bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Niveles de discrepancia entre el perfil de competencias sugerido por la AIOEV y el perfil de los(as) Orientadores(as) de Venezuela
Authors: Hernández Zulay , González B. Julio
Published: July 2020

RESUMENLa Asociación Internacional de Orientación Educativa y Vocacional (IAEVG, siglas en inglés) aprobó en Berna (Suiza), en el 2003, las competencias internacionales para los profesionales en orientación. El interés de este estudio consistió en determinar el nivel de discrepancia entre el perfil de competencias sugerido por la IAEVG y el perfil de los (as) orientadores (as) venezolanos (as). El estudio se abordó bajo la metodología cuantitativa. Como conclusiones se establece una muy alta discrepancia (diferencia) entre los lineamientos propuestos y la muestra estudiada, en los aspectos relacionados con el desarrollo de la carrera y asesoramiento laboral y una discrepancia alta, relacionada con la evaluación y capacitación comunitaria.ABSTRACTThe International Association of Educational and Vocational Orientation approved in Berne (Switzerland), in 2003, the international competences for the guidance practitioners. The interest of this study consisted of determining the level of discrepancy between the profile of competences suggested by the IAEVG and the profile of the Venezuelan counselors. The study was approached under the quantitative methodology. As conclusions a very high discrepancy (differences) is established between the studied sample, in the aspects related to the development of the career and labour advice, and a high discrepancy, related to the evaluation and community training.
Short-term Outcomes of Intragastric Balloon Placement for Obesity Treatment
Authors: Choe Younghee , Kim Joon Sung , Kim Byung-Wook
Published: July 2020

Endoscopic treatment for obesity, especially intragastric balloon insertion, is on the rise in Korea. From 2016 to 2019, we performed intragastric balloon placement for the treatment of obesity in 12 patients at a single tertiary center. One balloon was removed on the next day due to nausea and severe abdominal pain, and the remaining 11 patients were followed up for 6 months. Body weight reduction of 8.9±5.4 kg was achieved, and the body mass index was reduced by 3.3±2.0 kg/m2. Significant effects regarding total body weight loss and excess weight loss were noted. The effect of weight reduction was greatest within 1 month after the procedure. Low density lipoprotein cholesterol significantly decreased by 18.0±18.2 mg/dL, but there were no significant changes in blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and high density lipoprotein cholesterol. Common adverse events were nausea and epigastric pain, but no serious adverse events occurred. Further studies regarding the long-term effects of endoscopic treatment for obesity and the improvement of metabolic syndrome are needed.
EndophyticBurkholderiasp. SSG as a potential biofertilizer promoting boxwood growth
Authors: Kong Ping , Hong Chuanxue
Published: July 2020

Background

Burkholderiasp. SSG is a bacterial endophyte isolated from boxwood leaves showing a resistant response to infection by the boxwood blight pathogenCalonectria pseudonaviculata. SSG acted as a protective and curative biocontrol agent for boxwood blight and as a bio-sanitizer of disease inoculum in the field. Many gene clusters involved in antibiotic production and plant growth promotion (PGP) were found in the genome, giving this endophyte great application potential as a treatment for plant protection. However, the PGP features have not been documented. This study investigated the plant growth promotion activity of SSG in boxwood.

Methods

To determine whether SSG is a plant growth promoting bacterium, four PGP traits, auxin and siderophore production, nitrogen fixation and phosphate solubilization, were examined in the laboratory with colorimetric or agar plate assays. The plant growth promoting activity of SSG was tested on three boxwood varieties characterized by slow, intermediate and fast growth rates, namely Justin Brouwers, Buddy and Winter Gem, respectively. These plants were drenched with an SSG cell suspension or water and washed plant weight was compared before and after treatment to determine growth changes after 10 months.

Results

The SSG culture was sustainable on nitrogen free media, suggesting that SSG may fix atmospheric nitrogen. It was also a strong phosphate solubilizer and a potent siderophore and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) producer. Significant growth promotion was observed on boxwood cultivars Justin Brouwers, Buddy and Winter Gem 10 months after plant roots were drenched with SSG cells. The growth rate of treated plants was 76.1, 58.3, and 37.3% higher than that of the control, respectively. The degree of growth promotion was significantly different among plant varieties, notably more pronounced with the slow and intermediate growers. This study demonstrates that the SSG bacterium has multiple PGP traits and is a prospective plant biofertilizer.
Ventilador mecânico como obstáculo para o cuidado confortante em unidade de terapia intensiva - Mechanical ventilator as an obstacle to comforting care in an intensive care unit
Authors: Oliveira Fernanda Maria do Carmo da Silveira Neves de , Silva Viviane Reis Fontes da , Marques Genaine Mendes , Silva Carlos Roberto Lyra da
Published: July 2020

