bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Holography and Display
Authors: Parker Jerald V.
Published: February 2025

The development of “holography” or coherent optical recording is probably as revolutionary a development as that of the optical lens. It represents a refinement in the techniques for manipulating light waves equivalent to the advance the laser represents in the generation of light. Ultimately, the importance of holography to the field of information display depends, however, not upon its revolutionary character but upon whether it can provide solutions to the important problems in display systems. Only further development will determine the value of holography in solving these problems, but there can be no doubt that it represents, at least, a powerful new tool.

As with any new tool, the usefulness of holography to the designer of information display systems depends upon his knowledge of how it works, how to use it and what its limitations are. It is hoped that this article will help to answer these basic questions about the subject of holography and its potential uses in display applications. The background provided will help the reader to appreciate the significance of future developments and will provide a foundation for further study of the literature. In the interests of brevity no attempt has been made to discuss the rapidly expanding field of holographic applications to scientific measurement.
The Size and Contrast Of Hard‐Copy Symbols
Authors: Stocker A. C.
Published: February 2025

This paper corrects an erroneous equation given in an earlier paper and provides experimental data on hard‐copy symbols computed with the correct equation. The author argues that Blackwell's data on the visibility of a spot can be used to compute the optimum level of illumination for rooms in which both hard copy and self‐luminous displays must be read.
Display requirements assessment for command and control systems
Authors: Kuehn Rudy
Published: February 2025

The major underlying parameters of a command and control display depend to a great extent upon the basic attributes of the human visual mechanism. The latter are briefly reviewed in order to place the display system requirements in harmony with visual limitations. Resolution, amount of data displayed, display dynamics, coding, and screen size are discussed. Illustrations are given by means of figures and tables of the interrelationship of certain of these criteria. Material is presented demonstrating that display specification and design need not be based upon intuitive judgment, but do have a foundation in sound scientific and engineering principles. The proper parametric designation of the command and control display system can lead to greater effectiveness and overall satisfactory performance
The Command and Control Display System for NORAD
Authors: Zimmer Karl J.
Published: February 2025

This paper on the Command and Control Display System for NORAD describes the hardware and operational features of a large wall‐display system presently used by the U.S. Air Force at Cheyenne Mountain in Colorado, U.S.A. A brief description of the Combat Operation Center is given, and the type of information which the display system is capable of presenting for the NORAD Commander‐in‐Chief and his battle staff is epitomized. The primary concern in this paper is with the theory and operation of the Camera Processor Projector Unit; however, brief attention is given to the operation of this unit in conjunction with a central computer and an electronic basic display unit. The generation of sevencolor projection displays from black and white film is described, and the details of processing this film within 10 seconds are set forth. The major components of the CPPU and their particular operating features are explained, and a representation of each of the modules is furnished. Details of the redesign of a new interchangeable xenon lamp module are discussed, and the problems in designing a shield to protect the fragile condenser optics are noted. Some of the advantages and disadvantages of the CPPU are pointed out. A summary of detailed operating characteristics and engineering data regarding the function of the CPPU are presented in an Appendix.
Dataplot: A system for on‐line graphical display of statistical data
Authors: Watson William A.
Published: February 2025

The Dataplot Subsystem is one of a number of software packages in the Bunker‐Ramo On‐Line System. It was designed to provide the user with the capability for generating a variety of statistical graphs based upon file data. Dataplot was developed out of the conviction that the usefulness of such descriptive graphical methods as genuine cognitive tools has heretofore been limited by the sheer effort they entail. The system was designed to relieve the operator of the necessity for making trivial decisions, but to still provide ample opportunity for manual intervention.
A simplified graphics language for mini computers
Authors: Elms Duane
Published: February 2025

In the past, input to high quality automatic drafting machines was generated by large general purpose computers. These computers, while very powerful and very fast, have generally been inaccessible to drafting room personnel. This inaccessibility has resulted in several problems including long turn‐around time, high cost of error correction, and lack of local control. To alleviate these problems, a drafting language was written which was designed to run on a small computer of the type used to control automatic drafting machines. This language provides a drafting room tool that is easy to use, works on local equipment, and allows easy error correction. This paper considers both prior art and current developments as related to the above situation.
Screening and treatment of iron deficiency among heart failure patients with impaired ejection fraction: The impact of a pharmacist‐led protocol
Authors: Alaryani Jamila , Manla Yosef , Abidi Emna , Kholoki Obada , Hisham Mohamed , Al Badarin Firas , Bader Feras , Atallah Bassam
Published: February 2025

Background

Despite guideline‐recommended routine screening and iron deficiency (ID) treatment among heart failure (HF) patients, these practices are often underutilized. Currently, limited data are available on the outcomes of pharmacists' programs to enhance ID screening and management. Accordingly, we sought to describe the frequency and yield of screening for ID and intravenous (IV) iron replacement rates among our cohort of HF patients and examined the impact of implementing a pharmacist‐led protocol (PLP) aimed at enhancing these rates.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective study involving HF patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <45% at a quaternary care hospital in the Middle East/Gulf region. The PLP was introduced in August 2022. Data on demographics, comorbidities, echocardiographic parameters, laboratory findings (including ID screening and its findings), and rates of treatment with IV iron replacement were analyzed and compared between the pre‐implementation group (n = 432, October 2015–February 2020) and the post‐implementation group (n = 154, August 2022–January 2023).

