bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Optimizing the mechanical and physical properties of thermoplastic starch via tuning the molecular microstructure through co‐plasticization by sorbitol and glycerol
Authors: Esmaeili Mohsen , Pircheraghi Gholamreza , Bagheri Reza 
Published: January 2017

AbstractNowadays, environmental hazards caused by plastic wastes are a major concern in academia and industry. Utilization of biodegradable polymers derived from renewable sources for replacing common petroleum‐based plastics is a potential solution for reducing the problem. In this regard, starch has become one of the most promising alternatives to non‐biodegradable polymers for depleting plastic waste thanks to its low expense, abundance, renewability and biodegradability. However, the main drawbacks of starch are its poor processability, weak mechanical properties and severe hydrophilicity. In this work, thermoplastic starch (TPS) samples have been prepared using glycerol and sorbitol as co‐plasticizers in a laboratory co‐rotating twin screw extruder. Based on the mechanical test results, glycerol caused higher elongation to break but had lower tensile strength and elastic modulus compared to sorbitol plasticized starch. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and DSC results indicated that the hydrogen bond interaction between starch chains and plasticizers could be improved by replacing glycerol by sorbitol, which resulted in higher resistance against retrogradation proved by XRD results. TGA illustrated that the higher the sorbitol to glycerol ratio was, the more stable was the TPS. Using a proper amount of plasticizers (42 wt% total plasticizer, sorbitol to glycerol ratio 2:1) led to the preparation of a TPS sample with optimized properties including enhanced mechanical properties, high thermal stability, strong hydrogen bond formation and high resistance against retrogradation. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Improved delay‐range‐dependent stability analysis for uncertain retarded systems based on affine Wirtinger‐inequality
Authors: Dey Rajeeb , Martinez Garcia Juan Carlos 
Published: January 2017

SummaryThis note considers the problem of deriving sufficient delay‐range‐dependent stability (DRDS) condition for a general class of uncertain (or nonlinear) retarded system. The stability result is developed by proposing appropriate Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional to effectively utilize the merit of recently proposed affine Wirtinger inequality. The delay upper bound results obtained by the developed condition are found to be less conservative compared with recent results for both nominal and uncertain systems. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Razumikhin‐type approach on state feedback of stochastic high‐order nonlinear systems with time‐varying delay
Authors: Wang Tiancheng , Luo Xiaoxia , Li Wuquan 
Published: January 2017

SummaryThe Razumikhin‐type approach is introduced to solve the state feedback stabilization problem for a class of stochastic high‐order nonlinear systems with time‐varying delay. Based on the general Razumikhin‐type theorem on stochastic systems established in our paper and backstepping design method, a state feedback controller is constructed to ensure the origin of closed‐loop system is globally asymptotically stable in probability. Our methodology enables us to completely remove the limitations on the derivative of delay, which is the common assumption of stochastic high‐order nonlinear systems with time‐varying delay. The efficiency of the state feedback controller is demonstrated by simulation examples. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Revisiting the Relationship Between Corporate Stakeholder Commitment and Social and Financial Performance
Authors: Rivera Juana M. , Muñoz Maria J. , Moneva Jose M. 
Published: January 2017

AbstractThis study delves into the long‐term relationship between social and financial performance of organizations. The aim of this study is to analyse the evolution of this relationship during the global financial crisis to ascertain both how companies have evolved in terms of CSR strategic consistency under financial uncertainty, and the relationship that this consistency may have with their financial performance. A specific methodological approach based on the fuzzy set theory has been applied to the measurement of social and environmental performance over a selected sample of Spanish listed companies, whose CSR strategic consistency had been analysed in previous studies that made use of data published in 2003. The results show a general improvement of CSR strategic consistency among organizations, in spite of a turbulent financial environment. On the other hand, the results show a positive relationship between CSR strategic consistency, and corporate economic and financial performance. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment
Systematics and palaeobiogeography ofMegacarditaSacco in the Neogene of Europe (Bivalvia, Carditidae)
Authors: La Perna Rafael , Mandic Oleg , Harzhauser Mathias 
Published: January 2017

