bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A multi‐timescale adaptive dual particle filter for state of charge estimation of lithium‐ion batteries considering temperature effect
Authors: Xu Wei , Xu Jinli , Liu Baolei , Liu Jiajun , Yan Xiaofeng
Published: April 2020

Accurate estimation of state of charge (SOC) of lithium‐ion battery is one of the most crucial issues of battery management system. Temperature has a strong impact on the SOC estimation and the parameters of battery model, such as capacity and open circuit voltage. To improve the accuracy and robustness of battery state estimation, this paper tries to make the following three contributions: (a) A second‐order RC battery model is established considering the recovery capacity finding from experimental data for achieving accurate battery dynamic behavior simulation against the dynamic load conditions, especially the current and temperature are both time‐varying condition. (b) A multi‐timescale adaptive dual particle filter is proposed to identify the battery parameters and estimate the battery SOC with online measured data for satisfying the fast‐varying behavior of SOC and slow‐varying behavior of battery parameters. The battery parameters are identified with macrotimescale, while the battery state is estimated with microtimescale. (c) The proposed method is validated through a set of experiments, including the time‐varying temperature condition, which is overlooked by most previous literatures. The experimental results show that the proposed approach can achieve accurate and robust SOC estimation on a wide range of temperatures.
InFish: A Professional Network to Promote Global Conservation and Responsible Use of Inland Fish
Authors: Lynch Abigail J , Bartley Devin M , Beard Thomas Douglas , Bunnell David B , Cooke Steven J , Cowx Ian G , Funge-Smith Simon , Paukert Craig P , Rogers Mark W , Taylor William W
Published: April 2020

Inland fishes and fisheries make substantial contributions to individuals, society, and the environment in a changing global landscape that includes climate, water allocations, and societal changes. However, current limitations to valuing the services provided by inland fish and their fisheries often leaves them out of key decision-making discussions. InFish is a voluntary professional network with over 120 members from over 50 organizations in over 20 countries that seeks to address challenges facing inland fish through novel approaches and international collaborations. InFish fosters opportunities to share knowledge, pursue proposals, publications, and conference-related events focused on inland fisheries. InFish has become a source of inland fisheries expertise, working collectively towards global conservation and sustainable use of inland fish through informing scientifically sound management practices. As such, InFish may serve as a model network for other natural resource challenges now and into the future.
A simple and nondestructive approach for the analysis of soluble solid content in citrus by using portable visible to near‐infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Li Pao , Li Shangke , Du Guorong , Jiang Liwen , Liu Xia , Ding Shenghua , Shan Yang
Published: April 2020

A simple and nondestructive method for the analysis of soluble solid content in citrus was established using portable visible to near‐infrared spectroscopy (Vis/NIRS) in reflectance mode in combination with appropriate chemometric methods. The spectra were obtained directly by the portable Vis/NIRS without destroying samples. Outlier detection was performed by using leave‐one‐out cross‐validation (LOOCV) with the 3σ criterion, and the calibration models were established by partial least squares (PLS) algorithm. Besides, different data pretreatment methods were used to eliminate noise and background interference before calibration, to determine the one that will lead to better model accuracy. However, the correlation coefficients are all <0.62 and the results of all pretreatments are still unsatisfactory. Variable selection methods were discussed for improving the accuracy, and variable adaptive boosting partial least squares (VABPLS) method was used to get higher robustness models. The results show that standard normal variate (SNV) transformation is the best pretreatment method, while VABPLS can significantly simplify the calculation and improve the result even without pretreatment. The correlation coefficient of the best prediction models is 0.82, while the value is 0.48 for the raw data. The high performance shows the feasibility of portable Vis/NIRS technology combination with appropriate chemometric methods for the determination of citrus soluble solid content.
Why physicians are lousy gatekeepers: Sicklisting decisions when patients have private information on symptoms
Authors: Carlsen Benedicte , Lind Jo Thori , Nyborg Karine
Published: April 2020

In social insurance systems that grant workers paid sick leave, physicians act as gatekeepers, supposedly granting sickness certificates to the sick and not to shirkers. Previous research has emphasized the physician's superior ability to judge patients' need of treatment and potential collusion with the patient vis‐á‐vis an insurer. What is less well understood is the role of patients' private information. We explore the case where patients have private information about the presence of nonverifiable symptoms. Anyone can then claim to experience such symptoms, reducing physicians' ability to distinguish between sick patients and shirkers. Doubting a patients' reported symptoms may prevent good medical treatment of the truly sick. We show that for all parameter values, the Bayesian Nash equilibrium is that some physicians trust all claims of nonverifiable symptoms, sicklisting shirkers as well as sick; for many values, every physician is trusting. In particular, if physician strategies are observable by patients, extremely strong gatekeeping preferences are required to make physicians mistrust. To limit unwarranted sicklisting, policies reducing the benefits of shirking for healthy workers may be better suited than attempts to convince physicians to be strict.
Functional Consequences of Metabolic Zonation in Murine Livers: Insights for an Old Story
Authors: Berndt Nikolaus , Kolbe Erik , Gajowski Robert , Eckstein Johannes , Ott Fritzi , Meierhofer David , Holzhütter Hermann‐Georg , Matz‐Soja Madlen
Published: April 2020

Background and Aims

Zone‐dependent differences in expression of metabolic enzymes along the portocentral axis of the acinus are a long‐known feature of liver metabolism. A prominent example is the preferential localization of the enzyme, glutamine synthetase, in pericentral hepatocytes, where it converts potentially toxic ammonia to the valuable amino acid, glutamine. However, with the exception of a few key regulatory enzymes, a comprehensive and quantitative assessment of zonal differences in the abundance of metabolic enzymes and, much more important, an estimation of the associated functional differences between portal and central hepatocytes is missing thus far.

