bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Treatment With Mycophenolate and Cyclophosphamide Leads to Clinically Meaningful Improvements in Patient‐Reported Outcomes in Scleroderma Lung Disease: Results of Scleroderma Lung Study II
Authors: Volkmann Elizabeth R. , Tashkin Donald P. , LeClair Holly , Roth Michael D. , Kim Grace , Goldin Jonathan , Clements Philip J. , Furst Daniel E. , Khanna Dinesh 
Published: May 2020

ObjectiveOur objective was to determine if treatment with cyclophosphamide (CYC) and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) improves patient‐reported outcomes (PROs) among patients with systemic sclerosis‐related interstitial lung disease (SSc‐ILD).MethodsThis study examined PROs in patients with SSc‐ILD (N = 142) who participated in the Scleroderma Lung Study II, a randomized controlled trial comparing MMF for 2 years with oral CYC for 1 year followed by 1 year of a placebo. Joint models were created to evaluate the course of PROs over 2 years. The difference in PRO scores from baseline to 24 months was measured, and the percentage of patients meeting the minimum clinically important difference (MCID) was calculated. Correlations between PROs and SSc‐ILD disease severity measures were also examined.ResultsTreatment with CYC and MMF led to improvements in several PROs with no between‐treatment differences. Scores for the Transitional Dyspnea Index (TDI) and St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) improved significantly over 2 years, and 29%/24% and 28%/25% of participants in the CYC/MMF groups met or exceeded the MCID estimates for TDI and SGRQ, respectively. At baseline, the forced vital capacity (FVC) percentage predicted (FVC%‐predicted) did not correlate with the Baseline Dyspnea Index or SGRQ. However, improvements in the FVC%‐predicted were weakly associated with improvements in dyspnea (assessed by the TDI) and SGRQ scores.ConclusionTreatment with CYC and MMF improved overall health‐related quality of life in patients with SSc‐ILD. The relationship between PRO measures and the FVC was relatively weak, suggesting that PROs provide complementary information about treatment efficacy not captured by changes in the FVC alone in this patient population.
Electrocatalytic Interlayer with Fast Lithium–Polysulfides Diffusion for Lithium–Sulfur Batteries to Enhance Electrochemical Kinetics under Lean Electrolyte Conditions
Authors: Qian Ji , Wang Fujie , Li Yu , Wang Shuo , Zhao Yuanyuan , Li Wanlong , Xing Yi , Deng Lei , Sun Qiang , Li Li , Wu Feng , Chen Renjie 
Published: May 2020

AbstractLithium–sulfur batteries are promising energy‐storage devices because of their high theoretical energy densities. For practical Li–S batteries, reducing the amount of electrolyte used is essential for achieving the high energy densities. However, reducing the electrolyte amount leads to severe performance degradation, mainly because of sluggish deposition of discharge products (Li2S) and the accompanying passivation issue that arise from the insulating nature of Li2S. In this study, a lightweight, robust interlayer, with a 3D open structure and a low surface area is designed and fabricated. The structure facilitates electrolyte infiltration without trapping too much electrolyte. Moreover, the electrocatalytic Co nanoparticles embedded in the skeleton surface within the interlayer effectively promote Li ion diffusion, polysulfides conversion, and Li2S deposition, and therefore enhance the electrochemical kinetics under lean electrolyte conditions. The mechanisms involved in the interlayer effects are investigated by microstructural characterizations, electrochemical performance tests, density functional theory calculations, and in situ X‐ray diffraction characterization. These results show the feasibility of using an interlayer strategy to improve the electrochemical performances of Li–S batteries under lean electrolyte conditions to potentially increase the practical energy densities of Li–S batteries.
A Stable Conversion and Alloying Anode for Potassium‐Ion Batteries: A Combined Strategy of Encapsulation and Confinement
Authors: Wang Shijian , Xiong Pan , Guo Xin , Zhang Jinqiang , Gao Xiaochun , Zhang Fan , Tang Xiao , Notten Peter H. L. , Wang Guoxiu 
Published: May 2020

