bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Alginate and carboxymethyl cellulose in monolayer and bilayer films as wound dressings: Effect of the polymer ratio
Authors: Trevisol T. C. , Fritz A. R. M. , de Souza S. M. A. G. U. , Bierhalz A. C. K. , Valle J. A. B. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractIn this study, we investigated different proportions of alginate and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) biopolymers in the formulation of films to act as wound dressings. With the casting method, monolayer and bilayer (BL) films were produced with alginate/CMC proportions (weight percentages) of 0:100 (0A), 25:75 (25A), 50:50 (50A), 75:25 (75A), and 100:0 (100A). Thin, homogeneous, and continuous films were obtained with glycerol and crosslinking with CaCl2. The fluid uptake, film stability, and morphological, mechanical, thermal, and barrier properties were evaluated. A general tendency of the film characteristics was visualized: 50A had intermediary characteristics from both polymers; although the liquid behavior characteristics were improved with increasing CMC content, the mechanical properties worsened. When compared to the monolayer film (50A), the BL film 50A–BL demonstrated a better water vapor transmission rate. In this study, we demonstrated the necessity of varying the polymer concentrations to assist in the production of wound dressings. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci.2019,136, 46941.
Thermal behavior of gradient charring materials with improved iterative method
Authors: Guo J. , Huang H. , Zhao Y. 
Published: October 2018

ABSTRACTThe lightweight material of the thermal protection system for a reentry vehicle has become a trend in order to maximize the payload. To explore the effect of gradient density on the thermal behavior of charring materials, a pyrolysis layer model considering of variable density is developed and discretized with the central difference method. An iterative method is improved to look for the locations of the moving interfaces and boundary in each time step. Taken different gradient phenolic impregnated carbon ablator under a return trajectory heat flux for the Orion vehicle as example, their thermal behavior and effective heat capacities are simulated using the code written. Numerical results indicate that the gradient designs can improve the thermal protection performance of charring materials effectively. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47076.
One‐pot photoinduced synthesis of dansyl containing acrylamide hydrogels and their chemosensing properties
Authors: Uygun M. , Doganci E. , Tasdelen M. A. , Gurek A. G. 
Published: October 2018

ABSTRACTNovel fluorescent acrylamide hydrogel containing dansyl moiety (DNS‐gel) was synthesized via free‐radical photopolymerization of acrylamide/N,N′‐methylenebisacrylamide by using dansyl chloride as a photoinitiator. DNS‐gel presented dual‐fluorescence emission when excited at 344 nm in acetonitrile:water (1:1) solvent system due to twisted intramolecular charge transfer between dimethylamino and naphthalene units in the dansyl moiety. Synthesized fluorophore containing gel was utilized as a fluorescent sensor against specific metal ions (Pb2+, Hg2+, Co2+, Cd2+, Mn2+, and Zn2+) and nitroaromatic compounds [1,2‐dinitrobenzene, 2,4,6‐trinitro‐1‐phenol [picric acid (PA)], 4‐nitrophenol, 2,4,6‐trinitrotoluene, 2,4‐dinitrophenol (2,4‐DNP), and 2‐nitrotoluene]. Fluorescence intensity of DNS‐gel was diminished by degrees upon the infusion of metal ions and nitroaromatics. For all compounds, the greatest quenching effectiveness was attained in the presence of Co2+ (72.56%), PA (88.55%), and 2,4‐DNP, suggesting that DNS‐gel could be employed as a potential Co2+, PA, and 2,4‐DNP chemical probes. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47096.
Elastic antibacterial membranes comprising particulate laden fibers for wound healing applications
Authors: Li Y. , Zhang C. , Zhu L.‐F. , Ahmad Z. , Li J.‐S. , Chang M.‐W. 
Published: October 2018

