bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Self‐Assembly of Selective Interfaces in Organic Photovoltaics
Authors: Mauger Scott A. , Chang Lilian , Friedrich Stephan , Rochester Christopher W. , Huang David M. , Wang Peng , Moulé Adam J. 
Published: November 2012

AbstractThe composition of polymer‐fullerene blends is a critical parameter for achieving high efficiencies in bulk‐heterojunction (BHJ) organic photovoltaics. Achieving the “right” materials distribution is crucial for device optimization as it greatly influences charge‐carrier mobility. The effect of the vertical concentration profile of materials in spin‐coated BHJs on device properties has stirred particularly vigorous debate. Despite available literature on this subject, the results are often contradictory and inconsistent, likely due to differences in sample preparation and experimental considerations. To reconcile published results, the influence of heating, surface energy, and solvent additives on vertical segregation and doping in polymer‐fullerene BHJ organic photovoltaics are studied using neutron reflectometry and near edge X‐ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy. It is shown that surface energies and solvent additives greatly impact heat‐induced vertical segregation. Interface charging due to Fermi level mismatch increases (6,6)‐phenyl‐C61‐butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM)‐enrichment at the BHJ/cathode interface. Current–voltage measurements show that self‐assembly of interfaces affects the open‐circuit voltage, resulting in clear changes to the power conversion efficiency.
Highly efficient and economical nitrogen oxides controlled by an in‐furnace urea solution pyrolysis coupled with SCR system for a coal‐fired utility boiler
Authors: Zhou Hao , Hu Shantao , Mo Guiyuan , Tang Qi , Cen Kefa 
Published: November 2012

ABSTRACTAn in‐furnace urea pyrolysis coupled with selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system was applied on a 125 MW tangentially coal‐fired utility boiler in China. The coupling system was well‐designed to distribute NO and NH3 more uniformly in the flue gas at the inlet of the SCR reactor. The experimental results showed that the homogeneous NO and NH3 concentrations distribution could result to better performance of the SCR reaction. A 15 wt% urea solution directly injected into the furnace at the same flow rate of 1.2 t/h in Cases 4–6, corresponded to the normalized stoichiometric ratio of 1.40, 1.47 and 1.35. The coupling system showed a high NO reduction efficiency of up to 85–89% and could control NO emission to as low as 40, 34 and 27 ppm, respectively, with NH3 slip less than 5 ppm. The calculated urea utilization efficiency was above 58% in the cases. The high utilization efficiency of the urea solution would significantly reduce the running cost of the system. There were only five injectors at the boiler's front wall, and one layer of total 90.3 m3 catalysts in the two SCR reactors, which would drastically reduce the initial investment. The effects of the urea solution flow rates were studied at 100  and 125 MW boiler loads; it was found that 1.2 t/h was the suitable flow rate of the urea solution, and the NO emission could be controlled lower than 40 ppm. The coupling system was stable, efficient and cost‐efficient in industrial operation. © 2012 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparative study of the dielectric properties of natural‐fiber–matrix composites and E‐glass–matrix composites
Authors: Triki A. , Guicha M. , Ben Hassen Med , Arous M. 
Published: November 2012

AbstractIn this work, we undertook a comparative study of the dynamic dielectric analysis of two composites: natural‐fiber‐reinforced unsaturated polyester (NFRUP) and E‐glass‐mat‐reinforced unsaturated polyester (EGMRUP). In both composites, two common relaxation processes were identified, the first of which was the α‐mode relaxation associated with the glass transition of the matrix. The second one was associated with conductivity that occurred because of the carriers' charge diffusion and was observed at temperatures above the glass transition and at low frequencies. However, the interfacial or Maxwell–Wagner–Sillars polarization was noticed only in the NFRUP composite. This dielectric study also revealed that compared to E‐glass fibers, natural fibers enhanced the thermal insulation in the composite. Also, the study of the fiber adhesion in the matrix with scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and tensile testing revealed a great compatibility of the fibers with the matrix in both composites. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Operating window of solution casting, part I: Newtonian fluids
Authors: Huang Yuan‐Chan , Wang Tai‐Zan , Tsai Chi‐Ping , Liu Ta‐Jo 
Published: November 2012

