bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Melt processing of poly(vinyl alcohol) through adding magnesium chloride hexahydrate and ethylene glycol as a complex plasticizer
Authors: Jiang Xiancai , Jiang Ting , Zhang Xiaofei , Dai Hua , Zhang Xi 
Published: June 2012

AbstractThe melt processing of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) was achieved using magnesium chloride hexahydrate (MgCl2·6H2O) and ethylene glycol as a complex plasticizer. The interaction between the complex plasticizer and PVA was studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR). The PVA films were characterized using X‐ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscope, and dynamic thermomechanical analysis (DMA) techniques. The band shift of the observed peak around 3335 cm−1 in the FT‐IR spectra indicates that the complex plasticizer MgCl2·6H2O and ethylene glycol could form strong interactions with PVA and thus interrupt the intermolecular and intramolecular hydrogen bonding in PVA. The XRD results show that the addition of the complex plasticizer would significantly destroy the crystallites of PVA and result to the decrease of the degree of crystallinity of PVA. The melting point was reduced from 229°C of pure PVA to around 170°C after the plasticization. The TGA studies show that with the complex plasticizer, the thermal stability of PVA is improved. PVA plasticized by 30 wt% MgCl2·6H2O and 10 wt% ethylene glycol shows the tensile strength of 33 MPa and the elongation at break of 362%. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers
Non‐physician providers as clinical providers in cystic fibrosis: Survey of US programs
Authors: Brown Rebekah F. , Willey‐Courand Donna Beth , George Cindy , McMullen Ann , Dunitz Jordan , Slovis Bonnie , Perkett Elizabeth 
Published: June 2012

AbstractBackground and MethodsNon‐physician providers (NPPs) including nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) are important members of CF care teams, but limited data exist about the extent NPPs are involved in CF care. A subcommittee was established by the CF Foundation to gather information about current involvement of NPPs. Surveys were sent to adult, pediatric and affiliate CF program directors (PDs) and NPPs working in US CF programs.ResultsResponses were received from 108 PDs (49% pediatric, 34% adult, 17% affiliate). Overall, 53% of the 108 programs had NPPs and 70% had or planned to hire NPPs. Reasons for NPP use included ideal clinical role (75%), expansion of services (72%), and physician shortage (40%). The survey collected 73 responses from NPPs (96% NPs, 4% PAs) who worked in pediatric (49%), adult (29%), affiliate (3%), or multiple programs (19%). Training occurred on the job in 88% and from prior CF experience in 21%. NPPs provided coverage in outpatient clinics (82%), inpatient care (64%), and weekend and/or night call (22%). In addition to clinical roles, NPPs are involved in education (95%), research (81%), and leadership (55%). The major obstacle reported by PDs and NPPs was billing with only 12% of programs reporting NPP salaries covered by billing revenue alone. Salary support included hospital support (67%), billing (39%), center grant (35%), and other grant/contract (25%). NPPs bill for outpatient and inpatient care in 65% and 28% of programs, respectively.ConclusionsNPPs are working with physicians in many centers and have the potential to help meet the increasing clinical workforce demands. Further evaluation of financial issues is indicated to continue the support of NPP jobs in CF. Roles and expectations need to be clearly defined. Initial and ongoing training standards and opportunities should be explored. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2013; 48:398–404. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Munitions Propellants Residue Deposition Rates On Military Training Ranges
Authors: Walsh Michael R. , Walsh Marianne E. , Ampleman Guy , Thiboutot Sonia , Brochu Sylvie , Jenkins Thomas F. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractTraining with live munitions is an integral component of preparing the modern military for warfare. Energetic compounds, such as propellants and explosives, are consumed during the use of these munitions. These compounds are never fully consumed, however, and the deposition and accumulation of energetic residue on training ranges is the result. This paper summarizes 10 years of research into propellant deposition rates for common military munitions used in the USA and Canada. Research indicates that the firing of howitzers and tanks leave very little residue, the firing of mortars can result in moderate deposition of propellant residue, small‐arms firing positions have the potential for significant residue accumulation, and training with shoulder‐fired rockets and 40 mm machine guns can result in dangerous quantities of unburned propellants. Residue rates vary widely for the weapon systems tested, from 10−6 % for large rocket systems to over 70 % for shoulder‐fired rockets.
Observations of the convective environment in developing and non‐developing tropical disturbances
Authors: Smith Roger K. , Montgomery Michael T. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractAnalyses of thermodynamic data gathered from airborne dropwindsondes released from the upper troposphere during the Pre‐Depression Investigation of Cloud Systems in the Tropics (PREDICT) experiment are presented. We focus on two systems that finally became hurricanesKarlandMatthew, and one system (Gaston) that attained tropical storm status, but subsequently weakened and never redeveloped during five days of monitoring. Data for all events show that the largest values of total precipitable water are collocated with the surface trough and with values of convective available potential energy that seem high enough to support convective organization. These values coincide mostly with low values of convective inhibition. Vertical profiles of virtual potential temperature show little variability between soundings on a particular day, but the system means from day to day show a slight warming. In contrast, vertical profiles of pseudo‐equivalent potential temperature,θe, show much more variability between soundings on a particular day on account of the variability in moisture.In all systems, there was is a tendency for the lower troposphere to moisten, but in the non‐developing system, the troposphere became progressively drier in the height range between approximately 2 and 9 km during the five days of observations. In the developing systems, the troposphere moistened. The most prominent difference between the non‐developing system and the two developing systems was the much larger reduction ofθebetween the surface and a height of 3 km, typically 25 K in the non‐developing system, compared with only 17 K in the developing systems. Conventional wisdom would suggest that, for this reason, the convective downdraughts would be stronger in the non‐developing system and would thereby act to suppress the development. Here we propose an alternative hypothesis in which the drier air weakens the convective updraughts and thereby the convective amplification of absolute vorticity necessary for development. Copyright © 2012 Royal Meteorological Society
Robotic laparoendoscopy single site surgery: a transdisciplinary review
Authors: Balaphas Alexandre , Hagen Monika E. , Buchs Nicolas C. , Pugin François , Volonté Francesco , Inan Ihsan , Morel Philippe 
Published: June 2012

