bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Polydopamine deposition at fluid interfaces
Authors: Ponzio Florian , Ball Vincent
Published: April 2016

When catecholamine solutions are put in the presence of an oxidant, a spontaneous oxidation process allows one to coat the surface of all known classes of materials with a brown‐black insoluble material. This material is related to eumelanins from both compositional and structural points of view. Simultaneously with the film deposition at solid/liquid interfaces, an insoluble material is obtained in solution. Under particular experimental conditions, the chemistry of catecholamines, mostly dopamine, can be extended to the water/air interface to produce films which can be handled and transferred on solid substrates. The mechanical properties of these ‘polydopamine’ films can be improved in a way allowing for the realization of micrometre‐thick free‐standing Janus‐like films. Polydopamine films at liquid/liquid interfaces have also been found to stabilize microemulsions. The aim of this mini‐review is to summarize these recent advances of catecholamine chemistry to obtain functional coatings at fluid interfaces. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Co‐agent mediated functionalization of LDPE/iPP mixtures for compatibilization of WEEE‐recovered polyvinylchloride
Authors: Cicogna Francesca , Coiai Serena , Moliterni Dora , Ruggeri Giacomo , Coltelli Maria‐Beatrice , Lazzeri Andrea , Passaglia Elisa
Published: April 2016

Mixtures of low density polyethylene/isotactic polypropylene (LDPE/iPP) 80/20 w/w were functionalized in the melt by using maleic anhydride (MAH) as the functionalizing agent, 2,5‐bis(tert‐butylperoxy)‐2,5‐dimethylhexane (L101) as the peroxide initiator and butyl 3‐(2‐furyl)propenoate (BFA) as a co‐agent suitable to prevent the degradation of iPP and to promote inter‐macromolecular reactions. The use of BFA was aimed at favouring the control of radical‐induced side reactions and the formation of interfacial graft copolymers. The functionalization degree and the modification of macromolecular architecture, which were evaluated by selective solvent extractions combined with IR, DSC and SEM analyses, were modulated by varying the L101/MAH/BFA ratio in the feed. The optimized product in terms of functionalization degree value and processability was successfully tested as compatibilizer in a polyolefin/polyvinylchloride mixture, where the polyvinylchloride component resulted from the management of waste of electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Multi‐arm star polymers of lactide obtained in melt in the presence of hyperbranched oligoglycerols
Authors: Kundys Anna , Plichta Andrzej , Florjańczyk Zbigniew , Zychewicz Agnieszka , Lisowska Paulina , Parzuchowski Paweł , Wawrzyńska Edyta
Published: April 2016

Multi‐arm star poly(l‐lactide) (PLLA) was synthesized in bulk, via ring‐opening polymerization of l‐lactide initiated by: trimethylolpropane, pentaerythritol, dipentaerythritol, myo‐inositol and hyperbranched polyglycerols. The synthesis was carried out on a laboratory scale and also in a model research installation equipped with a 2 L polymerization reactor. Matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization time‐of‐flight analysis of the products synthesized in the presence of simple polyols and tin 2‐ethylhexanoate revealed that the reactions were not entirely selective and the final products were a mixture of multi‐arm star, linear and cyclic PLLA. The reactions co‐initiated by polyglycerols (PGs) led to polymer mixtures with molar masses in the range 13.5–102 kg mol−1 and intrinsic viscosity significantly lower than that of linear PLLA with the same molar mass. In order to obtain more hydrophobic PG initiator, a suitable method of modification of PG structure was developed. The PG and modified PG branching agents were used to prepare multi‐arm star PLLA in the model semi‐technical installation. Molar masses of the resulting polymers were in the range 169–249 kg mol−1 and exhibited much lower intrinsic viscosity than the linear homologue. The rheological properties of synthesized materials with commercial PLLA blends as well as thermal and mechanical properties were analysed. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Living radical polymerization of diisopropyl fumarate to obtain block copolymers containing rigid poly(substituted methylene) and flexible polyacrylate segments
Authors: Matsumoto Akikazu , Maeo Naoki , Sato Eriko
Published: April 2016

Living radical polymerizations of diisopropyl fumarate (DiPF) are carried out to synthesize poly(diisopropyl fumarate) (PDiPF) as a rigid poly(substituted methylene) and its block copolymers combined with a flexible polyacrylate segment. Reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization is suitable to obtain a high‐molecular‐weight PDiPF with well‐controlled molecular weight, molecular weight distribution, and chain‐end structures, while organotellurium‐mediated living radical polymerization (TERP) and reversible chain transfer catalyzed polymerization (RTCP) give PDiPF with controlled chain structures under limited polymerization conditions. In contrast, controlled polymerization for the production of high‐molecular‐weight and well‐defined PDiPF is not achieved by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and nitroxide‐mediated radical polymerization (NMP). The block copolymers consisting of rigid poly(substituted methylene) and flexible polyacrylate segments are synthesized by the RAFT polymerization. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016, 54, 2136–2147
Facile fabrication of redox‐active and electrochromic poly(amide‐amine) films through electrochemical oxidative coupling of arylamino groups
Authors: Hsiao Sheng‐Huei , Wang Hui‐Min
Published: April 2016

