Evaluating different combination methods to analyse ultrasound and shear wave elastography images automatically through discriminative convolutional neural network in breast cancer imaging.

Purpose: Ultrasound (US) and Shear Wave Elastography (SWE) imaging are non-invasive methods used for breast lesion characterization. While US and SWE images provide both morphological information, SWE visualizes in addition the elasticity of tissue. In this study a Discriminative Convolutional Neural Network (DCNN) model is applied to US and SWE images and their combination to classify the breast lesions into malignant or benign cases.

Solution synthesis and dielectric properties of alumina thin films: understanding the role of the organic additive in film formation.

Alumina thin films are synthesized by combustion synthesis of mixtures of aluminium nitrate (ALN) and methylcarbazate (MCZ). The interdependence of the ratio of oxidizer and reducing agent on composition, microstructure and electronic properties of the resulting oxide layers is investigated. The dielectric and insulating behaviour is improved by addition of different amounts of MCZ (MCZ : ALN = 0.

Atomic Layer Deposition of Ternary Indium/Tin/Aluminum Oxide Thin Films, Their Characterization and Transistor Performance under Illumination.

Multilayered heterostructures comprising of In O , SnO , and Al O were studied for their application in thin-film transistors (TFT). The compositional influence of tin oxide on the properties of the thin-film, as well as on the TFT characteristics is investigated. The heterostructures are fabricated by atomic layer deposition (ALD) at 200 °C, employing trimethylindium (TMI), tetrakis(dimethylamino)tin (TDMASn), trimethylaluminum (TMA), and water as precursors.

Zinc Oxide Defect Microstructure and Surface Chemistry Derived from Oxidation of Metallic Zinc. Thin Film Transistor and Sensoric Behaviour of ZnO Films and Rods.

Invited for the cover of this issue is Jörg J. Schneider and co-workers at Technical University Darmstadt, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf and KIT Karlsruhe. The image depicts the application of high energy generated electron/positron couples which are able to detect defects sites in semiconducting zinc oxide thin films.

Environmentally Benign Solution-Based Procedure for the Fabrication of Metal Oxide Coatings on Metallic Pigments.

Aluminum pigments were coated with FeO and CuO by solution-based thermal decomposition of the urea nitrate compounds hexakisureairon(III)nitrate and tetrakisureacopper(II)nitrate. The deposition process was optimized to obtain homogeneously coated aluminum pigments. The growth of the surface coatings was controlled by investigation with scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and static light scattering as well as infrared, X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis.

Zinc Oxide Defect Microstructure and Surface Chemistry Derived from Oxidation of Metallic Zinc: Thin-Film Transistor and Sensor Behavior of ZnO Films and Rods.

Zinc oxide thin films are fabricated by controlled oxidation of sputtered zinc metal films on a hotplate in air at temperatures between 250 and 450 °C. The nanocrystalline films possess high relative densities and show preferential growth in (100) orientation. Integration in thin-film transistors reveals moderate charge carrier mobilities as high as 0.

Synthesis and Assembly of Zinc Oxide Microcrystals by a Low-Temperature Dissolution-Reprecipitation Process: Lessons Learned About Twin Formation in Heterogeneous Reactions.

Cobalt-doped zinc oxide single crystals with the shape of hexagonal platelets were synthesized by thermohydrolysis of zinc acetate, cobalt acetate, and hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA) in mixtures of ethanol and water. The mineralization proceeds by a low-temperature dissolution-reprecipitation process from the liquid phase by the formation of basic cobalt zinc salts as intermediates. The crystal shape as well as twin formation of the resulting oxide phase can be influenced by careful choice of the solvent mixture and the amount of doping.

Synthesis, oxide formation, properties and thin film transistor properties of yttrium and aluminium oxide thin films employing a molecular-based precursor route.

Combustion synthesis of dielectric yttrium oxide and aluminium oxide thin films is possible by introducing a molecular single-source precursor approach employing a newly designed nitro functionalized malonato complex of yttrium (Y-DEM-NO1) as well as defined urea nitrate coordination compounds of yttrium (Y-UN 2) and aluminium (Al-UN 3). All new precursor compounds were extensively characterized by spectroscopic techniques (NMR/IR) as well as by single-crystal structure analysis for both urea nitrate coordination compounds. The thermal decomposition of the precursors 1-3 was studied by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry coupled with mass spectrometry and infrared spectroscopy (TG-MS/IR).

