bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Psychosexual development and satisfaction with timing of developmental milestones among adult survivors of childhood cancer
Authors: Lehmann Vicky , Keim Madelaine C. , Ferrante Amanda C. , Olshefski Randal S. , Gerhardt Cynthia A. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractObjectiveTo extend the limited research on psychosexual development among childhood cancer survivors, by not only focusing on the prevalence and age of milestone attainment, but also survivors' attitudes toward the timing of reaching such milestones.MethodsAdult survivors of childhood cancer (N = 90; Mage = 29.8, SD = 5.2), recruited from a US pediatric institution, completed online surveys indicating whether they had reached 5 milestones of psychosexual development (ie, first kiss, first boy‐/girlfriend, first physical intimacy, sexual debut, first time in love), age at attainment, and perceptions about the timing (ie, right time, wished it had happened earlier, wished they had waited).ResultsAlmost all survivors had reached each milestone (≥90%), except for sexual debut (83.3%). Survivors reported their first kiss as the earliest milestone at age 14.6 (N = 82, 92%) and falling in love as the latest milestone at age 18.8 (N = 80; 90%). This timing did not differ by sex/cancer‐specific factors. Most survivors (~60%) felt they reached each milestone at the right time. Compared with US normative data, both male and female survivors were less likely to have experienced their sexual debut and were approximately 1.5 years older at sexual debut. Nevertheless, 59% of survivors felt that this timing was right and 31% wished they had waited longer.ConclusionsThis is the first study to demonstrate that although childhood cancer survivors may delay some aspects of psychosexual development, most are satisfied with this timing. Research and clinical practice should emphasize survivors' perceptions/satisfaction toward psychosexual development rather than focusing only on normative milestone attainment.
Tidal breath eNO measurements in a cohort of unsedated hospitalized neonates—A method validation
Authors: Schmidt Birgitte J. , Reim Pauline S. , Jensen Andreas K. , Albertsen Per , Greisen Gorm , Jørgensen Inger M. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractAimExhaled Nitric oxide (eNO) is an inflammatory marker. In 2002 Hall et al. [J Appl Physiol. 92:59‐66] established an infant eNO measurement method, fulfilling four criteria of feasibility: simple, non‐invasive, without impact on the natural breathing pattern, and accounting for flow by NO output (V'NO). Although tidal breathing is accepted as an eNO measurement method in uncooperative patients, it is seldom used outside research labs. The variability and lack of validated methods have restrained from exploring the area in preterm and term neonates the last years. This study aimed to validate clinically feasible longitudinal online tidal eNO and V'NO in a real‐life birth cohort of un‐sedated, hospitalized preterm, and term neonates.MethodWe included 149 newborns, GA 28‐42 weeks. Each scheduled for six repeated, non‐invasive, on‐line eNO measurements with Ecomedics CLD 88sp and NO‐free air. We used three 60‐second‐eNO measurements. The method was adapted to fit preterm and term neonates with unstable respiration, without excluding sighs and surrounding breaths.ResultProtocol measurements with a maximum mutual difference of 1 ppb succeeded in 85‐99%, increasing with postnatal age. We performed mixed model analyses in three hierarchical measurement levels. Despite the irregular breathing of newborns, the predictions of individual eNO levels in the average infant was a 0.05 SD. Exhaled NO was flow‐dependent (P = 0.028); V'NO but not eNO was associated with preterm birth (P < 0.001) and >24 h CPAP treatment (P = 0.0316).ConclusionWe validated clinically, non‐invasive, online eNO measurements in neonates. The method was well tolerated and exhibited low subject‐specific‐prediction‐variance and high success rates.
Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy distinguishes amyloid Β‐protein isoforms and conformational states
Authors: Yu Xinke , Hayden Eric Y. , Xia Ming , Liang Owen , Cheah Lisa , Teplow David B. , Xie Ya‐Hong 
Published: April 2018

AbstractAmyloid β‐protein (Aβ) self‐association is one process linked to the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Aβ peptides, including its most abundant forms, Aβ40 and Aβ42, are associated with the two predominant neuropathologic findings in AD, vascular and parenchymal amyloidosis, respectively. Efforts to develop therapies for AD often have focused on understanding and controlling the assembly of these two peptides. An obligate step in these efforts is the monitoring of assembly state. We show here that surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) coupled with principal component analysis (PCA) readily distinguishes Aβ40 and Aβ42. We show further, through comparison of assembly dependent changes in secondary structure and morphology, that the SERS/PCA approach unambiguously differentiates closely related assembly stages not readily differentiable by circular dichroism spectroscopy, electron microscopy, or other techniques. The high discriminating power of SERS/PCA is based on the rich structural information present in its spectra, which comprises not only on interatomic resonances between covalently associated atoms and hydrogen bond interactions important in controlling secondary structure, but effects of protein orientation relative to the substrate surface. Coupled with the label‐free, single molecule sensitivity of SERS, the approach should prove useful for determining structure activity relationships, suggesting target sites for drug development, and for testing the effects of such drugs on the assembly process. The approach also could be of value in other systems in which assembly dependent changes in protein structure correlate with the formation of toxic peptide assemblies.
