bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Relationships between crystallization behavior and application properties of chemically coupled PAI-PTFE coatings
Authors: Gedan-Smolka Michaela , Jehnichen Dieter , Malanin Mikhail , Schmidt Thomas , Marschner Anne , Schneider Antje , Göbel Michael 
Published: December 2023

AbstractPoly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) is well known for its very low friction coefficient and thus widely used for antifriction applications, e.g., sliding lacquers, for many years. Because of the high wear rate and cold flow of the original polymer, PTFE is usually added in higher amounts to other polymer matrices as a lubricant. However, the incompatibility of PTFE requires lots of efforts to perform a homogeneous breaking down of agglomerates and particle distribution as well as dispersion stabilization of the physical mixtures during application and curing. PTFE can be functionalized by high energy irradiation and subsequently compatibilized with a polymer matrix by reactive extrusion resulting in chemical bonding of both polymers via suitable reactive groups. In this manner, poly(amide imide) (PAI) was coupled to γ-radiation modified PTFE micro-powder prior to the dispersion procedure. This study deals with the thermal and crystallization behavior of the PTFE lubricant in chemical bonded (cb) PAI-PTFEcb compound thin layers in comparison with those of the plain radiation modified PTFE depending on the cooling rate by DSC, Flash-DSC and WAXS. A morphological characterization of the extrudate as well as the coating gives information about the fragmentation and distribution of the PTFE phase in the PAI matrix. Furthermore, mechanical and surface properties of sliding lacquer films were analyzed after application on steel substrates by varying dry film thickness and curing.
Graphical Abstract
Thyroglobulin as a Sensitive Biomarker of Iodine Status in Mildly and Moderately Iodine-Deficient Pregnant Women
Authors: Jiang Yujie , Gu Simeng , Mo Zhe , Li Xueqing , Liu Chenyang , Li Yahui , Mao Guangming , Wang Yuanyang , Guo Fanjia , Lou Xiaoming , Wang Xiaofeng 
Published: December 2023

AbstractPregnant women are more susceptible to iodine deficiency. However, there are limitations in existing indicators for the evaluation of iodine nutrition in pregnant women. The study aimed to explore whether thyroglobulin (Tg) can be used as a more sensitive biomarker for pregnant women with mild and moderate iodine deficiency. A repeated-measure study was conducted among 1332 pregnant women in Zhejiang Province, China. Serum and urine specimens were collected at a mean of 10, 17, and 32 weeks of pregnancy, respectively; thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), Tg, and urinary iodine concentrations were measured. Linear mixed effects models were used to determine the associations between interaction of iodine concentrations and increasing gestation week and TSH and Tg, where participants were divided by urinary iodine concentration (UIC). The median Tg concentration was 11.56, 11.45, and 12.43 μg/L in the first, second, and third trimesters, respectively. After controlling the covariates, the interaction effects between the iodine status and gestation week were significant for both TSH and Tg (p = 0.038 and p = 0.007, respectively). TSH increased with the week of gestation in both iodine concentration groups. Tg increased with advancing pregnancy in the iodine-deficient group whereas it did not in the iodine-sufficient group. There was no significant variation in TSH at each trimester, and Tg was higher in the iodine-deficient group than in the iodine-sufficient group. Tg may be a more sensitive iodine status biomarker than TSH for pregnant women with mild-to-moderate iodine insufficiency.
Significance and current approaches to vascular graft infection
Authors: Mestres Carlos–Alberto , Van Hemelrijck Mathias , Quintana Eduard , Smit Francis Edwin 
Published: December 2023

AbstractVascular graft/endograft infection (VGEI) is a constant in cardiovascular surgery with published rates between 1 and 5%. Every graft type and anatomical location is a potential target for infectious complications. These patients are sick patients with high frailty burden. Management of VGEI entails a multidisciplinary and multimodality approach. Here we review some aspects of the problem of VGEI including prevention, diagnosis, and surgical therapy with focus on recent developments in the field.
An Annotated Checklist of Cyrtandra, Cyrtandropsis and Sepikea (Gesneriaceae) in New Guinea
Authors: Bramley G. L. C. , Atkins H. J. , Kartonegoro A. , Jimbo T. 
Published: December 2023

