bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fuzzy Logic Based Controller with Dedicated Safety Function for Hybrid Renewable Energy System
Authors: Emmanuel Chibuikem Nnadozie , Ogbonna Ukachukwu Oparaku
Published: March 2019

For the dual reasons of energy security and environmental and climate preservation, there has been a global campaign for drastic reduction in the use of fossil fuels and a consequential aggressive pursuit for the development of clean energy systems. Hybrid renewable energy systems, ahead of single source renewable energy systems, promise to be an effective alternative to the use of fossil fuels. However, if hybrid renewable energy systems must effectively and reliably serve as an alternative to fossil fuel use, then improvements in the control and management of energy flow among the renewable energy supplies, energy storage components, and the load is of very vital significance. More intelligent and optimized, and easy-to-develop control techniques need to be introduced to replace already existing conventional techniques. And very importantly, extra measures have to be taken to ensure longer battery life and the overall safety of the system. This work is a design of a fuzzy logic-based control system for managing energy flow in a hybrid renewable energy system. A dedicated output was incorporated in the fuzzy controller for controlling the load connection status. The results showed that the fuzzy logic controller accurately emulated expert decisions in monitoring the battery state-of-charge and renewable energy supply capacities, and effectively determining and controlling the battery charging and discharging functions. The employment of fuzzy logic control in the system eliminated the need for complex and tedious mathematical modelling as required in conventional control methods. Thus the system was easier to develop.
Adaptation of a Novel Fuzzy Logic Controller to a Hybrid Renewable Energy System
Authors: Chibuikem Nnadozie Emmanuel , Ukachukwu Oparaku Ogbonna
Published: March 2019

Global attention has been drawn to exploiting the potentials of renewable energy systems, especially their hybrid configurations, due to sustainability issues and climatic impact associated with the use of fossil fuels. Power management in such hybrid renewable energy systems is still a progressive research. Many power control solutions have been proposed. However, much of them lack validation. This work was done to validate a proposed novel intelligent power management scheme based on fuzzy logic control. The controller, designed by a group of researchers, was validated by adapting it to a hybrid renewable energy system, and simulating test case scenarios to validate the functionality claims of the controller. For each test case, the controller was confirmed to emulate expert decisions. The novel fuzzy logic controller was thus validated and the claims of the authors verified.
Decrypting the oscillating nature of the 4′‐phosphopantetheine arm in acyl carrier protein AcpM of Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Biswas Rupam , Singh Bina Kumari , Dutta Debajyoti , Das Prabir Kumar , Maiti Mrinal Kumar , Basak Amit , Das Amit Kumar
Published: March 2019

In Mycobacterium tuberculosis, acyl carrier protein (AcpM)‐mediated fatty acid synthase type II is integral for the synthesis of mycolic acids. AcpM, designated as an atypical ACP, comprises of a putative 33 amino acid long C‐terminal extension which is distinctive in nature. Here, we aimed at devising an ‘easy‐to‐go’ method for the generation of crypto‐AcpM loaded with a solvatochromic probe 7‐Nitrobenz‐2‐oxa‐1,3‐diazol‐4‐yl, which is linked to the 4′‐phosphopantetheine (Ppant) prosthetic group of AcpM. The crypto‐AcpM, coupled with fluorescence spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulation studies, was employed to explore the elusive dynamics of Ppant arm in AcpM. This investigation establishes the role of the flexible C‐terminal extension of AcpM in regulating the prosthetic group sequestration ability by modulating the ‘Asp‐Ser‐Leu’ motif.
An Innovative Selective Laser Melting Process for Hematite‐Doped Aluminum Oxide
Authors: Florio Kevin , Pfeiffer Stefan , Makowska Malgorzata , Casati Nicola , Verga Fabrizio , Graule Thomas , Van Swygenhoven Helena , Wegener Konrad
Published: March 2019

Selective Laser Melting (SLM) technology is successfully applied to manufacture aluminum oxide parts. The obtained samples are presented and characterized in terms of density, mechanical properties, and structure. The starting material is a powder composed of aluminum oxide granules doped with a small quantity of iron oxide (hematite) as an absorption additive. A green short‐pulsed nanosecond (ns) laser is used in the experimental in‐house designed and built SLM machine. The absorption, reflectance, and transmittance of the starting powder for a laser with wavelength of 532 nm are evaluated using an integrating sphere and it is found that absorption of 68% is sufficient for the established process. Various laser and scanning parameters are studied and a process window is found. Densities above 90% are achieved in the one step process. Bi‐axial flexural strength of 25 MPa in average is recorded in the ball on 3 balls test. Finally, powder diffraction measured in a synchrotron beamline shows the presence of less than 0.6% of hercynite after laser processing.
Dietary diversity of an ecological and macronutritional generalist primate in a harsh high‐latitude habitat, the Taihangshan macaque (Macaca mulatta tcheliensis)
Authors: Cui Zhenwei , Shao Qi , Grueter Cyril C. , Wang Zhenlong , Lu Jiqi , Raubenheimer David
Published: March 2019

