bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
L’Union européenne face à la chimère du gouvernement économique européen
Authors: Clerc Olivier
Published: February 2020

Les crises financières, économiques et des dettes publiques des États de la zone euro ont révélé les carences du dispositif européen de gouvernance économique. Pour les circonscrire, des réformes de grande ampleur ont été menées et ont indéniablement mené à une plus grande intégration du pilier économique de l’Union économique et monétaire. Son fonctionnement demeure toutefois largement fondé sur une logique intergouvernementale qui ne permet pas aux États de dépasser la défense de leurs intérêts nationaux. Pour y remédier, nombre de projets sur l’avenir de la zone euro proposent la constitution d’un gouvernement économique de la zone euro qui apparaît comme une véritable chimère de la construction européenne. Elle se concrétiserait, d’une part, par la création d’une union de transferts budgétaires et, d’autre part, par l’institutionnalisation de la zone euro et notamment de l’Eurogroupe.
À propos de certaines implications juridiques du Brexit dans le domaine de la lutte contre les changements climatiques
Authors: de Lassus Saint-Geniès Géraud
Published: February 2020

Le Brexit n’est pas un sujet que l’on associe d’ordinaire aux changements climatiques. Pourtant, comme la politique climatique du Royaume-Uni est étroitement imbriquée avec celle de l’Union européenne, la perspective du Brexit fait aussi apparaître dans ce domaine particulier un ensemble de questions juridiques. Par exemple, les traités sur le climat étant des accords mixtes, le Royaume-Uni y sera-t-il encore partie une fois sorti de l’Union européenne? Qu’adviendra-t-il des engagements qu’il a pris conjointement avec l’Union dans le cadre de ces traités? Au sein de quel groupe de négociation prendra-t-il part aux discussions onusiennes sur le climat ? Et continuera-t-il de participer au marché du carbone européen? L’objectif de cet article consiste à apporter des éléments de réponse à ces différentes questions et à mettre en lumière la complexité des enjeux juridiques que le Brexit soulève dans le domaine du droit des changements climatiques.
La distance entre Bruxelles et ses citoyens. Retour sur le déficit démocratique de l’Union européenne
Authors: Grard Loïc
Published: February 2020

Le discours eurosceptique visant à stigmatiser le “chef de bureau Bruxellois”, qui prend ses décisions sans être le moins du monde à l’écoute des citoyens de l’Union, prospère depuis vingt-cinq ans. Le traité de Maastricht en est à l’origine. En 1992/93 il a difficilement rencontré l’adhésion des Européens. Il a marqué la fin du consensus permissif par lequel tout ce qui est européen est irréfragablement frappé du sceau du progrès… Le temps de la confiance est révolu. Depuis cette époque et de manière rémanente, bien au contraire, la critique du déficit démocratique s’est installée dans l’espace public européen sous des formes diverses, selon les États : démocraties illibérales, gouvernements élus sur la base de programmes de défiance européenne, mouvements de rue, etc. Faut-il moins d’Europe pour mieux d’Europe, tel que plaident aussi d’autres courants aux sensibilités moins eurosceptiques ? Il demeure que l’alimentation du terreau de l’europhobie ne s’arrête pas, avec en ligne de mire des transferts de souveraineté, non compensés par des logiques démocratiques adéquates. Au regard de ces constats, la question devient la suivante : le modèle européen de démocratie est-il réellement en crise ? Comment améliorer les ressorts de la démocratie représentative ? Que penser de la démocratie directe ? Fausse bonne idée ? Sur toutes ces questions, des réponses juridiques existent. C’est à leur exploration que vous invitent les lignes suivantes.
L’Accord de partenariat stratégique Canada Union européenne : jumeau politique méconnu de l’Accord économique et commercial global
Authors: Marquis Laurence
Published: February 2020

La signature de l’Accord économique et commercial global entre le Canada et l’Union européenne a été accompagnée de celle de l’Accord de partenariat stratégique – accord parallèle portant sur le dialogue, la coopération et le partenariat stratégique entre les parties. L’Union européenne a effectivement pour politique la signature de ce type d’accord qui accompagnent les accords de commerce. Souvent méconnus, ils ont pour objet de faire la promotion des valeurs communes des parties, et portent ainsi sur des thèmes variés, allant de la protection des droits de la personne, au combat contre le terrorisme et à la prolifération des armes de destruction massive, au soutien du développement durable. Administrés par le biais de comités conjoints et ministériels, on peut déplorer le manque de sanctions en cas de violations des obligations inscrites à l’accord. S’agissant cependant d’un accord de facture plus politique que juridique, la promotion, protection et reconnaissance des principes qui y sont inscrits semblent pouvoir se passer de sanctions au bénéfice d’autres méthodes de règlement de leurs différends. Cet article sera ainsi consacré à démystifier l’Accord de partenariat stratégique en y analysant son objet, son contenu et ses effets.
La protection de la diversité des expressions culturelles et l’UE
Authors: Otasevic Ivana
Published: February 2020

Le rôle fondamental joué par l’UE dans l’adoption de la Convention sur la protection et la promotion de la diversité des expressions culturelles de 2005, son engagement actif dans la mise en oeuvre de cet instrument juridique, autant dans son ordre interne que dans ses relations extérieures, témoignent de sa volonté et de celle de ses États membres de protéger la diversité des expressions culturelles menacées par les effets néfastes des règles de libre-échange. Plus particulièrement, dans le domaine du commerce, l’UE a adopté le modèle d’accord le plus novateur auquel est annexé un Protocole de coopération culturelle, permettant de mettre en oeuvre certaines dispositions de cet instrument juridique culturel. En revanche, lors de la conclusion des récents accords commerciaux, l’UE a adopté un comportement beaucoup moins protecteur à l’égard de la diversité des expressions culturelles.
« It’s the final countdown » : position de l’Union européenne et état des lieux sommaire des négociations du Brexit
Authors: Platon Sébastien
Published: February 2020

