bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of the isothermal crystallization method on amorphous block copolymers of aromatic polyamides and their packing behavior in two‐dimensional films for screening of potential crystallization ability
Authors: Shidara Yusaku , Yunoki Takeru , Miura Shuntaro , Shibasaki Yuji , Fujimori Atsuhiro
Published: December 2017

The crystalline packing of polymers with high tendencies to form amorphous materials has been attained by controlling intermolecular interactions. Block copolymers of aromatic polyamides in which hydrogen‐bonding moieties are sparing and mostly substituted easily form amorphous materials because of steric hindrance and weak intermolecular affinities. Block copolymers of aromatic polyamides synthesized from 4‐(N‐methylamino)benzoic acid, terephthalic acid chloride, and poly(propylene glycol)bis(2‐aminopropyl ether) are commonly amorphous, regardless of unit length. Despite these copolymers not having distinct hydrophobic groups along the alkyl chain, aromatic rings in the same plane could be packed by π–π stacking by the method of two‐dimensional interfacial molecular films. The hard segment responsible for the c‐axis length increased the tilted angle depending on the chain length; as a result, the chain length was not dependent on the long spacing value. Actually, the layered period in organized films of aromatic polyamides did not depend on the segment length and always indicated a constant value. Isothermal crystallization was attempted for block copolymers of aromatic polyamides exhibiting potential packing ability by the method of organized molecular films. The analyzed glass transition temperature of the oligomer corresponding only to the block unit was adopted as the crystallization temperature. All amorphous polyamides used in this study crystallized after 24 h. A monoclinic packing structure and interactions between the few remaining hydrogen‐bonding moieties were suggested by a reciprocal lattice analysis. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 58:2019–2030, 2018. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers
Crystallization kinetics of poly(ethylene oxide) confined in semicrystalline poly(vinylidene) fluoride
Authors: Tamaño‐Machiavello Maria Noel , Costa Carlos Miguel , Romero‐Colomer Francisco José , María Meseguer Dueñas José , Lanceros‐Mendez Senentxu , Luis Gómez Ribelles José
Published: December 2017

Polymer blends based on poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) have been prepared to analyze the crystallization kinetics of poly(ethylene oxide) confined in semicrystalline PVDF with different ratios of both polymers. Both blend components were dissolved in a common solvent, dimethyl formamide. Blend films were obtained by casting from the solution at 70 °C. Thus, PVDF crystals are formed by crystallization from the solution while PEO (which is in the liquid state during the whole process) is confined between PVDF crystallites. The kinetics of crystallization of the confined PEO phase was studied by isothermal and nonisothermal experiments. Fitting of Avrami model to the experimental DSC traces allows a quantitative comparison of the influence of the PVDF/PEO ratio in the blend on the crystallization behavior. The effect of melting and further recrystallization of the PVDF matrix on PEO confinement is also studied. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2018, 56, 588–597
Small‐angle X‐ray and neutron scattering demonstrates that cell‐free expression produces properly formed disc‐shaped nanolipoprotein particles
Authors: Cleveland Thomas E. , He Wei , Evans Angela C. , Fischer Nicholas O. , Lau Edmond Y. , Coleman Matthew A. , Butler Paul
Published: December 2017

Nanolipoprotein particles (NLPs), composed of membrane scaffold proteins and lipids, have been used to support membrane proteins in a native‐like bilayer environment for biochemical and structural studies. Traditionally, these NLPs have been prepared by the controlled removal of detergent from a detergent‐solubilized protein‐lipid mixture. Recently, an alternative method has been developed using direct cell‐free expression of the membrane scaffold protein in the presence of preformed lipid vesicles, which spontaneously produces NLPs without the need for detergent at any stage. Using SANS/SAXS, we show here that NLPs produced by this cell‐free expression method are structurally indistinguishable from those produced using detergent removal methodologies. This further supports the utility of single step cell‐free methods for the production of lipid binding proteins. In addition, detailed structural information describing these NLPs can be obtained by fitting a capped core‐shell cylinder type model to all SANS/SAXS data simultaneously.
AlGaN Light‐Emitting Diodes on AlN Substrates Emitting at 230 nm
Authors: Moe Craig G. , Sugiyama Sho , Kasai Jumpei , Grandusky James R. , Schowalter Leo J.
Published: December 2017

Light‐emitting diodes with emission wavelengths between 230 and 240 nm are grown on AlN substrates and characterized optically and electrically. Optimized doping of the n‐AlGaN with Si has resulted in a mean forward voltage at 200 mA of 9 V. The electroluminescence spectra is demonstrated to be free of long wavelength parasitic emission. An envelope function in the output power versus peak wavelength is shown, demonstrating the increasing dominance of in‐plane emission at shorter wavelengths as light extraction becomes more difficult. However, variations in device structure show that further optimization of the structure for carrier confinement and injection efficiency are also able to push performance beyond the current state of the art.
Accelerated pseudospectral basis in density functional calculations
Authors: Kidd Daniel , Pearson Bailey , Covington Cody , Varga Kálmán
Published: December 2017