AbstractPotassium‐ion batteries based on conversion/alloying reactions have high potential applications in new‐generation large‐scale energy storage. However, their applications are hindered by inherent large‐volume variations and sluggish kinetics of the conversion/alloying‐type electrode materials during the repeated insertion and extraction of bulky K+ ions. Although some efforts have been focused on this issue, the reported potassium‐ion batteries still suffer from poor cycling lifespans. Here, a superior stable antimony selenide (Sb2Se3) anode is reported for high‐performance potassium‐ion batteries through a combined strategy of conductive encapsulation and 2D confinement. The Sb2Se3 nanorods are uniformly coated with a conductive N‐doped carbon layer and then confined between graphene nanosheets. The synergistic effects between conductive coating and confinement effectively buffer the large volumetric variation of the conversion/alloying anodes, which can maintain structural stability for superior cyclability. The as‐prepared anodes exhibit a high reversible specific capacity of ≈590 mA h g−1 and outstanding cycling stability over 350 cycles. In situ and ex situ characterizations reveal a high structural integration of the large‐volume‐change Sb2Se3 anodes during a reversible K storage mechanism of two‐step conversion and multistep alloying processes. This work can open up a new possibility for the design of stable conversion/alloying‐based anodes for high‐performance potassium‐ion batteries.
Transparent Nacre‐like Composites Toughened through Mineral Bridges
Authors: Magrini Tommaso , Moser Simon , Fellner Madeleine , Lauria Alessandro , Bouville Florian , Studart André R. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractBulk materials with remarkable mechanical properties have been developed by incorporating design principles of biological nacre into synthetic composites. However, this potential has not yet been fully leveraged for the fabrication of tough and strong materials that are also optically transparent. In this work, a manufacturing route that enables the formation of nacre‐like mineral bridges in a bioinspired composite consisting of glass platelets infiltrated with an index‐matching polymer matrix is developed. By varying the pressure applied during compaction of the glass platelets, composites with tunable levels of mineral bridges and platelet interconnectivity can be easily fabricated. The effect of platelet interconnectivity on the mechanical strength and fracture behavior of the bioinspired composites is investigated by performing state‐of‐the‐art fracture experiments combined with in situ electron microscopy. The results show that the formation of interconnections between platelets leads to bulk transparent materials with an unprecedented combination of strength and fracture toughness. This unusual set of properties can potentially fulfill currently unmet demands in electronic displays and related technologies.
Bilayer Hydrogel Sheet‐Type Intraocular Microrobot for Drug Delivery and Magnetic Nanoparticles Retrieval
Authors: Kim Dong‐In , Lee Hyoryong , Kwon Su‐Hyun , Sung Young Je , Song Won Kyung , Park Sukho 
Published: May 2020

AbstractBy virtue of minimum invasiveness and driving ability using a magnetic field, drug delivery with the aid of a microrobot has an inherent potential for targeted treatment for the eye. The use of microrobots, however, has the limitation of leaving magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) in the eye that can cause side effects. In this study, a bilayer hydrogel microrobot capable of retrieving MNPs after drug delivery is proposed that overcomes the limitations of existing microrobots. The bilayer hydrogel microrobot is composed of an MNPs layer and a therapeutic layer. Upon applying an alternating magnetic field (AMF) at the target point, the therapeutic layer is dissolved to deliver drug particles, and then the MNPs layer can be retrieved using a magnetic field. The targeting and MNPs retrieval tests validate the drug delivery and MNPs retrieval ability of the microrobot. The ex vivo bovine vitreous and in vitro cell tests demonstrate the potential for the vitreous migration of the microrobot and the therapeutic effect against retinoblastoma Y79 cancer cells. This bilayer hydrogel sheet‐type intraocular microrobot provides a new drug delivery paradigm that overcomes the limitations of microrobot by maintaining the advantages of conventional microrobots in delivering drugs to the eye and retrieving MNPs after drug delivery.
Recent Advances on High‐Entropy Alloys for 3D Printing
Authors: Han Changjun , Fang Qihong , Shi Yusheng , Tor Shu Beng , Chua Chee Kai , Zhou Kun 
Published: May 2020

