bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Toughening polylactic acid by melt blending with polybutylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate and natural rubber, and the performance of the resulting ternary blends
Authors: Wannawitayapa Wanchana , Yoksan Rangrong 
Published: June 2022

AbstractPolylactic acid (PLA) is one of the most commercially potential bio‐based and biodegradable materials recently used to partially replace non‐biodegradable petroleum‐based plastics; however, PLA's innate brittleness limits its practical applications. The present work aims to reduce the brittleness and improve the toughness of PLA by blending it with polybutylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate (PBAT) and natural rubber (NR). PLA/PBAT/NR ternary blends were prepared by a melt blending process, using both an internal mixer and a twin‐screw extruder, and were converted into test specimens using an injection molding machine. The weight ratio of PBAT:NR was kept constant at 1:1, while the amounts of PBAT/NR blend were varied at 14, 26, and 38 wt%. SEM confirmed the incompatibility among PLA, PBAT, and NR, as island‐like NR phases and oval PBAT phases were dispersed in the PLA matrix. Compared with neat PLA, the PLA/PBAT/NR ternary blends exhibited increased elongation at break from 6.2% to 21.0% (up to 240%), improved impact strength from 36.6 to 85.0 J/m (up to 130%), decreased density from 1.254 to 1.159 g/cm3 (approximately 7.6%), enhanced thermal stability and water resistance, and reduced shear‐dependent behavior. The obtained PLA/PBAT/NR blends have potential for the production of injection‐molded articles such as biomedical devices, toys, agricultural supplies, office supplies.
Facile fabrication of thermoplastic polymer nanoparticles by combining sea‐island spinning and Rayleigh instability
Authors: You Haining , Zhao Qinghua , Mei Tao , Li Xiufang , You Renchuan , Wang Dong 
Published: June 2022

AbstractSea‐island spinning has been widely used to prepare ultrafine fibers with diameters ranging from nanometers to micrometers in textile industry. However, the use of industrialized sea‐island fibers as a precursor to fabricate polymeric nanoparticles has not been reported. Herein, the thermoplastic poly(vinyl alcohol‐co‐ethylene) (PVA‐co‐PE) nanofibers with ~240 nm were mass produced in an industrial production line, and the effect of thermal annealing on the morphological evolution was investigated. Rayleigh instability driven morphological transition from nanofibers to spherical particles in ethylene glycol system, demonstrating that the regular nanospheres could be fabricated by controlling annealing temperature and time. The PVA‐co‐PE nanoparticles with an average diameter of ~680 nm was obtained after annealing at 100°C for 30 min. As a result, the PVA‐co‐PE nanoparticles can be mass‐produced with 25 kg/day yield in our production line. This study opens a new avenue of research toward the large‐scalable manufacture of polymeric micro/nano particles by combing industrialized sea‐island spinning technology and Rayleigh instability‐induced morphology evolution.
Multifunctional and stretchable graphene/textile composite sensor for human motion monitoring
Authors: Zhou Yi , Myant Connor , Stewart Rebecca 
Published: June 2022

AbstractSensors based on electronic textiles (e‐textiles) have become increasingly prominent in the field of biomechanical monitoring technology due to multiple properties such as being lightweight, flexible, and comfortable, with increasing potential in incorporating into long‐term monitoring devices. Previous research has been conducted into textile strain sensors based on graphene for human motion monitoring, however most graphene e‐textile strain sensors exhibit poor sensitivity and stretchability. To our knowledge, no previous research has looked at knitted graphene‐based fabrics in regards to the fabric composition of the substrate. In this paper, we propose a graphene/fabric composite sensor using a cost‐effective dip coating method of an acrylic/Spandex knit fabric, and further explores its mechanical, electrical, and sensing properties. The developed graphene/textile composite sensor has a wide sensing range (up to 344%) and exhibits a good sensitivity with a high gauge factor of up to 16. As a wearable sensor, our sensing fabric can detect both large and subtle human motions and is able to distinguish between various ranges of joint movements, demonstrating its ability to function as a human motion monitoring system. Our sensor further exhibits the ability to be used as a supercapacitor or capacitive pressure sensor.
Effects of ε‐polylysine and chitosan functionalization on pulp board properties for food packaging
Authors: Zhao Dandan , Chang Qing , Fan Jiahui , Shu Qingfeng , Niu Shasha , Li Dan , Xie Yijun , Deng Xiaoyong 
Published: June 2022

