bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Correlation of Conventional Ultrasound Characteristics of Breast Tumors With Axillary Lymph Node Metastasis and Ki‐67 Expression in Patients With Breast Cancer
Authors: Zhang Hang , Sui Xiufang , Zhou Suzhi , Hu Lei , Huang Xian 
Published: November 2018

ObjectivesTo explore the association between the ultrasound (US) characteristics of breast tumors with axillary lymph node metastasis (ALNM) and Ki‐67 expression in patients with breast cancer.MethodsIn total, 527 consecutive patients with breast cancer who had undergone US examinations and curative surgery with axillary lymph node evaluations were included. The size, shape, aspect ratio, margin, internal echo, internal calcification, posterior echo attenuation, lymphatic hilar structure, cortical thickness, and blood flow of the axillary lymph nodes or primary breast lesions were observed with conventional US. Pathologic prognostic factors, including the histologic type of the tumor, histologic grade, estrogen and progesterone receptor status, lymph node status, and Ki‐67 expression were determined. A logistic regression model was used to evaluate whether the US characteristics of primary breast lesions were associated with ALNM and Ki‐67 expression.ResultsThe maximum tumor diameter (odds ratio [OR], 1.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05–2.27; P = .028), tumor margin (OR, 2.89; 95% CI, 1.69–4.94; P < .001), internal echo (OR, 2.17; 95% CI, 1.47–3.20; P < .001), and Ki‐67 status (OR, 3.57; 95% CI, 2.29–5.58; P < .001) had significant value as independent predictors of ALNM. Only the internal echo (OR, 1.95; 95% CI, 1.28–2.95; P = .002) of breast cancer was an independent predictor of the Ki‐67 status. The heterogeneity in the internal echo indicated faster cancer cell proliferation and was associated with a worse prognosis in patients with breast carcinoma.ConclusionsCertain conventional US characteristics may be useful predictors of ALNM and the Ki‐67 status in patients with breast cancer.
Advances in Piezoelectric Polymer Composites for Energy Harvesting Applications: A Systematic Review
Authors: Mishra Suvrajyoti , Unnikrishnan Lakshmi , Nayak Sanjay Kumar , Mohanty Smita 
Published: November 2018

AbstractPolymeric piezoelectric composites for energy harvesting applications are considered a significant research field which provides the convenience of mechanical flexibility, suitable voltage with sufficient power output, lower manufacturing cost, and rapid processing compared to ceramic‐based composites. This review focuses majorly on the basic theory and principles behind piezoelectric energy harvesting (PEH) devices, followed by specified materials used for the different devices. Different structural configurations associated with fabrication of PEH devices are discussed in detail along with their major advantages and drawbacks. Numerous classes of piezoelectric polymers such as polyvinylidene fluoride, polylactic acid, cellulose, polyamides, polyurea, polyurethanes, and their composites used for energy harvesting applications as a productive alternative of lead‐based piezo‐ceramics, are extensively addressed and explored. Additionally, current global and Indian scenarios associated with PEH devices, major challenges associated with them, and the future perspective of such devices are also reported in this review.
Stability analysis of coupled structural acoustics PDE models under thermal effects and with no additional dissipation
Authors: Avalos George , Geredeli Pelin G. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractIn this study we consider a coupled system of partial differential equations (PDE's) which describes a certain structural acoustics interaction. One component of this PDE system is a wave equation, which serves to model the interior acoustic wave medium within a given three dimensional chamber Ω. This acoustic wave equation is coupled on a boundary interface Γ0 to a two dimensional system of thermoelasticity: this thermoelastic PDE is composed in part of a structural beam or plate equation, which governs the vibrations of flexible wall portion Γ0 of the chamber Ω. Moreover, this elastic dynamics is coupled to a heat equation which also evolves on Γ0, and which imparts a thermal damping onto the entire structural acoustic system. As we said, the interaction between the wave and thermoelastic PDE components takes place on the boundary interface Γ0, and involves coupling boundary terms which are above the level of finite energy. We analyze the stability properties of this coupled structural acoustics PDE model, in the absence of any additive feedback dissipation on the hard walls Γ1 of the boundary . Under a certain geometric assumption on Γ1, an assumption which has appeared in the literature in connection with structural acoustic flow, and which allows for the invocation of a recently derived microlocal boundary trace estimate, we show that classical solutions of this thermally damped structural acoustics PDE decay uniformly to zero, with a rational rate of decay.
Modified Wilkinson power divider with uniform characteristic impedance
Authors: Yu Yantao , Chen Shiyong , Li Meng , Tang Mingchun 
Published: November 2018

