bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Functional outcomes and quality of life after total laryngectomy with noncircumferential radial forearm free tissue transfer
Authors: Graville Donna J. , Palmer Andrew D. , Chambers Christine M. , Ottenstein Lauren , Whalen Breanne , Andersen Peter E. , Wax Mark K. , Cohen James I. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractBackgroundThe purpose of this study was to compare long‐term functional and quality of life (QOL) outcomes after total laryngectomy with primary closure and those who underwent reconstruction with noncircumferential radial free forearm tissue transfer (RFFTT).MethodsSixty‐seven patients were identified by chart review and underwent long‐term follow‐up using QOL surveys and standardized interviews.ResultsThe RFFTT group had significantly higher rates of chemotherapy, gastric tube (G‐tube) at surgery, and postoperative stricture. At follow‐up, most patients (88%) had a tracheoesophageal prosthesis (TEP) and were using it as their primary communication method. Diet and swallowing outcomes were comparable and no one had a G‐tube. Device life and TEP complications did not differ significantly. Only voice‐related QOL differed significantly between the RFFTT group and those who had undergone total laryngectomy without adjuvant treatment.ConclusionDespite more extensive treatment, the reconstructed group achieved comparable outcomes to those who had undergone total laryngectomy with adjuvant treatment.
Enhancing surface properties of breast implants by using electrospun silk fibroin
Authors: Valencia–Lazcano A. A. , Román–Doval R. , De La Cruz–Burelo E. , Millán–Casarrubias E. J. , Rodríguez–Ortega A. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractIn the present study, a new electrospun silk fibroin coating of silicone breast implants with improved biocompatibility and mechanical properties was obtained. Fibrous scaffolds were produced by electrospinning a solution containing silk fibroin, derived from Bombyx mori cocoons, and polyethylene oxide (PEO) to be used as a coating of breast implants. A randomly oriented structure of fibroin/PEO was electrospun on implants as assessed by SEM analysis, roughness measurements and ATR‐FTIR spectroscopy. The scaffold showed 0.25 µm diameter fibres, 0.76 µm size superficial pores, arithmetic roughness of 0.632 ± 0.12 µm and texture aspect ratio of 0.893 ± 0.04. ATR‐FTIR spectroscopy demonstrates the presence of PEO and fibroin in the coating. The mechanical characterisation of the implants before and after being coated with fibroin/PEO demonstrated that the fibroin/PEO scaffold contributes to the increase in the elastic modulus from 0.392 ± 0.02 to 0.560 ± 0.03 MPa and to a more elastic behaviour of the breast implants. Using the fibroin/PEO coating, human fibroblasts seeded on this matrix increased viability up to 30% compared to conventional breast implants. Electrospun silk fibroin could represent a clinically compatible, viable form to coat breast implants. Low cytotoxicity by the fibroin coating and its physico‐chemical and mechanical properties may find application in improving breast implants biocompatibility. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 106B: 1655–1661, 2018.
Anoikis resistance and oncoviruses
Authors: Kakavandi Ehsan , Shahbahrami Ramin , Goudarzi Hossein , Eslami Gita , Faghihloo Ebrahim 
Published: August 2017

AbstractAnoikis is known as a special type of programmed cell death which occurs in response to loss of correct cell‐extracellular matrix (ECM) connections. This process could be as pivotal event in normal development and tissue homeostasis and found as important mechanism in cancer invasiveness and metastasis. The persistent infection with oncoviruses including EBV (Epstein Bar virus), HPV (Human Papillomaviruses), HBV (Hepatitis B virus), KSHV (Human herpesvirus 8), HTLV‐1 (Human T‐lymphotropic virus‐1), and HCV (Hepatitis C virus) accounted as one of main risk factor for cancer progression. Some of them play critical roles in metastasis, especially in anoikis resistance which could contribute to metastasis of tumor cells. The better understanding of effects of oncoviruses on anoikis could contribute to finding of effective therapeutic platforms for treatment of virus‐associated cancers. This paper highlighted effects of these oncoviruses on anoikis protection in cancer.
Large mammal species richness and late Quaternary precipitation change in south‐western Australia
Authors: Faith J. Tyler , Dortch Joe , Jones Chelsea , Shulmeister James , Travouillon Kenny J. 
Published: August 2017

