bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Van der Waals Contact to 2D Semiconductors with a Switchable Electric Dipole: Achieving Both n‐ and p‐Type Ohmic Contacts to Metals with a Wide Range of Work Functions
Authors: Shao Yangfan , Wang Qian , Pan Hui , Shi Xingqiang
Published: December 2019

Two‐dimensional (2D) layered semiconductors with an intrinsic electric dipole p (pS for short), including group III2‐VI3 ferroelectrics and various Janus semiconductors, are attracting increasing attention for their exotic properties and versatile applications. Their potential in metal–semiconductor junctions is revealed. It is demonstrated that, for pS contacting to 2D metals with a wide range of work‐functions, Schottky‐barrier‐free (SB‐free) and tunable n‐ to p‐type contacts can be obtained, which is important for complementary metal‐oxide‐semiconductor logical circuitry. As expected, low (high) work‐function (WF) metals form n‐type (p‐type) SB‐free contacts to pS. What is unexpected is the behavior of medium‐WF metal‐pS junctions (MpSJ); that is, by switching the polarization in pS, both n‐ and p‐type SB‐free contacts can be obtained by the same pS contacting to metals with a wide range of WF. More importantly, MpSJ with bilayer pS can form both n‐ and p‐type SB‐free contacts. These findings, SB‐free and contact‐type‐tunable of MpSJ for metals with a wide range of work‐functions, demonstrate the great potential of 2D pS for device applications.
Recovery of vinyl chloride from by‐streams of polyvinyl chloride production by TPSA in a multitubular adsorber
Authors: Carmo Paulo , Ribeiro Ana M. , Rodrigues Alírio E. , Ferreira Alexandre
Published: December 2019

This work aims at developing an efficient and feasible adsorption‐based separation process for the separation of vinyl chloride and nitrogen, on activated carbon, by employing a multitubular packed bed geometry, with adsorbent material inside the tubes. Using this geometry, a 2‐dimensional mathematical model of a temperature pressure swing adsorption process was used to developed a 6‐step three multitubular adsorbers system capable of separating and purifying an industrial scale gas stream of a 40:60% (v/v) vinyl chloride/nitrogen mixture into a 95% (v/v) vinyl chloride stream and a nitrogen stream with a vinyl chloride limit concentration of 8 ppm (w/w). The process reported energy consumption of 4.88 × 106 J/kgVCM and recovery capacity of 24.35 kgVCM/(m3unit h). The multitubular geometry enabled the use of lower adsorbent loads, shorter cycle times, and lower regeneration temperatures. An equivalent 1‐dimensional model has also shown to satisfactorily estimate the performance of the current equipment.
Targeted sequencing of the LRRTM gene family in suicide attempters with bipolar disorder
Authors: Reichman Rachel D. , Gaynor Sophia C. , Monson Eric T. , Gaine Marie E. , Parsons Meredith G. , Zandi Peter P. , Potash James B. , Willour Virginia L.
Published: December 2019

Glutamatergic signaling is the primary excitatory neurotransmission pathway in the brain, and its relationship to neuropsychiatric disorders is of considerable interest. Our previous attempted suicide genome‐wide association study, and numerous studies investigating gene expression, genetic variation, and DNA methylation have implicated aberrant glutamatergic signaling in suicide risk. The glutamatergic pathway gene LRRTM4 was an associated gene identified in our attempted suicide genome‐wide association study, with association support seen primarily in females. Recent evidence has also shown that glutamatergic signaling is partly regulated by sex‐related hormones. The LRRTM gene family encodes neuronal leucine‐rich transmembrane proteins that localize to and promote glutamatergic synapse development. In this study, we sequenced the coding and regulatory regions of all four LRRTM gene members plus a large intronic region of LRRTM4 in 476 bipolar disorder suicide attempters and 473 bipolar disorder nonattempters. We identified two male‐specific variants, one female‐ and five male‐specific haplotypes significantly associated with attempted suicide in LRRTM4. Furthermore, variants within significant haplotypes may be brain expression quantitative trait loci for LRRTM4 and some of these variants overlap with predicted hormone response elements. Overall, these results provide supporting evidence for a sex‐specific association of genetic variation in LRRTM4 with attempted suicide.
Conformational Dynamics of Monomer‐ versus Dimer‐like Features in a Naphthalenediimide‐Based Conjugated Cyclophane
Authors: Keshri Sudhir Kumar , Takai Atsuro , Ishizuka Tomoya , Kojima Takahiko , Takeuchi Masayuki
Published: December 2019

The design and synthesis of an enantiomeric pair of 1,8‐diethynylanthracene‐bridged naphthalenediimide (NDI)‐based cyclophanes (Cyclo‐NDIs) are reported. Each enantiomer of Cyclo‐NDI exhibits a circularly polarized luminescence signal with a relatively large luminescence dissymmetry factor (glum=±8×10−3). We have further investigated the modulation of through‐space electronic communication between co‐facially oriented NDIs in a discrete Cyclo‐NDI with changes in the temperature. Tuning of the electronic communication results from the conformational transformation of monomer‐ versus dimer‐like features of Cyclo‐NDI, as confirmed by UV/Vis, fluorescence, circular dichroic, and NMR spectroscopic analysis. The temperature‐dependent optical response in the Cyclo‐NDI through the conformational transformation could be utilized as a highly sensitive and reversible optical thermometer in a wide temperature range (100 to −80 °C).
Combining optical coherence tomography with magnetic resonance angiography and Doppler ultrasonography for clinical detection of scleroderma
Authors: Zhang Lingyan , Li Mifang , Liu Yubin , Zhou Quan
Published: December 2019

