bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessment of Procurement Plan in the Nigeria Construction Industry: A Case of Selected Firms in Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Authors: Emekoma C. C. 
Published: November 2019

The Procurement plan and procedure in Nigeria have gone through a number of changes, with main objective of reducing or at best eliminating corruption in public procurement, realizing values for money, efficiency in procurement process among others. The data of assessment of procurement plan in the Nigerian construction industry was collected through administrating questionnaire to selected members of the companies and was analyzed using three statistical tools, namely; percentage analysis, chi-square and measures of dispersion. The table from which was drawn the analysis of assessment of procurement plan in the Nigeria construction industry reveal that among the professionals who responded to the questionnaire 27.6% are members of the Nigeria Institute of Quality Surveyors (NIQS) , 13.2% belong to the Nigeria Institute of Architects (NIA), and 22.4% belong to the Nigeria institute of Builders (NIOB), while 3.9% are members of Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), those who belong to other professional body other than the those above are 9.2% and 23.7% are not registered with any professional body. From the chi-square test of independence, it was found that at 5% level of significance opinion of respondents is not independent of their professional background. The Likert summary table also show reveal the following (i) procurement system affect project cost (ii) procurement system affect quality of work (iii) procurement plans affect design team performance. Also, the statements with low variance and standard deviation are more reliable than those with high variance and standard deviation. Therefore, on commencement of construction projects consultant must advise their clients on the building procurement system available.
Lying about flying: The efficacy of the information protocol and model statement for detecting deceit
Authors: Vrij Aldert , Leal Sharon , Deeb Haneen , Chan Stephanie , Khader Majeed , Chai Whistine , Chin Jeffery 
Published: November 2019

SummaryDue to time constraints, interviews aimed to detect deception in airport settings should be brief and veracity assessments should be made in real time. In two experiments carried out in the departure hall of an international airport, truth tellers were asked to report truthfully their forthcoming trip, whereas liars were asked to lie about the purpose of their trip. In Experiment 1, we examined five verbal cues that we thought had potential to discriminate truth tellers from liars in short airport interviews: elaboration in disclosing information, checkable details, how many people are aware of the trip, complications, and plausibility. In Experiment 2, we attempted to improve the interview protocol by adding a second interview phase in which we introduced an information protocol and model statement. All five cues differentiated truth tellers from liars in both experiments, but the information protocol and model statement did not enhance these differences.
The influence of an emotional processing strategy on visual threat detection by police trainees and officers
Authors: Williot Alexandre , Blanchette Isabelle 
Published: November 2019

SummaryThreat detection is an important skill for police officers, but few studies have examined the impact of processing strategies on this ability. The first aim of our study was to compare the visual detection of threatening and neutral targets in 38 police trainees and 53 police officers. The other aims were to examine the effect of emotional or semantic strategies on this process and the effect of psychopathological symptoms. In a visual search task, participants had to detect a threatening or neutral target among neutral distractors. Participants answered a question used to induce a more emotional or semantic processing strategy. Results revealed that threatening targets were detected faster than neutral ones. This effect was enhanced with an emotional processing strategy but unaffected by symptoms. Processing strategy also had led to faster reaction time overall. This study shows that inducing processing strategies can influence threat detection in police trainees and officers.
Drivers of Satisfaction With Care for Patients With Lupus
Authors: Jolly Meenakshi , Sethi Bhavika , O'Brien Courtney , Sequeira Winston , Block Joel A. , Toloza Sergio , Bertoli Ana , Blazevic Ivana , Vilá Luis M. , Moldovan Ioana , Torralba Karina D. , Cicognani Elvira , Mazzoni Davide , Hasni Sarfaraz , Goker Berna , Haznedaroglu Seminur , Bourre‐Tessier Josiane , Navarra Sandra V. , Mok Chi Chiu , Clarke Ann , Weisman Michael , Wallace Daniel 
Published: November 2019

