bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Terazije terrace as a development axis of the center of Belgrade
Authors: Ambruš Denis
Published: July 2021

The main problem with urban planning of Belgrade's historical city centre lies within the area of the Terazije terrace, which has over the years changed its appearance. Architect Nikola Dobrović laid down its foundations in 1929 in his entry to an international competition. It is precisely this concept which paved the way for the area to be expanded as needed, and gradually to reach the Sava riverbank. Two types of construction would need to take precedence in order for Savska padina to have the uniqueness of the space and better view at Savska padina. The first type of construction is defined by horizontal texture of terraces and esplanades and the second with clusters of buildings and mega-structures concentrated in one zone only. In this way the right balance between the historical centre and the Sava riverbank would be struck, with the focus on Terazije and the Sava amphitheater and the future gravitation towards the Terazije terrace serving as the driving force of the city centre's development. In this scenario, the existing "barrier" between the development and integration is recognised as an instrument of urban planning. Regulating the area around the Terazije terrace as a model for the development of the city centre would in the best way contribute to its concretization and set a good example of spatial organisation, respecting the identity and the context of the city center.
Saša Marković: 'From accession to redrawing: Vojvodina in the kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenians/Yugoslavia 1918-1941', Archives of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, 2020
Authors: Vajagić Predrag
Published: July 2021

The text is a critical review of the monograph by Saša Marković, the historian and professor at the Faculty of Pedagogy in Sombor. The monograph represents a synthesis of the former achievements of historiography, as well as the author's years-long research that has resulted in many prominent scholarly works. The author's basic intention is to offer the reader a clear and comprehensible overview of the development of political ideas in Serbian civic thought of Vojvodina during the interwar period.
Overview of the research of representing the family and spare time on Facebook and Instagram
Authors: Golubović Marija
Published: July 2021

The process of displaying family in the era of social networks has acquired a new dimension, as presented to us by Charlene S. Shannon-McCallum, who was exploring the display of family on Facebook and Instagram. Based on a theoretical review and the research results, the author points out the influence and significance that posting family photos on social networks has on family life.
Type of settlement as a determinant of marital and reproductive behaviour of young people
Authors: Pešić-Jenaćković Dragana
Published: July 2021

The paper explores the importance of the type of settlement for marital and reproductive behaviour of young people. More specifically, it examines the differences in the evaluation and practice of certain forms of marital and reproductive behaviour between young people living in different types of settlements. The data were collected with the aid of quantitative techniques like surveys and scaling. The research was conducted in the region of Southern and Eastern Serbia. The quota sample consisted of the total of 500 respondents, aged from 15 to 35 years. The results of the research show that the type of settlement is an important determinant, but more for the purpose of evaluation than for practising certain models of marital and reproductive behaviour of young people. Young people living in villages are more loyal to the traditional values in terms of marriage and parenthood, while young people living in the city tend to embrace modern values. However, practice shows that rural youth, besides maintaining traditional patterns of behaviour, also manifests certain deviations from them (like postponement of marriage and parenthood, reduced reproductive norms, cohabitation and out-of-wedlock parenting).
From demands for free and fair elections to electoral reform: The dialogue between government and opposition in Serbia in 2019
Authors: Jovanović Milan
Published: July 2021

This article analyses the context that led to a dialogue on electoral conditions between the Serbian government and the opposition by applying the methodological matrix of standards for "free and fair" elections as defined by international organizations. Serbian electoral law has implemented international standards, but all electoral cycles have shown a certain level of irregularities that call into question the integrity of a number of electoral processes in the 2012-2017 interval. Two rounds of interparty dialogue produced only partial results. By amending a number of laws, certain election procedures were improved, but they remained in the shadow of unresolved crucial problems. Public broadcasting services remained closed to opposition parties and alternative policies, and the pressure on voters remained present. Instead of improving election conditions, major electoral reform was carried out. The electoral threshold was lowered from 5% to 3%. This form of electoral engineering carried out by the government did not diminish the boycott of the opposition, but it brought about significant changes in the electoral system, the effects of which were felt in the next elections. The epilogue of the dialogue was a boycott of the election by a part of the opposition parties, a politically unrepresentative parliament, and the Serbia's return to the ranks of authoritarian, hybrid regimes in index bases that measure the quality of democracy. The announcement of early elections immediately after the constitution of the national parliament and a new round of dialogue on electoral conditions show that the problem of electoral integrity is still waiting for a solution.
Enabling Interoperability through the Ship Life Cycle
Authors: Briggs Ted L. , Gischner Burt , Lazo Pete , Olson Mike , Vicedomine Jim , Wolsey Ken
Published: July 2021

Shipyards are increasingly responsible for the life cycle support of ships, including maintenance and logistics data over the life of the ship. Hence, it has become important for shipyards to efficiently integrate acquisition product model data with the lifecycle support product model data. The use of Integrated Data Environments (IDE) for Navy ship programs has fostered the integration of design, logistics, and production information for the ship. However, it has not been possible to exchange this integrated data set; rather, different data is typically transferred at different times often resulting in inconsistency.

The Product Life Cycle Support (PLCS) STEP standard (ISO 10303-239) for logistics data and life cycle support provides the capability to exchange logistics data linked back to design data. The standard was developed and has been implemented by the aerospace and defense industry.

