bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characteristics of retracted articles based on retraction data from online sources through February 2019
Authors: Vuong Quan-Hoang , La Viet-Phuong , Ho Manh-Tung , Vuong Thu-Trang , Ho Manh-Toan
Published: February 2020

Purpose: Although retractions are commonly considered to be negative, the fact remains that they play a positive role in the academic community. For instance, retractions help scientific enterprise perform its self-correcting function and provide lessons for future researchers; furthermore, they represent the fulfillment of social responsibilities, and they enable scientific communities to offer better monitoring services to keep problematic studies in check. This study aims to provide a thorough overview of the practice of retraction in scientific publishing from the first incident to the present.Methods: We built a database using SQL Server 2016 and homemade artificial intelligence tools to extract and classify data sources including RetractionWatch, official publishers’ archives, and online communities into ready-to-analyze groups and to scan them for new data. After data cleaning, a dataset of 18,603 retractions from 1,753 (when the first retracted paper was published) to February 2019, covering 127 research fields, was established.Results: Notable retraction events include the rise in retracted articles starting in 1999 and the unusual number of retractions in 2010. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Elsevier, and Springer account for nearly 60% of all retracted papers globally, with Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers contributing the most retractions, even though it is not the organization that publishes the most journals. Finally, reasons for retraction are diverse but the most common is “fake peer review”.Conclusion: This study suggests that the frequency of retraction has boomed in the past 20 years, and it underscores the importance of understanding and learning from the practice of retracting scientific articles.
Bibliographic and content analysis of articles on education from Vietnam indexed in Scopus from 2009 to 2018
Authors: Nguyen Cuong Huu , Nguyen Loc Thi My , Tran Trung , Nguyen Tien-Trung
Published: February 2020

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the bibliographic characteristics and content of articles on education published in Scopus-indexed journals by authors with Vietnamese affiliations from 2009 to 2018.Methods: Scopus was searched on July 6, 2019 using the search option “affiliation country,” with “Vietnam OR Viet Nam” as the country name, and “subject area” as “social sciences AND education.”Results: A total of 193 articles were identified. They were classified by publication year, co-authors’ country, affiliation, subarea, journal, and author. Content analysis of these articles demonstrated that the number of publications on education from Vietnam in Scopus increased rapidly during the last 10 years. The top five countries of co-authors were Australia, the USA, New Zealand, the UK, and the Netherlands. The main research subfields were English-language teaching, pedagogy, and educational management.Conclusion: Although Vietnamese education researchers collaborated with colleagues in developed countries to publish papers, there was still a lack of articles discussing global trends in education, such as cross-border education, equity in education, and international assessment programs.
Búsqueda y recuperación de información: ¡el usuario importa!
Authors: Cruz María del Carmen
Published: February 2020

Desde la irrupción de las nuevas tecnologías en nuestras vidas, todas las personas utilizamos sistemas para la búsqueda y recuperación de la información. Esto nos hace formar parte de un proceso en que nuestra opinión, como usuarios, tiene un gran valor.
The hippocampus encodes delay and value information during delay-discounting decision making
Authors: Masuda Akira , Sano Chie , Zhang Qi , Goto Hiromichi , McHugh Thomas J , Fujisawa Shigeyoshi , Itohara Shigeyoshi
Published: February 2020

The hippocampus, a region critical for memory and spatial navigation, has been implicated in delay discounting, the decline in subjective reward value when a delay is imposed. However, how delay information is encoded in the hippocampus is poorly understood. Here, we recorded from CA1 of mice performing a delay-discounting decision-making task, where delay lengths, delay positions, and reward amounts were changed across sessions, and identified subpopulations of CA1 neurons that increased or decreased their firing rate during long delays. The activity of both delay-active and -suppressed cells reflected delay length, delay position, and reward amount; but manipulating reward amount differentially impacted the two populations, suggesting distinct roles in the valuation process. Further, genetic deletion of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor in hippocampal pyramidal cells impaired delay-discount behavior and diminished delay-dependent activity in CA1. Our results suggest that distinct subclasses of hippocampal neurons concertedly support delay-discounting decisions in a manner that is dependent on NMDA receptor function.
Photographs of the Soviet Settlements on Svalbard
Authors: Haugdal Elin
Published: February 2020

Photographic recordings from the 1950s–1970s give us glimpses into the Soviet settlements on Svalbard during the Cold War period. The majority of these pictures have been taken by Norwegians during friendly exchanges with the inhabitants in Barentsburg and Pyramiden, and demonstrate how important culture and sport were as a contact zone. These pictures also testify that the Soviets invested more seriously in their welfare, culture, education and family life on Svalbard than the Norwegians did. Photography seems to be a way of seeing, meeting and understanding others, and a way of confirming the existence of a common world on Svalbard. However, the Soviet Consul’s strict control of photographing practices may be seen as part of a propagandizing regime, in line with the Soviet imagery which spread even to this remote Arctic place. Owing to the cultural museums’ digitizing projects and to private sharing on social media, photographs from this period have become increasingly available, but without rules or guiding principles as to how to put them together and interpret them. Thus, to the contemporary viewer these images offer the possibility to make visual montages, and to reveal the singular image’s meanings well beyond both the Soviet authorities’ and the photographer's control. This article, while making such a montage, discusses how photography might shape and change our historical understanding of people and places.
Velferdsteknologi – fremtidens helsevesen med eller uten omsorg?
Authors: Hauvik Stine , Vatne Solfrid
Published: February 2020

Welfare technology - healthcare in the future with or without care?

