bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Polyacrylamide Grafted Activated Carbon by Surface‐Initiated AGET ATRP for the Flocculation of MFT
Authors: Bégin Sarah Julie , Scotland Kevin Malcolm , Pede Paul Raivo , Vreugdenhil Andrew James 
Published: September 2023

AbstractPolyacrylamide (PAM) is grafted from the surface of activated carbon (AC) by surface‐initiated activators generated by electron transfer atom transfer radical polymerization (SI‐AGET ATRP). This is accomplished by pre‐functionalizing the surface of activated carbon by oxidation, followed by the attachment of an ATRP initiator. From this surface, SI‐AGET ATRP of acrylamide monomers is performed. The resulting AC‐PAM is characterized by FTIR, XPS, TGA, and BET analysis. Additionally, the grafted polymer is cleaved from the surface of AC and its molecular weight distribution is measured by SEC. This material is designed to explore the effect that grafting a polymer flocculant onto AC will have on the polymer's flocculating abilities. This is evaluated by measuring the flocculation and dewatering of mature fine tailings (MFT) when dosed with the AC‐PAM compared to PAM. In all, this work demonstrates the successful grafting of PAM onto AC, as well as potential wastewater applications for this composite material.
Dip Coating of Water‐Resistant PEDOT:PSS Films Based on Physical Crosslinking
Authors: Yamamoto Shunsuke , Miyako Ryusei , Maeda Ryota , Ishizaki Yuya , Mitsuishi Masaya 
Published: September 2023

AbstractWater‐resistant poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) films are valuable in biomedical applications; however, they typically require crosslinkers to stabilize the films, which can introduce undesired aggregation or phase separation reactions. Herein, a dipping‐based process to prepare PEDOT:PSS films on nonplanar surfaces without crosslinker is developed. Sequential soaking of a dip‐coated PEDOT:PSS film in ethanol and water imparts water resistance to the film. Microscopic and spectroscopic techniques are used to monitor the process and confirm that the ethanol soaking elutes the excess PSS from the film bulk, which stabilizes the film prior to the water‐soaking process. The obtained films act as conductors and semiconductors on curved surfaces, including 3D‐printed objects. A film deposited on a curved surface is successfully applied as the channel layer in a neuromorphic organic electrochemical transistor. This approach can enable integrated bioelectronic and neuromorphic applications that can be readily deployed for facile prototyping.
Mapping of 1H NMR chemical shifts relationship with chemical similarities for the acceleration of metabolic profiling: Application on blood products
Authors: Takis Panteleimon G. , Aggelidou Varvara A. , Sands Caroline J. , Louka Alexandra 
Published: September 2023

AbstractOne‐dimensional (1D) proton‐nuclear magnetic resonance (1H‐NMR) spectroscopy is an established technique for the deconvolution of complex biological sample types via the identification/quantification of small molecules. It is highly reproducible and could be easily automated for small to large‐scale bioanalytical, epidemiological, and in general metabolomics studies. However, chemical shift variability is a serious issue that must still be solved in order to fully automate metabolite identification. Herein, we demonstrate a strategy to increase the confidence in assignments and effectively predict the chemical shifts of various NMR signals based upon the simplest form of statistical models (i.e., linear regression). To build these models, we were guided by chemical homology in serum/plasma metabolites classes (i.e., amino acids and carboxylic acids) and similarity between chemical groups such as methyl protons. Our models, built on 940 serum samples and validated in an independent cohort of 1,052 plasma‐EDTA spectra, were able to successfully predict the 1H NMR chemical shifts of 15 metabolites within ~1.5 linewidths (Δv1/2) error range on average. This pilot study demonstrates the potential of developing an algorithm for the accurate assignment of 1H NMR chemical shifts based solely on chemically defined constraints.
Rapid T2∗‐weighted MRI using multishot EPI with retrospective motion and phase correction in the emergency department
Authors: Li Zhiqiang , Ooi Melvyn B. , Murchison James A. , Karis John P. 
Published: September 2023