ABSTRACTMedicated skin care products are available in various forms; ranging from lotions and creams to bandages and membranes. In this study, antibacterial particulate laden fibrous membranes (FMs) were prepared via electrospraying of tetracycline hydrochloride‐loaded poly(ε‐caprolactone) particles alongside electrospinning of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) fibers, through which both mechanical and biological aspects of a complete membrane system can be achieved. Random (R) and ordered (P and V) patterns of TPU FMs were afforded using a rotating collector. Water contact angle and bacterial inhibition zone tests were performed to assess suitability of the system specifically for wound care. Stress–strain and in vitro drug release tests were performed to assess suitability of newly developed systems specifically for hybrid membranes (HMs). The highest tensile strength (32.1 ± 4.9 MPa) with elasticity (104.2 ± 6.0%) and the most sustained release rate indicate HMs (P) are potentially suitable materials for wound‐care applications. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47105.
Effect of surface modification of titanium dioxide on the UV‐C aging behavior of silicone rubber
Authors: Zhang Hui , Yang Hao , Shentu Baoqing 
Published: October 2018

ABSTRACTSurface modification of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) by silane coupling agents and the ultraviolet‐C (UV‐C) aging behavior of silicone rubber (SiR) incorporated with the modified TiO2 NPs were investigated in this work. The SiR samples incorporated with TiO2 NPs displayed excellent stability against the UV‐C radiation. In order to improve the dispersion of TiO2 NPs in the SiR matrix, the surface of TiO2 NPs was modified with 3‐aminopropyl triethoxysilane and 3‐trimethoxysilyl propyl methacrylate, respectively. The surface modification of TiO2 NPs was characterized by thermal gravimetric analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The dispersion stability of the pristine TiO2 NPs and surface silane‐modified TiO2 NPs was evaluated in an organic solvent (toluene). Effect of surface modified TiO2 NPs on the UV‐C aging behavior of SiR was evaluated in terms of the change of surface morphology, tensile properties, hardness, crosslinking density, and surface microstructure before and after the UV‐C aging. The results showed that surface modification of TiO2 NPs with silane coupling agents could improve the dispersion of TiO2 NPs in the SiR matrix. Moreover, the SiR with modified TiO2 NPs showed an improved aging resistance to the UV‐C radiation, compared with the samples with pristine TiO2 NPs. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47170.
In situ synthesized and dispersed melamine polyphosphate flame retardant epoxy resin composites
Authors: Zhou Ting , Chen Wenhua , Duan Wenfeng , Liu Yuan , Wang Qi 
Published: October 2018

ABSTRACTThe dispersion of flame retardants in polymer matrix has significant impact on the final properties of the final materials. Homogenous dispersion for additive type flame retardant powder in polymer melt or solution with high viscosity is a challenge all the time. In the present research, melamine polyphosphate (MPP) is employed to flame‐retard the epoxy resin (EP). Different from direct addition of MPP powder in viscous EP glue like conventional means, MPP is firstly synthesized by melamine and polyphosphoric acid in a good solvent for EP. Keeping fine and even dispersion of the produced MPP particles, EP prepolymer is added into the MPP containing solution. By this way, perfect dispersion of the flame retardant can be achieved both in the glue and the cured resin. A series of tests such as the particle size analysis, flammability evaluation, and mechanical properties tests are conducted to compare the MPP flame retardant EP obtained by this method and the conventional one. It shows that the in situ synthesis and compounding method can endow the MPP incorporated EP glue system with better homogeneity and stability, hence leading to higher flame retardancy and obviously improved mechanical performance of the final composite. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47194.
Rheumatic Syndromes Associated With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Single‐Center Cohort of Sixty‐One Patients
Authors: Richter Michael D. , Crowson Cynthia , Kottschade Lisa A. , Finnes Heidi D. , Markovic Svetomir N. , Thanarajasingam Uma 
Published: October 2018

