bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development and Evaluation of 3D‐Printed Dry Microneedle Electrodes for Surface Electromyography
Authors: Krieger Kevin J. , Liegey Jérémy , Cahill Ellen M. , Bertollo Nicky , Lowery Madeleine M. , O'Cearbhaill Eoin D.
Published: August 2020

Surface electromyography (sEMG) allows for direct measurement of electrical muscle activity with use in fundamental research and many applications in health and sport. However, conventional surface electrode technology can suffer from poor signal quality, requires careful skin preparation, and is commonly not suited for long‐term recording. These drawbacks have challenged translation of sEMG to clinical applications. In this paper, dry 3D‐printed microneedle electrodes (MNEs) are proposed to overcome some of the limitations of conventional electrodes. Employing a direct‐metal‐laser‐sintering (DMLS) 3D printing process, a two‐step fabrication method is developed to produce sharp medical‐grade stainless steel MNEs. The developed MNEs are compared to needle‐free versions and to standard wet Ag/AgCl electrodes. Functional testing is conducted to analyze the electrode–skin impedance in healthy human volunteers and sEMG data are recorded from the biceps brachii muscle. Results show that microneedle electrodes display a greatly reduced (≈63%) electrode–skin contact impedance with respect to needle‐free electrodes and record sEMG at a signal‐to‐noise ratio comparable to clinical‐grade wet Ag/AgCl electrodes over a period of up to 6 h. Overall, a fabrication method and electrode type are presented which yield high‐quality sEMG signals when evaluated in humans, highlighting the potential of MNEs as a platform for biosignal recording.
Etching and acidifying graphene oxide membranes to increase gas permeance while retaining molecular sieving ability
Authors: Huang Liang , Jia Weiguang , Lin Haiqing
Published: August 2020

Graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets stacked in parallel with subnanometer channels can exhibit an excellent size‐sieving ability for membrane‐based gas separation. However, gas molecules have to diffuse through the tortuous nanochannels, leading to low permeability. Herein we demonstrate two versatile approaches to modify the GO (before membrane fabrication by vacuum‐filtration) to collectively increase gas permeability, etching using hydrogen peroxide to generate in‐plane nanopores and acidifying using hydrochloric acid. For example, a membrane prepared at a pH of 5.0 using the 4‐h‐etched GO (HGO‐4h) shows He permeability of 5.3 Barrer and He/CH4 selectivity of 800, which are 5 times and 1.5 times those of the GO membranes, respectively. Decreasing the pH from 5.0 to 2.0 for HGO‐4h enhances He permeability to 57 Barrer and He/CH4 selectivity to 1,800. The HGO‐4h prepared at the pH of 2.0 exhibits separation properties of H2/CO2, H2/N2, He/N2, and He/CH4 surpassing their corresponding upper bounds.
Bipolar membrane electrodialysis for cleaner production of N‐methylated glycine derivative amino acids
Authors: Wang Yaoming , Wang Xiaoli , Yan Haiyang , Jiang Chenxiao , Ge Liang , Xu Tongwen
Published: August 2020

In this study, cleaner production of N‐methylglycine (NMG), N,N‐dimethylglycine (DMG), and N,N,N‐trimethylglycine (TMG) with similar structures but different methylate groups was performed using bipolar membrane electrodialysis (BMED). The effects of the feed mass concentration and current density on the separation performance were intensively analysed in terms of the molecular size, molecular structure, ion concentration, and interaction between amino acids and membranes. The results indicated that the optimal recovery performance was achieved at a current density of 200 A/m2 and feed mass concentration of 6%. Under the optimal conditions, the energy consumption and current efficiencies were 2.3 kWh/kg and 78% for NMG, 2.49 kWh/kg and 69.5% for DMG, and 3.52 kWh/kg and 39.6% for TMG, respectively. It was speculated a competition for water splitting occurs between the bipolar membranes and anion exchange membranes when BMED is used for the separation and purification of large‐sized bioproducts.
Younger patients with Waldenström Macroglobulinemia exhibit low risk profile and excellent outcomes in the era of immunotherapy and targeted therapies
Authors: Varettoni Marzia , Ferrari Angela , Frustaci Anna M. , Ferretti Virginia V. , Rizzi Rita , Motta Marina , Piazza Francesco , Merli Michele , Benevolo Giulia , Visco Carlo , Laurenti Luca , Ferrero Simone , Gentile Massimo , Del Fabro Vittorio , Abbadessa Antonio , Klersy Catherine , Musto Pellegrino , Fabbri Nicole , Deodato Marina , Dogliotti Irene , Greco Corinna , Corbingi Andrea , Luminari Stefano , Arcaini Luca
Published: August 2020

We analyzed 160 young Waldenström Macroglobulinemia (WM) patients with a median age of 49 years (range 23‐55 years), diagnosed between January 2000 and January 2019 in 14 Italian centers. At diagnosis, 70% of patients were asymptomatic. With a median follow‐up of 5.6 years, 57% have been treated. As initial therapy 79% of patients received chemo‐immunotherapy, 13% a chemo‐free induction and 8% chemotherapy only. At relapse or progression, 6% underwent an autologous stem cell transplantation. Overall, 19% of patients received ibrutinib during the course of the disease. According to IPSSWM, 63% were classified as low risk, 27% as intermediate risk and 10% as high risk. Five‐year OS was shorter in high‐risk as compared with low or intermediate risk patients (92.9% vs 100% P = .002). According to revised IPSSWM, 92% were classified as very low or low risk and 8% as intermediate risk, with a shorter 5‐year OS in the latter group (87.5% vs 100%, P = .028). The OS of young WM patients was not significantly reduced as compared with age‐matched, sex‐matched and calendar year‐matched general population. Early diagnosis, absence of high‐risk features in symptomatic patients and high efficacy of modern treatments are the main determinants of the excellent outcome of young WM patients.
Evaluation of the prothrombin fragment 1.2 in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19)
Authors: Al‐Samkari Hanny , Song Fei , Van Cott Elizabeth M. , Kuter David J. , Rosovsky Rachel
Published: August 2020