Sum‐accelerated pseudospectral methods herein are used to describe the kinetic energy matrix within density functional theory descriptions of few‐atom systems. The resulting energies are compared to the conventional finite difference results. It is demonstrated that the sum‐acceleration allows for significantly improved scaling with respect to the grid step size and matrix bandwidth while maintaining a computational speed equivalent with that of the finite difference description. In addition, analytical expressions for the pseudopotential matrix elements are introduced to alleviate the eggbox effect—the dependence of the energy on the relative position of the atoms and grid points.
Stepping across for social approval: Ties to independent foundations' boards after financial restatement
Authors: Lungeanu Razvan , Paruchuri Srikanth , Tsai Wenpin
Published: December 2017

Research Summary: Integrating research on independent philanthropy and organizational misconduct, we argue that affiliations with independent foundations provide social approval benefits for firms that restate their financials. We use a panel of S&P 500 companies from 2004 to 2011 to investigate the addition of foundation board ties by restating firms. CEOs of restating firms add more new foundation board ties than CEOs of non‐restating firms, while existing corporate philanthropy and greater corporate reputation diminish this effect. We also find that new ties to foundations boards influences media tenor for restating firms more than it does for non‐restating peers. Our study offers a nuanced analysis of the post‐crisis actions of restating firms relative to non‐restating peers and highlights the relevance of ties to nonprofit boards for corporate governance.

Managerial Summary: Firms oftentimes fire their top executives in the aftermath of misconduct, but such response is itself disruptive for the firm's operations. Instead, we suggest that forging ties to independent foundations can help firms in such contexts without unsettling effects. Our results show that, after a restatement event, CEOs of misconduct firms are especially likely to join new foundation boards as trustees and thus seem to be aware of the benefits of these associations. CEOs from firms with existing in‐house philanthropy or a high reputation do not join as many new foundations' boards of trustees. We also find that new firm‐foundation links are promptly and positively evaluated by the media, thus helping misconduct firms regain social approval.
Toward a behavioral theory of real options: Noisy signals, bias, and learning
Authors: Posen Hart E. , Leiblein Michael J. , Chen John S.
Published: December 2017

Research Summary: We develop a behavioral theory of real options that relaxes the informational and behavioral assumptions underlying applications of financial options theory to real assets. To do so, we augment real option theory's focus on uncertain future asset values (prospective uncertainty) with feedback learning theory that considers uncertain current asset values (contemporaneous uncertainty). This enables us to incorporate behavioral bias in the feedback learning process underlying the option execution/termination decision. The resulting computational model suggests that firms that inappropriately account for contemporaneous uncertainty and are subject to learning biases may experience substantial downside risk in undertaking real options. Moreover, contrary to the standard option result, greater uncertainty may decrease option value, making commitment to an investment path more effective than remaining flexible.

Managerial Summary: Executives recognize the need to make uncertain investments to grow their business while mitigating downside risk. The analogy between financial options and real corporate investments provides an appealing method to consider the practical challenge of such investment decisions. Unfortunately, the “real options” analogy seems to break down in practice. We identify how a second form of uncertainty confounds real options intuition, leading managers to overestimate the value of uncertain investments. We present a behavioral real options model that accounts for both forms of uncertainty and suggest how uncertainty interacts with behavioral bias in the option execution/termination decision. Our model facilitates assessment of the conditions under which investments in uncertain opportunities are usefully considered as real options, and provides a means to evaluate their attractiveness.
Who does private equity buy? Evidence on the role of private equity from buyouts of divested businesses
Authors: Kaul Aseem , Nary Paul , Singh Harbir
Published: December 2017

Research Summary: We examine the role of nonventure private equity firms in the market for divested businesses, comparing targets bought by such firms to those bought by corporate acquirers. We argue that a combination of vigilant monitoring, high‐powered incentives, patient capital, and business independence makes private equity firms uniquely suited to correcting underinvestment problems in public corporations, and that they will therefore systematically target divested businesses that are outside their parents’ core area, whose rivals invest more in long‐term strategic assets than their parents, and whose parents have weak managerial incentives both overall and at the divisional level. Results from a sample of 1,711 divestments confirm these predictions. Our study contributes to our understanding of private equity ownership, highlighting its advantage as an alternate governance form.

Managerial Summary: Private equity firms are often portrayed as destroyers of corporate value, raiding established companies in pursuit of short‐term gain. In contrast, we argue that private equity investors help to revitalize businesses by enabling investments in long‐term strategic resources and capabilities that they are better able to evaluate, monitor, and support than public market investors. Consistent with these arguments, we find that when acquiring businesses divested by public corporations, private equity firms are more likely to buy units outside the parent's core area, those whose peers invest more in R&D than their parents, and those whose parents have weak managerial incentives, especially at the divisional level. Thus, private equity firms systematically target those businesses that may fail to realize their full potential under public ownership.
The differential effects of CEO narcissism and hubris on corporate social responsibility
Authors: Tang Yi , Mack Daniel Z. , Chen Guoli
Published: December 2017

Research Summary: While prior studies have predominantly shown that CEO narcissism and hubris exhibit similar effects on various strategic decisions and outcomes, this study aims to explore the mechanisms underlying how narcissistic versus hubristic CEOs affect their firms differently. Specifically, we investigate how peer influence moderates the CEO narcissism/hubris—corporate social responsibility (CSR). With a sample of S&P 1500 firms for 2003–2010, we find that the positive relationship between CEO narcissism and CSR is strengthened (weakened) when board‐interlocked peer firms invest less (more) intensively in CSR than a CEO's own firm; the negative relationship between CEO hubris and CSR is strengthened when peer firms are engaged in less CSR than a CEO's own firm.

