bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recycled polyester nanofiber as a reservoir for essential oil release
Authors: Bohaczuk Venturelli Rafaela , Serafini Immich Ana Paula , M. A. Guelli U. de Souza Selene , U. de Souza Antônio Augusto
Published: November 2020

The importance of creating sustainable alternatives for products that can be easily recyclable, such as, poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET), is not new, being textile fibers the product of greatest interest. The objective of this work is to propose a recycling alternative for PET bottles for fiber production as a reservoir of essential oils for aromatherapy applications. The fibers were obtained via coaxial and dual‐jet electrospinning techniques. The material used in the impregnation and release of peppermint oil was PET originating from disposable bottles. The release of oil from the electrospun fibers was quantified by UV–vis spectroscopy. For the fibers produced by dual‐jet electrospinning the cumulative release of peppermint reached around 70% after 30 days. The sample obtained by coaxial electrospinning had a core‐shell structure and the amount of oil released was 33% after 30 days. In this investigation, a less aggressive process was introduced, making the electrospinning of PET a viable technique for essential oil impregnation. Dual‐jet as well as coaxial electrospinning showed slower release than values reported in the literature. Thus, a procedure with more favorable working conditions was developed, making the process more feasible and serving as an alternative for recycling PET bottles to produce functional textiles.
Flexible papers derived from polypyrrole deposited cellulose nanofibers for enhanced electromagnetic interference shielding in gigahertz frequencies
Authors: Gopakumar Deepu A. , Pai Avinash R. , Pottathara Yasir Beeran , Pasquini Daniel , de Morais Luís Carlos , Khalil H.P.S. Abdul , Nzihou Ange , Thomas Sabu
Published: November 2020

An array of highly conductive, lightweight and flexible cellulose nanopapers as effective attenuators of electromagnetic radiations within 8.2–12.4 GHz (X band) were formulated via in situ polymerization of pyrrole monomers on to cellulose nanofibers (CNFs). It is quite obvious that the free hydroxyl groups on the surface of CNFs facilitate the formation of intense intermolecular hydrogen bonding with PPy which is envisaged for its excellent electromagnetic shielding performance with an average shielding effectiveness of ca. –22 dB (>99% attenuation) at 8.2 GHz for a paper having 1 mm thickness. The fabricated papers displayed a predominant absorption mechanism (ca. 89%) rather than reflection (ca. 11%) for efficiently attenuating electromagnetic radiations, which has a considerable importance in the modern telecommunication sector. Thus, the designed PPy/CNF papers would replace the conventional metal‐based shields and pave way for the development of green microwave attenuators functioning via a strong absorption mechanism. The PPy/CNF nanopapers exhibited a DC conductivity of 0.21 S/cm, a prime requisite for the development of highly efficient electromagnetic shields. Undoubtedly, such nanopapers can be employed in wide range of applications such as electrodes for supercapacitors and other freestanding flexible paper‐based devices.
Jet evolution and fiber formation mechanism of amylopectin rich starches in centrifugal spinning system
Authors: Li Xianglong , Lu Yishen , Hou Teng , Zhou Jing , Wang Antuo , Zhang Xianggui , Yang Bin
Published: November 2020

This article reports the jet evolution process and fiber formation mechanism of the amylopectin rich starch solution in centrifugal spinning system, and the linear polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) is applied to compare with starch solution. The results indicate that jet evolution processes of starch solution include steady state and Rayleigh–Taylor instability over the whole concentration range for the spinnability investigation, which are due to the hyperbranched molecular of amylopectin. As a compression, the linear molecular chain PVP solution expresses a steady state jet under the spinning concentration. The spinnability results show that the obtained starch fibers are always containing the beads due to the Rayleigh–Taylor instability of jet, but can be effectively controlled by solution concentration and amylose/amylopectin. Instead, the PVP fibers show a rapid decreasing of beads till to almost disappear with the increasing of solution concentration, which due to the improvement of chain entanglement increase the steady state portion of jet with the increasing of concentration. The thermal properties of obtained fiber show that fibers obtained from amylose with more thermal stability.
Robust state‐error port‐controlled Hamiltonian trajectory tracking control for unmanned surface vehicle with disturbance uncertainties
Authors: Lv Chengxing , Yu Haisheng , Zhao Na , Chi Jieru , Liu Hailin , Li Lei
Published: November 2020

This paper proposed a novel disturbance observer‐based control state‐error port‐controlled Hamiltonian (DOBC‐SEPCH) control strategy for optimization of energy consumption and enhancement of tracking performance for unmanned surface vehicle (USV) with unknown environmental disturbances via the PCH system techniques. Firstly, an observer is constructed to estimate disturbances. Then, an energy‐based controller is constructed by using the SEPCH system method. In addition, the SEPCH controller provided that the tracking errors converged exponentially to zero. The SEPCH technique is augmented by a disturbance observer. Due to the controller need to be designed in two stages, the stability of the whole system will be difficult to be discussed. We give the proof of the stability of the desired target dynamic system. The robustness and control performance of the system are enhanced. The simulation and comparison results illustrate the performance of this controller.
Rapid simultaneous determination of gut microbial phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan metabolites in rat serum, urine, and faeces using LC–MS/MS and its application to a type 2 diabetes mellitus study
Authors: Zou Baorong , Sun Yangwen , Xu Zengmei , Chen Yongda , Li Lin , Lin Lei , Zhang Shaobao , Liao Qiongfeng , Xie Zhiyong
Published: November 2020

