bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Computer Vision Syndrome: Affecting Young and Old Alike
Authors: Wapa Anchit , Namgyal Anu
Published: August 2018

The advancement in technology is no doubt a boon to the society, but it is also attached with a price that a person has to pay for it. In today's era, these amenities are an important part of everybody's lives from a young child to an adult. The digital devices in the form of computers, laptops, mobile phones, I-pads etc. are included in day to day lives of everyone, helping people achieve results much faster and has made our lives easy. When used in excess or in an improper way, these are associated with various health hazards like musculoskeletal and ocular complications. Ocular problems are reported as the most frequently occurring health problems among computer users. Here we report case of a young banker who was suffering from computer vision syndrome and after proper evaluation and guidance, she got better.
A patient‐derived explant (PDE) model of hormone‐dependent cancer
Authors: Centenera Margaret M. , Hickey Theresa E. , Jindal Shalini , Ryan Natalie K. , Ravindranathan Preethi , Mohammed Hisham , Robinson Jessica L. , Schiewer Matthew J. , Ma Shihong , Kapur Payal , Sutherland Peter D. , Hoffmann Clive E. , Roehrborn Claus G. , Gomella Leonard G. , Carroll Jason S. , Birrell Stephen N. , Knudsen Karen E. , Raj Ganesh V. , Butler Lisa M. , Tilley Wayne D.
Published: August 2018

Breast and prostate cancer research to date has largely been predicated on the use of cell lines in vitro or in vivo. These limitations have led to the development of more clinically relevant models, such as organoids or murine xenografts that utilize patient‐derived material; however, issues related to low take rate, long duration of establishment, and the associated costs constrain use of these models. This study demonstrates that ex vivo culture of freshly resected breast and prostate tumor specimens obtained from surgery, termed patient‐derived explants (PDEs), provides a high‐throughput and cost‐effective model that retains the native tissue architecture, microenvironment, cell viability, and key oncogenic drivers. The PDE model provides a unique approach for direct evaluation of drug responses on an individual patient's tumor, which is amenable to analysis using contemporary genomic technologies. The ability to rapidly evaluate drug efficacy in patient‐derived material has high potential to facilitate implementation of personalized medicine approaches.
Compadrazgo
Authors: Alum Roland Armando
Published: August 2018

Compadrazgo
translates from Spanish as co‐parenthood. It basically consists of a sociocultural mechanism predominant in Ibero‐American kinship relations that incorporates non‐kin into one's family in a ritualized, ideological fashion. A salient feature of Ibero‐American culture,
compadrazgo
is mostly modeled after the elemental spiritual affiliation established between the parents and godparents of a child over his/her baptism. Notwithstanding its sacramental origins, the practice expanded to dozens of religious, semireligious, and, especially, secular optional occasions that usually institute an intimate bond of quasi‐sacrosanct kin‐like relationship between the participating adults. These voluntary relationships carry a complex behavioral and linguistic formalism, as well as reciprocal economic/material maximization. Friendship is highly valued among Ibero‐Americans and the glosses
compadres
(masculine/neutral/plural) and
comadres
(feminine/plural) have become equivalent to chums or buddies. Although there is an identifiable sociocultural contour, anthropologists have found a great variety of
compadrazgo
types among Ibero‐Americans, both at home and in diasporas.
Multidimensional Design of Anisotropic Polymer Particles from Solvent‐Evaporative Emulsion
Authors: Ku Kang Hee , Shin Jae Man , Yun Hongseok , Yi Gi‐Ra , Jang Se Gyu , Kim Bumjoon J.
Published: August 2018

Colloidal particles with controlled shape and internal structure have attracted great attention due to their novel morphologies and various potential applications. Among the diverse synthetic strategies toward anisotropically shaped polymer particles, facile and accurate engineering of such structures remains challenging. This review highlights the synthetic approaches to manipulate the shape of polymer particles driven by phase separation in emulsions upon solvent evaporation. And, special attention is given to the thermodynamic and kinetic principles of particle shape control, followed by detailed experimental examples and their applications. Major synthetic strategies for the preparation of nonspherical block copolymer (BCP) particles by evaporation of solvent from BCP‐containing emulsions are discussed as follows: engineering of i) interfacial properties of the confining emulsion droplets, ii) particle (or droplet) size, iii) segregation behavior of BCPs within the droplet, and iv) solvent‐induced BCP self‐assembly kinetics (i.e., solvent evaporation rate). Next, functionalized BCP particles produced by careful design of the chemical structures of polymer or by incorporation of functional additives into the polymer matrix are introduced. Finally, this review article aims to present the challenging issues associated with current methods and future directions for research in this field.
A Review of Precious‐Metal‐Free Bifunctional Oxygen Electrocatalysts: Rational Design and Applications in Zn−Air Batteries
Authors: Wang Hao‐Fan , Tang Cheng , Zhang Qiang
Published: August 2018

The bifunctional electrocatalysis of oxygen reduction reactions (ORRs) and oxygen evolution reactions (OERs) is critical for the development of rechargeable Zn–air batteries. Both ORRs and OERs suffer from sluggish kinetics and high overpotentials, and the bifunctional reactivity is limited by the scaling relationship. Therefore, smart designs on electrocatalysts are requested to achieve high bifunctional ORR/OER activity and excellent performance in Zn–air batteries. Herein, the requirements for bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts are first introduced. Then the recent advances of precious‐metal‐free active materials and regulation methods of their intrinsic activity are introduced. The structural design principles to improve the accessibility of the active sites are further presented. Finally, a brief overview of the applications of bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts in Zn–air batteries, including routine liquid batteries and flexible solid‐state batteries, is presented. This review affords rational design principles and strategies for nonprecious bifunctional ORR/OER electrocatalysts, which are expected to guide the targeted optimization of electrocatalysts and further exploration of emerging candidates.
Exogenous Amino Acid‐Loaded Nanovehicles: Stepping across Endogenous Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Authors: Wang Jing , Ni Dalong , Shen Zhiwei , Ren Yan , Liu Yanyan , Fan Wenpei , Wu Yue , Zhang Guishan , Zhang Hua , Wu Renhua , Feng Xiaoyuan , Bu Wenbo , Yao Zhenwei
Published: August 2018