AbstractA modified Wilkinson power divider with arbitrary power dividing ratio is presented in this letter. It consists of four transmission line sections with the same characteristic impedance and an isolation resistor. The proposed circuit is analyzed based on transmission line theory and design equations are derived. For verification, a 2 GHz prototype with power dividing ratio of 2 is designed, fabricated and measured. The measured results are in good agreements with the simulated ones.
A compact ultra‐wideband antenna with three C‐shaped slots for notched band characteristics
Authors: Hammache Boualem , Messai Abderraouf , Messaoudene Idris , Denidni Tayeb A. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractIn this paper, a compact UWB (ultra‐wideband) antenna with three C‐shaped slots for notched band characteristics is presented. The proposed antenna covers a bandwidth between 2.95 GHz and 12 GHz. Three different sizes of C‐shaped slot are integrated in the radiating element to remove three frequency bands at WiMAX (3.2‐3.8 GHz), C‐band (3.7‐4.2 GHz), and WLAN (5.15‐5.85 GHz). The antenna has a compact size (30 × 30 mm2). The simulated results show good and acceptable agreement with measurement results in terms of S‐parameters and radiation patterns.
Food insecurity negatively impacts academic performance
Authors: van Woerden Irene , Hruschka Daniel , Bruening Meg 
Published: November 2018

Recent research has documented high rates of food insecurity among university students, particularly students in their first year. Food insecurity among university students has been linked to poorer self‐reported health and academic outcomes. However, few studies have linked reports of food insecurity to objective student outcomes. In this study, we examine how food insecurity is associated with first‐year university students' (n = 591) academic performance, adjusting for objective measures of high school academic performance and self‐reported indicators of socioeconomic background. Zero‐ and one‐inflated beta regression was used to examine if food insecurity predicted grade point average (GPA) in the fall 2015 and spring 2016 semesters. Logistic regression was used to determine if food insecurity at the end of the fall 2015 and spring 2016 semesters was a predictor of retention to fall 2016. Food‐insecure students had a significantly lower GPA than food‐secure students. In fall 2015, 59% of food‐insecure students obtained at least a “B” grade (GPA = 3.00); our models suggest this percentage would increase to 72% if these same students were food secure. Food‐insecure students were less likely to be enrolled in fall 2016 than food‐secure students (OR = 0.72, 95% CI [0.41, 1.27]), though this difference was not statistically significant. These results indicate that food insecurity negatively impacts first‐year university students' academic performance, even after adjusting for high school academic performance and socioeconomic background. Students GPA, and potentially university retention rates, may increase if food insecurity on campus is minimized.
Topical silymarin administration for prevention of acute radiodermatitis in breast cancer patients: A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled clinical trial
Authors: Karbasforooshan Hedyieh , Hosseini Sare , Elyasi Sepideh , Fani Pakdel Azar , Karimi Gholamreza 
Published: November 2018