In the future, it will be a challenge to maintain today’s quality of care. Welfare technology may be a solution to reduce the expected care crisis. The public healthcare system is influenced by New Public Management ideals as” what can we afford? rather than “what are the patients` need”. Questions concerning patients’ rights and healthcare providers’ moral obligation seem to be less important. In the discussion Martinsen criticizes that caring has become a secondary term where patients` have less power. To increase the patient’s user involvement, Habermas suggests communicative discourse as a solution to the discrepancy between the public healthcare systems focus on earnings, and the patients’ need for care.
Multidimensional evaluation of the TRMM 3B43V7 satellite-based precipitation product in mainland China from 1998–2016
Authors: Zhou Ziteng , Guo Bin , Su Youzhe , Chen Zhongsheng , Wang Juan
Published: February 2020

This study evaluates the applicability of the Tropical Rain Measurement Mission (TRMM) 3B43V7 product for use throughout mainland China. Four statistical metrics were used based on the observations made by rain gauges; these metrics were the correlation coefficient (R), the relative bias (RB), the root mean square error (RMSE) and Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE), and they were chosen to evaluate the performance of the 3B43V7 product at temporal and spatial scales. The results revealed that 3B43V7 performed satisfactorily on all timescales (R > 0.9 and NSE > 0.86); however, it overestimated the results when compared with the rain gauge observations in certain circumstances (RB = 9.7%). Monthly estimates from 3B43V7 were in agreement with rain gauge observations. 3B43V7 can effectively capture the seasonal patterns of precipitation characteristics over mainland China. However, 3B43V7 tends to register a greater overestimation of precipitation in the winter (RB = 14%) than in other seasons while showing greater consistency with the observations made by rain gauges during dry periods. The 3B43V7 product performs well in the eastern part of mainland China, while its performance is poor in the western part of mainland China. In terms of altitude, 3B43V7 performs satisfactorily in areas with moderate to low altitudes (when altitude < 3,500 m, R > 0.9, NSE > 0.8 and RB < 10.2%) but RB values increase with altitude. Overall, 3B43V7 had a favorable performance throughout mainland China.
Engrailed-2 promotes a malignant phenotype of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma through upregulating the expression of pro-oncogenic genes
Authors: Cao Yong , Wang Xiaoyan , Tang Li , Li Yan , Song Xueqin , Liu Xu , Li Mingying , Chen Feng , Wan Haisu
Published: February 2020

Background

A number of homeobox genes have been implicated in the development of various cancers. However, the role of engrailed 2 (EN2), a member of the homeobox gene superfamily, in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains unknown.

Methods

The expression of EN2 was examined using quantitative real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry. A stable cell line was established to express exogenous EN2 using a lentivirus system. The malignant phenotype was analyzed with proliferation, clonogenicity, wound-healing and invasion assays. The CRISPR/Cas9 system was adopted to deplete endogenous EN2. RNA profiling was performed using gene expression microarray. The ShRNA-mediated method was used to knock down the expression of SPARC. The structure-function relationship was determined using site-directed mutagenesis.

Results

EN2 is highly expressed in ESCC. The malignant phenotype of the ESCC cell line was amplified by an overexpression of EN2 but was attenuated by a disruption of EN2. RNA profiling analysis revealed that distinct sets of genes were modulated by the expression of EN2 in various ESCC cell lines and oncogenes were among these. EN2 greatly increased the expression of SPARC in Eca109. Site-directed mutagenesis revealed that the induction of SPARC was closely correlated with the protumor function of EN2. ShRNA-mediated knockdown of SPARC attenuated the malignant phenotype of EN2-infected cells. These data suggest that SPARC is crucial for mediating the protumor function of EN2.

Discussion

EN2 has an oncogenic function in ESCC that is mediated by upregulating the expression of pro-oncogenic genes downstream. EN2 may potentially act as a diagnostic marker or therapeutic target for ESCC treatment in the future.
Screening of Urdbean Germplasm for High Seed Yield Coupled with Resistance to Mungbean yellow mosaic virus (MYMV)
Authors: Kumari Sunita , Sahni Sangita , Prasad Bishun Deo
Published: February 2020

Yellow mosaic disease (YMD) caused by Mungbean yellow mosaic virus (MYMV) is one of the most destructive biotic production constraints in urdbean. Development and introduction of resistant cultivars with high seed yield are considered as the most economical and eco-friendly option to manage YMD, for which availability of stable sources of resistance with high seed yield is a pre-requisite. A set of one hundred twenty eight genotypes of urdbean including a susceptible check were evaluated against MYMV in the field for two consecutive years during summer and kharif 2015-2016 under natural condition of disease incidence. There was considerable variation among the genotypes with respect to disease reaction. Out of 128 genotypes tested, only five genotype namely KU 96-3, NDU 12-1,  NIRB 002,  NIRB 003 & NIRB 004 were found to be disease free, nineteen genotypes (IPU 10-23,  IPU 11-01, KPU 34, KUG 540,  KUG 586, Mash-338, NDU 12-2, NDU 12-300, NDUZ 14-21,OBG 35,  PU 09-35, Shekhar 3,  UH 07-06, Uttara, VBG 10-008, VBG 11-053,VBN (BG) 3, VBN 6 & Vijay) found to be highly resistant and twenty two genotypes (IGKU 02-1, Kopergaon,  KPU 12, KPU 13, KPU 14, KPU 16, KPU 33, KPU 7, KPU 8, KU 363,  NDU 11-01,Palampur 93, Pant U 19,  PU 08-05, PU 20, PU 22, RUG-44, Sekhar 2 , TU 67, UG 218, VBG 09-005 & WBU 108) showed highly resistance or resistance consistently in both the seasons. However, eight genotypes i.e. Uttara, PU-31, KU-363, KUG 540, UH 07-06, KUG 503, WBU 108 & Shekhar 33 were found to be superior for seed yield as well as resistant to MYMV. Among these lines, UH 07-06 and KUG 503 give highest seed yield in Kharif and summer.
Removal of Copper Using Activated Carbon Adsorbent and Its Antibacterial Antifungal Activity
Authors: Kayalvizhi K. , Alhaji N. M. I.
Published: February 2020