Two novel electropolymerizable monomers, namely 3,5‐bis(4‐diphenylaminobenzamido)‐N‐[4‐(carbazol‐9‐yl)phenyl]benzamide (5) and 3,5‐bis(4‐diphenylaminobenzamido)‐N‐[4‐(3,6‐dimethoxycarbazol‐9‐yl)phenyl]benzamide (5‐MeO), were synthesized, and their electrochemical properties were studied by cyclic voltammetry. The electron‐withdrawing amide groups efficiently blocked the radical cations delocalization between the two terminal TPA groups, rendering the electropolymerization of the TPA groups feasible. The polymer electrodeposited from monomer 5 could be further crosslinked through electro‐coupling of the carbazole groups, which showed both electrochromic and fluorescent properties (the emission of blue light (460 nm) in solid state). Both of the electro‐generated polymer films derived from 5 and 5‐MeO showed reversible electrochemical oxidation processes in the range of 0 − 1.4 V with strong color changes and high contrast ratios in the visible and NIR regions upon electro‐oxidation. © 2016 The Authors. Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. 2016, 54, 2476–2485
Progress of Carbon Quantum Dots in Photocatalysis Applications
Authors: Zhang Zhijie , Zheng Tingting , Li Xiaoming , Xu Jiayue , Zeng Haibo
Published: April 2016

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs), as a new class of carbon nanomaterials, have attracted considerable interest because of their low cost, low toxicity, chemical inertness, superiority in water solubility, ease of functionalization and simple synthetic routes. In recent years, the excellent light harvesting capability and unique photo‐induced electron transfer ability have greatly inspired the perspectives of CQDs in photocatalysis applications. Herein, a comprehensive overview on the recent progresses of CQDs with an emphasis on their applications in photocatalysis is presented. Strategies that have been employed to increase their photocatalytic activities are discussed in detail, including doping, surface modulation, and design of composite structures. Moreover, some perspectives on the challenges and new directions are proposed to stimulate further research into this exciting and promising field.
Power Through Problem Solving: Latino Immigrants and the Inconsistencies of Economic Restructuring
Authors: Lowe Nichola , Iskander Natasha
Published: April 2016

Employment restructuring is a transformative process that brings about significant changes in how work is organised and experienced. Scholars who study restructuring in industries that employ large numbers of immigrant workers, including construction, food processing, or janitorial services, often point to the undermining effects of this transformation on industry wage standards, working conditions, and training supports. But often missing from these accounts is a recognition that restructuring is uneven and incomplete at best and often produces shortcomings and limitations that continue to frustrate and perplex immigrant and native‐born workers alike. Drawing on a multi‐year study of construction workers in Raleigh‐Durham, North Carolina, we find Latino immigrants are far from passive inheritors of the problems of restructuring that they and others encounter during their daily work. Rather, they respond to these challenges with innovative and lasting solutions, developing new work structures and routines that support industry skill development, knowledge sharing, and quality standards. Equally important, their native‐born supervisors and co‐workers have learned to value these solutions and ultimately have stepped in as influential allies, helping immigrant workers leverage these contributions to secure improved working conditions and higher compensation levels. These exchanges have tethered immigrant and non‐immigrant workers together and in ways that challenge standard narratives of native dominance and immigrant exploitation. The result is intensified interdependency and ultimately the creation of an enduring relational resource for promoting worker rights and also for guiding further immigrant advocacy. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of substrate bias on mist deposition of conjugated polymer on textured crystalline‐Si for efficient c‐Si/organic heterojunction solar cells
Authors: Ohki Tatsuya , Ichikawa Koki , Hossain Jaker , Fujii Yasuhiko , Hanajiri Tatsuro , Ishikawa Ryo , Ueno Keiji , Shirai Hajime
Published: April 2016

We investigated the chemical mist deposition (CMD) of poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) on textured crystalline silicon (c‐Si) substrate for efficient c‐Si/PEDOT:PSS heterojunction solar cells. The Mie scattering observation and differential mobility analysis characterization revealed that the average size of mist particle decreased from 330 to 30–40 nm with increasing the number density and traveling velocity of mist precursor when positive dc bias of 10 kV was applied to the c‐Si substrate. The uniform deposition of PEDOT:PSS films was performed on textured c‐Si with the increased adhesion by suitably adjusting Vs and substrate temperature. A power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 11.57% was obtained with Jsc of 36.1 mA cm−2, Voc of 0.49 V, and FF of 0.66, when a positive Vs of 10 kV was applied to c‐Si substrate. Furthermore, PCE increased to 12.5% with Jsc of 35.6 mA cm−2, Voc of 0.53 V, and FF of 0.67 by adding a 20‐nm‐thick AR coating layer of molybdenum oxide MoOx (refractive index, n = 2.1) fabricated by CMD using 12 molybdo(VI) phosphoric acid n‐hydrate [H3(PMo12O40) · nH2O] as a precursor. These findings imply that CMD using negatively charged mist precursor is a possible method for the uniform deposition of PEDOT:PSS on textured c‐Si substrate for efficient c‐Si/PEDOT:PSS heterojunction solar cells.
Cation ratio fluctuations in Cu2ZnSnS4 at the 20 nm length scale investigated by analytical electron microscopy
Authors: Aguiar Jeffery A. , Erkan Mehmet E. , Pruzan Dennis S. , Nagaoka Akira , Yoshino Kenji , Moutinho Helio , Al‐Jassim Mowafak , Scarpulla Michael A.
Published: April 2016

