bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Covalent Attachment of Fibronectin onto Emulsion‐Templated Porous Polymer Scaffolds Enhances Human Endometrial Stromal Cell Adhesion, Infiltration, and Function
Authors: Richardson Sarah A. , Rawlings Thomas M. , Muter Joanne , Walker Marc , Brosens Jan J. , Cameron Neil R. , Eissa Ahmed M. 
Published: December 2018

AbstractA novel strategy for the surface functionalization of emulsion‐templated highly porous (polyHIPE) materials as well as its application to in vitro 3D cell culture is presented. A heterobifunctional linker that consists of an amine‐reactive N‐hydroxysuccinimide ester and a photoactivatable nitrophenyl azide, N‐sulfosuccinimidyl‐6‐(4′‐azido‐2′‐nitrophenylamino)hexanoate (sulfo‐SANPAH), is utilized to functionalize polyHIPE surfaces. The ability to conjugate a range of compounds (6‐aminofluorescein, heptafluorobutylamine, poly(ethylene glycol) bis‐amine, and fibronectin) to the polyHIPE surface is demonstrated using fluorescence imaging, FTIR spectroscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Compared to other existing surface functionalization methods for polyHIPE materials, this approach is facile, efficient, versatile, and benign. It can also be used to attach biomolecules to polyHIPE surfaces including cell adhesion‐promoting extracellular matrix proteins. Cell culture experiments demonstrated that the fibronectin‐conjugated polyHIPE scaffolds improve the adhesion and function of primary human endometrial stromal cells. It is believed that this approach can be employed to produce the next generation of polyHIPE scaffolds with tailored surface functionality, enhancing their application in 3D cell culture and tissue engineering whilst broadening the scope of applications to a wider range of cell types.
Fatty Acid–Derived Aliphatic Long Chain Polyethers by a Combination of Catalytic Ester Reduction and ADMET or Thiol‐Ene Polymerization
Authors: Dannecker Patrick‐Kurt , Biermann Ursula , Sink Alexandra , Bloesser Fabian R. , Metzger Jürgen O. , Meier Michael A. R. 
Published: December 2018

AbstractAliphatic long‐chain polyesters are a common class of renewable polymers and can be obtained by various synthetic routes, most notably from renewable fatty acids. In contrast, for aliphatic long chain polyethers only a few examples are known. Recently, the GaBr3‐catalyzed reduction of esters to ethers has been introduced as convenient post‐polymerization modification to obtain polyethers directly from polyesters. Here, this reduction is applied to synthesize fatty acid–based ω,ω′‐unsaturated diene diether monomers, which are polymerized afterward by thiol‐ene or acyclic diene metathesis (ADMET) polymerizations in the “green” solvents methyl‐THF (2‐methyltetrahydrofuran) and polarclean. After polymerization, the thiol‐ene or ADMET polymers are modified by either oxidation or hydrogenation, respectively.
Role of High‐Molecular‐Weight Homopolymers on Block Copolymer Self‐Assembly: From Morphology Modifier to Template
Authors: Zhang Shuo , Cai Chunhua , Xu Zhanwen , Lin Jiaping , Jin Xiao 
Published: December 2018

AbstractFor block copolymer (BCP)/homopolymer self‐assembly systems, the molecular weight of homopolymers is usually lower than that of BCPs. Herein, the cooperative self‐assembly of polystyrene‐b‐poly(ethylene glycol) (PS‐b‐PEG) BCPs with high‐molecular‐weight polystyrene (PS) homopolymers is reported. The molecular weight of PS homopolymers is 3–63 times that of the PS blocks. Typically, a spherical micelle–vesicle–large sphere morphology transition is observed by increasing the weight fraction of PS homopolymers in the polymer mixtures (f
HP). Dynamic process studies reveal that with adding water to the solution of polymer mixtures in organic solvent, the homopolymers first collapse into globules, and their size increases with f
HP and the molecular weight. Then these PS globules cooperatively self‐assemble with the PS‐b‐PEG BCPs. Depending on their size, these PS globules play different roles in the self‐assembly process. Small PS globules act as morphology modifiers inducing the micelle–vesicle transition, while large PS globules serve as self‐assembly templates for PS‐b‐PEG resulting in large spheres.
Tailored Gradient Morphologies and Anisotropic Surface Patterns in Polymer Blends
Authors: Pan Dan , Hufenus Rudolf , Qin Zongyi , Chen Long , Gooneie Ali 
Published: December 2018