Batch adsorption equilibrium of Cu (II) was studied by using saw dust Chitosan composite beads. Experiments were performed at different pH, various concentrations of adsorbent and adsorbate, agitation speed, contact time for adsorption of Cu (II). Adsorption capacity and percentage removal were calculated. Thermodynamics parameters such as ∆H, ∆S, were calculated. The result shows that Chitosan composite charcoal bead is a good adsorbent for Cu (II) removal. For the activated carbon adsorbent antibacterial and antifungal activity have analyzed and reported.
Direct Graphene‐Carbon Nanotube Composite Ink Writing All‐Solid‐State Flexible Microsupercapacitors with High Areal Energy Density
Authors: Wang Yaling , Zhang Yan , Wang Guolong , Shi Xiaowei , Qiao Yide , Liu Jiamei , Liu Heguang , Ganesh Anandha , Li Lei
Published: February 2020

The advancement of miniaturized electronic devices requires the development of high‐performance microsupercapacitors. The low areal energy density of microsupercapacitors with the interdigitated architecture is the major challenge hindering the application. Here, a simple method for the scalable fabrication of all‐solid‐state, flexible microsupercapacitors is demonstrated by direct graphene‐carbon nanotube composite ink writing technology. The microsupercapacitors demonstrate good electrochemical performance with a high areal energy density of 1.36 µWh cm–2 and power density of 0.25 mW cm–2, good cycling stability, and excellent mechanical flexibility. The method developed here sheds light on the simple method of preparing high‐performance, all‐solid‐state, flexible microsupercapacitors in a straightforward and scalable process.
1D/2D Cobalt‐Based Nanohybrids as Electrocatalysts for Hydrogen Generation
Authors: Navarro‐Pardo Fabiola , Liu Jiabin , Abdelkarim Omar , Selopal Gurpreet S. , Yurtsever Aycan , Tavares Ana C. , Zhao Haiguang , Wang Zhiming M. , Rosei Federico
Published: February 2020

The synergistic effects derived from optimizing the chemical and structural features of electrocatalysts permit them to attain remarkable activity and stability. Herein, 1D/2D cobalt‐based nanohybrid (CoNH) electrodes are developed; the structural design consists of Co3O4 electrospun nanoribbons (NRs) deposited onto a carbon fiber paper substrate where Co3O4 nanosheets are subsequently grown via an electrodeposition step and UV/ozone treatment. The content of noncovalently functionalized carbon nanotubes within the Co3O4 NRs is first tuned to enhance their charge transfer properties and mechanical stability. The electrocatalytic activity of the electrodes is further improved by a phosphorus modification of the 1D NRs, resulting in the formation of NaCoPO4. The optimized 1D/2D CoNH electrode, i.e., ED‐0.09 wt% fCNTs/P‐CoNHs, displays a similar performance to that of platinum in 0.25 m Na2S/0.35 m Na2SO3 (Tafel slope ≈102 mV dec−1 for the former and ≈96 mV dec−1 for the latter) and outstanding stability for up to 48 h. The versatility and high activity of this electrode is also demonstrated according to tests in a conventional water splitting system (cell voltage 1.55V, to produce 10 mA cm−2) and a solar‐driven electrolyzer (1 m KOH).
Delayed Fluorescence Emitter Enables Near 17% Efficiency Ternary Organic Solar Cells with Enhanced Storage Stability and Reduced Recombination Energy Loss
Authors: Du Xiaoyang , Yuan Yi , Zhou Lei , Lin Hui , Zheng Caijun , Luo Junyi , Chen Zhenhua , Tao Silu , Liao Liang‐Sheng
Published: February 2020

Charge transfer state (CT) plays an important role in exciton diffusion, dissociation, and charge recombination mechanisms. Enhancing the utilization and suppressing the recombination process of CT excitons is a promising way to improve the performance of organic solar cells (OSCs). Here, an effective method is presented via introducing a delayed fluorescence (DF) emitter 3,4‐bis(4‐(diphenylamino)phenyl)acenaphtho[1,2‐b]pyrazine‐8,9‐dicarbonitrile (APDC‐TPDA) in OSCs. The long‐lifetime singlet excitons on APDC‐TPDA can transfer to polymer donors to prolong exciton lifetime, which ensures sufficient time for diffusion and dissociation. Concurrently, the high triplet energy level (T1) of the DF material can also prevent the reverse energy transfer from CT to T1. APDC‐TPDA‐containing ternary OSCs shows a high PCE of 16.96% with a reduced recombination energy loss of 0.46 eV. It is noteworthy that the ternary OSC also exhibits superior storage stability. After 55 days of storage, the PCE of the ternary OSC still retains about 96% of its primitive state. Furthermore, this ternary strategy is efficient and universally applicable to OSCs, and positive results can be obtained in different systems with different DF emitters. These results indicate that the ternary strategy provides a new design idea to realize high performance OSCs.
3D Printing of a Biocompatible Double Network Elastomer with Digital Control of Mechanical Properties
Authors: Wang Pengrui , Berry David B. , Song Zhaoqiang , Kiratitanaporn Wisarut , Schimelman Jacob , Moran Amy , He Frank , Xi Brian , Cai Shengqiang , Chen Shaochen
Published: February 2020

