bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mechanical deformations of a liquid crystal elastomer at director angles between 0° and 90°: Deducing an empirical model encompassing anisotropic nonlinearity
Authors: Mistry Devesh , Gleeson Helen F. 
Published: October 2019

ABSTRACTDespite the wealth of studies reporting mechanical properties of liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs), no theory can currently describe their complete mechanical anisotropy and nonlinearity. Here, we present the first comprehensive study of mechanical anisotropy in an all‐acrylate LCE via tensile tests that simultaneously track liquid crystal (LC) director rotation. We then use an empirical approach to gain a deeper insight into the LCE's mechanical responses at values of strain, up to 1.5, for initial director orientations between 0° and 90°. Using a method analogous to time–temperature superposition, we create master curves for the LCE's mechanical response and use these to deduce a model that accurately predicts the load curve of the LCE for stresses applied at angles between 15° and 70° relative to the initial LC director. This LCE has been shown to exhibit auxetic behavior for deformations perpendicular to the director. Interestingly, our empirical model predicts that the LCE will further demonstrate auxetic behavior when stressed at angles between 54° and 90° to the director. Our approach could be extended to any LCE; so it represents a significant step forward toward models that would aid the further development of LCE theory and the design and modeling of LCE‐based technologies. © 2019 The Authors. Journal of Polymer Science Part B: Polymer Physics published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019, 57, 1367–1377
Effect of low‐temperature physical aging on the dynamic transitions of atactic polystyrene in the glassy state
Authors: Grigoriadi Kalouda , Putzeys Tristan , Wübbenhorst Michael , van Breemen Lambèrt C. A. , Anderson Patrick D. , Hütter Markus 
Published: October 2019

ABSTRACTThe local and cooperative dynamics of atactic PS (a‐PS) were studied by broadband dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (BDRS) and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR‐FTIR). The a‐PS has been subjected to thermal rejuvenation and subsequent quenching, short‐term aging (6 weeks), and long‐term aging (1 year) at ambient conditions. Where for the rejuvenated sample only an α‐ and a γ‐relaxation is observed, short‐term aging results in an additional β*‐relaxation that merges with the α‐relaxation at longer aging times. The γ‐relaxation is increasing in intensity and activation energy during aging. The α‐process shows no spectral changes and shift in the relaxation time upon aging. This may be attributed to a possible erasure of history of the material during the temperature‐sweep mode measurement. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results suggest that the energetically favorable trans‐trans (tt) conformers are increased in population with aging. © 2019 The Authors. Journal of Polymer Science Part B: Polymer Physics published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019, 57, 1394–1401
Efficient bivariate EWMA charts for monitoring process dispersion
Authors: Osei‐Aning Richard , Abbasi Saddam Akber 
Published: October 2019

AbstractTo ensure high quality standards of a process, the application of control charts to monitor process performance has become a regular routine. Multivariate charts are a preferred choice in the presence of more than one process variable. In this article, we proposed a set of bivariate exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) charts for monitoring the process dispersion. These charts are formulated based on a variety of dispersion statistics considering normal and non‐normal bivariate parent distributions. The performance of the different bivariate EWMA dispersion charts is evaluated and compared using the average run length and extra quadratic loss criteria. For the bivariate normal process, the comparisons revealed that the EWMA chart based on the maximum standard deviation (SMAXE) was the most efficient chart when the shift occurred in one quality variable. It also performed well when the sample size is small and the shift occurred in both quality variables. The EWMA chart based on the maximum average absolute deviation from median (MDMAXE) performed better than the other charts in most situations when the shift occurred in the covariance matrix for the bivariate non‐normal processes. An illustrative example is also presented to show the working of the charts.
Inertia‐free attitude stabilization for flexible spacecraft with active vibration suppression
Authors: Liu Chuang , Yue Xiaokui , Shi Keke , Sun Zhaowei 
Published: October 2019

