bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
MoS2 Phototransistor Sensitized by Colloidal Semiconductor Quantum Wells
Authors: Sar Huseyin , Taghipour Nima , Lisheshar Ibrahim Wonge , Delikanli Savas , Demirtaş Mustafa , Demir Hilmi Volkan , Ay Feridun , Kosku Perkgöz Nihan 
Published: October 2020

AbstractA phototransistor built by the assembly of 2D colloidal semiconductor quantum wells (CQWs) on a single layer of 2D transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) is displayed. This hybrid device architecture exhibits high efficiency in Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) enabling superior performance in terms of photoresponsivity and detectivity. Here, a thin film of CdSe/CdS CQWs acts as a sensitizer layer on top of the MoS2 monolayer based field‐effect transistor, where this CQWs–MoS2 structure allows for strong light absorption in CQWs in the operating spectral region and strong dipole‐to‐dipole coupling between MoS2 and CQWs resulting in enhanced photoresponsivity of one order of magnitude (11‐fold) at maximum gate voltage (VBG = 2 V) and two orders of magnitude (≈ 5 × 102) at VBG = −1.5 V, and tenfold enhanced specific detectivity. The illumination power‐dependent characterization of this hybrid device reveals that the thin layer of CQWs dominates the photogating mechanism compared to the photoconductivity effect on detection performance. Such hybrid designs hold great promise for 2D‐material based photodetectors to reach high performance and find use in optoelectronic applications.
Loss of β‐Actin Leads to Accelerated Mineralization and Dysregulation of Osteoblast‐Differentiation Genes during Osteogenic Reprogramming
Authors: Gjorgjieva Tamara , Xie Xin , Commins Patrick , Pasricha Renu , Mahmood Syed Raza , Gunsalus Kristin C. , Naumov Panče , Percipalle Piergiorgio 
Published: October 2020

AbstractActin plays fundamental roles in both the cytoplasm and the cell nucleus. In the nucleus, β‐actin regulates neuronal reprogramming by consolidating a heterochromatin landscape required for transcription of neuronal gene programs, yet it remains unknown whether it has a role in other differentiation models. To explore the potential roles of β‐actin in osteogenesis, β‐actin wild‐type (WT) and β‐actin knockout (KO) mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) are reprogrammed to osteoblast‐like cells using small molecules in vitro. It is discovered that loss of β‐actin leads to an accelerated mineralization phenotype (hypermineralization), accompanied with enhanced formation of extracellular hydroxyapatite microcrystals, which originate in the mitochondria in the form of microgranules. This phenotype is a consequence of rapid upregulation of mitochondrial genes including those involved in oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) in reprogrammed KO cells. It is further found that osteogenic gene programs are differentially regulated between WT and KO cells, with clusters of genes exhibiting different temporal expression patterns. A novel function for β‐actin in osteogenic reprogramming through a mitochondria‐based mechanism that controls cell‐mediated mineralization is proposed.
A Solid‐State Battery Cathode with a Polymer Composite Electrolyte and Low Tortuosity Microstructure by Directional Freezing and Polymerization
Authors: Huang Chun , Leung Chu Lun Alex , Leung Puiki , Grant Patrick S. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractSolid‐state Li metal batteries (SSLMBs) combine improved safety and high specific energy that can surpass current Li ion batteries. However, the Li+ ion diffusivity in a composite cathode—a combination of active material and solid‐state electrolyte (SSE)—is at least an order of magnitude lower than that of the SSE alone because of the highly tortuous ion transport pathways in the cathode. This lowers the realizable capacity and mandates relatively thin (30–300 μm) cathodes, and hence low overall energy storage. Here, a thick (600 μm) hybrid cathode comprising vertically aligned LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 (NMC811)‐rich channels filled with a [LiTFSI+PEGMA+MePrPyl TFSI] polymer composite electrolyte is fabricated by an innovative directional freezing and polymerization method. X‐ray micro‐computed tomography, ion mobility simulations, and DC depolarization show that the cathode structure improves Li+ ion diffusivity in the cathode from 4.4 × 10−9 to 1.4 × 10−7 cm2 s−1. In a SSLMB full cell at 25 oC, the cathode provides gravimetric capacities of 199 and 120 mAh g−1, and ultra‐high areal capacities of 16.7 and 10.1 mAh cm−2 at 0.05 and 1 C, respectively. The work demonstrates a scalable approach to realizing composite cathode structures with kinetically favorable ion transport characteristics in SSLMBs.
An Interprofessional Branching Simulation to Introduce RN First Assistant Students to Their Role in the Perioperative Setting
Authors: Dabney Cindi , Appling Nancy A. , Herr Michael J. 
Published: October 2020

