bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Non‐Anticoagulant Heparin Prodrug Loaded Biodegradable and Injectable Thermoresponsive Hydrogels for Enhanced Anti‐Metastasis Therapy
Authors: Andrgie Abegaz Tizazu , Mekuria Shewaye Lakew , Addisu Kefyalew Dagnew , Hailemeskel Balkew Zewge , Hsu Wei‐Hsin , Tsai Hsieh‐Chih , Lai Juin‐Yih 
Published: March 2019

AbstractMetastasis is a pathogenic spread of cancer cells from the primary site to surrounding tissues and distant organs, making it one of the primary challenges for effective cancer treatment and the major cause of cancer mortality. Heparin‐based biomaterials exhibit significant inhibition of cancer cell metastasis. In this study, a non‐anticoagulate heparin prodrug is developed for metastasis treatment with a localized treatment system using temperature sensitive, injectable, and biodegradable (poly‐(ε‐caprolactone‐co‐lactide)‐b‐poly(ethylene glycol)‐b‐poly(ε‐caprolactone‐co‐lactide) polymeric hydrogel. The drug molecule (heparin) is conjugated with the polymer via esterification, and its sustained release is ensured by hydrolysis and polymeric biodegradation. An aqueous solution of the polymer could be used as an injectable solution at below 25 °C and it achieves gel formation at 37 °C. The anti‐metastasis effect of the hydrogels is investigated both in vitro and in vivo. The results demonstrated that local administration of injectable heparin‐loaded hydrogels effectively promote an inhibitory effect on cancer metastasis.
Hochschuldidaktik ‐ Reden über Verantwortung
Authors: Groß Iris , Lehmann Klaus 
Published: March 2019

AbstractAn der Hochschule Bonn‐Rhein‐Sieg setzten sich Chemiestudenten freiwillig parallel zum eigentlichen Fachstudium und fachübergreifend mit dem Begriff Nachhaltigkeit auseinander. Die Lehrveranstaltungen zeigen ihnen die gesellschaftlichen Bezüge naturwissenschaftlicher Inhalte und bringen sie dazu, ihr Selbstverständnis als Chemiker zu überdenken.
A probabilistic approach for computing water retention of particulate systems from statistics of grain size and tessellated pore network
Authors: Wan Richard , Pouragha Mehdi , Eghbalian Mahdad , Duriez Jérôme , Wong Tai 
Published: March 2019

SummaryThe paper offers an analytical determination of the hydraulic properties of an unsaturated soil with reference to its retention curve, which describes the relationship between the volumetric water content and capillarity through matric suction. The analysis combines a particulate approach focused on the physics at the pore scale, including microstructural aspects, with a probabilistic approach where the void space and grain size are considered as random variables. In the end, the soil water characteristic curve of an unsaturated granular medium along a drying path can be derived analytically based on the sole information of particle size distribution. The analysis hinges on the tessellation of a wet granular system into an assemblage of tetrahedral unit cells revealing a pore network upon which capillary physics are computed with respect to pore throat invasion by a non‐wetting fluid with evolving pendular capillary bridges. The crux of the paper is to pass from particle size probability distribution to a matching void space distribution to eventually reveal key information such as void cell and solid volume statistics. Making reasonable statistically based assumptions to render calculations tractable, the water retention curve can be readily constructed. Model predictions compare quite favourably with experimental data available for actual soils, especially in the high saturation range. Having a sound scientific basis, the model can be made amenable to address a variety of soils with a wider range of particle sizes.
From Socioeconomic Disadvantage to Obesity: The Mediating Role of Psychological Distress and Emotional Eating
Authors: Spinosa Jade , Christiansen Paul , Dickson Joanne M. , Lorenzetti Valentina , Hardman Charlotte A. 
Published: March 2019

