bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Flexible Magnetoelectrical Devices with Intrinsic Magnetism and Electrical Conductivity
Authors: Dai Wenting , Xu Hang , Zhang Chaonan , Li Ya , Pan Huizhuo , Wang Hanjie , Wei Gaofeng , Huang Xian
Published: May 2019

Development of flexible magnetoelectrical (ME) electronics has encountered huge challenges due to mechanical mismatch, environmental instability, and the weak electrical conductivity of extremely hard neodymium iron boron materials. A series of techniques involving mechanical milling, core–shell structure synthesis, printing electronics, and photonic sintering are developed to achieve composite materials and flexible ME devices demonstrated as sensors, circuit components, printed circuit boards circuits, and interfaces. These devices, which are mechanically compatible with the demands of flexible electronics, offer both excellent magnetism (coercivity >2800 Oe) and electrical conductivity (>41743 S m−1), allowing novel functions and simplified design that benefit from the coexistence and interaction of magnetic and electrical fields. These materials, devices, and process techniques serve as additions to the existing flexible‐electronics framework, and may also inspire development of more innovative ME devices and applications in biology, healthcare, industry, and consumer electronics.
Tailoring the Local Conductivity of TiO2 by X‐Ray Nanobeam Irradiation
Authors: Mino Lorenzo , Bonino Valentina , Picollo Federico , Fretto Matteo , Agostino Angelo , Truccato Marco
Published: May 2019

It is well known that intense synchrotron beams can alter the state of materials, but this effect is generally considered undesired radiation damage. The effect of local irradiation of TiO2 rutile single crystals is investigated by a 56 × 57 nm2 synchrotron X‐ray nanobeam at 17.4 keV. Aside from a transient increase of conductivity due to a photovoltaic‐like process, a nonvolatile localized change of resistance by about 4 orders of magnitude is measured after X‐ray exposure. This effect can be ascribed to the local generation of oxygen vacancies by the X‐ray nanoprobe, which are subsequently ordered by the electric field applied during the acquisition of I–V curves. These results demonstrate that intense synchrotron beams can create oxygen vacancies in materials with tightly bound oxygen atoms, highlighting that X‐ray nanoprobes could become an effective tool for oxide nanofabrication, able to locally tune the material resistivity. For instance, since the localized presence and migration of oxygen vacancies is an essential requisite for redox‐based memristive devices, the possibility to locally induce oxygen vacancies could represent a novel tool for the production of oxide‐based memristive devices, replacing the problematic electroforming step.
Design of Mixed‐Cation Tri‐Layered Pb‐Free Halide Perovskites for Optoelectronic Applications
Authors: Liu Zhun , Zhao Xingang , Zunger Alex , Zhang Lijun
Published: May 2019

To eliminate the toxic Pb2+ cation in hybrid halide perovskites, M′3+ cations of Bi/Sb‐based layered halide perovskites are being increasingly investigated for optoelectronic applications. However, such M′3+ trivalent cations constrain the face‐sharing bioctahedral or the bi‐layered perovskites required to meet the charge neutrality condition. This usually gives rise to oversized indirect bandgaps and inferior carrier transport. Recent experiment suggested a mixed‐cation tri‐layered halide perovskite can be obtained by sandwiching a [Cu2+X6]4− layer between Sb3+ perovskite bilayers along the polar [111] planes with cation ordering. A material design of mixed‐cation <111>‐oriented tri‐layered Pb‐free halide perovskite A4MM′2X12 is studied by a computational screening of various combinations of M2+ cations (e.g., Zn2+, Sn2+) and M′3+ cations (e.g., Bi3+, Sb3+). The thermodynamic stability of the candidate materials is systemically evaluated with respect to potential decomposition pathways and a series of stable compounds is synthesized. These results further indicate the chemical trend of electronic structure and how octahedral tilting coupling with charge ordering affects electronic properties. A protocol for engineering A4MM′2X12 perovskites with optimized structures and electronic properties by exploiting octahedral tilting coupling with charge ordering in the polar <111> layered perovskites is established.
Nonvolatile Electric Control of Exchange Bias by a Redox Transformation of the Ferromagnetic Layer
Authors: Zehner Jonas , Huhnstock Rico , Oswald Steffen , Wolff Ulrike , Soldatov Ivan , Ehresmann Arno , Nielsch Kornelius , Holzinger Dennis , Leistner Karin
Published: May 2019

Electric manipulation of exchange bias (EB) systems is highly attractive for the development of modern spintronic and magnetophoretic devices. To date, electric control of the EB has mainly been based on multiferroic or resistive switching behavior in specific antiferromagnets, which limits the material choice and accessible EB states. In addition, the effects are mostly volatile, requiring constant voltage application. The continuous and nonvolatile tuning of the EB via electrochemical manipulation of the ferromagnetic layer is presented. In FeOx/Fe/IrMn systems, large changes in the EB field of fully shifted magnetization curves are achieved at low voltage (<1 V) and room temperature. A ferromagnetic‐layer thickness change resulting from the electrochemical reduction of iron oxide to iron is proposed as the underlying mechanism and is consistent with a simple model for the EB and surface analysis. Nonvolatility is achieved as the reduction proceeds at the buried FeOx/Fe interface, leaving the remaining oxide as a protective layer. A lateral voltage‐controlled patterning of the EB fields and magnetic domain state is demonstrated. This versatile redox‐based electric control of the EB paves a new route for the design of EB systems in general and for the development of future electrically controlled EB devices.
Conductive, Solution‐Processed Dioxythiophene Copolymers for Thermoelectric and Transparent Electrode Applications
Authors: Ponder James F. , Menon Akanksha K. , Dasari Raghunath R. , Pittelli Sandra L. , Thorley Karl J. , Yee Shannon K. , Marder Seth R. , Reynolds John R.
Published: May 2019