ABSTRACTSimulation can be an effective tool for educating health profession students and can enhance interprofessional education by involving roles across multiple disciplines. Perioperative nurse educators at one institution used a five‐part branching simulation of preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative events for a single patient undergoing a procedure to introduce RN first assistant (RNFA) students to their role in the perioperative environment. The simulation participants included student RN anesthetists, a surgeon, an RN circulator (played by an actor), and a standardized patient. The objectives for this simulation were to assess the implementation of the didactic RNFA curriculum and to enhance the RNFA students’ transition into their role in the perioperative setting. The simulation and multiple debriefings reinforced the concepts of role acquisition, surgical conscience, closed‐loop communication, and interprofessional collaboration. Perioperative nurse educators can use this type of educational activity to teach these concepts to their students.
Ion transport in topological all‐solid‐state polymer electrolyte improved via graphene‐oxide
Authors: Zhang Lei , Jin Gan , Ma Tianlin , Wang Shi 
Published: October 2020

AbstractDesigning and constructing novel topological all‐solid‐state polymer electrolyte (SPE) matrices can improve the ionic conducting ability of the prepared SPEs compared with the linear ones. Here, we construct a novel topological polymer electrolyte matrix using triphenylene as core and block poly(methyl methacrylate)‐poly(poly[ethylene glycol] methyl ether methacrylate) as arm. Specifically, the arm is attached onto the core via sequential atom transfer radical polymerization. The molecular weight of the polymers is well controlled via adjusting the inventory rating of monomers, the optimal SPE obtained via solution casting has an ambient temperature ionic conductivity of 3.69 × 10−5 S cm−1, which is higher than typical linear poly(ethylene oxide)‐based SPE (usually 10−6–10−8 S cm−1). The electrochemical performance is further improved through adding given contents of graphene‐oxide into the SPE. Thus, we believe, through molecular designing and the widely used composite tactics, new class of electrolytes with high‐electrochemical performance for all‐solid‐state Li‐ion batteries can be developed.
Nudging toward diversity in the boardroom: A systematic literature review of board diversity of financial institutions
Authors: Khatib Saleh F. A. , Abdullah Dewi Fariha , Elamer Ahmed A. , Abueid Raed 
Published: October 2020

AbstractGoing beyond the mere gender diversity in the boardroom, this systematic review comprehensively covers the research on board diversity of financial institutions. More specifically, we cover gender diversity, as well as other characteristics of diversity, such as nationality, age, tenure, experience, education, ethnicity, and religion. A systematic literature review was employed using Scopus and Web of Science databases, covering all publications until May 2020, which resulted in 91 studies from 66 top‐ranked journals in accounting, finance, and economic fields. We analyze them based on the journal, methodology, research construct questions, and theoretical perspectives. Our results highlight the substantial knowledge gaps and the inconsistent findings of prior studies on several aspects of the field, suggesting avenues for further studies in terms of research designs, settings, scope, and theories. We argue that there is a need to explore other board diversity attributes rather than focusing on the gender diversity of the boards of financial institutions to achieve sustainable development. Also, more work is outlined on topics related to board diversity of financial firms that receive limited attention from scholars, such as (but not limited to) environmental performance, capital structure, intellectual capital, innovation and earnings quality of financial institutions, as well as the indirect effect of policy settings.
Kinetics study and process simulation of reactive distillation for the synthesis of ε‐caprolactone
Authors: Chen Yachun , Ding Rong , Wang Yichao , Ye Yuntao , Zhang Guangxu 
Published: October 2020

