bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Preparation and characterization of polyvinyl alcohol/polylactic acid/titanium dioxide nanocomposite films enhanced by γ‐irradiation and its antibacterial activity
Authors: Ali Hussein E. , Elbarbary Ahmed M. , Abdel‐Ghaffar Ashraf M. , Maziad Nabila A. 
Published: March 2022

AbstractSynthesis of antimicrobial films for packaging applications is eminent fields of research. This study describes preparation of biodegradable Poly (PVA/PLA/TiO2) nanocomposite films was carried out by blending polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polylactic acid (PLA) doped with titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles using solution casting method and then irradiated by γ‐irradiation. The properties of the films were characterized by FT‐IR, XRD, FE‐SEM, TEM, TGA, and mechanical tests. The addition of TiO2 nanoparticles (0.8 wt%) explored considerable effects on thermal stability of the films. Results of FE‐SEM and TEM illustrated quite uniformly dispersion of TiO2 nanoparticles with average size of 17.5 nm. The effect of γ‐irradiation on nanocomposite films showed enhanced water resistance property and water vapor transmission rate. The water resistance property was achieved using PVA/PLA composition ratio (2/1). The antibacterial activity was evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria. Poly(PVA/PLA/TiO2) nanocomposite film irradiated at 20 kGy displayed improved antibacterial activity and was selected for soil burial biodegradation tests. The biodegradation rate increased rapidly in the initial 12 weeks with significant changed morphology. The enhanced antibacterial efficiency and biodegradation property of the nanocomposite films suggest their possible use for development of packaging materials with low environmental impact.
Die Kampmannbrücke über die Ruhr in Essen
Authors: Keil Andreas , Linden Sebastian , Weber Jakob 
Published: March 2022

AbstractDie neue Kampmannbrücke über die Ruhr verbindet die Essener Stadtteile Heisingen und Kupferdreh und dient als Ersatz für eine Stahlbeton‐Verbundbrücke aus den 1950er‐Jahren, die aufgrund fortschreitender Korrosionsschäden abgerissen werden musste. Die neue Hauptbrücke ist als einhüftige, selbstverankerte Schrägseilbrücke mit Verbundfahrbahnplatte ausgeführt. Die bestehenden Stützen und Pfahljoche der alten Brücke konnten als Auflager für ein Traggerüst zur Herstellung der Stahlkonstruktion und des Seiltragwerks verwendet werden, wodurch eine aufwendigere Herstellung im Freivorbau vermieden wurde. Entstanden ist ein ingenieurtechnisch prägnantes und wirtschaftliches Bauwerk, das sich elegant in das umliegende Naturschutzgebiet einfügt. Das liegt auch an der Entwicklung eines innovativen Spannverfahrens, das es ermöglichte, die Seilverankerungen besonders kompakt zu entwerfen. Dadurch treten diese am Brückendeck in den Hintergrund und bieten einen freien Blick auf die Ruhr und den Baldeneysee.
Teaching the process of science through COVID‐19 pandemic themes
Authors: Ward Meghan , Rawle Fiona 
Published: March 2022

AbstractSeveral predominant themes have emerged during the COVID‐19 global pandemic that intersect with the nature and process of science. This paper identifies three such themes and briefly explores how they can be used as case studies and narrative cornerstones in teaching and learning. The themes include: (1) the understanding that science is cumulative and ever‐changing, meaning that new findings may cause us to reconsider previous understandings; (2) the importance of citation tracking in the process of science; and (3) the need for accessible and purposeful science communication.
Antecedents towards social circular consumption of food wastes in emerging economies: Transition towards food circular economy
Authors: Kumari Sneha , Bharti Nisha , Rahaman Saidur 
Published: March 2022