The ISE-6 project demonstrated the feasibility of using the PLCS standard for naval shipbuilding. This approach should also enable interoperability of life cycle data with other defense programs. The ISE-6 team mapped naval shipbuilding requirements into PLCS, while preserving compatibility with existing PLCS implementations. A unique feature was the automated mapping via template expansion and identification. The ISE-6 team conducted a demonstration of this capability, exchanging data between two Integrated Data Environments (IDE) and a Knowledge Management tool, which was used to modify and update the data for the receiving IDE. During the next phase of the project, the ISE-6 team will be investigating interoperability using the S1000D Specification for the procurement and production of technical publications.
The problem of pedagogical competencies in modern foreign psychology
Authors: Mazilov Vladimir Aleksandrovich , Kostrigin Artem Andreevich
Published: July 2021

This article discusses the problematic of pedagogical competencies. The author underlines a current demand for studying the key pedagogical competencies due to the transformation of education system and requirements imposed on the pedagogues. The domestic psychological traditions of studying pedagogical competencies are well-known (B. M. Teplov, F. N. Gonobolin, V. A. Krutetsky, N. V. Kuzmina, A. K. Markova, L. M. Mitina, etc.), but currently the Russian and foreign scientific approaches, as well as educational systems converge and its successful implementation requires universal pedagogical activity, skills, and competencies. The focus of foreign research include consideration of the main requirements to a pedagogue and basic pedagogical competencies, with emphasis on such qualities and competencies that pertain not to implementation of pedagogical activity, but rather maintenance and stimulation of effectiveness of the process and performance. Such competencies include pedagogical creativity, reflection, and metacognitive skills. The author also covers the question of the development of own skills by the pedagogue. The conclusion is made that the modern pedagogical reality not substantive competencies and skills, but rather systemic that would control and manage the pedagogical process itself.
Association between Dietary Inflammatory Index and Type 2 diabetes mellitus in Xinjiang Uyghur autonomous region, China
Authors: Fu WenHui , Pei Hualian , Shivappa Nitin , Hebert James R. , Luo Tao , Tian Tian , Alimu Dilibaier , Zhang Zewen , Dai Jianghong
Published: July 2021

Background

Diet and inflammation have both been studied in relation to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine the association between the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII®) and T2DM.

Methods

Subjects were adults enrolled in the baseline study of the Xinjiang multi-ethnic natural population cohort and health follow-up study from January to May 2019. The study involved 5,105 subjects (58.7% men) between 35 and 74 years of age. The DII score was calculated from a data obtained via a food frequency questionnaire consisting of 127 food items.

Results

Logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) of DII in relation to T2DM. After adjusting for potential confounders, compared to subjects in the 1st DII quintile, subjects in the 5th quintile (i.e., with the most pro-inflammatory diet) had higher odds of T2DM (OR = 3.27, 95%CI:2.38,4.50; p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Our results suggest that a pro-inflammatory diet is associated with a higher risk of T2DM in this population of Chinese adults.
Heavy Metals Contamination of Agricultural Land and Their Impact on Food Safety
Authors: Muhammad Murtala , Habib I. Y. , Hamza Ismail , Mikail Tasiu A. , Yunusa Abdulmumin , Muhammad Ibrahim A. , Bello Abubakar A.
Published: July 2021

Aims: The aim of this study is to investigate the heavy metals pollution status and health risks assessment of the vegetables grown at Danbatta irrigation lands.

Study Design: The research involved the collection of soil, water and cultivated vegetable from irrigation lands as well as analyzing their heavy metals pollution status.

Place and Duration of Study: Samples were collected from Danbatta irrigation lands of Kano state, Nigeria. The research study covered a period of one year.

Methodology: This study investigates the prevalence of heavy metals pollution and related health risks associated with the vegetables grown at Danbatta local government of Kano state. This was achieved by collecting irrigation soil, water and vegetables (onion, spinach and lettuce) from the irrigation sites, which were subsequently assayed for several heavy metals such as; Pb, Mn, Cu, Fe, Zn and Co using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS).

Results: The results obtained show that the concentrations of Pb, Cu and Zn in water samples to be 0.033, 0.8, and 0.89 mg/ml, respectively, while Mn and Co were not detected. Even though concentrations of these metals in water are within FAO/WHO limits, the soil was found to be contaminated with Cu (12.17 mg/kg), Fe (152.29 mg/kg) and Zn (55.75 mg/kg). Furthermore, both spinach, lettuce and onion were contaminated with Pb, and Mn. However, only lettuce and spinach were contaminated with Cu, Fe and Zn. Health risk assessment of both adults and children show that Pb, Mn, Co and Cu, posed a significant health risk to the population as their health risk index (HRI) is greater than one. The result shows that poor agricultural practices could be responsible for contaminating the soil with heavy metals, which eventually gets accumulated in the edible parts of the plants and posed a great risk to its consumers. Impacts of heavy metals pollution is on the rise across the globe. As such, it becomes necessary to monitor our environment to checkmate the threat of these contaminants and implement a reliable strategy and stable treatment of the pollution to ensure food safety.
Integrative analysis of gut microbiome and host transcriptomes reveals associations between treatment outcomes and immunotherapy‐induced colitis
Authors: Sakurai Toshiharu , De Velasco Marco A , Sakai Kazuko , Nagai Tomoyuki , Nishiyama Hiroki , Hashimoto Kentaro , Uemura Hirotsugu , Kawakami Hisato , Nakagawa Kazuhiko , Ogata Hiroyuki , Nishio Kazuto , Kudo Masatoshi
Published: July 2021

