bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The role of the right atrium in development of postoperative atrial fibrillation: A speckle tracking echocardiography study
Authors: Aksu Uğur , Kalkan Kamuran , Gulcu Oktay , Aksakal Emrah , Öztürk Mustafa , Topcu Selim
Published: May 2019

Purpose

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is relatively frequent in the postoperative period, and is associated with an increased frequency of adverse events. The role of right atrial (RA) volume and functions in the development of AF is unknown. In this study, we investigated the effect of RA echocardiographic indices on AF development in the postoperative period.

Method

We enrolled 142 consecutive patients who underwent coronary artery bypass surgery, and assigned them into two groups depending on the occurrence or not of AF development in the postoperative period.

Results

A propensity score matching analysis was performed to balance the groups, and 37 pairs were eventually included in the analysis. The median age was 67.5 (63‐75) years and 73.3% of them were males. In the univariate analysis, right atrial volume index (RAVi), right atrial strain during reservoir phase (RASr), left ventricular global longitudinal strain, right ventricular strain, left atrial volume index, left atrial strain during reservoir phase, and systolic pulmonary artery pressure were associated with AF development. In the regression analysis, we found that RAVi (OR: 3.1, 95% CI: 2.2‐6.3, P: .033) and RASr (OR: 0.82, 95% CI: 0.67‐0.93, P: .048) were independent predictors of AF development.

Conclusions

RA structure and functions are closely associated with AF development in the postoperative period, and screening of RA functions prior to surgery may be useful for preventing AF development.
The role of spatial frequency analysis in correlating atomic force microscopy and optical profilometry with self‐etch adhesive enamel bond fatigue durability
Authors: Fischer Nicholas G. , Dang Jonathan , Takamizawa Toshiki , Tsujimoto Akimasa , Barkmeier Wayne W. , Baruth Andrew G.
Published: May 2019

The purpose of this study was to: (a) evaluate the role of enamel surface roughness on bond fatigue durability and (b) evaluate statistical differences in roughness values based on measurement technique, including the use of spatial filtering for optical profilometry (OP). OptiBond XTR (Kerr Corp), Prime & Bond elect (DENTSPLY Caulk), Scotchbond Universal (3 M Oral Care), and XTR pre‐etched with Ultra‐Etch phosphoric acid (35%) (Ultradent) self‐etch adhesives were used to treat enamel. A flat ground enamel surface was included as a control. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and OP were used to measure the surface topography of each enamel surface following the application of adhesives. AFM, OP, and filtered OP (FOP) roughness values, where FOP was designed to only include the lateral spatial resolution consistent with AFM roughness values, were collected. Spatial resolution filtering with OriginPro was used to compare line scans from the two imaging techniques and generate the FOP group. These micro‐ versus nanoscale lateral roughness values were correlated with shear bond and shear fatigue strengths of the adhesives bonded to enamel. Roughness values showed differences based on measurement technique and strong correlations with bond and fatigue strength. The filtered OP group demonstrated the importance of careful usage and reporting of atomic force microscopy and OP metrics in adhesive dentistry. Best practices for surface roughness analysis were also discussed.
Gastroduodenal artery: single key for many locks
Authors: Desai Gunjan S. , Pande Prasad M.
Published: May 2019

Gastroduodenal artery (GDA) commonly arises from common hepatic artery, a branch of celiac axis. It holds a unique anatomical position that connects the foregut and midgut due to its intimate communications with foregut and midgut arterial supply. Its numerous anatomical variations have a significant impact on planning and performance of hepatopancreaticobiliary (HPB) surgery. Its close relation to the first part of duodenum, common bile duct and head of pancreas makes it susceptible for inadvertent bleeding during or after surgery, or due to various HPB pathologies. Also, a large number of vascular interventions rely on GDA and its branches. Careful preoperative planning is the key and a detailed knowledge and awareness of its variant anatomy is of paramount importance, be it liver resections, liver transplant, biliary and pancreatic resections and pancreatic transplant or transarterial procedures involving these arteries. GDA can also be a cause of gastrointestinal hemorrhage due to true or pseudoaneurysms and anatomy has significant implications on its management. The article provides a succinct review on relevance of GDA anatomy and variations and highlights that preoperative planning and intraoperative awareness of variations is the key to performance of safe HPB surgery and interventions.
Complete genome sequence analysis of temperate Erwinia bacteriophages 49 and 59
Authors: Zlatohurska Maryna , Gorb Tetiana , Romaniuk Liudmyla , Korol Natalia , Faidiuk Yuliia , Kropinski Andrew M. , Kushkina Alla , Tovkach Fedor
Published: May 2019

To date, a small number of temperate phages are known to infect members of the genus Erwinia. In this study, the genomes of temperate phages vB_EhrS_49 and vB_EhrS_59 infecting Erwinia horticola, the causative agent of beech black bacteriosis in Ukraine, were sequenced and annotated. Their genomes reveal no significant similarity to that of any previously reported viruses of Enterobacteriaceae. At the same time, phages 49 and 59 share extensive nucleotide sequence identity across the regions encoding head assembly, DNA packaging, and lysis. Despite significant homology between structural modules, the organization of distal tail morphogenesis genes is different. Furthermore, a number of putative morons and DNA methylases have been found in both phage genomes. Due to the revealed synteny as well as the structure of lysogeny module, phages 49 and 59 are suggested to be novel members of the lambdoid phage group. Conservative structural genes together with varying homology across the nonstructural region of the genomes make phages 49 and 59 highly promising objects for studying the genetic recombination and evolution of microbial viruses. The obtained data may as well be helpful for better understanding of relationships among Erwinia species.
An assessment of the impact of Pacific Decadal Oscillation on autumn droughts in North China based on the Palmer drought severity index
Authors: Wang Min , Gu Qinxue , Jia Xiaojing , Ge Jingwen
Published: May 2019