AbstractAn experimental study was carried out to investigate the fluid mechanics of solution casting. Newtonian glycerol solutions were used as test fluids and were casted on the polyethylene terephthalate films. The focus of this study is on the evaluation of the operating window, i.e., a region for stable and uniform processing. Different types of defects such as stable or unstable poolings, vibrating edges, and air entrainment outside the operating windows were observed. The effects of two different start‐up approaches on the operating window were studied. One of the key operating parameters is the maximum casting velocity Vmax for stable operation. The fluid viscosity is the most critical parameter on Vmax. It was found that if the gap between the slot die exit and the moving film substrate is smaller than 600 μm, Vmax might go down and then go up as the fluid viscosity increases. On the other hand, if the gap is larger than 600 μm, Vmax will decrease as the fluid viscosity increases. Competition of two different types of defects, i.e., unstable pooling and air entrainment, can decide Vmax, as evidenced by the observation on the fluid motion and dynamic contact angles of different cases. The importance of different forces on Vmax was also analyzed. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Influences of compatibilizers on rheology and mechanical properties of propylene random copolymer/styrene‐ethylene‐butylene‐styrene block copolymer/organic‐montmorillonite nanocomposites
Authors: Liu Binbin , Shangguan Yonggang , Song Yihu , Zheng Qiang 
Published: November 2012

AbstractPropylene random copolymer (PPR)/styrene‐ethylene‐butylene‐styrene block copolymer (SEBS)/compatibilizer/organic‐montmorillonite (OMMT) quaternary nanocomposites and PPR/compatibilizer/OMMT ternary nanocomposites were prepared via two‐stage melt blending and influences of compatibilizers, maleic anhydride (MA) grafted styrene‐ethylene‐butylene‐styrene copolymer (SEBS‐g‐MA), poly(octene‐co‐ethylene) (POE‐g‐MA), or propylene block copolymers (PPB‐g‐MA), on rheology and mechanical properties of the nanocomposites were investigated. The results of X‐ray diffraction measurement and transmission electron microscopy observation showed that OMMT layers were mainly intercalated in the nanocomposites except for the mainly exfoliated structure in the quaternary nanocomposites using POE‐g‐MA as compatibilizer. The nanocomposites exhibited pseudo‐solid like viscoelasticity in low frequencies and shear‐thinning in high shear rates. As far as OMMT dispersion was concerned, POE‐g‐MA was superior to SEBS‐g‐MA and PPB‐g‐MA, which gives rise to the highest viscosities in both the ternary and quaternary nanocomposites. The quaternary nanocomposites containing POE‐g‐MA were endowed with balanced toughness and rigidity. It was suggested that a suitable combination of compatibilizer and SEBS was an essentially important factor for adjusting the OMMT dispersion and distribution, the rheological and mechanical performances of the nanocomposites. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Electric field‐induced stretch of pyrene‐labeled diblock weak polyelectrolyte in dilute solution monitored by steady‐state fluorescence
Authors: Tan Qian , Shu Xiang , Yi Jie , Zhang Hai‐Liang 
Published: November 2012

AbstractPyrene‐labeled diblock weak polyelectrolyte of poly (2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate)‐b‐poly (2‐(dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate) (Py‐PHEMA‐b‐PDMAEMA) was successfully synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization. The behavior of electric field induced diblock polyelectrolyte chain stretch in dilute solution was investigated by steady‐state fluorescence spectroscopy. The effect of diblock polyelectrolyte concentration, pH value, salt concentration, and solvent viscosity on electric field‐induced stretch was thoroughly investigated by the ratio (IE/IM) of excimer‐to‐monomer emission intensities obtained from the steady‐state fluorescence spectroscopy. The results indicate that the weak diblock polyelectrolyte coil undergoes a stretching process in an external electric field, resulting in the electric field‐induced stretch. An increasing polyelectrolyte concentration is advantageous to electric field‐induced stretch. The degree of electric field‐induced stretch is increased with the decrease of pH value by adding acid. In the presence of NaCl, the degree of electric field‐induced stretch is increased with an increasing of salt concentration. However, an increase of solvent viscosity is disadvantageous to electric field‐induced stretch. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Assessment of antibacterial activity of herbal finished surface modified polypropylene nonwoven fabric against bacterial pathogens of wound
Authors: Nithyakalyani Dhanapalan , Ramachandran Thangavelu , Rajendran Ramasamy , Mahalakshmi Muthusamy 
Published: November 2012

