bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Formation of self-organized Zircaloy-4 oxide nanotubes in organic viscous electrolyte via anodization
Authors: Ali Ghafar , Park Yang Jeong , Kim Hyun Jin , Cho Sung Oh 
Published: October 2014

Abstract
This work reports the formation of self-organized Zircaloy-4 (Zr-4) oxide nanotubes in viscous organic ethylene glycol (EG) electrolyte containing a small amount of fluoride salt and deionized (DI) water via an electrochemical anodization. The structure, morphology, and composition of the Zr-4 oxide nanotubes were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), EDX, and XPS. SEM results showed that the length of the nanotubes is approximately 13 μm, and TEM results showed that the inner diameter of the Zr-4 oxide nanotubes is approximately 20 nm with average wall thickness of approximately 7 nm. XRD and selected area electron diffraction pattern (SAED) results confirmed that the as-anodized Zr-4 oxide nanotubes have cubic crystalline structure. Both cubic and monoclinic phases were found after annealing of Zr-4 oxide nanotubes. The tubular structure morphology of Zr-4 oxide nanotubes did not remain intact after annealing which is attributed to the elimination of F species from the annealed nanotubes.
Canonical polyadic decomposition of third-order semi-nonnegative semi-symmetric tensors using LU and QR matrix factorizations
Authors: Wang Lu , Albera Laurent , Kachenoura Amar , Shu Huazhong , Senhadji Lotfi 
Published: October 2014

Abstract
Semi-symmetric three-way arrays are essential tools in blind source separation (BSS) particularly in independent component analysis (ICA). These arrays can be built by resorting to higher order statistics of the data. The canonical polyadic (CP) decomposition of such semi-symmetric three-way arrays allows us to identify the so-called mixing matrix, which contains the information about the intensities of some latent source signals present in the observation channels. In addition, in many applications, such as the magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), the columns of the mixing matrix are viewed as relative concentrations of the spectra of the chemical components. Therefore, the two loading matrices of the three-way array, which are equal to the mixing matrix, are nonnegative. Most existing CP algorithms handle the symmetry and the nonnegativity separately. Up to now, very few of them consider both the semi-nonnegativity and the semi-symmetry structure of the three-way array. Nevertheless, like all the methods based on line search, trust region strategies, and alternating optimization, they appear to be dependent on initialization, requiring in practice a multi-initialization procedure. In order to overcome this drawback, we propose two new methods, called

JD

LU

+

and

JD

QR

+

, to solve the problem of CP decomposition of semi-nonnegative semi-symmetric three-way arrays. Firstly, we rewrite the constrained optimization problem as an unconstrained one. In fact, the nonnegativity constraint of the two symmetric modes is ensured by means of a square change of variable. Secondly, a Jacobi-like optimization procedure is adopted because of its good convergence property. More precisely, the two new methods use LU and QR matrix factorizations, respectively, which consist in formulating high-dimensional optimization problems into several sequential polynomial and rational subproblems. By using both LU and QR matrix factorizations, we aim at studying the influence of the used matrix factorization. Numerical experiments on simulated arrays emphasize the advantages of the proposed methods especially the one based on LU factorization, in the presence of high-variance model error and of degeneracies such as bottlenecks. A BSS application on MRS data confirms the validity and improvement of the proposed methods.
Safety and tolerability of DIM-based therapy designed as personalized approach to reverse prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN)
Authors: Paltsev Mikhail , Kiselev Vsevolod , Muyzhnek Ekaterina , Drukh Vadim , Kuznetsov Igor , Pchelintseva Olga 
Published: October 2014

Abstract

Background
It has been shown previously that novel formulation of 3,3'-diindolylmethane (DIM) substance with high bioavailability (Infemin) inhibits tumor development due to the tumor growth rate reduction in the xenograft model of prostate cancer. Prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) is considered to be promising as a personalized and preventive treatment strategy of prostate cancer (PC). We assessed the safety of Infemin in men with PIN and discussed the interim results.

Materials and methods
A total of 14 patients with PIN were enrolled. They were randomized to 900 mg DIM or placebo daily for 3 months. Safety was evaluated by adverse events (AEs), laboratory tests and physical examinations.