This study assesses the impact of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) on the severity of autumn droughts in North China (ADNC) during the period of 1962–2013. The ADNC are defined using the Palmer drought severity index (PDSI). The results show that the ADNC are more severe during negative PDO phases than during positive PDO phases. During the negative PDO phase, both the autumn precipitation and the Penman–Monteith reference evaporation (PET_pm) play roles in the significant severity of the ADNC. In contrast, during positive PDO phases, the droughts over North China are impacted to a greater degree by the climate conditions in previous seasons. Regression analysis shows that the atmospheric circulation anomalies associated with ADNC are quite different over North China under different PDO phases. Specifically, during negative PDO phases, anomalous low‐pressure systems are observed over the East Asia‐western Japan area, indicating a strengthened East Asian trough (EAT). Anomalous northerly winds bring cold and dry air from high‐latitude inland regions to North China, leading to severe ADNC during this period. Meanwhile, significant descending motion is observed in the upstream region of the EAT and the area of North China, accompanied by reduced cloudiness and reduced precipitation over these regions. In contrast, during positive PDO phases, the ADNC‐associated atmospheric circulation anomalies over North China are quite weak. Further analysis shows that during the negative phase of PDO years, the El Niño Southern Oscillation can impact the severity of ADNC through the centre of the Pacific‐East Asian teleconnection pattern over northeastern Asia.
Antarctic sea‐ice variation associated with vertical geopotential height and temperature anomalies
Authors: Qian Weihong , Wu Kaijun , Leung Jeremy Cheuk‐Hin
Published: May 2019

It is well‐known that the increasing zonal‐mean trend of sea‐ice concentration (SIC) surrounding Antarctica is up to 2015 so this paper first summarized this trend with opposing regional trends in each season along the latitude band 60°–70°S during 1979–2015. The surface wind trends can partly explain the observed regional SIC trends. By analysing the surface wind, as well as the tropospheric geopotential height (GPH) and temperature trends, the study revealed that the increasing zonal‐mean SIC trend and opposing regional SIC trends surrounding Antarctica are vertically associated with GPH and temperature trends in the troposphere. This relationship is also found in extreme years for seven SIC maximum and four SIC minimum autumns from 1979 to 2015, particularly reconfirmed in the two SIC minimum autumns of 2017 and 2018, indicating that a positive regional SIC anomaly is vertically associated with an anomalously cold air mass centred around 850 hPa in the troposphere which is located beneath a negative GPH anomaly at the upper troposphere, and vice versa.
Influence of ambient temperature on OLED lifetime and uniformity based on modified equivalent lifetime detection
Authors: Fan Rui , Zhang Xiaoning , Tu Zhentao
Published: May 2019

The ambient temperature can affect the OLED heat dissipation and aggravate the luminance degradation. Based on temperature‐related equivalent lifetime detection, a luminance compensation algorithm without internal or external sensing circuits is proposed and the influence of ambient temperature on lifetime and display uniformity is studied. First, the parameters of luminance degradation curves at any ambient temperature are calculated according to the relationship between accelerate degradation factor n and ambient temperature T, which is determined by the measured luminance degradation curves at ambient temperature 25°C, 45°C, and 80°C. Second, luminance compensation is carried out by increasing drive current according to the estimated luminance degradation influenced by temperature. Furthermore, compensation iterations m, compensation goal value Lgoal, and compensation origin value Lorigin are optimized to obtain a better lifetime extension at different ambient temperature. The simulated and experimental results indicate that the lifetime extensions considering the influence of ambient temperature at 0°C, 25°C, 45°C, 60°C, and 80°C are 29.7%, 28.1%, 18.7%, 18.9%, and 11.6%. Meanwhile, after displaying an image of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 62087 for 90 hours, the luminance uniformity of OLED increase to 96.0%, 94.0%, 97.2%, 97.2%, and 98.6%, which is a significant improvement compared with it of regardless the influence of the ambient temperature.
Dually Cross‐Linked Supramolecular Hydrogel as Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensor for Small Molecule Detection
Authors: Li Jie , Ji Chendong , Yu Xiaoqian , Yin Meizhen , Kuckling Dirk
Published: May 2019

Dually cross‐linked supramolecular hydrogels (DCSH) are designed to show responsive properties while maintaining the gel structure by introducing two different kinds of cross‐links. This is realized by utilizing a photo‐cross‐linker for permanent cross‐linking and β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) and ferrocene (Fc) as host–guest recognition pair. The DCSH shows increased swelling in the presence of the small target molecule adamantane amine (Ada). Ada can break the non‐covalent bonding between β‐CD and Fc through competitive molecular guest interaction with β‐CD. By using a combination of surface plasmon resonance and optical waveguide spectroscopy, it is possible to use this behavior to construct a reversible sensor for specific small molecule detection.
Looking for alternative treatments for bovine and caprine mastitis: Evaluation of the potential of Calliandra surinamensis leaf pinnulae lectin (CasuL), both alone and in combination with antibiotics
Authors: Procópio Thamara F. , Moura Maiara C. , Bento Elinaldo F. L. , Soares Tatiana , Coelho Luana C. B. B. , Bezerra Raquel P. , Mota Rinaldo A. , Porto Ana Lúcia F. , Paiva Patrícia M. G. , Napoleão Thiago H.
Published: May 2019

