126 research outputs found
Auditor of State Mary Mosiman today released a reaudit report on the Mason City Community School District (District) for the period July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015. The reaudit also covered items applicable to the years ended June 30, 2016 and June 30, 2017.
Auditor of State Mary Mosiman today released a reaudit report on the Mason City Community School District (District) for the period July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015. The reaudit also covered items applicable to the years ended June 30, 2016 and June 30, 2017
Primer registro de anomalÃa intersexual gonadal de Trachurus mediterraneus (Steindachner, 1868) desde el Mar de Alborán.
El objetivo principal de este trabajo es dar a conocer el primer registro de una anomalÃa intersexual gonadal de Trachurus mediterraneus desde el mar de Alborán (Mediterráneo occidental). Este espécimen es el primer registro de intersexualidad para un jurel en
el mundo.Postprin
Persistent Fluorescence-Assisted TiO<sub>2‑<i>x</i></sub>N<sub><i>y</i></sub>-Based Photocatalyst for Gaseous Acetaldehyde Degradation
Photocatalytic technologies were utilized to develop
an environment-friendly
system that is capable of removing and oxidizing organic pollutants
from an air stream. A series of long-afterglow phosphors emitting
long lifetime fluorescence was adapted to prepared TiO<sub>2</sub>-based composite photocatalysts for the photodegradation of gas-phase
acetaldehyde. Although the photocatalytic reaction by an undoped titania
(Degussa P25) was stopped immediately after turning off the irradiation
light, the long-afterglow phosphor/nitorogen-doped TiO<sub>2</sub> (TiO<sub>2‑<i>x</i></sub>N<sub><i>y</i></sub>) composites maintained the acetaldehyde photodegradation ability
even after turning off the light for a long time. This novel photocatalytic
property may be attributed to the presence of the long-afterglow phosphor,
which can reserve the light energy and generate the persistent fluorescence
afterward as the light source for the photocatalytic reaction with
the visible-light responsive TiO<sub>2‑<i>x</i></sub>N<sub><i>y</i></sub>. The substitution of the undoped TiO<sub>2</sub> with TiO<sub>2‑<i>x</i></sub>N<sub><i>y</i></sub> was essential to use the fluorescence as a light
source for photocatalysis. Such a self-fluorescence-assisted system
could enhance the performance of photocatalysts for environmental
cleanup
Additional file 1: of Visible Light-Driven Photocatalytic Activity of Oleic Acid-Coated TiO2 Nanoparticles Synthesized from Absolute Ethanol Solution
Supplementary information. Figure S1. XRD patterns of as-prepared samples by adding Sr source (SrCl2) into starting material (a) oleic acid-ethanol and (b) acetic acid-ethanol solutions with a large amount of Ti source. Figure S2. DeNOx abilities of different TiO2 samples. Figure S3. Crystalline morphology properties of nitrogen-doped TiO2 nanoparticles. Figure S4. DRS spectrum of nitrogen-doped TiO2 and P25 TiO2. Figure S5. DeNOx abilities of nitrogen-doped and TOS-TiO2 samples
The Efficacy of Synchronous Combination of Chemotherapy and EGFR TKIs for the First-Line Treatment of NSCLC: A Systematic Analysis
<div><p>Background</p><p>The combination of chemotherapy and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) currently has become the hotspot issue in the treatment of non-small lung cancer (NSCLC). This systematic review was conducted to compare the efficacy and safety of the synchronous combination of these two treatments with EGFR TKIs or chemotherapy alone in advanced NSCLC.</p><p>Methods</p><p>EMBASE, PubMed, the Central Registry of Controlled Trials in the Cochrane Library (CENTRAL), Chinese biomedical literature database (CNKI) and meeting summaries were searched. The Phase II/III randomized controlled trials were selected by which patients with advanced NSCLC were randomized to receive a combination of EGFR TKIs and chemotherapy by synchronous mode vs. EGFR TKIs or chemotherapy alone.</p><p>Results</p><p>A total of six randomized controlled trials (RCTs) including 4675 patients were enrolled in the systematic review. The meta-analysis demonstrated that the synchronous combination group of chemotherapy and EGFR TKIs did not reach satisfactory results; there was no significant difference in overall survival (OS), time to progression (TTP) and objective response rate (ORR), compared with monotherapy (OS: HR = 1.05, 95%CI = 0.98–1.12; TTP: HR = 0.94, 95%CI = 0.89–1.00; ORR: RR = 1.07, 95%CI = 0.98–1.17), and no significant difference in OS and progression-free survival (PFS), compared with EGFR TKIs alone (OS: HR = 1.10, 95% CI = 0.83–1.46; PFS: HR = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.67–1.10). The patients who received synchronous combined therapy presented with increased incidences of grade 3/4 anemia (RR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.10–1.79) and rash (RR = 7.43, 95% CI = 4.56–12.09), compared with chemotherapy, grade 3/4 anemia (RR = 6.71, 95% CI = 1.25–35.93) and fatigue (RR = 9.60, 95% CI = 2.28–40.86) compared with EGFR TKI monotherapy.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>The synchronous combination of chemotherapy and TKIs is not superior to chemotherapy or EGFR TKIs alone for the first-line treatment of NSCLC.</p></div
