bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Process influences on the structure, piezoelectric, and gas‐barrier properties of PVDF‐TrFE copolymer
Authors: Oliveira Fabiane , Leterrier Yves , Månson Jan‐Anders , Sereda Olha , Neels Antonia , Dommann Alex , Damjanovic Dragan 
Published: January 2014

ABSTRACTThe influence of annealing between the Curie transition and the melting point of solvent cast polyvinylidene fluoride trifluoroethylene copolymer films on the crystalline structure, mechanical and electrical properties, and oxygen permeability is investigated. Annealing leads to remarkable changes in the structure and properties of the copolymer, within the first four hours of treatment, and with kinetics depending on the temperature. The crystallinity increases by 19% (relative), resulting in a 10 K increase in the Curie transition, a 4 K increase of the melting temperature and a 2 K decrease in the glass transition temperature. A crystalline phase transition from the paraelectric α‐phase to the ferroelectric β‐phase is also evidenced using in‐situ X‐ray diffraction. The elastic modulus is found to increase by more than three‐fold at room temperature and the loss peak at the glass transition is considerably reduced. The piezoelectric coefficient is found to increase by 40% and the dielectric properties are significantly changed. The most remarkable influence is the ten‐fold reduction of the oxygen permeability, with a drastic reduction of the activation energy for oxygen transport. The improvement in oxygen barrier properties of the annealed copolymer is attributed to the restricted mobility of oxygen molecules in the semicrystalline polymer with nanometer sized crystallites. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2014, 52, 496–506
E‐loyalty towards a cancer information website: applying a theoretical framework
Authors: Crutzen Rik , Beekers Nienke , van Eenbergen Mies , Becker Monique , Jongen Lilian , van Osch Liesbeth 
Published: January 2014

AbstractObjectiveTo provide more insight into user perceptions related to e‐loyalty towards a cancer information website. This is needed to assure adequate provision of high quality information during the full process of cancer treatment—from diagnosis to after care—and an important first step towards optimizing cancer information websites in order to promote e‐loyalty.MethodsParticipants were cancer patients (n = 63) and informal caregivers (n = 202) that visited a website providing regional information about cancer care for all types of cancer. Subsequently, they filled out a questionnaire assessing e‐loyalty towards the website and user perceptions (efficiency, effectiveness, active trust and enjoyment) based on a theoretical framework derived from the field of e‐commerce. A structural equation model was constructed to test the relationships between user perceptions and e‐loyalty.ResultsParticipants in general could find the information they were looking for (efficiency), thought it was relevant (effectiveness) and that they could act upon it (active trust) and thought the visit itself was pleasant (enjoyment). Effectiveness and enjoyment were both positively related with e‐loyalty, but this was mediated by active trust. Efficiency was positively related with e‐loyalty. The explained variance of e‐loyalty was high (R2 = 0.70).ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that the importance of user perceptions is not limited to fields such as e‐commerce but is also present within the context of cancer information websites. The high information need among participants might explain the positive relationship between efficiency and e‐loyalty. Therefore, cancer information websites need to foster easy search and access of information provided. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparative proteomic analysis of malignant pleural mesothelioma evidences an altered expression of nuclear lamin and filament‐related proteins
Authors: Giusti Laura , Da Valle Ylenia , Bonotti Alessandra , Donadio Elena , Ciregia Federica , Ventroni Tiziana , Foddis Rudy , Giannaccini Gino , Guglielmi Giovanni , Cristaudo Alfonso , Lucacchini Antonio 
Published: January 2014

PurposeMalignant mesothelioma is a neoplastic disease linked to asbestos exposure whose diagnosis is limited, so detection methods for an early diagnosis and treatment result essential. Here, we compared proteomic profiles of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) and benign biopsies to search potential biomarkers useful in differential diagnosis.Experimental designTissue biopsies were obtained from 53 patients who were subjected to a diagnostic thoracoscopy. 2DE/MS based approach was used for proteomic analysis and protein validation was carried out by Western blot analysis versus benign and lung carcinoma samples.ResultsAmong the proteins identified we confirmed known MPM biomarkers such as calretinin and suggested the new ones as prelamin A/C, desmin, vimentin, calretinin, fructose‐bisphosphate aldolase A, myosin regulatory light chain 2, ventricular/cardiac muscle isoform, myosin light chain 3 and myosin light chain 6B. Ingenuity software was used to identify the biological processes to which these proteins belong and to construct a potential network.Conclusions and clinical relevanceOverall, our results suggest potential biomarkers that can be useful in occupational medicine for the early identification of the onset of disease in health surveillance of past asbestos‐exposed workers, for monitoring the progress of disease and for assessing the response to treatment.
Frequent sub‐graph mining for intelligent malware detection
Authors: Eskandari Mojtaba , Raesi Hooman 
Published: January 2014

