bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Friction and Wear of MoO3/Graphene Oxide Modified Glass Fiber Reinforced Epoxy Nanocomposites
Authors: He Yuxin , Chen Qiuyu , Liu Hu , Zhang Li , Wu Dongyang , Lu Chang , OuYang Wei , Jiang Danfeng , Wu Mingfang , Zhang Jiaoxia , Li Yingchun , Fan Jincheng , Liu Chuntai , Guo Zhanhu
Published: June 2019

In order to further improve the tribological performance of glass fiber reinforced epoxy (GF/EP) composites, highly flexible, binder‐free, molybdenum trioxide MoO3 nanobelt/graphene oxide (GO) film (f‐MoO3‐GO) is prepared by a hydrothermal method. Herein, f‐MoO3‐GO is adopted to modify GF/EP composites prepared through the vacuum‐assisted resin transfer molding method. The neat GF/EP and MoO3‐GO modified GF/EP composites are also fabricated for comparison. The tribological performance is performed using a ball‐on‐disc (“steel‐on‐polymer”) configuration under a dry sliding condition. The coefficient of friction is reduced from 0.61 for neat GF/EP composites down to 0.23 for f‐MoO3‐GO modified GF/EP (f‐MoO3‐GO/GF/EP) composites and the anti‐wear performance is improved by more than four times. The worn surface morphological observation for the composite samples is used to explain the possible wear micro‐mechanisms. The wear reducing effect of the f‐MoO3‐GO/GF/EP composites can be assigned to the increased self‐lubricating effect of f‐MoO3‐GO. With the combined advantageous properties of the used individual components, these unique composites can be used for many other applications.
CDC25B and CDC25C overexpression in nonmelanoma skin cancer suppresses cell death
Authors: Al‐Matouq Jenan , Holmes Thomas R. , Hansen Laura A.
Published: June 2019

Non‐melanoma skin cancer frequently results from chronic exposure to ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. UV‐induced DNA damage activates cell cycle arrest checkpoints through degradation of the cyclin‐dependent kinase activators, the cell division cycle 25 (CDC25) phosphatases. We previously reported increased CDC25A in nonmelanoma skin cancer, but CDC25B and CDC25C had not been previously examined. Consequently, we hypothesized that increased expression of CDC25B and CDC25C increases tumor cell proliferation and skin tumor growth. We found that CDC25B and CDC25C were increased in mouse and human skin cancers. CDC25B was primarily cytoplasmic in skin and skin tumors and was significantly increased in the squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), while CDC25C was mostly nuclear in the skin, with an increased cytoplasmic signal in the premalignant and malignant tumors. Surprisingly, forced expression of CDC25B or CDC25C in cultured SCC cells did not affect proliferation, but instead suppressed apoptosis, while CDC25C silencing increased apoptosis without impacting proliferation. Targeting CDC25C to the nucleus via mutation of its nuclear export sequence, however, increased proliferation in SCC cells. Overexpression of CDC25C in the nuclear compartment did not hinder the ability of CDC25C to suppress apoptosis, neither did mutation of sites necessary for its interaction with 14‐3‐3 proteins. Analysis of apoptotic signaling pathways revealed that CDC25C increased activating phosphorylation of Akt on Ser473, increased inhibitory phosphorylation of proapoptotic BAD on Ser136, and increased the survival protein Survivin. Silencing of CDC25C significantly reduced Survivin levels. Taken together, these data suggest that increased expression of CDC25B or CDC25C are mechanisms by which skin cancers evade apoptotic cell death.
Walnut‐Derived Peptide PW5 Ameliorates Cognitive Impairments and Alters Gut Microbiota in APP/PS1 Transgenic Mice
Authors: Wang Min , Amakye William Kwame , Guo Lu , Gong Congcong , Zhao Yuanhui , Yao Maojin , Ren Jiaoyan
Published: June 2019

Scope

Decreasing β‐amyloid (Aβ) accumulation is of significance in finding therapeutic candidates for cognitive impairments in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The aim of this study is to investigate the potency of the active components of walnut protein in decreasing Aβ aggregation and ameliorating cognitive impairments.

Methods and results

Cell model of intracellular Aβ42 aggregation is used to explore the active ingredients in walnut protein hydrolysate (WPH). A bioactive peptide (Pro‐Pro‐Lys‐Asn‐Trp, PW5) with great anti‐Aβ42 aggregation activity identified from the WPH is synthesized for in vitro and in vivo experiments. Using classic APP/PS1 mouse model, it is validated that PW5 exerts its effects on cognitive improvement through reducing Aβ plaques accumulation. Moreover, metabolomic analysis reveals that serum norepinephrine (NE) and isovalerate levels are significantly increased in response to PW5 intervention, with decreased serum levels of acetylcholine (AChe) and valerate, compared with the vehicle‐treated APP/PS1 mice. PW5 feeding also improves gut dysbiosis in APP/PS1 transgenic mice by increasing the relative abundance of Firmicutes and decreasing Proteobacteria and Verrucomicrobia as displayed by 16s rRNA analyses.