AbstractThe production of paper‐based food packaging materials is of vital importance as the release of microplastics into aqueous environment and food chain has aroused significant public concern. In this study, antibacterial pulp board was demonstrated by co‐spraying chitosan (CS) and ε‐polylysine (ε‐PL) on wet sheet and dried to form fibrous pulp board (ε‐PL‐CS). ε‐PL functionalization showed great antibacterial performance while its hydrophilicity limited its further application for food packaging. Interestingly, ε‐PL‐CS pulp board not only demonstrated excellent antibacterial performance (99.99% against both bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli), but also maintained high hydrophobicity (ca. 135°) and water resistance due to the positive charge of ε‐PL and CS as well as penetration of CS into pulp board. In addition, CS functionalization significantly improved the mechanical strength of the pulp board by around 100% (20 MPa). More importantly, the ε‐PL‐CS pulp board could successfully prevent bacteria growth within 15 days at room temperature due to their high hydrophobicity and smooth surface, indicating the long‐term stability as packaging materials. Satisfactory strawberry storage stability of ε‐PL‐CS cardboard lunch box provided great application promise for the development of antimicrobial packaging materials.
The medicinal perspective of 2,4‐thiazolidinediones based ligands as antimicrobial, antitumor and antidiabetic agents: A review
Authors: Kajal Kumari , Singh Gurpreet , Pradhan Tathagata , Bhurta Deendyal , Monga Vikramdeep 
Published: June 2022

Abstract2,4‐Thiazolidinedione (2,4‐TZD), commonly known as glitazone, is a ubiquitous heterocyclic pharmacophore possessing a plethora of pharmacological activities and offering a vast opportunity for structural modification. The diverse range of biological activities endowed with a novel mode of action, low cost, and easy synthesis has attracted the attention of medicinal chemists. Several researchers have integrated the TZD core with different structural fragments to develop a wide range of lead molecules against various clinical disorders. The most common sites for structural modifications at the 2,4‐TZD nucleus are the N‐3 and the active methylene at C‐5. The review covers the recent development of TZD derivatives such as antimicrobial, anticancer, and antidiabetic agents. Various 2,4‐TZD based agents or drugs, which are either under clinical development or in the market, are discussed in the study. Different synthetic methodologies for synthesizing the 2,4‐TZD core are also included in the manuscript. The importance of various substitutions at N‐3 and C‐5 and the mechanisms of action and structure–activity relationships are also discussed. We hope this study will serve as a valuable tool for the scientific community engaged in the structural exploitation of the 2,4‐TZD core for developing novel drug m\olecules for life‐threatening ailments.
Classical and Bayesian estimations of improved Weibull–Weibull distribution for complete and censored failure times data
Authors: Wang Hong , Abba Badamasi , Pan Jianxin 
Published: June 2022

AbstractIn this article, we demonstrate how to enhance the Weibull–Weibull (WW) distribution introduced in the earlier literature into a better form for fitting monotone and non‐monotone failure rate data, especially the bathtub‐shaped failure rate data with or without a flat region. The model is referred to as an improved WW distribution. The model's flexibility enables it to describe lifetime data with various failure rate functions, including increasing, decreasing, U or V‐shaped, and bathtub‐shaped with a comparatively low and long‐flat segment. We provide a thorough Bayesian analysis of the modified model for complete and right‐censored data. Additionally, we developed maximum likelihood estimators for the model's parameters for both complete and right‐censored data. The Bayesian credible and asymptotic confidence intervals of the estimators are defined, and simulation results validate the estimators' consistency. To illustrate the applications of the improved distribution with the WW and other generalized distributions, we apply one censored and one uncensored failure times data, each with bathtub‐shaped failure rates. The numerical results demonstrate that the improved WW model outperforms the WW distribution and other existing models, as indicated by goodness‐of‐fit statistics and supported by the fitted models' survival and failure rate curves and P‐P plots.
Cabazitaxel versus docetaxel for treatment of metastatic castrate refractory prostate cancer
Authors: James Nicholas D. , Ali Ayesha , Pope Ann , Desai Amisha , Ford Daniel , Stevenson Robert , Zarkar Anjali , Pirrie Sarah ,    the CANTATA investigators
Published: June 2022

