bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Tribological properties of oil-impregnated porous polyimide modified by rare-earth compounds
Authors: Liu Li , Liu Jinyang , Yin Shunli , Li Kai , Hua Licheng , Zhou Ningning , Hu Xudong , Li Jinbang 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
Porous polyimide (PPI) exhibits good tribological performances due to excellent oil-storage properties. Porous structure could store lubricant but also make PPI materials difficult to be strengthened by most fillers, because fillers will destroy the pore structure and reduce the strength significantly. Rare-earth compounds (RECs) have high surface activity, which allow them to bond well with polymer. In this study, the tribological properties of REC modified PPIs were investigated using a ball-on-disc tribometer, along with an analysis of oil-impregnated properties, including oil content, oil retention, oil contact angle and oil absorption speed. The mechanical properties, including hardness (Shore D), impact strength and tensile strength, were tested to evaluate the effect of RECs. The results show that CeF3 and LaF3 fillers can lead to an increase of about 40% in oil content of PPI. PrF3 modified PPI were found to have better oleophilic properties, as the oil contact angle reduced 33% compared with pure PPI and oil retention could reach 88% after 120 min centrifugation. Moreover, PrF3 can enhance the surface hardness, impact strength and wear resistance performance of PPI despite a slight decrease in tensile strength. Better oil-impregnation and mechanical properties of PPI modified by PrF3 effectively reduce the friction and wear.
Fabrication of superhydrophobic surface by a dimensional change in surface topography of microchannel on polymer substrate through induction-aided hot embossing: parametric investigation and optimization
Authors: Deshmukh Swarup S , Rana Pinal , Goswami Arjyajyoti 
Published: August 2023