Scleroderma (SD) is a rare and agnogenic autoimmune disease whose progression can be modified by medical or surgical intervention if detected early. Multimodality imaging makes early detection of SD possible based on the structural and functional findings from different imaging methods. Combining optical coherence tomography (OCT) with magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and Doppler ultrasonography (DUS) to identify the typical structural and functional features that can exhibit significant differences between SD patients and healthy controls. In this study, six participants (three healthy volunteers and three SD patients) were recruited and clinically examined by a rheumatologist. Participants’ fingers were scanned by MRA, DUS, and OCT, respectively. MRA and DSU imaging results showed that SD patients exhibited thicker finger skin, a loss of blood vessels, and lower blood flow, whereas OCT captured the high‐resolution morphology changes of the skin, epidermal, dermis, and subcutaneous layers, demonstrating a distinct loss of the dermo‐epidermal junction in SD patients. Multimodal imaging techniques offer a more comprehensive characterization of the morphological and functional information of biological tissues, which can assist physicians to achieve a more accurate SD diagnosis.
Neurochemical characterization of the hypothalamus of the early fetal and newborn alpaca Vicugna pacos
Authors: Montelli Stefano , Graïc Jean‐Marie , Ruiz Jaime Antonio , Stelletta Calogero , Peruffo Antonella
Published: December 2019

In this study we performed a neurochemical characterization of the hypothalamus in the developing alpaca (Vicugna pacos) with the aim of revealing the distributions of immunoreactive (‐ir) cells containing parvalbumin (PV), calbindin (CB), calretinin (CR), the somatostatin (SOM), the enzyme aromatase P450 (P450Arom), the estrogen receptor α (ER‐α), and estrogen receptor β (ER‐β) in embryonal stages, early fetal age, and in the newborn. This analysis has been carried out on embryos at 20, 30, 45 days, fetuses at 90 days, and newborn alpaca. Our immunohistochemical results revealed no cells‐ir throughout the embryonic hypothalami of 20, 30, and 45 days. On the fetal stage of 90 days, SOM‐ir cells were observed in the lateral hypothalamus and the ventromedial nuclei of the tuberal region. We checked for the presence of P450Arom‐ir cells in the periventricular area and dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus of the tuberal region. In these fetal stages, no PV‐ir, CB‐ir, CR‐ir or ERs‐ir cells were identified. In the newborn, the PV‐ir, CB‐ir, CR‐ir, and SOM‐ir cells were detected in both the anterior and tuberal hypothalamic area. The P450Arom‐ir cells the ER‐α–ir and ER‐β–ir cells were found in the anterior hypothalamus. Our results offer a contribution in the future purpose to obtain a time‐expression pattern of the considered markers in alpaca during gestation and represents a foundation for future investigations on the alpaca brain to define the cross talk between PV, CB, CR, P450Arom, SOM, and ERs in the hypothalamus, the strategic region for the control of the reproductive behavior.
Phosphaviologen‐Based Pyrene‐Carbon Nanotube Composites for Stable Battery Electrodes
Authors: Bridges Colin R. , Stolar Monika , Baumgartner Thomas
Published: December 2019

The adoption of intermittent renewable power sources has placed battery technologies into the limelight, initiating a push to develop sustainable materials for energy storage that do not rely on rare or toxic elements. Organic electrode materials are made from abundant elements that are consumed in the biomass cycle, which can make large‐scale manufacturing and recycling of these materials less detrimental to the environment. Herein, we explore how organic, electroactive phosphoryl‐bridged viologens (phosphaviologens) can be composited with single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and used as organic electrodes composed of sustainable/abundant materials. To this end, we have functionalized phosphaviologens that exhibit two stable and reversible reductions with pendant pyrene moieties to interface them with carbon nanotubes. The anchoring of the redox active species on the surface of SWCNTs prevents electrode dissolution, and hybrid batteries with a high voltage (1.95–3.5 V) vs. Li/Li+using phosphaviologens as the cathode remain stable past 500 charge/discharge cycles.
Autoantibodies against tumor‐associated antigens combined with microRNAs in detecting esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Sun Guiying , Ye Hua , Wang Xiao , Li Tiandong , Jiang Di , Qiu Cuipeng , Dai Liping , Shi Jianxiang , Wang Kaijuan , Song Chunhua , Wang Peng , Zhang Jianying
Published: December 2019

Esophageal carcinoma (EC) is a common malignant disease worldwide, especially in China. There is currently no specific blood test for detecting EC. Autoantibodies against tumor‐associated antigens (TAAbs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) are promising markers for cancer diagnosis and this study focuses on combining TAAbs and miRNAs to evaluate the diagnostic value in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The expression levels of seven TAAbs and five microRNAs in plasmas from 125 patients diagnosed with ESCC and 125 healthy individuals were detected by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and reverse transcription quantitative‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR), respectively. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was applied to estimate the diagnostic value of these markers for distinguishing ESCC patients from normal individuals. Logistic regression analysis was performed to generate prediction model and calculate the probability of individuals being diagnosed with ESCC. Three panels were established including four TAAbs, three miRNAs, and three TAAbs combined with three miRNAs. The panel consisting of three TAAbs (HCCR, C‐myc, and MDM2) and three miRNAs (miR‐21, miR‐223, and miR‐375) attained great diagnostic value for ESCC, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.89 (95% CI: 0.85‐0.93) with the sensitivity of 69%, the specificity of 90%, the PPV of 83%, the NPV of 79%, and the coincidence rate of 81%. The optimal panel of six‐member markers was able to effectively discriminate the patients with ESCC from normal individuals, especially for early esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
Socket Shield Technique Used in Conjunction With Immediate Implant Placement in the Anterior Maxilla: A Case Series
Authors: Nguyen Vinh Giap , Flanagan Dennis , Syrbu John , Nguyen Thomas T.
Published: December 2019