AbstractBoosted by the success of high‐entropy alloys (HEAs) manufactured by conventional processes in various applications, the development of HEAs for 3D printing has been advancing rapidly in recent years. 3D printing of HEAs gives rise to a great potential for manufacturing geometrically complex HEA products with desirable performances, thereby inspiring their increased appearance in industrial applications. Herein, a comprehensive review of the recent achievements of 3D printing of HEAs is provided, in the aspects of their powder development, printing processes, microstructures, properties, and potential applications. It begins with the introduction of the fundamentals of 3D printing and HEAs, as well as the unique properties of 3D‐printed HEA products. The processes for the development of HEA powders, including atomization and mechanical alloying, and the powder properties, are then presented. Thereafter, typical processes for printing HEA products from powders, namely, directed energy deposition, selective laser melting, and electron beam melting, are discussed with regard to the phases, crystal features, mechanical properties, functionalities, and potential applications of these products (particularly in the aerospace, energy, molding, and tooling industries). Finally, perspectives are outlined to provide guidance for future research.
Metastability at Defective Metal Oxide Interfaces and Nanoconfined Structures
Authors: Esposito Vincenzo , Castelli Ivano E. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractMost of the paradigms in materials science and technology firmly rely on equilibrium materials, i.e., phases with the lowest Gibbs energy under thermodynamic conditions. In nature, however, complexity rules, and the other aspect is metastability. This review aims to provide a coherent description of such effects and to formulate hypotheses on the fundamental energetic mechanisms of residual metastability in crystalline metal oxide polymorphs. The authors especially focus on different forms of broken symmetry at the interface, e.g., induced by defects, lattice strain/stress, and elemental diffusion. The discussion also provides perspective on the technological implications and possibilities arising from identifying a general methodology for establishing metastability in polymorphic functional metal oxides for energy applications, catalysis, and electronics.
Omnidirectional Stretchable Inorganic‐Material‐Based Electronics with Enhanced Performance
Authors: Kumaresan Yogeenth , Kim Hyeonghun , Pak Yusin , Poola Praveen Kumar , Lee Ryeri , Lim Namsoo , Ko Heung Cho , Jung Gun Young , Dahiya Ravinder 
Published: May 2020

AbstractInorganic material‐based devices are well known for their high performance, excellent stability, and hence suitability for fast computation and communication. But their nonflexibility and nonstretchability often hinder their application in several emerging areas where conformability with irregular 3D surfaces is required in addition to the high performance. Herein, with honeycomb like patterns, the omnidirectional stretchability and conformability of inorganic material‐based device are demonstrated without sacrificing the performance. The simple method presented here facilitates the transfer of patterned inorganic material‐based devices from rigid poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/glass substrate onto flexible/stretchable substrate such as polydimethylsiloxane simply by placing a water droplet at the PMMA/glass interface. As a proof of concept, the intrinsically brittle indium–gallium–zinc oxide (IGZO)‐based stretchable photodetector devices are fabricated. These devices can be stretched up to 10% without performance degradation, which is a significant improvement considering the less than ≈1% fracture limit of IGZO. With Au decoration, these devices show 127‐fold higher responsivity (295.3 mA W−1) than planar IGZO devices. The higher fracture strain together with the omnidirectional stretchability underpinned by the honeycomb pattern could allow presented devices to conform to complex hemispherical surfaces such as the human eyes, thus showing significant potential for future high‐performance stretchable electronics.
The Potential Role of Reactive Metals for a Clean Energy Transition
Authors: Baumann Manuel , Barelli Linda , Passerini Stefano 
Published: May 2020

