bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Traffic form and season of wear affect responses of fine fescues
Authors: Chen Hui , Park Bradley S. , Murphy James A.
Published: December 2020

The performance of fine fescue (Festuca spp.) species and cultivars may differ by traffic form or the season of wear simulation. Two trials were initiated in 2012 to evaluate the effect of traffic form (abrasive wear vs. cleated traffic) and season of wear (spring, summer, or autumn) on 10 fine fescues seeded in North Brunswick, NJ. Plots were visually assessed for the fullness of turfgrass canopy (FTC) and leaf bruising. Verdure and soil physical properties were assessed after the last assessment period in the traffic form trial. Abrasive wear constantly reduced the FTC (14–30%) of fine fescues compare to the non‐trafficked control, while the FTC of plots with cleated traffic was similar to the non‐trafficked control towards the end of the study. Although both traffic forms caused soil compaction, cleated traffic resulted in a more compacted soil. Abrasive wear improved selection efficiency for fine fescues compared to cleated traffic. The FTC response of fine fescues cultivars interacted with the season of wear; thus, screening for fine fescues with improved ability to withstand abrasive wear might be more effective and accurate during spring to avoid high disease pressure and other confounding stresses during summer. ‘Blueray’ and ‘Beacon’ hard fescue, ‘Quatro’ sheep fescue, and ‘Radar’ Chewings were more traffic tolerant than other fine fescue cultivars under low disease pressure. The propensity of fine fescues to bruising under wear needs to be assessed in both summer and autumn.
Prognostic impact of LY6K and CDCA1 expression for patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Oguma Junya , Ozawa Soji , Sakakibara Terue , Kajiwara Hiroshi , Nakamura Naoya , Makuuchi Hiroyasu
Published: December 2020

Aim

In the present study, we investigated the relationship between the expressions of two cancer testis antigens (CTA), LY6K (lymphocyte antigen 6 complex locus K) and CDCA1 (cell division cycle associated 1), in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) tumors and the long‐term outcomes of patients with ESCC to clarify the clinical significance of LY6K and CDCA1 expression in ESCC tumors.

Methods

A total of 175 patients with thoracic ESCC who had undergone a thoracic esophagectomy with three‐field lymphadenectomy without neoadjuvant therapy were retrospectively reviewed in this study. LY6K and CDCA1 expressions were evaluated in tumor tissues using immunohistochemical (IH) staining.

Results

Median patient age was 63 years; 159 patients (90.9%) were men. Ninety‐four patients (55.3%) were LY6K‐positive, and 85 patients (48.6%) were CDCA1‐positive. The LY6K‐positive group had a significantly worse overall survival (OS) than the LY6K‐negative group (P = 0.012), and the CDCA1‐positive group had a significantly worse OS than the CDCA1‐negative group (P = 0.010). A multivariate analysis suggested that pathological N stage, venous invasion, LK6Y‐positive and CDCA1‐positive were independent prognostic factors. The patients were classified into four groups according to the staining pattern combinations of the two CTA. The LY6K‐positive and CDCA1‐positive group was found to have a significantly poorer outcome than the other groups.

Conclusion

ESCC patients with a combination of LY6K and CDCA1 expression in their tumor tissues had a worse prognosis than all the other ESCC patients and it was an independent factor associated with prognosis for patients with ESCC.
Partially Coherent Dual Nonparaxial Accelerating Beams
Authors: Zeng Zishuai , Zhao Daomu
Published: December 2020

Partially coherent dual nonparaxial accelerating beams are constructed from the perspective of a superposition of fully coherent modes and incoherent interference effects among these modes. It is found that divergence angle and partial coherence of such beams can be altered by a curvature parameter. At the beginning of the propagation, such beams focus in the case of constructive interference, but they leave a central dip in the destructive case. Additionally, the extension of a crossed‐shaped intensity distribution caused by interference is slower than that of the transverse beam frame evidently. In particular, moving along the nonparaxial accelerating trajectory on the micrometer scale, the main lobes of these beams can diverge to a nearly flat angle. As such, these beams are likely to have applications in microscopic particle manipulation and coherence image processing.
Glycoengineering of NK Cells with Glycan Ligands of CD22 and Selectins for B‐Cell Lymphoma Therapy
Authors: Hong Senlian , Yu Chenhua , Wang Peng , Shi Yujie , Cao Weiqian , Cheng Bo , Chapla Digantkumar G. , Ma Yuanhui , Li Jie , Rodrigues Emily , Narimatsu Yoshiki , Yates John R. , Chen Xing , Clausen Henrik , Moremen Kelly W. , Macauley Matthew Scott , Paulson James C. , Wu Peng
Published: December 2020

CD22, a member of Siglec family of sialic acid binding proteins, has restricted expression on B cells. Antibody‐based agents targeting CD22 or CD20 on B lymphoma and leukemia cells exhibit clinical efficacy for treating these malignancies, but also attack normal B cells leading to immune deficiency. Here, we report a chemoenzymatic glycocalyx editing strategy to introduce high‐affinity and specific CD22 ligands onto NK‐92MI and cytokine‐induced natural killer cells to achieve tumor‐specific CD22 targeting. These CD22‐ligand modified cells exhibited significantly enhanced tumor cell binding and killing in vitro without harming healthy B cells. For effective lymphoma cell killing in vivo, we further functionalized CD22 ligand‐modified NK‐92MI cells with the E‐selectin ligand sialyl Lewis X to promote trafficking to bone marrow. The dual‐functionalized cells resulted in the efficient suppression of B lymphoma in a xenograft model. Our results suggest that natural killer cells modified with glycan ligands to CD22 and selectins promote both targeted killing of B lymphoma cells and improved trafficking to sites where the cancer cells reside, respectively.
Rechargeable Aqueous Aluminum Organic Batteries
Authors: Chen Jiangchun , Zhu Qiaonan , Jiang Li , Liu Rongyang , Yang Yan , Tang Mengyao , Wang Jiawei , Wang Hua , Guo Lin
Published: December 2020

Aqueous aluminum‐ion batteries (AABs) are regarded as promising next‐generation energy storage devices, and the current reported cathodes for AABs mainly focused on inorganic materials which usually implement a typical Al3+ ions (de)insertion mechanism. However, the strong electrostatic forces between Al3+ and the host materials usually lead to sluggish kinetics, poor reversibility and inferior cycling stability. Herein, we employ an organic compound with redox‐active moieties, phenazine (PZ), as the cathode material in AABs. Different from conventional inorganic materials confined by limited lattice spacing and rigid structure, the flexible organic molecules allow a large‐size Al‐complex co‐intercalation through reversible redox active centers (‐C=N‐) of PZ. This co‐intercalation behavior can effectively reduce desolvation penalty, and substantially lower the Coulombic repulsion during the ion (de)insertion process. Consequently, this organic cathode exhibits a high capacity and excellent cyclability, which exceeds those of most reported electrode materials for AABs. This work highlights the anion co‐intercalation chemistry of redox‐active organic materials, which is expected to boost the development of high‐performance multivalent‐ion battery systems.
Carboranealkynyl‐Protected Gold Nanoclusters: Size Conversion and UV/Vis–NIR Optical Properties
Authors: Wang Jie , Wang Zhao‐Yang , Li Shi‐Jun , Zang Shuang‐Quan , Mak Thomas C. W.
Published: December 2020

Structure evolution has become an effective way to assemble novel monolayer‐protected metal nanomolecules. However, evolution with alkynyl‐stabilized metal clusters still remains rarely explored. Herein, we present a carboranealkynyl‐protected gold nanocluster [Au28(C4B10H11)12(tht)8]3+ (Au28, tht=tetrahydrothiophene) possessing an open‐shell electronic structure with 13 free electrons, which was isolated by a facile self‐reduction method with 9‐HC≡C‐closo‐1,2‐C2B10H11 as the two‐in‐one reducing and protecting agent. Notably, Au28 undergoes a complete transformation in methanol into a stable and smaller‐sized nanocluster [Au23(C4B10H11)9(tht)6]2+ (Au23) bearing 12 valence electrons and crystal‐field‐like split superatomic 1D orbitals. The transformation process was systematically monitored with ESI‐MS and UV/Vis absorption spectra. Au28 and Au23 both display optical absorption covering the UV/Vis–NIR range and NIR emission, which facilitates their potential application in the biomedical and photocatalytic fields.
Non‐Carbohydrate Glycomimetics as Inhibitors of Calcium(II)‐Binding Lectins
Authors: Kuhaudomlarp Sakonwan , Siebs Eike , Shanina Elena , Topin Jérémie , Joachim Ines , da Silva Figueiredo Celestino Gomes Priscila , Varrot Annabelle , Rognan Didier , Rademacher Christoph , Imberty Anne , Titz Alexander
Published: December 2020

Because of the antimicrobial resistance crisis, lectins are considered novel drug targets. Pseudomonas aeruginosa utilizes LecA and LecB in the infection process. Inhibition of both lectins with carbohydrate‐derived molecules can reduce biofilm formation to restore antimicrobial susceptibility. Here, we focused on non‐carbohydrate inhibitors for LecA to explore new avenues for lectin inhibition. From a screening cascade we obtained one experimentally confirmed hit, a catechol, belonging to the well‐known PAINS compounds. Rigorous analyses validated electron‐deficient catechols as millimolar LecA inhibitors. The first co‐crystal structure of a non‐carbohydrate inhibitor in complex with a bacterial lectin clearly demonstrates the catechol mimicking the binding of natural glycosides with LecA. Importantly, catechol 3 is the first non‐carbohydrate lectin ligand that binds bacterial and mammalian calcium(II)‐binding lectins, giving rise to this fundamentally new class of glycomimetics.
To Every Rule There is an Exception: A Rational Extension of Loewenstein's Rule
Authors: Fant Magnus , Ångqvist Mattias , Hellman Anders , Erhart Paul
Published: December 2020

Loewenstein's rule, which states that Al−O−Al motifs are energetically unstable, is fundamental to the understanding and design of zeolites. Here, using a combination of electronic structure calculations and lattice models, we show under which circumstances this rule becomes invalid and how it can be rationally extended using the chabasite framework for demonstration.
One‐Step Sixfold Cyanation of Benzothiadiazole Acceptor Units for Air‐Stable High‐Performance n‐Type Organic Field‐Effect Transistors
Authors: Kafourou Panagiota , Park Byoungwook , Luke Joel , Tan Luxi , Panidi Julianna , Glöcklhofer Florian , Kim Jehan , Anthopoulos Thomas D. , Kim Ji‐Seon , Lee Kwanghee , Kwon Sooncheol , Heeney Martin
Published: December 2020

Reported here is a new high electron affinity acceptor end group for organic semiconductors, 2,1,3‐benzothiadiazole‐4,5,6‐tricarbonitrile (TCNBT). An n‐type organic semiconductor with an indacenodithiophene (IDT) core and TCNBT end groups was synthesized by a sixfold nucleophilic substitution with cyanide on a fluorinated precursor, itself prepared by a direct arylation approach. This one‐step chemical modification significantly impacted the molecular properties: the fluorinated precursor, TFBT IDT, a poor ambipolar semiconductor, was converted into TCNBT IDT, a good n‐type semiconductor. The electron‐deficient end group TCNBT dramatically decreased the energy of the highest occupied and lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals (HOMO/LUMO) compared to the fluorinated analogue and improved the molecular orientation when utilized in n‐type organic field‐effect transistors (OFETs). Solution‐processed OFETs based on TCNBT IDT exhibited a charge‐carrier mobility of up to μe≈0.15 cm2 V−1 s−1 with excellent ambient stability for 100 hours, highlighting the benefits of the cyanated end group and the synthetic approach.
Dimerization of Linear Butenes and Pentenes in an Acidic Zeolite (H‐MFI)
Authors: Berger Fabian , Sauer Joachim
Published: December 2020