AbstractMegacarditaSacco is a poorly known and misunderstood carditid genus in the subfamily Venericardiinae. The only species frequently reported from the Miocene of Europe is the type speciesM. jouanneti(Basterot), often considered to be a highly variable species. The genus also has been used for fossil and living species from disparate areas and ages. In addition toM. jouanneti, six other species were identified in the present work:M. brocchii(Michelotti),M. guentertiPfister & Wegmüller,M. hoernesisp. nov.,M. ignorataCossmann & Peyrot,M. laeviplana(Depéret) andM. dertavicula(Sacco). The new species is described from the Langhian of the Vienna Basin. The seven species cover a stratigraphic interval ranging from middle Burdigalian to Messinian, and a palaeogeographical area encompassing the north‐east Atlantic, the Western and Central Paratethys, and the Mediterranean. The genus apparently radiated from the central European basins, but its evolutionary relations with other carditids remain unclear. Two additional species are also tentatively referred toMegacardita:M.?laticosta(Eichwald) from the Langhian of Ukraine and Poland, andM.?redoniananom. nov. forCardita striatissimaauct. non CailliaudinMayer from the Messinian–Early Pliocene of France and Portugal. There is no evidence of a wider distribution ofMegacardita, either stratigraphically or geographically.
Characterization of Impulse Radio Intrabody Communication System for Wireless Body Area Networks
Authors: Cai Zibo , Seyedi MirHojjat , Zhang Weiwei , Rivet Francois , Lai Daniel T. H. 
Published: January 2017

Abstract
Intrabody communication (IBC) is a promising data communication technique for body area networks. This short-distance communication approach uses human body tissue as the medium of signal propagation. IBC is defined as one of the physical layers for the new IEEE 802.15.6 or wireless body area network (WBAN) standard, which can provide a suitable data rate for real-time physiological data communication while consuming lower power compared to that of radio-frequency protocols such as Bluetooth. In this paper, impulse radio (IR) IBC (IR-IBC) is examined using a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) implementation of an IBC system. A carrier-free pulse position modulation (PPM) scheme is implemented using an IBC transmitter in an FPGA board. PPM is a modulation technique that uses time-based pulse characteristics to encode data based on IR concepts. The transmission performance of the scheme was evaluated through signal propagation measurements of the human arm using 4- and 8-PPM transmitters, respectively. 4 or 8 is the number of symbols during modulations. It was found that the received signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) decreases approximately 8.0 dB for a range of arm distances (5–50 cm) between the transmitter and receiver electrodes with constant noise power and various signal amplitudes. The SNR for the 4-PPM scheme is approximately 2 dB higher than that for the 8-PPM one. In addition, the bit error rate (BER) is theoretically analyzed for the human body channel with additive white Gaussian noise. The 4- and 8-PPM IBC systems have average BER values of 10−5 and 10−10, respectively. The results indicate the superiority of the 8-PPM scheme compared to the 4-PPM one when implementing the IBC system. The performance evaluation of the proposed IBC system will improve further IBC transceiver design.
Payoff and presentation modulation of elicited risk preferences in MPLs
Authors: Habib Sameh , Friedman Daniel , Crockett Sean , James Duncan 
Published: January 2017

AbstractSince Holt and Laury (Am Econ Rev 92(5):1644–1655, 2002), the multiple price list (MPL) procedure has widely been used to elicit individual risk preferences. We assess the impact of varying list order and spacing, and of presentation via text or graphs. Relative to the original MPL baseline, some non-linear transformations of lottery prices systematically increase elicited risk aversion, while some graphical displays tend to reduce it.
Standards for Clinical Trials in Male and Female Sexual Dysfunction: III. Unique Aspects of Clinical Trials in Male Sexual Dysfunction
Authors: Fisher William A. , Gruenwald Ilan , Jannini Emmanuele A. , Lev-Sagie Ahinoam , Lowenstein Lior , Pyke Robert E. , Reisman Yakov , Revicki Dennis A. , Rubio-Aurioles Eusebio 
Published: January 2017