Approach and Results

We addressed this problem by establishing a method for the separation of periportal and pericentral hepatocytes that yields sufficiently pure fractions of both cell populations. Quantitative shotgun proteomics identified hundreds of differentially expressed enzymes in the two cell populations. We used zone‐specific proteomics data for scaling of the maximal activities to generate portal and central instantiations of a comprehensive kinetic model of central hepatic metabolism (Hepatokin1).

Conclusions

The model simulations revealed significant portal‐to‐central differences in almost all metabolic pathways involving carbohydrates, fatty acids, amino acids, and detoxification.
Body size and composition, physical activity and sedentary time in relation to endogenous hormones in premenopausal and postmenopausal women: Findings from the UK Biobank
Authors: Tin Tin Sandar , Reeves Gillian K. , Key Timothy J.
Published: April 2020

Anthropometric and lifestyle factors may influence cancer risks through hormonal changes. We investigated cross‐sectional associations between body size and composition, physical activity and sedentary time and serum concentrations of oestradiol (premenopausal women only), testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and insulin‐like growth factor‐I (IGF‐I) in 20 758 premenopausal and 71 101 postmenopausal women in UK Biobank. In premenopausal women, higher BMI (body mass index) was associated with a lower concentration of total oestradiol (15% difference in the highest vs lowest BMI group) and a higher concentration of calculated free oestradiol (22%). In both premenopausal and postmenopausal women, higher BMI was associated with higher concentrations of total and calculated free testosterone (premenopausal 29% and 113%, postmenopausal 39% and 126%, respectively) and lower concentrations of SHBG and IGF‐I (premenopausal 51% and 14%, postmenopausal 51% and 12%, respectively). Similar associations were observed with waist to height ratio, waist to hip ratio and body or trunk fat mass. Self‐reported physical activity was associated with somewhat lower concentrations of total and calculated free testosterone (premenopausal 10% difference [free testosterone], postmenopausal 5% and 11% difference respectively in the most vs least active group) and a higher concentration of SHBG (premenopausal 11%, postmenopausal 10%), and the opposite was true for self‐reported sedentary time. The associations were slightly stronger with accelerometer‐measured physical activity, but were attenuated after adjustment for BMI. Overall, our study confirms strong associations of hormones and SHBG with anthropometric factors. The associations with physical activity and sedentary time were at most modest.
Risk of melanoma following keratinocyte malignancies
Authors: Robinson Sarah N. , Zens Michael S. , Rees Judy R. , Barton Dorothea T. , Karagas Margaret R.
Published: April 2020

Patients diagnosed with keratinocyte cancer experience heightened risk for melanoma, yet patients who go on to develop this malignancy have not been well‐characterized. We followed a population‐based cohort of 2243 participants with histologically confirmed KC identified from dermatology and pathology practices who did not have a history of internal malignancy (1363 BCC, 880 SCC). A total of 77 participants went on to develop melanoma. Individual‐level data were collected via personal interviews including demographic information and skin cancer risk factors, as well as KC tumor characteristics such as anatomic site and histologic subtype. Using adjusted Cox proportionate hazards models, older patients (age 61 or older vs 60 or younger) were at twofold increased risk for developing melanoma following KC (age 61‐65 HR = 2.5; 95% CI = 1.3‐4.6) (age > 65 HR = 2.0; 95% CI = 1.2‐3.4) and women were at reduced risk compared to men (HR = 0.5; 95% CI = 0.3‐0.8). Among patients with BCC, those with tumors on the trunk/limbs compared to the head/neck were at greater risk for subsequent melanoma (HR = 2.7; 95% CI = 1.3‐5.7). Subsequent risk of melanoma also related to established risk factors including blond/red vs dark hair (HR = 1.9; 95% CI = 1.1‐3.4), tendency to burn rather than tan (HR = 1.7; 95% CI = 1.0‐2.7), ≥1 nevi on their back compared to no nevi (HR = 2.2; 95% CI = 1.2‐3.8) and a history of ≥1 painful childhood sunburns vs none (HR = 2.1; 95% CI = 1.2‐3.6). Thus, in addition to pigmentary traits, ultraviolet radiation (UVR)‐related factors and clinical features of KC such as anatomic site may be useful in identifying patients at increased risk for melanoma after KC.
Parents, friends and immigrant youths' academic engagement: A mediation analysis
Authors: Smith Naila A. , Brown Joshua L. , Tran Tran , Suárez‐Orozco Carola
Published: April 2020