Gut microbial phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan metabolites are closely linked to various diseases. Monitoring the alterations of the related metabolites is vital to facilitate the understanding of pathophysiology of diseases. Herein, a rapid and sensitive assay based on LC–tandem mass spectrometry has been developed to analyze 20 gut microbial metabolites derived from phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan in rat serum, urine, and faeces. These microbial‐derived metabolites were separated on a phenyl‐hexyl column and simultaneously determined in a single run of 8 min. The detection limit for analytes ranged between 1.08 and 32.4 ng/mL. All calibration curves exhibited good linear relationships (R2 ≥ 0.9982). Intra‐ and inter‐assay precision values were below 15% and accuracies ranged from 85% to 115% for all analytes. The selectivity, matrix effect, and recovery of this method were all satisfactory. The validated method was successfully applied to characterize the alterations of these metabolites in type 2 diabetes mellitus rat. In general, the developed assay is suitable for high‐throughput monitoring of gut microbial phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan metabolites and provides a useful approach for exploring the mechanisms of microbial‐derived metabolites in diseases.
Perspectives on updates, clarifications and controversies in chromatographic assay guidance for bioanalytical method validation from major regulatory agencies and organizations
Authors: King Kris , Li Pei , Pietrasiewicz Alicia , Goldstein Stanley
Published: November 2020

Bioanalysis, a key supporting function for generating data for pre‐clinical and clinical studies in drug development, is under the regulation of local agencies as well as global organizations to ensure the data integrity and quality in submission. As major regulatory agencies and organizations, the US Food and Drug Administration, the European Medicines Agency and the International Council for Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use have been updating their industry guidance for bioanalytical method validation, to keep up with the development new modalities, technologies and regulations. This article summarizes the recent updates and any clarifications and controversies triggered by those updates. Perspectives and recommendations are given based on our own experience as well as commonly accepted practice in the bioanalytical community.
Analyzing the scientific foundation of Child Sexual Abuse Accommodation Syndrome: A reply to Lyon et al.
Authors: London Kamala , Bruck Maggie , Miller Quincy C. , Ceci Stephen J.
Published: November 2020

The issue before the New Jersey Supreme Court in the Frye hearing New Jersey v. J.L.G. (2018) was whether the scientific community agreed that Summit's (1983) Child Sexual Abuse Accommodation Syndrome rested on a firm scientific foundation. Lyon et al. (this issue) critique our approach to describing child sexual abuse disclosure, which involved extrapolating rates from children who came to the attention of authorities. Lyon et al. claim that our conclusions are marred by sampling biases resulting from what they term the ground truth problem, suspicion bias and substantiation bias. The points Lyon et al. claim we “fell victim to” were the very points we acknowledge are inherent difficulties in estimating the extent to which children will come forward to tell others about sexual maltreatment. Lyon et al. offer an alternative solution to the inherent difficulties in studying a difficult‐to‐identify population, relying in large part on 21 papers published mostly in the 1960s and 1970s. We argue that the method they propose has more flaws than the one it is intended to replace. Points of agreement and disagreement, along with suggestions for future research, are discussed. Moving forward, we argue that studies are needed that embrace both validity and generalizability in order to foster data‐driven theories rather than invoking the intuitive suppositions of Summit's (1983) syndromal evidence.
Molecular mechanisms of plant adaptive responses to heavy metals stress
Authors: Kosakivska Iryna V. , Babenko Lidia M. , Romanenko Kateryna O. , Korotka Iryna Y. , Potters Geert
Published: November 2020

Heavy metals (HMs) are among the main environmental pollutants that can enter the soil, water bodies, and the atmosphere as a result of natural processes (weathering of rocks, volcanic activity), and also as a result of human activities (mining, metallurgical and chemical industries, transport, application of mineral fertilizers). Plants counteract the HMs stresses through morphological and physiological adaptations, which are imparted through well‐coordinated molecular mechanisms. New approaches, which include transcriptomics, genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics analyses, have opened the paths to understand such complex networks. This review sheds light on molecular mechanisms included in plant adaptive and defense responses during metal stress. It is focused on the entry of HMs into plants, its transport and accumulation, effects on the main physiological processes, gene expressions included in plant adaptive and defense responses during HM stress. Analysis of new data allowed the authors to conclude that the most important mechanism of HM tolerance is extracellular and intracellular HM sequestration. Organic anions (malate, oxalate, etc.) provide extracellular sequestration of HM ions. Intracellular HM sequestration depends not only on a direct binding mechanism with different polymers (pectin, lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose, etc.) or organic anions but also on the action of cellular receptors and transmembrane transporters. We focused on the functioning chloroplasts, mitochondria, and the Golgi complex under HM stress. The currently known molecular mechanisms of plant tolerance to the toxic effects of HMs are analyzed.
Alexithymia in nonviolent offenders
Authors: Parry Cate L. , Preece David A. , Allan Maria M. , Allan Alfred
Published: November 2020

Background

Alexithymia is a trait involving difficulties processing emotions. Existing data suggest it is associated with violent offending. In violent offender programmes, therefore, violent offenders are screened for alexithymia and it is attended to if necessary. No studies have, however, examined alexithymia levels in nonviolent offenders and it is, therefore, unknown whether it is also a criminogenic factor in this population.