Quantum chemical evidence is produced to show that dimerization of linear butenes and pentenes at zeolitic Brønsted sites in H‐MFI yields alkanes featuring cyclohexane rings rather than branched alkenes. The absence of any C=C double bond in the formed cyclic alkane explains the observations that oligomerization stops at the dimer. The calculated reaction enthalpies for the dimerization of 2‐pentene in the gas phase are −84 kJ mol−1 for branched alkenes, but −153 and −154 kJ mol−1 for alkyl‐cyclopentane and ‐hexane, respectively. Together with calculated adsorption enthalpies of the dimers, −111 and −127 kJ mol−1, respectively, this implies surface dimer formation enthalpies of −264 and −281 kJ mol−1, respectively, in close agreement with the experimental value of −285 kJ mol−1. In contrast, the predicted enthalpy for formation of branched alkoxides, −198 kJ mol−1, deviates by 87 kJ mol−1 from experiment. Calculated IR spectra for the Brønsted OH group show the observed conversion of the band at approximately 3000 cm−1 (hydrogen bond with alkene) to a less intense band at approximately 3450–3500 cm−1 (interaction with alkane).
Topological‐Distortion‐Driven Amorphous Spherical Metal‐Organic Frameworks for High‐Quality Single‐Mode Microlasers
Authors: Gao Zhenhua , Xu Baoyuan , Fan Yuqing , Zhang Tongjin , Chen Shunwei , Yang Shuo , Zhang Weiguang , Sun Xun , Wei Yanhui , Wang Zifei , Wang Xue , Meng Xiangeng , Zhao Yong Sheng
Published: December 2020

Metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) have recently emerged as appealing platforms to construct microlasers owing to their compelling characters combining the excellent stability of inorganic materials and processable characters of organic materials. However, MOF microstructures developed thus far are generally composed of multiple edge boundaries due to their crystalline nature, which consequently raises significant scattering losses that are detrimental to lasing performance. In this work, we propose a strategy to overcome the above drawback by designing spherically shaped MOFs microcavities. Such spherical MOF microstructures are constructed by amorphizing MOFs with a topological distortion network through introducing flexible building blocks into the growth environment. With an ultra‐smooth surface and excellent circular boundaries, the acquired spherical microcavities possess a Q factor as high as ≈104 and can provide sufficient feedback for high‐quality single‐mode lasing oscillations. We hope that these results will pave an avenue for the construction of new types of flexible MOF‐based photonic components.
Atomically Dispersed Reactive Centers for Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction and Water Splitting
Authors: Zhang Huabin , Cheng Weiren , Luan Deyan , Lou Xiong Wen (David)
Published: December 2020

Developing electrocatalytic energy conversion technologies for replacing the traditional energy source is highly expected to resolve the fossil fuel exhaustion and related environmental problems. Exploring stable and high‐efficiency electrocatalysts is of vital importance for the promotion of these technologies. Single‐atom catalysts (SACs), with atomically distributed active sites on supports, perform as emerging materials in catalysis and present promising prospects for a wide range of applications. The rationally designed near‐range coordination environment, long‐range electronic interaction and microenvironment of the coordination sphere cast huge influence on the reaction mechanism and related catalytic performance of SACs. In the current Review, some recent developments of atomically dispersed reactive centers for electrocatalytic CO2 reduction and water splitting are well summarized. The catalytic mechanism and the underlying structure–activity relationship are elaborated based on the recent progresses of various operando investigations. Finally, by highlighting the challenges and prospects for the development of single‐atom catalysis, we hope to shed some light on the future research of SACs for the electrocatalytic energy conversion.
Diols Activation by Cu/Borinic Acids Synergistic Catalysis in Atroposelective Ring‐Opening of Cyclic Diaryliodoniums
Authors: Zhao Kun , Yang Shan , Gong Qi , Duan Longhui , Gu Zhenhua
Published: December 2020

A Cu‐catalyzed enantioselective ring‐opening alkoxygenation reaction of cyclic diaryliodonium salts and diols in the presence of borinic acids was reported. Tuning structure of borinic acids with six or five‐membered ring skeleton could selectively activate 1,2‐diols or 1,4‐diols. A catalytic cycle through a key ion pair model that accounts for the observed enantioselectivity was proposed.
Electrocatalytic Iodine Reduction Reaction Enabled by Aqueous Zinc‐Iodine Battery with Improved Power and Energy Densities
Authors: Ma Longtao , Ying Yiran , Chen Shengmei , Huang Zhaodong , Li Xinliang , Huang Haitao , Zhi Chunyi
Published: December 2020

