bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Biodegradable poly(trimethylene carbonate‐b‐(L‐lactide‐ran‐glycolide)) terpolymers with tailored molecular structure and advanced performance
Authors: Chen Xiaoyu , Wu Xiaomeng , Fan Zhongyong , Zhao Qinghua , Liu Qing 
Published: April 2018

The macroinitiator of poly(1,3‐trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC) with number‐average molecular weight (
) of 9.6 × 103 g mol−1 was synthesized by ring‐opening polymerization at 120°C. Then, the novel terpolymer P(TMC‐b‐(LLA‐ran‐GA)) consisting of PTMC homopolymer segment attached with various monomer molar ratios of L‐lactide (LLA) and glycolide (GA) random copolymerization block was prepared with
about 5.0 × 104 g mol−1 by ring‐opening polymerization in bulk at 140°C. The tailored molecular structures of P(TMC‐b‐(LLA‐ran‐GA)) were characterized by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance, 13C NMR, FTIR, and gel permeation chromatography, and chain microstructure analysis was performed in detail with 13C NMR spectroscopy. The effect of GA units on the thermal and crystallization behaviors, mechanical properties, as well as biodegradability of terpolymers was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction, stress‐strain measurements, and in vitro tests in comparison with corresponding poly(trimethylene carbonate‐block‐L‐lactide) copolymer P(TMC‐b‐LLA). The results show that amorphous PTMC segments have a significant effect on condensed state behavior of the terpolymers, and the incorporation of GA units strongly decreases the crystallinity and crystallization ability of LLA segment within terpolymers because of more random LLA‐GA sequence and shorter average LLA block length. Meanwhile, the toughness of materials is greatly improved, and in vitro degradation is also accelerated. Peripheral vascular stents were 3D printed for the first time and met the requirements for application. The results show totally biodegradable terpolymers with unique molecular structure, and modifiable properties are promising new biomaterials with advanced performance for biomedical application.
Evaluation of a high‐resolution numerical weather prediction model's simulated clouds using observations from CloudSat, GOES‐13 and in situ aircraft
Authors: Qu Zhipeng , Barker Howard W. , Korolev Alexei V. , Milbrandt Jason A. , Heckman Ivan , Bélair Stéphane , Leroyer Sylvie , Vaillancourt Paul A. , Wolde Mengistu , Schwarzenböck Alfons , Leroy Delphine , Strapp J. Walter , Cole Jason N. S. , Nguyen Louis , Heidinger Andrew 
Published: April 2018

This study aimed to assess tropical cloud properties predicted by Environment and Climate Change Canada's Global Environmental Multiscale (GEM) model when run with the Milbrandt–Yau double‐moment cloud microphysical scheme and one‐way nesting that culminated at a (∼300 km)2 inner domain with 0.25 km horizontal grid spacing. The assessment utilized satellite and in situ data collected during the High Ice Water Content (HIWC) and High Altitude Ice Crystals (HAIC) projects for a mesoscale convective system on 16 May 2015 over French Guiana. Data from CloudSat's cloud‐profiling radar and GOES‐13's imager were compared to data either simulated directly by GEM or produced by operating on GEM's cloud data with both the CFMIP (Cloud Feedback Model Intercomparison Project) Observation Simulator Package (COSP) instrument simulator and a three‐dimensional Monte Carlo solar radiative transfer model. In situ observations were made from research aircraft – Canada's National Research Council Convair‐580 and the French SAFIRE Falcon‐20 – whose flight paths were aligned with CloudSat's ground‐track. Spatial and temporal shifts of clouds simulated by GEM compared well to GOES‐13 imagery. There are, however, differences between simulated and observed amounts of high and low cloud. While GEM did well at predicting ranges of ice‐water content (IWC) near 11 km altitude (Falcon‐20), it produces too much graupel and snow near 7 km (Convair‐580). This produced large differences between CloudSat's and COSP‐generated radar reflectivities and two‐way attenuations. On the other hand, CloudSat's inferred values of IWC agree well with in situ samples at both altitudes. Generally, GEM's visible reflectances exceeded GOES‐13's on account of having produced too much low‐level liquid cloud. It is expected that GEM's disproportioning of cloud hydrometeors will improve once it includes a better representation of secondary ice production.
DFT study into the reaction mechanism of CO methanation over pure MoS2
Authors: Li Zhenhua , Zhang Kan , Wang Weihan , Wang Baowei , Ma Xinbin 
Published: April 2018

