bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Specific Performance in the Civil Law: Mediating Between Inconsistent Principles Inherited from a Roman-Canonical Tradition via the French Astreinte and the Québec Injunction
Authors: Vlavianos George
Published: March 2019

Traditionally, inexecution of a contractual obligation in the civil law gives rise to an award in damages. This principle stems from Roman law of the classical period, which held to the maxim Nemo praecise cogi potest ad factum. In the post-classical period, however, the influence of ecclesiastical courts and the Christian notion of fidei laesio imposed itself on the classical pre-eminence of damages. Consequently, contractual obligations were often specifically enforced by secular courts based on the pacta sunt servanda doctrine of the canon law. Yet damages and specific performance, it is argued, are from the outset conceptually irreconcilable remedies. The full import of the nemo praecise principle prohibits all acts compelling the debtor to perform, whether such compulsion be physical or one of conscience. Pacta sunt servanda, on the other hand, maintains that that which has been promised should be performed, by force if necessary.

In France, the mechanism of astreinte — a comminatory fine imposed on the debtor upon his failure to comply with a court order — is used to specifically enforce contractual obligations. This is done despite the fact that execution in kind is not expressly sanctioned by the Code civil.

In Québec, courts have been slow to acknowledge the suitability of specific performance in the context of contractual obligations. The source of such hesitation is codally rooted, as the Civil Code of Lower Canada, in terms similar to the French Code civil, enunciates the supremacy of damages at article 1065. But this situation will change with the arrival of the new Civil Code of Québec. With this reorientation of the substantive law, Québec courts will be procedurally better equipped to enforce specific performance than their French counterparts. In essence, via the injunction, a court may physically compel a recalcitrant debtor.

Despite its common law origins, the author contends that the injunction is not incompatible with the law of obligations in Québec. Any perceived incompatibility in the realm of contract law arises from the initial irreconcilability of damages and specific performance.
La place des droits subjectifs dans l’histoire de la philosophie du droit
Authors: Beauregard Stéphanie
Published: March 2019

La prédominance des droits subjectifs dans les systèmes de droit occidentaux étant désormais consacrée, cet article propose une réflexion sur la place des droits dans le droit.

Plus précisément, il s’agit de savoir si la notion de droit subjectif est limitée à la philosophie du droit moderne ou si elle était déjà présente dans le droit antique. Pour répondre à cette question, l’étude du droit subjectif en tant que concept permettra de distinguer sa signification plus large, qui renvoie à ses manifestations empiriques, de sa signification restrictive d’élément de classification dogmatique à l’usage des juristes.

En considérant le droit subjectif uniquement en tant que construction rationnelle et artificielle, la doctrine juridique fait abstraction des paramètres historiques et sociologiques. C’est pourquoi elle peut affirmer que le droit (objectif) est le fondement des droits (subjectifs).

Une démarche héritée de Burke et de l’École historique du droit, privilégiant les multiples rapports composant le contexte social, permettra de soutenir la thèse selon laquelle les droits subjectifs ont plutôt été antérieurs à l’organisation juridique de l’État moderne.

Ainsi, même si, en tant que pouvoirs individuels, garantis par l’État et visant à être étendus à l’universalité des hommes, ils sont des créations spécifiquement modernes, les « vrais droits des hommes », efficaces, légitimes et authentiquement juridiques, existent dans toute société et débordent par là le cadre de la modernité.
Tentative de description de l’obligation de bonne foi, en particulier dans le cadre des négociations précontractuelles
Authors: Guillemard Sylvette
Published: March 2019

La bonne foi, principe moral, est érigée dans certaines circonstances en obligation juridique. La plupart des droits nationaux sont silencieux quant au contenu de ce concept. Le but de cet article est d’essayer de définir ou du moins de cerner cette norme de comportement et de vérifier si elle intervient dans les relations précontractuelles. L’auteure examinera spécialement la portée de l’obligation de bonne foi lors des pourparlers, en particulier l’intensité qui lui est attribuée et la qualification qu’en font différents systèmes juridiques.
Le contrat de travail selon le Code civil du Québec : pertinence ou impertinence ?
Authors: Verge Pierre
Published: March 2019

