bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Next generation strategy for tuning the thermoresponsive properties of micellar and hydrogel drug delivery vehicles using ionic liquids
Authors: Shmool Talia A. , Constantinou Anna P. , Jirkas Andreas , Zhao Chen , Georgiou Theoni K. , Hallett Jason P.
Published: March 2022

Thermoresponsive ionic liquid hydrogel delivery vehicles of reduced gelation temperature for injectable and controlled drug delivery applications.
Preparation and characterization of a novel drug-loaded Bi-layer scaffold for cartilage regeneration
Authors: Yue Yunqing , Xu Peihu , Lei Zhixin , Li Kebi , Xu Jingyi , Wen Jing , Wang Sining , Cheng Wanting , Lin Sihui , Huang Zhijun , Xu Haixing
Published: March 2022

The picture shows the preparation process of the cartilage scaffold, in which the hydrogel layer is loaded with aescin sodium, and the fiber layer is loaded with kartogenin.
Understanding the active sites of Fe–N–C materials and their properties in the ORR catalysis system
Authors: Wang Tanlun , Sun Chenxiang , Yan Yong , Li Fan
Published: March 2022

Metal–N–C-based catalysts prepared by pyrolysis are frequently used in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR).
Low temperature catalytic hydrodeoxygenation of lignin-derived phenols to cyclohexanols over the Ru/SBA-15 catalyst
Authors: Feng Shanshan , Liu Xudong , Su Zhishan , Li Guiying , Hu Changwei
Published: March 2022

Ru/SBA-15 showed excellent activity for phenol to cyclohexanol at 20 °C and exhibited a zero-order character with low Ea of 10.88 kJ mol−1. A high yield of 37.4% of cyclohexanol was obtained at 80 °C and 4 h when using eugenol as substrate.
Electrodeless hydrogen production from seawater using femtosecond laser pulses
Authors: Kuwahara Akira , Mizushima Yuki , Matsui Makoto , Kozuka Tomoki , Mase Nobuyuki
Published: March 2022

This study presents the first experimental evidence of direct H2 production from seawater without harmful gas emissions (e.g., CO2, Cl2), which uses multiphoton ionization water splitting with a femtosecond pulse laser.
In situ FTIR spectroscopy study to reveal Ga-modified ZSM-5 for boosting isobutene amination
Authors: Wang Shiqing , Lan Xiaocheng , Xing Shiyong , Ali Babar , Wang Tiefeng
Published: March 2022

In situ FTIR reveals the synergistic effect of Si–OH–Ga and Si–OH–Al active sites.
Trifluoro alkyl side chains in the non-fullerene acceptors to optimize the phase miscibility and vertical distribution of organic solar cells
Authors: Zhang Tian , Chen Haopeng , Li Chuanfu , Lu Kun , Zhang Liting , Shokrieh Ahmad , Zhang Jianqi , Lu Guanghao , Lei Shengbin , Wei Zhixiang
Published: March 2022

By introducing the trifluoride group to control the compatibility of the material, the acceptor tends to cluster in the upper part of the active layer, which helps to shorten the exciton transport channel and increase the collection of excitons.
Highly reversible zinc metal anodes enabled by a three-dimensional silver host for aqueous batteries
Authors: Xue Ruifang , Kong Jingyi , Wu Ying , Wang Yangyang , Kong Xiangyi , Gong Min , Zhang Liang , Lin Xiang , Wang Dongrui
Published: March 2022

The spontaneously generated Ag–Zn alloys on the surfaces of three-dimensional Ag meshes make them promising candidates for improving the reversibility of Zn anodes in mild acidic electrolyte.
Boosting the transport kinetics of free-standing SnS2@Carbon nanofibers by electronic structure modulation for advanced lithium storage
Authors: Jiang Hui , Gan Yang , Liu Jie , Wang Xunlu , Ma Ruguang , Liu Jianjun , Wang Jiacheng
Published: March 2022

Mg doping regulates the electronic structure of SnS2and forms an internal electric field, which facilitates charge transfer and solid diffusion of Li+.
Demand side management for solving environment constrained economic dispatch of a microgrid system using hybrid MGWOSCACSA algorithm
Authors: Basak Sourav , Dey Bishwajit , Bhattacharyya Biplab
Published: March 2022

Microgrids are a type of restricted power distribution systems in which electricity is generated, transmitted, and distributed within a small geographic region. They are used to ensure that renewable energy sources are used to their full potential. Microgrids provide further benefits, such as lowering transmission losses and the expenses associated with them. This research compares and contrasts the aims of economic dispatch, emission dispatch, fractional programing based combined economic emission dispatch, and environmental restricted economic dispatch (ECED). A low‐voltage microgrid system is investigated for three different scenarios. As a study optimization tool, an innovative, resilient, and strong hybrid swarm‐intelligence optimization algorithm is utilised, which is based on combining the properties of the traditional grey‐wolf optimiser, sine‐cosine algorithm, and crow search algorithm. The employment of a time‐of‐use energy market pricing approach instead of a fixed pricing plan resulted in a 15% decrease in generation costs throughout the course of the research. When ECED was assessed with a 15%–20% demand side management based restructured load demand model for the microgrid system, the generation costs were reduced even further.
Improved weighted average current control of LCL grid‐connected inverter and analysis of its order reduction characteristics
Authors: Yang Xingwu , Meng Zhicheng , He Xinyi , Mi Yang , J Liang , Wang Yani
Published: March 2022