Kesterite Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 (CZTSSe) is a sustainable material for thin‐film photovoltaics with device efficiencies greater than 12% have been demonstrated. Despite similar crystal structure and polycrystalline film microstructures, there is widespread evidence for larger‐amplitude potential and bandgap fluctuations in CZTS than in the analogous Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGSe) chalcopyrite material. This disorder is believed to account for a sizable part of the larger open‐circuit voltage (VOC) deficit in CZTS devices, yet the detailed origins and length scales of these fluctuations have not been fully elucidated. Herein, we present a transmission electron microscopy study focusing on composition variation within bulk multicrystals of CZTS grown by the travelling heater method (THM). In these slow‐cooled, solution grown crystals we find direct evidence for spatial composition fluctuations of amplitude <1 at.% (∼5 × 1020 cm−3) and thus, explainable by point defects. However, rather than being homogeneously‐distributed we find a characteristic 20 nm length scale for these fluctuations, which sets a definite length scale for band gap and potential fluctuations. At Σ3 grain boundaries, we find no evidence of composition variation compared to the bulk. The finding highlights such variations reported at grain boundaries in polycrystalline thin‐films are direct consequences of processing methods and not intrinsic properties of CZTS itself.
The effect of carboxylated nanodiamond (cNDs) on the migration of HepG2 cells
Authors: Chen Xin , Wang Hong , Li Dandan , Yu Yuan , Zhi Jinfang
Published: April 2016

Nanodiamonds (NDs) could be regarded as one of the most attractive nanocarbon materials available so far for biomedical applications. After being carboxylated, they can be used as the carrier for drug‐delivery systems and cell probes. However, their effect on cell migration and the related mechanism remains unknown. Herein, we have evaluated the effect of carboxylated nanodiamonds (cNDs) on the migration of HepG2 cells (a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line). The effect on cellular migration was assessed by transwell assay and wound assay after 24 h exposure of the cells to different concentrations of cNDs. In this study, we found that a high concentration of cNDs (≥100 μg ml−1) could inhibit HepG2 cell migration. The real‐time PCR (polymerase chain reaction) results also showed that the mRNA level of the gene‐related cell migration (such as: β‐catenin, MMP2, vimentin, and integrin β1) changed after 24 h exposure of the cells to cNDs. These results suggest that NDs should no longer be viewed only as simple carriers and probes for biomedical applications, but that they can also play an active role in regulating cell behaviors. Furthermore, understanding the mechanism of mediating the biological effects might help the design of drug‐delivery systems and cell probes based on cNDs.
Simple solar cells of 3.5% efficiency with antimony sulfide‐selenide thin films
Authors: Pérez‐Martínez Diego , Gonzaga‐Sánchez José Diego , De Bray‐Sánchez Fabiola , Vázquez‐García Geovanni , Escorcia‐García José , Nair M. T. S. , Nair P. K.
Published: April 2016

Thin films of antimony sulfide‐selenide solid solutions (Sb2Sx Se3–x) were prepared by chemical bath deposition and thermal evaporation to constitute solar cells of a transparent conductive oxide (FTO)/CdS/Sb2Sx Se3–x/C–Ag. The cell parameters vary depending on the sulfide‐selenide composition in the films. The best solar cell efficiency of 3.6% was obtained with a solid solution Sb2S1.5Se1.5 prepared by thermal evaporation of the precipitate for which the open circuit voltage is 0.52 V and short circuit current density, 15.7 mA/cm2under AM 1.5G (1000 W/m2) solar radiation. For all‐chemically deposited solar cells of Sb2S1.1Se1.9 absorber, these values are: 2.7%, 0.44 V, and 15.8 mA/cm2, and for Sb2S0.8Se2.2, they are: 2.5%, 0.38 V and 18 mA/cm2. (© 2016 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Topological nature of in‐gap bound states in disordered large‐gap monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides
Authors: Qu Fanyao , Villegas‐Lelovsky L. , Diniz G. S.
Published: April 2016

We propose a physical model based on disordered (a hole punched inside a material) monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) to demonstrate a large‐gap quantum valley Hall insulator. We find an emergence of bound states lying inside the bulk gap of the TMDs. They are strongly affected by spin–valley coupling, rest‐ and kinetic‐mass terms and the hole size. In addition, in the whole range of the hole size, at least two in‐gap bound states with opposite angular momentum, circulating around the edge of the hole, exist.Their topological insulator (TI) feature is analyzed by the Chern number, characterized by spacial distribution of their probabilities and confirmed by energy dispersion curves (energy vs. angular momentum). It not only sheds light on overcoming low‐temperature operating limitation of existing narrow‐gap TIs, but also opens an opportunity to realize valley‐ and spin‐qubits. (© 2016 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Electro‐optic switching with liquid crystal graphene
Authors: Kim Min Jae , Park Ji Hyun , Yamamoto Jun , Kim Youn Sang , Scalia Giusy
Published: April 2016