AbstractHot embossing (HE) is a micro-fabrication technique employed to create micron-scale patterns on the polymer substrate. An in-house induction-assisted hot embossing (IHE) setup was fabricated to complete the embossing in a short duration as compared to traditional hot embossing process. This work alters the polymer surface topography to make it superhydrophobic for self-cleaning. Fiber laser machining was used to produce four-microchannel designs on an Aluminum-6061 plate in which the microchannel width was varied from 600μm to 150μm while maintaining a constant adjacent distance of 300μm. This textured plate is employed as a mold in the IHE setup. IHE process parameters, embossing temperature, pressure, time, and deembossing temperature were varied to emboss the mold designs on a polyethylene terephthalate substrate. Thereafter, the embossed microchannel height, surface roughness, and water contact angle perpendicular to the embossed microchannels (WCA⟂) were calculated. The parametric analysis examined how operational factors affected the output. The experiment was done as per the central composite design (experimental design) part of the design-of-experiments useful in the response surface model. Parametric research demonstrates that embossed microchannel height and width had a maximum effect on WCA⟂. Type-IV microchannels with 150μm width demonstrated the highest WCA⟂. The WCA⟂was mostly impacted by embossed microchannel height; hence a regression model was created using type-IV channel height data. Analysis of variance showed that embossing temperature mainly impacts microchannel height. The recently invented Jaya-algorithm optimized this model to increase embossed microchannel height and WCA⟂. Setting the parameters at the best level predicted by Jaya-algorithm yielded an embossed microchannel height inaccuracy of 2.18%. The WCA⟂measured on the surface of a sample prepared at the best parameters was found to be 154.71°±2°. Lastly, FTIR (Fourier-transform-infrared-spectroscopy) test showed no chemical composition change between the embossed and bare samples.
Room-temperature fabrication of flexible oxide TFTs by co-sputtering of IGZO and ITO
Authors: Wang Yan , Tang Yingjie , Chen Yitong , Li Dingwei , Ren Huihui , Liu Guolei , Li Fanfan , Jin Ran , Zhu Bowen 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
Amorphous oxide semiconductors, especially indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO), have been widely studied and obtained significant progress in flexible thin-film transistors (TFTs) due to the high carrier mobility and low deposition temperature. However, a further annealing step is generally required to activate electrical properties and improve the device performance, which limited their applications in flexible electronics. In this study, we achieved flexible TFTs and arrays using co-sputtered IGZO and indium tin oxide (ITO) as channels deposited at room temperature without post-annealing. It was found that better transistor switching properties could be effectively achieved by regulating the sputtering power of ITO in the co-sputtered deposition. The device performance is comparable to that of the conventional oxide TFTs with high annealing temperatures (⩾300 °C), exhibiting a high saturation mobility (μ
sat) of 15.3 cm2 V−1s−1, a small subthreshold swing (SS) of 0.21 V dec−1, and a very high on–off ratio (I
on/off) of 1011. In addition, a 12 × 12 flexible TFT array was achieved with uniform performance owing to the low-temperature processing advantage of this technique. The flexible TFTs exhibited robust mechanical flexibility with a minimum bending radius of 5 mm and bending cycles up to 1000. Furthermore, an inverter based on co-sputtered IGZO and ITO was demonstrated with the maximum gain of 22. All these achievements based on the proposed TFTs without post-annealing process are expected to promote the applications in advanced flexible displays and large-area integrated circuits.
Defect-induced weak collective pinning in superconducting YB6 crystals
Authors: Pribulová Zuzana , Marcin Miroslav , Kačmarčík Jozef , Gabáni Slavomír , Flachbart Karol , Shitsevalova Natalya , Mori Takao , Sluchanko Nikolay , Anisimov Mikhail , Cambel Vladimír , Šoltýs Ján , Marcenat Christophe , Klein Thierry , Samuely Peter 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
In a previous study (2017 Phys. Rev. B
96 144501), a strong variation in the superconducting transition temperature T
c of YB6 differing by a factor of two has been explained by a change in the density of yttrium and boron vacancies tuning the electron–phonon interaction. Here, by using an array of miniature Hall probes, we address the penetration of the magnetic field, pinning, and critical current density on a series of YB6 single crystals with T
c variation between 4.25 and 7.35 K. The analysis of the superconducting and normal-state specific heat characteristics allowed us to determine T
c and the stoichiometry of our samples. We observed almost no pinning in the most stoichiometric YB6 crystal with the lowest T
c. Upon increasing the number of vacancies weak pinning appears, and the critical current density is enhanced following the increased transition temperature in a linear variation. We argue that such an increase is, within weak collective pinning theory, consistent with the increasing number of vacancies that serve as pinning centers.
Self-healing metal matrix composite of nitinol wire-reinforced A356 alloy matrix by stir casting technology
Authors: Sharma Sumit , Nandan Gopal , Tyagi R K 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
The current demand for novel and self-healing material in today’s industries is one of the key challenges. Many engineering applications required tailored properties including self-healing characteristics in novel engineering materials. In this regard, an attempt is made to develop the metal matrix composite of aluminum A356 alloy by utilizing the properties of Nitinol alloy (wire) through a semi-solid metal processing technique. The investigation was validated by light-microscope images of the developed material. Further, filed emission scanning electron microscopy images are taken from the specimens for morphological examination. The elemental confirmation of the produced material is conducted through Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis (EDX) spectrum. The results revealed the random dispersion of reinforcement in the matrix phase and EDX confirms that the major constituents of A356 alloy and the Nitinol wires. At last, the crack analysis is conducted before and after hearing which reveals that the interlocks of Nitinol wire with the alpha Al phase of base alloy can provide the ability to close the crack and it can recover the deformed surface by 17.35%.
Construction of 𝑝-energy and associated energy measures on Sierpiński carpets
Authors: Shimizu Ryosuke 
Published: August 2023

We establish the existence of a scaling limit

E

p

\mathcal {E}_p

of discrete

p
p

-energies on the graphs approximating a generalized Sierpiński carpet for

p
>

d

A
R
C

p > d_{\mathrm {ARC}}

, where

d

A
R
C

d_{\mathrm {ARC}}

is the Ahlfors regular conformal dimension of the underlying generalized Sierpiński carpet. Furthermore, the function space

