bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Printable, Down/Up‐Conversion Triple‐Mode Fluorescence Responsive and Colorless Self‐Healing Elastomers with Superior Toughness
Authors: Yao Weijing , Tian Qingyong , Shi Jiaqi , Luo Chengsheng , Wu Wei
Published: February 2021

Expanding the practical application range of self‐healing materials has become an important challenge for developing smart materials. Herein, the synthesis of printable, triple‐mode fluorescence responsive, and colorless self‐healing elastomers, formed by the combination of disulfide cross‐linked polyurethane (PU) polymers, carbon dots (CDs) down‐conversion fluorescence materials, and lanthanide ions doped upconversion fluorescence materials. The PU elastomers with optimal mechanical properties and good restorability (recover large strain of 500% after relaxation at room temperature (R.T.) for 2 h) are selected to incorporate CDs for fabricating fluorescence responsive elastomers (denoted as PU‐CDs). Significantly, the prepared PU‐CDs exhibit not only superior tensile strength and toughness (20.95 MPa and 85.13MJ m–3, respectively) than the previously reported R.T. self‐healing elastomers but also show good self‐healing properties and achieve blue fluorescence emissions under the ultraviolet excitation. Furthermore, a series of dual‐mode fluorescence patterns based on formulated core@shell structural upconversion inks are prepared on the transparent PU‐CDs elastomers by a directly screen‐printing method. Self‐healing and integrating a series of fluorescence patterns and damaged electrical patterns can also be accomplished successfully. The designed self‐healing materials provide new ideas and important guidance for developing and applying the next generation of smart materials.
Perovskite Quantum Dots with Ultralow Trap Density by Acid Etching‐Driven Ligand Exchange for High Luminance and Stable Pure‐Blue Light‐Emitting Diodes
Authors: Bi Chenghao , Yao Zhiwei , Sun Xuejiao , Wei Xuecheng , Wang Junxi , Tian Jianjun
Published: February 2021

The research on metal halide perovskite light‐emitting diodes (PeLEDs) with green and infrared emission has demonstrated significant progress in achieving higher functional performance. However, the realization of stable pure‐blue (≈470 nm wavelength) PeLEDs with increased brightness and efficiency still constitutes a considerable challenge. Here, a novel acid etching‐driven ligand exchange strategy is devised for achieving pure‐blue emitting small‐sized (≈4 nm) CsPbBr3 perovskite quantum dots (QDs) with ultralow trap density and excellent stability. The acid, hydrogen bromide (HBr), is employed to etch imperfect [PbBr6]4− octahedrons, thereby removing surface defects and excessive carboxylate ligands. Subsequently, didodecylamine and phenethylamine are successively introduced to bond the residual uncoordinated sites of the QDs and attain in situ exchange with the original long‐chain organic ligands, resulting in near‐unity quantum yield (97%) and remarkable stability. The QD‐based PeLEDs exhibit pure‐blue electroluminescence at 470 nm (corresponding to the Commission Internationale del'Eclairage (CIE) (0.13, 0.11) coordinates), an external quantum efficiency of 4.7%, and a remarkable luminance of 3850 cd m−2, which is the highest brightness reported so far for pure‐blue PeLEDs. Furthermore, the PeLEDs exhibit robust durability, with a half‐lifetime exceeding 12 h under continuous operation, representing a record performance value for blue PeLEDs.
Analysis of External and Internal Disorder to Understand Band‐Like Transport in n‐Type Organic Semiconductors
Authors: Stoeckel Marc‐Antoine , Olivier Yoann , Gobbi Marco , Dudenko Dmytro , Lemaur Vincent , Zbiri Mohamed , Guilbert Anne A. Y. , D'Avino Gabriele , Liscio Fabiola , Migliori Andrea , Ortolani Luca , Demitri Nicola , Jin Xin , Jeong Young‐Gyun , Liscio Andrea , Nardi Marco‐Vittorio , Pasquali Luca , Razzari Luca , Beljonne David , Samorì Paolo , Orgiu Emanuele
Published: February 2021

Charge transport in organic semiconductors is notoriously extremely sensitive to the presence of disorder, both internal and external (i.e., related to interactions with the dielectric layer), especially for n‐type materials. Internal dynamic disorder stems from large thermal fluctuations both in intermolecular transfer integrals and (molecular) site energies in weakly interacting van der Waals solids and sources transient localization of the charge carriers. The molecular vibrations that drive transient localization typically operate at low‐frequency (<a‐few‐hundred cm−1), which makes it difficult to assess them experimentally. Hitherto, this has prevented the identification of clear molecular design rules to control and reduce dynamic disorder. In addition, the disorder can also be external, being controlled by the gate insulator dielectric properties. Here a comprehensive study of charge transport in two closely related n‐type molecular organic semiconductors using a combination of temperature‐dependent inelastic neutron scattering and photoelectron spectroscopy corroborated by electrical measurements, theory, and simulations is reported. Unambiguous evidence that ad hoc molecular design enables the electron charge carriers to be freed from both internal and external disorder to ultimately reach band‐like electron transport is provided.
Tailoring c‐Axis Orientation in Epitaxial Ruddlesden–Popper Pr0.5Ca1.5MnO4 Films
Authors: Hoffmann‐Urlaub Sarah , Ross Ulrich , Hoffmann Jörg , Belenchuk Alexandr , Shapoval Oleg , Roddatis Vladimir , Ma Qian , Kressdorf Birte , Moshnyaga Vasily , Jooss Christian
Published: February 2021