AbstractThis series of articles, Standards for Clinical Trials in Male and Female Sexual Dysfunction, began with the discussion of a common expected standard for clinical trial design in male and female sexual dysfunction, a common rationale for the design of phase I to IV clinical trials, and common considerations for the selection of study population and study duration in male and female sexual dysfunction. The second article in this series discussed fundamental principles in development, validation, and selection of patient- (and partner-) reported outcome assessment. The third and present article in this series discusses selected aspects of sexual dysfunction that are that are unique to male sexual dysfunctions and relevant to the conduct of clinical trials of candidate treatments for men.
Preoperative Urine Culture Results Correlate Poorly with Bacteriology of Urologic Prosthetic Device Infections
Authors: Kavoussi Nicholas L. , Siegel Jordan A. , Viers Boyd R. , Pagliara Travis J. , Hofer Matthias D. , Cordon Billy H. , Shakir Nabeel , Scott Jeremy M. , Morey Allen F. 
Published: January 2017

Abstract

Introduction
Although preoperative negative urine culture results and treatment of urinary tract infections are generally advised before artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) and penile prosthesis (PP) surgery to prevent device infection, limited evidence exists to support this practice.

Aim
To evaluate the relation between preoperative urine culture results and the bacteriology of prosthetic device infections.

Methods
Men undergoing AUS and/or PP placement at a tertiary referral center from 2007 through 2015 were analyzed. A total of 713 devices were implanted in 681 patients (337 AUSs in 314 patients and 376 PPs in 367 patients), of whom 259 (36%) did not have preoperative urine culture and were excluded. The remaining 454 patients received standard broad-spectrum perioperative antibiotics. Two patient groups were identified based on preoperative urine cultures: group 1 had negative urine culture results and group 2 had untreated asymptomatic positive urine culture results identified postoperatively.

Main Outcome Measures
Device infection was diagnosed clinically and cultures obtained from the explanted device and tissue spaces were compared with preoperative urine culture results.

Results
Although multivariate analysis showed that patients undergoing AUS placement had a 4.5-fold greater risk of positive urine culture results (114 of 250, 45%) compared with those undergoing PP placement (36 of 204, 18%; P &lt; .001), infection rates between device types were similar (8 of 250 for AUSs [3%] and 7 of 204 for PPs [3%]; P = .89). At a median follow-up of 15 months, device infection occurred in 15 of 454 devices (3%) implanted and no differences in infection rates were noted between urine culture groups (10 of 337 in group 1 [3.3%] and 5 of 117 in group 2 [4.3%]; P = .28). Remarkably, only 1 of 15 device infections (7%) had the same organism present at preoperative urine culture.

Conclusions
Despite the finding that patients with AUS placement had a 4.5 times higher rate of positive urine culture results than patients with PP placement, preoperative urine culture results appeared to show little correlation with the bacteriology of prosthetic device infections.
Comparing marginal microleakage of three different dental materials in veneer restoration using a stereomicroscope: an in vitro study
Authors: Jia Shuang , Chen Dong , Wang Defang , Bao Xiangjun , Tian Xiaomei 
Published: January 2017

Abstract
Objectives:
The objectives were to evaluate the degree of dye penetration of three different dental materials as esthetic veneer restorations on anterior teeth using stereomicroscope, and to provide reference for clinical choice.

Materials and Methods:
Sixty freshly extracted human maxillary central incisors were selected and randomly divided into three main groups of 20 each. Respectively, the teeth were prepared for veneer restoration by fiber-reinforced composite (FRC) (Everstick NET, Stick Tech), porcelain laminate veneer (PLV) (IPS Empress II(E-Max Press)) and 3M composites (3M ESPE) bonding with G-Cem resin cement (GC). After exposed to thermocycling (500cycles per day (5–55 °C, intervals: 30 s)) and immersed in 2% basic fuchsin dye solution for 24 h, the specimens were then sectioned buccolingual into three halves in a vertical plane parallel and measured dye penetration using stereomicroscope (Zeiss). The data collected was recorded by the dye penetration index (0–5) and statistically analysed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and T-tests using SPSS 13.

Results:
It is evident that the FRC group showed the lowest mean score of 0.333 mm, and the PLV group showed a highest mean score of 0.749 mm, as compared with the FRC group and the 3M composites group. Overall, when the three groups were compared for microleakage using ANOVA, there was significant difference among the groups.