Conclusions

These promising results support the utilization of peptide PW5 as an active ingredient in functional foods or potential drug candidate for the prevention and/or treatment of AD.
The quest for a better performing health system: Public expertise and corporate management recipes in France
Authors: Simonet Daniel
Published: June 2019

Though the government pledged to cut the public deficit from 7.7% of the gross domestic product in 2010 to 3% by 2013, thereby responding to EU Normative power, health expenditures continue to rise, because public demands are higher and more social problems are handled in the health care setting. With French budget deficit threatening France's credit rating, novel instruments were needed. These included corporate management recipes (e.g., pay for performance contracts, patient volume targets, and management by objectives), new compensation mechanisms (e.g., activity‐based accounting and a nationwide scale of health care costs) and far‐reaching laws (e.g., the 2009 HPST bill). Our approach investigates some critical elements of the French health care system. We focus on primary (e.g., family physicians and General Practitioners) and secondary (e.g., hospital and specialty) care. We explore how policies such as the standardization of health services, the regrouping of health policy decisions within the larger Regional Health Agencies, affected citizens' engagement and physicians' autonomy. A French welfare elite pursued a hybrid strategy, regulating quasi‐markets of care providers in a postcompetitive government, while creating supportive conditions for a vibrant private hospital sector. Reforms also emphasized evidenced‐based policy, outputs‐rather than outcome‐measurement, and performance evaluation in a bid to streamline the delivery of health services.
Integrative genomic analysis of matched primary and metastatic pediatric osteosarcoma
Authors: Negri Gian Luca , Grande Bruno M , Delaidelli Alberto , El‐Naggar Amal , Cochrane Dawn , Lau Ching C , Triche Timothy J , Moore Richard A , Jones Steven JM , Montpetit Alexandre , Marra Marco A , Malkin David , Morin Ryan D , Sorensen Poul H
Published: June 2019

Despite being the most common childhood bone tumor, the genomic characterization of osteosarcoma remains incomplete. In particular, very few osteosarcoma metastases have been sequenced to date, critical to better understand mechanisms of progression and evolution in this tumor. We performed an integrated whole genome and exome sequencing analysis of paired primary and metastatic pediatric osteosarcoma specimens to identify recurrent genomic alterations. Sequencing of 13 osteosarcoma patients including 13 primary, 10 metastatic, and 3 locally recurring tumors revealed a highly heterogeneous mutational landscape, including cases of hypermutation and microsatellite instability positivity, but with virtually no recurrent alterations except for mutations involving the tumor suppressor genes RB1 and TP53. At the germline level, we detected alterations in multiple cancer related genes in the majority of the cohort, including those potentially disrupting DNA damage response pathways. Metastases retained only a minimal number of short variants from their corresponding primary tumors, while copy number alterations showed higher conservation. One recurrently amplified gene, KDR, was highly expressed in advanced cases and associated with poor prognosis. © 2019 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Potential Role of Direct Oral Anticoagulants in the Management of Heparin‐induced Thrombocytopenia
Authors: Barlow Ashley , Barlow Brooke , Reinaker Travis , Harris Justin
Published: June 2019

Heparin‐induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a rare, potentially life‐threatening condition secondary to unfractionated heparin or low molecular weight heparin exposure. This immune‐mediated drug reaction manifests as thrombocytopenia with a paradoxical hypercoagulable state that can result in life‐threatening thrombosis. It is imperative to ensure cessation of heparin‐based products as soon as HIT is identified. Traditional treatment options include argatroban, bivalirudin, fondaparinux, and danaparoid with a transition to warfarin upon platelet recovery. These anticoagulants are notwithstanding limitations including parenteral administration and routine laboratory monitoring leading to prolonged hospitalizations, emphasizing the need for new therapies. Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have been increasingly investigated for the management of HIT and may overcome the aforementioned challenges of current therapies. The objective of this narrative review is to summarize the current HIT guidelines, discuss limitations to contemporary treatment options, provide insight into the emerging evidence for the DOACs rivaroxaban, apixaban, and dabigatran, and conclude with a clinical summary for their use in this setting. The PubMed, Google Scholar, and MEDLINE databases were searched for peer‐reviewed literature from January 1, 2012, to June 31, 2018. Twenty‐seven articles met inclusion criteria for review: 1 prospective trial, 5 retrospective cohort studies, and 21 case reports totaling 104 patients treated with a DOAC for HIT. The DOACs prevented new and recurrent thrombosis in 98% (n=102) of cases, and bleeding complications occurred in 3% (n=3). While current literature remains limited, it is suggestive of a potential role of DOACs for HIT, which has led to their integration into the 2018 American Society Hematology Guidelines with a conditional recommendation.
Pilot study for the fidelity, acceptability, and effectiveness of a PBIS program plus mental health supports in under‐resourced urban schools
Authors: Eiraldi Ricardo , McCurdy Barry , Schwartz Billie , Wolk Courtney Benjamin , Abraham Manju , Jawad Abbas F. , Nastasi Bonnie K. , Mautone Jennifer A.
Published: June 2019