Aims

To investigate alexithymia levels among incarcerated nonviolent offenders and compare them with a community comparison group.

Method

The 20‐item Toronto Alexithymia Scale was used to compare the alexithymia levels of 67 incarcerated nonviolent offenders with a group of 139 people from the general public living in the community.

Results

Alexithymia levels did not differ between the groups.

Conclusion

It appears that alexithymia is not a criminogenic factor for nonviolent offenders and screening of such offenders appears unnecessary.
Combined use of rotational and excimer lASER coronary atherectomy (RASER) during complex coronary angioplasty—An analysis of cases (2006–2016) from the British Cardiovascular Intervention Society database
Authors: Protty Majd B. , Gallagher Sean , Farooq Vasim , Sharp Andrew S.P. , Egred Mohaned , O'Kane Peter , Kinnaird Tim
Published: November 2020

Introduction

Combining rotational (RA) and excimer laser coronary atherectomy (ELCA)—RASER atherectomy—is technique utilized in the percutaneous management of calcific coronary disease. The evidence base examining its safety and utility is sparse and limited to small case‐series. This study examines the patterns and outcomes of RASER atherectomy use in the largest cohort to date.

Methods

Using the British Cardiac Intervention Society database, data were analyzed on all PCI procedures in the UK between 2006 and 2016. Descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regressions were used to examine baseline, procedural, and outcome associations with RASER.

Results

We identified 153 (0.02%) RASER atherectomy cases out of 686,358 PCI procedures. Baseline covariates associated with RASER use were age, BMI, diabetes, stable coronary disease, and previous CABG. Procedural co‐variates associated with RASER were CTO‐PCI, the use of more/longer stents, intravascular imaging, cutting balloons, and microcatheters. Adjusted rates of in‐hospital major adverse cardiac/cerebrovascular events (MACCE) were not significantly different with RASER. However, there were higher odds of arterial complications (OR 3.23, 95% CI: 1.58–6.61), slow flow (OR 3.50, 95% CI: 1.29–9.55), and shock induction (OR 9.66, 95% CI: 3.44–27.06).

Conclusions

RASER atherectomy use in complex PCI is associated with higher risk baseline and procedural characteristics. Although increased rates of shock induction, slow flow, and arterial complications were observed, RASER does not increase the likelihood of in‐hospital MACCE, major bleeding, or death.
Osseointegrated implant‐retained auricular prosthesis constructed using cone‐beam computed tomography and a prosthetically driven digital workflow: a case report
Authors: Domingue Daniel , Glenn Nathan Cory , Vest Allison , White James R.
Published: November 2020

Prosthetically driven workflows using CBCT, digital optical scanning, 3D‐printed molds and frameworks, and dental implant component attachments to osseointegrated fixtures can produce anatomically accurate, esthetic, durable silicone ear replacements.
High‐Capacity Iron‐Based Anodes for Aqueous Secondary Nickel−Iron Batteries: Recent Progress and Prospects
Authors: Yang Jiao , Chen Jingwei , Wang Zhixun , Wang Zhe , Zhang Qichong , He Bing , Zhang Ting , Gong Wenbin , Chen Mengxiao , Qi Miao , Coquet Philippe , Shum Ping , Wei Lei
Published: November 2020

Aqueous rechargeable nickel‐iron (Ni−Fe) batteries characterized by their ultra‐flat discharge plateau, low cost, and remarkable safety show attractive prospects for applications in wearable and large‐scale energy storage. Electrode materials, as the key part of Ni−Fe batteries, determine their performance. Comparatively, Fe‐based anode materials possess much lower capacity and energy density than available Ni‐based cathode materials; thus, the overall electrochemical performance of Ni−Fe batteries is dominated by Fe‐based anode materials. The key challenge of Fe‐based anodes for Ni−Fe batteries is their inferior electrochemical performance originating from their poor electrical conductivity. Recently, significant progress has been achieved in the development of Fe‐based anodes for Ni−Fe batteries through nanostructural design, componential regulation, interface engineering and elemental doping, whereby both intrinsic capacity and energy density have been enhanced. This Review presents an overview of the recent progress in Fe‐based anode materials by categories of metal, oxide, sulfide, hydroxide, phosphide and selenide based on chemical composition. Finally, the challenges and possible solutions are briefly presented with some perspectives toward the future development of Fe‐based anode materials for next‐generation aqueous secondary Ni−Fe batteries.
The Intrinsic Structural Resistance of a Grain Boundary to Transverse Ionic Conduction
Authors: Genreith‐Schriever Annalena R. , Parras Jana P. , Heelweg Henrik J. , De Souza Roger A.
Published: November 2020

Invited for this month's cover picture is the group of Prof. Roger A. De Souza at RWTH Aachen University (Germany). The cover picture illustrates oxide ions moving from one crystal grain across a grain boundary to an adjacent grain in a polycrystalline oxide‐ion conductor. The mobile ions perceive the boundary as an additional resistance arising from the disruption of the crystal structure at the boundary. The resistance can be tuned by applying high electric fields. Read the full text of the Communication at 10.1002/celc.202000773.
Preparation of a Lanthanide–Titanium Oxo Cluster–Polymer Composite by CuI‐Catalyzed Click Chemistry
Authors: Deng Yong‐Kai , Zhao Ya‐Rui , Xu Han , Kong Xiang‐Jian , Long La‐sheng , Zheng Lan‐Sun
Published: November 2020