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) may cause a hypercoagulable state. The D‐dimer is frequently elevated in COVID‐19, but other markers of coagulation activation, including the prothrombin fragment 1.2 (PF1.2) are poorly described. We studied hospitalized adults with COVID‐19 and PF1.2 measurements performed at any time during hospitalization. We evaluated the relationship between PF1.2 and synchronously measured D‐dimer. We utilized receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis to evaluate optimal thresholds for diagnosing thrombosis and multivariable logistic regression to evaluate association with thrombosis. A total of 115 patients were included [110 (95.7%) critically ill]. Both PF1.2 and D‐dimer were moderately positively correlated (r = 0.542, P < .001) but significant discordance was observed in elevation of each marker above the laboratory reference range (59.0% elevated PF1.2 vs 98.5% elevated D‐dimer). Median PF1.2 levels were higher in patients with thrombosis than those without (611 vs 374 pmol/L, P = .006). In ROC analysis, PF1.2 had superior specificity and conferred a higher positive likelihood ratio in identifying patients with thrombosis than D‐dimer (PF1.2 threshold of >523 pmol/L: 69.2% sensitivity, 67.7% specificity; >924 pmol/L: 37.9% sensitivity, 87.8% specificity). In multivariable analysis, a PF1.2 >500 pmol/L was significantly associated with VTE [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 4.26, 95% CI, 1.12‐16.21, P = .034] and any thrombotic manifestation (adjusted OR 3.85, 95% CI, 1.39‐10.65, P = .010); conversely, synchronously measured D‐dimer was not significantly associated with thrombosis. 90.6% of patients with a non‐elevated PF1.2 result did not develop VTE. So, PF1.2 may be a useful assay, and potentially more discriminant than D‐dimer, in identifying thrombotic manifestations in hospitalized patients with COVID‐19.
The evolution of social philopatry in female primates
Authors: Port Markus , Hildenbrandt Hanno , Pen Ido , Schülke Oliver , Ostner Julia , Weissing Franz J.
Published: August 2020

The transition from solitary life to sociality is considered one of the major transitions in evolution. In primates, this transition is currently not well understood. Traditional verbal models appear insufficient to unravel the complex interplay of environmental and demographic factors involved in the evolution of primate sociality, and recent phylogenetic reconstructions have produced conflicting results. We therefore analyze a theoretical model for the evolution of female social philopatry that sheds new light on the question why most primates live in groups. In individual‐based simulations, we study the evolution of dispersal strategies of both resident females and their offspring. The model reveals that social philopatry can evolve through kin selection, even if retention of offspring is costly in terms of within‐group resource competition and provides no direct benefits. Our model supports the role of predator avoidance as a selective pressure for group‐living in primates, but it also suggests that a second benefit of group‐living, communal resource defense, might be required to trigger the evolution of sizable groups. Lastly, our model reveals that seemingly small differences in demographic parameters can have profound effects on primate social evolution.
Heatstroke management during the COVID‐19 epidemic: recommendations from the experts in Japan
Authors:   Working group on heatstroke medical care during the COVID‐19 epidemic (Japanese Association for Acute Medicine, Japanese Society for Emergency Medicine, Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases, Japanese Respiratory Society)
Published: August 2020

Fever and hyperthermia are the main symptoms of coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) and heatstroke, and it is difficult to distinguish them. There is a need to discuss safe prevention and medical treatment for heatstroke. In view of the above issues, the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine “Committee on heatstroke and hypothermia” established a “Working group on heatstroke medical care given the COVID‐19 epidemic” jointly with the Japanese Society for Emergency Medicine that focuses on emergency medical personnel, including paramedics and nurses, the Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases, an academic society of infectious disease, and the Japanese Respiratory Society, an academic organization on respiratory diseases. The precautions for prevention of heatstroke this summer during the coronavirus epidemic was summarized in “Proposals on heatstroke prevention based on the COVID‐19 epidemic” as follows and was issued on 1 June, 2020. Based on the above, we have determined that guidance in clinical practice is necessary not only from the viewpoint of heatstroke prevention, but also medical treatment. As such, we have created this guidance in the form of supplementary recommendations.
Impaired mental health status following intensive care unit admission in a patient with COVID‐19
Authors: Soh Mitsuhito , Hifumi Toru , Iwasaki Tsutomu , Miura Yusuke , Otani Norio , Ishimatsu Shinichi
Published: August 2020

Background

Severe respiratory failure patients with coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) sometimes do not receive post‐intensive care syndrome prevention bundles. No detailed report has been published on the practical observations of mental impairments in these patients.