AbstractGradient morphologies and surface patterns can provide a template for smart materials with tailored local properties. Fabricating such structures in a one‐step melt‐extrusion process will be most beneficial as they usually require several manipulation steps. In this study, gradient morphologies are developed by melt‐spinning matrix‐dispersed polypropylene/polystyrene blends as a template system and dynamic control of their formation is achieved, which further leads to anisotropic surface patterns. Cross and longitudinal sections and the surface of extruded fibers are evaluated by scanning electron microscopy. Distinct microstructure gradients regarding size and shape of the dispersed phase are formed in the bulk. After dissolving the dispersed phase, ordered (sub)micron channels appear on the surface, which are further refined by hot‐drawing. The resulting textures form anisotropic grooves along the fiber axis on the surface, as verified by atomic force microscopy. Capillary theory is applied to elucidate the formation mechanisms of gradient microstructures in polymer blends during processing. It is shown that all these features can be tailor‐made by using the extrusion die as a design tool. By transferring the knowledge to suitable polymer blends and processes, the designed gradient and surface structures can find applications, for instance, in materials with adaptive mechanical or interfacial properties.
Patient‐reported symptom‐mapping in carpal tunnel syndrome
Authors: Nelson Johnny T. , Gauger Mitchell R. , Whaley James D. , Zinberg Ephraim M. 
Published: December 2018

ABSTRACTIntroductionTo date, no method has been described or utilized to study the distribution of symptoms in carpal tunnel syndrome. We describe a technique of symptom‐mapping that yields a population‐based “anatomic profile” of carpal tunnel syndrome.MethodsSymptoms were mapped on visual questionnaires depicting the volar hand, wrist, and forearm. Thirty‐four hands in 26 patients with isolated carpal tunnel syndrome were included in the study.ResultsPainful symptoms were clearly centered over the carpal tunnel and were reported much less frequently in the digits. Nonpainful sensory disturbances (e.g., numbness, paresthesias) were found to have a much more peripheral and lateral distribution.DiscussionOur technique serves to establish a population‐based “anatomic profile” of carpal tunnel syndrome, assisting with clinical diagnosis and serving as a reference point for the comparison of pretreatment and posttreatment clinical data. Muscle Nerve 59:321–325, 2019
The impact of flake tool attributes and butcher experience on carcass processing time and efficiency during experimental butchery trials
Authors: Merritt Stephen R. , Peters Kara D. 
Published: December 2018

AbstractButchery involves using tools to process animal carcasses during consumption of tissue packages, and this technological adaptation has a deep connection with evolving human dietary ecology. Studying butchery informs archaeological inferences about lithic artefact function and site formation and describes skeletal traces of carcass consumption, which may corroborate the butchery function of certain tools. Diverse methodologies including subjective personal observations and well‐controlled experiments that investigate abstracted slicing mechanics or realistic butchery scenarios provide mixed conclusions about which kinds of tools are more efficient for butchery and whether their archaeological traces can be discriminated. Much less analytical attention is devoted to investigating whether a butcher's experience using stone tools to process carcasses impacts their performance, which may confound experimental assessment of how tool attributes are related to butchery efficiency. These experiments examine butchery performance in two novices over 40 goat forelimb and hindlimb trials where a single flake was used to deflesh and disarticulate a limb. By measuring butchery performance as defleshing efficiency (the amount of meat removed per second) and the time necessary to disarticulate limb elements, we demonstrate that in general, both butchers performed similarly when butchering forelimbs and hindlimbs and did not exhibit a strong learning curve of performance improvement. As well, flake weight, size, and cutting edge length were positively related to defleshing efficiency and negatively related to disarticulation time, suggesting that larger flakes are better butchery tools. Our results suggest that anatomical differences between forelimbs and hindlimbs did not impact butchery timing or efficiency and butchery performance is similar across novices. To maximize comparability of experimental butchery results, we encourage future research to examine butchery performance with respect to animal or tissue package size and investigate how butcher experience impacts performance.
From active plasmonic devices to plasmonic molecular electronics
Authors: Lacroix Jean‐Christophe , van Nguyen Quynh , Ai Yong , van Nguyen Quyen , Martin Pascal , Lacaze Pierre‐Camille 
Published: December 2018

AbstractThis work is mainly focused on studies combining plasmonic nanostructures and π‐conjugated systems. It describes active molecular plasmonic devices in which π‐conjugated molecules and polymers, grafted on gold nanoparticles, are used to tune the plasmonic properties of metal nanostructures. It also explores two emerging research fields, i.e. plasmonic electrochemistry and plasmonic molecular electronics. In the former, electrochemical reactions are controlled and triggered by plasmons which yield various light‐induced electrochemical reactions at the nanoscale. In the latter, one combines molecular plasmonics and molecular electronics in plasmonic molecular devices. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Influence of NaCl/urea on the aggregation behavior of dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride and sodium dodecyl sulfate at varying temperatures and compositions: Experimental and theoretical approach
Authors: Mahbub Shamim , Rub Malik Abdul , Hoque Md. Anamul , Khan Mohammed Abdullah 
Published: December 2018

