bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Acoustic plus electric speech processing: Long‐term results
Authors: Gantz Bruce J. , Dunn Camille C. , Oleson Jacob , Hansen Marlan R. 
Published: May 2017

ObjectiveFew studies have investigated the stability of residual hearing and speech perception outcomes in individuals who were implanted with a shorter electrode device.Study DesignLongitudinal, single‐subject design.MethodsFifty subjects who received a Nucleus Hybrid (Cochlear, Sydney, Australia) short electrode cochlear implant (CI) and had a minimum of 2 years (and up to 15 years) of postoperative longitudinal experience were included in this study. Twenty‐three subjects received a Nucleus Hybrid S8 (S8); 14 subjects received a Nucleus Hybrid L24 (L24); and 13 received a Nucleus Hybrid S12 (S12). Audiometric thresholds and consonant‐nucleus‐consonant (CNC) words were collected pre‐ and postoperatively for up to 15 years for the S8 subjects and for up to 7 years for the S12 and L24 subjects. AzBio Sentences in multi‐talker babble was collected for up to 7 years on the S12 and L24 subjects.ResultsLongitudinally, 83% of the S8 subjects, 92% of the S12 subjects, and 86% of the L24 subjects maintained a functional hearing pure‐tone average (PTA) (125–500 Hz). Predicted change using a piecewise linear mixed model in PTA over time showed a postoperative linear decrease in hearing for each group until 0.5 years, after which the PTA stabilizes and is maintained. The averaged individual data for CNC and AzBio sentences show a significant improvement in scores by 0.25 to 0.5 years postimplantation, after which scores start to reach their maximum.ConclusionThis long‐term study demonstrates that acoustic‐electric processing hearing and improvement in speech understanding in quiet and in noise can be accomplished and sustained for many years with a short electrode CI.Level of Evidence2C. Laryngoscope, 128:473–481, 2018
Obstructive sleep apnea in the irradiated head and neck cancer patient
Authors: Huyett Phillip , Kim Seungwon , Johnson Jonas T. , Soose Ryan J. 
Published: May 2017

Objectives/HypothesisTo assess the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in head and neck cancer (HNSCC) patients treated with radiation therapy.Study DesignProspective case series without comparison group.MethodsPatients who underwent radiation therapy for oropharyngeal or laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma completed a 3‐night home sleep test (HST), Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire, and University of Washington Quality of Life questionnaire. Exclusion criteria included oncologic surgical procedures, active disease, history of tracheotomy, history of OSA, or completion of radiation therapy within the last 3 months.ResultsSixteen HNSCC patients completed the HST, with 50% (8) demonstrating objective evidence of OSA ranging from mild to severe (range 5.6–38.8, median 13.9). Median age was 61.6 years, with a median body mass index (BMI) of 29.8, and 13 of the subjects were male. There were no differences in age, BMI, median radiation dose, tumor primary site or stage, human papilloma virus status, or comorbidity status between the OSA and non‐OSA groups. Self‐reported questionnaire scores were no different between the two groups. OSA patients had a nonsignificant shorter time interval between the completion of radiation and the HST date (1.8 vs. 3.4 years, P = 0.065) and higher rate of gastrostomy tube placement during radiation (62.5% vs. 12.5%, P = 0.059).ConclusionThe results of this preliminary study suggest that the prevalence of OSA is increased in the head and neck irradiated patient when compared to the general population. Self‐report of sleep symptoms alone may be unreliable to determine risk of OSA in the HNSCC population.Level of Evidence4. Laryngoscope, 127:2673–2677, 2017
Photochemically Prepared Gold/Polymer Nanocoatings: Formation of Gold Mirror
Authors: Çeper Tolga , Arsu Nergis 
Published: May 2017