AbstractMo‐based catalysts are commonly used in the direct methanation of CO; however, no integrated mechanism has been proposed due to limits in characterizing the nano‐sized active structures of MoS2. Thus, we report our investigation into the mechanism of CO methanation over pure MoS2 through density functional theory simulations, considering that only MoS2 edge sites exhibit catalytic activity. Simulations revealed the presence of (010) and (110) surfaces on the MoS2 edges. Both surfaces are reconstructed by the redistribution of surface sulfur atoms upon exposure to H2/H2S, and after sulfur coverage redistribution, S vacancies are generated for CO hydrogenation. The reaction mechanisms on both surfaces are discussed, with the S‐edge being better suited to CO methanation than Mo‐edge on the (010) surface. The rate‐controlling step differs between surfaces, and corresponds to the initial activation reaction, which was achieved more easily on the (110) surface.
Dynamic modeling and vibration control for a nonlinear 3‐dimensional flexible manipulator
Authors: Liu Zhijie , Liu Jinkun , He Wei 
Published: April 2018

SummaryIn this paper, the control design and stability analysis are presented for a 3‐dimensional flexible manipulator system with input disturbances. To provide an accurate and concise representation of the manipulator's dynamic behavior, the flexible manipulator is described by a distributed parameter system with a set of partial differential equations and ordinary differential equations. Boundary control laws with disturbance observers are proposed to regulate orientation and suppress elastic vibrations simultaneously. The closed‐loop stability is achieved through rigorous analysis without any simplification of the dynamics based on the Lyapunov direct method. Numerical simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.
State and fault estimation of sandwich systems with hysteresis
Authors: Zhou Zupeng , Liu Xufeng 
Published: April 2018

SummaryIn this paper, a switched proportional integral observer (PIO) is designed for estimating the states and fault of sandwich systems with hysteresis. In the system, the actuator fault and sensor noise have been included simultaneously. The switched PIO contains a changeable transition matrix and a switched item, which can switch according to different working points of the hysteresis. The estimation errors of the states and fault are analyzed, and a theorem is given to illustrate the estimation errors of the states and fault, which are both bounded. The problem of selecting an appropriate feedback matrix of the switched PIO has been translated into an optimization problem with feedback matrix tuning. The effectiveness of the switched PIO has been testified in the simulation with a real application case. Moreover, to show the good performance of the switched PIO, a conventional PIO is proposed and compared in the simulation. The results show that the switched PIO is superior to the conventional one.
Interfacial Engineering for Fabricating High‐Performance Field‐Effect Transistors Based on 2D Materials
Authors: Gao Feng , Yang Huihui , Hu PingAn 
Published: April 2018

AbstractTraditional scaled complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor field‐effects transistors (FETs) are currently approaching physical limitations and are confronted with bottlenecks in their development. The increasing demands of FETs with high electronic performance and integration density have strongly motivated the exploration of novel channel materials, among which 2D materials are emerging as ideal candidates. In particular, 2D materials possess unique immunity to the short channel effects and also facilitate the realization of flexible microelectronic devices. Interface engineering is pivotal for optimizing the performance of traditional electronics, as well as 2D layered semiconductor electronics. So far, enormous efforts have been made to develop high‐performance FETs based on 2D materials. Here, a summary of the recent progress in 2D FET devices is presented, with a focus on the technologies and methodologies of interface engineering in 2D semiconductor FETs. Corresponding strategies are presented, including tuning the Schottky barrier height, optimizing the interface morphology, and so on. In the last part, the possible developing trends for 2D FET devices in the future are discussed.
Straw–Brick‐Like Carbon Fiber Cloth/Lithium Composite Electrode as an Advanced Lithium Metal Anode
Authors: Liu Sufu , Xia Xinhui , Yao Zhujun , Wu Jianbo , Zhang Liyuan , Deng Shengjue , Zhou Chengao , Shen Shenghui , Wang Xiuli , Tu Jiangping 
Published: April 2018