AbstractAggregation behavior of the anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and the cationic surfactant dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride (DTAC) has been studied by conductivity measurement in aqueous/urea/NaCl medium. The deviation of experimentally executed critical micelle concentration (cmc) from their respective ideal values (cmcid) signifies the interaction between the studied surfactants. The experiments were performed at different temperatures in order to estimate different thermodynamic parameters. The negative values of Gibbs free energy (ΔGmo) point out the feasibility of the micellization behavior of the mixed systems as well as validate the feasibility of SDS‐DTAC interactions. The micellar mole fraction (X1) and the activity coefficients (f1 and f2) on the basis of different proposed model (Rubingh, Motomura, & Rodenas) and ideal mole fraction (Xid) were estimated, and obtained results illustrate the high contribution of DTAC in the mixed micellization, which exacerbates with the increase of the mole fraction of the DTAC. The interaction parameter (β) has also been investigated to get detailed insights of the interactions between the surfactants by concerning theoretical model proposed by Rubingh. The ΔGex values were attained to be negative at all α1 and temperatures, showing that mixed micelles are more stable than micelles of individual surfactants.
Immunoproteomic Identification of Noncarbohydrate Antigens Eliciting Graft‐Specific Adaptive Immune Responses in Patients with Bovine Pericardial Bioprosthetic Heart Valves
Authors: Gates Katherine V. , Xing Qi. , Griffiths Leigh G. 
Published: December 2018

PurposeThis case‐control retrospective discovery study is to identify antigenic bovine pericardium (BP) proteins that stimulate graft‐specific humoral immune response in patients implanted with glutaraldehyde fixed bovine pericardial (GFBP) heart valves.Experimental designBanked serum is collected from age‐ and sex‐matched patients who received either a GFBP or mechanical heart valve replacement. Serum IgG is isolated and used to generate poly‐polyclonal antibody affinity chromatography columns from each patient. Native and deglycosylated BP protein extracts are separately added to individual patient affinity chromatography columns, with unbound proteins washed through the column. Proteins captured in the affinity chromatography columns are submitted for proteomic identification. Differences between GFBP and mechanical heart valve replacement recipients are analyzed with Gaussian linearized modeling.ResultsCarbohydrate antigens overwhelm protein capture in the column, requiring BP protein deglycosylation prior to affinity chromatography. Nineteen BP protein antigens, which stimulated graft‐specific IgG production, are identified in patients who received GFBP valve replacements. Identified antigens are significantly over‐represented for calcium‐binding proteins.Conclusions and clinical relevancePatients implanted with GFBP valves develop a graft‐specific humoral immune response toward BP protein antigens, with 19 specific antigens identified in this work. The molecular functions of over‐represented antigens, specifically calcium‐binding proteins, may aid in understanding the underlying factors that contribute to structural valve deterioration.
Use of electromyographic signals for characterization of voluntary coughing in humans with and without spinal cord injury—A systematic review
Authors: Macedo Felipe Soares , da Rocha Adson Ferreira , Miosso Cristiano Jacques , Mateus Sergio Ricardo Menezes 
Published: December 2018

AbstractIntroductionIndividuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) frequently have an ineffective cough ability due to dysfunctions in expiratory muscles. In such cases, several articles have reported the occurrence of residual muscular activity in muscles that are accessory to coughing. The knowledge about this activity may be useful for building cough assistance devices. The goal of this review is to investigate and to describe the electromyographic signals generated during voluntary coughing in healthy people and in patients with SCI.MethodsTwo researchers performed, blindly and independently, a systematic review of the following databases: PubMed, PEDro, LILACS, and Science Direct. We conducted the searches using descriptors in English, Portuguese, and Spanish, with no limitations regarding the publication year. The review included articles describing experiments performed in humans and with the use of electromyographic signals in the analysis of voluntary coughing.ResultsAmong the 156 initially found articles, only nine had results that described the study of electromyographic signals associated with voluntary coughing. The results showed evidence that, during voluntary coughing, electromyographic signals are generated both in expiratory and accessory muscles in healthy subjects. In individuals with SCI below the 5th cervical level (C5), the electromyographic signal appeared only in the clavicular portion of the pectoralis major, especially in the explosive cough phase.ConclusionOur evaluation of the current literature shows that, according to the analysed studies, the electromyographic signals are more pre‐eminent in the expiratory phase of the pectoralis major, during voluntary cough of individuals with SCI (C5–T12).
Design and comparison of some Shewhart‐type schemes for simultaneous monitoring of Weibull parameters
Authors: Gong Min , Mukherjee Amitava 
Published: December 2018