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) allows the assessment of metabolic contents and biochemical information in vivo. It provides essential compositional information in the diagnosis and monitoring of central nervous system (CNS) diseases, especially brain tumors. Conventional MRS is usually confined to endogenous metabolites that may lack specificity for certain disease such as differentiating glioma from other tumor and non‐tumorous lesions. Therefore, exogenous MRS contrast agents (CAs) that may improve the sensitivity and specificity of MRS are highly desirable for its clinical use. In this work, a novel MRS CA, β‐alanine loaded hollow mesoporous silica nanospheres, with a high biosafety profile and characteristic MRS spectrum was synthesized and investigated. This new CA is further tested to realize the accurate functional MRS diagnosis of brain glioma with high sensitivity. The general approach of synthesizing disease specific CA for MRS may lead to a new era of molecular imaging.
Organic Photo‐Electrochemical Transistor‐Based Biosensor: A Proof‐of‐Concept Study toward Highly Sensitive DNA Detection
Authors: Song Jiajun , Lin Peng , Ruan Yi‐Fan , Zhao Wei‐Wei , Wei Weiwei , Hu Jin , Ke Shanming , Zeng Xierong , Xu Jing‐Juan , Chen Hong‐Yuan , Ren Wei , Yan Feng
Published: August 2018

Organic bioelectronics have shown promising applications for various sensing purposes due to their significant advantages in term of high flexibility, portability, easy fabrication, and biocompatibility. Here, a new type of organic device, organic photo‐electrochemical transistor (OPECT), is reported, which is the combination of an organic electrochemical transistor and a photo‐electrochemical gate electrode modified with CdS quantum dots (QDs). Thanks to the inherent amplification function of the transistor, the OPECT‐based biosensor exhibits much higher sensitivity than that of a traditional biosensor. The sensing mechanism of the OPECT is attributed to the charge transfer between the photosensitive semiconductor CdS QDs and the gate electrode. In an OPECT‐based DNA sensor, target DNA is labeled with Au nanoparticles (NPs) and captured on the gate electrode, which can influence the charge transfer on the gate caused by the exciton–plasmon interactions between CdS QDs and Au NPs. Consequently, a highly sensitive and selective DNA sensor with a detection limit of around 1 × 10−15
m is realized. It is expected that OPECTs can be developed as a high‐performance platform for numerous biological detections in the future.
Triboelectric Series of 2D Layered Materials
Authors: Seol Minsu , Kim Seongsu , Cho Yeonchoo , Byun Kyung‐Eun , Kim Haeryong , Kim Jihye , Kim Sung Kyun , Kim Sang‐Woo , Shin Hyeon‐Jin , Park Seongjun
Published: August 2018

Recently, as applications based on triboelectricity have expanded, understanding the triboelectric charging behavior of various materials has become essential. This study investigates the triboelectric charging behaviors of various 2D layered materials, including MoS2, MoSe2, WS2, WSe2, graphene, and graphene oxide in a triboelectric series using the concept of a triboelectric nanogenerator, and confirms the position of 2D materials in the triboelectric series. It is also demonstrated that the results are obviously related to the effective work functions. The charging polarity indicates the similar behavior regardless of the synthetic method and film thickness ranging from a few hundred nanometers (for chemically exfoliated and restacked films) to a few nanometers (for chemical vapor deposited films). Further, the triboelectric charging characteristics could be successfully modified via chemical doping. This study provides new insights to utilize 2D materials in triboelectric devices, allowing thin and flexible device fabrication.
Parts‐per‐Million‐Level Doping Effects in Organic Semiconductor Films and Organic Single Crystals
Authors: Hiramoto Masahiro , Kikuchi Mitsuru , Izawa Seiichiro
Published: August 2018

Controlling the pn‐type behavior of a semiconductor such as silicon by adding an extremely small quantity of an impurity (doping) is a central part of inorganic semiconductor electronics since the 20th century. Recent progress in the doping of organic semiconductors strongly suggests the advent of a new era of doped organic semiconductors. Here, the principles and effects of doping at the level of parts per million (ppm) in organic semiconductor films and single crystals are described, including descriptions of complete pn‐control, doping sensitization, ppm doping using an extremely low‐speed deposition technique reaching 10−9 nm s−1, and emerging ppm‐level doping effects, such as trap filling, majority carriers, homojunction formation, and decreased mobility, as well as ppm‐level doping effects in organic single crystals measured by the Hall effect, which shows a doping efficiency of 24%. The Wannier excitonic doping of organic single crystals possessing band conduction and the defect science of organic single crystals related to carrier trapping and scattering are introduced as a new scientific field. The dawn of organic single‐crystal electronics is also discussed.
Quantum‐Sized Metal Catalysts for Hot‐Electron‐Driven Chemical Transformation
Authors: Wei Qilin , Wu Siyu , Sun Yugang
Published: August 2018