ObjectiveLower socioeconomic status is robustly associated with obesity; however, the underpinning psychological mechanisms remain unclear. The current study sought to determine whether the relationship between lower socioeconomic status and obesity is explained by psychological distress and subsequent emotional eating as a coping strategy. It also examined whether psychological resilience plays a protective role in this pathway.MethodsParticipants (N = 150) from a range of socioeconomic backgrounds completed questionnaire measures of psychological distress, emotional eating, and resilience. They reported their income and education level as an indicator of socioeconomic status and their height and weight in order to calculate BMI.ResultsThere was a significant indirect effect of socioeconomic status on BMI via psychological distress and emotional eating; specifically, lower socioeconomic status was associated with higher distress, higher distress was associated with higher emotional eating, and higher emotional eating was associated with higher BMI (b [SE] = −0.02 [0.01]; 95% CI: −0.04 to −0.01). However, resilience was not a significant moderator of this association.ConclusionsPsychological distress and subsequent emotional eating represent a serial pathway that links lower socioeconomic status with obesity. Targeting these maladaptive coping behaviors may be one strategy to reduce obesity in low‐income populations.
Distributed optimal consensus control for nonlinear multiagent systems based on DISOPE algorithm
Authors: Sun Jinghan , Li Junmin 
Published: March 2019

SummaryIn this note, a distributed dynamic integrated system optimization and parameter estimation (DISOPE) algorithm for nonlinear multiagent system with general local finite time horizon performance index is proposed, which integrates the model optimization and parameter estimation techniques. Two difficult issues for optimal consensus problem, nonlinear multiagent system and nonlinear quadratic performance index, are considered. With the help of DISOPE algorithm, a distributed optimal control policy is designed to minimize the local performance index in finite time horizon. Furthermore, the convergence of distributed DISOPE algorithm is given, such that the convergence solution satisfies the optimality conditions. Finally, a simulation is employed to show the effectiveness of the distributed DISOPE algorithm.
Sowing the seeds for interdisciplinary plant research and development in the Tropical Andes
Authors: Dangles Olivier , Restrepo Silvia , Montúfar Rommel 
Published: March 2019

Societal Impact StatementIn the Tropical Andes millions of people depend upon the use of wild and domesticated biodiversity for their livelihoods, but the complex interactions between the ecological and social components of the region’s ecosystems remain poorly understood. Better knowledge of these interactions can help provide solutions to reduce poverty in this region. The joint international laboratory on Biodiversity in Natural and Cultivated phytosystems of the Tropical Andes (BIO_INCA) aims to fill crucial gaps in knowledge by advancing research at the interface between biology, ecology, agronomy, social and human science, and economics, which will not only help address the challenge of ecologically sustainable agriculture, but also contribute to United Nations sustainable development goals on Zero hunger and Life on land.
An adaptive approach to EWMA dispersion chart using Huber and Tukey functions
Authors: Zaman Babar , Lee Muhammad Hisyam , Riaz Muhammad , Abujiya Mu'azu Ramat 
Published: March 2019

AbstractRandom causes are vital part of every process in manufacturing and nonmanufacturing environments, and these do not affect the product features. Special causes, on the other hand, come because of some burden(s) in a process and requires special attention; otherwise, it ruins the products excellence. Special causes are categorized into small, moderate, and large shifts and are handled by statistical quality control charts. The Shewhart control chart is well known for large shifts, while the cumulative sum and exponentially weighted moving average are more effective in detecting small to moderate shifts. However, in practice, many processes require the simultaneous monitoring of both the small to the large shifts. In this study, we have designed an adaptive EWMA for dispersion parameter in connection with Huber and Tukey's bisquare functions. The performance measures used in this study include average run length, extra quadratic loss, relative average run length, and performance‐comparison index. We have observed that the study proposals are good competitors to the other counter parts for an efficient monitoring of shifts of varying amounts. An illustrative example using real data is given to demonstrate the implementation of the study proposal.
Feasibility of greenhouse gas emissions offsets for natural source zone depletion of petroleum hydrocarbons
Authors: McAlexander Benjamin L. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractHydrocarbon biodegradation is an important process for remediating petroleum hydrocarbons and managing large sites. However, this biodegradation results in what are essentially unavoidable CO2 emissions to the atmosphere. A feasibility assessment was conducted to quantitatively consider reuse options for petroleum brownfields that would offset contaminant respiration emissions rates in the 2 to 10 micromoles CO2 per meters squared per second (μmol CO2 m−2 s−1) typically observed. Under a wide range of solar resource scenarios, placement of solar panels over only a fraction (no more than 35%) of the site footprint is estimated as necessary to achieve an emissions offset. Similarly, placement of one 30‐meter tall wind turbine of moderate rating (approximately 30 to 50 kW) is sufficient to provide an offset for a nominal 1,000 square meters site. For spreading of spent calcium‐rich construction materials, under even a high emissions scenario, the required footprint for the offset is less than the site footprint. While these approaches appear feasible, revegetation as forestland is estimated as sufficient only at contaminant respiration rates up to 2 μmol CO2 m−2 s−1. Revegetation as rangeland and cropland, which sequesters CO2 mainly in soil organic carbon, is estimated as requiring more than the site footprint under many contaminant respiration rates. Revegetation as a wetland fares slightly better from a carbon storage perspective, but it also has the potential for N2O and CH4 emissions that may largely undo the benefit from sequestration in soil organic matter. Overall, the results indicate several methods that are viable for achieving emissions offsets and a quantitation method that can be honed with site‐specific input parameters as appropriate.
An iterative Q‐learning scheme for the global stabilization of discrete‐time linear systems subject to actuator saturation
Authors: Rizvi Syed Ali Asad , Lin Zongli 
Published: March 2019

