bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Design and experimental analysis of a dual‐cavity high‐concentration adaptive passive micro direct methanol fuel cell
Authors: Zuo Kaiyuan , Yuan Zhenyu 
Published: November 2020

SummaryIn this article, a high concentration adaptive direct methanol fuel cell based on a dual‐cavity structure is presented. The performance of the cell is investigated experimentally under different supply concentrations of methanol solution to detect the optimal working conditions. The advantages of the anode double‐cavity structure in high concentration and high energy density fuel supply are proved. The effects of stainless steel metal felt, plastic porous barrier layer, hydrophilic and hydrophobic filter membrane on cell performance are experimentally investigated.
Optimal energy management strategy for a renewable‐based microgrid considering sizing of battery energy storage with control policies
Authors: Quynh Nguyen Vu , Ali Ziad M. , Alhaider Mohammed M. , Rezvani Alireza , Suzuki Kengo 
Published: November 2020

SummaryMicrogrids (MGs) are known as suitable options to accommodatethe high penetration of renewable energies, like solar and wind. MGs have provided the requirements of controlling and adjusting these sources. In addition, batteries are becoming indispensable components of MGs because of their capabilities in addressing the renewable energies' power output intermittency. In MGs, the problem of smart energymanagement along with battery sizing has been introduced as the necessity to ensure the efficient use of renewable sources and decrease traditional fossil‐fuel‐based generation technology penetration level in power systems. Accordingly, a novel method is presented in this paper to effectively address the above‐mentioned requirements, utilizing the modified shuffled frog leaping algorithm (MSFLA), applied to different case studies. The results, obtained from the numerical simulation, are compared to several well‐established optimization approaches to verify the performance of MSFLA. In terms of computational efficiency and quality of the obtained solution, the MSFLA has demonstrated promising outcomes, together with superior performance in comparison with other algorithms. The results show that the presented framework, including the battery sizing, would be very beneficial to minimize the operating cost of MGs.
A brain tumor detection system using gradient based watershed marked active contours and curvelet transform
Authors: Görgel Pelin 
Published: November 2020

AbstractComputer aided brain tumor detection is an efficient research area in brain image processing. In this study, a methodology called GWMAC‐CT (gradient based watershed marked active contours and curvelet transform) is proposed to detect the brain tumors in magnetic resonance (MR) images. The implemented system is based on skull removing, segmentation of region of interest (ROI), feature extraction, and ROI classification as tumor or nontumor. The proposed GWMAC is a two‐stage segmentation method which includes gradient based watershed transform (GWT) and improved active contours. The rough ROIs obtained with GWT are utilized as initial contours for the improved active contours method instead of marking initial contours manually. Curvelet transform‐based features of the exact ROI contours are classified via well‐known classification methods such as support vector machine (SVM), K‐nearest neighbors, random forest tree, and Naïve Bayes. Experiments are carried out on a set of brain MR images from BRATS database to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. The performance evaluators such as accuracy, kappa statistics, false positive rate, precision, F1‐measure, and area under ROC curve are calculated as 96.81%, 0.927, 0.046, 0.905, 0.95, and 0.977, respectively with SVM.
Information transmission under increasing political tensions—Evidence from the Berlin Produce Exchange 1887–1896
Authors: Bohl Martin T. , Pütz Alexander , Siklos Pierre L. , Sulewski Christoph 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThis article studies the effects of increasing political uncertainty on the functioning of German futures markets. We examine a unique event, namely the discussions around and the final coming into force of the German Exchange Act of 1896. Using static and time‐varying vector error correction models, the empirical analysis shows that, although early futures markets exhibit a high degree of operational efficiency, increasing political tensions were related to a declining dominance of the futures market in the price discovery process. In summary, we provide a strong illustration of the negative consequences of misplaced regulatory attempts stemming from powerful political interests.
The impact of COVID‐19 pandemic on people with mild cognitive impairment/dementia and on their caregivers
Authors: Tsapanou Angeliki , Papatriantafyllou John D. , Yiannopoulou Konstantina , Sali Dimitra , Kalligerou Fedra , Ntanasi Eva , Zoi Panagiota , Margioti Eleni , Kamtsadeli Vasiliki , Hatzopoulou Maria , Koustimpi Maria , Zagka Athina , Papageorgiou Sokratis G. , Sakka Paraskeui 
Published: November 2020

