bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Interferometric Determination of Orientation and Some Optical Parameters of annealed Polyester Fibres
Authors: Fouda I.M. , El-Sharkawy F.M. 
Published: September 2018

Multiple-beam Fizeau fringes in transmission have been applied to annealed PET fibres, to determine the refractive indices of their skin and core layers for plane polarized monochromatic light at λ =546.1 nm, vibrating parallel and perpendicular to the fibre axis. We obtained the optical orientation parameters by applying the equations used by Hermans and Ward. Some structural parameters such as electric polarizability were determined. The density of the samples studied was measured by a system based on the theory of vibrating strings. The density and optical results were used to calculate the degree of crystallinity, the mean square density fluctuation, the form birefringence, the number of monomeric units per unit volume, the harmonic mean polarizability of the dielectric, and the harmonic mean specific refractive index. The generalized Lorentz-Lorenz equation given by de Vries was used to determine the structural parameters of annealed PET fibres. Comparisons between the experimental results and those obtained by using the Lorentz-Lorenz and Hermans equations are given. Refractive index profiles are also given. The results show the new reorientation and layer changes accompanying annealing under different conditions. Illustrations are given of multiple-beam microinterferograms in transmission.
Analysing the Content of Antioxidants in PP Materials
Authors: Schroeder H. F. , Zeynalov E. B. , Bahr H. , Rybak Th. 
Published: September 2018

The effective stabilisation of polypropylene (PP) plastics for durable applications is often achieved by compounding with a combination of hindered phenolic (SHPh) and amine (HAS) antioxidants. Hence, to assess the lifetime of these materials it is useful and often necessary to test the status of each type of stabiliser used during or after exposure. In this paper, we discuss the measurement of the steady-state rate of post-induction oxygen consumption during the model reaction of initiated cumene oxidation. This is in order to determine antioxidants of the HAS type derived from 2,2.6,6-tetramethylpiperidine. As already published, the measurement of the induction period can be used for the simultaneous determination of the SHPh content. The rate of the post-induction oxidation reaction depends linearly on the reciprocal square root of the concentration of this HAS-antioxidant type, for a sufficiently wide concentration range. The presence of sterically hindered phenolic stabilizers (SHPh) and organophosphites usually of the kind used has no influence on this post-induction phase. Thus the dependence established offers a remarkable possibility of determining simultaneously the effective stabiliser concentrations of the HAS and SHPh antioxidants by means of one model reaction. We present the results of the successful determination of a HAS and an SHPh antioxidant in PP granules. They have to be ground down to particles with mean dimensions smaller than 250 μm. We found perfect coincidence with the data given by the granule producer. Thus the model reaction of initiated cumene oxidation is a useful method for the simultaneous quantitative study of SHPh and 2,2.6,6-tetramethylpiperidine derived HAS-antioxidants, even in the presence of organophospites in PP, and possibly other plastics.
Matrix Cracking and Delaminations in Orthotropic Laminates Subjected to Freeze-Thaw: Model Development
Authors: Roy Samit , Nie G.H. , Karedla R. , Dharani L. 
Published: September 2018

With the increasing use of fibre composites in applications such as cryogenic liquid hydrogen tanks and repair/retrofitting of bridges, the diffusion and freezing of moisture to form ice is an issue of growing importance. The volumetric expansion of water when it freezes to form ice results in stress concentrations at the inclusion tip that may synergistically interact with the residual tensile stresses in a laminate at low temperatures to initiate a crack. In addition, understanding the long-term effect of daily and/or seasonal freeze-thaw cycling on crack growth in a laminate is of vital importance for structural durability. The objective of this paper is to establish a theoretical framework for the calculation of the stress intensity factor (KI) of a pre-existing crack in a composite structure due to the phase transition of trapped moisture. The constrained volume expansion of trapped moisture due to freezing is postulated to be the crack driving force. The principle of minimum strain energy is employed to calculate the elastic field within an orthotropic laminate containing an idealized elliptical elastic inclusion in the form of ice. It is postulated that a slender elliptical elastic inclusion can be used to approximate the stress field at the crack face, which can subsequently be used to calculate the stress intensity factor, KI, for the crack. The verification of the analytical model predictions and some potential applications will be published in a separate paper.
Dental Composites Based on Dimethacrylate Resins Reinforced by Nanoparticulate Silica
Authors: Kleczewska J. , Bieliński D. M. , Nowak J. , Sokołowski J. , Łukomska-Szymańska M. 
Published: September 2018