This paper describes implementation (fidelity, perceived acceptability) and tier 1 and Tier 2 outcomes of school‐wide positive behavior interventions and supports approach including mental health supports at Tier 2 in two K‐8 urban schools. Interventions for Tier 2 consisted of three manualized group cognitive behavioral therapy (GCBT) protocols for externalizing behavior problems, depression, and anxiety. Tier 1 and Tier 2 interventions were implemented with fidelity but program feasibility for Tier 2 was in question because school personnel needed a great deal of external support to implement the interventions. Tier 1 interventions were associated with a decrease in office discipline referrals. Students participating in GCBT showed a significant decrease in mental health diagnostic severity at posttreatment. A discussion of perceived and actual implementation barriers and how they were addressed is provided. Implications for practice in low‐income urban schools are discussed.
Assessing psychosocial risk in pediatric cystic fibrosis
Authors: Filigno Stephanie S. , Miller Jamie , Moore Susan , Peugh James , Weiland Jeanne , Backstrom Jessica , Borschuk Adrienne
Published: June 2019

Background

Psychosocial risk factors are known to impact quality of life, treatment adherence, and health outcomes. No standardized comprehensive psychosocial risk screener is routinely utilized in cystic fibrosis (CF) care. The objectives of the study were to describe the range and severity of psychosocial risk within this CF population, investigate the reliability of a comprehensive psychosocial screener in pediatric CF clinical care, and explore relationships between psychosocial risk and key factors affecting health outcomes. It was hypothesized that the PAT‐CF total and subscale α coefficients would be similar to those found in other pediatric medical populations.

Method

Parents of 154 children with CF completed a CF‐specific version of the Psychosocial Assessment Tool_All‐lit (PAT‐CF), an empirically‐based psychosocial risk assessment, during routine CF clinical care.

Results

The internal consistency of the PAT‐CF Total score was 0.71. Total score and subscale reliabilities reflect findings in other pediatric populations. Total risk scores fell in the following categories: 7% (Clinical‐highest risk), 41% (Targeted), and 52% (Universal‐lowest risk), respectively. Increased psychosocial risk was associated with Medicaid status and lower parent education, whereas having private insurance was associated with decreased psychosocial risk.

Conclusions

The PAT‐CF can feasibly be used as an empirically‐based comprehensive psychosocial risk tool in routine CF care and is acceptable by parents. In addition to providing universal anticipatory guidance regarding child and family wellness, early identification of risk factors allows care teams to proactively provide targeted support and intervention for specific psychosocial risk factors to promote improved quality of life and ability to sustain daily care.
Effect of alcohol on chronic pelvic pain and prostatic inflammation in a mouse model of experimental autoimmune prostatitis
Authors: Zhang Li‐Gang , Chen Jing , Meng Jia‐Lin , Zhang Yong , Liu Yi , Zhan Chang‐Sheng , Chen Xian‐Guo , Zhang Li , Liang Chao‐Zhao
Published: June 2019

Background

Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is a prevalent disease of the urogenital system. Alcohol has been reported to be closely related to CP/CPPS. Thus, we intended to verify the role of alcohol in CP/CPPS and determine the underlying mechanism.

Methods

We induced experimental autoimmune prostatitis (EAP) mouse model by intradermally injecting a mixture of prostate antigens (PAgs) and complete Freund's adjuvant on days 0 and 28. Mice were treated with alcohol (control‐alcohol and EAP‐alcohol groups) or vehicle (control‐vehicle, and EAP‐vehicle groups) from day 32 to 42. Forty‐two days after PAg injection, the pathological appearance of the prostate tissues was evaluated, and histological analyses of the prostate were performed. Chronic pelvic pain was assessed by applying von Frey filaments to the lower abdomen. Proinflammatory cytokines were detected by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay tests. Then, we explored the effects of the NLRP3 inhibitor MCC950 on chronic pelvic pain and prostatic inflammation in this model.

Results

Histological analyses showed diffuse inflammation in the stromal tissues that were characterized by severe infiltration of neutrophils and mononuclear cells in mice in the EAP‐alcohol group compared with EAP‐vehicle group. Chronic pain tests showed that the response frequency was significantly increased using a von Frey filament at forces of 0.4, 1.0, and 4.0 g in EAP‐alcohol group compared with EAP‐vehicle (P < .05). The levels of proinflammatory cytokines, including interferon (IFN)‐γ, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, IL‐17, and IL‐1β were all significantly elevated in EAP‐alcohol group compared with the EAP‐vehicle group (P < .05). However, between the control‐alcohol and control‐vehicle groups, chronic pain tests, histological assays, and cytokine determinations showed no differences. Furthermore, our results demonstrated that MCC950 could decrease the expression level of NLRP3 inflammasome–related proteins including NLRP3, ASC, and caspase‐1. The chronic pain tests, histological assays, and cytokine determinations showed that MCC950 could attenuate the chronic pain and prostatic inflammation through the inhibition of the NLRP3 inflammasome.

Conclusions

This study indicated that alcohol could aggravate the severity of prostatic inflammation in EAP model though activating the NLRP3 inflammasome. Furthermore, the role of MCC950 in inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome and decreasing IL‐1β secretion to alleviate EAP severity may show that it is a promising therapeutic agent for CP/CPPS.
Concentration‐dependent effects of dutasteride on prostate‐specific membrane antigen (PSMA) expression and uptake of 177Lu‐PSMA‐617 in LNCaP cells
Authors: Kranzbühler Benedikt , Salemi Souzan , Umbricht Christoph A. , Deberle Luisa M. , Müller Cristina , Burger Irene A. , Hermanns Thomas , Sulser Tullio , Eberli Daniel
Published: June 2019

Background

Prostate‐specific membrane antigen (PSMA)‐based imaging and therapy are increasingly used in the management of prostate cancer. However, low PSMA surface expression in certain patients is a limitation for PSMA‐based technologies. We have previously shown that high doses of dutasteride, a 5α‐reductase inhibitor generally used for the treatment of benign prostatic enlargement, increase the PSMA expression in vitro. We now further analyzed the concentration‐ and time‐dependent effects of dutasteride in LNCaP cells.