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are widely used to treat various malignancies. Although the gut microbiome is known to influence the efficacy of ICIs on epithelial tumors, the functional interactions between gut taxa and colonic mucosa remain poorly understood. Here we performed transcriptomic profiling and 16S rRNA sequencing to investigate the relationships between mucosal gene expression and microbial composition with ICI responses and gastrointestinal immune‐related adverse events (GI irAEs). In responders, genes related to DNA repair and cell cycle signatures were enriched in responders whereas signatures related to innate immune response, NFAT and IFN‐γ signaling pathways were enriched in nonresponders. Gut microbial composition revealed an association between moderate GI irAE and favorable response to ICI therapy. Favorable therapeutic responses to ICI and GI irAE treatments were associated with taxa classified as Enterobacteriaceae and were related to ribonucleoprotein complex biogenesis, cytokine‐mediated signaling pathway, tRNA metabolic process, and ribonucleoprotein complex assembly in the colon. These findings open new perspectives for improving the efficacy and safety of cancer immunotherapy.
Grain Boundaries in Cu(In, Ga)Se2: A Review of Composition–Electronic Property Relationships by Atom Probe Tomography and Correlative Microscopy
Authors: Cojocaru‐Mirédin Oana , Raghuwanshi Mohit , Wuerz Roland , Sadewasser Sascha
Published: July 2021

Cu(In,Ga)Se2 thin‐film solar cells have attracted significant research interest in recent decades due to their high efficiency in converting solar energy into electricity for enabling a sustainable future. Although the Cu(In,Ga)Se2 absorber can be grown as a single crystal, its polycrystalline form is dominating the market not only due to its lower costs, but also due to its unexpectedly higher cell efficiency. However, this absorber contains a high fraction of grain boundaries. These are structural defects where deep‐trap states can be localized leading to an increase in recombination activity. This controversy is mirrored in the existing literature studies where two main contradictory believes exist: 1) to be crucial grain boundaries in Cu(In,Ga)Se2 absorber are anomalous, being benign in terms of cell performance, and 2) grain boundaries are regions characterized by an increased recombination activity leading to deteriorated cell performance. Therefore, the present review tackles this issue from a novel perspective unraveling correlations between chemical composition of grain boundaries and their corresponding electronic properties. It is shown that features such as Cu depletion/In enrichment, segregation of 1‐2at.% of alkali dopants, and passivation by a wide‐bandgap or type inversion at grain boundaries are crucial ingredients for low open‐circuit voltage loss and, hence, for superior cell performance.
Lithium Phosphonate Functionalized Polymer Coating for High‐Energy Li[Ni0.8Co0.1Mn0.1]O2 with Superior Performance at Ambient and Elevated Temperatures
Authors: Chen Zhen , Nguyen Huu‐Dat , Zarrabeitia Maider , Liang Hai‐Peng , Geiger Dorin , Kim Jae‐Kwang , Kaiser Ute , Passerini Stefano , Iojoiu Cristina , Bresser Dominic
Published: July 2021

High‐energy Ni‐rich lithium transition metal oxides such as Li[Ni0.8Co0.1Mn0.1]O2 (NCM811) are appealing positive electrode materials for next‐generation lithium batteries. However, the high sensitivity toward moist air during storage and the high reactivity with common organic electrolytes, especially at elevated temperatures, are hindering their commercial use. Herein, an effective strategy is reported to overcome these issues by coating the NCM811 particles with a lithium phosphonate functionalized poly(aryl ether sulfone). The application of this coating allows for a substantial reduction of lithium‐based surface impurities (e.g., LiOH, Li2CO3) and, generally, the suppression of detrimental side reactions upon both storage and cycling. As a result, the coated NCM811‐based cathodes reveal superior Coulombic efficiency and cycling stability at ambient and, particularly, at elevated temperatures up to 60 °C (a temperature at which the non‐coated NCM811 electrodes rapidly fail) owing to the formation of a stable cathode electrolyte interphase with enhanced Li+ transport kinetics and the well‐retained layered crystal structure. These results render the herein presented coating strategy generally applicable for high‐performance lithium battery cathodes.
Recent Advances in Microfluidic Platforms for Programming Cell‐Based Living Materials
Authors: Zhang Pengchao , Shao Ning , Qin Lidong
Published: July 2021

