bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Engineering of carbon and other protective coating layers for stabilizing silicon anode materials
Authors: Wang Fenglin , Chen Gen , Zhang Ning , Liu Xiaohe , Ma Renzhi 
Published: November 2019

AbstractSilicon (Si) has been attracting extensive attention for rechargeable lithium (Li)‐ion batteries due to its high theoretical capacity and low potential vs Li/Li+. However, it remains challenging and problematic to stabilize the Si materials during electrochemical cycling because of the huge volume expansion, which results in losing electric contact and pulverization of Si particles. Consequently, the Si anode materials generally suffer from poor cycling, poor rate performance, and low coulomb efficiency, preventing them from practical applications. Up‐to‐date, there are numerous reports on the engineering of Si anode materials at microscale and nanoscale with significantly improved electrochemical performances. In this review, we will concentrate on various precisely designed protective layers for silicon‐based materials, including carbon layers, inorganic layers, and conductive polymer protective layer. First, we briefly introduced the alloying and failure mechanism of Si as anode materials upon electrochemical reactions. Following that, representative cases have been introduced and summarized to illustrate the purpose and advancement of protective coating layers, for instance, to alleviate pulverization and improve conductivity caused by volume expansion of Si particles during charge/discharge process, and maintain the surface stability of Si particles to form a stable solid‐electrolyte interphase layer. At last, possible strategies on the protective coating layer for stabilizing silicon anode materials that can be applied in the future have been indicated.
Irreversible Structural Changes of Copper Hexacyanoferrate Used as a Cathode in Zn‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Lim Joohyun , Kasiri Ghoncheh , Sahu Rajib , Schweinar Kevin , Hengge Katharina , Raabe Dierk , La Mantia Fabio , Scheu Christina 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThe structural changes of copper hexacyanoferrate (CuHCF), a Prussian blue analogue, which occur when used as a cathode in an aqueous Zn‐ion battery, are investigated using electron microscopy techniques. The evolution of ZnxCu1−xHCF phases possessing wire and cubic morphologies from initial CuHCF nanoparticles are monitored after hundreds of cycles. Irreversible introduction of Zn ions to CuHCF is revealed locally using scanning transmission electron microscopy. A substitution mechanism is proposed to explain the increasing Zn content within the cathode material while simultaneously the Cu content is lowered during Zn‐ion battery cycling. The present study demonstrates that the irreversible introduction of Zn ions is responsible for the decreasing Zn ion capacity of the CuHCF cathode in high electrolyte concentration.
A secure and efficient WSN by employing symmetric key matrix and rectangular frame scheme
Authors: Huang Yi‐Li , Leu Fang‐Yie , Sheu Ruey‐Kai , Liu Jung‐Chun , Susanto Heru 
Published: November 2019

SummaryCurrently, wireless sensor networks (WSNs) have been widely developed in different domains. Generally, sensors work independently, so it is relatively easier for a WSN to add new nodes. Often, a WSN is constrained to low energy consumption. However, data encryption/decryption not only takes a long time but also consumes many network resources. Due to limited battery power and CPU capability, a sensor's encryption algorithm should not be complicated. However, a simple security algorithm will downgrade the system's security level. Hence, designing a secure wireless transmission system with high encryption/decryption performance, particularly for 5G networks, is an urgent task. Therefore, in this study, we propose an efficient and secure approach, named the Symmetric Key Matrix and Rectangular Frame Scheme (SKeMRF, for short), which involves security mechanisms to speed up encryption/decryption operations for a WSN. Further, the SKeMRF integrates global Symmetric Key Matrix (SKM, for short) and other security mechanisms to ensure the security of transmitted data and enable the system to effectively resist the forgery KDS attack, thus greatly enhancing security of the whole system. Theoretical analysis and simulation show that the SKeMRF is an efficient and highly secure WSN compared with those state‐of‐the‐art schemes.
The relationship between ex‐ante cost of equity capital and corporate social responsibility in introductory and maturity period
Authors: Chen Roger C.Y. , Lee Chen‐Hsun , Hung Shih‐Wei 
Published: November 2019