Managerial Summary: Some CEOs are more narcissistic while others may be more hubristic, but these two groups of CEOs hold different attitudes toward the extent to which their firms should engage in corporate social responsibility (CSR). Our findings with a large sample of U.S. publically listed firms suggest that narcissistic CEOs care more about CSR, but hubristic CEOs care less. Interestingly, when narcissistic CEOs observe their peer firms engaging in more or less CSR than their own firms, they tend to respond in an opposite manner; in contrast, hubristic CEOs will only engage in even less CSR when their peers also do not emphasize CSR. Our findings point to a fundamental difference between CEO narcissism and hubris in terms of how they affect firms' CSR decisions based on their social comparison with peer firms.
Nanocomposite Materials for the Sodium–Ion Battery: A Review
Authors: Liang Yaru , Lai Wei‐Hong , Miao Zongcheng , Chou Shu‐Lei
Published: December 2017

Clean energy has become an important topic in recent decades because of the serious global issues related to the development of energy, such as environmental contamination, and the intermittence of the traditional energy sources. Creating new battery‐related energy storage facilities is an urgent subject for human beings to address and for solutions for the future. Compared with lithium‐based batteries, sodium–ion batteries have become the new focal point in the competition for clean energy solutions and have more potential for commercialization due to the huge natural abundance of sodium. Nevertheless, sodium–ion batteries still exhibit some challenges, like inferior electrochemical performance caused by the bigger ionic size of Na+ ions, the detrimental volume expansion, and the low conductivity of the active materials. To solve these issues, nanocomposites have recently been applied as a new class of electrodes to enhance the electrochemical performance in sodium batteries based on advantages that include the size effect, high stability, and excellent conductivity. In this Review, the recent development of nanocomposite materials applied in sodium–ion batteries is summarized, and the existing challenges and the potential solutions are presented.
Dual‐Phase CsPbBr3–CsPb2Br5 Perovskite Thin Films via Vapor Deposition for High‐Performance Rigid and Flexible Photodetectors
Authors: Tong Guoqing , Li Huan , Li Danting , Zhu Zhifeng , Xu Enze , Li Guopeng , Yu Linwei , Xu Jun , Jiang Yang
Published: December 2017

Inorganic perovskites with special semiconducting properties and structures have attracted great attention and are regarded as next generation candidates for optoelectronic devices. Herein, using a physical vapor deposition process with a controlled excess of PbBr2, dual‐phase all‐inorganic perovskite composite CsPbBr3–CsPb2Br5 thin films are prepared as light‐harvesting layers and incorporated in a photodetector (PD). The PD has a high responsivity and detectivity of 0.375 A W−1 and 1011 Jones, respectively, and a fast response time (from 10% to 90% of the maximum photocurrent) of ≈280 µs/640 µs. The device also shows an excellent stability in air for more than 65 d without encapsulation. Tetragonal CsPb2Br5 provides satisfactory passivation to reduce the recombination of the charge carriers, and with its lower free energy, it enhances the stability of the inorganic perovskite devices. Remarkably, the same inorganic perovskite photodetector is also highly flexible and exhibits an exceptional bending performance (>1000 cycles). These results highlight the great potential of dual‐phase inorganic perovskite films in the development of optoelectronic devices, especially for flexible device applications.
Direct Observation of the Growth of Lithium Dendrites on Graphite Anodes by Operando EC‐AFM
Authors: Shen Cai , Hu Guohong , Cheong Ling‐Zhi , Huang Shiqiang , Zhang Ji‐Guang , Wang Deyu
Published: December 2017

Lithium dendrite growth is one of the most challenging problems affecting the safety performance of lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). It causes low Coulombic efficiency as well as safety hazards for LIBs. Understanding the evolution process of Li‐dendrite growth at the nanoscale is critical for solving this problem. Herein, an in situ electrochemical atomic force microscopy (EC‐AFM) investigation of the initial Li deposition in ethylene carbonate (EC)‐based and fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC)‐based electrolytes on graphite anodes is reported. These results show that the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formed from the FEC‐based electrolyte can suppress Li‐dendrite growth. The FEC‐based electrolyte induces formation of LiF‐rich SEI films, which are harder and denser than those formed in an EC‐based electrolyte. Due to its better mechanical properties and larger resistance, the SEI layer formed from the FEC‐based electrolyte is sufficient to prevent reduction of Li+ ions and deposition of Li+ ions on the anode surface. These results demonstrate that EC‐AFM is a powerful in situ technique for the study of lithium‐dendrite growth.
Influence of adenomyosis on pregnancy and perinatal outcomes in women with endometriosis
Authors: Scala C. , Maggiore U. Leone Roberti , Racca A. , Barra F. , Vellone V. G. , Venturini P. L. , Ferrero S.
Published: December 2017

Objectives

Several studies have investigated the correlation between endometriosis and adverse pregnancy and perinatal outcomes. However, the role of adenomyosis as a risk factor for adverse perinatal outcome in women with endometriosis has yet to be established. The aim of this study was to explore if fetal and maternal outcomes, in particular the incidence of a small‐for‐gestational‐age (SGA) infant, are different in pregnant women with endometriosis only from in those with the concomitant presence of diffuse or focal adenomyosis.