Recent advances in niche theory have stressed the importance of understanding dietary generalism at multiple levels, including the range of habitat and foods exploited by a species, foods exploited within populations, and patterns of nutrient intake. Here we apply this framework to examine the dietary strategy of the Macaca mulatta, a primate species that is second only to humans in their breadth of geographical distribution, and occupy diverse ecological habitats from cold temperate to tropical latitudes. A recent study showed that the Taihangshan subspecies (
M. mulatta tcheliensis) in China, which is found at the northern latitudinal limit of the species range, respond to ecologically constrained interannual variation in the macronutrient ratios of the spring diet in a way that theory predicts should be associated with ecological generalism. Here we further extend this study, examining the relationships between seasonal variation in food availability and the patterns of food selection across a full year. We found that, despite the ecological and macronutritional generalism of the species, Taihangshan macaques subsist on a relatively small range of foods (57 different foods, spread across 8 categories comprising seeds, fruits, buds, flowers, leaves, herbs, young bark, and twigs), but face considerable seasonal variation in the combinations available. In spring and summer, when seeds were scarce, leaves accounted for 60.3 ± 13.8% of their diet (dry matter [DM] %), and herbs contributed 31.7 ± 22.2%. However, in autumn and winter, when seeds were abundant, they contributed 68.5 ± 22.7% of the diet while herbs accounted for 18.9 ± 12.9% on a DM. Although young bark and twigs were available in all seasons, the macaques only fed on them in winter. We present comparative data from the literature on the diets of
M. mulatta and other
Macaca species, to interpret this pattern of resource use within the framework of multilevel niche theory.
The “central vein sign” in inflammatory demyelination: The role of fibrillar collagen type I
Authors: Absinta Martina , Nair Govind , Monaco Maria Chiara G. , Maric Dragan , Lee Nathanael J. , Ha Seung‐Kwon , Luciano Nicholas J. , Sati Pascal , Jacobson Steven , Reich Daniel S.
Published: March 2019

Accumulating evidence corroborates the role of the “central vein sign” in the radiological diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS). Here, we report human magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and corresponding pathological data that inflammation‐dependent intracerebral remodeling of the vessel wall is directly associated with the prominence of intralesional veins on susceptibility‐based MRI. In adult marmosets with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, vessel‐wall fibrosis was detected early in the demyelinating process, even in lesions <2 weeks old, though fibrosis was more evident after 6 weeks. Vascular remodeling consisted of both luminal enlargement and eccentric thickening of the perivascular space (fibrillar collagen type I deposition) and affected almost exclusively white matter, but not subpial cortical, lesions. The long‐term effect of vessel remodeling in MS lesions is currently unknown, but it might potentially affect tissue repair. ANN NEUROL 2019;85:934–942.
A Coordinative Solubilizer Method to Fabricate Soft Porous Materials from Insoluble Metal–Organic Polyhedra
Authors: Carné‐Sánchez Arnau , Craig Gavin A. , Larpent Patrick , Guillerm Vincent , Urayama Kenji , Maspoch Daniel , Furukawa Shuhei
Published: March 2019

Porous molecular cages have a characteristic processability arising from their solubility, which allows their incorporation into porous materials. Attaining solubility often requires covalently bound functional groups that are unnecessary for porosity and which ultimately occupy free volume in the materials, decreasing their surface areas. Here, a method is described that takes advantage of the coordination bonds in metal–organic polyhedra (MOPs) to render insoluble MOPs soluble by reversibly attaching an alkyl‐functionalized ligand. We then use the newly soluble MOPs as monomers for supramolecular polymerization reactions, obtaining permanently porous, amorphous polymers with the shape of colloids and gels, which display increased gas uptake in comparison with materials made with covalently functionalized MOPs.
Iridium‐Based Cubic Nanocages with 1.1‐nm‐Thick Walls: A Highly Efficient and Durable Electrocatalyst for Water Oxidation in an Acidic Medium
Authors: Zhu Jiawei , Chen Zitao , Xie Minghao , Lyu Zhiheng , Chi Miaofang , Mavrikakis Manos , Jin Wanqin , Xia Younan
Published: March 2019

We report a highly active and durable water oxidation electrocatalyst based on cubic nanocages with a composition of Ir44Pd10, together with well‐defined {100} facets and porous walls of roughly 1.1 nm in thickness. Such nanocages substantially outperform all the water oxidation electrocatalysts reported in literature, with an overpotential of only 226 mV for reaching 10 mA cm−2geo at a loading of Ir as low as 12.5 μgIr cm−2 on the electrode in acidic media. When benchmarked against a commercial Ir/C electrocatalyst at 250 mV of overpotential, such a nanocage‐based catalyst not only shows enhancements (18.1‐ and 26.2‐fold, respectively) in terms of mass (1.99 A mg−1Ir) and specific (3.93 mA cm−2Ir) activities, but also greatly enhanced durability. The enhancements can be attributed to a combination of multiple merits, including a high utilization efficiency of Ir atoms and an open structure beneficial to the electrochemical oxidation of Ir to the active form of IrOx.
Academic identity, confidence and belonging: The role of contextualised admissions and foundation years in higher education
Authors: O'Sullivan Katriona , Bird Niamh , Robson James , Winters Niall
Published: March 2019