Proposed are Prussian blue analogue hosts with ordered and continuous channels, and electrocatalytic functionality with open Co and Fe species, which facilitate maximum I2 utilization efficiency and direct I2 to I− conversion kinetics of the I2 reduction reaction, and free up 1/3 I− from I3−. Co[Co1/4Fe3/4(CN)6] exhibits a low energy barrier (0.47 kJ mol−1) and low Tafel slope (76.74 mV dec−1). Accordingly, the Co[Co1/4Fe3/4(CN)6]/I2//Zn battery delivers a capacity of 236.8 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 and a rate performance with 151.4 mAh g−1 achieved even at 20 A g−1. The battery delivers both high energy density and high‐power density of 305.5 Wh kg−1 and 109.1 kW kg−1, higher than I2//Zn batteries reported to date. Furthermore, solid‐state flexible batteries were constructed. A 100 mAh high capacity solid‐state I2//Zn battery is demonstrated with excellent cycling performance of 81.2 % capacity retained after 400 cycles.
Probing Transient DNA Conformation Changes with an Intercalative Fluorescent Excimer
Authors: Chen Bin , Huang Qiuling , Qu Zhibei , Li Cong , Li Qian , Shi Jiye , Fan Chunhai , Wang Lihua , Zuo Xiaolei , Shen Jianlei , Li Jiang
Published: December 2020

Variation of DNA conformation is important in regulating gene expression and mediating drug‐DNA interactions. However, directly probing transient DNA conformation changes is challenging owing to the dynamic nature of this process. We show a label‐free fluorescence method to monitor transient DNA conformation changes in DNA structures with various lengths and shapes using a DNA intercalator, K21. K21 can form transient excimers on the surface of DNA; the ratiometric emission of monomer and excimer correlate to DNA transient conformation stability in numerous DNA structures, including i‐motifs, G‐quadruplex structures, and single nucleotide mutation at random position. We analyzed the conformation dynamics of a single plasmid before and after enzyme digestion with confocal fluorescence microscopy. This method provides a label‐free fluorescence strategy to probe transient conformation changes of DNA structures and has potential in uncovering transient genomic processes in living cells.
Das riechende Prinzip des Vetiveröls, aufgeklärt durch chemische Synthese
Authors: Ouyang Jie , Bae Hanyong , Jordi Samuel , Dao Quang Minh , Dossenbach Sandro , Dehn Stefanie , Lingnau Julia B. , Kanta De Chandra , Kraft Philip , List Benjamin
Published: December 2020

Vetiveröl wird im Multitonnen‐Maßstab aus den Wurzeln des Vetivergrases gewonnen und ist einer der begehrtesten Duftbausteine der modernen Parfümerie. Das exquisite ätherische Öl, das sich in über einem Drittel aller Parfüms findet, ist eine komplexe Mischung aus Hunderten von unterschiedlichen Verbindungen, wobei das riechende Prinzip, das für den charakteristischen sanften und süßen, transparenten, holzig‐ambrierten Geruchscharakter verantwortlich ist, bis heute Rätsel aufgibt. Durch eine elfstufige chemische Synthese mit einer neuartigen asymmetrischen organokatalytischen Mukaiyama‐Michael‐Addition im Zentrum beweisen wir hier, dass (+)‐2‐epi‐Ziza‐6(13)en‐3‐on das riechende Prinzip des Vetiveröls ist. Seine olfaktorische Charakterisierung ergab einen außergewöhnlich tiefen Schwellenwert von 29 Pikogramm pro Liter Luft, der für die sinnliche Aura und die quasi‐pheromonartige Anziehung, die es auf Parfümeure wie Verbraucher gleichermaßen ausübt, verantwortlich ist.
Reply to the Correspondence on “K2Sb(P2O7)F: Cairo Pentagonal Layer with Bifunctional Genes Reveal Optical Performance”
Authors: Deng Yalan , Huang Ling , Dong Xuehua , Wang Lei , Ok Kang Min , Zeng Hongmei , Lin Zhien , Zou Guohong
Published: December 2020

In their Correspondence, Sergey V. Krivovichev and Luca Bindi argue that the novel excellent nonlinear optical material antimony pyrophosphate, K2Sb(P2O7)F, reported in our Research Article published in this journal belongs to the fresnoite Ba2[TiO(Si2O7)] group and its structure is not novel in terms of either topology or local coordination geometry around Sb3+ cations. We clarify that the statements regarding structural features of our original paper are valid in context.
Effects of four isocyanates and four plasticizers on the thermomechanical and tensile properties of hydroxyl‐terminated polybutadiene elastomers and the effect of solid particle filling
Authors: Seyidoglu Tijen , Bohn Manfred A.
Published: December 2020

The aim of this study is to analyze effect of four different isocyanates and four different plasticizers in hydroxyl‐terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) based elastomers by quantitative analysis of the shape of the loss factor (tan δ), tensile strength, deformation frequency shift of the maximum temperatures of loss moduli G" and of tan δ. The first part of the study shows intensities of the tan δcurves with the four isocyanates follow the order HDI > IPDI > H12MDI > Desmodur™ E305. By molecular modeling of the isocyanates and the corresponding polyurethane parts the influence of molecular geometry on tan δare discussed. The second part of the study analyzes HTPB‐IPDI elastomers with the four different plasticizers DOA, DOS, DOZ, and IDP. The IDP provides lowestTgat about −83°C, while the others provide at about −78°C. In the third part, aluminum (Al‐18 μm) and ammonium perchlorate (AP‐200 μm) are added to HTPB‐IPDI+DOA to analyze the effect of particle size, wt% content and particle type on the shape and intensity of the tan δcurves. From the frequency shift of the two maximum temperatures one receives activation energies Eaf. Their average values without and with plasticizer are with tan δ178 and 165 kJ/mol and with G" 274 and 248 kJ/mol, respectively.
Thermal conductivity enhancement of liquid crystalline epoxy/MgO composites by formation of highly ordered network structure
Authors: Ota Saki , Harada Miyuki
Published: December 2020