Methods

This was a retrospective analysis of data collected prospectively during a 3‐year period. We included 206 pregnant women with endometriosis: 148 (71.8%) with endometriosis only, 38 (18.4%) with focal adenomyosis and 20 (9.7%) with diffuse adenomyosis. Adenomyosis was diagnosed using ultrasonography and was classified as focal or diffuse. The study included patients who conceived spontaneously or by an assisted reproductive technique. Demographics, ultrasound variables and outcome were compared between women with endometriosis only and those with diffuse and those with focal adenomyosis. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the association of variables with SGA at birth in women with diffuse and those with focal adenomyosis.

Results

The three groups were similar in demographic characteristics (age, body mass index, mode of conception). Patients with diffuse adenomyosis compared with those with endometriosis only had significantly lower pregnancy‐associated plasma protein A (0.61 vs 0.88 multiple of the median, P < 0.001), higher mean uterine artery pulsatility index in the first (2.23 vs 1.67, P < 0.001) and second (1.30 vs 0.94, P < 0.001) trimesters of pregnancy, and higher incidence of SGA (40% vs 10.8%, P < 0.001). No statistically significant differences were found in patients with focal adenomyosis compared with those with endometriosis only. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that diffuse adenomyosis (odds ratio = 3.744; 95% CI, 1.158–12.099; P = 0.027) was the only independent risk factor for SGA.

Conclusions

The presence of diffuse adenomyosis in pregnant women with endometriosis is strongly associated with delivery of a SGA infant. Women with diffuse adenomyosis should be treated as being at high risk of placental dysfunction, and these pregnancies might therefore need closer monitoring. Copyright © 2017 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Engineering Escherichia coli for efficient coproduction of polyhydroxyalkanoates and 5-aminolevulinic acid
Authors: Zhang Xue , Zhang Jian , Xu Jiasheng , Zhao Qian , Wang Qian , Qi Qingsheng
Published: December 2017

Single-cell biorefineries are an interesting strategy for using different components of feedstock to produce multiple high-value biochemicals. In this study, a strategy was applied to refine glucose and fatty acid to produce 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). To express the ALA and PHAs dual-production system efficiently and stably, multiple copies of the poly-β-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) synthesis operon were integrated into the chromosome of Escherichia coli DH5αΔpoxB. The above strain harboring the ALA C5 synthesis pathway genes hemA and hemL resulted in coproduction of 38.2% PHB (cell dry weight, CDW) and 3.2 g/L extracellular ALA. To explore coproduction of ALA and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV), the PHBV synthetic pathway was also integrated into engineered E. coli and coexpressed with hemA and hemL; cells produced 38.9% PHBV (CDW) with 10.3 mol% 3HV fractions and 3.0 g/L ALA. The coproduction of ALA with PHB and PHBV can improve the utilization of carbon sources and maximize the value derived from the feedstock.
Managing Variant Interpretation Discrepancies in Hereditary Cancer: Clinical Practice, Concerns, and Desired Resources
Authors: Zirkelbach Ellen , Hashmi Syed , Ramdaney Aarti , Dunnington Leslie , Ashfaq Myla , Nugent Elizabeth K. , Wilson Kate
Published: December 2017

Variant interpretation is a complex process, and classification may vary between sources. This study aimed to determine the practice of cancer genetic counselors regarding discrepancies in variant interpretation and to identify concerns when counseling these discrepancies. An electronic survey was sent to genetic counselors in the NSGC Cancer Special Interest Group. The vast majority of counselors (93%) had seen a variant interpretation discrepancy in practice. A large majority (96%) of respondents indicated that they conducted their own research on reported variants. Most respondents cited variant databases as the most common resource utilized in researching variants. Approximately 33% of counselors spent 45 min or more of extra time researching a discrepancy compared to researching a variant with a single classification. When asked how they approached counseling sessions involving variant interpretation discrepancies, the free responses emphasized that counselors considered family history, clinical information, and psychosocial concerns, showing that genetic counselors tailored the session to each individual. Discrepancies in variant interpretation are an ongoing concern for clinical cancer genetic counselors, as demonstrated by the fact that counselors desired further resources to aid in addressing these discrepancies, including a centralized database (89%), guidelines from a major organization (88%), continuing education about the issue (74%), and functional studies (58%). Additionally, most respondents reported that the ideal database would be owned by a non‐profit organization (59%) and obtain information directly from laboratories (91%). This investigation was the first to address these discrepancies from a clinical point of view. The study demonstrates that discrepancies in variant interpretation are a concern for clinical cancer genetic counselors and outlines the need for additional support.
An Evidence‐Based, Community‐Engaged Approach to Develop an Interactive Deliberation Tool for Pediatric Neuromuscular Trials
Authors: Moultrie Rebecca R. , Lewis Megan A. , Paquin Ryan S. , Lucas Ann , Jarecki Jill , Peay Holly L.
Published: December 2017