Results and conclusion
The trial revealed that Infemin treatment is associated with minimal toxicity and no serious adverse events when administered orally for 3 months. We noted three adverse events including nausea and diarrhea in two patients (14%). Combined 95% confidence interval (CI) was 1.8%–42.8%. Therapy was continued in all cases of adverse events.
Good tolerability of DIM-based formulation allows us to recommend it for further clinical trials among men diagnosed with PIN for its efficacy and long-term safety parameters.
Dissimilar occupations and marital stability
Authors: Van Kammen Ben , Adams Scott J 
Published: October 2014

Abstract
We show that information revealed by the occupation choices of spouses predicts marital dissolution. Using a novel measure of occupational distance constructed from the O*Net Content Model, we find that spouses more closely matched in terms of their occupations' requisite knowledge are more likely to divorce. This supports the hypothesis that gains from division of labor within a household can render a marriage more durable. On the other hand, spouses that are dissimilar in terms of their occupations' activities are more likely to divorce. This suggests that each spouse brings an inclination toward certain activities to the marriage that reflects compatible preferences for joint consumption of household public goods.

JEL codes

D13; J12; J24
Intensifying the use of benefit sanctions: an effective tool to increase employment?
Authors: Boockmann Bernhard , L. Thomsen Stephan , Walter Thomas 
Published: October 2014

Abstract
In Germany, imposition of benefit cuts for non-compliant welfare recipients depends on the policy of the local welfare agencies resulting in considerable regional variation, expressed in milder and stricter sanction regimes. Findings from international studies show, that benefit sanctions can substantially increase individual employment uptake. This raises the question, whether a stricter use of sanctions will be effective in Germany. We analyze this question by exploiting the variation of regional sanction regimes as instrumental variables to estimate the LATE of sanctions on the individual employment probability. A tighter sanction policy can be quite effective for non-compliant welfare recipients.

JEL codes

I38; J64; C31
Biomimetic Total Synthesis of (−)-Neroplofurol and (+)-Ekeberin D4 Triggered by Hydrolysis of Terminal Epoxides
Authors: Kodama Takeshi , Aoki Shingo , Matsuo Tomoki , Tachi Yoshimitsu , Nishikawa Keisuke , Morimoto Yoshiki 
Published: October 2014

Abstract
To accumulate the chemical basis of epoxide-opening cascade biogenesis, chemical syntheses of sesqui- and triterpenoids were performed. The biomimetic total syntheses of (−)-neroplofurol (1) and (+)-ekeberin D4 (2) were accomplished by protic acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of the terminal epoxide from nerolidol diepoxide 3 and squalene tetraepoxide 4 through single and double 5-exo cyclizations in intermediates 5 and 6, respectively. This chemical reaction mimics the direct hydrolysis mechanism of epoxide hydrolases, enzymes that catalyze an epoxide-opening reaction to finally produce vicinal diols.
Molecular Crowding Facilitates Double-duplex Invasion of Pseudo-complementary Peptide Nucleic Acid in High-salt Medium
Authors: Sumaoka Jun , Komiyama Makoto 
Published: October 2014

Abstract
It has been shown that molecular crowding conditions greatly promote the invasion of a pair of pseudo-complementary peptide nucleic acid (pcPNA) to double-stranded DNA. Under molecular crowding conditions, double-duplex invasion complexes are spontaneously formed at 37 °C even in high-salt media, where the invasion otherwise never occurs. Strong potential of the pcPNA invasion for various intracellular applications is indicated.
Two-coordinate Dialkylsilylene–Coinage Metal Complexes
Authors: Inagawa Yuichiro , Ishida Shintaro , Iwamoto Takeaki 
Published: October 2014

Abstract
Two-coordinate dialkylsilylene–coinage metal complexes 3+·TPFPB− (Cu) and 4+·TPFPB− (Ag) were synthesized as the first dialkylsilylene–copper complex and the first silylene–silver complex, respectively, by the reaction of dialkylsilylene 1 with the corresponding metal borate. X-ray analysis showed that both the complexes adopted a linear structure with two perpendicular dialkylsilylene units. Theoretical study indicated that weak π back-donation of the copper and silver complexes compared to that of the corresponding isoelectronic neutral palladium complex would be due to low-lying d orbitals of Cu+ and Ag+ centers and responsible for the linear structures.
Carbon Dioxide Separation Using a High-toughness Ion Gel with a Tetra-armed Polymer Network
Authors: Fujii Kenta , Makino Takashi , Hashimoto Kei , Sakai Takamasa , Kanakubo Mitsuhiro , Shibayama Mitsuhiro 
Published: October 2014