Methods

Androgen receptor (AR) expressing prostate cancer cells (LNCaP) were treated for 7 to 14 days with vehicle control (0.1% dimethyl sulfoxide) or different concentrations of dutasteride (0.25 , 0.5 , 1 , and 5  μM). In addition to cell proliferation, PSMA surface expression was assessed using flow cytometry (FACS) and immunocytochemistry. Total PSMA and AR expression was analyzed by capillary western immunoassay (WES). In addition, tumor cell uptake and internalization assays of 177Lu‐PSMA‐617 were performed.

Results

Dutasteride treatment resulted in a significant upregulation of PSMA surface expression compared to vehicle control after 7 days in all tested concentrations. After 14 days a further, concentration‐dependent increase of PSMA surface expression was detectable. Total PSMA protein expression significantly increased after treatment of cells with high concentrations of dutasteride using 5  μM for 7 or 14 days. However, when lower concentrations were used total PSMA expression was not significantly altered compared to vehicle control. Further testing revealed a dose‐dependent increase in uptake and internalization of 177Lu‐PSMA‐617 after 7 and 14 days. Though, a significantly increased uptake was only observed using a 5  μM dutasteride concentration for 7 days as well as 1  and 5  μM for 14 days.

Conclusion

Our investigations revealed a concentration‐ and time‐dependent effect of dutasteride on PSMA expression and uptake of 177Lu‐PSMA‐617 in LNCaP cells. A short‐term treatment of patients with high doses of dutasteride might increase the detection rate of PSMA‐based imaging and increase the effect of 177Lu‐PSMA‐617 therapy via upregulation of PSMA expression.
Improved CUSUM monitoring of Markov counting process with frequent zeros
Authors: Kim Hanwool , Lee Sangyeol
Published: June 2019

There has been a growing interest in monitoring processes featuring serial dependence and zero inflation. The phenomenon of excessive zeros often occurs in count time series because of the advancement of quality in manufacturing process. In this study, we propose three control charts, such as the cumulative sum chart with delay rule (CUSUM‐DR), conforming run length (CRL)‐CUSUM chart, and combined Shewhart CRL‐CUSUM chart, to enhance the performance of monitoring Markov counting processes with excessive zeros. Numerical experiments are conducted based on integer‐valued autoregressive time series models, for example, zero‐inflated Poisson INAR and INARCH, to evaluate the performance of the proposed charts designed for the detection of mean increase. A real example is also illustrated to demonstrate the usability of our proposed charts.
Investigation into the molecular structure and energetic stability of endohedral and exohedral metallofullerene derivatives of C24
Authors: Haynes Caleb A. , Lopez Serafin , Beran Kyle A.
Published: June 2019

Density‐functional theory was applied to the investigation of the structural and electronic properties of C24 fullerene derivatives. Transition metals (TMs) from groups 11 and 12, in various oxidation and spin‐states, are inserted at either endohedral (TM@C24) or exohedral (TM‐C24) sites and their subsequent energetic stabilities are assessed. With the exception of Ag@C24, all derivatives are predicted to occupy a minimum on the potential energy surface. The optimized exohedral TM‐C24 geometries yield TM‐C bond lengths that are consistent with comparable carbon‐metal bond lengths, and the overwhelming majority of the derivatives result in a slight deformation of the C24 cage as the bonding carbon takes on more sp3 character. All of the TM@C24 equilibrium structures maintain the integrity of the cage structure with a moderate increase in the diameter. All neutral exohedral and endohedral complexes favor the low spin‐state; conversely, all of the charged exohedral complexes prefer the high spin‐state, with the exception of Cu‐C241+ molecular ion. The Group 12 charged endohedral derivatives prefer the low spin‐state, whereas the Group 11 molecular ions do not necessarily exhibit a definitive trend. Analysis of the energetic data predicts that of the lowest energy endohedral molecular species only four are predicted to be energetically favorable in terms of insertion energy and an advantageous HOMO‐LUMO gap: Cu@C242+, Ag@C241+, Au@C243+, and Zn@C242+.
Successful salvage surgery following multimodal therapy in a patient who harboured ALK‐rearranged advanced lung adenocarcinoma with multiple organ metastases
Authors: Horio Yoshitsugu , Mizuno Tetsuya , Sakao Yukinori , Inaba Yoshitaka , Yatabe Yasushi , Hida Toyoaki
Published: June 2019

The prognosis of stage IVb non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with multiple distant metastases or involvement of different extra‐thoracic sites is poor. The prognosis following salvage surgery for patients with more than five metastases has been reported as most unfavourable. The following case is of a 71‐year‐old man with a 9‐year survival duration after being diagnosed with stage IVb ALK‐rearranged lung adenocarcinoma, who was treated for 6 years with whole‐brain radiotherapy, pemetrexed‐based chemotherapy, ALK‐tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) including ceritinib and alectinib, and salvage sublobar resection of the primary lung cancer and who obtained treatment‐free remission (TFR) for more than 3 years following surgery.
Formation of Single Micro‐ and Nanowires with Extreme Aspect Ratios in Microfluidic Channels
Authors: Lenz Mario , Sebastian Bernhard , Dittrich Petra S.
Published: June 2019