Parents and friends can help facilitate the academic engagement of newcomer immigrant youth during the early post‐migration years. Using an accelerated longitudinal design and the integrative risk and resilience framework, we examined how parent home involvement and friendships were directly and indirectly associated with the development of newcomer immigrant youths' academic engagement. We used data from three waves (Years 3–5) of the Longitudinal Immigrant Student Adaptation study where a culturally diverse group of immigrant youth (N = 354, ages 10–17, MtimeinUS = 3.98 years, SD = 1.39) in the United States reported on their perceptions of parent home involvement (educational values and communication) and friendship (educational values and academic support) in Year 3 and on their academic engagement (behavioural and emotional) across 3 years. Findings showed high‐stable behavioural and emotional engagement and direct positive associations between perceptions of parent home involvement and initial levels of behavioural and emotional engagement and between perceptions of friend educational values and initial levels of emotional engagement. Additionally, perceptions of parents' educational values indirectly contributed to initial levels of emotional engagement through positive associations with perceptions of friends' educational values. These findings can inform family–school partnerships and school‐interventions targeting newcomer immigrant youths' engagement.
Current status and recent trend of irrigation water use in China*
Authors: Han Songjun , Tian Fuqiang , Gao Long
Published: April 2020

China's irrigation water use witnessed a continuously increasing trend from 1949 to 1990, while it has begun to show a decreasing one with fluctuations since then. During 2003–2013, the amount of agricultural water use, of which over 95% is for irrigation, increased to a peak value of 392 × 109 m3. In 2017, it decreased to 377 × 109 m3 and accounted for 62.3% of total water use for the whole of China. It can be concluded that irrigation water use has reached its limit in China. In the northern part of China, the water scarcity situation sets a cap on irrigation water use, which will have further competition from environmental water use. In the southern part of China, the limited amount of irrigable land sets a cap on irrigation water use, which will have further competition from urbanization. Water‐saving policies and high‐efficiency irrigation technologies have been adopted by the Chinese government as the national strategy for sustainable irrigation water use. The challenges of irrigation development faced by China are increasing water productivity to reduce water consumption in north‐west China, reducing groundwater exploitation to restore aquifers in north China, increasing food production to ensure national food security in north‐east China, and promoting water conservation to control pollution in the southern part of China. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Inhibition of voltage‐dependent K+ channels by iloperidone in coronary arterial smooth muscle cells
Authors: An Jin Ryeol , Seo Mi Seon , Jung Hee Seok , Kang Minji , Heo Ryeon , Bae Young Min , Han Eun‐Taek , Yang Se‐Ran , Park Won Sun
Published: April 2020

Iloperidone, a second‐generation atypical antipsychotic drug, is widely used in the treatment of schizophrenia. However, the side‐effects of iloperidone on vascular K+ channels remain to be determined. Therefore, we explored the effect of iloperidone on voltage‐dependent K+ (Kv) channels in rabbit coronary arterial smooth muscle cells using the whole‐cell patch‐clamp technique. Iloperidone inhibited vascular Kv channels in a concentration‐dependent manner with a half‐maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 2.11 ± 0.5 μM and a Hill coefficient of 0.68 ± 0.03. Iloperidone had no effect on the steady‐state inactivation kinetics. However, it shifted the steady‐state activation curve to the right, indicating that iloperidone inhibited Kv channels by influencing the voltage sensors. Application of 20 repetitive depolarizing pulses (1 and 2 Hz) progressively increased the inhibition of the Kv current in the presence of iloperidone. Furthermore, iloperidone increased the recovery time constant from Kv channel inactivation, suggesting that iloperidone‐induced inhibition of Kv channels is use (state)‐dependent. Pretreatment with a Kv1.5 inhibitor (diphenyl phosphine oxide 1 [DPO‐1]) inhibited the Kv current to a level similar to that with iloperidone alone. However, pretreatment with a Kv2.1 or Kv7.X inhibitor (guangxitoxin or linopirdine) did not affect the inhibitory effect of iloperidone on Kv channels. Therefore, iloperidone directly inhibits Kv channels in a concentration‐ and use (state)‐dependent manner independently of its antagonism of serotonin and dopamine receptors. Furthermore, the primary target of iloperidone is the Kv1.5 subtype.
Absorption and emission properties of 5‐phenyl tris(8‐hydroxyquinolinato) M(III) complexes (M = Al, Ga, In) and correlations with molecular electrostatic potential
Authors: Anjali Bai A. , Suresh Cherumuttathu H.
Published: April 2020

Substituent effect for a series of 5‐phenyl tris(8‐hydroxyquinolinato) M(III) complexes (Mq3) of aluminum, gallium, and indium are investigated using density functional theory (DFT) for the ground state properties and the time‐dependent version of DFT (TDDFT) for their absorption and emission properties. A comparison between the ground state energy of mer and fac isomers of all the complexes revealed that the mer configuration is always more stable than fac. The substituent effect is significantly reflected at the fluorescence maximum (λF) values whereas the effect is moderate at the absorption maximum (λabs) values. The molecular electrostatic potential (MESP) at the metal center (VM) and the most electron rich region indicated by MESP minimum (Vmin), located at the oxygen of phenoxide ring exhibit excellent correlations with the λF and Stokes shift (λF−λabs) values. The study suggests the use of Stokes shift as an experimental quantity to measure the excited state substituent effect while the Vmin or VM emerge as theoretical quantities to measure the same.
A respondent‐driven method for mapping small agricultural plots using tablets and high resolution imagery
Authors: Masuda Yuta J. , Fisher Jonathan R.B. , Zhang Wei , Castilla Carolina , Boucher Timothy M. , Blundo‐Canto Genowefa
Published: April 2020

Agricultural statistics on small farms are critical for informing sustainable development policies, but often suffer from selection bias and are time consuming and costly to collect. Less burdensome and reliable methods are needed. We report on a scalable method using a respondent's knowledge about their land, high resolution imagery, and tablet devices to draw spatially explicit plot boundaries. We find the method may work best with respondents that own their plots are farmers, and for smaller plots (<1 hectare). We also find incongruence between survey questions and spatially‐derived data, indicating the importance of incorporating spatial data to verify responses about plot characteristics. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A newborn screening approach to diagnose 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl‐CoA lyase deficiency
Authors: Václavík Jan , Mádrová Lucie , Kouřil Štěpán , de Sousa Julie , Brumarová Radana , Janečková Hana , Jáčová Jaroslava , Friedecký David , Knapková Mária , Kluijtmans Leo A. J. , Grünert Sarah C. , Vaz Frédéric M. , Janzen Nils , Wanders Ronald J. A. , Wevers Ron A. , Adam Tomáš
Published: April 2020

3‐Hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl‐coenzyme A lyase deficiency (HMGCLD) is a rare autosomal recessively inherited metabolic disorder. Patients suffer from avoidable neurologically devastating metabolic decompensations and thus would benefit from newborn screening (NBS). The diagnosis is currently made by measuring dry blood spot acylcarnitines (C5OH and C6DC) followed by urinary organic acid profiling for the differential diagnosis from several other disorders. Using untargeted metabolomics (reversed‐phase UHPLC coupled to an Orbitrap Elite hybrid mass spectrometer) of plasma samples from 5 HMGCLD patients and 19 age‐matched controls, we found 3‐methylglutaconic acid and 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaric acid, together with 3‐hydroxyisovalerylcarnitine as the most discriminating metabolites between the groups. In order to evaluate the NBS potential of these metabolites we quantified the most discriminating metabolites from untargeted metabolomics in 23 blood spots from 4 HMGCLD patients and 55 controls by UHPLC tandem mass spectrometry. The results provide a tool for expanded NBS of HMGCLD using tandem mass spectrometry. Selected reaction monitoring transition 262/85 could be used in a first‐tier NBS analysis to screen for elevated 3‐hydroxyisovalerylcarnitine. In a positive case, a second‐tier analysis of 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaric acid and 3‐methylglutaconic acid in a dry blood spot using UHPLC tandem mass spectrometry instruments confirms the diagnosis. In conclusion, we describe the identification of new diagnostic biomarkers for HMGCLD and their application in NBS in dry blood spots. By using second‐tier testing, all patients with HMGCLD were unequivocally and correctly diagnosed.
NADPH oxidases in bone and cartilage homeostasis and disease: A promising therapeutic target
Authors: Wegner Adam M. , Haudenschild Dominik R.
Published: April 2020

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by the NADPH oxidase (Nox) enzymes are important short‐range signaling molecules. They have been extensively studied in the physiology and pathophysiology of the cardiovascular system, where they have important roles in vascular inflammation, angiogenesis, hypertension, cardiac injury, stroke, and aging. Increasing evidence demonstrates that ROS and Nox enzymes also affect bone homeostasis and osteoporosis, and more recent studies implicate ROS and Nox enzymes in both inflammatory arthritis and osteoarthritis. Mechanistically, this connection may be through the effects of ROS on signal transduction. ROS affect both transforming growth factor‐β/Smad signaling, interleukin‐1β/nuclear factor‐kappa B signaling, and the resulting changes in matrix metalloproteinase expression. The purpose of this review is to describe the role of Nox enzymes in the physiology and pathobiology of bone and joints and to highlight the potential of therapeutically targeting the Nox enzymes.
Well‐Being Therapy as Rehabilitation Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Radstaak Mirjam , Hüning Laura , Bohlmeijer Ernst T.
Published: April 2020

Many individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) continue to have substantial residual symptoms after completing psychological treatment. Well‐being therapy (WBT) has been developed to treat the residual phase of mental disorders, prevent relapse, and promote a full recovery. The present study aimed to compare treatment as usual (TAU) with the long‐term effects of WBT as a rehabilitation therapy in adults who successfully completed psychological treatment for PTSD. Participants who did not meet PTSD diagnostic criteria after completing treatment were randomized to WBT (n = 29) or TAU (n = 35) groups. Assessments of well‐being, residual PTSD symptoms, and posttraumatic growth were conducted at baseline (T0) and again after 3 months (T1), 6 months (T2), and 1 year (T3). The results of the multilevel analysis revealed that WBT was not more effective than TAU in increasing levels of well‐being, γ = 0.02 (SE = 0.11) or posttraumatic growth, γ = 0.10 (SE = 0.13) nor in decreasing PTSD symptoms, γ = −0.04 (SE = 0.05). However, for participants with low levels of well‐being at baseline (Mental Health Continuum‐Short Form score < 2.6), WBT was more effective than TAU in increasing ratings of well‐being, γ = −0.41 (SE = 0.19) and posttraumatic growth, γ = −0.55 (SE = 0.24); this effect was most evident at T3 for posttraumatic growth, d = 1.23. Future research should assess clinically relevant individual characteristics that to optimize the effectiveness and utility of WBT.
Land Cover Switching in Autumn by Female Mallards in Ohio
Authors: Shirkey Brendan T. , Palumbo Matthew D. , Simpson John W.
Published: April 2020

Autumn waterfowl habitat management often focuses on providing high energy food resources to attract and concentrate waterfowl for harvest. Similarly, many waterfowl conservation plans assume food resources are the primary, controllable limiting factor influencing waterfowl distribution during migration; however, hunting‐related disturbance also influences waterfowl distribution in autumn. We investigated factors influencing mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) movements in an intensively hunted and food‐rich landscape in Ohio, USA, during autumn of 2015 and 2016. We used locations from female mallards equipped with global positioning system (GPS) back‐pack‐transmitters to determine the probability of mallards switching land cover types based on seasonal and daily patterns of hunting disturbance and to determine the distances mallards moved between cover types that offer refuge and those that offer food resources as evidence for or against food resource depletion during the hunting season. Mallards switched cover types to exploit food‐rich but intensively hunted locations nocturnally and cover type switching during times subject to disturbance increased significantly from the early segment to the late segment of hunting season. Distances mallards moved between refuge cover types and food‐rich cover types did not change over the duration of the study. Hunting disturbance is a key variable influencing autumn movements and distribution of mallards, and mallards in a food‐rich and intensively hunted landscape likely employ nocturnal foraging as a strategy to survive autumn migration. Nocturnal foraging behavior has consequences for waterfowl managers tasked with providing quality waterfowl hunting opportunities because ducks that forage only at night are largely unavailable to hunters. © 2020 The Wildlife Society.
Auricular avulsion injuries and reattachment techniques: A systematic review
Authors: Gailey Andrew D. , Farquhar Douglas , Clark Joseph Madison , Shockley William W.
Published: April 2020

Objective(s)

Multiple surgical techniques exist in the acute management of auricular avulsion injuries, including reattachment of the tissue as a composite graft, reconstruction using local skin flaps, the pocket principle, the Baudet method, and microvascular repair. This review aimed to compare the success rates of reattachment methods in auricular avulsion injuries.

Methods

A PubMed search systematically identified cases in which (a) an auricular avulsion injury occurred and (b) reattachment was attempted. Search results were combined with an extensive review of references from published studies. In total, 148 cases were identified. Three reviewers independently graded the final aesthetic result of each case using a 5‐point scale. The average grade of each repair was compared to the reattachment method to identify successful techniques.

Results

Microvascular repair was associated with a statistically significant higher success rate compared to all other reattachment methods. Composite graft reattachment also tended to generate better final aesthetic outcomes, but this difference was not statistically significant.

Conclusion

Microvascular repair of the avulsed segment consistently demonstrated higher success rates. Composite graft reattachment should also be considered under the right circumstances. Overall, microvascular repair and composite graft reattachment should be considered the best options in cases of auricular avulsion repair. The authors share a major concern that other methods that rely on the use of periauricular skin will compromise any future attempts for secondary reconstruction, such as staged procedures using costal cartilage grafts. Manipulation of these tissues and in particular burying of the avulsed ear cartilage is discouraged.

Level of Evidence

4
Thio‐Bromo “Click” Reaction Derived Polymer–Peptide Conjugates for Their Self‐Assembled Fibrillar Nanostructures
Authors: Kumar Sonu , Hause Gerd , Binder Wolfgang H.
Published: April 2020

The synthesis and self‐assembly of peptide–polymer conjugates into fibrillar nanostructures are reported, based on the amyloidogenic peptide KLVFF. A strategy for rational synthesis of polymer–peptide conjugates is documented via tethering of the amyloidogenic peptide segment LVFF (Aβ17‐20) and its modified derivative FFFF to the hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether (mPEG) polymer via thio‐bromo based “click” chemistry. The resultant conjugates mPEG‐LVFF‐OMe and mPEG‐FFFF‐OMe are purified via preparative gel permeation chromatography technique (with a yield of 61% and 64%, respectively), and are successfully characterized via combination of spectroscopic and chromatographic methods, including electrospray ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry. The peptide‐guided self‐assembling behavior of the as‐constructed amphiphilic supramolecular materials is further investigated via transmission electron microscopic and circular dichroism spectroscopic analysis, exhibiting fibrillar nanostructure formation in binary aqueous solution mixture.
Synthesis and Characterization of Wide‐Bandgap Conjugated Polymers Consisting of Same Electron Donor and Different Electron‐Deficient Units and Their Application for Nonfullerene Polymer Solar Cells
Authors: Keshtov Mukhamed L. , Kuklin Serge A. , Konstantinov Igor O. , Khokhlov Alexei R. , Dou Chuandong , Sharma Ganesh D.
Published: April 2020

