bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Study of the phase morphology and toughness in poly (vinyl chloride)/acrylonitrile–styrene‐acrylic/styrene–butadiene–styrene ternary blends influenced by interfacial/surface tension
Authors: Zhang Xueqiang , Mao Zepeng , Zhang Jun 
Published: March 2019

ABSTRACTThe effect of interfacial interaction on the phase morphology and toughness of poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC)/acrylonitrile–styrene‐acrylic (ASA) terpolymer/styrene–butadiene–styrene (SBS) block copolymer ternary blends has been investigated. Water and diiodomethane liquids were used for static contact angle measurements to get surface tension and calculate interfacial tension. A dispersed phase morphology of ASA and SBS in the PVC matrix was predicted by the spreading coefficient theory, which was calculated through interfacial tensions between different polymer pairs. Extraction experiment and scanning electron microscopy were combined to verify this morphology. When the volume fraction of SBS was small, SBS was dispersed in the matrix as droplets and the strong PVC/styrene–acrylonitrile interfacial interaction made up for the poor interfacial adhesion between SBS and PVC. Herein, SBS showed an effective toughening effect on PVC/ASA blends. With the addition of 2.5‐ and 5‐phr SBS, the blends had the highest impact strength of 88.75 kJ/m2 at 23 °C and 9.98 kJ/m2 at 0 °C, respectively. With the further increase of the SBS content, the diameter of the SBS drops increased largely and the poor interfacial adhesion between SBS and PVC played a leading role, resulting in a sharp decrease in toughness and a sharp ductile–brittle transition. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47721.
Electrospun melamine‐blended activated carbon nanofibers for enhanced control of indoor CO2
Authors: Jeong Dongwon , Jie Wang , Adelodun Adedeji A. , Kim Sangbum , Jo Youngmin 
Published: March 2019

ABSTRACTElectrospun carbon nanofibers were activated with melamine–polyacrylonitrile [melamine‐blended carbon nanofibers (MACNFs)] for use as a fibrous adsorbent for indoor CO2 removal. Although, melamine doping was intended solely to incorporate basic nitrogen functionalities on the nanofibers, it also shortened fabrication time, conserving time, and energy cost. The specific surface area and microporosity of the fibers were enhanced from 412 m2 g−1 and 0.1646 cm3 g−1 to 547 m2 g−1 and 0.220 cm3 g−1, respectively, upon final CO2 activation of the nanofibers. With the chemical properties, we observed significant tethering of pyridine functionality. The sample, MACNF‐7 (10 mL of polymer solution doped with 0.7 g of melamine), provided the optimum melamine doping condition to achieve the highest CO2 adsorption capacity of 3.15 mmol g−1. The adsorption performance was based on simultaneous improvement in microporosity (physical) and surface basicity (chemical) properties of the adsorbent. However, in a binary mixture with nitrogen, the selective adsorption of CO2 showed the predominance of the improved surface basicity over microporosity. The highest CO2 selective capture (1.22 mmol g−1) was occurred for a CO2:N2 ratio of 0.15:0.85, with a selectivity of 58.19 at 273 K. In a regeneration test, stable and robust performance was achieved more than five cycles. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47747.
Anatomy and Ontogeny of the Mandibular Symphysis in Alligator mississippiensis
Authors: Lessner Emily J. , Gant Cortaiga A. , Hieronymus Tobin L. , Vickaryous Matthew K. , Holliday Casey M. 
Published: March 2019