This work aimed to evaluate the effects of CasuL on growth and viability of 15 mastitis isolates from cows and goats, to determine the synergistic potential between CasuL and antibiotics, and to investigate the effects on bacterial ultrastructure and antibiofilm activity. The lectin inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus isolates from either bovine (Ssp6PD and Sa) or caprine (Ssp5D and Ssp01) mastitis. The minimal inhibitory concentrations were ranged from 3.75 to 15 µg/ml. Synergistic effect was observed for CasuL‐tetracycline against Sa and Ssp6PD and CasuL‐ampicillin against Ssp01. No structural damage was observed under the scanning electron microscope in CasuL treatments. Flow cytometry analysis using thiazol orange and propidium iodide demonstrated that CasuL was unable to reduce the cell viability of the isolates tested. At sub‐inhibitory concentrations, CasuL reduced biofilm formation by the isolates Sa and Ssp5D. However, CasuL‐tetracycline and CasuL‐ampicillin combinations inhibited biofilm formation by Ssp6PD and Ssp01, respectively. In conclusion, CasuL is a bacteriostatic and antibiofilm agent against some mastitis isolates and displayed a synergistic potential when used in combination with either ampicillin (against one isolate) or tetracycline (against two isolates). The results stimulate the evaluation of CasuL for the treatment of mastitis, particularly when used in conjunction with antibiotics.
Scale Inhibitor and Dispersant Based on Poly(Acrylic Acid) Obtained by Redox‐Initiated Polymerization
Authors: Gutierrez Carolina G. , Cáceres Montenegro Gerardo , Minari Roque J. , Vega Jorge R. , Gugliotta Luis M.
Published: May 2019

Low molar mass poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) is generally obtained by free radical polymerization of acrylic acid (AA) in aqueous solution, using thermal initiators and some chain transfer agent. However, under such conditions it is rather difficult to efficiently produce molar masses as low as those required for obtaining an effective dispersant. In this work, the semibatch polymerization of AA at 45 °C is considered, using potassium persulfate (KPS) and sodium metabisulfite (KPS/NaMBS), or alternatively KPS and sodium hypophosphite (KPS/NaHP) as redox initiators to produce PAA of controlled low molar masses. These initiation systems allow the production of PAA with Mn as low as 2.0 kDa, relatively narrow molar mass distribution (1.5 < Mw/Mn < 3.0), and low branching degree. Most of the investigated polymerizations reach almost complete conversions (>95%); and it is verified that both reductants, NaMBS and NaHP, also behave as chain transfer agents. Finally, the investigated process with redox couples allowed the production of PAA with acceptable dispersant and antiscaling properties.
Free‐running 3D whole heart myocardial T1 mapping with isotropic spatial resolution
Authors: Qi Haikun , Jaubert Olivier , Bustin Aurelien , Cruz Gastao , Chen Huijun , Botnar René , Prieto Claudia
Published: May 2019

Purpose

To develop a free‐running (free‐breathing, retrospective cardiac gating) 3D myocardial T1 mapping with isotropic spatial resolution.

Methods

The free‐running sequence is inversion recovery (IR)‐prepared followed by continuous 3D golden angle radial data acquisition. 1D respiratory motion signal is extracted from the k‐space center of all spokes and used to bin the k‐space data into different respiratory states, enabling estimation and correction of 3D translational respiratory motion, whereas cardiac motion is recorded using electrocardiography and synchronized with data acquisition. 3D translational respiratory motion compensated T1 maps at diastole and systole were generated with 1.5 mm isotropic spatial resolution with low‐rank inversion and high‐dimensionality patch‐based undersampled reconstruction. The technique was validated against conventional methods in phantom and 9 healthy subjects.

Results

Phantom results demonstrated good agreement (R2 = 0.99) of T1 estimation with reference method. Homogeneous systolic and diastolic 3D T1 maps were reconstructed from the proposed technique. Diastolic septal T1 estimated with the proposed method (1140 ± 36 ms) was comparable to the saturation recovery single‐shot acquisition (SASHA) sequence (1153 ± 49 ms), but was higher than the modified Look‐Locker inversion recovery (MOLLI) sequence (1037 ± 33 ms). Precision of the proposed method (42 ± 8 ms) was comparable to MOLLI (41 ± 7 ms) and improved with respect to SASHA (87 ± 19 ms).

Conclusions

The proposed free‐running whole heart T1 mapping method allows for reconstruction of isotropic resolution 3D T1 maps at different cardiac phases, serving as a promising tool for whole heart myocardial tissue characterization.
Alpha‐blockers for treating neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction in patients with multiple sclerosis: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. A report from the Neuro‐Urology Promotion Committee of the International Continence Society (ICS)
Authors: Schneider Marc P. , Tornic Jure , Sýkora Radek , Abo Youssef Nadim , Mordasini Livio , Krhut Jan , Chartier‐Kastler Emmanuel , Davies Melissa , Gajewski Jerzy , Schurch Brigitte , Bachmann Lucas M. , Kessler Thomas M.
Published: May 2019

Aim

We aimed to systematically assess the evidence on the efficacy and safety of alpha‐blockers in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) suffering from neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD).