Incorporating metal clusters within the skeleton of the organic polymers through a click reaction cannot only effectively prepare cluster–polymer composites, but also effectively avoid the cluster aggregation. Herein, an azide‐containing lanthanide–titanium oxo cluster of Eu8Ti10‐N3 (Eu8Ti10‐N3=[Eu8Ti10(μ3‐O)14(H2O)4(OAc)2(tbba)30(paza)4(THF)2]⋅4 THF⋅8 H2O (1), Htbba=4‐tert‐butylbenzoic acid, Hpaza=4‐azidobenzoate, HOAc=acetic acid, THF=tetrahydrofuran) through an in situ solvothermal reaction of 4‐azidobenzoic acid and 4‐tert‐butylbenzoic acid. Reaction of 1 with PEG (PEG=methoxypoly(ethyleneglycol)alkyne, 2000 g mol−1) through CuI‐catalyzed click chemistry generates a lanthanide–polymer composite of Eu8Ti10‐N3@PEG (2). Investigation with IR, 1H NMR and ICP‐OES of 2 indicates that the structural integrity of 1 is maintained in 2. Study of the luminescent properties of 1 and 2 reveals that the quantum yield of 1 itself basically remains unchanged in 2. Significantly, the formation of 2 cannot only effectively prevent the cluster 1 from aggregation, but also greatly enhance its solubility and adhesion to the substrate. Owing to the solubility and adhesion of luminescent materials being the key to their practical application, present work is thus of great significance for the development of metal cluster–polymer composite luminescent materials.
Thermodynamics of CO2 adsorption on cellulose‐derived biochar prepared in ionic liquid
Authors: Guo Tianxiang , Fan Zeng , Du Yarong , Xu Junpeng , Kong Lingfeng , Pan Yuanfeng , Xiao Huining , Xie Qing
Published: November 2020

This work focused on thermodynamic analysis of carbon dioxide (CO2) adsorption on a promising biochar as a CO2 adsorbent. The biochar was prepared by catalytic pyrolysis of cellulose material in ionic liquid at moderate temperature. The adsorption characteristics, such as adsorption capacity, interfacial potential, Gibbs free energy change, enthalpy change, entropy change, and internal energy change, influenced by adsorption temperature and gas pressure, were systematically investigated. The results indicated that CO2 adsorption on cellulose‐derived biochar was a spontaneous, physical, exothermic, and entropic decrement process, accompanied by adsorption capacity of 5.2 mmol/g and interfacial potential of −18.2 J/g at 273 K and 100 kPa. The process could be well described by adsorption potential theory. Then a quasi‐Gaussian distribution of site energy was verified for CO2 adsorption. The interfacial potential was found to be a monotropic function of the amount of CO2 adsorbed, and the latter was actually a differential of the former via adsorption potential. The positive temperature effect and negative pressure effect on negative Gibbs free energy change indicated that reducing adsorption temperature and increasing gas pressure were beneficial to CO2 uptake, accompanied by the increase of adsorption capacity and the reduction of interfacial energy, entropy, enthalpy, and internal energy. The strongest temperature effects on entropy change, enthalpy change, and internal energy change existed at given pressure or temperature. The pressure effect was stronger and more sensitive to pressure at lower adsorption pressure. More interestingly, the peak pressure or peak temperature with the strongest pressure effect possibly existed during CO2 adsorption.
Treatment of real industrial pharmaceutical wastewater using wet peroxide oxidation
Authors: Mylapilli Swami Venkat Prasad , Reddy Sivamohan N.
Published: November 2020

The presence of recalcitrant organic molecules with high amounts of chemical oxygen demand, low biodegradability, and lack of effective treatment for pharmaceutical wastewater result in environmental pollution. Batch wet peroxide oxidation (WPO) experiments have been performed to study the effect of temperature (150°C‐250°C), oxidant coefficient (OC 0‐3), and reaction time (20 minutes‐60 minutes) on degradation efficiency of industrial pharmaceutical wastewater. Box‐Behnken design (BBD) with response surface methodology was used to study the effect of independent parameters on total organic carbon (TOC) removal response. The optimum temperature, oxidant coefficient, and reaction time of the process were found to be 250°C, OC 3, and 60 minutes, which resulted in TOC conversion of 57.96%. The obtained quadratic model has been able to predict the response with minimum deviation. The experimental modelling results conveyed that influence of process parameters followed the order: temperature > time > oxidant coefficient. To improve the mineralization efficiency, process parameters were changed to attain the near complete conversion (~99%) of the pharmaceutical wastewater. The qualitative analysis also showed that only a few components of pharmaceuticals were present in the treated effluent.
Comparison of Density Functional and Correlated Wave Function Methods for the Prediction of Cu(II) Hyperfine Coupling Constants
Authors: Gómez‐Piñeiro Rogelio J. , Pantazis Dimitrios A. , Orio Maylis
Published: November 2020