Hot‐electron‐driven chemical transformation (HEDCT) represents an emerging research area in utilizing photoresponsive nanoparticles to enable efficient solar‐to‐chemical conversion. The unique properties of quantum‐sized metal nanoparticles (QSMNPs) make them a class of photocatalysts that can generate hot electrons to drive surface chemical reactions with high quantum efficiency. Compared to the conventional thermal‐driven chemical reactions, HEDCT offers the advantages of accelerating reaction rate, improving reaction selectivity, and possibly enabling the occurrence of thermodynamically endergonic reactions. Despite its embryonic stage of development, using QSMNPs for HEDCT shows great promise. Herein, a timely overview on the research progress is provided with a focus on the fundamental quantum processes involved in the photoexcitation of hot electrons and the following HEDCT on the surface of QSMNPs. The last section discusses the challenges, which also represent the opportunities for the materials research community, in designing robust QSMNP photocatalysts and understanding the fundamental quantum phenomena in HEDCT.
Engineering Functional Metal Materials at the Atomic Level
Authors: Yao Qiaofeng , Yuan Xun , Chen Tiankai , Leong David Tai , Xie Jianping
Published: August 2018

With continuous research efforts devoted into synthesis and characterization chemistry of functional nanomaterials in the past decades, the development of metal materials is stepping into a new era, where atom‐by‐atom customization of property‐dictating structural attributes is expected. Herein, the state‐of‐the‐art modulation of functional metal nanomaterials at the atomic level, by size‐ and structure‐controlled synthesis of thiolate‐protected metal (e.g., Au and Ag) nanoclusters (NCs), is exemplified. Metal NCs are ultrasmall (<3 nm) particles with hierarchical primary, secondary, and tertiary structures, reminiscent of natural proteins or enzymes. Given the proven dependence of their physicochemical properties on their size and structure, documented synthetic methodologies delivering NCs with atomic‐level monodispersity and tailorable size and structural attributes at individual hierarchical levels are categorized and discussed. Such assured atomic‐level modulation could confer metal NCs with novel application opportunities in diverse fields, which are also exemplified by their size‐ and structure‐dictated catalytic and biomedical performance. The precise synthesis and application chemistry developed based on the hierarchical structure scheme of metal NCs could increase the acceptance of metal NCs as a new family of functional materials.
Design Strategy for Solution‐Processable Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Emitters and Their Applications in Organic Light‐Emitting Diodes
Authors: Zou Yang , Gong Shaolong , Xie Guohua , Yang Chuluo
Published: August 2018

Solution‐processable thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitters have received tremendous attentions in recent years due to their intrinsic merits of theoretical 100% exciton harvesting capability and excellent compatibility to low‐cost and easily scalable solution processes. Herein, a comprehensive review of solution‐processable TADF emitters is presented, including small molecules, dendrimers, and polymers. Their molecular design, optoelectronic properties, and device performances are summarized, and specific emphasis is placed on the structure–property relationships of these emitters. This review not only offers a guideline for designing highly efficient TADF emitters compatible with solution‐processed organic light‐emitting diodes, but also paves further directions for the development of solution‐processable TADF emitters.
Direct‐Current Triboelectric Nanogenerator Realized by Air Breakdown Induced Ionized Air Channel
Authors: Luo Jianjun , Xu Liang , Tang Wei , Jiang Tao , Fan Feng Ru , Pang Yaokun , Chen Libo , Zhang Yan , Wang Zhong Lin
Published: August 2018

The air breakdown phenomenon is generally considered as a negative effect in previous research on triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs), which is always accompanied by air ionization. Here, by utilizing the air breakdown induced ionized air channel, a direct‐current triboelectric nanogenerator (DC‐TENG) is designed for harvesting contact‐separation mechanical energy. During working process, the charges first transfer from bottom to top electrodes through an external circuit in contact state, then flow back via the ionized air channel created by air breakdown in the separation process. So a unidirectional flow of electrical charges can be observed in the external circuit. With repeating contact‐separation cycles, continuous pulsed DC output through the external circuit can be realized. This working mechanism was verified by real‐time electrode potential monitoring, photocurrent signal detection, and controllable discharging observation. The DC‐TENG can be used for directly and continuously charging an energy storage unit and/or driving electronic devices without using a bridge rectifier. Owing to its simplicity in structure, the mechanism is further applied to fabricate the first flexible DC‐TENG. This research provides a significant fundamental study for DC‐TENG technology and may expand its application in flexible electronics and flexible self‐charging power systems.
MoSe2/N‐Doped Carbon as Anodes for Potassium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Ge JunMin , Fan Ling , Wang Jue , Zhang Qingfeng , Liu Zhaomeng , Zhang Erjin , Liu Qian , Yu Xinzhi , Lu Bingan
Published: August 2018

Potassium‐ion batteries (PIBs) have attracted considerable attention due to the low redox potential, low price, and abundance, in comparison to lithium and sodium. Herein, a novel potassium MoSe2/N‐C battery with a new electrolyte, 1 m potassium bis(fluoro‐slufonyl)imide in ethyl methyl carbonate, is reported. The MoSe2/N‐C composite, which consists of carbon‐coated MoSe2 nanosheets, is synthesized through solvothermal and annealing method. As an anode material for PIBs, it exhibits an outstanding rate performance and long cycling stability. Meanwhile, a reversible capacity of 258.02 mA h g−1 is achieved after 300 cycles at 100 mA g−1, obtaining a Coulombic efficiency close to 100%. Even at a high current density, it can maintain 218 and 197 mA h g−1 at 500 and 1000 mA g−1, respectively. The charge/discharge mechanism of MoSe2/N‐C as the anode material for PIBs is investigated. These results reveal that the insertion and the extraction of K+ will lead to a phase transition of MoSe2. During the charge process, a part of the MoSe2 will transform to Mo15Se19 and the major final discharge product is K5Se3.
Nanometric Ni5P4 Clusters Nested on NiCo2O4 for Efficient Hydrogen Production via Alkaline Water Electrolysis
Authors: Zhang Tao , Yang Kena , Wang Cheng , Li Shanyu , Zhang Qiqi , Chang Xuejiao , Li Juntao , Li Simo , Jia Shuangfeng , Wang Jianbo , Fu Lei
Published: August 2018