Le présent article entend faire le point, à jour le 28 février 2018, des négociations entre l’Union européenne et le Royaume-Uni concernant la sortie de ce dernier (le processus appelé « Brexit », pour « British exit »). Après avoir retracé brièvement l’arrière-plan juridique et politique, seront présentés les principes généraux posés par l’Union européenne (et acceptés par le Royaume-Uni) pour la négociation du Brexit. Puis seront présentés les principaux éléments de l’accord de principe auquel le Royaume-Uni et l’Union européenne sont parvenus en décembre 2017 sur les points fondamentaux de l’accord portant arrangement pour un « retrait ordonné » du Royaume-Uni, à savoir, d’une part, les droits des citoyens, d’autre part, la méthode de calcul de la « facture » due par le Royaume-Uni et, enfin, l’importance de ne pas recréer une frontière « dure » entre le Royaume-Uni et l’Irlande. Pour autant que l’on puisse la dessiner en l’état des négociations, la position de l’Union européenne concernant les « relations futures » avec le Royaume-Uni sera également, brièvement, présentée.
Réputation et perceptions de l’Union européenne au Canada : un partenaire stratégique superficiel ?
Authors: Rayroux Antoine
Published: February 2020

Historiquement, les relations entre le Canada et l’Union européenne (UE) ont peiné à dépasser un cadre partenarial fondé uniquement sur un intérêt commercial mutuel. Récemment, les deux parties ont ratifié un Accord économique et commercial global et un Accord de partenariat stratégique dans l’espoir de renforcer ce partenariat. À la lumière de ces évolutions, cet article aborde deux questions : à quels défis l’UE est-elle confrontée dès lors qu’il s’agit d’affermir ses liens stratégiques avec le Canada ? Dans quelle mesure les perceptions des acteurs locaux corroborent-elles le discours officiel selon lequel l’UE et le Canada sont des partenaires stratégiques fiables ? À partir d’une analyse de trois groupes d’acteurs – médias de la presse écrite, opinion publique, élites – l’article met l’accent sur trois défis qui se dressent face au renforcement de ce partenariat : la présence fondamentale des États-Unis dans le paysage économique et politique canadien, l’impact négatif des crises vécues par l’UE au tournant des années 2010, et la difficulté pour les Européens à diffuser un message clair à un régime politique divers et multiniveaux comme le Canada.
I Love Dick et Transparent : de quelques catégories de montage dans la sérialité télévisuelle
Authors: Boni Marta , Christoforo Larissa
Published: February 2020

L’article examine les différentes typologies de montage dans deux séries pensées pour les nouveaux services télévisuels de diffusion en continu : Transparent (Jill Soloway, 2014-2019) et I Love Dick (Sarah Gubbins et Jill Soloway, 2016-2017). La posture queer permet de concentrer la multiplicité des options dans un parcours sériel (dans une logique où l’identité se trouve entre plusieurs options). Le montage est entendu comme : a) la relation entre les éléments au sein de l’épisode, semblable au montage cinématographique ; b) la relation des épisodes à la totalité de la saison et de la série ; c) une performance capable de réactiver certaines significations au fil des saisons, par des lectures et réécritures à rebours, qui bouleversent a posteriori le sens de l’ensemble. Si cette dernière catégorie joue avec une traduction un peu abusive du terme editing, elle a le mérite de souligner le geste de « réactivation sérielle » qui permet de mettre en évidence, par les effets de rythme et de mémoire spectatorielle, l’importance du potentiel queer de la sérialité.
Editing and the Institutionalization of Cinema, 1913-1917
Authors: Shaw Nick , Keil Charlie
Published: February 2020

How was editing imagined during the transitional period, as cinema became an institution? How closely did the trade press’s representation of editing, as a formal system subject to change, align with trends apparent on the screen? Did commentators of the day register editing’s changing functions? To what degree can we detect an “editing consciousness” within the trade press, and how did it operate in the crucial years of 1913-17? To better answer these questions, this essay looks at the terminology that writers employed when writing about editing during these years, the advisories that they issued, and the factors that may have influenced their conceptions of editing. These observations will help us define with more precision how the industry reconciled itself to editing’s ascendancy and reaffirm the uneven contours of the process of institutionalization.
L’image-mouvement au cinéma, de la chronophotographie à la performance capture
Authors: Ouertani Miriam Meriam
Published: February 2020

À son origine, l’image-mouvement au cinéma est définie par Deleuze comme une succession mécanique d’instantanés caractérisée essentiellement par l’équidistance. La succession mécanique du mouvement par un codage serait intrinsèque à l’agencement dans l’image-mouvement. La problématique de l’image-mouvement réside dans l’idée selon laquelle la perception du mouvement à l’aide d’une succession de poses et la perception du mouvement par l’intermédiaire de dispositifs réduisent l’interprétation du mouvement à un temps uniforme. À quel point cela va-t-il contraindre à saisir l’essentiel du mouvement, à savoir les micromouvements qui entrent dans ce régime de l’image-mouvement intensif et qui échappent à la mesurabilité de même qu’à l’agencement ? Dans ce cas précis, la question serait de savoir non pas comment un mouvement succède à un autre mouvement, mais plutôt comment un mouvement donné se continue dans le mouvement suivant. Nous entamerons une catégorisation de l’image-mouvement par le biais de la capture du mouvement numérique transférée sur les personnages en images de synthèse du film Avatar.
Tensiomyographical responsiveness to peripheral fatigue in quadriceps femoris
Authors: Martín-San Agustín Rodrigo , Medina-Mirapeix Francesc , Casaña-Granell José , García-Vidal José A. , Lillo-Navarro Carmen , Benítez-Martínez Josep C.
Published: February 2020