In this study a rapid method is developed to obtain Au nanoparticles (AuNPs)/polymer composite materials by which HAuCl4 salt is reduced and a polymer matrix is simultaneously generated by the means of UV light. 2‐Mercaptothioxanthone (TX‐SH), thioxanthone (TX), and TX + thiophenol are used as photoinitiator system for the poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate and poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate mixtures in the presence of HAuCl4. Except for a few studies, in situ reduction of Au ions, in an attempt to make them near or at polymer surface, has hardly been investigated at all. As a result of this study, it is important to note that the change of shape of NPs depends on the photoreducing species. TX‐SH, due to thiol functionality in its structure, helps the production of the size, shape, and controlled distribution of AuNPs either in polymer matrix or in solution. Prepared AuNPs/polymer nanocoatings exhibit a reflected gold mirror view depending on the irradiation time. In addition to the foregoing approach in obtaining a thin film in the presence of AuNPs, it is expected that they are well ordered near the film surface with controlled shape and narrow range in size distribution.
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Synthesis and Characterization of Benzodithiophene–Chalcogenophene Based Copolymers: A Comparative Study of Optoelectronic Properties and Photovoltaic Applications
Authors: Shahjad  , Bhargav Ranoo , Bhardwaj Dinesh , Mishra Anamika , Patra Asit 
Published: May 2017

Three copolymers based on poly(dialkoxybenzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dithiophene‐biselenophene) P3a and its heteroatom(s) analogues P3b and P3c are synthesized by Stille cross‐coupling to investigate the effects of the heteroatom on the optoelectronic and photovoltaic properties. Detailed characterizations of the copolymers are carried out by 1H NMR, gel permeation chromatography, UV–vis absorption spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. Optical absorption spectra reveal that the presence of biselenophene moiety in the copolymer P3a shows red‐shifted absorption (band gap 1.82 eV) compared to bithiophene containing copolymer P3b (band gap 1.91 eV), while band gap of bifuran containing copolymer P3c is 2.05 eV. The photovoltaic devices are fabricated using the copolymers P3a–c blended with phenyl‐C71‐butyric acid methyl ester as an acceptor material with the device structure of indium tin oxide (ITO)/MoO3/active layer/Al. The power conversion efficiency is gradually increased with the replacement of furan by thiophene and furthermore thiophene by selenophene, respectively, due to increment in J
sc. Density functional theory calculations are studied on these three copolymers to understand the trends of energy levels and throughout compared with experimental data where applicable. The strategy has advantage of different aromaticities of heterocyclic rings combining with electronegativities and polarizabilities of the heteroatom(s) to allow the band gap engineering and tunability of photovoltaic performances.
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Transesterification in the Solid State of Cyclic and Linear Poly(l‐lactide)s
Authors: Weidner Steffen M. , Kricheldorf Hans R. 
Published: May 2017

Poly(l‐lactide)s are synthesized and annealed at 120 °C and changes of the molecular weight distribution (MWD) are monitored by matrix‐assited laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight (MALDI‐TOF) mass spectrometry. For example, benzyl alcohol+SnOct2 causes equilibration of odd‐ and even‐numbered chains and the final goal of the transesterification is the most probable distribution. The underlying intermolecular transesterification is even observed at 100 and 80 °C in the solid state. However, cyclic tin mercaptide catalysts transform the initial most probable distribution into a MWD with maxima, which display a conspicuous fine structure due to a preferential crystallization of certain ring sizes. The optimum ring sizes for the crystallization are provided by ring‐ring equilibration. The gradual formation of a special morphology shifts the melting temperature to values up to 187 °C. Annealing of commercial poly(l‐lactide) with a cyclic tin catalyst also yields a distribution of mass peaks with a maximum showing the characteristic fine structure.
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Self‐Healing Epoxy Coatings via Focused Sunlight Based on Photothermal Effect
Authors: Fang Liang , Chen Jiamei , Zou Yuting , Chen Shunping , Fang Tianyu , Lu Chunhua , Xu Zhongzi 
Published: May 2017

Epoxy coatings which can be healed via photothermal effect from focused sunlight are reported. The diamine of m‐xylylenediamine (MXDA) and monoamine of 4‐(heptadecafluorooctyl)aniline (HFOA) are reacted into the diglycidylether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) network. Via gradual replacement of MXDA with HFOA, the glass transition temperature and crosslinking density of the epoxy network are tuned to achieve the thermally induced healing based on chain diffusion and reentanglement. Aniline black (AB) with well absorptivity for sunlight is used subsequently as the organic photothermal compound, transferring the thermally induced healing into a sunlight responsive one. A common handheld magnifier, which can focus natural sunlight to the required power density (0.6–0.9 W cm−1), is used to successfully heal one cracked coating in outdoor circumstance. This study provides a potential approach to achieve the convenient, precise, and timely healing for outdoor epoxy coatings.
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End‐Functionalized Palladium SCS Pincer Polymers via Controlled Radical Polymerizations
Authors: Lye Diane S. , Cohen Aaron E. , Wong Madeleine Z. , Weck Marcus 
Published: May 2017

