bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Environmental and strength‐enhanced nanosilica‐based composite gel for well temporary plugging in high‐temperature reservoirs
Authors: Jia Hu , Yang Xin‐Yu
Published: December 2018

Polymer gel is widely used for well temporary plugging in petroleum engineering. This paper researched on a novel environmental and strength‐enhanced composite gel plug prepared by the nanosilica, the polymer hydrolyzed polyacrylamide and environmental friendly crosslinker polyethyleneimine, and the effect of strength enhancement and thermal stability mechanism of the nanosilica in this system was investigated. The experiments results showed that with the increase of the nanosilica concentration, the elastic modulus and viscous modulus, the stress under the same strain and the gel decompose temperature both increased. For the system containing 8% nanosilica, the elastic modulus is about 14 times than the one without it, whereas the viscous modulus is only 70.98 Pa, which is favorable for lowering the absorption damage to the formation. The strain–stress experiment results showed that to reach 45% strain, the stress of 44.6 KPa needed to be loaded (for composite gel with 8 wt% nanosilica) and during the compress process, the gel deformed with no break and after the stress was released, it got back to the original shape soon, indicating its good mechanical and elasticity performance. The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results revealed that the after adding nanosilica, more free water can be kept so that the system's thermal stability was effectively improved. The scanning electron microscopic images displayed that the nanosilica particles closely adhere to the polymer network; thus, the 3D structure of the composite gel became more compact and the gel's strength was improved. In the last section, some recommendations for well temporary plugging are proposed.
Core‐Shell Structured Cobalt Sulfide/Cobalt Aluminum Hydroxide Nanosheet Arrays for Pseudocapacitor Application
Authors: Cha Ji‐Hyun , Park Eun Bi , Han Sang Wook , Kim Young Dok , Jung Duk‐Young
Published: December 2018

The direct synthesis of nanostructured electrode materials on three‐dimensional substrates is important for their practical application in electrochemical cells without requiring the use of organic additives or binders. In this study, we present a simple two‐step process to synthesize a stable core–shell structured cobalt sulfide/cobalt aluminum hydroxide nanosheet (LDH‐S) for pseudocapacitor electrode application. The cobalt aluminum layered double hydroxide (CoAl‐LDH) nanoplates were synthesized in basic aqueous solution with a kinetically‐controlled thickness. Owing to the facile diffusion of electrolytes through the nanoplates, thin CoAl‐LDH nanoplates have higher specific capacitance values than thick nanoplates. The as‐grown CoAl‐LDH nanoplates were transformed into core–shell structured LDH‐S nanosheets by a surface modification process in Na2S aqueous solution. The chemically robust cobalt sulfide (CoS) shell increased the electrochemical stability compared to the sulfide‐free CoAl‐LDH electrodes. The LDH‐S electrodes exhibited high electrochemical performance in terms of specific capacitance and rate capability with a galvanostatic discharge of 1503 F g−1 at a current density of 2 A g−1 and a specific capacitance of 91 % at 50 A g−1.
Composite Spectra, Paper XXII HD 193349/50: a 3‐year binary whose apparently single hot secondary could itself be a former binary that is now merged
Authors: Griffin R. E. M. , Griffin R. F.
Published: December 2018

HD 193349/50, the brightest component of a visual triple system, is a composite‐spectrum binary in which the hot component is dominant in the violet part of the spectrum. The spectral types are near to K0 iii and B9 V. The orbit has a period of three years and a very small (but significantly non‐zero) eccentricity. The enormous mass function of 1.4 M⊙ presents a problem to which we are unable to offer a certain solution; we tend to favour the conclusion that the B9 V star is the result of a stellar merger.
Solar bursts as can be observed from the lunar farside with a single antenna at very low frequencies
Authors: Stanislavsky A. A. , Konovalenko A. A. , Yerin S. N. , Bubnov I. N. , Zakharenko V. V. , Shkuratov Yu. G. , Tokarsky P. L. , Yatskiv Ya. S. , Brazhenko A. I. , Frantsuzenko A. V. , Dorovskyy V. V. , Rucker H. O. , Zarka Ph.
Published: December 2018

Earth‐based observations are complicated by the opacity of Earth's ionosphere at very low frequencies and strong man‐made radio frequency interference. This explains long‐standing interest in building a low‐frequency radio telescope on the farside of the Moon. Experience from ground‐based observations near the ionospheric cutoff in dealing with the interference, ionosphere, and wide‐field imaging/dynamic range problems provides crucial information for future radio‐astronomic experiments on the Moon. In this purpose, we observed nonintensive solar bursts on the example of solar drift pairs (DPs) at decameter–meter wavelengths with large and small arrays as well as by a single‐crossed active dipole. We used the large Ukrainian radio telescope UTR‐2, the URAN‐2 array, a subarray of the giant Ukrainian radio telescope (GURT), and a single‐crossed active dipole to get the spectral properties of radio bursts in the frequency range of 8–80 MHz during solar observations on July 12, 2017. Statistical analysis of upper and lower frequencies, at which DPs are recorded, shows that the occurrence of forward DPs is more preferable at lower frequencies of the decameter range of observations in comparison with reverse DPs generated more likely in meter wavelengths. We conclude that DPs can be detected not only by antenna arrays, but even by a single‐crossed active dipole. Thus, the latter antenna has good potential for future low‐frequency radio telescopes on the Moon.
Chromatin Stability as a Target for Cancer Treatment
Authors: Gurova Katerina V.
Published: December 2018