Background

Fatigue influences athletic performance and can also increase the risk of injury in sports, and most of the methods to evaluate it require an additional voluntary effort. Tensiomyography (TMG), which uses electrical stimulation and a displacement sensor to evaluate muscle contraction properties of one or more muscle bellies, has emerged as a technique that can assess the presence of peripheral and central fatigue without requiring additional voluntary efforts. However, the evaluation of the TMG’s ability to detect fatigue is limited, both at the level of muscle bellies and statistical methods. Thus, the aim of the present study was twofold: (i) to examine and compare the tensiomyographical responsiveness to quadriceps femoris (QF) fatigue by multiple statistical methods and (ii) to analyze sex differences in the variation produced by fatigue in TMG parameters.

Methods

Thirty-nine recreational athletes participated (19 males/20 females; aged 22 ± 2 years). TMG parameters of QF bellies and maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) were measured before and after a fatigue protocol. TMG parameters used were maximum radial deformation (Dm), contraction time between 10–90% of the Dm (Tc), contraction velocity between 10–90% (Vc) and of the first 10% (V10) of the Dm. Internal responsiveness of TMG to fatigue was analyzed by paired t-test and standardized response mean (SRM). External responsiveness was examined by correlations, regression models, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.

Results

All TMG parameters, except for Tc of rectus femoris and vastus medialis, showed large internal responsiveness. In adjusted regression models by sex, only Dm and V10 of rectus femoris were statistically associated (p < 0.05) with b coefficients of 0.40 and 0.43, respectively. r2 explained the 22% of the total variance. In addition, these parameters could discriminate between QF with and without fatigue.

Conclusion

Since the QF is the main strength contributor during multiple physical activities, clinicians and trainers will be able to discriminate the presence of fatigue and the magnitude of changes in the QF strength by TMG evaluation.
Eliminating Dengue Fever should be Easy Compared to Malaria – In a Malaysian Perspective
Authors: Ahmad A. M. Meer , Koay Chew Aik
Published: February 2020

Introduction: In 1993, the International Task Force for Disease Eradication thought over and concluded that only six diseases are eradicable – but, malaria, dengue fever (and, dengue hemorrhagic fever) were not included.

In 2010, 99 countries reported 219 million cases of malaria and 660,000 deaths. In Malaysia in 2011, 5152 cases had been reported causing not more than 30 deaths.

Over 2.5 billion are at risk of dengue fever given the endemicity in excess of 100 countries, compared to nine countries in 1970. The WHO estimate 50-100 million cases annually globally, with approximately 500,000 dengue haemorrhagic fever, and an estimated 22,000 death each year. In Malaysia in 2017, there is found 83,849 reported cases of dengue fever with 177 deaths.

There is a compelling need to give thought here to an elimination/eradication programme on dengue fever in Malaysia, realizing there is presently a malaria-elimination programme already.

Aim: The Aim of this Review is to contemplate on the priority of possible public-health intervention of infectious-diseases, the International Task Force on Disease Eradication, and the three principle/indicators toward successful eradication/elimination programme, and the cost, beside describing the epidemiology and eradication/elimination of malaria in Malaysia, including the human and economic cost of malaria, in a comparison with dengue fever, including the dengue control & prevention programme and the potential in the innovative-methods, and why a dengue fever elimination programme is timely and imperative.

Methodology: This article is a Narrative Review, and the author focus the article around three articles published by the author in recent times on dengue fever, and two on malaria. Additionally, the author contemplate around relevant newer article by various author retrieved through PubMed and Google Search.

Results: Based on priority of possible public-health intervention of infectious-diseases by the International Task Force on Disease Eradication, and the principle/indicator(s) identified by the Task Force, and the Dahlem Conference, toward successful eradication/elimination programme, and the World Health Assembly on dengue fever, it is felt that a dengue fever elimination programme is timely and imperative, beside found very cost-beneficial.

Conclusion: Mankind can eliminate dengue fever, even if not actually eradicating the disease, in a very much feasible and cost-beneficial programme, beginning in every nation and every region of the world, prior to grouping to become a global-programme.
Bispecific human IL2‐CCR4 immunotoxin targets human cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma
Authors: Wang Haoyu , Wang Zhaohui , Zhang Huiping , Qi Zeng , Johnson Ariel C. , Mathes David , Pomfret Elizabeth A. , Rubin Erin , Huang Christene A. , Wang Zhirui
Published: February 2020