AbstractThe field of medical textiles, an antimicrobial textile in particular is interdisciplinary. Antimicrobial textiles are mainly used in medical and healthcare environments to control the proliferation of microorganisms. The present work is aimed to study the antimicrobial activity of the air plasma treated (PT) nonwoven polypropylene fabric coated with herbs, which can be used as wound dressing. Surface modification of the nonwoven polypropylene fabric was performed using air plasma. The air PT fabric was finished with the methanolic extracts of 11 medicinal herbs. Their antibacterial activities were analyzed against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Of these, three herbs namely Ficus bengalensis, Cleome viscosa, and Areca catechu showed good activity against S. aureus and Escherichia coli. The antibacterial activity of the air PT polypropylene fabric coated with 1 : 1 : 1 combination of the abovementioned herbs was also assessed as per AATCC 100 method and it was found to be 99%. The herbal finished fabric was tested against the predominant wound isolates by agar diffusion method. The results showed excellent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus sp., good antibacterial activity against Bacillus sp., Escherichia sp., Klebsiella sp., Pseudomonas sp., Serratia sp., and Proteus sp. thus proving its potential as wound dressing. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Microencapsulation of imidazole curing agent by solvent evaporation method using W/O/W emulsion
Authors: Shin Min Jae , Shin Young Jae , Hwang Seung Won , Shin Jae Sup 
Published: November 2012

AbstractThe epoxy–imidazole resin system is used to form the anisotropic conducting film. The latent character of the system is very significant. In this study, imidazole (Im) or 2‐methylimidazole (2MI) was encapsulated for the latent curing system to use in the reaction of epoxy resin. Polycaprolactone was used as a wall material, and the solvent evaporation method was used to form the microcapsule using W/O/W emulsion. The shelf life of the microcapsules was studied for the epoxy resin, and the curing behavior of the microcapsules for epoxy resin was examined using a differential scanning calorimeter. The curing times at 150 and 180°C were estimated using an indentation method. The microcapsules of Im or 2MI exhibited a long shelf life for epoxy resin. When comparing the results of the previous methods with the results of this study using the W/O/W emulsion, finer microcapsules were formed and the microcapsule has longer shelf life. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Influence of diblock addition on tack in a polyacrylic triblock copolymer/tackifier system measured using a probe tack test
Authors: Yamamura Kazuhiro , Fujii Syuji , Nakamura Yoshinobu , Fujiwara Kazuko , Hikasa Shigeki , Urahama Yoshiaki 
Published: November 2012

AbstractThe influence of diblock copolymer addition on the tack properties of a polyacrylic triblock copolymer/tackifier system was investigated. For this purpose, poly(methyl methacrylate)‐block‐poly(n‐butyl acrylate)‐block‐poly(methyl methacrylate) triblock copolymer (MAM) and a 1/1 blend with a diblock copolymer consisting of the same components (MA) were used as base polymers, and a tackifier was added in amounts ranging from 10 to 30 wt %. The temperature dependence of tack was measured by a probe tack test. The tack of MAM/MA at room temperature was significantly higher than that of MAM, and the improvement of MAM/MA upon the addition of the tackifier was higher than that of MAM. The peeling process at the probe/adhesive interface during the probe tack test was observed using a high‐speed microscope. It was found that for MAM/MA, cavitation was caused in the entire adhesive layer, and peeling initiation was delayed by the absorption of strain energy due to deformation of the adhesive layer. In contrast, for MAM, peeling progressed linearly from the edge to the center of the probe. The greater flexibility of the soft block chain in the diblock copolymer resulted in improved interfacial adhesion. 1H pulse nuclear magnetic resonance analysis showed that the addition of the tackifier improved the cohesive strength of the adhesive. Adhesion strength is affected by two factors: the development of interfacial adhesion and cohesive strength. In the MAM/MA/tackifier system, the presence of MA and the tackifier improved the interfacial adhesion and cohesive strength, respectively. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Stem cells of the respiratory system: From identification to differentiation into functional epithelium
Authors: Green Michael D. , Huang Sarah X.L. , Snoeck Hans‐Willem 
Published: November 2012