Effects of Composition and Melting Time on the Phase Separation of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)/Poly(propylene carbonate) Blend Thin Films
In this study, the effect of composition
and melting time on the
phase separation of polyÂ(3-hydroxybutyrate)/polyÂ(propylene carbonate)
(PHB/PPC) blend thin films was investigated. Optical microscopy under
phase contrast confirms the occurrence of phase separation of PHB/PPC
blends at 190 °C. Polarized optical and scanning electron microscopies
(POM and SEM) demonstrate that phase separation takes place along
both horizontal and vertical film planes, which should be attributed
to the two different interfaces and immiscible blends. A low PPC content
(e.g. 30 wt %) results in the formation of compact PHB spherulites
filling the whole space, whereas the noncrystallizable PPC spherical
microdomains scatter in the PHB region, and their size shows a remarkable melting-time dependence.
With the increasing PPC component and melting time, it is observed
from POM that the separated PHB domains scattered in the continuous
PPC phase, like the island structure. However, it can be revealed
by SEM micrographs that the PHB thick domains are actually connected
by its thin layer under the PPC layer. The real situation is, therefore,
a large amount of PPC aggregates to the surface to form a network
uplayer, whereas the PHB thick domains connected by its thin layer
form a continuous PHB region, leading to a superimposed bilayer structure.
There is also a small amount of PHB small domains scattered in the
PHB phase. The PHB thick domains crystallize cooperatively with the
PHB- or PHB-rich sublayer in a way just like the growth of pure PHB
spherulites. This superimposed bilayer by interplay between phase
separation and crystallization may provide availability to tailor
the final structure and properties of crystalline/amorphous polymer
blends
Polymorphism and Enzymatic Degradation of Poly(1,4-butylene adipate) and Its Binary Blends with Atactic Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) and Poly(vinyl phenol)
The
influence of atactic polyÂ(3-hydroxybutyrate) (aPHB) and polyÂ(vinyl
phenol) (PVPh) on the crystallization, phase transition, and enzymatic
degradation behaviors of polyÂ(1,4-butylene adipate) (PBA) was studied.
It was found that both aPHB and PVPh can lower the critical temperature
of neat α-PBA crystallization from 34 °C for neat PBA to
32 °C for the blends. Also the critical temperatures of neat
β-PBA crystallization decrease from 28 °C for neat PBA
to 26 and 24 °C for the PBA/aPHB and PBA/PVPh, respectively.
Moreover, the β-to-α phase transition can be accelerated
by incorporation of PVPh and aPHB. The β-to-α phase transition
completes at 55 °C during heating process for neat PBA, while
the temperatures for a complete β-to-α transition of PBA
in PBA/aPHB and PBA/PVPh are 50 and 45 °C, respectively. This
result should be attributed to the decreasing melting point of PBA
in its blends with aPHB or PVPh. Therefore, the melting of the original
β-PBA and accompanied recrystallization into α ones should
take place earlier and more quickly in the blends than that in neat
PBA. The analysis of enzymatic degradation demonstrates that the degradation
of PBA can be affected by crystalline morphology and the molecular
chain mobility of PBA in the amorphous region. The restricted mobility
of amorphous PBA imposed by aPHB and PVPh can slow down the degradation
rate of PBA in the blends. The higher <i>T</i><sub>g</sub> and stronger intermolecular interaction between PVPh and PBA result
in the slowest degradation of PBA in the PBA/PVPh blend. Furthermore,
in neat PBA, PBA/PVPh, or PBA/aPHB, the degradation rate of α-PBA
crystals obtained via annealing is slower than that of α-PBA
prepared by isothermal crystallization and even slower than that of
β-PBA
Effect of Anodic Alumina Oxide Pore Diameter on the Crystallization of Poly(butylene adipate)
PolyÂ(butylene adipate) (PBA) was
infiltrated into the anodic alumina
oxide (AAO) templates with the pore diameter of around 30, 70, and
100 nm and PBA nanotubes with different diameters were prepared. The
crystallization and phase transition behavior of the obtained PBA
nanotubes capped in the nanopores have been explored by using X-ray
diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry. Only α-PBA
crystals form in the bulk sample during nonisothermal crystallization.