The majority of 3D‐printed biodegradable biomaterials are brittle, limiting their application to compliant tissues. Poly(glycerol sebacate) acrylate (PGSA) is a synthetic biocompatible elastomer and compatible with light‐based 3D printing. In this article, digital‐light‐processing (DLP)‐based 3D printing is employed to create a complex PGSA network structure. Nature‐inspired double network (DN) structures consisting of interconnected segments with different mechanical properties are printed from the same material in a single shot. Such capability has not been demonstrated by any other fabrication techniques so far. The biocompatibility of PGSA is confirmed via cell‐viability analysis. Furthermore, a finite‐element analysis (FEA) model is used to predict the failure of the DN structure under uniaxial tension. FEA confirms that the DN structure absorbs 100% more energy before rupture by using the soft segments as sacrificial elements while the hard segments retain structural integrity. Using the FEA‐informed design, a new DN structure is printed and tensile test results agree with the simulation. This article demonstrates how geometrically‐optimized material design can be easily and rapidly constructed by DLP‐based 3D printing, where well‐defined patterns of different stiffnesses can be simultaneously formed using the same elastic biomaterial, and overall mechanical properties can be specifically optimized for different biomedical applications.
Asymmetric Lattice Disorder Induced at Oxide Interfaces
Authors: Spurgeon Steven R. , Kaspar Tiffany C. , Shutthanandan Vaithiyalingam , Gigax Jonathan , Shao Lin , Sassi Michel
Published: February 2020

Control of order–disorder phase transitions is a fundamental materials science challenge, underpinning the development of energy storage technologies such as solid oxide fuel cells and batteries, ultra‐high temperature ceramics, and durable nuclear waste forms. At present, the development of promising complex oxides for these applications is hindered by a poor understanding of how interfaces affect lattice disordering processes and defect transport. Here, the evolution of local disorder in ion‐irradiated La2Ti2O7/SrTiO3 thin film heterostructures is explored using a combination of high‐resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy, position‐averaged convergent beam electron diffraction, electron energy loss spectroscopy, and ab initio simulations. Highly non‐uniform lattice disordering driven by asymmetric oxygen vacancy formation across the interface is observed. Theory calculations indicate that this asymmetry results from differences in the polyhedral connectivity and vacancy formation energies of the two interface components, suggesting ways to manipulate lattice disorder in functional oxide heterostructures.
Combined Infection Control and Enhanced Osteogenic Differentiation Capacity on Additive Manufactured Ti‐6Al‐4V are Mediated via Titania Nanotube Delivery of Novel Biofilm Inhibitors
Authors: Li Jun , Mutreja Isha , Hooper Gary J. , Clinch Keith , Lim Khoon , Evans Gary , Woodfield TimB.F.
Published: February 2020

Additive manufacturing (AM) of titanium alloys offers the capacity to fabricate patient‐specific implants with defined porous architecture to enhance bone‐implant fixation. However, clinical challenges associated with orthopedic implants include inconsistent osseointegration and biofilm‐associated peri‐implant infection, leading to implant failure. Here, a strategy is developed to reduce infection and promote osteogenesis simultaneously on AM Ti‐6Al‐4V implants by delivering biofilm inhibitor molecules via titania nanotube surface modification. Electrochemical anodization is performed on polished and as‐manufactured Ti‐6Al‐4V to generate nanotubes, which are utilized for delivery of a novel methylthioadenosine nucleosidase inhibitor (MTANi) that targets MTAN—a key enzyme in bacterial metabolism involved in biofilm formation—thereby offering biofilm inhibition capacity combined with surface nano‐topography for promoting osteogenesis. Clinical isolates ofstaphylococcus cohniiformed firm biofilms on polished and AM Ti‐6Al‐4V controls whereas modified implants loaded with MTANi inhibit biofilm formation. Anodized AM Ti‐6Al‐4V nanotube substrates enhance alkaline phosphatase production, bone‐specific protein expression (osteocalcin, collagen I) and mineral deposition of human mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSCs), compared to as‐manufactured controls. Importantly, no detrimental effects on hMSC proliferation and osteogenic differentiation are observed for MTANi‐loaded substrates. Application of novel MTANi and electrochemical anodization offers a promising strategy for titanium alloy implant surface modification.
Soil and terrain properties that predict differences in local ideal seeding rate for soybean
Authors: Matcham Emma G. , Hamman William P. , Hawkins Elizabeth M. , Fulton John P. , Subburayalu Sakthi , Lindsey Laura E.
Published: February 2020