In this essay, I propose that DNA‐binding anti‐cancer drugs work more via chromatin disruption than DNA damage. Success of long‐awaited drugs targeting cancer‐specific drivers is limited by the heterogeneity of tumors. Therefore, chemotherapy acting via universal targets (e.g., DNA) is still the mainstream treatment for cancer. Nevertheless, the problem with targeting DNA is insufficient efficacy due to high toxicity. I propose that this problem stems from the presumption that DNA damage is critical for the anti‐cancer activity of these drugs. DNA in cells exists as chromatin, and many DNA‐targeting drugs alter chromatin structure by destabilizing nucleosomes and inducing histone eviction from chromatin. This effect has been largely ignored because DNA damage is seen as the major reason for anti‐cancer activity. I discuss how DNA‐binding molecules destabilize chromatin, why this effect is more toxic to tumoral than normal cells, and why cells die as a result of chromatin destabilization.
Cost-effectiveness analysis of a multicentre randomized clinical trial comparing surgery with conservative management for recurrent and ongoing diverticulitis (DIRECT trial)
Authors: Bolkenstein H E , de Wit G A , Consten E C J , Van de Wall B J M , Broeders I A M J , Draaisma W A
Published: December 2018

Background

The results of the DIRECT trial, an RCT comparing conservative management with elective sigmoid resection in patients with recurrent diverticulitis or persistent complaints, showed that elective sigmoid resection leads to higher quality of life. The aim of this study is to determine the cost-effectiveness of surgical treatment at 1- and 5-year follow-up from a societal perspective.

Methods

Clinical effectiveness and resource use were derived from the DIRECT trial. The actual resource use and quality of life (EQ-5D-3L™ score) were documented prospectively per individual patient and analysed according to the intention-to-treat principle for up to 5 years after randomization. The main outcome was the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER), expressed as costs per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY).

Results

The study included 106 patients, of whom 50 were randomized to surgery and 56 to conservative treatment. At 1- and 5-year follow-up an incremental effect (QALY difference between groups) of 0·06 and 0·43 respectively was found, and an incremental cost (cost difference between groups) of €6957 and €2674 respectively, where surgery was more expensive than conservative treatment. This resulted in an ICER of €123 365 per additional QALY at 1-year follow-up, and €6275 at 5 years. At a threshold of €20 000 per QALY, operative treatment has 0 per cent probability of being cost-effective at 1-year follow-up, but a 95 per cent probability at 5 years.

Conclusion

At 5-year follow-up, elective sigmoid resection in patients with recurring diverticulitis or persistent complaints was found to be cost-effective. Registration number: NTR1478 (www.trialregistrer.nl).
Patient-level costs in margin re-excision for breast-conserving surgery
Authors: Grant Y , Al-Khudairi R , St John E , Barschkett M , Cunningham D , Al-Mufti R , Hogben K , Thiruchelvam P , Hadjiminas D J , Darzi A , Carter A W , Leff D R
Published: December 2018

Background

High rates of reoperation following breast-conserving surgery (BCS) for positive margins are associated with costs to healthcare providers. The aim was to assess the quality of evidence on reported re-excision costs and compare the direct patient-level costs between patients undergoing successful BCS versus reoperations after BCS.

Methods

The study used data from women who had BCS with or without reoperation at a single institution between April 2015 and March 2016. A systematic review of health economic analysis in BCS was conducted and scored using the Quality of Health Economic Studies (QHES) instrument. Financial data were retrieved using the Patient-Level Information and Costing Systems (PLICS) for patients. Exchange rates used were: US $1 = £0·75, £1 = €1·14 and US $1 = €0·85.

Results

The median QHES score was 47 (i.q.r. 32·5–79). Only two of nine studies scored in the upper QHES quartile (score at least 75). Costs of initial lumpectomy and reoperation were in the range US $1234–11786 and $655–9136 respectively. Over a 12-month interval, 153 patients had definitive BCS and 59 patients underwent reoperation. The median cost of reoperations after BCS (59 patients) was £4511 (range 1752–18 019), representing an additional £2136 per patient compared with BCS without reoperation (P < 0·001).

Conclusion

The systematic review demonstrated variation in methodological approach to cost estimates and a paucity of high-quality cost estimate studies for reoperations. Extrapolating local PLICS data to a national level suggests that getting BCS right first time could result in substantial savings.
An HPLC method for the determination of adenosine diphosphate: An important marker of hexokinase activity in metabolic diseases
Authors: Brito Santos Rodrigo , Pereira da Silva Railmara , Akihiro Melo Otsuka Felipe , de Jesus Trindade Danielle , Costa Santos Aline , Reis Matos Humberto
Published: December 2018

Hexokinases play a critical role in the cellular uptake and utilization of glucose. As such, they are of fundamental importance to all cells. By catalyzing glucose to produce glucose‐6‐phosphate, hexokinases control the first irreversible step of glucose metabolism and initiate all major pathways of glucose consumption. Our objective was to develop and validate highly sensitive and selective high‐performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detector (HPLC‐PDA) assays allowing the determination of adenosine diphosphate, which was used for the determination of hexokinase activity. Samples were analyzed by HPLC‐PDA using a C18 analytical column (250 × 4.6 mm) for chromatographic separation. Optimal detection was achieved based on isocratic elution with a mobile phase consisting of a mixture of sodium phosphate monobasic buffer and methanol. This method met all of the requirements of specificity, sensitivity, linearity, precision, accuracy and stability generally accepted in bioanalytical chemistry and was successfully applied to a study of hexokinase activity in an alloxan‐induced diabetic rat model. Determination of hexokinase activity will permit characterization of cellular metabolic state in many diseases, such as cancer and diabetes.
Preliminary evidence from a prospective DTI study suggests a posterior‐to‐anterior pattern of recovery in college athletes with sports‐related concussion
Authors: Cubon Valerie A. , Murugavel Murali , Holmes Katharine W. , Dettwiler Annegret
Published: December 2018

Objectives

We compared the integrity of white matter (WM) microstructure to the course of recovery in athletes who sustained one sports‐related concussion (SRC), assessing individual longitudinal changes in WM fiber tracts following SRC using pre‐ and post‐injury measurements.