To develop a high thermal conductive composite, an MgO filler was incorporated into a liquid crystalline (LC) epoxy containing a mesogenic moiety. The thermal conductivity of the obtained composite was 1.41 W/(m∙K) at 33 vol% content, which was remarkably higher than the value predicted using Bruggeman's model. To investigate the reason for this significant enhancement of the thermal conductivity in the LC epoxy composites, the LC phase structure of the composite was analyzed by a polarized optical microscope, an X‐ray diffractometry (XRD) and a polarized IR mapping measurement. An XRD analysis indicated the local formation of a highly ordered smectic phase structure, even in the high‐loading composite. This result indicated the promotion of the self‐assembly of the mesogenic network polymer chains by the MgO filler loading. We considered that this highly ordered structural formation can lead to an increase in the matrix resin's thermal conductivity, which can result in the effective enhancement of the thermal conductivity in the LC epoxy/MgO composite.
The vascular origins of antero‐medial tibial bowing in congenital fibular deficiency
Authors: Horton Jason A. , Hootnick David R.
Published: December 2020

Anteromedial bowing and shortening of the tibia are intrinsic features of limbs with congenital fibular deficiency (CFD). Tibial bowing occurs more frequently when the fibula is radiographically absent rather than deficient. The bowing has been attributed to rapid longitudinal growth of the tibial anlage coupled with anteromedial tibial bending moments of the posterior crural and lateral peroneal musculature unopposed in the absence of a fibular strut. Eccentric mechanical loading results in asymmetric mineral deposition and thickening of the diaphyseal cortex. Skeletogenesis depends upon an intimate interplay between the normally prefigured tibial cartilage anlage and beginning muscular contractile actions during initial vascularization of the anlage, while the embryonic limb vasculature is undergoing a series of transitions. A diaphyseal periosteal collar normally forms at the site of nutrient artery invasion and stabilizes the growing anlage. In CFD however, arteriography consistently reveals anomalous tibial nutrient arterial branches, which originate from a primitive axial artery rather than from the usual posterior tibial artery. These anomalous nutrient arteries enter the tibial shaft at the posterior aspect of the proximal metaphysis, establishing an eccentric bone collar. The developing vasculature of the embryonic limb is responsive to the then most metabolically active tissues. Disruption of the reciprocal relationship between the transitioning vasculature and the developing long bones is pivotal in producing the diverse skeletal malformations of the congenital short limb (CSL). Embryonic vascular dysgenesis contributes not only to the well‐recognized congenital tibial and fibular shortenings but also predisposes to congenital anteromedial bowing of the tibia.
Synthesis and Processing of Battery Materials: Giving it the Plasma Touch
Authors: Rangasamy Vijay Shankar , Vanhulsel Annick
Published: December 2020

Li‐ion batteries (LIBs) are currently the most preferred energy storage devices in portable applications. Recent surge in the production of electric vehicles in the wake of the current global warming scenario has strongly increased the demand for LIBs, thereby reinforcing the need for new battery chemistries as well as making the existing production chain more efficient and sustainable. Several new technologies are explored to achieve these goals. Among them, plasma technology has the potential to simplify the synthesis and modification of battery materials, enable ‘dry’ and ‘green’ processing that eliminate the need for solvents that are often toxic, expensive, flammable, and energy‐intensive. In this review, we have attempted to provide an overview of state‐of‐the‐art (scientific) research and development with respect to the application of plasma‐based processes in the synthesis and modification of materials for battery components. We have explored various applications wherein plasma‐based processes have been demonstrated in the processing of electrode materials, electrolytes, and separators in addition to the recent developments in the context of solid‐state and flexible batteries. Our analysis shows that plasma‐based technologies are slowly but steadily gaining attention in these areas. Several technical and conventional issues remain, which require innovations at the conceptual as well as engineering levels. Technical issues include the selection of appropriate plasma type and precursors, plasma density, selectivity, and a preferable shift from vacuum to atmospheric conditions. The conventional issues include the practical difficulties in converting or adapting the assembly lines to plasma‐based technology. From a business perspective, all that matters is the cost per mAh g−1 of energy produced, for which, unfortunately, we do not have sufficient quantitative data yet with regard to the materials processed by plasma‐based technologies. However, the battery manufacturing sector is now open for innovations like never before. Therefore, it remains to be seen how plasma technologies embrace this opportunity and penetrate the battery production sector, where the key parameters are efficiency and cost‐effectiveness. Would ‘giving it the plasma touch’ bring added value to the battery manufacturing processes? That is the question we try to address in this review.
Bewertung von Bestandsbauwerken mit gemessenen Daten, Teil 2
Authors: Küttenbaum Stefan , Maack Stefan , Braml Thomas , Taffe Alexander , Strübing Thorsten
Published: December 2020

Durch die Einbeziehung von gemessenen Daten bei der Bewertung von bestehenden Bauwerken können Unsicherheiten bei der Beurteilung des Tragverhaltens reduziert werden, ohne das normative Zuverlässigkeitsniveau einzuschränken. Informationen sind die wesentliche Grundlage für die Analyse der Zuverlässigkeit von Tragwerken. Umso wichtiger ist die Kenntnis über die Präzision und die Richtigkeit der verwendeten Informationen. Aus messtechnischer Sicht kann ein Messwert, dem keine Messunsicherheit beigeordnet wurde, als wertlos erachtet werden. Liegt ein vollständig dokumentiertes Messergebnis vor, so ist die Qualität der gemessenen Information bekannt und deren Vergleichbarkeit gewährleistet. In diesem Beitrag wird am Beispiel einer Spannbetonbrücke und zweier Grenzzustände gezeigt, wie Messergebnisse aus der zerstörungsfreien Prüfung in probabilistische Nachweise von Bestandsbauwerken einfließen können und welche Auswirkungen die Implementierung von gemessenen Daten bei der Bewertung von Bestandsbauwerken haben kann.
Untersuchungen zum Tragverhalten von Verbunddübelleisten in schlanken Stegen aus ultrahochfestem Beton
Authors: Lechner Thomas , Fischer Oliver
Published: December 2020