LCL grid‐connected inverter is good at suppressing the high frequency current, but the inherent resonance frequency of the filter will lead to the resonance peak. Therefore, the active damping is commonly used to suppress the resonance effect. Since the weighted average current control can provide better bandwidth for the system with high frequency and has the characteristics of system reduction, it is often used to replace the traditional dual‐loop current control in the application of LCL grid‐connected inverter. However, the reduction of current resonance peak at the grid side by the weighted average current control is limited, so it is necessary to combine the grid voltage and capacitor current feedback loop to achieve the ideal results. In weak grid, the newly added feedback path would easily lead to the loss of system reduction, which results in the existence of transient variables in the transfer function affecting the stability of the control strategy. To solve this technical problem, this paper addresses a new control method of LCL grid‐connected inverter based on weighted average current control. By adding a capacitor current feedback path, pole‐zero cancellation of the control system is realised as to reduce the systematic order and improve the robustness of the controller under the time‐varying weak grid.
Real‐time pricing response attack in smart grid
Authors: Liu Yang , Tian Jue , Yuan Xiaoshu , Ye Binger , Sang Zi , Yao Xiangzhen , Li Lin , Liu Ting
Published: March 2022

Real‐time pricing is an attractive tariff for demand response programs, in which consumers could provide load flexibility by adjusting their electricity consumption in response to time‐varying electricity prices. This paper reveals a new threat called real‐time pricing response attack (RPRA), which manipulates consumers' electricity consumption by tampering with electricity price signals. Simulations are performed in IEEE 24‐bus, 39‐bus, and 118‐bus systems, and the results show that 8% to 28% of the transmission lines could be overloaded by the attack, which could cause serious security problems. Results of sensitivity analysis indicate that the attack effects are influenced by various factors, such as DR models, price elasticity, line capacities etc. To defend against the RPRA attack, we have proposed various detection and mitigation strategies.
Degradation characteristics of insulation near aluminium foil edges inside dry‐type bushing cores under electrothermal compound stress
Authors: Chen Ming , Liu Xuandong , Shao Yuhang , Shang Gaoyi , Zhang Qiaogen , Tang Hao , Liu Libao
Published: March 2022

Insulation breakdown of dry‐type valve‐side bushing cores under electrothermal compound stress has become a key factor limiting the safe and stable operation of the converter transformer. Based on slices of the real bushing core, it is observed for the first time that fold, peeling off, and fracture defects exist near the aluminium (Al) foil edge, accompanied by many metal spikes with a curvature radius <4 μm. Coupled with a capacitor screen thickness of ∼2 mm, an electrical tree model is designed to simulate insulation defects near aluminium foil edges inside dry‐type bushing cores, whose insulation degradation characteristics under electrothermal compound stress are investigated accordingly. The results show that high temperature significantly increases the dielectric loss heat energy density and Joule heat energy density, accelerating the insulation degradation near Al foil edges. The parallel crepe paper interface significantly accelerates the growth of electrical trees under AC‐superimposed positive DC voltage, while this effect is not significant under AC voltage. As the crepe paper consists of wooden fibres of 10 μm diameter, the electrical trees tend to grow along interfaces between fibres and epoxy resin to form “feathery” electrical trees in epoxy resin‐impregnated paper samples.
Collision‐free cooperative Unmanned Aerial Vehicle protocols for sustainable aerial services
Authors: Fabra Francisco , Vegni Anna Maria , Loscrí Valeria , Calafate Carlos T. , Manzoni Pietro
Published: March 2022

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are offering many global industry sectors the opportunity to adopt more sustainable business models. They offer innovative ways of managing resources and water and offer newer opportunities to address key challenges in many areas like border surveillance, precision agriculture and search and rescue missions. All these new applications areas tend to require the cooperation of groups, or “swarms” of UAVs to provide collaborative sensing and processing solutions. These new scenarios impose new requirements in terms of safety, coordination, and operation management. This paper provides an overview of some of the technical challenges that multirotor UAVs are still facing in terms of aerial coordination and interaction. In this regard, it focusses on recent developments available in the literature and presents some contributions realised during the past few years by the authors addressing UAV interaction to achieve collision‐free flights and swarm‐based missions. Based on the analysis provided in this work, the paper is able to provide insight into the challenges still open that need to be solved in order to enable effective UAV‐based solutions to support sustainable aerial services.
Parameter identification of a physical model of brass instruments by constrained continuation
Authors: Fréour Vincent , Guillot Louis , Masuda Hideyuki , Vergez Christophe , Cochelin Bruno
Published: March 2022

