bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Harmonisatie van Europees vennootschapsrecht: de EMCA
Authors: Roest J. 
Published: March 2018

Harmonisatie van Europees vennootschapsrecht: de EMCA
In september 2017 is de European Model Company Act (EMCA) gepubliceerd: een modelwet van het EU-vennootschapsrecht. De EMCA kan een inspirator zijn voor nationale wetgevers bij herziening van hun nationale vennootschapsrecht en vormt daarmee een nieuw middel in het proces van ‘bottom-up’ harmonisatie van Europees vennootschapsrecht.
De Uniface-beschikking: de wezenlijke invloed van de ondernemingsraad op de besluitvorming
Authors: Nekeman C. 
Published: March 2018

De Uniface-beschikking: de wezenlijke invloed van de ondernemingsraad op de besluitvorming
De ondernemingsraad moet tijdig door de ondernemer worden betrokken bij het besluitvormingsproces. Enkel indien dat gebeurt, kan de ondernemingsraad wezenlijke invloed uitoefenen. In de Uniface-beschikking geeft de Ondernemingskamer een aantal gezichtspunten die van cruciale betekenis zijn bij de beoordeling of de Ondernemingsraad tijdig betrokken wordt.
Plurality in biomedical research: Multiple institutional affiliations are associated with improved research output
Authors: Sanfilippo Paul , Hewitt Alex W , Mackey David A 
Published: March 2018

Background. The institutional affiliations and associated collaborative networks that scientists foster during their research careers are salient in the production of high quality science. The phenomenon of multiple institutional affiliations and its relationship to research output remains relatively unexplored in the literature.
Methods. We examined 27,612 scientific articles, modelling the citation counts received against the number of authors and affiliations held.
Results. In agreement with previous research, we found that teamwork is an important factor in high impact papers, with average citations received increasing concordant with the number of co-authors listed. For articles with more than five co-authors, we noted an increase in average citations received when authors with more than one institutional affiliation contributed to the research.
Discussion. Multiple author affiliations may play a positive role in the production of high-impact science. This ‘polygamous’ behavior, sometimes shunned by institutional board, should instead be viewed as meritorious in the pursuit of scientific discovery.
Activation of CD4 and CD8 T cell receptors and regulatory T cells in response to human proteins
Authors: Arneth Borros M. 
Published: March 2018

This study assessed in detail the influence of four different human proteins on the activation of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes and on the formation of regulatory T cells. Human whole-blood samples were incubated with four different human proteins. The effects of these proteins on the downstream immune-system response, on the expression of extracellular activation markers on and intracellular cytokines in T lymphocytes, and on the number of regulatory T cells (T-reg cells) were investigated via flow cytometry. Incubation with β-actin or glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), which are cytoplasmic proteins, increased the expression of both extracellular activation markers (CD69 and HLA-DR) and intracellular cytokines but did not significantly affect the number of T-reg cells. In contrast, incubation with human albumin or insulin, which are serum proteins, reduced both extracellular activation markers and intracellular cytokine expression and subsequently increased the number of T-reg cells. These findings may help to explain the etiological basis of autoimmune diseases.
Presumptive Color Tests of Seized Drugs
Authors: Hafer Kaitlin E. , Brettell Thomas A. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractChemical color tests have been used in the field of forensic science for quite some time. They have proven particularly useful in the screening process of unknown seized drugs in the field, as well as in a laboratory setting. The colors produced by these quick, sensitive, and inexpensive tests can indicate both the presence and the absence of a controlled substance. In most recent years, new psychoactive substances have quickly become available on the market. Due to the frequency at which these substances are developed, newer chemical tests and the manners in which they are interpreted have also evolved. This article provides a discussion on color, color tests, and some of the color test reagents that are most commonly used. Recent developments within the field, as well as examples of the role that color test results play in court, is also discussed.
Neutron Diffraction and Neutron Imaging with Compact Neutron Source
Authors: Otake Yoshie 
Published: March 2018