Ultrahochfester Beton (UHFB) kommt mittlerweile immer häufiger im Bauwesen zum Einsatz. Durch die aktuelle Entwicklung von nationalen und internationalen Richtlinien und Normen ist zu erwarten, dass sich dieser Trend fortsetzt und vermehrt Konstruktionen aus diesem modernen Baustoff realisiert werden. Dies gilt auch für den Bereich des Verbundbaus. Eine interessante Anwendungsmöglichkeit stellen hierbei Verbundträger mit externer Bewehrung dar, bei denen der Stahlflansch als reines Zugtragglied außerhalb des Betons liegt. Die schubfeste Verbindung zwischen der externen Bewehrung und dem möglichst dünnen Steg aus ultrahochfestem Beton erfolgt dann zielführend über Verbunddübelleisten, die dabei nur eine sehr geringe seitliche Betondeckung besitzen. Daher kommt der Ermittlung der Schubtragfähigkeit von Verbunddübelleisten in diesem Fall besondere Bedeutung zu. Im Rahmen des Beitrags werden die Ergebnisse der experimentellen und numerischen Untersuchungen an Push‐out‐Körpern beschrieben, die dazu dienten, die Trag‐ und Verformungsfähigkeit von Verbunddübelleisten in schlanken Stegen aus UHFB zu untersuchen. In einem Folgebeitrag werden Vorschläge für wirklichkeitsnahe Bemessungsmodelle vorgestellt und diskutiert sowie der Versuchsaufbau und die Ergebnisse von Versuchen am Gesamtsystem (Verbundträger mit externer Bewehrung) erläutert.
Cumulative cancer incidence and mortality after kidney transplantation in Japan: A long‐term multicenter cohort study
Authors: Imamura Ryoichi , Nakazawa Shigeaki , Yamanaka Kazuaki , Kakuta Yoichi , Tsutahara Koichi , Taniguchi Ayumu , Kawamura Masataka , Kato Taigo , Abe Toyofumi , Uemura Motohide , Takao Tetsuya , Kishikawa Hidefumi , Nonomura Norio
Published: December 2020

Kidney transplantation is the most promising treatment to improve mortality and life quality in end‐stage kidney disease; however, cancer remains a leading cause of death. Several factors including immunosuppressants might be associated with a gradual increase in cumulative cancer incidence after kidney transplantation. Risk factors for cancer and overall and cancer‐specific survival were analyzed in 1973 kidney transplant recipients from three study institutions in Japan. The 5‐, 10‐, 20‐, and 30‐year overall and cancer‐specific survival rates were 93.3%, 88.4%, 78.0%, and 63.6% and 99.4%, 98.0%, 95.3%, and 91.7%, respectively. The overall survival rate was significantly higher and the graft survival rate was significantly lower in recipients without cancer than in those with cancer. Older recipient age, longer dialysis duration before kidney transplantation, and history of transfusion were significant predictors of cancer. Dialysis duration before kidney transplantation was a prognostic factor of overall survival rate. Regarding cancer‐specific survival rates, older recipient age and dialysis duration before kidney transplantation were prognostic factors of worse cancer‐specific survival rates. The type of immunosuppressant was not associated with an increased cancer rate. Aggressiveness of immunosuppressant regimens or potent immunosuppressants might improve graft survival rate while inducing de novo cancer after kidney transplantation. Older age and longer dialysis duration before kidney transplantation were risk factors of cancer‐specific survival rate.
Aversion amplification in the emerging COVID‐19 pandemic: The impact of political trust and subjective uncertainty on perceived threat
Authors: Lalot Fanny , Abrams Dominic , Travaglino Giovanni A.
Published: December 2020

Health psychology shows that responses to risk and threat depend on perceptions as much as objective factors. The present study focuses on the precursors of perceived threat of COVID‐19. We draw on political and social psychology and use the aversion amplification hypothesis to propose that subjective uncertainty and political trust should interactively impact perceived threat. We conducted a cross‐sectional survey amongst the general population of Scotland (N = 188) in the early period of the COVID‐19 pandemic in the UK. We hypothesised that high political trust should ameliorate the threat‐elevating impact of uncertainty, thereby reducing the perceived threat from a high to moderate level. This hypothesis was supported, even after accounting for demographic differences. The discussion addresses the implications of the interactive role of trust and uncertainty for strategies to manage public behaviour as the pandemic progresses.
Activity‐Based Protein Profiling of Bile Salt Hydrolysis in the Human Gut Microbiome with Beta‐Lactam or Acrylamide‐Based Probes
Authors: Brandvold Kristoffer R. , Miller Carson J. , Volk Regan F. , Killinger Bryan J. , Whidbey Christopher , Wright Aaron T.
Published: December 2020

Microbial bile salt hydrolases (BSHs) found in the intestine catalyze the deconjugation of taurine‐ and glycine‐linked bile salts produced in the liver. The resulting bile salts are biological detergents and are critical in aiding lipophilic nutrient digestion. Therefore, the activity of BSHs in the gut microbiome is directly linked to human metabolism and overall health. Bile salt metabolism has also been associated with disease phenotypes such as liver and colorectal cancer. In order to reshape the gut microbiome to optimize bile salt metabolism, tools to characterize and quantify these processes must exist to enable a much‐improved understanding of how metabolism goes awry in the face of disease, and how it can be improved through an altered lifestyle and environment. Furthermore, it is necessary to attribute metabolic activity to specific members and BSHs within the microbiome. To this end, we have developed activity‐based probes with two different reactive groups to target bile salt hydrolases. These probes bind similarly to the authentic bile salt substrates, and we demonstrate enzyme labeling of active bile salt hydrolases by using purified protein, cell lysates, and in human stool.
H19/miR‐107/HMGB1 axis sensitizes laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma to cisplatin by suppressing autophagy in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Chen Liwei , Xu Zhijian , Zhao Jiandong , Zhai Xingyou , Li Jianhui , Zhang Yongxia , Zong Liang , Peng Honghua , Qi Jixia , Kong Xinru , Fang Zhongju , Liu Mingbo
Published: December 2020

