bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Two miRNA prognostic signatures of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: A bioinformatic analysis based on the TCGA dataset
Authors: Wu Chaoying , Tong Lingxia , Wu Chaoqun , Chen Dong , Chen Jianguo , Li Qianyun , Jia Fang , Huang Zirui
Published: February 2020

MicroRNAs(miRNAs) are maladjusted in multifarious malignant tumor and can be considered as both carcinogens and tumor‐inhibiting factor. In the present study, we analyzed the miRNAs expression profiles and clinical information of 481 patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) through the TCGA dataset to identify the prognostic miRNAs signature. A total of 114 significantly differentially expressed miRNAs (SDEMs) were identified, consisting of 60 up‐adjusted and 54 down‐adjusted miRNAs. The Kaplan‐Meier survival method identified the prognostic function of 2 miRNAs (miR‐4652‐5p and miR‐99a‐3P). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses indicated that the 2 miRNAs were significant prognostic elements of HNSCC. Furthermore, bioinformatic analysis was conducted by means of 4 online gene predicted toolkits to recognize the target genes, and enrichment analysis was performed on the target genes by DAVID. The outcomes depicted that target genes were correlated with calcium, as well as cell proliferation, circadian entrainment, EGFR, PI3K‐Akt‐mTOR, and P53 signaling pathways. Finally, the PPI network was conducted in view of STRING database and Cytoscape. Eight hub genes were identified by CytoHubba and MCODE app, respectively, CBL, SKP1, H2AFX, HGF, POLR2F, UBE2I, VAMP2, and GNAI2 genes. As a result, we identified 2 miRNAs signatures, 8 hub genes, and significant signaling pathways for estimating the prognosis of HNSCC. In order to further explore the molecular mechanism of HNSCC occurrence and development, more comprehensive basic and clinical studies are needed.
Do they want contact with us? The role of intergroup contact meta‐perceptions on positive contact and attitudes
Authors: Stathi Sofia , Di Bernardo Gian Antonio , Vezzali Loris , Pendleton Samantha , Tropp Linda R.
Published: February 2020

This research examined the role of contact meta‐perceptions on positive intergroup contact and outgroup attitudes. Specifically, perceptions of the ingroup's and outgroup's desire for intergroup contact were simultaneously tested as predictors of intergroup contact and outgroup attitudes. Three correlational studies were conducted in three distinct contexts, international students' view of British students, general public views of people with schizophrenia, and both Muslims' and non‐Muslims' views of one another. Among these three intergroup relationships, the role of outgroup contact meta‐perceptions was consistently highlighted as predictor of intergroup contact. In stark contrast, ingroup contact meta‐perceptions did not emerge as a significant predictor of contact. Intergroup contact then predicted outgroup attitudes (Studies 1, 2, and 3) and stereotyping (Studies 2 and 3) via reduced anxiety (Studies 2 and 3). The results demonstrate the importance of explicitly highlighting outgroups' openness for intergroup interactions and are discussed in the context of intergroup relations literature.
Lipidomics Analysis of Timosaponin BII in INS‐1 Cells Induced by Glycolipid Toxicity and Its Relationship with Inflammation
Authors: Shi Kexin , Zhu Jiancheng , Chen Deqi , Ren Cui , Guo Mingxin , Wang Juanxia , Wu Xia , Feng Yifan
Published: February 2020

Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge is a traditional Chinese medicine. The timosaponin BII is one of the most abundant and widely studied active ingredients in Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge. Related studies have shown that timosaponin BII has potential value for development and further utilization. The protective effect of timosaponin BII on islet β cells under type 2 diabetes was investigated in the glycolipid toxic INS‐1 cell model and possible biomarkers were explored by lipidomics analysis. Timosaponin BII was isolated from Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge by polyamide resin and Sephadex LH‐20. Then, the glycolipid toxicity INS‐1 cell model was established to investigate the protective effect of timosaponin BII. The results showed that timosaponin BII could significantly influence the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH), thereby restoring the insulin secretion ability and cell viability of model cells. Lipidomics analysis was combined with multivariate statistical analysis for marker selection. The four most common pathological and pharmacological lipid markers were phosphatidylserine (PS), suggesting that timosaponin BII had protective effects on model cells related to the reduction oxidative stress and macrophage inflammation. RAW264.7 macrophages were stimulated by LPS to establish a model of inflammation and study the effect of timosaponin BII on the nodes of NOD‐like receptor P3 (NLRP3) inflammasome pathway in the model cells. In conclusion, timosaponin BII may have the effect of protecting INS‐1 pancreatic β cells through reducing IL‐1β (interleukin‐1β) production by inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome in macrophage and restoring the insulin secretion ability and cell viability by reducing oxidative stress.
Triboelectric Charging and Separation of Fine Powder Mixtures
Authors: Hansen Leonard , Wollmann Annett , Weers Martin , Benker Bernd , Weber Alfred P.
Published: February 2020