Substantial development has been made in nonfullerene small molecule acceptors (NFSMAs) that has resulted in a significant increase in the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of nonfullerene‐based polymer solar cells (PSCs). In order to achieve better compatibility with narrow‐bandgap nonfullerene small molecule acceptors, it is important to design the conjugated polymers with a wide bandgap that has suitable molecular orbital energy levels. Here two donor–acceptor (D–A)‐conjugated copolymers are designed and synthesized with the same thienyl‐substituted benzodithiophene and different acceptors, i.e., poly{(4,8‐bis(5‐(2‐ethylhexyl)thiophen‐2‐yl)benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dithiophene‐2,6‐diyl)‐alt‐(1,3‐bis(2‐octyldodecyl)‐1,3‐dihydro‐2H‐dithieno[3′,2′:3,4;2″,3″:5,6]benzo[1,2‐d]imidazol‐2‐one‐5,8‐diyl)} (DTBIA, P1) and poly{(4,8‐bis(5‐(2‐ethylhexyl)thiophen‐2‐yl)benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dithiophene‐2,6‐diyl)‐alt‐(2‐(5‐(3‐octyltridecyl)thiophen‐2‐yl)dithieno[3′,2′:3,4;2″,3″:5,6]benzo[1,2‐d]thiazole‐5,8‐diyl)} (TDTBTA, P2) (and their optical and electrochemical properties are investigated). Both P1 and P2 exhibit similar deeper highest occupied molecular orbital energy level and different lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy level. Both the copolymers have complementary absorption with a well‐known nonfullerene acceptor ITIC‐F. When blended with a narrow‐bandgap acceptor ITIC‐F, the PSCs based on P1 show a power conversion efficiency of 11.18% with a large open‐circuit voltage of 0.96 V, a Jsc of 16.89 mA cm−2, and a fill factor (FF) of 0.69, which is larger than that for P2 counterpart (PCE = 9.32%, Jsc = 15.88 mA cm−2, Voc = 0.91 V, and FF = 0.645). Moreover, the energy losses for the PSCs based on P1 and P2 are 0.54 and 0.59 eV, respectively. Compared to P2, the P1‐based PSCs show high values of incident photon to current conversion efficiency (IPCE) in the shorter‐wavelength region (absorption of donor copolymer), more balanced hole and electron mobilities, and favorable phase separation with compact π–π stacking distance.
Highly Stretchable, Fast Self‐Healing, Responsive Conductive Hydrogels for Supercapacitor Electrode and Motion Sensor
Authors: Wei Duanli , Wang Haonan , Zhu Jiaqing , Luo Licheng , Huang Huabo , Li Liang , Yu Xianghua
Published: April 2020

Conductive hydrogels as potential soft materials have attracted tremendous attention in wearable electronic devices. Nonetheless, manufacturing intelligent materials that integrate mouldability, stretchability, responsive ability, fast self‐healing ability, as well as mechanical and electrochemical properties is still a challenge. Here, multifunctional conductive hydrogels composed of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and polypyrrole (PPy) nanotube are prepared using borax as cross‐linker. The existence of multicomplexation, entangled PVA chains, and interconnected PPy nanotubes, as well as extensive hydrogen bonding results in the fabrication of hierarchical network of PVA‐PPy hydrogels. PVA‐PPy hydrogels exhibit high stretchability (more than 1000%), multiresponsiveness, low density (0.95 g cm−3), high water content (96%), and 15 s self‐healing features. Furthermore, the self‐healing supercapacitor electrode and motion sensor based on PVA‐PPy hydrogels demonstrate ideal performances. This facile strategy in this work would be promising to construct an excellent multifunctional soft material for various flexible electrode and biosensor.
Ultrafast photoexcitation dynamics of ZnTe crystals by femtosecond optical pump‐probe and terahertz emission spectroscopy
Authors: Liu Jianrui , Chen Xinzhong , Yao Ziheng , Wu Xincheng , Liu Mengkun , Balakin Alexey V. , Shkurinov Alexander P. , You Guanjun , Zhu Yiming
Published: April 2020

In this work we perform ultrafast optical pump‐optical probe (OPOP) and optical pump terahertz (THz) emission (OPTE) studies on the ultrafast excitation dynamics in <110> ZnTe crystals. Ultrafast two‐photon absorption and coherent phonon are revealed in OPOP measurements. Pump‐power‐ and polarization‐dependent phonon dynamics are characterized in time‐resolved transmission, reflection, and Kerr rotation using OPOP. The phonon polariton‐induced THz emission is directly observed in the time domain of OPTE dynamics. It is clear that the transverse optical phonon at ~3.7 THz and phonon polariton at ~2.6 THz are evident in OPOP measurement while OPTE only reveals part of the polariton dynamics.
Technical Note: A deuterated 13C‐urea reference for clinical multiparametric MRI prostate cancer studies including hyperpolarized pyruvate
Authors: Harlan Collin J. , Xu Zhan , Michel Keith A. , Walker Christopher M. , Lokugama Sanjaya D. , Martinez Gary V. , Pagel Mark D. , Bankson James A.
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Metabolic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using hyperpolarized [1‐13C]‐pyruvate offers unprecedented new insight into disease and response to therapy. 13C‐enriched reference standards are required to enable fast and accurate calibration for 13C studies, but care must be taken to ensure that the reference is compatible with both 13C and 1H acquisitions. The goal of this study was to optimize the composition of a 13C‐urea reference for a dual‐tuned 13C/1H endorectal coil and minimize imaging artifacts in metabolic and multiparametric MRI studies involving hyperpolarized [1‐13C]‐pyruvate.

Methods

Due to a high amount of Gd doping for the purpose of reducing the spin‐lattice relaxation time (T1) of urea, the 1H signal produced by a reference of 13C‐urea in normal water was rapidly relaxed, resulting in severe artifacts in heavily T1‐weighted images. Hyperintense ringing artifacts in 1H images were mitigated by reducing the 1H concentration in a 13C‐urea reference via deuteration and lyophilization. Several references were fabricated and their SNR was compared using 1H and 13C imaging sequences on a 3T MRI scanner. Finally, 1H prostate phantom imaging was conducted to compare image quality and 1H signal intensity of normal and deuterated urea references.