SummaryNinety-two New Guinea Cyrtandra J.R.Forst. & G.Forst. names, nine Cyrtandropsis Lauterb. names and one species of Sepikea Schltr. are recognised here, presented in alphabetical order with notes on typification based on the literature and preliminary herbarium observations. A new name, Cyrtandra schlechteri, is proposed for the illegitimate name C. glabrata Schltr. Lectotypes are selected for 66 Cyrtandra names and nine Cyrtandropsis names; neotypes are designated for four Cyrtandra names. Seventeen Cyrtandra names and eight Cyrtandropsis names are considered incertae sedis due to missing type material.
Photoinduced superlubricity on TiO2 surfaces
Authors: Han Ke , Ma Liran , Tian Yu , Luo Jianbin 
Published: December 2023

AbstractSuperlubricity control is of great interest in both industry and scientific research, and several methods have been proposed to achieve this goal. In this work, ultraviolet (UV) light was introduced into titanium dioxide (TiO2) and silicon nitride (Si3N4) tribosystems to accomplish photoinduced superlubricity. The friction coefficients (COFs) between Si3N4 balls and TiO2 plates in the mixtures of sulfuric acid (H2SO4) solution and glycerol solution were obviously reduced, and the system entered the superlubricity region (COF < 0.01) after UV illumination at a speed of 56 mm/s. However, the COF was much larger without UV treatment than that with UV treatment. The formation of silica (SiO2) layers on the surfaces of Si3N4 balls and the elastohydrodynamic effects were determined to be fundamental to the low friction in this experiment, and the enhancement of the combination between the TiO2 surface and the hydroxy group of glycerol by UV illumination was the key to the photoinduced superlubricity in this system. These findings showed one method for achieving superlubricity by introducing a light field that could be further applied to special working conditions.
Hydration lubrication modulated by water structure at TiO2-aqueous interfaces
Authors: Ma Pingsu , Liu Yuan , Han Ke , Tian Yu , Ma Liran 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe nature of solid–liquid interfaces is of great significance in lubrication. Remarkable advances have been made in lubrication based on hydration effects. However, a detailed molecular-level understanding is still lacking. Here, we investigated water molecule behaviors at the TiO2–aqueous interfaces by the sum-frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy (SFG-VS) and atomic force microscope (AFM) to elucidate the fundamental role of solid–liquid interfaces in lubrication. Combined contributions of water structures and hydration effects were revealed, where water structures played the dominant role in lubrication for TiO2 surfaces of varying hydrophilicity, while hydration effects dominated with the increasing of ion concentrations. Superior lubrication is observed on the initial TiO2 surfaces with strongly H-bonded water molecules compared to the hydrophilic TiO2 surfaces with more disordered water. The stable ordered water arrangement with strong hydrogen bonds and the shear plane occurring between the ordered water layer and subsequent water layer may play a significant role in achieving lower friction. More adsorbed hydrated molecules with the increasing ionic concentration perturb ordered water but lead to the enhancement of hydration effects, which is the main reason for the improved lubrication for both TiO2. This work provides more insights into the detailed molecular-level understanding of the mechanism of hydration lubrication.
Tribological behavior of shape-specific microplate-enriched synovial fluids on a linear two-axis tribometer
Authors: Fragassi Agnese , Greco Antonietta , Di Francesco Martina , Ceseracciu Luca , Abu Ammar Aiman , Dvir Israel , Moore Thomas Lee , Kasem Haytam , Decuzzi Paolo 
Published: December 2023