AbstractA compact neutron source using a particle accelerator is a promising tool for practical material analysis, infrastructural diagnostics, nuclear detection, and medical treatment. We have been operating the neutron source RANS (RIKEN accelerator‐driven compact neutron source) with 7 MV proton linac and a beryllium target for 5 years and learned a lot about experiment, maintenance, and safety management. In recent years, imaging with fast neutrons, engineering diffraction for texture evolution estimation and austenite volume fraction, and prompt‐gamma neutron analysis (PGA) are the major activities.Here, neutron diffraction and imaging methods with compact neutron source will be explained.
Fluorescence Spectroscopy to Probe Ionic Liquid‐Based Systems
Authors: Pandey Siddharth , Trivedi Shruti , Pandey Shubha 
Published: March 2018

AbstractOwing to its inherent sensitivity coupled with multidimensionality, fluorescence spectroscopy has established itself as a versatile tool to investigate complex chemical systems in analytical chemistry. Ionic liquids, for the last couple of decades or so, have emerged as intriguing modern materials in science and technology that display an array of useful and sometimes unconventional features. Steady‐state fluorescence intensity and anisotropy and time‐resolved excited‐state emission intensity and anisotropy decays along with other advanced fluorescence techniques have been employed effectively to analyze, characterize, and explore ionic liquids and ionic liquid‐based systems. The extent of dipolarity afforded by ionic liquids as well as cosolvent/supercritical fluid‐added ionic liquid systems is readily manifested through the response of judiciously selected fluorescence polarity probes. Transient solvation measurements carried out by means of time‐resolved fluorescence measurements are particularly powerful for their ability to parameterize the kinetics of the solvation process within ionic liquids. Dynamic Stokes' shift of appropriate fluorescence probes reveals the presence of several components, thus highlighting the complexity of solvation within ionic liquids and ionic liquid‐based media. Various fluorescence spectroscopic tools are used to establish and characterize macromolecular (surfactant and polymer) and dye aggregation within ionic liquids and ionic liquid‐based media along with aggregation of surface‐active ionic liquids (SAILs) in water.
Optimizing the target detectability of cone beam CT performed in image‐guided radiation therapy for patients of different body sizes
Authors: Yang Ching‐Ching , Yu Pei‐Chieh , Ruan Jau‐Ming , Chen Yu‐Cheng 
Published: March 2018

AbstractPurposeThe target detectability of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) performed in image‐guided radiation therapy (IGRT) was investigated to achieve sufficient image quality for patient positioning over a course of treatment session while maintaining radiation exposure from CBCT imaging as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA).MethodsBody CBCT scans operated in half‐fan mode were acquired with three different protocols: CBCTlowD, CBCTmidD, and CBCThighD, which resulted in weighted CT dose index (CTDIw) of 0.36, 1.43, and 2.78 cGy, respectively. An electron density phantom that is 18 cm in diameter was covered by four layers of 2.5‐cm‐thick bolus to simulate patients of different body sizes. Multivariate analysis was used to examine the impact of body size, radiation exposure, and tissue type on the target detectability of CBCT imaging, quantified as contrast‐to‐noise ratio (CNR).ResultsCBCTmidD allows sufficient target detection of adipose, breast, muscle, liver in a background of water for normal‐weight adults with cross‐sectional diameter less than 28 cm, while CBCThighD is suitable for adult patients with larger body sizes or body mass index over 25 kg/m2. Once the cross‐sectional diameter of adult patients is larger than 35 cm, the CTDIw of CBCT scans should be higher than 2.78 cGy to achieve required CNR. As for pediatric and adolescent patients with cross‐sectional diameter less than 25 cm, CBCTlowD is able to produce images with sufficient target detection.ConclusionThe target detectability of soft tissues in default CBCT scans may not be sufficient for overweight or obese adults. Contrary, pediatric and adolescent patients would receive unnecessarily high radiation exposure from default CBCT scans. Therefore, the selection of acquisition parameters for CBCT scans optimized according to patient body size was proposed to ensure sufficient image quality for daily patient positioning in radiation therapy while achieving the ALARA principle.
Functional lifespans of xylem vessels: Development, hydraulic function, and post‐function of vessels in several species of woody plants
Authors: Jacobsen Anna L. , Valdovinos‐Ayala Jessica , Pratt R. Brandon 
Published: March 2018