ABSTRACTCrocodylians evolved some of the most characteristic skulls of the animal kingdom with specializations for semiaquatic and ambush lifestyles, resulting in a feeding apparatus capable of tolerating high biomechanical loads and bite forces and a head with a derived sense of trigeminal‐nerve‐mediated touch. The mandibular symphysis accommodates these specializations being both at the end of a biomechanical lever and an antenna for sensation. Little is known about the anatomy of the crocodylian mandibular symphysis, hampering our understanding of form, function, and evolution of the joint in extant and extinct lineages. We explore mandibular symphysis anatomy of an ontogenetic series of Alligator mississippiensis using imaging, histology, and whole mount methods. Complex sutural ligaments emanating about a midline‐fused Meckel's cartilage bridge the symphysis. These tissues organize during days 37–42 of in ovo development. However, interdigitations do not manifest until after hatching. These soft tissues leave a hub and spoke‐like bony morphology of the symphyseal plate, which never fuses. Interdigitation morphology varies within the symphysis suggesting differential loading about the joint. Neurovascular canals extend throughout the mandibles to alveoli, integument, and bone adjacent to the symphysis. These features suggest the Alligator mandibular symphysis offers compliance in an otherwise rigid skull. We hypothesize a fused Meckel's cartilage offers stiffness in hatchling mandibles prior to the development of organized sutural ligaments and mineralized bone while offering a scaffold for somatic growth. The porosity of the dentaries due to neurovascular tissues likely allows transmission of sensory and proprioceptive information from the surroundings and the loaded symphysis. Anat Rec, 302:1696–1708, 2019. © 2019 American Association for Anatomy
Time series of functional data with application to yield curves
Authors: Sen Rituparna , Klüppelberg Claudia 
Published: March 2019

AbstractWe develop time series analysis of functional data observed discretely, treating the whole curve as a random realization from a distribution on functions that evolve over time. The method consists of principal components analysis of functional data and subsequently modeling the principal component scores as vector autoregressive moving averag (VARMA) process. We justify the method by showing that an underlying ARMAH structure of the curves leads to a VARMA structure on the principal component scores. We derive asymptotic properties of the estimators, fits, and forecast. For term structures of interest rates, these provide a unified framework for studying the time and maturity components of interest rates under one setup with few parametric assumptions. We apply the method to the yield curves of USA and India. We compare our forecasts to the parametric model that is based on Nelson‐Siegel curves. In another application, we study the dependence of long term interest rate on the short term interest rate using functional regression.
Newborn vitamin D levels in relation to autism spectrum disorders and intellectual disability: A case–control study in california
Authors: Windham Gayle C. , Pearl Michelle , Anderson Meredith C. , Poon Victor , Eyles Darryl , Jones Karen L. , Lyall Kristen , Kharrazi Martin , Croen Lisa A. 
Published: March 2019

Vitamin D deficiency has been increasing concurrently with prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and emerging evidence suggests vitamin D is involved in brain development. Most prior studies of ASD examined vitamin D levels in children already diagnosed, but a few examined levels during perinatal development, the more likely susceptibility period. Therefore, we examined newborn vitamin D levels in a case–control study conducted among births in 2000–2003 in southern California. Children with ASD (N = 563) or intellectual disability (ID) (N = 190) were identified from the Department of Developmental Services and compared to population controls (N = 436) identified from birth certificates. 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) was measured in archived newborn dried blood spots by a sensitive assay and corrected to sera equivalents. We categorized 25(OH) D levels as deficient (<50 nmol/L), insufficient (50–74 nmol/L), and sufficient (≥75 nmol/L), and also examined continuous levels, using logistic regression. The adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95% confidence intervals for ASD were 0.96 (0.64–1.4) for 25(OH)D deficiency (14% of newborns) and 1.2 (0.86–1.6) for insufficiency (26% of newborns). The AORs for continuous 25(OH)D (per 25 nmol/L) were 1.0 (0.91–1.09) for ASD and 1.14 (1.0–1.30) for ID. Thus, in this relatively large study of measured newborn vitamin D levels, our results do not support the hypothesis of lower 25(OH)D being associated with higher risk of ASD (or ID), although we observed suggestion of interactions with sex and race/ethnicity. 25(OH)D levels were relatively high (median 84 nmol/L in controls), so results may differ in populations with higher prevalence of low vitamin D levels. Autism Res 2019, 12: 989–998. © 2019 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Lay SummaryWe studied whether vitamin D levels measured at birth were related to whether a child later developed autism (or low IQ). Our results did not show that children with autism, or low IQ, overall had lower vitamin D levels at birth than children without autism. Vitamin D levels were fairly high, on average, in these children born in Southern California.
Nationwide observational study of mortality from complicated intra-abdominal infections and the role of bacterial cultures
Authors: Tsuchiya A , Yasunaga H , Tsutsumi Y , Kawahara T , Matsui H , Fushimi K 
Published: March 2019