AbstractWeibull distribution is one of the most important probability models used in modeling time between events, system reliability, and particle sizes, among others. Therefore, efficiently and consequently monitoring certain changes in Weibull process is considered as an important research topic. Various statistical process monitoring schemes have been developed for monitoring different process parameters, including some for Weibull parameters. Most of these schemes are, however, designed to monitor and control a single process parameter, although there are two important model parameters for Weibull distribution. Recently, several researchers studied various schemes for jointly monitoring the mean and variance of a normally distributed process using a single plotting statistic. Nevertheless, there is still dearth of researches in joint monitoring of non‐normal process parameters. In this context, we develop some control schemes for simultaneously monitoring the scale and shape parameters of processes that follow the Weibull distribution. Implementation procedures are developed, and performance properties of various proposed schemes are investigated. We also offer an illustrative example along with a summary and recommendations.
Etiology of acute viral respiratory infections common in Pakistan: A review
Authors: Naz Riffat , Gul Asma , Javed Urooj , Urooj Alina , Amin Sidra , Fatima Zareen 
Published: December 2018

SummaryRespiratory infections, especially those of the lower respiratory tract, remain a foremost cause of mortality and morbidity of children greater than 5 years in developing countries including Pakistan. Ignoring these acute‐level infections may lead to complications. Particularly in Pakistan, respiratory infections account for 20% to 30% of all deaths of children. Even though these infections are common, insufficiency of accessible data hinders development of a comprehensive summary of the problem. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence rate in various regions of Pakistan and also to recognize the existing viral strains responsible for viral respiratory infections through published data. Respiratory viruses are detected more frequently among rural dwellers in Pakistan. Lower tract infections are found to be more lethal. The associated pathogens comprise respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human metapneumovirus (HMPV), coronavirus, enterovirus/rhinovirus, influenza virus, parainfluenza virus, adenovirus, and human bocavirus. RSV is more dominant and can be subtyped as RSV‐A and RSV‐B (BA‐9, BA‐10, and BA‐13). Influenza A (H1N1, H5N1, H3N2, and H1N1pdm09) and Influenza B are common among the Pakistani population. Generally, these strains are detected in a seasonal pattern with a high incidence during spring and winter time. The data presented include pneumonia, bronchiolitis, and influenza. This paper aims to emphasise the need for standard methods to record the incidence and etiology of associated pathogens in order to provide effective treatment against viral infections of the respiratory tract and to reduce death rates.
A General Two‐Step Strategy–Based High‐Throughput Screening of Single Atom Catalysts for Nitrogen Fixation
Authors: Ling Chongyi , Ouyang Yixin , Li Qiang , Bai Xiaowan , Mao Xin , Du Aijun , Wang Jinlan 
Published: December 2018

AbstractElectrocatalytic or photocatalytic N2 reduction holds great promise for green and sustainable NH3 production under ambient conditions, where an efficient catalyst plays a crucial role but remains a long‐standing challenge. Here, a high‐throughput screening of catalysts for N2 reduction among (nitrogen‐doped) graphene‐supported single atom catalysts is performed based on a general two‐step strategy. 10 promising candidates with excellent performance are extracted from 540 systems. Most strikingly, a single W atom embedded in graphene with three C atom coordination (W1C3) exhibits the best performance with an extremely low onset potential of 0.25 V. This study not only provides a series of promising catalysts for N2 fixation, but also paves a new way for the rational design of catalysts for N2 fixation under ambient conditions.
Doping‐Free White Organic Light‐Emitting Diodes
Authors: Luo Dongxiang , Xiao Peng , Liu Baiquan 
Published: December 2018

AbstractDoping‐free white organic light‐emitting diodes (WOLEDs) have great potential to the next‐generation solid‐state lighting and displays due to the excellent properties, such as high efficiency, bright luminance, low power consumption, simplified structure and low cost. In this account, our recent developments on doping‐free WOLEDs have been summarized. Firstly, fundamental concepts of doping‐free WOLEDs have been described. Then, the effective strategies to develop doping‐free WOLEDs have been presented. Particularly, the manipulation of charges and excitons distribution in different kinds of doping‐free WOLEDs have been highlighted, including doping‐free fluorescent/phosphorescent hybrid WOLEDs, doping‐free thermally activated delayed fluorescent WOLEDs and doping‐free phosphorescent WOLEDs. In the end, an outlook for the future development of doping‐free WOLEDs have been clarified.
Multiple-Partner Fertility in the United States: A Demographic Portrait
Authors: Monte Lindsay M. 
Published: December 2018

Abstract
Multiple-partner fertility (MPF) occurs when a person has biological children with more than one partner. The 2014 Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP), a nationally representative panel study of individuals and households in the United States, is the first such survey to include a direct question about whether respondents are MPF parents. Understanding the prevalence of such families is important given the known socioeconomic correlates of MPF and the ramifications of entering MPF for both individuals and families. In this study, the new SIPP data are used to generate key benchmarks for a national sample, present subpopulation estimates, and describe the sample of adults with children by multiple partners.