This paper describes morphological differences and associated functional properties of dental composites based on dimethacrylate resins reinforced by nanoparticulate silica filler modified according to different silanization procedures. Surface morphology of the materials was evaluated by means of AFM, while nanohardness and elasticity modulus of the surface layer - by nanoindentation and abrasion - gravimetrically. The effects of silane treatment of nanoparticulate silica surface on possible filler loading, mechanical properties and abrasion resistance of the composites were discussed. The influence of the amount and kind of silane coupling agent on the example of 3 -methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane and vinyltrimethoxysilane were presented. The modification of nanoparticulate silica with 3 -methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane enabled the introduction of 15% more filler than modification with vinyltrimethoxysilane. The abrasion resistance depended strongly on the composite morphology and the micromechanical parameters of the surface layer. The composite modified with vinyltrimethoxysilane, containing the highest percentage of filler particles smaller than 1 μm in diameter, exhibited the lowest abrasion (0.3 vol.%). Abrasive wear seemed to be a linear function of nanoindentation hardness with the correlation coefficient of R2 = 0.96. The highest hardness of the surface layer of commercial composite (130 MPa) resulted in the highest abrasive wear (7.7 vol.%). The type and the quantity of silane coupling agent used for silica modification strongly influence the morphology and mechanical and tribological properties of the dental composites. The application of more than the calculated, optimal amount of silane to nanosilica modification enables higher filler loading, but the composites exhibit inferior mechanical characteristics. Nanoindentation hardness of surface layer showed to be the most useful parameter in estimation of material susceptibility to abrasion.
Viability Study of Use of Reprocessed High Density Polyethylene for Manufacturing Products and Multi Response Optimization of Injection Moulding Parameters Using Grey Relational Analysis
Authors: Gobinath S. , Elangovan D. , Sivakumar E. , Devadasan S.R. 
Published: September 2018

In landfill, it was found that the majority of the plastic items are not biodegradable and very gradually degrade. With reprocessed consumer plastics, many attempts have been made to reduce the impact on the environment and to avoid the consumption of virgin plastics. The plastic blend of 50% reprocessed high density polyethylene (HDPE) and 50% virgin HDPE has been used purposely for this study. Usability of reprocessed HDPE as alternative for virgin HDPE is investigated. This paper investigates the influence of the process parameters melt temperature, holding pressure, and cooling time on tensile strength and flexural strength through Taguchi methodology and grey relational analysis in Injection moulding machine. Multi response characteristics like tensile and flexural strengths are selected to evaluate the process performance and the corresponding moulding parameters of the melt temperature, holding pressure, and cooling time. Optimal combination of injection moulding parameters is determined using Taguchi and Grey relational analysis. Tensile and flexural strengths of the reprocessed HDPE are found close to that of virgin HDPE. Hence, reprocessed HDPE is found a good alternative for virgin HDPE. The confirmation results reveal that, there is significant progress in tensile strength and flexural strength of reprocessed HDPE and Grey relational grade are improved by 6%, 5% and 74% respectively. Optimal combination of the process parameters for the multi-performance characteristics of the reprocessed HDPE is the set with melting temperature at 235 °C, holding pressure at 250 N/m2 and cooling time at 25 s.
Documentation and standardization of altered mental status
Authors: Aslaner Mehmet Ali , Baykan Necmi , Doğan Nurettin Özgür , Ziyan Murat 
Published: September 2018

Background: Although altered mental status is a term commonly used for older patients, the limits of the definition are unclear. Objectives: We aimed to determine the predictive factors of altered mental status and to standardize this broad-spectrum definition. Methods: The level and content of consciousness were assessed both in the basal status and in the emergency department presentation status of patients who were aged 65 years and above. The Richmond Agitation–Sedation Scale (RASS) for level and five features for content of consciousness were used to determine the actual change in consciousness. Results: Among 1250 patients, the rate of true altered mental status was 7.7% ( n = 96), transient altered mental status was 3.5% ( n = 44), and non-altered mental status was 88.8% ( n = 1110). The 1- and 3-month mortality rates were higher for patients with true altered mental status (32.3% and 40.6%, respectively) than for other patients (3.3% and 8.4%, respectively; p < .001). The following criteria predicted true altered mental status with a high specificity: a change in RASS score ⩾2 points, newly disorganized thoughts, a perception disorder, inattention and disorientation, and an inability to communicate. Conclusion: True altered mental status criteria can be used to determine alterations in consciousness that lead to high mortality, and they can also be used as a common language for current and further investigations.
Point-of-care coagulation testing for reducing in-hospital delay in thrombolysis
Authors: Han Jung Hee , Jang Seongsoo , Choi Mi-Ok , Yoon Mi-Jeong , Lim Seung-Bok , Kook Jeong-Ran , Kang Dong-Wha , Kwon Sun U , Kim Jong S , Jeon Sang-Beom 
Published: September 2018

