bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Environmental factors function as constraints on soil nitrous oxide fluxes in bioenergy feedstock cropping systems
Authors: Duncan David S. , Oates Lawrence G. , Gelfand Ilya , Millar Neville , Robertson G. Philip , Jackson Randall D. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractNitrous oxide (N2O) is a potent greenhouse gas and major component of the net global warming potential of bioenergy feedstock cropping systems. Numerous environmental factors influence soil N2O production, making direct correlation difficult to any one factor of N2O fluxes under field conditions. We instead employed quantile regression to evaluate whether soil temperature, water‐filled pore space (WFPS), and concentrations of soil nitrate () and ammonium () determined upper bounds for soil N2O flux magnitudes. We collected data over 6 years from a range of bioenergy feedstock cropping systems including no‐till grain crops, perennial warm‐season grasses, hybrid poplar, and polycultures of tallgrass prairie species each with and without nitrogen (N) addition grown at two sites. The upper bounds for soil N2O fluxes had a significant and positive correlation with all four environmental factors, although relatively large fluxes were still possible at minimal values for nearly all factors. The correlation withwas generally weaker, suggesting it is less important thanin driving large fluxes. Quantile regression slopes were generally lower for unfertilized perennials than for other systems, but this may have resulted from a perpetual state of nitrogen limitation, which prevented other factors from being clear constraints. This framework suggests efforts to reduce concentrations ofin the soil may be effective at reducing high‐intensity periods—”hot moments”—of N2O production.
Tuberculosis in dialysis: Clinical spectrum and outcome from an endemic region
Authors: Vikrant Sanjay 
Published: October 2018

AbstractIntroduction:Tuberculosis (TB) is a significant health problem in developing countries. There are limited data on TB among end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on maintenance dialysis in India. Clinical profile and outcome of TB in dialysis were studied.Methods:Retrospective study of ESRD patients who were on maintenance dialysis (either peritoneal dialysis [PD] or hemodialysis (HD]) and diagnosed to have TB over a period of 11 years.Findings:Thirty‐two patients had a diagnosis of TB. Mean age of the patients was 50.3 ±13.9 years. The majority (56.2%) of the patients were female. The modality of dialysis was HD in 53.1% and PD in 46.9%. Mean duration of dialysis at the diagnosis of TB was 15.1 ± 13.9 months. Over three‐quarter of the patients had an extrapulmonary involvement. Pleuro‐pulmonary (40.6%), peritoneum (34.4%), and lymph node (15.6%) were the most common sites for TB. About 6.3%patients had disseminated TB, and 3.1% had pericardial TB. The clinical presentation of TB was: fever/pyrexia of unknown origin 28.1%, constitutional symptoms of anorexia, fever, night sweats and weight loss 34.4%, abnormal chest radiograph 37.5%, ascites/peritonitis 34.4%, pleural effusion 25%, lymphadenopathy 18.8%, meningoencephalitis 6.3%, and pericardial effusion 3.1%. Peritoneal TB presented as nonresolving peritonitis in PD and ascites in HD.The diagnosis was a microbiological/histological in 50% and rest 50% only on clinical grounds. Nine (29%) patients had adverse effects of anti‐TB drugs. Four patients of TB peritonitis had a poor gastrointestinal tolerance of anti‐TB drugs and defaulted on the treatment and had an adverse outcome. About 53.1% of the patients survived, and 46.9% died.Discussion:TB in dialysis is mostly extrapulmonary. Early diagnosis is difficult, and the adverse effects of anti‐TB medications complicate the treatment. TB in dialysis carries high morbidity and mortality. TB peritonitis has a poor prognosis.
Immunohistochemistry of cytokeratin (CK) 5/6, CD44 and CK20 as prognostic biomarkers of non‐muscle‐invasive papillary upper tract urothelial carcinoma
Authors: Jung Minsun , Kim Bohyun , Moon Kyung Chul 
Published: October 2018