AbstractBackgroundRecent developments in minimal invasive surgery have led to laparoendoscopic single site surgery (LESS). This new approach has great potential but remains technically challenging. In order to relieve these difficulties many authors have adapted robotic technology to single site surgery. Numerous approaches have been developed and there is no real consensus.MethodsA transdisiplinary systematic review of the literature and analysis of the techniques were performed using PubMed up to 31 December 2011.ResultsA total of 41 publications were found and included. Seven used the da Vinci Single Site Instrumentation (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA, USA) whereas others used various access devices including: GelPort/GelPOINT (Applied Medical, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, USA) and a glove technique.ConclusionsThe technical feasibility of robotic LESS is established for numerous and various procedures. However, each kind of procedure requires a customized selection from among the da Vinci new platform, glove technique or GelPort/GelPOINT as well as instrument crossing with respect to minimal distances. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Combined code reuse scheme with two‐dimensional OVSF codes assignment algorithm for uplink multi‐user/multi‐rate block spread multi‐cellular CDMA
Authors: Yu Qiyue , Meng Weixiao , Adachi Fumiyuki 
Published: June 2012

ABSTRACTThe two‐dimensional (2D) block spread code division multiple access (CDMA) can avoid the uplink multiple‐access interference with low‐complexity single‐user detection in a slow fading channel and, therefore, is very attractive. In the 2D spreading, orthogonal variable spreading factor (OVSF) is used for spreading; an important problem is how to efficiently assign the limited resource of OVSF codes to users with different data rates, while meeting the requirement of quality of service in a multi‐cell environment. In this paper, it is shown that the code reuse can improve the code reuse efficiency and the proposed code reuse scheme combined with code assignment algorithm can allow flexible multi‐rate uplink transmission. The computer simulation confirms that the proposed code assignment algorithm improves the code reuse efficiency while achieving lower blocking probability than traditional CDMA. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Help or hinder? When recommendation signage expands consideration sets and heightens decision difficulty
Authors: Goodman Joseph K. , Broniarczyk Susan M. , Griffin Jill G. , McAlister Leigh 
Published: June 2012

