bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Consumption trends and the warehouse club retail format
Authors: Dukes Anthony , Geylani Tansev , Srinivasan Kannan 
Published: August 2019

PurposeSince emerging in 1983, warehouse club growth outpaced traditional grocery stores. Individual consumption in the U.S. grew concurrently. We investigate whether there is a connection between the emergence of the warehouse clubs and Americans' unparalleled consumption levels.FindingsUsing standard principles from microeconomics, we postulate that consumers' increasing acquisitiveness is sufficient to explain (a) why warehouse clubs have grown at a faster rate than the traditional retailers and (b) how the emergence of the warehouse club may have accelerated the growth in personal consumption.ConclusionWarehouse clubs may have contributed to the rapid growth of Americans' consumption rates.
Three GLI2 mutations combined potentially underlie non‐syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate in a Chinese pedigree
Authors: Meng Peiqi , Zhao Huaxiang , Huang Wenbin , Zhang Yunfan , Zhong Wenjie , Zhang Mengqi , Jia Peizeng , Zhou Zhibo , Maimaitili Gulibaha , Chen Feng , Zhang Jieni , Lin Jiuxiang 
Published: August 2019

AbstractBackgroundNonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCL/P) is the most common craniofacial birth defect. Its etiology is complex and it has a lifelong influence on affected individuals. Despite many studies, the pathogenic gene alleles are not completely clear. Here, we recruited a Chinese NSCL/P family and explored the candidate causative variants in this pedigree.MethodsWe performed whole‐exome sequencing on two patients and two unaffected subjects of this family. Variants were screened based on bioinformatics analysis to identify the potential etiological alleles. Species conservation analysis, mutation function prediction, and homology protein modeling were also performed to preliminarily evaluate the influence of the mutations.ResultsWe identified three rare mutations that are located on a single chromatid (c.2684C > T_p.Ala895Val, c.4350G > T_p.Gln1450His, and c.4622C > A_p.Ser1541Tyr) in GLI2 as candidate causative variants. All of these three mutations were predicted to be deleterious, and they affect amino acids that are conserved in many species. The mutation c.2684C > T was predicted to affect the structure of the GLI2 protein.ConclusionOur results further demonstrate that GLI2 variants play a role in the pathogenesis of NSCL/P, and the three rare missense mutations combined are probably the potential disease‐causing variants in this family.
Existence theory for a system of coupled multi‐term fractional differential equations with integral multi‐strip coupled boundary conditions
Authors: Ahmad Bashir , Alghamdi Najla , Alsaedi Ahmed , Ntouyas Sotiris K. 
Published: August 2019

In this paper, we study a new boundary value problem of coupled nonlinear multi‐term fractional differential equations supplemented with integral multi‐strip coupled boundary conditions. The modern tools of fractional analysis are applied to derive the existence and uniqueness results for the given problem. We emphasize that our results are new and enrich the literature on the topic.
A graphene‐based tunable miniaturized‐element frequency selective surface in terahertz band and its application in high‐isolation multiple‐input multiple‐output system
Authors: Luo Yanbin , Zeng Qingsheng , Yan Xin , Hu Nan , Xie Wenqing , Wu Yong , Lu Qichao , Zhang Xia 
Published: August 2019