A direct and facile route toward semitelechelic polymers, end‐functionalized with palladated sulfur–carbon–sulfur pincer (PdII‐pincer) complexes is reported that avoids any post‐polymerization step. Key to our methodology is the combination of reversible addition‐fragmentation chain‐transfer (RAFT) polymerization with functionalized chain‐transfer agents. This strategy yields Pd end‐group‐functionalized materials with monomodal molar mass dispersities (Đ) of 1.18–1.44. The RAFT polymerization is investigated using a PdII‐pincer chain‐transfer agent for three classes of monomers: styrene, tert‐butyl acrylate, and N‐isopropylacrylamide. The ensuing PdII‐pincer end‐functionalized polymers are analyzed using 1H NMR spectroscopy, gel‐permeation chromatography, and elemental analysis. The RAFT polymerization methodology provides a direct pathway for the fabrication of PdII‐pincer functionalized polymers with complete end‐group functionalization.
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Metagenomic potential for and diversity of N‐cycle driving microorganisms in the Bothnian Sea sediment
Authors: Rasigraf Olivia , Schmitt Julia , Jetten Mike S. M. , Lüke Claudia 
Published: May 2017

AbstractThe biological nitrogen cycle is driven by a plethora of reactions transforming nitrogen compounds between various redox states. Here, we investigated the metagenomic potential for nitrogen cycle of the in situ microbial community in an oligotrophic, brackish environment of the Bothnian Sea sediment. Total DNA from three sediment depths was isolated and sequenced. The characterization of the total community was performed based on 16S rRNA gene inventory using SILVA database as reference. The diversity of diagnostic functional genes coding for nitrate reductases (napA;narG), nitrite:nitrate oxidoreductase (nxrA), nitrite reductases (nirK;nirS;nrfA), nitric oxide reductase (nor), nitrous oxide reductase (nosZ), hydrazine synthase (hzsA), ammonia monooxygenase (amoA), hydroxylamine oxidoreductase (hao), and nitrogenase (nifH) was analyzed by blastx against curated reference databases. In addition, Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐based amplification was performed on the hzsA gene of anammox bacteria. Our results reveal high genomic potential for full denitrification to N2, but minor importance of anaerobic ammonium oxidation and dissimilatory nitrite reduction to ammonium. Genomic potential for aerobic ammonia oxidation was dominated by Thaumarchaeota. A higher diversity of anammox bacteria was detected in metagenomes than with PCR‐based technique. The results reveal the importance of various N‐cycle driving processes and highlight the advantage of metagenomics in detection of novel microbial key players.
Bridging with Tirofiban during Oral Antiplatelet Interruption: A Single‐Center Case Series Analysis Including Patients on Hemodialysis
Authors: Walker Elizabeth A. , Dager William E. 
Published: May 2017

IntroductionPatients requiring an interruption in dual‐antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) within 6 months of cardiac stenting are at risk for thrombotic events. Bridging with short‐acting intravenous antiplatelet agents has been proposed to minimize the risk of thrombotic and hemorrhagic complications.MethodsThis retrospective analysis of a tirofiban bridging strategy did not use an initial bolus loading dose. Tirofiban infusions were initiated 24–48 hours after the last oral antiplatelet dose at a rate of 0.1 μg/kg/min (or 0.05 μg/kg/min if renal dysfunction) and continued until 4–8 hours before surgery or until DAPT could be resumed. Coprimary end points were occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and bleeding.ResultsTwenty patients requiring DAPT interruption within 6 months of cardiac stenting for either a surgical procedure or who were unable to take any medications by mouth were included. The median time from stent implantation to DAPT interruption was 33 days (range 3–146 days). Two patients experienced a MACE during their hospital stay. No major bleeding events occurred; minor bleeding occurred in four patients during tirofiban therapy. Five patients in this analysis had end‐stage renal disease requiring hemodialysis. Of these patients, no MACE or major bleeding events occurred.ConclusionsThis analysis observed that a tirofiban bridging strategy without an initial bolus loading dose has comparable efficacy and safety as previously published reports. A tirofiban infusion without bolus dosing may be a safe option for antiplatelet bridging in patients with a recent cardiac stent implant to prevent stent thrombosis.
Non‐interacting two‐impurity Anderson model on a lattice at particle–hole symmetry
Authors: Mahmoud Zakaria M. M. , Bünemann Jörg , Gebhard Florian 
Published: May 2017