Background:The confirmation of prothrombin time international normalized ratio by a central laboratory often delays intravenous thrombolysis in patients with acute ischemic stroke.Objectives:We investigated the feasibility, reliability, and usefulness of point-of-care determination of prothrombin time international normalized ratio for stroke thrombolysis.Methods:Among 312 patients with ischemic stroke, 202 who arrived at the emergency room within 4.5 h of stroke onset were enrolled in the study. Patients with lost orders for point-of-care testing for the prothrombin time international normalized ratio or central laboratory testing for the prothrombin time international normalized ratio (n = 47) were excluded. We compared international normalized ratio values and the time interval from arrival to the report of test results (door-to-international normalized ratio time) between point-of-care testing for the prothrombin time international normalized ratio and central laboratory testing for the prothrombin time international normalized ratio. In patients who underwent thrombolysis, we compared the time interval from arrival to thrombolysis (door-to-needle time) between the current study population and historic cohort at our center.Results:In the 155 patients included in the study, the median door-to-international normalized ratio time was 9.0 min (interquartile range, 5.0–12.0 min) for point-of-care testing for the prothrombin time international normalized ratio and 46.0 min (interquartile range, 38.0–55.0 min) for central laboratory testing for the prothrombin time international normalized ratio (p < 0.001). The intraclass correlation coefficient between point-of-care testing for the prothrombin time international normalized ratio and central laboratory testing for the prothrombin time international normalized ratio was 0.975 (95% confidence interval: 0.966–0.982). Forty-nine of the 155 patients underwent intravenous thrombolysis. The door-to-needle time was significantly decreased after implementation of point-of-care testing for the prothrombin time international normalized ratio (median, 23.0 min; interquartile range, 16.0–29.8 vs median, 46.0 min; interquartile range, 33.5–50.5 min).Conclusion:Utilization of point-of-care testing for the prothrombin time international normalized ratio was feasible in the management of patients with acute ischemic stroke. Point-of-care testing for the prothrombin time international normalized ratio was quick and reliable and had a pivotal role in expediting thrombolysis.
New Peroxide Curable Perfluoroelastomer for High Temperature Applications
Authors: Comino G. , Arrigoni S. , Apostolo M. , Albano M. , Arcella V. 
Published: September 2018

Perfluoroelastomers are used in hostile environments due to their very high chemical and thermal resistance. Halogen containing perfluoroelastomers are cured by peroxide in presence of a curing agent. Commonly used curing agents, such as triallyl cyanurate and triallyl isocyanurate, show good thermal resistance only up to 220°C, thus restricting material application at higher temperatures. In this work, a new perfluoroelastomer for high temperature applications is presented. The polymer is synthesized with the so-called branching and pseudoliving technology and it is crosslinked with a new curing agent especially designed for high temperature resistance, namely a fluorinated di-olefin. The resulting polymer network exhibits by far improved thermal resistance, retaining its sealing ability and mechanical properties up to 300°C. Besides, the processability and the sealing properties of this di-olefin cured perfluoroelastomer are excellent. Based on this technology, a new peroxide curable perfluoroelastomer for high temperature applications has been obtained and developed at industrial scale. This material is today available from Ausimont S.p.A. with the trade name of “Tecnoflon® PFR95”.
Recycling of Glass Fabric Coated by Polyvinyl Chloride
Authors: Takahashi Tetsuya , Kimura Teruo 
Published: September 2018

In order to stabilise recycled cutting waste of PVC coated glass fiber fabric (hereafter “PVC-GF”), a composite material having PVC as a matrix combined with hydrotalcite (hereafter “HT”) and zinc stearate (hereafter “ZS”) was prepared. The mechanical properties were measured and the inhibition effect of generating hydrogen chloride gas in heating was investigated. Cutting waste of PVC-GF was subjected to heated compression molding under various conditions to prepare specimens, and the bending strength was measured. The results showed that as the temperature increased from 120°C to 150°C and as heating the time was extended from 20 minutes to 45 inutes, the bending strength was greatly increased. In bending deformation, glass fibers contained in the specimens showed an effective reinforcing effect. The specimens combined with HT and ZS were obtained by injection molding. The starting time of generating hydrogen chloride gas in heat was investigated for the injection molded specimens. The result showed that the addition of both HT and ZS could greatly retard the time until hydrogen chloride gas was generated proving the benefits. Furthermore, the effect of UV irradiation on hydrogen chloride gas generation was investigated. It was clear that the starting time of hydrogen chloride gas generation was delayed by UV irradiation for the specimens with a relatively large amount (5-10 phr) of HT, as opposed to little change for the specimens with a relatively small amount (0-0.5 phr) of HT. This indicates that HT addition is effective for material recycling of PVC products used outdoors.
Potential Applications of Polystyrene in Optoelectronics
Authors: Sureshkumar M.S. , Goyal R.K. , Negi Y.S. 
Published: September 2018