AbstractThis research examines whether recommendation signage helps or hinders the consumer when faced with choosing from large product assortments. In spite of frequent usage and retailer intuition suggesting that providing recommendation signs (e.g., “Best Seller,” “Award Winner”) should help consumers in the choice process, we propose that signs can hinder choice for consumers with more developed preferences by adding to the complexity and difficulty of the decision process. In three experiments using horizontally differentiated products in multiple categories, we provide evidence that recommendation signs create preference conflict for consumers with more developed preferences, leading these consumers to form larger consideration sets and ultimately experience more difficulty from the decision‐making process. In addition, we show that these effects are mitigated for consumers with less developed preferences and when the choice is from a small assortment. The results suggest that recommendation signage may not be an effective tool for aiding choice from large assortments; instead signage can exacerbate the difficulties associated with having too many choices, with implications on purchase quantity.
Taking prisoners: reviewing the international humanitarian law grounds for deprivation of liberty by armed opposition groups
Authors: Casalin Deborah 
Published: June 2012

AbstractWhile detention by armed opposition groups in non-international armed conflict is a reality that is foreseen and not prohibited by international humanitarian law, the grounds upon which it may take place are not defined. This article looks more closely at the customary international humanitarian law prohibition on arbitrary deprivation of liberty, and how it can apply to armed opposition groups in a manner that makes compliance realistic. It focuses on the legal bases upon which armed opposition groups may detain persons who are taken into custody in order to remove them from hostilities or for security purposes. An approach to detention by armed opposition groups based on the principles of international humanitarian law applicable to international armed conflicts is explored and its limitations defined.
Sensitivity of peatland carbon loss to organic matter quality
Authors: Leifeld Jens , Steffens Markus , Galego‐Sala Angela 
Published: June 2012

Peatland soils store substantial amounts of organic matter (OM). During peat formation, easily decomposable OM is preferentially lost and more recalcitrant moieties accumulate. In a peat profile, OM quality thus scales with depth. Drainage and ongoing climate change poses the risk of rapid OM loss when formerly anoxic peat layers oxidize. During peat decomposition, deeper, more recalcitrant peat is exposed to the oxygen‐rich surface, which may influence the decomposition rate. We show that the soil respiration rate of a disturbed temperate peatland is strongly controlled by the peat's quality and especially its polysaccharides content. The polysaccharide content of soil profiles in a wider range of peatland sites with differing degrees of disturbance was inferred by means of solid‐state13C NMR and DRIFT spectroscopy. The data confirmed a strong decline in polysaccharide content with depth and a poor OM quality of surface peat in soils drained decades ago. We combined the evidence from respiration and spectroscopic measurements to deduce the sensitivity of peatland carbon loss with respect to OM quality by scaling measured quality to a 142‐years record of peatland subsidence and carbon loss at one of the sites. According to the functional relationship between quality and respiration, the measured average annual carbon loss rate of 2.5 t C ha−1 at that site was 20 t C ha−1 at the onset of peatland drainage and dropped to less than 1 t C ha−1 in recent times.
Predictability of population displacement after the 2010 Haiti earthquake
Authors: Lu Xin , Bengtsson Linus , Holme Petter 
Published: June 2012