Interest in layered Ruddlesden–Popper (RP) strongly correlated manganites of Pr0.5Ca1.5MnO4 as well as in their thin film polymorphs is motivated by the high temperature of charge orbital ordering above room temperature. The c‐axis orientation in epitaxial films is tailored by different SrTiO3 (STO) substrate orientations and CaMnO3 (CMO) buffer layers. Films on STO(110) show in‐plane alignment of the c‐axis parallel to the [100] direction. On STO(100), two possible directions of the in‐plane c‐axis lead to a mosaic like, quasi 2D nanostructure, consisting of RP, rock‐salt, and perovskite blocks. With the CMO buffer layer, Pr0.5Ca1.5MnO4 epitaxial films with c‐axis out‐of‐plane are realized. Different physical vapor deposition techniques as ion beam sputtering, pulsed laser deposition and metalorganic aerosol deposition are applied in order to distinguish effects of growth conditions from intrinsic epitaxial properties. Despite their very different growth conditions, surface morphology, crystal structure, and orientation of the thin films reveal a high level of similarity as verified by X‐ray diffraction, scanning, and high resolution transmission electron microscopy. For different epitaxial relations stress in the films is relaxed by means of modified interface chemistry. The charge ordering in the films occurs at a temperature close to that expected in bulk material.
Quinones from Biopolymers and Small Molecules Milled into Graphite Electrodes
Authors: Liu Lianlian , Wang Lei , Solin Niclas , Inganäs Olle
Published: February 2021

The redox reactions of quinones can be used in electrical energy storage systems. Biopolymers are one of the important sources for quinones due to sustainability and low cost. In this work, biomass materials that contain a large fraction of potential quinone groups are used to directly fabricate biomass/graphite hybrid material electrodes, without extraction or separation of the redox active components from other elements. Among these biomass electrodes based on barks, the bark from holm oak (Quercus ilex) and graphite hybrid electrode exhibits a discharge capacity of 20 mAh g−1, with 68% capacity retention after 1000 cycles. Moreover, various quinone chemicals from the biological world are used to generate the quinone/graphite hybrid material electrodes that display higher quinone loadings at the carbon electrodes. The alizarin/graphite hybrid material electrode presents a capacity of 70 mAh g−1, which is ≈30 times higher than that of the graphite electrode. It is demonstrated that barks and quinones are capable of exfoliating graphite into few‐layer graphene sheets with reduced crystallite size. Processing into electrodes is facilitated by the use of another biopolymer, proteins in the form of misfolded protein fibrils, which also help to improve the available charge in electrodes formed from biomass or quinones.
[Bis(trifluoroacetoxy)iodo]benzene Mediated C‐3 Selenylation of Pyrido[1,2‐a]Pyrimidin‐4‐Ones Under Ambient Conditions
Authors: Ghosh Prasanjit , Chhetri Gautam , Perl Eliyahu , Das Sajal
Published: February 2021

Herein, we report the [Bis(trifluoroacetoxy)iodo]benzene mediated C−H bond arylselenylation of 4H‐Pyrido‐[1,2‐a]‐Pyrimidin‐4‐ones using readily available organodiselenides. This methodology is scalable and permits for the generation of a broad spectrum of functionally and structurally diverse selenoether derivatives in very promising yields (up to 98%). Notably, this protocol proceeds at ambient conditions and in the absence of a metal. The application of this methodology for the facile synthesis of ArSe substituted 5H‐thiazolo‐pyrido[3,2‐a]pyrimidin‐4‐ones is also demonstrated.

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Asymmetric Cell Division of Fibroblasts is An Early Deterministic Step to Generate Elite Cells during Cell Reprogramming
Authors: Song Yang , Soto Jennifer , Wang Pingping , An Qin , Zhang Xuexiang , Hong SoonGweon , Lee Luke P. , Fan Guoping , Yang Li , Li Song
Published: February 2021

Cell reprogramming is considered a stochastic process, and it is not clear which cells are prone to be reprogrammed and whether a deterministic step exists. Here, asymmetric cell division (ACD) at the early stage of induced neuronal (iN) reprogramming is shown to play a deterministic role in generating elite cells for reprogramming. Within one day, fibroblasts underwent ACD, with one daughter cell being converted into an iN precursor and the other one remaining as a fibroblast. Inhibition of ACD significantly inhibited iN conversion. Moreover, the daughter cells showed asymmetric DNA segregation and histone marks during cytokinesis, and the cells inheriting newly replicated DNA strands during ACD became iN precursors. These results unravel a deterministic step at the early phase of cell reprogramming and demonstrate a novel role of ACD in cell phenotype change. This work also supports a novel hypothesis that daughter cells with newly replicated DNA strands are elite cells for reprogramming, which remains to be tested in various reprogramming processes.
A Review of Inorganic Photoelectrode Developments and Reactor Scale‐Up Challenges for Solar Hydrogen Production
Authors: Moss Benjamin , Babacan Oytun , Kafizas Andreas , Hankin Anna
Published: February 2021