Quelle signification accorder au chapitre que le Code civil du Québec consacre au contrat de travail au regard du développement, au Québec comme dans les autres sociétés occidentales, du « droit du travail » ? La question s’envisage en deux temps, selon qu’il y a, ou non, absence de rapports collectifs de travail. Dans le premier cas, il n’y a pas de concordance substantielle avec le droit du travail classique, qui, en particulier, entretient une vision continue du rapport de travail, compte tenu de son importance pour le salarié. Pour ce qui est du second, l’encadrement législatif actuel des rapports collectifs de travail conduit à un constat général de non-pertinence de ce régime du contral individuel de travail. L’absence d’intégration du droit relatif au travail subordonné demeure.
Le pouvoir de dépenser au coeur de la crise constitutionnelle canadienne
Authors: Blache Pierre
Published: March 2019

L’étude qui suit fut préparée à l’occasion d’un colloque sur la réforme constitutionnelle tenu à l’Université d’Ottawa, en mars 1992. Dans la première partie, l’auteur révèle l’importance de la question du pouvoir de dépenser dans les récentes négociations constitutionnelles et précise en quoi les solutions éventuellement retenues pourraient affecter profondément le fédéralisme canadien à venir, si un cadre de cette nature subsistait.

Dans la deuxième partie, il pose la problématique d’un tel pouvoir en contexte fédératif. À cette fin, il en dessine les contours et en souligne l’incompatibilité avec l’autonomie stricte. Il est toutefois d’avis que cette dernière valeur n’épuise pas la signification du fédéralisme contemporain dont la vocation d’intégration économique lui paraît supposer la présence de transferts fédéraux/provinciaux partiellement conditionnels, surtout dans le contexte d’une fédération décentralisée. Assurer la viabilité de ceux-ci sans attenter trop à l’autonomie fédérative pose toutefois un défi que l’auteur s’est arrêté à décrire. Aussi aborde-t-il alors les questions autour desquelles le débat constitutionnel canadien s’est cristallisé : choix des dépenses à encadrer, conditions d’une compensation et modalités d’établissement des programmes.

Enfin, dans une dernière partie, il identifie les solutions préconisées sur ces divers sujets dans l’Accord du Lac Meech, les propositions fédérales de l’automne 1991 et le rapport Beaudoin-Dobbie de février 1992. Celles-ci lui semblent répréhensibles, à divers degrés, au regard des exigences d’un fédéralisme contemporain qui n’a pas renoncé à l’autonomie, sa loi originelle.
Le droit à l’autodétermination des peuples autochtones
Authors: Saganash Diom Romeo
Published: March 2019

Au-delà des médias interposés qui souvent ne reprennent que les éléments chocs des enjeux politiques de la réforme constitutionnelle, voici une occasion d’expliquer les motivations profondes qui sous-tendent notre attitude vis-à-vis ces questions et la perspective que défend le peuple Cri quant au concept du droit à l’autodétermination.

Dans un premier temps, cette communication propose un certain nombre d’éléments de réflexion sur la nature du droit à l’autodétermination, pour ensuite démontrer que, dans le contexte qui est le nôtre, l’exercice de ce droit fondamental se bute presque toujours à la règle du « deux poids, deux mesures ». Dans un troisième temps, nous vous entretenons de l’urgence de mettre fin à un régime colonial qui a trop duré pour enfin rappeler, dans un dernier point, l’évolution radicale au cours des dernières années du droit international en regard des peuples autochtones. Jamais plus les autochtones n’accepteront d’être pris en otages et de voir leur statut découler tout simplement des arrangements conclus entre les deux paliers de gouvernement, comme s’ils n’avaient qu’à attendre que le débat finisse pour se faire dire s’ils vont demeurer sous tutelle canadienne ou québécoise. Jamais plus nous n’accepterons que nos droits passent au second rang et encore moins de voir nos affaires traitées en notre absence et décidées par d’autres que nous.

Si par bonheur et par générosité, nous réussissons — peuples canadien, québécois et peuples autochtones — à mettre ensemble le meilleur de nos projets collectifs, c’est-à-dire notre volonté d’épanouissement comme peuples et notre ouverture à l’autre, peut-être alors réaliserons-nous que le sacrifice de Louis Riel, ce grand libérateur des peuples qui appartient à notre histoire mais aussi à la vôtre, n’a pas été inutile.
L’administration du bien d’autrui dans le contexte du nouveau Code civil du Québec (L.Q. 1991, c. 64)
Authors: Lauzon Ginette
Published: March 2019

En 1989, le législateur a mis en vigueur le titre septième du Livre quatrième des biens du projet de loi 20 par de nombreux renvois insérés dans le Code civil du Bas-Canada.