AbstractPurposeBrain MRI is increasingly used in the emergency department (ED), where ‐weighted MRI is an essential tool for detecting hemorrhage and stroke. The goal of this study was to develop a rapid ‐weighted MRI technique capable of correcting motion‐induced artifacts, thereby simultaneously improving scan time and motion robustness for ED applications.MethodsA 2D gradient‐echo (GRE)–based multishot EPI (msEPI) technique was implemented using a navigator echo for estimating motion‐induced errors. Bulk rigid head motion and phase errors were retrospectively corrected using an iterative conjugate gradient approach in the reconstruction pipeline. Three volunteers and select patients were imaged at 3 T and/or 1.5 T with an approximately 1‐min full‐brain protocol using the proposed msEPI technique and compared to an approximately 3‐min standard‐of‐care GRE protocol to examine its performance.ResultsData from volunteers demonstrated that in‐plane motion artifacts could be effectively corrected with the proposed msEPI technique, and through‐plane motion artifacts could be mitigated. Patient images were qualitatively reviewed by one radiologist without a formal statistical analysis. These results suggested the proposed technique could correct motion‐induced artifacts in the clinical setting. In addition, the conspicuity of susceptibility‐related lesions using the proposed msEPI technique was comparable, or improved, compared to GRE.ConclusionA 1‐min full‐brain ‐weighted MRI technique was developed using msEPI with a navigator echo to correct motion‐induced errors. Preliminary clinical results suggest faster scans and improved motion robustness and lesion conspicuity make msEPI a competitive alternative to traditional ‐weighted MRI techniques for brain studies in the ED.
Probabilistic analysis of width‐limited 3D slope in spatially variable soils: UBLA enhanced with efficiency‐improved discretization of horn‐like failure mechanism
Authors: Sun Zhibin , Zhao Yang , Hu Yining , Dias Daniel , Ji Jian 
Published: September 2023

AbstractReliability analysis of earth slopes considering soil spatial variability has garnered significant attention from researchers. However, previous studies have predominantly focused on long slopes with infinite or ample width, such as dams and subgrades, but rare research was dedicated to slopes with width restricted by boundary constraints. In this regard, this paper proposes an efficient reliability framework suitable for width‐limited slopes in spatially variable soils. The proposed framework employed spatial discretization‐based upper bound limit analysis (UBLA) to conduct the deterministic slope stability analysis. The established failure mechanism can well capture the width‐limited three‐dimensional slip surface characteristics and satisfies the kinematically admissible conditions in spatially variable soils. Two innovative strategies are proposed to boost the efficiency of the discretized mechanism. They reduce the computational time to determine safety factors from over 20 min to less than 2 min. For the uncertainty modeling and slope reliability computing procedure, the Sparse Polynomial Chaos Expansion (SPCE) and Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) methods are combined to generate the distribution of safety factors and failure probabilities. This combination addresses the high‐dimensional stochastic problem arising from 3D spatial variability. Using the proposed framework, a parametric analysis of a 3D spatially variable slope is conducted to investigate the impact of various factors. The findings of this paper are beneficial to the risk evolution of width‐limited slopes, and the efficiency enhancement strategies have the potential to expedite the limit analysis of other geo‐structures, such as tunnels, retaining walls, and foundations.
Use of oral diet and nutrition support in management of stricturing and fistulizing Crohn's disease
Authors: Fansiwala Kush , Shah Neha D. , McNulty Kelly A. , Kwaan Mary R. , Limketkai Berkeley N. 
Published: September 2023

AbstractCrohn's disease (CD), a form of inflammatory bowel disease, involves chronic inflammation within the gastrointestinal tract. Intestinal strictures and fistulas are common complications of CD with varying severity in their presentations. Modifications in oral diet or use of exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) are common approaches to manage both stricturing and fistulizing disease, although supporting research evidence is generally limited. In the preoperative period, there is strong evidence that EEN can reduce surgical complications. Parenteral nutrition (PN) is often utilized in the management of enterocutaneous fistulas, given that oral diet and EEN may potentially increase output in proximal fistulas. This narrative review highlights the current practices and evidence for the roles of oral diet, EEN, and PN in treatment and management of stricturing and fistulizing CD.
A time‐domain boundary element method for the 3D dissipative wave equation: Case of Neumann problems
Authors: Takahashi Toru 
Published: September 2023