A number of non‐noble catalysts are developed for hydrogen production via acidic water electrolysis. Nevertheless, for the more economical alkaline hydrogen generation, the restricted kinetics of the water dissociation Volmer step along with its following proton recombination Tafel step for these non‐noble electrocatalysts generally lead to sluggish hydrogen‐production process. Here, a facile method is designed to nest nanometric Ni5P4 clusters on NiCo2O4 (achieving Ni5P4@NiCo2O4) by a phosphating process of NiO clusters on NiCo2O4. Acting as a high‐efficiency electrode for alkaline water electrolysis, the Ni5P4@NiCo2O4 can efficiently and preferentially convert H2O to H2 with a low overpotential of 27  mV at 10 mA cm−2 and the Tafel slope of 27  mV dec−1, which are comparable to the results for platinum and superior than those of the state‐of‐the‐art platinum‐free electrocatalysts. Density functional theory calculations confirm that NiCo2O4 species exhibit a higher ability to electrolyze water into H* intermediate and then Ni5P4 clusters facilitate the subsequent desorption of the H2 products. Profiting from the promoted kinetic steps, the Ni5P4@NiCo2O4 electrocatalyst is promising for scalable alkaline hydrogen production.
Genomic and clinical characterization of B/T mixed phenotype acute leukemia reveals recurrent features and T‐ALL like mutations
Authors: Mi Xiaoli , Griffin Gabriel , Lee Winston , Patel Sanjay , Ohgami Robert , Ok Chi Young , Wang Sa , Geyer Julia T. , Xiao Wenbin , Roshal Mikhail , Garcia Jacqueline S. , Silverman Lewis B. , Sallan Stephen E. , Aster Jon C. , Harris Marian H. , Weinberg Olga K.
Published: August 2018

The B/T subtype of mixed phenotype acute leukemia (B/T MPAL) is defined by co‐expression of antigens of both B‐ and T‐cell lineages on leukemic blasts. Although it has been suggested that multilineage antigen expression portends poor response to chemotherapy, the clinical characteristics and driver mutations that underlie the pathogenesis of this rare subtype of acute leukemia are scarcely known. We identified nine cases of B/T MPAL from multiple institutions and correlated clinical and immunophenotypic findings with next‐generation sequencing data. We report that B/T MPAL commonly presents with lymphadenopathy in adolescence and young adulthood. While the tumors have diverse cytogenetic and genomic perturbations, recurrent acquired aberrations include mutations in the putative transcriptional regulator PHF6 and the JAK‐STAT and Ras signaling pathways. Alterations were also identified in genes encoding hematopoietic transcription factors, cell cycle regulators/tumor suppressors, and chromatin modifying enzymes. The genomic landscape of B/T MPAL strongly resembles that of T‐ALL subgroups associated with early developmental arrest, while genetic alterations that are common in B‐ALL were rarely seen. Two‐thirds of the patients responded to ALL‐based chemotherapy with or without stem cell transplantation. Our observations lay the groundwork for further study of the unique biology and clinical trajectory of B/T MPAL.
Optimal conditioning regimen for haplo‐identical stem cell transplantation in adult patients with acquired severe aplastic anemia: Prospective de‐escalation study of TBI and ATG dose
Authors: Lee Sung‐Eun , Park Sung Soo , Jeon Young‐Woo , Yoon Jae‐Ho , Cho Byung‐Sik , Eom Ki‐Seong , Kim Yoo‐Jin , Lee Seok , Min Chang‐Ki , Kim Hee‐Je , Cho Seok‐Goo , Kim Dong‐Wook , Lee Jong Wook
Published: August 2018

This prospective study explored an optimal conditioning regimen to ensure engraftment with minimal toxicity in adult patients with severe aplastic anemia (SAA) who received haplo‐identical stem cell transplantation from a related mismatched donor (Haplo‐SCT). We explored a safe and sufficient dose of rabbit ATG (Thymoglobulin) in combination with 800 cGy total body irradiation (TBI) and fludarabine (Flu, 30 mg/m2/day) for 5 days using step‐by‐step dose de‐escalation. The dose of ATG was de‐escalated from 10 mg/kg (group 1), to 7.5 mg/kg (group 2), to 5 mg/kg (group 3), and the TBI dose was reduced to 600 cGy (group 4) beginning in October 2014. If one patient developed transplant‐related mortality (TRM) with engraftment in a group, we moved to the next lower dose group. Thirty‐four patients were enrolled in groups 1‐3 (n = 10) and 4 (n = 24). All patients achieved primary engraftment. The incidence of acute GVHD (grade ≥ 2) and chronic GVHD (≥ moderate) was 29.4% and 14.7%, respectively. With a median follow‐up of 56.6 and 21.8 months in groups 1‐3 and group 4, respectively, the 2‐year probability of overall survival (91.7% in group 4 vs 70% in groups 1‐3, P = 0.155) and GVHD‐free survival (78.4% in group 4 vs 50% in groups 1‐3, P = 0.115) was shown tended to be better in group 4. This study explored an optimal conditioning with step‐by‐step de‐escalation dosage of ATG and TBI to reduce TRM with sustained graft function. TBI‐600 cGy/Flu/intermediate‐dose ATG resulted in feasible outcomes of Haplo‐SCT for adult patients with SAA.
Small airways disease in an Operation Desert Storm Deployer: Case report and review of the literature on respiratory health and inhalational exposures from Gulf War I
Authors: Weiler Bethany A. , Colby Thomas V. , Floreth Timothy J. , Hines Stella E.
Published: August 2018