Conjugated polymers with high electrical conductivities are attractive for applications in capacitors, biosensors, organic thermoelectrics, and transparent electrodes. Here, a series of solution processable dioxythiophene copolymers based on 3,4‐propylenedioxythiophene (ProDOT) and 3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) is investigated as thermoelectric and transparent electrode materials. Through structural manipulation of the polymer repeat unit, the conductivity of the polymers upon oxidative solution doping is tuned from 1 × 10−3 to 3 S cm−1, with a polymer consisting of a solubilizing alkylated ProDOT unit and an electron‐rich biEDOT unit (referred to as PE2) showing the highest electrical conductivity. Optimization of the film casting method and screening of dopants result in AgPF6‐doped PE2 achieving a high electrical conductivity of over 250 S cm−1 and a thermoelectric power factor of 7 μW m−1 K−2. Oxidized spray cast films of PE2 are also assessed as a transparent electrode material for use with another electrochromic polymer. This bilayer shows reversible electrochemical switching from a colored charge‐neutral state to a highly transmissive color‐neutral, oxidized state. These results demonstrate that dioxythiophene‐based copolymers are a promising class of materials, with ProDOT–biEDOT serving as a soluble analog to the well‐studied PEDOT as a p‐type thermoelectric and electrode material.
Strategies Toward Stable Nonaqueous Alkali Metal–O2 Batteries
Authors: Zhang Wang , Huang Yang , Liu Ying , Wang Lei , Chou Shulei , Liu Huakun
Published: May 2019

Alkali metal–O2 batteries, by coupling high‐capacity alkali metal anodes with gaseous oxygen, possess extremely high gravimetric energy density that is comparable to gasoline and are potential energy storage technologies beyond lithium–ion batteries. The development of alkali metal–O2 batteries has achieved great progress in recent years, from materials to prototype devices and on fundamental mechanisms. The stability of alkali metal–O2 batteries is still poor, however, leading to a huge gap between laboratory research and commercial applications. A series of parasitic reactions result in the instability, which occur during electrochemical discharging and charging. The ubiquitous active oxygen species attack both the organic electrolyte and the carbon cathode, triggering various parasitic reactions. Meanwhile, dendrite growth and volume expansion upon repeated plating/stripping and O2 crossover severely limit the reversibility of alkali metal anodes. Here, an overview of the strategies against these issues is given to improve the stability of nonaqueous alkali metal–O2 batteries, which is discussed from three aspects: air cathodes, alkali metal anodes, and aprotic electrolytes. Furthermore, perspectives for future research of stable alkali metal–O2 batteries are outlined.
Bystander Response to Sexual Assault Disclosures in the U.S. Military: Encouraging Survivors to use Formal Resources
Authors: Holland Kathryn J. , Cipriano Allison E.
Published: May 2019

Highlights

U.S. Military Service members’ intentions to encourage sexual assault survivors to use resources.

Rank, gender, and experience of sexual assault predict bystander intentions.

Sexual assault training, unit leader response, and service barriers predict bystander intentions.

Individual characteristics and institutional climate shape bystander response to disclosures.
First evidence of a therapeutic effect of miransertib in a teenager with Proteus syndrome and ovarian carcinoma
Authors: Leoni Chiara , Gullo Giuseppe , Resta Nicoletta , Fagotti Anna , Onesimo Roberta , Schwartz Brian , Kazakin Julia , Abbadessa Giovanni , Crown John , Collins Conor D. , Ranieri Carlotta , Scambia Giovanni , Zampino Giuseppe
Published: May 2019

Proteus syndrome (PS) is an ultra‐rare disease characterized by progressive, disproportionate, segmental overgrowth caused by a somatic gain‐of‐function mutation p.Glu17Lys in the oncogene AKT1. The disease has high morbidity and mortality rates due to the increased risk for patients to develop cancer and progressive overgrowth. A teenage patient with severe PS phenotype developed a pelvic recurrence of low‐grade serous ovarian carcinoma (LGSOC). Taking into consideration, recent results of the use of AKT inhibitors both in PS and AKT‐mutant cancers, we treated the patient on a compassionate basis, with miransertib (ARQ 092), a potent, selective, allosteric AKT inhibitor. Targeted deep sequencing assay of PI3K/AKT pathway genes of the affected overgrowth lesion (cerebriform connective tissue nevus) and the tumor tissues detected the same activating AKT1 mutation in both. Treatment with miransertib led to a complete remission of the cancer and a significant improvement in the patients' everyday life. The treatment is still ongoing at 22 months. This is the first report showing the therapeutic effects of an AKT inhibitor on both benign and malignant tissues that harbor the same pathogenic AKT1 mutation. The present article showed that personalized medicine is feasible in ultra‐rare diseases.
Preparation of a Chiral Building Block by an Organocatalytic Asymmetric Intramolecular Michael Reaction
Authors: Sato Yusuke , Hosoya Yosuke , Kobayashi Ikumi , Adachi Kyohei , Nakada Masahisa
Published: May 2019