Objetivo: identificar a partir da fala de enfermeiras se o ventilador mecânico se configura como obstáculo para o cuidado de enfermagem confortante em unidade de terapia intensiva. Método: Estudo descritivo-exploratório, de abordagem qualitativa. A coleta de dados foi realizada em uma unidade de Assistência, Ensino, Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Tecnológico da Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - Fiocruz, localizada na cidade do Rio de Janeiro-RJ, no período compreendido entre julho e agosto de 2011. Resultados: Nas respostas das enfermeiras sujeitos-objeto, verificamos que 64,7% acreditam que o ventilador mecânico pode dificultar a prestação de cuidados confortantes à criança em terapia intensiva pediátrica, enquanto que, para os 25,3% apontam que em momento algum o ventilador mecânico interfere ou se torna um obstáculo para a oferta de cuidados de enfermagem que possam contribuir para a promoção ou a manutenção do conforto no corpo do paciente pediátrico necessitado desta tecnologia para se manter vivo, independentemente de sua situação clínica, inclusive, aqueles que se encontram acordados e em condições de comunicação não verbal. Conclusão: Discorrendo sobre a tecnologia humanizada, que trago aqui significando aquela que leva em consideração o paciente como um todo, na obra que discute a possibilidade de uma tecnologia humanizada nos deparamos com o que pode parecer eficaz por uma definição limitada e que pode ser altamente ineficiente se o tempo e o campo de ação do estudo forem ampliados. Neste pensamento, se nos detivermos ao estudo do ventilador mecânico somente do ponto de vista biomédico o consideraremos eficaz, pois equilibra a dinâmica respiratória e restabelece a oxigenação celular, conforme esperado.
Wind pressure coefficient distribution of detached houses in a dense residential block
Authors: Taniguchi Keiichiro , Akamine Yoshihiko
Published: July 2020

In a dense residential block, external airflow patterns around a site should be analyzed initially in the design stage to improve cross ventilation, thereby improving the comfort of an occupant and saving energy. After surveying the block density in Tokyo's main residential zones, we concluded that the height and distance of neighboring buildings contribute significantly to external airflow patterns. Next, using a wind tunnel, we tested the effect of altering the height and distance of a neighboring building based on the wind pressure coefficient regarding two different scenarios: a typical residential model and a model with ventilation‐enhancing strategies.
Recent Advances in Twisted Structures of Flatland Materials and Crafting Moiré Superlattices
Authors: Abbas Ghulam , Li Yu , Wang Huide , Zhang Wen‐Xing , Wang Cong , Zhang Han
Published: July 2020

The past decade has witnessed the occurrence of novel 2D moiré patterns in nanoflatland materials. These visually beautiful moiré superlattices have become a playground on which exotic quantum phenomena can be observed. The state‐of‐the‐art experimental techniques that have been developed for crafting moiré superlattices of flatland materials are reviewed. Graphene and its heterostructure with boron nitride have now sparked new interlayer twists as a new degree of freedom for tuning several angle‐dependent physical properties, e.g., the appearance of van Hove singularities, tunable Mott insulator states, and the Hofstadter butterfly pattern. Moreover, the interplay of correlated insulating states and superconductivity is recently observed for a so‐called magic‐angle twisted bilayer graphene. Furthermore, beyond graphene, other 2D materials, such as silicene, phosphorene, and the recent black phosphorus /MoS2 heterojunctions, which are 2D allotropes of bismuth and antimony grown on highly ordered pyrolytic graphite and MoS2, are considered. Finally, the optically important exciton phenomenon, which depends on the moiré potential and has been observed for a moiré superlattice of transition metal dichalcogenides, is discussed. This overview aims to cover all the fascinating prospects that depend on the moiré superlattice, ranging from electronic structure to optical exotics among flatland materials.
The True Amphipathic Nature of Graphene Flakes: A Versatile 2D Stabilizer
Authors: Kuziel Anna W. , Milowska Karolina Z. , Chau Pak‐Lee , Boncel Slawomir , Koziol Krzysztof K. , Yahya Noorhana , Payne Mike C.
Published: July 2020

The fundamental colloidal properties of pristine graphene flakes remain incompletely understood, with conflicting reports about their chemical character, hindering potential applications that could exploit the extraordinary electronic, thermal, and mechanical properties of graphene. Here, the true amphipathic nature of pristine graphene flakes is demonstrated through wet‐chemistry testing, optical microscopy, electron microscopy, and density functional theory, molecular dynamics, and Monte Carlo calculations, and it is shown how this fact paves the way for the formation of ultrastable water/oil emulsions. In contrast to commonly used graphene oxide flakes, pristine graphene flakes possess well‐defined hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions: the basal plane and edges, respectively, the interplay of which allows small flakes to be utilized as stabilizers with an amphipathic strength that depends on the edge‐to‐surface ratio. The interactions between flakes can be also controlled by varying the oil‐to‐water ratio. In addition, it is predicted that graphene flakes can be efficiently used as a new‐generation stabilizer that is active under high pressure, high temperature, and in saline solutions, greatly enhancing the efficiency and functionality of applications based on this material.
Recent Progress on Microfine Design of Metal–Organic Frameworks: Structure Regulation and Gas Sorption and Separation
Authors: Li Jiantang , Bhatt Prashant M. , Li Jiyang , Eddaoudi Mohamed , Liu Yunling
Published: July 2020

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as an important and unique class of functional crystalline hybrid porous materials in the past two decades. Due to their modular structures and adjustable pore system, such distinctive materials have exhibited remarkable prospects in key applications pertaining to adsorption such as gas storage, gas and liquid separations, and trace impurity removal. Evidently, gaining a better understanding of the structure–property relationship offers great potential for the enhancement of a given associated MOF property either by structural adjustments via isoreticular chemistry or by the design and construction of new MOF structures via the practice of reticular chemistry. Correspondingly, the application of isoreticular chemistry paves the way for the microfine design and structure regulation of presented MOFs. Explicitly, the microfine tuning is mainly based on known MOF platforms, focusing on the modification and/or functionalization of a precise part of the MOF structure or pore system, thus providing an effective approach to produce richer pore systems with enhanced performances from a limited number of MOF platforms. Here, the latest progress in this field is highlighted by emphasizing the differences and connections between various methods. Finally, the challenges together with prospects are also discussed.
A Triboelectric Closed‐Loop Sensing System for Authenticity Identification of Paper‐Based Artworks
Authors: Chen Baodong , Liu Di , Jiang Tao , Tang Wei , Wang Zhong Lin
Published: July 2020