AbstractBackgroundThe benefit of taking intra-abdominal cultures during source control procedures in patients with complicated intra-abdominal infection (CIAI) is unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether intra-abdominal cultures reduce the mortality rate of CIAI.MethodsThe Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination database was used to identify adult patients with CIAI who had undergone source control procedures on the first day of admission to hospital between April 2014 and March 2016. In-hospital mortality was compared between patients who did and those who did not have intra-abdominal cultures taken. A generalized linear mixed-effect logistic regression model and a random intercept per hospital were used to adjust for baseline confounders and institutional differences. Subgroup analyses were also performed according to disease cause, site of onset and severity of CIAI.ResultsIntra-abdominal cultures were taken from 16 303 of 41 495 included patients. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that patients with intra-abdominal cultures had a significantly lower mortality than those without (odds ratio 0·85, 95 per cent c.i. 0·77 to 0·95). Subgroup analyses revealed statistically significant differences in mortality between patients with and without cultures among those with lower intestinal perforation, biliary tract infection/perforation, healthcare-associated CIAI and high-risk community-acquired CIAI.ConclusionsIntra-abdominal cultures obtained during source control procedures may reduce in-hospital mortality, especially in patients with lower intestinal perforation, biliary tract infection/perforation, or healthcare-associated or high-risk community-acquired CIAI.
Impairment and restrictions in possibly benign multiple sclerosis
Authors: Schaefer Laura Melanie , Poettgen Jana , Fischer Anja , Gold Stefan , Stellmann Jan‐Patrick , Heesen Christoph 
Published: March 2019

AbstractObjectiveThe aim was to describe a broad range of health dimensions in possibly benign multiple sclerosis (MS) hypothesizing that despite some limitations there is a high adaptation to the disease.MethodsAll patients from an outpatient university clinic data registry with an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) ≤3.5 and disease duration ≥15 years were addressed in a cross‐sectional study. Physical impairment, neuropsychological functioning but also influence on activities and patient reported outcome measures including coping were studied.ResultsOne hundred and twenty‐five patients could be included (mean EDSS: 2.8; mean disease duration: 24 years). Cognitive impairment was minor (8%) but fatigue (73%) and depression (46%) were prevalent. Nevertheless, QOL and daily activities seemed to be less affected. Patients showed high social support, coping abilities, and sense of coherence, which was predictive for their perceived benignity of the disease. Based on the EDSS alone, we estimated the rate of benign MS after 15 years of MS as high as 23% decreasing to 16% if cognition was included in the definition. However, cognitive performance was not relevantly associated with other outcomes.ConclusionCommon benign MS definitions seem to simplify a complex disease picture where different impairments and personal resources lead to more or less impact on people’s lives.
Descended marginal sinus of the placenta
Authors: Ryo Eiji , Namai Shigenari , Nakagawa Ippei , Kanda Ranka , Yatsuki Keita , Ayabe Takuya 
Published: March 2019

Key Clinical MessageThis is the first reported case of descent of the placental marginal sinus through the cervix to the external os. We think marginal sinus rupture does exist. The definition of placental edge should be the parenchyma in diagnosis of low‐lying placentation. Clinically, however, the low‐lying marginal sinus should be treated similar to low‐lying placentation.
Electroactive Edge‐Site‐Enriched α‐Co0.9Fe0.1(OH)x Nanoplates for Efficient Overall Water Splitting
Authors: Liu Yangxing , Li Yunwei , Yuan Gang , Zhang Junfeng , Zhang Xiangwen , Wang Qingfa 
Published: March 2019