Numerical continuation using the Asymptotic Numerical Method (ANM), together with the Harmonic Balance Method (HBM), makes it possible to follow the periodic solutions of non-linear dynamical systems such as physical models of wind instruments. This has been recently applied to practical problems such as the categorization of musical instruments from the calculated bifurcation diagrams [V. Fréour et al. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 148 (2020) https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0001603]. Nevertheless, one problem often encountered concerns the uncertainty on some parameters of the model (reed parameters in particular), the values of which are set almost arbitrarily because they are too difficult to measure experimentally. In this work we propose a novel approach where constraints, defined from experimental measurements, are added to the system. This operation allows uncertain parameters of the model to be relaxed and the continuation of the periodic solution with constraints to be performed. It is thus possible to quantify the variations of the relaxed parameters along the solution branch. The application of this technique to a physical model of a trumpet is presented in this paper, with constraints derived from experimental measurements on a trumpet player.
In vivo evaluation of faloak (Sterculia quadrifida R.Br) stem bark kombucha as hyperglycemia and therapeutic agent
Authors: Lalong Paulus Risan F , Zubaidah Elok , Martati Erryana
Published: March 2022

This study aims to investigate the potential differences in the anti-hyperglycemia and antioxidant effects of fermented faloak (Sterculia quadrifida R.Br) stem bark (FSB) kombucha and FSB brew (without fermentation) in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Black tea (BT) kombucha was used as a kombucha control. FSB kombucha, BT kombucha, and FSB brew were administered orally at a dose of 5 mL/Kg bw/day into the alloxan-induced diabetic rats for 28 days. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), body weight, superoxide dismutase activity, malondialdehyde levels, and pancreatic histopathology of the rats were analyzed. The results of this study showed that FSB kombucha, BT kombucha, and FSB brew were able to effectively reduce FBG, increase superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, reduce malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, improve lipid profile, and repair pancreatic β-cells in the islets of Langerhans. The administration of FSB kombucha significantly (P<0.05) showed a more optimal potency than the unfermented FSB brew, while the ability was comparable to that of BT kombucha. Thus, faloak (Sterculia quadrifida R.Br) stem bark can be used as an alternative substrate other than black tea in the making of kombucha.
Effect of Molasses Concentration on the Pigment Production of Monascus purpureus M9 on Monascus Fermented Durian Seed
Authors: Alvin Andreas , Nugerahani Ira , Ristiarini Susana , Kuswardani Indah , Srianta Ignatius , Tewfik Ihab
Published: March 2022

Efforts have been made to cultivate Monascus purpureus on durian seed to produce Monascus Fermented Durian Seed (MFDS). MFDS pigment production could be enhanched by substrate addition by adding carbon source such as molasses. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of molasses concentration on the production of M.purpureus M9 pigment in MFDS. The research used randomized block design with one factor, namely the concentration of molasses (M) with six treatment levels, M0 = 0%; M1 = 2%; M2 = 4%; M3= 6%; M4 = 8% and M5 = 10% with four repetitions. Findings showed that molasses addition had a significant effect on the color of MFDS powder, water soluble pigment level, 99.9% ethanol soluble pigment level and the pigment profile for both solvents. The best treatment based on pigment content was the M4 treatment with an ‘L value’ of 43.83, a* value of 14.92, b* value of 7.08, C value of 16.54, oH value of 24.45 and aquades soluble pigment content of 16.86AU/g (yellow); 9.23AU/g (orange); and 8.19AU/g (red) and ethanol soluble pigment content of 9.8AU/g (yellow); 2.5AU/g (orange); and 3.0 AU/g (red). Molasses is able to enhance pigment production of Monascus purpureus M9 of MFDS.
Épigénétique et cancérologie
Authors: Auroy Lola , Louvel Séverine
Published: March 2022

Deux conceptions distinctes de la médecine personnalisée en cancérologie accompagnent le développement de la recherche en épigénétique : l’étude des processus moléculaires associés à la progression tumorale, qui renforce, dans l’espace médical, le programme de molécularisation de la médecine génomique ; l’exploration des mécanismes épigénétiques sous-jacents aux causes environnementales des cancers, qui apporte, dans la sphère marchande, une légitimité scientifique à des produits et à des services dont le marketing prône la capacité de chacun à se protéger du cancer par un style de vie adapté. La recherche en épigénétique environnementale pourrait, quant à elle, ouvrir une troisième voie pour la médecine personnalisée, centrée sur une approche individualisée des parcours de vie.
Protecting communities during the COVID-19 global health crisis: health data research and the international use of contact tracing technologies
Authors: Cinque Toija
Published: March 2022

Seen presently during the global COVID-19 global health crisis are the ways government agencies are enabled by digital data collection through the development of contact tracing technologies (CTT) and mobile-based tracking in their effort to limit the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. While recent research has focused on contact tracing and privacy (Simko et al. 2020. Contact tracing and privacy: studying opinion and preferences), contact tracing and data protection (Abeler et al. 2020. JMIR mHealth uHealth 8(4): e19359) contact tracing system and information security considerations (Gvili, 2020. Security analysis of the Covid-19 contact tracing specifications by Apple inc. and Google inc), CTT and the data collected and curated have not been framed to date via their intersections with health-datafication and the research participant. As this article outlines, each is strongly linked to public health, healthcare industries and to modalities of capturing and producing knowledge that is expected to help in addressing public health concerns. Where different countries and regions are implementing a range of social distancing and/or social isolation recommendations, some have introduced contact tracing and quick response (QR) barcodes on mobile device apps. To additionally explore access, uptake and use that accompany such technologies, the International Responses to COVID-19 Contact Tracing: COVID-19 APP Uptake and Use Survey was developed and used with participants living in Singapore, Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom. The article concludes that in the process and counter to the common good or public interest objective that all are kept safe, new forms of risk and exposure are being produced.
Relationship of health rating and HIV-related stigma among people living with HIV: a community study
Authors: Gutiérrez Mónica , Brooks-Hawkins Jamal , Hassan Kenja , Wolfersteig Wendy
Published: March 2022