ABSTRACTThe precipitation history of south‐west Australia since the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) has important implications for understanding southern hemisphere climate dynamics. Previously reported environmental records indicating more open vegetation during the LGM have been interpreted in terms of aridity, but such changes can be explained by alternative mechanisms. To provide new evidence concerning the region's Quaternary precipitation history, we examine temporal changes in large mammal richness at four south‐west Australian fossil sites: Devil's Lair, Tunnel Cave, Witchcliffe Rock Shelter and Rainbow Cave. Large mammal richness is correlated strongly with mean annual precipitation across 53 modern Australian communities. Extending this relationship to the fossil record, a steady increase in richness from the LGM to the onset of the Holocene at both Devil's Lair and Tunnel Cave is consistent with increased precipitation through time. This supports previous interpretations of a more arid LGM and implies regional heterogeneity in the position of the southern hemisphere westerlies. A reduction in richness during the last ∼1000 years is unlikely to be the result of precipitation change and may be related to more frequent burning of the landscape by hunter‐gatherers in an effort to increase availability of large prey.
Persistence of wetlands on North Stradbroke Island (south‐east Queensland, Australia) during the last glacial cycle: implications for Quaternary science and biogeography
Authors: Tibby J. , Barr C. , Marshall J. C. , M c Gregor G. B. , Moss P. T. , Arnold L. J. , Page T. J. , Questiaux D. , Olley J. , Kemp J. , Spooner N. , Petherick L. , Penny D. , Mooney S. , Moss E. 
Published: August 2017

ABSTRACTFew Australian wetlands have persisted since the Last Glacial Maximum, with fewer still in existence through the entire last glacial cycle. The absence of wetlands, which itself indicates periods of moisture deficit, means there are few continuous climate and environmental change records covering this critical period. The lack of wetland persistence also raises the question of how plant and animal species that require permanent wetlands survived the last glacial cycle. Sixteen wetlands have been cored and dated on North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah) – a large east Australian sand island – with basal dates reported from 10 sites for the first time. These wetlands range in age to over 200 000 years old, with six dating to the Last Glacial Maximum or earlier. There is no evidence of a stratigraphic discontinuity in the radiocarbon‐based age–depth profiles, suggesting continuous deposition of highly organic sediment through the period covered by these ages (c. 40 ka). The persistence of these wetlands suggests that for much of the last 40 000 years, and for perhaps much longer, the regional moisture balance has been positive. Over the last glacial cycle, persistently wet conditions may have provided a refuge from regional drying, and thus contributed to the high genetic diversity of rainforest plants in the region. Vegetation and climate records from these sites will allow hypothesis testing about the drivers of both local and regional climate variability. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Painting and heating: A nonconventional, scalable route to sensitive biomolecular analysis with plasmon‐enhanced spectroscopy
Authors: Huang Zufang , Siddhanta Soumik , Zhang Chi , Kickler Thomas , Zheng Gang , Barman Ishan 
Published: August 2017

