bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Size‐Dependent Phase Separation in Emulsion Droplets
Authors: Man Jia , Chien Steven , Liang Shuaishuai , Li Jiang , Chen Haosheng 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThe front cover artwork is provided by the Microfluidic and Interface Group (Prof. Haosheng Chen and Prof. Jiang Li). The image shows the phase separation process of PEGDA, glycerol, and ethanol tenary mixture, which is driven by the evaporation of ethanol. When applying UV‐treatment at different stages of phase separation, we can get microparticles with different structures, such as core‐shell and bowl structures. Read the full text of the Article at 10.1002/cphc.201701296.
The influence of corporate social responsibility on air pollution: Analysis of environmental regulation and eco‐innovation effects
Authors: Jiménez‐Parra Beatriz , Alonso‐Martínez Daniel , Godos‐Díez José‐Luis 
Published: July 2018

AbstractAir pollution is one of the most serious environmental problems affecting the general population's health and wellbeing. This article analyses the role companies and public‐sector institutions play in reducing air pollution. Corporations are motivated by a social commitment and the need to improve their productive processes, while public bodies endeavour to reduce air pollution to improve citizens' quality of life. This paper drills down into the impact of eco‐innovation as a mechanism for companies to achieve this dual aim. We look at a set of 31 countries between 2006 and 2013 using fixed‐effects Ordinary Least Squares panel data methodology. The results corroborate the positive influence of corporate social responsibility on reducing air pollution. Furthermore, this influence is reinforced when environmental regulation is developed. Finally, we observe that eco‐innovations have a mediating effect on the relationship between sustainable firms and air pollution.
Aqueous‐Solution‐Based Approach Towards Carbon‐Free Sb2S3 Films for High Efficiency Solar Cells
Authors: Li Shi'ang , Zhang Yan , Tang Rongfeng , Wang Xiaomin , Zhang Tong , Jiang Guoshun , Liu Weifeng , Zhu Changfei , Chen Tao 
Published: July 2018

AbstractSb2S3 is a new kind of photovoltaic material that is promising for practical application in solar cells owing to its suitable bandgap, earth‐abundant elements, and excellent stability. Here, we report on an aqueous‐solution‐based approach for the synthesis of Sb2S3 films from easily accessible Sb2O3 as antimony source. In this reaction, 3‐mercaptopropionic acid was applied as both solvent and sulfur precursor, aqueous ammonia was employed as a solvent. After simple annealing at a temperature as low as 270 °C, the spin‐coated precursor solution can generate compact, flat, uniform, and well‐crystallized Sb2S3 film. Mechanistic study showed that the formation of Sb‐complex with ammonium carboxylates leads to the successful dissolution of Sb2O3 powder. A suitable annealing process was able to generate carbon‐free Sb2S3 films. Planar heterojunction solar cell based on the as‐prepared Sb2S3 film delivered a power conversion efficiency of 5.57 %, which is the highest efficiency of solution‐processed planar heterojunction Sb2S3 solar cells and a high value in all kinds of Sb2S3 solar cells. This research provides a convenient approach for the fabrication of device‐quality Sb2S3 films, and highlights solution processing of carbon‐free metal chalcogenide thin films as a suitable process for application in optoelectronic devices.
Synthesis of a Highly Efficient Oxygen‐Evolution Electrocatalyst by Incorporation of Iron into Nanoscale Cobalt Borides
Authors: Klemenz Sebastian , Schuch Jona , Hawel Stefan , Zieschang Anne‐Marie , Kaiser Bernhard , Jaegermann Wolfram , Albert Barbara 
Published: July 2018

AbstractHigh‐performance catalysts for the oxygen‐evolution reaction in water electrolysis are usually based on expensive and rare elements. Herein, mixed‐metal borides are shown to be competitive with established electrocatalysts like noble metal oxides and other transition‐metal(oxide)‐based catalysts. Iron incorporation into nanoscale dicobalt boride results in excellent activity and stability in alkaline solutions. (Co0.7Fe0.3)2B shows an overpotential of η=0.33 V (1.56 V vs. RHE) at 10 mA cm−2 in 1 m KOH with a very low onset potential of ≈1.5 V vs. RHE, comparable to the performance of IrO2 and RuO2. XPS shows that the original catalyst is modified under the reaction conditions and indicates that CoOOH and Co(OH)2 are formed as active surface species, whereas the Fe remains in the catalyst, contributing to an improved catalyst performance. The nanoscale borides are obtained by a one‐step solution synthesis, calcined, and characterized by XRD, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, and SEM. Single crystals of (Co1−xFex)2B grown under chemical transport conditions were used for an unambiguous specification of the nanostructured particles by relating the cobalt/iron ratio to the lattice parameters.
How I learned to stop fearing: Ideological differences in choice of reappraisal content
Authors: Cohen Racheli , Pliskin Ruthie , Halperin Eran 
Published: July 2018