The purpose of this study was to understand the impact of stigma among a geographic population of people living with HIV in Maricopa County, Arizona. People living with HIV who experience stigma have lower medication adherence and fewer kept appointments. The people living with HIV patient survey was administered using both paper and online versions in the beginning months of 2019. A total of 296 respondents completed the survey for this study. Participants were recruited through multiple methods, including online sites, the Phoenix AIDS Walk, health clinics, and the identification of zip codes with high HIV prevalence rates. There was a significant relationship between health status and age, with those who reported a higher health rating, that of excellent or good, more likely to be 45 years of age or older, X2 (1, N = 296) = 4.812, p = 0.028. Researchers and health care providers must be attentive to these variations and intersecting stigmas when providing services across diverse populations, especially when working with a high-stigma population such as people living with HIV. Providers can take a more active role in helping people living with HIV to see how their perceptions and experience of HIV-related stigma may be taking a toll on their perceptions of their health, as well as their approach to treatment, and refer them to support groups or individual counseling. Strategies, policies, and messages should be tailored with cultural, social, and ethnic sensitivities in mind. To address these threats, policies must be created that reduce the impact of HIV-related stigma within various systems, including but not limited to the public health sector.
Cultures in the laboratory: mapping similarities and differences between Māori and non-Māori in engaging with gene-editing technologies in Aotearoa, New Zealand
Authors: Kathlene Lyn , Munshi Debashish , Kurian Priya , Morrison Sandra L.
Published: March 2022

Public engagement on rapidly advancing gene-editing technologies requires attention not merely to science and economics, but also to culture. In focusing on the similarities and differences between Indigenous and non-Indigenous perspectives on new and emerging genetic technologies, this article reports on a national survey in Aotearoa New Zealand among a stratified random sample of an equal number of Māori and non-Māori participants. Identifying approaches to the experimentation, use, and potential commercialization of genetic technologies, the article moves along the continuum of nuanced cultural insights into gene editing for purposes ranging from human medical treatments and food production to conservation of native species of plants and animals and pest eradication. The development of typologies using K-means cluster analysis reveals the public’s complex responses to genetic modification as well as gene editing. The article signals how recognizing a diversity of values on gene-editing technologies can help shape a robust policy design on the use and regulation of gene technologies in a variety of sectors and contexts.
Gyrokinetic simulations of momentum flux parasitic to free-energy transfer
Authors: Stoltzfus-Dueck T. , Hornsby W. A. , Grosshauser S. R.
Published: March 2022

Ion Landau damping interacts with a portion of the E × B drift to cause a nondiffusive outward flux of co-current toroidal angular momentum. Quantitative evaluation of this momentum flux requires nonlinear simulations to determine fL, the fraction of fluctuation free energy that passes through ion Landau damping, in fully developed turbulence. Nonlinear gyrokinetic simulations with the GKW code confirm the presence of the systematic symmetry-breaking momentum flux. For simulations with adiabatic electrons, fL scales inversely with the ion temperature gradient, because only the ion curvature drift can transfer free energy to the electrostatic potential. Although kinetic electrons should, in principle, relax this restriction, the ion Landau damping measured in collisionless kinetic-electron simulations remained at low levels comparable with ion-curvature-drift transfer, except when magnetic shear ŝ was strong. A set of simulations scanning the electron pitch-angle scattering rate showed only a weak variation of fL with the electron collisionality. However, collisional-electron simulations with electron temperature greater than ion temperature unambiguously showed electron-curvature-drift transfer supporting ion Landau damping, leading to a corresponding enhancement of the symmetry-breaking momentum flux.
Fine core structure and spectral luminescence features of freshly introduced dislocations in Fe-doped GaN
Authors: Shapenkov S. , Vyvenko O. , Ubyivovk E. , Mikhailovskii V.
Published: March 2022

Dislocations introduced by Vickers tip microindentation of an a-plane free-standing semi-insulating Fe-doped GaN halide vapor phase epitaxy (HVPE) crystal were investigated by means of cathodoluminescence and scanning transmission electron microscopy techniques. Detailed combined analyses of both spectral properties and the core structure of the introduced a-screw dislocations revealed that Fe-doped GaN exhibit not only dislocation-bound emission at ∼3.35 eV of perfect a-screw dislocations previously found in such kind of samples but also luminescent bands at 3.1–3.2 and 3.3 eV due to dissociated a-screw dislocations and extended dislocation nodes previously observed only in low-resistance n-GaN. For the first time, all these luminescent bands were observed together in the same sample. Structural studies revealed the coexistence of the dislocations with the dissociated and the perfect core as well as with extended dislocation nodes, thus establishing a correlation between previously observed luminescence bands and a fine dislocation core structure.
A novel whisker sensor with variable detection range for object positioning
Authors: Zhao Chonglin , Zhang Shouming , Xie Tao , Zeng Lu
Published: March 2022