Cet ouvrage a pour but d’examiner ces dispositions à la lumière du projet de loi 125 adopté en décembre 1991 (L.Q. 1991, c. 64) et d’énoncer les règles nouvelles qu’on y retrouve ainsi que celles qui sont directement inspirées du Code civil actuel.

Certains de ces principes ont modifié notre droit alors que d’autres sont conformes à la pratique actuelle. L’exposé des principes que l’on retrouve à ce chapitre est aussi accompagné de critiques et de commentaires sur de nombreuses dispositions qui sont susceptibles d’interprétations diverses.

L’exposé est divisé en trois thèmes principaux. Le premier décrit les différentes formes d’administration, ainsi que les pouvoirs rattachés à chacune d’elles. Les administrateurs sont soumis à des règles plus ou moins strictes que nous retrouvons au chapitre deuxième et qui comprennent notamment les obligations et le mode de surveillance imposés par le législateur. Pour compléter l’étude, l’auteur a regroupé sous un même titre tout l’aspect comptable de l’administration.
Awareness, Knowledge and Perception of Female Genital Mutilation and Cutting (FGM/C) Radio Campaign and Practice among Women in Imo State
Authors: Nkwam-Uwaoma Adeline , Ojiakor Ifeoma C. , Onovo Joy C.
Published: March 2019

The media play a crucial role in society. They educate, entertain, and inform their audience. On this note, the mass media has been a platform to inform and educate women on diseases and negatives activities like female genital mutilation and cutting. Female genital mutilation and cutting (FGM/C) are carried out for various cultural, religious and social reasons within families and communities in the mistaken belief that it will benefit the girl child. However, there are no acceptable reasons that justify FGM/C. It is a harmful practice that has no health benefits but rather exposes the girl child to dangerous health hazards. It is against this backdrop that this study sought to assess the influence of radio in the campaign against female genital mutilation and cutting. Using the survey research design, the study sampled the perceptions of 394 respondents using the questionnaire as the instrument of data collection. Anchoring the study on The Health Belief Model, it was revealed that there are moderate awareness and knowledge level amongst women in Imo State about FGM/C. The study concluded that the awareness and knowledge level is responsible for the kind of perception found in the study. It was recommended that sensitization programmes like seminars should be organized for traditional rulers, religious leaders and other opinion leaders to enable them to use traditional media communication channels to further sensitize and mobilize the rural women so as to consolidate the gains of the campaign and ensure total eradication of the FGM/C practice and that every media outlet in the State should take up the responsibility of championing this course.
Estimating Stock Returns Volatility and the Risk-Return Nexus in the Nigerian Stock Market in the Presence of Shift Dummies
Authors: Kuhe David Adugh , Chiawa Moses Abanyam , Nwaosu Sylvester Chigozie , Ikughur Jonathan Atsua
Published: March 2019

Volatility and the trade-off between risk and return in stock markets is an important subject in financial theory which play significant role in investment decision making, portfolio selection, options pricing, financial stability, hedging and pair trading strategy among others. This study estimates stock return volatility and analyses the risk-return trade-off in the Nigerian stock market using symmetric GARCH (1,1)-in-mean, asymmetric CGARCH (1,1)-in-mean and EGARCH (1,1)-in-mean models with Generalized Error Distribution and Student-t innovation. Data on daily closing all share prices of the Nigerian stock exchange for the period 2nd January, 1998 to 9th January, 2018 are utilised. The data is further divided into three sub-periods of pre-crisis, global financial crisis and post crisis periods to allow volatility behaviour and the risk-return trade-off to be investigated across the sub-periods. Results showed evidence of volatility clustering, leptokurtosis, high persistence of shocks to volatility and asymmetry without leverage effects across the study periods. The persistence of shocks to volatility increased during the global financial crisis period with delayed reactions of volatility to market changes. However, by incorporating the exogenous breaks into the volatility models for the full study period, the shock persistence drastically reduced with faster reactions of volatility to market changes. The results of this study also found supportive evidence for a significant positive risk-return relationship in Nigerian stock market across various study sub-periods and model specifications meaning that investors in Nigerian stock market should be compensated for holding risky assets. The empirical findings of this study further suggest that the recent global financial crisis have not altered the market dynamics to distort the risk-return trade-off in Nigerian stock market indicating that expected returns are not driven by changes in the stock market volatility. The study provides some policy recommendations for investors and policy makers in the Nigerian stock market.
Characterization of Staphylococcus aureus Small Colony Variant (SCV) Clinical Isolates in Zaria, Nigeria
Authors: Ikala R. O. , Olayinka B. O. , Ebah E. E.
Published: March 2019