Abstract
A high-performance CO2 separation membrane consisting of an ion gel has been prepared. The tetra-armed poly(ethylene glycol) ion gel contains a large fraction of ionic liquid (94 wt %) and shows excellent CO2 permselectivity over a wide temperature range, up to 100 °C. We also demonstrate that the ion gel can absorb CO2 without solvent seeping at a high pressure of 3 MPa.
Consumption, Income Changes, and Heterogeneity: Evidence from Two Fiscal Stimulus Programs
Authors: Misra Kanishka , Surico Paolo 
Published: October 2014

Almost half of American families did not adjust their consumption following receipt of the 2001 or 2008 tax rebates. Another 20 percent, with low income and more likely to rent, spent a small but significant amount. Households with large spending propensity held high levels of mortgage debt. The heterogeneity is concentrated in a few nondurable categories and a handful of “new vehicle” purchases. The cumulated predictions of the heterogeneous response model tend to be smaller and more accurate than their homogeneous response model counterparts, offering new insights on the evaluation of the two fiscal stimulus programs. (JEL D12, D91, E21, E32, E62)
Scleroderma and evidence based non-pharmaceutical treatment modalities for digital ulcers: a systematic review
Authors: Moran M.E. 
Published: October 2014

Objective: Digital ulcers are difficult to heal, increasing the chance of infection, gangrene, amputation and limited functional use of hands. They are a complication in scleroderma or systematic sclerosis (SSc) and occur in approximately 50% of patients. This is a systematic review of the evidence supporting the use of non-pharmaceutical therapeutic modalities and their effectiveness to facilitate the healing of chronic digital ulcers in patients with scleroderma. Method: A comprehensive review of computerised databases from 2000–2013: PubMed/MEDLINE, CINAHL, Pedro, OT Seeker, OT Search, OVID, and Proquest as well as manual review of other resources was completed using the following search terms scleroderma or systemic sclerosis and/or digital ulcers, specific modalities (low level laser therapy, electrical stimulation, intermittent compression, ultrasound, vitamin E, myofascial release, wound dressings, iontophoresis, negative pressure therapy, and exercise), chronic wounds, and wound care. English language studies, from 2000 to January 2013, which used therapeutic modalities to facilitate healing of digital ulcers and use healing of the digital ulcer as an outcome measure were reviewed. Results: Of the 403 identified articles, only 11 studies addressed non-pharmaceutical treatment modalities to facilitate healing for digital ulcers. Exercise had no direct effect on healing ulcers. The following studies were positive but have limitations in design and sample size:: hyperbaric oxygen therapy (n=2), negative pressure therapy (n=1), intermittent compression (n=27) and acoustic pressure wound healing (n=1). Vitamin E gel showed a significant difference compared to a control group (n=27). Iontophoresis studies have shown that the modality increases blood flow but the results in five different studies are mixed and the application and intensity were inconsistent. Conclusion: No one modality was proven to be the most effective. Larger efficacy studies on treating digital ulcers are needed in order to develop appropriate care guidelines to improve outcomes, promote function and lower health-care costs. Declaration of interest: There were no external sources of funding for this study. The author has no conflicts of interests to declare
Extended applications of gauze-based negative pressure wound therapy in hand surgery: A review of five cases
Authors: Chipp E. , Sheena Y. , Titley O.G. 
Published: October 2014

Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is an established treatment for a wide variety of acute and chronic wounds. Although the exact mechanism of action is still undefined, the proposed benefits of NPWT have been well described in the literature and include improved wound perfusion, granulation and reduction of oedema and bacteria. Here we describe a series of five challenging cases where NPWT dressings were applied for both elective and traumatic wounds of the upper limb. We describe the application of the dressing and the benefits seen in our patients. We believe the patients would have had inferior outcomes if managed by the best alternative conventional dressings. • Declaration of interest: All named authors hereby declare that they have no conflicts of interest to disclose.
A comparison of 2-octyl cyanoacrylate with nylon for wound closure of knee arthroscopy portals
Authors: Imbuldeniya A.M , Rashid A , Murphy J.P 
Published: October 2014

