bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Cannabis Abuse Screening Test (CAST) revisited: examining measurement invariance by age
Authors: Sznitman Sharon R. 
Published: October 2016

AbstractDefensible use of self‐reported cannabis use problem scales in age comparative frameworks requires that measured constructs have equal psychometric properties across age groups. This study compares the psychometric properties of the Cannabis Abuse Screening Test (CAST) across three age groups (18–24, 25–29, 30–40). Data was collected online from an accessible sample of 1316 cannabis users. Factor analysis compared the optimal factor structure and dimensionality diffraction. Multi‐group Model Invariance tests examined measurement invariance across the three age groups. CAST was two‐dimensional in all age groups with one factor measuring cannabis use problems and the other measuring deviation from a common standard of use. The two‐dimensional structure was more pronounced in older age groups. Weak factorial invariance was supported, suggesting that the meaning of the CAST factors is equivalent across age groups. Partial, but not full, strong factorial invariance was supported, indicating that only the cannabis use problem factor can be defensibly used to measure age group mean differences. Results confirm a well‐defined two‐dimensional CAST structure and factorial invariance across age groups. However, caution is needed when using the two items measuring deviation from a common standard in an age‐comparative framework. Replication studies based on a representative sample are needed.
Potential for high‐permittivity materials to reduce local SAR at a pacemaker lead tip during MRI of the head with a body transmit coil at 3 T
Authors: Yu Zidan , Xin Xuegang , Collins Christopher M. 
Published: October 2016

PurposeTo illustrate the potential for high permittivity materials to be used in decreasing peak local SAR associated with implants when the imaging region is far from the implant.MethodsWe performed numerical simulations of a human subject with a pacemaker in a body‐sized birdcage coil driven at 128 MHz with and without a thin (5 mm) shell of material of high electric permittivity around the head.ResultsFor a shell with relative permittivity of 600, the maximum specific energy absorption rate averaged over any 1 g of tissue near the pacemaker was reduced by 73.5% for a given B1 field strength at the center of the brain.ConclusionAlthough further study is required, initial simulations indicate that strategic use of high permittivity materials may broaden the conditions under which patients with certain implants can be imaged safely. Magn Reson Med 78:383–386, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
Strom speichern mit neuen Materialien
Authors: Klaus Maximilian , Oetken Marco 
Published: October 2016

AbstractDie dominierende Lithiumionen‐Akkumulatortechnik basiert auf Interkalationselektroden. Damit ist sie für die Schule zwar ein völlig neuartiger Typ wiederaufladbarer Batterien, Versuche damit sind dennoch möglich.
Difference in the intratumoral distributions of extracellular‐fluid and intravascular MR contrast agents in glioblastoma growth
Authors: Kim Jin Hee , Suh Ji‐Yeon , Woo Dong‐Cheol , Sung Yu Sub , Son Woo‐Chan , Choi Yoon Seok , Pae Sang Joon , Kim Jeong Kon 
Published: October 2016