For increasingly finer powders, the material‐specific separation at high loadings is a challenging task, for instance in recycling processes. Here, a combination of triboelectric charging and electrostatic separation was investigated for powder mixtures of talcum and calcite. The dependencies of the triboelectric charge on the mass loading, the gas velocity, and the mixture ratio were investigated. While higher charge levels were achieved with increasing gas velocity, the mass loading had an opposite effect on the net charge. Although bipolar charge distributions were observed within pure materials and mixtures, electrical neutralization did not occur in the mixtures. Therefore, already in a non‐optimized setup, a decent degree of material enrichment (of up to 53 %) was found on the separating electrodes.
Chameleonic Behavior of the α‐Methylcyclopropyl Group and Its Through‐Space Interactions: A Route to Stabilized Three Redox States in Diarylnitroxides
Authors: Levitskiy Oleg A. , Dulov Dmitry A. , Bogdanov Alexey V. , Grishin Yury K. , Nefedov Sergey E. , Magdesieva Tatiana V.
Published: February 2020

The α‐methylcyclopropyl (MCP) group with conformationally dependent electronic properties is suggested as an additional structural “instrument” for stabilization of both open‐shell and ionic states of diarylnitroxides, to be used as “ambipolar” redox active materials. New MCP‐substituted diphenylnitroxides (fully characterized by electrochemical, spectral, and X‐ray data) are the most stable nitroxides of the diaryl type known to date [τ1/2 in benzene exceeds three months (2310 h)]. The radicals are capable to reversible oxidation and reduction, yielding stable oxoammonium cations and aminoxyl anions. DFT investigation of the electronic structure and geometry of the compounds confirmed the conformational switching of the cyclopropyl orientation relative to the adjacent aromatic π system is dependent on the nitroxide's redox state. Additional through‐space stabilizing interaction between the π‐acceptor orbital of the NO+ moiety and the cyclopropyl “banana” bond orbital was also detected, highlighting its good hyperconjugative ability. The estimated σ(para)MCP value (−0.32) confirms its strong electron‐donating properties.
Template‐Free Self‐Assembly of Molecular Trefoil Knots and Double Trefoil Knots Featuring Cp*Rh Building Blocks
Authors: Shan Wei‐Long , Gao Xiang , Lin Yue‐Jian , Jin Guo‐Xin
Published: February 2020

Understanding and controlling the topology of self‐assembled structures plays a fundamental role in supramolecular chemistry. Herein, the preparation of a series of tetranuclear metallarectangles and hexanuclear trefoil knots featuring Cp*Rh building blocks by template‐free self‐assembly with four different rigid and flexible ligands is described. Transformations between the trefoil knots and the corresponding macrocycles can be induced by using concentration effects. Remarkably, the hexanuclear trefoil knot 5 was shown to assemble further to provide rare examples of [12+1] heteronuclear double trefoil knots (5 a/5 b/5 c/5 d) through coordination of the amide oxygen atoms to the secondary metal ions Na+/K+/Ca2+/Cd2+. The synthetic results are supported by single‐crystal XRD.
Methods for determining the absolute configurations of marine ladder‐shaped polyethers
Authors: Satake Masayuki , Yasumoto Takeshi
Published: February 2020

Marine dinoflagellates produce a unique family of bioactive substances featuring multiple ether rings aligned in a ladder shape. These are large, complex molecules with potent bioactivity. Targeted chiral centers sit on either the skeletal ladders or on the side chains of these compounds. However, the laborious steps of isolation and purification severely diminish the amount of sample available for assigning these chiral centers via structural investigations. Three important methods were used to assign the stereochemistry of the molecules, (a) circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, (b) labeling with fluorescent chiral reagents for high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis, and (c) derivatization with anisotropic reagents for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis. The addition of fluorescent chiral reagents allowed for the use of much less material than typically required. In this review, we present examples of the determination of absolute configurations in ladder‐shaped polyethers. The targeted compounds include ciguatoxins (CTXs), gymnocin‐B, gambieric acids, prymnesin‐2, maitotoxin, yessotoxins, gambierol, brevisamide, and brevisin.
Phase Diagram for a Lysyl‐Phosphatidylglycerol Analogue in Biomimetic Mixed Monolayers with Phosphatidylglycerol: Insights into the Tunable Properties of Bacterial Membranes
Authors: Wölk Christian , Youssef Hala , Guttenberg Thomas , Marbach Helene , Vizcay‐Barrena Gema , Shen Chen , Brezesinski Gerald , Harvey Richard D.
Published: February 2020

Ion pairing between the major phospholipids of the Staphylococcus aureus plasma membrane (phosphatidylglycerol – PG and lysyl‐phosphatidylglycerol – LPG) confers resistance to antimicrobial peptides and other antibiotics. We developed 3adLPG, a stable synthetic analogue which can substitute for the highy‐labile native LPG, in biophysical experiments examining the membrane‐protecting role of lipid ion pairing, in S. aureus and other important bacteria. Here we examine the surface charge and lipid packing characteristics of synthetic biomimetic mixtures of DPPG and DP3adLPG in Langmuir monolayers, using a combination of complementary surface‐probing techniques such as infrared reflection‐absorption spectroscopy and grazing‐incidence x‐ray diffraction. The resultant phase diagram for the ion paired lipids sheds light on the mixing behavior of lipids in monolayer models of resistant phenotype bacterial membranes, and provides a platform for future biophysical studies.
Phosphoprotein Detection with a Single Nanofluidic Diode Decorated with Zinc Chelates
Authors: Nasir Saima , Ali Mubarak , Ahmed Ishtiaq , Niemeyer Christof M. , Ensinger Wolfgang
Published: February 2020