Methods

The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) statement was used to perform this systematic review. An electronic search of Cochrane register, Embase, Medline, Scopus (last search 3 March 2018) and screening of reference lists as well as reviews were used to identify the studies. Articles were included if they reported on efficacy/safety of alpha‐blockers for the treatment of NLUTD in patients with MS.

Results

After screening of 7′015 abstracts, three studies enrolling a total of 50 patients were included: one randomized, placebo‐controlled, single‐blind trial and two prospective cohort studies. Alpha‐blocker treatment was successful in 50% to 96% of the patients. Pooling data from the three included studies, the relative risk for successful alpha‐blocker treatment was 3.89 (95% confidence interval 2.7‐7.0). The general safety profile of alpha‐blockers was favorable with 8% of the patients reporting adverse events.

Conclusions

Alpha‐blockers may be effective and safe for treating NLUTD in female and male patients with MS but the studies were small and the overall quality of evidence was low. To make definitive conclusions, well designed randomized controlled trials are highly warranted.
Toileting difficulties in older people with and without dementia receiving formal in‐home care—A longitudinal study
Authors: Grimsland Frida , Seim Arnfinn , Borza Tom , Helvik Anne‐Sofie
Published: May 2019

Aim

To estimate the prevalence of toileting difficulties over time among older people (≥70 years) with and without dementia receiving formal in‐home care at baseline and to explore whether dementia at baseline was associated with toileting difficulties at the last assessment when adjusting for relevant covariates. We hypothesize that those with dementia have a higher prevalence and that baseline dementia is associated with toileting difficulties at last follow‐up.

Design

A longitudinal observational study with three assessments over 36 months. Older people (≥70 years) from 19 Norwegian municipalities with in‐home care needs were included. The participants and their next of kin were interviewed.

Method

In total, 1,001 (68% women) persons with a mean (SD) age 83.4 (5.7) years participated at baseline. Toileting difficulties were assessed using Lawton and Brody's Physical Self‐Maintenance Scale and Individual Nursing and Care Statistics. Information on physical comorbidity, number of prescribed drugs, cognitive function and formal care given was included. Dementia was diagnosed based on all information gathered.

Results

At all time points, toileting difficulties were more prevalent in people with than without dementia. In adjusted analyses, dementia at baseline was associated with toileting difficulties at the last assessment. Nursing home admission was associated with increased odds for toileting difficulties.
Customized approach for upfront or delayed resection using radiological criteria in unilateral, nonmetastatic pediatric renal tumors: A prospective study
Authors: Qureshi Sajid S. , Kembhavi Seema A. , Bhagat Monica , Kapadia Tejas , Prasad Maya , Vora Tushar , Chinnaswamy Girish , Ramadwar Mukta , Laskar Siddhartha , Khanna Nehal , Baheti Akshay , Shah Sneha , Kurkure Purna , Talole Sanjay
Published: May 2019

Background

The availability of robust, equivalent data regarding outcomes for upfront or delayed surgery for renal tumors in children leads to a dilemma in selecting the initial treatment. Imaging criteria associated with the probability of rupture or incomplete resection may provide a more objective assessment for customization for the timing of surgery.

Procedure

Eighty‐three children with unilateral, nonmetastatic renal tumors were enrolled between January 2012 and April 2018. Upfront nephrectomy was performed in the absence or delayed surgery (after a biopsy and chemotherapy) in the presence of one or more imaging‐based high‐risk features, including perinephric spread or adjacent organ infiltration, tumors crossing the midline, intravascular thrombus, and extensive adenopathy. Post hoc analysis for interobserver concordance for high‐risk imaging features was also performed.

Results

The upfront surgery group (19) had predominantly stage I or II diseases (89%) and the histological types were Wilms (13), non‐Wilms (5) renal tumor, and an inflammatory lesion. The delayed surgery group had 60% with stage I or II diseases and the histological types were Wilms (60) and non‐Wilms (4) tumor. In addition, high‐risk pathology was identified in nine patients. Overall, 27 patients with Wilms tumors required radiotherapy and anthracycline because of stage III disease, including one in the immediate surgery group. The event‐free and overall survival (OS) at a median follow‐up of 39 months for Wilms tumor are 88% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 78.5‐94.9%) and 89% (95% CI: 81.4‐96.6%), 85.1% (95% CI: 73.8‐93.4%) and 86.5% (95% CI: 77.4‐95.8%) for the delayed, and 100% event‐free survival as well as OS (P = .1) in the upfront surgery group.