Nondestructive testing (NDT) is crucial technology for authenticity identification of paper‐based artworks. Emerging optical spectroscopy is an important technique of NDT at present, by which high‐bightness light, electron beams, and rays could cause permanent damage to different types of paper‐based artworks. Here, using only NDT technology, triboelectric closed‐loop sensing system (TE‐CLSS) is developed by contact electrification effect. It is composed of a stethoscope‐like triboelectric nanogenerator (SL‐TENG) and matched closed‐loop feedback circuit (CLFC), that is capable of active sensing in a similar way to a stethoscope when it makes slight contact with the surface of object. The results report that the ΔV accuracy of TE‐CLSS could achieve 0.01 V, with relative error of measurement within 3%, and average response time of 0.205 s. Furthermore, it could sense the area change of the test material layers that accurately reach millimeter level, by which different grayscale values, colored inks, and oil paintings are successfully identified. This work gives a new insight into the future NDT technologies suitable for the identification of cultural relics.
Highly Uniform Two‐Terminal Artificial Synapses Based on Polycrystalline Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 for Sparsified Back Propagation Networks
Authors: Lu Yingming , Liu Keqin , Yang Jingjing , Zhang Teng , Cheng Caidie , Dang Bingjie , Xu Liying , Zhu Jiadi , Huang Qianqian , Huang Ru , Yang Yuchao
Published: July 2020

Artificial neural networks with nonvolatile memristors as synapses represent an in‐memory computing paradigm, where the online training of networks with rapidly growing scale places high requirements on device uniformity and endurance as well as training time and energy. Here, a highly uniform two‐terminal Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 based artificial synapse is reported, which shows 4‐bit weight precision, cycle‐to‐cycle variation (σ/µ) of <4%, device‐to‐device variation (σ/µ) of <9%, retention of >104 s at 85 °C, and endurance of >106. The improved uniformity can be attributed to the nonfilamentary resistive switching mechanism mediated by ion exchange at the interface. A holistic optimization using such reliable synapses and modified algorithm with sparsified back propagation can accelerate training by 166 times, decrease the energy consumption by 83 times, reduce the total updating rate by 138 times in multilayer perceptron, and the approach can be extended to convolutional neural networks as well. The synergistically optimized approach thus paves the way for the construction of memristor based systems capable of learning and interacting adaptively.
Proximity‐driven, Regioselective Chemical Modification of Peptides and Proteins
Authors: Hymel David , Liu Fa
Published: July 2020

Chemical methods to covalently modify recombinant peptides and proteins are becoming increasingly valuable as the development of biological therapeutics accelerates. Rapid advances in chemoselectivity have been achieved to modify desired proteogenic and non‐proteogenic amino acids. However, regioselectivity, in which a specific amino acid can be modified in the presence of chemically identical residues, has been much more difficult to achieve. This mini‐review focuses on recent advances in regioselective chemical modification of peptides and proteins utilizing microenvironment and/or proximity‐driven effects to achieve selectivity.
A new 2D cadmium coordination polymer based on hydroxyl‐substituted benzenedicarboxylic acid as an effective heterogeneous catalyst for Knoevenagel condensation
Authors: Sefidabi Farzaneh , Abbasi Alireza , Mortazavi Saeideh‐Sadat , Masteri‐Farahani Majid
Published: July 2020

A self‐assembled new 2D cadmium network, [Cd (BDC‐OH)(DMF)2·DMF]n (Cd‐BDC‐OH), was synthesized based on 2‐hydroxyterephthalic acid (BDC‐OH) ligand and utilized as a heterogeneous catalyst for Knoevenagel condensation. The structure was fully elucidated by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, Hirshfeld surface analysis, powder X‐ray diffraction, field emission‐scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform‐infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The fabricated coordination polymer exhibited high catalytic activity under ambient conditions, and was used without significant drop in product yield in further cycles.
A hydrocarbon pipeline spill risk assessment framework for drinking water supply
Authors: Kammoun Raja , Barrette Simon , Bichai Françoise , Dorner Sarah , Prévost Michèle
Published: July 2020

Although infrequent, pipeline spills have the potential to contaminate source water supplies and disrupt drinking water production for extended periods. Detailed multiphase contaminant fate and transport models linked to hydrodynamic models are ideal for determining the potential impact of oil spills on drinking water sources. However, sufficient data are often unavailable to simulate spills scenarios. Thus, a simple semiquantitative modeling approach is proposed that is based on documented pipeline spills recorded in scientific literature. A risk matrix was used to combine the consequences of a spill with the probability that it would contaminate drinking water sources. The new Pipeline Spill Risk Assessment Framework was applied to 26 drinking water intakes located in the greater Montreal area (Quebec). The proposed framework allows for transparency and facilitation of public discussions with regard to oil spill risks and decision‐making for source water protection and water safety plans.
Regioselective Bismuth‐Catalyzed Synthesis of Pyranocoumarins and Furocoumarins from 4‐Hydroxycoumarins and Propargyl Alcohols
Authors: Kim Jaehyun , Lee Kooyeon , Lee Phil Ho
Published: July 2020