AbstractGraphene is a promising material for terahertz (THz) reconfigurable devices due to the tunability of the surface conductivity. Here, a graphene‐based THz miniaturized‐element tunable band‐stop frequency selective surface (FSS) is demonstrated. The proposed FSS unit cell consists of convoluted metallic strips with graphene embedded between adjacent metallic strips. The center resonance frequency of the stop band shows an obvious blue shift from 1.76 to 2.56 THz when increasing the chemical potential of the graphene from 0 to 0.5 eV. Particularly, the convoluted design leads to an ultra‐small cell dimension of 11.73% of the free space wavelength at resonance frequency (1.76 THz). In addition, the positive role of the proposed FSS in enhancing the isolation of the multiple‐input multiple‐output (MIMO) system has been verified through two simple models. This work provides an effective method to design miniaturized‐element graphene‐based tunable FSSs, and gives a simple way to realize high‐isolation MIMO systems.
A fiber‐optic sensor‐based device for the measurement of vaginal integrity in women
Authors: Parkinson Luke A. , Rosamilia Anna , Mukherjee Shayanti , Papageorgiou Anthony W. , Melendez‐Munoz Joan , Werkmeister Jerome A. , Gargett Caroline E. , Arkwright John W. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractAimsPelvic floor disorders (PFDs) in women are a major public health concern. Current clinical methods for assessing PFDs are either subjective or confounded by interference from intra‐abdominal pressure (IAP). This study introduces an intravaginal probe that can determine distributed vaginal pressure during voluntary exercises and measures the degree of vaginal tissue support independent of IAP fluctuations.MethodsAn intravaginal probe was fabricated with 18 independent fiber‐optic pressure transducers positioned along its upper and lower blades. Continuous pressure measurement along the anterior and posterior vaginal walls during the automated expansion of the probe enabled the resistance of the tissue to be evaluated as a function of displacement, in a manner reflecting the elastic modulus of the tissue. After validation in a simulated vaginal phantom, in vivo measurements were conducted in the relaxed state and during a series of voluntary exercises to gauge the utility of the device in women.ResultsThe probe reliably detected variations in the composition of sub‐surface material in the vaginal phantom. During in‐vivo measurements the probe detected distributed tissue elasticity in the absence of IAP change. In addition, the distribution of pressure along both anterior and posterior vaginal walls during cough, Valsalva and pelvic floor contraction was clearly resolved with a large variation observed between subjects.ConclusionsOur data highlight the potential for the probe to assess the integrity of the vagina wall and support structures as an integrated functional unit. Further in vivo trials are needed to correlate data with clinical findings to assist in the assessment of PFDs.
Design and Testing of a Bending‐Resistant Transparent Nanocoating for Optoacoustic Cochlear Implants
Authors: Griffo Alessandra , Liu Yingying , Mahlberg Riitta , Alakomi Hanna‐L. , Johansson Leena‐S. , Milani Roberto 
Published: August 2019

AbstractA nanosized coating was designed to reduce fouling on the surface of a new type of cochlear implant relying on optoacoustic stimulation. This kind of device imposes novel design principles for antifouling coatings, such as optical transparency and resistance to significant constant bending. To reach this goal we deposited on poly(dimethylsiloxane) a PEO‐based layer with negligible thickness compared to the curvature radius of the cochlea. Its antifouling performance was monitored upon storage by quartz crystal microbalance, and its resistance upon bending was tested by fluorescence microscopy under geometrical constraints similar to those of implantation. The coating displayed excellent antifouling features and good stability, and proved suitable for further testing in real‐environment conditions.
Robust Aluminum Electrodeposition from Ionic Liquid Electrolytes Containing Light Aromatic Naphta as Additive
Authors: Guinea Elena , Salicio‐Paz Asier , Iriarte Aitor , Grande Hans‐Jürgen , Medina Estíbaliz , García‐Lecina Eva 
Published: August 2019

AbstractAluminum electrodeposition can be carried out from several ionic liquid electrolyte formulations. Nevertheless, this plating process has not been industrialized so far because of the durability of the electrolytes and because the Al coatings obtained are non‐fully homogeneous in terms of coating morphology and thickness distribution. In this work we electrodeposited Al coatings from a 3‐butyl‐1‐ethylimidazolium tetrachloroaluminate electrolyte additivated with increasing concentrations of a new cost‐effective additive: light aromatic naphtha solvent. Firstly, electrolytes were characterized by cyclic voltammetry, where changes in the electrochemistry of the process were identified. Then, surface characterization showed that Al coatings morphology turned out to be smoother, more homogeneous and more compact with increasing additive concentration. Furthermore, the process was scaled up to flat plates of 18 cm2 area and also on 25 cm2 parts designed with straight corners to demonstrate both the optimization of the electrolytic bath performance and its throwing power enhancement.
NiNb2O6‐BaTiO3/poly(arylene ether nitriles) composite film dielectrics with excellent flexibility and high permittivity for organic film capacitors
Authors: Huang Xu , Zeng Jingjing , Yu Hongtao , Wei Xianhua , Pu Linyu , Liu Jingsong 
Published: August 2019