AbstractIn down‐regulating intergroup fear, an intense emotion common to intractable intergroup conflicts, people may employ various fear‐reducing appraisals. Adopting a motivated reasoning perspective, we posited that the contents of individuals’ ideological beliefs influence the contents they employ to down‐regulate fear, with rightists preferring ingroup‐empowering content and leftists preferring outgroup‐weakening content. In Study 1, rightists (vs. leftists) reported greater use of ingroup‐empowering reappraisal to down‐regulate fear, but no differences emerged in the use of outgroup‐weakening reappraisal. Study 2 manipulated the contents’ perceived instrumentality in reducing fear, to examine this as an alternative mechanism. Perceived instrumentality influenced participants’ behavioral content preferences ahead of a fear induction, but the manipulation did not mitigate the right‐left differences in ingroup‐empowering reappraisal use once participants were confronted with the stimulus, replicating Study 1. Study 3 extended these findings, identifying ideological differences in two additional fear‐reappraisal themes and in the attitudinal outcomes of fear regulation.
Using the SuccessNavigator® Assessment to Assess Change Over Time: A Longitudinal Measurement Invariance Study
Authors: Rikoon Samuel H. , Midkiff Brooke 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThe assumption of longitudinal measurement invariance underlies the interpretation of changes in assessment scale score levels over time. This study was conducted to examine the longitudinal measurement invariance of the SuccessNavigator® assessment (SN) in a sample of 407 first‐year undergraduate students. SN is a psychosocial skills assessment targeting 4 broad domains (academic skills, commitment, self‐management, and social support). Each domain comprises 2 or 3 subskills (10 subskills total). Of the 10 subskills, 8 were found to demonstrate a sufficient level of both metric and scalar longitudinal measurement invariance, supporting their application in longitudinal studies. Implications of these findings are discussed, as are important avenues for future research to examine both the methodological and practical consequences of noninvariance in the 2 cases where it was observed.
An enthalpy‐preserving shock‐capturing term for residual distribution schemes
Authors: Garicano‐Mena J. , Degrez G. 
Published: July 2018

SummaryIn this contribution, we investigate strategies to perform shock‐capturing computation of steady hypersonic flow fields by means of residual distribution schemes. The ultimate objective is the computation of flow solutions for which the correct upstream enthalpy value is recovered in the postshock region. To this end, the parallelism existing between the classical Bx scheme and the stabilized finite element techniques is exploited. The simple Lax‐Friedrichs dissipation term is leveraged to build two new residual distribution schemes. Upon testing on both inviscid and viscous steady problems, solutions obtained with one of the two schemes are shown to recover the correct upstream total enthalpy level in the postshock region. This last scheme provides also improved wall pressure and skin friction predictions; heat transfer predictions are, unfortunately, similar to those offered by the Bx scheme. A conjecture for explaining this behavior is exposed.
Insights into groundwater salinization from hydrogeochemical and isotopic evidence in an arid inland basin
Authors: Liu Yalei , Jin Menggui , Wang Jianjun 
Published: July 2018