Cell‐based living materials, including single cells, cell‐laden fibers, cell sheets, organoids, and organs, have attracted intensive interests owing to their widespread applications in cancer therapy, regenerative medicine, drug development, and so on. Significant progress in materials, microfabrication, and cell biology have promoted the development of numerous promising microfluidic platforms for programming these cell‐based living materials with a high‐throughput, scalable, and efficient manner. In this review, the recent progress of novel microfluidic platforms for programming cell‐based living materials is presented. First, the unique features, categories, and materials and related fabrication methods of microfluidic platforms are briefly introduced. From the viewpoint of the design principles of the microfluidic platforms, the recent significant advances of programming single cells, cell‐laden fibers, cell sheets, organoids, and organs in turns are then highlighted. Last, by providing personal perspectives on challenges and future trends, this review aims to motivate researchers from the fields of materials and engineering to work together with biologists and physicians to promote the development of cell‐based living materials for human healthcare‐related applications.
Alternately Intercalated Heterostructures of Carbon and MoS2 Monolayers as Saturable Absorber for Ultrashort Femtosecond Mode‐Locked Lasers
Authors: Jing Laiying , Wang Yiran , Lian Gang , Zhang Baitao , Cui Deliang , He Jingliang , Wang Qilong , Wong Ching‐Ping
Published: July 2021

2D van der Waals (VDWs) heterostructures have attracted much attention due to their exotic electronic and optical properties, which provide a new platform for material science and device fabrication. In this work, by coupling atomic interface engineering, an alternately intercalated superstructure of carbon and MoS2 monolayers (m‐C/MoS2) is designed as a novel saturable absorber (SA) for mode‐locked ultrafast laser generation. The novel intercalated structures exhibit excellent properties including wide bandgap, fast inter‐ and intra‐band carrier relaxation time, and superior saturable absorption characteristic, etc. Consequently, a continuous wave mode‐locked Yb:CALGO bulk laser with pulse width as short as 92 fs is achieved by using the prepared m‐C/MoS2 SA mirror, which is much shorter than those obtained with other reported 2D materials. This study provides a valuable strategy for the development of ultrashort pulse femtosecond lasers. The novel VDWs heterostructures also open new avenues toward advanced photonic devices.
Piezo‐Phototronic Effect in 2D α‐In2Se3/WSe2 van der Waals Heterostructure for Photodetector with Enhanced Photoresponse
Authors: Zhao Yuqian , Guo Feng , Ding Ran , Io Weng Fu , Pang Sin‐Yi , Wu Wenzhuo , Hao Jianhua
Published: July 2021

2D materials offer a platform that allows the creation of flexible functional devices with various properties due to their extraordinary properties. In this work, the influence of piezo‐phototronic effect on a flexible α‐In2Se3/WSe2 van der Waals (vdW) heterostructure is investigated and the strain‐regulated photoresponse of the device is examined. Owing to the noncentrosymmetric structure of III–VI compound α‐In2Se3, the strain‐induced piezo‐potential modulates the band slope near the P‐N junction interface, improving the transfer characteristics and separation efficiency of photogenerated electron–hole pairs by piezo‐phototronic effect. With applying the tensile strain of 0.433%, the photocurrent of the photodetector can be enhanced by about 18 times. Furthermore, the photodetectors present remarkable photoresponsivity and detectivity that can reach up to 4.61 × 105 A W−1 and 4.34 × 1014 Jones, respectively. These results indicate that the piezo‐phototronic effect can be introduced to facilitate strain‐modulated vdW P‐N heterojunction photodetector, which provides an insightful design of 2D material‐based vdW heterostructure toward high‐performance flexible optoelectronics.
An Enhanced Electrode via Coupling with a Conducting Molecule to Extend Interfacial Reactions
Authors: Deng Ding‐Rong , Yuan Ru‐Ming , Yu Pei‐Kai , Xue Fei , Fan Xiao‐Xiang , Lei Jie , Zhang Jie‐Ling , Lin Xiao‐Dong , Wu Qi‐Hui , Fan Jing‐Min , Chang Jeng‐Kuei , Hong Wen‐Jing , Zheng Ming‐Sen , Dong Quan‐Feng
Published: July 2021

An electron conductive matrix, or collector, facilitates electron transport in an electrochemical device. It is stationary and does not change during the entire operation once it is built. The interface of this matrix and an electrode is constructed at a 2D level at the micro‐scale, and naturally limits the breadth and depth of electrochemical reactions. Herein, the idea of an enhanced electrode coupled with a conducting molecule that can extend interfacial reactions is first introduced. With a spatialized interspace, this electrode can change the present understanding of the electrode process and opens up a new realm of electrode‐based reaction chemistry. A lithium–sulfur (Li–S) battery is used as the target for implementing the enhanced electrode owing to the complex multi‐electron reaction. Through the interaction of π–π stacking between graphite‐based carbon and iron (II) phthalocyanine (FePc), soluble FePc can be decorated on the surface of an electrode that has the capability of transporting electrons. The scanning tunneling microscope break junction characterization and density functional theory indicate that FePc has a strong molecular electronic conductivity. The reactants obtain electrons more easily from the conducting molecule than from the collector directly. As a result, the performance of the corresponding Li–S battery considerably improves.
Promises and Challenges of the Practical Implementation of Prelithiation in Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Zhan Renming , Wang Xiancheng , Chen Zihe , Seh Zhi Wei , Wang Li , Sun Yongming
Published: July 2021

Lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) have changed lives since their invention in the early 1990s. Further improvement of their energy density is highly desirable to meet the increasing demands of energy storage applications. Active lithium loss in the initial charge process appreciably reduces the capacity and energy density of LIBs due to the formation of a solid electrolyte interface (SEI) on the anode surface, especially for Si based anodes in high‐energy‐density batteries. To solve this issue, prelithiation to provide additional active lithium into the battery has been widely accepted as one of the most promising strategies. Here, key parameters/issues for the practical implementation of prelithiation approaches in LIBs are discussed, including donable lithium‐ion capacity/prelithiation efficiency, chemical and ambient stability of the prelithiation materials/reagents, safety hazards of prelithiation, residues and side reactions during prelithiation, potential effect on electrochemical performance, industrial compatibility, and scalability of the prelithiation, many of which are often overlooked in academic literature. Moreover, insights are offered regarding the potential future directions in the development of this burgeoning field. Continuous progress in prelithiation is essential and urgent to enable next‐generation high‐energy‐density LIBs in the near future.
Predicting poverty and malnutrition for targeting, mapping, monitoring, and early warning
Authors: McBride Linden , Barrett Christopher B. , Browne Christopher , Hu Leiqiu , Liu Yanyan , Matteson David S. , Sun Ying , Wen Jiaming
Published: July 2021

Increasingly plentiful data and powerful predictive algorithms heighten the promise of data science for humanitarian and development programming. We advocate for embrace of, and investment in, machine learning methods for poverty and malnutrition targeting, mapping, monitoring, and early warning while also cautioning that distinct objectives require distinct data and methods. In particular, we highlight the differences between poverty and malnutrition targeting and mapping, the differences between structural and stochastic deprivation, and the modeling and data challenges of early warning system development. Overall, we urge careful consideration of the purpose and use cases of machine learning informed models.
Is proximal gastrectomy indicated for locally advanced cancer in the upper third of the stomach?
Authors: Ri Motonari , Kumagai Koshi , Namikawa Ken , Atsumi Shinichiro , Hayami Masaru , Makuuchi Rie , Ida Satoshi , Ohashi Manabu , Sano Takeshi , Nunobe Souya
Published: July 2021

Aim

To treat upper third gastric cancer, proximal gastrectomy (PG), a function‐preserving procedure, is recommended for early lesions when at least half the distal stomach can be preserved, while total gastrectomy (TG) is standard for locally advanced lesions. Oncological feasibility, when applying PG for such lesions, remains unknown.

Methods

We reviewed patients undergoing TG for clinical (c) T2–T4 upper third gastric cancer between 2006 and 2015. Preoperative tumor locations were further classified into the cardia, fornix, and gastric body based on endoscopic findings. The metastatic rate and therapeutic value index for lymph node (LN) dissection were determined, and characteristics of patients with distal LN (No. 4d, 5, and 6) metastasis (DLNM) were reviewed. In addition, patients with pathological tumor invasion to the middle third (M) region were investigated.

Results

We studied 167 patients. There were 8 (4.8%) with DLNM and 41 (24.6%) with pathological tumor invasion to the M region. As to regional stations, therapeutic indices for LN dissection at stations No. 4d, 5, 6, and 12a were zero or extremely low. No DLNM was detected in cT2 lesions or cT3/T4 lesions located within the cardia and/or the fornix. In addition, none of the lesions located within the cardia and/or the fornix by preoperative endoscopy extended to the M region in the pathological specimen.

Conclusions

For upper third gastric cancer, PG without No. 12a dissection might be acceptable for cT2–T4 lesions located within the cardia and/or the fornix when considering the risk of DLNM and cancer‐positivity in the distal stump.
Effects of an oral elemental nutritional supplement in gastric cancer patients with adjuvant S‐1 chemotherapy after gastrectomy: A multicenter, open‐label, single‐arm, prospective phase II study (OGSG1108)
Authors: Imamura Hiroshi , Matsuyama Jin , Nishikawa Kazuhiro , Endo Shunji , Kawase Tomono , Kimura Yutaka , Fukui Junichi , Kawada Junji , Kurokawa Yukinori , Fujitani Kazumasa , Sakai Daisuke , Kawakami Hisato , Tsujinaka Toshimasa , Shimokawa Toshio , Matsubara Yoshihiro , Satoh Taroh , Furukawa Hiroshi ,   for the Osaka Gastrointestinal Cancer Chemotherapy Study Group (OGSG)
Published: July 2021

Aim

Post‐surgical weight loss influences chemotherapy compliance and may be a risk factor for survival. Intake of an oral elemental nutritional supplement (OENS) can reduce weight loss after gastric cancer (GC) surgery. We assessed whether therapy completion levels would increase in patients receiving postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy in combination with an OENS.

Methods

This was a multicenter, open‐label, single‐arm, phase II study in GC patients who underwent curative total or distal gastrectomy (TG/DG) and received adjuvant S‐1 chemotherapy. The primary endpoint was the S‐1 completion rate for 1 year with a relative performance (RP) value of ≥70%; secondary endpoints included factors affecting the completion rate of S‐1, RP value after eight S‐1 courses, S‐1 and OENS persistence rates, nutritional index, OENS compliance, and safety.