AbstractObjectivesTo assess cabazitaxel versus docetaxel re‐challenge for the treatment of metastatic castrate refractory prostate cancer (CRPC) patients previously treated with docetaxel at inception of primary hormone therapy.Patients and MethodsThe CANTATA trial was a prospective, two‐arm, open‐label, phase II study conducted in eight UK centres. Patients over the age of 18, with histologically proven, metastatic prostate cancer who had been previously treated with up to 6 cycles of docetaxel as part of the STAMPEDE trial (or treated with the same drug outside of the trial at primary diagnosis) and had a performance status (PS) of 0–2, were eligible. Patients who progressed during primary treatment with docetaxel or had received prior systemic chemotherapy were excluded. Cabazitaxel (25 mg/m2) or docetaxel (75 mg/m2) was administered via intravenous infusion every 3 weeks with oral prednisolone (10 mg) for up to 10 cycles, until disease progression, death or unacceptable toxicity. The primary outcome was clinical progression‐free survival (PFS) as defined by either date of pain progression, date of a cancer‐related skeletal‐related event, or date of death from any cause. Analyses were by intention to treat. EudraCT number: 2012‐003835‐40ResultsBetween 7 March 2013 and 4 January 2016, 15 patients with a median age of 70 years (range 54–76) were recruited; seven received cabazitaxel, eight docetaxel. The study was halted due to slow accrual. The median clinical PFS time in the cabazitaxel group was 6.2 months compared with 8.4 for the docetaxel group (95% confidence intervals were not reached due to the small number of patients). A total of 13 serious adverse events were reported.ConclusionDue to the low number of patients recruited, meaningful comparisons could not be made. However, toxicity was in line with known outcomes for these agents, demonstrating it is feasible and safe to deliver chemotherapy to men relapsing with CRPC after upfront chemotherapy.
When the poor give more than the rich: The role of resource evaluability on relative giving
Authors: Pittarello Andrea , Motsenok Marina , Dickert Stephan , Ritov Ilana 
Published: June 2022

AbstractFive experiments examined the role of resource evaluability on giving. We systematically varied participants' resources they and another potential donor received and whether they could donate to a recipient either by themselves or with the other donor. Participants in the relative advantage condition received more resources than the other donor, and those in the relative disadvantage condition received fewer resources than the other donor. The presence of the other donor made participants' resources evaluable and shaped giving: Relatively disadvantaged participants were proportionally more generous than advantaged participants but only when they could evaluate their resources. Neither the mere presence of others nor reputational concerns could explain the results. Exploratory mediation and moderation analyses further showed that relatively disadvantaged participants give proportionally more the higher and the more equal they perceive their status to the advantaged donor. This shows that the generosity of those who have less does depend on how they evaluate their status compared to other donors. Our results provide insights into the question of why and when resource asymmetries between donors result in prosocial giving and can influence fundraising strategies of charitable organizations.
Genotype–phenotype spectrum and correlations in Xia‐Gibbs syndrome: Report of five novel cases and literature review
Authors: Romano Ferruccio , Falco Mariateresa , Cappuccio Gerarda , Brunetti‐Pierri Nicola , Lonardo Fortunato , Torella Annalaura , Digilio Maria Cristina , Dentici Maria Lisa , Alfieri Paolo , Agolini Emanuele , Novelli Antonio , Garavelli Livia , Accogli Andrea ,   TUDP, Striano Pasquale , Scarano Gioacchino , Nigro Vincenzo , Scala Marcello , Capra Valeria 
Published: June 2022