Results

Before the PLP, 63.2% (n = 273) of eligible patients underwent ID screening, with 80.6% (n = 220) found to have ID. Following the implementation of the PLP, screening rates significantly increased to 86.4% (n = 133) (p = 0.03), with 53.4% (n = 71) diagnosed with ID. The rate of IV iron replacement in ID patients improved from 30.4% (n = 67) in the pre‐PLP group to 73% (n = 52) in the post‐PLP group (p < 0.001). Multivariable logistic regression identified baseline glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and hemoglobin levels as significant predictors of IV iron replacement in the pre‐PLP cohort.

Conclusions

Implementing a pharmacist‐led protocol was significantly associated with enhancing the screening and treatment of ID in patients with HF and LVEF <45%. This study demonstrates the crucial role of pharmacists in optimizing guideline‐directed therapies, which can be replicated in various healthcare settings.
Melatonin Ameliorates Age‐Related Sarcopenia via the Gut–Muscle Axis Mediated by Serum Lipopolysaccharide and Metabolites
Authors: Zhou Ling‐Shan , Yang Yuan , Mou Li , Xia Xin , Liu Min , Xu Ling‐Jie , Liu Rong , Liu Jun‐Ping , Zhang Hai‐Yan , Ao Xiao‐Jun , Liu Chang‐Jiang , Xiao Qian , Liu Shi‐Xiong
Published: February 2025

Background

Sarcopenia affects the quality of life and increases adverse outcomes in the elderly. However, as a potential safe and effective remedy to many age‐related disorders, little is known about the protective effect of melatonin against sarcopenia, especially the underlying mechanisms of pathophysiology related to the gut–muscle axis.

Methods

The young (4 months) and old‐aged (24 months) wild‐type C57BL/6J male mice were included in this study, of which the old‐aged mice in the experimental group were treated with 10 mg/kg/day of melatonin for 16 weeks. After that, muscle strength, muscle mass and the cross‐sectional area (CSA) of the gastrocnemius muscle fibres were measured. Then, the putative pathways, based on the data obtained from 16S rDNA sequencing of the gut microbiota, RNA sequencing of gastrocnemius muscle and serum untargeted metabolomics, were screened out by the integrated multiomics analysis and validated using immunohistochemistry, ELISA and TUNEL staining. C2C12 myoblasts were treated with LPS. Flow cytometric analysis and western blotting were applied to detect cell apoptosis and protein expressions of Tnfrsf12a and caspase8, respectively. In addition, the mediation analysis was carried out to infer the causal role of the microbiome in contributing to the skeletal muscle through metabolites.

Results

Melatonin treatment ameliorated age‐related declines in muscle strength (p < 0.05), muscle mass (p < 0.01) and CSA of the gastrocnemius muscle fibres (p < 0.01), as well as changed the gut microbial composition (beta‐diversity analysis; R = 0.513, p = 0.005). The integrated multiomics analysis implied two main mechanisms about the impact of melatonin‐related modifications in the gut microbiota on sarcopenia. First, a lower serum lipopolysaccharide (LPS) level associated with the altered gut microbiota was observed in melatonin‐treated mice (p < 0.001) and was most relevant to the transcription level of Tnfrsf12a in skeletal muscle (R = 0.926, p < 0.001). Further bioinformatics analyses and in vitro experiments showed that LPS could contribute to skeletal muscle apoptosis by regulating the Tnfrsf12a/caspase‐8 signalling pathway. Second, melatonin significantly altered serum metabolites (variable importance on projection (VIP) > 1.5, p < 0.05). Mediation models showed that changes in the gut microbiome also influenced skeletal muscle through these metabolites (27 linkages; BH‐adjusted p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Our study revealed functional insights and a putative causality for the role of the gut–muscle axis in the mechanism of melatonin ameliorating age‐related sarcopenia, namely, inhibition of the LPS‐induced Tnfrsf12a/caspase‐8 signalling pathway or serum metabolites as intermediates in the gut–muscle axis.
Causal Exposures in Pancreatic Cancer Incidence: Insights From Mendelian Randomization Studies
Authors: Mohamadkhani Ashraf , Ghanbari Reza , Shakeri Ramin , Mohammadkhani Mohammad Ali , Pourshams Akram
Published: February 2025

Aim

Pancreatic cancer, marked by its high lethality and poor 5‐year survival rate, requires a thorough understanding of its risk factors and etiological mechanisms. In this review, we collected the latest findings from Mendelian randomization (MR) studies to identify potential causal factors for pancreatic cancer.

Method and Results

The present analysis encompasses MR studies on the gut and oral microbiomes, non‐malignant phenotypes, blood metabolites, immune cells, and chronic inflammation. Specific gut and oral microbiome species have been identified as potential causal factors for pancreatic cancer, some with protective effects, and others increasing the risk. The review also highlights causal associations between obesity, type 2 diabetes, and pancreatic cancer, as well as the impact of blood metabolites and immune cell phenotypes on disease risk. Additionally, it investigates the causal effects of inflammatory bowel disease, showing a significant risk increase associated with Crohn's disease.