AbstractFood waste not only challenges food security but also contributes to carbon gas emissions leading to climate change. Hence, food wastes management evolved as an important measure for sustainability and circular economy. Time and again, food waste management has serious concerns for the population. Despite the growing concept of circular economy in food waste management, there is a need to understand the antecedents which lead to reuse, recycling, and reducing food wastes. The study aims to address the following research question: What are the antecedents for circular consumption of food wastes and how can we prioritize those risks at the bottom of the pyramid? The study aims to understand all the antecedents identified using the Delphi technique and an extensive literature review. The antecedents have been further analyzed and prioritized using the DEMATEL technique. The prime respondents of the study are practitioners, distributors, households, and waste pickers. The study has derived 15 antecedents of food waste management and validated them through experts. The final selected antecedents have been analyzed and prioritized using DEMATEL. The study proposes a new model for circular consumption of food using Delphi and DEMATEL methodology. The antecedents have been further linked to strategizing business for the same. The outcome will help the practitioners to take appropriate actions for managing food waste. The study will add to the managerial and policy recommendations for managing food waste.
Blockchain technology and environmental efficiency: Evidence from US‐listed firms
Authors: Tawiah Vincent , Zakari Abdulrasheed , Li Guo , Kyiu Anthony 
Published: March 2022

AbstractThis study examines the relationship between the adoption of blockchain technology and environmental efficiency by using a sample of US firms over the 2015–2019 period. Our results indicate that the adoption of blockchain technology is positively and significantly associated with environmental efficiency, suggesting that blockchain improves environmental sustainability. In further analyses, we determine that the relationship between blockchain and environmental efficiency is more pronounced for firms in financial and technological industries than for those in other industries. Our findings are also robust to other methods that control for endogeneity, including difference in difference regressions and propensity score matching. Overall, we provide empirical evidence to incentivize business leaders and policymakers to adopt innovative technologies, such as blockchain.
The studies of Rita Levi‐Montalcini on the effects of tumor transplantation on the chorioallantoic membrane
Authors: Ribatti Domenico 
Published: March 2022

AbstractIn 1986, Rita Levi‐Montalcini and Stanley Cohen were awarded with the Nobel Prize for Physiology and Medicine for the discovery of the nerve growth factor. Among the experimental models used by Levi‐Montalcini in the first part of her studies it was the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane, currently used in the study of tumor growth and angiogenesis. Levi‐Montalcini grafted fragments of mouse sarcomas on to the chorioallantoic membranes of 4‐ to 6‐day chick embryos and demonstrated that the tumors infiltrated the host blood vessels. Moreover, the ganglia showed hypertrophy, nerve fibers reaching to the implanted tumors. Levi‐Montalcini hypothesized that the effects could have been mediated by a soluble factor, which was later identified as the nerve growth factor.
Intralesional bleomycin for treatment of a recalcitrant wart in an immunocompromised patient: A safe, effective, and underutilized therapy
Authors: Ngo Tracy , Hwang Hannah , Amin Bijal , Cohen Steven R. 
Published: March 2022

AbstractInjectable bleomycin is infrequently used for recalcitrant warts despite its efficacy, acceptable safety profile, and high patient satisfaction compared with other treatment modalities. We present an immunocompromised patient with a large recalcitrant wart successfully treated with intralesional bleomycin to provide greater clinical exposure, training, and practice with intralesional bleomycin.
N/O Co‐Doped Hard Carbon Derived from Cocklebur Fruit for Sodium‐Ion Storage
Authors: Shi Gejun , Han Zhen , Hu Lulu , Wang Baofeng , Huang Fuqiang 
Published: March 2022

AbstractHard carbon is one of the most promising anode materials for sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs). However, it still faces the obstacle of low reversible capacity. Modifying the carbon skeleton with heteroatoms is an effective method to improve the electrochemical properties of carbon electrodes. Herein, cocklebur fruit, a plant which is rich in natural alkaloids, is selected as the precursor to prepare N/O co‐doped hard carbon. The obtained sample pyrolyzed at 1100 °C (H1100) can exhibit 366.07 mAh g−1 specific discharge capacity and 69.08 % initial coulombic efficiency. The balance between the suitable configuration of N/O groups and graphitization forms a carbon material with a high sodium‐ion storage capability. The storage mechanism is analyzed by cyclic voltammetry (CV), differential capacity (dQ/dV), galvanostatic intermittent titration technique (GITT), and ex‐situ Raman. The results show that the sodium ions are first adsorbed on defect sites, then filled with micropores and embedded in graphite sheets.
Finite element simulation and optimization of mechanical performance of the magnesium‐alloy biliary stent
Authors: Zhang Yanhong , Ni Xiaoyu , Pan Changwang 
Published: March 2022