AbstractBackgroundXia‐Gibbs syndrome (XGS) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder caused by pathogenic variants in the AT‐hook DNA‐binding motif‐containing 1 gene (AHDC1), encoding a protein with a crucial role in transcription and epigenetic regulation, axonogenesis, brain function, and neurodevelopment. AHDC1 variants possibly act through a dominant‐negative mechanism and may interfere with DNA repair processes, leading to genome instability and impaired DNA translesion repair. Variants affecting residues closer to the N‐terminal are thought to determine a milder phenotype with better cognitive performances. However, clean‐cut genotype–phenotype correlations are still lacking.CasesIn this study, we investigated five subjects with XGS in whom exome sequencing led to the identification of five novel de novo pathogenic variants in AHDC1. All variants were extremely rare and predicted to cause a loss of protein function. The phenotype of the reported patients included developmental delay, hypotonia, and distinctive facial dysmorphisms. Additionally, uncommon clinical features were observed, including congenital hypothyroidism and peculiar skeletal abnormalities.ConclusionsIn this study, we report uncommon XGS features associated with five novel truncating variants in AHDC, thus expanding the genotype and phenotypic spectrum of this complex condition. We also compared our cases to previously reported cases, discussing the current status of genotype–phenotype correlations in XGS.
Escherichia coli chemotaxis to competing stimuli in a microfluidic device with a constant gradient
Authors: Zhao Xueying , Ford Roseanne M. 
Published: June 2022

AbstractIn natural systems bacteria are exposed to many chemical stimulants; some attract chemotactic bacteria as they promote survival, while others repel bacteria because they inhibit survival. When faced with a mixture of chemoeffectors, it is not obvious which direction the population will migrate. Predicting this direction requires an understanding of how bacteria process information about their surroundings. We used a multiscale mathematical model to relate molecular level details of their two‐component signaling system to the probability that an individual cell changes its swimming direction to the chemotactic velocity of a bacterial population. We used a microfluidic device designed to maintain a constant chemical gradient to compare model predictions to experimental observations. We obtained parameter values for the multiscale model of Escherichia coli chemotaxis to individual stimuli, α‐methylaspartate and nickel ion, separately. Then without any additional fitting parameters, we predicted bacteria response to chemoeffector mixtures. Migration of E. coli toward α‐methylaspartate was modulated by adding increasing concentrations of nickel ion. Thus, the migration direction was controlled by the relative concentrations of competing chemoeffectors in a predictable way. This study demonstrated the utility of a multiscale model to predict the migration direction of bacteria in the presence of competing chemoeffectors.
Opposition to immigration: How people who identify with far‐right discourses legitimize the social exclusion of immigrants
Authors: Fernandes‐Jesus Maria , Rochira Alessia , Mannarini Terri 
Published: June 2022

AbstractThis study sought to develop our understanding of how people legitimize opposition to immigration. Thirty‐eight interviews were conducted with people who self‐identified with far‐right anti‐immigration discourses, in Italy (N = 23) and Portugal (N = 15). Using reflexive thematic analysis, we developed four related themes. In the first theme, ‘They're guests’: Legitimizing exclusion by differentiating (non‐) immigrants, we discuss how despite differentiating between types of immigrants, participants support their social exclusion and always perceive them as guests. In the second theme, ‘White people exist’: Multiple and intersected identity threats, we identify how anti‐immigration is legitimized by recurring multiple group threats including ownership, economic, security, cultural, and existential threats. In the third theme, ‘It's like your home’: Justifying exclusionary solidarity based on ownership rights, we illustrate how collective ownership is used to justify practices of exclusionary solidarity. In the fourth theme ‘This is me’: Being born and becoming anti‐immigration, we discuss how opposition to immigration was constructed and influenced by contextual conditions as well as international sources of information. The implications of these findings are discussed while considering how participants' experiences and social contexts shape how they perceive immigration and legitimize the social exclusion of immigrants.
Sharing on platforms: Reducing perceived risk for peer‐to‐peer platform consumers through trust‐building and regulation
Authors: Marth Sarah , Hartl Barbara , Penz Elfriede 
Published: June 2022