AbstractIn the long term, the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and ex‐ante cost of equity capital is inconsistent. This study explores the association with corporate social responsibility, ex‐ante cost of equity capital, and operating performance forecasting with analysts. We also separate the research period into introductory period and maturity period to examine this study. The results find that sound corporate social responsibility policy, more information transparency of CSR, and creating interaction with stakeholders are reduced ex‐ante cost of equity capital to increase operating performance, and analysts give more positive forecast or better evaluation. On the other hand, we also find that the engagement on CSR is motivational factors in introductory period to become the hygiene factors on firms' management in maturity period.
Precursor‐Engineering Coupled Microwave Molten‐Salt Strategy Enhances Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Performance of g‐C3N4 Nanostructures
Authors: Jing Huijuan , You Mingzhu , Yi Shasha , Li Tao , Ji Haipeng , Wang Yu , Zhang Zongtao , Zhang Rui , Chen Deliang , Yang Huaming 
Published: November 2019

AbstractA precursor‐engineering strategy coupled with a microwave molten‐salt process (PE‐MWMS) is developed to synthesize graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C3N4) with an isotype triazine/heptazine‐based g‐C3N4 heterojunction as a photocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) under visible light illumination. Four hybrid precursor combinations—thiourea/melamine, thiourea/dicyandiamide, urea/melamine, and urea/dicyandiamide—are used to synthesize g‐C3N4 heterojunctions by the PE‐MWMS process. Control experiments indicate that the precursor components and microwave treatment have a great effect on the HER performance of the g‐C3N4 samples. Samples synthesized with the optimal molar ratios of thiourea/melamine (2:1), thiourea/dicyandiamide (2:1), urea/melamine (3:1), and urea/dicyandiamide (3:1), exhibit the highest HER rates of 3135, 2519, 2844, and 2565 μmol g−1 h−1, respectively. The amounts of heptazine and triazine units in the g‐C3N4 samples can be easily adjusted by changing the ratios of the hybrid precursors and play a decisive role in improving the photocatalytic HER activity. Because of the unique composition and microstructure, the efficient separation of electron–hole pairs, the broadened photo‐absorption edges, and the narrowed band gaps, the as‐obtained triazine/heptazine‐based g‐C3N4 nanostructures exhibit promising activity for HER application.
A hybrid chaotic map for communication security applications
Authors: Abdullah Hamsa A. , Abdullah Hikmat N. , Mahmoud Al‐Jawher Waleed A. 
Published: November 2019

SummaryRecently, the synchronization between two matching chaotic systems to provide confident communication has gained a lot of interest. Continuously, there is a necessity to produce a novel dynamical system to be used in synchronization to implement a strong security system. In this paper, a hybrid chaotic system is suggested and verified for the potential use of secure communication through chaos synchronization. The Lyapunov exponent (LE) and zero‐one (0‐1) tests have been used to verify the performance of the suggested hybrid chaotic system, while National Institute of Standard and Technology (NIST) tests have been applied to verify the randomness properties. And the synchronization has been achieved between master and slave systems by using nonlinear control laws. The simulation outcomes demonstration that the hybrid system has chaotic performance and outstanding randomness characteristic. The statistical results gained for LE test was 0.8822, and for frequency test (FT) was 0.2028, while for the run test (RT) was 0.1924. Accordingly, the suggested hybrid system can be used to evolve functional synchronization algorithms and encryption for image, video, and voice secure communication applications.
Medullary carcinoma of thyroid metastasis to breast: A cytological experience
Authors: Devi C. Aparna , Stephen S Norton , Gochhait Debasis , Shanmugam D , Dharanipragada Kadambari , Siddaraju Neelaiah , Singh Divya 
Published: November 2019

AbstractMedullary carcinoma of thyroid is a relatively uncommon malignancy, which can be sporadic and syndromic in nature. It commonly spreads to regional lymph nodes followed by spreading to distant sites. Breast is an uncommon site of metastasis of this malignancy. Our case is a 38‐year‐old woman married parous woman presenting to the outpatient department with complaints of lump in both the breasts. Fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) was attempted, which revealed a malignancy more suggestive of a metastasis, which was confirmed on CT scan. A detailed history revealed that the patient is a known case of medullary carcinoma of thyroid. The report was given as metastatic medullary carcinoma to the breast after confirming with a calcitonin immunostain. Given the versatility of primary lesions in the breast, minimally invasive FNA cytology (FNAC) technique with adequate sampling helps in identifying metastatic lesions. Differentiating primary from metastatic lesions changes the course of management to the patient. Metastatic lesions should always be kept in mind in the occurrence of known malignancies, however rare the site of occurrence may be. Morphological clues and immunohistochemical work up aid in arriving at correct diagnosis.
Folic acid‐conjugated raloxifene hydrochloride carbon nanotube for targeting breast cancer cells
Authors: Jawahar Nadrajan , De Aninidta , Jubee Selveraj , Reddy Ekkuluri Surendra 
Published: November 2019