Green hydrogen, produced using solar energy, is a promising means of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting devices can produce hydrogen using sunlight and integrate the distinct functions of photovoltaics and electrolyzers in a single device. There is flexibility in the degree of integration between these electrical and chemical energy generating components, and so a plethora of archetypal PEC device designs has emerged. Although some materials have effectively been ruled out for use in commercial PEC devices, many principles of material design and synthesis have been learned. Here, the fundamental requirements of PEC materials, the top performances of the most widely studied inorganic photoelectrode materials, and reactor structures reported for unassisted solar water splitting are revisited. The main phenomena limiting the performance of up‐scaled PEC devices are discussed, showing that engineering must be considered in parallel with material development for the future piloting of PEC water splitting systems. To establish the future commercial viability of this technology, more accurate techno‐economic analyses should be carried out using data from larger scale demonstrations, and hence more durable and efficient PEC systems need to be developed that meet the challenges imposed from both material and engineering perspectives.
High Li+ and Na+ Conductivity in New Hybrid Solid Electrolytes based on the Porous MIL‐121 Metal Organic Framework
Authors: Zettl Roman , Lunghammer Sarah , Gadermaier Bernhard , Boulaoued Athmane , Johansson Patrik , Wilkening H. Martin R. , Hanzu Ilie
Published: February 2021

Solid‐state electrolytes (SSEs) can leapfrog the development of all‐solid‐state batteries (ASSBs), enabling them to power electric vehicles and to store renewable energy from intermittent sources. Here, a new hybrid Li+ and Na+ conducting SSE based on the MIL‐121 metal‐organic framework (MOF) structure is reported. Following synthesis and activation of the MOF, the free carboxylic units along the 1D pores are functionalized with Li+ or Na+ ions by ion exchange. Ion dynamics are investigated by broadband impedance spectroscopy and by 7Li and 23Na NMR spin‐lattice relaxation. A crossover at 50 °C (Li+) and at 10 °C (Na+) from correlated to almost uncorrelated motion at higher temperature is observed, which is in line with Ngai's coupling model. Alternatively, in accordance to the jump relaxation model of Funke, at low temperature only a fraction of the jump processes are successful as lattice rearrangement in the direct vicinity of Li+ (Na+) is slow. 1H NMR unambiguously shows that Li+ is the main charge carrier. Conductivities reach 0.1 mS cm−1 (298 K, Na+) while the activation energies are 0.28 eV (Li+) and 0.36 eV (Na+). The findings pave the way towards development of easily tunable and rationally adjustable high‐performance MOF‐based hybrid SSEs for ASSBs.
Drip‐irrigation using highly saline groundwater increases sunflower yield in heavily saline soil
Authors: Dong Shide , Kang Yaohu , Wan Shuqin , Li Xiaobin , Miao Junxia
Published: February 2021

To improve global food security, techniques for sustainability managing salinity are needed. The objective of this study was to find a sustainable cultivating method for grain production using saline groundwater. A field experiment was conducted to determine the effect of drip irrigation with saline water (EC = 9.5 dS m–1) (DIS), drip irrigation with freshwater (electrical conductivity [EC] = 1.3 dS m–1) (DIF), and flood irrigation with freshwater (CK) on sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) yields. The cultivation pattern of “scheduled drip irrigation + mulched ridge” was adopted in DIS and DIF, while that in CK was the local pattern of “flood irrigation + flat mulch”. Results showed that drip irrigation with saline water and drip irrigation with freshwater saved 95% and 43 freshwater when compared with CK. After 2 yr, soil electrical conductivity of saturated paste extracts (ECe) in the surface 40 cm decreased from 22.9 to 6.4 dS m–1 in DIS and from 17.9 to 5.4 in DIF. The calculated desalinization rates were 72.1% for DIS and 69.3% for DIF. The sunflower yield in DIS and DIF increased by 12.1 and 37.0% and the economic benefit correspondingly increased by 29.6 and 52.5% when compared with CK after 2 yr. The drip irrigation with saline groundwater had remarkable advantages in saving freshwater, leaching salt, and increasing income.
Onset critical strains as an effective parameter for compatibilizer efficiency in a polypropylene‐poly(ethylene terephthalate) blend
Authors: Van Kets Karen , Delva Laurens , Ragaert Kim
Published: February 2021

The effectiveness of a compatibilizer is responsible for improved mechanical properties of immiscible blends. The enhanced interactions between the phases are assessed via critical plastic strain (onset of fine slip caused by local intra‐/interlamellar slip) and critical elastic strain (onset of fibrillation of crystalline skeleton). Polypropylene‐poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PP‐PET) blends were compatibilized with three maleic anhydride grafted compatibilizers with different backbones: PP, SEBS, and POE. Using this critical onset strain method, via free shrinkage experiments, allowed to identify the effect of PET on the matrix's deformation and also the different contributions of the compatibilizers to the deformation mechanisms. Results showed that PPgMAH promoted best PET's plastic deformation to the matrix, relative to the other compatibilizers. However, SEBSgMAH's elastomeric backbone provide better stress dissipation before onset of fibrillation compared to the binary blend and matrix. This method can be used as a way to assess the effectiveness of a compatibilizer in an immiscible blend.
Bounds for the weight of external data in shrinkage estimation
Authors: Röver Christian , Friede Tim
Published: February 2021