AbstractIn the Manas River basin (MRB), groundwater salinization has become a major concern, impeding groundwater use considerably. Isotopic and hydrogeochemical characteristics of 73 groundwater and 11 surface water samples from the basin were analysed to determine the salinization process and potential sources of salinity. Groundwater salinity ranged from 0.2 to 11.91 g/L, and high salinities were generally located in the discharge area, arable land irrigated by groundwater, and depression cone area. The quantitative contributions of the evaporation effect were calculated, and the various groundwater contributions of transpiration, mineral dissolution, and agricultural irrigation were identified using hydrogeochemical diagrams and δD and δ18O compositions of the groundwater and surface water samples. The average evaporation contribution ratios to salinity were 5.87% and 32.7% in groundwater and surface water, respectively. From the piedmont plain to the desert plain, the average groundwater loss by evaporation increased from 7% to 29%. However, the increases in salinity by evaporation were small according to the deuterium excess signals. Mineral dissolution, transpiration, and agricultural irrigation activities were the major causes of groundwater salinization. Isotopic information revealed that river leakage quickly infiltrated into aquifers in the piedmont area with weak evaporation effects. The recharge water interacted with the sediments and dissolved minerals and subsequently increased the salinity along the flow path. In the irrigation land, shallow groundwater salinity and Cl− concentrations increased but not δ18O, suggesting that both the leaching of soil salts due to irrigation and transpiration effect dominated in controlling the hydrogeochemistry. Depleted δ18O and high Cl− concentrations in the middle and deep groundwater revealed the combined effects of mixing with paleo‐water and mineral dissolution with a long residence time. These results could contribute to the management of groundwater sources and future utilization programs in the MRB and similar areas.
Does size matter in predicting SMEs failure?
Authors: Gupta Jairaj , Barzotto Mariachiara , Khorasgani Amir 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThis study acknowledges the diversity between micro, small, and medium‐sized firms while predicting bankruptcy and financial distress of the United States small and medium‐sized enterprises. Empirical findings suggest that survival (failure) probability increases (decreases) with increasing firm size and firms in different size categories have varying determinants of bankruptcy, whereas factors affecting their financial distress are mostly invariant. Magnitude of significant covariates changes across the size categories of both bankrupt and financially distressed firms. Further, operating cash flow information does not add any marginal increment in prediction performance of multivariate hazard models above baseline models developed using information from income statements and balance sheets. This result holds for failure likelihood of small and medium‐sized enterprises and their respective size categories.
High‐risk HPV‐RNA screening of physician‐ and self‐collected specimens for detection of cervical lesions among female sex workers in Nairobi, Kenya
Authors: Senkomago Virginia , Ting Jie , Kwatampora Jessie , Gukare Hannah , Mugo Nelly , Kimani Joshua , Smith Jennifer S. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractObjectiveTo compare accuracy of detecting high‐grade cervical lesions (squamous intraepithelial lesions or greater, HSIL+) by high‐risk HPV messenger RNA (hrHPV‐RNA) testing between physician‐ and self‐collected specimens, and by conventional cytology.MethodsThe present prospective longitudinal study included data collected among female sex workers (FSWs) in Nairobi, Kenya, between December 2, 2009, and February 15, 2013. Participants self‐collected cervico‐vaginal specimens for hrHPV‐RNA testing, and a physician collected cervical specimens for hrHPV‐RNA testing and conventional cytology. hrHPV‐RNA testing was conducted every 3 months, and conventional cytology every 6 months.ResultsOverall, 350 FSWs aged 18–50 years participated. hrHPV‐RNA prevalence decreased slightly from 29.9% (103/344) at baseline to 24.3% (53/218) at 24 months for physician‐collected, and 28.5% (98/344) to 24.3% (53/218) for self‐collected specimens. Agreement between the sampling methods appeared to increase over time (baseline κ 0.55, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.45–0.65; 24 months κ 0.83, 95% CI 0.74–0.91). Among 21 patients with HSIL+ over 24 months, 18 (86%) and 17 (81%) had hrHPV‐RNA‐positive results at baseline in physician‐ and self‐collected specimens, respectively; and 20 (95%) had baseline hrHPV‐RNA‐positive results or cytology anomalies.ConclusionOverall agreement between physician‐ and self‐collected hrHPV‐RNA results was moderate and appeared to increase over time. Baseline physician‐ and self‐collected hrHPV‐RNA tests were similarly strong indicators of cumulative HSIL+ over 24 months.
Neurodevelopmental toxicity in the mouse neocortex following prenatal exposure to acetamiprid
Authors: Kagawa Nao , Nagao Tetsuji 
Published: July 2018