We report a nanofluidic device for the label‐free detection of phosphoprotein (PPn) analytes. To achieve this goal, a metal ion chelator, namely 4‐[bis(2‐pyridylmethyl)aminomethyl]aniline (DPA−NH2) compound was synthesized. Single asymmetric nanofluidic channels were fabricated in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) membranes. The chelator (DPA−NH2) molecules are subsequently immobilized on the nanochannel surface, followed by the zinc ion complexation to afford DPA−Zn2+ chelates, which act as ligand moieties for the specific binding of phosphoproteins. The success of the chemical reaction and biomolecular recognition process that occur in a confined geometry can be monitored from the changes in electrical readout of the nanochannel. The nanofluidic sensor has the ability to sensitively and specifically detect lower concentrations (≥1 nM) of phosphoprotein (albumin and α‐casein) in the surrounding environment as evidenced from the significant decrease in ion current flowing through the nanochannels. However, dephosphoproteins such as lysozyme and dephospho‐α‐casein even at higher concentration (>1 μM) could not induce any significant change in the transmembrane ion flux. This observation indicated the sensitivity and specificity of the proposed nanofluidic sensor towards PPn proteins, and has potential for use in differentiating between phosphoproteins and dephosphoproteins.
Quantitative characterization of proximate sensing canopy traits in the SoyNAM population
Authors: Hall Ben P. , Xavier Alencar , Moreira Fabiana , Casteel Shaun , Rainey Katy M.
Published: February 2020

The average increase of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] grain yield per year is not enough to meet the estimated need by 2050. Contributing factors may include narrowing genetic diversity in cultivated soybean germplasm arising from direct selection for grain yield and insufficient knowledge of the genetic influences on physiological traits associated with grain yield. Canopy development plays a critical role in the light intercepted by soybean crops throughout the growing season. Rapid canopy closure facilitates complete light interception and optimizes growth dynamics, ultimately increasing biomass accumulation and grain yield. This study sought to use ground‐based digital imagery as a phenotyping tool for quantitative characterization of seasonal canopy coverage and light interception in the genetically diverse Soybean Nested Association Mapping (SoyNAM) population. We took weekly measurements of canopy coverage from early vegetative to mid‐reproductive growth for 5,600 recombinant inbred lines during the 2013 and 2014 seasons. An asymptotic logistic growth curve fit to the coverage data allowed us to estimate daily changes in canopy coverage in the intervals between the sampling dates, enabling calculation of canopy dynamic parameters. These parameters included average canopy coverage, cumulative intercepted photosynthetically active radiation for the total sampling period, vegetative growth period, reproductive growth period, and the number of days required to reach 30, 50, and 70% canopy coverage. Variance component estimation showed that genetic differences among families significantly influenced variation in phenotypic expression for all canopy parameters. The narrow‐sense heritabilities for all canopy parameters were high (h2 = .81–.90), suggesting opportunities for genetic gains in canopy development through selection of superior genotypes.
Cobalt‐Catalyzed Oxidative C−H Activation: Strategies and Concepts
Authors: Mei Ruhuai , Dhawa Uttam , Samanta Ramesh C. , Ma Wenbo , Wencel‐Delord Joanna , Ackermann Lutz
Published: February 2020

Inexpensive cobalt‐catalyzed oxidative C−H functionalization has emerged as a powerful tool for the construction of C−C and C−Het bonds, which offers unique potential for transformative applications to modern organic synthesis. In the early stage, these transformations typically required stoichiometric and toxic transition metals as sacrificial oxidants; thus, the formation of metal‐containing waste was inevitable. In contrast, naturally abundant molecular O2 has more recently been successfully employed as a green oxidant in cobalt catalysis, thus considerably improving the sustainability of such transformations. Recently, a significant momentum was gained by the use of electricity as a sustainable and environmentally benign redox reagent in cobalt‐catalyzed C−H functionalization, thereby preventing the consumption of cost‐intensive chemicals while at the same time addressing the considerable safety hazards related to the use of molecular oxygen in combination with flammable organic solvents. Considering the unparalleled potential of the aforementioned approaches for sustainable green synthesis, this Review summarizes the recent progress in cobalt‐catalyzed oxidative C−H activation until early 2020.
Paeoniflorin alleviates lipopolysaccharide‐induced disseminated intravascular coagulation by inhibiting inflammation and coagulation activation
Authors: Fang Yushan , Wu Liang‐Cai , Ma Kanglong , Pan Guopeng , Yang Shangqi , Zheng Yanghan , Li Yanchang
Published: February 2020