The majority of clinically diagnosed cutaneous T‐cell lymphomas (CTCL) highly express the cell‐surface markers CC chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4) and/or CD25. Recently, we have developed diphtheria toxin‐based recombinant Ontak®‐like human IL2 fusion toxin (IL2 fusion toxin) and anti‐human CCR4 immunotoxin (CCR4 IT). In this study, we first compared the efficacy of the CCR4 IT vs IL2 fusion toxin for targeting human CD25+CCR4+ CTCL. We demonstrated that CCR4 IT was more effective than IL2 fusion toxin. We further constructed an IL2‐CCR4 bispecific IT. The bispecific IT was significantly more effective than either IL2 fusion toxin or CCR4 IT alone. The bispecific IT is a promising novel targeted therapeutic drug candidate for the treatment of refractory and recurrent human CD25+ and/or CCR4+ CTCL.
Patient motion tracking for non‐isocentric and non‐coplanar treatments via fixed frame‐of‐reference 3D camera
Authors: Gasparyan Sergey , Ko Kyle , Skinner Lawrie B. , Ko Ryan B. , Loo Billy W. , Fahimian Benjamin P. , Yu Amy S.
Published: February 2020

Purpose

As C‐arm linac radiation therapy evolves toward faster, more efficient delivery, and more conformal dosimetry, treatments with increasingly complex couch motions are emerging. Monitoring the patient motion independently of the couch motion during non‐coplanar, non‐isocentric, or dynamic couch treatments is a key bottleneck to their clinical implementation. The goal of this study is to develop a prototype real‐time monitoring system for unconventional beam trajectories to ensure a safe and accurate treatment delivery.

Methods

An in‐house algorithm was developed for tracking using a couch‐mounted three‐dimensional (3D) depth camera. The accuracy of patient motion detection on the couch was tested on a 3D printed phantom created from the body surface contour exported from the treatment planning system. The technique was evaluated against a commercial optical surface monitoring system with known phantom displacements of 3, 5, and 7 mm in lateral, longitudinal, and vertical directions by placing a head phantom on a dynamic platform on the treatment couch. The stability of the monitoring system was evaluated during dynamic couch trajectories, at speeds between 10.6 and 65 cm/min.

Results

The proposed monitoring system agreed with the ceiling mounted optical surface monitoring system in longitudinal, lateral, and vertical directions within 0.5 mm. The uncertainty caused by couch vibration increased with couch speed but remained sub‐millimeter for speeds up to 32 cm/min. For couch speeds of 10.6, 32.2, and 65 cm/min, the uncertainty ranges were 0.27– 0.73 mm, 0.15–0.87 mm, and 0.28–1.29 mm, respectively.

Conclusion

By mounting a 3D camera in the same frame‐of‐reference as the patient and eliminating dead spots, this proof of concept demonstrates real‐time patient monitoring during couch motion. For treatments with non‐coplanar beams, multiple isocenters, or dynamic couch motion, this provides additional safety without additional radiation dose and avoids some of the complexity and limitations of room mounted systems.
Chiral AuCuAu Heterogeneous Nanorods with Tailored Optical Activity
Authors: Wang Juncai , Wu Xiaoling , Ma Wei , Xu Chuanlai
Published: February 2020

Here, a facile wet‐chemistry route for the selective growth of crystalline copper (Cu) along the sides of gold nanorods (Au NRs) in the presence of a hexadecylamine (HDA) is reported. The resulting heterostructures feature part etching of copper by galvanic replacement reaction and form crystalline AuCu alloy metal on one side of the Au NRs. By virtue of the dipeptide (cysteine‐phenylalanine, Cys‐Phe) ligand used during synthesis, the AuCuAu heteronanorods (HNRs) exhibit strong circular dichroism (CD) in the wavelength range of 400–1000 nm. The plasmonic chirality can be tailored by increasing the length of the Au NRs, the scale of Cu nanocrystals on the Au NRs, and the amount of gold chloride for postgrowth, resulting in an anisotropy factor (g factor) as high as 0.57 × 10−2. The strong CD signals are attributed to the local electromagnetic field. Under circular polarized light (CPL) illumination, the chiral plasmonic AuCuAu nanostructure exhibits high efficiency for light polarization dependent reactive oxygen species (1O2) that is 22.31 times that of Au NRs. The results of this study demonstrate that the chiral enantiomer provides a chirality dependent avenue for highly efficient phototherapy.
Omnidirectional Photodetectors Based on Spatial Resonance Asymmetric Facade via a 3D Self‐Standing Strategy
Authors: Pan Qi , Su Meng , Zhang Zeying , Chen Bingda , Huang Zhandong , Hu Xiaotian , Cai Zheren , Song Yanlin
Published: February 2020

Integration of photovoltaic materials directly into 3D light–matter resonance architectures can extend their functionality beyond traditional optoelectronics. Semiconductor structures at subwavelength scale naturally possess optical resonances, which provides the possibility to manipulate light–matter interactions. In this work, a structure and function integrated printing method to remodel 2D film to 3D self‐standing facade between predesigned gold electrodes, realizing the advancement of structure and function from 2D to 3D, is demonstrated. Due to the enlarged cross section in the 3D asymmetric rectangular structure, the facade photodetectors possess sensitive light–matter interaction. The single 3D facade photodetectors can measure the incident angle of light in 3D space with a 10° angular resolution. The resonance interaction of the incident light at different illumination angles and the 3D subwavelength photosensitive facade is analyzed by the simulated light flow in the facade. The 3D facade structure enhances the manipulation of the light–matter interaction and extends metasurface nanophotonics to a wider range of materials. The monitoring of dynamic variation is achieved in a single facade photodetector. Together with the flexibility of structure and function integrated printing strategy, three and four branched photodetectors extend the angle detection to omnidirectional ranges, which will be significant for the development of 3D angle‐sensing devices.
Progress in Atomically Precise Coinage Metal Clusters with Aggregation‐Induced Emission and Circularly Polarized Luminescence
Authors: Zhang Miao‐Miao , Li Kai , Zang Shuang‐Quan
Published: February 2020