Radiation‐induced dermatitis is one of the most common side effects of radiotherapy. Silymarin, a flavonoid extracted from the Silybum marianum, exhibits antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory activities. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of silymarin gel in prevention of radiodermatitis in patients with breast cancer. During this randomized, double‐blinded, placebo‐controlled clinical trial, the preventive effect of silymarin 1% gel was assessed in comparison with placebo, on radiodermatitis occurrence. Forty patients randomly received silymarin gel or placebo formulation on chest wall skin following modified radical mastectomy, once daily starting at the first day of radiotherapy for 5 weeks. Radiodermatitis severity was assessed weekly based on Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) and National Cancer Institute Common Terminology for Adverse Events (NCI‐CTCAE) criteria radiodermatits grading scale for 5 weeks. The median NCI‐CTCAE and RTOG scores were significantly lower in silymarin group at the end of the third to fifth weeks (p value < 0.05). The scores increased significantly in both placebo and silymarin groups during radiotherapy, but there was a delay in radiodermatitis development and progression in silymarin group. Prophylactic administration of silymarin gel could significantly reduce the severity of radiodermatitis and delay its occurrence after 5 weeks of application.
Does the gradient‐regulated connection improve the description of correlated metal bond properties?
Authors: Mostafa Rola , Brémond Éric , Adamo Carlo , Ciofini Ilaria , Morell Christophe , Chermette Henry 
Published: November 2018

AbstractGradient‐regulated connection (GRAC) is a generalized gradient approximation exchange density functional designed by combining the revPBE and PW91 exchange functionals to impose their behaviors in the slowly‐ and fast‐varying density regions, respectively. Such a construction allows one single density functional to accurately estimate both covalent and weak interactions occurring in main‐group‐based molecular systems. For the first time, the assessment of the performance of the GRAC exchange functional is extended to the modeling of various metal bond energy and structure properties. This assessment shows that when GRAC is coupled with the Perdew, Burke, Ernzerhof (PBE) correlation, the resulting exchange‐correlation density functional is an excellent alternative to global hybrids to model bond dissociation energy, atomic electronic excitation energy, and bond length structure properties of single‐reference metal bonds. It also shows that coupling with the Tognetti, Cortona, Adamo (TCA) correlation constitutes a robust approach to tackle energy bond properties of organometallic complexes with multi‐reference character.
Species and river specific effects of river fragmentation on European anadromous fish species
Authors: van Puijenbroek Peter J.T.M. , Buijse Anthonie D. , Kraak Michiel H.S. , Verdonschot Piet F.M. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractFragmentation is one of the major threats to riverine ecosystems and this is most explicitly expressed by the decline in numbers of migratory fish species. Yet each species has different migration requirements and their natural distribution can include several catchments with multiple dams. Hence, to prioritize candidate rivers for improving accessibility, differences between species and between catchments have to be taken into account. The aim of this study was therefore to analyse the species and river specific effects of river fragmentation on migratory fish on a European scale. The effect of river damming on migratory fish was quantified for all 16 European long‐ and mid‐distance anadromous species and for 33 large European rivers. The historical distribution was compared with the current upstream accessibility of the main river and the current distribution and population status of each species. The observed effects of reduced connectivity were further quantified using the Dendritic Connectivity Index for species and the Fragmentation Index for rivers. Our results showed that only very few rivers are still unaffected by dams in the main stem and that the few remaining viable migratory fish populations in Europe occur in these accessible rivers. Barriers were prioritized for making passable based on the potential accessibility gain and the number of benefitting species, showing that the main stems of the rivers Shannon and Nemunas are the best candidates. It was concluded that evaluating species and river specific effects of fragmentation strongly aids in prioritizing rivers for improving upstream accessibility.
The Impact of Ionic Liquid and Nanoparticles on Stabilizing Foam for Enhanced Oil Recovery
Authors: Jiang Lei , Sun Jingtao , Wang Jiqian , Xue Qi , Li Songyan , Yu Wenyang , Li Zhaomin 
Published: November 2018