AbstractAcetamiprid (ACE) belongs to a widely used class of pesticides known as neonicotinoids. ACE binds selectively to insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and was previously considered relatively safe in mammalian species; however, recent studies have demonstrated ACE‐mediated toxicity related to vertebrate nicotinic acetylcholine receptor activation. The potential for neurotoxicity following exposure to ACE in utero is unknown. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of repeated prenatal ACE exposure (5 mg/kg, oral doses administered to pregnant dams) on neurogenesis, neuronal distribution and microglial activation in the dorsal telencephalon on embryonic day (E)14 and in the neocortex on postnatal day 14. Immunohistochemical and morphological analyses on E14 revealed hypoplasia of the cortical plate and decreased neurogenesis in mice exposed to ACE from E6 to E13, whereas newborn ACE‐exposed mice showed an abnormal neuronal distribution in the neocortex. Additionally, ACE‐exposed mice showed increased numbers of Iba1‐immunoreactive and amoeboid‐type microglia as well as an increased M1/M2 microglial ratio. These findings suggest that prenatal ACE exposure induces neurodevelopmental toxicity and increases microglial activation in the developing brain.
Specific alteration of gene expression profile in rats by treatment with thyroid toxicants that inhibit thyroid hormone synthesis
Authors: Ohara Ayako , Yamada Fumihiro , Fukuda Takako , Suzuki Noriyuki , Sumida Kayo 
Published: July 2018

AbstractTranscriptomics technologies have been used for risk assessment of chemicals, mainly to predict the modes of action (MOAs) of chemicals or identify biomarkers. Transcriptomics data may also be helpful to understand MOAs of chemicals at the molecular level in more detail. As an example of the known MOAs, there are two MOAs of thyroid toxicity: inhibition of thyroid hormone synthesis (“direct” effect) and hypermetabolism of thyroid hormone by enzyme induction in liver (“indirect” effect). In the present study, global profiles of gene expression were analyzed in rats treated with chemicals acting directly on the thyroid (thyroid peroxidase inhibitors such as propylthiouracil and methimazole) and chemicals acting indirectly on the thyroid (hepatic enzyme inducers such as phenobarbital and pregnenolone‐16α‐carbonitrile) using microarrays. Using a subtraction method between these two types of chemicals, we identified characteristic gene expression changes on the thyroid hormone synthesis pathway by direct‐acting chemicals. Based on the functions of these genes, alterations of their expression seem to indicate the results of thyroid peroxidase inhibition, and might be helpful in more accurate evaluation of MOAs for thyroid toxicity.
Circulating fibrinogen to pre‐albumin ratio is a promising biomarker for diagnosis of colorectal cancer
Authors: Sun Fan , Tan Yu‐Ao , Gao Qiu‐Fang , Li Shu‐Qi , Zhang Jing , Chen Qing‐Gen , Jiang Yu‐Huan , Zhang Lei , Ying Hou‐Qun , Wang Xiao‐Zhong 
Published: July 2018

BackgroundInflammation and nutrition are closely associated with initiation and progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of the FAR (FAR = 100*Fibrinogen/Albumin) and FPR (FPR = Fibrinogen/pre‐Albumin) in CRC.MethodsNeutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR), FPR, and FAR were calculated in 455 newly diagnosed CRC patients, 455 healthy individuals, and 455 benign controls with colorectal polyp. The diagnostic value of biomarker for CRC was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC). Logistic regression analysis was adopted to assess the risk factors for telling CRC apart from benign disease. Moreover, the combined biomarkers were used for discriminating between CRC and benign disease.ResultsNeutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio, FAR, and FPR were significantly higher in CRC patients compared with the benign or healthy controls (P < 0.05). ROC analysis showed that the diagnostic efficacy of FAR and FPR were better than NLR for CRC. Besides, FPR, NLR, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and carbohydrate antigen 19‐9 (CA199) were markedly associated with differentiation of benign disease and CRC in the logistic regression analysis. And the combination of FPR, CEA, and CA199 had the maximum area under the ROC curve (AUC) in separating CRC from benign disease (AUC = 0.845, Sensitivity = 67.9%, Specificity = 85.3%, Positive Predictive Value = 83.5%, Negative Predictive Value = 70.9%).ConclusionsFibrinogen/pre‐Albumin could be a useful CRC diagnostic biomarker, and the combination of FPR, CEA, and CA199 could significantly improve the diagnostic efficacy in discriminating CRC from the benign colorectal disease.
Enhanced carbon and nitrogen removal performance of simultaneous anammox and denitrification (SAD) with mannitol addition treating saline wastewater
Authors: Yang Zhenlin , Zhu Weiqiang , Yu Deshuang , Bo Yuntai , Li Jin 
Published: July 2018