Duchenne/Becker muscular dystrophy (DBMD) and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) are rare neuromuscular disorders that present challenges to therapeutic and clinical trial decision making. We developed an interactive, evidence‐based online tool designed to encourage thoughtful deliberation of the pros and cons of trial participation and to inform meaningful discussions with healthcare providers. Prior research demonstrates the importance of tool availability at the time each family is considering trial participation, which may be prior to the informed consent process. The tool is intended to be easily modified to other pediatric disease communities. Tool development was informed by prior qualitative research, literature reviews, and stakeholder input. Specific items were derived based on an online exploratory questionnaire of parents whose children participated in a trial for DBMD or SMA to understand motivations for participation. Parent participants in the exploratory survey reported strong impact of altruistic and individual benefit motivations and placed much greater emphasis on anticipated trial benefits than on harms when making participation decisions. We used this data to develop the evidence‐based deliberation tool using a community‐engaged approach. We initially targeted the tool for DBMD while using SMA survey data to evaluate ease of transition to that population. We conducted two iterative sets of activities to inform development and refinement of the tool: (1) community engagement of key stakeholders and (2) user experience testing. These activities suggest that the tool may increase deliberation and the weighing of benefits and harms. Ongoing evaluation will determine the acceptability and efficacy of this online intervention.
The severity and spread of adjustment problems of adolescents involved in mutually hostile interactions with others☆
Authors: Stattin Håkan , Latina Delia
Published: December 2017

In the literature, bully‐victims report a wider range of adjustment problems than “pure” bullies or victims. This may not be confined to the school context, but might be found in other settings as well. Involvement in mutually hostile interactions across everyday settings may more reflect adolescents' characteristic way of handling conflicts with others. We used data from a longitudinal study of a community sample of adolescents (N = 992). Cluster analyses for specific everyday settings and across settings yielded clusters high on both exposing others and being exposed to hostility. Adolescents in these clusters, and particularly across settings, reported a wider range of externalizing, internalizing, and academic problems, than adolescents in other cluster groups. Longitudinal analyses showed support for bidirectional relationships between mutually hostile conditions and problematic adjustment. We conclude that adolescents' mutual hostility experiences are associated with profoundly problematic adjustment.
Integrated method of analysis, visualization, and hardware for ship motion simulation
Authors: Ham Seung-Ho , Roh Myung-Il , Zhao Luman
Published: December 2017

Traditionally, graphs were the only way to show the results of ship motion analyses. They did not usually impose any feeling about how fast the ship could move or how large the positions of the ship changed. Currently, integrated simulations combining physics-based analyses with IT technologies, such as virtual reality (VR), motion platforms, or other hardware, can offer a potential solution. In ship motion analyses, the dynamic ship response can be obtained by considering the environmental loads, such as ocean waves, and VR technology can be used to visualize the analysis results in the virtual world. We can see the ship motion relative to textures of real objects, including the water and sky, as if in the real world. The results calculated from the ship motion analysis can also be transferred to the motion platform to generate realistic movements. However, it is not easy to integrate three different technologies in one system because they have different purposes and have been developed individually. To solve this problem, an integrated simulation framework based on three different technologies is proposed. The proposed framework can be used to synchronize the simulation time and exchange the data through the middleware using a standardized data structure. Furthermore, we can easily add new components or remove the existing components in the simulation. To verify the efficiency and applicability of the proposed framework, the motion simulation of a drillship is applied.

Highlights We propose an integrated simulation framework for analysis, visualization, and hardware. Multibody dynamics is used for the motion analysis. We perform the integrated motion simulation of a drillship. The motion analysis, visualization, and motion platform of a drillship are perfectly synchronized.
Rapid tooling system, the effective way to make a perfect mold
Authors: Jiménez Esther
Published: December 2017

The surface quality of a mold is a decisive factor for obtaining a high-quality surface appearance of the composite parts made from that mold. At the same time, having a strong and durable mold is important for manufacturing consistency, low mold maintenance and minimized operating cost. Consequently, the use of quality mold building systems is highly recommended, so part production can run without problems, yielding great and good-looking composite parts.
Numerical investigation of the saturation process in an incompressible cavity flow
Authors: Vinha N. , Meseguer-Garrido F. , de Vicente J. , Valero E.
Published: December 2017

A numerical study of the saturation process inside a rectangular open cavity is presented. Previous experiments and linear stability analysis of the problem completely described the flow in its onset, as well as in a saturated regime, characterized by three-dimensional centrifugal modes. The morphology of the modes found in the experiments matched the ones predicted by linear analysis, but with a shift in frequencies for the oscillating modes. A three-dimensional incompressible direct numerical simulation (DNS) is employed for a detailed investigation of the saturation process inside a cavity with dimensions similar to the one used in the experiments, to further explain the behaviour of these modes. In this work, periodic boundary conditions are first imposed to better understand the effect of the saturation process far from the walls. Then, the effects of spanwise solid wall boundary conditions are investigated with a DNS reproducing the full dynamics of the experiments. The main flow structures are identified using the dynamic mode decomposition technique and compared with previous experimental and linear stability analysis results. The main reason for the aforementioned shift in frequency is explained in this paper, as it is a function of the velocity of the main recirculating vortex.
A comparative study of in-field motion capture approaches for body kinematics measurement in construction
Authors: Seo JoonOh , Alwasel Abdullatif , Lee SangHyun , Abdel-Rahman Eihab M. , Haas Carl
Published: December 2017