Introduction

Bone remodeling after tooth extraction and immediate implant placement will occur nonetheless and as a result, additional hard and soft tissue augmentations are often necessary to compensate for the loss of alveolar ridge dimension. The socket shield (SS) technique has shown encouraging clinical results in maintaining original ridge morphology, and thus, may be used as an alternative protocol for the conventional immediate implant placement in the esthetic zone.

Case Series

The authors report three cases of SS technique used in conjunction with immediate implant placement in an anterior maxilla. The patients were followed for a period of 2 to 6 years, and the evolution of the soft and hard tissue surrounding the implants was documented.

Conclusions

The SS technique produces virtually no change in the hard and soft tissue dimensions with relatively minimal invasive surgical interventions and shorter treatment time.
Recurrent pulmonary vein stenosis after successful intervention: Prognosis and management of restenosis
Authors: Fender Erin A. , Widmer R. Jay , Mahowald Madeline K , Hodge David O. , Packer Douglas L. , Holmes David R.
Published: December 2019

Objectives

The aim of this study was to describe management of recurrent pulmonary vein stenosis (PVS) and determine if stenting is superior to balloon angioplasty (BA) in preventing subsequent restenosis.

Background

PVS is a serious complication of atrial fibrillation ablation. BA and stenting are effective therapies; however, restenosis frequently occurs. Here we report management of recurrent stenosis.

Methods

This was a prospective observational study performed from 2000 to 2014.

Results

One hundred and thirteen patients with severe PVS underwent intervention in 88 veins treated with BA and 81 treated with stenting. Forty‐two patients experienced restenosis. Restenosis was more common in veins treated with BA (RRR 53% [95% CI 32–70%, p = .008]). A second intervention was performed in 41 patients. In the 34 vessels treated with initial BA, 24 were treated for restenosis with a stent and 10 were treated with a second BA. The recurrence rate was 46% in those treated with BA followed by stenting and 50% in those treated with two BA procedures. In the 22 veins treated with initial stenting, 9 were treated with another stent and 13 were treated with BA. The recurrence rate was 44% in those treated with a second stent and 46% for those treated with a stent followed by BA. The risk of a third stenosis was the same among all groups (Analysis of variance [ANOVA] p = .99). Limited sample size precluded analysis of outcome by stent size.

Conclusions

Restenosis occurred in 44% of patients overall. Management is challenging; stenting does not appear to be superior to BA.
Impact of established cardiovascular disease on outcomes in the randomized global leaders trial
Authors: Garg Scot , Chichareon Ply , Kogame Norihiro , Takahashi Kuniaki , Modolo Rodrigo , Chang Chun‐Chin , Tomaniak Mariusz , Fath‐Ordoubadi Farzin , Anderson Richard , Oldroyd Keith G. , Stables Rod H. , Kukreja Neville , Chowdhary Saqib , Galasko Gavin , Hoole Stephen , Zaman Azfar , Hamm Christian W. , Steg Philippe G. , Jüni Peter , Valgimigli Marco , Windecker Stephan , Onuma Yoshinobu , Serruys Patrick W.
Published: December 2019

Objective

To investigate the impact of different anti‐platelet strategies on outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with established cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Methods

GLOBAL LEADERS was a randomized, superiority, all‐comers trial comparing one‐month dual anti‐platelet therapy (DAPT) with ticagrelor and aspirin followed by 23‐month ticagrelor monotherapy (experimental treatment) with standard 12‐month DAPT followed by 12‐month aspirin monotherapy (reference treatment) in patients treated with a biolimus A9‐eluting stent. Established CVD was defined as ≥1 prior myocardial infarction, PCI, coronary artery bypass operation, stroke, or established peripheral vascular disease. The primary endpoint was a composite of all‐cause death or new Q‐wave MI at 2‐years. The secondary safety endpoint was BARC 3 or 5 bleeding. Exploratory secondary endpoints were the patient‐orientated composite endpoint and net adverse clinical events.

Results

Among the 15,761 patients in this cohort were 6,693 patients (42.5%) with established CVD. Compared to those without established CVD, these patients had significantly higher rates of the primary (5.1 vs. 3.3%, HR1.59[1.36–1.86], p < .001) and secondary composite endpoints with no significant differences in bleeding. There was a nonsignificant reduction in the primary endpoint in patients with established CVD receiving the experimental treatment (4.6 vs. 5.6%, HR0.82[0.66–1.02], p = .07). When comparing patients without CVD to those with one or three territories of CVD, the hazard ratio for the primary endpoint increased in unadjusted and adjusted models.