Graphene oxide (GO) particles in aqueous dispersions can form liquid crystal (LC) phases at extremely low concentrations due to the extremely high aspect ratio of the flakes and noticeably, they possess an extremely large Kerr coefficient attractive for low power consumption electro‐optic devices. Reduced graphene does not easily form LC phases in water due to its hydrophobic nature but here we show that stable dispersions of reduced graphene oxide can be realized with surfactants and that they exhibit birefringence upon shearing as well as under application of electric fields. The performance of the system is largely superior to GO LC possessing longer time stability and drastically improved electro‐optic properties with an induced birefringence twice as large at the same field strength thanks to the almost recovery of graphene properties upon reduction. (© 2016 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Effects on Oxygen‐barrier Properties of Pretreating Paperboard with a Starch–Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) Blend before Polyethylene Extrusion
Authors: Javed Asif , Ullsten Henrik , Järnström Lars
Published: April 2016

Polyethylene (PE) extrusion coating was performed on paperboard pre‐coated with water‐borne barrier coatings based on starch–poly(vinyl) (PVOH)–plasticizer blends in order to investigate that how the addition of a plasticizer to the pre‐coating affects the oxygen‐barrier properties of the board after PE extrusion coating. The plasticizers used were glycerol, polyethylene glycol (PEG) and citric acid (CA). Photomicrographs showed that the barrier coating layers were rather smooth, but defects were observed in the starch–PVOH layers when a plasticizer was added. Starch–PVOH layers had oxygen‐barrier properties similar to those of pure PVOH without plasticizers. When a sufficient number of layers (four layers) were applied to cover defects, the starch–PVOH layers containing CA showed oxygen transmission rate (OTR) values similar to those of starch–PVOH layers without plasticizer. The adhesion of PE to pre‐coated paperboard decreased when a plasticizer was added to the pre‐coating recipes. PE extrusion coating resulted in a reduction in the OTR in the case of pre‐coating formulations containing plasticizers. A lower OTR after polyethylene extrusion was observed with PEG as plasticizer than with CA as plasticizer. This could be explained by the increase in brittleness due to cross‐linking under the high temperature load during the extrusion process. Dynamic mechanical analysis of the films showed a substantial increase in storage modulus between 100°C and 200°C for CA‐containing starch–PVOH films. The contact angle of diiodomethane on the pre‐coating layer decreased when a plasticizer was added to the coating recipe indicating an increase in wetting of the PE melt. Addition of PEG to the pre‐coating led to a greater wetting than the addition of CA, and this may have sealed some defects in the pre‐coating leading to lower OTR values.
3D diffusion in terrain‐following coordinates: testing and stability of horizontally explicit, vertically implicit discretizations
Authors: Baldauf Michael , Brdar Slavko
Published: April 2016

A numerical discretization of the three‐dimensional (3D) diffusion equation for the scalar case and the vector case (i.e. for the momentum equation) in terrain‐following coordinates on the sphere is described. The discretization uses the horizontally explicit–vertically implicit (HE–VI) approach, which is often applied in atmospheric simulation models. Firstly, a spatially second‐order discretization is proposed, which treats the metric terms of the terrain‐following coordinates in a stable manner even for very steep terrain. A von Neumann stability analysis calculates the maximum stable diffusion Courant number for different implicitness weights as a function of slope angle and grid anisotropy. Secondly, simple analytic solutions of the diffusion equation for both scalar and vector cases are proposed for testing and validation purposes. The implementations in the two atmospheric model systems Icosahedral Non‐hydrostatic (ICON) (global) and Consortium for Small‐scale Modelling (COSMO) (regional) are compared against these exact solutions.
Changes to intrinsic weather forecast uncertainty in one scenario of extreme future climate
Authors: McLay J. G. , Reynolds C. A. , Satterfield E. , Hodyss D.
Published: April 2016

Future extreme climate scenarios may harbour flows that have notably different intrinsic uncertainty from those of the present day. Here, ensemble perturbation analysis is used to explore this possibility for tropospheric flow on weather time‐scales for a climate scenario from the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Community Climate Modeling System version 4 (CCSM4). Statistically significant changes are found in terms of basic uncertainty metrics including ensemble‐average perturbation total energy, ensemble variance, and the growth rate of perturbation total energy and ensemble variance. Strong seasonal, geographic, and vertical variation in the changes are observed. For the winter season, the poles and the jet levels are regions that exhibit notable increases in ensemble uncertainty under the extreme scenario. These increases are accompanied in some cases by substantially larger peak growth rates. For the summer season, there are prominent increases in uncertainty under the extreme scenario in terms of moist metrics. Meanwhile, there are noteworthy reductions in uncertainty for many synoptic variables. These changes in uncertainty properties are accompanied by significant changes in measures of both baroclinic and convective flow stability. Collectively, the results suggest the changes in intrinsic uncertainty under the extreme climate scenario have a fairly nuanced character. Since the CCSM4 exhibits one of the lowest climate sensitivities of available climate models, the results define a conservative estimate of the changes to intrinsic uncertainty that might be expected from extreme climate change.
A high‐resolution regional reanalysis for Europe. Part 2: 2D analysis of surface temperature, precipitation and wind
Authors: Landelius T. , Dahlgren P. , Gollvik S. , Jansson A. , Olsson E.
Published: April 2016