Materials and Methods

Baseline diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) scans and neuropsychological tests were collected on 53 varsity contact‐sport college athletes. Participants (n = 13) who subsequently sustained an SRC underwent DTI scans and neuropsychological testing at 2 days, 2 weeks, and 2 months following injury.

Results

Relying on tract‐based spatial statistics (TBSS) analyses, we found that radial diffusivity (RD) and mean diffusivity (MD) were significantly increased at 2 days post‐injury compared to the same‐subject baseline (corrected p < 0.02). These alterations were visible in anterior/posterior WM regions spanning both hemispheres, demonstrating a diffuse pattern of injury after concussion. Implicated WM fiber tracts at 2 days include the following: right superior/inferior longitudinal fasciculus; right/left inferior fronto‐occipital fasciculus; right corticospinal tract; right acoustic radiation; right/left anterior thalamic radiations; right/left uncinate fasciculus; and forceps major/minor. At 2 weeks post‐injury, persistently elevated RD and MD were observed solely in prefrontal portions of WM fiber tracts (using same‐subject contrasts). No significant differences were found for FA in any of the post‐injury comparisons to baseline. Plots of individual subject RD and MD in prefrontal WM demonstrated homogenous increases from baseline to just after SRC; thereafter, trajectories became more variable. Most subjects’ diffusivity values remained elevated at 2 months post‐injury relative to their own baseline. Over the 2‐month period after SRC, recovery of WM fiber tracts appeared to follow a posterior‐to‐anterior trend, paralleling the posterior–anterior pattern of WM maturation previously identified in the normal population.

Conclusion

These results suggest greater vulnerability of prefrontal regions to SRC, underline the importance of an individualized approach to concussion management, and show promise for using RD and MD for imaging‐based diagnosis of SRC.
Follow 6 critical steps to manage privacy, security risks in ed tech
Authors: Rice David L. , Sniffen Brian T.
Published: December 2018

A dizzying array of technology is available to help educational institutions provide high‐quality content and fulfill their missions faster and more conveniently than ever before. For example, unified messaging platforms allow higher ed administrators, faculty, and students to keep track of assignments, grades, volunteer and extracurricular opportunities, and due dates for projects, and to ask questions and otherwise communicate. And apps can help students learn a variety of subjects, including math, reading, and foreign languages. Electronic books are widely available, and students can take notes in them. Collectively, this technology is referred to as “ed tech.” It's fundamentally changing how higher ed administrators, faculty members, and students learn and communicate — and students are increasingly accessing ed tech services in their early elementary years.
Synthesis, Characterization and in vitro Studies of a Cathepsin B‐Cleavable Prodrug of the VEGFR Inhibitor Sunitinib
Authors: Karnthaler‐Benbakka Claudia , Koblmüller Bettina , Mathuber Marlene , Holste Katharina , Berger Walter , Heffeter Petra , Kowol Christian R. , Keppler Bernhard K.
Published: December 2018

Since several decades, the prodrug concept has raised considerable interest in cancer research due to its potential to overcome common problems associated with chemotherapy. However, for small‐molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors, which also cause severe side effects, hardly any strategies to generate prodrugs for therapeutic improvement have been reported so far. Here, we present the synthesis and biological investigation of a cathepsin B‐cleavable prodrug of the VEGFR inhibitor sunitinib. Cell viability assays and Western blot analyses revealed, that, in contrast to the non‐cathepsin B‐cleavable reference compound, the prodrug shows activity comparable to the original drug sunitinib in the highly cathepsin B‐expressing cell lines Caki‐1 and RU‐MH. Moreover, a cathepsin B cleavage assay confirmed the desired enzymatic activation of the prodrug. Together, the obtained data show that the concept of cathepsin B‐cleavable prodrugs can be transferred to the class of targeted therapeutics, allowing the development of optimized tyrosine kinase inhibitors for the treatment of cancer.
Investigation of a KcsA Cytoplasmic pH Gate in Lipoprotein Nanodiscs
Authors: Qasim Arwa , Sher Inbal , Hirschhorn Orel , Shaked Hadassa , Qasem Zena , Ruthstein Sharon , Chill Jordan H.
Published: December 2018