Case presentation

A 33‐year‐old man was admitted with COVID‐19 pneumonia. On day 6, he was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Considering the risk of nosocomial infection, as per the hospital policy, early rehabilitation could not be initiated for COVID‐19 patients at that time and family visits were not allowed. Thereafter, his respiratory condition gradually improved; he was discharged on day 19. When the ICU nurse called to assess his medical condition, the patient complained of insomnia after ICU discharge. Therefore, we called him for an outpatient visit 28 days after discharge and scored his mental health status.

Conclusion

Careful follow‐up is required to treat mental impairment in patients with COVID‐19.
[Si(O2C6F4)2]14: Self‐Assembly of a Giant Perfluorinated Macrocyclic Host by Low‐Barrier Si−O Bond Metathesis
Authors: Hartmann Deborah , Greb Lutz
Published: August 2020

The dynamic covalent self‐assembly of 14 units of bis(perfluorocatecholato)silane leads to [Si(O2C6F4)2]14—the first giant perfluorinated macrocycle. The oligomerization process is monitored spectroscopically, and the macrocycle analyzed by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The molecule forms a rigid cavity that can host two o‐closo‐dodecacarboranes. Computations rationalize the consistent and reproducible formation of the 14mer and disclose a non‐catalyzed Si−O/ Si−O σ‐bond metathesis with an exceptionally low energetic barrier. For the first time, the most prevalent linker in our geosphere‐SiO4‐is disposed to construct a shape‐defined crystalline macromolecule.
Synthesis and surface properties of amphiphilic fluorine‐containing diblock copolymers
Authors: Chekurov Kirill E. , Barabanova Anna I. , Blagodatskikh Inesa V. , Lokshin Boris V. , Kondratenko Mikhail S. , Gallyamov Marat O. , Peregudov Alexander S. , Khokhlov Alexei R.
Published: August 2020

Amphiphilic diblock copolymers (DCs) of 2,3,4,5,6‐pentafluorostyrene (PFS) and 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) of different composition and molecular weights were prepared by two‐step reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization and first used for preparation of superhydrophobic coatings for cotton/polyester fabrics. The transition from hydrophobic to superhydrophobic coatings is controlled by the ratio between poly(2,3,4,5,6‐pentafluorostyrene) (PPFS) block and poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) block lengths (PnPFS/PnHEMA). The increase in PnPFS/PnHEMA is accompanied by a significant increase in water (θН2О) and diiodomethane (θCH2I2) contact angles, which reach the plateau at PnPFS/PnHEMA = 3.5 and remains almost constant up to PnPFS/PnHEMA = 6.2. Surface modification of the cotton/polyester fabric with the DC having PnPFS/PnHEMA = 6.2 produced superhydrophobic surface with θН2О = 158 ± 4° and contact angle hysteresis CAH = 5 ± 2°, and θCH2I2 = 107 ± 3°.
Preparation of 2D leaf‐shaped and 3D flower‐shaped sandwich‐like polyaniline nanocomposites and application on anticorrosion
Authors: Kang Yuan‐Teng , Wang Cheng‐Chien , Chen Chuh‐Yung
Published: August 2020

The synthesis of triple‐layer‐structured polyaniline (PANI) conductive nanocomposites, including two‐dimensional leaf‐shaped and three‐dimensional flower‐shaped types (S‐PANI), via a two‐step method is proposed in this study. According to scanning electron microscopic measurement, the triple‐layer‐structured S‐PANI consists of a middle layer of nonconductive PANI (N‐PANI) at 100 nm thickness and emeraldine‐salt‐form PANI (ES‐PANI) nanolayer at 40–50 nm thickness. The results of Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, UV/Vis spectroscopy, and X‐ray diffraction pattern demonstrate that the phenazine unit existed within the N‐PANI main chain, leading to the poor conductivity of N‐PANI. However, the conductivity of the N‐PANI can be extremely enhanced by at least nine orders of magnitudes (<10−9–100 S/cm) when a conductive ES‐PANI nanolayer is further grown on the N‐PANI outer surface. Finally, the results of oxygen transmission test and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy reveal that the leaf‐shaped S‐PANI, as an additive in epoxy resin, has the best oxygen barrier property (oxygen transmission rate = 5.86 cm3 m−2 day−1) and highest coating resistance (5.53 × 1010 Ω) after 60‐day immersion in 0.1 M HCl solution, indicating that the leaf‐shaped S‐PANI is an excellent anticorrosion additive.
The Amazonian dwarf cichlid Apistogramma agassizii (Steindachner, 1875) is a geographic mosaic of potentially tens of species: Conservation implications
Authors: Estivals Guillain , Duponchelle Fabrice , Römer Uwe , García‐Dávila Carmen , Airola Etienne , Deléglise Margot , Renno Jean‐François
Published: August 2020

Assessing biodiversity and understanding how it works is a prerequisite for species conservation. The Amazon basin is one of the main biodiversity hotspots where fish are heavily exploited for ornamental purposes.

The ornamental trade heavily exploits the genus Apistogramma, which is one of the most species‐rich among Neotropical cichlids with 94 formally described species. This number is certainly underestimated owing to the limitations of conventional taxonomy, which is still too often based solely on morphological criteria and sometimes on few individuals.

Most species of this genus have a high degree of endemism and are highly prized on the ornamental market, which could put them at risk. A few species are supposed to have extensive distributions, and in particular Apistogramma agassizii, present from the Amazon estuary up to the Ucayali and Marañon rivers in Peru.

This study assessed the taxonomic status of 1,151 specimens of A. agassizii collected from 35 sites around Iquitos in the Peruvian Amazon. On the basis of molecular analyses (nuclear and mitochondrial DNA) and mate choice experiments, at least three biological species within the nominal A. agassizii were evidenced in the sampling area, which is extremely small compared with the known distribution of the species as initially described.

According to the molecular calibrations, these three species would have diverged during the Plio‐Pleistocene. Two of them seem to be endemic from small sub‐basins, one from the Nanay River and the other from the Apayacu/Ampiyacu systems. A possible scenario that may explain the evolutionary history of these species is proposed.

The conservation implications of these results on the estimation of the diversity of A. agassizii, of Apistogramma species in general, and of other Amazonian cichlids are discussed.
Power balance control based on full state feedback for a fuel‐cell hybrid electric vehicle
Authors: Fu Jiangtao , Fu Zhumu , Song Shuzhong
Published: August 2020

A fuel‐cell vehicle (FCV) mainly depends on the fuel‐cell system (FCS) to provide the power to drive the vehicle. A battery is also integrated as the second power source, which has the advantage of high density and quick dynamic response. Since two power sources co‐exist in the vehicle, the control balance of how to distribute the transient power requirement between the FCS and the battery has a great impact on the performance of the FCV. In this paper, the dynamic model of FCS, the battery, the electric motor (EM), and its control unit are first established. Then the parameters in these models are determined by using the least squares method to achieve an analytical description of the power‐train system. According to the FCV model, the power balance control based on the best state feedback is realized. This optimized control is verified over three different typical driving cycles through simulation and a bench experiment. The results show that the balance control has a practical application for FCV in improving the fuel economy and the dynamic performance.
Baugrundverfestigung mit schnell abbindenden Reaktionspolymeren
Authors: Lichtblau Georg , Wiegel Nico , Herle Ivo , Tintelnot Götz
Published: August 2020

Baugrundverfestigungen zur Erhöhung der Tragfähigkeit werden häufig mithilfe von Zementsuspensionen realisiert. Eine Alternative hierzu können polymermodifizierte Verfestigungskörper sein. Sie härten schneller aus als herkömmliche zementbasierte Mischungen. Zudem besitzen sie eine höhere Duktilität. Über die Variation der einzelnen Komponenten lassen sich die Eigenschaften gezielt in viele Richtungen steuern. Die erreichbaren Eigenschaften hängen allerdings teilweise stark von Baugrundbedingungen und Bodenzustand ab. Hierzu wurden weitreichende Untersuchungen an einem Boden‐Kunststoffgemisch sowie einem Boden‐Zement‐Kunststoffgemisch durchgeführt. In Laborversuchen wurde insbesondere die Entwicklung der Druckfestigkeit in Abhängigkeit von der Aushärtezeit und dem Umgebungswassergehalt untersucht. Des Weiteren wurde das volumetrische Verhalten während der Erhärtungsreaktion analysiert. Es hat sich gezeigt, dass der Einsatz von Polymeren einen signifikant positiven Effekt auf die Aushärtegeschwindigkeit und, in Verbindung mit Zement, auf die Festigkeitserhöhung im Vergleich mit Zementsuspensionen hat. Insbesondere die sehr hohe Frühfestigkeit bietet einen Vorteil für bautechnische Zwecke, um bspw. im Havariefall schnell und effektiv in den Baugrund eingreifen zu können.
Diversification of Heteroaryl‐Aryl Ether via Ligand‐Free, Copper‐Catalyzed O‐Arylation Under Microwave Heating
Authors: Choi Sung Min , Byeon Jeong Seob , Yum Eul Kgun
Published: August 2020

Diverse O‐arylated pyrrolo[2,3‐d]pyrimidine and pyrrolo[2,3‐b]pyridine were obtained using relatively low amounts of Cu catalyst with ligand‐free conditions under microwave heating. The O‐arylation reaction could be applied to less oxidative heteroaryl‐chlorides. The microwave‐assisted Cu‐catalyzed O‐aryaltion would be useful for preparing potent bioactive compounds for drug discovery while reducing waste, time, and saving energy.
Systematization for female genital anatomic variations
Authors: Makiyan Zograb
Published: August 2020

Introduction

Congenital variations of the reproductive system arise during embryonal organogenesis, although their clinical manifestations present later in adolescence or during reproductive years due to functional disorders such as abnormal menstruation, sexual dysfunction, infertility, and pregnancy loss. Surgical treatment of congenital variations is performed according to variant anatomy and functional disorders. However, many congenital anatomic variations are difficult to categorize based on current classification systems. The aim of this study is to distinguish female genital anatomic variations for appropriate surgical treatment based on a clinical analysis of uterovaginal malformations and disorders of sex development. The deviant anatomy defined as variations, which has been used in the manuscript instead of anomalies.

Materials and methods

A retrospective review was conducted of 718 cases of uterovaginal malformation and 144 cases with disorders of sex development. Physical variations were assessed by ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, and laparoscopy. Genetic studies were conducted for individuals with disorders of sex development. Classification of variants was determined by physical findings, genetic findings, and clinical presentations.

Results

A unified systematization for female genital anatomic variations was proposed, based on the genome (karyotype), gonadal morphology, internal and external genital anatomy. The internal anatomy was classified to uterovaginal variations, which have distinguished to 11 basic types and 24 variants, according to morphologic patterns. Surgical treatments are proposed based on these variants.