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a toxic component of the outer membrane of gram‐negative bacteria that can activate the blood coagulation system, leading to disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). DIC is a syndrome characterized by thromboembolism and multiple organ failure. Herein, the beneficial effect of paeoniflorin (PF) on the alleviation of LPS‐induced DIC was investigated with an experimental DIC mouse model. Briefly, mice were randomly divided into the following six groups: (1) control; (2) LPS; (3) heparin; (4) low‐PF treatment; (5) medium‐PF treatment; and (6) high‐PF treatment. The histological morphology of the liver and kidney was observed, and the coagulation indicators (such as prothrombin time), function indicators (such as alanine transferase), and inflammatory factors (such as TNF‐α) were detected. Additionally, an in vitro cell inflammation model using RAW 264.7 murine macrophages was established. Activation of the nuclear factor kappa B (NF‐κB) signaling pathway and tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) were determined by western blotting. Based on our findings, PF could significantly improve the histological morphology of the liver and kidney, indicating that PF protects the liver and kidney against damage induced by LPS. Additionally, PF improved the function and coagulation indicators and reduced the production of inflammatory factors. In vitro, PF inhibited the expression of TNF‐α by suppressing NF‐κB signaling pathway activation. Collectively, our findings support the hypothesis that PF has anti‐inflammatory and anticoagulation effects for the alleviation of LPS‐induced DIC. PF is thus a potential co‐treatment option for DIC.
Fragmentation reduces community‐wide taxonomic and functional diversity of dispersed tree seeds in the Central Amazon
Authors: Hooper Elaine R. , Ashton Mark S.
Published: February 2020

The Amazon harbors one of the most diverse tree floras on earth, and most species depend on mutualists for pollination and seed dispersal. This makes them susceptible to reproductive decline in fragmented forest because many of these mutualists suffer area‐related extinction in fragments. It remains unknown, however, whether this highly biodiverse tree flora will reproduce and ultimately persist in fragmented forest. We conducted a 2‐yr study of seed fall in an experimentally fragmented, highly diverse Central Amazonian forest. We determined the effect of fragment size (1, 10, 100 ha and continuous forest control) on the density, species richness, functional diversity and functional composition of seeds separated into two data sets: dispersed tree seeds, and undispersed tree seeds. Our results show a 3× reduction in the density of undispersed, non‐pioneer tree seeds in fragments of all sizes, indicating reduced seed production of the non‐pioneer tree community. The density of dispersed tree seeds was reduced by 6× in fragments of all sizes, while species richness was reduced by 6× in 1‐ha fragments and by 3× in 10‐ and 100‐ha fragments compared to intact forest. This provides evidence of reduced community‐wide seed dispersal, which became more pronounced with declining fragment size. The functional diversity (FRic) of dispersed tree seeds was reduced 9.6× in small fragments, and significant shifts in the functional composition for 8 of the 10 reproductive and ecological traits studied were identified, suggesting compromised ecosystem functioning. These functional compositional shifts provide evidence for disrupted mutualistic processes in fragments, which include loss of pollination by bees, especially small eusocial (meliponid) bees, and loss of dispersal by primates and large birds, which reduced the frequency of large‐seeded tree species. Fragments also lost rare and mature‐forest species, and collectively these changes suggest that future tree communities in fragmented Amazonian landscapes will retain a taxonomically and functionally impoverished species pool with a biased functional composition unless efforts are undertaken to conserve dispersal by large frugivores and pollination by meliponid bees.
Using genomic information for management planning of an endangered perennial, Viola uliginosa
Authors: Lee Kyung Min , Ranta Pertti , Saarikivi Jarmo , Kutnar Lado , Vreš Branko , Dzhus Maxim , Mutanen Marko , Kvist Laura
Published: February 2020

Species occupying habitats subjected to frequent natural and/or anthropogenic changes are a challenge for conservation management. We studied one such species, Viola uliginosa, an endangered perennial wetland species typically inhabiting sporadically flooded meadows alongside rivers/lakes. In order to estimate genomic diversity, population structure, and history, we sampled five sites in Finland, three in Estonia, and one each in Slovenia, Belarus, and Poland using genomic SNP data with double‐digest restriction site‐associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD‐seq). We found monophyletic populations, high levels of inbreeding (mean population FSNP = 0.407–0.945), low effective population sizes (Ne = 0.8–50.9), indications of past demographic expansion, and rare long‐distance dispersal. Our results are important in implementing conservation strategies for V. uliginosa, which should include founding of seed banks, ex situ cultivations, and reintroductions with individuals of proper origin, combined with continuous population monitoring and habitat management.
Parameterized maximum entropy models predict variability of metabolic scaling across tree communities and populations
Authors: Xu Meng
Published: February 2020

The maximum entropy theory of ecology (METE) applies the concept of “entropy” from information theory to predict macroecological patterns. The energetic predictions of the METE rely on predetermined metabolic scaling from external theories, and this reliance diminishes the testability of the theory. In this work, I build parameterized METE models by treating the metabolic scaling exponent as a free parameter, and I use the maximum‐likelihood method to obtain empirically plausible estimates of the exponent. I test the models using the individual tree data from an oak‐dominated deciduous forest in the northeastern United States and from a tropical forest in central Panama. My analysis shows that the metabolic scaling exponents predicted from the parameterized METE models deviate from that of the metabolic theory of ecology and exhibit large variation, at both community and population levels. Assemblage and population abundance may act as ecological constraints that regulate the individual‐level metabolic scaling behavior. This study provides a novel example of the use of the parameterized METE models to reveal the biological processes of individual organisms. The implication and possible extensions of the parameterized METE models are discussed.
Intra‐guild predation (IGP) can increase or decrease prey density depending on the strength of IGP
Authors: Chang Feng‐Hsun , Cardinale Bradley J.
Published: February 2020