AbstractNano- and micro-particles are being increasingly used to tune interfacial frictional properties in diverse applications, from friction modifiers in industrial lubrication to enhanced biological fluids in human osteoarthritic joints. Here, we assessed the tribological properties of a simulated synovial fluid enriched with non-spherical, poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) microparticles (µPL) that have been previously demonstrated for the pharmacological management of osteoarthritis (OA). Three different µPL configurations were fabricated presenting a 20 µm × 20 µm square base and a thickness of 5 µm (thin, 5H µPL), 10 µm (10H µPL), and 20 µm (cubical, 20H µPL). After extensive morphological and physicochemical characterizations, the apparent Young’s modulus of the µPL was quantified under compressive loading returning an average value of ∼ 6 kPa, independently of the particle morphology. Then, using a linear two-axis tribometer, the static (µs) and dynamic (µd) friction coefficients of the µPL-enriched simulated synovial fluid were determined in terms of particle configuration and concentration, varying from 0 (fluid only) to 6µ105 µPL/mL. The particle morphology had a modest influence on friction, possibly because the µPL were fully squeezed between two mating surfaces by a 5.8 N normal load realizing boundary-like lubrication conditions. Differently, friction was observed to depend on the dimensionless parameter Ω, defined as the ratio between the total volume of the µPL enriching the simulated synovial fluid and the volume of the fluid itself. Both coefficients of friction were documented to grow with Ω reaching a plateau of µs ∼ 0.4 and µd ∼ 0.15, already at Ω ∼ 2×10−3. Future investigations will have to systematically analyze the effect of sliding velocity, normal load, and rigidity of the mating surfaces to elucidate in full the tribological behavior of µPL in the context of osteoarthritis.
Finite element analysis and experimental validation of polymer–metal contacts in block-on-ring configuration
Authors: Awwad K. Y. Eayal , Fallahnezhad Khosro , Yousif B. F. , Mostafa Ahmad , Alajarmeh Omar , Shalwan A. , Zeng Xuesen 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe wear profile analysis, obtained by different tribometers, is essential to characterise the wear mechanisms. However, most of the available methods did not take the stress distribution over the wear profile in consideration, which causes inaccurate analysis. In this study, the wear profile of polymer–metal contact, obtained by block-on-ring configuration under dry sliding conditions, was analysed using finite element modelling (FEM) and experimental investigation. Archard’s wear equation was integrated into a developed FORTRAN–UMESHMOTION code linked with Abaqus software. A varying wear coefficient (k) values covering both running-in and steady state regions, and a range of applied loads involving both mild and severe wear regions were measured and implemented in the FEM. The FEM was in good agreement with the experiments. The model reproduced the stress distribution profiles under variable testing conditions, while their values were affected by the sliding direction and maximum wear depth (hmax). The largest area of the wear profile, exposed to the average contact stresses, is defined as the normal zone. Whereas the critical zones were characterized by high stress concentrations reaching up to 10 times of that at the normal zone. The wear profile was mapped to identify the critical zone where the stress concentration is the key point in this definition. The surface features were examined in different regions using scanning electron microscope (SEM). Ultimately, SEM analysis showed severer damage features in the critical zone than that in the normal zone as proven by FEM. However, the literature data presented and considered the wear features the same at any point of the wear profile. In this study, the normal zone was determined at a stress value of about 0.5 MPa, whereas the critical zone was at about 5.5 MPa. The wear behaviour of these two zones showed totally different features from one another.
Mechanisms behind the environmental sensitivity of carbon fiber reinforced polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)
Authors: Johansson P. , Marklund P. , Björling M. , Shi Y. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractCarbon fiber reinforced polytetrafluoroethylene (CF/PTFE) composites are known for their exceptional tribological performance when sliding against steel or cast iron in inert gas environments. Compared to experiments in humid air, about an order of magnitude lower wear rate and several times lower coefficient of friction have been reported for tests conducted in dry nitrogen and hydrogen. Moreover, trace moisture has been shown to affect the friction and wear significantly of this tribosystem, although a possible effect of oxygen cannot be ruled out due to uncertainties regarding the oxygen concentrations. While several studies have pointed out the environmental sensitivity of CF/PTFE, the understanding of the underlying mechanisms are very limited. The objective of this research is to investigate the individual and combined effect of oxygen and moisture on the tribological behavior of CF/PTFE sliding against steel. Additionally, this study aims to elucidate the underlying mechanisms that govern the environmental sensitivity of the system. Climate-controlled three-pin-on-disc experiments were conducted in nitrogen atmospheres at various concentrations of oxygen and moisture. The tribological results clearly demonstrate that both moisture and oxygen contribute to increased friction and wear. However, the adverse effect was much more pronounced for oxygen than moisture. A qualitative method was developed to estimate the tribofilm coverage on the CF/PTFE surface. Results showed strong correlation between high coverage of strongly adhered tribofilm and low wear rate. Moreover, a loosely adhered tribofilm was observed on top of the CF/PTFE surface in presence of moisture. FTIR analysis indicated that the loosely adhered tribofilm found in the moisture-enriched environment contained a significant amount of adsorbed water, which may explain the lower coefficient of friction in presence of moisture compared to oxygen. The adsorbed water in the loosely adhered tribofilm could be an indication of moisture-driven lubrication by the non-graphitic carbon in the tribofilm.
Dynamics and implications of the age profiles of inter-provincial migration in China
Authors: Zhou Hao , Chen Xiaoxiong 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThis research examines the shifts in age profiles among migrants in China, utilizing microdata derived from four national censuses and two 1% population sample surveys conducted since 1990. Our findings indicate: (1) there has been a surge in age-specific migration intensity across all age groups over the past two decades; (2) the age profiles of the flow floating population differ from both the entire and the residual migrant populations; and (3) the age profiles of China's flow floating population exhibit a blend of Asian and Western patterns—a prevalence among individuals in their early 20s, typical of Asian patterns, and a broad range of ages post-peak, indicative of Western patterns. Consequently, we propose that future population projections prioritize the flow floating population over the traditionally employed entire floating population. Furthermore, recognizing heterogeneity is critical for accurately understanding migrants in China, necessitating a comprehensive migration policy that safeguards the rights and welfare of these individuals.
Suboptimal antimicrobial discharge prescriptions at a tertiary referral children’s hospital
Authors: Zhang Yi Wolf , Paturi Sruti , Puckett Lauren M. , Scheinker David , Schwenk Hayden T. , Joerger Torsten A. 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

Objective:
To determine the rate of and factors associated with suboptimal discharge antimicrobial prescribing at a tertiary referral children’s hospital.

Design:
Retrospective cohort.

Setting:
Tertiary referral children’s hospital.

Population:
All enteral antimicrobial discharge prescriptions at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford from January 1st, 2021 through December 31st, 2021.

Method:
All enteral discharge antimicrobials are routinely evaluated by our antimicrobial stewardship program within 48 hours of hospital discharge. Antimicrobials are determined to be optimal or suboptimal by an antimicrobial stewardship pharmacist after evaluating the prescribed choice of antimicrobial, dose, duration, dosing frequency, and formulation. The rate and factors associated with suboptimal antimicrobial discharge prescribing were evaluated.

Results:
Of 2,593 antimicrobial prescriptions ordered at discharge, 19.7% were suboptimal. Suboptimal prescriptions were due to incorrect duration (72.2%), dose (31.0%), dose frequency (23.3%), drug choice (6.5%), or formulation (5.7%). In total, 87.2% of antimicrobials for perioperative prophylaxis and 13.5% of treatment antimicrobials were suboptimal. Antimicrobials with the highest rate of suboptimal prescriptions were amoxicillin-clavulanate (40.7%), clindamycin (36.6%), and cephalexin (36.6%).