An efficient method for the bismuth‐catalyzed regioselective synthesis of pyranocoumarins and furocoumarins has been developed from the reaction of 4‐hydroxycoumarins with propargyl alcohols. The reaction proceeds through sequential propargylation and intramolecular cyclization reactions catalyzed by bismuth(III) triflate.
Exosome‐transmitted linc00852 associated with receptor tyrosine kinase AXL dysregulates the proliferation and invasion of osteosarcoma
Authors: Li Qiming , Wang Xuedi , Jiang Nian , Xie Xianbiao , Liu Ni , Liu JunFeng , Shen Jingnan , Peng Tingsheng
Published: July 2020

Background

Receptor tyrosine kinase AXL has been found to be highly expressed in osteosarcoma and positively associated with poor prognosis. There are tumor groups with high or low AXL expression, which had different capabilities of invading vessels and forming distal metastases. Exosome‐transmitted lncRNA may be transferred intercellularly to promote tumor cells’ proliferation and invasion.

Methods

Exosomes were detected by electron microscopy, particle size analysis, and western blotting. High‐throughput sequencing helped to find the highest differentially expressed lncRNA in AXL‐associated exosomes. Clone formation, wound healing, transwell assay, and xenograft model in nude mice were performed to evaluate cells’ proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro and in vivo. Lentiviral transfection was used to up‐ or down‐regulate the lncRNA levels in cell lines. Luciferase reporter assay and RNA FISH etchelped to indicate the molecular mechanisms. The results in the cell lines were proved in the osteosarcoma tissues with clinical analysis.

Results

The exosomes derived from donor cells with high AXL expression could promote the proliferation and invasion and upregulate AXL expression of the receiver cells with low AXL. Linc00852 was the highest differentially expressed lncRNA in AXL‐associated exosomes and was also regulated by AXL expression. Although the mechanisms of linc00852 in nucleus were unrevealed, it could upregulate AXL expression partly by competitively binding to miR‐7‐5p. The AXL‐exosome‐linc00852‐AXL positive feedback loop might exist between the donor cells and the receiver cells. Clinically, linc00852 was significantly highly expressed in osteosarcoma tissues and positively associated with tumor volumes and metastases, which was also obviously related with AXL mRNA expression.

Conclusion

AXL‐associated exosomal linc00852 up‐regulated the proliferation, migration, and invasion of osteosarcoma cells, which would be considered as a new tumor biomarker and a special therapeutic target for osteosarcoma.
Practicing ‘yes’ for your community
Authors: Skipworth Stan
Published: July 2020

I've had the privilege of offering my thoughts through this column for more than a couple of years, so it seems a good time to finally craft a message that directly connects to the running title of the column itself, Paradigms, because how we currently see the world is more important than ever before.
Customized composite veneers from a totally digital workflow: A case report
Authors: Ortensi Luca , Vitali Tommaso , Ortensi Marco , Lavorgna Luca , Strocchi Maria Laura
Published: July 2020

A treatment plan based on the use of a preview software can offer the possibility to rapidly communicate with the patient. Fully digital workflow allows for making several objects at the same time in a precise and cost‐efficient manner.
Cerebrospinal fluid xanthochromia after pegasparaginase hepatotoxicity in B‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Moia Riccardo , Greco Mariangela , Boggione Paola , Nicolosi Maura , Bruna Riccardo , Patriarca Andrea , Gaidano Gianluca , Lunghi Monia
Published: July 2020

Key Clinical Message

Patients with B‐lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated with pegasparaginase‐containing regimens can develop hepatotoxicity related to it. The systemic hyperbilirubinemia due to hepatotoxicity can lead to the development of CSF xanthochromia.
Inoculant effects on fermentation characteristics, nutritive value, and mycotoxin concentrations of bermudagrass silage
Authors: Gouvêa V.N. , Vendramini J.M.B. , Sollenberger L.E. , de Oliveira F.C. Leite , Dubeux J.C.B. , Moriel P. , Cecato U. , Soares Filho C. V. , Sanchez J.M.D. , Yarborough J.K. , Kuhawara F.
Published: July 2020

Microbial inoculants have been used extensively to enhance silage fermentation characteristics; however, there is limited information about the effects of microbial inoculants on warm‐season perennial grass silage. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of commercial inoculants on mycotoxins, fermentation characteristics, and nutritive value of Jiggs bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] silage. The experiment was conducted at Ona, FL, from June to October of 2014 and 2015. Treatments were seven commercial microbial inoculants (mixtures of homofermentative and heterofermentative bacteria: B500, Biotal Plus II, Early Sile Advance, Promote HQ, Promote VS‐3, F20, F600) and control (no inoculant) in a randomized complete block design with six replicates in each year. Mini‐silos were filled immediately after harvest and each treatment was sprayed using a hand sprayer before ensiling at rates recommended from the product manufacturer. There were no differences in pH, volatile fatty acids (VFA), ammonia nitrogen (NH3‐N), aerobic stability, and mold and yeast counts among treatments. In addition, silage dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent insoluble crude protein (ADICP), total digestible nutrients (TDN), in vitro true digestibility (IVTD), and neutral detergent fiber digestibility (NDFD) did not differ among treatments. There was no presence of aflatoxin, zearalenone, and fumonisin in the silage. The inoculants evaluated herein did not affect nutritive value and fermentation characteristics of bermudagrass silage. The decision to add inoculants to bermudagrass silage must be made carefully due to inconsistent results and unlikely economic return.
Evaluation of the Potential for QTc Prolongation With Repeated Oral Doses of Fedratinib in Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors
Authors: Ogasawara Ken , Xu Christine , Yin Jian , Darpo Borje , Carayannopoulos Leon , Xue Hongqi , Palmisano Maria , Krishna Gopal
Published: July 2020