ObjectiveQuality of life (QOL) and quality of care (QOC) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) remains poor. Satisfaction with care (SC), a QOC surrogate, correlates with health behaviors and outcomes. This study aimed to determine correlates of SC in SLE.MethodsA total of 1262 patients with SLE were recruited from various countries. Demographics, disease activity (modified Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index for the Safety of Estrogens in Lupus Erythematosus: National Assessment trial [SELENA‐SLEDAI]), and QOL (LupusPRO version 1.7) were collected. SC was collected using LupusPRO version 1.7. Regression analyses were conducted using demographic, disease (duration, disease activity, damage, and medications), geographic (eg, China vs United States), and QOL factors as independent predictors.ResultsThe mean (SD) age was 41.7 (13.5) years; 93% of patients were women. On the univariate analysis, age, ethnicity, current steroid use, disease activity, and QOL (social support, coping) were associated with SC. On the multivariate analysis, Asian participants had worse SC, whereas African American and Hispanic patients had better SC. Greater disease activity, better coping, and social support remained independent correlates of better SC. Compared with US patients, patients from China and Canada had worse SC on the univariate analysis. In the multivariate models, Asian ethnicity remained independently associated with worse SC, even after we adjusted for geographic background (China). No associations between African American or Hispanic ethnicity and SC were retained when geographic location (Canada) was added to the multivariate model. Canadian patients had worse SC when compared with US patients. Higher disease activity, better social support, and coping remained associated with better SC.ConclusionGreater social support, coping, and, paradoxically, SLE disease activity are associated with better SC. Social support and coping are modifiable factors that should be addressed by the provider, especially in the Asian population. Therefore, evaluation of a patient's external and internal resources using a biopsychosocial model is recommended. Higher disease activity correlated with better SC, suggesting that the latter may not be a good surrogate for QOC or health outcomes.
Neural network–based direct adaptive robust control of unknown MIMO nonlinear systems using state observer
Authors: Cheng Cheng , Liu Songyong , Wu Hongzhuang , Zhang Ying 
Published: November 2019

SummaryThis paper focuses on the problem of adaptive robust tracking control for a class of uncertain multiple‐input and multiple‐output (MIMO) nonlinear system. Unlike most previous research studies, model dynamics, disturbances, and state variables are unknown in this paper. A novel observer‐based direct adaptive neuro‐sliding mode control approach is proposed of which the only required knowledge is the system output. By incorporating the Adaptive Linear Neuron (ADALINE) neural network (NN) into the conventional sliding mode observer, the proposed observer has favorable performance. In the controller, a radial basis function (RBF) NN is constructed to approximate the unknown equivalent control laws and the estimation of the sliding surface is applied as the input. A gain‐adaptation sliding mode term is designed to enhance the robustness of the control system. Besides, the free parameters of the ADALINE NN and the RBFNN are updated online by adaptive laws to obtain optimal approximation performance. Finally, the comparative simulations are given to show the effectiveness and merits of proposed scheme.
Intra/Extracellular Lactic Acid Exhaustion for Synergistic Metabolic Therapy and Immunotherapy of Tumors
Authors: Gao Fan , Tang Ying , Liu Wen‐Long , Zou Mei‐Zhen , Huang Cui , Liu Chuan‐Jun , Zhang Xian‐Zheng 
Published: November 2019