AbstractContrast enhancement by an extracellular‐fluid contrast agent (CA) (Gd‐DOTA) depends primarily on the blood–brain‐barrier permeability (bp), and transverse‐relaxation change caused by intravascular T2 CA (superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, SPIONs) is closely associated with the blood volume (BV). Pharmacokinetic (PK) vascular characterization based on single‐CA‐using dynamic contrast‐enhanced MRI (DCE‐MRI) has shown significant measurement variation according to the molecular size of the CA. Based on this recognition, this study used a dual injection of Gd‐DOTA and SPIONs for tracing the changes of bp and BV in C6 glioma growth (Days 1 and 7 after the tumor volume reached 2 mL). bp was quantified according to the non‐PK parameters of Gd‐DOTA‐using DCE‐MRI (wash‐in rate, maximum enhancement ratio and initial area under the enhancement curve (IAUC)). BV was estimated by SPION‐induced ΔR2* and ΔR2. With validated measurement reliability of all the parameters (coefficients of variation ≤10%), dual‐contrast MRI demonstrated a different region‐oriented distribution between Gd‐DOTA and SPIONs within a tumor as follows: (a) the BV increased stepwise from the tumor center to the periphery; (b) the tumor periphery maintained the augmented BV to support continuous tumor expansion from Day 1 to Day 7; (c) the internal tumor area underwent significant vascular shrinkage (i.e. decreased ΔR2 and ΔR2) as the tumor increased in size; (d) the tumor center showed greater bp‐indicating parameters, i.e. wash‐in rate, maximum enhancement ratio and IAUC, than the periphery on both Days 1 and 7 and (e) the tumor center showed a greater increase of bp than the tumor periphery in tumor growth, as suggested to support tumor viability when there is insufficient blood supply. In the MRI–histologic correlation, a prominent BV increase in the tumor periphery seen in MRI was verified with increased fluorescein isothiocyanate–dextran signals and up‐regulated immunoreactivity of CD31–VEGFR. In conclusion, the spatiotemporal alterations of BV and bp in glioblastoma growth, i.e. augmented BV in the tumor periphery and increased bp in the center, can be sufficiently evaluated by MRI with dual injection of extracellular‐fluid Gd chelates and intravascular SPION.
The influence of thermal treatment on the morphology in differently prepared films of a oligodepsipeptide based multiblock copolymer
Authors: Yan Wan , Fang Liang , Weigel Thomas , Behl Marc , Kratz Karl , Lendlein Andreas 
Published: October 2016

Degradable multiblock copolymers prepared from equal weight amounts of poly(ε‐caprolactone)‐diol (PCL‐diol) and poly[oligo(3S‐iso‐butylmorpholine‐2,5‐dione)]‐diol (PIBMD‐diol), named PCL‐PIBMD, provide a phase‐segregated morphology. It exhibits a low melting temperature from PCL domains (Tm,PCL) of 38 ± 2 °C and a high Tm,PIBMD of 170 ± 2 °C with a glass transition temperature (Tg,PIBMD) at 42 ± 2 °C from PIBMD domains.In this study, we explored the influence of applying different thermal treatments on the resulting morphologies of solution‐cast and spin‐coated PCL‐PIBMD thin films, which showed different initial surface morphologies. Differential scanning calorimetry results and atomic force microscopy images after different thermal treatments indicated that PCL and PIBMD domains showed similar crystallization behaviors in 270 ± 30 µm thick solution‐cast films as well as in 30 ± 2 and 8 ± 1 nm thick spin‐coated PCL‐PIBMD films. Existing PIBMD crystalline domains highly restricted the generation of PCL crystalline domains during cooling when the sample was annealed at 180 °C. By annealing the sample above 120 °C, the PIBMD domains crystallized sufficiently and covered the free surface, which restricted the crystallization of PCL domains during cooling. The PCL domains can crystallize by hindering the crystallization of PIBMD domains via the fast vitrification of PIBMD domains when the sample was cooled/quenched in liquid nitrogen after annealing at 180 °C. These findings contribute to a better fundamental understanding of the crystallization mechanism of multi‐block copolymers containing two crystallizable domains whereby the Tg of the higher melting domain type is in the same temperature range as the Tm of the lower melting domain type. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Measuring cancer‐specific child adjustment difficulties: Development and validation of the Children's Oncology Child Adjustment Scale (ChOCs)
Authors: Burke Kylie , McCarthy Maria , Lowe Cherie , Sanders Matthew R. , Lloyd Erin , Bowden Madeleine , Williams Lauren 
Published: October 2016