The set‐up and performance of the regional reanalysis for Europe with the HIgh‐Resolution Limited‐Area Model (HIRLAM) to a 3D grid‐mesh with 22 km resolution for the years 1989–2010 have been presented in Part 1. This part describes how the 3D dataset is further downscaled and used as input for an analysis of a number of surface‐related parameters: 2 m temperature, minimum and maximum daily temperatures, 10 m wind, and daily precipitation. The analysis is done on a 2D grid‐mesh with 5 km grid spacing using the MESoscale ANalysis system (MESAN) for temperature and precipitation and a dynamical adaptation method (DYNAD) for the 10 m wind.

Results from MESAN and DYNAD are compared with observations and the HIRLAM 3D‐Var reanalysis. A couple of cases with severe weather are studied to illustrate how such events are represented in the analyses. The comparisons show statistically significant added value in comparison to the HIRLAM reanalysis.
Impact of arts education on children's learning and wider outcomes
Authors: See Beng Huat , Kokotsaki Dimitra
Published: April 2016

Almost every educational system in the world regards numeracy and literacy as more important than the arts. In the UK arts interest groups and politicians have, for years, asked for arts education to be accorded the same priority arguing that arts contribute to learning and development of useful skills. It is not clear if these claims were based on evidence. The aim of this review is to examine international empirical evidence to establish whether arts participation could lead to improvements in children's learning and other wider outcomes, and to identify arts activities with the best evidence of success. A search of 11 databases identified 76,195 reports, of which 200 were included for analysis. No studies with high levels of supporting evidence were found because of serious weaknesses in design. Tentative evidence suggests that music training and integrating drama in the classroom may have beneficial effects. This finding has to be taken with caution because of weaknesses in these studies, the lack of replication and inconsistent findings across studies. More robust and rigorous evaluations are needed to test the causal links. However, if improving attainment is the aim then arts may not be the solution. Promising programmes already exist that can boost learning. Given the lack of evidence so far, perhaps we should think more broadly about the purpose of arts.
Context and Implications Document for: Impact of arts education on children's learning and wider outcomes
Authors: See Beng Huat , Kokotsaki Dimitra
Published: April 2016

This guide accompanies the following article: Beng Huat See and Dimitra Kokotsaki, Impact of arts education on children's learning and wider outcomes, Review of Education, DOI:10.1002/rev3.3070
Multi‐parametric extremum seeking‐based iterative feedback gains tuning for nonlinear control
Authors: Benosman Mouhacine
Published: April 2016

We study in this paper the problem of iterative feedback gains auto‐tuning for a class of nonlinear systems. For the class of input–output linearizable nonlinear systems with bounded additive uncertainties, we first design a nominal input–output linearization‐based robust controller that ensures global uniform boundedness of the output tracking error dynamics. Then, we complement the robust controller with a model‐free multi‐parametric extremum seeking control to iteratively auto‐tune the feedback gains. We analyze the stability of the whole controller, that is, the robust nonlinear controller combined with the multi‐parametric extremum seeking model‐free learning algorithm. We use numerical tests to demonstrate the performance of this method on a mechatronics example. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Web-Based, Pictograph-Formatted Discharge Instructions for Low-Literacy Older Adults After Hip Replacement Surgery: Findings of End-User Evaluation of the Website
Authors: Choi Jeungok , Jacelon Cynthia S. , Kalmakis Karen A.
Published: April 2016

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to develop web-based, pictograph-formatted discharge instructions and evaluate the website with intended users to maximize the relevance and clarity of the website.

Design:

A descriptive study.

Methods:

Low-literacy text and 45 sets of pictographs were implemented in web-based instructions. The content, design, function, and navigation of the website were reviewed by 15 low-literate older adults following hip replacement surgery.

Findings:

Participants observed that the simple line drawings with clear background were well suited to web pages and helped to convey the points made. They also suggested changes such as adding an additional alphabetical index menu to enhance easy navigation and removing hypertext links to avoid distraction.

Conclusions:

Web-based, pictograph-formatted discharge instructions were well received by low-literate older adults, who perceived the website easy to use and understand.