Results

The deuterated 13C‐urea reference provides strong 13C signal for calibration and an attenuated 1H signal that does not interfere with heavily T1‐weighted scans. Deuteration and lyophilization were fundamental to the reduction in 1H signal and hyperintense ringing artifacts. There was a 25‐fold reduction in signal intensity when comparing the nondeuterated reference to the deuterated reference, while the 13C signal was unaffected.

Conclusion

A deuterated reference reduced hyperintense ringing artifacts in 1H images by reducing the 1H signal produced from the 13C‐urea in the reference. The deuterated reference can be used to improve anatomical image quality in future clinical 1H and hyperpolarized [1‐13C]‐pyruvate MRI prostate imaging studies.
Impact scar frequency, bone density and marrow utility: An experimental study
Authors: Byers David A. , Keith Jonathan P. , Breslawski Ryan P.
Published: April 2020

This paper presents an experiment designed to evaluate the relationships between impact scar, bone density and the marrow utility of various appendicular elements. Several North American bison assemblages show positive correlations between impact scar frequencies and by‐element marrow utilities. However, this pattern may represent an equifinal relationship between bone density, nutritional utility and processing effort. In our experiment, we test the hypothesis that this pattern is a function of bone density; elements documenting higher frequencies of impacts will be more robust and require more effort to open, without regard for nutritional utility. To do so, we build a device designed to impact and open bison long bones in a controlled manner by dropping a large steel ball onto bison limb bones. Our experiment recorded both the numbers of impacts needed to open the marrow cavities and the associated marrow weights of 274 bison limb elements. Our results indicate that the lowest utility elements require the most effort to open and the high‐utility elements the least. These results suggest that impact frequencies may be read as signalling nutritionally motivated processing efforts.
Higher Urinary Dopamine Concentration is Associated with Greater Ad Libitum Energy Intake in Humans
Authors: Basolo Alessio , Ando Takafumi , Hollstein Tim , Votruba Susanne B. , Krakoff Jonathan , Piaggi Paolo
Published: April 2020

Objective

This study aimed to assess the relationship between dopamine, a neurotransmitter involved in feeding behavior, and ad libitum energy intake in humans.

Methods

Healthy individuals (n = 158; 72 Native American, 50 white, 18 black, and 18 Hispanic participants; BMI: 33 [SD 9] kg/m2; body fat: 33% [SD 9%]) were admitted for two inpatient studies investigating the determinants of ad libitum energy intake and assessed for 3 days using a highly reproducible, computerized vending machine paradigm. Urine was collected for 24 hours during eucaloric conditions prior to the ad libitum feeding period, and urinary dopamine excretion rate was quantified by high‐performance liquid chromatography.

Results

Urinary dopamine excretion rate was on average 346 ± 106 μg over 24 hours and was positively correlated with BMI (r = 0.28, P < 0.0001). Higher dopamine concentrations were associated with lower cognitive restraint (ρ = −0.25, P = 0.005) and greater total ad libitum energy intake (r = 0.29, P = 0.0002). However, after adjustment for anthropometrics, in black and white cohorts, higher dopamine concentrations were associated with greater total ad libitum energy intake (r = 0.70, P = 0.001 and r = 0.33, P = 0.02, respectively), whereas no associations were observed in Native American or Hispanic cohorts (all P > 0.3).

Conclusions

Higher urinary dopamine concentrations are associated with greater ad libitum energy intake, indicating a role for dopamine in the reward pathway regulating human feeding behavior.
Polymerization Effects on the Decomposition of a Pyrazolo‐Triazine at high Temperatures and Pressures
Authors: Li Yaojiang , Wu Junying , Yang Lijun , Geng Deshen , Sultan Manzoor , Chen Lang
Published: April 2020

4‐amino‐3‐aminopyrazole‐8‐trinitropyrazolo‐[5, 1‐c] [1, 2, 4]triazine (PTX, C5H2N8O6) has good detonation performance, thermal stability and low mechanical sensitivity, which endow it with good development prospects in insensitive ammunition applications. To study the effects of polymerization on the decomposition of PTX, the reaction processes of PTX at different conditions were simulated by quantum chemistry and molecular dynamics methods. In this paper, the effects of polymerization on the decomposition of PTX were studied in terms of species information, reaction path of PTX, bond formation and bond cleavage, evolution of small molecules and clusters, and kinetic parameters at different stages. The results show that under the high‐temperature and high‐pressure conditions, the initial reaction path of unimolecular PTX in the thermal decomposition is mainly the cleavage of C−NO2 bonds. At the same time, there are many polymerization reactions in thermal decomposition process, which may greatly affect the reaction rate and path. The higher the degree of polymerization, the larger equilibrium value of potential energy, the less energy release of thermal decomposition. Compared with the activation energy of other explosives, the activation energy of PTX is higher than that of β‐HMX and lower than that of TNT.
Treatment‐related calvarial lesions in pediatric brain tumor survivors
Authors: Wallace David , Taylor Douglas R. , Pan Haitao , Hwang Scott , Lucas John T. , Klimo Paul , Upadhyaya Santhosh A. , Boop Frederick A.
Published: April 2020

Background

Despite improved survival, many pediatric brain tumor survivors receiving radiation therapy (RT) experience late effects.