Conclusion

These insights emphasize the need for interdisciplinary research and personalized medicine to enhance prevention and treatment strategies for pancreatic cancer.
Contribution of Brain Intrinsic Branched‐Chain Amino Acid Metabolism in a Novel Mouse Model of Maple Syrup Urine Disease
Authors: Kuhs Amanda C. , Ohl Laura , Thurston Tegan , Singh Jeet , Bhuyan Sangeetha , Grandinette Sarah , Xu Jing , Siemsgluess Sophie A. , Jakher Youseff , Ahrens‐Nicklas Rebecca C.
Published: February 2025

Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) results from loss of branched‐chain ketoacid dehydrogenase (BCKDH) activity, the committed, rate‐limiting step of branched‐chain amino acid (BCAA) oxidation. Current treatments, including a low protein diet and liver transplantation, improve peripheral biochemistry and limit episodes of metabolic decompensation but do not fully prevent chronic neuropsychiatric symptoms. The mechanisms underlying chronic neurologic phenotypes remain poorly understood. Currently available MSUD mouse models do not survive long enough to evaluate chronic central nervous system (CNS) pathology. To investigate if loss of brain‐intrinsic BCAA metabolism contributes to chronic neurologic disease, we developed a new brain‐specific knockout mouse model of MSUD. First, we generated a mouse harboring a floxed Dbt allele (Dbtflox/flox). Then we crossed this line with Cre recombinase driver lines to induce loss of Dbt expression in (1) all developing CNS cell populations (2) neurons alone or (3) astrocytes alone. We found that brain‐specific KO mice have elevations in BCAA levels in cortex that are exacerbated by a high protein diet. They also have secondary changes in amino acids in brain that are important for neuronal function, including glutamine and glycine. These metabolic differences result in subtle functional deficits as measured by electroencephalogram and behavioral testing. Astrocyte and neuron‐specific KO mice each also demonstrate mild biochemical features of MSUD in the cortex, suggesting that both cell populations may contribute to disease pathology. Collectively, these data suggest that therapies targeting the CNS directly, in addition to the periphery, may improve outcomes in MSUD.
Detection of the Relationship Between the Inverse Variations of Sea Ice in the Okhotsk–Bering Sea During Spring and the 11‐Year Solar Cycle
Authors: Luo Shuting , Zhao Liang , Shen Xinyong , Wang Jingsong , Wang Ji , Zong Weiguo
Published: February 2025

The 11‐year solar cycle is a stable external forcing factor for the Earth system. However, its influence on decadal climate variability, including sea ice, remains uncertain. This study statistically analyses spring sea ice concentration (SIC) and annual sunspot numbers (SSNs) from 1960 to 2021, revealing a significant inverse correlation between the 11‐year solar activity cycle and spring sea ice variability in the Okhotsk Sea and Bering Sea. During solar maximum years, sea ice increases in the Okhotsk Sea while decreasing in the eastern Bering Sea. Further analysis shows that the spring sea ice concentration difference (SICD) index correlates closely with the preceding winter Pacific Meridional Mode (PMM) modulated by the 11‐year solar cycle. This suggests that solar activity may influence east–west sea ice variability in the North Pacific during spring through its impact on the winter PMM. Atmospheric circulation and numerical simulation results indicate that during high‐solar‐activity years in winter, changes in stratospheric ozone concentration lead to variations in stratospheric temperatures. This strengthens zonal westerlies in the subtropical stratosphere and troposphere. The propagation of planetary waves from the stratosphere to the mid‐ and high‐latitude troposphere converges over the Bering Sea, creating an easterly anomaly. This convergence stimulates a high pressure and a low pressure to its south, forming a pattern resembling the PMM in the North Pacific during winter. The sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies linked to the winter PMM persist into spring, influencing sea ice at high latitudes in the North Pacific and causing the observed inverse sea ice changes in the Okhotsk and Bering Seas. This study highlights the significant modulating effect of solar activity on sea ice variability, offering insights for understanding Arctic climate change and predicting sea ice changes.
Biochar Effects on Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics During Co‐Composting of Poultry Manure With Carbonized and Uncarbonized Organic Materials in Sub‐Saharan Africa
Authors: Manka'abusi Delphine , Häring Volker , Steiner Christoph , Heinze Stefanie , Abubakari Abdul‐Halim , Yeboah Edward , Marschner Bernd
Published: February 2025

Background

Carbonized organic matter (biochar) and compost are both beneficial soil amendments and particularly meaningful for the restoration of degraded soils. Application of biochar adds stable carbon (C) but only little nitrogen (N) to the soil. Compost is rich in C and N, but losses of these elements during composting are large, and C stability is relatively low. The addition of biochar during composting has been reported to decrease N losses, accelerate the composting process, increase cation exchange capacity (CEC), and increase water‐holding capacity compared to composting without biochar. However, C and N dynamics during biochar co‐composting vary enormously depending on feedstock quality.

Aims

Therefore, the aims of this study were to find out if biochar addition will reduce C and N losses during composting of organic materials in a field trial in Sub‐Saharan Africa or not.

Methods

Six compost treatments, among them three compost mixtures with biochars made from rice husks (cRH), corn cobs (cCC) and wood (cWO) or their un‐carbonized feedstocks (RH, CC, and WO), were co‐composted with poultry manure (15 vol‐%) and rice straw (60 vol‐%) in randomly allocated 1 m3 compost bins.