Premise of the StudyXylem vessels transition through different stages during their functional lifespan, including expansion and development of vessel elements, transition to vessel hydraulic functionality, and eventual transition to post‐functionality. We used information on vessel development and function to develop a model of vessel lifespan for woody plants.MethodsWe examined vessel functional lifespan using repeated anatomical sampling throughout the growing season, combined with active‐xylem staining to evaluate vessel hydraulic transport functionality. These data were combined with a literature review. The transitions between vessel functional lifespans for several species are illustrated, including grapevine (Vitis vinifera L., Vitaceae), English oak (Quercus robur L., Fagaceae), American chestnut [Castanea dentata (Marshall) Borkh.; Fagaceae], and several arid and semi‐arid shrub species.Key ResultsIn intact woody plants, development and maturation of vessel elements may be gradual. Once hydraulically functional, vessel elements connect to form a vessel network that is responsible for bulk hydraulic flow through the xylem. Vessels become nonfunctional due to the formation of gas emboli. In some species and under some conditions, vessel functionality of embolized conduits may be restored through refilling. Blockages, such as tyloses, gels, or gums, indicate permanent losses in hydraulic functional capacity; however, there may be some interesting exceptions to permanent loss of functionality for gel‐based blockages.ConclusionsThe gradual development and maturation of vessel elements in woody plants, variation in the onset of functionality between different populations of vessels throughout the growing season, and differences in the timing of vessel transitions to post‐functionality are important aspects of plant hydraulic function.
Anwendung der analytischen Pyrolyse zur Untersuchung organischer Materialien in Kulturgütern
Authors: Degano Ilaria , Modugno Francesca , Bonaduce Ilaria , Ribechini Erika , Colombini Maria Perla 
Published: March 2018

AbstractBei der molekulare Charakterisierung von organischen Materialien in Proben von Kunstwerken und historischen Objekten wird traditionell die qualitative und quantitative Analyse mittels HPLC und GC durchgeführt. Heutige Ansätze, basierend auf analytischer Pyrolyse, ermöglichen die Analyse von Proben ohne chemische Vorbehandlung. Die Pyrolyse, die bisher oft als Screening‐Methode angesehen wurde, birgt bisher unerkannte Möglichkeiten dank jüngster Entwicklungen in der instrumentellen Analytik. Organische Materialien makromolekularer Natur oder solche, die während des Trocknens und Alterns polymerisieren, können nun besser untersucht werden. Farbschichten und archäologische organische Substanzen beinhalten oft als Hauptbestandteil unlösliche und chemisch nicht‐hydrolisierbare Bestandteile, die durch GC und HPLC nicht zugänglich sind. Bis zum heutigen Tage haben sich die wissenschaftlichen Untersuchungen organischer Bestandteile von Kunstgegenständen und historischen Objekten vor allem auf die löslichen Nebenbestandteile beschränkt. Dieser Kurzaufsatz präsentiert die jüngsten Fortschritte bei qualitativen und semiquantitativen Analysen von organischen Materialien in Kulturgütern, basierend auf analytischer Pyrolyse gekoppelt mit Massenspektrometrie.
Impact of cobalt as dopant on surface morphologies of undoped ZnO nanostructured thin films
Authors: Ali Arshid M. , Mahpudz Aishah , Basahel Abdulrahman , Saeed Usman , Taimoor Aqeel Ahmad , Rather Sami U. , Zhang Hui 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThis study is aimed to investigate the effect of cobalt, as dopant, on the surface morphologies of nanostructured ZnO thin films. Four different cobalt‐doped ZnO morphologies were prepared by low‐temperature hydrothermal solution deposition, on 2 different substrates—clean glass (CG) and direct‐current magnetron‐sputtered (MS) ZnO glass. An inverse relationship between dopant concentration and grain size was obtained in morphologies obtained from the mixture of solution Zn(NO3)2 + HMT + Co(NO)3.6H2O. No specific relationship exists for those obtained from the mixture of solution Zn(NO3)2 + HMT + PEI + Co(NO)3.6H2O. In general, morphologies obtained from a mixture Zn(NO3)2 + HMT + Co(NO)3.6H2O and Zn(NO3)2 + HMT + PEI + Co(NO)3.6H2O, on MS and CG substrate, vary in grain size (both in length and diameter), crystal population, morphology, film thickness, and crystallinity on films grown on both MS and CG substrates. An increased volumetric size is observed with the increased concentration of cobalt. Lowering the pH—even by 1 magnitude—makes the MS template less effective at aligning the growth of ZnO crystals, giving a decreased crystal packing density.
Poly(hexane succinate) plasticizer designed for poly(vinyl chloride) with a high efficiency, nontoxicity, and improved migration resistance
Authors: Gao Chuanhui , Zhang Xinhua , Sun Jiawen , Yuan Zhen , Han Shijian , Liu Yuetao , Ji Shufang 
Published: March 2018