Procedure

To study calvarial lesions in this population, we retrospectively reviewed records of patients undergoing neurosurgical evaluation for calvarial bone lesions detected in posttreatment follow‐up imaging at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Primary tumor diagnosis, treatment, imaging, surgical intervention, and histopathology from patients with radiographic evidence of lesions followed for ≥2 years post‐RT were studied.

Results

For 17 patients with 18 index lesions, median time to lesion manifestation was 2.34 years. Medulloblastoma patients developed lesions at a shorter interval from RT than ependymoma patients (P = .05). Twelve of 14 lesions requiring surgery were benign fibro‐osseous or sclerotic. Two malignant lesions distinct from the primary tumor had genetic predisposition to malignancy.

Conclusion

Most calvarial lesions arising post‐RT are benign and fibro‐osseous. Serial imaging is recommended, and high index of suspicion for malignant lesions is warranted for patients genetically predisposed to cancer.
A phase 2 study of valproic acid and radiation, followed by maintenance valproic acid and bevacizumab in children with newly diagnosed diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma or high‐grade glioma
Authors: Su Jack Meng‐Fen , Murray Jeffrey C. , McNall‐Knapp Rene Y. , Bowers Daniel C. , Shah Shafqat , Adesina Adekunle M. , Paulino Arnold C. , Jo Eunji , Mo Qianxing , Baxter Patricia A. , Blaney Susan M.
Published: April 2020

Purpose

To study the efficacy and tolerability of valproic acid (VPA) and radiation, followed by VPA and bevacizumab in children with newly diagnosed diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) or high‐grade glioma (HGG).

Methods

Children 3 to 21 years of age received radiation therapy and VPA at 15 mg/kg/day and dose adjusted to maintain a trough range of 85 to 115 μg/mL. VPA was continued post‐radiation, and bevacizumab was started at 10 mg/kg intravenously biweekly, four weeks after completing radiation therapy.

Results

From September 2009 through August 2015, 20 DIPG and 18 HGG patients were enrolled (NCT00879437). During radiation and VPA, grade 3 or higher toxicities requiring discontinuation or modification of VPA dosing included grade 3 thrombocytopenia (1), grade 3 weight gain (1), and grade 3 pancreatitis (1). During VPA and bevacizumab, the most common grade 3 or higher toxicities were grade 3 neutropenia (3), grade 3 thrombocytopenia (3), grade 3 fatigue (3), and grade 3 hypertension (4). Two patients discontinued protocol therapy prior to disease progression (one grade 4 thrombosis and one grade 1 intratumoral hemorrhage). Median event‐free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) for DIPG were 7.8 (95% CI 5.6‐8.2) and 10.3 (7.4‐13.4) months, and estimated one‐year EFS was 12% (2%‐31%). Median EFS and OS for HGG were 9.1 (6.4‐11) and 12.1 (10‐22.1) months, and estimated one‐year EFS was 24% (7%‐45%). Four patients with glioblastoma and mismatch‐repair deficiency syndrome had EFS of 28.5, 16.7, 10.4, and 9 months.

Conclusion

Addition of VPA and bevacizumab to radiation was well tolerated but did not appear to improve EFS or OS in children with DIPG or HGG.
Facile synthesis and characterization of nanocellulose from Zea mays husk
Authors: Onkarappa H. S. , Prakash G. K. , Pujar G. H. , Rajith Kumar C. R. , V Radha , Betageri Virupaxappa S.
Published: April 2020

In present work, agricultural residue Zea mays husk has been converted into cellulose using alkali and bleaching treatment. Further, the cellulose has been converted to nanocellulose through the acid hydrolysis method followed by ultrasonication. The Crystallinity and functional group analysis was studied using X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), respectively. The surface morphological investigation of prepared Zea mays husk nanocellulose was carried out using scanning electron microscope (SEM) transmission electron microscope (TEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The thermal stability was investigated using thermogravimetric and derivative thermal analysis (TGA/DTA). The obtained results revealed semi‐crystallinity nature, good thermal stability, and fibrous nanocellulose nature with agglomeration.
Elastomer modified phenolic resin‐based composites with reduced scale friction: Influence of calcined petroleum coke on tribological and thermo‐mechanical behavior
Authors: Ghosh Prosenjit , Banerjee Shib Shankar , Khastgir Dipak
Published: April 2020

The present investigation deals with the effect of the concentration of calcined petroleum coke (CPC) on the dry sliding wear characteristics of elastomer modified phenolic resin‐based friction composites. Other ingredients common in brake formulations like fiber, filler, and solid lubricant were excluded in the present formulations to understand the exclusive effect of the CPC concentration on the frictional, mechanical, and thermal properties of these composites. The composites were fabricated by hot mixing followed by compression molding, and subsequent post‐curing. The coefficient of friction (COF) and the specific wear rate of these composites sliding against a cast‐iron disc were measured and analyzed. The change in surface topography of these composites before and after sliding operation was investigated by scanning electron microscopy. An effort was made to correlate the surface morphology of these composites before and after sliding with friction and wear behavior. The investigation reveals that CPC inclusion improved the anti‐wear behavior as it formed a uniform transfer layer over the rubbing surfaces. In case of optimum CPC loaded (200 phr) composite, the average COF and thermal conductivity values were found to be 0.15 and 0.61 W/m‐K, respectively, as compared to 0.12 and 0.25 W/m‐K for the base composite (without any CPC).