Shrinkage estimation in a meta‐analysis framework may be used to facilitate dynamical borrowing of information. This framework might be used to analyze a new study in the light of previous data, which might differ in their design (e.g., a randomized controlled trial and a clinical registry). We show how the common study weights arise in effect and shrinkage estimation, and how these may be generalized to the case of Bayesian meta‐analysis. Next we develop simple ways to compute bounds on the weights, so that the contribution of the external evidence may be assessed a priori. These considerations are illustrated and discussed using numerical examples, including applications in the treatment of Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease and in fetal monitoring to prevent the occurrence of metabolic acidosis. The target study's contribution to the resulting estimate is shown to be bounded below. Therefore, concerns of evidence being easily overwhelmed by external data are largely unwarranted.
Teaching two children with autism to mand for known and unknown items using contrived motivating operations
Authors: Jessel Joshua , Ingvarsson Einar T.
Published: February 2021

The interrupted chain procedure is used to teach children with limited verbal repertoires to independently mand for missing items required to complete a task. Previous research has used interrupted chains to teach children with autism autoclitic mand frames for information on the location of missing items and persons in possession of the missing items. We extended previous research by (a) measuring generalization of autoclitic frames both within and between tasks with multiple known missing items that the participants could tact, (b) assessing whether or not the autoclitic frames would emerge following tact training of unknown items, and (c) determining if participants could be taught a mand that would result in the appropriate information to evoke the autoclitic frame for unknown items. Following training, the two boys with autism who participated in this study were able to independently mand for known missing items without direct teaching and mand for information on unknown missing items.
Immobilization of silver and strontium oxide aluminate nanoparticles integrated into plasma‐activated cotton fabric: luminescence, superhydrophobicity, and antimicrobial activity
Authors: Atta Ayman M.
Published: February 2021

Smart textiles with a multifunctional surface, such as with photoluminescence, antimicrobial, and superhydrophobic properties, are highly desirable. Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were prepared and immobilized onto a cotton surface using a facile pad‐dry‐curing technique to introduce long‐lasting antimicrobial properties. The morphology of the silver immobilized cotton fibres was explored using scanning electron microscopic images and energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectra. The morphology of the formed Ag NPs was determined using a transmission electron microscope. Ag NPs exhibited uniform spreading and a high deposition density with a particle diameter in the range 25–55 nm. Both photoluminescence and superhydrophobic properties were explored by studying the cotton samples treated with hexadecyltrimethoxysilane nanocomposite containing lanthanide‐doped strontium oxide aluminate NPs. Ultraviolet–visible light absorption, phosphorescence, and lifetime spectra were measured. The produced transparent superhydrophobic and photoluminescent film showed two absorbance bands at 273 and 367 nm and emission bands at 415 and 437 nm, as recognized by both absorption and emission spectra. Excellent antibacterial activities towards E. coli and S. aureus were monitored for the coated samples. Both fastness and colorimetric properties of Ag NPs‐coated fabrics were explored.
Determination of linagliptin and empagliflozin by UPLC and HPTLC techniques aided by lean six sigma approach
Authors: El‐Desouky Ebrahim A. , Abdel‐Raoof Ahmed M. , Abdel‐Fattah Ashraf , Abdel‐Zaher Ahmed , Osman Ayman O. E. , Abdel‐Monem Ahmed H. , Morshedy Samir
Published: February 2021

Two chromatographic techniques were developed and validated for simultaneous determination of the newly co‐formulated antidiabetic combination linagliptin and empagliflozin in their pure form and film‐coated tables. The first technique was UPLC; the separation and resolution of both analytes were achieved using a Zorbax eclipse plus C18column applying an isocratic elution based on phosphate buffer pH 4–acetonitrile (65:35, v/v) as a running mobile phase at flow rate 1.5 ml/min and the effluent was monitored at 220 nm. Augmentation of Lean Six Sigma with UPLC and HPTLC methods had a major impact on the development of robust specifications to ensure that the quality at six sigma level has a high level of statistical confidence and target performance. On the chromatogram, empagliflozin and linagliptin appeared at retention times of 1.417 and 2.453 min, respectively. The second technique was HPTLC; both analytes were fairly well resolved and separated using a developing mobile phase composed of ethyl acetate–chloroform–acetonitrile (55:25:20 by volume). The values of retention factor (RF) were 0.29 and 0.53 for linagliptin and empagliflozin, respectively. All variables were investigated to adjust the whole conditions.
Co‐occurrence of germline pathogenic variants for different hereditary cancer syndromes in patients with Lynch syndrome
Authors: Ferrer‐Avargues Rosario , Castillejo María Isabel , Dámaso Estela , Díez‐Obrero Virginia , Garrigos Noemí , Molina Tatiana , Codoñer‐Alejos Alan , Segura Ángel , Sánchez‐Heras Ana Beatriz , Castillejo Adela , Soto José Luis
Published: February 2021

Background

Lynch syndrome (LS) is a hereditary condition characterized by a high risk of colorectal cancer, endometrial cancer, and other neoplasia associated with germline alterations in DNA mismatch repair genes. The classical genetic diagnostic strategy for LS consists of the Sanger sequencing of genes associated with the suspected syndrome. Next‐generation sequencing (NGS) enables the simultaneous sequencing of a large number of hereditary cancer genes. Here, we aimed to study whether other germline pathogenic variants of hereditary cancer genes are present in patients with LS.

