bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
CT Image Entropy Analysis Technique for the Determination of Damage to Indirect Tensile Test of Asphalt Mixtures
Authors: Zhang Qian , Ma Juan , Bai Yan 
Published: May 2011

Abstract
This study identifies how the microstructure system of asphalt mixture is influenced by moisture and the Indirect Tensile Test (IDT) using digital image analysis methods. Concepts such as digital image segmentation technology, CT (Computer Tomography) value, grey scale of the image, edge detection, and entropy are introduced and incorporated to describe the image characteristics. The impact of moisture and the IDT test on the mixture is analyzed on 24 scanning sections of two specimens. Two moisture conditions are designed to treat the specimens separately before the indirect tension test according to the specification. The original internal structures of the specimens and the corresponding internal structures after the IDT test are obtained through CT scanning. An edge detection process is conducted to find the micro point contact between the binder and the aggregate using a Laplacian arithmetic operator. Differences in the destruction degree of different moisture conditions in IDT are shown through image entropy calculation. A statistical hypothesis test method, the Student t-test, is introduced to examine the significance of the calculation results. From the viewpoint of statistics, the test and calculation results of the 24 sections of the two specimens are of representative significance.
Practice Change Challenges and Priorities: A National Survey of Practising Pharmacists
Authors: Jorgenson Derek , Lamb Darcy , MacKinnon Neil J. 
Published: May 2011

Background: Vision and action plans have been created to address the future of pharmacy and help pharmacists progress into expanded roles in order to provide more patient-centred care. To assess the thoughts and perceptions of pharmacists in these new roles, a survey was conducted among practising pharmacists in Canada. Methods: A Web-based survey, developed as part of the Canadian Pharmacists Association's Moving Forward initiative, was open to all practising pharmacists in September and October of 2007. This survey educated pharmacists on potential future roles and sought to gain feedback on the human resource challenges and priorities that might result from the proposed practice changes. Results: From the 1003 respondents, it was found that the majority of pharmacist time is spent on dispensing duties. However, over 60% of pharmacists felt that it was time to begin taking on new responsibilities and over 70% of pharmacists want to be performing expanded clinical duties within 5 years. Discussion: It is encouraging to see that most pharmacists are open to new expanded clinical roles in the near future. Despite the challenges identified, such as the need for additional training, increases in workload and stress and expected poor physician acceptance, it was felt that changes would result in improved patient health outcomes and better personal job satisfaction. Conclusion: Pharmacists have responded positively to the proposed vision for the future of pharmacy and are eager to move away from the traditional dispensing role to an expanded clinical role that more fully utilizes their unique skills and knowledge.
Short-Wavelength Automated Perimetry in Type I Diabetic Patients without Retinal Involvement: A Test Modification to Decrease Test Duration
Authors: Abrishami Majid , Daneshvar Ramin , Yaghubi Zakiyeh 
Published: May 2011

Purpose To compare short-wavelength automated perimetry (SWAP) between type I diabetic patients without clinical posterior segment involvement and nondiabetic control subjects. Methods Forty eyes of diabetic patients without obvious posterior segment involvement and 34 eyes of the nondiabetic control group were included in the study. A complete set of ophthalmic examination was followed by SWAP perimetry in all subjects. Short-wavelength automated perimetry results were compared between the 2 groups. In addition, as a modification to SWAP, the data of the central 16 points were omitted and the resulting data of the remaining 60 points (corrected data) were compared between the 2 groups. Results Mean deviation in the diabetic patients (group I) was −6.51 dB and in the control group (group II) −3.0 dB; the difference was statistically significant. Mean corrected sensitivity in group I was 19.79 dB and in group II 22.37 dB. Mean corrected total deviation in group I was −6.67 and in group II −3.22. Both differences were highly statistically significant. The mean corrected pattern deviation in group I was −3.29 and in group II −3.04, which was not a statistically significant difference. Conclusions Short-wave automated perimetry abnormalities precede diabetic retinopathy in type I diabetic patients and omission of central 16 points does not compromise test results in this situation.
Retinal Detachment in Morning Glory Syndrome with Large Hole in the Excavated Disc
Authors: Jo Young-Joon , Iwase Takeshi , Oveson Brian C. , Tanaka Nobushige 
Published: May 2011