AbstractRegulating the tumor microenvironment (TME) has been a promising strategy to improve antitumor therapy. Here, a red blood cell membrane (mRBC)‐camouflaged hollow MnO2 (HMnO2) catalytic nanosystem embedded with lactate oxidase (LOX) and a glycolysis inhibitor (denoted as PMLR) is constructed for intra/extracellular lactic acid exhaustion as well as synergistic metabolic therapy and immunotherapy of tumor. Benefiting from the long‐circulation property of the mRBC, the nanosystem can gradually accumulate in a tumor site through the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. The extracellular nanosystem consumes lactic acid in the TME by catalyzing its oxidation reaction via LOX. Meanwhile, the intracellular nanosystem releases the glycolysis inhibitor to cut off the source of lactic acid, as well as achieve antitumor metabolic therapy through the blockade of the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) supply. Both the extracellular and intracellular processes can be sensitized by O2, which can be produced during the decomposition of endogenous H2O2 catalyzed by the PMLR nanosystem. The results show that the PMLR nanosystem can ceaselessly remove lactic acid, and then lead to an immunocompetent TME. Moreover, this TME regulation strategy can effectively improve the antitumor effect of anti‐PDL1 therapy without the employment of any immune agonists to avoid the autoimmunity.
Interfacial Lattice‐Strain‐Driven Generation of Oxygen Vacancies in an Aerobic‐Annealed TiO2(B) Electrode
Authors: Zhang Wei , Cai Lingfeng , Cao Shengkai , Qiao Liang , Zeng Yi , Zhu Zhiqiang , Lv Zhisheng , Xia Huarong , Zhong Lixiang , Zhang Hongwei , Ge Xiang , Wei Jiaqi , Xi Shibo , Du Yonghua , Li Shuzhou , Chen Xiaodong 
Published: November 2019

AbstractOxygen vacancies play crucial roles in defining physical and chemical properties of materials to enhance the performances in electronics, solar cells, catalysis, sensors, and energy conversion and storage. Conventional approaches to incorporate oxygen defects mainly rely on reducing the oxygen partial pressure for the removal of product to change the equilibrium position. However, directly affecting reactants to shift the reaction toward generating oxygen vacancies is lacking and to fill this blank in synthetic methodology is very challenging. Here, a strategy is demonstrated to create oxygen vacancies through making the reaction energetically more favorable via applying interfacial strain on reactants by coating, using TiO2(B) as a model system. Geometrical phase analysis and density functional theory simulations verify that the formation energy of oxygen vacancies is largely decreased under external strain. Benefiting from these, the obtained oxygen‐deficient TiO2(B) exhibits impressively high level of capacitive charge storage, e.g., ≈53% at 0.5 mV s−1, far surpassing the ≈31% of the unmodified counterpart. Meanwhile, the modified electrode shows significantly enhanced rate capability delivering a capacity of 112 mAh g−1 at 20 C (≈6.7 A g−1), ≈30% higher than air‐annealed TiO2 and comparable to vacuum‐calcined TiO2. This work heralds a new paradigm of mechanical manipulation of materials through interfacial control for rational defect engineering.
3D Printing of Compositional Gradients Using the Microfluidic Circuit Analogy
Authors: Nguyen Du T. , Yee Timothy D. , Dudukovic Nikola A. , Sasan Koroush , Jaycox Adam W. , Golobic Alexandra M. , Duoss Eric B. , Dylla‐Spears Rebecca 
Published: November 2019

Abstract3D printing of structures with compositional gradients requires accurate dispensing control to achieve desired profiles. Here, empirical data are used with a model based on the microfluidic circuit analogy (MCA) to project dispense rate profiles that yield improved compositional accuracy in the printed part. Since minor variation in the experimental setup for each printing session can result in significant changes, a calibration procedure is developed to measure the system response. This calibration enables the extraction of the empirical MCA model parameters specific to each print session. Using the empirical parameters, the MCA model then can be used to predict appropriate dispense rates for the desired composition profile and toolpath of interest. The MCA model is validated experimentally by direct ink write 3D printing of compositional gradients using viscoelastic polydimethylsiloxane inks and is shown to improve accuracy to desired profile by a factor of 2–5. This approach enables a new route to 3D print structures with arbitrarily complex compositional gradients.
Adhesion‐Engineering‐Enabled “Sketch and Peel” Lithography for Aluminum Plasmonic Nanogaps
Authors: Chen Yiqin , Zhang Shi , Shu Zhiwen , Wang Zhaolong , Liu Peng , Zhang Chen , Wang Yasi , Liu Qing , Duan Huigao , Liu Yanjun 
Published: November 2019