The agronomic optimum seeding rate (AOSR) of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] varies based on environment. Understanding where AOSR varies within a field is useful for farmers utilizing variable rate seeding technology. An AOSR representing an area smaller than a whole field is referred to as local ideal seeding rate (LISR). The objective of this study was to identify soil and terrain properties that were most predictive of differences in LISR. Seeding rate trials were established at four fields in 2017 and three fields in 2018. Yield data were used to estimate LISR 33–68 times per field. Soil properties were estimated at the same scale as LISR using 0.2‐ha grid samples and terrain properties were calculated from 0.76‐m digital elevation model developed using light detection and ranging data. Random forest analysis was performed to identify which soil and terrain properties were predictive of LISR within each site‐year. At all site‐years, terrain properties were generally more predictive of LISR compared to soil properties. Valley depth and general curvature were in the top‐five most predictive properties at four of seven site‐years. Moving from the lowest valley to the highest ridge was associated with an increase in LISR of 76,000 seeds ha−1. Moving from the lowest relative slope position to the highest relative slope position was associated with a 38,000 seeds ha−1 increase in LISR. Terrain properties may be appealing to farmers because they relate to LISR, are publicly available data, and stable over time.
Minimum optimal seeding rate for indeterminate soybean cultivars grown in the tropics
Authors: Ferreira André S. , Zucareli Claudemir , Werner Flávia , Fonseca Inês C. de B. , Balbinot Junior Alvadi A.
Published: February 2020

The minimum optimal seeding rate in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is the least seeds required to achieve optimal yield. This is a function of the crop phenotypic plasticity in response to plant density. However, the effect of seeding rate reduction on the seed composition and yield of cultivars with contrasting branching potentials needs to be better elucidated. The objectives were to evaluate the impacts of reducing the seeding rate on production and to quantify the minimum optimal seeding rate for seed, oil, and protein yield in soybean cultivars with contrasting plant architectures. The field experiment was conducted for two growing seasons in a 5 × 2 factorial scheme in a randomized complete block design with five replications. The treatments consisted of five seeding rates (100, 80, 60, 40, and 20% of the recommended seeding rate) and two indeterminate cultivars (BRS 1010IPRO and NS 5959IPRO). Both cultivars showed a minimum optimal seeding rate below the recommended rate. Pods per m2 and the number of seeds per pod were the yield components responsible for the compensatory effect in response to lowering the seeding rate. Thousand seed weight was the main yield component responsible for yield loss below the minimum optimal seeding rate. Both cultivars showed high branch yield in response to seeding rate reduction. BRS 1010IPRO has a higher potential for seeding rate reduction than NS 5959IPRO. The minimum optimal seeding rate for seed yield in NS 5959IPRO led to lower protein yield and higher oil yield.
Arduino‐based slider setup for gas–liquid mass transfer investigations: Experiments and CFD simulations
Authors: Krieger Waldemar , Bayraktar Evren , Mierka Otto , Kaiser Lutz , Dinter Robin , Hennekes Julian , Turek Stefan , Kockmann Norbert
Published: February 2020

The implementation of traditional sensors is a drawback when investigating mass transfer phenomena within microstructured devices, since they disturb the flow and reactor characteristics. An Arduino based slider setup is developed, which is equipped with a computer‐vision system to track gas–liquid slug flow. This setup is combined with an optical analytical method allowing to compare experimental results against CFD simulations and investigate the entire lifetime of a single liquid slug with high spatial and temporal resolution. Volumetric mass transfer coefficients are measured and compared with data from literature and the mass transfer contribution of the liquid film is discussed.
Machine learning based position‐rendering algorithms for radioactive particle tracking experimentation
Authors: Yadav Ashutosh , Gaurav Tuntun Kumar , Pant Harish J. , Roy Shantanu
Published: February 2020

Radioactive particle tracking (RPT) is one of the most widely used non‐intrusive velocimetry technique for multiphase reactors. The large volume of interrogation and the presence of internals limit the application of RPT in large‐scale real‐world systems. The main challenge lies in having fast reconstruction algorithms applicable to conventional (i.e., bubble columns, fluidized beds, etc.) as well as new vessels. In this contribution, a reconstruction methodology is proposed based on machine learning. Three machine‐learning algorithms, namely, artificial neural network (ANN), support vector regression (SVR), and relevance vector regression (RVR), have been employed for RPT reconstruction. The results show that the position reconstruction accuracy of SVR was best for all cases and that the accuracy of RVR was comparable to SVR for large training datasets. Whereas, in terms of reconstruction speed, RVR outperforms SVR significantly, owing to sparser RVR model. SVR and RVR based reconstruction algorithms expedite the position reconstruction.
Incorporating Uncertainty into USDA Commodity Price Forecasts
Authors: Adjemian Michael K. , Bruno Valentina G. , Robe Michel A.
Published: February 2020

From 1977 through April 2019, USDA published monthly season‐average price (SAP) forecasts for key agricultural commodities in the form of intervals meant to indicate forecasters' uncertainty but without attaching a confidence level. In May 2019, USDA eliminated the intervals and began publishing a single point estimate—a value that has a very low probability of being realized. We demonstrate how a density forecasting format can improve the usefulness of USDA price forecasts and explain how such a methodology can be implemented. We simulate 21 years of out‐of‐sample density‐based SAP forecasts using historical data, with forward‐looking, backward‐looking, and composite methods, and we evaluate them based on commonly‐accepted criteria. Each of these approaches would offer USDA the ability to portray richer and more accurate price forecasts than its old intervals or its current single point estimates. Backward‐looking methods require little data and provide significant improvements. For commodities with active derivatives markets, option‐implied volatilities (IVs) can be used to generate forward‐looking and composite models that reflect (and adjust dynamically to) market sentiment about uncertainty—a feature that is not possible using backward‐looking data alone. At certain forecast steps, a composite method that combines forward‐ and backward‐looking information provides useful information regarding farm‐level prices beyond that contained in IVs.
Getting started in paediatric emergency medicine point‐of‐care ultrasound: Five fundamental applications
Authors: Snelling Peter James
Published: February 2020