AbstractBACKGROUNDSimultaneous anammox and denitrification (SAD) can remove carbon and nitrogen. However, its performance is suppressed under saline surroundings. In this work, mannitol was used to enhance a SAD process treating saline wastewater.RESULTSThe optimum carbon and nitrogen removal was achieved at 0.2 mmol L−1 mannitol, during which ammonium removal efficiency (ARE), nitrite removal efficiency (NRE) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency were 96.95%, 93.70% and 90.05%, respectively. The maximum ammonium removal rate (ARR), nitrite removal rate (NRR) and the specific anammox activity (SAA) were increased by 25.49%, 55.84% and 33.83% with optimum addition (0.2 mmol L−1 mannitol) respectively. The diameter of sludge was enlarged with the addition of mannitol (≤0.2 mmol L−1). The Tseng‐Wayman model was more suitable to simulate the whole SAD process. The modified logistic model, the modified Boltzman model and the modified Gompertz model were all appropriate to describe nitrogen removal in a typical cycle with the addition of mannitol.CONCLUSIONMannitol was effective in enhancing a SAD process treating saline wastewater, and maximum nitrogen removal was achieved at mannitol = 0.2 mmol L−1. The Tseng‐Wayman model satisfactorily predicted the whole SAD process treating saline wastewater with mannitol addition. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Using safe, affordable and accessible non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs to reduce the number of HIV target cells in the blood and at the female genital tract
Authors: Lajoie Julie , Birse Kenzie , Mwangi Lucy , Chen Yufei , Cheruiyot Juliana , Akolo Maureen , Mungai John , Boily‐Larouche Genevieve , Romas Laura , Mutch Sarah , Kimani Makobu , Oyugi Julius , Ho Emmanuel A , Burgener Adam , Kimani Joshua , Fowke Keith R 
Published: July 2018

AbstractIntroductionAt its basic level, HIV infection requires a replication‐competent virus and a susceptible target cell. Elevated levels of vaginal inflammation has been associated with the increased risk of HIV infection as it brings highly activated HIV target cells (CCR5+CD4+ T cells; CCR5+CD4+CD161+ Th17 T cells) to the female genital tract (FGT) where they interact with HIV. Decreased HIV risk has been associated with a phenotype of decreased immune activation, called immune quiescence, described among Kenyan female sex workers who were intensely exposed to HIV yet remain uninfected. Current prevention approaches focus on limiting viral access. We took the novel HIV prevention approach of trying to limit the number of HIV target cells in the genital tract by reducing inflammation using safe, affordable and globally accessible anti‐inflammatory drugs.MethodsWe hypothesized that the daily administration of low doses of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA 81 mg) or hydroxychloroquine (HCQ 200 mg) would reduce inflammation thereby decreasing HIV target cells at the FGT. Low‐risk HIV seronegative women from Nairobi, Kenya were randomized for six weeks therapy of ASA (n = 37) or HCQ (n = 39) and tested to determine the impact on their systemic and mucosal immune environment.ResultsThe results showed that HCQ use was associated with a significant reduction in the proportion of systemic T cells that were CCR5+CD4+ (p = 0.01) and Th17 (p = 0.01). In the ASA arm, there was a 35% and 28% decrease in the proportion of genital T cells that were CD4+CCR5+ (p = 0.017) and Th17 (p = 0.04) respectively. Proteomic analyses of the cervical lavage showed ASA use was associated with significantly reduced amount of proteins involved in the inflammatory response and cell recruitment at the mucosa, although none of the individual proteins passed multiple comparison correction. These changes were more apparent in women with Lactobacillus dominant microbiomes.ConclusionTogether, these data indicate that taking low‐dose ASA daily was associated with significant reduction in HIV target cells at the FGT. This study provides proof‐of‐concept for a novel HIV‐prevention approach that reducing inflammation using safe, affordable and globally accessible non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory agents is associated with significant reduction in the proportion of HIV‐target cells at the FGT.