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is the most common malignant tumor, which occurs in the head and neck. Current treatments for LSCC are all largely weakened by increasing drug resistance. Our study aimed to investigate the effects of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) H19 on drug resistance in LSCC. In our study, we found that the level of H19 was sharply upregulated in LSCC tissues and drug‐resistant cells compared with the control. Besides, the expression of high‐mobility group B1 (HMGB1) was elevated, and microRNA107 (miR‐107) was suppressed in drug‐resistant cells compared with the control. Further study revealed that the interference of H19 by short hairpin RNA (shRNA) effectively suppressed high autophagy level and obvious drug resistance in drug‐resistant cells. Besides that, miR‐107 was predicted as a target of H19 and inhibiting effects of H19 shRNA on autophagy and drug resistance were both reversed by miR‐107 inhibitor. Moreover, HMGB1 was predicted as a target of miR‐107 in LSCC cells and knockdown of HMGB1 was able to suppress autophagy and drug resistance in LSCC cells. In addition, our investigation demonstrated that H19 shRNA exerted an inhibiting effect on autophagy and drug resistance by downregulating HMGB1 by targeting miR‐107. Finally, the in vivo experiment revealed that LV‐H19 shRNA strongly suppressed drug resistance compared with the usage of cisplatin individually. Taken together, our research indicated an H19–miR‐107–HMGB1 axis in regulating the autophagy‐induced drug resistance in LSCC in vitro and in vivo, providing novel targets for molecular‐targeted therapy and broadening the research for LSCC.
Transaxillary transcatheter ACURATE neo aortic valve implantation – The TRANSAX multicenter study
Authors: Amat‐Santos Ignacio J. , Santos‐Martínez Sandra , Conradi Lenard , Taramasso Maurizio , Poli Arnaldo , Romaguera Rafael , Pan Manuel , Bagur Rodrigo , del Valle Raquel , Nombela‐Franco Luis , Bhadra Oliver D. , Aparisi Álvaro , Redondo Alfredo , Gutiérrez Hipólito , Gómez Itziar , Roman J. Alberto San
Published: December 2020

Background

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) via transaxillary (TAx) approach with ACURATE neo valve is an off‐label procedure. Our aim was to gather information on ACURATE neo cases implanted via TAx approach and report major outcomes.

Methods and Results

The TRANSAX Study (NCT04274751) retrospectively gathered patients from nine centres in Europe and North America treated with ACURATE neo valve through TAx approach up to May/2019. Follow up was pre‐specified at 1‐year and was obtained for all patients.

A total of 75 patients (79 ± 10 years; 32% women) were included. Left axillary (72%) and conscious sedation (95.2%) were the most common setting. Risk scores were higher when right axillary artery and surgical cut‐down were selected. Severe complications including valve embolization, coronary obstruction, annulus rupture, and procedural mortality did not occur. Cardiac tamponade occurred in two cases (2.7%) with one requiring conversion to open surgery (1.3%). Bail‐out stenting and surgical vascular repair were required in 7 (9.3%) and 3 (4%) cases, respectively. The need for new permanent pacemaker was 8%. Procedural success (96%), in‐hospital (2.7%), and 1‐year mortality (8%) were comparable in all settings. Only one case (1.3%) complicated with cerebrovascular event and one (1.3%) presented moderate aortic regurgitation before discharge.

Conclusions

TAx TAVR procedures with the ACURATE neo valve were presented high success rate and low in‐hospital and 1‐year mortality.
Spontaneous healing in maxillary fungus ball: Beware of asymptomatic patients
Authors: Bulfamante Antonio M. , Pipolo Carlotta , D'Agostino Fiorenza Umberto , Arnone Flavio , Lozza Paolo , Felisati Giovanni , Saibene Alberto Maria
Published: December 2020

Incidentally diagnosed, asymptomatic, paranasal fungus ball might occasionally undergo spontaneous healing. Accurate preoperative workup may avoid unnecessary surgical or anesthesiological procedures.
Characterization of Fe2O3/Graphene Composites Synthesized using an In Situ Reaction of Inexpensive Graphite Oxide and FeCl3
Authors: Chen Yan , Zhang Shuang , Feng Yuanyuan , Yang Gang , Ji Hongmei , Miao Xiaowei
Published: December 2020

The use of inexpensive graphite oxide (GO) as a carbon source, instead of the expensive reduced graphene oxide (rGO), is essential to prepare metal oxide/rGO composites. In this work, we investigated the in situ reaction of GO and FeCl3 to produce Fe2O3/rGO composites as anode materials for high‐energy lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). In this reaction, iron ions combined with the oxygen‐containing functional groups of GO, which subsequently grew into Fe2O3 nanoparticles, whereas the GO transformed into rGO under hydrothermal conditions. In the composite Fe2O3−rGOx samples, intergranular gaps in the Fe2O3 sub‐micron particles evidently increased the contact between the Fe2O3 active material and the electrolyte, which improved the Li‐ion conductivity and electrochemical performance of the Fe2O3−rGOx composites. The Fe2O3−rGO2 sample showed the best cyclic performance and delivered the highest capacity of all samples. The initial discharge and charge capacities of Fe2O3−rGO2 were 1086.3 and 722.4 mAh g−1, respectively. After 100 cycles, the discharge specific capacity of Fe2O3−rGO2 was 653.2 mAh g−1 and the coulombic efficiency was 98.4 %. We found that an appropriate weight ratio and composite morphology of Fe2O3−rGOx were important in influencing the electrochemical properties of the composite anode materials for high‐energy LIBs.
Hybrid Electrospun Nanofibers as Electrocatalyst for Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries: Theory and Experiment
Authors: Maleki Mahboubeh , Tichter Tim , El‐Nagar Gumaa A. , Lauermann Iver , Roth Christina
Published: December 2020