Labeling membrane receptors with lectins and evaluation of the midgut histochemistry of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) populations with different levels of susceptibility to formulated Bt
Authors: Oliveira Andresa CB , Wanderley‐Teixeira Valeria , Silva Cristiane TS , Teixeira Álvaro AC , Siqueira Herbert AA , Cruz Glauciane S , Neto Clovis J C Lapa , Lima Amanda LR , Correia Maria TS 
Published: April 2018

AbstractBACKGROUNDStudies show that insects can adapt to the toxins of Bacillus thuringiensis under field and laboratory conditions through the development of resistance to the bacterium and its formulations. This has been demonstrated in the failure to control Tuta absoluta populations in Brazil. This study evaluated membrane receptors using peroxidase‐labeled lectins and the midgut histochemistry of T. absoluta populations to assess susceptibility to the insecticides Bt fomulations. The histochemistry analysis used Periodic Acid–Schiff for glycogen and Ponceau Xylidine for total proteins. The presence of glucose/mannose and N‐acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) was analyzed using specific lectins. One susceptible and one tolerant population were used in the study; insects were exposed to the insecticide concentrations recommended by the manufacturers. The midgut was collected after an interval of 20 min and analyzed using optical microscopy.RESULTSBt fomulation interferes with the glycogen content, whereas XenTari® interferes with the protein content, irrespective of the level of susceptibility. High expression of GalNAc residues was observed using soybean lectin labeling, indicating a direct relationship between the glycosylation pattern and susceptibility to Bt fomulation in the Pelotas population.CONCLUSIONThe use of Bt fomulation caused greater alterations in the larval intestinal histophysiology compared to the use of XenTari®. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Optimal planning of phase II/III programs for clinical trials with multiple endpoints
Authors: Kieser Meinhard , Kirchner Marietta , Dölger Eva , Götte Heiko 
Published: April 2018

SummaryOwing to increased costs and competition pressure, drug development becomes more and more challenging. Therefore, there is a strong need for improving efficiency of clinical research by developing and applying methods for quantitative decision making. In this context, the integrated planning for phase II/III programs plays an important role as numerous quantities can be varied that are crucial for cost, benefit, and program success. Recently, a utility‐based framework has been proposed for an optimal planning of phase II/III programs that puts the choice of decision boundaries and phase II sample sizes on a quantitative basis. However, this method is restricted to studies with a single time‐to‐event endpoint. We generalize this procedure to the setting of clinical trials with multiple endpoints and (asymptotically) normally distributed test statistics. Optimal phase II sample sizes and go/no‐go decision rules are provided for both the “all‐or‐none” and “at‐least‐one” win criteria. Application of the proposed method is illustrated by drug development programs in the fields of Alzheimer disease and oncology.
GLM‐based statistical control r‐charts for dispersed count data with multicollinearity between input variables
Authors: Park Kayoung , Kim Jong‐Min , Jung Dongmin 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe Poisson distribution is commonly used to describe count data for a control chart. However, it may not be appropriate for overdispersion or underdispersion. Thus, it is necessary to generalize the control chart to work well in such situations. This paper proposes a strategy for monitoring dispersed count data with multicollinearity between input variables by combining generalized linear model and principal component analysis. In the strategy, the generalized linear model using flexible distributions is performed on principal component scores from principal component analysis. The deviance residuals from the fitted model are then used to monitor the process. Simulation is conducted for performance under various situations. Also, a real dataset that is not suitable for a classical control chart is used in our example. The results from the simulated data and real data example support our proposed method.
Mechanistic dichotomy in the gas‐phase addition of NO3 to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: Theoretical study
Authors: Ghigo Giovanni , Maranzana Andrea , Tonachini Glauco 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe gas‐phase addition mechanism of the NO3 radical (an important tropospheric nocturnal oxidizing species) to some selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), important pollutants of the troposphere, has been computationally analysed. Purpose of this work is to verify whether the reaction can take place through a mechanism different from the simple radical addition to the π aromatic system. This mechanism could consist in an Electron Transfer (ET) from the aromatics to NO3, thus generating an aromatic radical‐cation and a nitrate anion at long CO distances. The coulomb attraction should finally bind the two species and generate the radical adduct without any electronic energy barrier. The CASPT2 results show that, while benzene and naphthalene react with NO3 through a plain radical mechanism, anthracene reacts by a mechanism with a partial ET character, and pentacene reacts with a sort of inner‐sphere ET pathway. These results concur to explain the high reactivity of NO3 with larger PAHs whose ionization energy is below 7 eV and could be important in studies of environmental PAH oxidative degradation.