Methods

A cohort of 84 probands with a previous genetic diagnosis of LS by Sanger sequencing was reanalyzed using NGS via a commercial panel of 94 hereditary cancer genes by hybrid capture. The American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics criteria were used to classify the clinical significance of the variants. The findings of NGS were confirmed by Sanger sequencing. When possible, genetic analyses of the new findings in the proband's relatives were also performed by Sanger sequencing.

Results

We identified five families (6%), out of 84, with at least two germline pathogenic variants conferring to high or moderate risk in different dominant cancer‐predisposing genes: [MLH1‐BRCA2‐NBN], [MLH1‐BRCA1], [MSH2‐ATM], [MSH6‐NF1], and [MLH1‐FANCA]. Interestingly, only one out of these five families exhibited a clinical phenotype associated with the new pathogenic variants. The family with three pathogenic variants of the [MLH1‐BRCA2‐NBN] genes showed a high aggregation of tumors associated with LS and breast and ovarian cancer syndrome.

Conclusions

Our results showed that the co‐occurrence of more than one pathogenic variant in cancer‐predisposing genes was remarkable among cases of LS. In most cases, no clinicial manifestations were associated with the secondary pathogenic variants. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and elucidate their clinical impact. Reanalysis of LS families should be considered only in families with mixed clinical phenotypes.
Acute appendicitis revealing a diagnosis of chronic myelogenous leukemia
Authors: Ahmad Rita , Ali Elrazi , Okar Lina , Elaiwy Orwa , Abdelrazek Mohamed , Mulikandathil Yahya , Yassin Mohamed
Published: February 2021

Gastrointestinal manifestations of leukemias have been well recognized. Typically, acute leukemias cause typhlitis or appendicitis more commonly than chronic leukemias. Our case points to appendicitis as possible manifestation of chronic myelogenous leukemia.
Bipolar‐Interface Hydrogen Fuel Cells: A Review and Perspective on Future High‐Performance, Low Platinum‐Group Metal Content Designs
Authors: Seeberger Dominik , Hartert Adrian , Mayerhöfer Britta , Thiele Simon
Published: February 2021

This Review elucidates the state‐of‐the‐art, challenges, and future prospects for bipolar‐interface‐based fuel cells (BPIFCs), focusing on hydrogen‐based systems. On the one side, it provides a summary of state‐of‐the‐art design strategies for BPIFCs from different fields of application. On the other hand, it identifies the two most pivotal areas for a future understanding that particularly refer to the changed mass transport situations introduced by the bipolar fuel cell design, that is, the water management and the bipolar interface layer itself. All operation‐relevant components such as the gas diffusion layers, catalyst layers, and membrane designs are discussed within the framework of these two main areas. As non‐platinum‐group metal (PGM) oxygen reduction is one of the key benefits of bipolar hydrogen fuel cells, a particular focus is put on this configuration. Several additional challenges that exclusively originate from non‐PGM‐based catalyst layers and possible mitigation approaches are discussed. One key insight is that these thick layers could take over the role of microporous layers in the future. Finally, we emphasize that there is a strong lack in both theoretical and experimental approaches that improve our understanding of the underlying processes in bipolar fuel cell designs.
Practical considerations for optimising homologous recombination repair mutation testing in patients with metastatic prostate cancer
Authors: Gonzalez David , Mateo Joaquin , Stenzinger Albrecht , Rojo Federico , Shiller Michelle , Wyatt Alexander W , Penault‐Llorca Frédérique , Gomella Leonard G , Eeles Ros , Bjartell Anders
Published: February 2021

Analysis of the genomic landscape of prostate cancer has identified different molecular subgroups with relevance for novel or existing targeted therapies. The recent approvals of the poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors olaparib and rucaparib in the metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) setting signal the need to embed molecular diagnostics in the clinical pathway of patients with mCRPC to identify those who can benefit from targeted therapies. Best practice guidelines in overall biospecimen collection and processing for molecular analysis are widely available for several tumour types. However, there is no standard protocol for molecular diagnostic testing in prostate cancer. Here, we provide a series of recommendations on specimen handling, sample pre‐analytics, laboratory workflow, and testing pathways to maximise the success rates for clinical genomic analysis in prostate cancer. Early involvement of a multidisciplinary team of pathologists, urologists, oncologists, radiologists, nurses, molecular scientists, and laboratory staff is key to enable optimal workflow for specimen selection and preservation at the time of diagnosis so that samples are available for molecular analysis when required. Given the improved outcome of patients with mCRPC and homologous recombination repair gene alterations who have been treated with PARP inhibitors, there is an urgent need to incorporate high‐quality genomic testing in the routine clinical pathway of these patients.
Hepatitis C‐positive Black patients develop hepatocellular carcinoma at earlier stages of liver disease and present with a more aggressive phenotype
Authors: Shaltiel Tali , Zheng Serena , Siderides Cleo , Gleeson Elizabeth M. , Carr Jacquelyn , Pletcher Eric R. , Cohen Noah A. , Golas Benjamin J. , Magge Deepa R. , Labow Daniel M. , Branch Andrea D. , Sarpel Umut
Published: February 2021

Background

In the United States, mortality after a diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is higher in patients who are Black than in patients of other racial groups. The objective of this study was to clarify factors contributing to this disparity by analyzing liver and tumor characteristics in patients with HCC who have a history of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

Methods

Records of patients with HCV and HCC at the authors' institution from 2003 to 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Race and ethnicity were self‐identified. Imaging, laboratory, and pathologic features were compared between Black and non‐Black cohorts.