AbstractBackgroundThe novel coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) was first detected in Mainland China in December 2019, and soon it spread throughout the world, with multiple physical and psychological consequences across the affected populations.AimsThe aim of the current study was to analyze the impact of COVID‐19 pandemic on older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI)/dementia and their caregivers as well.Materials and MethodsTwo hundred and four caregivers took part in the study, completing a self‐reported questionnaire about the person with MCI/dementia and their own, since the lockdown period which started in February and ended in May of 2020 in Greece.ResultsResults indicated a significant overall decline of the people with MCI/dementia. Further, the domains in which people with MCI/dementia were mostly affected were: communication, mood, movement and compliance with the new measures. Caregivers also reported a great increase in their psychological and physical burden during this period, where the available support sources were limited.DiscussionThe pandemic threatens to disrupt the basic routines that promote mental and physical health of both people with MCI/dementia and t heir caregivers.ConclusionFurther measures to protect and provide support to people who suffer and their families are needed.
Hemodynamic response varies across tactile stimuli with different temporal structures
Authors: Wang Luyao , Li Chunlin , Chen Duanduan , Lv Xiaoyu , Go Ritsu , Wu Jinglong , Yan Tianyi 
Published: November 2020

AbstractTactile stimuli can be distinguished based on their temporal features (e.g., duration, local frequency, and number of pulses), which are fundamental for vibrotactile frequency perception. Characterizing how the hemodynamic response changes in shape across experimental conditions is important for designing and interpreting fMRI studies on tactile information processing. In this study, we focused on periodic tactile stimuli with different temporal structures and explored the hemodynamic response function (HRF) induced by these stimuli. We found that HRFs were stimulus‐dependent in tactile‐related brain areas. Continuous stimuli induced a greater area of activation and a stronger and narrower hemodynamic response than intermittent stimuli with the same duration. The magnitude of the HRF increased with increasing stimulus duration. By normalizing the characteristics into topographic matrix, nonlinearity was obvious. These results suggested that stimulation patterns and duration within a cycle may be key characters for distinguishing different stimuli. We conclude that different temporal structures of tactile stimuli induced different HRFs, which are essential for vibrotactile perception and should be considered in fMRI experimental designs and analyses.
Intermolecular interactions of the extended recognition site of VIM‐2 metallo‐β‐lactamase with 1,2,4‐triazole‐3‐thione inhibitors. Validations of a polarizable molecular mechanics potential by ab initio QC
Authors: Kwapien Karolina , Gavara Laurent , Docquier Jean‐Denis , Berthomieu Dorothée , Hernandez Jean‐François , Gresh Nohad 
Published: November 2020

AbstractMolecular dynamics on the complexes of inhibitors with Zn‐metalloproteins are a privileged area of applications of polarizable molecular mechanics potentials. With which accuracy could these reproduce the QC intermolecular interaction energies in the two mono‐zinc cores and in the dizinc core, toward full‐fledged MD simulations on the entire protein complexes? We considered the complexes of the extended recognition site of a Zn‐dependent metallo‐β‐lactamase, VIM‐2, produced by bacteria responsible for nosocomial infections, with five newly synthesized inhibitors sharing an original dizinc binding group, 1,2,4‐triazole‐3‐thione (TZT). We considered the energy‐minimized structures of each of the five VIM‐2 complexes obtained with the SIBFA potential. Energy decomposition analyses (EDA) at the HF level enabled to compare the QC and the SIBFA ΔE values and their contributions in the zinc cores, with and without TZT, totaling 30 complexes. With one exception, the ΔE(QC) values were reproduced with relative errors <1.5%. We next considered the complex of the entire inhibitors with an extended model of VIM‐2 recognition site, totaling up to 280 atoms. ΔE(SIBFA) could closely reproduce ΔE(QC). EDA analyses were resumed on the complexes of each inhibitor arm with its interacting VIM‐2 residues. As a last step, EDA results at correlated levels were analyzed for the mono‐ and dizinc sites enabling comparisons with dispersion‐augmented ΔE(SIBFA) and correlated multipoles and polarizabilities. Closely reproducing ΔE(QC) and the contrasting trends of its individual contributions should enable for dependable free energy perturbation studies and comparisons to recent experimental ΔG values, limiting as much as possible the reliance on error compensations.
Efficacy of cobalt‐incorporated mesoporous silica toward photodegradation of Alizarin Red S and its kinetic study
Authors: Guru Tharividi Venkata Siva Parvathi Veera Satya , Krishna Vaddadi , Rajesh Ella 
Published: November 2020