AbstractA novel three‐stage catalytic reactive distillation (RD) column integrated chemical reaction and distillation process for the continuous synthesis of ε‐caprolactone (ε‐CL) was proposed to overcome the disadvantages of previous batch processes. Reaction kinetics according to the two‐step indirect oxidation method was studied firstly, which was essential in reactor design and process optimization as well as lacking in the current literature. Kinetics models obtained by data fitting were tested by residual distribution and model statistics. And then, according to the thermodynamic characteristics and reaction kinetics of this process, a steady‐state simulation of RD column was carried out with the process simulator Aspen Plus. The influence of operation parameters was investigated on process performance. Under the optimal operating conditions, the conversion of cyclohexanone was 97%, and the mass fraction of ε‐CL in the bottom products was 62.31%. The simulation showed that RD column worked with excellent results in respect to conversion and product purity because of integrating the processes of chemical reaction and distillation.
PROTAC Compatibilities, Degrading Cell‐Surface Receptors, and the Sticky Problem of Finding a Molecular Glue
Authors: Tian Conghe , Burgess Kevin 
Published: October 2020

AbstractPROteolysis TArgeting Chimeras (PROTACs) are emerging as critical tools in biomedicinal chemistry and drug design, but they have limitations. These limitations include a lack of guiding principles when selecting suitable E3 ligases to induce ubiquitinylation, and problems degrading cell‐surface receptors. This Highlight outlines some recent advances that circumvent some of these limitations, and new alternative methods to induce selective protein degradation.
The genetic structure of CIMMYT and U.S. inbreds and its implications for tropical maize breeding
Authors: Guo Rui , Chen Jiafa , Petroli Cesar D. , Pacheco Angela , Zhang Xuecai , San Vicente Felix , Hearne Sarah J. , Dhliwayo Thanda 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe use of temperate maize (Zea mays L.) inbreds with expired Plant Variety Protection in tropical maize breeding programs could enhance the combining ability for grain yield among tropical heterotic groups. We used DNA markers from the DArTseq genotyping‐by‐sequencing platform to investigate the genetic structure of lines with expired U.S. Plant Variety Protection (ex‐PVP) relative to the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center's (CIMMYT's) maize heterotic groups. Neighbor‐joining cluster analysis revealed two major groups: CIMMYT and ex‐PVP. The CIMMYT lines clustered according to their pedigree relationships and adaptation, but not according to their heterotic groups. In contrast, ex‐PVP lines clustered according to the Stiff Stalk Synthetic (BSSS) and non‐Stiff Stalk Synthetic (NSSS) heterotic groups, except for a few lines that were considered to be mixed. The genetic divergence, estimated as Wright's fixation index (FST), between BSSS and NSSS (FST = .053, P < .01) was four times as large as the divergence between CIMMYT Tuxpeño and non‐Tuxpeño heterotic groups (FST = .013, P = .068). Estimates of genetic divergence marginally favored breeding with BSSS in Tuxpeño and NSSS in non‐Tuxpeño. However, CIMMYT breeders may still exploit the ex‐PVP heterotic structure fully only by ensuring that the temperate heterotic groups are placed on opposite sides of the Tuxpeño and non‐Tuxpeño heterotic pattern. We also showed how estimates of admixture from model‐based clustering could be used to avoid ex‐PVP lines of mixed heterotic background when selecting lines to maximize the genetic divergence and combining ability of CIMMYT heterotic groups.
High soluble transferrin receptor in patients with heart failure: a measure of iron deficiency and a strong predictor of mortality
Authors: Sierpinski Radoslaw , Josiak Krystian , Suchocki Tomasz , Wojtas‐Polc Katarzyna , Mazur Grzegorz , Butrym Aleksandra , Rozentryt Piotr , van der Meer Peter , Comin‐Colet Josep , von Haehling Stephan , Kosmala Wojciech , Przewlocka‐Kosmala Monika , Banasiak Waldemar , Nowak Jolanta , Voors Adriaan A. , Anker Stefan D. , Cleland John G.F. , Ponikowski Piotr , Jankowska Ewa A. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractAimsIron deficiency (ID) is frequent in heart failure (HF), linked with exercise intolerance and poor prognosis. Intravenous iron repletion improves clinical status in HF patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤45%. However, uncertainty exists about the accuracy of serum biomarkers in diagnosing ID. The aims of this study were (i) to identify the iron biomarker with the greatest accuracy for the diagnosis of ID in bone marrow in patients with ischaemic HF, and (ii) to establish the prevalence of ID using this biomarker and its prognostic value in HF patients.Methods and resultsBone marrow was stained for iron in 30 patients with ischaemic HF with LVEF ≤45% and 10 healthy controls, and ID was diagnosed for 0–1 grades (Gale scale). A total of 791 patients with HF with LVEF ≤45% were prospectively followed up for 3 years. Serum ferritin, transferrin saturation, soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) were assessed as iron biomarkers. Most patients with HF (n = 25, 83%) had ID in bone marrow, but none of the controls (P < 0.001). Serum sTfR had the best accuracy in predicting ID in bone marrow (area under the curve 0.920, 95% confidence interval 0.761–0.987, for cut‐off 1.25 mg/L sensitivity 84%, specificity 100%). Serum sTfR was ≥1.25 mg/L in 47% of HF patients, in 56% and 46% of anaemics and non‐anaemics, respectively (P < 0.05). The reclassification methods revealed that serum sTfR significantly added the prognostic value to the baseline prognostic model, and to the greater extent than plasma N‐terminal pro B‐type natriuretic peptide. Based on internal derivation and validation procedures, serum sTfR ≥1.41 mg/L was the optimal threshold for predicting 3‐year mortality, independent of other established variables.ConclusionsHigh serum sTfR accurately reflects depleted iron stores in bone marrow in patients with HF, and identifies those with a high 3‐year mortality.
Determinants of FDI in France: Role of transport infrastructure, education, financial development and energy consumption
Authors: Shahbaz Muhammad , Mateev Miroslav , Abosedra Salah , Nasir Muhammad Ali , Jiao Zhilun 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThis article explores the effect of education and transportation infrastructure on foreign direct investment for the French economy over the period of 1965–2017. Economic growth, financial development and electricity consumption are also considered as additional determinants of foreign direct investment. In so doing, the SOR unit root test is applied in order to examine unit root properties of variables in the presence of sharp and smooth structural breaks in the series. To examine the presence of cointegration between the variables, the bootstrapping ARDL cointegration test is applied. The empirical results show the presence of cointegration between the variables. Education and transportation add to foreign direct investment. Financial development declines foreign direct investment. The relationship between electricity consumption (economic growth) and foreign direct investment is bidirectional. The nonlinear relationship between education (transportation infrastructure) and foreign direct investment is U‐shaped.
Effect of electrode configuration on recognizing uterine contraction with electrohysterogram: Analysis using a convolutional neural network
Authors: Hao Dongmei , Song Xiaoxiao , Qiu Qian , Xin Xin , Yang Lin , Liu Xiaohong , Jiang Hongqing , Zheng Dingchang 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThis paper aimed to evaluate the effect of various electrode configurations on applying a convolutional neural network (CNN) to recognize uterine contraction (UC) with Electrohysterogram (EHG) signals. Seven 8‐electrode configurations and thirteen 4‐electrode configurations were selected from the 4 × 4 electrode grid in the Icelandic 16‐electrode EHG database. EHG signals were divided into UC and non‐UC sections of 45 seconds and saved as images. Each 8‐electrode configuration with 7152 images and 4‐electrode configuration with 3576 images were applied to train CNN to recognize UCs. A scoring method was proposed based on the area under the curve (AUC) and the accuracy to evaluate the effect of electrode configurations on recognizing UCs. The EHG signals from the 4 electrodes on the upper left of the uterus showed the best classification performance (AUC = 0.79, Accuracy = 0.72, Score = 2.30).
Effect of Sleep Surgery on C‐Reactive Protein Levels in Adults With Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Kang Kun‐Tai , Yeh Te‐Huei , Hsu Ying‐Shuo , Ko Jenq‐Yuh , Lee Chia‐Hsuan , Lin Ming‐Tzer , Hsu Wei‐Chung 
Published: October 2020