AbstractBecause of its highest capacity and lowest anode potential, lithium (Li) metal anode is extremely attractive to the next‐generation rechargeable batteries. However, low Coulombic efficiency, uncontrolled dendritic growth, and poor solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) during the Li stripping/plating process hinder its practical application. Here, a novel straw–brick‐like carbon fiber cloth/lithium (CFC/Li) composite electrode is designed by embedding lithium into 3D carbon cloth matrix via a facile ZnO‐induced molten method. The ZnO layer on the CFC provides bonding interactions for encapsulation of molten Li metal to form straw–brick‐like CFC/Li composite electrode. Compared with bare Li metal electrode, the as‐obtained CFC/Li electrode presents much less fluctuant stripping/plating profiles with lower voltage hysteresis (120 mV at 3 mA cm−2) and more stable SEI structure. When coupled with a LiFePO4 cathode, the CFC/Li anode demonstrates a good suitability in full cells. This reinforcement is due to the unique straw–brick‐like structure with good conductive framework leading to greatly decreased current density, and effective suppression of volume change and dendrite. This modification strategy on the Li metal provides an easy straightforward option for construction of advanced anodes for Li‐metal batteries.
Sustainability and education for sustainability: An analysis of publications from the last decade
Authors: Veiga Ávila Lucas , Rossato Facco Ana Luiza , Bento Marcia Helena dos Santos , Arigony Marcelo Mendes , Obregon Sandra Leonara , Trevisan Marcelo 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThis study analyzes the characteristics of publications on sustainability topics and education for sustainability in the Web of Science (WOS) database during the period ranging from 2005 to 2014. We identified the topics that are being studied within those subjects and other relevant topics. We also analyzed a special edition of the Journal of Cleaner Production on “Higher Education for Sustainable Development: Emerging areas,” published in January, 2014. Our approach was both qualitative and quantitative and aimed at qualifying and quantifying certain variables related to the scientific literature on the broad subject of sustainability. The number of published pieces in the WOS focusing on sustainability issues during the period from 2005 to 2014 was 5,924. In our analysis of the special edition of the Journal of Cleaner Production, we found and analyzed 17 abstracts and full papers. The main results of our survey highlight the education, educational research, environmental sciences, ecology, and engineering areas as including the greatest number of publications. Articles, as opposed to conference proceedings or reviews, accounted for 63% of the published documents, and the year 2013 showed the largest number of publications. Huisingh, Suciu, Katane, and Barth are the most published authors on these topics. Furthermore, management, environmental studies, ecology, and environmental sciences are the “hot topics” with the best search results, meaning articles of impact and high quality. Finally, it should be emphasized that publications on the subject of sustainability appear most often in the sciences.
Cost‐effectiveness of first‐trimester screening with early preventative use of aspirin in women at high risk of early‐onset pre‐eclampsia
Authors: Ortved D. , Hawkins T. L.‐A. , Johnson J.‐A. , Hyett J. , Metcalfe A. 
Published: April 2018