Purpose. To present a case of morning glory syndrome (MGS) associated with retinal detachment and to discuss the pathogenesis of retinal tear. Methods. A 2-year-old-girl had a MGS with a large hole in the excavated disc and retinal detachment. The visual acuity was 4/200 in the affected eye. The excavated disc and retinal detachment were con-firmed by echogram. Optical coherence tomography demonstrated that the large hole was connected to the subretinal space. The excavated lesion did not show contractions. The detachment area and the volume of subretinal fluid rose and fell between initial examinations, but ultimately increased. After 2 years of observations, surgery was performed as the retinal detachment had enlarged to include the macula. Results. Surgery included triamcinolone-assisted vitrectomy, subretinal fluid drainage through the large hole in the excavated disc, retinal photocoagulation along the excavated disc, and long-acting gas tamponade. One month later, the retina was redetached due to incomplete closure of the hole. A second operation was performed using silicone oil tamponade. Ultimately, the retina was reattached after silicone oil-fluid exchange surgery. Conclusions. One possible reason for a large hole in an excavated disc is origination of the tear from a congenital defect, such as an optic pit. The retinal detachment in patients with MGS with a large hole in the disc can be treated with triamcinolone-assisted pars plana vitrectomy and retinal photocoagulation along the excavated disc. This case has shown that one critical component for a high success rate is the tamponade agent used in the vitreous.
Biomimetic Pathways for Nanostructured Poly(KAMPS)/aragonite Composites that Mimic Seashell Nacre
Authors: Pai Ranjith Krishna , Zhang Lihua , Nykpanchuk Dmytro , Cotlet Mircea , Korach Chad S. 
Published: May 2011

AbstractComplex microstructures of biominerals such as seashell nacre, bone, and teeth are awe‐inspiring. Nature has devised schemes to combine hard inorganic platelets of aragonite (CaCO3) and an organic matrix that produce tough biocomposites. The ability of the organic‐inorganic components to “slide” internally leads to the toughening of the materials, though a recreation of this system at the nanoscale has yet to be shown. Here, we implement a poly(KAMPS)‐based assembly, which is carried out entirely from dilute aqueous solutions of the materials to create a “brick and mortar”‐type aragonite structure that mimics the platelet sliding and exhibits toughening. The negatively charged poly(KAMPS) chains are attracted to the positively charged divalent cations, by which addition of NaHCO3 to an aqueous mixture of Ca2+‐poly(KAMPS), results in the growth of aragonite nanorods with a width of 120 nm. The reversible nature of the physical gel formation of poly(KAMPS) in solution results in adhesion of the nanorods into a microscale structure. The new nacre‐like carbonate composite, has a modulus (44 GPa) and hardness (2.8 GPa) on a similar order as to that of nacre and other bio‐composites, exhibits limited creep, and demonstrates a mechanism with nanoscale deformation.
An Efficient Copper‐Catalyzed Homocoupling of Terminal Alkynes to Give Symmetrical 1,4‐Disubstituted 1,3‐Diynes
Authors: Zhang Songlin , Liu Xiaoyan , Wang Tongqiang 
Published: May 2011

AbstractA facile and efficient pathway for the copper iodide and ligand N,N,N′,N′‐tetramethylethane‐1,2‐diamine promoted homocoupling reaction of terminal alkynes under ambient temperature and air as an oxidant was reported. The alkynes, including aromatic alkynes and aliphatic alkynes, could afford the symmetrical 1,4‐disubstituted 1,3‐diynes in good to excellent yields.
In‐vivo‐Festphasen‐Mikroextraktion in der Metabolomik: Möglichkeiten zur direkten Erforschung biologischer Systeme
Authors: Vuckovic Dajana , Risticevic Sanja , Pawliszyn Janusz 
Published: May 2011