Conclusion

A customized approach pivoted on image‐based high‐risk features facilitates identification of patients with early‐stage renal tumor when the timing of surgery is tailored. Moreover, non‐Wilms tumor and high‐risk pathology are also identified.
Paraffin/CuO nanocomposites as phase change materials: Effect of surface modification of CuO
Authors: Noori Mohammad M. , Khonakdar Hossein Ali , Azizi Hamed , Ghaffari Mehdi , Arjmand Mohammad , Jafari Seyed H.
Published: May 2019

In this research, different loadings of copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles (0.5, 1 and 3 wt%) were utilized to fortify the thermal conductivity of paraffin. In order to improve dispersion and inhibit nanofiller agglomeration, the surface of CuO nanoparticles was treated with trimethoxy octadecyl silane. Surface treatment of CuO nanoparticles was validated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The scanning electron microscopy results revealed that the samples loaded with the surface treated CuO had proper dispersion, even up to 3 wt% of loading. Rheological results showed that CuO inclusion and particularly its treatment increased the viscosity of paraffin. Differential scanning calorimetry results exhibited that latent heat of pure paraffin slightly diminished by inclusion of untreated CuO nanoparticles, while inclusion of the treated nanoparticles led to less reduction in latent heat of paraffin. The thermal conductivity (KD2 test) results revealed that CuO inclusion, particularly the treated CuO, increased the thermal conductivity of paraffin over 2‐fold. All in all, this research study corroborates the potential of the treated CuO nanoparticles to produce paraffin‐based composite phase change materials with improved performance.
Nano silver imprinted graphene oxide as catalyst in reduction of 4‐nitrophenol
Authors: Sahu Deepak , Sarkar Niladri , Sahoo Gyanaranjan , Mohapatra Priyaranjan , Swain Sarat K.
Published: May 2019

Herein, a low‐cost and eco‐friendly approach is adopted for the synthesis of L‐cysteine–assisted silver/reduced graphene oxide (L‐cys‐rGO/Ag) nanocomposites using sodium citrate as reducing agent. The morphology of graphene oxide (GO) and L‐cys‐rGO/Ag nanocomposites are studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The strong interactions of rGO/Ag with L‐cysteine are established by Fourier transferred infrared (FTIR) study. The average diameter of dispersed Ag NPs is 40 to 70 nm, which is evidenced by transmission electron microscope (TEM). In the preparation of L‐cys‐rGO/Ag nanocomposites, both GO and L‐cysteine are used as supporting and stabilising media to avoid the unexpected agglomeration in the in situ formed Ag NPs and to get high surface area in the nanocomposites. The excellent behaviour of L‐cys‐rGO/Ag nanocomposites acting as a heterogeneous catalyst for the conversion of 4‐nitrophenol to 4‐aminophenol with NaBH4 is achieved that is due to the high adsorption of reactant on the surface rGO and more transfers of electron from rGO to Ag NPs. Beside this, L‐cys‐rGO/Ag nanocatalyst can be reused several times with negligible loss of catalytic efficiency. Further, the as‐synthesised nanocomposites show good antioxidant behaviour.
Classifying formulations of crosslinked polyethylene pipe by applying machine‐learning concepts to infrared spectra
Authors: Hiles Melanie , Grossutti Michael , Dutcher John R.
Published: May 2019

Crosslinked polyethylene (PEX‐a) pipes are emerging as promising replacements for traditional metal or concrete pipes used for water, gas, and sewage transport. Understanding the relationship between pipe formulation and performance is critical to their proper design and implementation. We have developed a methodology using principal component analysis (PCA) and the machine learning techniques of k‐means clustering and support vector machines (SVM) to compare and classify different PEX‐a pipe formulations based on characteristic infrared (IR) spectroscopy absorbance peaks. The application of PCA revealed that a large percentage (89%) of the total variance could be explained by the first three principal components (PC1‐PC3), with distinct clustering of the data for each formulation. By examining the contribution of the individual IR bands to the PCs, we determined that PC1 could be attributed to different peroxide crosslinkers, whereas PC2 and PC3 could be attributed to differences in the additives. Using the PCA results as input to k‐means clustering and SVM resulted in very high accuracy of classifying the different pipe formulations. Our approach highlights the advantages of using PCA and machine learning techniques to characterize different formulations of PEX‐a pipes, which is important to achieve a detailed understanding of the pipe formulation and manufacturing process. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019, 57, 1255–1262
Morphology, mechanical, and water transport properties of melt blended EVOH/PVOH films
Authors: Blanchard Anthony , Gouanvé Fabrice , Espuche Eliane
Published: May 2019

Herein, we report for the first time the successful preparation of ethylene–vinyl alcohol (EVOH)/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVOH) blends by a melt blending process for PVOH volume content ranging from 0 to 30%. Thermal stability up to 270 °C was maintained for all blends. The blends morphology consisted in spherical low size PVOH domains homogeneously dispersed in the EVOH matrix with good interfacial properties. An increase of the mean size of the PVOH domains (from 0.3 to 1.2 μm) and of the size distribution was evidenced as the PVOH content increased. The contribution of each phase to the water sorption and diffusion was clearly demonstrated. The impact of water uptake was investigated on the chains mobility by using Gordon–Taylor law and on the mechanical properties of the blends with respect to the reference polymers. It was pointed out that the reinforcing effect of PVOH phase decreased as the water activity increased. However, a significant elongation at break was maintained, underlining the major role played by the EVOH continuous phase at high water activity. Finally, it was shown that adding PVOH to EVOH up to 15 vol % allowed strengthening the material at low water activity and keeping interesting elongation at break and barrier properties at high water activity. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019, 57, 838–850
Piloting a parent and patient decision aid to support clinical trial decision making in childhood cancer
Authors: Robertson Eden G. , Wakefield Claire E. , Cohn Richard J. , Battisti Robert A. , Donoghoe Mark W. , Ziegler David S. , Fardell Joanna E. , Mitchell Richard , O'Brien Tracey A.
Published: May 2019

Objective

Families of a child with cancer can find the decision to enrol in a clinical trial challenging and often misunderstand key concepts that underpin trials. We pilot tested “Delta,” an online and booklet decision aid for parents with a child with cancer, and adolescents with cancer, deciding whether or not to enrol in a clinical trial.