F

p

\mathcal {F}_{p}

defined as the collection of functions with finite

p
p

-energies is shown to be a reflexive and separable Banach space that is dense in the set of continuous functions with respect to the supremum norm. In particular,

(

E

2

,

F

2

)

(\mathcal {E}_2, \mathcal {F}_2)

recovers the canonical regular Dirichlet form constructed by Barlow and Bass [Ann. Inst. H. Poincaré Probab. Statist. 25 (1989), pp. 225–257] or Kusuoka and Zhou [Probab. Theory Related Fields 93 (1992), pp. 169–196]. We also provide

E

p

\mathcal {E}_{p}

-energy measures associated with the constructed

p
p

-energy and investigate its basic properties like self-similarity and chain rule.
Thiazide Diuretics and Risk of Colorectal Cancer: A Population-Based Cohort Study
Authors: Rouette Julie , McDonald Emily G , Schuster Tibor , Matok Ilan , Brophy James M , Azoulay Laurent 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
Evidence from clinical trials and observational studies on the association between thiazide diuretics and colorectal cancer risk is conflicting. We aimed to determine whether thiazide diuretics are associated with an increased colorectal cancer risk compared with dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (dCCBs). A population-based, new-user cohort was assembled using the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink. Between 1990–2018, we compared thiazide diuretic initiators with dCCB initiators and estimated hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of colorectal cancer using Cox proportional hazard models. Models were weighted using standardized morbidity ratio weights generated from calendar time-specific propensity scores. The cohort included 377,760 thiazide diuretic initiators and 364,300 dCCB initiators, generating 3,619,883 person-years of follow-up. Compared with dCCBs, thiazide diuretics were not associated with colorectal cancer (weighted HR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.90, 1.04). Secondary analyses yielded similar results, although an increased risk was observed among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (weighted HR = 2.45, 95% CI: 1.13, 5.35) and potentially polyps (weighted HR = 1.46, 95% CI: 0.93, 2.30). Compared with dCCBs, thiazide diuretics were not associated with an overall increased colorectal cancer risk. While these findings provide some reassurance, research is needed to corroborate the elevated risks observed among patients with inflammatory bowel disease and history of polyps.
Patient-reported outcomes and pharmacist actions in patients with multiple sclerosis managed by health-system specialty pharmacies
Authors: Zuckerman Autumn D , Banks Aimee M , Wawrzyniak Julie , Rightmier Elizabeth , Simonson Dana , Zagel Alicia L , Turco Evan , Blevins Abbi , DeClercq Josh , Choi Leena 
Published: August 2023

Abstract

Purpose
This study evaluated patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and pharmacist actions for patients on disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for multiple sclerosis (MS) through health-system specialty pharmacies (HSSPs).

Methods
A multisite, prospective cohort study of patients utilizing an HSSP for DMT fulfillment was performed. Primary outcomes were affirmative answers to PRO questions regarding impacted productivity, hospitalization, and relapse and pharmacist actions. Rates of pharmacist actions were reported as the number of person-years of treatment per action. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to evaluate the association between each PRO and covariates, including the number of pharmacist actions performed, age, sex, insurance, site, and route of administration.

Results
The 968 patients included had 10,562 fills and 6,946 PRO assessments. The most common affirmative PRO was impacted productivity (14.6%). Pharmacists performed 3,683 actions, most commonly general medication education (42.6%) and safety (33.3%). Rates of general medication education and nonfinancial coordination of care actions were similar across medication classes; other pharmacist actions varied by medication class. Insurance type was significantly associated with reporting impacted productivity; patients with Medicare and Medicaid were 2.2 and 3.1 times more likely to have reported impacted productivity, respectively (P &lt; 0.001) than commercially insured patients. Patients who reported impacted productivity had more pharmacist actions (P &lt; 0.001).

