The extreme case of terrorism: a scientometric analysis

How has the terrorism affected the research process and findings? The author tries to answer to this question through an exploratory analysis of the impact of these tragic events on the research outputs of scientists, institutions and countries. In particular, this report provides a wide range of scientometric data related to terrorism studies over the world during the two decades from 1991 to 2011. After the September 11, 2001 events (9/11) in the United States, the concerned academicians have responded in a way that they started producing an increasing number of research publications, as if they were under the influence of some kind of a driving force, stimulating the overall academic production linked to this tragic event. However, after this trend has reached its peak in 2002, that driving force has visibly weakened, and since the mid 2000’s, the number of research publication in the field of terrorism studies has steadily decreased. Nonetheless, the number of terrorist events per year, along with the property damage and fatality rate, has continuously increased over the observed lapse of time. Using these results as a backdrop, in this paper is argued that the field of terrorism research should be explored from a critical and multi-cultural perspective, and that all scientific researchers should remain objective, for scientific research is to be independent from political systems, its contingent events in any form, and the transitory historical circumstances.     

Significant improvement of the oxygen permeation flux of tubular Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3 − δ membranes covered by a thin La0.6Sr0.4Ti0.3Fe0.7O3 − δ layer

We present a new method to improve the oxygen flux properties and stability of Ba_0.5Sr_0.5Co_0.8Fe_0.2O_3 − δ tube membrane using a thin layer of La_0.6Sr_0.4Ti_0.3Fe_0.7O_3 − δ as protective coatings. The first relevant result is that the La_0.6Sr_0.4Ti_0.3Fe_0.7O_3 − δ protective layer had an extraordinary positive effect on improving the oxygen permeation flux of the tubular Ba_0.5Sr_0.5Co_0.8Fe_0.2O_3 − δ membranes. La_0.6Sr_0.4Ti_0.3Fe_0.7O_3 − δ-coated Ba_0.5Sr_0.5Co_0.8Fe_0.2O_3 − δ tubular membrane showed the highest oxygen permeability with the flux reaching ~ 3 ml cm⁻² min⁻¹ (oxygen purity > 99%) at 950 °C in static atmospheric pressure through a 1.0 mm thick membrane.     

F-substituted hydroxyapatite nanopowders: Thermal stability,sintering behaviour and mechanical properties

Fluorine-substituted hydroxyapatites are considered promising materials for bone scaffolding. In this study a systematic investigation on F-half substituted hydroxyapatite (F-HAp, Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆OHF) obtained by precipitation is reported. Results on composition analysis, thermal behaviour, and sinterability are presented for a comparison with the respective pure hydroxyapatite. Samples were characterised by electron microscopy, induced coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy, thermal analysis, infrared spectroscopy, N₂ adsorption measurements, X-ray diffraction and dilatometry. A semicrystalline F-substituted hydroxyapatite powder made up of needle-like nanoparticles was obtained. Notwithstanding that it was thermally stable up to 1300 °C, it was sintered at relatively low temperatures obtaining a very fine microstructure with a relevant nano-porosity, beneficial in view of cell adhesion and in-growth.Hardness, elastic modulus and toughness of produced samples were investigated by Vickers–Knoop microhardness testing. Significant improvements of the mechanical properties were observed for the F-substituted hydroxyapatite, in comparison with pure hydroxyapatite.