AbstractAluminum is one of the most significant plasmonic materials for its advantage of low cost, natural abundance, as well as the ultraviolet optical response. However, it is still very challengeable for the fabrication of aluminum plasmonic nanogaps, which greatly limits the applications of aluminum plasmonics considering the essential role of nanogaps for electric field enhancement. Here, the reliable patterning of aluminum plasmonic nanogaps employing a modified “Sketch and Peel” lithography strategy is demonstrated. By introducing a self‐assembled monolayer to engineer the surface energy of the substrate, the adhesiveness of the aluminum film outside outline template is significantly decreased to implement the selective peeling process. Besides, the near‐infrared Fano resonance in the periodic aluminum heptamers has been first revealed by enabling the strong electric field and plasmon coupling in the aluminum nanostructures with 10 nm scale nanogaps. In addition, surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy are also illustrated in the rationally designed aluminum dimers. The present work provides a robust method to obtain aluminum plasmonic nanogaps, which may play an important role on the practical applications of aluminum plasmonics, such as surface‐enhanced vibration spectroscopy and nonlinear optics.
Hydrocipher: Bioinspired Dynamic Structural Color‐Based Cryptographic Surface
Authors: Choi Jaeho , Hua Mutian , Lee Seung Yeol , Jo Wonhee , Lo Chiao‐Yueh , Kim Shin‐Hyun , Kim Hee‐Tak , He Ximin 
Published: November 2019

AbstractStructural colors of 2D gratings are iridescent, color‐tunable, and never fade, which renders them appealing for anti‐counterfeiting applications. However, for advanced security, it still remains a challenge to completely hide the encrypted color patterns and reveal them on demand. In this work, a water‐responsive photonic grating consisting of a micropillar array and a hydrogel overcoat with a similar refractive index, termed “hydrocipher”, is presented. The joint effect of stimuli‐reversible refractive‐index (mis)match and reconfigurable grating‐based diffraction coloration enables a complete encryption of the structural color and rapid decryption. The photonic structure shows a strong iridescence due to the angle‐dependent diffraction when the hydrogel overcoat is swollen from water. Upon drying, the micropillars bend and the refractive index contrast disappears, which dramatically lessens the diffraction intensity and renders the surface highly transparent. The dehydrated‐to‐hydrated state transition can occur within 1 s, enabling fast decryption. The color switching is highly reversible over a prolonged hydration/dehydration cycle, and the dehydrated hydrogel layer protects the delicate micropillar array from external mechanical stress. The creative combination of hydrogel material and the 2D grating structure offers a new and simple strategy for realizing reversible, durable, and fast‐response cryptography with potentially broad impact on the anti‐counterfeiting technology market.
Cobalt Catalyzed Reductive Spirocyclopropanation Reactions
Authors: Werth Jacob , Berger Kristen , Uyeda Christopher 
Published: November 2019

AbstractCobalt pyridine−diimine (PDI) complexes catalyze the reductive spirocyclopropanation of terminal 1,3‐dienes. gem‐Dichlorocycloalkanes serve as carbene precursors and Zn is used as a terminal electron source. The reaction is effective for a range of gem‐dichloro partners including those containing sulfur and nitrogen heterocycles. An example of an intramolecular Rh‐catalyzed [5+2]‐cycloaddition of a vinyl spirocyclopropane is demonstrated, providing rapid access to a complex tricyclic framework. Overall, this catalyst system is capable of suppressing the kinetically facile 1,2‐hydride shift, which has hampered the development of Simmons−Smith reactions using Zn carbenoids possessing β‐hydrogen atoms.magnified image
Proteome editing using engineered proteins that hijack cellular quality control machinery
Authors: Lopez‐Barbosa Natalia , Ludwicki Morgan B. , DeLisa Matthew P. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractProtein silencing is an important aspect of both scientific investigation of native protein function and therapeutic targeting of aberrant protein activity. Many techniques for silencing proteins at the DNA or RNA level exist such as CRISPR, RNAi, or TALEN. Cellular proteins can also be selectively removed at the posttranslational level using proteome editing techniques, many of which employ engineered proteins to engage natural cellular quality control machinery for accelerating the removal of otherwise stable proteins. Here, we summarize recent progress in the development of such engineered proteins, comparing them to analogous microbial‐, viral‐, and small molecule‐based strategies for selectively degrading proteins of interest. Finally, we highlight the advantages and limitations of proteome editing technologies and discuss how the application of directed evolution could alleviate current challenges and usher in a new wave of designer proteins for diagnostic and therapeutic application.
Out‐of‐home care in childhood and biomedical risk factors in middle‐age: National birth cohort study
Authors: de Mestral Carlos , Bell Steven , Hamer Mark , Batty George David 
Published: November 2019