Conclusion
Patients on DMTs through an HSSP reported low rates of impacted productivity, relapse, and hospitalization due to MS, although patients with noncommercial insurance were more likely to have impacted productivity. Patients reporting impacted productivity and those taking certain DMTs may require more frequent pharmacist actions.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on emergency department alcohol intoxication presentations and positive screens for problem drinking
Authors: Sutariya R , Hamzeh M , Desale S , Mete M , Mazer-Amirshahi M , Nelson Lewis S 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
Our aim was to assess the changes in patients presenting with acute alcohol intoxications or positive screens for problem drinking during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to before the pandemic in a seven-hospital health system. A retrospective chart review of emergency department (ED) visits from seven hospitals in the Washington, DC/Baltimore, and MD area from January 2019 to June 2021 is provided. The health system utilizes a validated system for Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) for ED patients. We evaluated trends in patients who had a positive SBIRT screen for problem drinking (AUDIT-C score ≥ 3 in women, 4 in men), alcohol misuse (≥5), and those presenting with acute alcohol intoxication before March 2020 and during the early COVID pandemic period. There were 510 648 patients who were screened, ranging from ages of 16 to 95 years during the study period. There was an overall increase in patients who screened positive for problem drinking, alcohol misuse, and acute intoxications. While there was an overall decrease in the total number of ED visits during the start of the pandemic, which later increased near prepandemic levels, alcohol-related presentations as a percentage of total visits increased during the early pandemic period. There was an overall decrease in ED visits during the COVID-19 pandemic study period; problem drinking and acute intoxication presentation held steady, leading to an overall increase in proportion compared to pre-COVID-19 levels. Future research should focus on lessons learned during this time and should navigate the postpandemic care of patients with AUD. There was an increase in the proportion of ED visits for alcohol intoxications and positive screens for problem drinking during the COVID-19 pandemic in our seven-hospital system.
A note on mimicry with multiple dupes
Authors: Süskind Jakob 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
This note explores the possibility of a mimetic relationship that requires multiple dupes (usually predators) with different preferences. Two prey species that have different defence mechanisms effective against complementary sets of predators could both benefit from mimicking each other, given that the resulting uncertainty could deter both types of predators from attacking either of them. A mimetic interaction with multiple dupes could thus give rise to a mutualistic, yet deceptive kind of mimicry. This kind of mimicry does not seem to fit easily into the established categories and might thus be interesting for the theory of mimicry classification. It could also provide a new potential mechanism for some interesting phenomena such as deceptive mimetic convergence and imperfect resemblance.
Dupilumab significantly improves sleep in adults with atopic dermatitis: results from the 12-week placebo-controlled period of the 24-week phase IV randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled DUPISTAD study
Authors: Merola Joseph F , Chiou Albert S , During Emmanuel , Costanzo Antonio , Foley Peter , Alfalasi Amani , Gogate Shaila , Pinter Andreas , Dodiuk-Gad Roni , Simon Dagmar , Tauber Marie , Weller Richard , Pereyra-Rodriguez Jose-Juan , Ardeleanu Marius , Wu Jiangming , Ozturk Zafer E 
Published: August 2023

Abstract

Background
Sleep disturbance is a prominent symptom of atopic dermatitis (AD) and can result in insomnia, daytime fatigue, drowsiness, reduced productivity and impaired quality of life (QoL).

Objectives
The Dupilumab Effect on Sleep in AD Patients (DUPISTAD) phase IV randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled study evaluated the impact of dupilumab treatment on sleep and other patient- and physician-reported outcomes.

Methods
Adults with moderate-to-severe AD were randomized 2 : 1 to dupilumab 300 mg once every 2 weeks (q2w) or placebo for 12 weeks; concomitant topical corticosteroids were permitted. Patients subsequently entered an open-label phase and received dupilumab 300 mg q2w for a further 12 weeks. The primary endpoint was the percentage change in sleep quality from baseline to week 12, assessed using a novel numeric rating scale (NRS). Secondary and exploratory endpoints included percentage change in peak pruritus NRS (PP NRS), change in SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD), SCORAD sleep visual analogue scale (VAS), Eczema Area and Severity Index, Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) sleep-related impairment T-score and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Sleep diary and wrist actigraphy measurements were recorded throughout the study.