AimsImmunohistochemical (IHC) staining for cytokeratin (CK) 5/6, CD44 and CK20 has been significantly associated with the prognosis of urinary bladder urothelial carcinoma, and probably reflects its molecular characteristics. We aimed to investigate the IHC‐based subgroups and their prognostic effects on non‐muscle‐invasive papillary upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC).Methods and resultsIHC staining for CK5/6, CK20 and CD44 was analysed in 211 patients with non‐muscle‐invasive papillary UTUC. Staining was classified as showing a negative, positive or normal pattern. We found that CK5/6‐negative, CD44‐negative and CK20‐positive tumours were distinctly high‐risk subgroups that were associated with high grade (CK5/6‐negative, P < 0.001; CD44‐negative, P < 0.001; CK20‐positive, P = 0.017) and frequent intravesical recurrence (CK5/6‐negative, P = 0.002). Using survival analysis with Kaplan–Meier and log‐rank tests, we found that these IHC subgroups were correlated with poor progression‐free (CK5/6‐negative, P = 0.001; CD44‐negative, P = 0.009; CK20‐positive, P = 0.031) and cancer‐specific (CK5/6‐negative, P = 0.009) survival. Furthermore, CK5/6 negativity was an independent prognostic factor for shorter progression‐free (P = 0.009) and cancer‐specific (P = 0.045) survival. CK5/6 improved Harrell's C‐indices for progression‐free (0.68–0.77, P = 0.029) and cancer‐specific (0.59–0.77, P < 0.001) survival. When markers were combined, luminal‐like subtypes showed poor prognoses.ConclusionsWe demonstrated that IHC staining for CK5/6, CD44 and CK20 was significantly associated with the clinicopathological characteristics and prognoses of patients with non‐muscle‐invasive papillary UTUC. The IHC subgroups may be correlated with the molecular characteristics of non‐muscle‐invasive papillary UTUC.
Potential visible WO3/GO composite photocatalyst
Authors: Sajjad Shamaila , Khan Mahwash , Leghari Sajjad Ahmed Khan , Ryma Najamul Athar , Farooqi Sidra Anis 
Published: October 2018

AbstractGraphene oxide (GO) was synthesized by Hummers method. GO and tungsten oxide (WO3) composites were successfully prepared by deposition of WO3 on GO surface to make efficient visible light catalyst. Scanning electron microscopy of pure GO revealed that GO films are folded with kinked and wrinkled edges. The interspaces layers are partially filled by WO3 nanoparticles with their less wrinkled edges and smooth surface of composite. Moreover, composite sheets are thin and transparent which allow easy penetration of light. EDS showed the presence of C, O, and W in GO/WO3 composites with no impurity. UV‐Vis diffused reflectance spectra showed red shift with the increase in WO3 contents. Raman spectra of GO and GO/WO3 composite show G and D bands. These bands reduced in intensity in composite sample due to removal of oxygenated functional groups with some new peaks of WO3. FT‐IR confirmed successful oxidation of graphite into GO with reduction in GO because oxide‐related bond groups decrease after reduction. The transmittance peaks of WO3 in composite sample are appeared indicating W‐O‐C linkages. The highest visible light activity of the composite is due to easy penetration of light with deposition of WO3, low band gap, and new linkages.
MicroRNA miR‐181a/b‐1 controls MAIT cell development
Authors: Winter Samantha J , Kunze‐Schumacher Heike , Imelmann Esther , Grewers Zoe , Osthues Tabea , Krueger Andreas 
Published: October 2018

AbstractMucosal‐associated invariant T (MAIT) cells constitute a major fraction of innate‐like T cells in humans with critical roles in defense against microbial pathogens and in maintaining mucosal integrity. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying MAIT cell development remain largely elusive. Here we investigated the role of miR‐181a/b‐1, a pair of microRNAs that serve as rheostat of TCR signal strength, in this process. Loss of miR‐181a/b‐1 in mice resulted in a profound arrest in early MAIT cell development. As a consequence, in the absence of miR‐181a/b‐1, thymic MAIT cells failed to acquire functional maturity based on expression of transcription factors PLZF, T‐bet and RORγt. Temporal analysis of development using a molecular timer in combination with loss of miR‐181a/b‐1 revealed that MAIT cells complete functional maturation in the periphery and indicates that functionally mature MAIT cells in the thymus are long‐term resident cells. Thus, our study provides insight into the dynamics of MAIT cell development in vivo. Of note, deletion of miR‐181a/b‐1 alone completely mirrored loss of all miRNAs.
Partial average cross‐weight evaluation for ABC inventory classification
Authors: Karagiannis Giannis 
Published: October 2018