SummaryThis paper addresses the inertia‐free attitude control problem for flexible spacecraft in the presence of inertia uncertainties, external disturbances, actuator faults, measurement errors, and input magnitude and rate constraints (MRCs). By analyzing the influence of external disturbances, faulty signals, and actual inertial matrix, a lumped disturbance is reconstructed to facilitate the controller design. Then, a new intermediate observer is developed to estimate the attitude and modal information and the lumped disturbance. The Lyapunov stability analysis shows that the developed controller can achieve the objectives of the attitude stabilization and vibration suppression with input MRCs. Finally, numerical simulations are performed to demonstrate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed control method.
Cooperative attack strategy design via H−/H∞ scheme for linear cyber‐physical systems
Authors: Wang Xiao‐Lei , Yang Guang‐Hong 
Published: October 2019

SummaryThis paper studies the problem of cooperative attack strategy design for cyber‐physical systems modeled by discrete‐time linear systems. A function that reflects the attacker's target is established, and a linear attack strategy is designed based on the objective function, in which the attack signal is unknown but energy bounded, while the statistical information of the existing ones is required to be known. Unlike the existing analysis methods for attack strategy, new Lyapunov functions that depend on the system states at different instants are constructed in the attack strategy analysis, and the sensitivity to the state estimator and the robustness against the detector are both enhanced on attack signals through using the H−/H∞ scheme. Finally, two simulation examples are given to show that the designed attack strategy achieves larger estimation errors and smaller detection probability simultaneously than the existing design methods.
Direct Visualization of Local Spin Transition Behaviors in Thin Molecular Films by Bimodal AFM
Authors: Shalabaeva Victoria , Bas Alin‐Ciprian , Piedrahita‐Bello Mario , Ridier Karl , Salmon Lionel , Thibault Christophe , Nicolazzi William , Molnár Gábor , Bousseksou Azzedine 
Published: October 2019

AbstractThin films of the molecular spin‐crossover complex [Fe(HB(1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐yl)3)2] undergo spin transition above room temperature, which can be exploited in sensors, actuators, and information processing devices. Variable temperature viscoelastic mapping of the films by atomic force microscopy reveals a pronounced decrease of the elastic modulus when going from the low spin (5.2 ± 0.4 GPa) to the high spin (3.6 ± 0.2 GPa) state, which is also accompanied by increasing energy dissipation. This technique allows imaging, with high spatial resolution, of the formation of high spin puddles around film defects, which is ascribed to local strain relaxation. On the other hand, no clustering process due to cooperative phenomena was observed. This experimental approach sets the stage for the investigation of spin transition at the nanoscale, including phase nucleation and evolution as well as local strain effects.
Sensing Infrared Photons at Room Temperature: From Bulk Materials to Atomic Layers
Authors: Wang Peng , Xia Hui , Li Qing , Wang Fang , Zhang Lili , Li Tianxin , Martyniuk Piotr , Rogalski Antoni , Hu Weida 
Published: October 2019

AbstractRoom‐temperature operating means a profound reduction of volume, power consumption, and cost for infrared (IR) photodetectors, which promise a wide range of applications in both military and civilian areas, including individual soldier equipment, automatic driving, etc. Inspired by this fact, since the beginning of 1990s, great efforts have been made in the development of uncooled thermal detectors. During the last two decades, similar efforts have been devoted using IR photon detectors, especially based on photovoltaic effects. Herein, the proven technologies, which have been commercialized with a large format, like InGaAs/InP pin diodes, InAsSb barrier detectors, and high‐operating‐temperature HgCdTe devices, are reviewed. The newly developed technology is emphasized, which has shown unique superiority in detecting mid‐wavelength and long‐wavelength IR signals, such as quantum cascade photodetectors. Finally, brand‐new concept devices based on 2D materials are introduced, which are demonstrated to provide additional degrees of freedom in designing and fabricating room‐temperature IR devices, for example, the construction of multi‐heterojunctions without introducing lattice strain, the convenient integration of optical waveguides and electronic gratings. All information provided here aims to supply a full view of the progress and challenges of room‐temperature IR detectors.
3D Oxygen‐Defective Potassium Vanadate/Carbon Nanoribbon Networks as High‐Performance Cathodes for Aqueous Zinc‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Yang Wang , Dong Liubing , Yang Wu , Xu Chengjun , Shao Guangjie , Wang Guoxiu 
Published: October 2019