Results
In total, 127 patients received dupilumab and 61 patients received placebo. Demographic and baseline disease characteristics were balanced between groups. Sleep quality NRS significantly improved in patients treated with dupilumab by week 12 vs. placebo [least squares mean of the difference (LSMD) −15.5%, P &lt; 0.001]. PP NRS (LSMD −27.9%, P &lt; 0.001), SCORAD (LSMD −15.1, P &lt; 0.001), SCORAD sleep VAS (LSMD −2.1, P &lt; 0.001) and PROMIS T-score (LSMD −3.6, P &lt; 0.001) were also significantly improved at week 12 with dupilumab vs. placebo. The overall percentage of patients reporting treatment-emergent adverse events was lower in the dupilumab group (56.7%) than in the placebo group (67.2%).

Conclusions
Dupilumab significantly improved sleep quality and perception of sleep continuity, itch, metrics of AD severity and QoL in adults with moderate-to-severe AD, with an acceptable safety profile compared with placebo.
Utilising the ADAPT-ITT Method to Adapt an Evidence-based Intervention Addressing HIV, Trauma and Mental Health Risks among Female Fish Traders in Zambia
Authors: Michalopoulos Lynn , Jiwatram-Negrón Tina , Ahmed Sabeen , Diaz Mario , Asombang Mah , Ward Malorie , Nemphos Nick , Aggarwal Nikita , Kamugisha Simpson , Mwansa Melvin 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
HIV interventions that attend to mental health problems among vulnerable populations in sub-Saharan Africa have become a priority. This is especially so among mobile populations, such as female fish traders in Zambia, who are at increased risk of trauma, subsequent adverse mental health risks including post-traumatic stress and HIV risk or transmission risk behaviours. To date, there have been no known integrated HIV and mental health interventions among mobile populations in Zambia. Furthermore, although the adaptation of evidence-based interventions to address intersecting risks in non-western contexts has been growing, there is a gap in rigorous adaptation research methods that rely upon the target population for collaborative contextual input. This article aims to describe the application of the ADAPT-ITT (Assessment, Decisions, Administration, Production, Topical experts, Integration, Training staff and Testing) method to adapt an evidence-based intervention (Living in the Face of Trauma) to address intersecting HIV, trauma and mental health risks among female fish traders in Zambia. More specifically, we describe the collaborative and iterative process used and highlight the unique role of social workers throughout this process. Results from the ADAPT-ITT method show promise for the adapted intervention, In Solidarity: Emotional-Coping, Problem-Solving and Entrepreneurship.
Social Work Practitioner Research into Participation of People with Learning Disabilities in Elections in the UK—A Local Case Study
Authors: James Elaine , Mitchell Rob , Reeves Clare , Ali Amani 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
There has been renewed interest across social work in professional discourse into the conceptualisation of social work as an activist profession with upholding human rights as a centrally organising principle. Implementing social work practice which upholds human rights is not, however, without difficulties. The contextual and abstract nature of the expression of human rights poses challenges to conceptual and measurement work. Practitioner researchers have a key role here, translating abstract concepts into rights-related personal outcomes and ultimately into evidence and knowledge informed practice. This article presents a case study of a local activist research project, Promote the Vote. The international literature indicates discrimination through denial of the rights of people with learning disabilities regarding political participation. In writing our learning from this case study, the authors have set out to consider the following: how can social workers engage in practice based research?; does an activist project such as Promote the Vote act as a mechanism through which social workers can evidence allyship with disabled people’s self-determined right to political participation? and how does a project which applies research methods support generation of practitioner-research evidence, which in turn contributes towards knowledge informed practice?