Conclusion

These new classifications provide a framework for clinical management and appropriate surgical treatment of female genital anatomic variants, with the aim of improving reproductive outcomes.
Manage student speech in virtual classrooms rife with disrupters, remote intruders
Authors: Porter Michael
Published: August 2020

While online remote instruction has been a staple at many institutions in recent years, by no means did a critical mass of faculty members have to use remote platforms for instruction. Moreover, much of the existing online instruction had been specifically designed to be online — as opposed to an attempt to replace or replicate in‐class lectures and discussions.
Cell‐Free Exploration of the Natural Product Chemical Space
Authors: Bogart Jonathan W. , Cabezas Maria D. , Vögeli Bastian , Wong Derek A. , Karim Ashty S. , Jewett Michael C.
Published: August 2020

Natural products and secondary metabolites comprise an indispensable resource from living organisms that have transformed areas of medicine, agriculture, and biotechnology. Recent advances in high‐throughput DNA sequencing and computational analysis suggest that the vast majority of natural products remain undiscovered. To accelerate the natural product discovery pipeline, cell‐free metabolic engineering approaches used to develop robust catalytic networks are being repurposed to access new chemical scaffolds, and new enzymes capable of performing diverse chemistries. Such enzymes could serve as flexible biocatalytic tools to further expand the unique chemical space of natural products and secondary metabolites, and provide a more sustainable route to manufacture these molecules. Herein, we highlight select examples of natural product biosynthesis using cell‐free systems and propose how cell‐free technologies could facilitate our ability to access and modify these structures to transform synthetic and chemical biology.
Effects of ethanol modified supercritical carbon dioxide extraction and particle size on the physical, chemical, and functional properties of yellow pea flour
Authors: Vatansever Serap , Rao Jiajia , Hall Clifford
Published: August 2020

Background and objectives

Supercritical carbon dioxide + ethanol (SC‐CO2 + EtOH) extraction was previously found to improve organoleptic attributes of yellow pea (Pisum sativum L.) flour. However, the impact of this extraction, in combination with different flour particle sizes, on physical, chemical, and functional properties of yellow pea flour was not established and is thus the focus of this study.

Findings

The interaction effect between SC‐CO2 + EtOH extraction and yellow pea flour particle size lead to differences in physical, chemical, and functional properties. Extraction caused reductions in most chemical constituents and a lowering of functionality test values such as pasting viscosities. Variable impacts of particle size on flour composition and functionality were observed.

Conclusion

The impacts of particle size on functionality were anticipated. The degree of differences in functionality between extracted and nonextracted yellow pea flour was not anticipated. Scanning electron micrographs supported protein‐rich particle adherence to the surface of starch granules of extracted pea flour. This observed modification may be responsible for differences in functionality between extracted and nonextracted flours.

Significance and novelty

The SC‐CO2 + EtOH extraction method combined with particle size can be an effective method to modify the functionality of yellow pea flour and ultimately diversifying its application in food systems.
Relapse of acute myocarditis associated with Campylobacter jejuni enterocolitis
Authors: Yaita Shizuka , Tago Masaki , Hisata Yoshio , Fujiwara Motoshi , Yamashita Shu‐ichi
Published: August 2020

Chest pain in a patient with Campylobacter jejuni infection may be caused by acute myocarditis associated with C jejuni infection. Because the myocarditis associated with C jejuni infection can recur, careful follow‐up is required even after the improvement of chest pain and electrocardiography abnormalities.
Zinc Oxide Morphology‐Dependent Pd/ZnO Catalysis in Base‐Free CO2 Hydrogenation into Formic Acid
Authors: Zhang Jing , Fan Liping , Zhao Feiyue , Fu Yanghe , Lu Ji‐Qing , Zhang Zhenhua , Teng Botao , Huang Weixin
Published: August 2020

Pd/ZnO catalysts with ca. 2 wt.% Pd loading employing ZnO nanocrystals with various morphologies as supports, including ZnO nanoplates (p−ZnO) predominantly exposing polar {002} facets, ZnO nanorods (r−ZnO) predominantly exposing nonpolar {100} and {101} facets, and commercial ZnO (c−ZnO) exposing random facets, have been prepared as catalysts for the catalytic reaction of CO2 hydrogenation into formic acid (FA) without the addition of base under mild conditions. A remarkable morphology‐dependence of zinc oxide in the Pd/ZnO catalysts was observed. Catalytic activities of various Pd/ZnO catalysts in CO2 hydrogenation into FA follow an order of Pd/r−ZnO>Pd/p−ZnO>Pd/c−ZnO, and all the catalysts are stable. Kinetic study, CO2‐TPD analysis, and in situ DRIFTS spectra provide evidence that all the Pd/ZnO catalysts follow a similar catalytic mechanism that CO2 activation is the rate‐determining step. Consequently, r−ZnO, possessing a higher density of weak basic sites than p−ZnO and c−ZnO, can act as a superb support to prepare Pd/r−ZnO catalyst, which is more active than Pd/p−ZnO and Pd/c−ZnO catalysts for the production of FA. These findings nicely demonstrate the crystal‐plane engineering of the metal oxide support in tuning the catalytic performance of Pd‐based catalysts for CO2 hydrogenation into FA.
Self‐assembly synthesis of monodisperse BiVO4 nanosphere via a hybrid strategy for photoelectrochemical water splitting
Authors: Wang Lu , Su Jinzhan , Guo Liejin
Published: August 2020