Objectives/HypothesisTo evaluate associations between sleep surgery and CRP (C‐reactive protein) levels in adults with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).Study DesignMeta‐analysis.MethodsTwo authors independently searched PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane review databases until July 2019. The keywords used were sleep apnea, OSA, sleep apnea syndromes, surgery, C‐reactive protein (CRP), and inflammatory markers. The effects of sleep surgery on CRP levels were examined using a random‐effects model.ResultsNine studies with 277 patients were analyzed (mean age: 46.5 years; 92% men; mean sample size: 30.8 patients). The mean change in the apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) after surgery was significantly reduced by −21.1 (95% confidence interval [CI], −28.4 to −13.7) events/hr. Overall, sleep surgery resulted in a significant reduction of CRP levels in patients with OSA (standardized mean difference [SMD] = −0.39, 95% CI, −0.67 to −0.11). Patients with postoperative AHI reduction >20 events/hr achieved a greater reduction in CRP than those with AHI reduction <20 events/hr (SMD: −0.72 vs. −0.14, P for heterogeneity = .007). According to subgroup analysis, differences in the CRP levels after surgery were nonsignificant in the different countries (i.e., United States vs. other countries), CRP types (i.e., CRP vs. high‐sensitivity CRP), surgical procedures (i.e., pharyngeal surgery vs. other surgical procedures), and follow‐up period (i.e., <6 vs. >6 months).ConclusionsSleep surgery for OSA resulted in a significant reduction of CRP levels in adults. The beneficial effect of surgery on CRP levels is greater in patients with large improvement in OSA (i.e., AHI reduction >20 events/hr) after sleep surgery. Laryngoscope, 131:1180–1187, 2021
Cochlear implantation in postirradiated ears: A case‐control comparative study
Authors: Chang Waitsz WT , Yeung Kammy NK , Luk Betty PK , Leung Karman KY , Sung John KK , Tong Michael CF 
Published: October 2020