AbstractThe present article proposes a time‐domain boundary element method (TDBEM) for the three‐dimensional (3D) dissipative wave equation (DWE). Although the fundamental ingredients such as the Green's function for the 3D DWE have been known for a long time, the details of formulation and implementation for such a 3D TDBEM have been unreported yet to the author's best knowledge. The present formulation is performed truly in time domain on the basis of the time‐dependent Green's function and results in a marching‐on‐in‐time fashion. The main concern is in the evaluation of the boundary integrals. For this regard, weakly‐ and removable‐singularities are carefully treated. The proposed TDBEM is checked through the numerical examples whose solutions can be obtained semi‐analytically by means of the inverse Laplace transform. The results of the present TDBEM are satisfactory to validate its formulation and implementation for Neumann problems. On the other hand, the present formulation based on the ordinary boundary integral equation (BIE) is unstable for Dirichlet problems. The numerical analyses for the non‐dissipative case imply that the instability issue can be partially resolved by using the Burton–Miller BIE even in the dissipative case.
DNA methylation status of SHATI/NAT8L promoter in the blood of cigarette smokers
Authors: Izuo Naotaka , Miyanishi Hajime , Nishizawa Daisuke , Fujii Takuma , Hasegawa Junko , Sato Naomi , Tanioka Fumihiko , Sugimura Haruhiko , Ikeda Kazutaka , Nitta Atsumi 
Published: September 2023

AbstractAimsCigarette smoking is a preventable risk factor for various diseases such as cancer, ischemic stroke, cardiac stroke, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Smoking cessation is of great importance not only for individual smokers but also for social health. Regarding current cessation therapies, the effectiveness of nicotine replacement is limited, and the cost of varenicline medication is considerable. Thus, a method for screening smokers who are responsive to cessation therapy based on the therapeutic effectiveness is required. Peripheral biomarkers reflecting smoking dependence status are necessary to establish a method for achieving effective cessation therapy.MethodsMethylation status of smokers' blood DNA was evaluated focusing on SHATI/NAT8L, an addiction‐related gene. Eight CpG sites in SHATI/NAT8L were quantified by pyrosequencing.ResultsThere was no difference in the methylation status of this gene between smokers (n = 129) and non‐smokers (n = 129) at all CpG sites. No correlations between the methylation status of SHATI/NAT8L and indicators of smoking dependence were found.ConclusionsAlthough the present study found no significance in the DNA methylation of SHATI/NAT8L among smokers, the exploration of predictable peripheral biomarkers for the effectiveness of smoking cessation therapy is required.
The Effects of Adenotonsillectomy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea on Growth Trajectory in Children With Obesity
Authors: Kashiwazaki Ryota , Jensen Alexandria M. , Haemer Matthew , Friedman Norman R. 
Published: September 2023

AbstractObjectiveTo analyze the growth trajectory of children with obesity before and after adenotonsillectomy (T&A). We hypothesize that T&A will not affect the growth trajectory but children in a multidisciplinary weight management program (MWMP) will have a healthier growth trajectory.Study DesignRetrospective review.SettingTertiary Children's Hospital.MethodsBody mass index (BMI) trajectories of nonsyndromic children with obesity and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) who underwent T&A were analyzed. A linear mixed effects model was fit to the BMI expressed as a percentage of the 95th percentile (%BMIp95) data. Covariates included demographic variables, pre‐ and postoperative participation in an MWMP, baseline obesity class, and time. We explored clinically meaningful interactions. BMI slope estimates before and after surgery were calculated and compared for baseline obesity classification and postoperative MWMP visits.ResultsA total of 177 patients, 58% male with a mean age of 9.7 years at the time of surgery, were studied. Higher baseline obesity class (II and III), time, the interaction between obesity class III and elapsed time relative to surgical date, and the interaction between obesity class III and the postsurgical period were all significantly associated with the outcome of %BMIp95 (P < .05). There was a significantly higher %BMIp95 trajectory following surgery in patients with baseline obesity class III who did not have any postoperative MWMP visits (P < .001). Preoperative obesity visits, however, were not significantly associated with postoperative growth.ConclusionThe association between T&A and weight trajectory depends upon obesity class and participation in a MWMP. Coordinated care of children with obesity between otolaryngologists and an MWMP may improve OSA and obesity outcomes.Level of EvidenceThe level of evidence: 3.
A bulk‐surface model for the electrothermal feedback in large‐area organic light‐emitting diodes
Authors: Glitzky Annegret , Liero Matthias 
Published: September 2023