Selective modification of the morphology and intrinsic electrocatalytic activity of porous electrodes is urgently required to improve the performance of vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs). For this purpose, electrospinning was exploited to prepare high‐performance nanofiber‐based composites. Blends of polyacrylonitrile, polyacrylic acid, and polyaniline with carbon black were electrospun into a 3D free‐standing nanofibrous web, which was utilized as a novel electrode. By extending the recent theory of cyclic voltammetry at porous electrodes to account for interfacial double‐layer capacities, nonlinear effects of ohmic resistances, and parasitic reactions, we could quantitatively investigate non‐faradaic as well as desired and undesired faradaic current contributions. Combination of experimental and theoretical studies allowed a unique quantitative assessment of the intrinsic catalytic activity of selected electrode materials concerning the VO2+/VO2+ redox reaction.
Optical Characteristics of Hybrid Macrocycles with Dithienogermole and Tricoordinate Boron Units
Authors: Adachi Yohei , Nabeya Taishi , Kawakami Keigo , Yamaji Kosuke , Jäkle Frieder , Ohshita Joji
Published: December 2020

The introduction of unconventional elements into π‐conjugated systems has been studied to manipulate the electronic states and properties of compounds. Herein, boron‐ and germanium‐containing hybrid macrocycles, as a new class of element‐hybrid conjugated systems, have been synthesized. The palladium‐catalyzed Stille cross coupling of bis(bromothienyl)borane and bis(trimethylstannylthienyl)‐ or bis(trimethylstannylphenyl)‐substituted dithienogermoles as the boron‐ and germanium‐containing building blocks, respectively, produced a mixture of several macrocyclic compounds. Single‐crystal X‐ray analysis of the 2:2 coupling product revealed a planar structure with a cavity inside the macrocycle. The optical properties of the macrocyclic products indicated rather small electronic interactions between the building units. However, intramolecular photoenergy transfer from the dithienogermole unit to the boron unit was clearly observed with respect to the fluorescence spectra.
Word2Sent: A new learning sentiment‐embedding model with low dimension for sentence level sentiment classification
Authors: Kasri Mohammed , Birjali Marouane , Beni‐Hssane Abderrahim
Published: December 2020

Word embedding models become an increasingly important method that embeds words into a high dimensional space. These models have been widely utilized to extract semantic and syntactic features for sentiment analysis. However, using word embedding models cannot be sufficient for sentiment analysis tasks because they do not contain sentiment features. Therefore, word embedding models do not adequately meet the comprehensive needs of sentiment analysis applications that rely on recognizing the polarity of a sentence. In this paper, we propose a sentiment embedding model (Word2Sent model) to tackle the weaknesses of the existing word embedding models for sentiment analysis applications. We developed this model based on the Continuous Bag‐of‐Words model and SentiWordNet lexicon to learn sentiment embedding for each word from its surrounding context words. It preserves semantic and syntactic features and captures implicitly sentiment ones. Besides, it can predict sentiment features in a very low sentiment embeddings dimension than traditional ones. The proposed method provides an improved sentiment classification performance and lowers the computational complexity. Both the accuracy performance and processing time results obtained indicate that the proposed model is particularly promising.
Hydraulic redistribution buffers climate variability and regulates grass‐tree interactions in a semiarid riparian savanna
Authors: Barron‐Gafford Greg A. , Knowles John F. , Sanchez‐Cañete Enrique P. , Minor Rebecca L. , Lee Esther , Sutter Leland , Tran Newton , Murphy Patrick , Hamerlynck Erik P. , Kumar Praveen , Scott Russell L.
Published: December 2020

Anticipating the ability of ecosystems to maintain functional integrity across predicted altered precipitation regimes remains a grand ecohydrological challenge. Overstory trees and understory grasses within semiarid savannas vary in their structure and sensitivity to environmental pressures, underscoring the need to examine the ecohydrological implications of this climatic variability. Whereas precipitation has long been recognized as a key driver of landscape ecohydrology, understanding a site's hydraulic redistribution regime (the balance in downward and upward movement of water and the seasonality of these bidirectional flows) may be equally important to understanding moisture availability to vegetation in these dryland ecosystems. As a result, we linked measures of ecosystem‐scale carbon exchange, overstory tree sap flux and leaf‐level gas exchange to understory whole‐plot and leaf‐level carbon and water exchange within intact and trenched plots (isolating trees from grasses) in a riparian savanna ecosystem. We maintained measurements across 2 years with distinct precipitation regimes. We found that interannual precipitation variability yielded a categorical shift in the directionality and magnitude of the hydraulic redistribution regime—even within this single site. Additionally, we found that connectivity between overstory trees and understory grasses through hydraulic redistribution created a short period of competition within an average rain year but that facilitation of understory function by overstory trees was much greater and lasted longer during drier years. Together, these findings suggest that hydraulic redistribution can serve as a hydrologic buffer against interannual precipitation variability. Given current climate projections of more variable precipitation within and across years, understanding how hydraulic redistribution regimes vary through time will greatly enhance our capacity to anticipate future ecohydrological function.