The preparation of a chiral building block, including a stereodiad consisting of two tertiary stereogenic centers, by a highly enantioselective organocatalytic intramolecular Michael reaction is described. The use of a chiral secondary‐amine‐bearing thiourea substituted with a para‐nitrophenyl group in the presence of benzoic acid is key to preparing the chiral building block in high yield and excellent enantioselectivity. The prepared chiral building block has both aldehyde and nitro groups, allowing a variety of functional‐group transformations necessary for the total synthesis of atisane‐type terpenoids.
Substantially enhancing the catalytic performance of bis(imino)pyridylcobaltous chloride pre‐catalysts adorned with benzhydryl and nitro groups for ethylene polymerization
Authors: Mahmood Qaiser , Ma Yanping , Hao Xiang , Sun Wen‐Hua
Published: May 2019

Variations in the ligand structure of homogeneous late transition metal catalysts through judicious choice and location of substituent is the foremost strategy in improving their catalytic performance for ethylene polymerization. In this contribution, symmetrical and unsymmetrical bis(imino)pyridylcobaltous chloride complexes adorned with nitro and benzhydryl groups {2‐[1‐(2,6‐dibenzhydryl‐4‐nitrophenylimino)ethyl]‐6‐[1‐(alkylphenylimino)ethyl]pyridylcobaltous chloride (alkyl: R1 = Me and R2 = H, Co1; R1 = Et and R2 = H, Co2; R1 = iPr and R2 = H, Co3; R1 and R2 = Me, Co4; R1 = Et and R2 = Me, Co5; R1 = benzhydryl and R2 = NO2, Co6)} have been prepared and applied as catalysts for ethylene polymerization. The molecular structure of Co1 and Co2 revealed the unequal steric protection of the cobalt center induced by bis(imino)pyridine chelate. In the presence of methylaluminoxane (MAO) or modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO) activators at different ethylene feeding rates (1 and 10 atm), catalysts Co1–Co5 displayed high activities at 10 atm ethylene and produced strictly linear polyethylene (PE) with high molecular weight, Co2/MMAO being the most highly active catalytic system showing the highest activity of 9.41 × 106 g of PE (mol of Co)−1 h−1 which is three times higher than that of prototypal cobalt catalyst (Co0) under identical conditions. Moreover, high melt temperature and unimodal molecular weight distribution are the characteristics of the resulting polyethylene.
Biofabrication of iron oxide nanoparticles by leaf extract of Rhamnus virgata: Characterization and evaluation of cytotoxic, antimicrobial and antioxidant potentials
Authors: Abbasi Banzeer Ahsan , Iqbal Javed , Mahmood Tariq , Qyyum Abdul , Kanwal Sobia
Published: May 2019

In the present study, plant‐mediated synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) using leaves extract of Rhamnus virgata (Roxb.) as a potential stabilizing, reducing and chelating agent is reported. The biogenic IONPs are extensively characterized for their physical and biological properties. The morphology, structure and physicochemical properties of biogenic IONPs were characterized using ultraviolet spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform‐infrared analysis, scanning electron microscopy, energy‐dispersive spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering. The Scherrer equation deduced a mean crystallite size of ~20 nm for IONPs. Detailed in vitro biological activities revealed significant therapeutic potentials for IONPs. Potential antibacterial and antifungal activities are reported for IONPs. Bioinspired IONPs have shown potential results against HepG2 cells (IC50: 13.47 μg/ml). Dose‐dependent cytotoxicity assays were revealed against Leishmania tropica (KMH23) promastigotes (IC50: 8.08 μg/ml) and amastigotes (IC50: 20.82 μg/ml) using different concentrations of IONPs (1–200 μg/ml). The cytotoxic activity was also studied using brine shrimps, and their IC50 value was calculated as 32.41 μg/ml. Significant antioxidant [TAC (51.4%), DPPH (79.4%) and total reducing power (62%)], protein kinase and alpha amylase inhibition assays were revealed. The biocompatibility assays using red blood cells (> 200 μg/ml) and macrophages (> 200 μg/ml) confirmed the biosafe nature of IONPs. In conclusion, bioinspired IONPs have shown potential biological applications and should be subjected to further research work to develop their nano‐pharmacological relevance in biomedical applications.
Preparation and characterization of one‐component polyurethane powder adhesives by the solution polymerization technology
Authors: Sun Mingfen , Ren Xiue , Zhang Jianhui , Zhang Xiaoming , Wang Hongyan
Published: May 2019

A new technology integrating the synthesis and granulation was adopted to prepare the one‐component polyurethane powder adhesives (PPAs) by the solution polymerization. The influence of Rtotal, neutralization, and types of dispersion solution on the properties of PPAs was investigated. It was found that the initial melting temperature increased and storage stability decreased with increasing Rtotal. The neutralization reaction between the carboxylic group and amino group made the reduction of the sizing temperature and the increase of the T‐peel adhesion strength. The granulation behaviors of the polyurethane (PU) prepolymer under different dispersion solutions showed that the PU prepolymer can be effectively blocked by the 20–30 wt % NaHSO3 or n‐butyl alcohol. Furthermore, the blocked polymers formed small particles with the ideal sizing temperature and peel strength. The excellent adhesive property and thermal stability of PPAs could meet the requirements of the industrial gluing in the fields of packaging, lining, and footwear. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47898.
Personalization in text information retrieval: A survey
Authors: Liu Jingjing , Liu Chang , Belkin Nicholas J.
Published: May 2019