The design of a whisker sensor, inspired by mammalian whisker characteristics, is presented in this paper. It uses a novel spring structure to transfer the deformation generated by the whisker tip when it touches an object at the base, which drives the permanent magnet installed at the base to change its position. It achieves precise positioning of the object by using the magnetic induction intensity data output from the Hall sensor MLX90393. Based on the results of the finite element model analysis, the detection range of the whisker sensor can be expanded by replacing the artificial whisker material and selecting a permanent magnet of a suitable size. Calibration experiments and positioning tests were conducted on the sensor. The experimental results showed that the detection radius of the sensor was 24, 30, 33, and 39 mm for the carbon fiber, acrylic, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene plastic (ABS), and nylon whiskers, respectively, when they were matched with a NdFeB annular permanent magnet with an aperture of 3 mm and a thickness of 3 mm. The sensor is small and simple to manufacture with good sensitivity, linearity, hysteresis, and repeatability. The maximum positioning errors of the X and Y positions in the detection plane of the sensor were within ±1.3 mm, and the positioning was accurate. The sensor can be used to identify the shape of an object.
Assessing models of force-dependent unbinding rates via infrequent metadynamics
Authors: Peña Ccoa Willmor J. , Hocky Glen M.
Published: March 2022

Protein–ligand interactions are crucial for a wide range of physiological processes. Many cellular functions result in these non-covalent “bonds” being mechanically strained, and this can be integral to proper cellular function. Broadly, two classes of force dependence have been observed—slip bonds, where the unbinding rate increases, and catch bonds, where the unbinding rate decreases. Despite much theoretical work, we cannot predict for which protein–ligand pairs, pulling coordinates, and forces a particular rate dependence will appear. Here, we assess the ability of MD simulations combined with enhanced sampling techniques to probe the force dependence of unbinding rates. We show that the infrequent metadynamics technique correctly produces both catch and slip bonding kinetics for model potentials. We then apply it to the well-studied case of a buckyball in a hydrophobic cavity, which appears to exhibit an ideal slip bond. Finally, we compute the force-dependent unbinding rate of biotin–streptavidin. Here, the complex nature of the unbinding process causes the infrequent metadynamics method to begin to break down due to the presence of unbinding intermediates, despite the use of a previously optimized sampling coordinate. Allowing for this limitation, a combination of kinetic and free energy computations predicts an overall slip bond for larger forces consistent with prior experimental results although there are substantial deviations at small forces that require further investigation. This work demonstrates the promise of predicting force-dependent unbinding rates using enhanced sampling MD techniques while also revealing the methodological barriers that must be overcome to tackle more complex targets in the future.
Size-dependent phase transitions boost catalytic activity of sub-nanometer gold clusters
Authors: Sun Juan-Juan , Fan Qi-Yuan , Jin Xin , Liu Jing-Li , Liu Tong-Tong , Ren Bin , Cheng Jun
Published: March 2022

The characterization and identification of the dynamics of cluster catalysis are crucial to unraveling the origin of catalytic activity. However, the dynamical catalytic effects during the reaction process remain unclear. Herein, we investigate the dynamic coupling effect of elementary reactions with the structural fluctuations of sub-nanometer Au clusters with different sizes using ab initio molecular dynamics and the free energy calculation method. It was found that the adsorption-induced solid-to-liquid phase transitions of the cluster catalysts give rise to abnormal entropy increase, facilitating the proceeding of reaction, and this phase transition catalysis exists in a range of clusters with different sizes. Moreover, clusters with different sizes show different transition temperatures, resulting in a non-trivial size effect. These results unveil the dynamic effect of catalysts and help understand cluster catalysis to design better catalysts rationally.
Atomic layer etching of ferroelectric hafnium zirconium oxide thin films enables giant tunneling electroresistance
Authors: Hoffmann M. , Murdzek J. A. , George S. M. , Slesazeck S. , Schroeder U. , Mikolajick T.
Published: March 2022

The ferroelectric properties of hafnium oxide and zirconium oxide based thin films are promising for applications in low power electronics, such as ultra-thin ferroelectric tunneling devices. However, the amount of ferroelectric phase in the film depends on their polycrystalline morphology, which changes with film thickness. Therefore, controlling the film thickness without changing the ferroelectric properties has remained challenging. Here, we propose the use of thermal atomic layer etching to decouple the ferroelectric phase stabilization from the film thickness. First, the ferroelectric phase fraction is maximized by crystallizing the film at an optimized film thickness. Subsequently, the ferroelectric film thickness is reduced to the desired range by atomic layer etching. We demonstrate the feasibility of this approach for a ferroelectric hafnium zirconium oxide film of 10 nm initial thickness, which we integrate into a double-layer ferroelectric tunnel junction. The atomic layer etch rate of ferroelectric hafnium zirconium oxide using HF and dimethylaluminum chloride is found to be ∼0.2 Å/cycle. Although the ferroelectric phase persists after atomic layer etching, the etching increases the surface roughness. For applications in ferroelectric tunnel junctions, we show that atomic layer etching of ferroelectric hafnium zirconium oxide can improve the read current by more than a factor of 200, while at the same time reducing the read voltage by 43%. The resulting tunneling electroresistance of about 2500 is the highest reported so far for polycrystalline hafnium zirconium oxide-based materials.
Spectroscopically resolved photoacoustic microscopy using a broadband surface plasmon resonance sensor
Authors: Shan Youxian , Dong Yushu , Song Wei , Yuan Xiaocong
Published: March 2022