Results

Among 1195 individuals with HCC, 390 identified as Black. At the time of HCC diagnosis, Black patients had better liver function, as measured by Child‐Pugh score, Model of End‐Stage Liver Disease score, histology of nontumor tissue, and fibrosis‐4 (FIB‐4) score (all P < .05). FIB‐4 scores were <3.25 in 31% of Black patients. In addition, Black patients had less early stage HCC (20.2% vs 32.3%; P < .05), larger tumors (median [interquartile range]: 3.5 cm [2.2‐6.2 cm] vs 3.1 cm [2.1‐5.1 cm]; P < .01), more multiple tumors (median, [interquartile range]: 1 tumor [1‐3 tumors] vs 1 tumor [1‐2 tumors]; P = .03), more poorly differentiated tumors (30.3% vs 20.5%; P < .05), and more microvascular invasion (67.2% vs 56.5%; P < .05).

Conclusions

Black patients with HCV exposure develop HCC at earlier stages of liver disease than members of other racial groups. Nearly one‐third would not qualify for HCC screening using the common FIB‐4 cirrhosis threshold. Practice guidelines that stress HCC surveillance for cirrhotic patients with HCV may need to be revised to be more inclusive for Black patients. In addition, tumors in Black patients carry worse prognostic features, and molecular studies are needed to characterize their biologic properties.
An unsupervised neural network approach for imputation of missing values in univariate time series data
Authors: Savarimuthu Nickolas , Karesiddaiah Shobha
Published: February 2021

Handling missing values in time series data plays a key role in predicting and forecasting, as complete and clean historical data help to achieve higher accuracy. Numerous research works are present in multivariate time series imputation, but imputation in univariate time series data is least considered due to correlated variables unavailability. This article aims to propose an iterative imputation algorithm by clustering univariate time series data, considering the trend, seasonality, cyclical, and residue features of the data. The proposed method uses a similarity based nearest neighbor imputation approach on each clusters for filling missing values. The proposed method is evaluated on publicly available data set from the data market repository and UCI repository by randomly simulating missing patterns under low, moderate, and high missingness rates throughout the data series. The proposed method's outcome is evaluated with the imputeTestbench package with root mean squared error as an error metric and validated through prediction accuracy and concordance correlation coefficient statistical test. Experimental results show that the proposed imputation technique produces closer values to the original time series data set, resulting in low error rates compared with other existing imputation methods.
DNA fingerprinting at farm level to map wheat variety adoption across Nepal
Authors: Garapaty Rijuta , Majumder Rituparna , Thapa Dhruba , Upadhyay Shesh Raman , Baidya Suraj , Basnet Roshan , Bhandari Deepak , Gade Poornima , Paranjape Vijay , Killian Andrzej , Vijayaraghavan Vijay Kannan , Acevedo Maricelis
Published: February 2021

Wheat is a staple crop in Nepal and is the third major cereal crop grown across the country. To improve productivity and increase the number of farmers growing wheat, the Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC), since 1962, has been releasing new wheat varieties with higher productivity and disease resistance. Accurate identification of the varieties grown in farmer's fields is critical for assessing the adoption levels and the impact of new varieties. This understanding can change the landscape of the wheat market and the overall vulnerability of the crop to diseases and abiotic stresses. Current methods of identification that rely on farmer description and morphological traits have been associated with ambiguity. The objective of this study was to determine the varietal adoption of wheat in the seven wheat‐growing provinces of Nepal using DNA fingerprinting technology. The study revealed that ‘Gautam’ and ‘Vijay’ are the most popular wheat varieties planted in the plain areas of Nepal. The area covered in these varieties during the 2018–2019 wheat season was 20.3 and 19.5% respectively. ‘WK1204’ was popular and mostly planted in the mountainous areas of Nepal during the October–May cropping season. The decommissioned varieties, including ‘Lerma Roja‐64’, ‘Pitic62’, ‘Kalyansona’, ‘NL‐30’, ‘Siddhartha’, ‘Vaskar’, ‘Vinayak’, ‘Annapurna‐2’, and ‘NL 251’ are still in use by 8% of wheat farmers across Nepal. Almost 38% of the varieties currently grown were released 20 yr ago. The varietal adoption was determined using molecular markers through fingerprinting, and its implications are discussed in this paper.
Control of Molecular Catalysts for Oxygen Reduction by Variation of pH and Functional Groups
Authors: Friedman Ariel , Reddy Samala Nagaprasad , Honig Hilah C. , Tasior Mariusz , Gryko Daniel T. , Elbaz Lior , Grinberg Ilya
Published: February 2021