Materials with circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) are especially fascinating due to the widespread potential applications in 3D displays, biological probes, security encoding, encrypted information transmission, and storage. Among these CPL‐active materials, the ones based on atomically precise coinage, namely, the metal coinage clusters, have attracted increasing attention due to their fascinating chiral structures and intriguing luminescence characteristics. Meanwhile, these clusters provide an ideal platform at the nanoscale for understanding the chiral transfer across the organic–inorganic interface. In this report, the recent progress in constructing enantiomerically pure chiral coinage metal clusters and the luminescent mechanism of coinage metal clusters in aggregated state are reviewed, respectively. Moreover, CPL‐active atomically precise coinage metal clusters and their design strategies are discussed in detail. Finally, challenges and opportunities for constructing atomically precise coinage metal clusters with excellent CPL properties are discussed.
Simultaneously High Upconversion Efficiency and Large Anti‐Stokes Shift by Using Os(II) Complex Dyad as Triplet Photosensitizer
Authors: Wei Yaxiong , Li Yuanming , Zheng Min , Zhou Xiaoguo , Zou Yang , Yang Chuluo
Published: February 2020

To extend the triplet lifetime of photosensitizer, two new osmium complex dyads, with Os(phen)3 as triplet energy donor and 9,10‐diphenylanthracene (DPA) as energy acceptor, namely Os(phen)3‐DPA and Os(phen)3‐BDPA, are synthesized and characterized. The triplet lifetime of Os(phen)3‐DPA dyad is significantly extended to 1.1 μs by introducing triplet energy acceptor DPA to activate the intramolecular triplet energy transfer from the Os(phen)3 to DPA units. By developing the triplet–triplet annihilation upconversion piars of Os(phen)3‐DPA and 9‐phenyl‐10‐(p‐tolyl)anthracene, the deep‐red light (at 663 nm) is upconverted to the blue‐violet emission (at 415 nm) in 1,2‐dichloroethane solution, and the highest upconversion quantum yield of 9.7% is achieved with a large anti‐Stokes shift of 1.12 eV.
Magnetically Controlled On‐Demand Switching of Batteries
Authors: Zhang Jiaqian , Zhu Xiaohui , Zeng Mengqi , Fu Lei
Published: February 2020

The integration of stimuli‐responsiveness into energy storage devices has become an attractive way to manage the operation of devices. Current stimuli approaches (light, chemical, and temperature) require transparent windows and specific systems, or are subject to the tolerant temperature of batteries, hampering their widespread applications. Herein, a fast and reversible on‐demand switching of batteries, which is realized by incorporating a magnetic control component, is reported. The component is capable of undergoing a reversible transition between electrical conduction and insulation over 500 cycles, showing superior cycling stability. Batteries with this component internally incorporated can retain excellent electrochemical performance in a wide potential window at normal conditions. More importantly, this approach can manage the operation of batteries in light of human requirements. The battery can shut down within 0.11 s of applying a magnetic field and rapidly resume a normal battery function under the magnetic field, showing an excellent response speed. Notably, this on‐demand switching behavior in batteries can be repeated over 25 times, excelling most reported switching batteries. The design combines fast and repeatable characteristics without sacrificing electrochemical performance, providing possibilities in advancing the development of smart electronics.
Building Electron/Proton Nanohighways for Full Utilization of Water Splitting Catalysts
Authors: Yang Gaoqiang , Yu Shule , Kang Zhenye , Li Yifan , Bender Guido , Pivovar Bryan S. , Green Johney B. , Cullen David A. , Zhang Feng‐Yuan
Published: February 2020

Low electron/proton conductivities of electrochemical catalysts, especially earth‐abundant nonprecious metal catalysts, severely limit their ability to satisfy the triple‐phase boundary (TPB) theory, resulting in extremely low catalyst utilization and insufficient efficiency in energy devices. Here, an innovative electrode design strategy is proposed to build electron/proton transport nanohighways to ensure that the whole electrode meets the TPB, therefore significantly promoting enhance oxygen evolution reactions and catalyst utilizations. It is discovered that easily accessible/tunable mesoporous Au nanolayers (AuNLs) not only increase the electrode conductivity by more than 4000 times but also enable the proton transport through straight mesopores within the Debye length. The catalyst layer design with AuNLs and ultralow catalyst loading (≈0.1 mg cm−2) augments reaction sites from 1D to 2D, resulting in an 18‐fold improvement in mass activities. Furthermore, using microscale visualization and unique coplanar‐electrode electrolyzers, the relationship between the conductivity and the reaction site is revealed, allowing for the discovery of the conductivity‐determining and Debye‐length‐determining regions for water splitting. These findings and strategies provide a novel electrode design (catalyst layer + functional sublayer + ion exchange membrane) with a sufficient electron/proton transport path for high‐efficiency electrochemical energy conversion devices.
Potential of herbaceous vegetation as animal feed in semi‐arid Mediterranean saline environments: The case for Tunisia
Authors: Hessini Kamel , Jeddi Kaouthar , Shaer H.M El , Smaoui Abderrazak , Salem Hichem Ben , Siddique Kadambot H.M
Published: February 2020