Photoacoustic spectroscopic analysis allows for evaluating biological microscopic features, such as morphology and viscoelasticity, which offers the opportunities of comprehensively understanding the biological specimens. However, an ongoing challenge arises from inadequate response to the photoacoustic impulses owing to limited bandwidth of the piezoelectric transducer. Here, we develop spectroscopically resolved optical-resolution photoacoustic microscopy (OR-PAM) by incorporating a broadband surface plasmon resonance sensor (∼169.5-MHz bandwidth) as the ultrasonic detector. The photoacoustic spectra from polystyrene and polymethyl methacrylate microspheres represent the close dependence upon the density and sound speed in addition to the diameter. The photoacoustic structural images of the two types of microspheres with the same morphology manifest the nearly identical appearances, while the photoacoustic spectroscopic analysis permits them to be clearly distinguished because of the different densities and sound speeds. The results suggest that, by simultaneously revealing the anatomic structures and acoustic spectra, our spectroscopically resolved OR-PAM system is potentially valuable in characterizing the microscopic features of biological samples at a cellular level.
Weak magnetic field-dependent photoluminescence properties of lead bromide perovskites
Authors: Butler Rory , Burns Randy , Babaian Dallar , Anderson Matthew J. , Ullrich Carsten A. , Morrell Maria V. , Xing Yangchuan , Lee Jaewon , Yu Ping , Guha Suchismita
Published: March 2022

The strong spin–orbit coupling (SOC) in lead halide perovskites, when inversion symmetry is lifted, has provided opportunities for investigating the Rashba effect in these systems. Moreover, the strong orbital moment, which, in turn, impacts the spin-pair in singlet and triplet electronic states, plays a significant role in enhancing the optoelectronic properties in the presence of external magnetic fields in lead halide perovskites. Here, we investigate the effect of weak magnetic fields (<1 T) on the photoluminescence (PL) properties of CsPbBr3 nanocrystals with and without Ruddlesden–Popper (RP) faults and single crystals of CH3NH3PbBr3. Along with an enhancement in the PL intensity as a function of an external magnetic field, which is observed in both lead bromide perovskites, the PL emission red-shifts in CsPbBr3 nanocrystals. Density-functional theory calculations of the electronic band-edge in CsPbBr3 show almost no change in the energy gap as a function of the external magnetic field. The experimental results, thus, suggest the role of mixing of the triplet and singlet excitonic states under weak magnetic fields. This is further deduced from an enhancement in PL lifetimes as a function of the field in CsPbBr3. In CH3NH3PbBr3, an increase in PL intensity is observed under weak magnetic fields; however, no changes in the peak energy or PL lifetimes are observed. The internal magnetic fields due to SOC are characterized for all three samples and found to be the highest for CsPbBr3 nanocrystals with RP faults.
X-ray investigation of long-range antiferromagnetic ordering in FeRh
Authors: Grimes M. , Gurung N. , Ueda H. , Porter D. G. , Pedrini B. , Heyderman L. J. , Thomson T. , Scagnoli V.
Published: March 2022

We demonstrate a probe of long-range antiferromagnetic (AF) order in FeRh thin films using non-resonant magnetic x-ray scattering. In particular, x-rays at energies below the Fe K-edge have been used for the observation of magnetic Bragg peaks. Due to the low efficiency of the magnetic scattering, a grazing incidence geometry was used to optimise the diffracted intensity from the thin film samples. Based on Scherrer analysis, we estimate a coherence length similar to previous reports from x-ray magnetic linear dichroism (XMLD) experiments, indicating that domain sizes are limited to 40 nm which is consistent with the grain size. The temperature dependent behaviour of the AF order shows an inverse correlation with the emergence of the ferromagnetic (FM) moment, as expected from the phase diagram.
High-field magnetization studies and their analysis in RFe11Ti and RFe11TiH1 rare-earth intermetallics (an example: HoFe11TiHx, x = 0 and 1)
Authors: Kostyuchenko N. V. , Tereshina I. S. , Tereshina-Chitrova E. A. , Skourski Y. , Doerr M. , Zvezdin A. K. , Drulis H.
Published: March 2022

We present experimental high-field magnetization studies for the single-crystalline ferrimagnetic RFe11Ti compounds at example of holmium-based hydride in order to evaluate, compare and analyze the crystal-field and exchange parameters. We predict theoretically the magnetization behavior of HoFe11Ti up to 80 T magnetic field for the first time. The results are compared with data for the parent compound HoFe11TiH1 and those with erbium and thulium (x = 0 and 1).
A molecular switch controls the impact of cholesterol on a Kir channel
Authors: Corradi Valentina , Bukiya Anna N. , Miranda Williams E. , Cui Meng , Plant Leigh D. , Logothetis Diomedes E. , Tieleman D. Peter , Noskov Sergei Y. , Rosenhouse-Dantsker Avia
Published: March 2022