AbstractOne of the commonly used tool in enhance oil recovery (EOR) is nitrogen foam flooding. The sweeping efficiency is largely determined by the foam stability. Recently the study on using nanoparticle, alone or with other chemicals, to stabilize foam has emerged in several fields of foam application. In this study, we use a combination of physicochemical tools to analyze the synergetic effect of ionic liquid cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) with nanoparticle in foam flooding of EOR. Two different nanoparticles (NPs), one hydrophilic and the other hydrophobic, are compared in terms of sweeping efficiency. It was found that CPC with hydrophilic NPs is much more effective in foam flooding residue oil than with hydrophobic NPs. This may be due to the difference in CPC orientation on NP surfaces, thus affecting the surface properties including surface tension, elasticity and contact angle. Consequently the stability of foam, which underpins the oil displacement efficiency in EOR, is influenced. The possible interaction and mechanism between CPC, NP and oil are discussed while considering the contribution from reduction of drainage rate, higher particle adsorption energy, and higher surface elasticity. Understanding the differential roles of hydrophilic and hydrophobic nanoparticles in ionic liquid stabilized foam as well as physical mechanism underpinning their specificity could help facilitate the development of new green nanomaterial in the application of EOR.
Green Synthesis of Novel Schiff Bases as Eco‐friendly Corrosion Inhibitors for Mild Steel in Hydrochloric Acid
Authors: Zhang Kegui , Yang Wenzhong , Xu Bin , Yin Xiaoshuang , Chen Yun , Liu Ying 
Published: November 2018

AbstractTwo novel Schiff bases, (E)‐N‐(4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxybenzylidene)lysine (1) and (E)‐N‐(4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxybenzylidene)arginine (2) were synthesized by using natural products of amino acid and vanilline, and their inhibitive effect on the corrosion of mild steel in 0.5 mol⋅L−1 HCl solution was evaluated by various experimental methods such as electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), potentiodynamic polarization curves, scanning electron microscope (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Moreover, quantum chemical calculations and molecular dynamics simulations were used to theoretically explore the internal relation between inhibitory efficiency and molecular structure. The results of EIS show the polarization resistance of mild steel is increased from 6.592 Ω⋅cm2 to 36.46 Ω⋅cm2 and 74.78 Ω⋅cm2 in the presence of 1 and 2, respectively. Tafel curves indicate HMBL and HMBA act as good inhibitors for iron corrosion in hydrochloric acid and that 2 has the better performance than 1. XPS analysis confirms the adsorption of inhibitor molecules on iron surface by forming inhibitor‐Fe complex, which is well fitted by Langmuir model.
Developing 1D Sb‐Embedded Carbon Nanorods to Improve Efficiency and Stability of Inverted Planar Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Li Zhiqi , Liu Chunyu , Zhang Xinyuan , Ren Guanhua , Han Wenbin , Guo Wenbin 
Published: November 2018

AbstractTo overcome the zigzag pathway transport of the electron diffusion process and eliminate the surface trap states of phenyl‐C61‐butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) nanofilms in inverted perovskite solar cells, novel 1D N‐type doped carbon nanorods (CNRs) are developed by a stibonium (Sb) auxiliary ball milling method and introduced into the PCBM film to prepare the PCBM:Sb‐CNRs hybrid transport layer. In this way, the N‐type doped Sb‐CNRs can extend the built‐in electric field between CH3NH3PbI3 and PCBM to facilitate the separation of electron/hole pairs. The discontinuous band with the built‐in potential in the PCBM/Sb‐CNRs heterojunction can boost interfacial charge redistribution and promote electrons diffusion from PCBM to electrode through 1D Sb‐CNRs network. As a result, the high device efficiency of 19.26% with enhanced air stability and little hysteresis are achieved. This work demonstrates a simple strategy to improve the efficiency and stability of perovskite photovoltaic devices using low‐cost carbon nanomaterials.
Electrochemical Pseudocapacitors Based on Ternary Nanocomposite of Conductive Polymer/Graphene/Metal Oxide: An Introduction and Review to it in Recent Studies
Authors: Ehsani Ali , Heidari Ali Akbar , Shiri Hamid Mohammad 
Published: November 2018