Results

After composting, biochar treatments had lower or similar C losses, lower contents of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), higher C decomposition rates, and higher or similar pH‐values compared with their non‐biochar treatments. Biochars that were stored in mesh bags during composting increased in DOC and effective CEC and decreased in surface area. Biochar retained N through accumulation and sorption of ammonium nitrogen (NH4‐N). Microbial biomass and nitrate nitrogen (NO3‐N) were similar among all treatments.

Conclusions

Overall, biochar positively affected C and N retention and compost quality.
Supporting Career Progression in Publishing Through Systematic Analysis of Job Descriptions: A Cross‐Industry Initiative
Authors: Cheng Lauretta S. P. , Heaney Kate , Lam Michelle , Lord Jacklyn , Warren John W. , Watkinson Charles
Published: February 2025

Little consistency exists in how individuals enter scholarly publishing, let alone advance their careers. More transparency and documentation can help increase diversity in an industry that wrestles with its privilege. In this article, we report on a project initiated by three publishing industry associations to aggregate, normalise, and analyse public job postings and internal position descriptions in scholarly publishing. After gathering more than 1000 unique descriptions, a group of knowledgeable volunteers qualitatively coded them. Researchers from the University of Michigan checked for data consistency and analysed the job description corpus. Preliminary visualisations highlight the skills that suit potential applicants for various publishing positions and the skills that are most important to build for advancement. The findings can inform the development of products to make publishing a more equitable industry, such as interactive tools to match individuals with types of publishing jobs, well‐formed template positions, and training programs that address skills gaps.
Can Bilingual Publishing Through Translation Increase International Authorship: An Interrupted Time Series Study of Spain‐Based Journals
Authors: Li Xiangdong
Published: February 2025

Under the pressure of English as the lingua franca for research publication, local journals have changed their language policies for survival. While some discontinued their local‐language editions and became English journals, others resorted to bilingual publishing through translation, which may enable them to be integrated into the international community without losing their cultural identity. So far, the impact of bilingual publishing on international visibility has rarely been explored, though relevant knowledge is limited. This study aims to explore whether the bilingual publishing policy adopted by four Spain‐based journals increases their international authorship, as is reflected in the proportion of foreign contributions and the geographical distribution of foreign contributing countries. To address this issue, a control‐group interrupted time series design was implemented, assigning the four journals to the experimental group and a homogeneous journal to the comparison group. Within‐group and between‐group evidence indicates that Spain‐based journals' shift to bilingual publishing increases the proportion of international contributions and widens the geographical distribution of contributing countries. The findings are discussed against the current literature and arguments are initiated as to whether it is necessary to continue with the bilingual publishing policy if international authorship reduces the publication chances of local authors.
Looking a Gift Horse in the Mouth: The Dark Side of Uncertain Price Promotions
Authors: Talebi Arash , Prokopec Sonja , Onculer Ayse
Published: February 2025

A growing number of retailers and brands use uncertain price promotions to increase their sales. This research introduces the “looking a gift horse in the mouth” effect by probing these promotions as a potential liability. Findings from a field study and five experiments reveal that consumers who receive an inferior prize in an uncertain price promotion have a lower brand appraisal and repeated purchase behavior than those (i) who receive the same prize for sure, (ii) who receive the higher‐value prize in the uncertain promotion, and (iii) who are not even offered any price promotion. We propose, and examine, mixed emotions as a possible reason for this dilution in brand appraisal. The findings offer important insights and managerial implications for practitioners by proposing a revisit of the design of uncertain price promotions to regulate the mood and perception of risky low‐win consumers.
EPR Spectra Hyperfine Structure of Fluorine‐Containing Nitroxide Radicals in Liquid Solutions: Prediction by DFT
Authors: Matveev Mikhail V. , Lunkov Sergei S. , Chumakova Natalia A.
Published: February 2025

Spin trap method allows receiving important information about the structure of short‐living intermediate radicals involved in chemical processes. Commonly, the product of a spin trap reaction with an intermediate radical is identified based on the hyperfine structure of its EPR spectrum. However, such identification can be significantly complicated for novel radicals whose spectra are unknown. In this work, we propose a semiquantitative low‐cost computation method that allows predicting the hyperfine structure of EPR spectra of the α‐phenyl‐N‐tert‐butylnitrone (PBN) adducts with fluorine‐containing radicals. The scheme was tested for several radicals containing from 0 to 4 fluorine atoms.
Noisy Non‐Negative Tucker Decomposition With Sparse Factors and Missing Data
Authors: Zhang Xiongjun , Ng Michael K.
Published: February 2025