SummaryIn this paper, we propose a model‐free algorithm for global stabilization of linear systems subject to actuator saturation. The idea of gain‐scheduled low gain feedback is applied to develop control laws that avoid saturation and achieve global stabilization. To design these control laws, we employ the framework of parameterized algebraic Riccati equations (AREs). Reinforcement learning techniques are developed to find the solution of the parameterized ARE without requiring any knowledge of the system dynamics. In particular, we present an iterative Q‐learning scheme that searches for a low gain parameter and iteratively solves the parameterized ARE using the Bellman equation. Both state feedback and output feedback algorithms are developed. It is shown that the proposed scheme achieves model‐free global stabilization under bounded controls and convergence to the optimal solution of the ARE is achieved. Simulation results are presented that confirm the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Secondary seed dispersal in hydro‐fluctuation belts and its influence on the soil seed bank
Authors: Chen Fang‐qing , Wu Yang , Zhang Miao , Ma Yan‐ran , Xie Zong‐qiang , Chen Chen 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThe completion of the Three Gorges project altered the water level fluctuations from “summer submersion and winter exposure” to “summer exposure and winter submersion.” The reverse seasonal flooding has dramatically changed both the time and duration of exposure and submergence of reservoir banks. Secondary seed dispersal by water is the primary method of dispersal in hydro‐fluctuation belts. This study conducted field sampling and germination experiments to evaluate the effects of reverse seasonal flooding on species composition, diversity, and density of the secondary seed dispersal system and the soil seed bank, and their changes with elevation, in the Xiangzi River. The results indicate that that the secondary seed dispersal system and soil seed bank were associated with 42 and 50 plant species, respectively, and their average seed densities were 1,876.27 and 7,322.18 seeds/m2, respectively. The quantity of seeds from secondary seed dispersal accounted for 20.40% of the soil seed bank. The species life‐form composition of both consisted mainly of annual and perennial grasses. Among these grasses, the dominant species in the secondary seed dispersal system were Cynodon dactylon and Paspalum distichum, whereas the dominant species in the soil seed bank were Solanum nigrum and Rumex dentatus. Due to the effects of reverse seasonal water level fluctuations, the species composition and quantity of the soil seed bank and secondary seed dispersal system largely exhibited similar spatial distribution characteristics, but some differences were observed. The species quantity, species diversity index, and seed density in the soil seed bank were the highest in the middle section of the hydro‐fluctuation belt, followed by the top section and then the bottom section. Conversely, the species quantity, species diversity index, and seed density in the secondary seed dispersal system were highest at the top section, followed by the middle section and then the bottom section.
Easy Scale‐Up Synthesis of Mo8O26(C5H6N)4.H2O Hybrid with a Rectangular Prism Morphology and Its Application as an Efficient and Highly Recyclable Bi‐functional Catalyst for Knoevenagel Condensations
Authors: Feghhi Aliyeh , Malakooti Reihaneh , Malakooti Sadeq , Hooshmand Nasrin 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThe Mo8O26(C5H6N)4.H2O hybrid with rectangular prism morphology was synthesized via a simple wet chemical method at room temperature in water. The as‐synthesized product was characterized by different methods, including X‐ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), Raman spectroscopy, N2‐adsorption/desorption and elemental analysis. The Mo8O26(C5H6N)4.H2O hybrid catalyzed Knoevenagel condensation reaction as a bi‐functional catalyst. Moreover, the molybdenum (VI) site in this hybrid catalyzed selective oxidation of alcohols in the presence of molecular oxygen (O2) as oxidant. The reaction of malononitrile with various aromatic aldehydes was carried out in aqueous media under mild temperature in the presence of no extra base or acid. On the other hand, the oxidation of alcohols with molecular oxygen progressed via a reusable heterogeneous system in a mild temperature. The reused catalysts from both systems were identified by XRD, FT‐IR, SEM and elemental analysis.
Hybrid Films of Ni(OH)2 Nanowall Networks on Reduced Graphene Oxide Prepared at a Liquid/Liquid Interface for Oxygen Evolution and Supercapacitor Applications
Authors: Bramhaiah Kommula , Alex Chandraraj , Singh Vidya N. , John Neena S. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractFree‐standing films of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) based Ni(OH)2 nanowall structures are generated at a liquid/liquid interface involving in situ reaction and self‐assembly. The nanowall network of Ni(OH)2 sheets anchored on rGO layers with 10–15 nm wall thickness and ordered voids of average size 100 nm can serve as excellent candidates for catalyzing electrochemical oxygen evolution reaction (OER) as they expose maximum edge sites of Ni(OH)2 and allow diffusion and penetration of electrolytes into voids enhancing the contact area of the electrolyte/electrocatalyst interface. The unique morphology of the hybrid films exhibited high electrochemical surface area and low charge transfer resistance. Accordingly, rGO−Ni(OH)2 hybrid films display excellent catalytic activity and high cycling stability in alkaline solutions giving a current density of 10 mA cm−2 at an overpotential of 378 mV with a Tafel slope of 56 mV dec−1. The hybrid films also exhibited a high specific and areal capacitance of 1402 Fg−1 and 98.12 mF cm−2 at a scan rate of 5 mVs−1. OER activity and capacitance of the hybrid rGO−Ni(OH)2 films are higher compared to that of bare Ni(OH)2 film and is attributed to the synergic effect between the rGO layer and the ordered interconnected nanowall Ni(OH)2 nanostructures. The primary advantage of these hybrid films is that they can be collected on the desired substrate for ready use as electrodes without the use of any external binders.
Reduced Graphene Oxide Sheets Supported Waxberry‐like Co Catalysts for Improved Hydrolytic Dehydrogenation of Ammonia Borane
Authors: Zhao Xin , Ke Dandan , Han Shumin , Li Yuan , Zhang Hongming , Cai Ying 
Published: March 2019