The impact of repeated daily 500‐mg fedratinib (an oral selective Janus kinase [JAK] 2 inhibitor) on QTc and other electrocardiogram (ECG) parameters was assessed in 60 patients with advanced solid tumors. Patients received placebo on day 1 and fedratinib 500 mg daily for 14 days. Concentration‐QTc analysis was performed with change‐from‐baseline QTc corrected by Fridericia's formula (ΔQTcF) as the dependent variable. Fedratinib median time to maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) was observed 3 hours postdose on day 15. The largest difference between means for fedratinib and placebo was 0.5 bpm (90%CI, −2.75 to 3.72 bpm) for heart rate (3 hours postdose) and 4.3 milliseconds (90%CI, 1.04‐7.60 milliseconds) for QTcF (4 hours postdose). The estimated slope of the fedratinib concentration‐QTcF relationship was shallow and not statistically significant: −0.0005 milliseconds per ng/mL (90%CI, −0.00145 to 0.00050 milliseconds per ng/mL). Predicted fedratinib placebo‐corrected ΔQTcF was 0.6 milliseconds (90%CI, −1.80 to 2.93 milliseconds) at the geometric mean of the observed Cmax (3615 ng/mL). Fedratinib did not affect PR or QRS intervals. No patients had QTcF > 60 milliseconds, and no patients experienced QTcF ≥ 500 milliseconds. Fedratinib did not cause clinically relevant ECG effects or QTc prolongation. Safety findings were consistent with the known safety profile.
Chiral Electrochemistry: Anodic Deposition of Enantiopure Helical Molecules
Authors: Vacek Jan , Zadny Jaroslav , Storch Jan , Hrbac Jan
Published: July 2020

Chirality is a fascinating phenomenon for recent electrochemistry and materials research, allowing for the preparation of detection platforms based on analyte enantiodiscrimination and the development of advanced chiroptical devices and chiral electrodes. In this Viewpoint, we highlight new directions in the field of chiral helical polyaromatic molecules (mainly helicenes) that are useful for the preparation of optically and redox‐active polymers and/or self‐assembled thin layers, nanostructures and functional electrode surfaces. Instead of the previously reported chiral materials prepared by molecular imprinting, a concept based on the preparation of inherently chiral helicene‐based materials with (opto)electrochemical applicability is presented. A short overview of well‐established electrochemical methods for the research of chiral molecules is also outlined.
Hydrogen Generation from Catalytic Reforming of Paraformaldehyde and Water by Polymeric Bifunctional Catalysts Comprising Ruthenium and Sulfonic Acid Units
Authors: Shen Yangbin , Bai Chuang , Zhan Yulu , Ning Fandi , Wang Huihui , Lv Guojun , Zhou Xiaochun
Published: July 2020

As a clean and sustainable source of energy, hydrogen shows great potential to be the ultimate energy source in future. In this research, paraformaldehyde is used as hydrogen carrier. Several bifunctional catalysts are prepared for the hydrogen generation from paraformaldehyde. The bifunctional catalysts contain two catalytically active sites. One is a sulfonic acid group for paraformaldehyde hydrolysis, and the other is an organometallic group that catalyzes the hydrogen release from formaldehyde. Bifunctional iridium catalysts and bifunctional rhodium catalysts could only generate traces of hydrogen in the initial phase of paraformaldehyde decomposition. Only the bifunctional ruthenium catalyst shows high activity due to its bifunctional catalytically active sites, thus more than 98.0 % of the initially produced gas contains hydrogen. The initial TOF is 685 h−1 at 363 K when the paraformaldehyde concentration is 20 wt%. A reaction mechanism is proposed for the hydrogen generation from paraformaldehyde in which formaldehyde and formic acid are intermediates Formic acid decomposition is the rate‐determining step in the later phase of paraformaldehyde decomposition.
A dynamic fog service provisioning approach for IoT applications
Authors: Faraji Mehmandar Mohammad , Jabbehdari Sam , Haj Seyyed Javadi Hamid
Published: July 2020

Internet of Things (IoT) is an ecosystem that can improve the life quality of humans through smart services, thereby facilitating everyday tasks. Connecting to cloud and utilizing its services are now public and common, and the experts seek to find some ways to complete cloud computing to use it in IoT, which in next decades will make everything online. Fog computing, where the cloud computing expands to the edge of the network, is one way to achieve the objectives of delay reduction, immediate processing, and network congestion. Since IoT devices produce variations of workloads over time, IoT application services will experience traffic trace fluctuations. So knowing about the distribution of future workloads required to handle IoT workload while meeting the QoS constraint. As a result, in the context of fog computing, the main objective of resource management is dynamic resource provisioning such that it avoids the excess or dearth of provisioning. In the present work, we first propose a distributed computing framework for autonomic resource management in the context of fog computing. Then, we provide a customized version of a provisioning system for IoT services based on control MAPE‐k loop. The system makes use of a reinforcement learning technique as decision maker in planning phase and support vector regression technique in analysis phase. At the end, we conduct a family of simulation‐based experiments to assess the performance of our introduced system. The average delay, cost, and delay violation are decreased by 1.95%, 11%, and 5.1%, respectively, compared with existing solutions.
Increasing concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids in browning boreal lakes is driven by nuisance alga Gonyostomum
Authors: Strandberg Ursula , Hiltunen Minna , Rissanen Ninni , Taipale Sami , Akkanen Jarkko , Kankaala Paula
Published: July 2020