Conclusion:
Suboptimal antimicrobial discharge prescriptions are common and present an opportunity for antimicrobial stewardship programs during hospital transition of care. Factors associated with suboptimal prescriptions differ by antimicrobial and prescribed indication, indicating that multiple stewardship interventions may be needed to improve prescribing.
Harnessing heterogeneity in behavioural research using computational social science
Authors: Veltri Giuseppe A. 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Similarly to other domains of the social sciences, behavioural science has grappled with a crisis concerning the effect sizes of research findings. Different solutions have been provided to answer this challenge. This paper will discuss analytical strategies developed in the context of computational social science, namely causal tree and forest, that will benefit behavioural scientists in harnessing heterogeneity of treatment effects in RCTs. As a mixture of theoretical and data-driven approaches, these techniques are well suited to exploit the rich information provided by large studies conducted using RCTs. We discuss the characteristics of these methods and their methodological rationale and provide simulations to illustrate their use. We simulate two scenarios of RCTs-generated data and explore the heterogeneity of treatment effects using causal tree and causal forest methods. Furthermore, we outlined a potential theoretical use of these techniques to enrich behavioural science ecological validity by introducing the notion of behavioural niche.
Characterization of the West Siberian lineage of zokors (Mammalia, Rodentia, Spalacidae, Myospalacinae) and divergence in molar development
Authors: Golovanov Semion E. , Zazhigin Vladimir S. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractZokors (Myospalacinae) continue to be the center of systematics discussions. Phylogenetic schemes based on molecular data do not always agree with each other, nor can phylogenetic schemes based on paleontological material be complete due to the only-partial description of West Siberian zokors. This paper tries to fill this gap and presents a description of the West Siberian lineage from the late early Pleistocene to the present, together with an analysis of molar development in other zokor lineages. We describe two new species and one subspecies (Myospalax myospalax krukoveri n. ssp., Myospalax convexus n. sp., Prosiphneus razdoleanensis n. sp.) ancestral to the extant Myospalax myospalax Laxmann, 1769. We also reveal differences in the ontogeny of molars of modern species that were not previously detailed. These differences, together with paleontological data, indicate that in the West Siberian lineage, peramorphosis occurred in the structure of the chewing surface (with the exception of the lower m1), whereas in all other zokor lineages, there was pedomorphosis. On the basis of these results, we suggest a new view on the systematics of Myospalacinae.UUID: http://zoobank.org/b06d6c99-1648-454b-9b95-4d869bfe8bdc
New paleohydroclimate record of the MIS 5e/5d transition from Yelini Cave, central Anatolian region of Türkiye
Authors: Gürbüz Kaan , Mutlu Halim , Ünal-İmer Ezgi , Uysal İ. Tonguç , Zhao Jian-Xin 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThis study presents the results of a detailed paleoclimate investigation on stalagmite YL-1 (Yelini Cave, Türkiye). YL-1 grew between 117.13 (+0.57/−0.44) ka and 114.87 (+1.63/−2.89) ka within Greenland Stadial 26, indicating a positive moisture balance during the stadial conditions in this semi-arid region. Rainfall is significantly affected by sub-cloud and surface evaporation and decreasing net effective winter precipitation is recorded by high isotope values. Enriched δ18O and δ13C at 116.65 (+0.51/−0.39) ka are interpreted as a drought event that took place ca. 400 years before the end of the MIS 5e. This event, which was reported simultaneously in marine and terrestrial archives in the Northern Hemisphere, is a result of decreased cyclone activity linked to weakening of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation. 87Sr/86Sr values of YL-1 are close to the host-rock values. Decreased 87Sr/86Sr ratio at 116.67 (+0.54/−0.38) ka reflects the intensified water–rock interaction due to lower precipitation. Along with prior calcite precipitation effect, this is also observed by increased Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca, while low P, Cu, Be, Y, and Zr concentrations indicate a lowered amount of soil-derived colloidal material. The MIS 5e/5d transition is marked by reduced insolation and enriched δ18O at 116.24 (+0.53/−0.86) ka. The Greenland Interstadial 25 phase at 115.87 (+0.83/−1.71) ka is represented by more negative δ18O and δ13C.
Political Finance and Party Systems in the Normative Theory of Partisanship: Toward a Civic Model
Authors: Bonotti Matteo , Nwokora Zim 
Published: December 2023

AbstractPolitical finance in liberal democracies is often regarded as a source of pathology accompanied by demands for reform. But on what principles and values should political finance reform be grounded? The existing scholarship provides no more than sketchy advice on such matters. To address this gap, this paper presents a normative framework to evaluate political finance rules, which proposes (a) that the design of such rules should take account of the party system in which the financing rules will operate; (b) that both political finance rules and party systems should be evaluated in terms of three normative dimensions of partisanship (collegiality, systemic voice, and systemic accountability); and (c) that political finance reforms ought to counterbalance the pathologies inherent to different party systems. A set of political finance rules that satisfies these three conditions is an instantiation of what we describe as the ‘civic model of political finance’.