bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dissecting the “CHF admission”: An evidence‐based review of the evaluation and management of acute decompensated heart failure for the hospitalist
Authors: Kransdorf Evan P. , Kittleson Michelle M. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractAcute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) is one of the most common conditions managed by hospitalists. Here we review the most recent evidence applicable to hospitalists for the diagnosis, risk stratification, and management of patients presenting with ADHF. By following a structured approach based on the patient's symptoms, history, physical examination, and laboratory testing, the clinician can make the diagnosis of heart failure efficiently. Because patients exhibit a wide spectrum of risk for adverse outcomes, both in the hospital and after discharge, assessing for clinical factors associated with these outcomes is essential. Congestion should be managed primarily with diuretics, and vasodilators may be helpful in certain patients. Given high rates of readmission, hospitalists should ensure that patients received evidence‐based therapy, heart failure education is performed, and follow‐up is in place before discharge. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2012; © 2012 Society of Hospital Medicine
Facile Preparation of Polymeric Dimers from Amphiphilic Patchy Particles
Authors: Wang Fengyang , Cheng Lin , Chen Tianhong , Zhu Dongsheng , Wen Qiang , Wang Shaowu 
Published: February 2012

AbstractA straightforward strategy for assembling polymeric dimers from amphiphilic nanoparticles is reported. Amphiphilic polymeric nanoparticles with a mixed‐shell of PEO/P2VN blocks and a flexible core of PAA blocks are fabricated by a non‐covalent crosslinking method. Uniform polymeric dimers are efficiently and simply obtained via hydrophobic interactions under optimized conditions in selective solvent. The steric hindrance generated by reorganization of hydrophilic polymer brushes during the interparticle association is critical for morphological selectivity in the assembly. General applicability offers the possibility to organize functional NPs into superstructures with well‐defined geometry and association numbers.
Direct Cyclodextrin‐Mediated Ring Opening Polymerization of ϵ‐Caprolactone in the Presence of Yttrium Trisphenolate Catalyst
Authors: Li Xin , Zhu Yinghong , Ling Jun , Shen Zhiquan 
Published: February 2012

AbstractUnmodified β‐cyclodextrin has been directly used to initiate ring‐opening polymerization of ϵ‐caprolactone in the presence of yttrium trisphenolate. Well‐defined cyclodextrin (CD)‐centered star‐shaped poly(ϵ‐caprolactone)s have been successfully synthesized containing definite average numbers of arms (Narm = 4–6) and narrow polydispersity indexes (below 1.10). The number‐average molecular weight () and average molecular weight per arm () are controlled by the feeding molar ratio of monomer to initiator. The prepared star‐PCL with of 2.7 × 103 is in fully amorphous and that with of 13.3 × 103 is crystallized. In addition, the obtained poly(e‐caprolactone) (PCL) stars with various molecular weights have different solubilities in methanol and tetrahydrofuran, which can be applied for further modifications.
Effect of Chain Microstructure and Cooling Rate on Crystaf Calibration Curves: An Experimental Study
Authors: Somnukguande Punnawit , Anantawaraskul Siripon , Soares João B.P. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractSummary: Crystallization analysis fractionation (Crystaf) is a polymer characterization technique based on differences in chain crystallizabilities in a dilute solution during non‐isothermal crystallization. Crystaf profiles, a weight distribution function of chains crystallized at each temperature, can be used to infer the chemical composition distribution (CCD) of copolymers when a Crystaf calibration curve, a relationship between peak crystallization temperature and average comonomer content, is known. In this investigation, the effect of the number average molecular weight, comonomer type, and cooling rate on Crystaf calibration curves were experimentally investigated. It was found that the cooling rate and comonomer type may strongly affect Crystaf calibration curves, while the influence of molecular weight is relatively subtle.
An In Situ Small‐Angle X‐Ray Scattering Study of Propylene‐Butene and Propylene‐Ethylene Random Copolymers during Heating Process
Authors: Tang Yujing , Guo Meifang , Wang Qiao , Ren Minqiao , Song Wenbo 
Published: February 2012