ObjectiveTo describe the prevalence, clinical presentation, and management of rheumatic immune‐related adverse effects (Rh‐irAEs) from immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy.MethodsFrom a database of all patients who received any ICI at the Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minnesota campus between January 1, 2011 and March 1, 2018, we retrospectively identified those with Rh‐irAEs, using diagnostic codes, search terms, and manual chart review.ResultsOf the 1,293 patients who received any ICI, Rh‐irAEs were clinically diagnosed in 43. Eighteen patients with Rh‐irAEs who received ICI therapy elsewhere were also analyzed. Clinical syndromes included inflammatory arthritis (n = 34 [prevalence 2%]), myopathy (n = 10), and other rheumatic syndromes (n = 17). Inflammatory arthritis was most commonly polyarticular, and glucocorticoid treatment was required in 26 patients (76%). The mean ± SD duration of treatment was 18 ± 18 weeks. Five patients (15%) also received disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs, and ICI therapy had to be discontinued in 3 patients (9%). Myopathy was treated with glucocorticoids in all cases (mean ± SD treatment duration 15 ± 17 weeks) and led to 2 deaths and permanent ICI discontinuation in 9 patients (90%). Other syndromes included connective tissue diseases, vasculitis, polymyalgia rheumatica–like syndrome, and flare of preexisting rheumatic disease. Most (71%) were treated with immunosuppression, with 12% requiring ICI discontinuation.ConclusionThis study represents the largest cohort of patients with Rh‐irAEs reported to date. Most patients received long courses of immunosuppressive treatment, although discontinuation of ICI therapy was required in only a minority.
Altered Cervical Spinal Cord Resting‐State Activity in Fibromyalgia
Authors: Martucci Katherine T. , Weber Kenneth A. , Mackey Sean C. 
Published: October 2018