Constrictive Bronchiolitis (CB) has been reported in US Operation Iraqi Freedom/Enduring Freedom (OIF/OEF) deployers but not in those from prior US conflicts. A 62‐year old presented with progressive dyspnea 13 years after deployment to the Persian Gulf in 1991‐1992, where he was exposed to burning oil well fire emissions, dust storms, and other potential airborne hazards. In 2014, after a chest computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrated diffuse mosaic attenuation, he underwent surgical lung biopsy, which revealed CB. Deployers from both GWI and OIF/OEF share many exposures. As respiratory symptoms are a feature associated with Gulf War medically unexplained illness, there may be a role for renewed interest in evaluating GWI Veterans with unexplained respiratory symptoms for conditions such as CB, which may result from exposures relevant to deployers from both conflicts.
Multipartite Quantum Coherence and Distribution under the Unruh Effect
Authors: He Juan , Ding Zhi‐Yong , Shi Jia‐Dong , Wu Tao
Published: August 2018

Quantum coherence of the tripartite W state and Greenberger–Horne–Zeilinger (GHZ) state under the Unruh effect are explored based on the model of a two‐level detector qubit coupled to a massless scalar field. The results reveal that Unruh thermal noise really destroys tripartite quantum resources. It is worth mentioning that the quantum coherence of the GHZ state reaches zero in the infinite acceleration limit, but that of the W‐state always remains nonzero. Coherence of the GHZ state displays a sudden death as the coupling parameter grows, while coherence freezing can be witnessed for the W state. It can be concluded that the W state is more robust than the GHZ state against Unruh radiation. Moreover, the related investigation can be expanded to N‐qubit quantum systems and the corresponding analytical solution is obtained. It indicates that the larger number W‐type entangled qubit can be as a better quantum resource for quantum information tasks under the Unruh effect.
H2 Oxidation Electrocatalysis Enabled by Metal‐to‐Metal Hydrogen Atom Transfer: A Homolytic Approach to a Heterolytic Reaction
Authors: Chambers Geoffrey M. , Wiedner Eric S. , Bullock R. Morris
Published: August 2018

Oxidation of H2 in a fuel cell converts the chemical energy of the H−H bond into electricity. Electrocatalytic oxidation of H2 by molecular catalysts typically requires one metal to perform multiple chemical steps: bind H2, heterolytically cleave H2, and then undergo two oxidation and two deprotonation steps. The electrocatalytic oxidation of H2 by a cooperative system using Cp*Cr(CO)3H and [Fe(diphosphine)(CO)3]+ has now been invetigated. A key step of the proposed mechanism is a rarely observed metal‐to‐metal hydrogen atom transfer from the Cr−H complex to the Fe, forming an Fe−H complex that is deprotonated and then oxidized electrochemically. This “division of chemical labor” features Cr interacting with H2 to cleave the H−H bond, while Fe interfaces with the electrode. Neither metal is required to heterolytically cleave H2, so this system provides a very unusual example of a homolytic reaction being a key step in a molecular electrocatalytic process.
Boosting Hydrogen Production by Anodic Oxidation of Primary Amines over a NiSe Nanorod Electrode
Authors: Huang Yi , Chong Xiaodan , Liu Cuibo , Liang Yu , Zhang Bin
Published: August 2018

For electrocatalytic water splitting, the sluggish anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) restricts the cathodic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Therefore, developing an alternative anodic reaction with accelerating kinetics to produce value‐added chemicals, especially coupled with HER, is of great importance. Now, a thermodynamically more favorable primary amine (−CH2−NH2) electrooxidation catalyzed by NiSe nanorod arrays in water is reported to replace OER for enhancing HER. The increased H2 production can be obtained at cathode; meanwhile, a variety of aromatic and aliphatic primary amines are selectively electrooxidized to nitriles with good yields at the anode. Mechanistic investigations suggest that NiII/NiIII may serve as the redox active species for the primary amines transformation. Hydrophobic nitrile products can readily escape from aqueous electrolyte/electrode interface, avoiding the deactivation of the catalyst and thus contributing to continuous gram‐scale synthesis.
CNC pincer palladium complex supported on magnetic chitosan as highly efficient and recyclable nanocatalyst in C─C coupling reactions
Authors: Rafiee Fatemeh , Hosseini S. Azam
Published: August 2018

A stable and durable magnetic chitosan‐supported triazine‐bridged bisimidazolium pincer palladium catalyst (Fe3O4@ChC@CNC‐PdII) was synthesized and characterized using various techniques. The Fe3O4@ChC@CNC‐PdII complex displayed high activity in the production of substituted biaryls via the cross‐coupling reactions of aryl halides with arylboronic acids. Also, this catalyst could be simply recovered from the reaction mixture and reused in 13 consecutive runs with no loss of its catalytic activity.
Design of microfluidic bioreactors: Transport regimes
Authors: Piemonte Vincenzo , Cerbelli Stefano , Capocelli Mauro , Di Paola Luisa , Prisciandaro Marina , Basile Angelo
Published: August 2018