Most severe disasters cause large population movements. These movements make it difficult for relief organizations to efficiently reach people in need. Understanding and predicting the locations of affected people during disasters is key to effective humanitarian relief operations and to long-term societal reconstruction. We collaborated with the largest mobile phone operator in Haiti (Digicel) and analyzed the movements of 1.9 million mobile phone users during the period from 42 d before, to 341 d after the devastating Haiti earthquake of January 12, 2010. Nineteen days after the earthquake, population movements had caused the population of the capital Port-au-Prince to decrease by an estimated 23%. Both the travel distances and size of people’s movement trajectories grew after the earthquake. These findings, in combination with the disorder that was present after the disaster, suggest that people’s movements would have become less predictable. Instead, the predictability of people’s trajectories remained high and even increased slightly during the three-month period after the earthquake. Moreover, the destinations of people who left the capital during the first three weeks after the earthquake was highly correlated with their mobility patterns during normal times, and specifically with the locations in which people had significant social bonds. For the people who left Port-au-Prince, the duration of their stay outside the city, as well as the time for their return, all followed a skewed, fat-tailed distribution. The findings suggest that population movements during disasters may be significantly more predictable than previously thought.
Effectiveness of Common Fish Screen Materials to Protect Lamprey Ammocoetes
Authors: Rose Brien P. , Mesa Matthew G. 
Published: June 2012

Abstract
Understanding the effects of irrigation diversions on populations of Pacific lamprey Lampetra tridentata in the Columbia River basin is needed for their recovery. We tested the effectiveness of five common fish screen materials for excluding lamprey ammocoetes: interlock (IL), vertical bar (VB), perforated plate (PP), and 12-gauge and 14-gauge wire cloth (WC12) and (WC14). When fish (28–153 mm) were exposed for 60 min to screen panels perpendicular to an approach velocity of 12 cm/s in a recirculating flume, the percentage of ammocoetes entrained (i.e., passed through the screen) was 26% for the IL, 18% for the PP, 33% for the VB, 62% for the WC14, and 65% for the WC12 screens. For all screens, most fish were entrained within the first 15–20 min. Fish length significantly influenced entrainment, with the PP, VB, and IL screens preventing fish greater than 50–65 mm from entrainment and the WC14 and WC12 screens preventing entrainment of fish greater than 90–110 mm. Fish of all sizes repeatedly became impinged (i.e., contacting the screen for more than 1 s) on the screens, with the frequency of impingement events increasing during the first 5 min and becoming relatively stable thereafter. Impingement ranges were highest on the IL screen (36–62%), lowest on the WC14 and WC12 screens (13–31%), and intermediate on the PP and VB screens (23–54%). However, the WC14 and WC12 screens had fewer and larger fish remaining as time elapsed because so many were entrained. For all screen types, injuries were rare and minor, and no fish died after overnight posttest holding. Our results indicate that wire cloth screens should be replaced, where practical, with perforated plate, vertical bar, or interlocking bar screens to reduce lamprey entrainment at water diversions.
Received October 26, 2011; accepted March 14, 2012
Androgen depletion augments antibacterial prostate host defences in rats
Authors: Quintar A. A. , Leimgruber C. , Pessah O. A. , Doll A. , Maldonado C. A. 
Published: June 2012

SummaryThe defence of the male reproductive tract against microorganisms is critical for fertilization. The prostate gland has been reported to express several molecules of the innate immune system. However, little information is available about how androgens may modulate host defences within the prostate. We therefore aimed to examine in the rat the expression of the TLR4 system, which is strongly involved in pathogen recognition, and the secretion of the antibacterial substances rBD‐1 and SP‐D after androgen withdrawal. Immunoblotting and immunocytochemical analysis revealed a time‐dependent increase in these molecules after orchiectomy, with epithelial and stromal cells being an important source of prostatic host defence proteins. In view of this, we evaluated the potential improvement in antibacterial ability of the prostatic fluid from orchiectomized animals ex vivo. Only samples from rats at 5 days post‐orchiectomy showed a slight inhibition ofEscherichia coligrowth. Finally,E. coliwas inoculated into the ventral prostate of orchiectomized or control rats, with bacterial growth being counted at 5 days after infection. Animals with androgen depletion presented a lower bacterial count, and showed few histological signs of prostatic inflammation compared with controls. In vitro studies confirmed that isolated lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐treated prostatic cells in the absence of testosterone increased SP‐D. Moreover, media from these cells showed a higher antimicrobial activity than supernatants from testosterone‐ and LPS‐treated cells. Our findings indicate that testosterone maintains a reduced expression of key elements for innate immunity and diminishes the antibacterial ability of the rat prostate. These data may represent an important mechanism underlying the immunosuppressive activity of testosterone in the gland. However, this immunosuppressive function of androgens is understandable as a means of avoiding uncontrolled immune responses against the haploid male gamete in the reproductive tract.
A randomised, controlled clinical trial comparing chlorhexidine gel and low‐dose fluoride toothpaste to prevent early childhood caries
Authors: PUKALLUS MARGARET L. , PLONKA KATHRYN A. , BARNETT ADRIAN G. , WALSH LAURENCE J. , HOLCOMBE TREVOR F. , SEOW W. KIM 
Published: June 2012