AbstractCobalt‐incorporated mesoporous silica (Co‐MCM‐41) has been synthesized along with MCM‐41. The materials were characterized using powder X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, and nitrogen adsorption–desorption study techniques. The surface area (SBET, m2/g), pore size (Å), and pore volume (cc/g) have been found to be reduced in the Co‐MCM‐41 compared with MCM‐41. Furthermore, the Scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X‐Ray spectroscopy (SEM‐EDAX) analysis has clearly shown the presence of the respective elements in the materials. The bandgap (eV) was also significantly reduced in the Co‐MCM‐41 compared with its parent template, observed by applying the Kubelka‐Munk function to the results of UV–Vis DRS. The materials were successfully used as photocatalysts in the photodegradation studies of the Alizarin Red S dye, and pseudo‐first‐order kinetics was performed using the Langmuir‐Hinshelwood kinetic model. All the required experimental conditions were optimized.
Catalytic transfer hydrogenation of 4‐O‐5 models in lignin‐derived compounds to cycloalkanes over Ni‐based catalysts
Authors: Chen Changzhou , Liu Peng , Xia Haihong , Zhou Minghao , Jiang Jianchun 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThere is an urgent need to develop a selective hydrogenolysis of Caryl‐O bonds in lignin to produce valued‐added chemicals and fuels. Recently, hydrogen has been used in the hydrogenation reaction, which hides inevitable danger and is not economical. Therefore, isopropanol, as a hydrogen‐donor solvent, is employed for aryl ether hydrogenolysis in lignin models over nickel supported on a carbon nanotube (CNT). Except for aromatic ether (4‐O‐5), the Ni/CNT catalyst is also found to be suitable for alkyl‐aryl ether (α‐O‐4 and β‐O‐4) cleavage in control experiments. The physicochemical characterizations were carried out by means of H2‐temperature‐programmed reduction, X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses. The catalyst can be magnetically recovered and efficiently reused for five consecutive recycling tests in the transfer hydrogenation of aromatic ethers. A mechanism study indicated that the hydrogenolysis cleavage of the ether bond is the first step in the reaction process, and hydrogenation of aromatic rings is only a successive step in which phenol and benzene are intermediate states and are then further hydrogenated. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that aryl groups play an important role in the hydrogenation of phenol in the competitive catalytic hydrogenation reaction of phenol.
Differentially expressed microRNAs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of non‐segmental vitiligo and their clinical significance
Authors: Zhang Zhibin , Yang Xinyue , Liu Ougen , Cao Xianwei , Tong Jianbo , Xie Ting , Zhang Jie , Peng Yating 
Published: November 2020