Due to physically demanding tasks in construction, workers are exposed to significant safety and health risks. Measuring and evaluating body kinematics while performing tasks helps to identify the fundamental causes of excessive physical demands, enabling practitioners to implement appropriate interventions to reduce them. Recently, non-invasive or minimally invasive motion capture approaches such as vision-based motion capture systems and angular measurement sensors have emerged, which can be used for in-field kinematics measurements, minimally interfering with on-going work. Given that these approaches have pros and cons for kinematic measurement due to adopted sensors and algorithms, an in-depth understanding of the performance of each approach will support better decisions for their adoption in construction. With this background, the authors evaluate the performance of vision-based (RGB-D sensor-, stereovision camera-, and multiple camera-based) and an angular measurement sensor-based (i.e., an optical encoder) approach to measure body angles through experimental testing. Specifically, measured body angles from these approaches were compared with the ones obtained from a marker-based motion capture system that has less than 0.1 mm of errors. The results showed that vision-based approaches have about 5–10 degrees of error in body angles, while an angular measurement sensor-based approach measured body angles with about 3 degrees of error during diverse tasks. The results indicate that, in general, these approaches can be applicable for diverse ergonomic methods to identify potential safety and health risks, such as rough postural assessment, time and motion study or trajectory analysis where some errors in motion data would not significantly sacrifice their reliability. Combined with relatively accurate angular measurement sensors, vision-based motion capture approaches also have great potential to enable us to perform in-depth physical demand analysis such as biomechanical analysis that requires full-body motion data, even though further improvement of accuracy is necessary. Additionally, understanding of body kinematics of workers would enable ergonomic mechanical design for automated machines and assistive robots that helps to reduce physical demands while supporting workers' capabilities.
ANALYSIS OF DUPLICATION AND TIMING OF HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENTS ON MEDICAL DEVICES IN EUROPE
Authors: Hawlik Katharina , Rummel Patrick , Wild Claudia
Published: December 2017

Objectives: Strengthening efforts toward better collaboration plays a pivotal role in the assessment of medical devices to reduce overlap and save resources. This study explored the level of duplication in health technology assessments (HTA) of medical devices in Europe and their respective timing in order to identify areas for better collaboration.

Methods: An analysis of European HTA reports of medical devices regarding overlaps in topics and timing in relation to market authorization was performed. We conducted a systematic search in the ADVANCE, Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, Syngerus, and POP databases, complemented by hand searching, to identify HTA reports published between 01/2003 and 07/2016 for a preselected cohort group of ten technologies. We analyzed the number of annual assessments per technology and evaluated activity patterns and timing in undertaking the HTA of the different institutes in Europe.

Results: The results revealed the amount of duplication in the European HTA production: the number of reports per technology ranged from minimum seven to maximum twenty-two over a time-span of 13.5 years. HTA institutes perform assessments at a similar time range within 5 to 10 years following market authorization. The timing of the initial assessment in relation to the granting of the CE-mark varies according to the particular technology.

Conclusion: The findings suggest that efficient collaboration may help to save scarce resources and time of HTA institutes in Europe. Efficient collaboration as such needs to shift the focus beyond the time span of 1 year, and build on each's others work from previous assessments.
COST ANALYSIS OF PERIPHERALLY INSERTED CENTRAL CATHETER IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS
Authors: Dong Zhaoxin , Connolly Bairbre L. , Ungar Wendy J. , Coyte Peter C.
Published: December 2017

Purpose: A peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) is a useful option in providing secure venous access, which enables patients to be discharged earlier with the provision of home care. The objective was to identify the costs associated with having a PICC from a societal perspective, and to identify factors that are associated with total PICC costs.

Methods: Data were obtained from a retrospective cohort of 469 hospitalized pediatric patients with PICCs inserted. Both direct and indirect costs were estimated from a societal perspective. Insertion costs, complication costs, nurse and physician assessment costs, inpatient ward costs, catheter removal costs, home care costs, travel costs, and the cost associated with productivity losses incurred by parents were included in this study.

Results: Based on catheter dwell time, the median total cost associated with a PICC per patient per day (including inpatient hospital costs) was $3,133.5 ($2,210.7–$9,627.0) in 2017 Canadian dollars ($1.00USD = $1.25CAD in 2017). The adjusted mean cost per patient per day was $2,648.2 ($2,402.4–$2,920.4). Excluding inpatient ward costs, the median total and adjusted costs per patient per day were $198.8 ($91.8–$2,475.8) and $362.7($341.0–$386.0), respectively. Younger age, occurrence of complications, more catheter dwell days, wards with more intensive care, and the absence of home care were significant factors associated with higher total PICC costs.