Significance

Cholesterol is one of the main components found in plasma membranes and is involved in lipid-dependent signaling enabled by integral membrane proteins such as inwardly rectifying potassium (Kir) channels. Similar to other ion channels, most of the Kir channels are down-regulated by cholesterol. One of the very few notable exceptions is Kir3.4, which is up-regulated by this important lipid. Here, we discovered and characterized a molecular switch that controls the impact (up-regulation vs. down-regulation) of cholesterol on Kir3.4. Our results provide a detailed molecular mechanism of tunable cholesterol regulation of a potassium channel.
Sideroflexin 4 is a complex I assembly factor that interacts with the MCIA complex and is required for the assembly of the ND2 module
Authors: Jackson Thomas D. , Crameri Jordan J. , Muellner-Wong Linden , Frazier Ann E. , Palmer Catherine S. , Formosa Luke E. , Hock Daniella H. , Fujihara Kenji M. , Stait Tegan , Sharpe Alice J. , Thorburn David R. , Ryan Michael T. , Stroud David A. , Stojanovski Diana
Published: March 2022

Significance

Mitochondria are double-membraned eukaryotic organelles that house the proteins required for generation of ATP, the energy currency of cells. ATP generation within mitochondria is performed by five multisubunit complexes (complexes I to V), the assembly of which is an intricate process. Mutations in subunits of these complexes, or the suite of proteins that help them assemble, lead to a severe multisystem condition called mitochondrial disease. We show that SFXN4, a protein that causes mitochondrial disease when mutated, assists with the assembly of complex I. This finding explains why mutations in
SFXN4
cause mitochondrial disease and is surprising because SFXN4 belongs to a family of amino acid transporter proteins, suggesting that it has undergone a dramatic shift in function through evolution.
Excitatory selective LTP of supramammillary glutamatergic/GABAergic cotransmission potentiates dentate granule cell firing
Authors: Tabuchi Eri , Sakaba Takeshi , Hashimotodani Yuki
Published: March 2022

Significance

It is now established that many neurons can release multiple transmitters. Recent studies revealed that fast-acting neurotransmitters, glutamate and GABA, are coreleased from the same presynaptic terminals in some adult brain regions. The dentate gyrus (DG) granule cells (GCs) are innervated by the hypothalamic supramammillary nucleus (SuM) afferents that corelease glutamate and GABA. However, how these functionally opposing neurotransmitters contribute to DG information processing remains unclear. We show that glutamatergic, but not GABAergic, cotransmission exhibits long-term potentiation (LTP) at SuM-GC synapses. By the excitatory selective LTP, the excitation/inhibition balance of SuM inputs increases, and GC firing is enhanced. This study provides evidence that glutamatergic/GABAergic cotransmission balance is rapidly changed in an activity-dependent manner, and such plasticity may modulate DG activity.
A N400 event-related potential elicitation paradigm for Canadian French speakers*
Authors: Azevedo Nancy , Crestol Arielle , Berkun Kathleen , Papathanasopoulos Alexandra , Yamani Leen , Rokos Alexander , Kehayia Eva , Blain-Moraes Stefanie
Published: March 2022

The N400 event-related brain potential (ERP) can be used to evaluate language comprehension, and may be a
particularly powerful tool for the assessment of individuals who are behaviourally unresponsive. This study presents a set of
semantic violation sentences developed in Canadian French and characterizes their ability to elicit an N400 effect in healthy
adults. A novel set of 100 French sentences were created and normed through two surveys that assessed sentence cloze probability
(n = 98) and semantic plausibility (n = 99). The best 80 sentences (40 congruent; 40
incongruent) were selected for the final stimulus set and tested for their ability to elicit N400 effects in 33 French-speaking
individuals. The final stimulus set successfully generated an N400 effect in the grand-average across all individuals, and in the
grand-average within age groups (young, middle-age, and older adults). On a single-subject level, the final stimulus set elicited
N400 effects in 76% of the participants. The feasibility of using this stimulus set to assess semantic processing in behaviourally
unresponsive individuals was demonstrated in a case example of a French individual in a disorder of consciousness. These sentences
enable the inclusion of Canadian French speakers in this simple assessment of language comprehension abilities.
Accounts as acts of identity
Authors: Bella Spyridoula , Ogiermann Eva
Published: March 2022

This paper investigates accounts justifying the closures of businesses found on public signs in Athens and London
during the COVID-19 pandemic. The data for the study was drawn from a corpus of COVID-19-related public signage collected in the
two cities during the first lockdown. The accounts used on these signs are analysed as acts of identity and, specifically, as
discursive means deployed by the authors of the signs to project themselves and their businesses favourably. It is shown that the
accounts used at the micro-level of discourse align to various degrees with the dominant discourses surrounding the pandemic at
the macro-level and with the values these discourses draw upon. It is also shown that the accounts are used to reframe the
public’s understanding of the closures and to construct identities congruent with the interests of the business owners, ensuring
post-pandemic continuity.
The role of phonological short-term memory in second language phonology
Authors: Zahler Sara , Lord Gillian
Published: March 2022

This study reports on the production of the five Spanish vowels in stressed and unstressed contexts by English-speaking advanced learners of Spanish at two experience levels who differed according to phonological short-term memory (PSTM) capacity. Our findings indicate that learners with higher PSTM capacity were less likely to reduce both stressed and unstressed vowels in Spanish. Consequently, learners with higher PSTM in fourth-year Spanish courses produced vowels that were more native-like than lower PSTM fourth-year learners. On the other hand, higher PSTM graduate students of Spanish produced a Spanish vowel space that was more expanded than that of native Spanish, particularly for /u/, compared to lower PSTM graduate learners, who were more native-like. These findings suggest that PSTM does play a role in second language phonology, even at advanced levels, and may help to explain why individual differences in pronunciation exist even at very high levels of second language proficiency.
“A los niños se les habla en castellano”
Authors: Iglesias Álvarez Ana , Acuña Ferreira Virginia
Published: March 2022

El objetivo de este artículo es analizar datos orales obtenidos mediante entrevistas para llevar a cabo una investigación sobre las políticas lingüísticas familiares (PLF) en Galicia. El análisis revela la configuración de dos subtipos de transmisión lingüística intergeneracional: ‘doble desgalleguización’ y ‘regalleguización’. En ambos casos, la primera generación (los padres de nuestros informantes) está representada por hablantes de gallego que utilizaron el castellano en la crianza de sus hijos (nuestros informantes). Hablamos de doble desgalleguización cuando esta segunda generación mantiene el uso del castellano con la tercera (sus propios descendientes), mientras que la regalleguización se define por una recuperación del gallego. El nivel de conciencia sociolingüística de los informantes es muy bajo en el primer caso, que por ello interpretamos como una PLF implícita, guiada por el habitus (Bourdieu, 1991), mientras que la regalleguización se basa en una PLF marcada por la intervención y la planificación lingüística explícita (Bastardas, 2016).
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in Canada: A New Population Affinity Assessment Technique to Aid in Identification Using 3D Technology
Authors: Cuerrier-Richer Elisabeth
Published: March 2022

As of 2015, 204 cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls (MMIWG) remained unsolved in Canada, making it a major concern for Canadian Indigenous communities, who are still pressing for the resolution of these cases. In forensic anthropology, the assessment of population affinity can be useful to help identify victims. Population affinity, previously referred to as ancestry, is evaluated based on morphological analyses, which examine the size and shape of skeletal features, and metric analyses, which utilise skeletal measurements. However, morphological analyses strongly depend on an anthropologist’s experience with human variation, which makes the analyses particularly challenging to reproduce and standardise. The purpose of this study is to improve the rigour of morphological analyses by using 3D technology to quantify relevant cranial nonmetric population affinity traits. As there is currently little morphological data available for the Canadian Indigenous population, this research aims to develop a new technique that could aid in the identification of MMIWG. The study comprised a total of 87 adult female crania, including 24 of Canadian Inuit origin, 50 of European descent and 13 of African descent. The samples were imaged using photogrammetry, then analysed using a 3D shape analysis in 3DS Max. Results show that this method is satisfactory in correctly evaluating population affinity with an accuracy of 87.36% (jackknifed: 80.46%) and an average repeatability of 97%. Unfortunately, the small Canadian Indigenous sample size impacted the applicability of the results and further research will be required before the technique can be used to aid in the identification of MMIWG in Canada. Key PointsMMIWG are over-represented as victims of violence and homicide in Canada.Population affinity provides biogeographic data to help search national databases.Cranial morphological variation can be quantified in 3D accurately and precisely.
Non-canonical ubiquitylation makes its mark on Rap2 and cell motility
Authors: Caswell Patrick T.
Published: March 2022

Ubiquitin modification controls protein stability and cargo trafficking, and in this issue Duncan et al. (2022. J. Cell Biol.https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.202107114) reveal a unique mechanism through which Rab40b/Cul5-mediated ubiquitylation of Rap2 regulates its activity and recycling to the leading edge to control cell migration and invasion.
High Mixing Entropy Enhanced Energy States in Metallic Glasses
Authors: Huo Juntao , Li Kangyuan , Zang Bowen , Gao Meng , Wang Li-Min , Sun Baoan , Li Maozhi , Song Lijian , Wang Jun-Qiang , Wang Wei-Hua
Published: March 2022

Owing to the nonequilibrium nature, the energy state of metallic glasses (MGs) can vary a lot and has a critical influence on the physical properties. Exploring new methods to modulate the energy state of glasses and studying its relationship with properties have attracted great interests. Herein, we systematically investigate the energy state, mixing entropy and physical properties of Zr–Ti–Cu–Ni–Be multicomponent high entropy MGs by experiments and simulations. We find that the energy state increases along with the increase of mixing entropy. The yield strength and thermal stability of MGs are also enhanced by high mixing entropy. These results may open a new door on regulation of energy states and thus physical properties of MGs.