Conclusions

The poorer outcomes in patients with established CVD are not mitigated by prolonged monotherapy with a potent P2Y12 inhibitor suggesting a greater need to focus on modifiable risk factors.
Transcatheter aortic valve implantation 10 years after valve‐in‐valve transcatheter aortic valve implantation for failing aortic valve homograft root replacement
Authors: Duncan Alison , Mirsadraee Saeed , Quarto Cesare , Davies Simon
Published: December 2019

Valve‐in‐valve transcatheter aortic valve implantation (ViV‐TAVI) is an established therapy for a degenerated surgical bioprosthesis. TAVI‐in‐TAVI following ViV‐TAVI has not been previously performed. We report a high‐risk patient presenting with severe left ventricular failure secondary to undiagnosed critical aortic stenosis due to degeneration of the implanted transcatheter heart valve more than a decade after initial ViV‐TAVI for a failing stentless aortic valve homograft. Successful TAVI‐in‐TAVI reversed the clinical and echocardiographic changes of decompensated heart failure with no evidence of coronary obstruction.
Refining the criteria for an atypical thyroid aspirate
Authors: Krane Jeffrey F.
Published: December 2019

Costigan et al help to refine what constitutes an atypical thyroid aspirate by describing the distinction between spherules and true microfollicles. In doing so, the authors highlight significant advances that have been made since the initial implementation of The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology.
Effects of Flow‐Induced Microfluidic Chip Wall Deformation on Imaging Flow Cytometry
Authors: Yalikun Yaxiaer , Ota Nobutoshi , Guo Baoshan , Tang Tao , Zhou Yuqi , Lei Cheng , Kobayashi Hirofumi , Hosokawa Yoichiroh , Li Ming , Enrique Muñoz Hector , Di Carlo Dino , Goda Keisuke , Tanaka Yo
Published: December 2019

Imaging flow cytometry is a powerful tool by virtue of its capability for high‐throughput cell analysis. The advent of high‐speed optical imaging methods on a microfluidic platform has significantly improved cell throughput and brought many degrees of freedom to instrumentation and applications over the last decade, but it also poses a predicament on microfluidic chips. Specifically, as the throughput increases, the flow speed also increases (currently reaching 10 m/s): consequently, the increased hydrodynamic pressure on the microfluidic chip deforms the wall of the microchannel and produces detrimental effects lead to defocused and blur image. Here, we present a comprehensive study of the effects of flow‐induced microfluidic chip wall deformation on imaging flow cytometry. We fabricated three types of microfluidic chips with the same geometry and different degrees of stiffness made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and glass to investigate material influence on image quality. First, we found the maximum deformation of a PDMS microchannel was >60 μm at a pressure of 0.6 MPa, while no appreciable deformation was identified in a glass microchannel at the same pressure. Second, we found the deviation of lag time that indicating velocity difference of migrating microbeads due to the deformation of the microchannel was 29.3 ms in a PDMS microchannel and 14.9 ms in a glass microchannel. Third, the glass microchannel focused cells into a slightly narrower stream in the X‐Y plane and a significantly narrower stream in the Z‐axis direction (focusing percentages were increased 30%, 32%, and 5.7% in the glass channel at flow velocities of 0.5, 1.5, and 3 m/s, respectively), and the glass microchannel showed stabler equilibrium positions of focused cells regardless of flow velocity. Finally, we achieved the world's fastest imaging flow cytometry by combining a glass microfluidic device with an optofluidic time‐stretch microscopy imaging technique at a flow velocity of 25 m/s. © 2019 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
Stronger together: comparing and integrating camera trap, visual, and dung survey data in tropical forest communities
Authors: Nuñez Chase L. , Froese Graden , Meier Amelia C. , Beirne Chris , Depenthal Johanna , Kim Seokmin , Mbélé Alex Ebang , Nordseth Anna , Poulsen John R.
Published: December 2019

Accurate estimations of animal populations are necessary for management, conservation, and policy decisions. However, methods for surveying animal communities disproportionately represent specific groups or guilds. For example, transect surveys can provide robust data for large arboreal species but underestimate cryptic or small‐bodied terrestrial species, whereas camera traps have the inverse tendency. The integration of information from multiple methodologies would provide the most complete inference on population size or responses to putative covariates, yet a simple, robust framework that allows integration and comparison of multiple data sources has been lacking. We use 27,813 counts of 35 species or species groups derived from concurrent visual transects, dung transects, and camera trap surveys in tropical forests and compare them within a generalized joint attribute modeling framework (GJAM) that both compares and integrates field‐collected dung, visual, and camera trap data to quantify the species‐ and trait‐specific differences in detection for each method. The effectiveness of survey method was strongly dependent on species, as well as animal traits. These differences in effectiveness contributed to meaningful differences in the reported strength of a known important covariate for animal communities (distance to nearest village). Data fusion through GJAM allows clear and unambiguous comparisons of the counts provided from each different methodology, the incorporation of trait information, and fusion of all three data streams to generate a more complete estimate of the effects of an anthropogenic disturbance covariate. Research and conservation resources are extremely limited, which often means that field campaigns attempt to maximize the amount of information gathered especially in remote, hard‐to‐access areas. Advances in these understudied areas will be accelerated by analytical methods that can fully leverage the total body of diverse biodiversity field data, even when they are collected using different methods. We demonstrate that survey methods vary in their effectiveness for counting species based on biological traits, but more importantly that generative models like GJAM can integrate data from multiple sources in one cohesive statistical framework to make improved inference in understudied environments.
Cognitive impairment in patients with heart failure: an international study
Authors: Vellone Ercole , Chialà Oronzo , Boyne Josiane , Klompstra Leonie , Evangelista Lorraine S. , Back Maria , Ben Gal Tuvia , Mårtensson Jan , Strömberg Anna , Jaarsma Tiny
Published: December 2019

Aims

Cognitive impairment (CI) in heart failure (HF) patients has mostly been studied in single countries in specific health care settings. Sociodemographic and clinical predictors of the global CI and CI dimensions are still unclear. We described CI in a diverse HF population recruited in several countries and in different health care settings and investigated sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with the global and specific CI dimensions in HF patients.