The bacterial potassium channel KcsA is gated by pH, opening for conduction under acidic conditions. Molecular determinants responsible for this effect have been identified at the extracellular selectivity filter, at the membrane–cytoplasm interface (TM2 gate), and in the cytoplasmic C‐terminal domain (CTD), an amphiphilic four‐helix bundle mediated by hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions. Here we have employed NMR and EPR to provide a structural view of the pH‐induced open‐to‐closed CTD transition. KcsA was embedded in lipoprotein nanodiscs (LPNs), selectively methyl‐protonated at Leu/Val residues to allow observation of both states by NMR, and spin‐labeled for the purposes of EPR studies. We observed a pHinduced structural change between an associated structured CTD at neutral pH and a dissociated flexible CTD at acidic pH, with a transition in the 5.0–5.5 range, consistent with a stabilization of the CTD by channel architecture. A double mutant constitutively open at the TM2 gate exhibited reduced stability of associated CTD, as indicated by weaker spin–spin interactions, a shift to higher transition pH values, and a tenfold reduction in the population of the associated “closed” channels. We extended these findings for isolated CTD‐derived peptides to full‐length KcsA and have established a contribution of the CTD to KcsA pH‐controlled gating, which exhibits a strong correlation with the state of the proximal TM2 gate.
A Substantial Structural Conversion of the Native Monomer Leads to in‐Register Parallel Amyloid Fibril Formation in Light‐Chain Amyloidosis
Authors: Lecoq Lauriane , Wiegand Thomas , Rodriguez‐Alvarez Francisco J. , Cadalbert Riccardo , Herrera Guillermo A. , del Pozo‐Yauner Luis , Meier Beat H. , Böckmann Anja
Published: December 2018

Amyloid light‐chain (AL) amyloidosis is a rare disease in which plasma‐cell‐produced monoclonal immunoglobulin light chains misfold and become deposited as fibrils in the extracellular matrix. λ6 subgroup light chains are particularly fibrillogenic, and around 25 % of amyloid‐associated λ6 light chains exist as the allotypic G24R variant that renders the protein less stable. The molecular details of this process, as well as the structures of the fibrils, are unknown. We have used solid‐state NMR to investigate different fibril polymorphs. The secondary structures derived from NMR predominantly show β‐strands, including in former turn or helical regions, and provide a molecular basis for previously identified fibrillogenic hotspots. We have determined, by using differentially 15N:13C‐labeled samples, that the β‐strands are stacked in‐register parallel in the fibrils. This supramolecular arrangement shows that the native globular folds rearrange substantially upon fibrillization, and rules out the previously hypothesized fibril formation from native monomers.
The CORE‐10 in screening for current mental health problems and severe mental illness in prisoners
Authors: O'Connor Gwen , Morris Reg
Published: December 2018

Background

Few mental health screening tools are validated for prisoners. Existing tools do not guide referral between primary and secondary care pathways.

Aims

This study aimed to assess performance of the CORE‐10 in screening any current mental health problem and current severe mental illness (SMI) in prisoners.

Method

CORE‐10 ratings were compared with mini international neuropsychiatric interview (MINI) version 6.0 ratings and current practice outcomes for 150 male prisoners. Receiver operating curve (ROC) analyses were used to estimate the likelihood with which CORE‐10 ratings matched MINI ratings, yielding “area under the curve” statistics.

Results

ROC analyses suggested a strong relationship between CORE‐10 screen scores and the more detailed assessment both in identifying any problem (AUC 0.85) and severe mental illness (AUC 0.76). Sensitivity was 0.88 and 0.83, and specificity was 0.64 and 0.61, respectively. Retest reliability was moderate (ICC = 0.83). The CORE‐10 identified many cases of “any problem” and of severe illness also identified by the MINI who had not been referred to clinical services in routine practice.

Conclusions

This study provides evidence for the potential of the CORE‐10 for improving appropriate referrals for prisoners to mental health services.
Safety and efficacy of a novel abluminal groove‐filled biodegradable polymer sirolimus‐eluting stent for the treatment of de novo coronary lesions: Final five‐year results of the patient‐level pooled analysis from the TARGET I and TARGET II trials
Authors: Li Chongjian , Guan Changdong , Zhang Ruiyan , Yang Yuejin , Ma Changsheng , Li Hui , Chen Shaoliang , Han Yaling , Xu Bo , Gao Runlin ,   for the TARGET Investigators
Published: December 2018

Objectives

The study reports the final 5‐year safety and effectiveness outcomes of the novel abluminal groove‐filled biodegradable polymer‐coated FIREHAWK sirolimus‐eluting stent in a large patient cohort.

Background

The TARGET clinical program was conducted to evaluate the performance of the FIREHAWK stent, and this objective performance criterion study pooled long‐term safety and efficacy data from three TARGET trials for greater statistical power to analyze low‐frequency events.

Methods

Patient‐level pooled data from 1,007 individuals in the TARGET I randomized controlled trial (n = 227), TARGET I long lesion cohort (n = 50), and TARGET II registry (n = 730) were prospectively collected and analyzed. The primary endpoint, target lesion failure (TLF), was defined as a composite of cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction (TV‐MI), and ischemia‐driven indicated target lesion revascularization (ID‐TLR) at 5 years. All patients were exclusively treated with the FIREHAWK stent and had annual follow‐up visits for up to 5 years.

Results

Among 947 patients (94.0%) who completed the 5‐year clinical follow‐up, the 5‐year TLF event rate was 8.1%; the events included 18 cardiac deaths, 36 TV‐MIs, and 33 ID‐TLRs. Only four (0.4%) very late probable or definite stent thrombosis events were observed beyond 1 year after stent implantation. In the subgroup analysis, lesion length ≥ 30 mm was associated with higher long‐term TLF incidence, while the use of a predilation‐sizing‐postdilation technique showed no significant effect on long‐term outcomes.