The reliable prediction of Cu(II) hyperfine coupling constants remains a challenge for quantum chemistry. Until recently only density functional theory (DFT) could target this property for systems of realistic size. However, wave function based methods become increasingly applicable. In the present work, we define a large set of Cu(II) complexes with experimentally known hyperfine coupling constants and use it to investigate the performance of modern quantum chemical methods for the prediction of this challenging spectroscopic parameter. DFT methods are evaluated against orbital‐optimized second‐order Møller‐Plesset (OO‐MP2) theory and coupled cluster calculations including singles and doubles excitations, driven by the domain‐based local pair natural orbital approach (DLPNO‐CCSD). Special attention is paid to the definition of a basis set that converges adequately toward the basis set limit for the given property for all methods considered in this study, and a specifically optimized basis set is proposed for this purpose. The results suggest that wave function based methods can supplant but do not outcompete DFT for the calculation of Cu(II) hyperfine coupling constants. Mainstream hybrid functionals such as B3PW91 remain on average the best choice.
Byproducts formed During Thiol‐Acrylate Reactions Promoted by Nucleophilic Aprotic Amines: Persistent or Reactive?
Authors: Drogkaris Vasileios , Northrop Brian H.
Published: November 2020

The nucleophile‐initiated mechanism of thiol‐Michael reactions naturally leads to the formation of undesired nucleophile byproducts. Three aza‐Michael compounds representing nucleophile byproducts of thiol‐acrylate reactions initiated by 4‐dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP), 1‐methylimidazole (MIM), and 1,8‐diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec‐7‐ene (DBU) have been synthesized and their reactivity in the presence of thiolate has been investigated. Spectroscopic analysis shows that each nucleophile byproduct reacts with thiolate to produce a desired thiol‐acrylate product along with liberated aprotic amines DMAP, MIM, or DBU, thus demonstrating that these byproducts are reactive rather than persistent. Density functional theoretical computations support experimental observations and predict that a β‐elimination mechanism is favored for converting each nucleophile byproduct into a desired thiol‐acrylate product, though an SN2 process can be competitive (i. e. within <2.5 kcal/mol) in less polar solvents.
Using Human Primary Foreskin Fibroblasts to Study Cellular Damage and Mitochondrial Dysfunction
Authors: Nadalutti Cristina A. , Wilson Samuel H.
Published: November 2020

Several cell lines of different origin are routinely used in research and drug development as important models to study human health and disease. Studying cells in culture represents an easy and convenient tool to approach complex biological questions, but the disadvantage is that they may not necessarily reflect what is effectively occurring in vivo. Human primary cells can help address this limitation, as they are isolated directly from human biological samples and can preserve the morphological and functional features of their tissue of origin. In addition, these can offer more relevant data and better solutions to investigators because they are not genetically manipulated. Human foreskin tissue discarded after surgery, for instance, represents a precious source for isolating such cells, including human foreskin fibroblasts (FSK), which are used in several areas of research and medicine. The overall health of cells is determined by the mitochondria. Alterations of cellular metabolism and cell death pathways depend, in part, on the number, size, distribution, and structure of mitochondria, and these can change under different cellular and pathological conditions. This highlights the need to develop accurate approaches to study mitochondria and evaluate their function. Here, we describe three easy, step‐by‐step protocols to study cellular viability and mitochondrial functionality in FSK. We describe how to use circumcision tissue obtained from the clinic to isolate FSK cells by mechanical and enzymatic disaggregation, how to use a cationic dye, crystal violet, which is retained by proliferating cells, to determine cell viability, and how to prepare samples to assess the metabolic status of cells by evaluating different mitochondrial parameters with transmission electron microscopy. We have successfully used the approaches outlined here to recapitulate physiological conditions in these cells in order to study the effects of increased intracellular levels of formaldehyde. © 2020 U.S. Government.

Basic Protocol 1: Isolation and maintenance of human primary foreskin fibroblasts (FSK)

Basic Protocol 2: Determination of cell viability by crystal violet staining

Basic Protocol 3: Transmission electron microscopy to study cellular damage and mitochondrial dysfunction
Characterization of peanut lines with interspecific introgressions conferring late leaf spot resistance
Authors: Lamon Samuele , Chu Ye , Guimaraes Larissa A. , Bertioli David J. , Leal‐Bertioli Soraya C. M. , Santos João F. , Godoy Ignácio J. , Culbreath Albert K. , Holbrook C. Corley , Ozias‐Akins Peggy
Published: November 2020

Late leaf spot (LLS) disease caused by Nothopassalora personata (Berk. & M.A. Curtis) U. Braun, C. Nakash, Videira & Crous is prevalent among pathogens encountered in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) growing regions. Chemical control is expensive, sometimes inaccessible, and can be difficult to apply. One effective solution to control this disease is the deployment of resistant cultivars. IAC 322 is a breeding line resistant to foliar fungal disease and harbors alien introgressions from A. cardenasii Krapov. & W.C. Gregory, a wild diploid relative of peanut. The objective of this study was to determine the level of LLS resistance conferred by introgressed segments in families derived from TifNV‐High O/L × IAC 322. Phenotyping for LLS resistance was performed under both in vitro and field conditions, which provided sufficient disease pressure to separate the means of susceptible and resistant checks, although there was no statistically significant separation of LLS resistance among the families with introgressions. However, consistent levels of LLS resistance observed in the family with A02‐top/A03‐bottom segments makes it a valuable resource for peanut breeding. In addition, late‐season field disease ratings were found to correlate with the entire LLS infection progression under both field and in vitro conditions. Among the parameters collected for in vitro experiments, numbers of LLS lesions and sporulating LLS lesions at late stages of LLS infection and incubation period can be used to predict LLS resistance under field conditions.
Comprehensive Phenotyping of Human Dendritic Cells and Monocytes
Authors: Mair Florian , Liechti Thomas
Published: November 2020