Methods and results

A secondary analysis from the baseline data of the Wii‐HF trial. Patients (n = 605) were enrolled in Sweden, Italy, Israel, The Netherlands, Germany, and the United States. We used the Montreal Cognitive Assessment to evaluate CI and the 6 minute walk test (6MWT) to measure exercise capacity. Patients were on average 67 years old (SD, 12), and 86% were in New York Heart Association Class II and III. The mean Montreal Cognitive Assessment score was 24 (SD, 4), and 67% of patients had at least a mild CI. The item evaluating short‐term memory had a considerable proportion of low scoring patients (28.1%). Worse CI was associated with patients' older age, lower education, and lower 6MWT scores (R2 = 0.27). CI dimension scores were differently associated with specific clinical and demographic variables, but the 6MWT scores were associated with five out of seven CI dimension scores.

Conclusions

CI is an important problem in HF patients, with specific challenges in regard to memory. Exercise capacity is a modifiable factor that could be improved in HF patients with the potential to improve cognition and other outcomes in this population.
Tetrazolate‐Based Cadmium(II) Fluorescent Metal‐Organic Frameworks for Iron(III) Sensing and Methylene Blue (MB) Capture
Authors: Zhang Zi‐You , Ji Li‐Qian , Kong Ling‐Yan , Xu Bao‐Cai , Qian Yong , Liu Hong‐Ke , Su Zhi
Published: December 2019

Multifunctional metal‐organic framework (MOF) materials have attracted great attentions due to their promising applications, water stability, however, has turned into a big challenge because of the existence of the weak coordination bonds. Two water stable Cd(II) MOFs, named [Cd3(L)2(H2O)4] (1), [Cd3(L)2(bpy)(H2O)3]·4H2O (2) (L = 5′‐(4‐(1H‐tetrazol‐5‐yl)benzamido)benzene‐1,3‐dioic acid, bpy = 4,4′‐bipyridine), were successfully prepared in this work, which have been compared with our previously reported [Cd2(L)(OH)(H2O)] (3) and [Cd3Mn(L)2(OH)2(H2O)2] (4). Complexes 1, 3 and 4 exhibited 3D structures, while 2 displayed a 2D network. Complexes 1–4 have shown strong water stability due to the existence of the multinuclear clusters instead of single metal centers. Complexes 1–4 have indicated strong luminescence both in the solid state and in the aqueous solution, which could be utilized as the Fe(III) sensor with LOD up to 1.2 × 10–7 m. The Fe(III) quench mechanism could not be interfered by the presence of other metal ions. Moreover, complexes 1–4 could selectively absorb cationic MB dye molecules in the aqueous solution over the anionic MO through the ionic interaction, implying the potential application in the purification of wastewater as the dye absorbents. This work provided a further understanding of the subtle relationships between the structures and the properties, which could benefit for the future design of MOF materials.
MWCNT/Nileblue Heterostructured Composite Electrode for Flavanone Naringenin Quantification in Fruit Juices
Authors: Manasa G. , Mascarenhas Ronald J , Bhakta Arvind K , Mekhalif Zineb
Published: December 2019

Naringenin (NR) displays strong antioxidant and numerous pharmacological activities, mitigating severity of metabolic‐syndromes without undesirable side‐effects. With the upsurge of interest in administering NR as diet‐supplement antioxidant, in this work for the first time we implemented functionalized‐MWCNT/Nileblue‐composite on carbon paste electrode (fMWNCT/NB/MCPE), as electrochemical sensor for catalytic NR oxidation. Integrated properties of fMWCNT/NB and their consonance with CPE, led to lowering of Rctvalue with fast‐kinetics and diminution of over‐potential. NR determination was due to electrical‐conductivity, π‐π and electrostatic‐forces that magnified anodic current by 5.5 fold. In the pH range 3.0 to 10.0 NR undergoes irreversible oxidation via transfer of 1e−/H+. Critical parameters, namely, pH and scan rate were assessed to reinforce differential pulse voltammtery (DPV) sensitivity for quantitative measurements. Sensor's selectivity, stability, accuracy and reproducibility were determined. Finally its viability in quantifying NR was validated by scrutinizing NR fortified fruit juices, as real sample matrices.
A feasibility study of using frac‐packed wells to produce natural gas from subsea gas hydrate resources
Authors: Shan Liqun , Fu ChunKai , Liu Yanchang , Qi Yanyan
Published: December 2019