ABSTRACTObjectivePre‐eclampsia (PE) remains a leading cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. A first‐trimester screening algorithm predicting the risk of early‐onset PE has been developed and validated. Early prediction coupled with initiation of aspirin at 11–13 weeks in women identified as high risk is effective at reducing the prevalence of early‐onset PE. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cost‐effectiveness of this first‐trimester screening program coupled with early use of low‐dose aspirin in women at high risk of developing early‐onset PE, in comparison to current practice in Canada.MethodsA decision analysis was performed based on a theoretical population of 387 516 live births in Canada in 1 year. The clinical and financial impact of early preventative screening using the Fetal Medicine Foundation algorithm for prediction of early‐onset PE coupled with early (< 16 weeks) use of low‐dose aspirin in those at high risk was simulated and compared with current practice using decision‐tree analysis. The probabilities at each decision point and associated costs of utilized resources were calculated based on published literature and public databases.ResultsOf the theoretical 387 516 births per year, the estimated prevalence of early PE based on first‐trimester screening and aspirin use was 705 vs 1801 cases based on the current practice. This was associated with an estimated total cost of C$9.52 million with the first‐trimester screening program compared with C$23.91 million with current practice for the diagnosis and management of women with early‐onset PE. This equals an annual cost saving to the Canadian healthcare system of approximately C$14.39 million.ConclusionsThe implementation of a first‐trimester screening program for PE and early intervention with aspirin in women identified as high risk for early PE has the potential to prevent a significant number of early‐onset PE cases with a substantial associated cost saving to the healthcare system in Canada. Copyright © 2018 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
The Adaptive Camber Concept—A passive approach for gust load alleviation on wind turbines
Authors: Cordes U. , Lambie B. , Hufnagel K. , Spiegelberg H. , Kampers G. , Tropea C. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractA new passive sectional approach to alleviate gust loads on wind turbines—the Adaptive Camber Concept— is introduced. The concept entails fluid‐structure interaction, where flow conditions at the leading edge affect the airfoil shape and vice versa. A two‐dimensional airfoil equipped with the Adaptive Camber Concept is experimentally investigated under steady and unsteady conditions in a wind tunnel. Under steady conditions, the adaptive camber airfoil de‐cambers gradually with increasing angle of attack, yielding a lift curve with declined slope. Unsteady angle of attack fluctuations of various reduced frequencies are generated by means of an active grid. Under unsteady conditions, the adaptive camber airfoil is found to alleviate up to 60% of the fluctuating loads, while generating higher mean lift compared to a rigid reference airfoil.
Promise of chemokine network‐targeted nanoparticles in combination nucleic acid therapies of metastatic cancer
Authors: Xie Ying , Wang Yazhe , Li Jing , Hang Yu , Oupický David 
Published: April 2018

Chemokines and chemokine receptors play key roles in cancer progression and metastasis. Although multiple chemokines and chemokine receptors have been investigated, inhibition of CXCR4 emerged as one of the most promising approaches in combination cancer therapy, especially when focused on the metastatic disease. Small RNA molecules, such as small interfering RNA (siRNA) and microRNA (miRNA), represent new class of therapeutics for cancer treatment through RNA interference‐mediated gene silencing. However, the clinical applicability of siRNA and miRNA is severely limited by the lack of effective delivery systems. There is a significant therapeutic potential for CXCR4‐targeted nanomedicines in combination with the delivery of siRNA and miRNA in cancer. Recently developed CXCR4‐targeted polymeric drugs and nanomedicines, including cyclam‐ and chloroquine‐based polymeric CXCR4 antagonists are introduced here and their ability to deliver functional siRNA and miRNA is discussed.This article is categorized under:
Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease
Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology
Isokinetic Strength Testing Following Intramedullary Nailing of Tibial Shaft Fractures Predicts Time to Recovery and Return of Muscle Strength in the Injured Extremity: A Prospective Case Series
Authors: Goodwin Alexandra I. , Haws Brittany E. , Knio Ziyad O. , Moerk Per Kristian , Miller Anna N. 
Published: April 2018

Background The speed and degree of functional recovery over time after surgery for tibial shaft fracture has been previously described using subjective methods. Questions/Purpose This study aimed to quantitatively measure recovery of isokinetic strength in the injured leg after surgical repair of isolated closed tibial shaft fracture. Methods In this prospective case series, patients were recruited after intramedullary nailing for isolated closed tibial shaft fracture at an academic medical center from January 2012 to December 2015. Recovery of isokinetic strength was quantified using an isokinetic dynamometer. Eight measures of isokinetic strength at 3, 6, and 12 months’ follow-up were used to compare strength in the injured leg to the healthy leg. Results In 36 patients recruited, there was a significant difference in strength between the healthy and injured legs at 3 months for seven of the eight metrics used, at 6 months for five of the eight metrics, and at 12 months for none of the eight metrics. Observing recovery of strength longitudinally, we saw significant improvement between 3 and 6 months for four of eight metrics and overall between 3 and 12 months for five of the eight metrics. All four metrics that showed a significant improvement between 3 and 6 months involved plantar flexion. No metrics showed significant improvement between 6 and 12 months. Conclusions Patients exhibited equal strength between their healthy and injured legs at 12 months after surgery. Improvement in strength occurred to a greater extent between 3 and 6 months after surgery than between 6 and 12 months. Plantar flexion appeared to improve more rapidly than dorsal extension.
Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) Mapping and In-situ Observation of Carbonization of Culms of Bambusa Multiplex
Authors: Yordsri Visittapong , Thanachayanont Chanchana , Asahina Shunsuke , Yamaguchi Yuuki , Kawasaki Masahiro , Oikawa Tetsuo , Nobuchi Tadashi , Shiojiri Makoto 
Published: April 2018