Point‐of‐care ultrasound is a valuable tool in the Paediatric Emergency Medicine department. It can be utilised at the patient bedside to augment the physical examination, improving clinical accuracy. Alternatively, it can safeguard needle guided procedures and improve their success rate. It allows real‐time information to be gathered without exposing the child to ionising radiation. This article outlines five fundamental applications and how it can be incorporated into clinical practice.
Abnormal Ionic Conductivities in Halide NaBi3O4Cl2 Induced by Absorbing Water and a Derived Oxhydryl Group
Authors: Sun Jianguo , Sun Qiaomei , Plewa Anna , Wang Yumei , He Linchun , Zheng Feng , Chen Chao , Zajac Wojciech , Molenda Janina , Zeng Kaiyang , Lu Li
Published: February 2020

In hunting for safe and cost‐effective materials for post‐Li‐ion energy storage, the design and synthesis of high‐performance solid electrolytes (SEs) for all‐solid‐state batteries are bottlenecks. Many issues associated with chemical stability during processing and storage and use of the SEs in ambient conditions need to be addressed. Now, the effect of water as well as oxyhdryl group (.OH) on NaBi3O4Cl2 are investigated by evaluating ionic conductivity. The presence of water and .OH results in an increase in ionic conductivity of NaBi3O4Cl2 owing to diffusion of H2O into NaBi3O4Cl2, partially forming binding .OH through oxygen vacancy repairing. Ab initio calculations reveal that the electrons significantly accumulate around .OH and induce a more negative charge center, which can promote Na+ hopping. This finding is fundamental for understanding the essential role of H2O in halide‐based SEs and provides possible roles in designing water‐insensitive SEs through control of defects.
Magnetothermal Microfluidic‐Assisted Hierarchical Microfibers for Ultrahigh‐Energy‐Density Supercapacitors
Authors: Qiu Hui , Cheng Hengyang , Meng Jinku , Wu Guan , Chen Su
Published: February 2020

Chemical architectures with an ordered porous backbone and high charge transfer are significant for fiber‐shaped supercapacitors (FSCs). However, owing to the sluggish ion kinetic diffusion and storage in compacted fibers, achieving high energy density remains a challenge. An innovative magnetothermal microfluidic method is now proposed to design hierarchical carbon polyhedrons/holey graphene (CP/HG) core–shell microfibers. Owing to highly magnetothermal etching and microfluidic reactions, the CP/HG fibers maintain an open inner‐linked ionic pathway, large specific surface area, and moderate nitrogen active site, facilitating more rapid ionic dynamic transportation and accommodation. The CP/HG FSCs show an ultrahigh energy density (335.8 μWh cm−2) and large areal capacitance (2760 mF cm−2). A self‐powered endurance application with the integration of chip‐based FSCs is designed to profoundly drive the durable motions of an electric car and walking robot.
Surface‐Regulated Rhodium–Antimony Nanorods for Nitrogen Fixation
Authors: Zhang Nan , Li Leigang , Wang Juan , Hu Zhiwei , Shao Qi , Xiao Xiangheng , Huang Xiaoqing
Published: February 2020

Surface regulation is an effective strategy to improve the performance of catalysts, but it has been rarely demonstrated for nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) to date. Now, surface‐rough Rh2Sb nanorod (RNR) and surface‐smooth Rh2Sb NR (SNR) were selectively created, and their performance for NRR was investigated. The high‐index‐facet bounded Rh2Sb RNRs/C exhibit a high NH3 yield rate of 228.85±12.96 μg h−1 mg−1Rh at −0.45 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), outperforming the Rh2Sb SNRs/C (63.07±4.45 μg h−1 mg−1Rh) and Rh nanoparticles/C (22.82±1.49 μg h−1 mg−1Rh), owing to the enhanced adsorption and activation of N2 on high‐index facets. Rh2Sb RNRs/C also show durable stability with negligible activity decay after 10 h of successive electrolysis. The present work demonstrates that surface regulation plays an important role in promoting NRR activity and provides a new strategy for creating efficient NRR electrocatalysts.
Primary Anion–π Catalysis of Epoxide‐Opening Ether Cyclization into Rings of Different Sizes: Access to New Reactivity
Authors: Paraja Miguel , Matile Stefan
Published: February 2020