AbstractReactive metal‐based storage systems are a new alternative to support the clean energy transition. Herein, the cases of Al and Na are presented, both preliminarily fulfilling the constraints regarding sustainability, but employing two rather different processes. Both, the steam combustion of molten Al for H2 and heat production, and a new rechargeable battery, which makes use of seawater and sodium as electrodes, show promising round‐trip efficiencies. The latter technology also allows CO2‐trapping, desalination, Na metal, and chlorine production. It is argued that further research efforts are needed to verify the sustainability and ability of reactive metal‐based technologies to compete with other storage technologies.
Mining of soil legacy phosphorus without jeopardizing crop yield
Authors: Nair Vimala D , Sollenberger Lynn E , Harris Willie G , Sharpley Andrew N , Freitas Andressa M , Dubeux Jose Carlos Batista , Rodriguez Amanda N 
Published: May 2020

AbstractOff‐site transport of excess soil P from repeated P fertilizer applications constitutes waste of a vital resource and poses an environmental risk. Excess P can be mined by growing crops without P addition until it is exhausted to the point of P deficiency. This study evaluated the utility of the “soil phosphorus storage capacity” (SPSC) as an indicator of safe P mining for acid soils. The SPSC predicts crop‐available legacy P in absolute terms, (i.e., kg ha−1; can be calculated from mg kg−1 if the bulk density and soil depth are known), which is not provided by current soil tests. Results show that mining provides sufficient P for crops when there is adequately negative SPSC. This study provides a “proof‐of‐concept” for SPSC, serving as an indicator of legacy P mining prior to the need for P fertilizer application. However, further study is needed to determine the negative P thresholds more precisely at which P mining would no longer provide adequate P for optimum crop yields.
Optimum seeding rate and stand assessment of soft red winter wheat
Authors: Lindsey Laura E. , Goodwin Allen W. , Harrison S. Kent , Paul Pierce A. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractCultivar selection and seeding rate influence soft red winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L) grain yield. Re‐evaluating optimum seeding rate for crops is necessary as modern cultivars may show a greater yield advantage when planted at a higher plant population compared with older cultivars. Furthermore, the relationship between wheat stem population density and yield needs to be understood to help producers make informed estimates of yield potential. The objectives of this research were to determine: (a) the agronomic and economic optimum seeding rate (AOSR and EOSR, respectively) of soft red winter wheat, and (b) the relationship of wheat stem population density and grain yield. Trials were established during two growing seasons at two locations in Ohio with four wheat cultivars and four seeding rates ranging from 1.85 to 6.18 million seeds ha−1. Among the four cultivars, the quadratic plateau model resulted in an average AOSR of 4.20 million seeds ha−1 and an average EOSR of 3.13 million seeds ha−1. The AOSR was 10–33% greater than the previous recommendation of 2.96 to 3.95 million seeds ha−1. This increase may be due to modern wheat cultivars having a higher tolerance to increased plant density as the previous recommendation, which is over 30‐yr old. Wheat stem number was linearly related to grain yield and explained 31% of the variability in yield. Planting the optimum number of wheat seeds followed by wheat stand evaluation in the spring should result in maximum economic return and informed decisions regarding wheat yield potential.
Cancer and risk of Alzheimer's disease: Small association in a nationwide cohort study
Authors: Ording Anne G. , Horváth‐Puhó Erzsébet , Veres Katalin , Glymour M. Maria , Rørth Mikael , Sørensen Henrik T. , Henderson Victor W. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractIntroductionSmall observational studies with short‐term follow‐up suggest that cancer patients are at reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) compared to the general population.MethodsA nationwide cohort study using Danish population‐based health registries (1980‐2013) with cancer patients (n = 949,309) to identify incident diagnoses of AD. We computed absolute reductions in risk attributed to cancer and standardized incidence rate ratios (SIRs) accounting for survival time, comparing the observed to expected number of AD cases.ResultsDuring up to 34 years of follow‐up of cancer survivors, the attributable risk reduction was 1.3 per 10,000 person‐years, SIR = 0.94 (95% confidence interval 0.92‐0.96). SIRs were similar after stratification by sex, age, and cancer stage, and approached that of the general population for those surviving >10 years.DiscussionInverse associations between cancer and AD were small and diminished over time. Incidence rates in cancer survivors approached those of the general population, suggesting limited association between cancer and AD risk.
Site‐Specific Iron Substitution in STA‐28, a Large Pore Aluminophosphate Zeotype Prepared by Using 1,10‐Phenanthrolines as Framework‐Bound Templates
Authors: Watts Abigail E. , Lozinska Magdalena M. , Slawin Alexandra M. Z. , Mayoral Alvaro , Dawson Daniel M. , Ashbrook Sharon E. , Bode Bela E. , Dugulan A. Iulian , Shannon Mervyn D. , Cox Paul A. , Turrina Alessandro , Wright Paul A. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractAn AlPO4 zeotype has been prepared using the aromatic diamine 1,10‐phenanthroline and some of its methylated analogues as templates. In each case the two template N atoms bind to a specific framework Al site to expand its coordination to the unusual octahedral AlO4N2 environment. Furthermore, using this framework‐bound template, Fe atoms can be included selectively at this site in the framework by direct synthesis, as confirmed by annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy and Rietveld refinement. Calcination removes the organic molecules to give large pore framework solids, with BET surface areas up to 540 m2 g−1 and two perpendicular sets of channels that intersect to give pore space connected by 12‐ring openings along all crystallographic directions.
Shear and extensional viscosity of thermally aggregated thermoplastic protein
Authors: Uitto Jussi M. , Verbeek Casparus J. R. , Bengoechea Carlos 
Published: May 2020