Frac‐packing is an attractive technique to stimulate production for gas hydrate reservoirs with the additional benefit of solving the problematic sand production problems. So far, there have been no documented mathematical models to predict the propagation of fractures and to forecast gas production for frac‐packed gas wells. An analytical model was derived to predict the propagation of a horizontal fracture and to assess the well productivity in frac‐packed gas wells in a gas hydrate reservoir. The model assumes a steady, single‐gas, Darcy flow in the matrix and fracture. Case analyses were performed for key design and operational parameters with the analytical model. The result shows that it is easy to control the relationship between the wellbore fracturing pressure and injecting flow rate, and thus, fractures of any length can be produced in the fracture penetration process of frac‐packed wells. Case analysis also shows that the gas production rate increases nonlinearly with the fracture propagation and increases linearly with the fracture width. The increase in fracture width turns out to be surprisingly effective in improving well productivity without threshold within the investigated range of width. It was also found that the increase in fracture permeability contributes more to the productivity of the frac‐packed wells than the increase in matrix permeability. The model also assumes no flow at the boundary of the reservoir, which may underestimate those gas hydrate reservoirs with pressure supply. This work uses a theoretical approach to estimate the productivity of the frac‐packed gas hydrate reservoirs, which may benefit in solving the sand production issue during the production process as well.
Experimental and numerical simulation study on the flow characteristics and optimization of structural parameters of displacement agent in partial pressure tools
Authors: Huang Bin , Hu Xinyu , Fu Cheng , Cheng Haoran , Li Yuehua
Published: December 2019

In order to solve the problem of reservoir heterogeneity in the process of oil displacement, Daqing oilfield has proposed a partial pressure injection technology (using partial pressure tools). The partial pressure tool can improve the overall oil displacement effect by reducing the pressure of the displacement agent and adjusting the injection amount of the displacement agent in the high‐permeability oil layer. In order to study the effect of the partial pressure tool on the polymer solution, the flow characteristics of the polymer solution in the partial pressure tool were studied by finite element analysis, and the results of the numerical simulation were compared and verified by laboratory experiments. Then, the optimal structural parameters of the partial pressure tool were selected by orthogonal experiments. Finally, field tests were carried out to verify the effectiveness of the partial pressure tool. The results show that when the flow rate is 10 m3/d, the pressure drop of the polymer solution reaches 6.08 × 105 Pa and the viscosity loss rate reaches 6.69%, while the physical parameters of the solution change periodically under the action of the partial pressure tool. At a low flow rate, the results of the laboratory experiment and numerical simulation fit well, and the optimal structural parameters of the partial pressure tool are selected. Field tests show that the oil recovery is increased by 2.54% after using partial pressure tools. The research results are of great significance to the study of resolving interlayer conflicts and enhancing oil recovery.
A GIS method to identify flat surfaces and restore relict fluvial long‐profiles from terrace remnants gives new clues on how large basins respond to endorheic–exorheic transitions (Duero basin, Iberian Peninsula)
Authors: Rodríguez‐Rodríguez Laura , Antón Loreto , Pallàs Raimon , García‐Castellanos Daniel , Jiménez‐Munt Ivone , Pastor‐Martín Candela
Published: December 2019

Fluvial terraces are used as geomorphic indicators for deciphering long‐term landscape evolution. Knowing the distribution of fluvial terraces is essential for establishing former river profiles and their tectonic significance, for studying climate‐modulated processes of terrace development, or for defining fluvial network adjustments in response to sudden base‐level changes like those produced by fluvial captures. Multiple methods for automatic map production have been proposed based on the comparison of morphometric indices with those of the modern river course. Here we propose an alternative method to identify flat surfaces and scarps separating them from digital elevation models without setting comparisons with a modern river course and thus fully applicable to study flat landforms whatever their origin. Its application to the low‐relief landscape of the Cenozoic Duero basin has allowed the improvement of previous geomorphological maps and the analysis of fluvial network adjustments in response to a sudden base‐level fall after the opening of the Neogene endorheic basin towards the Atlantic Ocean. Reconstructed terrace long‐profiles suggest an initial episode of fast vertical incision followed by a period of repeated planation–aggradation–incision with the formation of 14 to 13 unpaired terrace levels. Changes observed in the pattern of terrace profiles are discussed with regard to changes in regional tectonics and base‐level variations. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Second‐order time discretization for a coupled quasi‐Newtonian fluid‐poroelastic system
Authors: Kunwar Hemanta , Lee Hyesuk , Seelman Kyle
Published: December 2019

Numerical methods are proposed for the nonlinear Stokes‐Biot system modeling interaction of a free fluid with a poroelastic structure. We discuss time discretization and decoupling schemes that allow the fluid and the poroelastic structure computed independently using a common stress force along the interface. The coupled system of nonlinear Stokes and Biot is formulated as a least‐squares problem with constraints, where the objective functional measures violation of some interface conditions. The local constraints, the Stokes and Biot models, are discretized in time using second‐order schemes. Computational algorithms for the least‐squares problems are discussed and numerical results are provided to compare the accuracy and efficiency of the algorithms.
A comes before B, like 1 comes before 2. Is the parietal cortex sensitive to ordinal relationships in both numbers and letters? An fMRI‐adaptation study
Authors: Goffin Celia , Vogel Stephan E. , Slipenkyj Michael , Ansari Daniel
Published: December 2019