AbstractDie Probenpräparation hat einen großen Einfluss auf die Qualität von Metabolomikstudien. Der Einsatz der Festphasen‐Mikroextraktion (SPME), besonders in Form ihrer In‐vivo‐Variante, ermöglicht die Erfassung eines repräsentativeren Metaboloms und bietet die Möglichkeit, seltene, kurzlebige Metaboliten und/oder instabile Substanzen zu detektieren, die von traditionellen Methoden nicht leicht erfasst werden. Diese Technik eignet sich ideal sowohl für zeitliche, räumliche und longitudinale Studien des gleichen lebenden Systems als auch für Multikompartimentstudien desselben Organismus. SPME ist für die Untersuchungen von biologischen Systemen geeignet, die in ihrer Komplexität zwischen Zellen und Säugetiergewebe liegen. Dieser Kurzaufsatz präsentiert ausgewählte Beispiele, um diese neue Technik in den Kontext der konventionellen Probenpräparationsmethoden für die Metabolomik einzuordnen.
Thermal destruction of carbon black network structure in natural rubber vulcanizate
Authors: Kato Atsushi , Suda Toshiya , Ikeda Yuko , Kohjiya Shinzo 
Published: May 2011

AbstractTo investigate thermal destruction and rearrangement of the carbon black (CB) network consisting of CB aggregates in rubbery matrix, the proper heat‐treatment temperature without thermal decomposition of rubber matrix were examined by using differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical measurements, and thermal expansion measurements. 383 K was chosen as the heat‐treatment temperature under vacuum. The volume resistivity (ρv) of 50 phr CB‐filled natural rubber vulcanizate (CB‐50) increased rapidly up to a heat‐treatment time of 24 h and it decreased by further heat‐treatment time, whereas the ρv of CB‐80 remained almost constant without depending on heating time. Three‐dimensional electron microscope (3D‐TEM) observations revealed that after the heat‐treatment for 75 h, the average lengths of the crosslinked and the branched chains and the crosslinked points density (Dcross) of the CB network decreased, whereas the branched points density (Dbranch) increased with decrease of Dcross. After the heat‐treatment, their fractions (Fcross′s) of crosslinked chains decreased, whereas their fractions (Fbranch′s) of the branched ones increased. Especially, Fbranch of CB‐50 became larger than that of CB‐80, while the decrease of Fcross of CB‐50 was almost the same as that of CB‐80 by the heat‐treatment. And, Fcross and Fbranch of the heat‐treated CB‐50 were the same compositions (Fcross and Fbranch = ca. 0.7 and ca. 0.3, respectively) as those of the heat‐treated CB‐80. It is suggested that the CB network of CB‐80 is more thermal stable than that of CB‐50. These results directly indicate that CB network is broken and is rearranged by a heat‐treatment. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011
Preparation and properties of nylon 6/carboxylic silica nanocomposites via in situ polymerization
Authors: Zhang Lala , Xiong Yuzi , Ou Encai , Chen Zhongming , Xiong Yuanqin , Xu Weijian 
Published: May 2011

AbstractNylon 6/carboxylic acid‐functionalized silica nanoparticles (SiO2‐COOH) nanocomposites were prepared by in situ polymerization of caprolactam in the presence of SiO2‐COOH. The aim of this work was to study the effect of carboxylic silica on the properties of the nylon 6 through the interfacial interactions between the SiO2‐COOH nanoparticles and the nylon 6 matrix. For comparison, pure nylon 6, nylon 6/SiO2 (unmodified) and nylon 6/amino‐functionalized SiO2 (SiO2‐NH2) were also prepared via the same method. Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to evaluate the structure of SiO2‐COOH and nylon 6/SiO2‐COOH. The results from thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) indicated that decomposition temperatures of nylon 6/SiO2‐COOH nanocomposites at the 5 wt % of the total weight loss were higher than the pure nylon 6. Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) studies showed that the melting point (Tm) and degree of crystallinity (Xc) of nylon 6/SiO2‐COOH were lower than the pure nylon 6. Mechanical properties results of the nanocomposites showed that nylon 6 with incorporation of SiO2‐COOH had better mechanical properties than that of pure nylon 6, nylon 6/SiO2, and nylon 6/SiO2‐NH2. The morphology of SiO2, SiO2‐NH2, and SiO2‐COOH nanoparticles in nylon 6 matrix was observed using SEM measurements. The results revealed that the dispersion of SiO2‐COOH nanoparticles in nylon 6 matrix was better than SiO2 and SiO2‐NH2 nanoparticles. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011
Timolol‐imprinted soft contact lenses: Influence of the template: Functional monomer ratio and the hydrogel thickness
Authors: Yañez Fernando , Chauhan Anuj , Concheiro Angel , Alvarez‐Lorenzo Carmen 
Published: May 2011

AbstractIsothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) was used to identify the optimal timolol:functional monomer ratio for preparing soft contact lenses (SCLs) able to sustain drug release. ITC profiles revealed that each timolol molecule required six to eight acrylic acid (AAc) monomers to saturate the binding and that these ratios could be the most suitable for creating imprinted cavities. Various poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate‐co‐AAc) hydrogels 0.2 and 0.9 mm thick were prepared with timolol:AAc molar ratios ranging from 1 : 6 to 1 : 32 and also in the absence of timolol. The hydrogels were reloaded with timolol by immersion in 0.04, 0.06, 0.08, and 0.10 mM drug solutions. Both imprinted and nonimprinted hydrogels showed a high affinity for the drug because of the presence of AAc. Nevertheless, the 1 : 6 and 1 : 8 imprinted hydrogels loaded less timolol but sustained the release better than the other hydrogels. These differences were explained in terms of the different arrangement of the functional monomers along the network. The imprinting effect was more noticeable in the case of the thinnest hydrogels, where the contribution of the diffusion path to the release rate was smaller. The results obtained prove the interest of ITC for the rational design of drug‐imprinted networks to be used as medicated SCLs. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011
Study and characterization of composites materials based on polypropylene loaded with olive husk flour
Authors: Amar Boukerrou , Salem Krim , Hocine Djidjelli , Chadia Ihamouchen , Juan Martinez J. 
Published: May 2011

AbstractIn Algeria, a significant quantities of olive husk are rejected to nature causing by the way major nuisances to environment, to give us a reason for which our work is focused on the valorization of this waste by its incorporation in a polypropylene matrix. The hydrophilic nature of natural fibers affects negatively its adhesion to hydrophobic polymeric matrix. To improve interfacial adhesion, two modes of chemical treatments were done using vinyltriacetoxysilane (VTAS) and maleic‐anhydride‐polypropylene (PPMA) compatibilisant agent. Several formulations of PP filled with 10 and 20% by mass of olive husk flour treated (OHFT) and untreated (OHFUT) were prepared. The chemical modification of olive husk flour was studied by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The tensile properties, the water‐absorption behavior, the thermal degradation properties, and crystallinity of the composites were investigated. It was found that, the incorporation of the treated and untreated OHF improves the thermal stability of the composites. However, the use of the compatibilizer agent PPMA leads to a better thermal stability compared with the treatment of the OHF by the VTAS and the OHFUT. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011
Investigation of nonisothermal crystallization of hydroxyapatite/ethylene‐vinyl acetate (HA/EVA) composite
Authors: Wang Yanying , Zhang Li , Zhou Song , Huang Di , Morsi Yos , Gao Shibo , Gong Mei , Li Yubao 
Published: May 2011

AbstractHydroxyapatite/ethylene‐vinyl acetate (HA/EVA) composites were prepared by injection molding and characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and attenuated total multiple reflection infrared (ATR‐IR) spectroscopy. The nonisothermal crystallization behavior of HA/EVA composites at different cooling rates and with different HA content were examined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results exhibit the occurrence of interaction between HA and EVA, and the HA particles in EVA matrix act as effective nucleation agent. The addition of HA influences the mechanism of nucleation and growth of EVA crystallites. HA particles, as nucleus, are efficient to promote EVA crystallization at early stage but prevent EVA crystal growth in the late stage. The EVA crystallization in the composite is mainly through heterogeneous nucleation. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011
Effect of macromer synthesis time on the properties of the resulting poly(β‐amino ester) degradable hydrogel
Authors: Hawkins Ashley M. , Puleo David A. , Hilt J. Zach 
Published: May 2011