Personalization of information retrieval (PIR) is aimed at tailoring a search toward individual users and user groups by taking account of additional information about users besides their queries. In the past two decades or so, PIR has received extensive attention in both academia and industry. This article surveys the literature of personalization in text retrieval, following a framework for aspects or factors that can be used for personalization. The framework consists of additional information about users that can be explicitly obtained by asking users for their preferences, or implicitly inferred from users' search behaviors. Users' characteristics and contextual factors such as tasks, time, location, etc., can be helpful for personalization. This article also addresses various issues including when to personalize, the evaluation of PIR, privacy, usability, etc. Based on the extensive review, challenges are discussed and directions for future effort are suggested.
Dynamic Modulation of Supramolecular Chirality Driven by Factors from Internal to External Levels
Authors: Yue Bingbing , Zhu Liangliang
Published: May 2019

Supramolecular chirality, generated by the asymmetric assembly of chiral or achiral molecules, has attracted intense study owing to its potential to offer insights into natural biological structures and its crucial roles in advanced materials. The optical activity and stacking pathway of building molecules both greatly determine the chirality of the whole supramolecular structure. The flexibility of supramolecular structures makes their chirality easy to modulate through abundant means. Adjustment of the molecular structure or packing mode, or external stimuli that act like a finger gently pushing toy bricks, can greatly change the chirality of supramolecular assemblies. The dynamic regulation of chiral nanostructures on the intramolecular, intermolecular, and external levels could be regarded as the modulatory essence in numerous strategies, however, this perspective is ignored in most reviews in the literature. Herein, therefore, we focus on the ingenious dynamic modulation of chiral nanostructures by these factors. Through dynamic modulation with changes in chiroptical spectroscopy and electron microscopy, the mechanism of formation of supramolecular chirality is also elaborated.
Output feedback control of wind energy conversion system involving a doubly fed induction generator
Authors: Lajouad Rachid , Giri Fouad , Chaoui Fatima Zahra , El Fadili Abderrahime , El Magri Abdelmounime
Published: May 2019

This paper deals with the problem of controlling a wind energy conversion system (WECS) based on the doubly fed induction generator (DFIG), by IGBT‐based back‐to‐back rectifier‐inverter. The goal of control is to maximize wind energy extraction letting the wind turbine rotor operate in a variable‐speed mode. Interestingly, the present study features the achievement of the above energetic goal without resorting to sensors for wind velocity. The control strategy involves: (i) an output feedback non‐linear regulator designed by the backstepping technique and based on the use of a high gain observer; (ii) a sensorless online reference‐speed optimizer designed using the turbine power characteristic to achieve the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) requirement. It is formally shown that the proposed controller actually meets its control objectives. This theoretical result is confirmed by several simulations.
Distributed input observer‐based consensus for the leader‐following multi‐agent systems
Authors: Guo Wanli , Zou Min , Li Mengxia
Published: May 2019

This paper focuses on the consensus problem for leader‐following second‐order multi‐agent systems. It is evident that knowledge of the leader's input will critically help a follower to track the leader. But under certain environments, only a fraction of followers could obtain the leader's input information. In order to reach consensus expeditiously and effectively, a novel input observers based protocol is built for each follower. Under this protocol, sufficient conditions for the consensus are proposed analytically. Finally, the validity of the theoretical analysis is illustrated by simulation examples.
Effects of starch addition on the activity and specificity of food‐grade lipases
Authors: Carpen Aristodemo , Bonomi Francesco , Iametti Stefania , Marengo Mauro
Published: May 2019

Lipases are surface‐active enzymes, acting on their substrates at the polar/nonpolar interface in emulsions. This study was aimed to test whether their activity, specificity, and the rates of formation/degradation of the various hydrolysis intermediates (i.e., mono‐ and diglycerides of interest as surface‐active agents) could be modulated by adhesion of the triglyceride substrates as a thin layer on the surface of solids. These hypotheses were tested by using an array of food‐grade lipases used in bakery, testing various types of starch as the “solid” phase. Starch‐dependent increase in the hydrolysis rate was tested by pH‐stat techniques on pure triglycerides and on food‐grade oils in diluted emulsions. Starch‐related improvements in the rate of fatty acids release were most evident at temperatures above 40 °C, and when using maize starch instead of wheat starch. Starch‐dependent changes in the nature of the hydrolysis products were tested by chromatographic profiling of ethyl ether extracts from aqueous slurries containing up to 33% fat and 33% starch. Accumulation of mono‐ and diglycerides as hydrolysis intermediates was found to be modulated by the type of oil being used, by the reaction conditions, as well as by the enzyme nature and amount.
A generalized weighted quantile sum approach for analyzing correlated data in the presence of interactions
Authors: Lee MinJae , Rahbar Mohammad H. , Samms‐Vaughan Maureen , Bressler Jan , Bach MacKinsey A. , Hessabi Manouchehr , Grove Megan L. , Shakespeare‐Pellington Sydonnie , Coore Desai Charlene , Reece Jody‐Ann , Loveland Katherine A. , Boerwinkle Eric
Published: May 2019

A weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression has been used to assess the associations between environmental exposures and health outcomes. However, the currently available WQS approach, which is based on additive effects, does not allow exploring for potential interactions of exposures with other covariates in relation to a health outcome. In addition, the current WQS cannot account for clustering, thus it may not be valid for analysis of clustered data. We propose a generalized WQS approach that can assess interactions by estimating stratum‐specific weights of exposures in a mixture, while accounting for potential clustering effect of matched pairs of cases and controls as well as censored exposure data due to being below the limits of detection. The performance of the proposed method in identifying interactions is evaluated through simulations based on various scenarios of correlation structures among the exposures and with an outcome. We also assess how well the proposed method performs in the presence of the varying levels of censoring in exposures. Our findings from the simulation study show that the proposed method outperforms the traditional WQS, as indicated by higher power of detecting interactions. We also find no strong evidence that the proposed method falsely identifies interactions when there are no true interactive effects. We demonstrate application of the proposed method to real data from the Epidemiological Research on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Jamaica (ERAJ) by examining interactions between exposure to manganese and glutathione S‐transferase family gene, GSTP1 in relation to ASD.
Differential growth patterns of the abdominal aorta and vertebrae during childhood
Authors: Gregory Laura S. , McGifford Olivia J. , Jones Lee V.
Published: May 2019

The adult vertebral level of the splanchnic branches of the abdominal aorta relies on a complex series of fusion and regression steps during embryological development, such that variation is common. Little is known however regarding the anatomy of the abdominal aorta in children. This study aimed to investigate the spatial relationship between the abdominal aorta and the vertebral column during childhood development to inform clinical management of pediatric patients. Retrospective multislice computed tomography abdominopelvic angiograms of children aged neonate to 19 years (n = 232) were used to examine vertebral levels of the celiac trunk (CoT), superior mesenteric artery (SMA), inferior mesenteric artery (IMA), and aortic bifurcation (AB) using multiplanar formatting views in OsiriX. The abdominal aorta length, AB angle, and displacement of the aorta from the midline were quantified with the effect of age and sex analyzed using multinomial logistic regression and general linear models. The most frequent origins of CoT, SMA, IMA, and AB were T12, L1, L3, and L4, respectively, with significant variation in vertebral level for each vessel. SMA level was significantly more proximal with age, and CoT and AB demonstrated marked sex differences in vertebral level. As the age of the child increased, AB angle decreased, aortic displacement increased, and the length of the abdominal aorta increased at a slower velocity to the vertebral column (P < 0.001). Our study highlights the variation of the location and geometry of the abdominal aorta in children; this knowledge will positively impact pediatric surgical approaches and endovascular procedures. Clin. Anat. 32:783–793, 2019. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
PALLIA‐10, a screening tool to identify patients needing palliative care referral in comprehensive cancer centers: A prospective multicentric study (PREPA‐10)
Authors: Molin Yann , Gallay Caroline , Gautier Julien , Lardy‐Cleaud Audrey , Mayet Romaine , Grach Marie‐Christine , Guesdon Gérard , Capodano Géraldine , Dubroeucq Olivier , Bouleuc Carole , Bremaud Nathalie , Fogliarini Anne , Henry Aline , Caunes‐Hilary Nathalie , Villet Stéphanie , Villatte Christine , Frasie Véronique , Triolaire Valérie , Barbarot Véronique , Commer Jean‐Marie , Hutin Agnès , Chvetzoff Gisèle
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The identification and referral of patients in need of palliative care should be improved. The French society for palliative support and care recommended to use the PALLIA‐10 questionnaire and its score greater than 3 to refer patients to palliative care. We explored the use of the PALLIA‐10 questionnaire and its related score in a population of advanced cancer patients.

Methods

This prospective multicentric study is to be conducted in authorized French comprehensive cancer centers on hospitalized patients on a given day. We aimed to use the PALLIA‐10 score to determine the proportion of palliative patients with a score >3. Main secondary endpoints were to determine the proportion of patients already managed by palliative care teams at the study date or referred to palliative care in six following months, the prevalence of patients with a score greater than 5, and the overall survival using the predefined thresholds of 3 and 5.

Results

In 2015, eighteen French cancer centers enrolled 840 patients, including 687 (82%) palliative patients. 479 (69.5%) patients had a score >3, 230 (33.5%) had a score >5, 216 (31.4%) patients were already followed‐up by a palliative care team, 152 patients were finally referred to PC in the six subsequent months.

The PALLIA‐10 score appeared as a reliable predictive (adjusted ORRef≤3: 1.9 [1.17‐3.16] and 3.59 [2.18‐5.91]) and prognostic (adjusted HRRef≤3 = 1.58 [95%CI 1.20‐2.08] and 2.18 [95%CI 1.63‐2.92]) factor for patients scored 4‐5 and >5, respectively.

