bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Radiological Survey of Oil and Gas Wastes and its Health Risks in Niger Delta Region of Nigeria
Authors: Ononugbo C. P. , Avwiri G. O. , Ekpo J. I. , Chad-Umoren Y. E. 
Published: December 2019

Aim: The aim of this study is radiometric survey of oil and gas wastes and its health risks in Niger Delta region of Nigeria.
Study Design: This study was purely an experimental work which involves collection of samples and laboratory analysis.
Place and Duration of the Study: This study was carried out at oil and gas company waste stream facilities and waste pipe market within Niger Delta region between June 2018 and May, 2019.
Methodology: Sixteen samples (4 drill cuttings, 4 pipe scales, 2 sludges and 6 produced water) were randomly collected from four waste streams in six locations within the oil and gas production facilities and used pipe market. These samples were taken to the laboratory, prepared following the ISO procedure and packaged in a porcelain bottle, sealed and kept for twenty eight days in order to ensure secular equilibrium between 238U, 232Th and their progenies and counted with high purity Germanium detector (HPGe). The activity concentration of all the radionuclides were used to determine the radiological health risks using mathematical models.
Results: The lowest and highest specific activity concentrations of 226Ra, 238U , 232Th and 40K, in solid wastes are 5.28±1.08 and 25727.75 Bqkg-1, 3.61±0.76 and 23021.73±1041.58 Bqkg-1, 2.40±0.56 and 21468.25±1125.57 Bqkg-1 and 35.31±2.38 and 1527.73 ±86.60 Bqkg-1 respectively. In the liquid waste, the lowest and highest activity concentration of 238U, 232Th and 40K are 0.34±0.15 and 1.11±0.28 Bql-1, 0.63±0.17 and 1.06±0.18 Bql-1 and 9.60±0.66 and 14.20 ±1.04 Bql-1 respectively. 226Ra was below detectable limit in the liquid waste except in one sample (CZI). Downhole pipe scales recorded the highest activity concentration of all the radionuclides. Surface pipe scale also recorded very high activity concentration of all the radionuclides. The radiological health risk parameters assessed from the activity concentration of these radionuclide were all above the safe reference levels in downhole pipe scales and surface pipe scales while they are within the safe values in other samples. The estimated Exposure rate for both solid and liquid wastes were higher than the recommended reference level of 600 µRh-1 and the associated dose rate was also higher than reference level.
Conclusion: The result of this work revealed that downhole and surface pipes from oilfield commonly used in the construction of buildings and domestic overhead tank-stands are associated with high levels of ionizing radiation which may be detrimental to human health and the environment.
A 10‐year prediagnostic follow‐up study shows that serum RNA signals are highly dynamic in lung carcinogenesis
Authors: Umu Sinan Uğur , Langseth Hilde , Keller Andreas , Meese Eckart , Helland Åslaug , Lyle Robert , Rounge Trine B. 
Published: December 2019

The majority of lung cancer (LC) patients are diagnosed at a late stage, and survival is poor. Circulating RNA molecules are known to have a role in cancer; however, their involvement before diagnosis remains an open question. In this study, we investigated circulating RNA dynamics in prediagnostic LC samples, focusing on smokers, to identify if and when disease‐related signals can be detected in serum. We sequenced small RNAs in 542 serum LC samples donated up to 10 years before diagnosis and 519 matched cancer‐free controls coming from 905 individuals in the Janus Serum Bank. This sample size provided sufficient statistical power to independently analyze time to diagnosis, stage, and histology. The results showed dynamic changes in differentially expressed circulating RNAs specific to LC histology and stage. The greatest number of differentially expressed RNAs was identified around 7 years before diagnosis for early‐stage LC and 1–4 years prior to diagnosis for locally advanced and advanced‐stage LC, regardless of LC histology. Furthermore, NSCLC and SCLC histologies have distinct prediagnostic signals. The majority of differentially expressed RNAs were associated with cancer‐related pathways. The dynamic RNA signals pinpointed different phases of tumor development over time. Stage‐specific RNA profiles may be associated with tumor aggressiveness. Our results improve the molecular understanding of carcinogenesis. They indicate substantial opportunity for screening and improved treatment and will guide further research on early detection of LC. However, the dynamic nature of the RNA signals also suggests challenges for prediagnostic biomarker discovery.
Weighted fusion robust steady‐state estimators for multisensor networked systems with one‐step random delay and inconsecutive packet dropouts
Authors: Liu Wen‐Qiang , Deng Zi‐Li 
Published: December 2019

SummaryIn this paper, the weighted fusion robust steady‐state Kalman filtering problem is studied for a class of multisensor networked systems with mixed uncertainties. The uncertainties include same multiplicative noises in system parameter matrices, uncertain noise variances, as well as the one‐step random delay and inconsecutive packet dropouts, which modeled by sequences of Bernoulli variables with different probabilities. By defining a new observation vector and applying the augmented method, the system under study is converted into one with only uncertain noise variances. The sufficient conditions for the existence of steady‐state estimators are given. According to the minimax robust estimation principle, based on the worst‐case subsystems with conservative upper bounds of uncertain noise variances, the robust local steady‐state Kalman estimators (predictor, filter, and smoother) are proposed. Applying the optimal fusion algorithm weighted by matrices and the covariance intersection fusion algorithm, the two kinds of robust fusion steady‐state Kalman estimators are derived in a unified framework. The robustness of the proposed fusion estimators is proved by applying the permutation matrices and the global Lyapunov equations method, such that, for all admissible uncertainties, the actual steady‐state estimation error variances of the estimators are guaranteed to have the corresponding minimal upper bounds. The accuracy relations among the robust local and fusion steady‐state Kalman estimators are proved. An example with application to autoregressive moving average signal processing is proposed, which shows that the robust local and fusion signal estimation problems can be solved by the state estimation problems. Simulation example verifies the effectiveness and correctness of the proposed results.
Constitutional Isomerization Enables Bright NIR‐II AIEgen for Brain‐Inflammation Imaging
Authors: Liu Shunjie , Chen Chao , Li Yuanyuan , Zhang Haoke , Liu Junkai , Wang Ran , Wong Sherman T. H. , Lam Jacky W. Y. , Ding Dan , Tang Ben Zhong 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThe shortage of high quantum yield (QY) organic fluorophores in the second near‐infrared window (NIR‐II) has become a bottleneck in bioimaging field. Now, a simple strategy is proposed to address this: constitutional isomerization on the basis of the molecular design philosophy of aggregation‐induced emission. With the combination of backbone distortion and rotor twisting, the resultant NIR‐II fluorophore 2TT‐oC6B displays an emission peak at 1030 nm and a QY of 11% in nanoparticles, one of the highest reported so far. Control molecules confirm that the distorted backbone and twisted rotors play equally important roles in determining the fluorescence properties of the NIR‐II fluorophores. To allow for the targeting ability to reach deeply located diseases, neutrophils (NEs) are used to penetrate the brain tissues and accumulate in the inflammation site. Herein, it is shown that NEs carrying 2TT‐oC6B nanoparticles can penetrate the blood‐brain‐barrier and visualize the deeply located inflammation through an intact scalp and skull. Notably, the bright 2TT‐oC6B contributes to a significantly enhanced signal‐to‐background ratio of 30.6 in the brain inflammation site.
A Stable Solid Electrolyte Interphase for Magnesium Metal Anode Evolved from a Bulky Anion Lithium Salt
Authors: Tang Kun , Du Aobing , Dong Shanmu , Cui Zili , Liu Xin , Lu Chenglong , Zhao Jingwen , Zhou Xinhong , Cui Guanglei 
Published: December 2019