The concept of anion–π catalysis focuses on the stabilization of anionic transition states on aromatic π surfaces. Recently, we demonstrated the occurrence of epoxide‐opening ether cyclizations on aromatic π surfaces. Although the reaction proceeded through unconventional mechanisms, the obtained products are the same as those from conventional Brønsted acid catalysis, and in agreement with the Baldwin selectivity rules. Different mechanisms, however, should ultimately lead to new products, a promise anion–π catalysis has been reluctant to live up to. Herein, we report non‐trivial reactions that work with anion–π catalysis, but not with Brønsted acids, under comparable conditions. Namely, we show that the anion–π templated autocatalysis and epoxide opening with alcoholate–π interactions can provide access to unconventional ring chemistry. For smaller rings, anion–π catalysis affords anti‐Baldwin oxolanes, 2‐oxabicyclo[3.3.0]octanes, and the expansion of Baldwin oxetanes by methyl migration. For larger rings, anion–π templated autocatalysis is thought to alleviate the entropic penalty of folding to enable disfavored anti‐Baldwin cyclizations into oxepanes and oxocanes.
Recycling of rigid polyurethane foam: Micro‐milled powder used as active filler in polyurethane adhesives
Authors: Beran Rudolf , Zarybnicka Lucie , Machova Dita
Published: February 2020

Rigid polyurethane (PUR) foams are widely used as heat insulation material in construction industry or for electronic appliances manufacturing. After finishing their life‐time, it is necessary to eliminate foam wastes. The aim of this study was to prepare a pair of industrial PUR adhesives of medium viscosity containing recycled rigid PUR foam. Three methods of milling were tested: knife‐milling, two‐roll milling, and ball‐milling. Only two‐roll milling gives the PUR micro‐powder usable for following adhesives modification. The micro‐powder was used as passive filler in PUR adhesives and potential reactivity for polyol pack replacement was studied. Hydroxyl and amine numbers were determined in mixture with virgin polyol. One‐component PUR prepolymer adhesive was prepared using various dosages of the micro powder and the tensile strength of bound wood was measured. As additional parameters, also free film adhesive mechanical parameters were tested and particle size distribution of the micro powder was analyzed. Two adhesive formulations were prepared for independent evaluation of the micro powder reactivity. The results showed growing of the mechanical strength of wood bonding with growing dosage of the micro powder.
Evaluation of cure characteristic, physico‐mechanical, and dielectric properties of calcium copper titanate filled acrylonitrile‐butadiene rubber composites: Effect of calcium copper titanate loading
Authors: Luangchuang Piyawadee , Chueangchayaphan Narong , Sulaiman Muhammad Azwadi , Chueangchayaphan Wannarat
Published: February 2020

Calcium copper titanate (CCTO) has been synthesized by high temperature solid‐state reaction from calcium carbonate, copper (II) oxide, and titanium dioxide as the starting materials. The formation and morphology of CCTO were confirmed by X‐ray diffraction, Fourier‐transformed infrared spectrophotometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and particle size analysis. In order to develop flexible dielectric materials, acrylonitrile‐butadiene rubber (NBR)‐based composites were prepared with CCTO content varied from 0 to 120 phr (parts per hundred rubber). The cure characteristics of composites were assessed. High‐dielectric constant CCTO particles were blended into NBR to make composites with improved dielectric constant. Results showed that the NBR/CCTO composites had a high dielectric constant (10–20) with low dielectric loss (<0.4) and low conductivity (<10−3μS/cm) at frequencies up to 106Hz. However, the higher CCTO loadings had agglomeration in the NBR matrix, and thus tensile strength and elongation at break sharply deteriorated due to poor rubber‐filler interactions. The results showed lower storage modulusE′ and a reduction inTgwith the incorporation of CCTO in NBR matrix. Moreover, improved thermal stability of the NBR/CCTO composites was achieved. SEM was used to observe the dispersion of CCTO particles in NBR matrix.
The teratogenic effects of sertraline in mice
Authors: Cabrera Robert M. , Linda Lin Ying , Law Elizabeth , Kim Jimi , Wlodarczyk Bogdan J.
Published: February 2020

Background

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which include paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), fluoxetine (Prozac), citalopram (Celexa), and escitalopram (Lexapro), are the most common antidepressants prescribed to pregnant women. There is considerable debate in the literature regarding the developmental toxicities of SSRIs individually, and as a class.

Methods

It is considered unethical to perform developmental toxicity studies on pregnant women, but rodent and nonrodent species provide laboratory‐controlled experimental models to examine the toxicity of SSRI exposure during pregnancy. The Embryo‐Fetal Developmental Toxicity Study was conducted with sertraline in mice, Crl:CD1 (lCR), during the period of organogenesis.

Results

Increased resorption rates, lower fetal weight, and increased percentage of fetuses with visceral and skeletal abnormalities were found in the intermediate and high sertraline dose groups. In addition to incomplete ossification of treated animals, eleven sertraline exposed fetuses, two in group 2 (5 mg/kg), five in group 3 (25 mg/kg), and four in group 4 (60 mg/kg), had cleft palate (CP). This malformation was not observed in any controls. Only the highest dose of sertraline was found to be maternally toxic, as evidenced by significantly lower weight gain during pregnancy.