AbstractBackgroundChildhood cancer is associated with child adjustment difficulties including, eating and sleep disturbance, and emotional and other behavioral difficulties. However, there is a lack of validated instruments to measure the specific child adjustment issues associated with pediatric cancer treatments. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate the reliability and validity of a parent‐reported, child adjustment scale.ProcedureOne hundred thirty‐two parents from two pediatric oncology centers who had children (aged 2–10 years) diagnosed with cancer completed the newly developed measure and additional measures of child behavior, sleep, diet, and quality of life. Children were more than 4 weeks postdiagnosis and less than 12 months postactive treatment. Factor structure, internal consistency, and construct (convergent) validity analyses were conducted.ResultsPrincipal component analysis revealed five distinct and theoretically coherent factors: Sleep Difficulties, Impact of Child's Illness, Eating Difficulties, Hospital‐Related Behavior Difficulties, and General Behavior Difficulties. The final 25‐item measure, the Children's Oncology Child Adjustment Scale (ChOCs), demonstrated good internal consistency (α = 0.79–0.91). Validity of the ChOCs was demonstrated by significant correlations between the subscales and measures of corresponding constructs.ConclusionThe ChOCs provides a new measure of child adjustment difficulties designed specifically for pediatric oncology. Preliminary analyses indicate strong theoretical and psychometric properties. Future studies are required to further examine reliability and validity of the scale, including test–retest reliability, discriminant validity, as well as change sensitivity and generalizability across different oncology samples and ages of children. The ChOCs shows promise as a measure of child adjustment relevant for oncology clinical settings and research purposes.
PLMA‐b‐POEGMA amphiphilic block copolymers: Synthesis and self‐assembly in aqueous media
Authors: Skandalis Athanasios , Pispas Stergios 
Published: October 2016

ABSTRACTThe synthesis and self‐assembly properties in aqueous solutions of novel amphiphilic block copolymers composed of one hydrophobic poly (lauryl methacrylate), (PLMA) block and one hydrophilic poly (oligo ethylene glycol methacrylate) (POEGMA) block are reported. The block copolymers were prepared by RAFT polymerization and were molecularly characterized by size exclusion chromatography, NMR and FT‐IR spectroscopy, and DSC. The PLMA‐b‐POEGMA amphiphilic block copolymers self‐assemble in nanosized complex nanostructures resembling compound micelles when inserted in aqueous media, as supported by light scattering and TEM measurements. The encapsulation and release of the model, hydrophobic, nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drug indomethacin in the polymeric micelles is also investigated. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017, 55, 155–163
Development and validation of a self‐efficacy scale for postoperative rehabilitation management of lung cancer patients
Authors: Huang Fei‐Fei , Yang Qing , Han Xuan Ye , Zhang Jing‐Ping , Lin Ting 
Published: October 2016

AbstractObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to develop a Self‐Efficacy Scale for Rehabilitation Management designed specifically for postoperative lung cancer patients (SESPRM‐LC) and to evaluate its psychometric properties.Patients and methodsBased on the concept of self‐management of chronic disease, items were developed from literature review and semistructured interviews of 10 lung cancer patients and screened by expert consultation and pilot testing. Psychometric evaluation was done with 448 postoperative lung cancer patients recruited from 5 tertiary hospitals in Fuzhou, China, by incorporating classical test theory and item response theory methods.ResultsA 6‐factor structure was illustrated by exploratory factor analysis and confirmed by confirmatory factor analysis, explaining 60.753% of the total variance. The SESPRM‐LC achieved Cronbach's α of 0.694 to 0.893, 2‐week test‐retest reliability of 0.652 to 0.893, and marginal reliability of 0.565 to 0.934. The predictive and criterion validities were demonstrated by significant association with theoretically supported quality‐of‐life variables (r = 0.211–0.392,P < .01), and General Perceived Self‐efficacy Scale (r = 0.465,P < .01), respectively. Item response theory analysis showed that the SESPRM‐LC offers information about a broad range of self‐efficacy measures and discriminates well between patients with high and low levels of self‐efficacy.ConclusionsWe demonstrated initial support for the reliability and validity of the 27‐item SESPRM‐LC, as a developmentally appropriate instrument for assessing self‐efficacy among lung cancer patients during postoperative rehabilitation.
Evaluation of systemic neonicotinoid insecticides for the management of the Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri on containerized citrus
Authors: Byrne Frank J , Daugherty Matthew P , Grafton‐Cardwell Elizabeth E , Bethke James A , Morse Joseph G 
Published: October 2016