ABSTRACTPoly(hexane succinate) (PHS) was designed as an alternative type of polyester plasticizer for the modification of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC). The plasticizing effect of PHS was studied and compared with the traditional dioctyl phthalate (DOP) plasticizer. The results show that the PVC plasticized by PHS had the lowest tensile strength of 15.3 MPa and the highest elongation at break of 105.1% when 35 phr PHS was added. It also exhibited a lower glass‐transition temperature than PVC plasticized by DOP (PVC–DOP); this could be explained by the improvement of free volume for the amorphous part of PVC enhanced by high‐molecular‐weight PHS. The migration‐resistant properties of PVC–PHS was greatly superior to those of PVC–DOP. All of these results illustrate that PHS had a higher plasticizing efficiency than DOP for PVC. PHS could be used as an alternative plasticizer to remove the potential health risks of phthalates migrating out during applications. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 46388.
Electrostatic and mechanical properties of extrusion spun PTFE monofilament with integration of microtourmaline particles
Authors: Mao Haiwen , Ma Pibo , Jiang Gaoming 
Published: March 2018

ABSTRACTThis study reports on polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) monofilaments prepared by extrusion spinning with the integration of tourmaline particles. The resultant PTFE monofilaments have excellent electrostatic properties and contain different amounts and sizes of tourmaline particles. Tensile tests show that the PTFE monofilaments with 7 wt % and 1 wt % of 5 μm particles possessed tensile strengths of 1175 N and 1026 N, which were 12.5% and 23.6% lower than those of the pure PTFE monofilament, respectively. In electrostatic properties, there was 14.3% growth in surface voltage compared with the original PTFE monofilament in the series of monofilaments with varying content of tourmaline particles. When the particle size was 5 μm, the voltage was 14.7% higher than that of pure PTFE monofilament in the series of monofilaments with varying sizes of tourmaline particles. In addition, a model of electric field distribution around the monofilament was proposed based on a static electricity test. Successful research on such an intriguing monofilament might provide a novel application of the PTFE and tourmaline. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 46401.
Crystallinity of poly(arylene ether nitrile) copolymers containing hydroquinone and bisphenol A segments
Authors: Tu Ling , You Yong , Tong Lifen , Wang Yajie , Hu Weibin , Wei Renbo , Liu Xiaobo 
Published: March 2018