In the search for replacement of the platinum‐based catalysts for fuel cells, MN4 molecular catalysts based on abundant transition metals play a crucial role in modeling and investigation of the influence of the environment near the active site in platinum‐group metal‐free (PGM‐free) oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysts. To understand how the ORR activity of molecular catalysts can be controlled by the active site structure through modification by the pH and substituent functional groups, the change of the ORR onset potential and the electron number in a broad pH range was examined for three different metallocorroles. Experiments revealed a switch between two different ORR mechanisms and a change from 2e− to 4e− pathway in the pH range of 3.5‐6. This phenomenon was shown by density functional theory (DFT) calculations to be related to the protonation of the nitrogen atoms and carboxylic acid groups on the corroles indicated by the pKa values of the protonation sites in the vicinity of the ORR active sites. Control of the electron‐withdrawing nature of these groups characterized by the pKa values could switch the ORR from the H+ to e− rate‐determining step mechanisms and from 2e− to 4e− ORR pathways and also controlled the durability of the corrole catalysts. The results suggest that protonation of the nitrogen atoms plays a vital role in both the ORR activity and durability for these materials and that pKa of the N atoms at the active sites can be used as a descriptor for the design of high‐performance, durable PGM‐free catalysts.
Angioimmunoblastic T‐cell lymphoma masquerading as granulomatous lymphadenitis: Fine needle aspiration cytology, clinical and radiology correlation
Authors: van den Akker Tayler A. , Chen Hua
Published: February 2021

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) is a minimally invasive technique used in the initial diagnosis of superficial lesions, including lymphadenopathy. Its benefit in lymph node pathology, however, is highly variable, especially in heterogeneous lymphoproliferative disorders like angioimmunoblastic T‐cell lymphoma (AITL). AITL is an aggressive hematopoietic malignancy, histologically characterized by medium‐sized neoplastic cells, high endothelial venule proliferations, and a heterogeneous hematolymphoid background. Diagnostic difficulty arises at lymph node FNA, where cytology yields nonspecific polymorphous collections of medium‐sized lymphocytes, hematolymphoid cells, dendritic cell‐lymphoid complexes, and lymphoid tissue fragments with transgressing blood vessels; findings mimicking reactive lymphadenopathy. We present a case of a 62‐year‐old male who presented with cervical lymphadenopathy. Neck level II lymph node FNA revealed granulomatous inflammation. A cell block was prepared for additional infectious studies but was non‐contributory due to lack of material. Flow cytometry showed no evidence of non‐Hodgkin lymphoma. Excisional biopsy revealed lymph node effacement by a T‐cell lymphoproliferative disorder consistent with AITL. This case contributes to the paucity of literature regarding the cytologic features of AITL observed at FNA, and becomes the premier case to emphasize the addition of granulomatous features. Despite the aggressive nature of this entity, cases are frequently misdiagnosed as reactive on initial evaluation resulting in delay of treatment. This report serves to raise suspicion of AITL and other polymorphic cellular lymphomas in the setting of reactive granulomatous cytomorphology, thus prompting histological examination of tissue biopsy, expediting treatment, and ultimately providing potential improvement to the current prognosis.
Stand‐scale climate change impacts on forests over large areas: transient responses and projection uncertainties
Authors: Huber Nica , Bugmann Harald , Cailleret Maxime , Bircher Nicolas , Lafond Valentine
Published: February 2021

The increasing impacts of climate change on forest ecosystems have triggered multiple model‐based impact assessments for the future, which typically focused either on a small number of stand‐scale case studies or on large scale analyses (i.e., continental to global). Therefore, substantial uncertainty remains regarding the local impacts over large areas (i.e., regions to countries), which is particularly problematic for forest management. We provide a comprehensive, high‐resolution assessment of the climate change sensitivity of managed Swiss forests (~10,000 km2), which cover a wide range of environmental conditions. We used a dynamic vegetation model to project the development of typical forest stands derived from a stratification of the Third National Forest Inventory until the end of the 22nd century. Two types of simulations were conducted: one limited to using the extant local species, the other enabling immigration of potentially more climate‐adapted species. Moreover, to assess the robustness of our projections, we quantified and decomposed the uncertainty in model projections resulting from the following sources: (1) climate change scenarios, (2) local site conditions, and (3) the dynamic vegetation model itself (i.e., represented by a set of model versions), an aspect hitherto rarely taken into account. The simulations showed substantial changes in basal area and species composition, with dissimilar sensitivity to climate change across and within elevation zones. Higher‐elevation stands generally profited from increased temperature, but soil conditions strongly modulated this response. Low‐elevation stands were increasingly subject to drought, with strong negative impacts on forest growth. Furthermore, current stand structure had a strong effect on the simulated response. The admixture of drought‐tolerant species was found advisable across all elevations to mitigate future adverse climate‐induced effects. The largest uncertainty in model projections was associated with climate change scenarios. Uncertainty induced by the model version was generally largest where overall simulated climate change impacts were small, thus corroborating the utility of the model for making projections into the future. Yet, the large influence of both site conditions and the model version on some of the projections indicates that uncertainty sources other than climate change scenarios need to be considered in climate change impact assessments.
Plant traits are differentially linked to performance in a semiarid ecosystem
Authors: Funk Jennifer L. , Larson Julie E. , Ricks‐Oddie Joni
Published: February 2021