Conclusion

The PALLIA‐10 questionnaire is an easy‐to‐use tool to refer cancer inpatients to palliative care in current practice. However a score greater than 5 using the PALLIA‐10 questionnaire would be more appropriate for advanced cancer patients hospitalized in comprehensive cancer center.
Familial segregation of a 5q15‐q21.2 deletion associated with facial dysmorphism and speech delay
Authors: Zepeda‐Mendoza Cinthya , Goodenberger McKinsey L. , Kuhl Ashley , Rice Gregory M. , Hoppman Nicole
Published: May 2019

We report a two‐generation family with four females harboring an 8.5Mb heterozygous deletion of 5q15‐q21.2 who present with dysmorphic craniofacial features and speech delay. We hypothesize haploinsufficiency of CHD1 to be contributing to the clinical features observed in this family.
Two‐Dimensional Ti3C2TX/Polyaniline Nanocomposite from the Decoration of Small‐Sized Graphene Nanosheets: Promoted Pseudocapacitive Electrode Performance for Supercapacitors
Authors: Wang Shuhao , Ma Zhengwei , Lü Qiu‐Feng , Yang Haijun
Published: May 2019

The development of high capacitance, high rate capability, and stability compounded electrochemical energy storage devices is an important factor that is required to meet the challenge of energy depletion. In this work, a novel graphene‐decorated 2D Ti3C2TX/polyaniline (GTP) nanocomposite was successfully fabricated by means of in situ oxidation copolymerization of aniline monomers on the surface of Ti3C2TX nanosheets with the decoration of small‐sized chemical‐vapor‐deposited graphene nanosheets. The GTP nanocomposite shows promoted pseudocapacitive when used as a supercapacitor electrode, because the small‐sized graphene can effectively prevent aggregation of the Ti3C2TX monolayers and facilitate the uniform growth of polyaniline on the layered structural Ti3C2TX. Furthermore, the small‐sized graphene provides more ion/electrons transfer pathways, which acts like “conductive bridges” between the electrodes and the electrolyte. After assembling an asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) device using GTP as the positive electrode and Ti3C2TX as the negative electrode, the device can operate in a voltage window up to 1.5 V in 1 M H2SO4. Most importantly, the GTP//Ti3C2TX ASC shows an outstanding electrochemical performance compared to the reported Ti3C2TX‐based devices.
Role of endolysosomes and pH in the pathogenesis and treatment of glioblastoma
Authors: Halcrow Peter , Datta Gaurav , Ohm Joyce E. , Soliman Mahmoud L. , Chen Xuesong , Geiger Jonathan D.
Published: May 2019

Background

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a Grade IV astrocytoma with an aggressive disease course and a uniformly poor prognosis. Pathologically, GBM is characterized by rapid development of primary tumors, diffuse infiltration into the brain parenchyma, and robust angiogenesis. The treatment options that are limited and largely ineffective include a combination of surgical resection, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy with the alkylating agent temozolomide.

Recent findings

Similar to many other forms of cancer, the extracellular environment near GBM tumors is acidified. Extracellular acidosis is particularly relevant to tumorgenesis, and the concept of tumor cell dormancy because of findings that decreased pH reduces proliferation, increases resistance to apoptosis and autophagy, promotes tumor cell invasion, increases angiogenesis, obscures immune surveillance, and promotes resistance to drug and radio‐treatment. Factors known to participate in the acidification process are nutrient starvation, oxidative stress, hypoxia, and high levels of anaerobic glycolysis that lead to increases in lactate. Also involved are endosomes and lysosomes (hereafter termed endolysosomes), acidic organelles with highly regulated stores of hydrogen (H+) ions. Endolysosomes contain more than 60 hydrolases as well as about 50 proteins that are known to affect the number, sizes, and distribution patterns of these organelles within cells. Recently, vacuolar ATPase (v‐ATPase), the main proton pump that is responsible for maintaining the acidic environment in endolysosomes, was identified as a novel therapeutic target for glioblastoma.

Conclusions

Thus, a greater understanding of the role of endolysosomes in regulating cellular and extracellular acidity could result in a better elucidation of GBM pathogenesis and new therapeutic strategies.
A lightweight anonymous mutual authentication and key agreement scheme for WBAN
Authors: Xu Zisang , Xu Cheng , Chen Haixian , Yang Fang
Published: May 2019

Wireless body area network (WBAN) is a special wireless mobile sensor network, which is mainly applied to the medical field. It can monitor the physical condition of patients and send this vital and sensitive information to a server that provides medical and health services. Because of the openness and mobility of WBAN, it is easier for the adversary to obtain, corrupt, or replace the data transmitted in the channel, or launch various attacks. Therefore, data security and privacy issues are the most challenging problems in WBANs. Moreover, most wearable sensors in WBAN are resource‐constrained devices, traditional security schemes may not be suitable for WBAN. Therefore, in this paper, we propose a lightweight anonymous mutual authentication and key agreement scheme for WBAN. This scheme uses only hash function operations and XOR operations. We use the automatic security verification tool ProVerif to verify the security properties of our scheme and informal security analysis is discussed. We also compared the proposed scheme with many related works and the results indicate that our scheme has either more advantages in terms of computation cost, energy consumption, and communication cost or lower security risk.
Multifunctional Clickable Reagents for Rapid Bioorthogonal Astatination and Radio‐Crosslinking
Authors: Denk Christoph , Wilkovitsch Martin , Aneheim Emma , Herth Matthias M. , Jensen Holger , Lindegren Sture , Mikula Hannes
Published: May 2019

Invited for this month's cover is the group of Dr. Hannes Mikula at Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien), Austria. The cover picture shows immobilized astatine‐labeled reagents that have been sterically shielded with polyethylene chains by rapid bioorthogonal ligation leading to increased stability of the radiolabel in biological media. These multifunctional and bioorthogonal 211At reagents can be efficiently prepared by rapid click assembly and simultaneous astatination. Read the full text of the article at 10.1002/cplu.201900114.
High podoplanin and low E‐cadherin levels correlate with better prognosis in adenoid cystic carcinoma
Authors: van der Wal Jacqueline E. , Sgaramella Nicola , Norberg Spaak Lena , Zborayova Katarina , Nylander Karin
Published: May 2019

Objectives

As tumour spread is a complicating event for malignant salivary gland tumours, we decided to study factors related to cell adhesion and lymph vessel formation in two of the three most common malignant salivary gland tumours, mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) and adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC), to clarify the clinical relevance and potential usefulness of these factors. We also included a group of polymorphous adenocarcinoma (PAC) as this tumour, in common with ACC often shows perineural growth, but in contrast to ACC has an overall good prognosis.