AbstractBreast cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality specifically for the women. The existing therapy is not sufficient due to the lack of target specificity and drug resistance. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are one of the promising formulation approaches that show a promising effect to target specifically the cancer cells, with better cellular internalization. CNTs were prepared based on the modified Staudenmaier process, where temperature and stirring speed were found to be the most influencing factor for particle size and entrapment of the drug raloxifene hydrochloride (RLX). The optimized formulation was produced with drug loading of about 74.2 ± 4.67% and the average particle size of 234.2 ± 1.7 nm. The surface of the CNTs was functionalized by folic acid (FA), which helps to deliver the drug on the site of the cancer cells only in a target‐specific manner. in vitro drug‐release studies indicated that the drug release was dependent on the pH of the system. Cytotoxicity study clearly indicated the efficacy of the FA physically conjugated CNTs with affectivity induces apoptosis in the cancer cell line with the IC50 value of 43.57305 μg/ml. The fluorescence imagining study showed higher cellular internalization of the RLX compared with the pure drug and the RLX‐CNT formulation.
Exercise oscillatory ventilation and prognosis in heart failure patients with reduced and mid‐range ejection fraction
Authors: Rovai Sara , Corrà Ugo , Piepoli Massimo , Vignati Carlo , Salvioni Elisabetta , Bonomi Alice , Mattavelli Irene , Arcari Luca , Scardovi Angela B. , Perrone Filardi Pasquale , Lagioia Rocco , Paolillo Stefania , Magrì Damiano , Limongelli Giuseppe , Metra Marco , Senni Michele , Scrutinio Domenico , Raimondo Rosa , Emdin Michele , Lombardi Carlo , Cattadori Gaia , Parati Gianfranco , Re Federica , Cicoira Mariantonietta , Villani Giovanni Q. , Minà Chiara , Correale Michele , Frigerio Maria , Perna Enrico , Mapelli Massimo , Magini Alessandra , Clemenza Francesco , Bussotti Maurizio , Battaia Elisa , Guazzi Marco , Bandera Francesco , Badagliacca Roberto , Di Lenarda Andrea , Pacileo Giuseppe , Maggioni Aldo , Passino Claudio , Sciomer Susanna , Sinagra Gianfranco , Agostoni Piergiuseppe ,   on behalf of the MECKI Score Research Group (see Appendix 1)
Published: November 2019

AbstractAimsExercise oscillatory ventilation (EOV) is a pivotal cardiopulmonary exercise test parameter for the prognostic evaluation of patients with chronic heart failure (HF). It has been described in patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (<40%, HFrEF) and with HF with preserved ejection fraction (>50%, HFpEF), but no data are available for patients with HF with mid‐range ejection fraction (40–49%, HFmrEF).
The aim of the study was to evaluate the prognostic role of EOV in HFmrEF patients.Methods and resultsWe analysed 1239 patients with HFmrEF and 4482 patients with HFrEF, enrolled in the MECKI score database, with a 2‐year follow‐up. The study endpoint was the composite of cardiovascular death, urgent heart transplant, and ventricular assist device implantation. We identified EOV in 968 cases (16% and 17% of cases in HFmrEF and HFrEF,respectively). HFrEF EOV+ patients were significantly older, and their parameters suggested a more severe HF than HFrEF EOV− patients. A similar behaviour was found in HFmrEF EOV+ vs. EOV− patients. Kaplan–Meier analysis, irrespective of ejection fraction, showed that EOV is associated with a worse survival, and that patients with HFrEF and HFmrEF EOV+ had a significantly worse outcome than the EOV− of the same ejection fraction groups. EOV‐associated survival differences in HFmrEF patients started after 18 months of follow‐up.ConclusionExercise oscillatory ventilation has a similar prevalence and ominous prognostic value in both HFmrEF and HFrEF patients, indicating a group of patients in need of a more intensive follow‐up and a more aggressive therapy. In HFmrEF, the survival curves between EOV+ and EOV− patients diverged only after 18 months.
What does “moderate pain” mean? Subgroups holding different conceptions of rating scales evaluate experimental pain differently
Authors: Becker Susanne , Fuchs Xaver , Schakib‐Ekbatan Karin , Schweiker Marcel 
Published: November 2019