AbstractSummary: The micro‐structure evolution of isotactic polypropylene‐1‐butene (iPPBu) and polypropylene‐ethylene (iPPEt) random copolymers with 4 mol% of 1‐butene and ethylene was respectively investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and in‐situ small angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) techniques during heating process. The signal of melting enthalpy of iPPBu disappears a little earlier than that of iPPEt, which keeps consistent with the decay trend of scattering intensity during the late period of melting process. However, the SAXS data further show that the crystal thickness of iPPBu is a little larger than that of iPPEt during heating process. It is suggested that the melting behaviors of such copolymers depend on not only the lamellar thickness but also the crystal stability.
Morphological Changes of Linear, Branched Polyethylenes and their Blends during Crystallization and Subsequent Melting by Synchrotron SAXS and DSC
Authors: Sun Yingying , Fischer Stefan , Jiang Zhiyong , Tang Tao , Funari Sérgio S. , Gehrke Rainer , Men Yongfeng 
Published: February 2012

AbstractSummary: The crystalline structure and phase morphology of linear, branched polyethylenes and their blends during crystallization and subsequent melting were investigated, using a combination of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and synchrotron small angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS). A linear polyethylene (PE1) with weight‐average molecular weight (Mw) of 114 000 g/mol, and two branched polyethylene copolymers, containing 4.8 mol% (PE4) and 15.3 mol% (PE10) hexane, with molecular weights of 93 000 g/mol and 46 000 g/mol were used as pure samples. Two blends, PE1‐4 and PE1‐10, each with a weight ratio of 50/50, were prepared by solution blending. Our results indicate that in PE4 a phase separation within the branched component itself occurred, forming a broad distribution of lamellar thicknesses during the crystallization process. PE10 on the other hand did hardly crystallize because of the high degree of branching. Co‐crystallization of both components took place in blend PE1‐4 and liquid‐liquid phase separation occurred in the melt of PE1‐10. Morphological parameters were determined by using Bragg's law and the correlation function, respectively. The detected semicrystalline morphology can be well described by the lamellar insertion mode where thin lamellae develop between thicker primary lamellae. During subsequent heating, lamellae melted in the reversed sequence of their formation. The evolution of the structural parameters as a function of temperature revealed that surface melting began at first, and then the complete melting of stacks occurred until the final melting temperature was reached.
Crystallization Elution Fractionation and Thermal Gradient Interaction Chromatography. Techniques Comparison
Authors: Monrabal Benjamin , Mayo Nuria , Cong Rongjuan 
Published: February 2012

AbstractSummary: The chemical composition distribution has been shown to be the most critical and discriminating parameter in understanding the performance of industrial polyolefins with non homogeneous comonomer incorporation. The chemical composition distribution is being analyzed by well known techniques such as temperature rising elution fractionation, TREF, crystallization analysis fractionation, CRYSTAF and crystallization elution fractionation, CEF. These techniques separate according to crystallizability and provide a powerful and predictable separation of components based on the presence of branches, irregularities or tacticity differences, independently of the molar mass. TREF, CRYSTAF and CEF can not be used, however, for the separation of more amorphous resins, and may not always provide the best solution for complex multi‐component resins due to the existence of some co‐crystallization. The application of high temperature interactive HPLC to polyolefins opened a new route to characterize these types of polymers. The use of solvent gradient HPLC for separation of polyethylene and polypropylene and the developments in HPLC on carbon based columns extended further the application of high temperature HPLC in polyolefins. A new approach has been developed recently using the carbon based column but replacing solvent gradient by a thermal gradient which facilitates the analysis of polyethylene copolymers and provides a powerful tool for the analysis of elastomers. Thermal gradient interaction chromatography (TGIC) is being compared with TREF and CEF with the analysis of model samples. The advantages/disadvantages of each technique are being investigated and discussed. The combination of TGIC and TREF/CEF provides an extended range of separation of polyolefins.
Effect of Hydrogen, Electron Donor, and Polymerization Temperature on Poly(propylene) Microstructure
Authors: Alshaiban Ahmad , Soares João B. P. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractSummary: Polypropylene made with an industrial heterogeneous Ziegler‐Natta catalyst was characterized using high temperature GPC, 13C NMR, and Crystallization Elution Fractionation (CEF). The effect of hydrogen and electron donor during polymerization on poly(propylene) microstructure was investigated at two temperatures. In addition to the expected electron donor effect on polypropylene tacticity, hydrogen was also found to increase polypropylene tacticity. The effect of changing these polymerization conditions on molecular weight and polydispersity was also investigated. Finally, CEF profiles show how the crystallizability of polypropylene increases by adding hydrogen and electron donor to the reactor.
“True” Concentration Determination Using a Concentration and Composition Sensitive Infrared Detector for Molecular Weight Characterization of Polyolefins
Authors: Huang Tianzi , Brown Raymond , Cong Rongjuan , Yau Wallace , Hazlitt Lonnie , deGroot A. Willem 
Published: February 2012