Clinical Relevance:

A pictograph-formatted approach may provide effective strategies to promote understanding of lengthy, complex action-based discharge instructions in rehabilitation facilities.
The combined occluding effect of sodium fluoride varnish and Nd:YAG laser irradiation on dentinal tubules—A CLSM and SEM study
Authors: Tosun Samet , Culha Emre , Aydin Ugur , Ozsevik Abdul Semih
Published: April 2016

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the dentinal tubule occlusion potential and penetration of Clinpro® White Varnish (5% sodium fluoride + tri‐calcium phosphate) in the presence or absence of Nd:YAG laser. Seventy‐five dentin samples collected from 38 freshly extracted human molars were randomly divided into five groups (n = 15). Groups A, B, D, and E were varnished with Clinpro, whereas group C (no treatment) served as the control group. Groups B and E were further irradiated with Nd:YAG laser (1.5 W, 10 Hz, 1 min). All study groups were subjected to pH cycling (kept in 0.3% citric acid 5 min/day for 5 days). Groups A, B, and C were evaluated for tubule occlusion using scanning electron microscopy. Groups D and E were evaluated for penetration with confocal laser scanning microscopy (SEM). Non‐parametric Kruskall–Wallis and Dunn's statistical tests were used for analysis of SEM results. The penetration depths were analyzed with one‐way ANOVA followed by Fisher's Least Significant Difference tests. Tubular occlusion of groups A and B were significantly greater than group C (p < 0.05). Tubular occlusion of group B were significantly greater than group A (p < 0.05). Penetration depth for group D was significantly greater than group E (p < 0.05). Laser application improved the tubular occlusion capacity of Clinpro. Contrary, laser reduced the penetration of Clinpro. SCANNING 38:619–624, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Building Cultural Capital in ­First‐Year ­Students at ­Residential Colleges and ­Universities
Authors: Sinclair Matthew S. , Erb Natalee M. , Braxton John M.
Published: April 2016

College student persistence continues to be a vexing problem for colleges and universities. In Rethinking College Student Persistence (2014), Braxton, Doyle, Hartley, Hirshy, Jones, and McLendon explored the indirect role between cultural capital and first‐year student persistence. The significance of this role becomes more important when one considers the impact first‐year persistence has on the likelihood of graduation. The current article begins with an exploration of the indirect role of cultural capital in the persistence of first‐year students, then shifts focus to examining currently‐implemented practices and procedures at colleges and universities that are explicitly or implicitly designed to facilitate the development of cultural capital. These practices are recommended for institutions seeking to increase first‐year persistence, especially primarily residential institutions.
Balancing Data, Time, and Expectations: The Complex Decision‐­Making Environment of Enrollment Management
Authors: Johnson Adam W.
Published: April 2016

As a growing entity within higher education organizational structures, enrollment managers (EMs) are primarily tasked with projecting, recruiting, and retaining the student population of their campuses. Enrollment managers are expected by institutional presidents as well as through industry standards to make data‐driven planning decisions to reach their goals. However, despite the availability of data, some enrollment managers revealed a different reality from traditional, rational decision‐making models. This study explored the factors that contributed to or influenced the decision‐making process of six enrollment managers working in either two‐ or four‐year public colleges and universities located in the Midwestern United States. Interviews, including a word association exercise, documents and artifacts of tools utilized to make enrollment management ecisions, and observational field notes were gathered and analyzed in this qualitative study grounded in constructionism. Using the theories of Bounded Rationality and the Garbage Can model as lenses, EMs in this study seemed to reflect a highly stressful, competitive, and complex environment where rational decision‐making gave way to satisficing, or “good‐enough” decisions as expectations to meet enrollment goals governed their motives. Decisions also appeared to be closely associated to the Garbage Can Model due to the ambiguity of goal setting and the mixture of participants, problems, and solutions where temporal proximity appeared to be more of a factor in terms of what received attention first. With multiple interruptions into an EM's daily schedule, the ability for the enrollment manager to maintain consistent efforts on desired projects and plans was severely hindered. Enrollment managers in this study shared through multiple examples that they did not feel they had enough time to accomplish their tasks as thoroughly as they preferred and often addressed their problems without full consideration of all possible options, much less the optimal one.
A conditional approach for modelling patient readmissions to hospital using a mixture of Coxian phase‐type distributions incorporating Bayes' theorem
Authors: Gordon Andrew S. , Marshall Adele H. , Cairns Karen J.
Published: April 2016

The number of elderly patients requiring hospitalisation in Europe is rising. With a greater proportion of elderly people in the population comes a greater demand for health services and, in particular, hospital care. Thus, with a growing number of elderly patients requiring hospitalisation competing with non‐elderly patients for a fixed (and in some cases, decreasing) number of hospital beds, this results in much longer waiting times for patients, often with a less satisfactory hospital experience. However, if a better understanding of the recurring nature of elderly patient movements between the community and hospital can be developed, then it may be possible for alternative provisions of care in the community to be put in place and thus prevent readmission to hospital. The research in this paper aims to model the multiple patient transitions between hospital and community by utilising a mixture of conditional Coxian phase‐type distributions that incorporates Bayes' theorem. For the purpose of demonstration, the results of a simulation study are presented and the model is applied to hospital readmission data from the Lombardy region of Italy. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Bayesian adaptive design for estimating the maximum tolerated dose curve using drug combinations in cancer phase I clinical trials
Authors: Tighiouart Mourad , Li Quanlin , Rogatko André
Published: April 2016