AbstractObjectivesThe aim of this study is to investigate the hearing outcomes of cochlear implantation (CI) in patients with hearing loss who had received radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC). The study compared speech perception in patients who had prior radiotherapy with those who did not receive radiotherapy.MethodsEighty‐eight Cantonese speaking adult patients who had profound sensorineural hearing loss and received CI from 1995 to 2015 at the Chinese University of Hong Kong CI‐center were studied. Twenty‐five patients had history of NPC and radiotherapy were determined as the exposed group, while 63 patients of mixed etiologies but with no history of radiotherapy were included in the control group. The Hong Kong Speech Perception Test Manual (HKSPTM) scores preoperatively, at 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively were used to assess hearing performance. The HKSPTM consisted categories of speech recognition, word recognition, and tone perception.ResultsNo statistical significance differences were found at the four time‐points in the three categories of HKSPTM between the two groups.ConclusionCI is a clinically effective intervention and good rehabilitative option for hearing restoration in NPC patients with hearing impairment. Further studies with greater sample size and additional pathological studies on the pathophysiology of hearing loss in this subgroup of patients may provide supplementary information for clinicians when counseling for CI.Level of evidence4.
Identifying Modifiable Predictors of Long‐Term Survival in Liver Transplant Recipients With Diabetes Mellitus Using Machine Learning
Authors: Yasodhara Angeline , Dong Victor , Azhie Amirhossein , Goldenberg Anna , Bhat Mamatha 
Published: October 2020

Diabetes mellitus (DM) significantly impacts long‐term survival after liver transplantation (LT). We identified survival factors for LT recipients who had DM to inform preventive care using machine‐learning analysis. We analyzed risk factors for mortality in patients from across the United States using the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR). Patients had undergone LT from 1987 to 2019, with a follow‐up of 6.47 years (standard deviation [SD] 5.95). Findings were validated on a cohort from the University Health Network (UHN) from 1989 to 2014 (follow‐up 8.15 years [SD 5.67]). Analysis was conducted with Cox proportional hazards and gradient boosting survival. The training set included 84.67% SRTR data (n = 15,289 patients), and the test set included 15.33% SRTR patients (n = 2769) and data from UHN patients (n = 1290). We included 18,058 adults (12,108 [67.05%] men, average age 54.21 years [SD 9.98]) from the SRTR who had undergone LT and had complete data for investigated features. A total of 4634 patients had preexisting DM, and 3158 had post‐LT DM. The UHN data consisted of 1290 LT recipients (910 [70.5%] men, average age 54.0 years [SD 10.4]). Increased serum creatinine and hypertension significantly impacted mortality with preexisting DM 1.36 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.21‐1.54) and 1.20 (95% CI, 1.06‐1.35) times, respectively. Sirolimus use increased mortality 1.36 times (95% CI, 1.18‐1.58) in nondiabetics and 1.33 times (95% CI, 1.09‐1.63) in patients with preexisting DM. A similar effect was found in post‐LT DM, although it was not statistically significant (1.38 times; 95% CI, 1.07‐1.77; P = 0.07). Survival predictors generally achieved a 0.60 to 0.70 area under the receiver operating characteristic for 5‐year mortality. LT recipients who have DM have a higher mortality risk than those without DM. Hypertension, decreased renal function, and sirolimus for maintenance immunosuppression compound this mortality risk. These predisposing factors must be intensively treated and modified to optimize long‐term survival after transplant.