With the depletion in arable land due to climate change, the use of naturally salt‐tolerant species to provide forage resources in arid and saline environments has become an emerging strategy. This study surveyed and determined the nutritive value of selected Tunisian vegetative species for use in Mediterranean saline environments. Eighteen wild species were analyzed for their nutrient contents and antinutritional factors. Chenopodiaceae accumulated more NaCl than Poaceae. Arthrocnemum indicum had the highest crude protein (CP) content, and Stipa roterta had the lowest. Poaceae had the highest fiber constituents (neutral and acid) and the lowest oxalate contents. Daily net gas production (GP) in the Chenopodiaceae and Poaceae ranged from 9.5 to 14.5 and from 13.8 to 37.9 ml per 0.2 mg dry matter (DM), respectively. Total phenol content and organic matter digestibility were species dependent. The metabolizable energy (ME) in the tested species ranged from 4.6 to 9.4 MJ kg−1 DM, with Catapodium rigidum and Arthrocnemum indicum having the lowest and highest ME values, respectively. In crux, Chenopodiaceae had the highest NaCl, CP, ME, and oxalate contents but had the lowest fiber and net GP. Sodium chloride content was positively correlated with CP and oxalate and negatively correlated with net GP. In arid and saline environments, where high salinity prevails and fodder resources are scarce, salt‐tolerant plants such as Suaeda fruticosa, Arthrocnemum indicum, and Halocnemum strobilaceum could be included in ruminant feeding calendars.
Management practices for optimal kikuyugrass quality and playing conditions
Authors: Schiavon Marco , Mock Tyler , Stowell Larry J. , Baird J. H.
Published: February 2020

Kikuyugrass [Cenchrus clandestinus (Hochst. ex Chiov.) Morrone] is considered either an invasive weed or the desired species on many golf courses, athletic fields, and other turf areas along coastal and inland California. A field study was conducted at the University of California, Riverside in 2012 and 2013 on ‘Whittet’ kikuyugrass mowed at 11 mm to identify management practices for producing sufficient turf quality and optimal playing conditions for golf course fairways and athletic fields. The study evaluated the effect of mowing frequency (three vs. six times per week), cultivation practice (verticutting vs. grooming), applications of trinexapac‐ethyl (TE), and nitrogen fertilization rates (96 vs. 240 kg N ha−1 yr−1) on turf quality, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), turf firmness, ball roll distance (BRD), and tensile strength. Mowing six times per week produced the highest turf quality turf during summer when kikuyugrass grows most vigorously, while trends were not clear for cultivation practice effects on turf visual quality. However, verticutting twice per year produced the least scalped and firmest turf, while decreasing BRD. Application of TE increased turf quality, NDVI, and BRD, but decreased tensile strength of the sward. Slightly higher turf quality was detected in plots fertilized at 240 kg N ha−1 yr−1 compared to those fertilized with the low N rate (6.0 vs. 5.8), but results do not seem to justify higher N fertility. Overall, results demonstrated that kikuyugrass available in California could benefit from high input management practices such as TE applications, high mowing frequency, and verticutting.
Life cycle assessment and cost evaluation of emerging technologies at early stages: The case of continuous flow synthesis of Rufinamide
Authors: Grimaldi Fabio , de Leon Izeppi Gerardo A. , Kirschneck Dirk , Lettieri Paola , Escribà‐Gelonch Marc , Hessel Volker
Published: February 2020

In the pharma and fine chemical industries, the development of continuous flow technologies is a process intensification step of primary importance towards the manufacturing of high‐quality products, while reducing the environmental impact and cost of production. The sustainability and profitability of a process can be measured through life cycle Assessment and cost evaluation. However, when applied to emerging technologies, these need to be performed at different stages of the process development in order to limit the uncertainties arising from the scale‐up, and hence providing high‐fidelity projections of environmental impacts and costs at larger scales. The output of the assessment can in fact vary significantly depending on the maturity of the technology and this translates into having different results at commercial scale compared to early estimations. Therefore, in this article, we perform an assessment at two different scales of production, lab and mini‐pilot scale, with the aim of quantifying the uncertainties of the assessment related to the scale‐up, identifying the hotspots of the system, and hence providing guidelines for the further steps of process development. The subject of the assessment is the continuous flow synthesis of Rufinamide. It is the first time that this synthesis is evaluated at pilot‐scale. The results show that low yields in the cycloaddition drastically affect the waste management and the production of precursors, and hence increases environmental impacts and cost of production. This calls for the need of prioritizing the optimization of this synthesis step in order to deploy a green and economically competitive production technology.
Introducing a novel chemotherapeutic drug formulated by iron nanoparticles for the clinical trial studies
Authors: Ma Lei , Ahmeda Ahmad , Wang Kaifeng , Jalalvand Ali R. , Sadrjavadi Komail , Nowrozi Masoumeh , Zangeneh Akram , Zangeneh Mohammad Mahdi , Wang Xiaojing
Published: February 2020

In recent years, the experiments have revealed that plants raise the cytotoxicity and anticancer potentials of iron nanoparticles against several cell lines especially tumor cell lines. In the present study, we formulated a modern drug by iron nanoparticles (FeNPs) containing Glycyrrhiza glabra L leaf for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Characterization of FeNPs was done by TEM, FE‐SEM, UV–Vis, and FT‐IR. FE‐SEM and TEM images revealed an average diameter of 11–18 nm for the nanoparticles. UV–Vis revealed an absorption band at 298 nm that is related to the surface plasmon resonance of FeNPs. FT‐IR results offered antioxidant compounds in the nanoparticles were the sources of reducing power, reducing iron ions to FeNPs. MTT assay was used on normal (HUVEC) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (MOLT‐3, CEM/C2, TALL‐104, and CCRF‐CEM) cell lines for comparing the anti‐acute lymphoblastic leukemia properties of FeCl3, G. glabra, and FeNPs. Iron nanoparticles had very low cell viability dose‐dependently against MOLT‐3, CEM/C2, TALL‐104, CCRF‐CEM cell lines without any cytotoxicity on the HUVEC cell line. The best result of cytotoxicity property of FeNPs against the above cell lines was seen in the case of CCRF‐CEM cell line. These nanoparticles can be administrated in humans for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia after confirming in the in vivo and clinical trials.
Development of 32 novel microsatellite loci in Juglans sigillata using genomic data
Authors: Xu Zu‐Chang , Jin Ye‐Chuan , Milne Richard I. , Xiahou Zuo‐Ying , Qin Han‐Tao , Ye Lin‐Jiang , Gao Lian‐Ming , Liu Jie , Li De‐Zhu
Published: February 2020