AbstractRechargeable aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (ZIBs) have attracted extensive interest owing to their low cost and high safety. Herein, oxygen‐defective potassium vanadate/amorphous carbon nanoribbons (C‐KVO|Od) are successfully synthesized through a one‐step solid‐state sintering process as a high‐performance cathode material for ZIBs. This unique 3D interconnected network structure can not only act as a continuous conductive path but also decrease aggregation and provide more adsorption sites for zinc ions. The as‐prepared C‐KVO|Od exhibits a high capacity of 385 mAh g−1 at 0.2 A g−1, superior rate performance (166 mAh g−1 even at 20 A g−1), and an outstanding cycling stability with a 95% capacity retention over 1000 cycles. Density functional theory calculations elucidate that the oxygen defects in the C‐KVO|Od remarkably reduce the Zn2+ ion's adsorption Gibbs free energy and Zn2+‐diffusion barriers. Meanwhile, the amorphous carbon networks enable the rapid electron transfer and provide additional active sites for Zn2+ storage. This work can facilitate the development of high‐performance ZIBs for large‐scale energy storage.
Minimum cost performance‐based seismic design of reinforced concrete frames with pushover and nonlinear response‐history analysis
Authors: Mergos Panagiotis E. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractPrevious studies compare results of pushover and nonlinear response‐history analysis of predesigned reinforced concrete frames. The present study employs nonlinear response‐history analysis and pushover analysis with the N2 method in a computational framework for the minimum cost performance‐based seismic design of reinforced concrete frames according to the fib Model Code 2010 methodology and compares their obtained design solutions in terms of cost and structural performance. It is found that the minimum costs of pushover‐based designs are similar to the costs from response‐history analysis for regular frames but the pushover‐based designs can be more expensive for irregular frames. Furthermore, the pushover‐based designs are not guaranteed to satisfy performance objectives when subjected to response‐history analysis even when more than one lateral load distributions are applied.
Prospective of sugarcane bagasse ash for controlling the alkali‐silica reaction in concrete incorporating reactive aggregates
Authors: Abbas Safeer , Sharif Asim , Ahmed Ali , Abbass Wasim , Shaukat Sbahat 
Published: October 2019

AbstractSugarcane bagasse ash (SBA) is a supplementary material widely used around the world for improving mechanical and durability properties of concrete. Main aim of this study was to examine the potential of SBA for controlling alkali‐silica reaction (ASR) in concrete incorporating reactive aggregates. SBA and reactive aggregates were acquired from local industry and quarry. Mortar bar specimens were cast to investigate various dosages of SBA (i.e., 10, 20, 30, and 40% by cement weight) for mitigating the alkali‐silica reactivity expansion as per ASTM C1260. Petrography analysis of aggregates revealed the presence of deleterious minerals, which are prone to ASR. Strength activity index and thermal analysis results confirmed the pozzolanic activity of SBA. Mortar bar results showed 20 and 40% decrease in ASR expansion for specimens incorporating 10 and 40% of SBA by cement weight, respectively. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy analysis showed no sign of cracks due to ASR for specimens incorporating SBA. The improved behavior of specimens with SBA addition was due to alkali absorption and dilution process leading to low CaO/SiO2 ratio, confirmed through energy disperse X‐ray spectroscopy. Therefore, it can be envisioned that full‐scale implementation of SBA addition in concrete mixtures could mitigate land filling of this by‐product and lead toward the development of eco‐friendly and sustainable technique for controlling the ASR associated damages in concrete structures.
Politics of (Dis)Integration – An Introduction
Authors: Collyer Michael , Hinger Sophie , Schweitzer Reinhard 
Published: October 2019