By contrast, predominant β-PBA crystals form in the AAO templates.
The β-PBA crystals formed in the nanopores with pore diameter
less than 70 nm prefer to adopt an orientation with their <i>b</i>-axis parallel to the long axis of the pore. During the
melt recrystallization, it was found that the critical temperature
(<i>T</i><sub>β</sub>), below which pure β-crystals
form, is 20 °C for bulk PBA. It drops down significantly with
the pore diameter for the PBA in the AAO template. Moreover, the β-crystals
in the porous template exhibit larger lattice parameters compared
with the bulk crystals. By monitoring the change of β-crystals
in the heating process, it was found that β-crystals in the
AAO template with the pore diameter of 30 nm (D30) melt directly while
the β-crystals transform to α-crystals in the template
with the pore diameter of 100 nm (D100). The intensity of (020) Bragg
peak of β-crystals decreases at a similar rate in both D30 and
D100 but disappears at a relatively lower temperature in D30. On the
other hand, the β(110) peak intensity of β-PBA crystals
formed in the D100 template decreases first at slower rate before
α crystals appear, and then at a faster rate once the β
to α phase transition takes place
Effects of Composition and Melting Time on the Phase Separation of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)/Poly(propylene carbonate) Blend Thin Films
In this study, the effect of composition
and melting time on the
phase separation of polyÂ(3-hydroxybutyrate)/polyÂ(propylene carbonate)
(PHB/PPC) blend thin films was investigated. Optical microscopy under
phase contrast confirms the occurrence of phase separation of PHB/PPC
blends at 190 °C. Polarized optical and scanning electron microscopies
(POM and SEM) demonstrate that phase separation takes place along
both horizontal and vertical film planes, which should be attributed
to the two different interfaces and immiscible blends. A low PPC content
(e.g. 30 wt %) results in the formation of compact PHB spherulites
filling the whole space, whereas the noncrystallizable PPC spherical
microdomains scatter in the PHB region, and their size shows a remarkable melting-time dependence.
With the increasing PPC component and melting time, it is observed
from POM that the separated PHB domains scattered in the continuous
PPC phase, like the island structure. However, it can be revealed
by SEM micrographs that the PHB thick domains are actually connected
by its thin layer under the PPC layer. The real situation is, therefore,
a large amount of PPC aggregates to the surface to form a network
uplayer, whereas the PHB thick domains connected by its thin layer
form a continuous PHB region, leading to a superimposed bilayer structure.
There is also a small amount of PHB small domains scattered in the
PHB phase. The PHB thick domains crystallize cooperatively with the
PHB- or PHB-rich sublayer in a way just like the growth of pure PHB
spherulites. This superimposed bilayer by interplay between phase
separation and crystallization may provide availability to tailor
the final structure and properties of crystalline/amorphous polymer
blends
Effects of Composition and Melting Time on the Phase Separation of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)/Poly(propylene carbonate) Blend Thin Films
In this study, the effect of composition
and melting time on the
phase separation of polyÂ(3-hydroxybutyrate)/polyÂ(propylene carbonate)
(PHB/PPC) blend thin films was investigated. Optical microscopy under
phase contrast confirms the occurrence of phase separation of PHB/PPC
blends at 190 °C. Polarized optical and scanning electron microscopies
(POM and SEM) demonstrate that phase separation takes place along
both horizontal and vertical film planes, which should be attributed
to the two different interfaces and immiscible blends. A low PPC content
(e.g. 30 wt %) results in the formation of compact PHB spherulites
filling the whole space, whereas the noncrystallizable PPC spherical
microdomains scatter in the PHB region, and their size shows a remarkable melting-time dependence.
With the increasing PPC component and melting time, it is observed
from POM that the separated PHB domains scattered in the continuous
PPC phase, like the island structure. However, it can be revealed
by SEM micrographs that the PHB thick domains are actually connected
by its thin layer under the PPC layer. The real situation is, therefore,
a large amount of PPC aggregates to the surface to form a network
uplayer, whereas the PHB thick domains connected by its thin layer
form a continuous PHB region, leading to a superimposed bilayer structure.
There is also a small amount of PHB small domains scattered in the
PHB phase. The PHB thick domains crystallize cooperatively with the
PHB- or PHB-rich sublayer in a way just like the growth of pure PHB
spherulites. This superimposed bilayer by interplay between phase
separation and crystallization may provide availability to tailor
the final structure and properties of crystalline/amorphous polymer
blends
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