Shown here is the site‐specific formation of single extraordinarily long metal–organic micro‐ and nanowires using a microfluidic device made of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS). This approach exploits two concepts, i) the diffusion of organic precursor molecules through PDMS and ii) the use of microfluidic channels as a growth template. To initiate wire formation, metal and organic precursor solutions are filled into different supply channels that are separated by PDMS. As the precursor diffuses through PDMS, and thereby infiltrates the adjacent channel, the growth of micro‐ and nanowires starts at the side walls of this adjacent channel. The formation yields single wires with sizes ranging from several hundreds of micrometers to millimeters at diameters of 0.5–2 µm. The principles of this formation pathway are demonstrated with the reaction of tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) and gold(III) ions that yields Au‐TTF wires. The influence of various reaction parameters including the choice of solvents and the chip fabrication protocol on the reaction are evaluated. Based on these findings, a further microfluidic device design with orthogonally arranged channels is developed, and the formation of single wires in a channel‐defined pattern is demonstrated. Moreover, the possibility of pulsed precursor supply allows for advanced control over the growth of the wires.
Design of Hierarchical Beads for Efficient Label‐Free Cell Capture
Authors: Sun Shiyu , Wang Ruimin , Huang Yida , Xu Jiale , Yao Kuan , Liu Wanshan , Cao Yimei , Qian Kun
Published: June 2019

Defined hierarchical materials promise cell analysis and call for application‐driven design in practical use. The further issue is to develop advanced materials and devices for efficient label‐free cell capture with minimum instrumentation. Herein, the design of hierarchical beads is reported for efficient label‐free cell capture. Silica nanoparticles (size of ≈15 nm) are coated onto silica spheres (size of ≈200 nm) to achieve nanoscale surface roughness, and then the rough silica spheres are combined with microbeads (≈150–1000 µm in diameter) to assemble hierarchical structures. These hierarchical beads are built via electrostatic interaction, covalent bonding, and nanoparticle adherence. Further, after functionalization by hyaluronic acid (HA), the hierarchical beads display desirable surface hydrophilicity, biocompatibility, and chemical/structural stability. Due to the controlled surface topology and chemistry, HA‐functionalized hierarchical beads afford high cell capture efficiency up to 98.7% in a facile label‐free manner. This work guides the development of label‐free cell capture techniques and contributes to the construction of smart interfaces in bio‐systems.
Confined Pyrolysis of ZIF‐8 Polyhedrons Wrapped with Graphene Oxide Nanosheets to Prepare 3D Porous Carbon Heterostructures
Authors: Ding Bing , Fan Zengjie , Lin Qingyang , Wang Jie , Chang Zhi , Li Tao , Henzie Joel , Kim Jeonghun , Dou Hui , Zhang Xiaogang , Yamauchi Yusuke
Published: June 2019

Heterostructured materials are interesting because they may combine two or more material building blocks that together generate new types of heterointerfaces with unusual properties. Using them to construct large‐scale 3D frameworks further extends their utility in electrochemical applications because it exposes more interfaces and active sites. In this study, electrostatic interactions are used to wrap polyhedra particles of zeolitic imidazolate frameworks with graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets to prepare the composite structure. Pyrolyzing this structure generates a 3D porous carbon framework (PCF) composed of polyhedral‐shaped hollow carbon coated with reduced GO. The size of the polyhedral macropores can be adjusted from nanometer scale to micrometer scale. The PCFs generate a continuous network of heterostructured carbon with a large surface area and large pore volumes that are particularly useful as porous electrodes in lithium–sulfur batteries. The PCF/S composite electrode exhibits a high discharge capacity of 1151 mAh g−1 at 1 C and a low capacity decay of 0.035% per cycle after 650 cycles.
Chemical Bath Deposition of Co‐Doped TiO2 Electron Transport Layer for Hysteresis‐Suppressed High‐Efficiency Planar Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Ren Xiaodong , Xie Lin , Kim Won Bin , Lee Dong Geon , Jung Hyun Suk , Liu Shengzhong (Frank)
Published: June 2019

Planar hybrid perovskite solar cells (PSCs) attract great attention due to their obvious advantages of low‐temperature processing with a high power conversion efficiency (PCE) up to 23.32%. Here, Co‐doped TiO2 (Co‐TiO2) deposited by a straightforward low‐temperature chemical bath deposition (CBD) method is explored. Using Co‐TiO2 as an electron transport layer (ETL) for the planar PSCs, the effects of doping on TiO2 morphology, electronic properties, and solar cell performance are investigated. The PCE increases to 19.10% when the Co doping concentration is optimized at 5 mol%, an increase of 17.40% compared with that using the pristine TiO2. Meanwhile, the notorious J–V hysteresis is suppressed to a greater extent. Considering that the low‐temperature CBD is comparable with continuous roll‐to‐roll processing, it makes the process and the Co‐TiO2 ETL potential candidates for low‐cost commercialization.
Recent Advances of Organic Solar Cells with Optical Microcavities
Authors: Wang Yaxi , Shen Ping , Liu Junshi , Xue Yiran , Wang Yufei , Yao Mengnan , Shen Liang
Published: June 2019

In recent decades, organic solar cells (OSCs) have drawn increasing interest due to their unique properties such as low cost, solution‐processing, flexibility, semitransparency, and nontoxicity. Due to some shortcomings of limited optical absorption in organic semiconductors as well as low carrier mobility and short exciton diffusion length, light‐trapping technologies such as surface plasmon resonance, photonic crystals, and microcavities (MCs) have been widely developed to improve device performance. Among these methods, the MC effect is liable to form and has unneglectable influences on the device efficiency. However, few reports systematically summarize the development of MC‐based OSCs. Herein, the principle of the MC effect is introduced first, and subsequently, the application and the development of MCs in single and multi‐junction OSCs are described in detail. Furthermore, in addition to the traditional MCs‐enhanced light absorption, other applications based on the MC structure in OSCs and other photo‐electronic conversion devices are also represented. Finally, the problems that need to be solved and the development directions of MC‐based OSCs in the future are outlined. It is believed that this review can provide new thinking for achieving high‐performance OSCs with optical means.
Mechanical and fracture properties of recycled aggregate concrete in design codes and empirical models
Authors: Ghorbel Elhem , Wardeh George , Fares Hanaa
Published: June 2019

In this paper the relationships between the mechanical and fracture properties of recycled aggregate concretes (RAC) are investigated based on the own research programs results and an extensive number of experimental data from the literature. The primary aim is the extension of design standards empirical models to the case of RAC with particular emphasis on the effect of replacement ratio on mechanical properties, uniaxial stress–strain curve, fracture energy, and stress–strain softening curve's parameters.

It was pointed out that relationships dedicated to assess the mechanical properties of natural aggregate concretes (NAC) are not fully adequate to predict the behavior of RAC. It was established that the elastic modulus Ecm, the tensile splitting strength fctm,sp are related to the mean compressive strength fcm as well as to a parameter taking into account the effect of the recycled aggregates replacement ratio. The validity of many analytical expressions of the stress–strain relationship has been also studied and the effect of replacement ratio was taken into account. The comparison between experimental and analytical stress–strain curves shows that, with the proposed modifications, some models satisfactorily describe the behavior up to failure while others either overestimate or underestimate the postpeak branch. Due to the limited number of available data, no well‐defined relation was found between fracture energy, compressive strength, and formulation parameters.
The impact of chemically enhanced primary treatment on the downstream liquid and solid train processes
Authors: Shewa Wudneh A. , Dong Tianchen , Mu Wenjuan , Murray Kyle , Dagnew Martha
Published: June 2019

The use of chemical coagulants and flocculants to supplement chemically enhanced primary treatment (CEPT) processes is increasing in popularity as it has been demonstrated to improve carbon redirection and suspended solids and phosphorus removal. Dosing 15 mg ferric chloride/L of wastewater and poly aluminum chloride (PACl; 0.5 mg/L) to the influent of a primary clarifier successfully achieved improved carbon redirection and suspended solids removal at a full‐scale WWTP. In this study, the impacts of PACl on the downstream liquid and solid train processes of the same WWTP were investigated. Compared to FeCl3 addition, a combined PACl and FeCl3 addition to the primary influent reduced the TSS and TP concentrations of the secondary clarifier effluent by 20% and 33%, respectively. Effluent BOD5 and ammonia‐nitrogen concentrations of the downstream activated sludge process were not affected by the addition of a combined FeCl3 and PACl in the primary clarifier. PACl addition affects the bioavailability of carbon and hence reduced the methane production efficiency of the primary sludge by 20%–30%. However, the significant amount of carbon concentrated in the CEPT sludge would enhance the amount of energy recovered through incineration.

Practitioner points

The chemically enhanced primary treatment process is an attractive method for carbon redirection and energy recovery.

The combined FeCl3 and PACl addition in the primary clarifier improves the full scale activated sludge process effluent quality.

PACl has a negative effect on methane production.
Multiscale modeling of the neuromuscular system: Coupling neurophysiology and skeletal muscle mechanics
Authors: Röhrle Oliver , Yavuz Utku Ş. , Klotz Thomas , Negro Francesco , Heidlauf Thomas
Published: June 2019

Mathematical models and computer simulations have the great potential to substantially increase our understanding of the biophysical behavior of the neuromuscular system. This, however, requires detailed multiscale, and multiphysics models. Once validated, such models allow systematic in silico investigations that are not necessarily feasible within experiments and, therefore, have the ability to provide valuable insights into the complex interrelations within the healthy system and for pathological conditions. Most of the existing models focus on individual parts of the neuromuscular system and do not consider the neuromuscular system as an integrated physiological system. Hence, the aim of this advanced review is to facilitate the prospective development of detailed biophysical models of the entire neuromuscular system. For this purpose, this review is subdivided into three parts. The first part introduces the key anatomical and physiological aspects of the healthy neuromuscular system necessary for modeling the neuromuscular system. The second part provides an overview on state‐of‐the‐art modeling approaches representing all major components of the neuromuscular system on different time and length scales. Within the last part, a specific multiscale neuromuscular system model is introduced. The integrated system model combines existing models of the motor neuron pool, of the sensory system and of a multiscale model describing the mechanical behavior of skeletal muscles. Since many sub‐models are based on strictly biophysical modeling approaches, it closely represents the underlying physiological system and thus could be employed as starting point for further improvements and future developments.