In consumer communities, intra‐guild predation (IGP) is a commonly observed interaction that is widely believed to increase resource density. However, some recent theoretical work predicts that resource density should first decrease, and then increase as the strength of IGP increases. This occurs because weak to intermediate IGP increases the IG predator density more than it reduces the IG prey density, so that weak to intermediate IGP leads to the lowest resource density compared to weak or strong IGP. We test this prediction that basal resource density would first decrease and then increase as the strength of IGP increase. We used a well‐studied system with two protozoa species engaged in IGP and three bacteria species as the basal resources. We experimentally manipulated the percentage of the IG prey population that was available to an IG predator as a proxy for IGP strength. We found that bacterial density first decreased (by ~25%) and then increased (by ~30%) as the strength of IGP increased. Using a modified version of a published IGP model, we were able to explain ~70% of the variation in protozoa and bacterial density. Agreement of the empirical results with model predictions suggests that IGP first increased the IG predator density by consuming a small proportion of the IG prey population, which in turn increased the summed consumer density and decreased the bacterial resource density. As IGP strength increased further, the IG predator became satiated by the IG prey, which then freed the bacterial resource from predation and thus increased bacterial density. Consequently, our work shows that IGP can indeed decrease or increase basal resource density depending on its strength. Consequently, the impacts of IGP on resource density is potentially more complex than previously thought.
Fullerene (C60) Nanowires: The Preparation, Characterization, and Potential Applications
Authors: Fan Xiao , Soin Navneet , Li Haitao , Li Hua , Xia Xiaohong , Geng Junfeng
Published: February 2020

Fullerene (C60) nanowires have attracted significant attention in the past two decades due to their outstanding chemical and physical properties, which render the material a wide range of potential applications. Much effort has been devoted to exploring the growth methods, structural and compositional characterizations, and application‐related investigations of this novel carbon nanomaterial. Here, we present a review of C60 nanowires in which we will first describe the recent development in the material preparations, analytical techniques, crystal structures, chemical compositions, and the investigations of polymerization processes. Afterward, we will discuss the mechanistic studies on the nanowires’ growth as the mechanism research is of great importance for their size control, large‐scale preparation, and for the exploration of applications in a wide range of fields. Finally, we will discuss the potential applications in several directions, including optical, electrical, mechanical, and biological fields, as well as our perspectives to future developments.
Dynamics of a sliding‐rocking block considering impact with an adjacent wall
Authors: Bao Yu , Konstantinidis Dimitrios
Published: February 2020

A freestanding rigid block subjected to base excitation can exhibit complicated motion described by five response modes: rest, pure rocking, pure sliding, combined sliding‐rocking, and free flight. Previous studies on the dynamics of a rocking block have assumed that the block does not interact with neighboring objects. However, there are many applications in which the block may start or come in contact with an adjacent boundary during its motion, for example, a bookcase or cabinet colliding with a partition wall in an earthquake. This paper investigates the dynamics of a sliding‐rocking block considering impact with an adjacent wall. A model is developed in which the base and wall are assumed rigid, and impact is treated using the classical impulse and momentum principle. The model is verified by comparing its predictions in numerical simulations against those of an existing general‐purpose rigid‐body model in which impact is treated using a viscoelastic impact model. The developed model is used to investigate the effects of different parameters on the stability of a block subjected to analytical pulse excitations. It is found that wall placement (left or right) has a dominant effect on the shape of the overturning acceleration spectra for pulse excitations. In general, decreasing the gap distance, base friction coefficient, and wall coefficient of restitution enhance the stability of the block. Similar observations are made when evaluating the overturning probability of a block using earthquake floor motions.
Comparison of ammonia sorption properties and thermodynamic performance of adsorption‐based thermal energy storage system for MnCl2, CaCl2, and their composites
Authors: Jivrakh Kedar B. , Kaki Sarath Babu , Sharma Rakesh , Mendu Siva Subrahmanyam , Emadabathuni Anil Kumar
Published: February 2020