• Objective: To compare the cosmetic results, complications and patient satisfaction of 2-octyl cyanoacrylate (Dermabond, Ethicon Inc. Somerville, NJ, USA), a liquid bonding agent, with 3-0 nylon sutures (Ethilon, Ethicon Inc) skin closure in two groups of patients undergoing elective knee arthroscopy at 6 weeks. • Method: The retrospective clinical audit recruited patients undergoing knee surgery for the first time between October 2010 and August 2011. The patients were either treated with the liquid bonding agent or nylon sutures. The patients in the bonding agent group were allowed to shower as normal on postoperative day one, while patients in the suture group kept their wounds dry for 2 weeks. • Results: Between the two groups (40 patients per group) there was no difference in the cosmetic outcome (p=0.285), patient satisfaction (p=0.29), pain scores (p=0.44) or wound complication rate (p<0.05). Patient satisfaction was high in both groups. Furthermore, 83.75% of all patients indicated they would prefer the liquid bonding closure over nylon sutures if undergoing the same procedure in the future as they could shower the next day and avoid suture removal. • Conclusion: 2-octyl cyanoacrylate is safe to use in the short term in knee arthroscopy providing comparable results to nylon suture closure. Allowing patients to shower the next day appears to cause no adverse effects. • Declaration of interest: The authors would like to state that they do not have any economic or social interest in any of the products used or mentioned. No grant or finance was received for this study, nor any input from other sources.
Modeling of Furfural and 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural Content of Fermented Lotus Root: Artificial Neural Networks and a Genetic Algorithm Approach
Authors: Xu Libin , Xu Ning , Zhu Xia , Zhu Yupeng , Hu Yong , Li Dongsheng , Wang Chao 
Published: October 2014

Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different pretreatment and reducing sugar content on furfural (F) and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) contents of fermented lotus root by vinegar. The lotus root samples were fermented using vinegar for 15 days, at different solution concentrations and temperatures. The processing conditions were considered as inputs of neural network to predict the F and HMF contents of lotus root. Genetic algorithm was applied to optimize the structure and learning parameters of ANN. The developed genetic algorithm-artificial neural network (GA-ANN) which included 23 and 17 neurons in the first and second hidden layers, respectively, gives the lowest mean squared error (MSE). The correlation coefficient of ANN was compared with multiple linear regression-based models. The GA-ANN model was found to be a more accurate prediction method for the F and HMF contents of fermented lotus root than linear regression-based models. In addition, sensitivity analysis and Pearson’s correlation coefficient were also analyzed to find out the relation between input and output variables.
Improved FCM Algorithm Based on K-Means and Granular Computing
Authors: Lu Wei Jia , Yan Zhuang Zhi 
Published: October 2014

AbstractThe fuzzy clustering algorithm has been widely used in the research area and production and life. However, the conventional fuzzy algorithms have a disadvantage of high computational complexity. This article proposes an improved fuzzy C-means (FCM) algorithm based on K-means and principle of granularity. This algorithm is aiming at solving the problems of optimal number of clusters and sensitivity to the data initialization in the conventional FCM methods. The initialization stage of the K-medoid cluster, which is different from others, has a strong representation and is capable of detecting data with different sizes. Meanwhile, through the combination of the granular computing and FCM, the optimal number of clusters is obtained by choosing accurate validity functions. Finally, the detailed clustering process of the proposed algorithm is presented, and its performance is validated by simulation tests. The test results show that the proposed improved FCM algorithm has enhanced clustering performance in the computational complexity, running time, cluster effectiveness compared with the existing FCM algorithms.
The new disordered triplite polymorph of Co2[PO4]F
Authors: Yahia Hamdi Ben , Shikano Masahiro , Kobayashi Hironori 
Published: October 2014