AbstractThis work deals with an effective bulk‐surface thermistor model describing the electrothermal behavior of large‐area thin‐film organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs). This model was rigorously derived from a ‐Laplace thermistor model by dimension reduction and consists of the heat equation in the three‐dimensional glass substrate and two semi‐linear equations describing the current flow through the electrodes coupled to algebraic equations that express the continuity of the electrical fluxes through the organic layers. The electrical problem lives on the surface of the glass substrate where the OLED is mounted. The source terms in the heat equation result from Joule heating and are concentrated on the part of the boundary where the current‐flow problem is formulated. Schauder's fixed‐point theorem is used to establish the existence of weak solutions to this effective system. Since the heat source terms at the surface are a priori only in L1, the concept of entropy solutions for the heat equation is worked with.
Block‐structured mesh generation from implicit geometries for cardiovascular applications
Authors: Bošnjak Domagoj , Fries Thomas‐Peter 
Published: September 2023

AbstractGeneration of suitable meshes for patient‐specific vascular domains remains a major obstacle in the context of numerical simulations relying on the finite element method, as well as many similar methods. Herein, we discuss a skeleton‐based structured meshing approach, revolving around block‐structures. We rely on an implicitly represented surface, either via a signed distance function, or a convolution surface. The mesh generation using the aforementioned concepts is performed through the proper utilisation of transfinite maps. Application‐wise, we consider healthy blood vessels, and extensions required to tackle aortas afflicted by aortic dissection. The high quality of the resulting meshes is affirmed through common mesh quality metrics. Our approach features large flexibility in terms of spatial resolution, as well as mesh order.
Not just having fun: Experiential‐learning–based school field trips improved local children's mental models of the mangrove nature reserve in Shenzhen, China
Authors: Wu Meng , Zhang Weizhe , Zeng Zhuo , Liu Chi‐Chang , Liu Kuei‐Pin 
Published: September 2023

Abstract

Nature‐based school field trips gained policy support from China governments. However, in a highly exam‐oriented education system, schools might be unwilling to implement such activities which they believe are merely fun journeys and useless for knowledge acquisition.

We designed an experiential learning field trip to a local mangrove reserve for third graders and assessed how it changed their mental models about the mangrove ecosystem through pre‐ and post‐drawings.

We analysed and scored the paired drawings through a rubric developed based on grounded theory coding procedures, used paired t‐tests to examine the changes, and qualitatively interpreted three example pairs from three groups divided by pre‐drawing scores. We deemed that participants' mental models improved, reflecting better knowledge about the mangrove ecosystem.

We suggest that the notion of mental models of the environment is relevant to the needs of both formal schools and environmental organizations.

By demonstrating a relatively successful nature‐based school field trip case involving pupils from China, we hope that formal schools of this country in the exam‐oriented educational context could utilize it as a justification and vicarious experience to participate in or implement such trips.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Integration of peripheral blood‐ and tissue‐based biomarkers of response to immune checkpoint blockade in urothelial carcinoma
Authors: Vanguri Rami S , Smithy James W , Li Yanyun , Zhuang Mingqiang , Maher Colleen A , Aleynick Nathaniel , Peng Xiyu , Al‐Ahmadie Hikmat , Funt Samuel A , Rosenberg Jonathan E , Iyer Gopa , Bajorin Dean , Mathews James C , Nadeem Saad , Panageas Katherine S , Shen Ronglai , Callahan Margaret K , Hollmann Travis J 
Published: September 2023