AbstractCobalt nanoparticles (NPs) supported on reduced graphene oxide sheets have been synthesized via a facile chemical reduction method by adding surfactant PVA and controlling the preparation process. Compared with regular Co NPs and unsupported waxberry‐like Co NPs, the synthesized Co@rGO exhibited waxberry‐like structure and amorphous state, good dispersion, uniform particle size with 25 nm. The waxberry‐like Co@rGO catalyst needed 10.8 min for hydrolytic dehydrogenation of NH3⋅BH3, with an initial turnover frequency (TOF) of 12.14 molH2⋅min–1⋅molCo–1 and the activation energy of 45.49 kJ⋅mol–1. The improved catalytic activity can be ascribed to the special morphology and decreased particle size of Co NPs, as well as the synergistic effect between graphene sheets and Co NPs. The work also includes the kinetic studies on zero‐order with respect to substrate concentration and first‐order reaction with respect to catalyst concentration.
Syntheses, and Crystal Structures of YIII Containing Di‐Metal Substituted 1,5 Isomers of Heterometallic Tungstophosphate Nanoclusters: [Y{PM2W10O38(H2O)2}2]11– (M=CoII and ZnII)
Authors: Das Vivek , Gupta Rakesh , Iseki Nao , Sadakane Masahiro , Mougharbel Ali S. , Kortz Ulrich , Hussain Firasat 
Published: March 2019