AbstractNovatein is a thermoplastic produced from blood meal and is used in different agricultural applications. Novatein has some unique processing challenges and its rheology was studied using screw‐driven capillary rheometry, with a particular focus on sheet extrusion using ethylene glycol, glycerol, propylene glycol (PG), or triethylene glycol (TEG) as plasticizers. The entrance pressure drop contributed up to 44% of the total pressure drop (entrance and capillary pressure drop), but this was significantly reduced by plasticization or increased temperature. Polyol addition led to higher shear viscosities in comparison to no polyol plasticization, most likely due to improved chain mobility resulting in orientation effects. Elongational flow was dominated by primary plasticization of the protein‐rich phase and changes in secondary structure, whereas secondary plasticization (phase separation into a polyol‐rich phase) played a significant role in the reduction of the shear viscosity. Of the selected plasticizers, PG showed the most efficient plasticization in both shear and elongational flow. When combined with the beneficial secondary structural changes brought about by TEG, the sheet forming ability of Novatein was drastically improved.
Effect of phenolic compounds from the leaves of Psidium guajava on the activity of three metabolism‐related enzymes
Authors: Ahmed Mohamed H. , Aldesouki Hala M. , Badria Farid A. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractEnzyme activity modulation by synthetic compounds provide strategies combining the inhibitory and therapeutic mode of action of the confirmed inhibitors. However, natural modulators could offer a valuable alternative for synthetic ones for the treatment of different chronic diseases (diabetes, hypertension, cancer); due to the numerous side effects of the latter. In vitro screening assays were conducted for Psidium guajava leaf methanolic extract against three metabolism‐related enzymes; α‐amylase, tyrosinase, and hyaluronidase. The obtained results showed that the examined extract retained weak and moderate multitarget inhibition against α‐amylase, tyrosinase, and hyaluronidase, respectively; however, the leaf fractions exhibited stronger inhibitions for the three investigated enzymes. Fractionation of P. guajava leaf extract revealed that anthraquinones and ellagic acid are of the major active compounds with inhibitory activities for α‐amylase, tyrosinase, and hyaluronidase. Kinetic studies showed that quinalizarin inhibition is competitive for both α‐amylase and hyaluronidase, and ellagic acid inhibition for tyrosinase and hyaluronidase is competitive and un‐competitive, respectively. The molecular docking studies of quinalizarin and ellagic acid with α‐amylase, tyrosinase, and hyaluronidase showed high binding energies with different bonds stabilizing the ligand–protein complex. Compiling all obtained results led to conclude that both P. guajava leaf fractions, quinalizarin and ellagic acid, have multitarget activities with potential therapeutic applications in many metabolic disorders.