How are number symbols (e.g., Arabic digits) represented in the brain? Functional resonance imaging adaptation (fMRI‐A) research has indicated that the intraparietal sulcus (IPS) exhibits a decrease in activation with the repeated presentation of the same number, that is followed by a rebound effect with the presentation of a new number. This rebound effect is modulated by the numerical ratio or difference between presented numbers. It has been suggested that this ratio‐dependent rebound effect is reflective of a link between the symbolic numerical representation system and an approximate magnitude system. Experiment 1 used fMRI‐A to investigate an alternative hypothesis: that the rebound effect observed in the IPS is related to the ordinal relationships between symbols (e.g., 3 comes before 4; C after B). In Experiment 1, adult participants exhibited the predicted distance‐dependent parametric rebound effect bilaterally in the IPS for number symbols during a number adaptation task, however, the same effect was not found anywhere in the brain in response to letters. When numbers were contrasted with letters (numbers > letters), the left intraparietal lobule remained significant. Experiment 2 demonstrated that letter stimuli used in Experiment 1 generated a behavioral distance effect during an active ordinality task, despite the lack of a neural distance effect using fMRI‐A. The current study does not support the hypothesis that general ordinal mechanisms underpin the neural parametric recovery effect in the IPS in response to number symbols. Additional research is needed to further our understanding of mechanisms underlying symbolic numerical representation in the brain.
A comprehensive analysis of Universal Soil Loss Equation‐based models at the Sparacia experimental area
Authors: Bagarello Vincenzo , Ferro Vito , Pampalone Vincenzo
Published: December 2019

Improving Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE)‐based models has large interest because simple and reliable analytical tools are necessary in the perspective of a sustainable land management. At first, in this paper, a general definition of the event rainfall‐ runoff erosivity factor for the USLE‐based models, REFe = (QR)b1(EI30)b2, in which QR is the event runoff coefficient, EI30 is the single‐storm erosion index, and b1 and b2 are coefficients, was introduced. The rainfall‐runoff erosivity factors of the USLE (b1 = 0 and b2 = 1), USLE‐M (b1 = b2 = 1), USLE‐MB (b1 ≠ 1 and b2 = 1), USLE‐MR (b1 = 1 and b2 ≠ 1), USLE‐MM (b1 = b2 ≠ 1), and USLE‐M2 (b1 ≠ b2 ≠ 1) can be defined using REFe. Then the different expressions of REFe were simultaneously tested against a data set of normalized bare plot soil losses, AeN, collected at the Sparacia (south Italy) site. As expected, the poorest AeN predictions were obtained with the USLE. The observed tendency of this model to overestimate small AeN values and underestimate high AeN values was reduced by introducing in the soil loss prediction model both QR and an exponent for the erosivity term. The fitting to the data was poor with the USLE‐MR as compared with the USLE‐MB and the USLE‐MM. Estimating two distinct exponents (USLE‐M2) instead of a single exponent (USLE‐MB, USLE‐MR, and USLE‐MM) did not appreciably improve soil loss prediction. The USLE‐MB and the USLE‐MM were recognized to be the best performing models among the possible alternatives, and they performed similarly with reference to both the complete data set and different sub‐data sets, only including small, intermediate, and severe erosion events. In conclusion, including the runoff coefficient in the soil loss prediction model is important to improve the quality of the predictions, but a great importance has to be paid to the mathematical structure of the model.
Recent advances in low‐dimensional semiconductor nanomaterials and their applications in high‐performance photodetectors
Authors: Fang Jingzhi , Zhou Ziqi , Xiao Mengqi , Lou Zheng , Wei Zhongming , Shen Guozhen
Published: December 2019

Low‐dimensional (including two‐dimensional [2D], one‐dimensional [1D], and zero‐dimensional [0D]) semiconductor materials have great potential in electronic/optoelectronic applications due to their unique structure and characteristics. Many 2D (such as transition metal dichalcogenides and black phosphorus) and 1D (such as NWs) materials have demonstrated superior performance in field effect transistors, photodetectors (PDs), and some flexible devices. And in some hybrid structures of 0D materials and 1D or 2D materials, the modification of 1D and 2D devices by 0D materials is embodied. This type of hybrid heterostructure has a larger performance optimization compared with the original. In the application of PDs, the variety of low‐dimensional materials and properties enable wide‐spectrum detection from ultraviolet UV to infrared, which provide a potential option for PDs under various conditions. For flexible electronic devices, high performance and mechanical stability are two important features. Low‐dimensional materials offer unparalleled advantages in flexible devices. In this review, we will focus on the various low‐dimensional materials that have been extensively studied and their applications in the electronics/optoelectronic and flexible electronics. From the composition and lattice structure of materials (including alloys) to the construction of various devices and heterostructures, we will introduce their application and recent development under various conditions. These works can provide valuable guidance for the construction and application of more high‐performance and multifunctional devices.

image
The role of lncRNA MALAT1 in cardiovascular disease
Authors: Yan Youyou , Song Dandan , Song Xianjing , Song Chunli
Published: December 2019

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the first leading cause of death worldwide. Understanding the molecular mechanism of signaling pathways involved in pathology of CVD is benefit for targeted therapeutics. Recently, long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are found and involved in regulation of pathology of CVD at different levels. Among them, MALAT1 attracted more attention as it was profoundly expressed in endothelial cells or cardiomyocytes in response to the risk factors of CVD, such as hypoxia, high glucose, cytokine, and oxidative stress. In this review, we summarize recent progresses in research on the molecular mechanism of MALAT1 on regulating the pathophysiological processes of CVD as well as its potential therapeutic applications.
High‐dimensional single‐cell proteomics analysis reveals the landscape of immune cells and stem‐like cells in renal tumors
Authors: Li Zhijian , Hu Jiaxin , Qin Zhao , Tao Yuting , Lai Zhiyong , Wang Qiuyan , Li Tianyu
Published: December 2019

Background

Renal tumors are highly heterogeneous, and identification of tumor heterogeneity is an urgent clinical need for effective treatment. Mass cytometry (MC) can be used to perform high‐dimensional single‐cell proteomics analysis of heterogeneous samples via cytometry by time‐of‐flight (CyTOF), in order to achieve more accurate observation and classification of phenotypes within a cell population. This study aimed to develop a high‐dimensional MC method for the detection and analysis of heterogeneity in renal tumors.