AbstractA biliary stent is used to expand the bile duct during interventional treatment of biliary stricture. To reduce the complications after stent implantation, it is necessary to understand and improve the comprehensive performance of magnesium alloy biliary stents. In this study, at first, the mechanical performance of magnesium alloy biliary stent in bile ducts with different ellipticitiesis studied, and the influence of the ellipticity of bile duct on the interaction of the stent‐bile duct coupling system is better understood. Proposed results show the increment of ellipticity of the bile duct will increase the difficulty of expanding the stent. Second, to improve the mechanical performance and degradation performance of the stent simultaneously, an optimal design method based on a zero‐order algorithm is used to reduce the maximum equivalent stress on the stent effectively, to make the stress distribution more uniform, and to expand the bile duct of the lesion more effectively and uniformly. The results of this analysis and optimization are useful to predict the clinical effect of stents and to design and optimize stents for both bile duct and other non‐vascular
Phase Engineering in Cobalt Sulfide with Multiple Redox Modes for High‐Performance Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Zhu Shuang , Wan Ping , Zhang Nan , Wang Changda , Yu Zhen , Wang Wenjie , Chu Wangsheng 
Published: March 2022

AbstractTransition metal sulfides with multivalent nature are regarded as promising anodes for lithium‐ion batteries owing to their high theoretical capacity. However, the structure‐activity relationship between atomic arrangement and lithium storage performance is pointedly ambiguous. Herein, we demonstrate a phase engineering strategy towards hollow nanostructured cobalt sulfides with different atomic arrangements for high‐performance anodes. By selectively controlling the synthesis of cobalt sulfides with two phases (i. e. hexagonal or cubic phase), we unravel that the arrangement of sulfur atoms endows cobalt sites with different electronic structures, resulting in an abnormal (de)lithiation reaction mechanism. Benefiting from the multiple redox transitions and the enhanced electronic conductivity, hexagonal cobalt sulfide achieves an outstanding rate performance (1203 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 and 190 mAh g−1 at 10 A g−1), and a high reversible capacity (800 mAh g−1 after 200 cycles at 0.5 A g−1). The mechanism studied here may provide insights into the design of other energy storage materials.
MLCT: A multi‐level contact tracing scheme with strong privacy
Authors: Chen Peng , Zhang Jixin , Chen Jiageng , Meng Weizhi 
Published: March 2022

AbstractWith the outbreak of Covid‐19, both people's health and the world economy are facing great challenges. Contact tracing scheme based on Bluetooth of smartphones has been regarded as a viable way to mitigate the spread of Covid‐19. The existing schemes mainly belong to the centralized or the decentralized structure, both of which have their own limitations. It is infeasible for the existing schemes to balance the different demands of governments and users for user privacy and tracing efficiency at different periods of the epidemic. In this paper, we propose a hybrid contact tracing scheme named MLCT (multi‐level contact tracing scheme) which is mainly based on short group signature. MLCT provides multiple privacy levels by applying anonymous credential technology and secret sharing technology to desensitize user identity privacy and encounter privacy. Comparing to the previous schemes, MLCT fully considers the different demands of the government, patients, and close contacts for user privacy and tracing efficiency in the different stages of Covid‐19. The experimental results show viability in terms of the required resource from both server and mobile phone perspectives. And the security analysis demonstrates that MLCT can achieve the five targets security goals. It is expected that MLCT can contribute to the design and development of contact tracing schemes.
Osteoclastic variant of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: An insight into a rarest of rare entity
Authors: Mathur Poorvi , Rana Chanchal , Gupta Vaibhav , Ramakant Pooja , Singh Kulranjan , Mishra Anand Kumar , Babu Suresh 
Published: March 2022