ObjectiveAltered afferent input and central neural modulation are thought to contribute to fibromyalgia symptoms, and these processes converge within the spinal cord. We undertook this study to investigate the hypothesis that, using resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs‐fMRI) of the cervical spinal cord, we would observe altered frequency‐dependent activity in fibromyalgia.MethodsCervical spinal cord rs‐fMRI was conducted in fibromyalgia patients (n = 16) and healthy controls (n = 17). We analyzed the amplitude of low‐frequency fluctuations (ALFF), a measure of low‐frequency oscillatory power, for frequencies of 0.01–0.198 Hz and frequency sub‐bands to determine regional and frequency‐specific alterations in fibromyalgia. Functional connectivity and graph metrics were also analyzed.ResultsAs compared to healthy controls (n = 14), greater ventral and lesser dorsal mean ALFF of the cervical spinal cord was observed in fibromyalgia patients ( n = 15) (uncorrected P < 0.05) for frequencies of 0.01–0.198 Hz and all sub‐bands. Additionally, lesser mean ALFF within the right dorsal quadrant (corrected P < 0.05) for frequencies of 0.01–0.198 Hz and sub‐band frequencies of 0.073–0.198 Hz was observed in fibromyalgia. Regional mean ALFF was not correlated with pain; however, regional lesser mean ALFF was correlated with fatigue in patients (r = 0.763, P = 0.001). Functional connectivity and graph metrics were similar between groups.ConclusionOur results indicate unbalanced activity between the ventral and dorsal cervical spinal cord in fibromyalgia. Increased ventral neural processes and decreased dorsal neural processes may reflect the presence of central sensitization and contribute to fatigue and other bodily symptoms in fibromyalgia.
Self‐controlled case series studies: Just how rare does a rare non‐recurrent outcome need to be?
Authors: Whitaker Heather J. , Steer Colin D. , Farrington C. Paddy 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThe self‐controlled case series method assumes that adverse outcomes arise according to a non‐homogeneous Poisson process. This implies that it is applicable to independent recurrent outcomes. However, the self‐controlled case series method may also be applied to unique, non‐recurrent outcomes or first outcomes only, in the limit where these become rare. We investigate this rare outcome assumption when the self‐controlled case series method is applied to non‐recurrent outcomes. We study this requirement analytically and by simulation, and quantify what is meant by ‘rare’ in this context. In simulations we also apply the self‐controlled risk interval design, a special case of the self‐controlled case series design. To illustrate, we extract data on the incidence rate of some recurrent and non‐recurrent outcomes within a defined study population to check whether outcomes are sufficiently rare for the rare outcome assumption to hold when applying the self‐controlled case series method to first or unique outcomes. The main findings are that the relative bias should be no more than 5% when the cumulative incidence over total time observed is less than 0.1 per individual. Inclusion of age (or calendar time) effects will further reduce bias. Designs that begin observation with exposure maximise bias, whereas little or no bias will be apparent when there is no time trend in the distribution of exposures, or when exposure is central within time observed.
Green consumption: Environmental knowledge, environmental consciousness, social norms, and purchasing behavior
Authors: Lin Szu‐Tung , Niu Han‐Jen 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThe 2015 Paris Agreement is the first historical global accord aiming to palliate global warming. Climate change has caused ecological, economic, and social disasters, among other things and has made not only nations review their environmental protection issues but also the consumers paying more attention to the environment and encouraging green oriented buying behaviors. This study targets Taiwan's consumers, and 649 valid questionnaires were recovered. Exploratory factor analysis was applied to extract the trait factors, whereas confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were used for the verification of the scale and structural model, respectively. The result shows that the consumers' environmental knowledge, environmental consciousness, and the social norms have had a positive effect on their environmental attitude, as do their environmental knowledge and the social norms to a sense of well‐being. Consumers purchasing intention and behavior are pointing towards green products. Therefore, companies need to respond to the consumers' demand and fulfill their social responsibility to release the green products so as to satisfy the consumers' needs.
In‐depth analysis of the capacitive filtered half wave rectifier
Authors: Guerra‐Pulido Jaime O. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractUndergraduate textbooks of Electronics Engineering courses commonly present the half‐wave rectifier using a simplistic approach based on the linearization of an exponential equation to calculate the voltages in the circuit. However, these equations only apply when the time constant of the circuit is much larger than the period of the input signal and those equations for the case in which this condition is not met, are not presented. Herein, the most common equations in the literature are resumed. Next, the circuit is analyzed using three models of the diode and, for each one, a set of equations has been obtained to calculate the voltages, currents and times of the circuit. To apply these equations, the discharging time of the capacitor must be calculated through the solution of a transcendental equation. Nowadays, the computational tools to make this task easily are common and this should not be a challenge anymore. Also, performing these analyses could improve the understanding of the students and their capability to analyze circuits with diodes. Two examples are proposed to compare the equations proposed with the numerical solutions and the equations found in literature. Errors between the results obtained with the equations and the numerical simulations are less than 1% for the ripple, average and RMS voltages and maximum and repetitive average currents when the constant‐drop model is used. The RMS current had an error of 6% because the conduction time of the diode is larger than that expected because of the nonlinear behavior of the diode.
When cross‐ethnic friendships can be bad for out‐group attitudes: The importance of friendship quality
Authors: Cernat Vasile 
Published: October 2018

AbstractData collected from Romanian students living in the Transylvanian region of Romania showed that the quality of friendship with Hungarian ethnics moderated the effects of cross‐ethnic friendship quantity on attitudes towards this out‐group. Although high‐quality cross‐ethnic friendships were very beneficial to out‐group attitudes, low‐quality cross‐ethnic friendships were rather harmful.
Solution‐Processable Two‐Dimensional In2Se3 Nanosheets as Efficient Photothermal Agents for Elimination of Bacteria
Authors: Zhu Chunli , Shen Haijing , Liu Haoyang , Lv Xiaobo , Li Zhihao , Yuan Quan 
Published: October 2018

AbstractTwo‐dimensional (2D) nanoflakes represent an appealing class of materials for optoelectronics applications due to their unique layered structures and excellent electronic properties. However, the lack of easy‐to‐manipulate and effective methods for large‐scale production of these 2D materials limits their potential for applications. Also, few efforts have been made to explore their applications in biological fields. This work reports the preparation of large quantities of 2D In2Se3 nanosheets through a solvent exfoliation technique. Transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy results show that the In2Se3 nanosheets are obtained with lateral sizes of tens of nanometers to hundreds of nanometers and thickness of 2–17 layers. Raman features coupled with the X‐ray diffractometry results unequivocally confirm the as‐prepared In2Se3 nanosheets to be α phase. Moreover, these α‐In2Se3 nanosheets exhibit an excellent near‐infrared (NIR) photothermal performance under an 808 nm laser irradiation. NIR photo‐excitation of the α‐In2Se3 nanosheets in the presence of bacteria leads to a significant antibacterial effect, suggesting that these nanosheets have great potential to be photothermal antibacterial agents. Our work on α‐In2Se3 nanosheets presents an available method for exfoliating 2D layered materials, and highlights the potential application in chemical and biological fields of α‐In2Se3 nanosheets.
The Diradical‐Dication Strategy for BODIPY‐ and Porphyrin‐Based Dyes with Near‐Infrared Absorption Maxima from 1070 to 2040 nm
Authors: Wei Houjia , Feng Rui , Fang Yong , Wang Lei , Chen Chao , Zhang Li , Cui Haiyan , Wang Xinping 
Published: October 2018

AbstractFour stable boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY)‐ and porphyrin‐based bis‐arylamine diradical dications were synthesized by two‐electron oxidation of their neutral molecules. The two BODIPY‐based dications have open‐shell singlet ground states. UV/Vis absorption spectra of all four dications showed large redshifts in the NIR region compared to their neutral precursors with absorption maxima at 1274 and 1068 nm for the two BODIPY‐based dications and 1746 and 2037 nm for the two porphyrin‐based dications. Thus, two new types of NIR dyes with longer wavelengths are provided by the diradical‐dication strategy, which can be applied for the generation of other NIR dyes with a range of different chromophores and auxochromes.
Numerical evaluation of nonbonded piezo sensor for biomedical diagnostics using electromechanical impedance technique
Authors: Srivastava Shashank , Bhalla Suresh 
Published: October 2018

AbstractDirectly bonded piezo sensor, conventionally employed in the electromechanical impedance (EMI) technique, although a proven candidate for structural health monitoring, is severely constrained in its application in the biomedical field due to its bonding requirement. In contrast, nonbonded piezo sensor (NBPS) provides a viable platform to assess the condition of human bones, tissues, and other biomedical subjects using the EMI technique without inflicting pain or irritation to the skin. The name NBPS was coined to emphasize that there was no direct bonding between the PZT patch and the live subject; instead, the PZT patch was bonded to a supporting medium, which maintains the mechanical interaction between the PZT patch and the subject. However, there are several aspects in the analysis of NBPS configuration that cannot be addressed completely through experimental study due to measurement constraints, cost, and time. For example, experimentally changing the density of bone continuously to study the osteoporosis effect is a tedious task warranting large number of specimens. This paper presents a detailed parametric study based on finite element method covering condition monitoring of human bones using the NBPS configuration. It is for the first time that 3D analysis for specimen identification and damage detection in bones using NBPS has been carried out. In addition to the validation of the numerical model against the previously established experimental studies involving bones, quantification of the extent of damage and its localization has been investigated. The density changes due to osteoporosis in bones are comprehensively investigated by the NBPS including the quantification aspect of osteoporosis/damage. Definite acquisition of bone signature and detection of physiological changes in bones are achieved even with the presence of skin, muscle, and fat layers on the bone.
Power system dynamic state estimation considering correlation of measurement error from PMU and SCADA
Authors: Lu Zigang , Wei Zhinong , Sun Yonghui 
Published: October 2018

SummaryIt is well known that measurements from phasor measurement unit (PMU) or supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) are not generally independent. Since the correlation of measurement error is a very representative feature of the actual measurement system, traditional assumptions on error independency are not adequate. In this paper, taking the correlation of measurement error of both PMU and SCADA measurements into consideration, a novel correlated extended Kalman filter (CEKF) is proposed. The actual measurement configurations are analyzed with the consideration of measurement error transfer characteristics. Then, the modified measurement error covariance matrix is calculated by using the point estimation method, which will replace the traditional diagonal variance matrix. At last, IEEE 14‐bus system and 57‐bus system are provided to illustrate the effectiveness and superiority of the method, respectively.