Conclusion

These data indicate that in utero exposure to sertraline at 25 and 60 mg/kg was embryotoxic, teratogenic, and fetotoxic in mice. The incidence of CP observed in groups 3 and 4 (2.99% and 2.5%, respectively) were higher than the maximum range value noted in historical controls and indicate sertraline is a teratogen in ICR mice.
Brain Ventricular System and Cerebrospinal Fluid Development and Function: Light at the End of the Tube
Authors: Fame Ryann M. , Cortés‐Campos Christian , Sive Hazel L.
Published: February 2020

The brain ventricular system is a series of connected cavities, filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), that forms within the vertebrate central nervous system (CNS). The hollow neural tube is a hallmark of the chordate CNS, and a closed neural tube is essential for normal development. Development and function of the ventricular system is examined, emphasizing three interdigitating components that form a functional system: ventricle walls, CSF fluid properties, and activity of CSF constituent factors. The cellular lining of the ventricle both can produce and is responsive to CSF. Fluid properties and conserved CSF components contribute to normal CNS development. Anomalies of the CSF/ventricular system serve as diagnostics and may cause CNS disorders, further highlighting their importance. This review focuses on the evolution and development of the brain ventricular system, associated function, and connected pathologies. It is geared as an introduction for scholars with little background in the field.
Modeling different behaviors in disclosing risk perception
Authors: Colombi Roberto , Giordano Sabrina
Published: February 2020

In many fields, people are requested to express their level of awareness about some risk (mainly associated with health, environment, energy, etc.) by selecting a category in an ordered scale. We propose a model for such ordinal data by taking into account that the observed response does not necessarily reflect the respondent's true opinion since the final answer can be inaccurate or completely random. The proposed model hypothesizes three behaviors in the process of answering: accurate interviewees express their risk perception exactly, uncertain ones randomly select the response according to the uniform distribution, and inaccurate interviewees make evaluation errors but with high probability they choose a rating close to the true one. Statistical inference for the proposed models is addressed without assuming that the model, to be fitted, is correctly specified. Two real case studies on the awareness of geo‐hydrological risk and work‐related stress risk are considered using the proposed methodology.
Learning from regret
Authors: Boyle F M , Allen J , Rey-Conde T , North J B
Published: February 2020

Background

Death after surgery is infrequent but can be devastating for the surgeon. Surgeons may experience intense emotional reactions after a patient's death, reflecting on their part in the death and the patient's loss of life. Excessive rumination or feelings of regret may have lasting negative consequences, but these reactions may also facilitate learning for future decision-making. This qualitative study analysed surgeons' reflections on what might have been done differently before a patient's death and explored non-technical (cognitive and interpersonal) aspects of care as potential targets for improvement.

Methods

In Australia's Queensland Audit of Surgical Mortality, surgeons reflect on factors surrounding the death of patients in their care and respond to the open-ended question: in retrospect, would you have done anything differently? Framework analysis was applied to surgeons' responses to identify themes relating to non-technical aspects of care.

Results

Responses from 1214 surgeons were analysed. Two main themes were identified. Dilemmas and difficult decisions confirmed the uncertainty, complexity and situational pressures that often precede a surgical death; regret and empathy for patients featured in some responses. In the second main theme, communication matters, surgeons cited better communication, with patients, families, colleagues and at handover, as a source of reflective change to improve decision-making and reduce regret.

Conclusion

Surgical decision-making involves uncertainty, and regret may occur after a patient's death. Enhancing the quality of communication with patients and peers in comprehensive assessment of the surgical patient may mitigate postdecision regret among surgeons.
Effect of delay between nuclear medicine scanning and sentinel node biopsy on outcome in patients with cutaneous melanoma
Authors: Moncrieff M D , O'Leary F M , Beadsmoore C J , Pawaroo D , Heaton M J , Isaksson K , Olofsson Bagge R
Published: February 2020

Background

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is an important staging tool for the management of melanoma. A multicentre study was done to validate previous findings that the timing of lymphoscintigraphy influences the accuracy of SLNB and patient outcomes, particularly survival.

Methods

Data were reviewed on patients undergoing SLNB for melanoma at three centres in the UK and Sweden, examining the effect of timing of SLNB after nuclear medicine scanning. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was used to assess overall (OS), disease-specific (DSS) and progression-free (PFS) survival, stratified by timing of lymphoscintigraphy. Independent risk factors for survival were identified by Cox multivariable regression analysis.

Results

A total of 2270 patients were identified. Median follow-up was 56 months. Univariable analysis showed a 4·2 per cent absolute and 35·5 per cent relative benefit in DSS (hazard ratio 1·36, 95 per cent c.i. 1·05 to 1·74; P = 0·018) for 863 patients whose SLNB was performed up to 12 h after lymphoscintigraphy compared with 1407 patients who had surgery after more than 12 h. There were similar OS and PFS benefits (P = 0·036 and P = 0·022 respectively). Multivariable analysis identified timing of lymphoscintigraphy as an independent predictor of OS (P = 0·017) and DSS (P = 0·030). There was an excess of nodal recurrences as first site of recurrence in the group with delayed surgery (4·5 versus 2·5 per cent; P = 0·008).

Conclusion

Delaying SLNB beyond 12 h after lymphoscintigraphy with 99Tc-labelled nanocolloid has a significant negative survival impact in patients with melanoma.
An accessible, open‐source mobile application for macromolecular visualization using augmented reality
Authors: Lee Ning Yuan , Tucker‐Kellogg Greg
Published: February 2020

Understanding macromolecular structures is essential for biology education. Augmented reality (AR) applications have shown promise in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, but are not widely used for protein visualization. While there are some tools for AR protein visualization, none of them are accessible to the layperson who possesses neither specialized AR hardware nor the technical skill to comfortably navigate three‐dimensional (3D) rendering and file conversions. Here, we describePalantir, an open source mobile Android application easily installable on compatible devices from the Google Play Store. Palantir does not require specialized hardware, printed image, manual 3D rendering, or file format conversion. Palantir makes AR macromolecular visualization accessible to anyone with a compatible mobile device, and we hope it finds widespread application in STEM education.