AbstractBACKGROUNDStudies were conducted to evaluate uptake and retention of three systemic neonicotinoid insecticides, dinotefuran, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam, in potted citrus nursery plants treated at standard label rates. Infestation of these plants placed at a field site with moderate levels of Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) was monitored for 14 weeks following treatments, and insecticide residues in leaf tissue were quantified using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Bioassays were conducted using leaves harvested on various dates post‐treatment to compare the efficacies of residues against adult ACP.RESULTSResidues of the three neonicotinoids were detected in leaf tissues within 1 week after treatment. Peak concentrations established at 1 week for imidacloprid and dinotefuran and at 2 weeks for thiamethoxam. Imidacloprid and thiamethoxam outperformed the control and dinotefuran treatments at protecting trees from infestations by ACP eggs and nymphs. For a given insecticide concentration in leaf tissue, thiamethoxam induced the highest mortality of the three insecticides, and dinotefuran was the least toxic.CONCLUSIONIf the time needed to achieve effective thresholds of a systemic neonicotinoid is known, treatments at production facilities could be scheduled that would minimize unnecessary post‐treatment holding periods and ensure maximum retention of effective concentrations after the plants have shipped to retail outlets. The rapid uptake of the insecticides and retention at effective concentrations in containerized citrus suggest that the current 30 day post‐treatment shipping restriction from production facilities to retail outlets outside of quarantine could be shortened to 14 days. Thiamethoxam should be added to the list of approved nursery treatments. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Recovery of Co from aqueous solutions using nanodiamonds as solid adsorbents
Authors: Reina Giacomo , Peruzzi Carlotta , Orlanducci Silvia , Terranova Maria Letizia 
Published: October 2016

A study has been carried out to test detonation nanodiamond (DND) as solid adsorbent for the recovery of Co ions from wastewater. With the aim to enhance the surface affinity for Co ions, after preliminary purification and oxidation steps, the DNDs were functionalized with three different diamine chelant molecules. The as prepared materials were characterized via FT‐IR and TGA. Finally, the Co adsorption capacity of DND was obtained by quantifying, by means of UV‐Vis spectroscopy, the residual concentration of Co ions in the solutions. Playing with the surface chemistry of DND it was possible to strongly enhance the DND uptake of cobalt ions, up to a value of about 60%. The proposed process offers flexibility in design and operation and the proper functionalized DNDs demonstrated to be effective solid adsorbent systems for metal recycling.Top left: cartoon of the amidation reaction of the DND surface; top right: thermogravimetric analysis of the pristine and functionalized DNDs; bottom left: scheme of the Co absorption experiments made with the various DNDs in the Co solution, bottom right: UV‐Vis spectra of the various Co standard solutions.
Chromatographic peak reconstruction algorithm to improve qualitative and quantitative analysis of trace pesticide residues
Authors: Chen Xiu‐Ping , Fan Ruo‐Jing , Zhang Fang , Li Zhong‐Quan , Xu Bin , Guo Yin‐Long 
Published: October 2016

RationaleIn order to improve analysis of analytes in trace amounts in a complex matrix, we developed a novel post‐processing method, named Chromatographic Peak Reconstruction (CPR), to process the recorded data from gas chromatography/time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (GC/TOFMS).MethodsFor a trace ion, the relative deviation (δ) between the adjacent scanned mass‐to‐charge ratios (m/z) was found to be inversely proportional to its MS peak intensity. Based on this relationship, the thresholds of δ value within the specified intensity segments were estimated by the CPR and used to screen out the suspicious scan‐points in the extracted ion chromatographic (EIC) peak. Then, the intensities of these suspicious scan‐points were calibrated to reconstruct a new EIC peak.ResultsIn the qualitative analysis of 118 pesticides, 107 out of the test pesticides can be confirmed. The corrected response ratios of the qualitative ion (q) over the quantitative ion (Q), q/Q, became closer to their references. In the quantitative analysis of 10 test pesticides at 5 ppb, the relative errors of the calculated concentrations after using the CPR were below ±1.55%, down from ±2.29% without using the CPR.ConclusionsThe developed CPR showed great potential in the analysis of trace analytes in complex matrices. It was proved to be a helpful data processing method for the monitoring of trace pesticide residues. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Distributed plantwide control based on differential dissipativity
Authors: Wang Ruigang , Bao Jie 
Published: October 2016

SummaryModern chemical plants are becoming very complex, often consisting of a number of nonlinear process units (subsystems) with strong interactions due to material recycle and energy integration. The operation setpoint may need to be adjusted from time to time based on the market demand. To address the aforementioned challenges, a plantwide distributed nonlinear control scheme based on differential dissipativity is proposed in this paper, which can ensure plantwide incremental exponential stability and achieve bounded incremental L2 gain performance. As a non‐unique property, the differential dissipativity of individual subsystem is shaped by a setpoint‐independent control structure – differential state feedback control. The dissipativity properties of subsystems and individual controllers are determined simultaneously as a large‐scale feasibility problem to ensure the plantwide stability and performance. It is converted into an LMI condition for plantwide supply rate planning and small‐scale sum‐of‐squares programming problems for individual subsystem dissipativity shaping, by using the alternating direction method of multipliers method. The proposed approach is illustrated using a chemical reactor network with a recycle stream. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Impacts of Natural Flood Management Approaches on In‐Channel Sediment Quality
Authors: Janes V. J. , Grabowski R. C. , Mant J. , Allen D. , Morse J. L. , Haynes H. 
Published: October 2016

AbstractNatural Flood Management (NFM) techniques aim to reduce downstream flooding by storing and slowing the flow of stormwater to river channels. These techniques include a range of measures, including setback stormwater outfalls and the physical restoration of channels and floodplains, to improve the natural functioning of catchments. An additional benefit of NFM measures is the potential reduction in sediment and pollutant delivery to the channel. Urban development releases a variety of heavy metal and nutrient pollutants that enter rivers through stormwater outfalls with adverse effects on the aquatic ecosystem. In this study, the influence of channel modification and quality of the river habitat on the sediment quality surrounding stormwater outfalls was assessed. Sediment samples were taken at several outfalls within the Johnson Creek catchment, Oregon, USA, and analysed for a variety of urban pollutants. The level of river habitat quality and modification at each site were assessed using a semi‐quantitative scoring methodology. Significant increases in pollutant levels were observed at outfalls, with a greater and more variable increase at direct compared to setback outfalls. Removal efficiency of certain pollutants was found to be significantly correlated to the level of habitat quality or modification (for Fe, Ba, Sn, Mg, P, K) indicating that more natural reaches had greater potential for pollutant removal. The findings highlight the multiple benefits associated with NFM and river restoration approaches in relation to sediment quality and pollutant content. © 2016 The Authors River Research and Applications Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Search‐based model transformations
Authors: Fleck Martin , Troya Javier , Wimmer Manuel 
Published: October 2016

AbstractModel transformations are an important cornerstone of model‐driven engineering, a discipline which facilitates the abstraction of relevant information of a system as models. The success of the final system mainly depends on the optimization of these models through model transformations. Currently, the application of transformations is realized either by following the apply‐as‐long‐as‐possible strategy or by the provision of explicit rule orchestrations. This implies two main limitations. First, the optimization objectives are implicitly hidden in the transformation rules and their orchestration. Second, manually finding the best orchestration for a particular scenario is a major challenge due to the high number of possible combinations.To overcome these limitations, we present a novel framework that builds on the non‐intrusive integration of optimization and model transformation technologies. In particular, we formulate the transformation orchestration task as an optimization problem, which allows for the efficient exploration of the transformation space and explication of the transformation objectives. Our generic framework provides several search algorithms and guides the user in providing a proper search configuration. We present different instantiations of our framework to demonstrate its feasibility, applicability, and benefits using several case studies. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A meta‐model of software development project states behavioral study of software projects
Authors: Akbar Rehan , Hassan Mohd Fadzil , Abdullah Azrai 
Published: October 2016

AbstractSoftware development project during its lifecycle passes through various states. These states describe the condition, status, and behavior of software projects. In the present study, these states are defined based on the various activities performed during project lifecycle like initial environment setup, requirement analysis, coding, testing, problem resolution, and completion. The taxonomy of these states and substates is defined, and a project states meta‐model is designed. The meta‐model is composed of states and substates of the software projects. Detailed case studies of real projects have been conducted to validate the states of the meta‐model. Evidences are collected; and events and observations are recorded about existence of the states, execution flow, duration, and behavior. The evidences, events, and observations are presented in the sequence to translate them into results. Results show that project states exist in all projects such that each software project passes through these states serially and in particular cases, a few states may exist in parallel. Project states show the status and progress of the software projects. It is found that issues in software projects can effectively be resolved by performing micro project management activities of the projects states. Project states meta‐model provides basic structure for deriving new models.