AbstractBackgroundVitiligo is a frequent acquired depigmentation skin disease due to a loss of melanocytes. This study sought to characterize the expression pattern of microRNA (miRNA) in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of non‐segmental vitiligo (NSV) patients. We also screened for molecular markers that can be used to evaluate the clinical stages of NSV.MethodsThe miRNA expression profile in the PBMCs of four patients with progressive NSV and four healthy controls was determined using high‐throughput RNA sequencing. The divergently expressed miRNA was verified via qRT‐PCR in 26 progression, 26 stable NSV, and 26 healthy controls.ResultsOur findings posited that 323 miRNAs were differentially expressed in the PBMCs of NSV patients. The top 10 up‐regulated miRNAs in patients were hsa‐miR‐335‐5p, hsa‐miR‐20a‐5p, hsa‐miR‐514a‐3p, hsa‐miR‐144‐5p, hsa‐miR‐450b‐5p, hsa‐miR‐369‐3p, hsa‐miR‐101‐3p, hsa‐miR‐142‐5p, hsa‐miR‐19b‐3p, and hsa‐miR‐340‐5p. The top 10 down‐regulated miRNAs in patients were hsa‐miR‐4443, hsa‐miR‐1248, hsa‐miR‐6859‐3p, hsa‐miR‐668‐3p, hsa‐miR‐7704, hsa‐miR‐323a‐5p, hsa‐miR‐1237‐3p, hsa‐miR‐3127‐3p, hsa‐miR‐6735‐3p, and hsa‐miR‐127‐3p. The expressions of hsa‐miR‐20a‐5p in PBMCs of progressive and stable NSV were remarkably elevated relative to the healthy controls. In the characteristics curve analysis of hsa‐miR‐20a‐5p for differentiating progressive and stable NSV from normal subjects in PBMCs, the area under curve (AUC) was 0.92 and 0.81. Compared with patients in stable NSV, the hsa‐miR‐20a‐5p was markedly increased in PBMCs of progressive NSV patients, and the AUC was 0.81.ConclusionOur results showed that divergently expressed miRNAs contribute to the pathogenesis of NSV and that hsa‐miR‐20a‐5p can be applied as a biosignature for stage assessment in PBMCs of patients with NSV.
The severity of hepatic disorder is related to vertebral microstructure deterioration in cadaveric donors with liver cirrhosis
Authors: Jadzic Jelena , Cvetkovic Danica , Tomanovic Nada , Zivkovic Vladimir , Nikolic Slobodan , Milovanovic Petar , Djuric Marija , Djonic Danijela 
Published: November 2020

AbstractPatients with liver cirrhosis (LC) commonly suffer from osteoporosis and vertebral fracture, but data about their vertebral micro‐architectural changes are still limited. This study aimed to evaluate the potential differences in trabecular micro‐architecture of lumbar vertebrae between male LC patients and healthy controls, in relation to etiology and pathohistological scoring of the liver disorder. After pathohistological examination of liver tissue, micro‐computed tomography was performed on the vertebral samples included into: alcoholic liver cirrhosis group (ALC; n = 16; age: 59 ± 8 years), non‐alcoholic liver cirrhosis group (non‐ALC; n = 15; age: 69 ± 10 years) and control group (n = 16; age: 58 ± 6 years). Our data showed significant impairment of the trabecular microstructure in the lumbar vertebrae from LC donors, regardless of the alcoholic/non‐alcoholic origin of liver disorder, as illustrated by lower BV/TV, Tb.Th, and Tb.N compared with controls (p < .05). Moreover, depredation in trabecular micro‐architecture was inversely associated with pathohistological scores (p < .05), indicating that severity of liver disorder could be an important predictor of reduced vertebral strength in LC. We noticed significant micro‐architectural deterioration in the trabecular compartment of the lumbar vertebrae of male individuals with alcoholic and non‐alcoholic LC, which was associated with the severity of the liver disease. Thus, clinical assessment of fracture risk should be advised for all LC patients, regardless of the alcoholic origin of liver cirrhosis. Additionally, adequate and timely treatment of liver disorder may decelerate the progression of bone impairment in LC patients.
A case of juvenile eosinophilic cholangitis: Rapid peripheral blood hypereosinophilia after admission leading to diagnosis
Authors: Fukatsu Shusaku , Kitamura Katsuya , Asai Yasutsugu , Nagai Kazumasa , Kikuchi Miho , Asano Kyoko , Tadokoro Kenichi , Yamanishi Fumito , Tomita Yusuke , Abe Masakazu , Wada Takuya , Matsue Yubu , Nutahara Daisuke , Taira Junichi , Nakamura Hironori , Itoi Takao 
Published: November 2020