An advection–diffusion–reaction transport model for a continuous reactor characterized by a simple geometry is simulated to provide a design guidance for the realization of an optimized experimental prototype consisting of a rectangular channel hosting a scaffold slab that provides an immobilizing support for the cells. A counter‐current carrier flow crossing the channel feeds the oxygen and growth factors and ensures the removal of metabolic products. A more complex sinusoidal configuration, which has been recently used as for hepatocyte culture, is proposed and evaluated. Silico tests shows how the designed device is able to replicate the endothelial–parenchymal interface of a liver sinusoid.
Adaptive Fault‐Tolerant Attitude Tracking Control of Rigid Spacecraft on Lie Group with Fixed‐Time Convergence
Authors: Shi Xiao‐Ning , Zhou Zhi‐Gang , Zhou Di
Published: August 2018

This paper investigates the fixed‐time attitude tracking problem for rigid spacecraft in the presence of inertial uncertainties, external disturbances, actuator faults, and input saturation constraints. The logarithm map is first utilized to transform the tracking problem on SO(3) into the stabilization one on its associated Lie algebra (
). A novel nonsingular fixed‐time‐based sliding mode is designed, which not only avoids the singularity but also guarantees that the convergence time of tracking errors along the sliding surface is independent of the state value. Then, an adaptive fault‐tolerant control law is constructed, in which an online adaptive law is incorporated to estimate the upper boundary of the lumped uncertainties. The combined control scheme enforces the system state to reach a neighborhood of the sliding surface in the sense of the fixed‐time concept. The key feature of the resulting control scheme is that it can accommodate actuator failures under limited control torque without the knowledge of fault information. Numerical simulations are finally performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed fixed‐time controllers.
Teleoperation Control of a Position‐Based Impedance Force Controlled Mobile Robot by Neural Network Learning: Experimental Studies
Authors: Choi Hojin , Jung Seul
Published: August 2018

Effective haptic performance in teleoperation control systems can be achieved by solving two major problems: the time‐delay in communication channels and the transparency of force control. The time‐delay in communication channels causes poor performance and even instability in a system. The transparency of force feedback is important for an operator to improve the performance of a given task. This article suggests a possible solution for these two problems through the implementation of a teleoperation control system between the master haptic device and the slave mobile robot. Regulation of the contact force in the slave mobile robot is achieved by introducing a position‐based impedance force control scheme in the slave robot. The time‐delay problem is addressed by forming a Smith predictor configuration in the teleoperation control environment. The configuration of the Smith predictor structure takes the time‐delay term out of the characteristic equation in order to make the system stable when the system model is given a priori. Since the Smith predictor is formulated from exact linear modeling, a neural network is employed to identify and model the slave robot system as a nonlinear model estimator. Simulation studies of several control schemes are performed. Experimental studies are conducted to verify the performance of the proposed control scheme by regulating the contact force of a mobile robot through the master haptic device.
Change points in heavy‐tailed multivariate time series: Methods using precision matrices
Authors: Cribben Ivor
Published: August 2018

We propose two robust data‐driven techniques for detecting network structure change points between heavy‐tailed multivariate time series for situations where both the placement and number of change points are unknown. The first technique utilizes the graphical lasso method to estimate the change points, whereas the second technique utilizes the tlasso method. The techniques not only locate the change points but also estimate an undirected graph (or precision matrix) representing the relationship between the time series within each interval created by pairs of adjacent change points. An inference procedure on the edges is used in the graphs to effectively remove false‐positive edges, which are caused by the data deviating from normality. The techniques are compared using simulated multivariate t‐distributed (heavy‐tailed) time series data and the best method is applied to two financial returns data sets of stocks and indices. The results illustrate the method's ability to determine how the dependence structure of the returns changes over time. This information could potentially be used as a tool for portfolio optimization.
Statistische Energiekennzahlen für Deutschland: Heizenergie‐Verbrauchsentwicklung im Wohnungsbestand seit 2004
Authors: Schröder Franz , Seeberg Axel , Novotny Dieter , Johannsen Frank , Cerny Ralph
Published: August 2018

Es werden repräsentative Trends der Energiekennzahlen für den Deutschen Wohngebäudebestand von 2004 bis 2016 präsentiert. Dabei basiert die statistische Gesamtheit auf 1,6 Mio. Gebäudeenergieabrechnungen und erfasst damit ca. 1,2 Mrd. m2 Wohnfläche, 180 TWh Energie, 200 Mio. m3 Trinkwasser und differenziert nach Heizanlagentyp und Gebäudegröße. Beobachtet wird im Mittel eine Reduktion des reinen Energieverbrauchs für Raumheizung von 11 bis12 %. Gegenläufig hingegen zeigt sich der Trend beim Energieeinsatz für Trinkwassererwärmung (TWE), nämlich ansteigend um 5 bis 6 % sowie eine effektive Steigerung des TWE‐Anteils am Energieeinsatz um 2 % von etwa 22 auf 24 %. Die effektive Heizenergiereduktion ist zudem im Abnehmen begriffen, denn zwei Drittel entfallen bereits auf den Zeitraum bis 2010 und nur ein Drittel auf die Periode danach. Der hochgerechnete relative Reduktionstrend für Einfamilienhäuser fällt insgesamt um knapp ein Drittel geringer aus, d. h. der reine Heizenergieverbrauch von 2013 bis 2016 liegt nur etwa 8 bis 8,5 % unter dem der Jahre 2004 bis 2008. Die beobachteten Reduktionen des Heizenergieverbrauchs durch energetische Sanierung oder Neubau fallen demnach deutlich geringer aus als gemäß EnEV veranschlagt. In Umfang und Kontext durchaus repräsentativ für den deutschen Wohnungsbestand belegt diese Statistik belastbar die bestehende Diskrepanz zu den EU Klimazielen 20 – 20 – 20. Im Hinblick auf klimawirksame CO2‐Minderung hat sich die Bedeutung der kostenintensiven, rein bauphysikalischen Maßnahmen im Wohngebäudebestand daher stark relativiert. Möglicherweise stößt eine isoliert via EnEV erreichbare Minderung des Endenergieverbrauchs an Grenzen, dergestalt, dass Investitionen entschlossener auf Verringerung des Primärenergiebedarfs, d. h. auf forcierten Austausch der Energieträger, effiziente Sektorenkopplung unter Verkehrsvermeidung sowie auf den Ausbau digitaler Assistenzsysteme zur Energieeffizienzsteigerung und Personenversorgung in den Wohnumgebungen zugeschnitten werden sollten.
High‐Performance Biosensing Systems Based on Various Nanomaterials as Signal Transducers
Authors: Lee Jaewook , Adegoke Oluwasesan , Park Enoch Y.
Published: August 2018

