bauxite residue management. It combines a strategic outlook with quantitative, outcome-based assessment. The methodology compares current practice with ideal values, derived from sustainability aspirations. The indicator system combines management indicators (for planning, management and reporting systems); condition indicators (state of environment and communities surrounding residue operations); and operational indicators (technical and economic performance). They have three hierarchical levels: headline performance indicators (6, measuring sustainability objectives); key performance indicators (24, measuring sustainability impacts) and performance measures (flexible set, measuring operational contributions). Performance is measured on a five-level ordinal scale. The methodology was successfully piloted at an operating plant. This confirmed that the methodology complemented existing audit protocols and strategic planning processes. The unique advantages are the universal performance measuring system for environmental, social and economic outcomes, and the strategic orientation towards improvement and innovation in residue technology. This development demonstrates that even with imperfect knowledge and uncertainty, quantified sustainability tools can be developed that aid in decision making on technology development and implementation.     

Carbon Nanotubes for Cold Electron Sources

Technological advances in the field of microelectronic fabrication techniques have triggered a great interest in vacuum microelectronics. In contrast to solid‐state microelectronics, which entails scattering‐dominated electron transport in semiconducting solids, vacuum microelectronics relies on the scattering‐free, ballistic motion of electrons in vacuum. Since the first international conference on vacuum microelectronics substantial progress in this field has been made. The first technological devices using micrometer‐sized electron emitting structures are currently being commercialized. Field‐emission flat‐panel displays (FED) seem to be an especially promising competitor to LCD displays. Today there is only one mature technology for producing micro‐gated field‐emission arrays: the Spindt metal‐tip process. The drawbacks of this technology are expensive production, critical lifetime in vacuum, and high operating voltage. Carbon nanotubes (CNT) can be regarded as the potential second‐generation technology to the Spindt metal micro‐tip. In this review we show that the field emission (FE) behavior of CNT can be accurately described by Fowler–Nordheim tunneling and that the field‐enhancement factor β is the most prominent factor. Therefore the FE properties of a CNT thin film can be understood in terms of local field enhancement β(x,y), which can be determined with scanning anode field emission microscopy (SAFEM). To characterize the FE properties of an ensemble of electron emitters we used a statistical approach (as for thin film emitters), where f(β)dβ gives the number of emitters on a unit area with field‐enhancement factors within the interval [β,β + dβ]. We show that the field‐enhancement distribution function f(β) gives an almost complete characterization of the FE properties.     

Synchronous delivery of felodipine and metoprolol tartrate using monolithic osmotic pump technology

The synchronous sustained-release of two drugs was desired urgently for patients needing combination therapy in long term. However, sophisticated technologies were used generally to realize the simultaneous delivery of two drugs especially those with different physico-chemical properties. The purpose of this study was to obtain the concurrent release of felodipine and metoprolol tartrate, two drugs with completely different solubilities, in a simple monolithic osmotic pump system (FMOP). Two types of blocking agents were used in monolithic osmotic pump tablets and the synchronous sustained-release of FMOP was acquired in vitro. The tablets were also administered to beagle dogs and the plasma levels of FMOP were determined by HPLC-MS/MS. The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using a non-compartmental model. C_max of both felodipine and metoprolol from the osmotic pump tablets were lower, t_max and mean residence time of both felodipine and metoprolol from the osmotic pump tablets were longer significantly than those from immediate release tablets. These results verified prolonged release of felodipine and metoprolol tartrate from osmotic pump formulations. The similar absorption rate between felodipine and metoprolol in beagles was also obtained by this osmotic pump formulation. Therefore, it could be supposed that the accordant release of two drugs with completely different solubilities may be realized just by using monolithic osmotic pump technology.     

Patents,R & D expenditures,country size,and per-capita income: An international comparison

Conceptual and data problems make the selection of science and technology indicators difficult. It has also proven hard to link measures of scientific and technological activity with economic development. In this paper, statistically significant results are obtained by regressing one science and technology output indicator: patents granted to residents, with R & D expenditures and the stock of potential scientists and engineers. Statistically significant results are also obtained by regressing the same dependent variable onto population size and income per capita. The econometrically established patterns tend to corroborate previously formulated hypotheses and could be used, it is suggested, for policy analysis and projections.The research for this paper was carried out while the author was Senior Research Advisor at the Inter-American Development Bank. He is presently a Research Consultant at the World Bank. The viewpoints in it presented are those of the author, and do not purport to represent the official position of the Banks, their affiliates or Directors.Preliminary and partial results were presented at an Inter-American Development Bank seminar in Washington DC, a meeting organized by the University of Sao Paulo, and a seminar at the Instituto Torcuato Di Tella, Buenos Aires. Comments received from E.Londero, S.Payson, H.Schwartz, participants at those meetings, and two anonymous referees, are appreciated.