AbstractWe review recent progress in the stem cell biology of the respiratory system, and discuss its scientific and translational ramifications. Several studies have defined novel stem cells in postnatal lung and airways and implicated their roles in tissue homeostasis and repair. In addition, significant advances in the generation of respiratory epithelium from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) now provide a novel and powerful platform for understanding lung development, modeling pulmonary diseases, and implementing drug screening. Finally, breakthroughs have been made in the generation of decellularized lung matrices that can serve as a scaffold for repopulation with respiratory cells derived from either postnatal or PSCs. These studies are a critical step forward towards the still distant goal of stem cell‐based regenerative medicine for diseases of lung and airways.
Risk factors for major morbidity after liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Sadamori H , Yagi T , Shinoura S , Umeda Y , Yoshida R , Satoh D , Nobuoka D , Utsumi M , Fujiwara T 
Published: November 2012

Abstract

Background
Bile leakage, and organ and/or space surgical-site infection (SSI) are common causes of major morbidity after partial hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The purpose of this study was to analyse risk factors for major morbidity and to explore strategies for its reduction after partial hepatectomy for HCC.

Methods
Risk factors for bile leakage and organ/space SSI were analysed in patients who underwent partial hepatectomy for HCC between 2001 and 2010. The causes, management and outcomes of intractable bile leakage requiring endoscopic therapy or percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage were analysed. In addition, causative bacteria, outcomes and characteristics of organ/space SSI were investigated. Risk factors were identified using multivariable analysis.

Results
Some 359 patients were included in the analysis. The prevalence of bile leakage and organ/space SSI was 12·8 and 8·6 per cent respectively. Repeat hepatectomy and an operating time of at least 300 min were identified as independent risk factors for bile leakage. The main causes of intractable bile leakage were latent strictures of the biliary system caused by previous treatments for HCC and intraoperative injury of the hepatic duct during repeat hepatectomy. Independent risk factors for organ/space SSI were repeat hepatectomy and bile leakage. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was detected more frequently in organ/space SSI after repeat hepatectomy than after initial partial hepatectomy.

Conclusion
Repeat hepatectomy and prolonged surgery were identified as risk factors for bile leakage after liver resection for HCC. Bile leakage and repeat hepatectomy increased the risk of organ/space SSI.
Integration of patient-reported outcome measures with key clinical outcomes after immediate latissimus dorsi breast reconstruction and adjuvant treatment
Authors:   The Prospective Trial Management Group, Winters Z E , Haviland J , Balta V , Benson J , Reece-Smith A , Betambeau N 
Published: November 2012

Abstract

Background
Clinical evidence on patient-reported outcome measures (PROMS) in breast reconstruction is lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate PROMs in implant-assisted latissimus dorsi (LDI) or tissue-only autologous latissimus dorsi (ALD) flap reconstruction in relation to complications and adjuvant treatments.

Methods
This was a prospective cohort study involving six UK centres. Eligible patients had primary early-stage breast cancer. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality-of-life questionnaire (QLQ)-C30 and QLQ-BR23, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy—Breast Cancer scale (FACT-B), Body Image Scale, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were completed before operation and at 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery.

Results
A total of 182 patients (82 LDI and 100 ALD) were recruited between 2007 and 2010 with symptomatic (59·9 per cent) or screen-detected (39·6 per cent) cancers. Some 64·3 per cent had lymph node-negative disease; 30 per cent of the LDI group had radiotherapy, compared with 53·0 per cent in the ALD group (P = 0·004). Early complications up to 3 months after surgery were reported in 66 and 51·0 per cent of patients in the LDI and ALD groups respectively (P = 0·062) and long-term complications (4–12 months) in 48 and 45·0 per cent (P = 0·845). Role functioning and pain (P = 0·002 for both) were adversely affected in the ALD group compared with results in the LDI group, with no significant effects of radiotherapy on any health-related quality of life (HRQL). Chemotherapy and early complications adversely affected HRQL, which improved between 3 and 12 months after surgery (P &lt; 0·010 for all).