AbstractSummary: The infrared detector with a composition channel provides the ability to construct “true” concentration of the polyethylene‐polypropylene copolymer and polymer blends to compensate the different infrared responses to each component. Using this “true” concentration constructed by the infrared detector, triple detector gel permeation chromatography (GPC) could generate conventional (by column calibration) and absolute (by laser light scattering) molecular weight and molecular weight distribution data comparable to data obtained by using the concentration obtained by a differential reflex index concentration detector. In addition to its unique feature of in‐situ composition detection, the infrared detector in its mass detection mode possesses the advantages of faster equilibrium time, more stable baseline, less effect from temperature variation, and low sensitivity to moisture or air in the solvent.
Teacher and observer ratings of young African American children's social and emotional competence
Authors: Humphries Marisha L. , Keenan Kate , Wakschlag Lauren S. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractChildren's social and emotional competence abilities have been linked to successful social interactions and academic performance. This study examined the teacher and observer ratings of social and emotional competence for 89 young (3‐ to 5‐year‐old), African American children from economically stressed urban environments. There was a specific interest in understanding the convergence and divergence of the raters on these competence behaviors within the classroom. This study also examined the association among children's competence abilities and their overall functioning at school. There were significant associations between teacher and observer reports of children's competence. Children who were observed to be socially and emotionally competent were rated by their teachers as functioning well in school. However, there were differences among teacher and observer reports in terms of the specific behaviors that represented social and emotional competence. These findings provide support for the use of multi‐method, multi‐informant measures to assess competence among African American children. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
STRONG CONVERGENCE OF SOME ALGORITHMS FOR λ-STRICT PSEUDO-CONTRACTIONS IN HILBERT SPACE
Authors: YAO YONGHONG , LIOU YEONG-CHENG , MARINO GIUSEPPE 
Published: February 2012

AbstractTwo algorithms have been constructed for finding the minimum-norm fixed point of a λ-strict pseudo-contraction T in Hilbert space. It is shown that the proposed algorithms strongly converge to the minimum-norm fixed point of T.
Circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in relation to blood pressure parameters and hypertension in the Shanghai Women's and Men's Health Studies
Authors: Dorjgochoo Tsogzolmaa , Ou Shu Xiao , Xiang Yong-Bing , Yang Gong , Cai Qiuyin , Li Honglan , Ji Bu-Tian , Cai Hui , Gao Yu-Tang , Zheng Wei 
Published: February 2012