Useful information for stakeholder engagement: A multivariate proposal of an Industrial Corporate Social Responsibility Practices Index
Authors: Amor‐Esteban Víctor , Galindo‐Villardón Mª‐Purificación , García‐Sánchez Isabel‐María 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe aim of this paper is to create an industrial corporate social responsibility practices index (ICSRPI) that allows us to determine the level of sustainable business commitment in the main industries. The ICSRPI allows simplification and quantification of corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices; identification of those industries which present greater deficiencies in sustainability systems to facilitate the planning of various improvement actions; and provision of pertinent information on environmental and social issues to guide stakeholders in their decision‐making processes. In this sense, empirically, the ICSRPI reveals that companies from more polluting sectors, such as oil and gas, chemical, paper or mining, are perceived as having high environmental risk and are the leaders in sustainable development. Companies from less polluting sectors, such as the media or financial services, have lower CSR scores; however, they present high values in social issues, giving higher priority to business ethics and the rights of employees.
High Efficiency Light‐Emitting Transistor with Vertical Metal–Oxide Heterostructure
Authors: Liu Xiang , Kuang Wenjian , Ni Haibin , Tao Zhi , Chang Jianhua , Liu Qinquan , Ge Junxiang , Li Chi , Dai Qing 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe monolithic integration of light‐emission with a standard logic transistor is a much‐desired multifunctionality. Here, a high‐efficiency light‐emitting transistor (LET) employing an inorganic quantum dots (QDs) emitter and a laser‐annealed vertical metal–oxide heterostructure is reported. The experimental results show that the peak efficiency and luminance of this QDs LET (QLET) are 11% and 8000 cdm−2, respectively at a monochromatic emitting light wavelength of 585 nm. As far as it is known, these are among the highest values ever achieved for LETs. More importantly, the QLET exhibits an ultrahigh electron mobility of up to 25 cm2 V−1 S−1, a lower efficiency roll‐off (7% at high 3000 cdm−2), and excellent stability with long‐duration gate stress switching cycles. Additionally, this approach is compatible with those used in conventional large‐area silicon electronic manufacturing and can enable a scalable and cost‐effective procedure for future integrated versatile displays and lighting applications.
State‐of‐the‐Art Design and Rapid‐Mixing Production Techniques of Lipid Nanoparticles for Nucleic Acid Delivery
Authors: Evers Martijn J. W. , Kulkarni Jayesh A. , van der Meel Roy , Cullis Pieter R. , Vader Pieter , Schiffelers Raymond M. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractLipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are currently the most clinically advanced nonviral carriers for the delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA). Free siRNA molecules suffer from unfavorable physicochemical characteristics and rapid clearance mechanisms, hampering the ability to reach the cytoplasm of target cells when administered intravenously. As a result, the therapeutic use of siRNA is crucially dependent on delivery strategies. LNPs can encapsulate siRNA to protect it from degradative endonucleases in the circulation, prevent kidney clearance, and provide a vehicle to deliver siRNA in the cell and induce its subsequent release into the cytoplasm. Here, the structure and composition of LNP–siRNA are described including how these affect their pharmacokinetic parameters and gene‐silencing activity. In addition, the evolution of LNP–siRNA production methods is discussed, as the development of rapid‐mixing platforms for the reproducible and scalable manufacturing has facilitated entry of LNP–siRNA into the clinic over the last decade. Finally, the potential of LNPs in delivering other nucleic acids, such as messenger RNA and CRISPR/Cas9 components, is highlighted alongside how a design‐of‐experiment approach may be used to improve the efficacy of LNP formulations.
Perovskite‐Based Nanocrystals: Synthesis and Applications beyond Solar Cells
Authors: Wang Ning , Liu Wenbo , Zhang Qichun 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe recent progress in perovskite nanocrystals, including synthetic methods and their applications beyond solar cells, is discussed. Specifically, different synthetic routes to prepare various perovskite nanocrystals are considered, followed by their applications, including light‐emitting diodes, amplified spontaneous emission and lasing, photodetectors, resistance random access memory devices, and piezoelectric nanogenerators. Finally, an outlook for the future potential applications and possible challenges of perovskite nanocrystals is addressed.