AbstractA 15‐year‐old boy was referred to our hospital with elevated hepatobiliary enzyme levels and jaundice. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography performed at the previous medical facility revealed a stricture of the intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile duct. Computed tomography showed dilatation and wall thickness of the intrahepatic bile ducts. Primary sclerosing cholangitis or cholangiocarcinoma was suspected. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) showed stricture in the intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile duct. On admission, the eosinophil count in the peripheral blood was normal; however, rapid hypereosinophilia in the peripheral blood was observed after admission, leading us to suspect eosinophilic cholangitis (EC). A bile duct biopsy showed inflammatory cells and eosinophil infiltration during a second ERCP. The patient was diagnosed with EC based on histopathology.
Prognostic impact of lung adenocarcinoma second predominant pattern from a large European database
Authors: Bertoglio Pietro , Querzoli Giulia , Ventura Luigi , Aprile Vittorio , Cattoni Maria A. , Nachira Dania , Lococo Filippo , Rodriguez Perez Maria , Guerrera Francesco , Minervini Fabrizio , Gnetti Letizia , Bacchin Diana , Franzi Francesca , Rindi Guido , Bellafiore Salvatore , Femia Federico , Viti Andrea , Bogina Giuseppe S. , Kestenholz Peter , Ruffini Enrico , Paci Massimiliano , Margaritora Stefano , Imperatori Andrea S. , Lucchi Marco , Ampollini Luca , Terzi Alberto C. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesAdenocarcinoma patterns could be grouped based on clinical behaviors: low‐ (lepidic), intermediate‐ (papillary or acinar), and high‐grade (micropapillary and solid). We analyzed the impact of the second predominant pattern (SPP) on disease‐free survival (DFS).MethodsWe retrospectively collected data of surgically resected stage I and II adenocarcinoma. Selection criteria: anatomical resection with lymphadenectomy and pathological N0. Pure adenocarcinomas and mucinous subtypes were excluded. Recurrence rate and factors affecting DFS were analyzed according to the SPP focusing on intermediate‐grade predominant pattern adenocarcinomas.ResultsAmong 270 patients, 55% were male. The mean age was 68.3 years. SPP pattern appeared as follows: lepidic 43.0%, papillary 23.0%, solid 14.4%, acinar 11.9%, and micropapillary 7.8%. The recurrence rate was 21.5% and 5‐year DFS was 71.1%. No difference in DFS was found according to SPP (p = .522).In patients with high‐grade SPP, the percentage of SPP, age, and tumor size significantly influenced DFS (p = .016). In patients with lepidic SPP, size, male gender, and lymph‐node sampling (p = .005; p = .014; p = .038, respectively) significantly influenced DFS.ConclusionsThe impact of SPP on DFS is not homogeneous in a subset of patients with the intermediate‐grade predominant patterns. The influence of high‐grade SPP on DFS is related to its proportion in the tumor.
Maximizing pleasure in day tours: Utility theory approach
Authors: Jana Rabin K. , Mitra Subrata K. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractA personalized day tour planning problem is studied to maximize the total pleasure gained from the tour. The concept of utility theory is employed for this purpose. Considering the uniform and diminishing marginal pleasure intensities, two zero–one mixed integer nonlinear programming models are proposed. Both the models can accommodate preferred time slots, visits to specific spots, and spots diversity. A branch‐and‐bound algorithm is used to solve the proposed models. Finally, they are applied to solve the day tour problem for Delhi, India. The tour plan obtained using the diminishing marginal pleasure intensity offers an improved value of total pleasure.
Auditory Feedback Control of Vocal Pitch in Spasmodic Dysphonia
Authors: Thomas Arthur , Mirza Natasha , Eliades Steven J. 
Published: November 2020

Objectives/HypothesisHearing plays an important role in the maintenance of vocal control in normal individuals. In patients with spasmodic dysphonia (SD), however, the ability to maintain sustained control of phonation is impaired. The origins of SD are unknown, and it is unclear whether auditory feedback‐dependent vocal control is compromised in these patients.Study DesignProspective case‐control study.MethodsWe tested 15 SD patients and 11 age‐matched controls. Voice recordings were performed while subjects repeated the vowel /e/ and auditory feedback of their vocal sounds was altered in real‐time to introduce a pitch‐shift (±2 semitones), presented back to subjects using headphones. Recordings were analyzed to determine voice changes following the pitch‐shifted feedback. Results were further compared with patient demographics and subjective measures of dysphonia, including the Voice Handicap Index (VHI).ResultsDespite considerable pitch variability and vocal breaks, SD patients exhibited significantly higher average vocal pitch compensation than control subjects. SD patients also exhibited greater variability than controls. However, there were no significant correlations between vocal compensation and patient demographics, although there was a significant inverse correlation with VHI.ConclusionsIn this pilot study, patients with SD exhibited increased sensitivity to altered auditory feedback during sustained phonation. These results are consistent with recent theories of SD as a disorder of sensory‐motor feedback processing, and suggest possible avenues for future investigation.Level of Evidence3 Laryngoscope, 131:2070–2075, 2021