Organic polymer based materials are becoming the workhorse in the area of photonics and optoelectronics. These materials are rapidly replacing their inorganic counter parts due to their flexibility in manufacturing combined with the ease in fabrication and manufacturing. Polystyrene, being a low cost commercial commodity plastic material has been utilized as one of the important polymeric material for various NLO active devices. Guest-Host systems based on polystyrene and NLO active chromophores have been extensively studied. As a host polymer it can easily accommodate the NLO guest molecules by simple modification by solution casting and other processes. Thus, polystyrene based NLO active systems offers a relatively cost-effective NLO active systems. Recent investigations have confirmed the suitability of disposable recycled polystyrene as a host polymer to accommodate NLO active chromophores that can lead to dirt-cheap NLO active device materials. This review summarizes the applications of polystyrene based materials in the area of Optoelectronics. The fundamental aspects pertaining to Guest-Host NLO chromophore is also discussed. Some of the recent investigation about the usage of recycled polystyrene system is highlighted.
Classification of Osteoporotic Thoracolumbar Spine Fractures: Recommendations of the Spine Section of the German Society for Orthopaedics and Trauma (DGOU)
Authors: Schnake Klaus John , Blattert Thomas R. , Hahn Patrick , Franck Alexander , Hartmann Frank , Ullrich Bernhard , Verheyden Akhil , Mörk Sven , Zimmermann Volker , Gonschorek Oliver , Müller Michael , Katscher Sebastian , Saman Andre El , Pajenda Gholam , Morrison Robert , Schinkel Christian , Piltz Stefan , Partenheimer Axel , Müller Christian W. , Gercek Erol , Scherer Michael , Bouzraki Nabila , Kandziora Frank ,   the Spine Section of the German Society for Orthopaedics and Trauma
Published: September 2018

Study Design: Expert opinion. Objectives: Osteoporotic vertebral fractures are of increasing medical importance. For an adequate treatment strategy, an easy and reliable classification is needed. Methods: The working group “Osteoporotic Fractures” of the Spine Section of the German Society for Orthopaedics and Trauma (DGOU) has developed a classification system (OF classification) for osteoporotic thoracolumbar fractures. The consensus decision followed an established pathway including review of the current literature. Results: The OF classification consists of 5 groups: OF 1, no vertebral deformation (vertebral edema); OF 2, deformation with no or minor (<1/5) involvement of the posterior wall; OF 3, deformation with distinct involvement (>1/5) of the posterior wall; OF 4, loss of integrity of the vertebral frame or vertebral body collapse or pincer-type fracture; OF 5, injuries with distraction or rotation. The interobserver reliability was substantial (κ = .63). Conclusions: The proposed OF classification is easy to use and provides superior clinical differentiation of the typical osteoporotic fracture morphologies.
National Trends and Factors Associated With Inpatient Mortality in Adult Patients With Opioid Overdose
Authors: Burton Brittany N. , Lin Timothy C. , Said Engy T. , Gabriel Rodney A. 
Published: September 2018

BACKGROUND:
The prevalence of opioid misuse and opioid-related mortality has increased dramatically over the past decade. There is limited evidence on factors associated with mortality from opioid overdose in the inpatient setting. The primary objective was to report national trends in opioid overdose and mortality. The secondary objectives were to explore factors associated with inpatient mortality and report differences in prescription opioid overdose (POD) versus illicit opioid overdose (IOD) cohorts.

METHODS:
Using the 2010–2014 Nationwide Inpatient Sample, we performed a cross-sectional analysis and identified a weighted estimate of 570,987 adult patients with an International Classification of Disease, Ninth Revision, or External Cause of Injury code of POD or IOD. We performed multivariable logistic regression to identify predictors of inpatient mortality. The odds ratio (OR) and their associated 95% confidence interval (CI) are reported.

RESULTS:
Of the 570,987 patients with opioid overdose, 13.8% had an admissions diagnosis of IOD, and the remaining had POD. Among all opioid overdose admissions, the adjusted odds of IOD admissions increased by 31% per year (OR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.29–1.31; P < .001); however, the adjusted odds POD admissions decreased by 24% per year (OR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.75–0.77; P < .001). The mortality was 4.7% and 2.3% among IOD and POD admissions, respectively. The odds of inpatient mortality increased by 8% per year among IOD admissions (OR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.02–1.14; P < .007). The odds of inpatient mortality increased by 6% per year among all POD admissions (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.03–1.09; P < .001). Those with IOD compared to POD had higher odds of mortality (OR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.79–2.29; P < .001). Patients with age ≥80 years of age and those with a diagnosis of a solid tumor malignancy had higher odds of mortality. Odds of inpatient mortality were decreased in African American versus Caucasian patients and in patients undergoing alcohol rehabilitation therapy.

CONCLUSIONS:
The increase in mortality provides a strong basis for further risk reduction strategies and intervention program implementation. Medical management of not only the opioid overdose but also the comorbidities calls for a multidisciplinary approach that involves policy makers and health care teams.