Materials and Methods

We collected tissue samples from 8 patients with different types of renal tumors. Single‐cell suspensions were prepared and stained using a panel of 28 immune cell‐centric antibodies and a panel of 21 stem‐like cell‐centric antibodies. The stained cells were detected using CyTOF.

Result

Renal tumors were divided into 25 immune cell subsets (4 CD4+ T cells, 7 CD8+ T cells, 1 B cells, 8 macrophages, 1 dendritic cells, 2 natural killer (NK) cells, 1 granulocyte, and 1 other subset) and 7 stem‐like cells subsets (based on positivity of vimentin, CD326, CD34, CD90, CD13, CD44, and CD47). Different types of renal tumors have different cell subsets with significantly different characteristics.

Conclusion

High‐dimensional single‐cell proteomics analysis using MC aids in the discovery and analysis of renal tumors heterogeneity. Additionally, it can be used to accurately classify the immune cell population and analyze the expression of stem cell‐related markers in renal tumors. Our findings provide a valuable resource for deciphering tumor heterogeneity and might improve the clinical management of patients with renal tumors.
Limitations of dual‐fluorescent HIV reporter viruses in a model of pre‐activation latency
Authors: Kim Youry , Cameron Paul U , Lewin Sharon R , Anderson Jenny L
Published: December 2019

Introduction

HIV latency can be established in vitro following direct infection of a resting CD4+ T cell (pre‐activation latency) or infection of an activated CD4+ T cell which then returns to a resting state (post‐activation latency). We modified a previously published dual‐fluorescent reporter virus seeking to track the establishment and reactivation of pre‐activation latency in primary CD4+ T cells.

Methods

A previously published dual‐fluorescent reporter virus was modified so that expression of enhanced green fluorescent protein (GFP) was under control of the elongation factor 1 alpha (EF1α) promoter to detect latent infection, and E2 crimson (E2CRM) was under control of the nef promoter to detect productive infection. NL4.3 that expressed GFP in place of nef was used as a positive control. We infected the Jurkat T‐cell line and primary CD4+ T cells that were either unstimulated or stimulated with either the chemokine CCL19 or phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)/IL‐2 and quantified the expression of both fluorescent proteins by flow cytometry. The study was carried out over a period of two years from September 2016 to October 2018.

Results and Discussion

Expression of both fluorophores was detected following infection of the Jurkat T‐cell line while only low levels of the latent reporter were observed following infection of primary CD4+ T cells. In unstimulated and CCL19‐treated CD4+ T cells, expression of the GFP latent reporter, increased after further activation of the cells with PHA/phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate (PMA).

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrate that the EF1α promoter has poor constitutive expression in resting CD4+ T cells. Therefore, dual‐fluorescent reporter viruses with the EF1α promoter may underestimate the frequency of latent infection in resting CD4+ T cells.
Synchronous Breast Cancer: Phenotypic Similarities on MRI
Authors: Wang Hui , van der Velden Bas H.M. , Chan Hui Shan M. , Loo Claudette E. , Viergever Max A. , Gilhuijs Kenneth G.A.
Published: December 2019

Background

Previous studies have shown discrepancies between index and synchronous breast cancer in histology and molecular phenotype. It is yet unknown whether this observation also applies to the MRI phenotype.

Purpose

To investigate whether the appearance of breast cancer on MRI (i.e. phenotype) is different from that of additional breast cancer (i.e. synchronous cancer), and whether such a difference, if it exists, is associated with prognosis.

Study Type

Retrospective.

Population

In all, 464 consecutive patients with early‐stage ER+/HER2– breast cancer were included; 34/464 (7.3%) had 44 synchronous cancers in total (34 ipsilateral, 10 contralateral).

Sequence

1.5T, contrast‐enhanced T1‐weighted.

Assessment

We assessed imaging phenotype using 50 quantitative features from each cancer and applied principal component analysis (PCA) to identify independent properties. The degree of phenotype difference was assessed. An association between phenotype differences and prognosis in terms of the Nottingham Prognostic Index (NPI) and PREDICT score were analyzed.

Statistical Tests

PCA; Wilcoxon rank sum test; Benjamini–Hochberg to control the false discovery rate.

Results

PCA identified eight components in patients with ipsilateral synchronous cancer. Six out of eight were significantly different between index and synchronous cancer. These components represented features describing texture (three components, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P = 0.004), size (P < 0.001), smoothness (P < 0.001), and kinetics (P = 0.004). Phenotype differences in terms of the six components were split in tertiles. Larger phenotype differences in size, kinetics, and texture were associated with significantly worse prognosis in terms of NPI (P = 0.019, P = 0.045, P = 0.014), but not for the PREDICT score (P = 0.109, P = 0.479, P = 0.109). PCA identified six components in patients with contralateral synchronous cancer. None were significantly different from the index cancer (P = 0.178, P = 0.178, P = 0.178, P = 0.326, P = 0.739, P = 0.423).

Data Conclusion

The MRI phenotype of ER+/HER2– breast cancer was different from that of ipsilateral synchronous cancer and a large phenotype difference was associated with worse prognosis. No significant difference was found for synchronous contralateral cancer.

Level of Evidence: 3

Technical Efficacy: Stage 4

J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2020;51:1858–1867.