AbstractRechargeable magnesium (Mg) metal batteries are a promising candidate for “post‐Li‐ion batteries” due to their high capacity, high abundance, and most importantly, highly reversible and dendrite‐free Mg metal anode. However, the formation of passivating surface film rather than Mg2+‐conducting solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) on Mg anode surface has always restricted the development of rechargeable Mg batteries. A stable SEI is constructed on the surface of Mg metal anode by the partial decomposition of a pristine Li electrolyte in the electrochemical process. This Li electrolyte is easily prepared by dissolving lithium tetrakis(hexafluoroisopropyloxy)borate (Li[B(hfip)4]) in dimethoxyethane. It is noteworthy that Mg2+ can be directly introduced into this Li electrolyte during the initial electrochemical cycles for in situ forming a hybrid Mg2+/Li+ electrolyte, and then the cycled electrolyte can conduct Mg‐ion smoothly. The existence of this as‐formed SEI blocks the further parasitic reaction of Mg metal anode with electrolyte and enables this electrolyte enduring long‐term electrochemical cycles stably. This approach of constructing superior SEI on Mg anode surface and exploiting novel Mg electrolyte provides a new avenue for practical application of high‐performance rechargeable Mg batteries.
Stable Monomeric Insulin Formulations Enabled by Supramolecular PEGylation of Insulin Analogues
Authors: Maikawa Caitlin L. , Smith Anton A. A. , Zou Lei , Meis Catherine M. , Mann Joseph L. , Webber Matthew J. , Appel Eric A. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractCurrent “fast‐acting” insulin analogues contain amino acid modifications meant to inhibit dimer formation and shift the equilibrium of association states toward the monomeric state. However, the insulin monomer is highly unstable and current formulation techniques require insulin to primarily exist as hexamers to prevent aggregation into inactive and immunogenic amyloids. Insulin formulation excipients have thus been traditionally selected to promote insulin association into the hexameric form to enhance formulation stability. This study exploits a novel excipient for the supramolecular PEGylation of insulin analogues, including aspart and lispro, to enhance the stability and maximize the prevalence of insulin monomers in formulation. Using multiple techniques, it is demonstrated that judicious choice of formulation excipients (tonicity agents and parenteral preservatives) enables insulin analogue formulations with 70–80% monomer and supramolecular PEGylation imbued stability under stressed aging for over 100 h without altering the insulin association state. Comparatively, commercial “fast‐acting” formulations contain less than 1% monomer and remain stable for only 10 h under the same stressed aging conditions. This simple and effective formulation approach shows promise for next‐generation ultrafast insulin formulations with a short duration of action that can reduce the risk of post‐prandial hypoglycemia in the treatment of diabetes.
Improvement of early mortality in single‐unit cord blood transplantation for Japanese adults from 1998 to 2017
Authors: Konuma Takaaki , Kanda Junya , Inamoto Yoshihiro , Hayashi Hiromi , Kobayashi Shinichi , Uchida Naoyuki , Sugio Yasuhiro , Tanaka Masatsugu , Kobayashi Hikaru , Kouzai Yasushi , Takahashi Satoshi , Eto Tetsuya , Mukae Junichi , Matsuhashi Yoshiko , Fukuda Takahiro , Takanashi Minoko , Kanda Yoshinobu , Atsuta Yoshiko , Kimura Fumihiko 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThe major limitation of cord blood transplantation (CBT) for adults remains the delayed hematopoietic recovery and higher incidence of graft failure, which result in a higher risk of early mortality in CBT. We evaluated early overall survival (OS), non‐relapse mortality (NRM), neutrophil engraftment, acute graft‐vs‐host disease, and cause of early death among 9678 adult patients who received single‐unit CBT in Japan between 1998 and 2017. The probability of OS at 100 days was 64.4%, 71.7%, and 78.9% for the periods 1998 to 2007, 2008 to 2012, and 2013 to 2017, respectively (P < .001). The cumulative incidences of NRM at 100 days during the same period were 28.3%, 20.8%, and 14.6%, respectively (P < .001). The cumulative incidences of neutrophil engraftment were also improved during the same period (P < .001). The most common cause of death within 100 days after CBT was bacterial infection in 1998 to 2007 and primary disease in the latter two time periods. Across the three time periods, the proportions of deaths from bacterial and fungal infection, graft failure, hemorrhage, sinusoidal obstructive syndrome, and organ failure decreased in a stepwise fashion. Landmark analysis of OS and NRM after 100 days showed that OS did not change over time in the multivariate analysis. Our registry‐based data demonstrated a significant improvement of early OS after CBT for adults over the past 20 years. The landmark analysis suggested that improvement of early mortality could lead to an improvement of long‐term OS after CBT.
Outcomes of bendamustine‐ or cyclophosphamide‐based first‐line chemotherapy in older patients with indolent B‐cell lymphoma
Authors: Olszewski Adam J. , Butera James N. , Reagan John L. , Castillo Jorge J. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractClinical trials comparing bendamustine/rituximab (BR) with cyclophosphamide‐based regimens (RCHOP/RCVP) have pooled various histologies of indolent B‐cell lymphomas. We examined real‐life outcomes of older patients with follicular (FL), mantle cell (MCL), or marginal zone/lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (MZL/LPL), treated with these first‐line regimens. We identified Medicare beneficiaries with FL, MCL, or MZL/LPL, who received either first‐line BR or RCHOP/RCVP in 2009‐2016, and matched groups using a propensity score. Outcomes of claims‐based event‐free survival (EFS), overall survival (OS), toxicity, secondary cancers, and costs were compared in the aggregate cohort (N = 2736), and in separately matched histology‐specific subcohorts. In the aggregate cohort, EFS was better with BR than with RCHOP/RCVP (hazard ratio [HR], 0.78; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.70‐0.87). Acute toxicity was lower with BR, including rates of hospitalizations (33% vs 45%), infections (21% vs 30%), cardiovascular events, and transfusions, yet OS did not differ (HR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.91‐1.17) and Medicare spending was higher. There was no difference in the cumulative incidence of secondary cancers (subhazard ratio, 1.11; 95% CI, 0.83‐1.48). The EFS advantage of BR was pronounced in MCL (N = 690; HR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.54‐0.76), but less so in FL (N = 1330; HR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.69‐0.98) and absent in MZL/LPL (N = 574; HR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.73‐1.17). Despite improved EFS and lower toxicity, the shift from RCHOP/RCVP to BR in clinical practice did not improve OS for older patients with indolent B‐cell lymphomas. Frequent infections and hospitalizations underscore the need for safer treatment approaches in this population. Secondary cancers do not appear to be increased after BR compared with RCHOP/RCVP.
Thioamidation of Arylpropyne Derivatives with Sulfur and Formamides for the Synthesis of Aryl Propanethioamides
Authors: Xu Hong‐Hui , Zhang Xing‐Guo , Zhang Xiao‐Hong 
Published: December 2019