We present a cancer phase I clinical trial design of a combination of two drugs with the goal of estimating the maximum tolerated dose curve in the two‐dimensional Cartesian plane. A parametric model is used to describe the relationship between the doses of the two agents and the probability of dose limiting toxicity. The model is re‐parameterized in terms of the probabilities of toxicities at dose combinations corresponding to the minimum and maximum doses available in the trial and the interaction parameter. Trial design proceeds using cohorts of two patients receiving doses according to univariate escalation with overdose control (EWOC), where at each stage of the trial, we seek a dose of one agent using the current posterior distribution of the MTD of this agent given the current dose of the other agent. The maximum tolerated dose curve is estimated as a function of Bayes estimates of the model parameters. Performance of the trial is studied by evaluating its design operating characteristics in terms of safety of the trial and percent of dose recommendation at dose combination neighborhoods around the true MTD curve and under model misspecifications for the true dose–toxicity relationship. The method is further extended to accommodate discrete dose combinations and compared with previous approaches under several scenarios. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Trauma‐Related Context Increases Sleep Disturbances in People with Acute Stress Disorder Symptoms
Authors: Grossman Ephraim S. , Hoffman Yaakov S. G. , Shrira Amit
Published: April 2016

In this study, we addressed how sleep is related to acute stress disorder (ASD) symptoms, and how the presence of a trauma related‐context moderates this relationship. This study (N = 140) was carried out during the 2014 Israel–Gaza conflict, during which 70% of Israelis were exposed to missile attacks. Findings show that participants with clinical ASD symptom levels reported more sleep disturbances than participants without clinical ASD symptom levels. More critically, this effect was only evident among respondents who had a reinforced security room in their houses. While reinforced security rooms offer protection against indirect missile damage, their relevance is salient in negative traumatic situations, which individuals with a clinical level of ASD are more sensitive to. Conversely, in houses without a reinforced security room, there was no difference in subjective sleep reports between individuals with or without clinical levels of ASD symptoms. Results are discussed in reference to trauma being activated by context and the ensuing effects on sleep. Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nano‐Sized Sunflower Polycations As Effective Gene Transfer Vehicles
Authors: Cheng Yilong , Wei Hua , Tan James‐Kevin Y. , Peeler David J. , Maris Don O. , Sellers Drew L. , Horner Philip J. , Pun Suzie H.
Published: April 2016

The architecture of polycations plays an important role in both gene transfection efficiency and cytotoxicity. In this work, a new polymer, sunflower poly(2‐dimethyl amino)ethyl methacrylate) (pDMAEMA), is prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization and employed as nucleic acid carriers compared to linear pDMAEMA homopolymer and comb pDMAEMA. The sunflower pDMAEMAs show higher IC50, greater buffering capacity, and stronger binding capacity toward plasmid DNA than their linear and comb counterparts. In vitro transfection studies demonstrate that sunflower pDMAEMAs exhibit high transfection efficiency as well as relatively low cytotoxicity in complete growth medium. In vivo gene delivery by intraventricular injection to the brain shows that sunflower polymer delivers plasmid DNA more effectively than comb polymer. This study provides a new insight into the relationship between polymeric architecture and gene delivery capability, and as well as a useful means to design potent vectors for successful gene delivery.
Rutile Nanorod/Anatase Nanowire Junction Array as Both Sensor and Power Supplier for High‐Performance, Self‐Powered, Wireless UV Photodetector
Authors: Yu Xin , Zhao Zhenhuan , Zhang Jian , Guo Weibo , Qiu Jichuan , Li Deshuai , Li Zhou , Mou Xiaoning , Li Linlin , Li Aixue , Liu Hong
Published: April 2016

Self‐powered UV photodetectors based on TiO2 nanotree arrays have captured much attention in recent years because of their many advantages. In this work, rutile/anatase TiO2 (R/A‐TiO2) heterostructured nanotree arrays are fabricated by assembling anatase nanowires as branches on rutile nanorods. External quantum efficiencies as high as 90% are reached at 325 nm. These high quantum efficiencies are related to the higher amount of light harvesting due to the larger surface area, the better separation ability of the photogenerated carriers by the rutile/anatase heterostructure, and the faster electron transport, related to the 1D nanostructure and lattice connection at the interface of the two kinds of TiO2. Furthermore, a self‐powered wireless UV photodetector is shown with excellent wireless detection performance. Such devices will enable significant advances for next‐generation photodetection and photosensing applications.
Graphene Emerges as a Versatile Template for Materials Preparation
Authors: Li Zhengjie , Wu Sida , Lv Wei , Shao Jiao‐Jing , Kang Feiyu , Yang Quan‐Hong
Published: April 2016