Tensor decomposition is a powerful tool for extracting physically meaningful latent factors from multi‐dimensional non‐negative data, and has been an increasing interest in a variety of fields such as image processing, machine learning, and computer vision. In this paper, we propose a sparse non‐negative Tucker decomposition and completion approach for the recovery of underlying non‐negative data under incompleted and generally noisy observations. Here the underlying non‐negative tensor data is decomposed into a core tensor and several factor matrices with all entries being non‐negative and the factor matrices being sparse. The loss function is derived by the maximum likelihood estimation of the noisy observations, and the norm is employed to enhance the sparsity of the factor matrices. We establish the error bound of the estimator of the proposed model under generic noise scenarios, which is then specified to the observations with additive Gaussian noise, additive Laplace noise, and Poisson observations, respectively. Our theoretical results are better than those by existing tensor‐based or matrix‐based methods. Moreover, the minimax lower bounds are shown to be matched with the derived upper bounds up to logarithmic factors. Numerical experiments on both synthetic data and real‐world data sets demonstrate the superiority of the proposed method for non‐negative tensor data completion.
Waterfront property owners' shoreline preferences amid salt marsh to mangrove transitions
Authors: Alemu Jahson B. , Hughes A. Randall , Osland Michael J. , Swinea Savannah H. , Thorne Kalaina A. , Bardou Rémi , Shepard Christine C. , Scyphers Steven B.
Published: February 2025

We examined the influence of mangrove encroachment into salt marsh areas along the northern Gulf of Mexico (USA) on waterfront property owners' perceptions of coastal health and preferences for shoreline management.

Using mail‐in and online surveys, we targeted over 3000 waterfront property owners across four jurisdictions experiencing or anticipating mangrove encroachment.

Our findings revealed a nuanced perception of coastal health, with many respondents recognizing the potentially environmental impacts of mangrove encroachment but favouring low‐cost management strategies, such as maintaining current shoreline or passive monitoring. This reluctance to engage in active management highlights a perception‐behaviour gap, likely influenced by the gradual nature of mangrove transitions, which diminishes urgency for active intervention.

Socio‐demographic factors such as age, gender, income, residency and reliance on coastal resources significantly shaped preferences for shoreline management and regional responses. These preferences varied across jurisdictions, reflecting the importance of incorporating localized community values into management decisions.

Our findings highlight the need for a balanced approach to shoreline management that integrates ecological insights with the socio‐cultural priorities of local communities. By aligning adaptation strategies with regional perceptions and values, it is possible to protect individual properties while enhancing the long‐term resilience of coastal ecosystems under climate change pressures.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Fabrication and characterization approach to enhance the mechanical performance of zirconia‐coated Multi‐walled carbon nanotubes reinforced High density polyethylene composites
Authors: Suhas K. , Murthy B. R. N. , Hiremath Anupama
Published: February 2025

This study presents a comprehensive investigation into the fabrication and characterization of high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) composites reinforced with zirconia (ZrO2)‐coated multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). HDPE, a widely used polymer for pressure pipe applications, was selected for its superior mechanical properties, while ZrO2‐coated MWCNTs were employed as nanofillers to enhance these properties further. The acid functionalization of MWCNTs, followed by the application of a ZrO2 coating, was executed to ensure optimal dispersion and interfacial bonding within the HDPE matrix. The functionalized MWCNTs (f‐MWCNTs) were synthesized via an acid treatment process using 8 M HNO3, which significantly eased agglomeration and facilitated a stable ZrO2 coating. Subsequent hydrothermal processing at 200°C for 18 h yielded uniformly coated MWCNTs. These nanofillers were then melt‐blended with HDPE, followed by injection molding. Mechanical testing revealed substantial enhancements in the tensile, flexural, and hardness properties of the composites. The tensile strength exhibited a marked increase, peaking at a 3 wt.% ZrO2‐coated MWCNT concentration, with a 50% improvement over pristine HDPE. Flexural modulus and hardness values also saw significant increments, with the highest enhancements recorded at 4 wt.% filler content. Impact testing showed improved toughness, although excessive filler loading led to diminished returns due to nanoparticle aggregation. FTIR and XRD analyses supported the successful integration of ZrO2‐coated MWCNTs within the HDPE matrix, highlighting the presence of characteristic peaks associated with both MWCNTs and HDPE. These findings provide the potential of ZrO2‐coated MWCNTs as effective nanofillers in enhancing the mechanical performance of HDPE composites, making suitable for advanced engineering applications.

Highlights

Coating of ZrO2 on MWCNTs using Hydrothermal method.

Melt blending of ZrO2 coated MWCNT with HDPE using twin‐screw extruder.

Preparation of samples through injection molding as per ASTM standard.

Mechanical properties and characterization analysis of the composite.
Impact of Rapid Thermal Processing on Bulk Lifetime and Surface Recombination Velocity of Crystalline Silicon With Passivating Tunnel Oxide Contacts
Authors: Haug F.‐J. , Morisset A. , Lehmann M. , Libraro S. , Genç E. , Hurni J. , Ballif C.
Published: February 2025

We investigate rapid thermal processing (RTP) as alternative to the prolonged thermal annealing process used to form tunnel‐oxide passivating contacts for silicon solar cells. The thermal treatment is generally followed by hydrogenation to passivate defects at the Si/SiOx interface. Whereas industrial manufacturing generally uses Cz wafers, research is often carried out with FZ wafers. Both types of wafers are prone to the formation of thermal defects in the bulk. To disentangle effects of the interface and the bulk, we assess the lifetime at different steps of the process sequence for both wafer types. We find that the initial bulk lifetime of our p‐type FZ material is maintained for RTP up to temperatures of about 450°C, followed by a severe decay and eventually a moderate extent of recovery at temperatures above 800°C. Compared to FZ material, the initial bulk lifetimes in our p‐type Cz material are slightly lower, but they are maintained on that level up to about 600°C. Beyond that temperature, the lifetimes also decay, but to a lesser extent than in the FZ material, and there is no curing at higher temperatures. Hydrogenation can partially passivate the bulk defects in FZ material, but the initial state is not recovered. In Cz material, it appears that RTP creates two different types of defects; for those created up to 800°C, the initial state can be recovered by hydrogenation whereas those created at higher temperature cannot be passivated by hydrogenation. We also investigate the formation of n‐type passivating contacts by RTP, and we fabricate solar cell precursors with a single RTP step and the same hydrogenation for both contact polarities. After sputtering a transparent conducting ITO layer on the full area and an Ag metallization, we achieve solar cells efficiencies up to 20.5%.
Reactive Molecular Dynamics Simulation on Interaction Mechanisms of Cold Atmospheric Plasma and Phosphatidylcholine in Cell Membrane Structure
Authors: Chen Yang , Chai Zhao‐Nan , Zhang Yuan‐Tao
Published: February 2025

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP)‐assisted cancer therapy has garnered significant attention in the field of plasma medicine. The key mechanism involves inducing oxidative stress, which has been proven to be an effective approach for triggering apoptosis in cancer cells, and the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by CAP are believed to play a pivotal role in this process. In this study, our focus is on the cell membrane, which serves as the first line of defense for cancer cells, and the primary constituent of the membrane, phosphatidylcholine (POPC), is used as the reaction model. The lipid oxidative stress interaction mechanism of ROS (specifically O atoms, OH radicals, and molecules) with POPC at the molecular level is investigated by reactive molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. The simulation results show that the oxidative processes usually start with H‐abstraction reactions, then are followed by the formation of several biologically functional groups. For instance, fatty acid saturation‐altering double and conjugated dilute bonds, hydrophilic alcohol and aldehyde‐ketone groups, epoxy rings with possible genotoxic impurities, and hydrogen‐bonded receptor cyano. Acrolein, a by‐product of lipid peroxidation, is also observed from the simulation data. The breaking of single bonds, including C‐O, C‐C, and C‐N, is observed in the simulation, as well as the destroying of crucial structural components of POPC, such as the base, glycerophosphate chain, and fatty acid chains, suggesting that the cell membrane structure is disrupted. Compared to the bases and glycerophosphate, the fatty acid chains are most destroyed under the action of ROS. The final oxidation products of POPC have also been revealed from the computational data. Additionally, the dosage effects on the final products are also discussed by adjusting the types and numbers of ROS in the simulation box. This study provides the detailed oxidative process of lipid oxidation of POPC induced by CAP and fundamental insights for optimizing CAP to effectively inactivate cancer cells.
First‐Principles Study on Properties of Ternary Nitrides SrXN2 (X = Ti, Zr, Hf) under Pressure
Authors: Sun Lei , Miao Linjie , Cao Yong
Published: February 2025

The structural, mechanical, electronic, optical, and thermodynamic properties of ternary nitrides SrXN2 (X = Ti, Zr, Hf) under pressure (0–8 GPa) are studied by first‐principles calculation. SrXN2 is thermodynamically and mechanically stable in the considered pressures range. The increase in pressure reduces the bandgap of SrXN2. The dielectric constant ε1(0), reflectivity R(0), and static refractive index n(0) of SrXN2 increase with the increase of pressure. Moreover, the Debye temperature of SrXN2 under different pressures is also calculated.
ChatPySD: Embedding and Simulating System Dynamics Models in ChatGPT‐4
Authors: Hu Bo
Published: February 2025

This paper presents a novel approach for seamlessly integrating system dynamics models into the ChatGPT‐4 conversational AI. By transforming system dynamics models with PySD and embedding them into ChatGPT's conversational context, users can explore even complex models through natural language interactions. ChatGPT‐4 is capable of running simulations based on user‐provided parameters and offering explanations and analyses of the simulation results, leveraging its extensive knowledge base. Because of the constraints of ChatGPT's analytical and computational capacity, it is crucial to provide additional essential information alongside the system dynamics model and to thoroughly verify and implement ChatGPT's responses. ChatGPT, in turn, can dynamically generate executable Python code, creating a bidirectional interface that empowers modelers to engage with ChatGPT using programming languages. This complements existing natural language and image‐based interactions, enhancing the overall efficiency of communication. Successfully integrating system dynamics models with ChatGPT not only makes the models more accessible but also enhances various aspects of system dynamics, including modeling, simulation, discussion, and education. Furthermore, the inherent rigor and transparency of system dynamics models can be extended to ChatGPT conversations, thereby expanding ChatGPT's capabilities.
Effect of Brief Electrical Stimulation on Cell Biomechanics in Hereditary Sensory Neuropathy
Authors: Ta Daniel , Anthony Anu , Sliow Ashour , Wan Boyang , Zang Leo , Higgins Michael , Lam Lisa , Mahns David , Gargiulo Gaetano , Breen Paul , Mawad Damia , Ruprai Herleen , Myers Simon , Laurenti Daunia , Lauto Antonio
Published: February 2025

SH‐SY5Y neuroblastoma cells are widely used to model neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's, and Hereditary Sensory Neuropathy type 1A (HSN‐1A), a peripheral nerve condition causing axon degeneration and sensory loss. A cell model of HSN‐1A is developed by overexpressing wild‐type and mutant SPTLC1 genes (C133W, C133Y, V144D). Cells are cultured on plastic and gold substrates, with brief electrical stimulation applied to the gold‐grown cells. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is used to measure Young's modulus, indentation, and energy dissipation. Finite Element Method and non‐linear modeling validate the results. In the absence of stimulation, mutant cells show lower stiffness compared to non‐transfected cells, indicating a direct biomechanical impact of the mutations. Brief electrical stimulation significantly increases the stiffness of mutant cells, particularly in C133W (99%), C133Y (100%), and V144D (111%) variants, despite the mutations. Energy dissipation of stimulated V144D cells decreases to levels comparable to untreated non‐transfected cells. The simulations support the AFM measurements, demonstrating that brief electrical stimulation can partially reverse the biomechanical effects of gene mutations.
Gel‐Based Electrolytes for Organic Electrochemical Transistors: Mechanisms, Applications, and Perspectives
Authors: Peng Yujie , Gao Lin , Liu Changjian , Guo Haihong , Huang Wei , Zheng Ding
Published: February 2025

Organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) have emerged as the core component of specialized bioelectronic technologies due to their high signal amplification capability, low operating voltage (<1 V), and biocompatibility. Under a gate bias, OECTs modulate device operation via ionic drift between the electrolyte and the channel. Compared to common electrolytes with a fluid nature (including salt aqueous solutions and ion liquids), gel electrolytes, with an intriguing structure consisting of a physically and/or chemically crosslinked polymer network where the interstitial spaces between polymers are filled with liquid electrolytes or mobile ion species, are promising candidates for quasi‐solid electrolytes. Due to relatively high ionic conductivity, the potential for large‐scale integration, and the capability to suppress channel swelling, gel electrolytes have been a research highlight in OECTs in recent years. This review summarizes recent progress on OECTs with gel electrolytes that demonstrate good mechanical as well as physical and chemical stabilities. Moreover, various components in forming gel electrolytes, including different mobile liquid phases and polymer components, are introduced. Furthermore, applications of these OECTs in the areas of sensors, neuromorphics, and organic circuits, are discussed. Last, future perspectives of OECTs based on gel electrolytes are discussed along with possible solutions for existing challenges.
Pressure‐Modulated Luminescence Enhancement and Quenching in a Hydrogen‐Bonded Organic Framework
Authors: Wang Sicheng , VanNatta Peter E. , Wang Bin , Liu Zhenxian , Al‐Enizi Abdullah M. , Nafady Ayman , Ma Shengqian , Yan Hao
Published: February 2025

Light emission in the solid state is central for illumination, sensing, and imaging applications. Unlike luminescence in dilute solutions, where the excited states are unimolecular in nature, intermolecular interaction plays a significant role in the quantum yield of solid‐state luminophores, manifested as competing aggregation‐caused quenching (ACQ) and aggregation‐induced enhancement (AIE). Both effects are extensively studied in various systems; however, it remains unclear how their competition depends on molecular conformation and intermolecular stacking. Here the direct observation of pressure‐modulated AIE‐ACQ competition in a crystalline hydrogen‐bonded organic framework (HOF) is reported. Using in situ spectroscopies and computational modeling, the intramolecular vibration and intermolecular π–π stacking directly responsible for the non‐radiative decay of the excited state are identified. The extent of these two contributions is modulated by hydrostatic pressure and guest molecules in the HOF pores. This work demonstrates a physically neat model system to understand and control solid‐state luminescence, and a potential material platform for piezoluminescent sensing.
Arylazopyrazole Photoconversion Enables Tunable Morphology and Mechanical Properties
Authors: Adak Soumen , Ghosh Ishita , Maity Manik Lal , Bandyopadhyay Subhajit
Published: February 2025

A red‐light switchable fast, near‐quantitative two‐way photoswitching of an azoheteroarene, arylazo‐N‐phenyl‐3,5‐diphenyl pyrazole (AAP1), with a high thermal half‐life of the cis‐isomer is reported here. The photochromic molecule switches in the solution phase and even in thin films. The design of AAP1 incorporates structural features that enable cis → trans reversal under red light quantitatively. Solid‐state photoswitching in pristine thin films has been demonstrated using AAP1. Various photo patterns on paper with AAP1 as the photochromic ink are generated and their switching displaying the change in color is investigated. Single‐crystal XRD structures of the trans‐isomer as well as, the more exciting and rarely observed form, the cis‐isomer of AAP1 is obtained. The SCXRD analysis reveals that the phenyl groups in the pyrazole ring engage in an intramolecular π‐stacking interaction only in the cis‐isomer which significantly enhances its thermal stability. The needle‐shaped crystals of the thermodynamically stable trans‐AAP1 display exceptional elastic mechanical flexibility, whilst the plate‐like cis‐isomers are brittle. The quantitative difference of the mechanical properties of both the isomers is exhibited by nanoindentation experiments. The trans crystals are significantly softer than the cis ones and a roughly three‐fold difference in mechanical characteristics is identified.
CloudSim 7G: An Integrated Toolkit for Modeling and Simulation of Future Generation Cloud Computing Environments
Authors: Andreoli Remo , Zhao Jie , Cucinotta Tommaso , Buyya Rajkumar
Published: February 2025

Background

Cloud Computing has established itself as an efficient and cost‐effective paradigm for the execution of web‐based applications, and scientific workloads, that need elasticity and on‐demand scalability capabilities. However, the evaluation of novel resource provisioning and management techniques is a major challenge due to the complexity of large‐scale data centers. Therefore, Cloud simulators are an essential tool for academic and industrial researchers, to investigate the effectiveness of novel algorithms and mechanisms in large‐scale scenarios.

