bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Synthesis and Characterization of a Red Mud and Rice Husk Based Geopolymer for Engineering Applications
Authors: Sékou Traoré , Siné Diakité , Lanciné Traoré D. , Bakaridjan Condé 
Published: June 2017

SummaryRed mud (RM) is the major waste material of the alkaline extraction of alumina from bauxite. It occupies precious land and threatens the environment. Rice is composed by approximately 20% of rice husk (RH) creating disposal and pollution problems. After burning RH, the resulting rice husk ash RHA contains about 90% silica. Synthesis of geopolymers is an emerging technology for the utilization of industrial by‐products. For the synthesis of a RM/RHA based geopolymer, we used RM from a local Alumina Plant, RH from a local mill in Guinea and NaOH solutions. The synthesis consisted of mixing the RHA to RM powders at a pre‐designed weight ratio. The NaOH solution was added with a given concentration. The effect of mix ratio, alkalinity and curing age on the geopolymer specimen were investigated. X‐ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and compression test were used to study the microstructure of RM, RHA and RHA/RM. The analyses showed that the final product is mainly composed of amorphous geopolymer binder and that the compressive strength ranges from 3 to 20 MPa.
Synthesis and Characterization of Functionalized Calix[4]arene Derivatives and Preparation of Rigid Polyurethane Foams by the Incorporation of Calixarene
Authors: Mirmoeini Maryam Sadat , Nikje Mir Mohammad Alavi , Rasouli‐Saniabadi Mona , Taghvaei‐Ganjali Saeed 
Published: June 2017

SummaryCalix[4]arenes namely, 5,11,17,23 tetra tert butyl calix[4]arene and 5,11,17,23 tetra chlorosulfonyl calix[4]arene were synthesized to produce octakis (hydroxyl ethyl) sulfonamide calix[4]arene which was used in polyurethane‐calixarene rigid foam composite formulation. The effect of calixarene ratio on mechanical properties of synthesized composites was studied at three calixarene ratios including 1.5, 2, and 3 % (w/w). The obtained data indicate that the tensile strength and modulus are increased as the calixarene ratio increases while the fracture strain is decreased. Quantitatively, addition of 3% (w/w) of calixarene to the polyurethane resulted in 30.99% and 30.01% improvements in modulus and tensile strength, respectively. Contrarily, a decrease of about 13.1% was observed in fracture strain when compared to the properties of the pristine polyurethane rigid foam. The effect of Calixarene on thermal stability of Calixarene‐ polyurethane composite indicating that Calixarene component strictly enhances the thermal stability of composite.
On the Plastic Constraint Factor of Polymers
Authors: Lach Ralf , Frontini Patricia M. , Grellmann Wolfgang 
Published: June 2017

SummaryThe plastic constraint factor based on Hill's theory of plasticity is widely used to check the stress state applying the essential‐work‐of‐fracture (EWF) approach to polymers. However, the plastic constraint factor experimentally determined as the ratio of the net section stress in cracked specimens and the yield stress does not match the theoretical predictions of the theory of plasticity because assuming ideal‐plastic behaviour for polymer materials does not consider material‐specific viscoelastic–viscoplastic effects adequately. Therefore, a correction term for amorphous thermoplastic polymer materials is derived introducing the influence of the material on the plastic constraint factor. This correction term is based on the Williams‐Landel‐Ferry (WLF) equation for different thermodynamic quantities such as temperature and stress (negative pressure) and the introduction of a glass stress to be comparable to the glass temperature. Analytical calculation of this correction term, taking polycarbonate as an example, is used as a comparison to empirical values in literature for numerous amorphous and semi‐crystalline thermoplastic as well as partial‐plastically deformable elastomeric polymer materials. It can be concluded that this enhanced Hill's theory is well suited to amorphous polymers.
Dynamic Mechanical Response of Hybrid Physical Covalent Networks − Molecular Dynamics Simulation
Authors: Zidek Jan , Milchev Andrey , Jancar Josef , Vilgis Thomas A. 
Published: June 2017