Methods

We developed Delta in accordance with the International Patient Decision Aid Standards. We conducted a pre‐post pilot with parents with a child, and adolescents, who had enrolled in a paediatric phase III clinical trial for newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Parents (n = 37) and adolescents (n = 3) completed a questionnaire before and after using Delta (either the website or booklet, based on their preference).

Results

Twenty‐three parents (62.2%) and three adolescents (100%) reviewed the Delta website. Parents rated Delta as highly acceptable in regard to being clearly presented, informative, easy to read, useful, visually appealing, and easy to use. All participants reported that they would recommend Delta to others and that it would have been useful when making their decision. Parents' subjective (Mdiff=10.8, SDdiff = 15.69, P < .001) and objective (OR = 2.25, 95% CI, 1.66‐3.04; P < .001) clinical trial knowledge increased significantly after reviewing Delta.

Conclusions

To our knowledge, Delta is the first reported decision aid, available online and as a booklet, for parents and adolescents deciding whether or not to enrol in a paediatric oncology clinical trial. Our study suggests that Delta is acceptable, feasible, and potentially useful.
Potential role of exosomes in cancer therapy
Authors: Zhao Ya jing , Xie Li
Published: May 2019

Cancer is a major public health problem, and >18.1 million new cancer cases are diagnosed annually. Cancer can be treated with the help of several methods, such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy. Chemoresistance causes disease relapse and metastasis, and is a main obstacle to cancer therapy. The function of exosomes has been recently highlighted in cancer treatment and therapeutic resistance. Exosomes, described as nanovesicles secreted by multiple mammalian cell types, play important roles in intercellular communication by acting as carriers of functional contents, such as proteins, non‐coding RNA (miRNA, lncRNA), mRNAs, and lipids. In addition, exosomes might participate in cancer therapeutic resistance. The present review aimed to describe the function of exosomes in different types of cancer, with emphasis on their role in chemoresistance, hoping to provide novel insights on their implications in cancer therapy.
Medicines optimisation in East Sussex care homes
Authors: Blythin Kayt , Harries Elizabeth
Published: May 2019

Clinical pharmacists now have an important role in medicines optimisation within the care home setting. In this article, the authors discuss their approach to medication reviews and medicines optimisation in care homes in East Sussex.
Ordering chemical unicyclic graphs by Wiener polarity index
Authors: Ghalavand Ali , Ashrafi Ali R.
Published: May 2019

Suppose G is a chemical graph with vertex set V(G). Define D(G) = {{u, v} ⊆ V (G) | d
G
(u, v) = 3}, where d
G
(u, v) denotes the length of the shortest path between u and v. The Wiener polarity index of G, W
p
(G), is defined as the size of D(G). In this article, an ordering of chemical unicyclic graphs of order n with respect to the Wiener polarity index is given.
On‐Chip Integration of Single Photon Sources via Evanescent Coupling of Tapered Nanowires to SiN Waveguides
Authors: Mnaymneh Khaled , Dalacu Dan , McKee Joseph , Lapointe Jean , Haffouz Sofiane , Weber John F. , Northeast David B. , Poole Philip J. , Aers Geof C. , Williams Robin L.
Published: May 2019

A method to integrate nanowire‐based quantum dot single photon sources on‐chip using evanescent coupling is demonstrated. By deterministically placing an appropriately tapered III‐V nanowire, containing a single quantum dot, on top of a silicon‐based ridge waveguide, the quantum dot emission directed toward the taper can be transferred to the ridge waveguide with calculated efficiencies close to 100%. As the evanescent coupling is bidirectional, the source can be optically pumped in both free‐space and through the ridge waveguide. The latter configuration paves the way toward a self‐contained, all‐fiber, plug‐and‐play solution for applications requiring a bright on‐demand single photon source. Using InAsP quantum dots embedded in InP nanowire waveguides, coupling efficiencies to a SiN ridge waveguide of 74% with a single photon purity of 97% are demonstrated. The technique to demonstrate deterministic placement of single quantum emitters onto pre‐fabricated waveguides is used, an important step toward the fabrication of complex quantum photonic circuits.
Dengue viruses circulating in Indonesia: A systematic review and phylogenetic analysis of data from five decades
Authors: Harapan Harapan , Michie Alice , Yohan Benediktus , Shu Pei‐Yun , Mudatsir Mudatsir , Sasmono R. Tedjo , Imrie Allison
Published: May 2019