AbstractBackgroundPain ratings are almost ubiquitous in pain assessment, but their variability is high. Low correlations of continuous/numerical rating scales with categorical scales suggest that individuals associate different sensations with the same number on a scale, jeopardizing the interpretation of statistical results. We analysed individual conceptions of rating scales and whether these conceptions can be utilized in the analysis of ratings of experimental stimuli in pain‐free healthy individuals and people with reoccurring/persistent pain.MethodsUsing a free positioning task, healthy participants (N = 57) and people with reoccurring/persistent pain (N = 57) ad libitum positioned pain descriptors on lines representing intensity and un‐/pleasantness scales. Furthermore, participants rated experimental thermal stimuli on visual analogue scales with the same end anchors. A latent class regression approach was used to detect subgroups with different response patterns in the free positioning task, indicating different conceptions of pain labels, and tested whether these subgroups differed in their ratings of experimental stimuli.ResultsSubgroups representing different conceptions of pain labels could be described for the intensity and the un‐/pleasantness scale with in part opposing response patterns in the free positioning task. Response patterns did not differ between people with and without pain, but in people with pain subgroups showed differential ratings of high intensity experimental stimuli.ConclusionsIndividuals' conceptions of pain labels differ. These conceptions can be quantified and utilized to improve the analysis of ratings of experimental stimuli. Identifying subgroups with different conceptions of pain descriptions could be used to improve predictions of responses to pain in clinical contexts.SignificanceThe present results provide a novel approach to incorporate individual conceptualizations of pain descriptors, which can induce large distortions in the analysis of pain ratings, in pain assessment. The approach can be used to achieve better pain estimates, representing individual conceptions of pain and achieving a better comparability between individuals but also between pain‐free persons and patients with chronic pain. Particularly, in clinical settings this could improve quantification of perceived pain and the patient‐clinician communication.
Defining biotechnological solutions for insect control in sub‐Saharan Africa
Authors: Botha Anna‐Maria , Kunert Karl J. , Maling’a Joyce , Foyer Christine H. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractAfrica is burdened by food insecurity with nearly a billion people suffering from starvation, undernutrition, and malnutrition. Climate change prediction models forecast changes in rainfall patterns and rising temperature regimes, with impacts particularly on Southern and East Africa. These predictions are especially concerning for the production of major food crops, such as maize, sorghum, millet, and groundnut, because median temperature increases are associated with increased pest pressure and changes in migratory patterns. These factors will result in significantly more pest invasions and an increased need for innovative insect management practices. This review focuses on pest control strategies, highlighting important examples, their economic impact, and new alternative pest control strategies. African policymakers remain hesitant to move forward with establishing biosafety laws and commercializing GM crops, and it is often difficult to implement regulatory measures in smallholder agriculture to increase efficacy.
Post‐stroke cognitive deficits rarely come alone: Handling co‐morbidity in lesion‐behaviour mapping
Authors: Sperber Christoph , Nolingberg Chloé , Karnath Hans‐Otto 
Published: November 2019

AbstractPost‐stroke behavioural symptoms often correlate and systematically co‐occur with each other, either because they share cognitive processes, or because their neural correlates are often damaged together. Thus, neuropsychological symptoms often share variance. Many previous lesion‐behaviour mapping studies aimed to methodologically consider this shared variance between neuropsychological variables. A first group of studies controlled the behavioural target variable for the variance explained by one or multiple other variables to obtain a more precise mapping of the target variable. A second group of studies focused on the shared variance of multiple variables itself with the aim to map neural correlates of cognitive processes that are shared between the original variables. In the present study, we tested the validity of these methods by using real lesion data and both real and simulated data sets. We show that the variance that is shared between post‐stroke behavioural variables is ambiguous, and that mapping procedures that consider this variance are prone to biases and artefacts. We discuss under which conditions such procedures could still be used and what alternative approaches exist.
Groups of companies in the Recast European Insolvency Regulation: Around and about the “group”
Authors: de Soveral Martins Alexandre 
Published: November 2019

