bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Influence of Heat Treatment on Magnetic Properties of Nanocrystalline Nd9Fe84Zr1B6 Ribbons Received by Rapid Solidification Method
Authors: Ceglarek A. , Płusa D. , Pawlik P. , Dośpiał M. 
Published: April 2012

Influence of Heat Treatment on Magnetic Properties of Nanocrystalline Nd9Fe84Zr1B6Ribbons Received by Rapid Solidification MethodThe effect of the annealing on the phase composition and magnetic properties of nanocomposite melt-spun Nd9Fe84Zr1B6ribbons has been investigated. From the X-ray diffraction studies confirmed be thermomagnetic curves measurements results that the microstructure of the material investigated is composed of a mixture of magnetically hard Nd2Fe14B and soft α-Fe, Fe3B nanosized grains. The small amount of undesirable Nd2Fe23B3metastable phase has been found which do not decompose at the highest annealing temperature. The hysteresis loop measurements certify that the ribbon annealed at 863K show the best coupling between the hard and soft magnetic phases and thus the highest coercivity of 0.38T. The grain sizes increase with increasing annealing temperature causing the coercivity to be decrease.
Thermo-Mechanical Model of Steel Continuous Casting Process
Authors: Sołek K. , Trębacz L. 
Published: April 2012

Thermo-Mechanical Model of Steel Continuous Casting Process
In the paper a numerical model of heat and mass transfer in the mould zone in the steel continuous casting technology was presented. The model has been developed using ProCAST software designed for simulation of casting processes. It allows to determine temperature and stress distribution in continuous castings in order to optimize the most important process parameters. In this work calculations were executed for low carbon steel grades casted in the industry. In the simulations the real rheological properties measured in the experimental work and the boundary conditions determined on the basis of the industrial data were used.
The Influence of the Near-Meniscus Zone in Continuous Casting Mold on the Surface Quality of the Continuous Casting Ingots
Authors: Sorek A. , Kudliński Z. 
Published: April 2012

The Influence of the Near-Meniscus Zone in Continuous Casting Mold on the Surface Quality of the Continuous Casting IngotsThe physical, chemical and mechanical phenomena which take place in the near-meniscus zone of continuous casting mold are the significant factors influencing the quality of CC ingot and especially the quality of its surface. Such phenomena consist of the following processes: lubrication of the ingot surface by the liquid slag-forming phase of mold powder, creation of meniscus, formation of the specific kind of galvanic cell and connected with this cell ions migration of liquid mold powder. Application of the mold powders is the commonly used lubrication method of the surface of CC ingots in mold (in near-meniscus zone). According to the ionic structure theory of the liquid metallurgical slags the following thesis can be formulated: the liquid slag-forming phase of mold powder is the ionic liquid. The ionic liquid occurs between two metals: the copper wall of mold and the steel surface of ingot can create a specific kind of galvanic cell in the upper part of mold (the near-meniscus zone of mold). The paper presents results of industrial research of low-carbon steel continuous casting. The electromotive force of galvanic cell situated in the upper (near-meniscus) part of CC mold was measured. Moreover, the influence of applied powders with different alkalinity on the character of oscillatory marks forming on the ingot surface was considered. The galvanic cell, which is created in the upper part of mold in the near-meniscus zone, can cause the essential change of the chemical composition of electrolyte (liquid phase of mold powder) in the near-electrodes zones. So in the process the condition of lubrication and character of obtained oscillatory mark can also be changed.
Ice dynamics and sediment movement: last glacial cycle, Clyde basin, Scotland
Authors: Finlayson Andrew G. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractThe nature and behaviour of sediment beneath glaciers influences how they flow and respond to changing environmental conditions. The difficulty of accessing the bed of current glaciers is a key constraint to studying the processes involved. This paper explores an alternative approach by relating sediments under the beds of former mid-latitude ice sheets to changing ice behaviour during a glacial cycle. The paper focuses on the partly marine-based Pleistocene British-Irish ice sheet in the Clyde basin, Scotland. A three-dimensional computation of subsurface glacial sediment distribution is derived from 1260 borehole logs. Sediment distribution is linked to an empirically based reconstruction of ice-sheet evolution, permitting identification of distinctive phases of sedimentation. Maximum sediment mobilization and till deposition (~0.04ma_1) occurred during ice advance into the basin from adjacent uplands. Transport distances were generally short. Subglacial processes were influenced locally by the relative stiffness of pre-existing sediments, the permeability of the sub-till lithology, and topography; the resulting mean till thickness is 7.7 m with a high standard deviation of 7.0 m. In places, focused till deposition sealed pre-existing permeable substrates, promoting lower effective pressures. Sediment remobilization by meltwater was a key process as ice margins retreated through the, basin.
Control Charts in Healthcare Quality Improvement
Authors: van der Veer S. N. , Jager K. J. , Peek N. , de Keizer N. F. , Koetsier A. 
Published: April 2012