AbstractNickel niobate (NiNb2O6) was used to modify the barium titanate (BaTiO3) ceramics, the obtained NiNb2O6‐BaTiO3 ceramics possess better dielectric performances than that of raw BaTiO3. By adding NiNb2O6‐BaTiO3 into poly(arylene ether nitriles) (PEN) polymer, a series of NiNb2O6‐BaTiO3/PEN composite films with different NiNb2O6‐BaTiO3 contents were prepared via solution casting method. The morphology, thermal, mechanical, dielectric properties, and flexibility of the obtained NiNb2O6‐BaTiO3/PEN composite films were investigated detailedly. As the filler content increases, the tensile modulus of NiNb2O6‐BaTiO3/PEN composite films increases gradually, while the tensile strength decreases. Thermal and flexibility analysis shows that the addition of the NiNb2O6‐BaTiO3 fillers does not affect the thermal and flexibility properties endowed by the PEN matrix. The dielectric constant of the composites almost linearly increases from 3.7 (1 kHz) to 15.3 (1 kHz) as the filler content increases from 0 to 40 wt%. Besides, results show that NiNb2O6‐BaTiO3/PEN composites exhibit higher dielectric constant than that of BaTiO3/PEN. The as‐prepared NiNb2O6‐BaTiO3 will be a more promising filler to prepare polymer‐ceramic composites for organic film capacitors.
Comparison of alternative approaches to trim subjects in the tails of the propensity score distribution
Authors: Glynn Robert J. , Lunt Mark , Rothman Kenneth J. , Poole Charles , Schneeweiss Sebastian , Stürmer Til 
Published: August 2019

AbstractPurposeIn nonexperimental comparative effectiveness research, restricting analysis to subjects with better overlap of covariate distributions, hence greater treatment equipoise, helps balance the groups compared and can improve validity. Three alternative approaches, derived from different perspectives, implement restriction by trimming observations in the tails of the propensity score (PS). Across approaches, we compared the relationships between the overlap in treatment‐specific PS distributions and the size of the balanced study population after trimming.MethodsThe three trimming approaches considered were absolute trimming to the range 0.1<PS<0.9, asymmetric trimming to include subjects in both treatment groups with PS above the 5th percentile of the distribution in the target group and below the 95th percentile in the comparison group, and restriction to preference score values between 0.3 and 0.7. Comparisons of approaches used simulated PSs from beta distributions and two example studies.ResultsThe magnitude of the C‐statistic strongly predicted (R2≥.95) the percent of the balanced study population remaining. The balanced study population was largest under trimming at absolute PS levels, unless the target treatment was uncommon. Fewer than half of original study subjects remained after preference score trimming if C≥.80 and after asymmetric trimming if C≥.85. In examples, trimming improved the precision of estimated risk differences and identified apparent treatment effect heterogeneity in the PS tails where covariate balance was limited. Relative amounts of trimming in examples reflected the simulation results.ConclusionsStudy populations with high PS C‐statistics include only small percentages of subjects in whom valid treatment effects are confidently expected.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation episodes derived from electronic health record data validated using clinical trial data
Authors: Sperrin Matthew , Webb David J. , Patel Pinal , Davis Kourtney J. , Collier Susan , Pate Alexander , Leather David A. , Pimenta Jeanne M. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractPurposeTo validate an algorithm for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) episodes derived in an electronic health record (EHR) database, against AECOPD episodes collected in a randomized clinical trial using an electronic case report form (eCRF).MethodsWe analyzed two data sources from the Salford Lung Study in COPD: trial eCRF and the Salford Integrated Record, a linked primary‐secondary routine care EHR database of all patients in Salford. For trial participants, AECOPD episodes reported in eCRF were compared with algorithmically derived moderate/severe AECOPD episodes identified in EHR. Episode characteristics (frequency, duration), sensitivity, and positive predictive value (PPV) were calculated. A match between eCRF and EHR episodes was defined as at least 1‐day overlap.ResultsIn the primary effectiveness analysis population (n = 2269), 3791 EHR episodes (mean [SD] length: 15.1 [3.59] days; range: 14‐54) and 4403 moderate/severe AECOPD eCRF episodes (mean length: 13.8 [16.20] days; range: 1‐372) were identified. eCRF episodes exceeding 28 days were usually broken up into shorter episodes in the EHR. Sensitivity was 63.6% and PPV 71.1%, where concordance was defined as at least 1‐day overlap.ConclusionsThe EHR algorithm performance was acceptable, indicating that EHR‐derived AECOPD episodes may provide an efficient, valid method of data collection. Comparing EHR‐derived AECOPD episodes with those collected by eCRF resulted in slightly fewer episodes, and eCRF episodes of extreme lengths were poorly captured in EHR. Analysis of routinely collected EHR data may be reasonable when relative, rather than absolute, rates of AECOPD are relevant for stakeholders' decision making.
Quality over quantity?: Mentoring relationships and purpose development among college students
Authors: Lund Terese J. , Liang Belle , Konowitz Lily , White Allison E. , DeSilva Mousseau Angela 
Published: August 2019