Conclusion
There is evidence of similar HRQL between types of latissimus dorsi breast reconstruction for up to a year after surgery. There appear to be no overarching effects for radiotherapy after mastectomy on the specific HRQL domains studied in the short term. The identification of variables that affect HRQL is important, including their integration into the analysis of PROMs.
Expression of cell adhesion molecules and prognosis in breast cancer
Authors: Saadatmand S , de Kruijf E M , Sajet A , Dekker-Ensink N G , van Nes J G H , Putter H , Smit V T H B M , van de Velde C J H , Liefers G J , Kuppen P J K 
Published: November 2012

Abstract

Background
Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) play an important role in the process of metastasis. The prognostic value of tumour expression of N-cadherin, E-cadherin, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and epithelial CAM (Ep-CAM) was evaluated in patients with breast cancer.

Methods
A tissue microarray of the patient cohort was stained immunohistochemically for all markers and analysed by microscopy. Expression was classified into two categories, with the median score as cut-off level. For CEA, the above-median category was further subdivided in two subgroups based on staining intensity (low or high intensity).

Results
The cohort consisted of 574 patients with breast cancer with a median follow-up of 19 years. Below-median expression of E-cadherin (P = 0·015), and above-median expression of N-cadherin (P = 0·004), Ep-CAM (P = 0·046) and CEA (P = 0·001) all resulted in a shorter relapse-free period. Multivariable analysis revealed E-cadherin and CEA to be independent prognostic variables. Combined analysis of CEA and E-cadherin expression showed a 3·6 times higher risk of relapse for patients with high-intensity expression of CEA, regardless of E-cadherin expression, compared with patients with below-median CEA and above-median E-cadherin tumour expression (hazard ratio 3·60, 95 per cent confidence interval 2·12 to 6·11; P &lt; 0·001). An interaction was found between expression of these two CAMs (P &lt; 0·001), suggesting a biological association.

Conclusion
Combining E-cadherin and CEA tumour expression provides a prognostic parameter with high discriminative power that is a candidate tool for prediction of prognosis in breast cancer.
Graphics processing unit optimizations for the dynamics of the HIRLAM weather forecast model
Authors: Vu V.T. , Cats G. , Wolters L. 
Published: November 2012

SUMMARYProgrammable graphics processing units (GPUs) nowadays offer tremendous computational resources for diverse applications. In this paper, we present the implementation of the dynamics routine of the HIRLAM weather forecast model on the NVIDIA GTX 480. The original Fortran code has been converted manually to C and CUDA. Empirically, it is determined what the optimal number of grid points per thread is, and what the best thread and block structures are. A significant amount of the elapsed time consists of transferring data between CPU and GPU. To reduce the impact of these transfer costs, we overlap calculation and transfer of data using multiple CUDA streams. We developed an algorithm that enables our code generator CTADEL to generate automatically the optimal CUDA streams program. Experiments are performed to find out if the applicability of GPUs is useful for Numerical Weather Prediction, in particular for the dynamics part. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Instruction scheduling and transformation for a VLIW unified reduced instruction set computer/digital signal processor processor with shared register architecture
Authors: Lee Cheng‐Yu , Hung Min‐Chin , Chang Rong‐Guey 
Published: November 2012

SUMMARYThe popularity of multimedia applications made them a major theme in embedded systems. The key component for supporting multimedia application well is embedded processor. Thus, we have designed and implemented an embedded processor, called UniDual processor, to achieve this objective. Its key features are the integration of instructions of reduced instruction set computers (RISCs) and digital signal processors (DSPs) as well as the support of special instruction set and shared‐based clustered register architecture. However, an important issue of UniDual that remains open is how to efficiently allocate registers.In this paper, we present a scheduling and instruction transformation approach to resolve the aforementioned issue. The proposed approach schedules instructions and then transforms overlapped instructions into RISC and DSP instructions by taking communication overhead and hardware limitations into account. Compared with the greedy approach, the evaluation shows that our work is relatively effective in performance and code size reduction. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.