SummaryObjectives: Use of Shewhart control charts in quality improvement (QI) initiatives is increasing. These charts are typically used in one or more phases of the Plan Do Study Act (PDSA) cycle to monitor summaries of process and outcome data, abstracted from clinical information systems, over time. We summarize methodological criteria of Shewhart control charts and investigate adherence of published QI studies to these criteria.Methods: We searched Medline, Embase and CINAHL for studies using Shewhart control charts in QI processes in direct patient care. We extracted methodological criteria for Shewhart control charts, and for the use of these charts in PDSA cycles, from textbooks and methodological literature.Results: We included 34 studies, presenting 64 control charts of which 40 control charts plotted two phases of the PDSA cycle. The criterion to use 10–35 data points in a control chart was least adhered to (48.4% non-adherence). Other criteria were: transformation of the data in case of a skewed distribution (43.7% non adherence), when comparing data from two phases of the PDSA cycle the Plan phase (the first phase) needs to be stable (40.0% non-adherence), using a maximum of four different rules to detect special cause variation (14.1% non-adherence), and setting control limits at three standard deviations from the mean (all control charts adhered).Conclusion: There is room for improvement with regard to the methodological construction of Shewhart control charts used in QI processes. Higher adherence to all methodological criteria will decrease the risk of incorrect conclusions about the process being monitored.
Infant B Cell Memory Differentiation and Early Gut Bacterial Colonization
Authors: Lundell Anna-Carin , Björnsson Viktor , Ljung Annika , Ceder Margareta , Johansen Susanne , Lindhagen Gunhild , Törnhage Carl-Johan , Adlerberth Ingegerd , Wold Agnes E. , Rudin Anna 
Published: April 2012

Abstract
Germ-free animal models have demonstrated that commensal bacterial colonization of the intestine induces B cell differentiation and activation. Whether colonization with particular bacterial species or groups is associated with B cell development during early childhood is not known. In a prospective newborn/infant cohort including 65 Swedish children, we examined the numbers and proportions of CD20+, CD5+, and CD27+ B cells in blood samples obtained at several time points during the first 3 y of life using flow cytometry. Fecal samples were collected and cultured quantitatively for major facultative and anaerobic bacteria at 1, 2, 4, and 8 wk of life. We found that the numbers of CD20+ B cells and CD5+CD20+ B cells reached their highest levels at 4 mo, whereas CD20+ B cells expressing the memory marker CD27 were most numerous at 18 and 36 mo of age. Using multivariate analysis, we show that early colonization with Escherichia coli and bifidobacteria were associated with higher numbers of CD20+ B cells that expressed the memory marker CD27 at 4 and 18 mo of age. In contrast, we were unable to demonstrate any relation between bacterial colonization pattern and numbers of CD20+ or CD5+CD20+ B cells. These results suggest that the intestinal bacterial colonization pattern may affect the B cell maturation also in humans, and that an early gut microbiota including E. coli and bifidobacteria might promote this maturation.
Host Genetic Factors in Susceptibility to Herpes Simplex Type 1 Virus Infection: Contribution of Polymorphic Genes at the Interface of Innate and Adaptive Immunity
Authors: Moraru Manuela , Cisneros Elisa , Gómez-Lozano Natalia , de Pablo Rosario , Portero Francisca , Cañizares María , Vaquero Mercedes , Roustán Gastón , Millán Isabel , López-Botet Miguel , Vilches Carlos 
Published: April 2012

Abstract
HSV-1 establishes life-long latency that can result in clinical relapses or in asymptomatic virus shedding. Although virtually all adults have been exposed to HSV-1, the clinical course varies remarkably. Genetic host variability could be related to this clinical diversity. In this study, we analyzed the contribution of gene families in chromosomes 1, 6, 12, and 19, which encode key regulators of the innate and adaptive immunity, in a cohort of 302 individuals. Class I and class II alleles of the HLA system, the copy-number variation of NK cell receptor genes (KIR and NKG2C), the combinations of killer cell Ig-like receptor and their HLA ligands, and CD16A and CD32A allotypes of variable affinity for IgG subclasses were all studied. Although no major susceptibility locus for HSV-1 was identified, our results show that the risk of suffering clinical HSV-1 infection is modified by MHC class I allotypes (B*18, C*15, and the group of alleles encoding A19), the high-affinity receptor/ligand pair KIR2DL2/HLA-C1, and the CD16A-158V/F dimorphism. Conversely, HLA class II and CD32A polymorphisms and NKG2C deletion did not seem to influence the clinical course of herpetic infection. Collectively, these findings support an important role in host defense against herpetic infection for several polymorphic genes implicated in adaptive immunity and in surveillance of its subversion. They confirm the crucial role of cytotoxic cells (CTL and NK) and the contribution of genetic diversity to the clinical course of HSV-1 infection.
Hepatocyte Labeling with 99mTc-GSA: A Potential Non-Invasive Technique for Tracking Cell Transplantation
Authors: Chouhan Manil , Puppi Juliana , Solanas Estela , Mitry Ragai R. , Dhawan Anil , Hughes Robin D. 
Published: April 2012

Background: Hepatocyte transplantation is a promising alternative to orthotopic liver transplantation, however, the fate of transplanted hepatocytes is not well defined. 99mTc-galactosyl-serum albumin (99mTc-GSA) is a clinical scintigraphic agent which is specifically taken up by the hepatocyte asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR). Aims: To investigate labeling of fresh and cryopreserved human hepatocytes and fresh rat hepatocytes in vitro using 99mTc-GSA Methods: Human and rat hepatocytes were isolated from liver tissue by collagenase perfusion. The ASGPR were characterized using immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR. Hepatocytes were incubated with 99mTc-GSA in suspension at 4°C and 37°C. Cell viability and function was determined using cell mitochondrial dehydrogenase (MTS) and sulphorhodamine B (SRB) assays. Results: Fresh and cryopreserved human hepatocytes expressed the ASGPR. Incubation of hepatocytes in suspension with 99mTc-GSA reduced the viability of hepatocytes, but this was similar to unlabeled control cells. Greater loss of viability was seen on incubation at 37°C compared to 4°C, but there was a significantly greater uptake of 99mTc-GSA at the physiological temperature (6.6 ± SE 0.6-fold increase, p<0.05) consistent with ASGPR-mediated endocytosis. MTS and SRB assays were not significantly affected by labeling with 99mTc-GSA in all three cell types. A mean of 18.5% of the radioactivity was released over 120 min when 99mTc-GSA - labeled hepatocytes were shaken in vitro at 37°C. Conclusions: Human and rat hepatocytes can be labeled with 99mTc-GSA, which may have potential application for in vivo imaging after hepatocyte transplantation.
Availability of Medications for Opioid Use Disorder in Community Mental Health Facilities
Authors: Cantor Jonathan , Griffin Beth Ann , Levitan Barbara , Mendon-Plasek Sapna J. , Stein Bradley D. , Hunter Sarah B. , Ober Allison J. 
Published: June 2024

ImportanceMedications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) are an effective but underutilized treatment. Opioid use disorder prevalence is high among people receiving treatment in community outpatient mental health treatment facilities (MHTFs), but MHTFs are understudied as an MOUD access point.ObjectiveTo quantify availability of MOUD at community outpatient MHTFs in high-burden states as well as characteristics associated with offering MOUD.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis cross-sectional study performed a phone survey between April and July 2023 among a representative sample of community outpatient MHTFs within 20 states most affected by the opioid crisis, including all Certified Community Behavioral Health Centers (CCBHCs). Participants were staff at 450 surveyed community outpatient MHTFs in 20 states in the US.Main Outcomes and MeasuresMOUD availability. A multivariable logistic regression was fit to assess associations of facility, county, and state-level characteristics with offering MOUD.ResultsSurveys with staff from 450 community outpatient MHTFs (152 CCBHCs and 298 non-CCBHCs) in 20 states were analyzed. Weighted estimates found that 34% (95% CI, 29%-39%) of MHTFs offered MOUD in these states. Facility-level factors associated with increased odds of offering MOUD were: self-reporting being a CCBHC (odds ratio [OR], 2.11 [95% CI, 1.08-4.11]), providing integrated mental and substance use disorder treatment (OR, 5.21 [95% CI, 2.44-11.14), having a specialized treatment program for clients with co-occurring mental and substance use disorders (OR, 2.25 [95% CI, 1.14-4.43), offering housing services (OR, 2.54 [95% CI, 1.43-4.51]), and laboratory testing (OR, 2.15 [95% CI, 1.12-4.12]). Facilities that accepted state-financed health insurance plans other than Medicaid as a form of payment had increased odds of offering MOUD (OR, 1.95 [95% CI, 1.01-3.76]) and facilities that accepted state mental health agency funds had reduced odds (OR, 0.43 [95% CI, 0.19-0.99]).Conclusions and RelevanceIn this study of 450 community outpatient MHTFs in 20 high-burden states, approximately one-third offered MOUD. These results suggest that further study is needed to report MOUD uptake, either through increased prescribing at all clinics or through effective referral models.
Developing and operating unit‐type green parklets for parking lots in urban area—Part 1: Development and experimental study of unit‐type green parklets
Authors: Takata Masahito 
Published: June 2024

AbstractAiming to improve thermal environment for outdoor public spaces, the author had been developing a unit‐type green parklet for parking lots that both introduce greenery into cities and produce walkable urban spaces. In this study, the author examined and created a full‐size unit‐type green parklet, installed it in a parking lot adjacent to sidewalk space next to a bus stop in the traditional urban area, Kyomachi district, of Kumamoto City, and investigated the improvement to summer thermal environment from a field measurement and its usage by people from user survey in summer (from August 30 to September 5, 2022). The results showed that although the parklet shaded with the parasol and greening units, air temperature dropped by only a maximum of 1°C in daytime. Given the characteristics of parking lot as a location, it was confirmed that not only the wind and airflow conditions was blocked and worsened, but reflected solar radiation from the surroundings and generated heat from parked cars degraded air temperature and MRT from the field measurement. Furthermore, it was confirmed to be ensured the visibility of the surroundings when sitting on the parklet bench for the users waiting for a bus from user survey.
Treatment plan complexity quantification for predicting gamma passing rates in patient‐specific quality assurance for stereotactic volumetric modulated arc therapy
Authors: Xue Xudong , Luan Shunyao , Ding Yi , Li Xiangbin , Li Dan , Wang Jingya , Ma Chi , Jiang Man , Wei Wei , Wang Xiao 
Published: June 2024

AbstractPurposeTo investigate the beam complexity of stereotactic Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) plans quantitively and predict gamma passing rates (GPRs) using machine learning.MethodsThe entire dataset is exclusively made of stereotactic VMAT plans (301 plans with 594 beams) from Varian Edge LINAC. The GPRs were analyzed using Varian's portal dosimetry with 2%/2 mm criteria. A total of 27 metrics were calculated to investigate the correlation between metrics and GPRs. Random forest and gradient boosting models were developed and trained to predict the GPRs based on the extracted complexity features. The threshold values of complexity metric were obtained to predict a given beam to pass or fail from ROC curve analysis.ResultsThe three moderately significant values of Spearman's rank correlation to GPRs were 0.508 (p < 0.001), 0.445 (p < 0.001), and −0.416 (p < 0.001) for proposed metric LAAM, the ratio of the average aperture area over jaw area (AAJA) and index of modulation, respectively. The random forest method achieved 98.74% prediction accuracy with mean absolute error of 1.23% using five‐fold cross‐validation, and 98.71% with 1.25% for gradient boosting regressor method, respectively. LAAM, leaf travelling distance (LT), AAJA, LT modulation complexity score (LTMCS) and index of modulation, were the top five most important complexity features. The LAAM metric showed the best performance with AUC value of 0.801, and threshold value of 0.365.ConclusionsThe calculated metrics were effective in quantifying the complexity of stereotactic VMAT plans. We have demonstrated that the GPRs could be accurately predicted using machine learning methods based on extracted complexity metrics. The quantification of complexity and machine learning methods have the potential to improve stereotactic treatment planning and identify the failure of QA results promptly.
Transformation of Natural Resin Resina Draconis to 3D Functionalized Fibrous Scaffolds for Efficient Chronic Wound Healing
Authors: Guo Shijie , Wang Pengyu , Sun Yu , Cao Can , Gao Junwei , Hong Shihao , Li Ning , Xu Ruodan 
Published: June 2024

AbstractChronic wound healing is a major challenge in clinical practice. Secondary dressing damage and antibiotic resistance are the main obstacles for traditional wound dressings. Resina draconis (RD), a natural resin traditionally used in powder form for wound care, is now considered unsuitable due to the lack of gas permeability and moist environment required for wound healing. Here, RD is incorporated in situ by constructing a 3D coiled fibrous scaffold with polycaprolactone/polyethylene oxide. Due to the high porosity of 3D scaffold, the RD‐3D dressings have a favorable swelling capacity, providing permeability and moisture for wound repair. Meanwhile, the transformation of RD powder into 3D dressings fully demonstrates capabilities of RD in rapid hemostasis, bactericidal, and inflammation‐regulating activities. In vivo evaluations using pressure ulcer and infected wound models confirm the high efficacy of RD‐3D dressing in early wound healing, particularly beneficial in the infected wound model compared to recombinant bovine FGF‐basic. Further biological analysis shows that resveratrol, loureirin A, and loureirin B, as potentially bioactive components of RD, individually contribute to different aspects of wound healing. Collectively, RD‐3D integrated dressings represent a simple, cost‐effective, and safe approach to wound healing, providing an alternative therapy for translating medical dressings from bench to bedside.
Modeling, Parameters and Synaptic Plasticity Analysis of Lateral‐Ionic‐Gated Graphene Synaptic FETs
Authors: He Xiaoying , Cao Bowen , Xu Minghao , Wang Kun , Rao Lan 
Published: June 2024

AbstractExploiting simulation modeling of graphene synaptic field‐effect transistors is extremely important for helping researchers to construct carbon‐based neuromorphic computing systems. Here, lateral‐ionic‐gated graphene synaptic FETs with different gate lengths are fabricated, and they are modeled by using basic physic models combined with the ions migration‐diffusion model and graphene material model. The feasibility and accuracy of the proposed modeling are validated by showing an excellent agreement between simulations and experimental results. The slicing technique of the modeling is proposed to analyze the influence of ionic concentration and diffusion coefficient on the ions movement to reveal their working mechanism. The effect of key parameters about gate length, ionic concentration, and diffusion coefficient on synaptic behavior such as short‐term plasticity, and long‐term plasticity is simulated and discussed. In addition, three kinds of spike‐timing‐dependent plasticity are obtained by the device modeling. This research opens up promising avenues for the development of artificial synapse modeling and paths to new opportunities for the construction of carbon‐based neuromorphic networks.
Phosphonate Diacid Molecule Induced Crystallization Manipulation and Defect Passivation for High‐Performance Inverted MA‐Free Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Wang Ke , Xu Zhiyuan , Guo Zhihao , Wang Huaxin , Qaid Saif M. H. , Yang Ke , Zang Zhigang 
Published: June 2024

AbstractInverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs) comprising formamidinium‐cesium (FA‐Cs) lead triiodide have garnered considerable attention due to their impressive efficiency and remarkable stability. Nevertheless, synthesizing high‐quality FA‐Cs alloyed perovskite films presents challenges, primarily attributable to the intricate interphase process involved and the absence of methylammonium (MA+) and mixed halogens. Here, the additive 3‐phosphonopropanoic acid (3‐PPA) is introduced, with bifunctional phosphonic acid groups, into the perovskite precursor to modulate the crystal growth and provide passivation at grain boundaries. In situ characterization reveals that the 3‐PPA can form a “rapid nucleation, slow growth” mechanism, resulting in perovskite films with enlarged grains and enhanced crystallinity. In addition, 3‐PPA serves to passivate grain boundary defects and release residual strain by forming molecular bridging, leading to the passivated films achieving a fluorescence lifetime of 5.79 microseconds with a favorable n‐type contact interface. As a result, the resulting devices incorporating 3‐PPA achieve a champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 24.05% and an ultra‐high fill factor (FF) of 84.22%. More importantly, the optimized devices exhibit satisfactory stability under various testing conditions. The findings underscore the pivotal role of multifunctional additives in crystallization control and defect passivation for high‐performance MA‐free and pure iodine PSCs.