Recently, highly sensitive and selective biosensors have become necessary for improving public health and well‐being. To fulfill this need, high‐performance biosensing systems based on various nanomaterials, such as nanoparticles, carbon nanomaterials, and hybrid nanomaterials, are developed. Numerous nanomaterials show excellent physical properties, including plasmonic, magnetic, catalytic, mechanical and fluorescence properties and high electrical conductivities, and these unique and beneficial properties have contributed to the fabrication of high‐performance biosensors with various applications, including in optical, electrical, and electrochemical detection platforms. In addition, these properties can be transformed to signals for the detection of biomolecules. In this review, various types of nanomaterial‐based biosensors are introduced, and they show high sensitivity and selectivity. In addition, the potential applications of these sensors on the biosensing of several types of biomolecules are also discussed. These nanomaterials‐based biosensing systems provide a significant improvement on healthcare including rapid monitoring and early detection of infectious disease for public health.
Genome‐Scale Metabolic Reconstruction of Actinomycetes for Antibiotics Production
Authors: Mohite Omkar S. , Weber Tilmann , Kim Hyun Uk , Lee Sang Yup
Published: August 2018

Systems biology approaches are increasingly applied to explore the potential of actinomycetes for the discovery and optimal production of antibiotics. In particular, genome‐scale metabolic models (GEMs) of various actinomycetes are reconstructed at a faster rate in recent years, which has opened avenues to study interaction between primary and secondary metabolism at systems level, and to predict gene manipulation targets for overproduction of important antibiotics. Here, the status of actinomycetes’ GEMs and their applications for designing antibiotics‐overproducing strains are presented. Despite advances in the practice of GEM reconstruction, actinomycetes’ GEMs still remain incomplete in describing a full set of biosynthetic pathways of secondary metabolites. As to the GEM‐based strategies, various simulation methods are deployed to better describe secondary metabolism by introducing changes in constraints and/or objective function as well as by using omics data. Gene manipulation targeting algorithms developed for metabolic engineering of model organisms have also been actively applied to actinomycetes for the antibiotics production. Further consideration of computational resources dedicated to secondary metabolites in addition with automated GEM reconstruction tools will further upgrade GEMs of actinomycetes for antibiotics discovery and development.
Algorithm for adaptive learning process and improving learners’ skills in Java programming language
Authors: Gavrilović Nebojša , Arsić Aleksandra , Domazet Dragan , Mishra Alok
Published: August 2018

Adaptive approaches within distance learning systems enable adapting teaching process to the needs of each learner during the learning process. This paper presents an algorithm for creating an adaptive learning process that provides knowledge and skills improvement for learners in the Java programming language. Also, it presents the application of the tool that checks the learner's knowledge through solving practical tasks from the Java programming language. The adaptive learning process in this work leads the learner through teaching materials and practical tasks where the acquired knowledge is required to be applied. Also, the algorithm, based on the measurement of knowledge and time spent on a particular part of the learning process with detailed feedback and the demonstration of observed deficiencies, directs the learner to teaching materials that allow improving the demonstrated knowledge. Teaching materials are conceived as learning objects and, as such, allow for the application of adaptive approach. An analysis of the effectiveness of the algorithm and tool for practical knowledge testing from the Java programming language was done with a test group of learners who gave their opinions and grades.
Molecular profiles of tumor contrast enhancement: A radiogenomic analysis in anaplastic gliomas
Authors: Liu Xing , Li Yiming , Sun Zhiyan , Li Shaowu , Wang Kai , Fan Xing , Liu Yuqing , Wang Lei , Wang Yinyan , Jiang Tao
Published: August 2018