Results

In 71 efficacy‐evaluable patients, the S‐1 completion rate was 69.0% (TG, 68.0%; DG, 69.6%) and the RP value was 87.5 (TG, 89.1; DG, 87.5). Over eight treatment courses, median persistence rates were 89.0% for S‐1 and 93.8% for the OENS. The mean OENS compliance was 81.8% at the fourth S‐1 course and 52.9% at the eighth course. The incidence of Grade 3 or 4 adverse events was 27.2%, most commonly neutropenia (12.3%).

Conclusions

The completion rate of S‐1 for 1 year in patients who could take the OENS exceeded the pre‐defined threshold level. Randomized controlled trials are warranted to confirm the role of OENS in adjuvant chemotherapy.
Asymmetric Alkylation of Ketones Catalyzed by Engineered TrpB
Authors: Watkins‐Dulaney Ella J. , Dunham Noah P. , Straathof Sabine , Turi Soma , Arnold Frances H. , Buller Andrew R.
Published: July 2021

The β‐subunit of tryptophan synthase (TrpB) catalyzes a PLP‐mediated β‐substitution reaction between indole and serine to form L‐Trp. A succession of TrpB protein engineering campaigns to expand the enzyme's nucleophile substrate range has enabled the biocatalytic production of diverse non‐canonical amino acids (ncAAs). Here, we show that ketone‐derived enolates can serve as nucleophiles in the TrpB reaction to achieve the asymmetric alkylation of ketones, an outstanding challenge in synthetic chemistry. We engineered TrpB by directed evolution to catalyze the asymmetric alkylation of propiophenone and 2‐fluoroacetophenone with a high degree of selectivity. In reactions with propiophenone, preference for the opposite product diastereomer emerges over the course of evolution, demonstrating that full control over the stereochemistry at the new chiral center can be achieved. The addition of this new reaction to the TrpB platform is a crucial first step toward the development of efficient methods to synthesize non‐canonical prolines and other chirally dense nitrogen heterocycles.
[Ag(NH3)2]2SO4: A Strategy for the Coordination of Cationic Moieties to Design Nonlinear Optical Materials**
Authors: Yang Yi‐Chang , Liu Xin , Lu Jing , Wu Li‐Ming , Chen Ling
Published: July 2021

Over recent decades, guided by the anionic group theory of nonlinear optical (NLO) materials, rational design strategies have been primarily focused on anionic moieties; consequently, structural modification and design of cationic moieties have long been neglected. Herein, we report a strategy for the coordination of cationic moieties that substantially enhances the optical properties of NLO materials. For an example with well‐known crystal structure, [Ag(NH3)2]2SO4, we demonstrate that the coordination of the Ag+ cation by the neutral ligand drives the formation of a noncentrosymmetric tetragonal P
21c structure as a positive uniaxial crystal. The bending of the [Ag(NH3)2]+ cationic moiety parallel to the z‐axis generates an anisotropic arrangement of the dipoles, i.e., a dipole of 0.12 D along the z‐direction, yet zero dipole in the xy‐plane, which interacts anisotropically with the incident light oscillating electromagnetic wave, leading to optical anisotropy with a large birefringence. The incident beam of 589.3 nm normal to the (110) crystal plane measures Δnobv.=0.08, and [Ag(NH3)2]2SO4 also exhibits a phase‐matching NLO response 1.4 times that of KH2PO4 (KDP) (obv. 1.4×KDP @1064 nm; cal. d36=1.50 pm V−1).
RF‐LSTM‐based method for prediction and diagnosis of fouling in heat exchanger
Authors: Madhu P.K. Resma , Subbaiah Jayalalitha , Krithivasan Kannan
Published: July 2021

Fouling degrades the thermal and hydraulic performances of the heat exchanger (HE), leading to failure if undetected. It occurs due to the accumulation of undesired material on the heat transfer surface. Knowledge about the HE fouling dynamics is required to plan mitigation strategies, ensuring a sustainable and safe operation. This paper aims to propose a feature‐based technique to predict the fouling status of the HE based on historical data. Three thermal and two hydraulic features are extracted from the HE. Random forest (RF) is employed to detect the dominant features using the Gini index. These dominant features are used to predict the fouling resistance using a deep neural network based on the Long Short‐Term Memory (LSTM) model. Also, these dominant features provide reliable inferences to reason out the fouling dynamics. A diagnostic flag is derived based on the dominant feature and is used to diagnose the ongoing fouling phenomena, which is vital to formulate mitigation. The proposed technique is investigated on the data acquired from the HEs used in a thermal power plant (Case 1) and petroleum refinery (Case 2). Prediction accuracy of 99% and 97% is observed for Cases 1 and 2, respectively. Experimental results illustrate that RF enables the LSTM to achieve faster training and reliable prediction of fouling.
Effect of dicumyl peroxide on biodegradable poly(lactic acid)/functionalized gum arabic based films
Authors: Monika  , Mehmood Khalid , Katiyar Vimal
Published: July 2021