SummaryIn this article, we present two principal stimuli that affect the deformation response: additional covalent crosslinking and external deformation. Additional crosslinking leads to hybrid gels which show improved toughness in comparison to the physical gels. The article considers also the change of response of the model as a consequence of external mechanical loading. In this case, the structural changes driven by deformation induce permanent structural changes owing to extensive stretching analogous to filament drawing in spider silk or collagen. Almost identical atomistic configurations are transformed into various materials, depending on the stimulus and the conditions. The intensity of stimuli can be regulated also in real materials. The degree of covalent crosslinking can be regulated for example by ultraviolet irradiation. The permanent changes are observed only when the stretching ratio is sufficiently large and stretching is quick.
Halloysite Nanotubes Filled in Asymmetric Blend of Polyamide 6, 12/poly (Ethylene‐Octene) Elastomer: Tough‐to‐Brittle Transition in Nanocomposites
Authors: Kumar Sunil , Maiti Saurindra N. , Satapathy Bhabani K. 
Published: June 2017

SummaryA tough‐to‐brittle transition is distinctly observed with a critical correspondence to dispersed phase domain size in halloysite nanotubes filled ternary nanocomposites based on compositionally asymmetric and toughened blend of polyamide 6, 12 (PA‐6, 12)/poly(ethylene‐octene) copolymer‐g‐maleic anhydride (POE‐g‐MA) as the matrix. The maxima in the resistance to fracture initiation and crack propagation resistance normalized fracture initiation as a measure of toughness followed by a significant drop with a direct correspondence to brittleness‐index (BI), comprehensively establishes such a transition. Microscopically a smooth transition in the deformation mechanism above a domain‐size (Dn) of ∼0.43 μm with an intrinsic brittleness‐index (BI) of ∼0.57 (×1012 Pa−1) seem to be responsible for the same.
Dynamic Behavior of PE‐HD Pipes Grade
Authors: Trnka Jan , Buchar Jaroslav , Nezbedová Eva 
Published: June 2017

SummaryThe split Hopkinson pressure bar test is extensively used to characterize material at high strain rate. This method enables to evaluate strain, strain rate and stress in the specimen. The viscoelastic behavior of materials in study was described using of the complex elastic modulus. Three copolymers of high‐density polyethylene (PE‐HD) have been investigated, two unimodal types supplied by two chemical companies and one bimodal type. Structure of PE samples (pellets) was characterised by 13C NMR (Carbon‐13 nuclear magnetic resonance).
Personality, dopamine, and Parkinson's disease: Insights from subthalamic stimulation
Authors: Lhommée Eugénie , Boyer François , Wack Maxime , Pélissier Pierre , Klinger Hélène , Schmitt Emmanuelle , Bichon Amélie , Fraix Valérie , Chabardès Stéphan , Mertens Patrick , Castrioto Anna , Kistner Andrea , Broussolle Emmanuel , Thobois Stéphane , Krack Paul 
Published: June 2017

AbstractBackground: Subthalamic stimulation improves the motor and neuropsychiatric symptoms of Parkinson's disease. However, the impact of this treatment on impulse control and personality is the subject of heavy debate. The objective of this study was to investigate personality changes after subthalamic stimulation.Methods: Using Cloninger's biosocial model, we assessed personality in 73 Parkinson's disease patients before and 12 months after subthalamic stimulation accompanied by a drastic reduction in dopaminergic medication. Changes in psychobehavioral symptoms were measured using a battery of validated clinical scales (apathy, depression, anxiety, hyperemotionality, mania, psychosis, punding, and impulse control behaviors).Results: One year after surgery, the harm avoidance personality domain total score increased compared with the baseline (+2.8; 34 patients; P < 0.001), as did 3 of its 4 subdomains: anticipatory worry (+0.7; 10 patients; P = 0.005), shyness (+0.6; 7 patients; P = 0.03), and fatigability (+1.1; 10 patients; P = 0.0014). Evolution of the shyness personality trait correlated with the decrease in dopaminergic medication. Total scores in the other personality domains remained unchanged, except for extravagance, a subdomain of novelty seeking, and persistence, a subdomain of reward dependence, which both decreased following surgery (‐0.3; 7 patients; and ‐0.6; 9 patients; P = 0.03 and P = 0.0019, respectively). Although apathy increased, other psychobehavioral symptoms, including impulse control behaviors and neuropsychiatric nonmotor fluctuations, improved. Depression and anhedonia remained stable. Scores in hypodopaminergia and neuropsychiatric nonmotor OFF correlated with harm avoidance. Scores in hyperdopaminergia and neuropsychiatric nonmotor ON correlated with novelty seeking.Conclusions: When subthalamic stimulation is applied in Parkinson's disease, significant changes in personality traits are observed, which may be related to postoperative tapering of dopaminergic treatment. © 2017 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Adiponectin Isoform Patterns in Ethnic‐Specific ADIPOQ Mutation Carriers: The IRAS Family Study
Authors: Tabb Keri L. , Gao Chuan , Hicks Pamela J. , Hawkins Gregory A. , Rotter Jerome I. , Chen Yii‐Der Ida , Guo Xiuqing , Norris Jill M. , Lorenzo Carlos , Freedman Barry I. , Bowden Donald W. , Palmer Nicholette D. 
Published: June 2017