AbstractSomething called ‘integration’ has been an official policy goal for the last 50 years or more, at least in liberal democracies. As far as the integration of newcomers is concerned, this liberal consensus has however begun to change in the last few years. While some migrants have always been excluded from integration policies, we can now see a significant rise in the creation of barriers to their equal participation in social systems. In this chapter, we argue that such disintegration policies nonetheless remain linked to the idea of integration; and introduce ‘(dis)integration’ as an analytical tool to describe this intertwining. We thereby build on and seek to contribute to three strands of literature: civic stratification, inclusion/exclusion, and critical citizenship. In order to do this, we develop three related arguments: First, we highlight that integration is often framed in terms of limited capacity to justify accompanying measures of disintegration. Second, we explore how individuals (can) counter such disintegration measures through ‘acts of integration’ that range from adapting to legal constraints, to migrant activism and solidarity with identified others. Third, we show that the (dis)integration of some is inherently connected to the (dis)integration of society as a whole.
Patient‐Reported Barriers to Accessing Surgical Care in Northern Vanuatu
Authors: Young S. , Leodoro B. , Toukune A. , Ala R. , Bissett I. , Windsor J. A. , Dare A. J. , Perry W. R. G. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractBackgroundThe Lancet Commission on Global Surgery proposed that population access to essential surgical care within 2 h is a core indicator of health system preparedness. Little evidence exists to characterise access to surgical care for island nations, including Vanuatu, a lower middle‐income country in the Western Pacific.MethodsA descriptive, facility‐based, survey of surgical inpatients was undertaken over a 6‐month period at Northern Provincial Hospital (NPH), Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu. This evaluated demographics, access to surgical care using the ‘three delays’ framework and clinical outcomes.ResultsA total of 121 participants were surveyed (60% of all surgical admissions), of which 31% required emergency surgery. Only 20% of emergency surgical cases accessed care within 2 h. There were no emergency cases from Torba or Malekula. The first delay (delay in seeking care) had the biggest impact on timely access. There was a geographic gradient to access, gender preponderance (males), and a delay in seeking surgical care due to a preference for traditional healers.ConclusionThere is urgent need to improve access to surgical care in Vanuatu, particularly for Torba and Malekula catchments. Demographic, geographic, sociocultural, and economic factors impact on timely access to surgical care within the northern regions of Vanuatu and support the notion that addressing access barriers is more complex than ensuring the availability of surgical resources. Future priorities should include efforts to reduce the first delay, address the role of traditional medicine, and review the geographic disparities in access.
Repeat Hepatectomy for Early Recurrence of Colorectal Liver Metastases—Prognostic Impacts Assessed from the Recurrence Pattern
Authors: Watanabe Genki , Mise Yoshihiro , Ito Hiromichi , Inoue Yosuke , Ishizawa Takeaki , Takahashi Yu , Saiura Akio 
Published: October 2019

AbstractBackgroundIt is unclear how early liver recurrence negatively affects survival in patients undergoing surgery for colorectal liver metastases (CLM) and whether to perform re‐hepatectomy for early recurrence is still controversial. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of re‐hepatectomy for early recurrence of CLM.MethodsWe reviewed 634 patients undergoing initial hepatectomy for CLM between 2004 and 2015. In 131 patients (20.7%), liver recurrence occurred within 6 months after surgery (early recurrence group [ER]). Recurrence pattern and survivals of ER were compared with those of 150 patients (23.7%) who had liver recurrence more than 6 months after surgery (late recurrence group [LR]). Re‐hepatectomy was indicated for resectable disease regardless of the timing of recurrence without using preoperative chemotherapy.ResultsThe 5‐year overall survival (OS) rates after initial hepatectomy in ER (24.0%) were worse than those in LR (57.7%, p < 0.01). Although the incidence of concomitant extrahepatic recurrence was not different between ER and LR, the rate of re‐hepatectomy for recurrence confined to the liver in ER (72.5% [58/80]) was lower than that in LR (88.9% [96/108], p < 0.01). In ER, re‐hepatectomy was found to independently improve survival (HR: 6.479, p < 0.01), offering the 5‐year OS rate after re‐hepatectomy of 45.2%. The sites and timing of re‐recurrence after re‐hepatectomy were not different between ER and LR.ConclusionsImpaired survival of early liver recurrence is attributed to extensive liver recurrence. However, re‐hepatectomy indicated based on resectability is associated with improved survival in patients with early recurrence, tempering the re‐recurrence mode.
SPMSQ for risk stratification of older patients in the emergency department
Authors: Schönstein A. , Wahl H.-W. , Katus H. A. , Bahrmann A. 
Published: October 2019

Abstract

Background
Risk stratification of older patients in the emergency department (ED) is seen as a promising and efficient solution for handling the increase in demand for geriatric emergency medicine. Previously, the predictive validity of commonly used tools for risk stratification, such as the identification of seniors at risk (ISAR), have found only limited evidence in German geriatric patient samples. Given that the adverse outcomes in question, such as rehospitalization, nursing home admission and mortality, are substantially associated with cognitive impairment, the potential of the short portable mental status questionnaire (SPMSQ) as a tool for risk stratification of older ED patients was investigated.