This article presents a cross‐national exploration of responses to widening participation (WP), with a specific focus on the provision of foundation year (FY) programmes and the use of contextualised admissions (CA) in selective Irish and UK institutions. There remains a dearth of research on these routes, with little understanding of the characteristics of students who utilise them, of why students use these routes and little knowledge of their effect on students’ experiences in university and their overall sense of belonging. A year‐long longitudinal comparative case study design examined three alternative entry routes in two selective higher education institutions (HEIs) in England and Ireland: a well‐established FY; a newly formed FY; and a CA pathway. Data were collected through a mixed‐method approach. Questionnaires and in‐depth focus groups were employed at fixed points with participating students in each route. Results indicated that FY students had lower levels of familial educational history and parental occupation. FY students’ sense of belonging significantly increased over the year, with students reporting increased confidence and sense of belonging due to the relationships established during the FY. CA students’ sense of belonging remained the same, with students reporting feeling different and isolated. Results indicate that while students utilising FYs may be ‘more disadvantaged’ than CA students, their experiences helped establish a sense of belonging; illustrating the need for diverse WP routes catering to a wide range of needs. Results highlight the importance of providing opportunities to develop social and bridging social capital for all non‐traditional students.
Simultaneous quantitation of 23 bioactive compounds in Tanreqing capsule by high‐performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Zhao Yining , Xu Zhangyao , Wang Tianming , Li Yuanyuan , Yang Li , Liu Shaoyong , Shi Rong , Ma Yueming
Published: March 2019

Tanreqing capsule (TRQC) is a formulation frequently used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat pyrexia, cough, expectoration and pharyngalgia. Since the pharmacological action of traditional Chinese medicines is closely related to their complex and diverse constituents, understanding the exact composition of TRQC is important to elucidate its clinical effectiveness and mechanism of action as well as to establish quality control methods and resolve safety issues. Herein, we employed high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry for the simultaneous quantitation of 23 bioactive compounds in five batches of TRQC; the analytes could be categorized into five types: organic acids (seven compounds), flavonoids (10 compounds), iridoids (two compounds), phenylethanoid glycosides (two compounds) and bile acids (two compounds). The calibration curves for all analytes showed good linearity (r > 0.9953), and the inter‐ and intra‐day precisions did not exceed 4.94 and 4.97%, respectively. The recoveries varied from 90.47% to 109.80%; the corresponding relative standard deviations (RSDs) did not exceed 4.94%; and the repeatability (RSD < 4.72%) and stability (RSD < 4.88%) were also within acceptable limits. Thus, this study can be viewed as a fundamental reference for setting comprehensive TRQC quality standards.
Pretreatment lactate dehydrogenase may predict outcome of advanced non small‐cell lung cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Zhang Zhibo , Li Ye , Yan Xiang , Song Qi , Wang Guoqiang , Hu Yi , Jiao Shunchang , Wang Jinliang
Published: March 2019

The main aim of this study is to investigate whether baseline lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is associated with the clinical outcome of non small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). We searched Pubmed, the Cochrane Central library and Embase for peripheral blood biomarker of LDH in advanced NSCLC patients treated with ICIs. We extracted the hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for the progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) and performed meta‐analysis of HR. Pooled estimates of treatment outcomes were calculated by stata 15.1. Six studies with 1136 patients were included in this study. The pooled results of univariate analysis suggested that an elevated pretreatment LDH level was correlated with significant shorter PFS (HR = 1.53, 95% CI 1.27‐1.83, P < 0.001) and OS (HR = 2.11, 95% CI 1.43‐3.11, P < 0.001). The association remained significant in the multivariate analysis that elevated pretreatment LDH level was associated with poor PFS (HR = 1.62, 95% CI 1.26‐2.08, P < 0.001) and OS (HR = 2.38, 95% CI 1.37‐4.12, P = 0.002). A high pretreatment LDH level was significantly correlated with shorter PFS and OS. Pretreatment LDH may serve as a predictive biomarker for advanced NSCLC patients treated with ICIs.
High GPR56 surface expression correlates with a leukemic stem cell gene signature in CD34‐positive AML
Authors: Daga Shruti , Rosenberger Angelika , Quehenberger Franz , Krisper Nina , Prietl Barbara , Reinisch Andreas , Zebisch Armin , Sill Heinz , Wölfler Albert
Published: March 2019

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is driven by a minor fraction of leukemic stem cells (LSCs) whose persistence is considered being the primary cause of disease relapse. A detailed characterization of the surface immunophenotype of LSCs to discriminate them from bulk leukemic blasts may enable successful targeting of this population thereby improving patient outcomes in AML. To identify surface markers, which may reflect LSC activity at diagnosis, we performed a detailed analysis of 16 putative LSC markers in CD34/38 leukemic subcompartments of 150 diagnostic AML samples using multicolor flow cytometry. The most promising markers were then selected to determine a possible correlation of their expression with a recently published LSC gene signature. We found GPR56 and CLL‐1 to be the most prominently differently expressed surface markers in AML subcompartments. While GPR56 was highest expressed within the LSC‐enriched CD34+38− subcompartment as compared to CD34+38+ and CD34− leukemic bulk cells, CLL‐1 expression was lowest in CD34+38− leukemic cells and increased in CD34+38+ and CD34− blasts. Furthermore, high GPR56 surface expression in CD34+38− leukemic cells correlated with a recently published LSC gene expression signature and was associated with decreased overall survival in patients receiving intensive chemotherapy. In contrast, CLL‐1 expression correlated inversely with the LSC gene signature and was not informative on outcome. Our data strongly support GPR56 as a promising clinically relevant marker for identifying leukemic cells with LSC activity at diagnosis in CD34‐positive AML.
Anticancer drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration for gastrointestinal malignancies: Clinical benefit and price considerations
Authors: Jiang Di Maria , Chan Kelvin K. W. , Jang Raymond W. , Booth Christopher , Liu Geoffrey , Amir Eitan , Mason Robert , Everest Louis , Elimova Elena
Published: March 2019

Background

The cost of new anticancer drugs is rising. We aimed to assess the clinical benefit and price of anti‐cancer drugs approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for advanced gastrointestinal cancers.