Little is known about the association of circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and blood pressure (BP) parameters, including systolic and diastolic BP, pulse pressure (PP), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and hypertension in non-Western populations that have not yet been exposed to foods fortified with vitamins and seldom use vitamin D supplements. A cross-sectional analysis of plasma 25(OH)D levels in association with BP measures was performed for 1460 participants (1055 women and 405 men, aged 40–74 years) of two large cohort studies in Shanghai. Multivariable linear and logistic regressions were conducted. Overall, the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 55·8 % using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, USA criteria and 29·9 % using WHO criteria. The median plasma 25(OH)D level in the population was 38·0 nmol/l for men and 33·6 nmol/l for women (P < 0·01) among participants who were not on antihypertensive drugs. Among men, BP parameters (systolic BP, diastolic BP and MAP) were significantly and inversely associated with higher quintiles of 25(OH)D compared with the lowest quintile (Ptrend < 0·05 for all). Vitamin D non-deficient status (WHO criteria) was inversely associated with hypertension (ORadjusted = 0·29; 95 % CI 0·10, 0·82). An inverse association was also found between hypertension and the highest quintile of 25(OH)D (ORadjusted = 0·16; 95 % CI 0·04, 0·65 for ≥ 50·6 nmol/l; Ptrend = 0·02). Among women, no significant associations were found for BP parameters and hypertension. The present study shows that vitamin D deficiency is common among adults in urban China. Circulating 25(OH)D levels were inversely related to the levels of individual BP parameters and hypertension among middle-aged and elderly men but not among women. More research is needed to investigate the potential sex differential associations.
CRUDE PROTEIN, AMINO ACID AND ALKALOID CONTENTS OF ANNUAL SWEET LUPIN (LUPINUS SPP.L.) FORAGES AND SEEDS GROWN IN ETHIOPIA
Authors: YEHEYIS LIKAWENT , KIJORA C. , VAN SANTEN E. , WINK M. , DANIER JÜRGEN , PETERS K. J. 
Published: February 2012

SUMMARYThough bitter white lupin (Lupinus albusL.) is a traditional crop in Ethiopia, sweet lupins are new to the country. As a result, the nutritional value of low-alkaloid lupins has not been evaluated under Ethiopian conditions. Crude protein, amino acid and alkaloid contents of 16 cultivars of three annual lupin species grown in four lupin growing locations (Merawi, Finoteselam, Kossober-1 and Kossober-2) of Ethiopia were evaluated. Location × cultivar interaction was a significant source of variation for all traits (p< 0.0001). In all locations, blue entries had either similar (p≥ 0.0584) or higher (p≤ 0.0235) forage crude protein content than the Local Landrace, white group and yellow entry. Compared with the Local Landrace, white and blue entries, the sole yellow entry had higher (p≤ 0.0148) seed crude protein content at all locations except at Kossober-2, where it had similar (p= 0.8460) crude protein content as white entries. The Local Landrace had the highest forage and seed alkaloid contents. However, sweet blue Vitabor and Sanabor entries had the lowest forage and seed alkaloid contents, respectively. Low alkaloid and higher crude protein contents of sweet lupins grown in Ethiopia show the possibility to use sweet lupin forage and seeds as cheap home-grown protein source for livestock feed and human food in the country. However, for more reliable information, the laboratory results need to be verified by animal and human evaluations of the crop.
Current status and conservation of the Endangered Przewalski's gazelleProcapra przewalskii, endemic to the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau, China
Authors: Li Chunlin , Jiang Zhigang , Ping Xiaoge , Cai Jing , You Zhangqiang , Li Chunwang , Wu Yonglin 
Published: February 2012

AbstractIn 2008 Przewalski's gazelleProcapra przewalskii, endemic to the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau, China, was recategorized from Critically Endangered to Endangered on the IUCN Red List. The species is still, however, threatened, and the human population and accompanying domestic livestock are increasing around Qinghai Lake. Here we provide up-to-date information on the distribution and population size of the species, evaluate its current conservation status and discuss the difficulties of protecting this gazelle species. We used both distance sampling and total counts to survey 16 sites where the species has been reported and found it at 13 of these, occupying a total area of c. 250 km2. Population size estimated from distance sampling (1,635) and total counts (1,544) was similar. About 20% of the gazelles located were in newly discovered areas for the species. The results indicate an overall growth in the population of Przewalski's gazelle since 2003, although some subpopulations have declined or been extirpated. In spite of conservation efforts Przewalski's gazelle is still threatened by habitat degradation and loss, habitat fragmentation, fencing, intensified competition with domestic livestock and predation. Further growth of this gazelle population is constrained by limited habitat availability and human–gazelle conflict. We recommend that management and conservation strategies need to incorporate comprehensive knowledge of the gazelle, long-term monitoring, and captive breeding of injured and orphaned gazelles to form a potential pool of individuals for future reintroductions to the historical range of the species outside the Qinghai Lake basin.
Stumbling on the threshold: a reply to Gwiazda on threshold obligations
Authors: DANAHER JOHN 
Published: February 2012