The presence of contrast enhancement (CE) on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is conventionally regarded as an indicator for tumor malignancy. However, the biological behaviors and molecular mechanism of enhanced tumor are not well illustrated. The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular profiles associated with anaplastic gliomas (AGs) presenting CE on postcontrast T1‐weighted MR imaging. In this retrospective database study, RNA sequencing and MR imaging data of 91 AGs from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and 64 from the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) were collected. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), significant analysis of microarray, generalized linear models, and Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator algorithm were used to explore radiogenomic and prognostic signatures of AG patients. GSEA indicated that angiogenesis and epithelial‐mesenchymal transition were significantly associated with post‐CE. Genes driving immune system response, cell proliferation, and focal adhesions were also significantly enriched. Gene ontology of 237 differential genes indicated consistent results. A 48‐gene signature for CE was identified in TCGA and validated in CGGA dataset (area under the curve = 0.9787). Furthermore, seven genes derived from the CE‐specific signature could stratify AG patients into two subgroups based on overall survival time according to corresponding risk score. Comprehensive analysis of post‐CE and genomic characteristics leads to a better understanding of radiology‐pathology correlations. Our gene signature helps interpret the occurrence of radiological traits and predict clinical outcomes. Additionally, we found nine prognostic quantitative radiomic features of CE and investigated the underlying biological processes of them.
Effect of mechanistic target of rapamycin inhibitors on postrenal transplantation malignancy: A nationwide cohort study
Authors: Hou Yi‐Chou , Chang Yen‐Chen , Luo Hao‐Lun , Lu Kuo‐Cheng , Chiang Po‐Huang
Published: August 2018

Background

Post‐transplantation malignancy influenced graft survival and overall survival in the patients receiving renal transplantation. Immunosuppressants influenced the immune surveillance, but whether immunosuppressive agents have impact for incidence of post‐transplantation malignancy is still elusive in Taiwan.

Method

We conducted a nationwide population‐based study. Patients who did not have malignancy history and received kidney transplantation between 2000 and 2010 were enrolled. Specific immunosuppressive users are defined as sustained use (more than 12 months) after renal transplantation. The primary outcome is the development of cancer after kidney transplantation. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine the risk of cancer development.

Result

Among 4438 recipients, 559 of them were diagnosed with malignancy after 1 year of transplantation. A total of 742 of recipients were as user of mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors. The mTOR users had higher rate of receiving pulse therapy. The hazard ratios (HR) for mTOR inhibitor users with exposure more than 5 years for overall malignancy and urothelial malignancy were 0.68 (95% CI: 0.48‐0.95, P = 0.02) and 0.60 (95% CI: 0.36‐0.99, P = 0.02), respectively. For the overall mortality and reentry of dialysis, the probability of both groups was similar (overall mortality: P = 0.53; reentry of dialysis: P = 0.77).

Conclusion

Among the recipients of renal transplantation in Taiwan, mTOR inhibitors with exposure more than 5 years provided a protective role in reducing the risk of overall neoplasm and urothelial malignancy. The probability of reentry of dialysis and overall mortality was similar between the mTORi users and nonusers.
Cancer patients as frequent attenders in emergency departments: A national cohort study
Authors: Wong Ting Hway , Lau Zheng Yi , Ong Whee Sze , Tan Kelvin Bryan , Wong Yu Jie , Farid Mohamad , Teo Melissa Ching Ching , Yee Alethea Chung Pheng , Nguyen Hai V. , Ong Marcus Eng Hock , Iyer N. Gopalakrishna
Published: August 2018

Background

Cancer patients contribute significantly to emergency department (ED) utilization. The objective of this study was to identify factors associated with patients becoming ED frequent attenders (FA) after a cancer‐related hospitalization.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted using national administrative, billing, and death records of Singapore residents discharged alive from Singapore public hospitals from January 2012 to December 2015, with a primary discharge diagnosis of cancer. Patients with four or more ED visits within any 12‐month period after discharge from their index hospitalization were classified as FA. Time to FA distribution was estimated using the Kaplan‐Meier method, and factors associated with risk of FA were identified using multivariate Cox regression analyses.

Results

Records for 47 235 patients were analyzed, of whom 2980 patients were FA within the study period. Age (<17 years, hazard ratio [HR] 2.92, 95% CI 2.28‐3.74; 75‐84 years, HR 1.29, 95% CI 1.16‐1.45; and ≥85 years, HR 1.71, 95% CI 1.45‐2.02, relative to age 55‐64), male gender (HR 1.26, 95% CI 1.16‐1.37), Charlson comorbidity index (HR 1.21, 95% CI 1.19‐1.23), and socioeconomic factors (Medifund use, HR 1.40, 95% CI 1.23‐1.59; housing subsidy type, HR 2.12, 95% CI 1.77‐2.54) were associated with increased risk of FA. Primary malignancies associated with FA included brain and spine (HR 2.51, 95% CI 1.67‐3.75), head and neck cancers (tongue, HR 2.05, 95% CI 1.27‐3.31; hypopharynx, HR 2.72, 95% CI 1.56‐4.74), lung (trachea and lung, HR 1.57, 95% CI 1.13‐2.18; pleural, HR 3.69, 95% CI 2.12‐6.34), upper gastrointestinal (stomach, HR 1.93, 95% CI 1.26‐2.74; esophagus, HR 4.13, 95% CI 2.78‐6.13), hepato‐pancreato‐biliary (liver, HR 1.42, 95% CI 1.01‐2.00, pancreas, HR 2.48, 95% CI 1.72‐3.59), and certain hematological malignancies (diffuse non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma, HR1.59, 95% CI 1.08‐2.33, lymphoid leukemia, HR 1.86, 95% CI 1.21‐2.86). Brain (HR 1.69, 95% CI 1.27‐2.26), lung (HR 1.31, 95% CI 1.01‐1.71), liver (HR 1.46, 95% CI 1.14‐1.89), and bone (HR 1.35, 95% CI 1.04‐1.76) metastases were also associated with FA.

Conclusion

There are cancer‐specific factors contributing to ED frequent attendance. Additional resources should be allocated to support high‐risk groups and prevent unnecessary ED use.