Blending of poly (lactic acid) (PLA)/functionalized gum arabic (FG) in presence of dicumyl peroxide (DCP) presents a simple process to produce film using melt extrusion (recycle time ~ 4 min, screw speed ~60 rpm) at 180°C with tailored characteristics. The FTIR investigation shows that the confirmation of grafting of PLA chains on FG through formation of new C─C linkage. Properties of fabricated films such as morphological, mechanical, UV barrier and contact angle are examined to develop film with improved interfacial interaction, increased toughness, UV–C blocking effect (~95%) and hydrophobicity (~14%). Polarized optical microscopy (POM) studies reveal that PLA/1FG with and without DCP has more crystal density as compared to PLA at 120°C. This melt extrusion permits straightforward, feasible bionanocomposite film and has great potential as a modification with DCP assists to overcome particular drawbacks of FG.
Is remote near‐peer anatomy teaching an effective teaching strategy? Lessons learned from the transition to online learning during the Covid‐19 pandemic
Authors: Thom Mitchell L. , Kimble Blair A. , Qua Kelli , Wish‐Baratz Susanne
Published: July 2021

In response to the Covid‐19 pandemic, medical educators have transformed pre‐clerkship anatomy curricula into online formats. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and student perceptions of an online near‐peer anatomy curriculum. The classes of 2022 and 2023 completed identical foundational anatomy curricula in‐person, whereas the class of 2024 completed an adapted curriculum for remote online learning. Quantitative and qualitative responses were used to compare attitudes between instructional methods. Assessment scores and evaluation survey responses were collected from the classes of 2022 (n = 185), 2023 (n = 184), and 2024 (n = 183). Mean assessment scores (±SD) for the classes of 2022, 2023, and 2024 were 93.64% (±5.86), 93.75% (±4.09), and 92.04% (±4.83), respectively. Post hoc group comparisons showed the class of 2024 scored significantly lower than the two previous classes [2022: (H(1) = 18.58, P < 0.001), 2023: (H(1) = 18.65, P < 0.001)]. Mean survey results concerning curriculum quality were 4.06/5.00 for the class of 2023 and 3.57/5.0 for the class of 2024 (t(365) = 2.67, P = 0.008). Considering a small effect size (η2 = 0.034), there was no meaningful difference in student assessment scores. A potential drawback of online near‐peer anatomy teaching remains in student perceptions of course quality; qualitative feedback suggested technological limitations and perceptions of online course instructors were partly responsible for lower student satisfaction. Following the Covid‐19 pandemic, medical educators should incorporate the lessons learned from this unique educational inflection point to improve curricula moving forward.
An analysis of the use of targeted therapies in patients with advanced Merkel cell carcinoma and an evaluation of genomic correlates of response
Authors: Knepper Todd C. , Panchaud Robyn A. , Muradova Elnara , Cohen Leah , DeCaprio James A. , Khushalani Nikhil I. , Tsai Kenneth Y. , Brohl Andrew S.
Published: July 2021

Background

The use of targeted therapy remains a treatment consideration for some patients with advanced Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). However, supportive data on the use of targeted therapy approaches are limited. Thus, we sought to evaluate the responsiveness of targeted agents in patients with advanced MCC.

Methods

An institutional MCC database identified patients who were treated with targeted therapy. For the purpose of this study, targeted therapy was defined as any multi‐targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor or inhibitor of the PI3K‐pathway. Clinical benefit was defined as complete response, partial response, or stable disease (SD) ≥6 months. A subset of patient samples underwent next‐generation sequencing (NGS), Merkel cell polyomavirus testing, and PD‐L1/PD‐1 expression testing.

Results

Nineteen patients with MCC treated with targeted therapy were identified, 21 targeted therapy regimens were evaluable for response in 18 patients. Four of twenty‐one (19%) of evaluable regimens were associated with clinical benefit with the best overall response of SD. The durations of SD were 13.6 months (59 weeks), 9.7 months (42 weeks), 7.6 months (33 weeks), and 7.2 months (31 weeks). Of the four patients who derived clinical benefit, three were treated with pazopanib alone and one was treated with pazopanib plus everolimus. No difference in the rate of clinical benefit between molecular disease subtypes was detected nor was associated with any specific genomic alteration.

Conclusion

In our series, targeted agents elicited a disease control rate of 19% in patients with advanced MCC, with a best overall response of SD. Pazopanib alone or in combination exhibited a rate of disease control of 36% (4 of 11 with SD ≥6 months).
Characterization of chemical composition and techno‐functional properties of oat cultivars
Authors: Németh Renáta , Turóczi Fanni , Csernus Dorottya , Solymos Fanni , Jaksics Edina , Tömösközi Sándor
Published: July 2021

Background and objectives

The number of products made of oats is expanding continuously, which indicates the need for a more detailed methodology for the determination of its quality traits. The aim of this work was to characterize Hungarian oat cultivars by general wheat testing methods and to investigate the discriminatory power of these, as well as to study relationships between chemical composition and techno‐functional properties.

Findings

Oat cultivars showed different dehulling properties. Among compositional data, fat content and fiber composition varied the most. Regarding techno‐functional properties, oat samples differed mainly in pasting behavior, which was related primarily to fiber contents.

Conclusions

Cultivars can be discriminated and characterized reliable with the used testing methods, and with some modifications, these could be applied to set up quality requirements for oat products. However, the deeper understanding of relationships between composition and technological traits requires more detailed characterization of oat flour constituents.