Monodisperse semiconductor sphere holds great potential for a wide variety of application as a basic building block. Herein a binary oxide, BiVO4, with highly uniform monodisperse nanosphere of 125 nm diameter was primarily synthesized via a hybrid method with PVP assisted in organic solvent. After investigating the function of PVP and the emergence of esterification in solvent, we proposed a formation mechanism of amorphous BiVO4 nanosphere, including the precipitation of BiVO4 clusters in reverse micelles and the self‐assembly aggregation of BiVO4 clusters to be BiVO4 nanospheres. The generated water in esterification provides a nanoreactor to precipitate BiVO4 cluster, in return, the precipitation by using water catalyzes the process of esterification in ethanol with acetic acid. This hybrid reaction of inorganic BiVO4 precipitate and organic esterification opens a novel avenue to couple nano inorganic chemistry with organic dehydration synthesis, achieving green chemistry for sustainable development. Furthermore, highly efficient nanoporous BiVO4 photoanodes composed of BiVO4 nanospheres for water splitting were obtained using a simple drop‐casting method and optimized for their photocurrent density by calcination temperatures. This hybrid reaction strategy could be applied to synthesize other semiconductors with nanosphere toward novel low‐cost structures and devices.
Pyrene‐Thiol‐modified Pd Nanoparticles on Carbon Support: Kinetic Control by Steric Hinderance and Improved Stability by the Catalyst‐Support Interaction
Authors: Yoshii Takeharu , Umemoto Daiki , Yamamoto Masanori , Kuwahara Yasutaka , Nishihara Hirotomo , Mori Kohsuke , Kyotani Takashi , Yamashita Hiromi
Published: August 2020

Aerobic oxidative dehydrogenation of amines to imines by thiol‐modified Pd nanoparticle (NP) catalysts on carbon supports is reported herein. Whereas conventional non‐modified Pd NP catalysts are nearly inactive, the carbon‐supported Pd catalysts modified with thiol ligands efficiently catalyze the reaction with high selectivity. Kinetic studies and DFT calculations reveal that the rate‐limiting imine product desorption step is significantly boosted on the thiol ligands‐modified Pd surface compared to the non‐modified Pd surface due to the steric hindrance of the ligands. Furthermore, the catalytic activity is dramatically enhanced in the presence of both pyrene‐functionalized thiol modifiers and graphene‐based carbon supports; 96 % conversion is attained after 4 h at 110 °C. The π–π interactions between pyrene groups and the highly crystallized carbon surface suppress the leaching of ligands, which offers improved catalyst stability even under O2 atmosphere at 110 °C, thereby resulting in high activity.
Design of modular concrete heliostats using symmetry reduction methods
Authors: Forman Patrick , Penkert Sebastian , Mark Peter , Schnell Jürgen
Published: August 2020

In Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plants the incident solar radiation is focused onto a receiver by means of collectors. A fluid is heated up and in a downstream power block electricity is generated. In point‐focusing solar towers, the solar concentration is achieved by so‐called heliostats that are arranged to a solar field. In this contribution, the development of concrete heliostats with circular shapes and an aperture area of 30 m2 is presented. A high‐performance concrete with high tensile and compressive strength values is used. The circular structure is dissolved into identical but symmetrically reduced modules derived from system reduction methods. For designing, the tensile strength of the concrete is restrictive to ensure linear‐elastic material behavior and to avoid softening by cracking. After dimensioning, the derived equivalent plate is converted into strut‐like structures possessing equal stiffnesses with respect to the partial module size. These modules are circularly post‐tensioned to form a heliostat. Numerical investigations of the modules prove their accuracy. A full solar concentration, that is, the reflected solar radiation is completely focused on the receiver, is achieved. Due to the multitude of modules within a solar field, serial production with integrated quality control is recommended.
The crack propagation velocity as a reason for the strain rate effect of concrete: An analytical model
Authors: Mosig Oliver , Curbach Manfred
Published: August 2020

An analytical model is presented in this paper which, based on the maximum crack velocity, provides a hypothesis for one of the reasons of the increase in tensile strength of concrete under high loading rates. Due to the fact that the formation of cracks needs a certain time to pass through the cross section and not happens suddenly, stresses can still be transmitted over the remaining uncracked cross section during this time. The hypothesis is that at high loading rates, the increase in externally induced stresses can be greater than the decrease in the load‐bearing cross‐sectional area due to limited crack propagation velocity, which results in an externally measurable increase in strength. This measured strength increase depends on the stress distribution in the crack plane. In this paper two variants of this stress distribution during the failure process are described, and their effect on the increase in strength is mathematically evaluated.
Stimuli‐Responsive Resorcin[4]arene Cavitands: Toward Visible‐Light‐Activated Molecular Grippers
Authors: García‐López Víctor , Zalibera Michal , Trapp Nils , Kuss‐Petermann Martin , Wenger Oliver S. , Diederich François
Published: August 2020