ABSTRACTThe hydroquinone (HQ) and bisphenol A (BPA) type poly(arylene ether nitrile) (PEN) (HQ/BPA‐PEN) were synthesized through nucleophilic aromatic substitution polymerization from HQ, BPA, and 2,6‐dichlorobenzonitrile (DCBN). The prepared copolymers were characterized by intrinsic viscosity, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and dynamic rheological analysis. The properties of resultant copolymers were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and mechanical testing. The results showed that the PEN copolymers exhibited crystallization performance with excellent thermal and mechanical properties. HQ/BPA‐PEN10 was made into films by solution‐casting process and then were treated at different temperatures (200, 260, 280, 300, 310, and 320 °C) for different times (1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 h) to investigate the crystallinity. Results showed that when isothermal treatment temperature is 310 °C and isothermal treating time is 4 h, HQ/BPA‐PEN10 showed best properties. At this condition, the melting enthalpy, crystallinity, tensile strength, and elongation at break of the sample is 17.7 J/g, 14.11%, 132.9 MPa, and 6.1%, respectively. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci.2018,135, 46412.
Metal‐Nitrogen‐doped Porous Carbons Derived from Metal‐Containing Ionic Liquids for Oxygen Reduction Reaction
Authors: Wang Cancan , Guo Jiangna , Xu Dan , Zhang Juewen , Chen Muzi , Yan Feng 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThis study describes a self‐doping and additive‐free strategy for the synthesis of metal‐nitrogen‐doped porous carbon materials (CMs) via carbonizing well‐tailored precursors, metal‐containing ionic liquids (M‐ILs). The organic skeleton in M‐ILs serves as both carbon and nitrogen sources, while metal ions acts as porogen and metallic dopants. A high nitrogen content, appropriate content of metallic species and hierarchical porosity synergistically endow the resultant CMs (MIBA‐M‐T) as effective electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). MIBA‐Fe‐900 with a high specific surface area of 1567 m2 g−1 exhibits an activity similar to that of Pt/C catalyst, a higher tolerance to methanol than Pt/C, and long‐term durability. This work supplies a simple and convenient route for the preparation of metal‐containing carbon electrocatalysts.
Design and Experimental Evaluation of a Discrete‐time ASPR‐based Adaptive Output Feedback Control System Using FRIT
Authors: Guan Zhe , Wakitani Shin , Mizumoto Ikuro , Yamamoto Toru 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThis paper describes the design of an adaptive output feedback control system in discrete‐time, based on almost strictly positive real (ASPR)‐ness with a feedforward input. It is well‐known that an adaptive output feedback control system based on ASPR conditions can achieve asymptotic stability via a constant feedback gain. Unfortunately, most realistic systems are not ASPR because of the severe conditions. The introduction of a parallel feedforward compensator (PFC) is an efficient way to alleviate such restrictions. However, the problem remains that there exists a steady state error between the output of the augmented system and the output of the original system. The proposed scheme provides a strategy wherein the feedforward input is utilized such that the steady state error is removed. Furthermore, the fictitious reference iterative tuning (FRIT) approach is employed to determine the control parameters using one‐shot input/output experimental data directly, without prior information about the control system. This paper explains how the FRIT approach is applied in designing an adaptive output feedback control system. The effectiveness of the proposed scheme is confirmed experimentally, by using a motor application.
Relationship of employment status and socio‐economic factors with distress levels and counselling outcomes during a recession
Authors: Berzins Sandy , Babins‐Wagner Robbie , Hyland Kathleen 
Published: March 2018

AbstractBackgroundSocial inequalities may be magnified during times of economic growth and recession when unemployment levels increase and income opportunities diminish. During a recession with high regional unemployment levels, can therapists expect the same improvements from therapy as they could in good economic times? The aim of this naturalistic study was to use routinely collected outcome measurement data to explore the relationships between unemployment status and client level of distress at the start and completion of counselling.MethodsThe sample included 20,690 clients from Calgary Counselling Centre (CCC) who received counselling between January 2013 and December 2016, and completed the Outcome Questionnaire‐45.2 (OQ) (Lambert, Gregersen & Burlingame, 2004) at both the first and last sessions. Relationships between employment status and level of distress at first and last counselling sessions for these clients were assessed using cross‐tabulations, chi‐square and one‐way analysis of variance tests of significance.ResultsLess improvement was gained from counselling during the recession period than during the boom, and outcomes were affected by age, gender and income level differentially for employed and unemployed clients.DiscussionRoutine outcome data can be utilised at an agency/community level to illustrate the effect of socio‐economic factors on mental health status and treatment outcomes in the general population as well as on community mental health service utilisation. Employment status affects the sociodemographic profile of clients attending a community mental health centre, which in turn affects counselling outcomes overall.