AbstractWe study the non‐interacting two‐impurity Anderson model on a lattice using the Green function equation‐of‐motion method. We focus on the RKKY limit that is characterized by a small hybridization between impurities and host electrons and the absence of a direct coupling between the impurities. Odd and even channels do not decouple, in general. Different real parts of the hybridization functions lead to a small splitting of the single‐impurity resonance. Along the axes, the RKKY interaction energy decays proportional to the inverse square of the impurity separation. Hence, the RKKY approximation to the RKKY interaction is inadequate.
River regulation and riparian woodlands: Cottonwood conservation with an environmental flow regime along the Waterton River, Alberta
Authors: Foster S. G. , Rood S. B. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractFollowing water withdrawal, riparian cottonwoods have declined downstream from some dams in western North America. Analyses of aerial photographs and field observations in the 1980s suggested that the black and narrowleaf cottonwoods (Populus trichocarpaandPopulus angustifolia) along the Waterton River, Alberta, were declining due to drought stress following the 1964 damming and diversion. This raised concern for the riverine ecosystems and in 1991, “functional flows” commenced with 2 changes: (a) the minimum flow was increased from 0.9 to 2.3 m3/s (mean discharge 21.9 m3/s) and (b) flow ramping provided gradual stage recession after the spring peak. This provided an environmental flow regime that was delivered for 2 decades and this study investigated the consequent river flow patterns and riparian woodlands upstream and downstream from the Waterton Dam. Analyses of aerial photographs from 1951 to 2009 assessed 4 flow management intervals: (a) the free‐flowing predam condition, (b) the initial dammed interval to the mid‐1970s, (c) a drought interval in the 1980s, and (d) with the environmental flow regime after 1991. Analyses revealed woodland reduction from 1961 to 1985 due to losses through bank erosion with major floods and apparent decline due to low flows following a regional drought and water withdrawal for irrigation. With the subsequent environmental flow regime, there was apparent woodland recovery, despite drought in 2000 and 2001. This study demonstrated that the correspondence between river flow patterns and the extent of riparian woodlands and the benefit from the environmental flow regime that probably reduced drought stress and mortality.
Congestion management techniques for disruption‐tolerant satellite networks
Authors: Madoery Pablo G. , Fraire Juan A. , Finochietto Jorge M. 
Published: May 2017

SummaryDelay and disruption‐tolerant networks are becoming an appealing solution for extending Internet boundaries toward challenged environments where end‐to‐end connectivity cannot be guaranteed. In particular, satellite networks can take advantage of a priori trajectory estimations of nodes to make efficient routing decisions. Despite this knowledge is already used in routing schemes such as contact graph routing, it might derive in congestion problems because of capacity overbooking of forthcoming connections (contacts). In this work, we initially extend contact graph routing to provide enhanced congestion mitigation capabilities by taking advantage of the local traffic information available at each node. However, since satellite networks data generation is generally managed by a mission operation center, a global view of the traffic can also be exploited to further improve the latter scheme. As a result, we present a novel strategy to avoid congestion in predictable delay‐ and disruption‐tolerant network systems by means of individual contact plans. Finally, we evaluate and compare the performance improvement of these mechanisms in a typical low Earth orbit satellite constellation.
Efficient Two Step β‐Glycoside Synthesis from N‐Acetyl d‐Glucosamine: Scope and Limitations of Copper(II) Triflate‐Catalyzed Glycosylation
Authors: Sommer Roman , Hauck Dirk , Titz Alexander 
Published: May 2017

Abstractβ‐Linked glycosides of N‐acetyl glucosamine are widespread in nature. Their direct synthesis is hampered by the low reactivity of GlcNAc as a glycosyl donor. We report a selective and rapid copper(II) triflate‐catalyzed two‐step synthesis of β‐glycosides of GlcNAc from cheap GlcNAc as starting material without purification of intermediates. α‐Specific glycosylation can be achieved by increasing the amount of catalyst and extending reaction times.
Production of Bio‐Based Gasoline by Noble‐Metal‐Catalyzed Hydrodeoxygenation of α‐Angelica Lactone Derived Di/Trimers
Authors: Ayodele Olubunmi O. , Dawodu Folasegun A. , Yan Dongxia , Dong Huixian , Xin Jiayu , Zhang Suojiang 
Published: May 2017

AbstractConversion of biomass into a suitable fuel involves series of chemical transformation including C−C coupling and hydrodeoxygenation reactions. Here, we have employed coupling reaction to a biomass‐derived angelica lactone in the presence of mild alkaline catalysts, K2CO3 to obtain dimers and trimers in appropriate quantities. Hydrodeoxygenation of these molecules over carbon‐supported noble metal catalysts was performed. Subsequently, the effect of operating parameters such as hydrogen pressure, temperature and reaction time on the hydrodeoxygenation of di/trimers were fully optimized and liquids suitable for gasoline application were obtained. This process has the potential of scale‐up since the raw materials can easily be obtained from freely available biomass and the technology involved in carbon‐carbon coupling and hydrodeoxygenation is well known.
N/Al‐Incorporated TiO2Nanocompositesfor Improved Device Performance of aDye‐Sensitized Solar Cell
Authors: Neetu  , Maurya Ishwar C. , Singh Shalini , Gupta Arun K. , Srivastava Pankaj , Bahadur Lal 
Published: May 2017

AbstractWe report application of aluminium co‐doped with nitrogen titania nanocomposite (Al/N‐TiO2) prepared by hydrothermal method as photoanode for very efficient dye‐sensitized solar cell (DSSC). The Al/N‐TiO2 nano‐composites are characterized by spectral viz. UV‐visible, XRD, FTIR, XPS techniques. TEM, SEM, EDX and BET are used to obtain their particle size, morphology and surface area. The DSSC with Al/N co‐doped TiO2 as photoanode and N719 sensitizer dye exhibited an overall light conversion efficiency of 6.24 %, which is much improved compared to that of un‐modified TiO2 (1.69 %) under 100 mW/cm2 light irradiation. The improved efficiency with Al/N co‐doped TiO2 is attributed to greater dye loading, increased surface area, rapid interfacial charge transfer, slow charge recombination and strong red shift of light absorption in the visible region as compared with un‐doped TiO2. The effect of the Al concentration on the current density is studied and optimum Al concentration with N‐doped TiO2is observed to be 1.0 mole%. The work establishes that the as prepared Al/N co‐doped TiO2is impending photoanode material for low‐cost and high‐efficiency DSSC.
Extending the two‐process model of burnout in child protection workers: The role of resilience in mediating burnout via organizational factors of control, values, fairness, reward, workload, and community relationships
Authors: McFadden Paula , Mallett John , Leiter Michael 
Published: May 2017

AbstractBurnout has been disproportionally reported in child protection social work. This paper presents data from 162 child protection staff in Northern Ireland, assessed for burnout using the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Path models were estimated, based on an extension of the two‐process demands and values model (Leiter, ) to include additional measures of resilience using the Resilience Scale‐14, as well as perceived rewards and sense of community from the Areas of Work Life Scale (Leiter, ). Optimal model fit was achieved by modelling resilience as a mediator of the relationship between organizational factors of control and value congruence and burnout. Resilience also directly predicted emotional exhaustion (β = −.23, p < .005) and personal accomplishment (β = .46, p < .001). Workload was the strongest direct predictor of emotional exhaustion (β = −.54, p < .001). Adding perceived rewards to extend the two‐process model resulted in moderate associations with control (β = .44, p < .001), workload (β = .26, p < .005), fairness (β = .40, p < .001), and values (β = .32, p < .001). In the final model, resilience is modelled as both an outcome of some organizational factors whilst also making a unique direct contribution to explaining burnout alongside other organizational factors. Other pathways and mediating relationships are reported and further research directions discussed.