Although epidemiological and molecular epidemiological (serotype, genotype, and lineage information) data are available for several major cities in Indonesia, there is yet to be a comprehensive national study of dengue in Indonesia over time. This study was conducted to provide a comprehensive epidemiology of circulating dengue viruses (DENV) in Indonesia between 1973 and 2016. This was conducted through a systematic review of the literature and phylogenetic analysis of available DENV sequences. Available data from National Disease Surveillance System have indicated an increasing trend of dengue incidence in Indonesia over the past 50 years. Incidence rates appear to be cyclic, peaking approximately every 6 to 8 years. In contrast, the case fatality rate has decreased approximately by half with each decade since 1980. Over this 50‐year time span, serotype shifts, genotype displacement within DENV‐1 and DENV‐2, and introduction of DENV‐1 and DENV‐3 genotype from other countries occurred. These events were associated with increased incidence of dengue cases. Our study also provides a valuable national snapshot of DENV genetic diversity in Indonesia that may contribute to development of more effective dengue vaccine compositions for the region.
Limit scandals by monitoring intersection of athletics, admissions processes
Authors: O'Brien Timothy
Published: May 2019

The recent college admissions scandal rocked the celebrity world and caused unpleasant and unexpected pain and suffering at several athletics departments, admissions offices, and universities. The initial disclosure of it was all the more startling and headline‐grabbing when it became instantaneous national news at an FBI press conference. Fraud of any type associated with the admissions process is a serious concern, and this scheme has so far resulted in arrests, indictments, and potential prison time for the individuals involved. The fact that certain individuals were able to come up with a scheme that led to their family members being successfully admitted into universities has also evoked feelings of anger, outrage, indignation, and fundamental unfairness. For the universities associated with the reported cases, they're dealing with the public relations backlash, reputational damage, and ongoing questions on how these situations could have arisen in the first place.
Gain insight into preparing to manage policy, conduct issues of college esports
Authors: McCarthy Claudine
Published: May 2019

If you think competitive video gaming doesn't belong on a college campus, it just might be time for you to reconsider your perspective — or risk more than just failing to keep up with the times. In fact, varsity esports programs have already become established at more than 100 colleges and universities — a number that's experienced rapid and steady growth. Some colleges and universities choose to establish esports as a club housed in student activities, while other programs come under the purview of college athletics directors. And colleges and universities continue to invest an increasing amount in esports, including scholarships and aid, recruiting, coaches, tournaments, and stadium development.
Ensure executive search committee members understand their roles, responsibilities
Authors: McCarthy Claudine
Published: May 2019

CLEARWATER, FLA. — When you serve on your institution's executive search committee, you can expect to encounter plenty of challenges, opportunities, and legal obligations. So before you launch headlong into that search for a new vice president, provost, or president, you'll want to equip yourself with proven strategies. You can start by reviewing the practical guidance and lessons learned shared by John Kroger, J.D., visiting professor of law at Harvard Law School and former president of Reed College in Oregon; David A. Armstrong, J.D., president of St. Thomas University in Miami; and Bobby Colón, J.D., general counsel at the Rochester Institute of Technology. They spoke at Stetson University's National Conference on the Law & Higher Education.
Was student denied due process at disciplinary hearing?
Authors: Gelpi Aileen
Published: May 2019

A female student at the University of Cincinnati reported to the administration in August 2015 that she had been raped by a fellow student. A campus police detective conducted the only interrogation of the plaintiff, obtained witness statements, and spoke several times with the alleged victim.
Embrace challenges as opportunities for growth
Authors: McCarthy Claudine
Published: May 2019

Most student affairs professionals start their careers believing they can help every single student succeed. That was certainly the case for Kathryn (Kate) Mueller, Ed.D., vice president of student services at Coastline Community College. But somewhere along her 34‐year higher ed career, she had to accept that “we can indeed help the majority of students whom we serve, but there will be a handful in our careers where we have to pause and acknowledge that either as individuals or as an institution we cannot provide the necessary support to help that student succeed.”
Controllable P‐ and N‐Type Conversion of MoTe2 via Oxide Interfacial Layer for Logic Circuits
Authors: Park Yong Ju , Katiyar Ajit K. , Hoang Anh Tuan , Ahn Jong‐Hyun
Published: May 2019

To realize basic electronic units such as complementary metal‐oxide‐semiconductor (CMOS) inverters and other logic circuits, the selective and controllable fabrication of p‐ and n‐type transistors with a low Schottky barrier height is highly desirable. Herein, an efficient and nondestructive technique of electron‐charge transfer doping by depositing a thin Al2O3 layer on chemical vapor deposition (CVD)‐grown 2H‐MoTe2 is utilized to tune the doping from p‐ to n‐type. Moreover, a type‐controllable MoTe2 transistor with a low Schottky barrier height is prepared. The selectively converted n‐type MoTe2 transistor from the p‐channel exhibits a maximum on‐state current of 10 µA, with a higher electron mobility of 8.9 cm2 V−1 s−1 at a drain voltage (Vds) of 1 V with a low Schottky barrier height of 28.4 meV. To validate the aforementioned approach, a prototype homogeneous CMOS inverter is fabricated on a CVD‐grown 2H‐MoTe2 single crystal. The proposed inverter exhibits a high DC voltage gain of 9.2 with good dynamic behavior up to a modulation frequency of 1 kHz. The proposed approach may have potential for realizing future 2D transition metal dichalcogenide‐based efficient and ultrafast electronic units with high‐density circuit components under a low‐dimensional regime.
Effect of Ultrasound‐Assisted Isolation on Yield and Properties of High‐Amylose Starch from Amylomaize
Authors: Liu Jie , Wang Yadan , Fang Guihong , Man Yong , Liu Yawei
Published: May 2019