ABSTRACTMalware is a serious threat that has caused catastrophic disasters in recent decades. To deal with this issue, various approaches have been proposed. One effective and widely used method is signature‐based detection. However, there is a substantial problem in detecting new instances; therefore, this method is solely useful for second malware attacks. In addition, owing to the rapid proliferation of malware and the significant human effort requirement to extract signatures, this approach is an inadequate solution; thus, an intelligent malware detection system is required. One of the major phases of such a system is feature extraction, used to construct a learning model. This paper introduces an approach to generate a group of semantic signatures, represented by a set of learning models, in which various features indicate the different programming styles of the execution files. A set of these signatures is obtained by mining frequent sub‐graphs, common code sub‐structures employed for malware writing, in a group of control flow graphs. The experimental results depict an improved F‐measure rate in comparison with the classic graph‐based approach. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Trust computation for multiple routes recommendation in social network sites
Authors: Zhang Bo , Huang Zhenhua , Yu Jian , Xiang Yang 
Published: January 2014

ABSTRACTNowadays, social network site (SNS) has been a popular platform for information sharing and dissemination. However, because of unknown information sources or unfamiliar recommenders, users of SNS may receive thousands of recommending information, which contain potential risks to receivers. To meet the challenge of confirming reliabilities of recommendations, a novel method of recommended trust computation is proposed in this paper. Firstly, according to the elements of users' relationships and community characteristics in SNS, concepts of belief and reputation are defined to express subjective trustable relationship among individuals and objective trust view. Then, recommended trust computation is presented on the basis of aforementioned two concepts. The recommended trust computation is divided into two aspects, that is, recommended trust computation with different route composition and recommendation optional confidence. Further, a SNS recommended trust computation framework is proposed. Finally, examinations are given to further explain the efficiency and feasibility of our mechanism. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis and Surface Properties of Anionic Gemini Surfactants having N‐acylamide and Carboxylate Groups
Authors: Zhou Yan , Cheng Yun , Han Chunyu , Lai Junling , Sui Lin , Luo Genxiang 
Published: January 2014

AbstractA straightforward synthetic strategy to an anionic gemini surfactant having both N‐acylamide and carboxylate groups in a molecule has been demonstrated. The surface properties of the anionic gemini surfactant, such as CMC (critical micelle concentration), C20 (the concentration required to reduce the surface tension of the solvent by 20 mN/m), γCMC (the surface tension at the CMC), ∏CMC (the surface pressure at the CMC), Γmax (the maximum surface excess concentration at the air/aqueous solution interface), Amin (the minimum area per surfactant molecule at the air/water interface), and the CMC/C20 ratio (a measure of the tendency to form micelles relative to adsorbtion at the air/water interface), have been studied. The influence of the different concentrations of NaCl on the surface properties of the gemini surfactant has been discussed. The results have shown that the CMC values decreased with an increase in the concentration of NaCl indicating that the Na+ preferentially adsorbs onto the surface of the charged aggregate and facilitates the aggregate growth by suppressing the main impediment of electrostatic repulsion among head groups. Additionally, the values of Γmax are always higher in salt solutions as compared to those in pure water due to their salting out effect. The larger pC20 value indicates that the surfactant adsorbs more efficiently at the air/water interface and reduces surface tension more efficiently. In addition, the geminis in water show little or no break in their specific conductance versus surfactant molar concentration plots. This is attributable to protonation of the carboxylate group and strong Na+ release during micellization.
The prevalence of mild cognitive impairment and its etiological subtypes in elderly Chinese
Authors: Jia Jianping , Zhou Aihong , Wei Cuibai , Jia Xiangfei , Wang Fen , Li Fang , Wu Xiaoguang , Mok Vincent , Gauthier Serge , Tang Muni , Chu Lan , Zhou Youlong , Zhou Chunkui , Cui Yong , Wang Qi , Wang Weishan , Yin Peng , Hu Nan , Zuo Xiumei , Song Haiqing , Qin Wei , Wu Liyong , Li Dan , Jia Longfei , Song Juexian , Han Ying , Xing Yi , Yang Peijie , Li Yuemei , Qiao Yuchen , Tang Yi , Lv Jihui , Dong Xiumin 
Published: January 2014