AbstractBayne and Nagasawa have argued that the properties traditionally attributed to God provide an insufficient grounding for the obligation to worship God. They do so partly because the same properties, when possessed in lesser quantities by human beings, do not give rise to similar obligations. In a recent paper, Jeremy Gwiazda challenges this line of argument. He does so because it neglects the possible existence of a threshold obligation to worship, i.e. an obligation that only kicks in when the value of a parameter has crossed a certain threshold. This article argues that there is a serious flaw in Gwiazda's proposal. Although thresholds may play an important part in how we think about our obligations, their function is distinct from that envisaged by Gwiazda. To be precise, this article argues that thresholds are only relevant to obligations to the extent that they transform a pre-existing imperfect obligation or act of supererogation into a perfect obligation. Since it is not clear that there is an imperfect obligation to worship any being, and indeed since on a certain conception of moral agency it is highly unlikely that there could be, the search for a rational basis for the obligation to worship must continue.
Detachments of Hypergraphs I: The Berge–Johnson Problem
Authors: BAHMANIAN M. A. 
Published: February 2012

A detachment of a hypergraph is formed by splitting each vertex into one or more subvertices, and sharing the incident edges arbitrarily among the subvertices. For a given edge-coloured hypergraph , we prove that there exists a detachment such that the degree of each vertex and the multiplicity of each edge in (and each colour class of ) are shared fairly among the subvertices in (and each colour class of , respectively).Let $(\lambda_1,\ldots,\lambda_m) K^{h_1,\ldots,\, h_m}_{p_1,\ldots,\, p_n}$ be a hypergraph with vertex partition {V1,. . .,Vn}, |Vi| = pi for 1 ≤ i ≤ n such that there are λi edges of size hi incident with every hi vertices, at most one vertex from each part for 1 ≤ i ≤ m (so no edge is incident with more than one vertex of a part). We use our detachment theorem to show that the obvious necessary conditions for $(\lambda_1\dots,\lambda_m) K^{h_1,\ldots,h_m}_{p_1,\ldots,p_n}$ to be expressed as the union 1 ∪ ··· ∪ k of k edge-disjoint factors, where for 1 ≤ i ≤ k, i is ri-regular, are also sufficient. Baranyai solved the case of h1 = ··· = hm, λ1 = ··· = λm = 1, p1 = ··· = pm, r1 = ··· = rk. Berge and Johnson (and later Brouwer and Tijdeman, respectively) considered (and solved, respectively) the case of hi = i, 1 ≤ i ≤ m, p1 = ··· = pm = λ1 = ··· = λm = r1 = ··· = rk = 1. We also extend our result to the case where each i is almost regular.
Possibility of Scanning Electron Microscope Observation and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis in Microscale Region of Insulating Samples Using Diluted Ionic Liquid
Authors: Imashuku Susumu , Kawakami Tetsuo , Ze Long , Kawai Jun 
Published: February 2012

AbstractThe possibility of scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectrometry analysis in microscale regions of insulating samples using diluted ionic liquid was investigated. It is possible to obtain clear secondary electron images of insulating samples such as a rock and mineral at 5,000 times magnification by dropping 10 μL of 1 wt% of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate (EMI-CH3COO) diluted with ethanol onto the samples. We also obtained EDX spectra of the samples in microscale regions (∼5 μm2) without overlapping EDX spectra of other minerals with different composition. It might be possible to perform quantitative analysis of the samples if a method that does not need standard samples is applied or an X-ray detector sensitive for light elements was attached. The method of dropping 1 wt% EMI-CH3COO diluted with ethanol onto insulating samples is useful for SEM observation, EDX analysis in microscale regions, and the preservation of scarce rock and mineral samples because ionic liquid can be easily removed with acetone.