Graphene and its derivatives are emerging as a class of novel but versatile templates for the controlled preparation and functionalization of materials. In this paper a conceptual review on graphene‐based templates is given, highlighting their versatile roles in materials preparation. Graphene is capable of acting as a low‐dimensional hard template, where its two‐dimensional morphology directs the formation of novel nanostructures. Graphene oxide and other functionalized graphenes are amphiphilic and may be seen as soft templates for formatting the growth or inducing the controlled assembly of nanostructures. In addition, nanospaces in restacked graphene can be used for confining the growth of sheet‐like nanostructures, and assemblies of interlinked graphenes can behave either as skeletons for the formation of composite materials or as sacrificial templates for novel materials with a controlled network structure. In summary, flexible graphene and its derivatives together with an increasing number of assembled structures show great potentials as templates for materials production. Many challenges remain, for example precise structural control of such novel templates and the removal of the non‐functional remaining templates.
Epitaxial Growth of Lattice‐Mismatched Core–Shell TiO2@MoS2 for Enhanced Lithium‐Ion Storage
Authors: Dai Rui , Zhang Anqi , Pan Zhichang , Al‐Enizi Abdullah M. , Elzatahry Ahmed A. , Hu Linfeng , Zheng Gengfeng
Published: April 2016

Core–shell structured nanohybrids are currently of significant interest due to their synergetic properties and enhanced performances. However, the restriction of lattice mismatch remains a severe obstacle for heterogrowth of various core–shells with two distinct crystal structures. Herein, a controlled synthesis of lattice‐mismatched core–shell TiO2@MoS2 nano‐onion heterostructures is successfully developed, using unilamellar Ti0.87O2 nanosheets as the starting material and the subsequent epitaxial growth of MoS2 on TiO2. The formation of these core–shell nano‐onions is attributed to an amorphous layer‐induced heterogrowth mechanism. The number of MoS2 layers can be well tuned from few to over ten layers, enabling layer‐dependent synergistic effects. The core–shell TiO2@MoS2 nano‐onion heterostructures exhibit significantly enhanced energy storage performance as lithium‐ion battery anodes. The approach has also been extended to other lattice‐mismatched systems such as TiO2@MoSe2, thus suggesting a new strategy for the growth of well‐designed lattice‐mismatched core–shell structures.
Reactive Oxygen‐Doped 3D Interdigital Carbonaceous Materials for Li and Na Ion Batteries
Authors: Fan Ling , Lu Bingan
Published: April 2016

Carbonaceous materials as anodes usually exhibit low capacity for lithium ion batteries (LIBs) and sodium ion batteries (SIBs). Oxygen‐doped carbonaceous materials have the potential of high capacity and super rate performance. However, up to now, the reported oxygen‐doped carbonaceous materials usually exhibit inferior electrochemical performance. To overcome this problem, a high reactive oxygen‐doped 3D interdigital porous carbonaceous material is designed and synthesized through epitaxial growth method and used as anodes for LIBs and SIBs. It delivers high reversible capacity, super rate performance, and long cycling stability (473 mA h g−1after 500 cycles for LIBs and 223 mA h g−1 after 1200 cycles for SIBs, respectively, at the current density of 1000 mA g−1), with a capacity decay of 0.0214% per cycle for LIBs and 0.0155% per cycle for SIBs. The results demonstrate that constructing 3D interdigital porous structure with reactive oxygen functional groups can significantly enhance the electrochemical performance of oxygen‐doped carbonaceous material.
Generalized Tikhonov regularization in estimation of ordinary differential equations models
Authors: Vujačić Ivan , Mahmoudi Seyed Mahdi , Wit Ernst
Published: April 2016

We consider estimation of parameters in models defined by systems of ordinary differential equations (ODEs). This problem is important because many processes in different fields of science are modelled by systems of ODEs. Various estimation methods based on smoothing have been suggested to bypass numerical integration of the ODE system. In this paper, we do not propose another method based on smoothing but show how some of the existing ones can be brought together under one unifying framework. The framework is based on generalized Tikhonov regularization and extremum estimation. We define an approximation of the ODE solution by viewing the system of ODEs as an operator equation and exploiting the connection with regularization theory. Combining the introduced regularized solution with an extremum criterion function provides a general framework for estimating parameters in ODEs, which can handle partially observed systems. If the extremum criterion function is the negative log‐likelihood, then suitable regularized solutions yield estimators that are consistent and asymptotically efficient. The well‐known generalized profiling procedure fits into the proposed framework. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Rapid determination of the crude starch content of Coix seed and comparing the pasting and textural properties of the starches
Authors: Liu Xing , Zhang Bao , Xu Jun‐Hua , Mao Dan‐Zhuo , Yang Yong‐Jian , Wang Zheng‐Wu
Published: April 2016

The feasibility of near‐infrared (NIR) spectroscopy for rapidly determining crude starch in different Coix seed varieties (big Coix seed (BCS), small Coix seed (SCS), and translucent Coix seed (TCS)) was investigated. The physicochemical properties of the starches were compared. Partial least‐squares regression (PLSR) was applied to establish quantitative models. Competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS) and genetic algorithms were used as variable selection methods, and the results showed CARS‐PLSR had the best performances. The BCS and SCS starches had higher water‐binding capacity, swelling power, solubility, relative crystallinity, peak viscosity, breakdown, hardness, and springiness than those of TCS starch. All these differences resulted from the amylose content and interactions between the amylose and the other components. These results suggest that the NIR spectral technique has the potential to determine crude starch in Coix seed, and the properties of three Coix seed starches are differently ascribed to cultivar variation.