AbstractA growing number of studies have demonstrated that purpose in life is associated with positive outcomes among adolescents and young adults. The college years represent an important period of both personal and professional growth, including purpose in life. Supportive relationships may play a critical role in the identification and pursuit of purpose. Relationships with mentors, for example, have been linked with purpose among adolescents. The present study examined whether mentoring relationships were linked with purpose among college students (N = 194) from three institutions across the United States. Both aspects of quality (relational health) and quantity (i.e., number of mentors) were examined as predictors of purpose. Students who had at least one mentor reported higher levels of purpose compared to students with no mentors. Among students with at least one mentor, quality of mentoring was significantly associated with a greater commitment to purpose, while the number of mentors was not associated with commitment to purpose. Results are discussed in the context of practical applications regarding student success and purpose formation in higher education settings.
Trajectories of Aging: How Systems Biology in Yeast Can Illuminate Mechanisms of Personalized Aging
Authors: Crane Matthew M. , Chen Kenneth L. , Blue Ben W. , Kaeberlein Matt 
Published: August 2019

AbstractAll organisms age, but the extent to which all organisms age the same way remains a fundamental unanswered question in biology. Across species, it is now clear that at least some aspects of aging are highly conserved and are perhaps universal, but other mechanisms of aging are private to individual species or sets of closely related species. Within the same species, however, it has generally been assumed that the molecular mechanisms of aging are largely invariant from one individual to the next. With the development of new tools for studying aging at the individual cell level in budding yeast, recent data has called this assumption into question. There is emerging evidence that individual yeast mother cells may undergo fundamentally different trajectories of aging. Individual trajectories of aging are difficult to study by traditional population level assays, but through the application of systems biology approaches combined with novel microfluidic technologies, it is now possible to observe and study these phenomena in real time. Understanding the spectrum of mechanisms that determine how different individuals age is a necessary step toward the goal of personalized geroscience, where healthy longevity is optimized for each individual.
Morphology, dynamics, and order development in a thermoplastic polyurethane with melt blended POSS
Authors: Szefer Ewa , Stafin Krzysztof , Leszczyńska Agnieszka , Zając Paulina , Hebda Edyta , Raftopoulos Konstantinos N. , Pielichowski Krzysztof 
Published: August 2019