Elevated concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) promote browning of lakes, which alters the physicochemical properties of water and ecosystem functioning. However, browning‐induced changes in basal production of polyunsaturated fatty acids from the n‐3 and n‐6 families (n‐3 and n‐6 PUFA) in lakes are not fully understood. The concentrations of PUFA, which are micronutrients required to maintain growth and reproduction of consumers, have been suggested to either rise or decline in seston as a response to lake browning. Elevated DOC concentrations may also promote bacterial biomass and production and thus potentially increase the concentration of bacterial fatty acids (BAFA) in seston. We analyzed phytoplankton, bacteria and heterotroph biomasses, the taxonomic composition of phytoplankton, and the concentrations and mass fractions of bioseston PUFA, BAFA, eicosapentaenoic, and docosahexaenoic acids in ten boreal lakes in eastern Finland, with DOC concentration ranging from 2.8 to 18.7 mg/L. Our results showed that the abundance of PUFA in seston depended on the responses of phytoplankton biomass and community composition to lake browning. Lake browning increased seston PUFA and BAFA concentrations (expressed as µg/L) but not the contents (expressed as µg/mg bioseston C). Although low DOC lakes had a favorable phytoplankton community (in terms of PUFA content), the phytoplankton biomass in these oligotrophic lakes was so low that the concentration of PUFA remained low compared to high DOC lakes. The increasing concentration of PUFA in bioseston along the DOC gradient was mainly due to the increasing biomass of nuisance alga Gonyostomum semen. However, Gonyostomum may be too large for small‐sized zooplankton to ingest, and thus, the trophic transfer of PUFA may be impaired. The trajectories for lake browning and the basal production of PUFA also may depend on the source of carbon and associated nutrient loading; DOC and nutrient loading from agricultural areas may promote cyanobacteria dominance and decrease PUFA availability in lakes, while DOC runoff from more acidic and nutrient‐poor peatlands may promote Gonyostomum dominance and increase seston PUFA concentration.
Global Energy System Transformations to 1.5 °C: The Impact of Revised Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Carbon Budgets
Authors: Fragkos Panagiotis
Published: July 2020

The Paris Agreement calls for countries to pursue efforts to limit temperature increase to 1.5 °C. Scenarios that limit global warming to 1.5 °C describe fundamental transformations in energy systems and typically rely on emission reductions combined with carbon dioxide removal (CDR) from the atmosphere, mostly through large‐scale application of bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS). These options face several difficulties, such as reliance on underground CO2 storage and competition for land with food production. Here, using the PROMETHEUS global energy system model, alternative deep mitigation pathways are explored, in light of the revised carbon budgets specified in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on 1.5 °C. The pathways assess the potential contribution of energy efficiency improvements and more rapid electrification of energy services based on renewable energy. Although these alternatives also face specific implementation challenges, they are found to significantly reduce the need for CDR and BECCS, but not fully eliminate it, and offer an effective way to diversify transition pathways to meet the Paris targets. Achieving the 1.5 °C target is technically feasible but requires immediate, ambitious, and global action, based on large‐scale deployment of renewables, early retirement of fossil‐based power plants, accelerated efficiency improvements, and expansion of carbon‐free options in end‐uses.
A New High‐Performance Proton‐Conducting Electrolyte for Next‐Generation Solid Oxide Fuel Cells
Authors: Radenahmad Nikdalila , Afif Ahmed , Abdalla Abdalla M. , Saqib Muhammad , Park Jun-Young , Zaini Juliana , Irvine John , Kim Jung Hyun , Azad Abul K.
Published: July 2020

Conventional solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are operable at high temperatures (700–1000 °C) with the most commonly used electrolyte, yttria‐stabilized zirconia (YSZ). SOFC research and development activities have thus been carried out to reduce the SOFC operating temperature. At intermediate temperatures (400–700 °C), barium cerate (BaCeO3) and barium zirconate (BaZrO3) are good candidates for use as proton‐conducting electrolytes due to their promising electrochemical characteristics. Herein, two widely studied proton‐conducting materials with two dopants are combined and an attractive composition for the investigation of electrochemical behaviors is discovered. Ba0.9Sr0.1Ce0.5Zr0.35Y0.1Sm0.05O3−δ (BSCZYSm), a perovskite‐type polycrystalline material, has shown very promising properties to be used as proton‐conducting electrolyte at intermediate temperature range. BSCZYSm shows a high proton conductivity of 4.167 × 10−3 S cm−1 in a wet argon atmosphere and peak power density of 581.7 mW cm−2 in Ni–BSCZYSm | BSCZYSm | BSCF cell arrangement at 700 °C, which is one of the highest in comparison with proton‐conducting electrolyte‐based fuel cells reported until now.
Lake–mire ecosystem transformation and its possible forcing mechanisms in volcanic landform regions: a case study in the Gushantun peatland of northeast China
Authors: Zhang Mingming , Bu Zhaojun , Liu Shasha , Chen Jie , Cui Yaxin , Chen Xu
Published: July 2020

Large numbers of peatlands were developed in volcanic landform regions, which would provide valuable long‐term records of lake–mire ecosystem shifts and act as significant carbon pool in regional carbon cycle. To investigate lake–mire ecosystem transformations and driving mechanisms in volcanic landform regions, the developmental history of Gushantun peatland in northeast China was reconstructed in this study. Results indicate that Gushantun peatland initiated in the deepest portions of the basin, and subsequently experienced expansions outward. Peat initiated from approximately 12 ka cal. bp to present. The developmental patterns of Gushantun peatland can be divided into four stages: the stable stage 1 (12–10 ka cal. bp), maximum stage (10–7 ka cal. bp), stable stage 2 (7–4 ka cal. bp) and stable stage 3 (4–0 ka cal. bp). The possible forcing mechanisms for the development of Gushantun peatland were different during different periods. From 12 ka cal. bp to 10 ka cal. bp, autogenic process was probably the major controlling factor for the expansion of this peatland. From 10 to 7 ka cal. bp, flat basin morphology was the major influence factor for fast expansion. However, the development of Gushantun peatland was probably controlled by the dual effects of high moisture and autogenic process during the period of 7 to 4 ka cal. bp. From 4 ka cal. bp to present, steep basin morphology was the major influence factor, while moisture might be the secondary factor for development of Gushantun peatland. These features indicate that lake–mire ecosystem transforms in volcanic landform regions of Changbai Mountains were probably triggered by the complex effects of autogenic process, hydroclimate and underlying basin morphology. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparison of the Clinical Validity of Droplet Digital PCR to ARMS‐PCR for BRAF V600E Mutation Detection in Thyroid Nodules
Authors: Li Xiubo , Du Hong , Luo Jingyan , Ding Wenshuang , Lai Bingquan , He Jiqian , Xu Shaofei , Zhang Yuying
Published: July 2020

Objectives

Droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) has been reported to have a superior validity over PCR with amplification‐refractory mutation system (ARMS‐PCR) for detecting the BRAF V600E mutation in thyroid nodule fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) samples using cytological diagnosis as the reference. However, the added value of ddPCR on surgical decision‐making remains to be illustrated when the technique is combined with FNA cytology.

Methods

A total of 277 consecutive patients with thyroid nodules were subjected to FNA cytology and BRAF V600E testing with ARMS‐PCR. Within this patient cohort, 90 patients underwent surgical intervention with pathological diagnosis available. BRAF V600E testing with ddPCR was performed retrospectively using FNA frozen DNA specimens. The clinical validity and utility of ddPCR in comparison with ARMS‐PCR were compared using surgical pathology as the reference.

Results

Overall, 101 BRAF V600E mutations were detected by ddPCR, including five ARMS negative patients, four of whom were confirmed to have papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) by surgical pathology. Of the 90 patients with surgical pathology, which is considered the gold standard, ddPCR BRAF V600E testing yielded a sensitivity of 91.3% and specificity of 100% for PTC diagnosis, higher than that of ARMS (sensitivity 83.1%, specificity 100%). However, ddPCR only identified one more candidate patient for surgical intervention than ARMS when the techniques were combined with cytology.

Conclusions

This study highlighted the superior performance of ddPCR over ARMS in BRAF V600E detection from thyroid nodule FNA samples. Further studies are needed to evaluate the cost‐effectiveness of replacing ARMS‐PCR with ddPCR for surgical decision‐making.
Surface soil liming reduces cadmium uptake in cacao seedlings but subsurface uptake is enhanced
Authors: Argüello David , Montalvo Daniela , Blommaert Hester , Chavez Eduardo , Smolders Erik
Published: July 2020

Cadmium concentrations in cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) beans from South America often exceed trade limits. Liming soil is advocated as a remediation option, but amendments cannot be incorporated into the entire root zone without harming the trees. An experiment was set up to identify how Cd uptake varies within the root zone when surface and subsurface soil layers are either limed or not. The experiment used 22‐cm‐height pots with top and bottom layers using surface and subsurface soil samples from a cacao field. The potted soils were either surface limed or not or fully limed and layers spiked with stable 108Cd isotope in various combinations to trace the plant Cd provenance. The root distribution was neither affected by liming nor by soil source; 70% of the root biomass was present in the top layer. Plants grown on the fully limed surface soil had 1.7 times lower Cd concentrations in leaves than the unlimed treatments, whereas this concentration was 1.2 times lower when only the top layer was limed (surface soil used in both layers). The isotope dilution data showed that surface soil liming enhanced Cd uptake from the unlimed bottom layer compared with the unlimed soil, suggesting compensating mechanisms. The pots containing surface soil over subsurface soil also showed that compensating effect but, due to lower phytoavailable Cd in the subsurface soil, surface liming still effectively reduced foliar Cd. We conclude that liming might be a feasible mitigation strategy, but its effectiveness is limited when Cd phytoavailability remains untreated in the subsurface layer.
Synthesis and evaluation of a new water‐soluble fluorescent red dye, xanthene bis‐C‐glycoside
Authors: Sato Shingo , Nojiri Toshikatsu , Okuyama Nao , Maeda Koya , Kirigane Aoi
Published: July 2020