Resorcin[4]arene cavitands, equipped with diverse quinone (Q) and [Ru(bpy)2dppz]2+ (bpy=2,2′‐bipyridine, dppz=dipyrido[3,2‐a:2′,3′‐c]phenazine) photosensitizing walls in different configurations, were synthesized. Upon visible‐light irradiation at 420 nm, electron transfer from the [Ru(bpy)2dppz]2+ to the Q generates the semiquinone (SQ) radical anion, triggering a large conformational switching from a flat kite to a vase with a cavity for the encapsulation of small guests, such as cyclohexane and heteroalicyclic derivatives, in CD3CN. Depending on the molecular design, the SQ radical anion can live for several minutes (≈10 min) and the vase can be generated in a secondary process without need for addition of a sacrificial electron donor to accumulate the SQ state. Switching can also be triggered by other stimuli, such as changes in solvent, host–guest complexation, and chemical and electrochemical processes. This comprehensive investigation benefits the development of stimuli‐responsive nanodevices, such as light‐activated molecular grippers.
UV‐Induced 1,3,4‐Oxadiazole Formation from 5‐Substituted Tetrazoles and Carboxylic Acids in Flow
Authors: Green Luke , Livingstone Keith , Bertrand Sophie , Peace Simon , Jamieson Craig
Published: August 2020

A range of 1,3,4‐oxadiazoles have been synthesized using a UV‐B activated flow approach starting from carboxylic acids and 5‐substituted tetrazoles. The application of UV light represents an attractive alternative to the traditional thermolytic approach and has demonstrated comparable efficiency and versatility, with a diverse substrate scope, including the incorporation of highly substituted amino acids.
Phosphorescent κ3‐(N^C^C)‐Gold(III) Complexes: Synthesis, Photophysics, Computational Studies and Application to Solution‐Processable OLEDs
Authors: Beucher Hélène , Kumar Sudhir , Kumar Roopender , Merino Estíbaliz , Hu Wei‐Hsu , Stemmler Gerrit , Cuesta‐Galisteo Sergio , González Jorge A. , Bezinge Léonard , Jagielski Jakub , Shih Chih‐Jen , Nevado Cristina
Published: August 2020

Efficient OLED devices have been fabricated using organometallic complexes of platinum group metals. Still, the high material cost and low stability represent central challenges for their application in commercial display technologies. Based on its innate stability, gold(III) complexes are emerging as promising candidates for high‐performance OLEDs. Here, a series of alkynyl‐, N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC)‐ and aryl‐gold(III) complexes stabilized by a κ3‐(N^C^C) template have been prepared and their photophysical properties have been characterized in detail. These compounds exhibit good photoluminescence quantum efficiency (ηPL) of up to 33 %. The PL emission can be tuned from sky‐blue to yellowish green colors by variations on both the ancillary ligands as well as on the pincer template. Further, solution‐processable OLED devices based on some of these complexes display remarkable emissive properties (ηCE 46.6 cd.A−1 and ηext 14.0 %), thus showcasing the potential of these motifs for the low‐cost fabrication of display and illumination technologies.
Low Valent Palladium Clusters: Synthesis, Structures and Catalytic Applications
Authors: Liu Qian , Zhao Liang
Published: August 2020

As one of the most common transition metal catalysts, mononuclear palladium catalysts have been developed systematically and a widely recognized catalytic mechanism featured with a Pd0/PdII catalytic cycle for a palladium center has been proposed. However, recent research works have revealed that palladium clusters may also be catalysts or catalytic intermediates involved in the catalytic processes. This major discovery brings new perspectives for a deep and comprehensive understanding of the Pd‐catalyzed reaction mechanisms. Combining with the latest advances in the field of organometallic chemistry, we here highlight the synthesis, structures, and catalytic reactivities of palladium cluster compounds. This review discusses several well‐defined synthetic strategies and diverse palladium cluster‐based catalytic systems in detail, to provide insights into the rational design of promising palladium cluster catalysts and the effective search for appropriate synthetic methods.
Bilateral lung cancer showing various responses to immune checkpoint inhibitors: A case report
Authors: Kodama Hiroaki , Ibe Tatsuya , Inoue Rentaro , Shimada Tetsuya , Ishii Hisashi , Hamamoto Yoichiro
Published: August 2020

Background

Combination immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy has become the mainstay in cancer treatment, and the various antitumor effects of ICIs are being observed. Synchronous multiple primary lung cancers (SMPLCs), which simultaneously involve tumors of different histologies, are often encountered in clinical settings. In standard lung cancer treatment, an anticancer drug, usually a platinum‐based drug, is administered, and this first treatment provides some antitumor effect. Thus, the initial administration of platinum‐based anticancer agent may mask the detection of SMPLCs. The following case represents different antitumor effects on two different primary lung lesions during treatment with ICIs.

Case presentation

A 72‐year‐old man was referred to our hospital for an abnormal chest shadow, and computed tomography showed masses in the left lower and right upper lungs. Transbronchial lung biopsy from the left lung tumor revealed an adenocarcinoma. Following the administration of pembrolizumab (200 mg/body over 3 weeks) as monotherapy, the tumor in the left lung rapidly reduced in size. However, the tumor in the right upper lung continued to grow. Finally, his disease was diagnosed as SMPLCs of adenocarcinoma and small cell lung cancer.