ABSTRACTA top‐down approach is applied for the production of polyurethane (PU)–polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) nanocomposites, namely melt blending. As opposed to the typical chemical incorporation during synthesis, a POSS moiety with two hydroxyl groups is melt blended into a commercial thermoplastic polyurethane with mass fraction up to 2 wt %. POSS disperses in the matrix in submicrometer‐sized crystals, as well as in length scale of few tens of nanometers, in the bulk. Phase separation of the produced composites was studied by both standard dynamic and isothermal annealing experiments. In an approach rare in the literature, the dynamics of phase separation is discussed based on isothermal differential scanning calorimetry curves recorded during annealing. The blended‐in nanoparticles affect the micromorphology in a complicated manner, dependent on the intrinsically complex phase separation mechanism of PU. At higher temperatures, POSS slows down the phase separation, whereas at lower ones, it enhances and accelerates it. POSS decreases the mechanical modulus of the final material, presumably as a result of changes in the microphase separation. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019, 57, 1133–1142
A systematic and comprehensive review of internet use in cancer patients: Psychological factors
Authors: Lleras de Frutos María , Casellas‐Grau Anna , Sumalla Enric C. , de Gracia Marta , Borràs Josep M. , Ochoa Arnedo Cristian 
Published: August 2019

AbstractObjectivesOnline resources are changing patient‐professional relationship and care delivery by empowering patients to engage in decisions in order to cope with their illness and modify behaviors. This review analyses the psychological factors associated with spontaneous and health professional–guided internet use in cancer patients.MethodsSearches were performed in the PubMed (MEDLINE), PsycINFO, and Scopus databases. Studies were included if they involved cancer patients or focused on the relationship between cancer patients and health professionals, describing either patients' spontaneous use of interne or a guided‐structured eHealth psychosocial intervention.ResultsSeventy‐seven scientific papers were finally included. Results described emotional and behavioral outcomes in cancer patients who accessed online information. Internet has long been used spontaneously not only as a source of medical information or symptom management but also for decision making or emotional and social support. Health professionals can guide internet use, providing specific web‐based recommendations and developing intervention programs to better meet patients' needs, such as educational or information programs.ConclusionOnline access is a complementary form of care that physicians can provide. Patients benefit from online resources, especially when both they and their health professionals increase their engagement with online interventions such as integrated systems or online communities.
Ovicidal lectins from Moringa oleifera and Myracrodruon urundeuva cause alterations in chorionic surface and penetrate the embryos of Aedes aegypti eggs
Authors: Alves Robson RV , Soares Tatiana , Bento Elinaldo FL , Roldan‐Filho Ricardo S , Souza Bárbara SS , Lima Marcele KN , Nascimento Jéssica S , Coelho Luana CBB , Sá Roberto A , Lima Thâmarah A , Gonçalves Gabriel GA , Brayner Fábio A , Alves Luiz C , Navarro Daniela MAF , Napoleão Thiago H , Paiva Patrícia MG 
Published: August 2019

AbstractBACKGROUNDLectins from Moringa oleifera seeds (WSMoL), Myracrodruon urundeuva bark (MuBL), and heartwood (MuHL) are larvicidal agents against Aedes aegypti; in addition, WSMoL is an ovicidal agent against this mosquito. In this work, we evaluated the ovicidal activity of MuBL and MuHL by determining the concentrations that reduce the hatching rates by 50% in 72 h (EC50). The effects of WSMoL, MuBL, and MuHL on the ultrastructure of the eggs' surface were assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In addition, the ability of these lectins to penetrate the eggs was investigated by using conjugates of the lectins with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC).RESULTSMuBL and MuHL were ovicidal agents with EC50 of 0.26 and 0.80 mg/mL (260 and 800 ppm), respectively. SEM images of eggs treated with WSMoL for 24 h revealed discontinuity of the exochorionic network and the absence of the exochorionic cells and their tubercles. After 48 and 72 h of incubation, strong deformation and degeneration of egg surfaces were observed. In MuBL and MuHL‐treated eggs, the presence of lumps on the surface of the eggs, disappearance of the exochorionic network and the decrease and deformation of tubercles were observed. Lastly, fluorescence microscopy revealed that the three lectins were able to enter the eggs and reach the digestive tract of the embryos.CONCLUSIONWSMoL, MuBL, and MuHL are ovicidal agents on A. aegypti that have differing efficiencies in terms of how they cause alterations in the chorionic surface and in terms of their ability to penetrate the eggs. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry