bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Artificial Photosynthetic System with Spatial Dual Reduction Site Enabling Enhanced Solar Hydrogen Production
Authors: Ruan Xiaowen , Meng Depeng , Huang Chengxiang , Xu Minghua , Jiao Dongxu , Cheng Hui , Cui Yi , Li Zhiyun , Ba Kaikai , Xie Tengfeng , Zhang Lei , Zhang Wei , Leng Jing , Jin Shengye , Ravi Sai Kishore , Jiang Zhifeng , Zheng Weitao , Cui Xiaoqiang , Yu Jiaguo
Published: November 2023

Although S‐scheme artificial photosynthesis shows promise for photocatalytic hydrogen production, traditional methods often overly concentrate on a single reduction site. This limitation results in inadequate redox capability and inefficient charge separation, which hampers the efficiency of the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction. To overcome this limitation, a double S‐scheme system is proposed that leverages dual reduction sites, thereby preserving energetic photo‐electrons and holes to enhance apparent quantum efficiency. The design features a double S‐scheme junction consisting of CdS nanospheres decorated with anatase TiO2 nanoparticles coupled with graphitic C3N4. The as‐prepared catalyst exhibits a hydrogen evolution rate of 26.84 mmol g−1 h−1 and an apparent quantum efficiency of 40.2% at 365 nm. This enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution is ascribed to the efficient charge separation and transport induced by the double S‐scheme. Both theoretical calculations and comprehensive spectroscopy tests (both in situ and ex situ) affirm the efficient charge transport across the catalyst interface. Moreover, substituting the reduction‐type catalyst CdS with other similar sulfides like ZnIn2S4, ZnS, MoS2 and In2S3 further confirms the feasibility of the proposed double S‐scheme configuration. The findings provide a pathway to designing more effective double S‐scheme artificial photosynthetic systems, opening up fresh perspectives in enhancing photocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance.
Manipulating Coherent Exciton Dynamics in CsPbI3 Perovskite Quantum Dots Using Magnetic Field
Authors: Gao Kaimin , Li Yuxuan , Yang Yupeng , Liu Yuan , Liu Meng , Liang Wenfei , Zhang Boyu , Wang Lifeng , Zhu Jingyi , Wu Kaifeng
Published: November 2023

Lead halide perovskite quantum dots (QDs) have recently emerged as a promising material platform for quantum information processing owing to their strong light–matter interaction and relatively long‐lived optical and spin coherences. In particular, the coherence of the fine‐structure bright excitons is sustainable up to room temperature and can be observed even at an ensemble level. Here modulation of the polarization of these excitons in CsPbI3 QDs and manipulation of their time‐domain coherent dynamics using a longitudinal magnetic field are demonstrated. The manipulation is realized using femtosecond quantum beat spectroscopy performed with both circularly‐ and linearly‐polarized pulses. The results are well captured by the density of matrix simulation and are picturized using a Bloch sphere. This study forms the basis for preparing arbitrary coherent superpositions of excitons in perovskite QDs for an array of quantum technologies under near‐ambient conditions.
Rapid Surface Reconstruction in Air‐Processed Perovskite Solar Cells by Blade Coating
Authors: Zhuang Jing , Liu Chunki , Kang Bochun , Cheng Haiyang , Xiao Mingchao , Li Li , Yan Feng
Published: November 2023

Blade coating has been developed to be an essential technique for large‐area fabrication of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, effective surface treatment of the perovskite layer, which is a critical step for improving PSC performance, remains challenges during blade coating due to the short interaction time between the modification solution and the perovskite layer, as well as the limited selection of available organic solvents. In this study, a novel modifier N,N‐diphenylguanidine monohydrobromide (DPGABr) dissolved in acetonitrile (ACN) is blade coated on the MA0.7FA0.3PbI3 surface in air to reconstruct the perovskite surface in hundreds of milliseconds. This work finds that the solvent ACN rapidly dissolves organic iodide of the perovskite layer and leads to a PbI2‐rich surface, providing reactive sites for DPGABr to form a thin DPGABr/PbI2 complex layer. This surface reconstruction can effectively passivate defects and induce n‐type doping on the perovskite surface to facilitate electron transfer. The resultant devices show a 15% improvement in average power conversion efficiency. More importantly, the devices with the surface reconstruction show outstanding long‐term stability, with negligible performance degradation even after 1‐year storage in air. This study presents a convenient and effective approach for improving the performance of blade‐coated PSCs prepared in air.
Unlocking Optical Coupling Tunability in Epsilon‐Near‐Zero Metamaterials Through Liquid Crystal Nanocavities
Authors: Lio Giuseppe Emanuele , Ferraro Antonio , Zappone Bruno , Parka Janusz , Schab‐Balcerzak Ewa , Umeton Cesare Paolo , Riboli Francesco , Kowerdziej Rafał , Caputo Roberto
Published: November 2023

Epsilon‐near‐zero (ENZ) metamaterials represent a powerful toolkit for selectively transmitting and localizing light through cavity resonances, enabling the study of mesoscopic phenomena and facilitating the design of photonic devices. In this experimental study, it demonstrates the feasibility of engineering and actively controlling cavity modes, as well as tuning their mutual coupling, in an ENZ multilayer structure. Specifically, by employing a high‐birefringence liquid crystal film as a tunable nanocavity, the polarization‐dependent coupling of resonant modes with narrow spectral width and spatial extent is achieved. Surface forces apparatus (SFA) allowed to continuously and precisely control the thickness of the liquid crystal (LC) film contained between the nanocavities and thus vary the detuning between the cavity modes. Hence, it is able to manipulate nanocavities anti‐crossing behaviors. The suggested methodology unlocks the full potential of tunable optical coupling in epsilon‐near‐zero metamaterials and provides a versatile approach to the creation of tunable photonic devices, including bio‐photonic sensors and/or tunable planar metamaterials for on‐chip spectrometers.
Paper‐Based Wearable Patches for Real‐Time, Quantitative Lactate Monitoring
Authors: Ruggeri Elisabetta , Matzeu Giusy , Vergine Andrea , De Nicolao Giuseppe , Omenetto Fiorenzo G.
Published: November 2023

Wearable sensors are establishing themselves as options for real‐time continuous health monitoring in health care and wellness. In particular, the use of flexible interfaces that conform to the skin have attracted considerable interest for the extraction of meaningful pathophysiological information through continuous and painless sampling and analysis of biofluids. In contrast, conventional techniques for biomarkers analysis are difficult to adapt to real‐time portable monitoring due to their invasive sampling protocols, biosample preparation and reagent stabilization. Here a shelf‐stable, non‐invasive, paper‐based colorimetric wearable lactate sensor is reported. This sensor exploits the ability of silk to control the concentration, print, and functionally preserve labile transducing biomolecules in the format of a shelf‐stable digital patch for optical readout. This novel approach overcomes major challenges associated with the commercialization of colorimetric wearable sensors (e.g., enzyme thermal instability, narrow sensing range, low sensitivity, and qualitative response) by showing a combination of unprecedented stability (i.e., up to 2 years in refrigerated conditions), wide sensing range, and high sensitivity. Additionally, real‐time quantitative signal readouts are achieved using machine learning‐driven image analysis enabling physiological status evaluation with a simple smartphone camera.
Spherical Bi4O5I2/MoS2 QDs Nanocomposites Activate Persulfate to Degrade Tetracycline Under Visible Light
Authors: Zhang Yuanyuan , Huang Xunhuai , Zheng Qian , Yang Jinman , Zhai Linzhi , Song Yanhua
Published: November 2023

Photocatalytic activation of persulfate is considered to be a promising purification technology. In this study, a novel nanospherical composite material is synthesized by loading MoS2 Quantum Dots on Bi4O5I2. MoS2 Quantum Dots enhance the activity of the composite material and separation efficiency of electrons and holes. Meanwhile the composite material demonstrates a strong photocurrent response by optoelectronic analysis. In addition, the light absorption range is further expanded. Based on the improvement of photoelectric properties and light absorption performance, the BM0.5%/PS/Vis system exhibits the most excellent performance with a degradation rate of 69.7% for tetracycline within 60 min. The degradation mechanism is verified through free radical capture experiments, the radicals involve in degradation are ·OH, ·SO4−, ·O2− and 1O2. The possible degradation pathway of tetracycline is proposed by liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry (LC‐MS). This work is expected to provide a research direction for the application of modified bismuth halide in PS activation.
3D and Multimodal X‐Ray Microscopy Reveals the Impact of Voids in CIGS Solar Cells
Authors: Fevola Giovanni , Ossig Christina , Verezhak Mariana , Garrevoet Jan , Guthrey Harvey L. , Seyrich Martin , Brückner Dennis , Hagemann Johannes , Seiboth Frank , Schropp Andreas , Falkenberg Gerald , Jørgensen Peter S. , Slyamov Azat , Balogh Zoltan I. , Strelow Christian , Kipp Tobias , Mews Alf , Schroer Christian G. , Nishiwaki Shiro , Carron Romain , Andreasen Jens W. , Stuckelberger Michael E.
Published: November 2023

Small voids in the absorber layer of thin‐film solar cells are generally suspected to impair photovoltaic performance. They have been studied on Cu(In,Ga)Se2 cells with conventional laboratory techniques, albeit limited to surface characterization and often affected by sample‐preparation artifacts. Here, synchrotron imaging is performed on a fully operational as‐deposited solar cell containing a few tens of voids. By measuring operando current and X‐ray excited optical luminescence, the local electrical and optical performance in the proximity of the voids are estimated, and via ptychographic tomography, the depth in the absorber of the voids is quantified. Besides, the complex network of material‐deficit structures between the absorber and the top electrode is highlighted. Despite certain local impairments, the massive presence of voids in the absorber suggests they only have a limited detrimental impact on performance.
Self‐Charged Dual‐Photoelectrode Vanadium–Iron Energy Storage Battery
Authors: Lin Chunkun , Wang Jiangxin , He Hongjiang , Liu Xiutao , Qiu Feilong , Jin Qinwei , Li Hui , Sun Ying , Li Shuo , Zhang Yu , Ma Tianyi
Published: November 2023

The efficient utilization of solar energy in battery systems has emerged as a crucial strategy for promoting green and sustainable development. In this study, an innovative dual‐photoelectrode vanadium–iron energy storage battery (Titanium dioxide (TiO2) or Bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) as photoanodes, polythiophene (pTTh) as photocathode, and VO2+/Fe3+ as redox couples.) is proposed, which can autonomously charge under sunlight. The dual‐photoelectrode structure enables the efficient harnessing of solar energy. All processes are spontaneous and do not require external power sources. It is noteworthy that the vanadium–iron energy storage battery demonstrates excellent stability and remarkably low cost. The results show that the combinations of TiO2‐pTTh and BiVO4‐pTTh as photoelectrodes achieve spontaneous conversion rates of 29.17% and 25.46% for VO2+ and 25.6% and 23% for Fe3+ after 4 h of light charging. This study offers a promising solution for the development of large‐scale, low‐cost solar energy storage batteries.
Impact and recovery of water quality in a river with salmon aquaculture
Authors: Cooney Ronan , Tahar Alexandre , Kennedy Alan , Clifford Eoghan
Published: November 2023

Freshwater aquaculture can have negative impacts on chemical, physical and biological water quality. To contextualise the impact that these activities may have, a case study site in Ireland was monitored for 1 year. The study aims were to investigate the impact of freshwater aquaculture on water quality (biological, physical, and chemical) and the degree of the impact and recovery in water quality, within 1000 m downstream of a salmon smolt hatchery. The hatchery was monitored, at four locations (upstream, 10, 100, and 1,000 m downstream of the discharge point). Data on macroinvertebrate, macrophyte, hydromorphology and chemical characteristics were collected. Results for the physical monitoring indicated no significant changes in hydromorphology between up and downstream sites. Chemical water quality did decrease downstream in terms of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). The greatest concentrations in N and P were found at 1000 m though it is likely additional contributions from agriculture impacted this site. Dissolved oxygen was steady throughout the monitoring campaign with a 13% variance between upstream and downstream locations. Changes in biological indices were statistically significant for taxa at all downstream sites. There were positive trends which indicated a degree of recovery in biotic indices.
Leaf traits linked to structure and palatability drive plant–insect interactions within three forested ecosystems
Authors: Azevedo‐Schmidt Lauren , Currano Ellen D.
Published: November 2023

Premise

Plant traits and insect herbivory have been highly studied within the modern record but only to a limited extent within the paleontological. Preservation influences what can be measured within the fossil record, but modern methods are also not compatible with paleobotanical methods. To remedy this knowledge gap, a comparable framework was created here using modern and paleobotanical methods, allowing for future comparisons within the fossil record.

Methods

Insect feeding damage on selected tree species at Harvard Forest, the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, and La Selva were characterized using the damage type system prevalent within paleobotanical studies and compared with leaf traits. Linear models and random forest analyses tested the influence of leaf traits on total, specialized, gall, and mine frequency and diversity.

Results

Structural traits like leaf dry mass per area and palatability traits, including lignin and phosphorus concentrations, are important variables affecting gall and mine damage. The significance and strength of trait‐herbivory relationships varied across forest types, which is likely driven by differences in local insect populations.

Conclusions

This work addresses the persistent gap between modern and paleoecological studies focusing on the influence of leaf traits on insect herbivory. This is important as modern climate change alters our understanding of plant–insect interactions, providing a need for contextualizing these relationships within evolutionary time. The fossil record provides information on terrestrial response to past climatic events and, thus, should be implemented when considering how to preserve biodiversity under current and future global change.
R‐miniCHOP versus R‐CHOP in elderly patients with diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma: A propensity matched population‐based study
Authors: Al‐Sarayfi D. , Brink M. , Chamuleau M. E. D. , Brouwer R. , van Rijn R. S. , Issa D. , Deenik W. , Huls G. , Mous R. , Vermaat J. S. P. , Diepstra A. , Zijlstra J. M. , van Meerten T. , Nijland M.
Published: November 2023

For elderly frail patients with diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL), an attenuated chemo‐immunotherapy strategy of rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisolone (R‐miniCHOP) was introduced as a treatment option as from 2014 onward in the Netherlands. Although R‐miniCHOP is more tolerable, reduction of chemotherapy could negatively affect survival compared to R‐CHOP. The aim of this analysis was to assess survival of patients treated with R‐miniCHOP compared to R‐CHOP. DLBCL patients ≥65 years, newly diagnosed in 2014–2020, who received ≥1 cycle of R‐miniCHOP or R‐CHOP were identified in the Netherlands Cancer Registry, with survival follow‐up through 2022. Patients were propensity‐score‐matched for baseline characteristics. Main endpoints were progression‐free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and relative survival (RS). The use of R‐miniCHOP in DLBCL increased from 2% in 2014 to 15% in 2020. In total, 384 patients treated with R‐miniCHOP and 384 patients treated with R‐CHOP were included for comparison (median age; 81 years, stage 3–4; 68%). The median number of R‐(mini)CHOP cycles was 6 (range, 1–8). The 2‐year PFS, OS and RS were inferior for patients treated with R‐miniCHOP compared to R‐CHOP (PFS 51% vs. 68%, p < .01; OS 60% vs. 75%, p < .01; RS 69% vs. 86%, p < .01). In multivariable analysis, patients treated with R‐miniCHOP had higher risk of all‐cause mortality compared to patients treated with R‐CHOP (HR 1.73; 95%CI, 1.39–2.17). R‐miniCHOP is effective for most elderly patients. Although survival is inferior compared to R‐CHOP, the use of R‐miniCHOP as initial treatment is increasing. Therefore, fitness needs to be carefully weighed in treatment selection.
Recent advances in anxiety disorders: Focus on animal models and pathological mechanisms
Authors: Zhao Hongqing , Zhou Mi , Liu Yang , Jiang Jiaqi , Wang Yuhong
Published: November 2023

Anxiety disorders have become one of the most severe psychiatric disorders, and the incidence is increasing every year. They impose an extraordinary personal and socioeconomic burden. Anxiety disorders are influenced by multiple complex and interacting genetic, psychological, social, and environmental factors, which contribute to disruption or imbalance in homeostasis and eventually cause pathologic anxiety. The selection of a suitable animal model is important for the exploration of disease etiology and pathophysiology, and the development of new drugs. Therefore, a more comprehensive understanding of the advantages and limitations of existing animal models of anxiety disorders is helpful to further study the underlying pathological mechanisms of the disease. This review summarizes animal models and the pathogenesis of anxiety disorders, and discusses the current research status to provide insights for further study of anxiety disorders.
Ultraschnelle oberflächenspezifische Spektroskopie von Wasser an einem photoangeregten TiO2‐Modell‐Photokatalysator zur Wasserspaltung
Authors: Backus Ellen H. G. , Hosseinpour Saman , Ramanan Charusheela , Sun Shumei , Schlegel Simon J. , Zelenka Moritz , Jia Xiaoyu , Gebhard Maximilian , Devi Anjana , Wang Hai I. , Bonn Mischa
Published: November 2023

Ein kritischer Schritt bei der photokatalytischen Wasserdissoziation ist die lochvermittelte Oxidationsreaktion. Einblicke auf molekularer Ebene in den Mechanismus dieser komplexen Reaktion unter realistischen Bedingungen mit hoher zeitlicher Auflösung sind äußerst wünschenswert. Wir verwenden Femtosekunden zeitaufgelöste, oberflächenspezifische Summenfrequenzspektroskopie, um die photoinduzierte Reaktion direkt an der Grenzfläche des Photokatalysators TiO2 in Kontakt mit flüssigem Wasser bei Raumtemperatur zu untersuchen. Dank der inhärenten Oberflächenspezifität der spektroskopischen Methode können wir spezifisch die Reaktion von den Grenzflächenwassermolekülen direkt an der Grenzfläche auf Zeitskalen auf denen die Reaktion abläuft verfolgen. Nach der Erzeugung von Löchern an der Oberfläche des Katalysators, sofort nach der Photoanregung mit UV‐Licht, erfolgt die Wasserdissoziation auf einer Zeitskala von unter 20 ps. Der Reaktionsmechanismus ist bei pH 3 und 11 ähnlich. In beiden Fällen beobachten wir die Umwandlung von H2O in Ti−OH‐Gruppen und die Deprotonierung bereits vorhandener Ti−OH‐Gruppen. Diese Studie bietet einzigartige experimentelle Einblicke in die frühen Schritte der photoinduzierten Dissoziationsprozesse an der Photokatalysator‐Wasser Grenzfläche, die für die Entwicklung verbesserter Photokatalysatoren relevant sind.
Lamellare MXene‐Membranen für das Ionen‐Sieben mit superausgerichteten Nanokanälen durch das Scheren flüssigkristalliner MXene‐Suspensionen
Authors: Huang Lingzhi , Wu Haoyu , Ding Li , Caro Jürgen , Wang Haihui
Published: November 2023

Ionenselektive Membranen sind bei verschiedenen chemischen und physiologischen Prozessen von entscheidender Bedeutung. Zahlreiche Studien dokumentieren Fortschritte bei der Trennung einwertiger/mehrwertiger Ionen, eine effiziente Siebung einwertiger/einwertiger Ionen durch entsprechende Membranen bleibt jedoch aufgrund ihrer gleichen Wertigkeit und ähnlichen Radien eine große Herausforderung. Wir berichten in dieser Arbeit über eine zweidimensionale (2D) MXene‐Membran mit superausgerichteten schlitzförmigen Nanokanälen mit sehr hoher Selektivität für monovalente Ionen, insbesondere für Li+. Die MXene‐Membran wird in Rakel‐/Doctor Bading‐Technik durch Anwendung von Scherkräften auf eine flüssigkristalline (LC) MXene‐Dispersion hergestellt, was die hochgeordnete Stapelung der MXene‐Nanoblättchen ermöglicht. Die erhaltene LC MXene‐Membran (LCMM) weist sehr hohe Selektivitäten für die Trennung von Li+/Na+, Li+/K+ und Li+/Rb+ (≈45, ≈49 und ≈59) auf, kombiniert mit einem schnellen Li+‐Transport mit einer Permeationsrate von ≈0.35 mol m−2 h−1 und übertrifft damit die bekannten Membranen. Theoretische Berechnungen zeigen, dass in MXene‐Nanokanälen das vierfach hydratisierte Li+ in tetraedrischer Geometrie den kleinsten Durchmesser unter den einwertigen Ionen aufweist, was zur höchsten Mobilität beiträgt. Darüber hinaus findet sich die schwächste Wechselwirkung zwischen den hydratisierten Li+‐Ionen und den MXene‐Kanälen, was auch zur schnellen Permeation von Li+ durch die superausgerichteten MXene‐Kanäle beiträgt. Diese Arbeit demonstriert die Fähigkeit von MXene‐Membranen zur Trennung monovalenter Ionen, und bietet gleichzeitig eine einfache und allgemeine scale up‐Strategie zur Herstellung von lamellaren Membranen.
Entropy‐Mediated Stable Structural Evolution of Prussian White Cathodes for Long‐Life Na‐Ion Batteries
Authors: He Yueyue , Dreyer Sören L. , Ting Yin‐Ying , Ma Yuan , Hu Yang , Goonetilleke Damian , Tang Yushu , Diemant Thomas , Zhou Bei , Kowalski Piotr M. , Fichtner Maximilian , Hahn Horst , Aghassi‐Hagmann Jasmin , Brezesinski Torsten , Breitung Ben , Ma Yanjiao
Published: November 2023

The high‐entropy approach is applied to monoclinic Prussian White (PW) Na‐ion cathodes to address the issue of unfavorable multilevel phase transitions upon electrochemical cycling, leading to poor stability and capacity decay. A series of Mn‐based samples with up to six metal species sharing the N‐coordinated positions was synthesized. The material of composition Na1.65Mn0.4Fe0.12Ni0.12Cu0.12Co0.12Cd0.12[Fe(CN)6]0.92□0.08 ⋅ 1.09H2O was found to exhibit superior cyclability over medium/low‐entropy and conventional single‐metal PWs. We also report, to our knowledge for the first time, that a high‐symmetry crystal structure may be advantageous for high‐entropy PWs during battery operation. Computational comparisons of the formation enthalpy demonstrate that the compositionally less complex materials are prone to phase transitions, which negatively affect cycling performance. Based on data from complementary characterization techniques, an intrinsic mechanism for the stability improvement of the disordered PW structure upon Na+ insertion/extraction is proposed, namely the dual effect of suppression of phase transitions and mitigation of gas evolution.
Planar Tetracoordinate Hydrogen: Pushing the Limit of Multicentre Bonding
Authors: Kalita Amlan J. , Rohman Shahnaz S. , Sahu Prem P. , Guha Ankur Kanti
Published: November 2023

Among the list of planar tetracoordinate atoms, the smallest element hydrogen is missing. No experimental and theoretical evidence have ever been put forwarded. Herein, we introduce the first planar tetracoordinate hydrogen atom (ptH) in the global minimum geometry of In4H+ cluster. Bonding analysis indicates that the central hydrogen atom is acting like a proton and significant charge transfer from the surrounding In4 framework results in a negative charge of the central hydrogen atom. The proposed global minimum geometry possesses σ‐aromaticity and the central hydrogen atom forms unusual multicentre bond with more than three centres.
Artificial Protein Crosstalk with a Molecule that Exchanges Binding Partners
Authors: Suss Ohad , Halfin Olga , Porat Ziv , Fridmann Sirkis Yael , Motiei Leila , Margulies David
Published: November 2023

Drawing inspiration from allosteric signaling enzymes, whose catalytic and regulatory units are non‐covalently linked, we have devised a method to establish unnatural, effector‐mediated enzyme activation within native cells. The feasibility of this approach is demonstrated by introducing a synthetic regulatory unit (sRU) onto glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK‐3) through non‐covalent means. Our study reveals that this synthetic regulator mediates an unnatural crosstalk between GSK‐3 and lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA), whose expression is regulated by cellular oxygen levels. Specifically, with this approach, the constitutively active GSK‐3 is transformed into an activable enzyme, whereas LDHA is repurposed as an unnatural effector protein that controls the activity of the kinase, making it unnaturally dependent on the cell‘s hypoxic response. These findings demonstrate a step toward imitating the function of effector‐regulated cell‐signaling enzymes, which play a key biological role in mediating the response of cells to changes in their environment. In addition, at the proof‐of‐principle level, our results indicate the potential to develop a new class of protein inhibitors whose inhibitory effect in cells is dictated by the cell‘s environment and consequent protein expression profile.
Shearing Liquid‐Crystalline MXene into Lamellar Membranes with Super‐Aligned Nanochannels for Ion Sieving
Authors: Huang Lingzhi , Wu Haoyu , Ding Li , Caro Jürgen , Wang Haihui
Published: November 2023

Ion‐selective membranes are crucial in various chemical and physiological processes. Numerous studies have demonstrated progress in separating monovalent/multivalent ions, but efficient monovalent/monovalent ion sieving remains a great challenge due to their same valence and similar radii. Here, this work reports a two‐dimensional (2D) MXene membrane with super‐aligned slit‐shaped nanochannels with ultrahigh monovalent ion selectivity. The MXene membrane is prepared by applying shear forces to a liquid‐crystalline (LC) MXene dispersion, which is conducive to the highly‐ordered stacking of the MXene nanosheets. The obtained LC MXene membrane (LCMM) exhibits ultrahigh selectivities toward Li+/Na+, Li+/K+, and Li+/Rb+ separation (≈45, ≈49, and ≈59), combined with a fast Li+ transport with a permeation rate of ≈0.35 mol m−2 h−1, outperforming the state‐of‐the‐art membranes. Theoretical calculations indicate that in MXene nanochannels, the hydrated Li+ with a tetrahedral shape has the smallest diameter among the monovalent ions, contributing to the highest mobility. Besides, the weakest interaction is found between hydrated Li+ and MXene channels which also contributes to the ultrafast permeation of Li+ through the super‐aligned MXene channels. This work demonstrates the capability of MXene membranes in monovalent ion separation, which also provides a facile and general strategy to fabricate lamellar membranes in a large scale.
Perioperative Nurses’ Perceptions of theQSENCompetencies
Authors: Cengiz Adem , Yoder Linda H.
Published: November 2023

Since the development of the Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) competencies, most published studies related to the topic have focused on investigating the perceptions of nursing faculty members, prelicensure and graduate nursing students, and recently graduated nurses regarding the competencies. Few researchers have explored practicing nurses’ perceptions. The purpose of this study was to describe practicing perioperative nurses’ perceptions of their knowledge, skills, and attitudes associated with the QSEN competencies. Survey results from 654 perioperative nurses representing 49 states showed that participants reported they were very prepared for the patient‐centered care and teamwork and collaboration competencies, but they were not prepared for the quality improvement competency. Similarly, perioperative nurses reported less participation in QSEN competency–related activities when they felt not at all prepared or somewhat prepared, despite perceiving these activities to be important. Hospital leaders should support perioperative nurses’ efforts to apply the QSEN competencies in the practice setting.
Transient magnesium‐based thin‐film temperature sensor on a flexible, bioabsorbable substrate for future medical applications
Authors: Janus Kevin A. , Achtsnicht Stefan , Drinic Aleksander , Kopp Alexander , Keusgen Michael , Schöning Michael J.
Published: November 2023

In this work, the bioabsorbable materials, namely fibroin, polylactide acid (PLA), magnesium, and magnesium oxide are investigated for their application as transient, resistive temperature detectors (RTD). For this purpose, a thin‐film magnesium‐based meander‐like electrode is deposited onto a flexible, bioabsorbable substrate (fibroin or PLA) and encapsulated (passivated) by additional magnesium oxide layers on top and below the magnesium‐based electrode. The morphology of different layered RTDs is analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. The sensor performance and lifetime of the RTD is characterized both under ambient atmospheric conditions between 30°C and 43°C, and wet tissue‐like conditions with a constant temperature regime of 37°C. The latter triggers the degradation process of the magnesium‐based layers. The 3‐layers RTDs on a PLA substrate could achieve a lifetime of 8.5 h. These sensors also show the best sensor performance under ambient atmospheric conditions with a mean sensitivity of 0.48 Ω/°C ± 0.01 Ω/°C.
A system decomposition method for region tracking control of a non‐holonomic mobile robot with dynamic parameter uncertainties
Authors: Yu Jinwei , Wu Mengyang , Yang Weihua , Ji Jinchen
Published: November 2023

The tracking control problem of non‐holonomic mobile robot systems has been extensively investigated in the past decades, however, most of the existing control strategies were developed specifically for the fixed‐point tracking. This technical note focuses on the region tracking control for a non‐holonomic mobile robot system with parameter uncertainties in the robot dynamics. With the system decomposition and adaptive control method, some restrictions imposed on the angular and linear velocities of the non‐holonomic mobile robot in recent literature are removed, enabling to track dynamic trajectories with any values of the angular and line velocities. The proposed adaptive control scheme can simultaneously solve both the regulation and region tracking problems of a non‐holonomic mobile robot with one passive wheel and two actuated wheels. By utilizing the designed control laws, the mobile robot system is able to globally reach inside a moving region specified by potential functions whose path can be a circular curve, a straight line, or sinusoidal curve, by using a single adaptive controller. Since the dynamic region can be specified arbitrarily small, the fixed‐point tracking can be regarded as a special case of region tracking studied in this paper. Compared with the traditional fixed‐point tracking, region tracking has more flexibility and better robustness. Numerical results are presented to show the effectiveness of the designed strategy.
Cationic ribosomal proteins can inhibit pro‐inflammatory action stimulated by LPS+HMGB1 and are hindered by advanced glycation end products
Authors: Watanabe Masahiro , Toyomura Takao , Wake Hidenori , Nishinaka Takashi , Hatipoglu Omer Faruk , Takahashi Hideo , Nishibori Masahiro , Mori Shuji
Published: November 2023

We previously found that ribosomal protein L9 (RPL9) is a novel advanced glycation end product (AGE)‐binding protein that can decrease pro‐inflammatory TNF‐α expression stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) plus high‐mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), suggesting that RPL9 has a role in regulating LPS+HMGB1‐stimulated inflammatory reactions. Among the various ribosomal proteins, it was found that RPS5 reproduced the regulatory activity of RPL9 on LPS+HMGB1‐stimulated TNF‐α expression in macrophage‐like RAW264.7 cells. RPL9 and RPS5 share a common feature as cationic proteins. Polylysine, a cationic polypeptide, and a synthetic peptide of the cationic region from RPL9 also exhibited reducing activity on LPS+HMGB1‐induced TNF‐α expression. By pull‐down assay, RPL9 and RPS5 were confirmed to interact with AGEs. When AGEs coexisted with LPS, HMGB1, plus RPL9 or RPS5, the reducing effect of TNF‐α expression by these cationic ribosomal proteins was shown to be abrogated. The results suggest that cationic ribosomal proteins have a regulatory role in the pro‐inflammatory response induced by LPS+HMGB1, and in the pathophysiological condition of accumulating AGEs, this regulatory effect is abolished, which exacerbates inflammation.
‘I feel like the Wicked Witch’: Identifying tensions between school readiness policy and teacher beliefs, knowledge and practice in Early Childhood Education
Authors: Kay Louise
Published: November 2023

This paper critically examines the tensions arising between Reception teachers' professional beliefs and knowledge, and the school readiness agenda in England. It scrutinises how the increasing academic expectations placed on children to ensure they are ‘ready for school’ may conflict with teachers' understanding of how young children learn, their pedagogical philosophies and classroom practices. In this paper, cultural‐historical activity theory (CHAT) is utilised as a methodological and analytical framework, specifically harnessing Engeström and Sannino's work on ‘manifestations of contradictions’. This theoretical lens is applied to elucidate the specific contradictions that surface at the policy–practice interface and to explore how teachers navigate these conflicts and tensions. Data were gathered through interviews with two Reception teachers and analysed to identify four distinct contradiction categories: dilemmas, double binds, critical conflicts and conflicts. The findings make a critical contribution to ongoing debates about the implications of the school readiness agenda on teacher beliefs, professional knowledge and the impact on children. Furthermore, this paper extends an original contribution to the practical application of CHAT in Early Childhood Education (ECE) research and emphasises the utility of identifying linguistic cues as an effective strategy to reveal contradictions in textual data, thereby furthering understanding of policy–practice tensions in ECE.
Advances in research on molecular markers in immune checkpoint inhibitor‐associated myocarditis
Authors: Shao Jun , Liu Chuanbin , Wang Jing
Published: November 2023

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) play a crucial role in the immunotherapy of malignant tumors, preventing immune evasion by tumor cells and activating autoimmune cells to eliminate the tumor. Despite their proven effectiveness in antitumor therapy, potential immune‐related adverse effects must be recognized, particularly ICI‐associated myocarditis (ICIAM). ICIAM is the most lethal form of organ immunotoxicity, with a significant impact on short‐term mortality. However, ICIAM is predominantly asymptomatic or mildly nonspecific. It is difficult to diagnose, especially due to the lack of unique molecular markers. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the progress made in identifying molecular markers for ICIAM.
Evaluation of Fatty Acid Contents and Biological Activities of Jurinea turcica
Authors: Bahadır Semerci Alican , Yıldırım Merve , Oztay Füsun , Sagıroglu Mehmet , Tunç Kenan
Published: November 2023

The fatty acid profile, antioxidant/antibacterial, and cytotoxic effects of the extracts obtained from Jurinea turcica B.Doğan& A.Duran have been evaluated for the first time in the current study. The fatty acid profile of ethanolic extracts was determined using the Soxhlet extractor by a gas chromatography‐mass spectrometer. The antioxidant and antibacterial activities were measured by 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging and ferrous reduction tests and the disc diffusion technique. Additionally, the cytotoxicity and wound healing assays were performed on A549 cells. The highest amount of component in the leaf extract was docosanoic acid methyl ester, whereas abundant arachidonic acid methyl ester was mainly found in the flower extract. The IC50 values, the 50 % scavenging value for the DPPH radical, were 179.13 and 124.67 μg/mL for the leaf and flower extracts, respectively. IC50 values (the half‐maximal inhibitory concentration) were 10.4 and 24.7 μg/mL for the flower and leaf extracts, respectively. The leaf extract showed more potent antibacterial activity on Enterococcus faecalis (17 mm) and Staphylococcus aureus (16 mm) bacteria than the flower extract. In conclusion, the extracts of J. turcica have anti‐cancerogenic and antibacterial effects. Leaf extracts have antibacterial and anti‐metastatic effects, while flower extracts show antioxidant, cytotoxic, and apoptotic properties in A549 cells.
Utilization of Response Surface Methodology in Electrocoagulation for Process Optimization and Parametric Analysis
Authors: Akhtar Adnan , Suleman Malik Shoaib , Gillani Syed Muzammil Awais , Aslam Zaheer
Published: November 2023

Electrocoagulation (EC) is a well‐recognized and feasible treatment technique for wastewater treatment. The process optimization and analysis of process parameters of EC not only aid to scale up the EC process at an industrial level but also help to explore the economic and environmental considerations to achieve higher efficiency. Response surface methodology (RSM) is a prominent chemometric approach for both process optimization and evaluation of different factors for the removal of target pollutants from wastewater. This review provides a thorough examination of notable scholarly works that focus on the use of the RSM in EC for the purpose of wastewater treatment. Furthermore, the current advancements in implementing the RSM approach not only for standalone EC processes but also for the case are described where it is being practiced as a part in the integrating system for wastewater treatment.
Phosphonium Salt/Al‐Porphyrin Copolymer as Bifunctional Heterogeneous Catalyst for CO2 Conversion to Cyclic Carbonates
Authors: Valentino Laura , Célis Chloé , Campisciano Vincenzo , Gruttadauria Michelangelo , Aprile Carmela , Giacalone Francesco
Published: November 2023

The effective chemical valorization of CO2 by means of its conversion into valuable products is now more than ever a topic of considerable interest. It is on that basis that herein we have chosen the conversion of CO2 and epoxides to cyclic carbonates as a convenient route to achieve this goal. A new bifunctional (Lewis acid/nucleophile) heterogeneous material, TSP‐AlCl‐PhospBr, was designed in order to guarantee a close proximity between the two active sites that can cooperate to the activation and opening of the epoxide ring. The prepared copolymer has been extensively characterized using various spectroscopic and analytical techniques. As a heterogeneous catalyst, it enables efficient chemical conversion of CO2 and epoxides, even at low temperatures, down to 30 °C, without the use of solvents. In particular, the catalyst demonstrates high turnover numbers (TON) and frequency values (TOF). Recyclability studies on TSP‐AlCl‐PhospBr have shown its stability and reusability for consecutive cycles without the need of reactivation procedures.
Organic Photothermal Materials Obtained Using Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Design Principles
Authors: Caine Jana R. , Choi Heekyoung , Hojo Ryoga , Hudson Zachary M.
Published: November 2023

Organic small molecules with high photothermal conversion efficiencies that absorb near‐infrared light are desirable for photothermal therapy due to their improved biocompatibility compared to inorganic materials and their ability to absorb light in the biological transparency window (650–1350 nm). Here we report three donor‐acceptor organic materials DM‐ANDI, O‐ANDI, and S‐ANDI that show high photothermal conversion efficiencies of 46–68 % with near‐infrared absorption. The design of these molecules is based on the rational modification of a thermally activated delayed fluorescence material to favour a low photoluminescence quantum yield by reducing HOMO‐LUMO overlap. Encapsulating these materials into either neat nanoparticles or aggregated organic dots modulates their photothermal conversion efficiencies, and also facilitates dispersion in water.
A proposed structural connectivity matrices approach for the superior fronto‐occipital fascicle in the Harvard‐Oxford Atlas comparative framework following the Pandya comparative extrapolation principle
Authors: Makris Nikos , Rushmore Richard , Yeterian Edward
Published: November 2023