Conclusions

Five‐year results demonstrate the continuing safety and efficacy of the FIREHAWK Stent, with relatively lower incidence of thrombotic events.
Base‐Catalyzed Ethanolysis of Waste Cooking Oil in a Micro/Millireactor System: Flow and Reaction Analysis
Authors: Borovinskaya Ekaterina S. , Sabaditsch Daniel , Reschetilowski Wladimir
Published: December 2018

An important way for the production of biodiesel is the base‐catalyzed transesterification of oil or fat with monohydric alcohols. Flow and reaction analysis with respect to the applicability of a micro/millireactor setup to two‐phase ethanolysis of waste cooking oil is described. The flow in the micro/millireactor system was examined on the example of a soybean oil/ethanol mixture and compared with a T‐mixer. Parallel and slug flow were observed in different reactor sections of the micro/milli‐reactor system and evaluated concerning their efficiency. A method for determination of the viscosity of the mixture was conducted and validated. Certain pretreatments were investigated with regard to the suitability of the waste cooking oil for ethanolysis. Relations between biodiesel yields and some oil properties like chain length and acid number were found.
Electrochemical Synthesis and Thermodynamic Properties of Pr‐Ni Intermetallic Compounds in a LiCl‐KCl‐NiCl2‐PrCl3 Melt
Authors: Yin Taiqi , Xue Yun , Yan Yongde , Zheng Yanghai , Song Yali , Wang Guiling , Zhang Milin , Qiu Min , Hu Donghui
Published: December 2018

In this report, the electrochemical behaviors of Pr(III) and Ni(II) ions on a W electrode were investigated in LiCl‐KCl eutectic by cyclic voltammetry (CV), square wave voltammetry (SWV), chronopotentiometry (CP) and open‐circuit chronopotentiometry (OCP) techniques. From the results of electrochemical methods, different signals corresponding to seven kinds of intermetallic compounds in the phase diagram of Pr−Ni were observed. The thermodynamic properties of intermetallic compounds in the temperature range of 823–923 K were investigated by open‐circuit chronopotentiometry. With the evaluated apparent standard potentials of Pr−Ni intermetallic compounds, the Gibbs energies, enthalpies and entropies of formation were also calculated. The co‐reduction products by galvanostatic and potentiostatic electrolysis were characterized based on X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDS). The shape of the alloy obviously changes from granular to bulk, and the alloy phase changes from Pr‐rich to Ni‐rich. The co‐reduction products of PrNi5, PrNi2 and PrNi were identified.
Network‐Like Ni1−xMox Nanosheets: Multi‐Functional Electrodes for Overall Water Splitting and Supercapacitor
Authors: Tong Rui , Sun Zhi , Wang Xina , Wang Shuangpeng , Pan Hui
Published: December 2018

Exploring efficient, abundant, cheap and stable materials for the electrolysis of water and supercapacitor is a challenging task. Here, Ni1−xMox nanosheets are obtained on carbon cloth (CC), which can be multi‐functional electrodes for electrochemical applications. Impressively, we find that the electrochemical abilities can be optimized by constructing network‐like nanosheets and tuning the ratio of Ni and Mo in the alloy. To acquire a current density of 10 mA cm−2 (j10), Ni0.75Mo0.25/CC shows the lowest overpotentials (79 mV for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and 330 mV for oxygen evolution reaction (OER)) in 1 M KOH. Using Ni0.75Mo0.25/CC as both positive and negative poles, the cell only requires a potential of 1.74 V to reach j10 and shows long‐term durability. We further show that Ni0.75Mo0.25 electrode exhibits a superior specific capacitance (422 F g−1 at 1 A g−1) and high capacitance retention (108.2 % after 1000 cycles) in 1 M KOH. The super‐electrochemical performances of Ni0.75Mo0.25/CC is attributed to its high electronic conductivity, rich active sites, and large surface area. We believe that the Ni0.75Mo0.25/CC electrode with extraordinary electrochemical performances is a hopeful material for practical applications in both electrocatalysis and supercapacitors (SC).
Temperature‐Responsive Electrocatalysis Based on Poly(N‐Isopropylacrylamide)‐Modified Graphene Oxide (PNIPAm‐GO)
Authors: Zhang Hairan , Zhang Qiuyue , Zhang Ling , Pei Tingting , Li Erni , Wang Huiting , Zhang Qian , Xia Lixin
Published: December 2018

Poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)‐modified graphene oxide (PNIPAm‐GO), which is a type of thermally responsive GO, was designed and synthesized through a covalent “grafting‐from” strategy. The as‐prepared modified nanosheets integrated the individual advantages of two components, such as the thermal sensitivity of the PNIPAm terminal as well as the conductivity and the open 2D structure of the GO substrate. PNIPAm‐GO was able to perform the reversible regulation of hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity in aqueous solution upon variations in the temperature. Such a unique property might also lead to the utilization of PNIPAm‐GO as an intelligent electrode material to achieve a switchable electrochemical response toward a [Fe(CN)6]3−/4− probe. The PNIPAm‐GO modified glassy carbon electrode (PNIPAm‐GO/GC electrode) was able to exhibit better electrochemical performance in an ON/OFF switching effect than the PNIPAm‐modified glassy carbon electrode (PNIPAm/GC electrode) without GO owing to the intrinsic properties and large surface area of the introduced GO. Moreover, it was found that the PNIPAm‐GO/GC electrode also displayed excellent thermally responsive electrocatalysis toward the detection of 1,4‐dihydro‐β‐nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and dopamine (DA), which resulted in two different catalytic statuses on the same electrode. This kind of switchable catalytic performance of the PNIPAm‐GO/GC electrode might greatly enhance the flexibility of its application, and thus it is expected to have wide potential for applications in the fields of biosensors and biocatalysis.
Ligands Based on Phosphine‐Stabilized Aluminum(I), Boron(I), and Carbon(0)
Authors: Vondung Lisa , Jerabek Paul , Langer Robert
Published: December 2018