Condensation of 2 eq. of C‐β‐D‐glucosylphloroacetophenone with glyoxylic acid in an aqueous solution of Na2CO3, followed by air oxidation in MeOH in the presence of 11 eq. of pyridine to afford a 36% yield of a bright red dye, xanthene bis‐C‐glycoside. This dye is 10 times more fluorescent (Φf [EtOH]581 nm = 3.9 × 10−2) and 7.5 times more water‐soluble (57 mg/mL H2O) than the natural red pigment, carthamin. Detailed NMR analysis of its methyl analogs was used to confirm the structure of the dye as methyl 4,5‐diacetyl‐1,3,8‐trihydroxy‐3‐oxo‐3H‐2,7‐di‐C‐β‐D‐glucopyranosylxanthene‐9‐carboxylate from among three possible ring‐closure isomers. Xanthene is safe and shows high light‐resistance; therefore, xanthene bis‐C‐glycoside could be used as a food colorant or an in vivo probe.
Interdecadal variation of biases in a regional climate model simulation of summer climate of East Asia
Authors: Hu Yijia , Ha Yao , Zhong Zhong , Sun Yuan , Zhu Yimin
Published: July 2020

In this study, a 55‐year climate simulation over East Asia is conducted by using the regional climate model RegCM4.6 and the variations of biases in different climate backgrounds are investigated. The results show that the biases of rainfall and western Pacific subtropical high (WPSH) simulated by RegCM4.6 are not stable, instead they exhibit an obvious feature of interdecadal variation that is similar to the interdecadal variation of rainfall and WPSH themselves. The interdecadal change of the simulation bias occurs in the late 1970s, when abrupt interdecadal changes took place in global atmosphere and ocean as well as in East Asia climate. The interdecadal variation of the bias of the simulated WPSH is closely related with the interdecadal variation of the simulated rainfall bias. After 1978, the simulated WPSH is displaced further south than the observed WPSH, leading to excessive rainfall in the simulation and larger positive bias in south China. These overestimated rainfall and convective clouds in south China during 1979–2009 consume a lot of water vapour in the atmosphere and weaken the downwards solar radiation, resulting in a cold and dry atmosphere and large negative biases of virtual temperature and geopotential height at 500 hPa (H500) during 1979–2009 compared to that during 1955–1978. Corresponding to the above circulation anomalies, the simulated WPSH further weakens and shifts southwards after the late 1970s. A positive feedback loop is formed due to the positive feedback between the WPSH and cumulus convective process.
Gaze window: A new gaze interface showing relevant content close to the gaze point
Authors: Kim Seungwon , Billinghurst Mark , Lee Gun , Huang Weidong
Published: July 2020

In this paper, we propose a novel concept of the gaze window, which follows the user's gaze to show relevant information close to their gaze point on a screen space. We explore the use of a gaze window, especially for two use cases: (1) a single‐user data entry task by displaying data‐source image close to the gaze point where the data are typed in and (2) a teleconferencing setup showing a remote partner close to the gaze point. To investigate the performance of gaze window in these cases, we conducted two experiments. For the single‐user task, we compared the gaze window with a baseline non‐gaze‐window condition and found that the gaze window significantly reduced the user's gaze movement and mental effort and increased usability. In the teleconferencing task, we compared displaying partner close to gaze point in the gaze window to displaying partner at the corner of screen, when two remote users watch a shared and synchronized content together. We found that displaying the partner's face nearby the user's gaze helped the user look at the partner more frequently, and for a longer time, significantly increasing co‐presence and emotional interdependence. As a result of this research, we also presented design guidelines for gaze‐window systems.
Prognostic Value of the Lymphocyte‐to‐Monocyte Ratio in Patients with Parotid Gland Carcinoma
Authors: Mikoshiba Takuya , Ozawa Hiroyuki , Watanabe Yoshihiro , Sekimizu Mariko , Saito Shin , Yoshihama Keisuke , Nakamura Shintaro , Imanishi Yorihisa , Kameyama Kaori , Ogawa Kaoru
Published: July 2020

Objective

Previous studies have evaluated various markers as prognostic predictors in patients with many types of cancers. However, the influence of such factors on the outcomes of patients with parotid gland carcinoma (PGC) is unknown. This study investigated the roles of alternative markers in the prognoses of patients with PGC.

Methods

Overall, 101 patients who underwent curative treatment for PGC were retrospectively evaluated, and their 5‐year overall and disease‐free survival rates were calculated. The prognostic values of clinical and pathologic factors were determined.

Results

The 5‐year overall and disease‐free survival rates were 73.1% and 62.8%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that a low lymphocyte‐to‐monocyte ratio (LMR), high T classification, high N classification, and perineural invasion were independent predictors of poor prognosis.

Conclusions

Thus, we identified LMR as an independent prognostic factor for patients with PGC. Patients with low LMRs who are amenable to treatment may require adjuvant treatment to improve their prognoses.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 131:E864–E869, 2021
Asset‐light strategy, managerial ability, and corporate performance of the Asian telecommunications industry
Authors: Wang Wei‐Kang , Lu Wen‐Min , Ting Irene Wei Kiong , Kao Hui‐Ru
Published: July 2020

This paper examines the effects of asset‐light strategy on the corporate performance of listed Asian telecommunications corporations and the moderating effect of managerial ability on the association between asset‐light strategy and corporate performance. The study applies the dynamic slacks‐based measure (DSBM) model and Tobit regression to measure managerial ability. The empirical results show that asset‐light strategy positively affects corporate performance and that managerial ability has a significant moderating effect on the relationship between the degree of asset‐lightness (DAL) and corporate performance. The findings further show that the greater the managerial ability, the stronger the relationship between DAL and corporate performance.