Premise

A novel set of microsatellite markers was developed for Juglans sigillata (Juglandaceae), an endemic walnut species in southwestern China, to facilitate cultivar identification and future investigations into the genetic structure and domestication history of this species and its close relatives.

Methods and Results

We developed 32 microsatellite loci for J. sigillata using genomic data and used them to examine 60 individuals from three natural populations. A high level of polymorphism was detected by these primers, with up to eight alleles observed per locus, and an average of four alleles across populations. The levels of observed and expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.000–1.000 and 0.000–0.785, respectively. All but two of the loci were also successfully amplified in three closely related Eurasian Juglans species (J. regia, J. cathayensis, and J. mandshurica).

Conclusions

The microsatellite loci identified here provide a powerful resource for examining the genetic structure and domestication history of Juglans, as well as identification of its cultivars.
Demarcating spectrums of predatory publishing: Economic and institutional sources of academic legitimacy
Authors: Siler Kyle
Published: February 2020

The emergence of open access (OA) publishing has altered incentives and opportunities for academic stakeholders and publishers. These changes have yielded a variety of new economic and academic niches, including journals with questionable peer‐review systems and business models, commonly dubbed “predatory publishing.” Empirical analysis of Cabellʼs Journal Blacklist reveals substantial diversity in types and degrees of predatory publishing. While some blacklisted publishers produce journals with many severe violations of academic norms, “gray” journals and publishers occupy borderline or ambiguous niches between predation and legitimacy. Predation in academic publishing is not a simple binary phenomenon and should instead be perceived as a spectrum with varying types and degrees of illegitimacy. Conceptions of predation are based on overlapping evaluations of academic and economic legitimacy. High institutional status benefits publishers by reducing conflicts between—if not aligning—professional and market institutional logics, which are more likely to conflict and create illegitimacy concerns in downmarket niches. High rejection rates imbue high‐status journals with value and pricing power, while low‐status OA journals face “predatory” incentives to optimize revenue via low selectivity. Status influences the social acceptability of profit‐seeking in academic publishing, rendering lower‐status publishers vulnerable to being perceived and stigmatized as illegitimate.
Observation of Interfacial Degradation of Li6PS5Cl against Lithium Metal and LiCoO2 via In Situ Electrochemical Raman Microscopy
Authors: Zhou Yundong , Doerrer Christopher , Kasemchainan Jitti , Bruce Peter G. , Pasta Mauro , Hardwick Laurence J.
Published: February 2020

Sulfide‐based Li+ conducting solid electrolytes, such as argyrodite, Li6PS5Cl, for all‐solid‐state batteries can have comparable ionic conductivities with liquid electrolytes. However, the interface between sulfide containing solid electrolytes and Li metal and Li‐ion positive electrodes has been found to be unstable, leading to poor cell performance and cycling. Understanding the in situ evolution of interfacial layers between the electrolyte and both electrodes is of paramount importance for designing stable and long‐life solid‐state batteries. Here, in situ Raman microscopy was used to study the interface between Li6PS5Cl electrolyte and metallic Li and LiCoO2. Under potential control, Raman microscopy identified the appearance of degradation products (Li2S, P2Sx and polysulfides) at the electrode/solid electrolyte interface.
LC–MS/MS determination of buparlisib, a phosphoinositide 3 kinase inhibitor in rat plasma: Application to a pharmacokinetic study
Authors: Wang Jingyun , Ming Meng , Yu Lin , Chen Guangliang , Hao Nan , Meng Yuqi , Fang Lina
Published: February 2020

Buparlisib is a selective phosphoinositide 3 kinase inhibitor currently evaluated in clinical trials. We developed and validated an LC–MS/MS coupled with a one‐step protein precipitation extraction method for the quantitation of buparlisib in rat plasma. After protein precipitation with acetonitrile, the plasma sample was analyzed using a Cortecs UPLC C18 column, with acetonitrile–0.1% formic acid as the mobile phase system. Mass spectrometric detection was conducted in positive ionization mode, with target quantitative ion pair of m/z 411.2 → 367.2 for buparlisib. The calibration curve showed good linearity (1.0–3000 ng/ml), with acceptable accuracy (RE ranging from −6.2 to 5.9%) and precision (RSD within 8.2%) values at quality control concentrations. Extraction recovery from plasma was 80.9–88.7% and the matrix effect was negligible (92.6–95.2%). The validated method presented a simple quantification method of buparlisib in detail and utilized it for a pharmacokinetic study at three dose concentrations after oral administration in Wistar rats.
MicroRNA‐based recombinant AAV vector assembly improves efficiency of suicide gene transfer in a murine model of lymphoma
Authors: Khan Nusrat , Cheemadan Sabna , Saxena Himanshi , Bammidi Sridhar , Jayandharan Giridhara R.
Published: February 2020