A systematic quantum chemical study of the bonding in d6‐transition‐metal complexes, containing phosphine‐stabilized, main‐group‐element fragments, (R3P)2E, as ligands (E=AlH, BH, CH+, C), is reported. By using energy decomposition analysis, it is demonstrated that a strong M−E bond is accompanied by weak P−E bonds, and vice versa. Although the Al−M bond is, for example, found to be very strong, the weak Al−P bond suggests that the corresponding metal complexes will not be stable towards phosphine dissociation. The interaction energies for the boron(I)‐based ligand are lower, but still higher than those for two‐carbon‐based ligands. For neutral ligands, electrostatic interactions are the dominating contributions to metal–ligand bonding, whereas for the cationic ligand a significant destabilization, with weak orbital and even weaker electrostatic metal–ligand interactions, is observed. Finally, for iron(II) complexes, it is demonstrated that different reactivity patterns are expected for the four donor groups: the experimentally observed reversible E−H reductive elimination of the borylene‐based ligand (E=BH) exhibits significantly higher barriers for the protonated carbodiphosphorane (CDP) ligand (E=CH) and would proceed through different intermediates and transition states. For aluminum, such reaction pathways are not feasible (E=AlH). Moreover, it is demonstrated that the metal hydrido complexes with CDP ligands might not be stable towards reduction and isomerization to a protonated CDP ligand and a reduced metal center.
Unexpected Zwitterionic Allenyls from Silylenes and a Fischer Alkynylcarbene: A Remarkable Silylene‐Promoted Rearrangement
Authors: Cabeza Javier A. , García‐Álvarez Pablo , Gómez‐Gallego Mar , González‐Álvarez Laura , Merinero Alba D. , Sierra Miguel A.
Published: December 2018

The silylenes Si(tBu2bzam)R (tBu2bzam=N,N′‐bis(tertbutyl)benzamidinate; R=mesityl, CH2SiMe3) attack the Ccarbene atom of the Fischer alkynyl(ethoxy)carbene complex [W(CO)5{C(OEt)C2Ph}] to give, after a striking rearrangement, zwitterionic σ‐allenyl complexes in which the original carbene C atom forms part of the allene C3 fragment and also of a Si‐C‐N‐C‐N five‐membered ring after insertion into a Si−N bond of the original amidinatosilylene. These remarkable allenyl products, which contain two stereogenic groups, are selectively formed as single diastereomers.
Organocatalytic alkylation of carbohydrate‐containing aldehydes with dihydroquinoline N,O‐acetals: Absolute configuration of 1,2‐dihydroquinolines
Authors: Menichetti Andrea , Berti Francesco , Guazzelli Lorenzo , Favero Lucilla , Di Pietro Sebastiano , Pescitelli Gennaro , Pineschi Mauro
Published: December 2018

The direct catalytic α‐amidoalkylation of dihydroquinolines with aldehydes bearing oxygen functionalities at different positions in a Mannich‐type reaction has been studied. β‐Alkoxy‐aldehyde 1d gave high enantioselectivity, albeit with an inherently poor diastereoselectivity, while the use of α‐alkoxy aldehydes 1c was detrimental also to enantioselectivity. Mannich‐type reactions have been studied for the first time using new chiral carbohydrate‐derived aldehydes 1a,b showing a reactivity markedly influenced by the presence of water. The chiral glycidic backbone showed a slight but significant influence on the overall stereochemical outcome only when present in α‐position of the aldehyde. The absolute stereochemistry of the products was studied by electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra and compared with theoretical calculations. ECD analysis easily provides the absolute configuration of 1,2‐dihydroquinoline derivatives such as quinoline‐1(2H)‐carboxylates.
Electrophilic [N—F]+ catalysed asymmetric allylation of (E)‐N,1‐diphenylmethanimine
Authors: Sharma Poonam , Sharma Rakesh K.
Published: December 2018

New efficient catalysts based on electrophilic N‐fluoro quaternary ammonium salts are reported for catalytic allylation of (E)‐N,1‐diphenylmethanimine. The chiral version of the catalyst based on cinchonidine (F‐CD‐BF4) shows high catalytic activity with approximately 94% ee and TOF (>800 h−1). The F‐CD‐BF4 is prepared from cinchonidine and Selectfluor by one‐step transfer fluorination.
The impact of state parity laws on copayments for and adherence to oral endocrine therapy for breast cancer
Authors: Chin Alexander L. , Bentley Jason P. , Pollom Erqi L.
Published: December 2018

Background

Adherence to endocrine therapy for breast cancer is often inadequate, in part because of out‐of‐pocket costs for medication. Numerous states have enacted parity laws to limit patient cost‐sharing for oral anticancer drugs. The objective of this study was to estimate the impact of these laws on patient copayments for and adherence to oral endocrine therapy for breast cancer.