AbstractObjectiveWith there being an apparent impact of experience of out‐of‐home care in childhood on chronic disease and mortality, we examined how such adversity might be embodied such that it has a measurable impact on human biology, so mediating this relationship.MethodsWe used data from the UK National Child Development Study in which exposure to public care was prospectively gathered on three occasions up to age 16. Study members also participated in a social survey at age 42 and a clinical examination at age 44/45 when cardiovascular, inflammatory, neuroendocrine, and respiratory risk markers for mortality were collected, 19 of which were included as endpoints in the present analyses.ResultsOf the 8012 participants in the biomedical survey, 4% (n = 322) had been in care at some point in childhood and/or adolescence. We found the expected marked differences in the early life characteristics of poverty, health, and disability in children with experience of public care relative to their unexposed counterparts. After controlling for these confounding factors, however, care in childhood was essentially unrelated to biomarkers in middle‐age. We also found no consistent links between these biomarkers and the duration, timing, or type of care.ConclusionsOur results suggest that the biomarkers captured in the present study are unlikely to mediate the link between public care in childhood and later chronic disease or mortality. Processes involving mental health, socioeconomic position, and health behaviors would seem to be a potential alternative pathway warranting investigation.
Height and life satisfaction: Evidence from 27 nations
Authors: Habibov Nazim , Luo Rong , Auchynnikava Alena , Fan Lida 
Published: November 2019

AbstractObjectivesTo evaluate the effect of height on life satisfaction.MethodsWe use data from a recent multi‐country survey that was conducted in 27 nations.ResultsOur main finding is that height does have a strong positive effect on life satisfaction. These findings remain positive and significant when we use a comprehensive set of well‐known covariates of life‐satisfaction at both the individual and country levels. These findings also remain robust to alternative statistical specifications.ConclusionsFrom a theoretical standpoint, our findings suggest that height is important in explaining life‐satisfaction independent of other well‐known determinants. From a methodological standpoint, the findings of this study highlight the need to explicitly control for the effect of heights in studies on subjective well‐being, happiness, and life‐satisfaction.
Adults with Loeys–Dietz syndrome and vascular Ehlers–Danlos syndrome: A cross‐sectional study of health burden perspectives
Authors: Johansen Heidi , Velvin Gry , Lidal Ingeborg 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThe aim is to study adults with vascular Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (vEDS) and Loeys–Dietz syndrome (LDS) with regard to sociodemographic characteristics, perceived vascular‐ and multi‐organ symptom burdens, and health services utilization. This is a cross‐sectional study. In 2018, a postal questionnaire was sent to 71 individuals with genetically verified LDS types 1–4 or vEDS, age ≥ 18 years, recruited through a National Resource Centre for Rare Disorders in Norway. Eighteen patients with vEDS and 34 patients with LDS subtypes 1‐4 participated, the response rate was 74%. Median age was 43.5 (range 18‐68) years, and 58% were women. Median age at diagnosis was 34 years (range: 6–63). Severe vascular‐ and multi‐organ symptom burdens were found, and chronic pain was reported by 79%. Most respondents (87%) had cardiovascular surveillance visits, 58% yearly or more often, and still 29% had no antihypertensive medications. Three quarters communicated diagnosis‐related concerns with their general practitioner. A considerable group (31%) had left work before retirement age. Healthcare professionals should be aware of the spectrum of health burden in adults with vEDS and LDS. A verification of the diagnosis is crucial to counseling, including medical follow‐up, education, and work, and advices on precaution and life style decisions.