Objective
To estimate the predictive validity of the SPMSQ for a composite endpoint of adverse events (e.g. rehospitalization, nursing home admission and mortality).

Method
This was a prospective cohort study with 260 patients aged 70 years and above, recruited in a cardiology ED. Patients with a likely life-expectancy below 24 h were excluded. Follow-up examinations were conducted at 1, 3, 6 and 12 month(s) after recruitment.

Results
The SPMSQ was found to be a significant predictor of adverse outcomes not at 1 month (area under the curve, AUC 0.55, 95% confidence interval, CI 0.46–0.63) but at 3 months (AUC 0.61, 95% CI 0.54–0.68), 6 months (AUC 0.63, 95% CI 0.56–0.70) and 12 months (AUC 0.63, 95% CI 0.56–0.70) after initial contact.

Conclusion
For longer periods of observation the SPMSQ can be a predictor of a composite endpoint of adverse outcomes even when controlled for a range of confounders. Its characteristics, specifically the low sensitivity, make it unsuitable as an accurate risk stratification tool on its own.
Genetic mapping of tuber size distribution and marketable tuber yield under drought stress in potatoes
Authors: Aliche Ernest B. , Oortwijn Marian , Theeuwen Tom P. J. M. , Bachem Christian W. B. , van Eck Herman J. , Visser Richard G. F. , van der Linden C. Gerard 
Published: October 2019

AbstractDrought sensitivity of potato leads to a reduction in total tuber yield and marketable yield. An investigation of drought effects on tuber yield attributes will facilitate our understanding of how to reduce such huge yield losses. We have evaluated tuber yield, tuber size distribution and marketable yield of a set of 103 European commercial potato cultivars under irrigated and non-irrigated conditions in the field. The multi-year results from two locations, Connantre, France (2013–2015) and Nieuw-Namen in Zeeland, The Netherlands (2013–2014), were analysed. We used Normal and Gamma Distribution models to describe the tuber size distribution of tuber fresh weight and tuber number, respectively. The interactions among parameters of tuber size distribution and total/marketable tuber yield traits were analysed using correlation matrices and biplots. Finally, we used a 14K Infinium SNP marker array to find associations between the parameters or traits and genetic loci on the potato genome. Late foliage maturity facilitated a wider spread of tuber size distribution in favour of larger-sized tubers. Drought effects on total yield were representative of their impact on marketable yield, however, absolute values of total tuber number may not be indicative of marketable number of tubers. We found significant marker-trait associations between a region on chromosome 3 and the spread of tuber number distribution, size class with maximum tuber number and marketable fractions of tuber number and tuber weight. These findings will contribute to improvement and selection for drought tolerance in potato.
Prenatal Zidovudine Treatment Modifies Early Development of Rat Osteoid – Confocal Microspectroscopy Analysis
Authors: Drzazga Zofia , Ciszek Wojciech , Binek Mariusz 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
Autofluorescence of the bone extracellular matrix (ECM) has not been widely explored although the ECM plays a very important role in bone development. In our research we focused on examining the bone matrix of very young animals due to the intense growth process during the first month of life. Structure images and fluorescence spectra of the bone surface were carried out using confocal fluorescence microscope Eclipse Ti-S inverted CLSM (NIKON, Japan) for compact tibia of healthy 7-, 14- and 28-day-old rat newborns after prenatal zidovudine administration in comparison with control. Spectral features of ECM autofluorescence were analyzed statistically by taking into consideration p < 0.05. The CLSM technique allows for simultaneous examination of the structure and autofluorescence from selected areas of the bone surface. Excessive autofluorescence of ECM after prenatal zidovudine administration influences bone growth incommensurably to the newborns’ age. Therefore the possibility of an additional non-enzymatic mechanism of collagen cross-linking in the first two weeks of life of newborn rats prenatally treated with zidovudine has been considered. Our results suggest that ECM autofluorescence can be an indicator of bone development in the normal and pathological state.