Recent success in clinical trials with recombinant Adeno‐associated virus (AAV)‐based gene therapy has redirected efforts in optimizing AAV assembly and production, to improve its potency. We reasoned that inclusion of a small RNA during vector assembly, which specifically alters the phosphorylation status of the packaging cells may be beneficial. We thus employed microRNAs (miR‐431, miR‐636) identified by their ability to bind AAV genome and also dysregulate Mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling during vector production, by a global transcriptome study in producer cells. A modified vector assembly protocol incorporating a plasmid encoding these microRNAs was developed. AAV2 vectors packaged in the presence of microRNA demonstrated an improved gene transfer potency by 3.7‐fold, in vitro. Furthermore, AAV6 serotype vectors encoding an inducible caspase 9 suicide gene, packaged in the presence of miR‐636, showed a significant tumor regression (~2.2‐fold, P < .01) in a syngeneic murine model of T‐cell lymphoma. Taken together, we have demonstrated a simple but effective microRNA‐based approach to improve the assembly and potency of suicide gene therapy with AAV vectors.
Treatment optimization for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma: Repeat hepatic resection versus radiofrequency ablation
Authors: Lu Liang‐He , Mei Jie , Kan Anna , Ling Yi‐Hong , Li Shao‐Hua , Wei Wei , Chen Min‐Shan , Zhang Yong‐Fa , Guo Rong‐Ping
Published: February 2020

Background and aims

The optimal treatment strategy for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to compare the outcomes of repeat hepatic resection (RHR) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for recurrent HCC.

Method

From December 2004 to December 2015, 138 patients who underwent RHR and 194 patients who underwent RFA were enrolled. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to establish 1:1 RHR‐RFA group matching. Clinical outcomes were compared before and after matching.

Results

Before matching, the 1‐, 3‐, and 5‐year postrecurrence survival (PRS) rates were 91.8%, 82.0%, and 72.9% for the RHR group (n = 138) and 94.4%, 75.4%, and 61.7% for the RFA group (n = 194), respectively (P = .380). After matching, the PRS rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 90.5%, 81.5%, and 71.8% for the RHR group (n = 120) and 91.0%, 61.0%, and 41.7% for the RFA group (n = 120), respectively (P = .002). In the subgroup analysis, the PRS rates for the RHR group were better than those for the RFA group for patients who relapsed within 2 years (P = .004) or patients with primary tumor burden beyond the Milan criteria (P = .004). Multivariate analysis showed that treatment allocation was identified as an independent prognostic factor for PRS.

Conclusion

Compared with RFA, RHR provided a survival advantage for recurrent HCC, especially for patients who relapsed within 2 years and those with primary tumor burden beyond the Milan criteria.
Polysplenia syndrome with complex heart disease and jejunal atresia with malrotation in neonate: A case report
Authors: Huseynova Roya Arif , Bin Mahmoud Latifa A. , Abdelrahim Adli , Alroiedy Majeed A. , Huseynov Ogtay
Published: February 2020

Polysplenia is heterotaxy syndrome or bilateral left‐sidedness. We report a case of polysplenia syndrome in order to draw attention to this rare syndrome that must be excluded in an infant presenting with congenital heart disease and intestinal malformations.
Agent‐based modeling approach for group polarization behavior considering conformity and network relationship strength
Authors: Zhang Yizhou , Wang Yibao , Chen Tinggui , Shi Jiawen
Published: February 2020

Currently, group behaviors happen frequently with the development of network technology. As a typical social group behavior, group polarization has been attracted more and more academic attention due to its significant disturbance to public's daily lives. At present, the classic J‐A (proposed by Jager and Amblard) and D‐W (proposed by Deffuant and Weisbuch) models are used to analyze group polarization process. However, the main shortcomings existing in these models are that the individuals' psychology and their network relationships are rarely considered. In order to overcome the limitations, this article integrates the influence factors such as conformity and network relationship strength integrated into the polarization model. Besides, the BA (proposed by Barabasi and Albert) network model is used as the agent adjacency model due to its closer to the real social network structure. Subsequently, the experimental simulations are carried out with the multi‐agent Monte‐Carlo method so as to testify the efficiency and effectiveness. The results indicate that different information interaction modes have essential influence on group attitude polarization. Moreover, conformity parameters and the intensity of relationship have dual impacts on both speeding up and slowing down the polarization process.
A parallel generator of non‐Hermitian matrices computed from given spectra
Authors: Wu Xinzhe , Petiton Serge G. , Lu Yutong
Published: February 2020

Iterative linear algebra methods to solve linear systems and eigenvalue problems with non‐Hermitian matrices are important for both the simulation arising from diverse scientific fields and the applications related to big data, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. The spectral property of these matrices has impacts on the convergence of these solvers. Moreover, with the increase of the size of applications, iterative methods are implemented in parallel on clusters. Analysis of their behaviors with non‐Hermitian matrices on supercomputers is so complex that we need to generate large‐scale matrices with different given spectra for benchmarking. These test matrices should be non‐Hermitian and nontrivial, with high dimension. This paper highlights a scalable matrix generator that constructs large sparse matrices using the user‐defined spectrum, and the eigenvalues of generated matrices are ensured to be the same as the predefined spectrum. This generator is implemented on CPUs and multi‐GPUs platforms, with good strong and weak scaling performance on several supercomputers. We also propose a method to verify its ability to guarantee the given spectra. Finally, we give an example to evaluate the numerical properties and parallel performance of iterative methods using this matrix generator.