International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 2013; 23: 216–224
Objectives.  This randomised, controlled trial compared the effectiveness of 0.12% chlorhexidine (CHX) gel and 304% fluoride toothpaste to prevent early childhood caries (ECC) in a birth cohort by 24 months.Methods.  The participants were randomised to receive either (i) twice daily toothbrushing with toothpaste and once daily 0.12% CHX gel (n = 110) or (ii) twice daily toothbrushing with toothpaste only (study controls) (n = 89). The primary outcome measured was caries incidence and the secondary outcome was percentage of children with mutans streptococci (MS). All mothers were contacted by telephone at 6, 12, and 18 months. At 24 months, all children were examined at a community dental clinic.Results.  At 24 months, the caries prevalence was 5% (3/61) in the CHX and 7% (4/58) in the controls (P = 0.7). There were no differences in percentages of MS‐positive children between the CHX and control groups (54%vs 53%). Only 20% applied the CHX gel once daily and 80% less than once daily.Conclusions.  Toothbrushing using 304% fluoride toothpaste with or without the application of chlorhexidine gel (0.12%) reduces ECC from 23% found in the general community to 5–7%. The lack of effect with chlorhexidine is likely to be due to low compliance.
Evaluation of a family nursing intervention for distressed pregnant women and their partners: a single group before and after study
Authors: Thome Marga , Arnardottir Stefanía B. 
Published: June 2012

Thome M. & Arnardottir S.B. (2013) Evaluation of a family nursing intervention for distressed pregnant women and their partners: a single group before and after study. Journal of Advanced Nursing 69(4), 805–816. doi: 10.1111/j.1365‐2648.2012.06063.xAbstractAim.  To report a study of the effects of an antenatal family nursing intervention for emotionally distressed women and their partners.Background.  High levels of depressive symptoms and anxiety are common in pregnant women, and their partners are likely to suffer from a higher degree of these symptoms than those of non‐distressed women. Maternal anxiety and depressive symptoms influence the development of the foetus and child negatively. Distress‐reducing interventions for couples are scarce.Design.  The design was a pre‐ and post‐test single group quasi‐experiment.Methods.  All women distressed during the last two trimesters of pregnancy were referred by midwives to a family nursing home‐visiting service in a primary care setting in Iceland. They were invited to participate in the study from November 2007–September 2009. The final sample was 39 couples. Assessment of distress was through self‐reporting of depressive symptoms and anxiety, self‐esteem, and dyadic adjustment. The couple received four home visits that were guided by the Calgary Family Nursing Model.Results.  Women experienced a higher degree of distress than men before the intervention. Couple’s distress was interrelated, and improvement was significant on all indicators after the intervention.Conclusion.  Healthcare professionals who care for distressed expectant women should attend to their partners’ mental health status. The Calgary Family Nursing Model is an appropriate guide for nursing care of distressed prospective couples in a primary care setting.
Apelin and Vasopressin: Two Work Better than One
Authors: Llorens‐Cortes Catherine , Moos Francoise 
Published: June 2012

SummaryWater retention in the kidney is known to be an active phenomenon, controlled by a neuropeptide: vasopressin. Water excretion was assumed to be a passive phenomenon, as a result of vasopressin release blockade. This simplistic view is incorrect because water excretion is also controlled by a diuretic neuropeptide, apelin, produced not only by several peripheral tissues, but also by hypothalamic neurones, in particular the vasopressin ones projecting to the posterior pituitary.