ObjectiveAdiponectin is found in human serum in three groups of multimers (high molecular weight [HMW], medium molecular weight [MMW], and low molecular weight [LMW]). Two ethnic‐specific variants in ADIPOQ, G45R (Hispanic‐Americans) and R55C (African‐Americans), were previously reported. Although carriers of both variants had mean adiponectin levels ≤ 20% of those of noncarriers, they were not clinically different from noncarriers. To compare carriers of both variants and noncarriers, relative quantification of adiponectin isoforms to total adiponectin was performed on serum samples.MethodsThe multimeric patterns of serum adiponectin in G45R carriers (n = 23), R55C carriers (n = 3), and Hispanic‐ and African‐American noncarriers (n = 84 and 44, respectively) from the Insulin Resistance Atherosclerosis Family Study were explored using native Western blotting and densitometry.ResultsSerum samples from carriers showed an absence of the HMW isoform and a marked reduction in the MMW isoform but an approximate twofold increase in the amount of the LMW isoform. Thus, individuals making only LMW adiponectin are metabolically normal.ConclusionsThe results contrast with the proposed biological importance of the HMW multimer. This suggests that the LMW isoform may functionally compensate for some of the loss or reduction of the higher‐order multimers in carriers of the G45R and R55C mutations.
Silica Mineralization of DNA‐Inspired 1D and 2D Supramolecular Polymers
Authors: Vybornyi Mykhailo , Vyborna Yuliia , Häner Robert 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThe preparation of hybrid materials from supramolecular polymers through the sol‐gel process is presented. Supramolecular polymers are assembled from phosphodiester‐linked pyrene oligomers and act as water‐soluble one‐ or two‐dimensional templates for silicification. The fibrillary and planar morphologies of the assemblies, as well as the excitonic interactions between the chromophores, remain unaffected by the silicification process.
Fatal orthotopic liver transplant organ rejection induced by a checkpoint inhibitor in two patients with refractory, metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Friend Brian D. , Venick Robert S. , McDiarmid Sue V. , Zhou Xiaoyan , Naini Bita , Wang Hanlin , Farmer Douglas G. , Busuttil Ronald W. , Federman Noah 
Published: June 2017

AbstractAlthough checkpoint inhibitor therapies have demonstrated significant efficacy in many malignancies, they have not been well studied in patients with a history of solid organ transplant. We describe two patients with recurrent, refractory, and progressive advanced fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) following orthotopic liver transplantation who received programmed cell death protein 1 (PD‐1) inhibitor, nivolumab, on a patient access, off‐label basis. Both rapidly developed irreversible acute liver rejection shortly after starting therapy, and ultimately died. While checkpoint inhibitors clearly have tremendous potential as a targeted therapy, they should be avoided or used with extreme caution in the context of an organ transplant.
NUT carcinoma in children and adults: A multicenter retrospective study
Authors: Lemelle Lauriane , Pierron Gaëlle , Fréneaux Paul , Huybrechts Sophie , Spiegel Alexandra , Plantaz Dominique , Julieron Morbize , Dumoucel Sophie , Italiano Antoine , Millot Fréderic , Le Tourneau Christophe , Leverger Guy , Chastagner Pascal , Carton Matthieu , Orbach Daniel 
Published: June 2017