AbstractPoly(β‐amino ester) biodegradable hydrogels are common in biomedical applications because of their tunable properties and similarities to natural soft tissue. Previous work has shown property adjustments through the choice of monomers, the ratio between monomers and the addition of a crosslinking component. Here, we show that the reaction time for the creation of the macromer can affect the resulting hydrogel properties, and thus provides another method of tuning properties. Macromer was created through the reaction of isobutylamine with poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (n = 400). The reaction progress was analyzed using IR and GPC analysis. Hydrogels were created through UV photopolymerization from macromers synthesized for 24, 36, and 48 h. The degradation, compressive moduli, and swelling were measured in an aqueous solution. All showed significant differences between hydrogels of different macromer synthesis times. These differences likely stem from the incomplete macromer synthesis reaction and resulting PEG‐rich regions in hydrogels from shorter synthesis times. These regions will not readily degrade, but do increase the mechanical properties and extent of swelling. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011
Storage stability and solubility of poly(urea‐formaldehyde) microcapsules containing A‐olefin drag reducing polymer
Authors: Li Bing , Dong Guilin , Zhang Changqiao 
Published: May 2011

AbstractMicrocapsules containing α‐olefin drag reducing polymer were prepared by in situ and interfacial polymerization with urea, formaldehyde, and styrene as shell materials, respectively. IR spectrums of prepared shells indicated the formations of poly(urea‐formaldehyde) and polystyrene in the microencapsulating process. The morphologies of uncoated particles and microcapsules were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) which proved that the α‐olefin drag reducing polymer particles were effectively coated. For the purpose of determining the stability of microcapsules in transportation and storage, the static pressure experiment was carried out and lasted for 6 months. In this process, microcapsules with polystyrene as shell material stuck together after 3 months; however, those with poly(urea‐formaldehyde) kept the state of particles. The thermal characteristics of uncoated particles (core), poly(urea‐formaldehyde) (shell), and microcapsules with that as shell material were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) which proved that thermal stable temperature of microcapsules containing α‐olefin drag reducing polymer with poly(urea‐formaldehyde) as shell material was below 225°C, and the mean heat absorbed by microcapsules in the temperature increasing process was 1.5–2.0 W/g higher than that by cores. The evaluation of drag reducing rate of microcapsules showed that the microencapsulating process had no influence on the drag reduction of α‐olefin drag reducing polymer. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011
Bibliographic index coverage of open‐access journals in six subject areas
Authors: Walters William H. , Linvill Anne C. 
Published: May 2011

AbstractWe investigate the extent to which open‐access (OA) journals and articles in biology, computer science, economics, history, medicine, and psychology are indexed in each of 11 bibliographic databases. We also look for variations in index coverage by journal subject, journal size, publisher type, publisher size, date of first OA issue, region of publication, language of publication, publication fee, and citation impact factor. Two databases, Biological Abstracts and PubMed, provide very good coverage of the OA journal literature, indexing 60 to 63% of all OA articles in their disciplines. Five databases provide moderately good coverage (22–41%), and four provide relatively poor coverage (0–12%). OA articles in biology journals, English‐only journals, high‐impact journals, and journals that charge publication fees of $1,000 or more are especially likely to be indexed. Conversely, articles from OA publishers in Africa, Asia, or Central/South America are especially unlikely to be indexed. Four of the 11 databases index commercially published articles at a substantially higher rate than articles published by universities, scholarly societies, nonprofit publishers, or governments. Finally, three databases—EBSCO Academic Search Complete, ProQuest Research Library, and Wilson OmniFile—provide less comprehensive coverage of OA articles than of articles in comparable subscription journals.
Piezofluorochromic and Aggregation‐Induced‐Emission Compounds Containing Triphenylethylene and Tetraphenylethylene Moieties
Authors: Xu Bingjia , Chi Zhenguo , Zhang Jianyong , Zhang Xiqi , Li Haiyin , Li Xiaofang , Liu Siwei , Zhang Yi , Xu Jiarui 
Published: May 2011

AbstractNew fluorescent compounds containing triphenylethylene and tetraphenylethylene moieties were synthesized, and their piezofluorochromic and aggregation‐induced emission behaviors were investigated. The results show that all compounds exhibit aggregation‐induced emission characteristics and only the crystalline compound possesses piezofluorochromic properties. The color, emission spectra, and morphological structures of the one piezofluorochromic compound exhibit reversibility upon grinding and annealing (or fuming) treatments. The piezofluorochromic behaviors are caused by a change between different modes of solid state molecular packing under external pressure. The single crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis reveals that the twisted conformation of the aggregation‐induced emission compound leads to the formation of metastable crystal lattice with cavity which is readily destroyed under external pressure. A possible mechanism of piezofluorochromic phenomenon has been proposed.