Isotropic and anisotropic dipeptide films based on gas phase deposition

We demonstrated the fabrication and application of well-ordered and vertically aligned dipeptide nanostructures based on a simple gas phase deposition. Deposited nanostructures exhibited the superhydrophobic property with a very low sliding angle. Highly reproducible SERS data have also been obtained after combining deposited films with a thin layer of gold. In addition to these, directional peptide films were, for the first time, successfully fabricated based on the oblique angle deposition technique. We believe that such bio-inspired materials would have a great impact in several technological applications involving catalysis, tissue engineering and biosensors.     

An artificial intelligence approach to predict a lower heating value of municipal solid waste

The lower heating value is an important parameter to conduct the modeling of any fuel processing system. In this study, the relationship between the physical composition of municipal solid waste and its lower heating values was investigated using a Bayesian regularized artificial neural network (ANN) as an artificial intelligence approach. A new nonlinear regression model was also developed in this study. The artificial intelligence approach was compared using the developed and published correlations. The approach offers a high degree of correlation, and as a result, the ANN provides a useful tool for designing any thermolysis process for municipal solid waste.     

Cultural Experience as a (Critical) Factor in Crisis Communication Planning

A key issue in crisis communication is the way people process crisis‐relevant information to minimize danger. This paper discusses the impact of previously experienced crises on the public's interpretation of warning messages. People may not have direct experience of a crisis, but they still have acquired mediated experiences of a variety of crises. The present study introduces the term cultural experience of crisis to label the synthesis of mediated crisis experiences, media and fictional narratives, collective memories of societal disasters, conversations, and immediate crisis experiences of witnesses and victims. The proposed model of cultural experience of crisis is elaborated on the basis of a qualitative text analysis derived from four qualitative interviews 16 focus groups interviews carried out in Estonia from 2008 to 2009.     

The effect of combined use of chitosan and PIPS on push-out bond strength of root canal filling materials

Adhesion of root canal filling materials to root dentin is important for the long-term success of the treatment. Push-out bond strength test is used to evaluate the adhesion capacity of root canal filling materials to root canal walls. The aim of the present study is to compare the bond strength of root canal filling materials to root dentin after irrigation with EDTA, chitosan and the combination of chitosan and PIPS irridation using push-out bond strength test. Forty-eight extracted teeth were resected until 13-mm long roots were obtained. Root canals were prepared with a size-25 OneShape instrument. Samples were divided into three groups each including 15 roots. Group 1: Canals were rinsed with 0.2% chitosan and subjected to laser irridation with PIPS at the same time. Group 2: Canals were rinsed with 0.2% chitosan. Group 3: Canals were rinsed with EDTA. All canals were filled with .06 tapered gutta-percha and AH-plus sealer. One-mm thick slices were taken from coronal, middle and apical one-thirds of the roots. Push-out bond strength was determined using a Universal Testing Machine. One root from each group was observed under SEM to evaluate the degree of smear removal. Statistical analysis was performed with Kruskall-Wallis test. Results showed that bond strength values were statistically similar in overall evaluation for all groups (p > .05). In segmental evaluation, group 1 revealed the highest bond strength in apical one-third compared to other groups (p < .05).     

Further Increase of T c in Y-Ba-Cu-O Superconductors

This paper presents the synthesis and characterization of three new Y-based high temperature-superconducting compounds having relatively higher transition temperature T _c compared with that of the Y-123, Y-124, and Y-247. The electrical resistivity measurements indicate the onset critical temperatures as high as 98 K. Atomic compositions of these new Y-Ba-Cu-O superconductors are Y₂Ba₃Cu_5.2O _x , Y₂Ba₅Cu₉O _x , and YBa₄Cu₅O _x . The X-ray analysis has shown that they have a similar crystalline structure as Y-123 phases.     

Towards Further Improvements of the Magnetization Parameters of B2O3-Doped BaFe12O19 Particles: Etching with Hydrochloric Acid

In the present study, we investigate influence of HCl-etching on magnetic parameters of B₂O₃-doped M-type barium ferrites. Our studies have shown that magnetization parameters; the remanence magnetization M _r and the specific magnetization M _s at 1.5?T, increase significantly with HCl-etching. The best magnetic parameters were observed in the sample of 0.1?wt% B₂O₃-doped and HCl-washed one after calcination at 1000?°C (M _r =34.9?emu/g, M _s =0.63.3?emu/g). Increments up to 50% in magnitudes could be achieved with HCl washing. Exchange interactions between particles were also examined by Wohlfarth model. It was observed that magnetizing-like interactions between particles become stronger but ,on the other hand, demagnetizing-like interactions becomes weaker with HCl-etching.     

Consistency management in Deno

We describe a new replicatedobject protocol designed for use in mobile and weaklyconnected environments. The protocol differs from previous protocols in combining epidemic information propagation with voting, and in using fixed perobject currencies for voting. The advantage of epidemic protocols is that data movement only requires pairwise communication. Hence, there is no need for a majority quorum to be available and simultaneously connected at any single time. The protocols increase availability by using voting, rather than primarycopy or primarycommit schemes. Finally, the use of perobject currencies allows voting to take place in an entirely decentralized fashion, without any server having complete knowledge of group membership. We show that currency allocation can be used to implement diverse policies. For example, uniform currency distributions emulate traditional voting schemes, while allocating all currency to a single server emulates a primarycopy scheme. We present simulation results showing both schemes, as well as the performance advantages of using currency proxies to temporarily reallocate currency during planned disconnections. Furthermore, we discuss an initial design of the underlying replicatedobject system and present a basic API.