bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Tunable shape recovery progress of thermoplastic polyurethane by solvents
Authors: Wang Changchun , Kou Bo , Hang Zusheng , Zhao Xuejuan , Lu Tianxuan , Wu Ziqi , Zhang Jin-Peng 
Published: October 2017

Purpose
This study aims to present that the chemo-responsive shape recovery of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is tunable by solvents with different solubility parameters, and it is generic for chemo-responsive shape-memory polymer and its composites.

Design/methodology/approach
Two kinds of commercial TPU samples with different thicknesses were prepared by panel vulcanizer and injection molding (an industrial manner) to investigate their chemo-responsive shape memory properties in acetic ether and acetone.

Findings
Results showed that all of TPU films with different thicknesses can fully recover their original shapes weather they recover in acetic ether or acetone. But the recovery time of TPU films in acetone is greatly reduced, especially for the twisting samples. The residual strains of recovery TPU samples after extension reduce obviously.

Research limitations/implications
The great decrement of recovery time is related to two factors. One is due to the bigger solubility parameter of acetone with higher dipole moment compared with those of acetic ether, and the other is the remained internal stress of TPU films after preparation. The internal stress is identified to have an effect on the shape-memory properties by comparing the recovery process of samples with/without annealing. The reduced residual strains of recovery TPU samples after extension is due to the increasing mobility of polymer segments after molecules of acetic ether penetrates into the polymeric chains.

Originality/value
This is a universal strategy to control the recovery process of shape-memory materials or composites. The underlying mechanism is generic and should be applicable to chemo-responsive shape-memory polymers or their composites.
Multi-stimuli triggered self-healing of the conductive shape memory polymer composites
Authors: Luo Hongsheng , Zhou Xingdong , Xu Yuncheng , Wang Huaquan , Yao Yongtao , Yi Guobin , Hao Zhifeng 
Published: October 2017

Purpose
This paper aims to exploit shape-memory polymers as self-healable materials. The underlying mechanism involved the thermal transitions as well as the enrichment of the healing reagents and the closure of the crack surfaces due to shape recovery. The multi-stimuli-triggered shape memory composite was capable of self-healing under not only direct thermal but also electrical stimulations.

Design/methodology/approach
The shape memory epoxy polymer composites comprising the AgNWs and poly (ε-caprolactone) were fabricated by dry transfer process. The morphologies of the composites were investigated by the optical microscope and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The electrical conduction and the Joule heating effect were measured. Furthermore, the healing efficiency under the different stimuli was calculated, whose dependence on the compositions was also discussed.

Findings
The AgNWs network maintained most of the pathways for the electrons transportation after the dry transfer process, leading to a superior conduction and flexibility. Consequently, the composites could trigger the healing within several minutes, as applied with relatively low voltages. It was found that the composites having more the AgNWs content had better electrically triggered performance, while 50 per cent poly (ε-caprolactone) content endowed the materials with max healing efficiency under thermal or electrical stimuli.

Research limitations/implications
The findings may greatly benefit the application of the intelligent polymers in the fields of the multifunctional flexible electronics.

Originality/value
Most studies have by far emphasized on the direct thermal triggered cases. Herein, a novel, flexible and conductive shape memory-based composite, which was capable of self-healing under the thermal or electrical stimulations, has been proposed.
Recent development in electrospun polymer fiber and their composites with shape memory property: a review
Authors: Yao Yongtao , Xu Yuncheng , Wang Bing , Yin Weilong , Lu Haibao 
Published: October 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of recent systematic and comprehensive advancement in electrospun polymer fiber and their composites with shape memory property.

Design/methodology/approach
The nanofiber manufacture technique is initially reviewed. Then, the influence of electrospinning parameters and actuation method has been discussed. Finally, the study concludes with a brief review of recent development in potential applications.

Findings
Shape memory polymer (SMP) nanofibers are a type of smart materials which can change shape under external stimuli (e.g. temperature, electricity, magnetism, solvent). In general, such SMP nanofibers could be easily fabricated by mature electrospinning technique. The nanofiber morphology is mainly affected by the electrospinning parameters, including applied voltage, tip-to-collector distance, viscosity of solution, humidity and molecular weight. For actuation method, most SMP nanofibers and their composites can change their shapes in response to heat, magnetic field or solvent, while few can be driven by electricity. Compared with the block SMPs, electrospun SMP nanofibers’ mat with porosity and low mechanical property have a wide potential application field including tissue engineering, drug delivery, filtration, catalysis.

Originality/value
This paper provides a detailed review of shape memory nanofibers: fabrication, actuation and potential application, in the near future.
Research on microwave pad dyeing process for wool fabric
Authors: Zhao Xue 
Published: October 2017

PurposeThis paper aims to study microwave pad dyeing process for wool fabric. Influences of various dyeing process conditions including galactomannan dosage, urea dosage, sodium bisulphite dosage, pH value, microwave irradiation power, treating time and cold batching time before microwave fixation on K/S values were analysed. The colour yield, fixation and levelness were compared between microwave fixation and cold batching fixation.Design/methodology/approachColour yield (K/S values) was calculated using a Datacolor SF650 colour measuring and matching instrument (10° standard observer, CIE D65 light source Measuring; Datacolor, USA) and was used to determine the depth of the shade of dyed wool fabrics. Levelness of dyeing was evaluated also using the Datacolor SF650 colour measuring and matching instrument by measuring average deviation (S), range (P) of the maximum and the minimum for lightness (L), chroma (C) and hue (h), and balanced colour difference (ΔE) at 20 specified uniform locations on the wool fabrics. The colour difference was calculated as per the equationΔE=(ΔL2+Δa2+Δb2)1/2as appearing in the Experimental section. Fixation was determined using a Datacolor SF650 colour measuring and matching instrument by measuring ratio the of K/S for wool fabrics that were rinsed, washed, neutralised and then dried, and wool fabrics that were dried after fixation without washing. The pH of the padding solution was evaluated using a PHSJ-4A PH meter (Datacolor, USA). SEM analysis was done on JEOL JSM-5600LV machine (JEOL Ltd, Japan).FindingsThis study is based on application of microwave technology in the processing of silk.Originality/valueIt was found in laboratory experiments that uniform dyeing and deeper colour can be achieved throughout the microwave pad dyeing process for wool by using galactomannan. The novel process could reduce the dyeing time and the energy consumption of the traditional cold pad-batch dyeing process for wool fabric.
A tensile study of fancy multicount yarn sections
Authors: Iqbal Shakeel , Pramanik P. 
Published: October 2017

Purpose
No study was published about the tensile properties of different sections of multicount yarn. Hence there was a need to conduct a detailed section-wise tensile study of fancy multicounty yarn. The purpose of this study is to identify the different sections of the same multicount yarn and test them separately.

Design/methodology/approach
Multicount yarn with slubs were prepared on a ring frame with the Amsler Textile Effect System. Different yarn sections from each multicount yarn are identified as fine normal, fine slub, medium normal, medium slub, coarse normal, coarse slub and the changeover sections. These sections are tested for the breaking load and breaking elongation. Broken ends of the yarn sections are also studied, and these broken ends are classified as sharp broken end, tapered broken end and slipped broken end. A study is also conducted on the location of break or the place of break at the changeover sections.

Findings
It was found that the twist of yarn at slub sections was lower than the twist at normal sections. In spite of the low yarn twist at slub sections, the breaking load of the yarn was higher at slub sections than at normal sections by 12 to 30 per cent owing to the presence of more number of fibres that share the breaking load. The breaking load at the changeover section (normal to slub and slub to normal) was found to be higher than that at normal section and lower than at slub sections. No significant difference was found between the breaking load of the two changeover sections (normal to slub and slub to normal). The majority of breaks in normal yarn sections were of the tapered broken end type and the majority of breaks in slub yarn sections were slipped broken ends.

Originality/value
Efforts are taken to identify different sections of the same multicount yarn with the help of specially designed square black board and tensile study of these sections are carried out.
Current Status of Hepatitis C Virus‐Infected Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients in Japan
Authors: Abe Takaya , Oomori Sou , Obara Wataru 
Published: October 2017

AbstractComplete recovery using interferon therapy in Japanese hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐infected dialysis patients is difficult to achieve because >70 % of the HCV genotypes observed in Japan are type 1. In 2016, new direct‐acting antiviral drugs against HCV genotype 1 were reported to be effective and safe for HCV‐infected hemodialysis patients. Although new direct antiviral therapy has become available, no large‐scale studies evaluating the status of HCV infection in Japanese hemodialysis patients have been conducted since 2007. Therefore, we conducted a questionnaire survey to determine the current status of HCV infection in patients. Our results indicated that the HCV antibody prevalence was 5.02 %, and HCV RNA prevalence was 72.3 %. Genotype testing revealed that 62.1 % of patients had HCV genotype 1. New direct antiviral therapy may improve the survival of Japanese HCV‐infected dialysis patients.
A Framework for Incorporating the Impact of Water Quality on Water Supply Stress: An Example from Louisiana, USA
Authors: Borrok David M. , Chen Jian , Eldardiry Hisham , Habib Emad 
Published: October 2017

AbstractWater of poor quality can directly impact the budget of water available for key user groups. Despite this importance, methods for quantifying the impact of water quality on water availability remain elusive. Here, we develop a new framework for incorporating the impact of water quality on water supply by modifying the Water Supply Stress Index (WaSSI). We demonstrate the usefulness of the framework by investigating the impact of high salinity waters on the availability of irrigation water for agriculture in Louisiana. The WaSSI was deconstructed into sectoral components such that the total available water supply could be reduced for a particular demand sector (agricultural irrigation in this example) based on available water quality information. The results for Louisiana highlight substantial impacts on water supply stress for farmers attributable to the landward encroachment of saline surface water and groundwater near the coast. Areas of high salinity near the coast also increased the competition for freshwater resources among the industrial, municipal, and agricultural demand sectors in the vicinities of the municipal areas of Lake Charles, Lafayette, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The framework developed here is easily adaptable for other water quality concerns and for other demand sectors, and as such can serve as a useful tool for water managers.
Zinc supplementation in prediabetes: A randomized double‐blind placebo‐controlled clinical trial
Authors: Ranasinghe Priyanga , Wathurapatha Wasundara S. , Galappatthy Priyadarshani , Katulanda Prasad , Jayawardena Ranil , Constantine Godwin R. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractBackgroundThis study evaluated the effects of zinc supplementation on glycemic control, other cardiometabolic and anthropometric parameters, and disease progression in prediabetes.MethodsA randomized double‐blind placebo‐controlled Phase 2 clinical trial was conducted over a 12‐month period in 200 subjects (43% male; mean [± SD] age 51.8 ± 7.3 years), randomly assigned (1:  1) to the treatment or control group. The treatment group received zinc (20 mg daily). Subjects were evaluated at baseline and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. The primary outcome was the change in glycemic control from baseline. Multiple regression analyses were performed, with change in outcome variables after intervention from baseline used as continuous dependent variables.ResultsIn both groups, mean serum zinc concentrations prior to the trial were below normal (15.29–21.41 μmol/L). During the 12‐month follow‐up, a significantly higher percentage of participants developed type 2 diabetes in the control compared with zinc‐treated group (25.0% vs 11.0% respectively; P = 0.016). Fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2‐h glucose levels in the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR), total cholesterol (TC), and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) were significantly lower in the treated group, with significant improvement in β‐cell function. In all four regression models, the best predictor of the dependent variables (i.e. change in FPG, 2‐h glucose in the OGTT, HOMA‐IR, and homeostatic model assessment of β‐cell function) was zinc treatment.ConclusionsZinc supplementation reduced blood glucose and insulin resistance while improving β‐cell function. Furthermore, supplementation reduced disease progression to diabetes and had beneficial effects on TC and LDL‐C.
National survey on image‐guided radiotherapy practice in New Zealand
Authors: Padayachee Jerusha , Loh Jasmin , Tiong Albert , Lao Louis 
Published: October 2017

AbstractIntroductionThis survey aimed to assess the use of image‐guided radiotherapy (IGRT) within New Zealand (NZ) and evaluate the quality of IGRT delivery.MethodAll nine centres in NZ were invited to participate in an online survey in November 2015. Questions were asked on type of IGRT technologies available, IGRT use by tumour site and frequency of imaging. In addition, questions were asked in reference to the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) White Paper recommendations on safe practice of IGRT.ResultsSeven of the nine centres (78%) responded. Kilovoltage cone‐beam CT (CBCT), kilovoltage planar imaging and megavoltage electronic portal imaging were the most commonly used IGRT technologies. CBCT was most frequently used in gynaecology (100%), genitourinary (86%) and head and neck (86%) sites. Despite the availability of similar IGRT technologies, there was significant variation in their application between centres. All centres used online IGRT; however, the frequency of imaging varied across the tumour sites and individual centres. Daily online IGRT use ranged from 43% to 86% across the tumour sites. Overall, there was good compliance by the NZ centres to the White Paper recommendations, with at least 71% reached for each element. However, the compliance rates for the individual centres ranged between 50% and 100%. The most commonly identified barrier to IGRT use was lack of guidelines/education (43%).ConclusionImage‐guided radiotherapy is widely used in NZ; however, there is a wide variation in its application between centres. Detailed tumour site‐specific, imaging modality‐specific national guidelines will allow standardization of IGRT practices.
Do Political Connections Weaken Tax Enforcement Effectiveness?
Authors: Lin Kenny Z. , Mills Lillian F. , Zhang Fang , Li Yongbo 
Published: October 2017

ABSTRACTThis paper examines whether ties to politicians by corporate boards of directors weaken the effectiveness of tax authorities in constraining tax avoidance in China. We use a unique data set to measure geographic time‐variant tax enforcement, including the probability of income tax audit, the expertise of tax officers, and the consequences of underreporting tax liabilities. Based on a sample of 11,121 firm‐years from 2003 to 2013, we find that the deterrent effect of the probability that a firm's taxable income understatement will be detected and lead to heavy penalties is significantly undermined if the board is politically connected. To enhance our analysis, we use opportunities for income shifting, the most likely mechanism through which Chinese firms avoid taxes on an ongoing basis, to illustrate how connected boards exert power to unwind the constraining effect of tax enforcement. Overall, our results suggest that a board's ties to politicians can be a significant challenge to the effective enforcement of tax compliance in a politically controlled economy.
Price shock transmission: evidence from the wheat‐bread market value chain in Ethiopia
Authors: Haile Mekbib G. , Kalkuhl Matthias , Algieri Bernardina , Gebreselassie Samuel 
Published: October 2017

AbstractThis study assesses the degree of vertical price transmission along the wheat‐bread value chain in Ethiopia. This is pursued by applying a vector error correction model and an impulse response analysis using monthly price data for the period 2000–2015. Our analysis considers transmission of price shocks across different market levels, including from the international and domestic wheat grain markets at the upstream to the domestic wheat bread market at the downstream of the value chain. The empirical findings indicate that significant cointegration exists across prices of the different market stages. There is a transmission from international prices to domestic prices at downstream markets, in particular to flour and bread prices. Prices at upstream markets are largely influenced by the domestic wholesale market. In general, the speed of adjustment is quite slow with a half‐life of about one year for restoring the equilibrium price relationship. As price margins between the different market stages in the value chain have substantially decreased in the last 15 years, higher transmission, and thus exposure to international market shocks, can be expected in the future. The results also show that causal relationships exist between prices at different market stages—with the wholesale market identified as the key market level where prices and price expectations are formed.
Local recurrence is correlated with decreased overall survival in patients with intermediate high‐grade localized primary soft tissue sarcoma of extremity and abdominothoracic wall
Authors: Zhao Ruping , Yu Xiaoli , Feng Yan , Yang Zhaozhi , Chen Xingxing , Wand Jian , Ma Shenglin , Zhang Zhen , Guo Xiaomao 
Published: October 2017

AbstractAimThe aim of this study was to determine the effect of local recurrence on overall survival in patients with intermediate high‐grade localized primary soft tissue sarcoma (STS) of extremity and abdominothoracic wall.MethodsThis retrospective study identified 133 consecutive patients with intermediate high‐grade localized primary STS of extremity and abdominothoracic wall from January 2000 to July 2010. Survival curves were constructed by the Kaplan–Meier method and log‐rank test was used to assess statistical significance. Hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated based on multivariable Cox logistic regression method.ResultsThe 5‐year cumulative incidence of local recurrence was 26.0% with a median follow‐up of 68 months (range, 5–127 months). The univariate analysis showed that local recurrence was associated with decreased overall survival, with 5‐year overall survival of 80.5% and 53.6% in the no local recurrence patients and local recurrence patients, respectively (P = 0.001). The multivariate analysis demonstrated that local recurrence was a negative prognostic factor for overall survival (HR = 2.115, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.036–4.319, P = 0.040). Radiotherapy significantly reduced local recurrence compared with surgery alone (HR = 0.387, 95% CI 0.180–0.877, P = 0.019), while larger tumor size (HR = 3.184, 95% CI 1.351–7.506 P = 0.008) was correlated with higher rate of local recurrence.ConclusionLocal recurrence in patients with intermediate high‐grade localized primary STS is associated with decreased overall survival.
Clinical characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma patients with normal serum alpha‐fetoprotein level: A study of 112 consecutive cases
Authors: Li Li , Chen Jinglong , Xu Weiran , Ding Xiaosheng , Wang Xiangyi , Liang Jun 
Published: October 2017

AbstractBackgroundSerum alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP) level is normal in 30–40% of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients, and knowledge on its characteristics and clinical outcome is limited. The purpose of this observational study was to determine the clinical presentation, biological behavior and outcome of HCC patients with normal AFP level.MethodsData of 112 consecutive HCC patients with normal AFP level were analyzed retrospectively. Statistical analysis including survival and factors associated with serum AFP level were performed by Kaplan‐Meier method and t‐test, respectively.ResultsHepatitis B virus infection exited in 83.0% of all 112 HCC patients with normal AFP level. During a mean 52 ± 20 months (range 5–85 months) follow‐up, the 1‐, 2‐, 3‐year overall survival (OS) rate was 97.2%, 85.3% and 81.7%, respectively. The OS rates at 3 years stratified by stages at diagnosis were 100%, 96.2%, 85.7%, 11.1% and 0%, respectively for Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage 0–D diseases. Significant difference in OS was observed among patients with BCLC stage 0–D diseases, P < 0.05. Using 8.78 ng/mL as the cut off value, serum AFP level elevated beyond normal figure during follow‐up (AFP conversion) in 16 patients, which related with deterioration of liver function, quantitative changes of T helper cell subsets, rapid tumor progression and shorter survival. Patients with sustained normal AFP level had better survival than patients with AFP conversion, P < 0.05. There was significant difference between the time of diagnosis with HCC to serum AFP level elevation and the time of AFP elevation to death, P < 0.05.ConclusionPrognosis of HCC patients with normal AFP level was relatively optimal. Serum AFP level elevation during follow‐up was significantly associated with clinical outcome in terms of OS.