AbstractIn this paper, we propose an alternative overall measure, inspired by the notion of average cross‐efficiency, which summarizes achievements across different descending ordering schemes regarding the relative importance of the considered indicators in the Ng model. The proposed overall measure is equal to the arithmetic average of the maximum partial averages across all possible descending ordering schemes. It can also be obtained using the average (across ordering schemes) of the estimated multipliers. We apply the proposed measure to the ABC inventory classification problem, and we compare our results with those by four information theory based methods that may be used for the same purpose, namely the Shannon entropy, distance‐based, weighted least‐square dissimilarity, and maximizing deviation methods.
Ultra‐narrow band blue emission of Eu2+ in halogenated (Alumino)borate systems based on high lattice symmetry
Authors: Wei Yi , Qu Xingyu , Li Guogang , Cheng Ziyong , Molokeev Maxim S. , Lin Chun Che , Chan Ting‐shan , Chang Chung‐Kai , Chuang Yu‐Chun , Lin Jun 
Published: October 2018

AbstractPhosphor materials with ultra‐high color purity are highly desired in backlit display and WLEDs. How to achieve high‐purity three‐primary emission in rare earth ions activated inorganic phosphors has become a hot topic. Herein, we reported ultra‐narrow band and highly efficient blue‐violet‐emitting Eu2+‐doped Ba2B5O9X (fwhm = 31 nm) and NaBa4(AlB4O9)2X3 (X = Cl, Br) (fwhm = 43 nm) phosphors with peak positions around 424‐437 nm. Especially, the color purity of Ba2B5O9Cl:Eu sample even exceeded 97%, its internal quantum efficiency could achieve 87%. The EXANES analysis revealed that the Eu mainly existed in the form of +2. According to the Rietveld structural refinement, extraordinarily narrow band emission should be attributed to the highly symmetric lattice structures with the flower‐like polyhedrons in the studied (alumino)borate matrix. Significantly, the color gamut of as‐prepared blue phosphor combined with the standard green and red phosphors was almost close to that of Rec. 2020 display standard. In addition, cation substitution strategy in NaBa4(AlxB5‐xO9)2Cl3 (x = 0‐4) and NaBa4(GayB5‐yO9)2Cl3 (y = 0‐3) samples successfully achieved spectra adjustment, and the underlying mechanism was proposed. All these results demonstrate that the as‐prepared phosphors could be superior blue‐emitting candidates for backlit display as well as WLEDs.
Temperature‐dependent fracture strength of whisker‐reinforced ceramic composites: Modeling and factor analysis
Authors: Shao Jiaxing , Li Weiguo , Li Ying , Deng Yong , Zhang Xianhe , Kou Haibo , Xu Niandong , Zhang Xuyao , Ma Jianzuo , Chen Liming , Qu Zhaoliang 
Published: October 2018

AbstractIn this study, a temperature‐dependent fracture strength model for whisker‐reinforced ceramic composites was developed. This model considers the strength degradation of both whisker and ceramic matrix at elevated temperatures, as well as the evolution of residual thermal stress with temperature. It was verified by comparison with the available flexural strengths of five types of whisker‐reinforced ceramic composites at different temperatures, and good agreement between the model predictions and the experimental data is obtained. Moreover, based on the established model, we systematically analyzed the effects of six influencing factors, including the volume fraction and the aspect ratio of whisker, the Young's modulus of matrix and whisker, the thermal expansion coefficient difference and the stress‐free temperature, on the temperature‐dependent flexural strengths of whisker‐reinforced ceramic composites. Some new insights which could help optimize and improve the temperature‐dependent fracture strength of whisker‐reinforced ceramic composites are obtained.
Combustion synthesis of fine aluminum nitride powders under micropositive N2 pressure with water additive
Authors: Sun Siyuan , Ge Yiyao , Wang Qi , Cui Wei , Zhang Jie , Tian Zhaobo , Chen Kexin , Liu Guanghua 
Published: October 2018