Methods

Drugs approved between 2006 and 2017 for advanced GI malignancies were identified from FDA.gov, and their updated supporting trial data were searched. Incremental clinical benefit was quantified by using ESMO Magnitude of Clinical Benefit Scale version 1.1 (grade 0‐5) and ASCO Value Framework version 2 (score range −20 to 180). Higher scores indicate larger net benefit, and substantial benefit was defined as score 4 or 5 by the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO). The Micromedex REDBOOK was used to estimate the monthly average wholesale price (AWP) and total drug price (TDP) over the median treatment duration per patient. Clinical benefit, AWP and TDP of each drug class were assessed.

Results

In total, 16 GI cancer drugs received FDA approval for 24 indications, including five monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), five oral targeted therapies (TT), two immunotherapeutics (IO), three cytotoxic chemotherapies (CT), and one recombinant fusion protein (aflibercept). Most supporting trials (82%) reported overall survival benefit of less than 3 months and no significant improvement in quality of life. Only five agents (including one TT and one IO) with 21% the of approved indications met the ESMO's threshold of substantial clinical benefit. Median incremental benefit scores of TT and IO were comparable to other drug classes. However their median TDP was much higher at $153 402 and $98 208, respectively, compared to $30 330 USD per patient for CT. The estimated TDP did not correlate with clinical benefit scores.

Conclusion

Most FDA–approved gastrointestinal cancer drugs do not meet the ESMO threshold of substantial clinical benefit. TT and IO are estimated to carry significant drug costs, and further cost analysis of these drugs is urgently needed.
Child abuse incidence increases almost 4 times when report cards are released on Friday
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: March 2019

School report cards may precipitate child physical abuse, according to a recent study of report card release dates. When report cards are released on Monday through Thursday, there was no increased incidence of child physical abuse on the day or the day after the release. But when the report cards are released on Friday, there was a fourfold increase in the child physical abuse reports made on Saturday, according to the study, which was published in the January issue of JAMA Pediatrics.
Alcoholism starts in youth, so it should be screened for
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: March 2019

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) — what used to be called alcoholism, but a condition which by definition is sometimes used to apply to everyone who drinks alcohol and is underage — is not a disease of adults only. It starts in childhood, and that's why Scott E. Hadland, M.D., and colleagues argue for screening in the February issue of Pediatrics.
Science of Learning: Evidence‐Based Teaching in the Clinical Supervision Classroom
Authors: Borders L. DiAnne
Published: March 2019

Although clinical supervision is widely viewed as an educational process, counseling doctoral students may lack relevant background in pedagogy. In response to calls to incorporate learning theories and principles into supervision instruction, 7 evidence‐based science of learning principles as well as examples from 1 doctoral supervision course are described.
Highly Ordered 3D Porous Graphene Sponge for Wearable Piezoresistive Pressure Sensor Applications
Authors: Wang Tao , Li Jinhui , Zhang Yu , Liu Feng , Zhang Bo , Wang Ying , Jiang Run , Zhang Guoping , Sun Rong , Wong Ching‐Ping
Published: March 2019

Wearable sensors with excellent flexibility and sensitivity have emerged as a promising field for healthcare, electronic skin, and so forth. Three‐dimensional (3D) graphene sponges (GS) have emerged as high‐performance piezoresistive sensors; however, problems, such as limited flexibility, high cost, and low sensitivity, remain. Meanwhile, device‐level wearable pressure sensors with GS have rarely been demonstrated. In this work, highly ordered 3D porous graphene sponges (OPGSs) were first successfully prepared and controlled through an emulsion method, and then a device‐level wearable pressure sensor with high flexibility and sensitivity was assembled with a gold electrode and polydimethylsiloxane into a reliable package. The pH values were carefully controlled to form a stable emulsion and the OPGSs showed a highly ordered 3D structure with ultralow density, high porosity, and conductivity; this resulted in a gauge factor of 0.79–1.46, with 50 % compression strain and excellent long‐term reproducibility over 500 cycles of compression–relaxation. Moreover, the well‐packaged pressure sensor devices exhibited ultrahigh sensitivity to detect human motions, such as wrist bending, elbow bending, finger bending, and palm flexing. Thus, the developed pressure sensors exhibited great potential in the fields of human‐interactive applications, biomechanical systems, electronic skin, and so forth.
Reductive Rearrangement of Tetraphenyldiphosphine Disulfide To Trigger the Bisthiophosphinylation of Alkenes and Alkynes
Authors: Sato Yuki , Nishimura Misaki , Kawaguchi Shin‐ichi , Nomoto Akihiro , Ogawa Akiya
Published: March 2019