AbstractBackgroundNuclear protein of the testis (NUT) carcinoma (formerly NUT midline carcinoma) is an aggressive tumor defined by the presence of NUT rearrangement with a poor prognosis. This rare cancer is underdiagnosed and poorly treated.ObjectiveThe primary objective of this study was to describe the clinical, radiologic, and biological features of NUT carcinoma. The secondary objective was to describe the various treatments and assess their efficacy.MethodsThis retrospective multicenter study was based on review of the medical records of children and adults with NUT carcinoma with specific rearrangement or positive anti‐NUT nuclear staining (>50%).ResultsThis series of 12 patients had a median age of 18.1 years (ranges: 12.3–49.7 years). The primary tumor was located in the chest in eight patients, the head and neck in three patients, and one patient had a multifocal tumor. Nine patients presented regional lymph node involvement and eight distant metastases. One‐half of patients were initially misdiagnosed. Specific NUT antibody was positive in all cases tested. A transient response to chemotherapy was observed in four of 11 patients. Only two patients were treated by surgery and five received radiotherapy with curative intent. At the end of follow‐up, only one patient was still in remission more than 12 years after the diagnosis. Median overall survival was 4.7 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.1–17.7).ConclusionNUT carcinoma is an aggressive disease refractory to conventional therapy. Early diagnosis by NUT‐specific antibody immunostaining in cases of undifferentiated or poorly differentiated carcinoma to identify the specific rearrangement of NUT gene is useful to propose the optimal therapeutic strategy.
Obeticholic acid, a selective farnesoid X receptor agonist, regulates bile acid homeostasis in sandwich‐cultured human hepatocytes
Authors: Zhang Yuanyuan , Jackson Jonathan P. , St. Claire Robert L. , Freeman Kimberly , Brouwer Kenneth R. , Edwards Jeffrey E. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractFarnesoid X receptor (FXR) is a master regulator of bile acid homeostasis through transcriptional regulation of genes involved in bile acid synthesis and cellular membrane transport. Impairment of bile acid efflux due to cholangiopathies results in chronic cholestasis leading to abnormal elevation of intrahepatic and systemic bile acid levels. Obeticholic acid (OCA) is a potent and selective FXR agonist that is 100‐fold more potent than the endogenous ligand chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA). The effects of OCA on genes involved in bile acid homeostasis were investigated using sandwich‐cultured human hepatocytes. Gene expression was determined by measuring mRNA levels. OCA dose‐dependently increased fibroblast growth factor‐19 (FGF‐19) and small heterodimer partner (SHP) which, in turn, suppress mRNA levels of cholesterol 7‐alpha‐hydroxylase (CYP7A1), the rate‐limiting enzyme for de novo synthesis of bile acids. Consistent with CYP7A1 suppression, total bile acid content was decreased by OCA (1 μmol/L) to 42.7 ± 20.5% relative to control. In addition to suppressing de novo bile acids synthesis, OCA significantly increased the mRNA levels of transporters involved in bile acid homeostasis. The bile salt excretory pump (BSEP), a canalicular efflux transporter, increased by 6.4 ± 0.8‐fold, and the basolateral efflux heterodimer transporters, organic solute transporter α (OSTα) and OSTβ increased by 6.4 ± 0.2‐fold and 42.9 ± 7.9‐fold, respectively. The upregulation of BSEP and OSTα and OSTβ, by OCA reduced the intracellular concentrations of d8‐TCA, a model bile acid, to 39.6 ± 8.9% relative to control. These data demonstrate that OCA does suppress bile acid synthesis and reduce hepatocellular bile acid levels, supporting the use of OCA to treat bile acid‐induced toxicity observed in cholestatic diseases.
A double sampling scheme for process variability monitoring
Authors: Yang Su‐Fen , Wu Sin‐Hong 
Published: June 2017