Conclusions:
To evaluate the dye penetration of microleakage, the FRC showed a better marginal adaptability for veneer restoration. Therefore, within the limitation of this study, the use of FRC as veneer on anterior teeth can be suggested.
Structure of the cohesin loader Scc2
Authors: Chao William C. H. , Murayama Yasuto , Muñoz Sofía , Jones Andrew W. , Wade Benjamin O. , Purkiss Andrew G. , Hu Xiao-Wen , Borg Aaron , Snijders Ambrosius P. , Uhlmann Frank , Singleton Martin R. 
Published: January 2017

AbstractThe functions of cohesin are central to genome integrity, chromosome organization and transcription regulation through its prevention of premature sister-chromatid separation and the formation of DNA loops. The loading of cohesin onto chromatin depends on the Scc2–Scc4 complex; however, little is known about how it stimulates the cohesion-loading activity. Here we determine the large ‘hook’ structure of Scc2 responsible for catalysing cohesin loading. We identify key Scc2 surfaces that are crucial for cohesin loading in vivo. With the aid of previously determined structures and homology modelling, we derive a pseudo-atomic structure of the full-length Scc2–Scc4 complex. Finally, using recombinantly purified Scc2–Scc4 and cohesin, we performed crosslinking mass spectrometry and interaction assays that suggest Scc2–Scc4 uses its modular structure to make multiple contacts with cohesin.
Infrared fingerprints of few-layer black phosphorus
Authors: Zhang Guowei , Huang Shenyang , Chaves Andrey , Song Chaoyu , Özçelik V. Ongun , Low Tony , Yan Hugen 
Published: January 2017

AbstractBlack phosphorus is an infrared layered material. Its bandgap complements other widely studied two-dimensional materials: zero-gap graphene and visible/near-infrared gap transition metal dichalcogenides. Although highly desirable, a comprehensive infrared characterization is still lacking. Here we report a systematic infrared study of mechanically exfoliated few-layer black phosphorus, with thickness ranging from 2 to 15 layers and photon energy spanning from 0.25 to 1.36 eV. Each few-layer black phosphorus exhibits a thickness-dependent unique infrared spectrum with a series of absorption resonances, which reveals the underlying electronic structure evolution and serves as its infrared fingerprints. Surprisingly, unexpected absorption features, which are associated with the forbidden optical transitions, have been observed. Furthermore, we unambiguously demonstrate that controllable uniaxial strain can be used as a convenient and effective approach to tune the electronic structure of few-layer black phosphorus. Our study paves the way for black phosphorus applications in infrared photonics and optoelectronics.
Insights into the Mechanistic Basis of Plasmid-Mediated Colistin Resistance from Crystal Structures of the Catalytic Domain of MCR-1
Authors: Hinchliffe Philip , Yang Qiu E. , Portal Edward , Young Tom , Li Hui , Tooke Catherine L. , Carvalho Maria J. , Paterson Neil G. , Brem Jürgen , Niumsup Pannika R. , Tansawai Uttapoln , Lei Lei , Li Mei , Shen Zhangqi , Wang Yang , Schofield Christopher J. , Mulholland Adrian J , Shen Jianzhong , Fey Natalie , Walsh Timothy R. , Spencer James 
Published: January 2017

AbstractThe polymixin colistin is a “last line” antibiotic against extensively-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. Recently, the mcr-1 gene was identified as a plasmid-mediated resistance mechanism in human and animal Enterobacteriaceae, with a wide geographical distribution and many producer strains resistant to multiple other antibiotics. mcr-1 encodes a membrane-bound enzyme catalysing phosphoethanolamine transfer onto bacterial lipid A. Here we present crystal structures revealing the MCR-1 periplasmic, catalytic domain to be a zinc metalloprotein with an alkaline phosphatase/sulphatase fold containing three disulphide bonds. One structure captures a phosphorylated form representing the first intermediate in the transfer reaction. Mutation of residues implicated in zinc or phosphoethanolamine binding, or catalytic activity, restores colistin susceptibility of recombinant E. coli. Zinc deprivation reduces colistin MICs in MCR-1-producing laboratory, environmental, animal and human E. coli. Conversely, over-expression of the disulphide isomerase DsbA increases the colistin MIC of laboratory E. coli. Preliminary density functional theory calculations on cluster models suggest a single zinc ion may be sufficient to support phosphoethanolamine transfer. These data demonstrate the importance of zinc and disulphide bonds to MCR-1 activity, suggest that assays under zinc-limiting conditions represent a route to phenotypic identification of MCR-1 producing E. coli, and identify key features of the likely catalytic mechanism.
Characterization of Chinese liquor aroma components during aging process and liquor age discrimination using gas chromatography combined with multivariable statistics
Authors: Xu M. L. , Yu Y. , Ramaswamy H. S. , Zhu S. M. 
Published: January 2017