AbstractGreen culms of bamboo and charcoal of Bambusa multiplex were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) mapping. A dynamic observation of the initial stage of carbonization was also performed in-situ by heating a radial longitudinal section of the bamboo culm at a rate of 20°C/min up to 500°C. EDS mapping of the green bamboo culms detected Si signals in the harder cells such as the epidermis (Ep), cortex (Cor) and vascular bundle sheath (Bs) and between these cells as silicon oxide particles. Appreciable morphological change of the cells occurred in a temperature range of about 300–400°C due to the decomposition of cellulose that is the main component of the bamboo cells. The charcoal of the bamboo culm has a skin layer which originates from the Ep and Cor and the main central cylinder with many openings that originate from the expanded xylem and phloem holes. During carbonization, the Si atoms in the Ep and Cor were segregated as thin silicon oxide layers onto both the sides of the skin layer and the Si included in the Bs fibers and parenchyma cells accumulated near the walls of the openings.
Nano-Cathodoluminescence Measurement of Asymmetric Carrier Trapping and Radiative Recombination in GaN and InGaN Quantum Disks
Authors: Deitz Julia I. , Sarwar A. T. M. Golam , Carnevale Santino D. , Grassman Tyler J. , Myers Roberto C. , McComb David W. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe ability to characterize recombination and carrier trapping processes in group-III nitride-based nanowires is vital to further improvements in their overall efficiencies. While advances in scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM)-based cathodoluminescence (CL) have offered some insight into nanowire behavior, inconsistencies in nanowire emission along with CL detector limitations have resulted in the incomplete understanding in nanowire emission processes. Here, two nanowire heterostructures were explored with STEM-CL: a polarization-graded AlGaN nanowire light-emitting diode (LED) with a GaN quantum disk and a polarization-graded AlGaN nanowire with three different InGaN quantum disks. Most nanowires explored in this study did not emit. For the wires that did emit in both structures, they exhibited asymmetrical emission consistent with the polarization-induced electric fields in the barrier regions of the nano-LEDs. In the AlGaN/InGaN sample, two of the quantum disks exhibited no emission potentially due to the three-dimensional landscape of the sample or due to limitations in the CL detection.
Necroptosis promotes cell-autonomous activation of proinflammatory cytokine gene expression
Authors: Zhu Kezhou , Liang Wei , Ma Zaijun , Xu Daichao , Cao Shuangyi , Lu Xiaojuan , Liu Nan , Shan Bing , Qian Lihui , Yuan Junying 
Published: April 2018

AbstractNecroptosis, a form of regulated necrotic cell death, is mediated by receptor interacting protein 1 (RIPK1), RIPK3, and mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL). However, the mechanism by which necroptosis promotes inflammation is still unclear. Here we report that the expression of cytokines is robustly upregulated in a cell-autonomous manner during necroptosis induced by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα). We demonstrate that TNFα-induced necroptosis leads to two waves of cytokine production. The first wave, more transient and weaker than the second, is in response to TNFα alone; whereas the second wave depends upon the necroptotic signaling. We show that necroptosis promotes the transcription of TNFα-target genes in a cell-intrinsic manner. The activation of both NF-κB and p38 by the necroptotic machinery, RIPK1, RIPK3, and MLKL, is involved in mediating the robust induction of cytokine expression in the second wave. In contrast, necroptosis induced by direct oligomerization of MLKL promotes cytokine production at much lower levels than that of necroptosis induced with TNFα. Thus, we conclude that TNFα-induced necroptosis signaling events mediated by RIPK1 and RIPK3 activation, in addition to the MLKL oligomerization, promotes the expression of cytokines involving multiple intracellular signaling mechanisms including NF-κB pathway and p38. These findings reveal that the necroptotic cell death machinery mounts an immune response by promoting cell-autonomous production of cytokines. Our study provides insights into the mechanism by which necroptosis promotes inflammation in human diseases.