Material and methods

Eighteen patients with ACC, 15 with MEC, and six with PAC were included. Protein expression of podoplanin and E‐cadherin was evaluated as percentage of cells expressing the protein and intensity of expression. Ki‐67 expression was included in the study as a marker of proliferative activity.

Results

Looking at podoplanin, significantly more ACCs were high expressing compared with both MECs (P = .001) and PACs (P = .028). Also when looking at Ki‐67 expression, significantly more ACCs were high expressing compared with MECs (P = .003). Significantly better survival was also seen for ACCs with high podoplanin (P = .022) and low E‐cadherin expression (P = .021), respectively.

Conclusions

Our findings show that ACCs express significantly higher levels of podoplanin compared with both MECs and PACs and that high levels are correlated to better survival. Even though the group of PACs analysed was small, these tumours, despite their tendency to perineural spread, which they have in common with ACC, differ from ACCs concerning expression of factors with a known connection to tumour spread.
Experimentally derived nitrogen critical loads for northern Great Plains vegetation
Authors: Symstad Amy J. , Smith Anine T. , Newton Wesley E. , Knapp Alan K.
Published: May 2019

The critical load concept facilitates communication between scientists and policy makers and land managers by translating the complex effects of air pollution on ecosystems into unambiguous numbers that can be used to inform air quality targets. Anthropogenic atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition adversely affects a variety of ecosystems, but the information used to derive critical loads for North American ecosystems is sparse and often based on experiments investigating N loads substantially higher than current or expected atmospheric deposition. In a 4‐yr field experiment in the northern Great Plains (NGP) of North America, where current N deposition levels range from ~3 to 9 kg N·ha−1·yr−1, we added 12 levels of N, from 2.5 to 100 kg N·ha−1·yr−1, to three sites spanning a range of soil fertility and productivity. Our results suggest a conservative critical load of 4–6 kg N·ha−1·yr−1 for the most sensitive vegetation type we investigated, badlands sparse vegetation, a community that supports plant species adapted to low fertility conditions, where N addition at this rate increased productivity and litter load. In contrast, for the two more productive vegetation types characteristic of most NGP grasslands, a critical load of 6–10 kg N·ha−1·yr−1 was identified. Here, N addition at this level altered plant tissue chemistry and increased nonnative species. These critical loads are below the currently suggested range of 10–25 kg N·ha−1·yr−1 for NGP vegetation and within the range of current or near‐future deposition, suggesting that N deposition may already be inducing fundamental changes in NGP ecosystems.
Are drivers of microbial diatom distributions context dependent in human‐impacted and pristine environments?
Authors: Pajunen Virpi , Jyrkänkallio‐Mikkola Jenny , Luoto Miska , Soininen Janne
Published: May 2019

Species occurrences are influenced by numerous factors whose effects may be context dependent. Thus, the magnitude of the effects and their relative importance to species distributions may vary among ecosystems due to anthropogenic stressors. To investigate context dependency in factors governing microbial bioindicators, we developed species distribution models (SDMs) for epilithic stream diatom species in human‐impacted and pristine sites separately. We performed SDMs using boosted regression trees for 110 stream diatom species, which were common to both data sets, in 164 human‐impacted and 164 pristine sites in Finland (covering ~1,000 km, 60° to 68° N). For each species and site group, two sets of models were conducted: climate model, comprising three climatic variables, and full model, comprising the climatic and six local environmental variables. No significant difference in model performance was found between the site groups. However, climatic variables had greater importance compared with local environmental variables in pristine sites, whereas local environmental variables had greater importance in human‐impacted sites as hypothesized. Water balance and conductivity were the key variables in human‐impacted sites. The relative importance of climatic and local environmental variables varied among individual species, but also between the site groups. We found a clear context dependency among the variables influencing stream diatom distributions as the most important factors varied both among species and between the site groups. In human‐impacted streams, species distributions were mainly governed by water chemistry, whereas in pristine streams by climate. We suggest that climatic models may be suitable in pristine ecosystems, whereas the full models comprising both climatic and local environmental variables should be used in human‐impacted ecosystems.
Fate of atmospherically deposited NH4+ and NO3− in two temperate forests in China: temporal pattern and redistribution
Authors: Li Shanlong , Gurmesa Geshere Abdisa , Zhu Weixing , Gundersen Per , Zhang Shasha , Xi Dan , Huang Shaonan , Wang Ang , Zhu Feifei , Jiang Yong , Zhu Jiaojun , Fang Yunting
Published: May 2019