AbstractAn efficient synthesis of aryl propanethioamides by a three‐component reaction of arylpropynes, elemental sulfur and formamides has been developed. The cascade thioamidation proceeds smoothly through the hydrolysis of the C−C triple bond and formamides, the formation of C−N bond and C−S double bond in one‐pot reaction.
Screening high‐quality fetal bovine serum for porcine oocyte maturation in vitro
Authors: Liu Xueqing , Lang Qiaoli , Wu Meng , You Xiaoyan , He Qiling , Luo Ling , Liu Zijia , Xiao Puying , Huang Nan , Yang Xi , Ge Liangpeng 
Published: December 2019

AbstractFetal bovine serum (FBS) is widely used in cell cultures due to its high stability and easy access. It was also used as a substitute for porcine follicular fluid (PFF) in previous studies. However, FBS components are unclear, and the presence of FBS in culture media may introduce a variation from batch to batch. This study aimed to establish an effective method to screen FBS in place of PFF in the culture media for porcine oocytes in vitro. We screened FBS from different sources by using porcine fetal fibroblast cells. The effects of six FBS samples on porcine fetal fibroblast cell growth were tested via frozen cell survival assay, cell clone formation assay, cell growth curve, and cell passage activity assay. The best serum that we called GFBS (heat‐inactivated FBS, cat. no. 10500‐64; Gibco) showed a similar effect on the maturation and development of porcine oocytes to that of PFF and can be used as a good substitute for PFF. These results suggested that the porcine fetal fibroblast cell culture test can be used as a valuable method to screen FBS for porcine oocyte maturation and embryonic development in vitro.
Photoinduced Single‐Electron Transfer as an Enabling Principle in the Radical Borylation of Alkenes with NHC–Borane
Authors: Xia Peng‐Ju , Song Dan , Ye Zhi‐Peng , Hu Yuan‐Zhuo , Xiao Jun‐An , Xiang Hao‐Yue , Chen Xiao‐Qing , Yang Hua 
Published: December 2019