Aim

This paper proposes CloudSim 7G, the seventh generation of CloudSim, which features a re‐engineered and generalized internal architecture to facilitate the integration of multiple CloudSim extensions within the same simulated environment.

Methods

As part of the new design, we introduced a set of standardized interfaces to abstract common functionalities and carried out extensive refactoring and refinement of the codebase.

Results

The result is a substantial reduction in lines of code with no loss in functionality, significant improvements in run‐time performance and memory efficiency (up to 25\% less heap memory allocated), as well as increased flexibility, ease‐of‐use, and extensibility of the framework.

Conclusion

These improvements benefit not only CloudSim developers but also researchers and practitioners using the framework for modeling and simulating next‐generation Cloud Computing environments.
Experimental Design Utilizing Mixed Micellar Monolithic Liquid Chromatography and Ethanol for Rapid Simultaneous Determination of Four Antipsoriatics: A Blue–Green Approach
Authors: Alamir Samy G. , Magdy Nancy , Hussein Lobna A. , Ibrahim Adel Ehab , Fares Nermine V.
Published: February 2025

Utilizing chromatography with green chemistry principles helps minimize harm to people and the environment. Since its recent release, the new combination of tazarotene (TAZ) and halobetasol propionate has gained popularity. Crisaborole (CRB) has recently also shown potential for treating psoriasis and can be coformulated with drugs like TAZ and anthralin. Currently, no method has been reported for the simultaneous determination of these drugs. In addition, an environmentally friendly high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for any of them has yet to be developed. The challenge arises mainly due to TAZ's strong retention on reversed phase (RP) columns, which prompts the use of high amounts of organic solvent. To develop a green isocratic HPLC‐photodiode array (PDA) method, the central composite and Box–Behnken quality‐by‐design approaches were employed to study the impact of various factors and their interactions on multiple responses. Since TAZ could not be eluted using micellar phases alone, ethanol was selected as an organic modifier due to its accessibility, environmental friendliness, and limited studies on its use in micellar HPLC. The separation was achieved using a mobile phase of 0.01 M Brij‐35, 0.143 M sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and 0.015 M ammonium acetate (pH 4.95): ethanol (83:17, v/v) at a 1.5 mL/min flow rate. The method utilized the monolithic Chromolith performance RP‐C18 column (100 mm × 4.6 mm × 5µm) at 40°C with a run time less than 10 min. The linear range established was (3.00–150.00 µg/mL) with limits of detection (0.59–0.78 µg/mL) and quantification (1.79–2.37 µg/mL). The proposed method was applied to different dosage forms (ointment, cream, lotion) after optimizing a microextraction procedure with recoveries > 98.5%. It scored 0.7 on analytical greenness (AGREE), 76 on modified Green Analytical Procedure Index (MoGAPI), and 82.5 on Blue Applicability Grade Index (BAGI). Comparing these scores with reported methods underlines the value of incorporating a scoring system into GAPI and evaluating methods from the blue and green perspectives.
Monodispersed Iron Selenide Nanoparticles United with Carbon Nanotubes for Highly Reversible Zinc–Air Batteries
Authors: Zhang Hua , Zeng Tong , Ma Jiale , Jiang Yue , Huang Yang , Cheng Yuxin , Ye Haifeng , Zeng Cuiyun , Zeng Chenghui , Zhu Minshen , Chen Shuiliang
Published: February 2025

Developing electrocatalysts that exhibit exceptional activity without relying on noble metals, all while ensuring high efficiency and durability for the oxygen reduction and evolution reactions, poses a challenging yet highly desired task. Monodispersed nanoparticles on a conductive framework through strong metal–support interactions are known to show excellent catalytic performance. Herein, monodispersed iron selenide embedded in a carbon nanotube network is synthesized. Graphitic carbon shells enclosing monodispersed iron selenide address the primary challenge of nanoparticle catalysts—aggregation and corrosion of nanoparticles over repeated oxygen redox reactions. By amplifying the interaction of Fe with carbon nanotubes, the heterogeneous catalyst forms highly active centers for oxygen redox reaction from the coordinated iron atoms, along with conductive iron–nitrogen–carbon nanotube pathways for rapid charge transfer. As a result, the heterogeneous catalyst exhibits superior activity for both oxygen reduction (E1/2 = 0.88 V) and oxygen evolution (η = 360 mV@10 mA cm−2) and excellent stability of negligible degradation over 5000 cycles. The overall catalytic performance surpasses the noble metals. Therefore, rechargeable zinc–air batteries using the heterogeneous catalyst exhibit a high power density of 130.9 mW cm−2, excellent round‐trip efficiency of ≈70%, and cycling stability for over 1100 h at 10 mA cm−2.