The impacts of anthropogenic nitrogen (N) deposition on forest ecosystems depend in large part on its fate. However, our understanding of the fates of different forms of deposited N as well as the redistribution over time within different ecosystems is limited. In this study, we used the 15N‐tracer method to investigate both the short‐term (1 week to 3 months) and long‐term (1–3 yr) fates of deposited NH4+ or NO3− by following the recovery of the 15N in different ecosystem compartments in a larch plantation forest and a mixed forest located in northeastern China. The results showed similar total ecosystem retention for deposited NH4+ and NO3−, but their distribution within the ecosystems (plants vs. soil) differed distinctly particularly in the short‐term, with higher 15NO3− recoveries in plants (while lower recoveries in organic layer) than found for 15NH4+. The different short‐term fate was likely related to the higher mobility of 15NO3− than 15NH4+ in soils instead of plant uptake preferences for NO3− over NH4+. In the long‐term, differences between N forms became less prevalent but higher recoveries in trees (particularly in the larch forest) of 15NO3− than 15NH4+ tracer persisted, suggesting that incoming NO3− may contribute more to plant biomass increment and forest carbon sequestration than incoming NH4+. Differences between the two forests in recoveries were largely driven by a higher 15N recovery in the organic layer (both N forms) and in trees (for 15NO3−) in the larch forest compared to the mixed forest. This was due to a more abundant organic layer and possibly higher tree N demand in the larch forest than in the mixed forest. Leachate 15N loss was minor (<1% of the added 15N) for both N forms and in both forests. Total 15N recovery averaged 78% in the short‐term and decreased to 55% in the long‐term but with increasing amount of 15N label (re)‐redistributed into slow turn‐over pools (e.g., trees and mineral soil). The different retention dynamics of deposited NH4+ and NO3− may have implications in environmental policy related to the anthropogenic emissions of the two N forms.
Risk of extinction of a unique skate population due to predation by a recovering marine mammal
Authors: Swain Douglas P. , Benoît Hugues P. , Hammill Mike O. , Sulikowski James A.
Published: May 2019

Benefitting from reduced harvesting and an end to culling, many marine mammals are now recovering from past overexploitation. These recoveries represent important conservation successes but present a serious conservation problem when the recovering mammals are predators of species of conservation concern. Here, we examine the role of predation by recovering grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) in the near‐extinction of a unique skate population in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence (sGSL) in Atlantic Canada. Winter skate (Leucoraja ocellata) in thesGSLare distinct from winter skate elsewhere and may represent an endemic species. Their adult abundance has declined by 98% since 1980, and these skates are now detectable in only a small fraction of their former range. Population modeling indicates that the ongoing collapse of this population is due to increases in the natural mortality of adults. Based on model projections, this population would be extinct by mid‐century if its current rate of productivity were to persist. A second population model incorporated predation by grey seals. Model estimates of skate consumption by seals were consistent with historical and recent estimates of the contribution of skates to grey seal diets. The estimated consumption accounted for the increases in the natural mortality of adult skates. A TypeIIIfunctional response for grey seals preying on winter skate emerged from the model results. This indicates that, when skate abundance is very low, grey seals are expected to switch to alternate prey, resulting in declines in the mortality of skates due to predation. Consequently, contrary to projections at current productivity, winter skate are expected to be trapped at very low abundance in a “predator pit” instead of declining to extinction. Nonetheless, extinction risk would remain very high at the very small population size in the predator pit. Our results emphasize the need for an ecosystem‐based approach to the management of living resources in this ecosystem.
Seasonal differences in relationships between changes in spring phenology and dynamics of carbon cycle in grasslands
Authors: Xie Zhiying , Zhu Wenquan , Qiao Kun , Zhan Pei , Li Peixian
Published: May 2019

Global warming is dramatically altering the plant phenology of terrestrial ecosystem and thus has caused significant effects on the terrestrial carbon cycle. Many studies have investigated the relationships between the spring phenological changes and the dynamics of carbon cycle, but the seasonal differences in these relationships are still unclear. This study used eddy covariance measurements of grassland net ecosystem productivity (NEP) from nineFLUXNETsites (73 site‐years of data) to investigate the relationships between the spring phenological changes (i.e., early green‐up,EGU; middle green‐up,MGU; and late green‐up,LGU) and the dynamics of carbon cycle (includingNEP; ecosystem respiration,ER; and gross ecosystem production,GEP) at a ten‐day scale. Weak relationships were found between the spring phenological changes and the dynamics ofERat all sites. The advance of spring phenology mainly caused significant increases inGEP(orNEP) during the initial 20–50 d after the green‐up date at most sites. With an advancement of 1 d inEGU(MGUandLGU),GEPandNEPwere increased by 1.5–6.0 (3.5–7.1 and 2.4–4.7) and 0.7–3.6 (1.5–3.9 and 1.9–4.7) g C/m2during the early growing season (EGS), respectively. The advance of spring phenology did not have significant impacts onGEP(orNEP) during the middle and late growing season (MGSandLGS) at most sites, but yielded a significant decrease inGEP(orNEP) duringMGSat a few sites. As the grasslands turning green, the duration of the impact of the changes inEGU,MGU, andLGUonGEP(orNEP) was reduced, whereas the magnitude of the impact of the changes on the ten‐day cumulativeGEP(orNEP) was increased at most sites. Thus, there were two possible impact models for the spring phenological changes on the dynamics of carbon cycle for grasslands: The advance of spring phenology only increases theGEP(orNEP) duringEGS, and the advance of spring phenology only decreases theGEP(orNEP) duringMGS. These results could be helpful in further understanding the influences of spring phenological changes on the dynamics of carbon cycle for grasslands.