AbstractDeveloping efficient electrocatalysts from the earth‐abundant transition‐metal family is a great challenge for overall water splitting. Herein, we developed an approach to regulate the morphology and electronic structure of α‐Co0.9Fe0.1(OH)x nanoplates, in which FeCl2 (as a precursor) plays a significant role under reflux conditions. The resulting 2D α‐Co0.9Fe0.1(OH)x nanoplates exhibit more accessible edge active sites and more high‐valence Co species to boost its intrinsic activity. Therefore, this electrocatalyst shows outstanding oxygen evolution reaction performance (with an overpotential of 225 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and a Tafel slope of 39 mV dec−1 and good stability) and excellent activity toward the hydrogen evolution reaction (with an overpotential of 122 mV at 10 mA cm−2) in 1M KOH solution. When employed as bifunctional electrocatalysts on both the anode and cathode for overall water splitting, α‐Co0.9Fe0.1(OH)x can afford 10 mA cm−2 at 1.62 V with long‐term stability. The one‐pot synthesis of 2D Fe‐doped transition‐metal hydroxide nanoplates enriched with abundant edge sites may provide a new strategy for fabricating efficient overall water splitting catalysts.
A Peptide‐Based Method for the Fabrication of 1D Rail‐Like Nanoparticle Chains and 2D Nanoparticle Membranes: Higher‐Order Self‐Assembly
Authors: Wei Wei , Liu Yanfei , Xiong Na , Yu Limei , Zhang Tao , Song Hong , Tang Fushan 
Published: March 2019

AbstractFunctionalized histidine‐rich peptide sequences were designed for the site‐directed assembly of nanoparticles. TEM and AFM images shown that the peptides self‐assembled into well‐ordered nanofibrils at pH 7.2. The nanofibrils could lie parallel to one another and form membranes when the solution was acidic (pH 3.8) resulting from the hierarchical assembly of the nanofibrils in the direction of the peptide backbone. These peptide structures served as a template for nucleation and growth of Au nanocrystals. Further characterization showed that the Au nanocrystals grew on both sides of the nanofibrils, and a 1D system with a rail‐like structure and a 2D membrane were synthesized after reduction with hydrazine hydrate at neutral and acidic pH values, respectively. The size and packing density of the Au nanocrystals were positively correlated with the incubation time of the Au ions. This approach can be extended further to the controlled synthesis of 1D and 2D architectures formed from metals, metal sulfides, and metal oxides in a low‐cost and simple manner. Finally, the nanostructures could catalyze the reduction of p‐nitrophenol with rate constants of 0.83±0.14 and 0.69±0.09 min−1 for the 1D and 2D structures, respectively.
Chinese clinical guidelines for continuous glucose monitoring (2018 edition)
Authors: Bao Yuqian , Chen Li , Chen Liming , Dou Jingtao , Gao Zhengnan , Gao Leili , Guo Lixin , Guo Xiaohui , Ji Linong , Ji Qiuhe , Jia Weiping , Kuang Hongyu , Li Qifu , Li Qiang , Li Xiaoying , Li Yanbing , Li Ling , Liu Jing , Ma Jianhua , Ran Xingwu , Shi Lixin , Song Guangyao , Wang Yufei , Weng Jianping , Xiao Xinhua , Xie Yun , Xi Guangxia , Yang Liyong , Zhao Zhigang , Zhou Jian , Zhou Zhiguang , Zhu Dalong , Zou Dajin ,   On behalf of Chinese Diabetes Society
Published: March 2019

SummaryBlood glucose monitoring is an important part of diabetes management. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology has become an effective complement to conventional blood glucose monitoring methods and has been widely applied in clinical practice. The indications for its use, the accuracy of the generated data, the interpretation of the CGM results, and the application of the results must be standardized. In December 2009, the Chinese Diabetes Society (CDS) drafted and published the first Chinese Clinical Guideline for Continuous Glucose Monitoring (2009 edition), providing a basis for the standardization of CGM in clinical application. Based on the updates of international guidelines and the increasing evidence of domestic studies, it is necessary to revise the latest CGM guidelines in China so that the recent clinical evidence can be effectively translated into clinical benefit for diabetic patients. To this end, the CDS revised the Chinese Clinical Guideline for Continuous Glucose Monitoring (2012 Edition) based on the most recent evidence from international and domestic studies.
Biomimetic stimuli‐responsive nanochannels and their applications
Authors: Fu Lulu , Zhai Jin 
Published: March 2019