AbstractChinese liquor aroma components were characterized during the aging process using gas chromatography (GC). Principal component and cluster analysis (PCA, CA) were used to discriminate the Chinese liquor age which has a great economic value. Of a total of 21 major aroma components identified and quantified, 13 components which included several acids, alcohols, esters, aldehydes and furans decreased significantly in the first year of aging, maintained the same levels (p > 0.05) for next three years and decreased again (p < 0.05) in the fifth year. On the contrary, a significant increase was observed in propionic acid, furfural and phenylethanol. Ethyl lactate was found to be the most stable aroma component during aging process. Results of PCA and CA demonstrated that young liquor (fresh) and aged liquors were well separated from each other, which is in consistent with the evolution of aroma components along with the aging process. These findings provide a quantitative basis for discriminating the Chinese liquor age and a scientific basis for further research on elucidating the liquor aging process, and a possible tool to guard against counterfeit and defective products.
The role of Frenkel defect diffusion in dynamic annealing in ion-irradiated Si
Authors: Wallace J. B. , Aji L. B. Bayu , Martin A. A. , Shin S. J. , Shao L. , Kucheyev S. O. 
Published: January 2017

AbstractThe formation of stable radiation damage in crystalline solids often proceeds via complex dynamic annealing processes, involving migration and interaction of ballistically-generated point defects. The dominant dynamic annealing processes, however, remain unknown even for crystalline Si. Here, we use a pulsed ion beam method to study defect dynamics in Si bombarded in the temperature range from −20 to 140 °C with 500 keV Ar ions. Results reveal a defect relaxation time constant of ~10–0.2 ms, which decreases monotonically with increasing temperature. The dynamic annealing rate shows an Arrhenius dependence with two well-defined activation energies of 73 ± 5 meV and 420 ± 10 meV, below and above 60 °C, respectively. Rate theory modeling, bench-marked against this data, suggests a crucial role of both vacancy and interstitial diffusion, with the dynamic annealing rate limited by the migration and interaction of vacancies.
No modifying effect of education level on the association between lifestyle behaviors and cardiovascular mortality: the Japan Collaborative Cohort Study
Authors: Eguchi Eri , Iso Hiroyasu , Honjo Kaori , Yatsuya Hiroshi , Tamakoshi Akiko 
Published: January 2017

AbstractWe examined the effect of education level on the association between healthy lifestyle behaviors and cardiovascular mortality in the Japanese population. A total of 42,647 community-based men and women aged 40–79 years were enrolled at baseline (1988–1990), followed through 2009. The components of the healthy lifestyle score included the intake of fruits, fish, and milk; body mass index; exercise; avoidance of smoking; moderate alcohol intake; and moderate sleep duration. During the 19.3 years of follow-up, 8,314 all-cause and 2,377 total cardiovascular mortality cases were noted. Inverse associations were observed between healthy lifestyle scores and total cardiovascular disease (CVD) for both the lower and higher education level groups. Multivariable hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) for CVD mortality from the highest to the lowest healthy lifestyle scores, and the population attributable fraction (95% CIs) without healthy lifestyle scores of 7–8 were 0.51 (0.33–0.52) and 42% (24–58%), and 0.38 (0.27–0.47) and 55% (36–69%) for the higher and lower education levels, respectively. Our findings suggest that the association between higher CVD mortality and lower education level can be explained by the individuals’ lower adherence to a healthy lifestyle; hence, lifestyle modification would be beneficial for the prevention of cardiovascular mortality, irrespective of the education level.