This article is categorized under:

Physiology > Mammalian Physiology in Health and Disease

Analytical and Computational Methods > Computational Methods

Models of Systems Properties and Processes > Organ, Tissue, and Physiological Models
Momentum-space threshold resummation in tW production at the LHC
Authors: Li Chong Sheng , Li Hai Tao , Shao Ding Yu , Wang Jian
Published: June 2019

Abstract

We calculate the soft-gluon corrections for tW production to all orders. The soft limit is defined in the pair invariant mass or one particle inclusive kinematic schemes. We find that at NLO the contribution of the soft-gluon effect dominates in the total cross section or the differential distributions. After resumming the soft-gluon effect to all orders using the renormalization group equation, we find that the NLO+NNLL results increase the NLO cross sections by 12% ∼ 17% depending on the scheme and the collider energy. Our results are in agreement with the measurements at the 8 and 13 TeV LHC. We also provide predictions for the total cross section at the 14 TeV LHC.
Compliance to Adjuvant Chemotherapy of Patients Who Underwent Surgery for Rectal Cancer: Report from a Multi‐institutional Research Network
Authors: Mari Giulio M. , Maggioni Dario , Crippa Jacopo , Costanzi Andrea T. M. , Scotti Mauro A. , Giardini Vittorio , Garancini Mattia , Cocozza Eugenio , Borroni Giacomo , Benzoni Ilaria , Martinotti Mario , Totaro Luigi , Origi Matteo , Mazzola Michele , Ferrari Giovanni , Achilli Pietro , Ziccarelli Antonio , Martino Antonio , Petri Roberto , Botta Francesca , Bagnardi Vincenzo , Pugliese Giacomo , Forgione Antonello , Pugliese Raffaele ,   the AIMS Academy Clinical Research Network
Published: June 2019

Introduction

Adjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer is associated with improved overall survival. However, recent evidence from randomized trials showed a compliance rate of 43 to 73%, which may affect efficacy. The aim of this multicenter retrospective analysis was to investigate the compliance rate to adjuvant treatment for patients who underwent rectal surgery for cancer.

Methods

Patients who underwent surgery with curative intent for rectal cancer in six Italian colorectal centers between January 2013 and December 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Exclusion criteria were age less than 18 years, palliative or emergency surgery, and stage IV disease. Parameters of interest were patients’ characteristics, preoperative tumor stage, neo‐adjuvant chemoradiation therapy, intra‐operative and postoperative outcomes. Although the participating centers referred to the same treatment guidelines for treatment, the chemotherapy regiment was not standardized across the institutions. Reasons for not starting adjuvant chemotherapy when indicated, interruption, and modification of drug regimen were collected to investigate compliance.

Results

A total of 572 patients were included in the analysis. Two hundred and fifty‐two (44.1%) patients received neo‐adjuvant chemoradiation therapy. All patients underwent high anterior rectal resection, low anterior rectal resection, or Miles’ procedure. Of 399 patients with an indication to adjuvant chemotherapy, 176 (44.1%) completed the treatment as planned. Compliance for patients who started chemotherapy was 56% (95% CI 50.4–61.6%). Sixty‐six patients interrupted the treatment, 76 patients significantly reduced the drug dose, and 41 patients had to switch to other therapeutic regimens.

Conclusions

The present multicenter investigation reports a low compliance rate to adjuvant chemotherapy after rectal resection for cancer. Multidisciplinary teams should focus on future effort to improve compliance for these patients.
Reflection in design education
Authors: Lousberg Louis , Rooij Remon , Jansen Sylvia , van Dooren Elise , Heintz John , van der Zaag Engbert
Published: June 2019

In this article we evaluate the manner in which we at the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment at the Delft University of Technology encourage the development of the capacity of reflection among our undergraduate students. First we explore the concept of reflection in relation to respectively experiential/reflective learning, reflection in/on action, reflection in higher education and reflection in design education. Next we describe our research object, our Bachelor course in Academic Design Reflection. Two research questions are at hand: (1) does the level of reflection increase during our course and (2) Can the operationalisation in our questionnaire of the definitions of reflection derived from theory statistically be confirmed? We measured and processed statistically the level of reflection of 100 students in 3 of their papers on their design. Results show there is a significant slight increase of this level among the three papers. Results also show that our model of classification is not statistically confirmed in the data. We conclude with a discussion on the implications for further research and for design education.
Pharmaceutical company payments to the authors of the Japanese dementia clinical practice guidelines in 2016
Authors: Shimada Yuki , Ozaki Akihiko , Saito Hiroaki , Sawano Toyoaki , Tanimoto Tetsuya
Published: June 2019

Introduction

Financial relationships between pharmaceutical companies and dementia clinical practice guideline (CPG) authors are possibly biasing the recommendations in Japan. This study aimed to reveal characteristics and distribution of pharmaceutical payments made to Japanese dementia CPG authors and an extent of the transparency in the conflicts of interest disclosure among them.

Methods

We retrospectively retrieved the publicly available data on payment to all the authors in the dementia CPGs by major pharmaceutical companies in Japan in 2016.