The facile synthesis of organophosphorus compounds is of great importance for the development of new synthetic methods by using air‐stable sources of phosphorus. In this respect, a synthetic method that is based on a reductive rearrangement and is capable of converting air‐stable pentavalent phosphorus compounds into reactive trivalent phosphorus compounds is a powerful tool. Tetraphenyldiphosphine disulfide, which is a shelf‐stable solid, was the focus of this study, and it was shown to undergo reductive rearrangement to trigger the bisthiophosphinylation of a variety of alkenes, such as terminal, cyclic, internal, and branched alkenes, 1,3‐dienes, and terminal alkynes when exposed to light without any catalyst, base, or additive.
Interaction of Polymethine Dyes with Detonation Nanodiamonds
Authors: Ishchenko Alexander A. , Mchedlov‐Petrossyan Nikolay O. , Kriklya Nika N. , Kryshtal Aleksandr P. , Ōsawa Eiji , Kulinich Andrii V.
Published: March 2019

Among cationic, anionic, and merocyanine polymethine dyes, the binding to detonation nanodiamond (DND) colloid particles in hydrosol occurs only for negatively charged dye species. This, in view of the positive ζ‐potential of the DND used in this study, suggests the predominance of electrostatic interactions over other intermolecular forces in such systems. Indeed, after decorating the merocyanine and the cationic dye by one and two negatively charged sulfopropyl groups, respectively, so that the net charge of their colored species becomes negative, the compounds also demonstrate affinity to the DND particles. In all cases, the binding of dyes to DND is accompanied by a decrease in fluorescence intensity and a bathochromic shift of their absorption and fluorescence bands. A quantitative study of the dyes adsorption on the DND nanoparticles as performed using the Küster‐Freundlich and Langmuir equations reveals some peculiarities of their attaching to the DND aggregates and allows estimating the specific area of the DND particles at a concentration of 0.0212 wt/vol %.
Cat‐Tail‐Like Mesostructured Silica Fibers Decorated with Gold Nanowires: Synthesis, Characterization, and Application as Stretchable Sensors
Authors: Zhang Zhijia , Yap Lim Wei , Dong Dashen , Shi Qianqian , Wang Yan , Cheng Wenlong , Han Xiaojun
Published: March 2019

Gold‐nanowires (AuNWs)‐coated mesostructured silica fibers that have the appearance of a cat's tail have been successfully designed and synthesized. The silica fibers had a Brunauer‐Emmett‐Teller (BET) surface area of 347 m2 g−1 and Barret‐Joyner‐Halenda (BJH) pore size of 3.8 nm. Negatively charged gold seeds could be anchored onto the surface of mesoporous silica fibers through electrostatic attraction. Further treatment with growth solution (including HAuCl4, 4‐mercaptobenzoic acid, and ascorbic acid) enabled successful growth of vertically aligned AuNWs with controllable lengths on the silica fiber surfaces. These coaxial mesostructured silica microfibers conjugated with AuNWs exhibit excellent stability and real‐time response with high durability (≥2500 cycles) as a sensitive flexible microelectronic material. The fabricated device is able to detect the human pulse (measured at the wrist), as well as small‐amplitude finger motion.
Cooperative Co0/CoII Sites Stabilized by a Perovskite Matrix Enable Selective C−O and C−C bond Hydrogenolysis of Oxygenated Arenes
Authors: Shetty Manish , Zanchet Daniela , Green William H. , Román‐Leshkov Yuriy
Published: March 2019

Strontium‐substituted lanthanum cobaltite (La0.8Sr0.2CoO3) matrix‐stabilized Co0/CoII catalytic sites were prepared, which present tunable C−O and C−C hydrogenolysis activity for the vapor‐phase upgrading of oxygenated arenes. CoII sites associated with oxygen vacancies were favored at low temperatures and performed selective C−O hydrogenolysis, in which Sr‐substitution facilitated oxygen vacancy formation, leading to approximately 10 times higher reactivity compared to undoped LaCoO3. Co0 sites were favored at high temperatures and performed extensive C−C bond hydrogenolysis, generating a wide range of alkanes. The lower reaction order with P
(1.1±0.1) for C−C hydrogenolysis than for C−O hydrogenolysis (2.0±0.1) led to a high selectivity towards C−C hydrogenolysis at low P
. The Co3O4 surfaces featured a narrower temperature window for obtaining the respective optimal CoII and Co0 pairs compared to analogous perovskite surfaces; whereas, the perovskite matrix stabilizes these pairs for selective C−O and C−C hydrogenolysis. This stabilization effect offers an additional handle to control reactivity in oxide catalysts.
Congruence between arthropod and plant diversity in a biodiversity hotspot largely driven by underlying abiotic factors
Authors: van Schalkwyk J. , Pryke J. S. , Samways M. J. , Gaigher R.
Published: March 2019