AbstractBackgroundEpidemiologic studies on mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are limited in China.MethodsUsing a multistage cluster sampling design, a total of 10,276 community residents (6096 urban, 4180 rural) aged 65 years or older were evaluated and diagnosed with normal cognition, MCI, or dementia. MCI was further categorized by imaging into MCI caused by prodromal Alzheimer's disease (MCI‐A), MCI resulting from cerebrovascular disease (MCI‐CVD), MCI with vascular risk factors (MCI‐VRF), and MCI caused by other diseases (MCI‐O).ResultsThe prevalences of overall MCI, MCI‐A, MCI‐CVD, MCI‐VRF, and MCI‐O were 20.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 20.0–21.6%), 6.1% (95% CI = 5.7–6.6%), 3.8% (95% CI = 3.4–4.2%), 4.9% (95% CI = 4.5–5.4%), and 5.9% (95% CI = 5.5–6.4%) respectively. The rural population had a higher prevalence of overall MCI (23.4% vs 16.8%, P < .001).ConclusionsThe prevalence of MCI in elderly Chinese is higher in rural than in urban areas. Vascular‐related MCI (MCI‐CVD and MCI‐VRF) was most common.
Serial position effects are sensitive predictors of conversion from MCI to Alzheimer's disease dementia
Authors: Egli Simone C. , Beck Irene R. , Berres Manfred , Foldi Nancy S. , Monsch Andreas U. , Sollberger Marc 
Published: January 2014

AbstractBackgroundIt is unclear whether the predictive strength of established cognitive variables for progression to Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) varies depending on time to conversion. We investigated which cognitive variables were best predictors, and which of these variables remained predictive for patients with longer times to conversion.MethodsSeventy‐five participants with MCI were assessed on measures of learning, memory, language, and executive function. Relative predictive strengths of these measures were analyzed using Cox regression models.ResultsMeasures of word‐list position—namely, serial position scores—together with Short Delay Free Recall of word‐list learning best predicted conversion to AD dementia. However, only serial position scores predicted those participants with longer time to conversion.ConclusionsResults emphasize that the predictive strength of cognitive variables varies depending on time to conversion to dementia. Moreover, finer measures of learning captured by serial position scores were the most sensitive predictors of AD dementia.
Comparison of Heat Donation Through the Head or Torso on Mild Hypothermia Rewarming
Authors: Sran Bhupinder Jit K. , McDonald Gerren K. , Steinman Alan M. , Gardiner Phillip F. , Giesbrecht Gordon G. 
Published: January 2014

Objective The purpose of the study was to compare the effectiveness of head vs torso warming in rewarming mildly hypothermic, vigorously shivering subjects using a similar source of heat donation. Methods Six subjects (1 female) were cooled on 3 occasions in 8°C water for 60 minutes or to a core temperature of 35°C. They were then dried, insulated, and rewarmed by 1) shivering only; 2) charcoal heater applied to the head; or 3) charcoal heater applied to the torso. The order of rewarming methods followed a balanced design. Esophageal temperature, skin temperature, heart rate, oxygen consumption, and heat flux were measured. Results There were no significant differences in rewarming rate among the 3 conditions. Torso warming increased skin temperature and inhibited shivering heat production, thus providing similar net heat gain (268 ± 66 W) as did shivering only (355 ± 105 W). Head warming did not inhibit average shivering heat production (290 ± 72 W); it thus provided a greater net heat gain during 35 to 60 minutes of rewarming than did shivering only. Conclusions Head warming is as effective as torso warming for rewarming mildly hypothermic victims. Head warming may be the preferred method of rewarming in the field management of hypothermic patients if: 1) extreme conditions in which removal of the insulation and exposure of the torso to the cold is contraindicated; 2) excessive movement is contraindicated (eg, potential spinal injury or severe hypothermia that has a risk of ventricular fibrillation); or 3) if emergency personnel are working on the torso.
Victims’ Response to Snakebite and Socio-epidemiological Factors of 1018 Snakebites in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Sri Lanka
Authors: Kularatne Abeysinghe M. , Silva Anjana , Maduwage Kalana , Ratnayake Ishani , Walathara Chmara , Ratnayake Chanka , Mendis Suresh , Parangama Ranjith 
Published: January 2014

Background Although snake bite remains a major health problem in Sri Lanka, there is a dearth of baseline information that would be useful in education about and prevention of snakebite. Objectives The purpose of this study was to describe the socio-demographic characteristics, behavioral responses, treatment seeking, and prehospital interventions of snakebite victims in an area with high snakebite burden. Methods This prospective study was based on a cohort of snakebite victims presented to the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital over a 1-year period from January 2010. Results Of the total of 1018 snakebite admissions, 69% were male and 65.8% were aged 21 to 50 years. Most of the victims were farmers (40%). The offending snakes were seen by 549 victims (54%); of these, only 46% (255) presented with a dead snake specimen. Only 38 of 1018 (4%) had first sought some form of indigenous treatment such as locally applied medications, herbal decoctions, nasal insufflations (“Nasna”), or applying snake stone over the bitten site. Some form of first aid had been adopted by 681 victims (67%), of whom all had washed the bitten site, and 18 victims (2%) and 4 (0.4%) had applied a dressing or incised the bitten site, respectively. A tourniquet had been applied by 353 victims (35%) for mean duration of 26 minutes (range, 5 to 120 minutes). None of the patients had immobilized the bitten limb by splinting. Oral medications had been used for pain relief in 74 cases (7%), paracetamol by all. Conclusions A proportion of patients still seek native remedies and use inappropriate first aid after snakebite in Sri Lanka.
Rigorous pointwise approximations for invariant densities of non-uniformly expanding maps
Authors: BAHSOUN WAEL , BOSE CHRISTOPHER , DUAN YUEJIAO 
Published: January 2014

AbstractWe use an Ulam-type discretization scheme to provide pointwise approximations for invariant densities of interval maps with a neutral fixed point. We prove that the approximate invariant density converges pointwise to the true density at a rate ${C}^{\ast } \cdot (\ln m)/ m$, where ${C}^{\ast } $ is a computable fixed constant and ${m}^{- 1} $ is the mesh size of the discretization.
Pinch-off of non-axisymmetric vortex rings
Authors: O’Farrell Clara , Dabiri John O. 
Published: January 2014

AbstractThe formation and pinch-off of non-axisymmetric vortex rings is considered experimentally. Vortex rings are generated using a non-circular piston–cylinder arrangement, and the resulting velocity fields are measured using digital particle image velocimetry. Three different nozzle geometries are considered: an elliptical nozzle with an aspect ratio of two, an elliptical nozzle with an aspect ratio of four and an oval nozzle constructed from tangent circular arcs. The formation of vortices from the three nozzles is analysed by means of the vorticity and circulation, as well as by investigation of the Lagrangian coherent structures in the flow. The results indicate that, in all three nozzles, the maximum circulation the vortex can attain is determined by the equivalent diameter of the nozzle: the diameter of a circular nozzle of identical cross-sectional area. In addition, the time at which the vortex rings pinch off is found to be constant along the nozzle contours, and independent of relative variations in the local curvature. A formation number for this class of vortex rings is defined based on the equivalent diameter of the nozzle, and the formation number for vortex rings of the three geometries considered is found to lie in the range of 3–4. The implications of the relative shape and local curvature independence of the formation number on the study and modelling of naturally occurring vortex rings such as those that appear in biological flows is discussed.
Unilateral blindness: a unique complication of choanal atresia surgery
Authors: D'Ascanio L , Rebuffini E 
Published: January 2014

AbstractObjective:To report a unique case of unilateral blindness secondary to transnasal endoscopic surgery and stenting for right choanal atresia.Case report:A 24-year-old man was referred with right eye blindness and acute headache, occurring immediately after transnasal endoscopic surgical repair of unilateral right choanal atresia with placement of an endonasal stent. Maxillo-facial computed tomography with three-dimensional reconstruction showed the endonasal stent entering the right nostril, passing through the lamina papyracea into the orbit and running anterior to the optic foramen towards the superior orbital fissure. Despite stent removal and medical treatment (ceftriaxone and dexamethasone), permanent right eye blindness secondary to an irreversible lesion of the optic nerve was diagnosed. At three-month follow up, an uncommon, complete fibrous obliteration of the right nasal fossa was noticed.Conclusion:To the best of our knowledge, this is the only published report of unilateral blindness following transnasal endoscopic stenting for right choanal atresia. Causes of this complication, and ways of avoiding it, are discussed.
Return of the Great Pumpkin
Authors: SCOTT KYLE 
Published: January 2014

AbstractAccording to Alvin Plantinga there is no good reason to think that there is anything unacceptable about religious belief even if the believer cannot present evidence or arguments in support of her beliefs. One important challenge to this claim is the ‘Great Pumpkin’ objection. This objection is that Plantinga's arguments could be used to defend very strange beliefs such as belief in the Great Pumpkin. I describe this objection in more detail and then offer a solution to the problem by considering how the historical and social environment might provide favouring evidence for Christian beliefs.
Difficulty matters: Unspecific attentional demands as a major determinant of performance highlighted by clinical studies
Authors: Bonato Mario , Zorzi Marco , Umiltà Carlo 
Published: January 2014

AbstractThe cognitive impairments shown by brain-damaged patients emphasize the role of task difficulty as a major determinant for performance. We discuss the proposal of Kurzban et al. in light of our findings on right-hemisphere–damaged patients, who show increasing awareness deficits for the contralesional hemispace when engaged with resource-consuming dual tasks. This phenomenon is readily explained by the assumption of unspecific depletable resources.
Persisting through subjective effort: A key role for the anterior cingulate cortex?
Authors: Hillman Kristin L. , Bilkey David K. 
Published: January 2014

AbstractOne shortcoming of Kurzban et al.'s model is that it is not clear how animals persist through subjectively effortful tasks, particularly over a long time course. We suggest that the anterior cingulate cortex plays a critical role by encoding the utility of an action, and signalling where efforts should be best directed based on previous and prospected experience.
Let's talk about class: towards an institutionalist typology of class relations in the cities of pre-modern Europe (c. 1200 –c. 1800)
Authors: FYNN-PAUL JEFF 
Published: January 2014

ABSTRACTFor a quarter century, the term ‘class’ has been anathema for most writers of premodern urban history. The term's associations with discredited forms of analysis – forms often dubiously but persistently associated with Marxism – continue to hamper its reintroduction. In the absence of ‘class’, or a term like it, however, meaningful discussion of ‘horizontal’ divisions in urban society has dwindled. The present article suggests that ‘class’ can and should be reintroduced into our analysis, but that this should be done in an informed way, which takes into account the principal possible meanings of the term. To this end, we analyse the ways in which urban historians have employed the term ‘class’ and find four principal usages. Two of these are ‘material’ and two are ‘institutional’. It is further suggested that certain institutions, such as the nobility and town governments in Europe, can be ‘class determining’, insofar as they channel economic and productive differences into effective political, legal and ideological ‘classes’. This insight, and the typology it is based upon, open the possibility for integrating ‘class’ analysis with recent work in both European and Global contexts.
On the -invariant of the cyclotomic derivative of a Katzp-adic -function
Authors: Burungale Ashay A. 
Published: January 2014

AbstractWhen the branch character has root number$- 1$, the corresponding anticyclotomic Katz$p$-adic$L$-function vanishes identically. For this case, we determine the$\mu $-invariant of the cyclotomic derivative of the Katz$p$-adic$L$-function. The result proves, as an application, the non-vanishing of the anticyclotomic regulator of a self-dual CM modular form with root number$- 1$. The result also plays a crucial role in the recent work of Hsieh on the Eisenstein ideal approach to a one-sided divisibility of the CM main conjecture.