AbstractA photoinduced SET process enables the direct B−H bond activation of NHC–boranes. In contrast to common hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) strategies, this photoinduced reaction simply takes advantage of the beneficial redox potentials of NHC–boranes, thus obviating the need for extra radical initiators. The resulting NHC–boryl radical was used for the borylation of a wide range of α‐trifluoromethylalkenes and alkenes with diverse electronic and structural features, providing facile access to highly functionalized borylated molecules. Labeling and photoquenching experiments provide insight into the mechanism of this photoinduced SET pathway.
Nano‐enabled poly(vinyl alcohol) based injectable bio‐nanocomposite hydrogel scaffolds
Authors: Phogat Kapender , Kanwar Susheem , Nayak Debabrata , Mathur Navya , Ghosh Subrata Bandhu , Bandyopadhyay‐Ghosh Sanchita 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACTWe report development of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)‐based novel injectable hydrogel nanocomposite scaffolds. Nanocellulose (NC), synthesized from agricultural biomass, was used as reinforcement within PVA matrix. The hydrogels were formed using physical crosslinking process involving multiple freeze–thaw cycles. A range of bio‐nanocomposite hydrogels were prepared with varying concentrations of NC. With increasing loading of NC, crystallinity was found to be increased, which could be attributed to nucleating effect and crystalline nature of nanofibrillar cellulose. Investigation of microstructural surface topology indicated reduced surface perturbations upon incorporation of NC. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy studies further indicated presence of characteristic functional groups and possible interactions between PVA and NC. Enhanced structural integrity and dynamic stability of the bio‐nanocomposite hydrogels were also confirmed by carrying out rheological investigations at different frequency, amplitude, temperature, and time sweeps. Further, the bio‐nanocomposite hydrogels demonstrated excellent injectability and self‐standing behavior, establishing the promising potential as injectable scaffolds. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020, 137, 48789.
Melt rheology and interfacial properties of binary and ternary blends of PS, EOC, and SEBS
Authors: Entezam Mehdi , Poormadadkar Hasti , Khonakdar Hossein Ali , Jafari Seyed Hassan 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACTThis works systematically investigates the interfacial properties of the binary and the ternary blends based on polystyrene (PS), ethylene octene copolymer (EOC), and styrene–ethylene–butylene–styrene (SEBS) by analyzing the melt linear rheological behavior of the blends and neat components. Moreover, the relationship between rheology, phase morphology, and mechanical properties of PS/EOC ternary blends with various quantities of SEBS were studied. The surface shear modulus (β) and interfacial tension values obtained by Palierne model indicated that the EOC/SEBS blend has the best interfacial properties, while the lowest interaction was found for PS/EOC blend. Based on the Palierne model and Harkin's spreading coefficients a core–shell type morphology with EOC phase encapsulated by the SEBS shell dispersed in the PS matrix was determined for the ternary blends. Scanning electron microscopy results revealed that both fibrillar and droplet forms of dispersed phase could be developed during the blending of PS and EOC in presence of SEBS. The extent of fibrillar morphology and interfacial interactions in PS/EOC/SEBS ternary blends was dependent on the SEBS content. The improvement of the mechanical properties of PS/EOC blends in the presence of SEBS was evidenced by the tensile and impact resistance experiments. The tensile strength reinforcement was more pronounced for the ternary blends with more fibrillar dispersed phase. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020, 137, 48791.
The spatial representation of business models for climate adaptation: An approach for business model innovation and adaptation strategies in the private sector
Authors: DiBella Jose 
Published: December 2019

AbstractClimate change adaptation requires organizations to recognize the numerous natural and social dimensions of climate risk. In the private sector, local adaptation responses to climate change are observed as changes to the limited capacities of organizational processes to plan for social aspects of adaptation. This article applies a methodology to map these connections and presents empirical evidence of a firm's autonomous adaptation measures along their supply chain in Baja California, Mexico. The spatial conceptualization of the business model illustrates the potential to identify sources of climate‐related risks, autonomous adaptation actions, and the barriers to improving the feedback loops to facilitate the integration of local knowledge for business model innovation. The results suggest that coproduction of innovations is a mechanism for organizational learning that can help to overcome the challenges for business strategy to identify the wide array of local factors associated to climate adaptation and normalize adaptation planning into business models. This approach might accelerate leveraging the capabilities of the private sector for socially oriented forms of adaptation that amplify the transformational value of business model approaches for improved adaptation strategies.
Impact of high‐growth start‐ups on entrepreneurial environment based on the level of national economic development
Authors: Martínez‐Fierro Salustiano , Biedma‐Ferrer José María , Ruiz‐Navarro José 
Published: December 2019

AbstractIn this paper, we examine the relationship between the conditions of the entrepreneurial environment and high‐potential entrepreneurship according to the stage of economic development of the country.A structural equation model was designed based on data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor project, which contains information about 62 countries. Our results suggest that economic development and high‐potential entrepreneurship have a greater impact on the entrepreneurial ecosystem than entrepreneurial activity in general—with special effects on government programs, R&D transfer, and access to the domestic market. Notably, the level of influence of sustainable economic development and high‐potential entrepreneurship depends on the level of economic development of the country.