AbstractFine aluminum nitride (AlN) powders were prepared by a facile and efficient way of combustion synthesis under micropositive N2 pressure of 0.15 MPa and with 3 wt% water as additive. By this approach, the maximum combustion temperature was well regulated to a low value. The influence of water on the reaction rate, the phase composition, and crystal growth of the products was systematically investigated. The addition of water was crucial to the complete nitridation of Al. Furthermore, H2O vapor played a two‐sided role in the reaction. It could accelerate the reaction by promoting the diffusion of Al vapor and N2 and restrain the nitridation rate by absorbing heat.
New insights into tricalcium silicate hydration in paste
Authors: Sowoidnich Thomas , Bellmann Frank , Damidot Denis , Ludwig Horst‐Michael 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThe knowledge of the aqueous phase composition during the hydration of tricalcium silicate (C3S) is a key issue for the understanding of cement hydration. A new in situ method of computing calcium ion concentration from the measurement of the electrical conductivity on paste was coupled to isothermal calorimetry and BET measurements to get new insights on the early hydration of C3S. Ion concentrations of the aqueous phase are mainly dependent on the degree of hydration and the water to C3S ratio. In the case of C3S paste, the calcium and silicon concentrations determined at low degrees of hydration can be related to the equilibrium curve of C‐S‐H having C/S = 1.27 and named C1.27SHy. It is expected that C1.27SHy thermodynamically controls the aqueous phase composition at this early stage. Indeed, the formation of C1.27SHy is quasi‐immediate when C3S is in contact with water inducing a very rapid increase of the specific surface area that remains constant during the induction period. At higher degrees of hydration, the aqueous phase composition departs from the C1.27SHy equilibrium curve. C1.27SHy appears to be a metastable C‐S‐H that could be related to an intermediate phase previously reported. The quasi‐immediate precipitation of C1.27SHy on C3S surface explains why calcium and silicon concentrations remain low during early hydration even though C3S is strongly undersaturated. This also agrees with the control of the end of the induction period by the nucleation and growth of more stable C‐S‐H.
Structural evolution of thermal sprayed bismuth sodium titanate piezoelectric ceramic coatings
Authors: Guo Kun , Sharifzadeh Mirshekarloo Meysam , Yao Kui , Tay Francis Eng Hock 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThe structural evolution of lead‐free piezoelectric bismuth sodium titanate (BNT) coatings with excess Bi derived from thermal spray process was investigated with transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Bi‐rich composition was identified as the nucleation agent of the BNT perovskite phase, and fine‐grained microstructure was obtained with more excess Bi. The Bi‐rich composition of the perovskite phase crystallized from melt was BixNayTiO3 (0.5 ≤ X ≤ 0.55, 0.46 ≤ y ≤ 0.5). The crystallization of the Bi‐rich BNT perovskite phase first from liquid precursor phase would result in continuous depletion of Bi composition in the residual amorphous phase, and thus Ti‐rich amorphous phase in the as‐deposited coating and sodium titanate secondary phase in the heat‐treated coating formed in the composition without enough access Bi. The results and analyses suggest only appropriate compensation with adequate amount of excess Bi can realize single perovskite phase in thermal sprayed BNT‐based coatings and hence the superior piezoelectric performance property.
Design on improving piezoelectric strain and temperature stability of KNN‐based ceramics
Authors: Cen Zhenyong , Feng Wei , Zhao Peiyao , Chen Lingling , Zhu Chaoqiong , Yu Yan , Li Longtu , Wang Xiaohui 
Published: October 2018

AbstractLead‐free 0.99(0.96K0.46Na0.54Nb1‐xTaxO3‐0.04Bi0.5(Na0.82K0.18)0.5ZrO3)‐0.01CaZrO3 (0.99(0.96KNNTax‐0.04BNZ)‐0.01CZ) ceramics were prepared by a solid‐state sintering method. Ta2O5 doped in the 0.99(0.96KNNTax‐0.04BNZ)‐0.01CZ ceramics results in a phase structure transition from the orthorhombic (O)/tetragonal (T) phase to the rhombohedral (R)/T phase. The Ta2O5 dopant induces a decrease in the average grain size from ~1.70 to ~0.69 μm. At x = 0.02 and 0.04, the ceramics have a high reverse piezoelectric coefficient (~500 pm/V under 25 kV/cm). The ceramics with x = 0.04 show an optimal level of unipolar strain, reaching 0.17% under 35 kV/cm at room temperature, and their field‐induced strain varies <10% in the temperature range from 25 to 135°C. The presence of the O phase in the polymorphic phase boundary (PPB) improves the temperature stability the reverse piezoelectric coefficient (). Obtaining KNN‐based ceramics with good piezoelectric properties and weak temperature sensitivity by designing a R/O/T phase boundary and controlling the average grain size to the submicrometer level is highly feasible.
Improved ZT in ball‐milled and spark plasma sintered Cu15As30Te55 glass‐ceramics
Authors: Morin Cédric , Monnier Judith , Vaney Jean‐Baptiste , Delaizir Gaëlle , Piarristeguy Andrea , Candolfi Christophe , Pradel Annie , Lenoir Bertrand , Alleno Eric 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThe influence of ball milling followed by Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) on the thermoelectric properties of the Cu15As30Te55 glass composition has been investigated by means of X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. The microstructure, composition, and thermal stability of the ball‐milled samples before and after SPS have been correlated with the electrical and thermal transport properties. Upon ball milling, a glass‐to‐glass transformation is evidenced for short ball‐milling times, followed by crystallization of the metastable β‐As2Te3 phase within the glassy matrix. This glass‐to‐glass transformation favors the occurrence of the β‐As2Te3 phase during the SPS process. A maximum figure of merit ZT of 0.29 at 400 K is obtained in the sample exhibiting the largest β‐As2Te3 crystalline fraction. This ZT value is twice as high as the value obtained for the glass‐ceramic sintered from non‐ball‐milled powder.
Hospital admissions and place of death of residents of care homes receiving specialist healthcare services: Protocol for a systematic review
Authors: Tucker Sue , Buck Deborah , Roe Brenda , Hughes Jane , Challis David 
Published: October 2018