In this work, composite adsorbent materials are prepared using metal halide salts and expanded natural graphite (ENG). Ammonia adsorption and desorption pressure concentration isotherms of composite adsorbents are experimentally measured. The van't Hoff plots are constructed to calculate the enthalpy of a reaction during adsorption and desorption. The average value of adsorption enthalpies (∆Had) for MnCl2 + ENG and CaCl2 + ENG are 55.821 and 33.434 kJ mol−1, respectively, and average values of desorption enthalpies (∆Hdes) are 73.817 and 73.016 kJ mol−1, respectively. Comparison of ammonia sorption properties of composites and their corresponding plain salts is done. Thermodynamic analysis of adsorption thermal energy storage (ATES) system) showed that maximum gravimetric energy storage density for MnCl2 + ENG based system is 1394.83 kJ kg−1 (158.85 kWh m−3) at energy storage and ambient temperatures of 172°C and 35°C, respectively. The same for CaCl2 + ENG based system is 1350.86 kJ kg−1 (165.85 kWh m−3) at storage and ambient temperatures of 92°C and 35°C, respectively. Volumetric energy storage density is higher for CaCl2 + ENG based ATES system since it has higher density. Thermodynamic performance of composite‐based systems is compared with plain salts (MnCl2‐CaCl2) based thermal energy storage system.
Adaptive fast charging methodology for commercial Li‐ion batteries based on the internal resistance spectrum
Authors: Sebastian Sandeep S. , Dong Bo , Zerrin Taner , Pena Pedro A. , Akhavi Amirali S. , Li Yige , Ozkan Cengiz S. , Ozkan Mihrimah
Published: February 2020

Development of lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) with high energy density has brought a promising future for the next generation of electric vehicles (EV). In order to make EVs more competitive with combustion engine vehicles, development of an effective fast charging technique is inevitable. However, improper employment of fast charging can damage the battery and bring safety hazards. Herein, industry based along with our proposed internal resistance (IR) based fast charging techniques were performed on commercial Panasonic NCR 18650B cylindrical batteries. To further investigate the fast charging impact and electrode degradation mechanisms, electrochemical analysis and material characterization techniques including EIS (electrochemical impedance spectroscopy), GITT (galvanostatic intermittent titration technique), SEM (scanning electron microscopy), and XRD (X‐ray diffraction) were implemented. Batteries that were cycled under industry based fast charging showed 78% increase in internal resistance after 120 cycles along with rapid capacity fading. Mechanical distortion of the battery case occurred around the 60th cycle for industry based fast charging. In contrast, IR based fast charged batteries showed 29.4% increase in internal resistance over 120 cycles. In addition, mechanical distortion was not observed and the relative capacity fading was on a moderate level. Furthermore, this work could pave the way for the optimization of fast charging techniques to secure the lifespan and safety of various types of lithium‐ion batteries.
An efficient indexing for Internet of Things massive data based on cloud‐fog computing
Authors: Benrazek Ala‐Eddine , Kouahla Zineddine , Farou Brahim , Ferrag Mohamed Amine , Seridi Hamid , Kurulay Muhammet
Published: February 2020

In recent years, the number of sensor and actuator nodes in the Internet of Things (IoT) networks has increased, generating a large amount of data. Most research techniques are based on dividing target data into subsets. On a large scale, this volume increases exponentially, which will affect search algorithms. This problem is caused by the inherent deficiencies of space partitioning. This paper introduces a new and efficient indexing structure to index massive IoT data called BCCF‐tree (Binary tree based on containers at the cloud‐fog computing level). This structure is based on recursive partitioning of space using the k‐means clustering algorithm to effectively separate space into nonoverlapping subspace to improve the quality of search and discovery algorithm results. A good topology should avoid a biased allocation of objects for separable sets and should not influence the structure of the index. BCCF‐tree structure benefits to the emerging cloud‐fog computing system, which represents the most powerful real‐time processing capacity provided by fog computing due to its proximity to sensors and the largest storage capacity provided by cloud computing. The paper also discusses the effectiveness of construction and search algorithms, as well as the quality of the index compared to other recent indexing data structures. The experimental results showed good performance.
Efficient selection of hyperparameters in large Bayesian VARs using automatic differentiation
Authors: Chan Joshua C. C. , Jacobi Liana , Zhu Dan
Published: February 2020

Large Bayesian vector autoregressions with the natural conjugate prior are now routinely used for forecasting and structural analysis. It has been shown that selecting the prior hyperparameters in a data‐driven manner can often substantially improve forecast performance. We propose a computationally efficient method to obtain the optimal hyperparameters based on automatic differentiation, which is an efficient way to compute derivatives. Using a large US data set, we show that using the optimal hyperparameter values leads to substantially better forecast performance. Moreover, the proposed method is much faster than the conventional grid‐search approach, and is applicable in high‐dimensional optimization problems. The new method thus provides a practical and systematic way to develop better shrinkage priors for forecasting in a data‐rich environment.
Einwirkung von Murgängen auf Schutzbauwerke – Das Messbauwerk am Gadriabach, Südtirol
Authors: Nagl Georg , Hübl Johannes
Published: February 2020

The interaction between a protection structure and an acting process (e.g. debris flow) has only been described in a few publications so far. In particular, the acting forces and stresses have only been measured under real conditions in a few cases. Therefore it was necessary to design a monitoring barrier that could measure both the process parameters and the forces involved and their transfer into the ground. Such a structure was built 2016 in the Gadria torrent (South Tyrol). Data has meanwhile been measured, recorded and evaluated from five debris flows. With flow heights up to 2 m, densities up to 2,200 kg/m3 and velocities between 1 and 6 m/s, the measured impact forces could be compared with the existing loading approaches. The findings serve as a basis for the improvement of approaches for the design of protection structures.
Entwicklung eines Frühwarnsystems für Rutschungen in den tropischen Anden (Medellín, Kolumbien)
Authors: Thuro Kurosch , Singer John , Menschik Bettina , Breuninger Tamara , Gamperl Moritz
Published: February 2020