AbstractAs predictive biomarkers of response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) remain a major unmet clinical need in patients with urothelial carcinoma (UC), we sought to identify tissue‐based immune biomarkers of clinical benefit to ICIs using multiplex immunofluorescence and to integrate these findings with previously identified peripheral blood biomarkers of response. Fifty‐five pretreatment and 12 paired on‐treatment UC specimens were identified from patients treated with nivolumab with or without ipilimumab. Whole tissue sections were stained with a 12‐plex mIF panel, including CD8, PD‐1/CD279, PD‐L1/CD274, CD68, CD3, CD4, FoxP3, TCF1/7, Ki67, LAG‐3, MHC‐II/HLA‐DR, and pancytokeratin+SOX10 to identify over three million cells. Immune tissue densities were compared to progression‐free survival (PFS) and best overall response (BOR) by RECIST version 1.1. Correlation coefficients were calculated between tissue‐based and circulating immune populations. The frequency of intratumoral CD3+LAG‐3+ cells was higher in responders compared to nonresponders (p = 0.0001). LAG‐3+ cellular aggregates were associated with response, including CD3+LAG‐3+ in proximity to CD3+ (p = 0.01). Exploratory multivariate modeling showed an association between intratumoral CD3+LAG‐3+ cells and improved PFS independent of prognostic clinical factors (log HR −7.0; 95% confidence interval [CI] −12.7 to −1.4), as well as established biomarkers predictive of ICI response (log HR −5.0; 95% CI −9.8 to −0.2). Intratumoral LAG‐3+ immune cell populations warrant further study as a predictive biomarker of clinical benefit to ICIs. Differences in LAG‐3+ lymphocyte populations across the intratumoral and peripheral compartments may provide complementary information that could inform the future development of multimodal composite biomarkers of ICI response. © 2023 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
The influence of geometric characteristic on the pullout behavior of basalt FRP minibar embedded in concrete
Authors: Xia Liu , Xin Wang , Kaidi Jiang , Zhiyuan Chen , Yujin Hu , Zhishen Wu 
Published: September 2023

AbstractWith the increasing demand on structural toughness and energy absorption capacity, the addition of fiber to concrete has become an issue of significance. This paper studies the bond behavior of Basalt FRP (BFRP) minibar with straight, twisted and crimped geometric characteristics. The failure modes, pullout curves and bond strength were compared, and their interface degradation, damage evolution and failure mechanism between single fiber and concrete matrix were analyzed. Additionally, commercial steel fibers and polypropylene fibers were compared with the BFRP minibars to clarify the effect of fiber type on failure morphology, bond strength and interface properties. The results showed that the pulling out process for straight BFRP minibars, twisted BFRP minibars and crimped BFRP minibars was constituted by the elastic bonding stage, the partial de‐bonding stage, the complete de‐bonding stage and the pullout of fiber. The bond strength was composed of chemical adhesion and mechanical bond, where the mechanical bond play important role after the initial failure of chemical adhesion. The bond strength of crimped BFRP minibar, the hooked steel fiber, the indented polypropylene fibers and the twisted BFRP minibar were enhanced by 358%, 324%, 115%, and 54.5% compared to straight BFRP minibars. The interface bonding strengths improve with the increase of matrix strength. Dense microstructures of matrix improve the bond strength. The bond‐slip constitutive model was proposed for crimped, twisted and straight BFRP minibars with regression coefficient of 0.978, 0.891, and 0.992, respectively.Highlights
Influence of fiber geometry and concrete strength on the pullout behavior
Interface degradation, damage evolution and failure mechanism between minibar and concrete
Bond‐slip constitutive model of straight, twisted and crimped BFRP minibars
Dynamic covalent polymers generated from X‐yne click polymerization
Authors: Fu Xinyao , Qin Anjun , Tang Ben Zhong 
Published: September 2023

AbstractDynamic covalent polymers have gained more and more attention for their fascinating dynamic features and broad application prospects. As an emerging and powerful synthetic tool, X‐yne click polymerization, mainly including thiol‐yne, amino‐yne and hydroxyl‐yne click polymerizations, has been rapidly developed and widely applied in the preparation of functional polymers in recent years. Moreover, dynamic exchange processes have been successively observed in different X‐yne adducts, and then several dynamic covalent polymers have been obtained by X‐yne click polymerization. The combination of these two aspects not only provides a highly efficient synthetic approach for dynamic covalent polymers, but also further expands the application scope of X‐yne click polymerization, achieving a win–win situation. In this review, we sort out the dynamic exchange mechanisms based on the formation of β‐heteroatom enolate intermediates and give a detailed account of the progress of dynamic covalent polymers generated from X‐yne click polymerization and their applications in covalent adaptable networks (CANs), self‐healing injectable polymer hydrogels and functional porous polymeric films, etc. The existing deficiencies and future prospects in this field are also discussed.