Plants often form the basis of conservation planning and management. The effectiveness of plant diversity as a surrogate for arthropod diversity was assessed in natural areas in the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, a floral endemism hotspot in the Cape Floristic Region (CFR), South Africa. Arthropods and plants were sampled across 30 topographically heterogeneous sites in a spatially nested design. The relationship between plants and arthropods were quantified in terms of species richness, assemblage variation, and assemblage turnover. The influence of arthropod trophic groups, habitat association, and spatial scale were also explored. Generalized dissimilarity modelling was used to investigate differential influence of explanatory groups (geology, disturbance, local site characteristics, refuge, mesoclimate, terrain) on arthropod and plant turnover. Congruence in assemblage variation was restricted to local scales, and only present between plants and those arthropods associated with the foliar component of the habitat. Weak congruence in species turnover was due to differences in the relative importance of explanatory groups, with different variables within each explanatory group being important, and similar variables predicting different turnover patterns. For both groups, variables related to geology and fire history were important for assemblage turnover. These variables are already incorporated in conservation planning and management for plant diversity across theCFR. Overall plant diversity was a weak surrogate for the arthropod groups included in this study, suggesting that as an alternative, environmental surrogates for arthropod diversity perform better.
Platinum‐Osmium Heterometallic Clusters Containing N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands and an Electron‐Deficient Tetraosmium By‐Product
Authors: Liu Yu , Ganguly Rakesh , Huynh Han Vinh , Leong Weng Kee
Published: March 2019

The room temperature reaction of [Os3(CO)12] (1) with three molar equivalents of [PtCl(allyl)(NHC)] (2) in the presence of KOtBu afforded the heterometallic clusters [PtOs3(CO)12(NHC)] (3), [Pt2Os3(CO)12(NHC)2] (4), and [Pt3Os3(CO)12(NHC)3] (5), together with a trace amount of the tetraosmium cluster [Os4(CO)10(µ‐H)2(NHC)] (6). The reaction pathway is thus similar to that for Pd analogues, with the exception of cluster 6. Unlike their Pd analogues, however, these clusters do not appear to readily interconvert. With a valence electron count of 58, clusters 6 are deficient by four electrons.
Halide‐Substituted Phosphacyclohexadienyl Iron Complexes: Covalent Structures vs. Ion Pairs
Authors: Hoidn Christian M. , Leitl Julia , Ziegler Christoph G. P. , Shenderovich Ilya G. , Wolf Robert
Published: March 2019

Invited for the cover of this issue is the group of Robert Wolf from the University of Regensburg, Germany. The cover image shows the structure of the first transition metal complexes bearing π‐coordinated λ3‐halophosphacyclohexadienyl ligands, featuring polarized P–halogen bonds.
Separations of antifungal compounds in capillary electrophoresis with two anionic cyclodextrins
Authors: Dascalu Anca‐Elena , Ghinet Alina , Billamboz Muriel , Lipka Emmanuelle
Published: March 2019

CD‐CZE methods were developed for complete stereoisomeric separations of a series of six γ‐lactam analogues, of which some were neutral, or cationic depending on the background electrolyte nature. The tested cyclodextrin was the versatile sulfobutylether‐ β‐CD, used either in a phosphate buffer using capillaries dynamically coated with polyethylene oxide or in a borate buffer using uncoated capillaries. Long‐end and short‐end modes and concentration variations of chiral selectors allowed finding conditions of complete separation of four out of the six derivatives (i.e., 1, 2, 3, and 4) in short run times, confirming their broad range of applications. To separate the two last compounds, the highly sulfated‐ γ‐CD was examined as chiral selector in acidic phosphate conditions. The enantiomers of the γ‐lactam analogues 5 and 6 were baseline resolved with 5.5 and 4%, respectively as concentration in the buffer.
Modeling of structures with polymorphic uncertainties at different length scales
Authors: Kremer Katharina , Edler Philipp , Miska Niklas , Leichsenring Ferenc , Balzani Daniel , Freitag Steffen , Graf Wolfgang , Kaliske Michael , Meschke Günther
Published: March 2019

Multiscale analyses require to consider the scale bridging influences of uncertain parameters. In this paper, approaches for polymorphic uncertainty quantification at different length scales are presented. Especially, the effect of uncertain material parameters computed at lower structural scales is investigated with respect to the resulting macroscopic structural behavior. Also the dependencies of uncertain parameters at the macroscale on the structural response evaluated with submodels are discussed. Three examples are shown, where interval and stochastic uncertainty quantification approaches are combined. Two examples deal with material modeling of concrete and the durability of reinforced concrete structures under consideration of polymorphic uncertainties. A mesoscale model of concrete is developed based on a representative volume element containing aggregates, pores, and the cement phase, where the values of the Young's moduli for mortar and the aggregates as well as the volume fraction of the cement phase to aggregates are considered as intervals. Within the durability assessment of reinforced concrete structures, the influence of stochastic distributed loading and concrete material parameters onto the cracking behavior is analyzed by means of a submodeling strategy. In another application, the metal forming process of dual‐phase steel sheets is investigated using statistical information of the microscopic material behavior in combination with epistemic uncertainties of the failure criterion and the friction coefficient between the sheet metal and the forming tools.
A study of the synergistic effects of Mn/steam on CO2 capture performance of CaO by experiment and DFT calculation
Authors: Zhang Wan , Ma Xiaotong , Li Yingjie , Zhao Jianli , Wang Zeyan
Published: March 2019