AbstractRegulation (EU) 2015/848 (Recast European Insolvency Regulation/Recast EIR) contains a set of articles dedicated to the insolvency proceedings relative to members of groups of companies. No substantial consolidation or any procedural nature is envisaged. Article 2(13) of Regulation 2015/848 clarifies that, for the purposes of the same, a “group of companies” must be understood as “a parent undertaking and all its subsidiary undertakings.” However, many doubts arise when one goes deeper into that definition. The author deals with some of those problems and gives some suggestions to overcome them.
Domestic financial reforms and crisis recoveries
Authors: Dai Yanke , Lin Shu , Zou Hanbo 
Published: November 2019

AbstractWe examine empirically whether domestic financial reforms lead to faster recoveries from financial crises. Using a duration analysis approach and financial reform indicators from Abiad, Detragiache, and Tressel (2010), we find robust evidence that a higher overall level of domestic financial liberalization is associated with a significantly shorter duration of recovery. This effect exists in both the downturn and upturn stages of a crisis but matters only for developing countries. We also check the effect of each individual dimension of domestic financial reforms and find they all contribute to significant faster crisis recoveries except for privatization of the banking sector.
Hiring “tainted” outside directors on the board
Authors: Kim Soohyung 
Published: November 2019

AbstractBy looking at the unique data set during the period from 2011 to 2015, this research presents evidence that a firm's decision to hire a tainted outside director (OD) onto its board produces significantly improved firm performance. I defined tainted ODs as ODs that are (were) senior executives at other firms where class action lawsuits were filed on behalf of an investor group that had suffered a financial loss in a stock. Especially, for the firms that appointed tainted OD as the chair of audit committee, their industry‐adjusted return on assets is significantly increased by 6.8%. These results mean that under the presence of career concerns theory, tainted OD's history directly related to a previous securities class action lawsuit is a unique experience that modifies and disciplines their future behavior and eventually helps improve firm performance. Thus, through appointing tainted OD as an audit committee chair the firm might be able to reinforce the monitoring and transparency of its board, resulting in significantly better firm performance than any other control firms.
Distribution of goblet and endocrine cells in the intestine: A comparative study in Amazonian freshwater Tambaqui and hybrid catfish
Authors: Pereira Raquel Tatiane , Nebo Caroline , de Paula Naves Luciana , Fortes‐Silva Rodrigo , Regina Cardoso de Oliveira Izabela , Paulino Renan Rosa , Drummond Cristina Delarete , Rosa Priscila Vieira 
Published: November 2019

AbstractGoblet cells (GCs) and endocrine cells (ECs) play an important role in intestine physiology, and few studies currently exist for Amazonian fishes. This study aimed to quantify the distribution of GCs and ECs producing cholecystokinin‐8 and neuropeptide Y, assessed by mucin histochemistry and peptides immunohistochemistry, in the intestine of two Amazonian species with different feeding habits Tambaqui (Colossosoma macropomum) and hybrid catfish (Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum × Leiarius marmoratus), an omnivore and carnivore, respectively. A systematic literature review correlating feeding habit and GC and EC distribution was also included to contribute to the comparative study. The results of this study provided novel information about the gut cells of Tambaqui and hybrid catfish. Both, GCs and ECs can be found sweeping the entire intestine of Tambaqui and hybrid catfish although the cells can be more concentrated in certain segments. The GCs and ECs in Tambaqui were more uniformly distributed in the midgut segments (T1, T2, and T3). Unlike, in hybrid catfish GCs were more concentrated in the hindgut (C4) and ECs mainly in the two midgut segments (C1 and C2) of hybrid catfish. Based on the comparison between Tambaqui, hybrid catfish, and other fishes in the literature review, we suggest that cell distribution can be partially explained by feeding habits, carnivorous vs. omnivorous.