Abstract
The new polymorph of Co2[PO4]F has been synthesized by a hydrothermal route. Its crystal structure was determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. Co2[PO4]F crystallizes with the triplite-type structure, space group C2/c, a=12.856(2), b=6.4369(10), c=9.6742(16) Å, β=117.40(1)°, V=710.7(2) Å3 and Z=8. The structure consists of a 3D-framework buildup of condensed PO4 tetrahedra, and cobalt(II) polyhedra which form chains running along the [101] and [010] directions. The coordination of the cobalt cations and the connectivity between the cobalt polyhedra are not well defined due to the disorder of the fluoride anions which form zigzag chains along [001]. The theoretical ordering of the fluoride anions led to two different structural models, very similar to the triplite Cc-CoFe[PO4]F and the triploidite P21/c-Co2[PO4]F, and in which the cobalt atoms are five and six coordinated.
A Phase I/II Study of XELIRI Plus Bevacizumab as Second-Line Chemotherapy for Japanese Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (BIX Study)
Authors: Hamamoto Yasuo , Yamaguchi Tatsuro , Nishina Tomohiro , Yamazaki Kentaro , Ura Takashi , Nakajima Takako , Goto Ayumu , Shimada Ken , Nakayama Norisuke , Sakamoto Junichi , Morita Satoshi , Yamada Yasuhide 
Published: October 2014

Abstract

Background.
Capecitabine is used mainly with oxaliplatin to treat metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Results from capecitabine plus irinotecan (XELIRI) with or without bevacizumab (BV) have been reported in Europe but not in Japan. Consequently, the safety and efficacy of XELIRI plus BV in Japanese patients with mCRC were assessed in a single-arm phase II study.

Methods.
Eligible patients had had prior chemotherapy containing BV for mCRC and wild-type or heterozygous UGT1A1. Therapy in each 21-day treatment cycle consisted of capecitabine (800 mg/m2 twice daily on days 1–15), irinotecan (200 mg/m2 on day 1), and BV (7.5 mg/kg on day 1). The primary endpoint was dose-limiting toxicity in phase I and progression-free survival (PFS) in phase II.

Results.
A total of 34 patients (6 in phase I, 28 in phase II) were enrolled from May 2010 to June 2011. Baseline characteristics included a median age of 60 years (range: 22–74 years) for 24 men and 10 women. No dose-limiting toxicities appeared in phase I. Median PFS was 240 days (95% confidence interval: 179–311 days). Overall response rate was 18.1%, and the disease-control rate was 90.9%. The incidence of adverse events frequently associated with irinotecan and capecitabine were neutropenia (any grade, 55.9%; grade 3 or 4, 11.8%), diarrhea (any grade, 50%; grade 3 or 4, 5.9%), and hand-foot syndrome (any grade, 61.8%; grade 3 or 4, 5.9%).

Conclusion.
Our results suggest that XELIRI plus BV is well tolerated and effective as a second-line treatment for mCRC in Japanese patients. This regimen could be especially appropriate for patients resistant to oxaliplatin-based regimens.
Factors Influencing Adoption of and Adherence to Indoor Smoking Bans Among Health Disparity Communities
Authors: Rees Vaughan W. , Keske Robyn R. , Blaine Kevin , Aronstein David , Gandelman Ediss , Lora Vilma , Savage Clara , Geller Alan C. 
Published: October 2014

Objectives. We assessed current home smoking behaviors and secondhand smoke (SHS) levels among parents of children in low-income, racial/ethnic minority communities in Massachusetts. Methods. We used a cross-sectional design to assess home smoking rules, smoking status, cigarettes smoked in the home, and barriers and benefits to attaining a smoke-free home among 138 caregivers (mean age = 30.0 years; 92% women) of children aged 0 to 6 years, between April 2010 and September 2012. Indoor SHS was assessed using a nicotine dosimeter. Results. Households with no ban reported a higher weekly mean number of cigarettes smoked in the home (114 cigarettes/week) than homes with partial (71 cigarettes/week) or complete (30 cigarettes/week) bans (P < .01). Smoking occurred outside more than inside homes with partial or complete bans. Air nicotine levels were positively associated with no household smoking ban, current smoking by the caregiver, and smoking indoors. Conclusions. Strategies to reduce home SHS should focus on a “complete” home smoking ban and smoking cessation. SHS mitigation strategies such as smoking outside were associated with lower SHS among participants unable to maintain a complete ban, and might enhance the likelihood of longer term success while immediately reducing home SHS.