Novel Mn‐doped CaO was prepared by the combustion method. The CO2 capture performance of Mn‐doped CaO, carbonated in the presence of steam and under severe calcination conditions (950°C and 70% CO2/30% N2) during calcium looping cycles, was investigated in a dual fixed‐bed reactor. The intercoupling effects of Mn and steam on CO2 capture by CaO were also studied. Doping of Mn in CaO by the combustion method greatly improved the CO2 capture capacity of CaO. The carbonation conversions of Mn‐doped CaO increased with increasing steam concentration from 0 to 15%. When the molar ratio of Mn/Ca was 0.75 : 100, Mn‐doped CaO achieved the highest CO2 capture capacity. Under severe calcination conditions, the carbonation conversion of Mn‐doped CaO, where the molar ratio of Mn to Ca = 0.75 : 100 in the presence of 15% steam, was about 0.4 after ten cycles (carbonation for 5 min at 650°C under 15% CO2/15% steam/N2), which was 4.38 times as high as that of the original CaO in the absence of steam. The cyclic CO2 capture capacities of CaO were improved by Mn and steam. Synergistic enhancement effects of Mn and steam on the CO2 capture capacities of CaO were also found. The effect of steam on the carbonation conversion of Mn‐doped CaO was stronger than that of the original CaO. Mn in the presence of steam showed a more positive effect on CO2 capture by CaO. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis showed that doping of Mn in CaO enhanced the transport of electrons in the carbonation of CaO, which helped to increase the carbonation rate. When steam was present in the carbonation, Mn‐doped CaO possessed a more porous structure and smaller CaO grains than the original CaO during the cycles. Simulation calculations using periodic density functional theory (DFT) showed that CO2 molecules were easier to absorb on CaO owing to the doping of Mn and the presence of steam. The synergistic enhancement effects of Mn and steam on CO2 captured the performance of CaO. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Extracting information from the limit order book: New measures to evaluate equity data flow
Authors: Ye Ziwen , Florescu Ionuţ
Published: March 2019

In this research, we develop a set of new measures to evaluate the data flow in the U.S. equity exchanges using Level I order book data. The quantities we develop and use to summarize trading activity are as follows: the activity‐weighted spread and the activity‐weighted return. We study the distribution of these two quantities and observe that there are significant changes in their behavior when equity markets are impacted by an external event. We focus the study on three exchanges: New York Stock Exchange (NYS), NASDAQ InterMarket (THM), and NYSE Arca (PSE) since they exhibit the largest impact to the proposed measures. We also study two different financial events which happened suddenly without any prior warning. These events are as follows: May 6, 2010, the “Flash Crash,” and April 23, 2013, the “Hoax tweet” event. Based on the results we obtain, the order flow dynamic is disturbed during these rare events. We quantify this change by measuring the number of detected “anomalies” for each exchange and equity studied. We believe the methodology we propose may be capable of detecting a potential unforecasted event as it is impacting the equity markets.
Posttranslational regulation of PGC‐1α and its implication in cancer metabolism
Authors: Luo Xiangjian , Liao Chaoliang , Quan Jing , Cheng Can , Zhao Xu , Bode Ann M. , Cao Ya
Published: March 2019

Deregulation of cellular metabolism is well established in cancer. The mitochondria are dynamic organelles and act as the center stage for energy metabolism. Central to mitochondrial regulatory network is peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ coactivator 1a (PGC‐1α), which serves as a master regulator of mitochondrial proliferation and metabolism. The activity and stability of PGC‐1α are subject to dynamic and versatile posttranslational modifications including phosphorylation, ubiquitination, methylation and acetylation in response to metabolic stress and other environmental signals. In this review, we describe the structure of PGC‐1α. Then, we discuss recent advances in the posttranslational regulatory machinery of PGC‐1α, which affects its transcriptional activity, stability and organelle localization. Furthermore, we address the important roles of PGC‐1α in tumorigenesis and malignancy. Finally, we also mention the clinical therapeutic potentials of PGC‐1α modulators. A better understanding of the elegant function of PGC‐1α in cancer progression could provide novel insights into therapeutic interventions through the targeting of PGC‐1α signaling.
Comovements and asymmetric tail dependence in state housing prices in the USA: A nonparametric approach
Authors: Huang Haitao , Peng Liang , Yao Vincent W.
Published: March 2019

We reexamine the methods used in estimating comovements among US regional home prices and find that there are insufficient moments to ensure a normal limit necessary for employing the quasi‐maximum likelihood estimator. Hence we propose applying the self‐weighted quasi‐maximum exponential likelihood estimator and a bootstrap method to test and account for the asymmetry of comovements as well as different magnitudes across state pairs. Our results reveal interstate asymmetric tail dependence based on observed house price indices rather than residuals from fitting autoregressive–generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (AR‐GARCH) models.
Anticancer activities of chalcone flavokawain B from Alpinia pricei Hayata in human lung adenocarcinoma (A549) cells via induction of reactive oxygen species‐mediated apoptotic and autophagic cell death
Authors: Hseu You‐Cheng , Huang Yu‐Chi , Thiyagarajan Varadharajan , Mathew Dony Chacko , Lin Kai‐Yuan , Chen Ssu‐Ching , Liu Jer‐Yuh , Hsu Li‐Sung , Li Mei‐Ling , Yang Hsin‐Ling
Published: March 2019