The Inform@Risk project aims to develop a cost‐effective but sufficiently accurate, easy‐to‐maintain early warning system (EWS) for informal settlements on the margins of large cities, adapted to tropical climatic conditions in South American mountain regions. This EWS will be implemented on the outskirts of the Bello Oriente district in Medellín. The area is characterized by an elevation of around 2,000 m, a medium slope inclination of 20° to 30° and deeply weathered crystalline rocks, which are particularly sensitive to shallow landslides during heavy precipitation. In addition to the development of a geo‐sensor network with complex data integration and real‐time evaluation, the main focus of the project is the social integration of the EWS both with the municipal authorities, which are going to take over the system after completion of the three‐year project, and with the population living in the settlement. This report describes the project and the specifications of the EWS and presents first results from the field work.
Steinschlagschutzdämme: Konstruktion und Bemessung
Authors: Hofmann Robert , Vollmert Lars
Published: February 2020

The introduction of Austrian standard ONR 24810 provides a design concept for earth dams to protect against massive rockfall events. The essential basis for the concept is the differentiation into five construction types of rockfall embankments due to different system behaviour. The structure therefore has to be assigned to one type at the beginning of the design process. The types available for selection are a simple earth dam (type I), a dam with quarry stone facing (type II), a geosynthetic‐reinforced dam without increased crosswise distribution of the impact loads (type III), a geosynthetic‐reinforced dam with increased crosswise distribution (type IVa) and with strongly increased crosswise distribution (type IVb) of the impact loads. Eurocode 7 (EC 7) is considered accordingly. The design concept is currently being discussed and used in Austria, Switzerland, Germany and Norway. Presented are the design principle and the construction as executive summary.
Clay minerals of surface sediments from the lower Bengal Fan: Implications for provenance identification and transport processes
Authors: Sun Xingquan , Liu Shengfa , Fang Xisheng , Li Jingrui , Cao Peng , Zhao Guangtao , Khokiattiwong Somkiat , Kornkanitnan Narumol , Shi Xuefa
Published: February 2020

Based on the clay mineral assemblages of 98 surface sediments from the lower Bengal Fan, we carried out a quantitative provenance identification and discussed the potential transport processes of fine fractions with the support of the hydrodynamic environment. Illite is the dominant clay mineral in the study area, with an average of 51%, followed by kaolinite, with an average of 20%, while chlorite and smectite account for averages of 17 and 11%, respectively. The study area can be divided into two provinces based on the clay mineral assemblages: Province I, located in the western part of the study area, has relatively higher smectite content, while province II, located in the eastern part, shows higher illite content. The Ganges–Brahmaputra (Himalayan) and the Godavari–Krishna (Indian Peninsula) are suggested to be the major provenances, and the average relative contributions of the Himalayan source and the Indian source are 76 and 24%, respectively. Sediments in province II receive more sediment from the Himalayan source, with an average contribution of 84%, while the Indian source mainly contributed to province I, with an average contribution rate of 32%. The Indian Peninsula materials are predominantly conveyed to the study area by the northeast monsoon circulation, and the relative contribution gradually decreases from northwest to southeast in the lower Bengal Fan. However, most of the Himalayan material is transported to the study area by the southwest monsoon. Our research indicates that the seasonal hydrodynamic pattern of the Northeast Indian Ocean plays an important role in controlling modern sediment transport in the Bay of Bengal, causing terrestrial materials from different sources to show significantly different spatial distribution characteristics.
Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in the Precision Medicine Era: From Treatment Stage Migration to Therapeutic Hierarchy
Authors: Vitale Alessandro , Trevisani Franco , Farinati Fabio , Cillo Umberto
Published: February 2020

Treatment allocation is extremely complex in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) because this neoplasm arises, in most cases, in patients with cirrhosis and additional comorbidities. The “stage hierarchy” approach, which involves linking each stage (or substage) of the disease to a specific treatment, has become the main proposed treatment strategy for the clinical management of HCC, particularly in the West. The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) scheme serves as the main example of the application of this strategy. In an attempt to increase the plasticity of the “stage hierarchy” approach as well as its adaptability to the requirements of real‐world clinical practice, the latest versions of European and American guidelines have introduced certain relevant elements of flexibility, which were not intrinsic to the original BCLC scheme. These elements are as follows: the “treatment stage migration” strategy, which allows moving to another treatment (generally the one that is associated with the subsequent stage) if the approach linked with the current stage proves to be unfeasible, and the “treatment stage alternative” approach, which proposes further therapeutic options for each BCLC‐defined stage. In regard to most of the solid cancers, another potential strategy is to consider the treatment decision to be hierarchically dictated by the efficacy of each therapy with complete or partial independence from the tumor stage. This concept of “therapeutic hierarchy” has been historically endorsed by the Asia‐Pacific treatment algorithm as well as by the recent Italian multisociety guidelines. The present review provides a critical analysis of the different conceptual approaches to HCC management, highlighting their advantages and disadvantages and focusing on the remarkable differences between the stage‐guided and the hierarchical strategies.
An uncertainty principle for neural coding: Conjugate representations of position and velocity are mapped onto firing rates and co‐firing rates of neural spike trains
Authors: Grgurich Ryan , Blair Hugh T.
Published: February 2020

