bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A study of regulatory policies and relevant issues concerning electronic cigarette use in Taiwan
Authors: Jiang Tzuu Hwa , Cheng Li Min , Hawkins Matthew A. 
Published: June 2017

SummaryRecent technological innovations have increased the amount of tobacco products available to smokers. In particular, electronic cigarettes, sometimes call e‐cigarettes, have received substantial attention as their sales have rapidly increased. Electronic cigarettes were invented in China and now have become prevalent worldwide. Electronic cigarettes can be considered fashionable and come in numerous flavors; accordingly, many young adults and students have begun to use e‐cigarettes. However, like traditional tobacco products, e‐cigarettes have negative influences on human health. After e‐cigarettes were introduced into Taiwan, they have not been effectively managed and regulated because of insufficient supporting measures. Related legislation in developed countries can serve as a reference for Taiwan. For this study, the development of e‐cigarettes is described and a theoretical analysis was performed from the administration and legal perspectives. In addition to clarifying related problems and offering measures to prevent students from using e‐cigarettes, we propose suggestions to help governments improve their strategies to protect students' health.
The association of hospital governance with innovation in Taiwan
Authors: Yang Chen‐Wei , Yan Yu‐Hua , Fang Shih‐Chieh , Inamdar Syeda Noorein , Lin Hsien‐Cheng 
Published: June 2017

SummaryHospitals in Taiwan are facing major changes and innovation is increasingly becoming a critical factor for remaining competitive. One determinant that can have a significant impact on innovation is hospital governance. However, there is limited prior research on the relationship between hospital governance and innovation. The purpose of this study is to propose a conceptual framework to hypothesize the relationship between governance mechanisms and innovation and to empirically test the hypotheses in hospital organizations. We examine the relationship between governance mechanisms and innovation using data on 102 hospitals in Taiwan from the Taiwan Joint Commission on Hospital Accreditation and Quality Improvement. We model governance mechanisms using board structure, information transparency and strategic decision‐making processes. For our modeling and data analysis we use measurement and structural models. We find that in hospital governance, information transparency and strategic decision making did impact innovation. However, governance structure did not. To facilitate innovation, hospital boards can increase information transparency and improve the decision‐making process when considering strategic investments in innovative initiatives. To remain competitive, hospital boards need to develop and monitor indices that measure hospital innovation to ensure ongoing progress.
How to evaluate the quality of coarse‐resolution DEM‐derived drainage networks
Authors: Sousa Thâmara Martins Ismael , Paz Adriano Rolim 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThe quality of digital elevation model (DEM)‐derived river drainage networks (RDNs) is influenced by DEM quality, basin physical characteristics, scale, and algorithms used; these factors should not be neglected. However, few research studies analyse the different evaluation approaches used in the literature with respect to adequacy, meaning of the results, advantages, and limitations. Focusing on coarse‐resolution networks, this paper reviews the use of these techniques and offers new insights on these issues. Additionally, we propose adaptations for selected metrics and discuss distinct interpretations for the evaluation of RDNs derived at different spatial resolutions (1, 5, 10, 20, and 30 km) considering the Uruguay River basin (206,000 km2) as a case study. The results demonstrate that lumped basin/river characteristics and basin delineation analysis should not be used as evaluation criteria for RDN quality; however, some of these metrics offer useful complementary information. Percentage of the DEM‐derived RDN within a uniform buffer placed around a river network considered as reference and mean separation distance between these two networks are more suitable metrics, but the former is insensitive to serious errors. The change in reference from a fine‐scale network to a coarse‐resolution manual tracing network significantly augments the discrepancy of these largest errors when the mean distance metric was applied, and visual comparison analysis is necessary to interpret the results for other metrics. We recommend the use of the mean distance metric in combination with a detailed visual assessment, the importance of which increases as the resolution coarsens. In both cases, the impact of network quality can be further refined by quantifying the basin shape and river length errors.
Quality specifications of routine clinical chemistry methods based on sigma metrics in performance evaluation
Authors: Xia Jun , Chen Su‐feng , Xu Fei , Zhou Yong‐lie 
Published: June 2017

IntroductionSigma metrics were applied to evaluate the performance of 20 routine chemistry assays, and individual quality control criteria were established based on the sigma values of different assays.MethodsPrecisions were expressed as the average coefficient variations (CVs) of long‐term two‐level chemistry controls. The biases of the 20 assays were obtained from the results of trueness programs organized by National Center for Clinical Laboratories (NCCL, China) in 2016. Four different allowable total error (TEa) targets were chosen from biological variation (minimum, desirable, optimal), Clinical Laboratory Improvements Amendments (CLIA, US), Analytical Quality Specification for Routine Analytes in Clinical Chemistry (WS/T 403‐2012, China) and the National Cholesterol Education Program (NECP).ResultsThe sigma values from different TEa targets varied. The TEa targets for ALT, AMY, Ca, CHOL, CK, Crea, GGT, K, LDH, Mg, Na, TG, TP, UA and Urea were chosen from WS/T 403‐2012; the targets for ALP, AST and GLU were chosen from CLIA; the target for K was chosen from desirable biological variation; and the targets for HDL and LDL were chosen from the NECP. Individual quality criteria were established based on different sigma values.ConclusionsSigma metrics are an optimal tool to evaluate the performance of different assays. An assay with a high value could use a simple internal quality control rule, while an assay with a low value should be monitored strictly.
Morphology of the tongue of Vermilingua (Xenarthra: Pilosa) and evolutionary considerations
Authors: Casali Daniel M. , Martins‐Santos Elisângela , Santos André L. Q. , Miranda Flávia R. , Mahecha Germán A. B. , Perini Fernando A. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThe tongue of anteaters (Xenarthra, Pilosa, Vermilingua) is a highly specialized for myrmecophagy. Here, we describe the topography and histology of the tongue, and compare it to that of other xenarthrans and other myrmecophagous eutherian mammals. The tongue of Vermilingua is long and slender, with an apical protuberance, which differs between Myrmecophagidae and Cyclopes didactylus. In the former, the rostral region is conical, and in the latter, it is dorsoventrally compressed, as observed in sloths. The tongue of Vermilingua has filiform and circumvallate papillae on the surface; foliate and fungiform papillae are absent. The filiform papillae of Myrmecophaga tridactyla are simple all over the tongue, differing from Tamandua tetradactyla and Cyclopes didactylus, which present composed filiform papillae in the rostral and middle regions. Histologically, the tongue has a peculiar organization of muscular and neurovascular tissues, differing from the usual mammalian pattern. However, the tongue structure is less divergent in Cyclopes. The presence of two circumvallate papillae is common to the three major clades of Xenarthra (Cingulata, Folivora and Vermilingua). In each group, the tongue may reflect functional features related to myrmecophagous (anteaters and some armadillos), omnivorous (remaining armadillos) and folivorous (sloths) feeding habits. The similarities between the tongues of Vermiligua and other non‐xenarthran eutherian myrmecophagous mammals are somewhat general and, under close inspection, superficial, being an example of different lineages achieving the same morphofunctional adaptations through distinct evolutionary pathways.
Downscaling annual precipitation with TMPA and land surface characteristics in China
Authors: Ma Ziqiang , Zhou Yin , Hu Bifeng , Liang Zongzheng , Shi Zhou 
Published: June 2017

ABSTRACTVery high‐resolution (∼1 km) precipitation datasets are needed in various applications, especially in the hydrological, environmental, agricultural, and biological fields, although they also have major roles in the climate sciences. Nevertheless, various studies have concurred that the spatial distribution of precipitation is influenced by land surface characteristics through non‐stationary relationships, and that this characteristic is generally not considered fully by either global or local models using fixed combinations of variables (e.g. the normalized difference vegetation index and/or digital elevation models). This study introduced a new spatial downscaling algorithm, a divide‐and‐conquer method (called Cubist), to downscale Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite precipitation data over China from 2000 to 2015. In this endeavour, we considered the non‐stationary relationships between precipitation and land surface characteristics at various scales and derived the following conclusions: (1) The relationships and related variables explaining the spatial distribution of precipitation varied with spatial scale. (2) The Cubist algorithm achieved greater accuracy than Multivariate Linear Regression (MLR) models, and it was found to compensate for the disadvantages of MLR overestimation and underestimation at low and high values, respectively. (3) In downscaling, the monthly Version 7 TRMM Multisatellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA) datasets over China, the entire study area was separated into subregions driven by spatial datasets according to geographic similarities, which were similar to Chinese rainfall zones.
Weather regimes associated with summer rainfall variability over southern Mexico
Authors: Díaz‐Esteban Yanet , Raga Graciela B. 
Published: June 2017

ABSTRACTThis study focuses on the identification of weather regimes (WRs) over Mexico, the tropical eastern Pacific, Central America and the Caribbean, associated with seasonal precipitation over southern Mexico. A self‐organizing maps (SOM) analysis of sea level pressure, 850‐hPa horizontal winds and 925‐hPa‐specific humidity for the period 1997–2013 was carried out to identify the circulation patterns. This approach allowed the discrimination of wet and dry regimes, with clear and distinct features. Weather patterns exhibiting negative (positive) mean sea level pressure anomalies, southerly (northerly) winds, above‐ (below‐) average low‐level moisture and little (large) influence of the North Atlantic Subtropical High (NASH), resulted in above‐ (below‐) average precipitation over southern Mexico. The intra‐seasonal variability of the WRs and their associated rainfall is well captured by this methodology. In particular, the mid‐summer drought (MSD) during late July and early August, is clearly represented by a group of patterns, which evidence a strong influence of the NASH, strong easterly winds in the Caribbean Basin and reduced low‐level humidity, all factors that combine to induce below‐normal rainfall over southern Mexico. The analysis of the inter‐annual variability of the WRs suggests that year‐to‐year variations in their frequencies can impact summer rainfall in the regions of southern Mexico considered in this study. In particular, the analysis indicates that the dominant WR associated with the MSD exhibits a 3‐ to 4‐year modulation in its frequency of occurrence, which has not been previously reported in the literature. The main MSD pattern is more frequent during dry years and has a significant correlation with the Multivariate El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Index (MEI), indicating that MSD is stronger during ‘El Niño’ years. Also, WRs associated with negative (positive) rainfall anomalies showed positive (negative) correlations with the MEI, suggesting a possible modulation by ENSO phases.
Land Degradation Controlled and Mitigated by Rubber‐based Agroforestry Systems through Optimizing Soil Physical Conditions and Water Supply Mechanisms: A Case Study in Xishuangbanna, China
Authors: Jiang Xiao Jin , Liu Wenjie , Wu Junen , Wang Pingyuan , Liu Changan , Yuan Zi‐Qiang 
Published: June 2017

AbstractDifferent rubber‐based agroforestry systems are adopted to control and mitigate land degradation. However, the soil physical conditions and soil hydrological processes of different agroforestry systems are still unclear. Thus, in this study, rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) monoculture, rubber and Clerodendranthus spicatus agroforestry system (RCS) and rubber and Amomum villosum agroforestry system (RAV) were developed from a degraded land that had similar backgrounds of terrain and management measures for 50 years. Conventional methods were applied, and dye tracer experiments were conducted to measure the soil physical conditions and determine the water movement in soil. After 5 years' growth, both RCS and RAV could effectively promote the soil physical conditions and optimize soil structure by improving the proportion of the three soil phases. Favourable soil properties, multiple‐layered canopies and ground cover in agroforestry systems could promote the formation of three‐dimensional hydraulic redistribution in soil profile. The infiltration of rainfall into the soil was enhanced; meanwhile, surface runoff and soil erosion were mitigated, and then more water was transported, redistributed and stored into the different soil layers by the more dominant preferential flow, water exchange and lateral flow in soil profiles. These water supply mechanisms could allow planting intercrops with rubber trees to uptake water from different water sources and coexist in an agroforestry system. Our results highlighted that rubber‐based agroforestry systems are a useful management practice to maximize the utilization of land and water resources. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Light‐Switchable Azobenzene‐Containing Macromolecules: From UV to Near Infrared
Authors: Weis Philipp , Wu Si 
Published: June 2017

AbstractAzobenzene‐containing macromolecules (azo‐macromolecules) such as azobenzene‐containing polymers (azopolymers) and azobenzene‐functionalized biomacromolecules are photoswitchable macromolecules. Trans‐to‐cis photoisomerization in conventional azo‐macromolecules is induced by ultraviolet (UV) light. However, UV light cannot penetrate deeply into issue and has a very small fraction in sunlight. Therefore, conventional azo‐macromolecules are problematic for biomedical and solar‐energy‐related applications. In this Feature Article, the strategies for constructing visible and near‐infrared (NIR) light‐responsive azo‐macromolecules are reviewed, and the potential applications of visible‐ and NIR‐light‐responsive azo‐macromolecules in biomedicine and solar energy conversion are highlighted. The remaining challenges in the field of photoswitchable azo‐macromolecules are discussed.
Mechanical and Thermo‐Mechanical Properties of Discontinuously and Continuously Processed Biogenic Wood‐Plastic Composites from Polyamide 11 and Chemically Modified Beech Particles
Authors: Zierdt Patrick , Kulkarni Gaurav , Theumer Torsten 
Published: June 2017

SummaryThe resulting mechanical and thermo‐mechanical properties of discontinuously and continuously processed biogenic wood‐plastic composites (bio‐WPC) from polyamide 11 and chemically modified beech particles are investigated. It is found that continuous processing with a twin‐screw extruder (TSE) and subsequent industrial scale injection molding leads to a lower elastic modulus, an equal tensile strength, a higher strain at break and a lower glass transition temperature as compared to discontinuous processing with an internal mixer (IM) and subsequent laboratory scale injection molding. This is attributed to a more distinctive beech particle size reduction and shear stress induced chain scission during TSE processing and subsequent injection molding.
Prediction of Crack Toughness of Rubber Under Impact Loading Conditions
Authors: Lach Ralf , Reincke Katrin , Grellmann Wolfgang 
Published: June 2017

SummarySulphur‐crosslinked styrene–butadiene vulcanizate filled with carbon black up to 50 parts per hundred rubber (phr) were mainly investigating using an instrumented impact tensile tester. The experimentally determined and the calculated critical J‐values are in a good agreement. The pronounced energy dissipation capability of the vulcanizate with 50 phr carbon black does not take effect because the existence of a large number of agglomerates seen by using of a transmission electron microscope at reaching the percolation threshold leads to a more brittle behaviour.
Assessment of Fracture Behavior Under Impact Loading with Simultaneous Recording of Acoustic Emission
Authors: Schoßig Marcus , Bierögel Christian , Grellmann Wolfgang 
Published: June 2017

SummaryFor the assessment of the damage kinetics during the instrumented Charpy impact test (ICIT), the acoustic emissions (AEs) were recorded and the transient signal of the acoustic sensor was analyzed with the wavelet transform (WT). Based on the results discussed in this paper, an assessment of the resistance against stable crack initiation of glass fiber reinforced materials with the help of AE measurements under impact conditions is possible.
Comparing Mechanical Tests of Carbon Fiber Epoxy Resin and Carbon Fiber Polyamide Resin Composites
Authors: Schreiber Robert , Klepek Manuel , Moneke Martin , Fleischhauer Martin 
Published: June 2017

SummaryThe mechanical parameters of UD carbon fibre with polyamide and epoxy matrix using perpendicular tension and shear tests according to ASTM 7078 are compared. The polyamide matrix has been polymerized form ϵ‐caprolactam, therefore, specimen have a good fibre matrix adhesion but still sometimes suffer from inhomogen impregnation. This effect results in a higher standard deviation for PA specimen. Furthermore the specimen from polyamide have higher strain at break and stress at break. Epoxy specimen have a higher young's modulus and shear modulus.
Time‐Lapsing Evaluation of the Retardation Behaviour of Polypropylene Homo‐ and Copolymers using the Stepped Isothermal Method based on Depth‐Sensing Macroindentation
Authors: Krolopp Tobias , Lach Ralf , Schöne Jan , Mecklenburg Thomas , Langer Beate , Grellmann Wolfgang 
Published: June 2017

SummaryThe Stepped Isothermal Method (SIM) is a relatively new method for accelerated determination of the creep behaviour of polymers. The need for such a new method arises from the fact that for modern plastic components such as pipe systems minimum lifetimes of 50 years and more are achieved. The analysis of creep applying conventional methods of testing over such long periods of time is not reasonable from an economic point of view. This forms the basis for the development of accelerated procedures such as SIM. Plastic components can exhibit creep characteristics to be a function of the position due to processing. Such position‐dependent creep behaviour cannot be imaged by volume‐sensitive creep tests such as SIM under uniaxial tensile load. Therefore, SIM was implemented by means of recording macroindentation to characterize the local long‐time creep behaviour and the expressiveness of this method for different polypropylene materials was shown in this study.
Influence of Ageing on Sealability of Elastomeric O‐Rings
Authors: Kömmling Anja , Jaunich Matthias , Pourmand Payam , Wolff Dietmar , Gedde Ulf W. 
Published: June 2017

SummaryAt BAM, which is the federal institute for materials research and testing in Germany, it is one of our tasks to evaluate the safety of casks designed for transport and/or storage of radioactive material. This includes the assessment of the service lifetime of elastomeric seals that are part of the container lid system with regard to the requirements for long‐term safety (40 years and more) of the containers. Therefore, we started an accelerated ageing programme with selected rubbers often used for seals (HNBR, EPDM and FKM) which are aged at four different temperatures (75 °C, 100 °C, 125 °C and 150 °C) up to 1.5 years. In order to assess sealability, O‐rings are aged in compression by 25% (corresponding to the compression during service) between plates as well as in flanges that allow leakage rate measurements. For comparison, uncompressed O‐rings are aged as well. Further methods characterising seal performance are compression stress relaxation (CSR) reflecting the loss of sealing force of a compressed seal over time, and compression set (CS) which represents the recovery behaviour of a seal after release from compression. Additionally, hardness is measured for information about the change of mechanical properties. The experimental results indicate that while hardness, CSR and CS show considerable degradation effects, the leakage rate stays relatively constant or even decreases until shrinkage combined with the loss of resilience of the aged seal leads to leakage. This demonstrates that static leakage rate, which is the only available direct seal performance criterion, has only limited sensitivity towards the degradation of the seal material. CS data is extrapolated using time‐temperature shifts and Arrhenius graphs. An exemplary CS of 50% would be reached after approx. 1.2, 17 and 29 years at 60 °C for HNBR, EPDM and FKM respectively.
Three‐Phase Model of Two‐Component Blends Consisting of a Polystyrene–Polybutadiene Star Block Copolymer and a Polystyrene Homopolymer
Authors: Lach Ralf , Satapathy Bhabani K. , Weidisch Roland , Grellmann Wolfgang , Knoll Konrad 
Published: June 2017

SummaryBased on results of atomic force microscopy and dynamic mechanical analysis applied on binary blends of polystyrene (PS)–poly­butadiene (PB) star block copolymers (ST3) having different compositions, a three‐phase morphology that comprises PB‐rich, PS/PB‐mixed and PS‐rich phase has been found. The pronounced enhancement of toughness in blends with 20–30 wt.‐% PS homopolymer compared to pure ST3 can be understood by improvement of the stress transfer between the microdomains through the additional hPS‐induced interfacial PS/PB‐mixed volume fraction and the co‐continuous morphology.