The effect of complete caloric intake restriction on human body odour quality.

Previous studies on various vertebrates have shown that quantity and quality of food intake affect odour attractiveness as perceived by potential mates. In humans, the quality of body odour is similarly affected by ingested foods, such as by variation in meat and garlic intake. Nevertheless, it is not known whether quantity of food has an impact on human body odour attractiveness.

Aqueous Solution Processing of Combustible Precursor Compounds into Amorphous Indium Gallium Zinc Oxide (IGZO) Semiconductors for Thin Film Transistor Applications.

Combustion synthesis of semiconducting amorphous indium gallium zinc oxide IGZO (In:Ga:Zn, 7:1:1.5) thin films was carried out using urea nitrate precursor compounds of indium(III), gallium(III) and zinc(II). This approach provides further understanding towards the oxide formation process under a moderate temperature regime by employment of well-defined coordination compounds.

Molecular Precursors for ZnO Nanoparticles: Field-Assisted Synthesis, Electrophoretic Deposition, and Field-Effect Transistor Device Performance.

Zinc complexes with multidentate Schiff base ligands are suitable precursors for ZnO in microwave-assisted transformation reactions. [Bis(acetylacetonato)ethylenediimine]zinc(II) and [bis(methylacetoacetato)ethylenediimine]zinc(II) have been synthesized with high purity and good yield from the direct reaction of the respective diimine ligand with diethylzinc in tetrahydrofuran. The thermal decay is studied by thermogravimetry coupled with online infrared spectroscopy.

Toward an Understanding of Thin-Film Transistor Performance in Solution-Processed Amorphous Zinc Tin Oxide (ZTO) Thin Films.

Amorphous zinc tin oxide (ZTO) thin films are accessible by a molecular precursor approach using mononuclear zinc(II) and tin(II) compounds with methoxyiminopropionic acid ligands. Solution processing of two precursor solutions containing a mixture of zinc and tin(II)-methoxyiminopropinato complexes results in the formation of smooth homogeneous thin films, which upon calcination are converted into the desired semiconducting amorphous ZTO thin films. ZTO films integrated within a field-effect transistor (FET) device exhibit an active semiconducting behavior in the temperature range between 250 and 400 °C, giving an increased performance, with mobility values between μ = 0.

Worse Health Status and Higher Incidence of Health Disorders in Rhesus Negative Subjects.

Rhesus-positive and Rhesus-negative persons differ in the presence-absence of highly immunogenic RhD protein on the erythrocyte membrane. The biological function of the RhD molecule is unknown. Its structure suggests that the molecular complex with RhD protein transports NH3 or CO2 molecules across the erythrocyte cell membrane.

Design of a Heterogeneous Catalyst Based on Cellulose Nanocrystals for Cyclopropanation: Synthesis and Solid-State NMR Characterization.

Heterogeneous dirhodium(II) catalysts based on environmentally benign and biocompatible cellulose nanocrystals (CNC-Rh2) as support material were obtained by ligand exchange between carboxyl groups on the CNC surface and Rh2(OOCCF3)4, as was confirmed by solid-state (19)F and (13)C NMR spectroscopy. On average, two CF3COO(-) groups are replaced during ligand exchange, which is consistent with quantitative analysis by a combination of (19)F NMR spectroscopy and thermogravimetry. CNC-Rh2 catalysts performed well in a model cyclopropanation reaction, in spite of the low dirhodium(II) content on the CNC surface (0.

Microwave assisted synthesis and characterisation of a zinc oxide/tobacco mosaic virus hybrid material. An active hybrid semiconductor in a field-effect transistor device.

Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) has been employed as a robust functional template for the fabrication of a TMV/zinc oxide field effect transistor (FET). A microwave based approach, under mild conditions was employed to synthesize stable zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles, employing a molecular precursor. Insightful studies of the decomposition of the precursor were done using NMR spectroscopy and material characterization of the hybrid material derived from the decomposition was achieved using dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), grazing incidence X-ray diffractometry (GI-XRD) and atomic force microscopy (AFM).

Genetically improved monolayer-forming tobacco mosaic viruses to generate nanostructured semiconducting bio/inorganic hybrids.