Methods

Administrative health insurance claims data from 2007 to 2014 derived from a US health care database were used to identify female patients aged 18 to 64 years with invasive cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast who initiated endocrine therapy and were enrolled in fully insured health plans in states that either enacted parity legislation between 2008 and 2013 or had not yet enacted such legislation by 2015. Differences‐in‐differences analysis was used to compare copayments for and adherence to endocrine therapy during the 1‐year period before and after each year of legislation enactment.

Results

In total, 6900 individuals who received 7778 unique drug therapy courses were identified. Parity legislation was associated with significant decreases in the 25th percentile of copayments for anastrozole of $4.39 (95% confidence interval [CI], −$4.52 to −$4.26; P < .001) and for exemestane of $3.08 (95% CI, −$4.80 to −$1.35; P < .001). The median copayment for exemestane decreased by $10.25 (95% CI, −$12.61 to −$7.89; P < .001). A higher median monthly copayment was significantly associated with a greater risk of medication nonadherence (adjusted risk ratio, 1.006 per dollar increase; P < .001).

Conclusions

Parity laws had a modest effect on lowering the cost of anastrozole and exemestane, but more focused efforts to limit out‐of‐pocket costs for endocrine therapy may have a greater impact on medication adherence.
A performance evaluation of deep‐learnt features for software vulnerability detection
Authors: Ban Xinbo , Liu Shigang , Chen Chao , Chua Caslon
Published: December 2018

Software vulnerability is a critical issue in the realm of cyber security. In terms of techniques, machine learning (ML) has been successfully used in many real‐world problems such as software vulnerability detection, malware detection and function recognition, for high‐quality feature representation learning. In this paper, we propose a performance evaluation study on ML based solutions for software vulnerability detection, conducting three experiments: machine learning‐based techniques for software vulnerability detection based on the scenario of single type of vulnerability and multiple types of vulnerabilities per dataset; machine learning‐based techniques for cross‐project software vulnerability detection; and software vulnerability detection when facing the class imbalance problem with varying imbalance ratios. Experimental results show that it is possible to employ software vulnerability detection based on ML techniques. However, ML‐based techniques suffer poor performance on both cross‐project and class imbalance problem in software vulnerability detection.
Enhanced 1T′‐Phase Stabilization and Chemical Reactivity in a MoTe2 Monolayer through Contact with a 2D Ca2N Electride
Authors: Tang Qing
Published: December 2018

Among the widely studied 2D transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), MoTe2 has attracted special interest for phase‐change applications due to its small 2H‐1T′ energy difference, yet a large scale phase transition without structural disruption remains a significant challenge. Recently, an interesting long‐range phase engineering of MoTe2 has been realized experimentally by Ca2N electride. However, the interface formed between them has not been well understood, and moreover, it remains elusive how the presence of Ca2N would affect the basal plane reactivity of MoTe2. To address this, we performed density functional theory (DFT) calculations to investigate the potential of tuning the phase stability and chemical reactivity of a MoTe2 monolayer via interacting with Ca2N to form a van der Walls heterostructure. We found that the contact nature at the 2H‐MoTe2/Ca2N interface is Schottky‐barrier‐free, allowing for the spontaneous electron transfer from Ca2N to 2H‐MoTe2 to make it strongly n‐type doped. Moreover, Ca2N doping significantly lowers the energy of 1T′‐MoTe2 and dynamically triggers the 2H‐to‐1T′ transformation. The Ca2N‐induced phase modulation can also be applied to tune the phase energetics of MoS2 and MoSe2. Furthermore, using H adsorption as the testing ground, we also find that the H binding on the basal plane of MoTe2 is enhanced after forming heterostructure with Ca2N, potentially providing basis for surface modification and other related catalytic applications.
Integrating Catalysis of Methane Decomposition and Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution with Ni/CeO2 for Improved Hydrogen Production Efficiency
Authors: Zhang Cai , Zhang Wei , Drewett Nicholas E. , Wang Xiyang , Yoo Seung Jo , Wang Haoxiang , Deng Ting , Kim Jin‐Gyu , Chen Hong , Huang Keke , Feng Shouhua , Zheng Weitao
Published: December 2018

Ni/CeO2 enables either methane decomposition or water electrolysis for pure hydrogen production. Ni/CeO2, prepared by a sol–gel method with only one heat treatment step, was used to catalyze methane decomposition for the generation of H2. The solid byproduct, Ni/CeO2/carbon nanotube (CNT), was further employed as an electrocatalyst in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) for H2 production. The Ni/CeO2 catalyst exhibits excellent activity for methane decomposition because CeO2 prevents carbon encapsulation of Ni nanoparticles during the preparation process and forms a special metal–support interface with Ni. The derived CNTs act as antenna to improve conductivity and promote the dispersion of agglomerated Ni/CeO2. In addition, they provide H2 diffusion paths and prevent Ni/CeO2 from peeling off the HER electrode. Although long‐term methane decomposition reduces the HER activity of Ni/CeO2/CNTs (owing to degradation of the delicate Ni/CeO2 interface), the tunable nature of the synthesis makes this an attractive sustainable approach to synthesize future high‐performance materials.
Effect of heat transfer on the penetration of an electromagnetic pulse into a plasma layer and the inverse skin effect
Authors: Ovchinnikov Konstantin N. , Uryupin Sergey A.
Published: December 2018