A central principle in trait‐based ecology is that trait variation has an adaptive value. However, uncertainty over which plant traits influence individual performance across environmental gradients may limit our ability to use traits to infer ecological processes at larger scales. To better understand which traits are linked to performance under different precipitation regimes, we measured above‐ and belowground traits, growth, and reproductive allocation for four annual and four perennial species from a coastal sage scrub community in California under conditions of 50%, 100%, and 150% ambient precipitation. Across water treatments, annual species displayed morphological trait values consistent with high rates of resource acquisition (e.g., low leaf mass per area, low root tissue density, high specific root length), and aboveground measures of resource acquisition (including photosynthetic rate and leaf N concentration) were positively associated with plant performance (reproductive allocation). Results from a structural equation model demonstrated that leaf traits explained 38% of the variation in reproductive allocation across the water gradient in annual species, while root traits accounted for only 6%. Although roots play a critical role in water uptake, more work is needed to understand the mechanisms by which root trait variation can influence performance in water‐limited environments. Perennial species showed lower trait plasticity than annuals across the water gradient and were more variable as a group in terms of trait–performance relationships, indicating that species rely on different functional strategies to respond to drought. Our finding that species identity drives much of the variation in trait values and trait–performance relationships across a water gradient may simplify efforts to model ecological processes, such as productivity, that are potentially influenced by environmentally induced shifts in trait values.
Environmental DNA (eDNA) as a tool for assessing fish biomass: A review of approaches and future considerations for resource surveys
Authors: Rourke Meaghan L. , Fowler Ashley M. , Hughes Julian M. , Broadhurst Matt K. , DiBattista Joseph D. , Fielder Stewart , Wilkes Walburn Jackson , Furlan Elise M
Published: February 2021

Environmental DNA (eDNA) has revolutionized our ability to identify the presence and distributions of terrestrial and aquatic organisms. Recent evidence suggests the concentration of eDNA could also provide a rapid, cost‐effective indicator of abundance and/or biomass for fisheries stock assessments. Globally, fisheries resources are under immense pressure, and their sustainable harvest requires accurate information on the sizes of fished stocks. However, in many cases the required information remains elusive because of a reliance on imprecise or costly fishery‐dependent and independent data. Here, we review the literature describing relationships between eDNA concentrations and fish abundance and/or biomass, as well as key influencing factors, as a precursor to determining the broader utility of eDNA for monitoring fish populations. We reviewed 63 studies published between 2012 and 2020 and found 90% identified positive relationships between eDNA concentrations and the abundance and/or biomass of focal species. Key influencing biotic factors included the taxon examined as well as their body size, distribution, reproduction, and migration. Key abiotic factors mostly comprised hydrological processes affecting the dispersal and persistence of eDNA, especially water flow and temperature, although eDNA collection methods were also influential. The cumulative influence of these different factors likely explains the substantial variability observed in eDNA concentrations, both within and among studies. Nevertheless, there is considerable evidence to support using eDNA as an ancillary tool for assessing fish population abundance and/or biomass across discrete spatio‐temporal scales, following preliminary investigations to determine species‐ and context‐specific factors influencing the eDNA abundance/biomass relationship. Advantages of eDNA monitoring relative to other approaches include reduced costs, increased efficiencies, and nonlethal sampling.
Simple equations to predict the effects of veno‐venous ECMO in decompensated Eisenmenger syndrome
Authors: Bonnemain Jean , Auberson Denise , Rutz Tobias , Yerly Patrick , Aubert John‐David , Roumy Aurélien , Pantet Olivier , Rusca Marco , Liaudet Lucas , Piquilloud Lise
Published: February 2021

Adult patients with uncorrected congenital heart diseases and chronic intracardiac shunt may develop Eisenmenger syndrome (ES) due to progressive increase of pulmonary vascular resistance, with significant morbidity and mortality. Acute decompensation of ES in conditions promoting a further increase of pulmonary vascular resistance, such as pulmonary embolism or pneumonia, can precipitate major arterial hypoxia and death. In such conditions, increasing systemic oxygenation with veno‐venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV‐ECMO) could be life‐saving, serving as a bridge to treat a potential reversible cause for the decompensation, or to urgent lung transplantation. Anticipating the effects of VV‐ECMO in this setting could ease the clinical decision to initiate such therapeutic strategy. Here, we present a series of equations to accurately predict the effects of VV‐ECMO on arterial oxygenation in ES and illustrate this point by a case of ES decompensation with refractory hypoxaemia consecutive to an acute respiratory failure due to viral pneumonia.
Optimising care pathways for adult anorexia nervosa. What is the evidence to guide the provision of high‐quality, cost‐effective services?
Authors: Treasure Janet , Oyeleye Oyenike , Bonin Eva‐Maria , Zipfel Stephan , Fernandez‐Aranda Fernando
Published: February 2021

The aim of this paper is to consider how changes in service planning and delivery might improve the care pathways for adult anorexia nervosa. Although anorexia nervosa has a long history in Europe, its framing as a mental disorder is quite recent. The changing forms and increasing epidemiology of eating disorders has led to the expansion of specialised services. Although some services provide care over the entire clinical course, more often services are divided into those that care for children and adolescents or adults. The transition needs to be carefully managed as currently these services may have a different ethos and expectations. Services for adults have a broad range of diversity (diagnostic subtype, medical severity, comorbidity, stage of illness and psychosocial functioning) all of which impacts on prognosis. A tailored, approach to treatment planning could optimise the pathway. Facilitating early help seeking and rapid diagnosis in primary care and reducing specialised services waiting lists for assessment and treatment could be a form of secondary prevention. The use of precision models and /or continuous outcome monitoring might reduce the third of patients who require more intensive care by applying augmentation strategies. Finally, gains from intensive care might be sustained by relapse prevention interventions and community support to bridge the transition home. Together these measures might reduce the proportion of patients (currently a third) with ill health for over 20 years. For this group rehabilitation strategies may improve functioning until new treatment emerge.