The genetically determined design of structured functional bio/inorganic materials was investigated by applying a convective assembly approach. Wildtype tobacco mosaic virus (wt TMV) as well as several TMV mutants were organized on substrates over macroscopic-length scales. Depending on the virus type, the self-organization behavior showed pronounced differences in the surface arrangement under the same convective assembly conditions.

Template based precursor route for the synthesis of CuInSe2 nanorod arrays for potential solar cell applications.

Polycrystalline CuInSe2 (CISe) nanorods are promising for the fabrication of highly efficient active layers in solar cells. In this work we report on a nanocasting approach, which uses track-etched polycarbonate films as hard templates for obtaining three-dimensionally (3D) arranged CISe nanorod arrays. Copper and indium ketoacidoximato complexes and selenourea were employed as molecular precursors.

[Inclusion Body Disease (IBD of Boids)--a haematological, histological and electron microscopical study].

Our objective was to evaluate diagnostic tools for the detection of Inclusion Body Disease (IBD) in bold snakes. The aetiology of IBD is unknown, and the disease has non-specific clinical signs, hence there is a need for a clinically-applicable, specific diagnostic method. We examined blood smears and liver biopsies from 26 bold snakes (17 boas and nine pythons; some of which were suspected of having IBD) for the presence of characteristic inclusion bodies.

A molecular approach to Cu doped ZnO nanorods with tunable dopant content.

A novel molecular approach to the synthesis of polycrystalline Cu-doped ZnO rod-like nanostructures with variable concentrations of introduced copper ions in ZnO host matrix is presented. Spectroscopic (PLS, variable temperature XRD, XPS, ELNES, HERFD) and microscopic (HRTEM) analysis methods reveal the +II oxidation state of the lattice incorporated Cu ions. Photoluminescence spectra show a systematic narrowing (tuning) of the band gap depending on the amount of Cu(II) doping.

Binary [Cu2O/MWCNT] and ternary [Cu2O/ZnO/MWCNT] nanocomposites: formation, characterization and catalytic performance in partial ethanol oxidation.

Cuprous oxide agglomerates composed of 4-10 nm Cu2O nanoparticles were deposited on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and on ZnO/MWCNTs to give binary [Cu2O/MWCNT] and ternary [Cu2O/ZnO/MWCNT] composites. Di-aqua-bis[2-(methoxyimino)propanoato]copper Cu[O2CCCH3NOMe](2)·2H2O 1 in DMF was used as single source precursor for the deposition of nanoscaled Cu2O. The precursor decomposes either in air or under argon to yield CuO2 by in situ redox reaction.

A 3D monolithic CNT block structure as a reductant, support and scavenger for nanoscopic gold, platinum and zinc oxide.

ZnO (8-10 nm), gold (10-50 nm), and platinum (2-5 nm) nanoparticles were deposited on monoliths of regularly arranged three-dimensional (3D) carbon nanotubes of 40 nm diameter and length up to 30 microm. The single-source precursor complex di-aqua-bis[2-(methoxyimino)propanato](2)Zn(ii) in dimethylformamide was used for the deposition of nanoparticulate ZnO on an ordered 3D CNT scaffold by solution-phase deposition at temperatures as low as 150 degrees C. Au and Pt nanoparticles were deposited by the spontaneous reduction of aqueous solutions of HAuCl(4) and K(2)PtCl(4) on the surface of the macroscopic 3D CNT scaffolds.

Binary Au/MWCNT and ternary Au/ZnO/MWCNT nanocomposites: synthesis, characterisation and catalytic performance.

Gold nanoparticles of 10-24 and 5-8 nm in size were obtained by chemical citrate reduction and UV photoreduction, respectively, on acid-treated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and on ZnO/MWCNT composites. The shape and size of the deposited Au nanoparticles were found to be dependent upon the synthetic method used. Single-crystalline, hexagonal gold particles were produced in the case of UV photoreduction on ZnO/MWCNT, whereas spherical Au particles were deposited on MWCNT when the chemical citrate reduction method was used.

Cowpox virus infection in pet rat owners: not always immediately recognized.

Background: The aim of this article is to make physicians of all specialties aware of the possible variations of clinical course in human cowpox infection. This has been a matter of current interest since the detection of a first cluster of infections among owners of white pet rats in the Krefeld area in the spring of 2008. Two further cases arose in the Krefeld area in November 2008, and there have since been multiple further reports from various regions in Germany and the neighboring countries.