AbstractTwo new YIII containing sandwich‐type heterometallic tungstophosphates: [Y{PM2W10O38(H2O)2}2]11– (M = CoII (1) and ZnII (2)) have been synthesized under mild reaction conditions. Both the molecular complexes 1 a and 2 a were synthesized by reacting Y(NO3)3⋅6H2O, M(NO3)2⋅6H2O (M = CoII and ZnII) with Wells‐Dawson type divacant K14[P2W19O69(H2O)]⋅24H2O precursor. The potassium salts of single crystalline material were collected and further used for characterization with different analytical techniques including single crystal X‐ray diffraction (SC‐XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP‐AES), 31P, 183W and 89Y nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, high‐resolution electro‐spray ionization mass spectrometry (HR‐ESI‐MS) as well as thermogravimetric analysis. Single crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis shows that both polyanions crystallize in the orthorhombic crystal system with space group Iba2. Each polyanion consists of (1,5) isomer of di‐metal substituted α‐Keggin type tungstophosphates, which sandwiched a YIII ion.
Silver‐Quantum‐Dot‐Modified MoO3 and MnO2 Paper‐Like Freestanding Films for Flexible Solid‐State Asymmetric Supercapacitors
Authors: Zhang Xingyan , Fu Qiangang , Huang Heming , Wei Lu , Guo Xin 
Published: March 2019

AbstractFree‐standing paper‐like thin‐film electrodes have great potential to boost next‐generation power sources with highly flexible, ultrathin, and lightweight requirements. In this work, silver‐quantum‐dot‐ (2–5 nm) modified transition metal oxide (including MoO3 and MnO2) paper‐like electrodes are developed for energy storage applications. Benefitting from the ohmic contact at the interfaces between silver quantum dots and MoO3 nanobelts (or MnO2 nanowires) and the binder‐free nature and 0D/1D/2D nanostructured 3D network of the fabricated electrodes, substantial improvements on the electrical conductivity, efficient ionic diffusion, and areal capacitances of the hybrid nanostructure electrodes are observed. With this proposed strategy, the constructed asymmetric supercapacitors, with Ag quantum dots/MoO3 “paper” as anode, Ag quantum dots/MnO2 “paper” as cathode, and neutral Na2SO4/polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel as electrolyte, exhibit significantly enhanced energy and power densities in comparison with those of the supercapacitors without modification of Ag quantum dots on electrodes; present excellent cycling stability at different current densities and good flexibility under various bending states; offer possibilities as high‐performance power sources with low cost, high safety, and environmental friendly properties.
The Rationale of CyberParks and the Potential of Mediated Public Open Spaces
Authors: Smaniotto Costa Carlos , Šuklje Erjavec Ina 
Published: March 2019

Abstract
Cybertechnologies are changing the world, both in terms of sociability and subjectivity, and consequently how people experience the city, appreciate urban landscape and nature, along with the way people interrelate to each other and with the space. The penetration of ICT into urban landscapes has increased the open space typology, adding a concept of ‘cyberpark’ to it – the public open space where nature, society, and cybertechnologies blend together to generate hybrid experiences and enhance quality of urban life. A cyberpark evolves through different ways of the implementation and use of digital technologies into a new type of a connectable, real-time responsive, sharing and integrating public place, in which, the physical dimension of a space becomes a more dynamic and blurred form of interaction This calls for understanding such hybrid spaces as more than a simple new spatial unit of urban tissue. This chapter proposes a conceptual framework for a better understanding of interweaving between physical and virtual spheres in public open spaces and addresses the results of the COST Action CyberParks. It explores, in terms of policy-making, urban planning and design, the numerous challenges and opportunities created by digital and mobile technologies. The efforts of this work are thus centred on the potential of ICT to increased possibilities for new uses and elements or even types of urban open spaces, as an important added value to the quality of life, inclusiveness, responsiveness and attractiveness of the city. In critically addressing opportunities, the chapter shall seek to question and challenge, the more ‘traditional’ understanding of what makes a good public place. In doing so, it shall attempt to provide pointers towards a re-conceptualised view of urban space design/production and (planning) control/guidance.