AbstractBiomimetic smart nanochannels have been studied extensively to achieve the precise ionic transport compared to biological ion channels. Similar to ion channels in living organisms, biomimetic smart nanochannels can respond to various stimuli, which allows for promising applications in many fields. In this review, we mainly summarize the recent advances in the design of biomimetic stimuli‐responsive nanochannels and their potential applications including biosensors and drug delivery. Finally, an outlook on the challenges and opportunities for biomimetic stimuli‐responsive nanochannels is provided.
Immobilizing sulfotransferase 1A1 on magnetic microparticles and their evaluation using capillary electrophoresis
Authors: Ramana Pranov , Adams Erwin , Augustijns Patrick , Van Schepdael Ann 
Published: March 2019

AbstractSulfotransferases are categorized as phase II metabolic enzymes. Human sulfotransferase 1A1 (SULT1A1) is involved in the sulfonation of xenobiotics with aid from the cofactor 3'‐phosphoadenosine‐5'‐phosphosulfate that acts as a sulfonate donor. In this study, we have attempted to immobilize SULT1A1 on magnetic microparticles (MMs). Different functionalized MMs were used to immobilize SULT1A1 and their enzyme activity was compared to the control (enzyme in solution). Paracetamol was used as model substrate. Separation of paracetamol and paracetamol sulfate by CE‐UV was optimized and validated. MMs with epoxy based immobilization of SULT1A1 showed better enzyme activity. Hence, they were tested for repeated usage to allow their implementation for the development of a CE immobilized micro enzyme reactor.
Human chorionic gonadotrophin pharmaceutical formulations of urinary origin display high levels of contaminant proteins–A label‐free quantitation proteomics study
Authors: Panić‐Janković Tanja , Mitulović Goran 
Published: March 2019

AbstractTo determine whether there is a measurable protein background in different formulations of urinary and recombinant human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Primary outcome measures: identification of contaminant proteins in urinary‐derived formulations of hCG; secondary outcome measures: quantitative values of contaminant proteins in different batches of urinary –derived hCG formulations. It was found that urinary‐derived batches have high presence of contaminant proteins beside the active substance. The relative amount of contaminant proteins and hCG differs strongly between different batches.
Tracing the temporal evolution of soil redistribution rates in an agricultural landscape using 239+240Pu and 10Be
Authors: Calitri Francesca , Sommer Michael , Norton Kevin , Temme Arnaud , Brandová Dagmar , Portes Raquel , Christl Marcus , Ketterer Mike E. , Egli Markus 
Published: March 2019

AbstractTwo principal groups of processes shape mass fluxes from and into a soil: vertical profile development and lateral soil redistribution. Periods having predominantly progressive soil forming processes (soil profile development) alternate with periods having predominantly regressive processes (erosion). As a result, short‐term soil redistribution – years to decades – can differ substantially from long‐term soil redistribution; i.e. centuries to millennia. However, the quantification of these processes is difficult and consequently their rates are poorly understood. To assess the competing roles of erosion and deposition we determined short‐ and long‐term soil redistribution rates in a formerly glaciated area of the Uckermark, northeast Germany. We compared short‐term erosion or accumulation rates using plutonium‐239 and ‐240 (239+240Pu) and long‐term rates using both in situ and meteoric cosmogenic beryllium‐10 (10Be). Three characteristic process domains have been analysed in detail: a flat landscape position having no erosion/deposition, an erosion‐dominated mid‐slope, and a deposition‐dominated lower‐slope site. We show that the short‐term mass erosion and accumulation rates are about one order of magnitude higher than long‐term redistribution rates. Both, in situ and meteoric 10Be provide comparable results. Depth functions, and therefore not only an average value of the topsoil, give the most meaningful rates. The long‐term soil redistribution rates were in the range of −2.1 t ha‐1 yr‐1 (erosion) and +0.26 t ha‐1 yr‐1 (accumulation) whereas the short‐term erosion rates indicated strong erosion of up to 25 t ha‐1 yr‐1 and accumulation of 7.6 t ha‐1 yr‐1. Our multi‐isotope method identifies periods of erosion and deposition, confirming the ‘time‐split approach’ of distinct different phases (progressive/regressive) in soil evolution. With such an approach, temporally‐changing processes can be disentangled, which allows the identification of both the dimensions of and the increase in soil erosion due to human influence. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.