Results

The total and mean payment values from pharmaceutical companies were $880,061 and $14,427, respectively. Of the 61 authors, 49 (80.3%) physicians received at least one payment. Financial relationships of the individual authors were not disclosed in the CPGs.

Discussion

Pharmaceutical companies with antidementia drugs had strong financial relationships with the CPG authors. To guarantee fairness in their relationships, it is imperative to establish a framework to disclose the corporate financial conflicts of interest.
The Forever Fandom of Harry Potter
Authors: Martens Marianne
Published: June 2019

Harry Potter fans contribute their immaterial and affective labor in multiple arenas: as peer-to-peer marketers via fan sites and social media; as participants in amateur fan festivals; or as activists for social change. Fans' participation in the Harry Potter universe has contributed to its success. This Element examines how fans' labor might continue to support the franchise for future readers. Starting with the context and theoretical frameworks that support a multidimensional analysis of the Harry Potter fan experience, this Element examines tensions between fans and Warner Bros., as fan participation tests the limits of corporate control.
Pretraining and Precredentialing Staff for Disaster: A Lesson Learned From the Experience of the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquakes
Authors: Kato Soichiro , Yamamoto Akihiko , Kawachi Ichiro , Sakamoto Takaaki , Kunugi Chikara , Tarui Takehiko , Yamaguchi Yoshihiro
Published: June 2019

The integration of external staff into a hospital’s disaster response can present technical challenges. Although hospitals will always prefer to use their own staff in disaster response, there have been many historical examples where external staffing is required. During the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquakes, the Oita Prefectural Hospital required medical professionals to expand disaster response staff. They were able to identify 2 appropriate emergency physicians belonging to a remote hospital who had previously worked at the Oita Prefectural hospital. The physicians were effectively able to supplement the hospital staff, providing care for additional patients, and giving the existing on-duty staff some respite. Based on our experience, we suggest that hospital coalitions and disaster response authorities explore mechanisms of cross-credentialing and cross-training staff to make it easier to share staff in a disaster.
Skew product Smale endomorphisms over countable shifts of finite type
Authors: MIHAILESCU EUGEN , URBAŃSKI MARIUSZ
Published: June 2019

We introduce and study skew product Smale endomorphisms over finitely irreducible shifts with countable alphabets. This case is different from the one with finite alphabets and we develop new methods. In the conformal context we prove that almost all conditional measures of equilibrium states of summable Hölder continuous potentials are exact dimensional and their dimension is equal to the ratio of (global) entropy and Lyapunov exponent. We show that the exact dimensionality of conditional measures on fibers implies global exact dimensionality of the original measure. We then study equilibrium states for skew products over expanding Markov–Rényi transformations and settle the question of exact dimensionality of such measures. We apply our results to skew products over the continued fraction transformation. This allows us to extend and improve the Doeblin–Lenstra conjecture on Diophantine approximation coefficients to a larger class of measures and irrational numbers.
Wall-modelled large-eddy simulation of turbulent flow past airfoils
Authors: Gao Wei , Zhang Wei , Cheng Wan , Samtaney Ravi
Published: June 2019

We present large-eddy simulation (LES) of flow past different airfoils with $Re_{c}$, based on the free-stream velocity and airfoil chord length, ranging from $10^{4}$ to $2.1\times 10^{6}$. To avoid the challenging resolution requirements of the near-wall region, we develop a virtual wall model in generalized curvilinear coordinates and incorporate the non-equilibrium effects via proper treatment of the momentum equations. It is demonstrated that the wall model dynamically captures the instantaneous skin-friction vector field on arbitrary curved surfaces at the resolved scale. By combining the present wall model with the stretched-vortex subgrid-scale model, we apply the wall-modelled LES approach to three different airfoil cases, spanning different geometrical parameters, different attack angles and low to high $Re_{c}$. The numerical results are verified with direct numerical simulation (DNS) at low $Re_{c}$, and validated with experiment data at higher $Re_{c}$, including typical aerodynamic properties such as pressure coefficient distributions, velocity components and also more challenging measurements such as skin-friction coefficient and Reynolds stresses. All comparisons show reasonable agreement, providing a measure of validity that enables us to further probe simulation results into aspects of flow physics that are not available from experiments. Two techniques to quantify hitherto unexplored physics of flows past airfoils are employed: one is the construction of the anisotropy invariant map, and the second is skin-friction portraits with emphasis on flow transition and unsteady separation along the airfoil surface. The anisotropy maps for all three $Re_{c}$ cases, show clearly that a portion of the flow field is aligned along the axisymmetric expansion line, corresponding to the turbulent boundary layer log-law behaviour and the appearance of turbulent transition. The instantaneous skin-friction portraits reveal a monotonic shrinking of the near wall structure scale. At $Re_{c}=10^{4}$, the interaction between the primary separation bubble and the secondary separation bubble contributes to turbulent transition, similar to the case of flow past a cylinder. At higher $Re_{c}=10^{5}$, the primary separation breaks into several small separation bubbles. At even higher $Re_{c}=2.1\times 10^{6}$, near the turbulent separation, the skin-friction lines show small-scale reversal flows that are similar to those observed in DNS of the flat plate turbulent separation. A notable feature of turbulent separation in flow past an airfoil is the appearance of turbulence structures and small-scale reversal flows in the spanwise direction due to the vortex shedding behaviour.