AbstractAnaplastic thyroid carcinoma is a rare and a very aggressive thyroid malignancy with a dismal prognosis. It has a short history and presents with a rapidly increasing neck mass associated with compressive symptoms like pain, hoarseness of voice, dysphagia and shortness of breath. Osteoclastic variant is an extremely rare variant, which is, characterize by presence of a large number of multinucleated giant cells, which resemble osteoclasts. Here we report two cases of this unusual variant in a 68 years old and 49 years old male with a short history of thyroid swelling.
Graph theoretical analysis of EEG after audiovisual stimulation in different anxiety states
Authors: Yamamoto Yusuke , Muramatsu Ayumi , Mizuno‐Matsumoto Yuko 
Published: March 2022

AbstractIn this study, a brain network was created using graph theoretical analysis based on electroencephalography (EEG) data. The purpose of the study was to investigate the functional connectivity of the brain in different states of anxiety. Seventeen adults with anxiety (A‐G), and 13 adults without anxiety (AF‐G) were examined. They were given three different stimulations: resting, pleasant, and unpleasant. EEG was measured immediately after the stimulation. The EEG was analyzed by Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), coherence analysis, and graph theory. The results of FFT and coherence analysis showed that the anxiety group (A‐G) had higher power spectra and coherence values than those for the anxiety‐free group (AF‐G) in all sessions. The results of graph theory analysis showed that the clustering coefficient and small‐worldness in A‐G were lower than those in AF‐G, although the characteristic path length in A‐G was higher than that in AF‐G. This study shows that the brain of A‐G has smaller clusters and longer paths to compare with those of AF‐G. These events suggest that the brain of A‐G would have an inefficient network structure to transmit emotional information.
Self‐assembling protein scaffold‐mediated enzymes' immobilization enhances in vitrod‐tagatose production from lactose
Authors: Liu Wei , Jiang Cheng , Zhang Yiwen , Zhu Liying , Jiang Ling , Huang He 
Published: March 2022

AbstractAs a rare low‐calorie sugar with special medicinal value, d‐tagatose is widely used in the field of food, beverages, medicine, and cosmetics. However, enzymatic d‐tagatose production in vitro is commonly limited to low conversion efficiency and poor thermo‐stability. Herein, taking advantage of the self‐assembling property of protein scaffold EutM (ethanolamine bacterial microcompartments), Spy and Snoop peptide pairs was used to drive the linkage between the EutM and cargo proteins, β‐galactosidase (BagB), and l‐arabinose isomerase (TMAI) to construct a dual‐enzymes cascade and realize the d‐tagatose production from lactose. The optimal conditions of the cascade were shown to be pH of 8.0, temperature of 60°C, 100 g/L lactose as substrate with supplementing 5 mM Mn2+. When the ratio of immobilized enzymes to EutM scaffold reached 1:6, the d‐tagatose productivity of the dual‐enzymes cascade could reach 1.03 g/L/h, which was 1.24‐fold higher than free enzymes. In addition, the EutM‐based scaffold could efficiently improve the stability of immobilized enzymes, in which 45% of the activity remained after 12 h, 2.14‐fold higher than the free one. Overall, an attractive EutM‐based self‐assembling platform immobilizing BagB and TMAI was developed, showing enhanced catalysis efficiency and enzyme thermo‐stability for d‐tagatose production.
Aspects of parabolic motion of MHD fluid flow past a vertical porous plate with cross‐diffusion effects
Authors: Umamaheswar Mummadisetty , Reddy Poli Chandra , Reddy S. Harinath , Mopuri Obulesu , Ganteda Charan Kumar 
Published: March 2022

AbstractIn the presence of Soret and Dufour effects, a numerical analysis is performed for an unstable magnetohydrodynamics convective flow of parabolic motion with variable temperature and concentration. The finite‐difference method is used to solve the set of nondimensional governing equations with boundary conditions numerically. Graphs are used to investigate the effect of various physical characteristics on flow quantities. Variations in skin friction, Nusselt number, and Sherwood number are also examined using tables for physical curiosity. This study is unique in that it takes into account changeable temperature as well as concentration with Soret and Dufour effects. The magnetic parameter, Prandtl number, heat source, radiation parameter, Schmidt number, and chemical reaction parameter show a significant increase in skin friction, whereas the Grashof number, modified Grashof number, permeability parameter, radiation absorption parameter, Dufour number, and Soret number show the opposite trend. As the Soret number rises, the concentration rises as well, whereas the opposite is true for the Schmidt number and the chemical reaction parameter. The current study is highly supported by previously published data that have been verified.
Impact of clinical pharmacist participation in stroke team activations on tissue plasminogen activator door‐to‐needle time
Authors: McSwain Chelsea L. , Chughtai Imran A. , Harriston Sharon 
Published: March 2022