Conclusions: This study has demonstrated the costs associated with PICCs. This information may be helpful for healthcare providers to understand PICC related cost in children and resource implications.
Anisotropic Hardy inequalities
Authors: Della Pietra Francesco , di Blasio Giuseppina , Gavitone Nunzia
Published: December 2017

We study some Hardy-type inequalities involving a general norm in ℝn and an anisotropic distance function to the boundary. The case of the optimality of the constants is also addressed.
A LIMITED DEFENSE OF WHAT SOME WILL REGARD AS ENTRAPMENT
Authors: Lippke Richard L.
Published: December 2017

This paper defends pro-active policing measures that offer reasonable assurance that the authorities will elicit crimes from citizens that would likely have occurred anyway. Such pro-active measures generally should be directed only at citizens who the authorities can demonstrate to a court have active intentions to commit crimes, must mimic the kinds of opportunities already available to targeted citizens, must be abandoned if the citizens to whom they are offered appear to renounce their criminal intentions, and must be a last resort. They should also be focused on the prevention of serious harm rather than vice crime. Pressuring targeted citizens to accept the opportunities presented to them should be prohibited. When government officials exceed the remit of their pro-active policing warrants, the remedy should be the dismissal of all charges stemming from their overreach.
WORLD WAR I AND THE PARADOX OF WILSONIANISM
Authors: Ambrosius Lloyd E.
Published: December 2017

One hundred years ago, on April 6, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson led the United States into the First World War. Four days earlier, in his war message to Congress, he gave his rationale for declaring war against Imperial Germany and for creating a new world order. He now viewed German submarine attacks against neutral as well as belligerent shipping as a threat to the whole world, not just the United States. “The present German submarine warfare against commerce is a warfare against mankind,” he claimed. “It is a war against all nations.” He now believed that Germany had violated the moral standards that “citizens of civilized states” should uphold. The president explained: “We are at the beginning of an age in which it will be insisted that the same standards of conduct and responsibility for wrong done shall be observed among nations and their governments that are observed among the individual citizens of civilized states.” He focused on protecting democracy against the German regime of Kaiser Wilhelm II. “A steadfast concert for peace,” he said, “can never be maintained except by a partnership of democratic nations. No autocratic government could be trusted to keep faith within it or observe its covenants.” Wilson called on Congress to vote for war not just because Imperial Germany had sunk three American ships, but for the larger purpose of a new world order. He affirmed: “We are glad, now that we see the facts with no veil of false pretense about them, to fight thus for the ultimate peace of the world and for the liberation of its peoples, the German peoples included: for the rights of nations great and small and the privilege of men everywhere to choose their way of life and of obedience. The world must be made safe for democracy. Its peace must be planted upon the tested foundation of political liberty.”
Author Correction: FAN1 interaction with ubiquitylated PCNA alleviates replication stress and preserves genomic integrity independently of BRCA2
Authors: Porro Antonio , Berti Matteo , Pizzolato Julia , Bologna Serena , Kaden Svenja , Saxer Anja , Ma Yue , Nagasawa Kazuo , Sartori Alessandro A. , Jiricny Josef
Published: December 2017

The financial support for this Article was not fully acknowledged. The Acknowledgements should have included the following: This study was in part supported by the Swiss National Foundation Grant No.: 31003A-156023 to Alessandro Sartori.
Publisher Correction: Quantitative and organisational changes in mature extracellular matrix revealed through high-content imaging of total protein fluorescently stained in situ
Authors: Holdsworth Gill , Bon Hélène , Bergin Marianne , Qureshi Omar , Paveley Ross , Atkinson John , Huang Linghong , Tewari Roohi , Twomey Breda , Johnson Timothy
Published: December 2017

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML version of this paper. The error has been fixed in the paper.
Implementation of a plasticized PVC-based cation-selective optode system into a paper-based analytical device for colorimetric sodium detection
Authors: Shibata Hiroyuki , Henares Terence G. , Yamada Kentaro , Suzuki Koji , Citterio Daniel
Published: December 2017

A classical cation-exchange optode relying on an ionophore-doped plasticized PVC membrane is applied to a paper-based analytical device (PAD) for colorimetric detection of Na+.
Efficient visible light-driven water oxidation catalysts based on B-β-{BiW8O30} and unique 14-nuclear hetero-metal sandwich unit
Authors: Gong Lige , Yu Li , Yu Kai , Ding Yong , Lv Jinhua , Wang Chunmei , Su Zhanhua , Zhou Baibin
Published: December 2017

A 14-nuclear hetero-metal unit was introduced into {BiW8} systems, which exhibits unusual catalytic activity for water oxidation under visible light irradiation.
Box-like gel capsules from heterostructures based on a core–shell MOF as a template of crystal crosslinking
Authors: Ishiwata Takumi , Michibata Ayano , Kokado Kenta , Ferlay Sylvie , Hosseini Mir Wais , Sada Kazuki
Published: December 2017

Cubic polymer capsules (PCs) were obtained using a crystal crosslinking (CC) method on core–shell MOF crystals, with a well-defined hollow cubic shape reflecting the heterostructure of the template.
Microstructuration of poly(3-hexylthiophene) leads to bifunctional superhydrophobic and photoreactive surfaces
Authors: Janovák L. , Dernovics Á. , Mérai L. , Deák Á. , Sebők D. , Csapó E. , Varga A. , Dékány I. , Janáky C.
Published: December 2017