AbstractWe present a solution‐processed method of silver nanostructured layer formation over a cellulose membrane to develop a low‐cost, paper‐based surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) molecular detection platform. Our synthesis method enables the formation of distinct spatial regions with controllable wettabilities for optimum analyte flow through the paper analytical device. The ink‐based coating technique ensures uniform absorption for strong and reproducible plasmonic enhancement for SERS measurements. Furthermore, the silver coating‐induced hydrophobicity leads to self‐regulation of analyte distribution over the detection area leading to uniform enhancement with reduced fluorescence interference. Through systematic measurements, we determine the optimal concentration of the silver ink precursor for plasmonic activity, which influences the electric field enhancement for the Raman spectra as well as the substrate hydrophobicity. Our findings of plasmonic activity are validated through finite‐difference time‐domain simulations that also illustrate the underexplored advantage of a cellulose membrane base in achieving hotspots in the vicinity of the plasmonic nanostructures. Using this substrate, we report label‐free SERS detection of nanomolar concentrations of P‐selectin, a key clinical marker of heparin‐induced thrombocytopaenia. The facile fabrication process combined with the control over analyte flow patterns offer significant advantages for development of paper‐based SERS analytical devices, especially for use in resource‐limited settings.
Seasonal changes in the biochemical fate of carbon fixed by benthic diatoms in intertidal sediments
Authors: Moerdijk‐Poortvliet Tanja C. W. , van Breugel Peter , Sabbe Koen , Beauchard Olivier , Stal Lucas J. , Boschker Henricus T. S. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractBenthic diatoms are important primary producers in intertidal marine sediments and form the basis of the food web in these ecosystems. In order to investigate the carbon flow within diatom mats, we performed in situ 13C pulse‐chase labeling experiments and followed in detail the biochemical fate of carbon fixed by the diatoms for five consecutive days. These labeling experiments were done at approximately 2‐monthly intervals during 1 yr in order to cover seasonal variations. The fixed carbon was recovered in individual carbohydrates including extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), amino acids, fatty acids, and nucleic acid bases. In addition, we assessed a variety of environmental parameters and photosynthetic characteristics. The fixed carbon was initially mainly stored as carbohydrate (glucose) while nitrogen‐rich compounds (e.g., amino acids and RNA/DNA) were produced more slowly. During the year, the diatoms distributed the photosynthetically fixed carbon differently among the various carbon pools that were measured. In summer, the diatoms decreased carbon fixation and accumulated relatively more lipid as a storage compound (27% ± 2% vs. 12% ± 5% in other seasons). The percentage of fixed carbon that was excreted as EPS was lower in summer compared to other seasons, amounting 9% ± 4% and 21% ± 6%, respectively. Hence, it seemed that the physiology of the microphytobenthos was different during summer and caused by higher light intensity and a shift in nitrogen source.
A multicriteria framework for inventory classification and control with application to intermittent demand
Authors: Lolli F. , Ishizaka A. , Gamberini R. , Rimini B. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractSeveral papers have studied inventory classification in order to group items with a view to facilitating their management. The generated classes are then coupled with the specific reorder policies composing the overall inventory control system. However, the effectiveness of inventory classification and control system is strictly interrelated. That is to say, different classification approaches could show different performance if applied to a different set of reorder policies, and vice versa. Furthermore, when the cost structure is subjected to uncertainty, a pure cost‐based analysis of the inventory control system could be corrupted.This paper presents a multicriteria framework for the concurrent selection of the item classification approach and the inventory control system through a discrete‐event simulation approach. The key performance indicators provided by the simulator (i.e., average holding value, average number of backorders, and average number of emitted orders) are indicative of the multidimensional effectiveness of the adopted inventory control system when coupled with a specific classification approach. By this way, a multicriteria problem arises, where the alternatives are given by exhaustively coupling the item classes, which are generated by different classification approaches, with the reorder policies composing the inventory system. An analytical hierarchy process is then used for selecting the best alternative, as well as for evaluating the effect of the weights assigned to the key performance indicators through a sensitivity analysis.This approach has been validated in a real case study with a company operating in the field of electrical resistor manufacturing, with a view of facilitating the management of items showing intermittent demand.
Mutual coupling reduction in wideband tree shaped fractal dielectric resonator antenna array using defected ground structure for MIMO applications
Authors: Trivedi Kedar , Pujara Dhaval 
Published: August 2017

AbstractIn this letter, a novel fractal tree shaped two‐element dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) design for wideband multiple input multiple output (MIMO) applications is proposed. Fractal tree shaped geometry is proposed to achieve wideband characteristics while a C‐shaped periodic defected ground plane structure (PDGS) is used to achieve reduction in mutual coupling between two closely spaced antenna elements. Extensive parametric study is carried out to obtain desired mutual coupling reduction without much affecting the bandwidth of the DRA array. The proposed antenna was fabricated and its performance was tested. Measured impedance bandwidth of around 89.9% (–10 dB as reference) is achieved over a frequency band of 3.95–10.4 GHz. Measured mutual coupling less than −15 dB is obtained over the entire band of interest. Both the measured results are quite in accordance to the simulated results. The antenna design parameters, its associated results and parametric study of antenna parameters are discussed in the paper.
Dual‐band dual inverted‐F/loop antennas as a compact decoupled building block for forming eight 3.5/5.8‐GHz MIMO antennas in the future smartphone
Authors: Wong Kin‐Lu , Lin Bo‐Wei , Li B Wei‐Yu 
Published: August 2017