Professional antigen‐presenting cells (APCs), which include dendritic cells (DCs) and monocytes are essential for inducing and steering adaptive T‐cell responses. Recent technological developments in single‐cell analysis have significantly advanced our understanding of APC subset heterogeneity. To accurately resolve this functional diversity and to account for tissue‐specific adaptation, novel phenotyping markers have been described more recently. While some of these largely overlap with traditionally used markers, more fine‐grained phenotyping might be essential during inflammatory settings, where the traditional distinction between monocytes and dendritic cells has become blurred. Within this phenotype report, we provide a concise overview of traditional and recently described markers for the phenotyping of DCs and monocytes in the human system.
Pharmacokinetics of salmeterol and its main metabolite α‐hydroxysalmeterol after acute and chronic dry powder inhalation in exercising endurance‐trained men: Implications for doping control
Authors: Jessen Søren , Becker Victoria , Rzeppa Sebastian , Backer Vibeke , Bengtsen Kasper Høtoft , Hullstein Ingunn , Dehnes Yvette , Hostrup Morten
Published: November 2020

As of 2020, use of beta2‐agonist salmeterol is restricted by the World Anti‐Doping Agency (WADA) and is only permitted by inhalation at therapeutic doses not exceeding 200 μg in 24 h. In contrast to beta2‐agonists salbutamol and formoterol, WADA has not established a urine threshold for salmeterol despite its muscle hypertrophic actions observed in animals. Herein, we investigated plasma (0–4 h) and urine (0–24 h) concentrations (by ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry [UHPLC–MS/MS]) of salmeterol and α‐hydroxysalmeterol after dry powder inhalation at supratherapeutic (400 μg) and high therapeutic (200 μg) doses, and after seven consecutive days of therapeutic inhalation (200 μg × day−1) in 11 healthy endurance‐trained men. During each trial, participants inhaled salmeterol before 1½ h moderate‐intensity cycling. Mean ± SD maximum urine concentrations of salmeterol unadjusted for specific gravity reached 4.0 ± 1.6, 2.1 ± 1.5, and 2.2 ± 1.1 ng × ml−1 for 400 μg, 200 μg, and seven consecutive days of 200 μg, respectively, with corresponding maximum urine concentrations of α‐hydroxysalmeterol being 11.6 ± 6.1, 5.7 ± 4.6, and 6.5 ± 2.6 ng × ml−1. Within the relevant window for doping control (first 6 h post‐inhalation), the present data (119 samples), along with 64 biobank urine samples, showed that a combined salmeterol and α‐hydroxysalmeterol urine threshold with equal cut‐offs of 3.3 ng × ml−1 was superior to a salmeterol‐only threshold to discriminate therapeutic (200 μg) from supratherapeutic use (400 μg) with a sensitivity of 24% with 0% false positives when applying the WADA technical document (TD2019DL.v2) method of specific gravity adjustment. Thus, a combination of urine salmeterol and α‐hydroxysalmeterol concentrations may be suitable for discriminating between therapeutic and supratherapeutic prohibited inhalation of salmeterol.
Ecological models for estimating breakpoints and prediction intervals
Authors: Tomal Jabed H. , Ciborowski Jan J. H.
Published: November 2020

The relationships between an environmental variable and an ecological response are usually estimated by models fitted through the conditional mean of the response given environmental stress. For example, nonparametric loess and parametric piecewise linear regression model (PLRM) are often used to represent simple to complex nonlinear relationships. In contrast, piecewise linear quantile regression models (PQRM) fitted across various quantiles of the response can reveal nonlinearities in its range of variation across the explanatory variable.

We assess the number and positions of candidate breakpoints using loess and compare the relative efficiencies of PLRM and PQRM to quantitatively determine the breakpoints' location and precision. We propose a nonparametric method to generate bootstrap confidence intervals for breakpoints using PQRM and prediction bands for loess and PQRM. We illustrated the applications using data from two aquatic studies suspected to exhibit multiple environmental breakpoints: relating a fish multimetric index of community health (MMI) to agricultural activity in wetlands' adjacent drainage basins; and relating cyanobacterial biomass to total phosphorus concentration in Canadian lakes.

Two statistically significant breakpoints were detected in each dataset, demarcating boundaries of three linear segments, each with markedly different slopes. PQRM generated less biased, more accurate, and narrower confidence intervals for the breakpoints and narrower prediction bands than PLRM, especially for small samples and large error variability. In both applications, the relationship between the response and environmental variables was weak/nonsignificant below the lower threshold, strong through the midrange of the environmental gradient, and weak/nonsignificant beyond the upper threshold.