Schematic representation and a preparation route for the poly(3-hexylthiophene) conducting polymer film having both superhydrophobic and visible-light active photocatalytic properties.
TPAOH assisted size-tunable Gd2O3@mSi core–shell nanostructures for multifunctional biomedical applications
Authors: Pavitra E. , Seeta Rama Raju G. , Nagaraju Ganji Purnachandra , Nagaraju Goli , Han Young-Kyu , Huh Yun Suk , Yu Jae Su
Published: December 2017

The synthesized size-tunable Gd2O3@mSi core–shell nanostructures are nontoxic and highly suitable as targeting materials for cancer imaging and therapy.
A two-color fluorescence enhanced dot-blot assay for revealing co-operative expression of chemokine receptors in cells
Authors: Khan Naseer Ullah , He Hua , Wang Xiaojuan , Ge Baosheng , Wang Qian , Liu Xu , Lao Jun , Wang Yanan , Li Jiqiang , Wang Zhencai , Zhou Shitan , Huang Fang
Published: December 2017

A highly sensitive two-color dot-blot assay has been developed to simultaneously detect co-operative expression of chemokine receptors in cells.
Extremely low loading of Ru species on hydroxyapatite as an effective heterogeneous catalyst for olefin epoxidation
Authors: Mekrattanachai Pagasukon , Liu Jian , Li Zhaohua , Cao Changyan , Song Weiguo
Published: December 2017

An extremely low percentage of Ru species supported on hydroxyapatite exhibited high activity, excellent selectivity and good recyclability for the epoxidation of various olefins.
A facile one-pot synthesis of acrylated hyaluronic acid
Authors: A Sigen , Xu Qian , McMichael Peter , Gao Yongsheng , Li Xiaolin , Wang Xi , Greiser Udo , Zhou Dezhong , Wang Wenxin
Published: December 2017

The synthesis of acrylated hyaluronic acid (HA-A) was presented via a facile one-pot reaction method which eliminates laborious purification and the risks of HA degradation.
PEDOT coated iron phosphide nanorod arrays as high-performance supercapacitor negative electrodes
Authors: Luo Jinling , Zheng Zhi , Kumamoto Akihito , Unah Winifred Ini , Yan Shuke , Ikuhara Yumi H. , Xiang Xia , Zu Xiaotao , Zhou Weilie
Published: December 2017

PEDOT coated iron phosphide nanorod arrays are synthesized and exhibit high areal specific capacitance and significantly improved cycling stability as negative electrodes for supercapacitors.
Multiple binding modes of an unconjugated bis(pyridine) ligand stabilize low-valent [Cp*Rh] complexes
Authors: Lionetti Davide , Day Victor W. , Lassalle-Kaiser Benedikt , Blakemore James D.
Published: December 2017

An unconjugated bis(pyridine) ligand enables sequential one-electron reductions of a [Cp*Rh] complex, revealing the ligand's ability to stabilize low-valent species.
Porous substrates as platforms for the nanostructuring of molecular magnets
Authors: Aulakh Darpandeep , Bilan Hubert K. , Wriedt Mario
Published: December 2017

This article highlights recent advances in the newly emerging field on the nanostructuration of molecular magnets using porous substrates.
Design and epitaxial growth of quality-enhanced crack-free GaN films on AlN/Al heterostructures and their nucleation mechanism
Authors: Wang Wenliang , Zheng Yulin , Zhang Xiuye , Li Yuan , Lu Zhenya , Li Guoqiang
Published: December 2017

The epitaxial structures of GaN films grown on AlN/Al heterostructures by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) are designed with and without an amorphous AlN layer, and quality-enhanced crack-free GaN epitaxial films are obtained.
Preparation of “natural” diamonds by HPHT annealing of synthetic diamonds
Authors: Fang Chao , Zhang Yuewen , Zhang Zhuangfei , Shan Chongxin , Shen Weixia , Jia Xiaopeng
Published: December 2017

In this paper, IIa, Ib, N-doped and N–H co-doped diamonds were studied, and the interaction mechanisms between hydrogen and nitrogen in the diamonds were investigated in detail.
Controlled synthesis of 3D flower-like MgWO4:Eu3+ hierarchical structures and fluorescence enhancement through introduction of carbon dots
Authors: Huang Jingbin , Tian Boshi , Wang Jia , Wang Yabo , Lu Wei , Li Qingfeng , Jin Lin , Li Chunyang , Wang Zhenling
Published: December 2017

3D flower-like MgWO4:Eu3+ structures composed of many nanosheets were synthesized and their luminescence can be enhanced through introduction of CDs.
Improvement of the photovoltaic parameters of perovskite solar cells using a reduced-graphene-oxide-modified titania layer and soluble copper phthalocyanine as a hole transporter
Authors: Nouri Esmaiel , Mohammadi Mohammad Reza , Xu Zong-Xiang , Dracopoulos Vassilios , Lianos Panagiotis
Published: December 2017

Graphene modified mesoporous titania for perovskite solar cells.
Initial degree of detaching bubble adsorption coverage and the kinetics of dynamic adsorption layer formation
Authors: Kosior Dominik , Zawala Jan
Published: December 2017

We show, for the first time, the influence of the initial adsorption coverage over a bubble on the kinetics of dynamic adsorption layer formation.