AbstractThis review gives an overview of the synthesis, surface and electrochemical investigations over ternary nanocomposite of conductive polymers in the development of new supercapacitors. They utilize both Faradaic and non‐Faradaic procedures to store charge, leading to higher specific capacitance and energy density, higher cell voltage, longer life cycle and moderated power density. Owing to a unique combination of features such as superb electrical conductivity, corrosion resistance in aqueous electrolytes, highly modifiable nanostructures, long cycle life and the large theoretical specific‐surface area, the use of ternary nanocomposites as a supercapacitor electrode material has become the focus of a significant amount of current scientific researches in the field of energy storage devices. In these nanocomposites, graphene not only can be utilized to provide a substrate for growing nanostructured polymers in a polymer‐carbon nanocomposite structure in order to overcome the insulating nature of conductive polymers at dedoped states, but also is capable of providing a platform for the decoration of metal oxide nanoparticles to avoid their agglomeration. In this regard, synthesis, characterization and performance of different ternary nanocomposites of conductive polymer/graphene/metal oxide are discussed in detail. These remarkable results demonstrate the exciting commercial potential for high performance, environmentally friendly and low‐cost electrical energy storage devices based on ternary nanocomposite of conductive polymer/graphene/metal oxide.
Plasmatechnik 4.0
Authors: Ferse Katrin , Awakowicz Peter , Beck Uwe , Brand Carola , Engelstädter Jan Peter , Fiedler Wilfriede , Foest Rüdiger , Kersten Holger , Lemmer Oliver , Schäfer Hans-Jürgen , Schwock Alexander 
Published: November 2018

SummaryPlasma Technology 4.0 – State of the art, developments and expectationsNew technologies offer great opportunities for plasma applications. This fact is also known by the players in surface technology who deal intensively with these current topics. In everyday practice there are already good examples of integrable IoT services for process technology right through to networked business processes. The expectations are high and the concerns as well. Beginning with social aspects of the man‐machine interface through standardization to cyber security there are numerous topics that are discussed in the community. The potential of the plasma technology drives the stakeholders and inspires to more and more new research projects for intelligent process diagnostics and process control.
Scroll Geometry of Scroll Vacuum Pump
Authors: Raykov A. , Burmistrov A. , Salikeev S. , Fomina M. 
Published: November 2018

SummaryThe influence of the end part of the scroll on the pumping characteristics and indicated power of the oil free scroll vacuum pump is considered.With the help of developed mathematical model of the scroll pump dependence of pumping speed on the inlet pressure at different curvature radii of the scroll end part and compression duration is obtained. The influence of compression duration on the ultimate pressure and delivery rate is examined. Dependence of the indicated power on the inlet pressure at different number of scroll wraps and compression duration is calculated.
Effect of mcl-PHA synthesis in flax on plant mechanical properties and cell wall composition
Authors: Wróbel-Kwiatkowska Magdalena , Kropiwnicki Mateusz , Żebrowski Jacek , Beopoulos Athanasios , Dymińska Lucyna , Hanuza Jerzy , Rymowicz Waldemar 
Published: November 2018

AbstractThe high demand for new biomaterials makes synthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) in plants an interesting and desirable achievement. Production of polymers in plants is an example of application of biotechnology for improving the properties of plants, e.g. industrial properties, but it can also provide knowledge about plant physiology and metabolism. The subject of the present study was an industrially important plant: flax, Linum usitatissimum L., of a fibre cultivar (cv Nike). In the study the gene encoding PHA synthase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, fused to a peroxisomal targeting signal, was expressed in flax plants with the aim of modifying the mechanical properties of plants. Medium-chain-length (mcl) hydroxy acids in flax plants from tissue cultures were detected by GC-FID and FTIR method. The introduced changes did not affect fatty acid content and composition in generated flax plants. Since mcl-PHA are known as elastomers, the mechanical properties of created plants were examined. Modified plants showed increases in the values of all measured parameters (except strain at break evaluated for one modified line). The largest increase was noted for tensile stiffness, which was 2- to 3-fold higher than in wild-type plants. The values estimated for another parameter, Young’s modulus, was almost at the same level in generated flax plants, and they were about 2.7-fold higher when compared to unmodified plants. The created plants also exhibited up to about 2.4-fold higher tensile strength. The observed changes were accompanied by alterations in the expression of selected genes, related to cell wall metabolism in line with the highest expression of phaC1 gene. Biochemical data were confirmed by spectroscopic methods, which also revealed that crystallinity index values of cellulose in modified flax plants were increased in comparison to wild-type flax plants and correlated with biomechanical properties of plants.