We describe several advantages of PQRM over PLRM in characterizing environmental relationships where the scatter of points represents natural environmental variation rather than measurement error. The proposed methodology will be useful for detecting multiple breakpoints in ecological applications where the limits of variation are as important as the conditional mean of a function.
Silicon migration seal wafer‐level vacuum encapsulation
Authors: Suzuki Yukio , Dupuit Victor , Kojima Toshiya , Kanamori Yoshiaki , Tanaka Shuji
Published: November 2020

Silicon migration seal (SMS) wafer‐level packaging is proposed for high vacuum encapsulation of MEMS. The sealing of vent holes is possible based on silicon surface migration effect at 1100°C in 100% hydrogen ambient without deposition, if the size of the vent holes is properly designed. The feasibility of SMS packaging was experimentally demonstrated using 4‐inch wafers. Hermetic sealing was confirmed after 168 hours from the packaging process by diaphragm displacement in the cap wafer.
A study on technology visualization analysis method using patent classifier
Authors: Shibata Masashi , Takahashi Masakazu
Published: November 2020

In this paper, we propose an efficient method of technical structure analysis of Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) development using network analysis. Recently, with the reform of the industrial structure called “Industry 4.0″ and the explosive expansion of the application area of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the demand for computing power in edge devices is increasing. For these backgrounds, the acceleration by FPGA is focused on the industry. Hence, in this paper, we analyze the technology development trends of a significant FPGA supplier. As analytical data, we employ patents obtained by the company in the U.S. We focus on the classifiers in the patent information. We create graphs by classifiers and analyze their clusters. From the results of extracting graph features by the proposed method, key technology areas and their transitions are revealed in the technology development of FPGA suppliers.
Haemodynamic characteristics of COVID‐19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome requiring mechanical ventilation. An invasive assessment using right heart catheterization
Authors: Caravita Sergio , Baratto Claudia , Di Marco Fabiano , Calabrese Alice , Balestrieri Giulio , Russo Filippo , Faini Andrea , Soranna Davide , Perego Giovanni Battista , Badano Luigi P. , Grazioli Lorenzo , Lorini Ferdinando Luca , Parati Gianfranco , Senni Michele
Published: November 2020

Aims

Interstitial pneumonia due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) is often complicated by severe respiratory failure. In addition to reduced lung compliance and ventilation/perfusion mismatch, a blunted hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction has been hypothesized, that could explain part of the peculiar pathophysiology of the COVID‐19 cardiorespiratory syndrome. However, no invasive haemodynamic characterization of COVID‐19 patients has been reported so far.

Methods and results

Twenty‐one mechanically‐ventilated COVID‐19 patients underwent right heart catheterization. Their data were compared both with those obtained from non‐mechanically ventilated paired control subjects matched for age, sex and body mass index, and with pooled data of 1937 patients with ‘typical’ acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) from a systematic literature review. Cardiac index was higher in COVID‐19 patients than in controls [3.8 (2.7–4.5) vs. 2.4 (2.1–2.8) L/min/m2, P < 0.001], but slightly lower than in ARDS patients (P = 0.024). Intrapulmonary shunt and lung compliance were inversely related in COVID‐19 patients (r = −0.57, P = 0.011) and did not differ from ARDS patients. Despite this, pulmonary vascular resistance of COVID‐19 patients was normal, similar to that of control subjects [1.6 (1.1–2.5) vs. 1.6 (0.9–2.0) WU, P = 0.343], and lower than reported in ARDS patients (P < 0.01). Pulmonary hypertension was present in 76% of COVID‐19 patients and in 19% of control subjects (P < 0.001), and it was always post‐capillary. Pulmonary artery wedge pressure was higher in COVID‐19 than in ARDS patients, and inversely related to lung compliance (r = −0.46, P = 0.038).

Conclusions

The haemodynamic profile of COVID‐19 patients needing mechanical ventilation is characterized by combined cardiopulmonary alterations. Low pulmonary vascular resistance, coherent with a blunted hypoxic vasoconstriction, is associated with high cardiac output and post‐capillary pulmonary hypertension, that could eventually contribute to lung stiffness and promote a vicious circle between the lung and the heart.
Reinforce the Adhesion of Gel Electrolyte to Electrode and the Interfacial Charge Transfer via In Situ Electrospinning the Polymeric Nanofiber Matrix
Authors: Wang Lei , Zhang Ran , Dai Hongyun , Yan Jiawei , Zhang Jiali , Zhong Min , Shen Wenzhuo , Guo Shouwu
Published: November 2020

The adhesion of a gel electrolyte to the electrode is one of the key factors to the electrochemical performance of lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). Herein, gel electrolyte is prepared on the LiFePO4 electrode through in situ electrospinning the poly(vinylidene fluoride‐co‐hexafluoropropylene) (PVdF‐HFP) nanofiber matrix, followed by lithium salt solution loading. The interfacial interactions between the in situ electrospun PVdF‐HFP matrix and LiFePO4 electrode before and after gelation are studied using dynamic thermomechanical analysis and scanning electron microscopy. The results demonstrate that the as‐prepared gel electrolyte can adhere tightly onto the LiFePO4 electrode. LIBs (half coin cells) are assembled using the as‐obtained gel electrolyte to evaluate their electrochemical properties. The results show that the lithium‐ion and electron transfer rates crossing the interface between gel electrolyte and LiFePO4 electrode are enhanced. The electrochemical performances of the half coin cells, including specific capacity, rate capability, and cycle stability, are improved significantly.
Research on matching design method of waste heat reuse system of fuel cell vehicle considering system energy consumption and waste heat exchange rate
Authors: Sun Wei , Yi Fengyan , Hu Donghai , Zhou Jiaming
Published: November 2020