Penetration of a heating pulse into a plasma layer was studied using the system of coupled nonlinear equations for electric field, electron, and ion temperatures. Numerical calculations of field structure and temperature evolution are performed both in the absence and in the presence of heat transfer. It is established that heat transfer leads to a more rapid penetration of the field near the illuminated surface of the layer and impairs penetration in regions of the layer far from this surface. We found that heat transfer promotes the creation of more favourable conditions for manifestation of the inverse skin effect.
Assessment of plasma cell myeloma minimal residual disease testing by flow cytometry in an international inter‐laboratory study: Is it ready for primetime use?
Authors: Scott Stuart D. , Fletcher Matthew , Whitehouse Helen , Whitby Liam , Yuan Constance , Mazzucchelli Silvia , Lin Pei , de Tute Ruth , Dorwal Pranav , Wallace Paul K. , Tembhare Prashant , Arroz Maria , Snowden John A. , Chantry Andrew D. , Barnett David
Published: December 2018

Background

Minimal/measurable residual disease (MRD) testing by flow cytometry (FC) has been proposed as a potential surrogate clinical endpoint in plasma cell myeloma (PCM) clinical trials. As a result, effort has gone into standardizing this approach on PCM patients.

Aims

To assess inter‐laboratory variation in FC MRD testing of PCM patients in an independent inter‐laboratory study.

Methods

A dilution series of five stabilized bone marrow samples manufactured to contain 0%, 0.1%, 0.01%, 0.001%, and 0.0001% neoplastic plasma cells (PCs) were tested blind, using standardized FC PCM MRD assays by 10 international laboratories.

Results

Laboratories' assays broadly adhered to the consensus guidelines; however, some deviations were identified in panel design, fluorochrome conjugates, and lysis reagents. Despite this, all laboratories that returned results detected neoplastic PCs down to 0.001% of leucocytes. 6/8 laboratories detected neoplastic PCs at a level of 0.0001%. Quantitative data returned by laboratories showed good consensus and linearity with increasing variation at lower levels of MRD. However, examples of analytical and post analytical error were identified.

Summary/Conclusion

Broadly standardized PCM MRD FC assays can attain the lower limit of detection (LOD) required by current and future clinical trials, an important consideration in establishing PCM MRD testing as a surrogate clinical marker in PCM clinical trials. Laboratories' assays showed good linearity, encouraging the prediction of survival based on log reduction in neoplastic PC populations in future clinical trials. However, the deviations from consensus guidelines identified in this study would suggest that if PCM MRD assays are further standardized interlaboratory variation could be reduced. © 2018 International Clinical Cytometry Society
Hungarian algorithm for subcarrier assignment problem using GPU and CUDA
Authors: Yadav Satyendra Singh , Lopes Paulo Alexandre Crisóstomo , Ilic Aleksandar , Patra Sarat Kumar
Published: December 2018

General purpose graphics processing units (GPGPUs) have gained much popularity in scientific computing to speedup computational intensive workloads. Resource allocation in terms of power and subcarriers assignment, in current wireless standards, is one of the challenging problems due to its high computational complexity requirement. The Hungarian algorithm (HA), which has been extensively applied to linear assignment problems (LAPs), has been seen to provide encouraging result in resource allocation for wireless communication systems. This paper presents a compute unified device architecture (CUDA) implementation of the HA on graphics processing unit (GPU) for this problem. HA has been implemented on a parallel architecture to solve the subcarrier assignment problem and maximize spectral efficiency. The proposed implementation is achieved by using the “Kuhn‐Munkres” algorithm with effective modifications, in order to fully exploit the capabilities of modern GPU devices. A cost matrix for maximum assignment has been defined leading to a low complexity matrix compression along with highly optimized CUDA reduction and parallel alternating path search process. All these optimizations lead to an efficient implementation with superior performance when compared with existing parallel implementations.
Comparative analysis of adaptive and neutral markers ofDrosophila mediopunctatapopulations dispersed among forest fragments
Authors: Batista Marcos R. D. , Penha Rafael E. S. , Sofia Silvia H. , Klaczko Louis B.
Published: December 2018

Comparison of adaptive and neutral genetic markers is a valuable approach to characterize the evolutionary consequences of populations living in environments threatened by anthropogenic disturbances, such as forest fragmentation. Shifts in allele frequencies, low genetic variability, and a small effective population size can be considered clear signs of forest fragmentation effects (due to genetic drift) over natural populations, while adaptive responses correlate with environmental variables. Brazilian Atlantic Forest had its landscape drastically reduced and fragmented. Now, several forest remnants are isolated from each other by urban and crop areas. We sampledDrosophila mediopunctatapopulations from eight forest remnants dispersed on two adjacent geomorphological regions, which are physiognomic and climatically quite distinct. Microsatellite data of inversion‐free chromosomes (neutral genetic marker) indicate low structuration among populations suggesting that they were panmictic and greatly influenced by gene flow. Moreover, significant differences in chromosomal inversion frequencies (adaptive genetic marker) among populations and their correlations with climatic and geographical variables indicate that genetic divergence among populations could be an adaptive response to their environment. Nonetheless, we observed a significant difference in inversion frequencies of a population in two consecutive years that may be associated with edge and demographic effects. Also, it may be reflecting seasonal changes of inversion frequencies influenced by great temperature variation due to edge effects. Moreover, the forest fragment size does not affect genetic variation of neutral markers. Our data indicate that despite oscillations in chromosomal inversion frequencies,D. mediopunctatapopulations from Brazilian Atlantic Forest and their divergence may be driven by adaptive factors to local differences, perhaps because it is a small flying insect easily carried by the wind increasing its migration rates.