AbstractSharing a flat with strangers is no longer hypothetical but well accepted by many consumers who participate in peer‐to‐peer (P2P) services. Online P2P sharing platforms act as intermediaries between providers and consumers who do not know each other personally. Sharing via platforms entails a certain amount of risk for consumers. Thus, in order to attract consumers, platforms need to apply mechanisms to reduce the perceived risk of potential consumers. In a prestudy and two experimental online surveys, the current research investigates whether trust‐building measures and regulation mechanisms presented on a website can reduce the potential consumers' level of perceived risk and increase their willingness to participate in a platform's sharing offer. First, an analysis of existing P2P accommodation platforms showed a lack of regulation mechanisms. Second, the manipulation of information on P2P accommodation platforms' websites in two online experiments revealed that regulation mechanisms led to lower perceived risk and a higher intention to engage in sharing. However, commonly used trust‐building measures on P2P accommodation platforms show no significant effect on risk perception and the intention to engage in sharing in the present study. We point out relevant managerial possibilities to minimise the perceived risk of potential consumers of P2P platforms.
Not so bad after all: How format influences review writers' post‐review evaluations
Authors: Grigsby Jamie L. , Zamudio César , Jewell Robert D. 
Published: June 2022

AbstractWhile a great deal of research has explored how different formats of online reviews can influence the review reader, less research has explored how writing in different styles of reviews can influence the review writer. This research contributes to the online review literature by exploring how informational versus story review formats influence the review writer's product or service evaluation. Although prior research has found that stories are effective at persuading readers, the current research finds evidence to the contrary for review writers. Writers of negative informational reviews reported evaluations that were less negative after writing the review compared to those who wrote story reviews. Surprisingly, negative informational reviews can make positive aspects of the product or service experience more salient, hence tempering the effects of a negative product experience and positively influencing evaluations. If retailers are interested in improving consumers' product or service evaluations after a negative experience, this research suggests that they would be better served by asking consumers to write an informational review as compared to a story review.
Foldable Detergents for Membrane Protein Stability
Authors: Youn Taeyeol , Yoon Soyoung , Byrne Bernadette , Chae Pil Seok 
Published: June 2022

AbstractDetergents are widely used for membrane protein structural study. Many recently developed detergents contain multiple tail and head groups, which are typically connected via a small and branched linker. Due to their inherent compact structures, with small inter‐alkyl chain distances, these detergents form micelles with high alkyl chain density in the interiors, a feature favorably associated with membrane‐protein stability. A recent study on tandem triazine maltosides (TZMs) revealed a distinct trend; despite possession of an apparently large inter‐alkyl chain distance, the TZM−Es were highly effective at stabilizing membrane proteins. Thanks to the incorporation of a flexible spacer between the two triazine rings in the linker region, these detergents are prone to folding into a compact architecture in micellar environments instead of adopting an extended conformation. Detergent foldability represents a new concept of novel detergent design with significant potential for future detergent development.
Carbon Shell‐Encapsulated Metal Alloy Catalysts with Pt‐Rich Surfaces for Selective Hydrogen Oxidation Reaction
Authors: Ko Keonwoo , Min Jiho , Kim Yunjin , Hong Min Woo , Jeffery A. Anto , Chougule Sourabh S. , Bok Yi Kwang , Jung Namgee 
Published: June 2022

AbstractThe performance of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) is deteriorated by the occurrence of reverse current flow. To suppress the reverse current flow, a hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR)‐selective catalyst based on the molecular sieve effect should be developed. Here, considering the carbon solubility in transition metals, carbon shell‐encapsulated metal alloy nanoparticles with superior HOR selectivity were fabricated using carbon source in metal precursors. In particular, we introduced carbon solubility as the important parameter that should be considered in the catalyst design. Using Pt and Co with different carbon solubility, as a model catalyst, the effect of the metal composition of the core material on the carbon shell structure was discussed in detail. Due to the formation of high‐density carbon shell and Pt‐rich surface on the alloy nanoparticle, the HOR selectivity was remarkably enhanced. Therefore, this study provides insights into the development of carbon shell‐encapsulated nanoparticles for reaction‐selective catalysis.