Chalcones found in fruits and vegetables have promising cancer chemopreventive properties. This study attempts to identify the anticancer efficacies of chalcone flavokawain B (FKB) in the rhizomes of Alpinia pricei Hayata by examining key molecular events in non‐small‐cell lung cancer (A549) cells. Our results indicated that in human A549 cells, FKB (0–15 μg/ml) decreases cell viability and colony formation, dysregulates the Bax:B‐cell lymphoma 2 ratio and increases apoptotic DNA fragmentation. Mitochondrial (caspase‐9/‐3 and poly ADP ribose polymerase [PARP]) signaling was found to be involved in FKB‐induced apoptosis. In addition, FKB‐induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and N‐acetylcysteine attenuated FKB‐induced apoptotic cell death. Moreover, FKB triggered autophagy, as evidenced by the improved acidic vesicular organelle formation, lipidated light chain 3 (microtubule‐related light chain 3) accumulation, and ATG7 expression and the decreased mammalian target of rapamycin phosphorylation. Furthermore, FKB suppressed ROS‐mediated ATG4B expression. Inhibiting autophagy using 3‐methyladenine/chloroquine diminished FKB‐induced cell death, indicating that autophagy is triggered as a death mechanism by FKB. In summary, FKB has a crucial role in the execution and propagation of ROS‐mediated apoptotic and autophagic cell death of lung adenocarcinoma cells.
A Call for Universal Acceptance of the Milan System for Reporting Salivary Gland Cytopathology
Authors: Barbarite Eric , Puram Sidharth V. , Derakhshan Adeeb , Rossi Esther D. , Faquin William C. , Varvares Mark A.
Published: March 2019

Objectives

The Milan System for Reporting Salivary Gland Cytopathology (MSRSGC) established a standardized, tiered reporting system for salivary gland fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) that has gained international acceptance among cytologists. Our goal was to review the key features of the MSRSGC to familiarize the surgical community with this system and its application to the FNA evaluation of salivary gland masses.

Methods

A comprehensive review of the MSRSGC and its application in clinical practice.

Results

The MSRSGC consists of six major diagnostic categories: 1) nondiagnostic, 2) non‐neoplastic, 3) atypia of undetermined significance, 4) neoplasm (benign or salivary gland neoplasm of uncertain malignant potential), 5) suspicious for malignancy, and 6) malignant. Each diagnostic category is associated with an implied risk of malignancy with implications for clinical management.

Conclusions

The MSRSGC is similar to the system used for reporting thyroid FNA, which is familiar to most otolaryngologists and head and neck surgeons. As this reporting system continues to gain popularity among pathologists, widespread understanding by surgeons will be important to standardize communication and classification of salivary gland cytopathology to improve clinical care. Laryngoscope, 130:80–85, 2020
Dynamic instability response of smart composite material
Authors: Roslan S.A.H. , Yusof Z. , Rasid Z.A. , Yahaya M.H. , Hassan M.Z. , Mahmud J.
Published: March 2019

Laminated composite is common to replace traditional metals in today's industries due to its high specific strength. Shape memory alloy has been used to improve structural behaviours such as buckling, vibration and fatigue through its well‐ known property of shape memory effect. This ability of shape memory alloy to improve the parametric instability behaviour of laminated composite plate has not been studied in the past and as such, this study is conducted. Here, shape memory alloy wires are embedded within the outer layers of the laminated composite plates. The Mathieu‐Hill equation for the parametric instability of the shape memory alloy composite plate has been developed using finite element method based on the first order shear deformation theory. The formulation is validated and parametric studies have been conducted to investigate the effect of shape memory alloy on the dynamic instability behaviour of the composite that corresponds to factors such as static load factor, thickness of the plate and boundary conditions. The study shows that shape memory alloy improves significantly the dynamic instability behaviour of the laminated composite plate by shifting the instability chart to the right. The effect of shape memory alloy can increase the frequency centre of the instability chart by more than 100 %.
Influence of powder loading on densification and microstructure of injection molded Fe‐50Ni soft magnetic alloys
Authors: Ali M. , Ahmad F. , Melor P.S. , Yasir M. , Yahya N. , Aslam M. , Malik M.R.R.
Published: March 2019

Metal injection molding (MIM) is a well‐known technique capable to produce micro size electromagnetic components with intricate shape features. Powder loading is a crucial parameter in the metal injection molding process which controls the densification and microstructure of the sintered parts. The lower powder loading leads to various defects and lower densification whereas higher loading results in failure of parts during injection molding. Therefore, it is important to engineer an appropriate powder loading to achieve defect‐free parts along with higher densification and improved microstructure. In this contest, three feedstocks of Fe‐50Ni alloys are prepared with powder loadings of 52 vol.%, 54 vol.% and 57 vol.% and injection molded. After debinding, the parts are sintered at 1325 °C for 2 h. The main objective of this study is to investigate the effect of powder loading on injection molding, densification, and microstructure. In addition, scanning electron microscopy and x‐ray diffraction analysis are performed during the study. The defect‐free green parts are produced successfully from the 52 % and 54 % loading. It has been found that the optimal powder loading of 54 % is the best from the perspective of enhanced densification and improved microstructure to assure the quality parts of Fe‐50Ni alloys via metal injection molding.