AbstractWith a large number of multi‐input multi‐output (MIMO) antennas embedded in the smartphone, much higher data throughput can be obtained for the smartphone in the MIMO operation. Furthermore, in order to be operational in heterogeneous networks, such as the mobile network and the wireless wide area network (WLAN), dual‐band operation of the MIMO antennas is desirable. However, owing to very limited space available in the smartphone, it has been a great challenge to dispose more MIMO antennas therein, not to mention the dual‐band MIMO antennas. To address this challenge, we present a compact decoupled 3.5/5.8 GHz (3400–3600/5725–5875 MHz) dual‐band building block formed by dual inverted‐F/loop antennas and its application for building eight dual‐band MIMO antennas for the mobile and WLAN operations. Details of the dual‐band building block and the fabricated eight MIMO antennas are described. The channel capacity of the eight MIMO antennas in an 8 × 8 MIMO system is also calculated and discussed. The obtained MIMO channel capacities are respectively about 37 and 42 bps/Hz in the 3.5 and 5.8 GHz bands, much higher than the present fourth‐generation (4G) 2 × 2 MIMO capacity (about 10 bps/Hz or less). The proposed eight MIMO antennas will hence be promising for future smartphone applications, such as in the fifth‐generation (5G) communications.
Wideband reflect array with multiresonant elements adjusted by an optimization routine
Authors: Oh Seongwon , Jeong Younghwan , Suk Sungha 
Published: August 2017

AbstractA reflectarray using multiresonant elements adjusted by an optimization routine is proposed. The element composed of two pairs of a ring and a circular patch shows 1300° phase variation range with linear slope. The phase of each elements on the reflectarray surface is selected by an optimization routine based on PSO to minimize the total phase error throughout a predetermined band (21–23 GHz). Optimized and nonoptimized reflect arrays are fabricated and measured. The 1 dB bandwidth of the proposed reflectarray is 9.7%, which is over three times to that of a nonoptimized reflectarray.
Wireless power collection using radio frequency identification system
Authors: Su Chun‐Hsi , Huang Shih‐I 
Published: August 2017

AbstractA wireless power collection (WPC) system is proposed to harvest excess electromagnetic energies in space that are reflected and not received by target antennas. The radio frequency identification (RFID) system was utilized to demonstrate WPC. The power was transmitted between the reader and tags, and the rectenna (rectified antenna) was used to collect energy in our WPC system. The rectenna includes ultra‐high frequency RFID tags. When the distance between the rectenna and the reader was 10 cm, the maximum voltages of a single rectenna and four rectennas in series were measured to be nearly 1.5 and 5.7 V, respectively. This WPC system can be used to supply power to charge batteries or other electronic products. A WPC tree consisted of four sets of rectenna arrays provided a charging current of ∼0.203 mA to a set of four AAA NiMH batteries.
Flexible twist polarizer based on ultrathin multi‐layered polymer‐carbon nanotubes composite films
Authors: Danlée Yann , Huynen Isabelle , Bailly Christian 
Published: August 2017

AbstractWe present an ultrathin and flexible microwave broadband polarization transformer concept based on oriented carbon nanotubes dispersed in a polycarbonate matrix. Stacking anisotropic composite films with a controlled angle mismatch between successive layers produces a twist polarizer able to change the orientation of the electric field over broad frequency range in the microwave domain. The smart organization confers to the multilayer a high efficiency measured as a degree of twist, which reaches 75.1% at GHz frequencies for a 420 μm thick seven‐layer stack.
Axial‐ratio beamwidth and gain enhanced circularly polarized antenna using parasitic elements
Authors: Zheng Dong‐Ze , Luo Yu , Chu Qing‐Xin 
Published: August 2017