3D Macroporous MoxC@N‐C with Incorporated Mo Vacancies as Anodes for High‐Performance Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Liu Shenghong , Li Feng , Wang Dan , Huang Chunmao , Zhao Yanming , Baek Jong‐Beom , Xu Jiantie 
Published: April 2018

AbstractHigh electronic conductivity, low average working voltage, and high theoretical capacities enable molybdenum carbide‐based materials as promising anodes for lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). Apart from the increase in the number of additional active sites, further enhancement in the specific activity of the active sites is also an effective way to improve the electrochemical performance of the molybdenum carbide‐based electrodes. Here, a series of 3D cross‐linked macroporous MoxC@N‐C nanocrystals with rich incorporated Mo vacancies, high specific activity of active sites, and nitrogen‐doped carbon (N‐C) coating are designed and synthesized using a simple method. Benefitting from its 3D robust structures for the rapid transporting and additional storage of Li+, the MoxC@N‐C‐2.5 displays a high initial reversible capacity of 879.3 mAh g−1 at 0.05 A g−1. Moreover, the MoxC@N‐C‐2.5 shows a high discharge capacity of 825.3 mAh g−1 at 0.5 A g−1 with an initial capacity retention of 61.9% after 200 cycles. As expected, this facile strategy can be extended to the fabrication of other nanocomposites with rich defects, numerous porous structures, and heteroatoms doped carbon coating as electrodes toward high‐performance LIBs.
Agent‐based simulation framework and consensus algorithm for observing systems with adaptive modularity
Authors: Gallud Ximo , Selva Daniel 
Published: April 2018

AbstractIn this era of the “big data revolution,” the desired capabilities of Earth Observing Systems are growing fast: we need ever more frequent data sets, covering a larger part of the frequency spectrum, with lower latency, and higher spatial resolution. To better address these needs, the space systems community has been exploring the value of shifting from highly monolithic architectures, in which large and isolated spacecraft carry multiple instruments with synergistic and complementary goals, toward more distributed architectures, where the functions of these large systems are partitioned into a larger number of smaller satellites. In this paper, we present an agent‐based simulation framework that can help systems engineers assess whether or not it makes sense to be able to “change system modularity during operations” by means of temporary coalitions. Systems of observing autonomous vehicles work together to perform a set of observational tasks. The vehicles can decide to form physical coalitions with other vehicles for collective sensing of a target, when no agent alone can carry out the task, or individual observation results in degraded satisfaction. The framework extends the well‐known decentralized Coupled‐Constraint Consensus‐Based Bundle Algorithm to multivehicle single‐task allocation and introduces constraints on the formation of coalitions, so that agents can create or split a coalition depending on the benefits and costs associated with these actions. The framework is described in detail and demonstrated on a case study.
The Hydrolysis of AlN Powder – A Powerful Tool in Advanced Materials Engineering
Authors: Kocjan Andraž 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe tendency for aluminium nitride (AlN) powder to undergo hydrolysis, which can lead to a complete degradation of the material, is unique in metal nitrides. Although this form of hydrolysis has been known for a long time, it is generally considered as a nuisance, because it prevents the aqueous powder processing of AlN‐based ceramics. However, careful investigations of the course of hydrolysis, the reaction kinetics and the evolution of aluminium hydroxides have uncovered exceptional possibilities for the exploitation of this naturally driven process in the area of advanced materials engineering. It can be employed as superior synthesis path for hierarchically‐assembled, mesoporous alumina powders or coatings consisting of 2D nanocrystalline lamellas. The beneficial surface characteristics of the powder serve as an ideal template for further modifications useful in catalysis, while the powder's flowability enables facile preparation of high‐performance hierarchically porous structures. The coatings, on the other hand, are suitable as templates for superhydrophobic surfaces or as adhesive coatings for cementing zirconia dental ceramics. Finally, the hydrolysis‐assisted solidification (HAS) process has proved to be an important asset in the processing science and technology for fabrication of porous and dense ceramics and nanocomposites.
Implementation of failure modes and effects analysis in detergent production companies: A case study
Authors: Ershadi M. J. , Ershadi M. M. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractFailure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) is the most important method used by production companies to identify potential risks regarding occupational and health hazards and environmental hazards. This method is also useful in defining preventive actions to reduce the effects of these risks. Detergent production companies continually encounter many occupational and health hazards and environmental hazards, the management and reduction of which requires complex assessment in real‐world applications. This paper presents a framework for application of FMEA for managing and ranking identified risks in detergent production companies. A case study is presented to show the application of an FMEA to investigate the results of its application and the outcomes from the analysis. A risk priority number (RPN) is proposed for each distinct risk. The application of FMEA in the detergent production company resulted in grouping the RPN of the identified risks into four different categories. The main corrective actions, which are determined to reduce the RPNs, are presented in this paper. Improving the RPN of the main risks is observed after executing the corrective actions.