Effect of ultrasound‐assisted wet‐milling on yield and properties of high amylose starch from amylomaize was investigated. The defibered mixture of starch and protein (mill starch) was sonicated by an ultrasonic processor. The highest yield of 56.68 % was obtained with steeping time of 36 h, ultrasonic power of 200 W, ultrasonic time of 15 min, and mill starch to water ratio of 1:1, while maintaining SO2 concentration of 0.05% in steepwater and a constant ultrasound frequency of 20 kHz. The starch isolated by sonication showed significantly lower b values (yellowness). Ultrasound did not cause changes in starch granular size, morphology, surface, and ordered structures at both short‐range and long‐range scale (p>0.05). The effect of ultrasound was also insignificant on thermal properties (p>0.05). The results demonstrated that the ultrasound did not alter the structures and properties of the isolated starches. Approximately 11% of starch yield was increased, 75% of SO2 content in steepwater was reduced and 25 % of steeping time was reduced by ultrasound‐assisted method compared with those of conventional wet‐milling process.
Frequency domain analysis of wind farm on the damping characteristics of a nearby synchronous generator
Authors: Cai Youming , Zhang Chen , Zheng Li , Cai Xu
Published: May 2019

Low‐frequency oscillations of a power system can be greatly affected by the fast growth of wind power due to the converter controls. It will result in a hidden danger to the small signal stability of the overall system if the mechanisms behind are not well understood. Therefore, this article aims to reveal the influence of the nonlinear control effects (e.g. phase‐locked loop, PLL) of the wind turbine on the electromechanical oscillations of a nearby synchronous generator (SG). To better perform the mechanistic analysis, a three‐machine study system that can properly reflect the interactions among the wind turbine, the SG, and the infinite bus is established. Then, the frequency domain model of such a system is developed, where the dominant dynamics of the wind turbine controls within the electromechanical time scale are modeled in detail. As a result, an equivalent power‐angle‐like frequency domain model is derived, from which the control effects of the wind turbine on the damping characteristic of the nearby SG can be intuitively revealed. It is shown that the wind turbine with the PV control mode can contribute more damping to the nearby SG than that with the PQ control mode. Moreover, the damping contribution is reduced with increasing bandwidth of controllers and the impact of PLL bandwidth on the SG damping can be negligible. All the mechanistic analyses are verified using time domain simulations in power systems computer aided design/electro magnetic transient in DC system (PSCAD/EMTDC), where a detailed system model is built. © 2019 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Object classification integrating results of each scan line with low‐resolution LIDAR
Authors: Nagashima Toru , Nagasaki Takeshi , Matsubara Hitoshi
Published: May 2019

To recognize objects by using low‐resolution LIDAR for autonomous cars, we proposed a method to calculate the independent results for each scan line before integrating them. In the proposed method, objects can be recognized in one learned model even if the number of scan line irradiated to objects is different. This brings an advantage of saving time for preparing some models and learning data. We tried to classify pedestrians, bicycles, motorbikes, cars, and other objects for evaluating the performance, and obtained an accuracy of 99.00%. In addition, we compared the proposed method with a fully connected neural network method and 2DCNN method, and showed the proposed method is more robust against the missing of scan lines. © 2019 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Horn and lens antenna with a small antenna substrate and high production tolerance for 77‐GHz automotive long‐range Radar
Authors: Kuriyama Akira , Nagaishi Hideyuki , Kuroda Hiroshi
Published: May 2019

An antenna composed of a pyramidal horn and a dielectric lens with a small antenna substrate and high production tolerance for 77‐GHz long‐range radar was investigated. By employing a new horn‐to‐microstrip transition with a single microstrip antenna incorporated in the input aperture of the pyramidal horn, the antenna could be connected to monolithic microwave‐integrated circuits (MMICs) using a microstrip line. This structure enables integration of the antenna and MMICs on the same surface of an antenna substrate, which reduces material and production costs. A fabricated antenna had an antenna gain of 23.5 dBi, where the size of the antenna substrate was less than 20 × 20 mm. The antenna had half‐power beamwidths of 4.5° and 16° in elevation and azimuth, respectively. Moreover, the horn‐to‐microstrip transition was designed to provide robustness against misalignment of the horn and the microstrip antenna due to mechanical deviation during mass production. Measurement results showed that the antenna gain was degraded by less than 0.2 dB and that the beam was tilted less than 0.6° and 0.7° in elevation and azimuth, respectively, where the horn was misaligned to the microstrip antenna by 0.1 mm. © 2019 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Designing a Community Translanguaging Space Within a Family Literacy Project
Authors: Kim Sujin , Song Kim H.
Published: May 2019

This article features a multilingual family literacy project to enhance family engagement in children's literacy development. First, the authors expand the emerging framework of translanguaging beyond the individual competency toward a collaborative practice across family/community members and diverse sign systems. Then, the authors describe how a multilingual family literacy project created a community translanguaging space that maximized leveraging of family funds of knowledge: collective community semiotic repertoires. Participating families (parents, children, and extended family/community members) collectively built larger communicative repertoires by connecting across individual linguistic, multimodal, and cultural capacities and experiences to create each unique family storybook. Finally, the authors provide suggestions on designing and implementing community‐based family literacy projects.