AbstractAimTo synthesize the evidence relating to the ability of specialist care home support services to prevent the hospital admission of older care home residents, including hospital admission at the end‐of‐life.DesignSystematic review and narrative synthesis.MethodsTen electronic databases will be searched from 2010 – 31 December 2018 using predetermined search terms. All studies of specialist healthcare services to meet care home residents’ physical healthcare needs which provide outcome data on hospital admission or place of death compared with usual care will be included. Two reviewers will independently assess studies’ eligibility and methodological quality using the Effective Public Health Practice Project Quality Assessment Tool. Data will be extracted by one reviewer and checked by a second according to predetermined categories. Data will be synthesized in evidence tables and narrative. Funder: National Institute for Health Research School for Social Care Research, November 2016.DiscussionCare of older people in care home settings is a key aspect of nursing nationally and internationally. This review will increase understanding of the extent to which different models of specialist healthcare support for care homes are associated with key resident outcomes.ImpactStandard healthcare support for care home residents is often inadequate, resulting in avoidable hospital admissions and lack of resident choice as to place of death. Although a range of specialist healthcare services are emerging, little is known about their relative effectiveness. This paper marshalls evidence of relevance to commissioners investing in healthcare provision to care homes to meet NHS targets.
Dissecting the politics of “Obamacare”: The role of distributive justice, deservingness, and affect
Authors: Choma Becky L. , Barnes Andrew J. , Braun Robert T. , Hanoch Yaniv 
Published: October 2018

AbstractPolitical conservatives (vs. liberals) are commonly thought to oppose government‐based policies that promote equal distribution of resources, preferring that resources be distributed based on merit. In a sample of American adults (n = 436), distributive fairness perceptions, deservingness, and affective reactions related to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) were examined to better understand the ideological differences in ACA attitudes. Participants completed measures of political orientation, ACA knowledge and attitudes, deservingness, distributive justice principles (i.e., need, equality, merit), anger, and sympathy. Identifying as politically liberal (vs. conservative) and greater knowledge on the ACA predicted greater ACA support. Preferences for the distributive justice principles of equality and need (but not equity) mediated the relation between political orientation and ACA attitudes. Further, conservatives perceived less deservingness and in turn experienced greater anger and opposition to the ACA. Additional exploratory analyses also suggest that the positive path between deservingness and ACA support is moderated by political orientation such that it is stronger among political liberals than conservatives. Implications of the ideological chasm in relation to the ACA are considered.
Aggregate insider trading and market returns: The role of transparency
Authors: Brochet Francois 
Published: October 2018

AbstractUsing a sample of countries that require timely disclosures of insider trades, I investigate the effect of country‐level institutions that promote transparency on the extent to which aggregate insider trades predict market returns. I find that financial information transparency mitigates the predictive content of aggregate insider trades when markets are more likely to deviate from fundamentals (i.e., during market fads), and when there is greater co‐movement in stock prices. In contrast, there is some evidence that governance and investor protection mitigate the association between aggregate insider trades and future earnings surprises. Hence, holding constant the timely disclosures of insider trades, other capital market institutions play complementary roles in mitigating the informational frictions that give rise to the predictive content of aggregate insider trades.