Conclusion

Bilateral lung lesions considered to be intrapulmonary metastases have completely different responses to ICI treatment. It is necessary to consider a diagnosis of SMPLCs if lesions with different responses to antitumor therapy are observed.
Adaptive message passing polling for energy efficiency: Application to software‐distributed shared memory over heterogeneous computing resources
Authors: Cudennec Loïc
Published: August 2020

Autonomous vehicles, smart manufacturing, heterogeneous systems, and new high‐performance embedded computing (HPEC) applications can benefit from the reuse of code coming from the high‐performance computing world. However, unlike for HPC, energy efficiency is critical in embedded systems, especially when running on battery power. Code base from HPC mostly relies on the message passing interface (MPI) message passing runtime to deal with distributed systems. MPI has been designed primarily for performance and not for energy efficiency. One drawback is the way messages are received, in an energy‐consuming busy‐wait fashion. In this work, we study a simple approach in which receiving processes are put to sleep instead of constantly polling. We implement this strategy at the user level to be transparent to the MPI runtime and the application. Experiments are conducted with OpenMPI, MPICH, and MPC, using a video processing application and a software‐distributed shared memory system deployed over two heterogeneous platforms, including the Christmann RECS|Box Antares Microserver. Results show significant energy savings. In some particular cases involving process colocation, we also observe better performance using our strategy which can be explained by a better sharing of the computing resource.
Ionic Liquids as Extractants for Nanoplastics
Authors: Elfgen Roman , Gehrke Sascha , Hollóczki Oldamur
Published: August 2020

Plastic waste in the ocean and on land in the form of nanoplastics is endangering food and drinking water supplies, raising the need for new strategies for the removal of plastic nanoparticles from complex media. In the present contribution we suggest considering ionic liquids as extractants, since they show several advantageous properties that may facilitate the design of efficient separation processes. Through varying the anion and the side chain at the cation, the interactions between the extractant and the polymer can be strengthened and tuned, and thereby the disintegration of the particle into separate polymer chains can be controlled. Oxidized moieties can also be efficiently solvated, given the amphiphilic nature of the considered ionic liquids, allowing also realistic particles to be extracted into these solvents. The phase transfer was found to be thermodynamically and kinetically possible, which is supported by the complicated structure of the ionic liquid‐water interface through the rearrangement of the interfacial ions, and the formation of a micelle around the plastic already at the edge of the aqueous phase.
Assessment of prenatal stress‐related cortisol exposure: focus on cortisol accumulation in hair and nails
Authors: Meyer Jerrold S. , Novak Melinda A.
Published: August 2020

Prenatal stress adversely affects offspring development. Although cortisol is hypothesized to be a key mediator of stress‐induced developmental deficits, determining the amount of fetal cortisol exposure produced by maternal stress has proved challenging. Current approaches, such as measuring cortisol concentrations in maternal plasma, saliva, or urine, amniotic fluid, fetal plasma, or cord blood, all have significant limitations for assessing cumulative fetal cortisol exposure over time. A recently emerging approach is to measure cortisol concentrations in maternal hair and/or newborn hair or nail samples. Maternal hair cortisol potentially shows long‐term production across each trimester of pregnancy, whereas neonatal hair or nail cortisol is thought to reflect mainly third trimester hormone accumulation. This review first describes fetal adrenocortical development, placental cortisol metabolism, and the various sources of fetal cortisol exposure across pregnancy. We then summarize the results obtained from "classical" methods of assessing prenatal cortisol exposure prior to the advent of hair and nail cortisol measurement. Lastly, we discuss the initial development and validation of the hair cortisol methodology, its subsequent application to studies of chronic stress, and recent findings regarding maternal and neonatal hair or nail cortisol concentrations in relation to prenatal stress and other variables of interest.
Intron with transgenic marker (InTraM) facilitates high‐throughput screening of endogenous gene reporter lines
Authors: Collins Russell T. , Coxam Baptiste , Fechner Ines , Unterweger Iris , Szymborska Anna , Meier Katja , Gerhardt Holger
Published: August 2020

The generation and maintenance of genome edited zebrafish lines is typically labor intensive due to the lack of an easy visual read‐out for the modification. To facilitate this process, we have developed a novel method that relies on the inclusion of an artificial intron with a transgenic marker (InTraM) within the knock‐in sequence of interest, which upon splicing produces a transcript with a precise and seamless modification. We have demonstrated this technology by replacing the stop codon of the zebrafish fli1a gene with a transcriptional activator KALTA4, using an InTraM that enables red fluorescent protein expression in the heart.
Competition from sea to mountain: Interactions and aggregation in low‐diversity monogenean and endohelminth communities in twospot livebearerPseudoxiphophorus bimaculatus(Teleostei: Poeciliidae) populations in a neotropical river
Authors: Salgado‐Maldonado Guillermo , Caspeta‐Mandujano Juan Manuel , Mendoza‐Franco Edgar F. , Rubio‐Godoy Miguel , García‐Vásquez Adriana , Mercado‐Silva Norman , Guzmán‐Valdivieso Ismael , Matamoros Wilfredo A.
Published: August 2020

The role of interspecific interactions in structuring low‐diversity helminth communities is a controversial topic in parasite ecology research. Most parasitic communities of fish are species‐poor; thus, interspecific interactions are believed to be unimportant in structuring these communities.

We explored the factors that might contribute to the richness and coexistence of helminth parasites of a poeciliid fish in a neotropical river.

Repeatability of community structure was examined in parasitic communities among 11 populations of twospot livebearerPseudoxiphophorus bimaculatusin the La Antigua River basin, Veracruz, Mexico. We examined the species saturation of parasitic communities and explored the patterns of species co‐occurrence. We also quantified the associations between parasitic species pairs and analyzed the correlations between helminth species abundance to look for repeated patterns among the study populations.

Our results suggest that interspecific competition could occur in species‐poor communities, aggregation plays a role in determining local richness, and intraspecific aggregation allows the coexistence of species by reducing the overall intensity of interspecific competition.