AbstractA circularly polarized (CP) crossed‐dipole antenna with enhanced 3‐dB axial ratio (AR) beamwidth and gain via the addition of parasitic elements is proposed in this letter. First, a simplified CP crossed‐dipole model loaded with four parasitic elements is constructed to investigate the principle of wide axial‐ratio beamwidth. Theoretical analysis shows that by choosing the length and position of these parasitic elements properly, the 3 dB AR beamwidth of the simplified CP antenna can be enhanced significantly. Then, a practical CP crossed‐dipole antenna designed at 1.575 GHz is utilized to verify the feasibility of this method. Experimental results are in a good agreement with the simulated ones in terms of radiation pattern, gain, AR and |S11| for the proposed antenna. In particular, due to the addition of the four parasitic elements, the 3 dB AR beamwidth of the antenna at the central frequency of 1.575 GHz is increased from 72° to 134°; the gain in the working frequency bandwidth also shows an increase of almost 3 dBi when these parasitic elements are added.
The influence of mesoporous silica modified with phosphorus and nitrogen‐containing hyperbranched molecules on thermal stability, combustion behavior, and toxic volatiles of epoxy resin
Authors: Huang ZhengQi , Wang Dong , Zhu Yulu , Zeng Wenru , Hu Yuan 
Published: August 2017

A hybrid material (HPPA‐SH‐mSiO2) containing multiple flame‐retardant elements was synthesized and characterized using NMR, FTIR, and XPS techniques. This hybrid was synthesized by the “thiol–ene” click reaction of thiol‐functionalized mesoporous silica (SH‐mSiO2) with ene‐terminated hyperbranched polyphosphate acrylate (HPPA).When 2 wt% HPPA‐SH‐mSiO2 hybrid was added to an epoxy matrix, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that the incorporation of HPPA‐SH‐mSiO2 increased the thermal stability of epoxy resin composites. Moreover, the combustion behavior of epoxy composites was investigated using a cone calorimeter, and the results show that the PHRR and THR of EP/HPPA‐SH‐mSiO2 composites clearly decreased by 28.7% and 16%, respectively. Volatile toxic compounds such as aromatic compounds, CO, carbonyl compounds, and hydrocarbons were identified using TGA‐infrared spectroscopy coupling technique. The effect of HPPA‐SH‐mSiO2 hybrids on the removal of toxic volatiles was also investigated. Functionalized mesoporous silica and polymer composites have potential applications.
Quantification of the Pyrrolizidine Alkaloid Jacobine in Crassocephalum crepidioides by Cation Exchange High‐Performance Liquid Chromatography
Authors: Rozhon Wilfried , Kammermeier Lukas , Schramm Sebastian , Towfique Nayeem , Adebimpe Adedeji N. , Adesola Ajayi S. , Poppenberger Brigitte 
Published: August 2017

AbstractIntroductionPyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are secondary plant metabolites with considerable hepatoxic, tumorigenic and genotoxic potential. For separation, reversed phase chromatography is commonly used because of its excellent compatibility with detection by mass spectrometry. However, reversed phase chromatography has a low selectivity for PAs.ObjectiveThe objective of this work was to investigate the suitability of cation exchange chromatography for separation of PAs and to develop a rapid method for quantification of jacobine in Crassocephalum crepidioides that is suitable for analysis of huge sample numbers as required for mutant screening procedures.ResultsWe demonstrate that cation exchange chromatography offers excellent selectivity for PAs allowing their separation from most other plant metabolites. Due to the high selectivity, plant extracts can be directly analysed after simple sample preparation. Detection with UV at 200 nm instead of mass spectrometry can be applied, which makes the method very simple and cost‐effective. The recovery rate of the method exceeded 95%, the intra‐day and inter‐day standard deviations were below 7% and the limit of detection and quantification were 1 mg/kg and 3 mg/kg, respectively.ConclusionThe developed method is sufficiently sensitive for reproducible detection of jacobine in C. crepidioides. Simple sample preparation and rapid separation allows for quantification of jacobine in plant material in a high‐throughput manner. Thus, the method is suitable for genetic screenings and may be applicable for other plant species, for instance Jacobaea maritima. In addition, our results show that C. crepidioides cannot be considered safe for human consumption. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.