AbstractControl charts are effective tools for signal detection in both manufacturing processes and service processes. Much of the data in service industries come from processes exhibiting nonnormal or unknown distributions. The commonly used Shewhart variable control charts, which depend heavily on the normality assumption, are not appropriately used here. This paper thus proposes a standardized asymmetric exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) variance chart with a double sampling scheme (SDS EWMA‐AV chart) for monitoring process variability. We further explore the sampling properties of the new monitoring statistics and calculate the average run lengths when using the proposed SDS EWMA‐AV chart. The performance of the SDS EWMA‐AV chart and that of the single sampling EWMA variance (SS EWMA‐V) chart are then compared, with the former showing superior out‐of‐control detection performance versus the latter. We also compare the out‐of‐control variance detection performance of the proposed chart with those of nonparametric variance charts, the nonparametric Mood variance chart (NP‐M chart) with runs rules, and the nonparametric likelihood ratio‐based distribution‐free EWMA (NLE) chart and the combination of traditional EWMA (CEW) and the SS EWMA‐V control charts by considering cases in which the critical quality characteristic presents normal, double exponential, uniform, chi‐square, and exponential distributions. Comparison results show that the proposed chart always outperforms the NP‐M with runs rules, the NLE, CEW, and the SS EWMA‐V control charts. We hence recommend employing the SDS EWMA‐AV chart. Finally, a numerical example of a service system for a bank branch in Taiwan is used to illustrate the application of the proposed variability control chart.
Quantitative investigation of local electric field through absorption spectrum in dye‐sensitized solar cells: Atomistic simulations
Authors: Zhang Yan 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThe local transient electric field in dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), created by heterointerfacial charge transfer on illumination, exerts an important role in the internal photoelectronic processes occurring at dye/semiconductor heterointerface in the time‐resolved measurement, for example, transient absorption spectroscopy. Herein, on the basis of theoretical simulations, we proposed a general strategy to quantitatively examine the nature of local electric field (microscopic nature) through absorption spectra of adsorbed dye molecule (macroscopic observation). A controllably modulated external electric field is imposed on the sensitized system to couple to local electric field, resulting in the absorption spectrum shift of ground‐state dye molecules. By fitting absorption spectrum under applied external electric field with Gauss–Stark equation, the quantitative property of local electric field would be obtained. The Gauss–Stark equation reflects the quantitative relationship between the local electric field and absorption spectrum shift of adsorbed ground‐state dye molecule. Our study not only provides origin and magnitude of Stark effect in DSSCs but also offers a promising route to explore the elementary photoelectronic processes experimentally and theoretically.
Click Glycosylation for the Synthesis of 1,2,3‐Triazole‐Linked Picropodophyllotoxin Glycoconjugates and Their Anticancer Activity
Authors: Zi Cheng‐Ting , Yang Liu , Gao Wei , Li Yan , Zhou Jun , Ding Zhong‐Tao , Hu Jiang‐Miao , Jiang Zi‐Hua 
Published: June 2017

AbstractCu(I)‐catalyzed azide‐alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction was employed successfully to prepare a series 4β‐triazole‐linked picropodophyllotoxin glycoconjugates (25 – 34). Maltose residue, 1,6‐β‐D‐diglucose residue, and several triazole‐linked disaccharide and trisaccharide residues were coupled to 4β‐azido‐podophyllotoxin derivatives through click glycosylation strategy. The initial click glycosylation products were treated with catalytic amount of NaOCH3 to facilitate global deacylation and epimerization at C‐2 position to yield the cis‐γ‐lactone moiety in the picropodophyllotoxin glycoconjugates. Most of these picropodophyllotoxin glycoconjugates show weak cytotoxicity (IC50 > 40 μM) against a panel of five human cancer cell lines (HL‐60, SMMC‐7721, A‐549, MCF‐7, SW480) as indicated by in vitro MTT [3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assay. However, compound 27 that contains a 1,6‐β‐D‐di‐glucose residue displays strong anticancer activity against all cancer cell lines tested, with IC50 values ranging from 0.67 to 7.41 μM, which is significantly more potent than the control drug etoposide against four of the five cancer cells tested. Structure activity relationship analysis suggests that the 4’‐O‐methyl group on the E ring of podophyllotoxin scaffold is perhaps important for the anticancer activity of glycosylated picropodophyllotoxin derivatives with a cis‐γ‐lactone moiety.
Room‐Temperature Hydrolysis of Potassium Titanyl Oxalate and Water‐Assisted Crystallization for TiO2 with High Photocatalytic Activity
Authors: Lai Lu–Lu , Wen Wei , Wu Jin‐Ming 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThe commonly adopted approach to synthesize nanostructured TiO2 starting from titanates demands a hydrothermal environment to achieve the titanate precursor, and a subsequent high temperature calcination to fulfill the decomposition of titanates and crystallization of TiO2. In this report, hydrogen titanate aggregates were achieved by a room‐temperature hydrolysis of a potassium titanyl oxalate in an aqueous H2O2 solution. The subsequent immersion in water at 80 °C induced the crystallization of TiO2 with a mixture of anatase nanoparticles and rutile nanorods. The anatase fraction increased with increasing immersing duration in hot water for up to 72 h. The low‐temperature crystallized TiO2 powders possessed abundant surface hydroxyl groups (∼38 %), high specific surface area (∼126 m2/g) and pore volume (∼0.50 cm3/g). When utilized to assist photodegradation of rhodamine B in water under UV light illumination, the reaction rate constant was twice that of the commercial P25 TiO2 nanoparticles. The high photocatalytic activity is contributed to the abundant surface hydroxyl groups, high specific surface area, and the appropriate mixture of anatase nanoparticles and rutile nanorods (∼84:16 in weight).