The research of hydrogen fuel cell waste heat recovery is a new field of fuel cell thermal management, which helps to improve the overall fuel utilization. At present, the research on the waste heat utilization of fuel cell vehicles is less, and it is more based on the traditional vehicle waste heat management ideas without systematic summary of the factors affecting the system performance. This study takes the waste heat reuse system of fuel cell vehicle as the research object, and established the waste heat exchange rate model and energy consumption model of the waste heat reuse system. Through the study of relevant parameter variables, the effects of parameters on system energy consumption and waste heat exchange rate at low temperature were obtained. The matching design of waste heat reuse system of 60 kW fuel cell vehicle was carried out, and the simulation analysis and experimental verification were done. The results showed that when the ambient temperature is −3°C and −6°C, the waste heat exchange rate of the new matching scheme is 16.2% and 16.3% higher than that of the original scheme, respectively. Also, the total energy consumption of the system is reduced by 62.02% and 60.62%, respectively.
Network overloading management by exploiting the in‐system batteries of electric vehicles
Authors: Rehman Usama , Feng Donghan , Su Hao , Numan Muhammad , Abbas Farukh
Published: November 2020

Network overloading and electric power shortfalls occur due to large variations in anticipated renewable electric power and electric loads, which may cause system overheating or network failure. A large portion of residential loads (RLs) comprises of electric vehicles (EVs); therefore, by using in‐system electric vehicle batteries (EVBs), above mentioned issues can be resolved. A lot of research has been done in this domain but the stochastic nature of this system has not been fully explored yet. In this article, an intelligent charging mechanism of EVs has been proposed for RLs. EVBs are charged during off‐peak hours and then batteries are utilized as an independent power source during peak hours to decrease stress on the power network. Vehicle‐to‐grid charging and discharging scenarios are considered, to optimize the rate of charging. A novel stochastic model predictive control (SMPC) framework, based on smart charging/discharging of EVBs has been proposed in this article. SMPC deals with the uncertain variations in the projected generation and demand of electric power, due to variable renewable energy and high electric loads, respectively. It deals with the discrepancy of supply, demand, and energy prices. Using SMPC, complex stochastic problems can be transformed into a simpler optimization problem, making it computation efficient and suitable for real‐time applications. To relax constraints on power demand, a worst case scenario technique has been used which reduces the computational cost of the system. Simulation results depict that controlled charging and discharging of EVBs in power grid network help reduce overshoots and undershoots of electric power demand in a smart community. Comparison of the proposed strategy has been done with benchmark algorithms, to show the competency of the proposed strategy. This study provides insight of a smart community microgrid operation and resultant trade‐offs to manage the demand and supply of electricity.
Experimental study on the burning behavior of cardboard box fire under low air pressure
Authors: Ma Qiuju , Shao Juncheng , Wan Mengsai , Liu Quanyi , Zhang Hui
Published: November 2020

The objective of this work is to study the fire behavior characteristics under low pressures. Cardboard box fire experiments of two kinds of fire load, 1‐box and 2‐box fires, were conducted separately at 101 kPa, 75 kPa, 64 kPa, and 59.5 kPa in an altitude chamber. The heat release rate, mass burning rate, residual ash mass and radiative heat flux were measured as the principal characteristic parameters for analysis. The results of these tests demonstrated the significant effects on fire behaviors caused by low‐pressure atmosphere. The mass burning rate shows power function growth with the air pressure as . The proportion of residual ash increases linearly with the pressure drop, and it reaches as high as 44% for 1‐box fire at 59.5 kPa. While the proportion of residual ash for 2‐box fire is lower compared with 1‐box fire, which means the combustion of 2‐box fire is more complete. The effective heat of combustion (EHC) obtained for 101 kPa, 75 kPa, 64 kPa, and 59.5 kPa are respectively 18.44, 17.08, 15.10, and 12.74 kJ/g. Furthermore, the heat radiation fraction was calculated based on the simplified measuring method and it is observed that radiation fraction depends less on the environment pressure.
Electrochemistry in Archaeology and Art Conservation
Authors: Doménech‐Carbó Antonio
Published: November 2020

Electrochemical techniques are of application in the fields of archaeometry, conservation and restoration of cultural heritage. These include the identification of components in paintings, ceramic and glasses, fibers, metals, etc., but also establishing diagnostic criteria of conservation and the application of conservative treatments. Here, it is presented an updated summary of the evolution of these applications in the last decades, and a discussion on their capabilities and future research for tracing, authentication, manufacturing techniques, provenances, and dating.
Sparse Steiner triple systems of order 21
Authors: Kokkala Janne I. , Östergård Patric R. J.
Published: November 2020

A ‐configuration is a set of blocks on points. For Steiner triple systems, ‐configurations are of particular interest. The smallest nontrivial such configuration is the Pasch configuration, which is a ‐configuration. A Steiner triple system of order , an STS, is ‐sparse if it does not contain any ‐configuration for . The existence problem for anti‐Pasch Steiner triple systems has been solved, but these have been classified only up to order 19. In the current work, a computer‐aided classification shows that there are 83,003,869 isomorphism classes of anti‐Pasch STS(21)s. Exploration of the classified systems reveals that there are three 5‐sparse STS(21)s but no 6‐sparse STS(21)s. The anti‐Pasch STS(21)s lead to 14 Kirkman triple systems, none of which is doubly resolvable.