A key set of connections necessary for the most complex brain functions are the long association cortico‐cortical fiber tracts. These pathways have been described by the Dejerines and others using post mortem histological or brain dissection techniques. Given methodological limitations, these fiber connections have not been delineated completely in humans. Although the stem portions of fiber tracts have been identified in humans, their precise origins and terminations remain to be determined. By contrast, the origins and terminations as well as the stems of long cortico‐cortical association fiber pathways in monkeys have been detailed in the macaque monkey brain using experimental tract tracing methods. Deepak Pandya made major contributions to the delineation of fiber tracts in the monkey brain. In the early 1990s, he compared his observations in monkeys with the original descriptions in humans by the Dejerines. With the advent of diffusion‐weighted imaging, Dr. Pandya extended this line of investigation to the human brain with Dr. Nikos Makris. In this translational analysis of long association cortico‐cortical fiber tracts, they applied a principle of extrapolation from monkey to human. In the present study, we addressed the reasoning and the complex methodology in translating brain structural connectivity from monkey to human in one cortico‐cortical fiber tract, namely the superior fronto‐occipital fascicle, which was delineated in both species by Dr. Pandya and colleagues. Furthermore, we represented this information in the form of connectional matrices in the context of the HOA2.0‐ComPaRe framework, a homological monkey‐to‐human translational system used in neuroimaging.
The role of non‐genomic actions of progesterone and its membrane receptor agonist in ovarian cancer cell death
Authors: Koyanagi Takahiro , Saga Yasushi , Takahashi Yoshifumi , Tamura Kohei , Yoshiba Takahiro , Takahashi Suzuyo , Taneichi Akiyo , Takei Yuji , Mizukami Hiroaki , Fujiwara Hiroyuki
Published: November 2023

Background

Progesterone therapy is a relatively inexpensive treatment option for endometrial and breast cancers, with few side effects. Two signaling pathways usually mediate the physiological effects of progesterone, namely genomic and non‐genomic actions. Genomic action occurs slowly via the nuclear progesterone receptor (PR), whereas the membrane progesterone receptor (mPR) induces rapid non‐genomic action.

Aims

We investigated the effects of progesterone and various PR agonists on ovarian cancer cells.

Methods and Results

PR expression of six serous ovarian cancer cell lines was examined by western blotting, and mPR expression was examined by reverse transcription‐quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR). PR‐negative and mPR‐positive ovarian cancer cells were exposed to progesterone and seven types of PR agonists (medroxyprogesterone acetate [MPA], dehydroepiandrosterone, dienogest, levonorgestrel, drospirenone, pregnenolone, and allopregnanolone) at 10–400 μM, and viable cell counts after exposure for 30 min were measured using the water‐soluble tetrazolium (WST‐1) assay. Ovarian cancer cell lines were exposed to 100 μM progesterone, and the expression of BAX, a pro‐apoptotic protein, after 1–5 min was examined by western blotting.

Western blotting detected no PR expression in the six serous ovarian cancer cell lines. In contrast, RT‐qPCR detected mPR expression in all six serous ovarian cancer cell lines. Progesterone and MPA‐induced cell death in all tested ovarian cancer cell lines in a concentration‐dependent manner, whereas no effect was observed for other PR agonists. Western blotting revealed that pro‐apoptotic protein BAX expression occurred 1 min after exposure to progesterone, suggesting that the cytocidal effects are mediated by rapid non‐genomic action.

Conclusion

Progesterone and MPA exhibited a rapid cytocidal effect on PR‐negative ovarian cancer cells through non‐genomic action. Progesterone and MPA could be novel adjuvant therapies for ovarian cancer.
Retracted: Minimal channel cost‐based energy‐efficient resource allocation algorithm for task offloading under FoG computing environment
Authors: Baskar Premalatha , Periasamy Prakasam
Published: November 2023

The Internet of Things (IoT) and fog computing (FC) can be integrated to manage massive data processing and complex networks. It can improve communication performance and provide robust computation for resource‐constrained IoT devices by deploying more fog nodes (FNs) at the edge/IoT networks. In this article, the optimal energy‐efficient fog resource allocation (oEeFRA) algorithm is proposed with the help of the minimal channel cost resource allocation (MiCCRA) method to ensure the load balancing and task offloading of the IoT‐FoG network under various constraints. Resource blocks (RBs) should be maintained higher than FNs in this proposed model to enhance the task‐offloading processes. The MiCCRA algorithm is proposed to provide a minimum of one FN and RB for each IoT device used in the IoT‐FoG network and also to ensure that weather each FN should be allotted with one or more RBs and IoT devices for efficient task offloading and load balancing activities. The energy efficiency (EE) of the proposed oEeFRA algorithm is computed through the MiCCRA algorithm by varying RB, FN, and IoT devices. The performance analysis shows that the proposed algorithm achieved the maximum EE of 6.12 × 109 bit/J, 3.019 × 1010 bit/J, and 5.69 × 1010 bit/J for varying RBs, FNs, and IoTs.
Simultaneous Incorporation of CsI in the Two‐step Deposition Process Boosts the Power Conversion Efficiency and Stability of Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Cheng Nian , Li Weiwei , Zheng Dingshan , Yang Wen‐Xing
Published: November 2023

Two‐step deposition method has been widely exploited to fabricate FA1‐xCsxPbI3 perovskite solar cells. However, in previous studies, CsI is mainly added into the PbI2 precursor with DMF/DMSO as solvent. Here in this study, a novel method to fabricate FA1‐xCsxPbI3 perovskite has been proposed. The CsI is simultaneously added into the PbI2 precursor and the organic FAI/MACl salts solution in our modified two‐step deposition process. The resulting FA1‐xCsxPbI3 film exhibits larger perovskite crystals and suppressed defect density (4.05×1015 cm−3) compared with the reference perovskite film (9.23×1015 cm−3) without CsI. Therefore, the obtained FA1‐xCsxPbI3 perovskite solar cells have demonstrated superior power conversion efficiencies (PCE=21.96 %) together with better long‐term device stability.