Significance and novelty

Oat quality testing is not as sophisticated as that of wheat or rye, and our knowledge about the end‐use properties is also incomplete. This work can contribute to the development of a more detailed methodology for testing oat quality and to understand relationship between compositional data and technological behavior.
Impact of hematologic complete response in the treatment of sporadic late‐onset nemaline myopathy associated with monoclonal gammopathy
Authors: Maia Tânia , Bergantim Rui , Costa Henrique , Pinheiro Jorge , Trigo Fernanda
Published: July 2021

Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) may be associated with pathologies with severe neuromuscular manifestations such as sporadic late‐onset nemaline myopathy (SLONM). We describe a difficult to diagnose case of SLNOM with marked clinical improvement after achieving gammopathy complete hematologic response.
A Comprehensive Study on the Full Series of Alkali‐Metal Selenocyanates AI[SeCN] (AI=Li−Cs)
Authors: Shlyaykher Alena , Ehmann Marvin , Karttunen Antti J. , Tambornino Frank
Published: July 2021

The full series of quasibinary alkali‐metal selenocyanates was synthesized either by oxidation of the respective cyanides (A=Li−Rb) or by metathesis (A=Cs). For Li[SeCN] only ball‐milling and subsequent annealing led to the isolation of the quasibinary selenocyanate. Their structures were refined from single‐crystal and powder X‐ray data. The respective solid‐state IR and Raman spectra were interpreted with the aid of solid‐state quantum‐mechanical calculations and DSC‐TGA measurements allowed for extraction of melting points. Only for Li[SeCN] a possible phase transition was observed that is discussed on the basis of VT‐PXRD experiments. It is also the only quasibinary selenocyanate to form a hydrate (Li[SeCN] ⋅ 2H2O).
In‐situ Surface‐selective Removal of Al Element from NiFeAl Ternary Nanowires for Large‐current Oxygen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Zhang Xiuhong , Li Zheng , Shen Weilin , Zhao Guang , Yi Zhaohui , Qi Ji , Liang Changhai
Published: July 2021

To store renewable energy via water splitting, it is crucial to design low‐cost and high‐performance catalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER). In this work, a ternary nanowire supported on nickel foam (NiFeAl‐NW/NF) with high specific surface area and catalytic activity was prepared by hydrothermal method and in‐situ selective surface removal. High OER current densities of 100, 500 and 1000 mA ⋅ cm−2 were achieved under anode potentials of 1.52, 1.56 and 1.60 V vs. RHE, respectively. The NiFeAl‐NW/NF was stable under 1 A cm−2 OER current density in the 40 hour durability test. In situ surface selective removal of aluminum from nanowires provides abundant structural defects, which effectively enlarge the electrochemically surface area of the integral catalyst suitable for large‐current oxygen evolution reaction (OER).
Forecasting volatility by integrating financial risk with environmental, social, and governance risk
Authors: Capelli Paolo , Ielasi Federica , Russo Angeloantonio
Published: July 2021

The study aims to verify whether the consideration of a risk measure based on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors can reduce the difference between the ex‐ante financial risk and ex‐post volatility of financial assets. The statistical models are run on 17,996 firm‐year observations (3332 active firms from 55 countries and 10 industries, listed on the ECPI Global Ethical Equity index) in 2007–2015. According to our main results, the forecasting effectiveness of traditional financial risk measures can be improved by integrating financial risk with an ESG risk measure that considers the ESG entropy. We found that the dispersion of ESG scores within a country, sector and year is a risk factor that would be helpful in predicting the volatility of financial assets. Other similar long‐run risk measures, such as issuers' credit ratings, do not reveal the same forecasting power. By reducing unexpected volatility, especially in the medium term, the ESG risk measure provides investors and fund managers with a useful metric for decision making.
Recent Progress in Amorphous Carbon‐Based Materials for Anodes of Sodium‐Ion Batteries: Synthesis Strategies, Mechanisms, and Performance
Authors: Sarkar Samrat , Roy Swagata , Hou Yanglong , Sun Shuhui , Zhang Jiujun , Zhao Yufeng
Published: July 2021

Sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) are gaining renewed interest as a promising alternative to the already commercialized lithium‐ion batteries. The large abundance, low cost, and similar electrochemistry of sodium (compared with lithium) is attracting the attention of the research community for their deployment in energy storage devices. Despite the fact that there are adequate cathode materials, the choice of suitable anodes for SIBs is limited. Graphite, the most versatile anode for LIBs, exhibits poor performance in case of SIBs. Amorphous or disordered carbons (hard and soft carbon) have been the most promising and cost‐effective anode materials for SIBs. This Review discusses the recent advances of various forms of amorphous or disordered carbons used in SIBs with emphasis on their synthesis processes and relationship between microstructure, morphology, and performance. A profound understanding of the charge storage mechanisms of sodium in these carbon materials has been deliberated. The performance of these anode materials also depends upon electrolyte optimization, which has been aptly conferred. However, these anodes are often plagued with large voltage loss, low initial coulombic efficiency, and formation of solid electrolyte interphase. In order to overcome these challenges, several mitigation strategies have been put forward in a concise way to offer visions for the deployment of these amorphous carbon materials for the progress and commercial success of SIBs.