The hippocampal system contains neural populations that encode an animal's position and velocity as it navigates through space. Here, we show that such populations can embed two codes within their spike trains: a firing rate code (
R) conveyed by within‐cell spike intervals, and a co‐firing rate code () conveyed by between‐cell spike intervals. These two codes behave as conjugates of one another, obeying an analog of the uncertainty principle from physics: information conveyed in
R comes at the expense of information in , and vice versa. An exception to this trade‐off occurs when spike trains encode a pair of conjugate variables, such as position and velocity, which do not compete for capacity across
R and . To illustrate this, we describe two biologically inspired methods for decoding
R and , referred to as sigma and sigma‐chi decoding, respectively. Simulations of head direction and grid cells show that if firing rates are tuned for position (but not velocity), then position is recovered by sigma decoding, whereas velocity is recovered by sigma‐chi decoding. Conversely, simulations of oscillatory interference among theta‐modulated “speed cells” show that if co‐firing rates are tuned for position (but not velocity), then position is recovered by sigma‐chi decoding, whereas velocity is recovered by sigma decoding. Between these two extremes, information about both variables can be distributed across both channels, and partially recovered by both decoders. These results suggest that populations with different spatial and temporal tuning properties—such as speed versus grid cells—might not encode different information, but rather, distribute similar information about position and velocity in different ways across
R and . Such conjugate coding of position and velocity may influence how hippocampal populations are interconnected to form functional circuits, and how biological neurons integrate their inputs to decode information from firing rates and spike correlations.
In vitro maturation is a viable option for urgent fertility preservation in young women with hematological conditions
Authors: Sonigo Charlotte , Bajeux Jeanne , Boubaya Marouane , Eustache Florence , Sifer Christophe , Lévy Vincent , Grynberg Michaël , Sermondade Nathalie
Published: February 2020

Fertility preservation embraces different techniques developed to improve young women chances of becoming mothers after healing. Among them, in vitro maturation (IVM) procedure is based on oocyte retrieval without any gonadotropin treatment, feasible under locoregional or local anesthesia, with very low operative complications. The present retrospective analysis of a preliminary case series of 25 women diagnosed with Hodgkin or non‐Hodgkin lymphoma aims to evaluate the feasibility of IVM for urgent fertility preservation purposes in hematological context. A median of five mature oocytes was cryopreserved after one cycle of IVM, performed without delaying the start of the chemotherapy (median delay from histological diagnosis to start of the chemotherapy 17.5 days). No association was found between lymphomas' characteristics and the number of recovered or frozen oocytes. Although experimental, this technique could be relevant when fertility preservation has to be performed within a short time frame and without additional surgery nor any risk of malignant cells reintroduction.
A Review of the Environmental Fate and Effects of Acesulfame-Potassium
Authors: Belton Kerry , Schaefer Edward , Guiney Patrick D
Published: February 2020

The use of low and no calorie sweeteners (LNCSs) has increased substantially the past several decades. Their high solubility in water, low absorption to soils, and reliable analytical methods facilitate their detection in wastewater and surface waters. Low and no calorie sweeteners are widely used in food and beverage products around the world, have been approved as food additives, and are considered safe for human consumption by the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) and other regulatory authorities. Concerns have been raised, however, regarding their growing presence and potential aquatic toxicity. Recent studies have provided new empirical environmental monitoring, environmental fate, and ecotoxicity on acesulfame potassium (ACE-K). Acesulfame potassium is an important high-production LNCS, widely detected in the environment and generally reported to be environmentally persistent. Acesulfame-potassium was selected for this environmental fate and effects review to determine its comparative risk to aquatic organisms. The biodegradation of ACE-K is predicted to be low, based on available quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) models, and this has been confirmed by several investigations, mostly published prior to 2014. More recently, there appears to be an interesting paradigm shift with several reports of the enhanced ability of wastewater treatment plants to biodegrade ACE-K. Some studies report that ACE-K can be photodegraded into potentially toxic breakdown products, whereas other data indicate that this may not be the case. A robust set of acute and chronic ecotoxicity studies in fish, invertebrates, and freshwater plants provided critical data on ACE-K's aquatic toxicity. Acesulfame-potassium concentrations in wastewater and surface water are generally in the lower parts per billion (ppb) range, whereas concentrations in sludge and groundwater are much lower (parts per trillion [ppt]). This preliminary environmental risk assessment establishes that ACE-K has high margins of safety (MOSs) and presents a negligible risk to the aquatic environment based on a collation of extensive ACE-K environmental monitoring, conservative predicted environmental concentration (PEC) and predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) estimates, and prudent probabilistic exposure modeling. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2020;16:421–437. © 2020 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC)