bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Waterborne Polyurethane Enhanced, Adhesive, and Ionic Conductive Hydrogel for Multifunctional Sensors
Authors: Li Xiaobin , Zhang Ending , Shi Jun , Xiong Xiaoyan , Lin Jiaming , Zhang Qiang , Cui Xiaohua , Tan Liqin , Wu Kun 
Published: October 2021

AbstractIn the past two decades, ionic conductive hydrogel has attracted tremendous research interests for their intrinsic characteristics in the field of flexible sensor. However, synchronous achievement of high mechanical strength, satisfied ionic conductivity, and broad adhesion to various substrates is still a challenge. Herein, a novel zwitterionic composite hydrogel that displayed excited strechability (up to 900%), satisfied strength (about 30 kPa), high ionic conductivity (1.2 mS cm−1), and adhesion to polar and nonpolar materials is fabricated though the combination of waterborne polyurethanes (PU) and poly(sulfobetaine zwitterion‐co‐acrylamide) (SAm). Especially, this facile strategy demonstrates that PU has a synergistic effect on enhancing mechanical strength and ionic conductivity for ionic conductive hydrogel. Moreover, the hydrogel‐based strain/stress sensor shows high sensitivity, wide sensing range, great stability, and accuracy for human body movements detecting and voice recognition. This novel ionic conductive hydrogel has promoted the development of wearable devices.
In Situ Generation of Heterocyclic Polymers by Triple‐Bond Based Polymerizations
Authors: Wang Xinnan , Han Ting , Lam Jacky W. Y. , Tang Ben Zhong 
Published: October 2021

AbstractStemming from unique ring structures, heterocyclic polymers exhibit distinguished electrical, mechanical, and photophysical properties and have been widely used in a variety of important applications. Along with the technological significance are the challenges in their synthesis. Traditional synthetic strategies toward heterocyclic polymers often require the direct attachment of heterocycles to polymer backbones, which are generally limited by the lack of suitable and low‐cost heterocyclic monomers, tedious reaction process, difficulties in incorporation of multiple substitutents, etc. Alternatively, in situ construction of heterocyclic polymers via triple‐bond based polymerization offers promising prospects. This review summarized the recent progress on polymerizations of triple‐bond based monomers including alkynes, nitriles, and isonitriles that can in situ generate heterocyclic polymers. The properties and advanced applications of the derived heterocyclic polymers will also be discussed. Finally, the future perspectives and challenges in this field will be addressed.
Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Luminescent Hydrogel Glued by a Cationic Polymeric Binder
Authors: Li Bin , Yu Jinxie , Niu Qingyu , Li Zhiqiang , Zhang Ying , Yang Daqing , Li Huanrong 
Published: October 2021

AbstractLuminescent hydrogels have shown great potential in many fields, such as lighting, display, imaging, and sensing, because of their unique optical properties, biocompatibility, and easy processing. Organic–inorganic hybrid self‐assembly can not only enhance the hydrogels’ mechanical strength, but also retain their self‐healing ability. Herein, a luminescent supramolecular hydrogel is reported, which is formed via self‐assembly of the negatively charged Laponite nanosheets and cationic lanthanide coordination polymer. The corresponding results reveal that the multiple binding interaction between Laponite and the polymeric binder is vital for improving the mechanical performance of the obtained luminescent supramolecular hydrogel.
Syngas production employing nickel on alumina‐magnesia supported catalyst via dry methane reforming
Authors: Yusuf M. , Farooqi A.S. , Ying Y.X. , Keong L.K. , Alam M.A. , Hellgardt K. , Abdullah B. 
Published: October 2021

AbstractNickel supported on alumina‐magnesia bimetallic oxide support (Ni/Al2O3‐MgO) nano‐catalysts were prepared by the co‐precipitation followed by impregnation (two steps) method separately and tested for the dry methane reforming. The optimum bimetallic oxide catalyst support ratio (i. e., alumina: magnesia) is tested and it has been found that alumina:magnesia ratio of 1 : 2 showed the most stable results. The effect of nickel loading has been studied by impregnating the bimetallic oxide support with nickel as 10 wt.%, 12 wt.%, 14 wt.%, and 16 wt.%. It has been found that the catalyst containing 12 wt.% nickel showed the best activity in terms of methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) percentage conversions, syngas (H2:CO) ratio, lowest coke formation and stability for dry methane reforming at 800 °C, 1 atm and methane: carbon dioxide ratio of unity. The Brunauer‐Emmett‐Teller surface area and pore size analysis of fresh catalyst has been carried out. The x‐ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive x‐ray and elemental mapping analysis for fresh and spent catalysts has been obtained confirming the coke formation during the reaction.
Processing and characterization of chemically modified wood sawdust reinforced (diospyros, dialium) epoxy composites
Authors: Jayamani E. , Prashanth P.V.S.H. , Soon K.H. , Wong Y.C. 
Published: October 2021

AbstractPolymer composite materials based on natural fiber such as wood had been widely used for research purposes and engineering interests. The interest in wood reinforced polymer composites had grown quickly due to their better performance in aspects of mechanical properties compared to pure wood. In this study, wood sawdust of diospyros (kayu malam) and dialium (keranji) were chosen to be incorporated into an epoxy‐based polymer composite. The wood is made into sawdust, which was treated with boric acid and hydrogen peroxide. Surface treatment with these reagents was used to improve the mechanical properties of the polymer composite compared to untreated wood polymer composite. Sawdust reinforced epoxy composite that was fabricated are with different weight percentages from 0 % (no wood), 5 %, 10 %, 15 % to 20 % wt % for comparison on their tensile, flexural, and impact strength properties. Tensile, flexural, and impact tests were performed to determine the changes in mechanical properties where it was found that tensile strength had increased by 34 percent with an optimum keranji and kayu malam fiber weight of 15 wt % for both boric acid and hydrogen peroxide treatments. For flexural strength, in both wood fibers, the optimum fiber weight was found to 15 wt %, and the addition of wood had increased the strength by 57 percent. As for impact strength, it decreased as the weight of fiber increased, where it was assumed that the addition of wood might have increased the crack initiation. Adhesive bonding between hydrophilic wood sawdust and the hydrophobic epoxy polymer was the phenomenon that was focused on this research. The range of optimum weight percentage of sawdust would be determined from the experiment result.
Interval analysis of mode shapes to identify damage in beam structures
Authors: Abdulkareem M. , Ganiyu A. , Nathaniel O. , Mallum I. , Dunu W. 
Published: October 2021

AbstractVarious damage detection methods have been proposed by several researchers in the past few decades. Amongst them, the efficiency of mode shapes in detecting damage has been demonstrated by many researchers when further processed. In most cases, the processing involves expansion or reduction of the mode shape data. However, vital information that are damage‐prints are often lost during processing of the mode shape data. In addition, most of these processes involve long and complex computation, thus, leading to inaccurate damage identification. In this study, a simple and fast damage identification technique is proposed to identify damage in beam structures. Interval analysis is applied to the mode shapes of a beam structure in the damaged and undamaged states. The interval situations of each of the beam's segment via mode shape are derived to obtain the upper and lower bounds and the derived bounds are compared. To establish a relationship for identify the damaged point, a possibility of damage existence is defined for each segment of the beam structure. The mode shape increment is defined as the increase in the mode shape value. Furthermore, a damage measure index that provide enhance damage information is obtained as the product of the possibility of damage existence and mode shape increment. A numerical model of a simply supported steel beam is applied to demonstrate this method by imposing damage through thickness reduction of elements in segments. In addition, a parametric analysis is carried out to evaluate noise effect by considering varying damage severities and different noise levels. The results showed that this method is simple and provides considerable accurate results.
Low expression of lncRNA SBF2‐AS1 regulates the miR‐302b‐3p/TGFBR2 axis, promoting metastasis in laryngeal cancer
Authors: Li Yun , Tang Bingjie , Lyu Kexing , Yue Huijun , Wei Fanqin , Xu Yang , Chen Siyu , Lin Yu , Cai Zhimou , Guo Xueqin , Li Chunwei , Lei Wenbin 
Published: October 2021

AbstractThe 5‐year survival rate of laryngeal cancer continues to decline, and the laryngeal particularity of the anatomy adversely affects the patient's quality of life. Emerging evidence suggests that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are closely correlated to key steps in the malignant progression of cancer cells. In this study, we report the role of lncRNA SBF2‐AS1/miR‐302b‐3p/TGFBR2 interactions in the metastasis of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). We verified that SBF2‐AS1 was significantly downregulated in LSCC tissues and cell lines using qRT‐PCR analysis. Its low expression was correlated to lymph node metastasis and an advanced clinical stage. More importantly, LSCC patients with low expression of SBF2‐AS1 tended to have a poor prognosis. Based on this, we performed gain‐of‐function and loss‐of‐function experiments in LSCC cell lines. The results confirmed that knocking down SBF2‐AS1 can promote the metastasis of LSCC cells and enhance epithelial–mesenchymal transition phenotype, while the upregulation of SBF2‐AS1 expression resulted in the opposite. Our in vivo model verified that SBF2‐AS1 overexpression could inhibit LSCC cell metastasis. Subsequent mechanistic studies revealed that SBF2‐AS1 acted as a competing endogenous RNA that upregulated the expression of TGFBR2 by endogenous sponging for miR‐302b‐3p in LSCC cell lines. Moreover, miR‐302b‐3p overexpression reversed the inhibitory effects on LSCC metastasis induced by upregulation of SBF2‐AS1 expression, and inhibition of TGFBR2 expression reversed the effect of SBF2‐AS1 on metastasis. Our study proposes SBF2‐AS1 as a biomarker to predict the prognosis of LSCC patients and a novel potential therapeutic target.
Effects of radiation on tumor vasculature
Authors: Yamazaki Tomoko , Young Kristina H. 
Published: October 2021

AbstractRadiation has been utilized as a direct cytotoxic tumorcidal modality, however, the effect of radiation on tumor vasculature influences response to anticancer therapies. Although numerous reports have demonstrated vascular changes in irradiated tumors, the findings and implications are extensive and at times contradictory depending on the radiation dose, timing, and models used. In this review, we focus on the radiation‐mediated effects on tumor vasculature with respect to doses used, timing postradiation, vasculogenesis, adhesion molecule expression, permeability, and pericyte coverage, including the latest findings.
Bee Venom Does Not Reduce the Risk for Parkinson's Disease: Epidemiological Study among Beekeepers
Authors: Klarendić Maja , Kirbiš Mojca , Mojsovska Emilija , Kavčič Martin , Sadikov Aleksander , Georgiev Dejan , Kojović Maja 
Published: October 2021

ABSTRACTBackgroundBased on the promising results from preclinical studies, bee venom has been investigated as a neuroprotective agent in Parkinson's disease.ObjectiveTo assess if longstanding exposure to bee venom is associated with decreased risk for Parkinson's disease among beekeepers.MethodsQuestionnaire gathering information about diagnosis of Parkinson's disease and exposure to bee stings was posted to 6500 members of Slovenian beekeepers' organisation.ResultsWe received 1298 responses (response rate 20.1%). Twenty beekeepers, all older than 60 years, were diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. The prevalence of Parkinson's disease in beekeepers aged ≥60 years was 3.9%, which is above the reported 0.6–1.3% prevalence of PD in this age group in European population. There was no difference in parameters reflecting bee venom exposure between beekeepers with and without Parkinson's disease.ConclusionsContinuous exposure to bee venom does not affect neurodegeneration to the extent where it could prevent the expression of Parkinson's disease. © 2021 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Reconstruction of recalcitrant pressure ulcers with latissimus dorsi muscle‐splitting free flaps
Authors: Chang Lan Sook , Hwang Kyu Tae , Park Seong Oh. , Kim Youn Hwan 
Published: October 2021

AbstractBackgroundReconstruction of recalcitrant pressure ulcers is very challenging because all available local tissues have been exhausted. Although occasionally suggested as reconstructive options in some reports, free flaps are still not favored for pressure ulcers because of the less available recipient vessels in buttock area and the need for position change. Here, we describe our experience with latissimus dorsi muscle‐splitting free flaps harvested in prone position for recalcitrant pressure ulcers.MethodsBetween January 2012 and January 2020, 10 patients of recalcitrant pressure ulcers underwent reconstruction using latissimus dorsi muscle‐splitting free flaps. To harvest flaps in the prone position, the curvilinear incision was made along the line connecting the lateral border of the scapula and the midaxillary line of the armpit and the latissimus dorsi muscle was split just below the skin incision. Only the required amount of muscle was harvested including the 5 × 3 cm sized muscle cuff around bifurcation points of the transverse and descending branches.ResultsFlap size ranged from 16 × 9 to 24 × 14 cm and the gluteal vessels were mainly used as recipients. The mean operation time was 170 mins. All the flaps survived but two patients suffered wound disruption and partial flap loss, respectively. During the mean follow‐up periods of 2.45 years, there were no recurrences at the reconstruction site, and no patient complained of donor site morbidity.ConclusionsBased on the results obtained from this consecutive series of patients, latissimus dorsi muscle‐splitting free flaps are valuable option for recalcitrant pressure ulcer reconstruction.
CAD‐based hardware attenuation correction in PET/MRI: First methodical investigations and clinical application of a 16‐channel RF breast coil
Authors: Lindemann Maike E. , Oehmigen Mark , Lanz Titus , Grafe Hong , Bruckmann Nils Martin , Umutlu Lale , Quick Harald H. 
Published: October 2021

AbstractPurposeAim of this study was to evaluate the use of computer‐aided design (CAD) models for attenuation correction (AC) of hardware components in positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance (PET/MR) imaging.MethodsThe technical feasibility and quantitative impact of CAD‐AC compared to computer tomography (CT)‐based AC (reference) was investigated on a modular phantom consisting of 19 different material samples (plastics and metals arranged around a cylindrical emission phantom) typically used in phantoms, patient tables, and radiofrequency (RF) coils in PET/MR. The clinical applicability of the CAD‐AC method was then evaluated on a 16‐channel RF breast coil in a PET/MR patient study. The RF breast coil in this study was specifically designed PET compatible. Using this RF breast coil, the impact on clinical PET/MR breast imaging was systematically evaluated in breast phantom measurements and, furthermore, in n = 10 PET/MR patients with breast cancer. PET data were reconstructed three times: (1) no AC (NAC), (2) established CT‐AC, and (3) CAD‐AC. For both phantom measurements, a scan without attenuating hardware components (material probes or RF breast coil) was acquired serving as reference. Relative differences in PET data were calculated for all experiments.ResultsIn all phantom and patient measurements, significant gains in PET signal compared to NAC data were measurable with CT and CAD‐AC. In initial phantom experiments, mean relative differences of –0.2% for CT‐AC and 0.2% for CAD‐AC were calculated compared to reference measurements without the material probes. The application to a RF breast coil depicts that CAD‐AC results in significant gains compared to NAC data (10%) and a slight underestimation in PET signal of –1.3% in comparison to the no‐coil reference measurement. In the patient study, a total of 15 congruent lesions in all 10 patients with a mean relative difference of 14% (CT and CAD‐AC) in standardized uptake value compared to NAC data could be detected.ConclusionsTo ensure best possible PET image quality and accurate PET quantification in PET/MR imaging, the AC of hardware components such as phantoms and RF coils is important. In initial phantom experiments and in clinical application to an RF breast coil, it was found that CAD‐based AC results in significant gains in PET signal compared to NAC data and provides comparably good results to the established method of CT‐based AC.
Comparison of a contrast‐to‐noise ratio‐driven exposure control and a regular detector dose‐driven exposure control in abdominal imaging in a clinical angiography system
Authors: Werncke Thomas , Kemling Marius , Tashenov Stanislav , Hinrichs Jan B. , Meine Timo C. , Maschke Sabine K. , Kyriakou Yiannis , Wacker Frank K. , Meyer Bernhard C. 
Published: October 2021

AbstractPurposeThe first purpose of this phantom study was to verify whether a contrast‐to‐noise ratio (CNR)‐driven exposure control (CEC) can maintain target CNR in angiography more precisely compared to a conventional detector dose‐driven exposure control (DEC). The second purpose was to estimate the difference between incident air kerma produced by CEC and DEC when both exposure controls reach the same CNR.MethodsA standardized 3D‐printed phantom with an iron foil and a cavity, filled with iodinated contrast material, was developed to measure CNR using different image acquisition settings. This phantom was placed into a stack of polymethylmethacrylate and aluminum plates, simulating a patient equivalent thickness (PET) of 2.5–40 cm. Images were acquired using fluoroscopy and digital radiography modes with CEC using one image quality level and four image quality gradients and DEC having three different detector dose levels. The spatial frequency weighted CNR and incident air kerma were determined. The differences in incident air kerma between DEC and CEC were estimated.ResultsWhen using DEC, CNR decreased continuously with increasing attenuation, while CEC within physical limits maintained a predefined CNR level. Furthermore, CEC could be parameterized to deliver the CNR as a predefined function of PET. To provide a given CNR level, CEC used equal or lower air kerma than DEC. The mean estimated incident air kerma of CEC compared to DEC was between 3% (PET 20 cm) and 40% (PET 27.5 cm) lower in fluoroscopy and between 1% (PET 20 cm) and 55% (PET 2.5 cm) lower in digital radiography while maintaining CNR.ConclusionWithin physical and legislative limits, the CEC allows for a flexible adjustment of the CNR as a function of PET. Thus, the CEC enables task‐dependent examination protocols with predefined image quality in order to easier achieve the as low as reasonably achievable principle. CEC required equal or lower incident air kerma than DEC to provide similar CNR, which allows for a substantial reduction of skin radiation dose in these situations.
Decompose kV projection using neural network for improved motion tracking in paraspinal SBRT
Authors: He Xiuxiu , Cai Weixing , Li Feifei , Fan Qiyong , Zhang Pengpeng , Cuaron John J. , Cerviño Laura I. , Li Xiang , Li Tianfang 
Published: October 2021

AbstractPurpose On‐treatment kV images have been used in tracking patient motion. One challenge of markerless motion tracking in paraspinal SBRT is the reduced contrast when the X‐ray beam needs to pass through a large portion of the patient's body, for example, from the lateral direction. Besides, due to the spine's overlapping with the surrounding moving organs in the X‐ray images, auto‐registration could lead to potential errors. This work aims to automatically extract the spine component from the conventional 2D X‐ray images, to achieve more robust and more accurate motion management.Methods A ResNet generative adversarial network (ResNetGAN) consisting of one generator and one discriminator was developed to learn the mapping between 2D kV image and the reference spine digitally reconstructed radiograph (DRR). A tailored multi‐channel multi‐domain loss function was used to improve the quality of the decomposed spine image. The trained model took a 2D kV image as input and learned to generate the spine component of the X‐ray image. The training dataset included 1347 2D kV thoracic and lumbar region X‐ray images from 20 randomly selected patients, and the corresponding matched reference spine DRR. Another 226 2D kV images from the remaining four patients were used for evaluation. The resulted decomposed spine images and the original X‐ray images were registered to the reference spine DRRs, to compare the spine tracking accuracy.Results The decomposed spine image had the mean peak signal‐to‐noise ratio (PSNR) and structural similarity index measure (SSIM) of 60.08 and 0.99, respectively, indicating the model retained and enhanced the spine structure information in the original 2D X‐ray image. The decomposed spine image matching with the reference spine DRR had submillimeter accuracy (in mm) with a mean error of 0.13, 0.12, and a maximum of 0.58, 0.49 in the ‐ and ‐directions (in the imager coordinates), respectively. The accuracy improvement is robust in all lateral and anteroposterior X‐ray beam angles.Conclusion We developed a deep learning‐based approach to remove soft tissues in the kV image, leading to more accurate spine tracking in paraspinal SBRT.
Ecological momentary assessment of mood and movement with bipolar disorder over time: Participant recruitment and efficacy of study methods
Authors: O’Rourke Norm , Sixsmith Andrew ,   the BADAS Study Team
Published: October 2021

AbstractObjectivesMobile technology and ambulatory research tools enable the study of human experience in vivo, when and where it occurs. This includes cognitive processes that cannot be directly measured or observed (e.g., emotion) but can be reported in the moment when prompted.MethodsFor the Bipolar Affective Disorder and older Adults (BADAS) Study, 50 participants were randomly prompted twice daily to complete brief smartphone questionnaires. This included the Bipolar Disorder Symptom Scale which was developed to briefly measure symptoms of both depression (cognitive and somatic) and hypo/mania (affrontive symptoms and elation/loss of insight). Participants could also submit voluntary or unsolicited app responses anytime; all were time‐ and GPS‐stamped. Herein, we describe BADAS study methods that enabled effective recruitment, adherence and retention.ResultsWe collected 9600 app responses over 2 year, for an average response rate of 1.4×/day. Over an average of 145 consecutive days (range 2–435 days), BADAS participants reported depression and hypo/mania symptom levels (a.m. and p.m.), sleep quality (a.m.), medication adherence (a.m.) and any significant events of the day (p.m.). They received $1/day for the first 90 days after submitting both a.m. and p.m. questionnaires.ConclusionBADAS study methods demonstrates the utility of ecological momentary assessment in longitudinal psychiatric research.