AbstractINTRODUCTIONCurrent stroke guidelines recommend that treatment with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) should be initiated as quickly as possible in eligible patients to provide maximum therapeutic benefit. Pharmacists possess multiple skills including knowledge of dosing, reconstitution, and improved access to medication that may positively impact door‐to‐needle (DTN) times for patients with acute ischemic stroke.OBJECTIVEThe objective was to evaluate the impact of a clinical pharmacist on time to tPA administration in patients with acute ischemic stroke.METHODSThis was a retrospective, single‐center cohort study at a community teaching hospital and certified primary stroke center from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2018. The primary outcome of this study was to compare the average DTN time with a pharmacist present at a stroke team activation vs no pharmacist present. Secondary outcomes included the proportion of patients in each group meeting a DTN time of less than 60 minutes and the proportion of patients in each group meeting a DTN time of less than 45 minutes. Statistical analysis utilized included Wilson's t‐test to compare average DTN time and the odds ratio to determine a DTN time <60 or 45 minutes between the pharmacist and non‐pharmacist groups.RESULTSPharmacist involvement was associated with a reduction in the average DTN time: 66 minutes vs 78 minutes (P = .038). The DTN time of less than 60 minutes was met in 60% of cases with a pharmacist present compared with 35% without a pharmacist (P = .005). The DTN time of less than 45 minutes was met in 18% of cases with a pharmacist present vs 20% without a pharmacist (P = .71).CONCLUSIONPharmacist participation in stroke teams in the emergency department may reduce DTN times and increase the likelihood of a patient receiving tPA in less than 60 minutes.
Biomembrane‐mimetic hemoperfusion adsorbent for efficient removal of low‐density lipoprotein from hyperlipemia blood
Authors: Yu Yameng , Ma Boya , Guo Chen , Jiang Xinbang , Liu Zhuang , Chai Yamin , Wang Lichun , Du Yunzheng , Wang Biao , Li Nan , Ou Lailiang 
Published: March 2022

AbstractLowering of low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) levels in blood of patients with hyperlipidaemia can effectively prevent the progression of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. The present study demonstrated a facile synthesis strategy to prepare biomembrane‐mimetic LDL adsorbent (PVA@COOH‐PE) via directional immobilization of phospholipid onto macro‐porous cross‐linked poly(vinyl alcohol) spheres. The binding between the prepared adsorbent and LDL particles simulates the cytosolic lipid droplets to form a lipid‐packing structure. The adsorbent possesses satisfactory removal efficiency for LDL and total cholesterol (TCH) in hyperlipemia serum, while remains high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) concentration within the normal range. The adsorption capacities for LDL and TCH are about 1.13 and 1.74 mg/ml respectively, which are nearly three and four times higher than that of HDL (0.42 mg/ml). The adsorbent also possesses satisfactory anticoagulant properties, causes negligible effect on blood cells and produces low hemolysis ratios. The excellent blood compatibility plus LDL removal efficiency of PVA@COOH‐PE indicates its good application prospect as hemoperfusion adsorbent in the treatment of hyperlipidaemia.
Is the intergenerational transmission of poverty a fallacy? Evidence from Botswana survey data
Authors: Kouassi Eugene , Tchankam Jean Paul , Akinkugbe Oluyele , Bosson J. M. Brou 
Published: March 2022

AbstractThe literature on intergenerational transmission of poverty—ITP—suggests that higher income levels and improved educational attainment of parents tend to impact on children's future welfare. This paper tests the ITP proposition, in the framework of the quantity–quality model, using the 2015/16 Botswana Multiple Topic Indicator Survey data. Results reveal that the ITP assumption is strongly valid—the probability of attaining secondary education by an adolescent—proxy for escaping the poverty trap—is determined by family socio‐economic characteristics. That is, while welfare improvements among current adults are desirable, they could also be impactful on children's tendency to or not escape the poverty trap.