Staphylococcal isolates from specimen submitted to the Medical Microbiology laboratory of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria were collected over a period of 6 months (February-July 2012), characterized by microbiological standard procedures and the S. aureus small colony variant (SCV) isolates were isolated. The antibiotic susceptibility pattern of the isolates was determined by the Kirby-Bauer-CLSI modified disc agar diffusion (DAD) technique. The SCV isolates were assessed for the carriage of four virulence genes; sdrE (putative adhesin) icaA (intracellular adhesin) hlg (hemolysin), Cna (collagen adhesin). A total of 258 non-duplicate staphylococcal isolates made up of 219 (84%) S. aureus and 39 (15%) coagulase-negative staphylococci (coNS) where obtained. A total of 48 (22%) isolates were determined to be S. aureus SCV mainly from wound/abscess (31%). S. aureus SCV isolates were generally resistant to all the nine antibiotics tested with only minimal sensitivity to tigecyclin (10.4%) and ciprofloxacin (18.8%). Statistically, there was no significant difference between the microbial load and the different antibiotics that were used, (P ≥0.05). None of the S. aureus SCV isolates carried the four virulence genes which were tested in this study. The results have therefore proved that S. aureus small colony variant exist in our environment and they are more resistant to most antimicrobial agent than their wild type.
Effects of Induced Haemorrahge on Thermoregulation, Blood Constituents and Serum Biochemical Parameters in Pregnant and Non-Pregnant Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
Authors: Sukar Khalid A. O. , Abdelatif Abdalla M. , Alameen Ahmed O.
Published: March 2019

Background and Objectives: Haemorrhage is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity of mother and foetus. Pregnancy is associated with changes which may influence responses to bleeding. This study was designed to examine the influence of controlled haemorrhage and compare thermoregulation and haematological and biochemical parameters in pregnant and nonpregnant rabbits.

Materials and Methods: Twelve pregnant and nonpregnant rabbits, 6 in each group, were used in the studies. Both groups of animals were subjected to 20% haemorrhage of total blood volume on gestation day 21. The rectal temperature (Tr), respiratory rate (RR) and heart rate (HR) were monitored for 2 days following bleeding. Blood samples were collected at 24 hrs before induction of bleeding and then after bleeding at 30 min, 24 hrs and 48 hrs. The samples were used for measurements of haematological parameters; coagulation profile, arterial blood gases and serum electrolytes.

Results: The general trend indicates lower Tr values in pregnant rabbits at 30 min post-haemorrhage. The values of RR and HR were significantly (P ≤ 0.01) higher in pregnant and nonpregnant animals at 24 hrs post-haemorrhage. The pregnant rabbits showed significant (P<0.05) decrease in platelets count at 24 hrs post-haemorrhage compared to the nonpregnant values. In pregnant rabbits, haemorrhage was associated with significant increase in PT. The activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) was significantly (P≤ 0.01) prolonged at 24 hrs post-haemorrhage in pregnant and nonpregnant rabbits. The partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO2) in pregnant and nonpregnant rabbits was significantly (P≤ 0.01) increased at 24hrs and 48 hrs post-haemorrhage. The partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2) decreased significantly (P≤0.01) at 30 min post-haemorrhage in pregnant rabbits. There was a slight increase in Na and Ca levels in pregnant rabbits’ post-haemorrhage. Haemorrhage in rabbits was associated with significant decreases in plasma osmolality in pregnant rabbits.

Conclusion: Pregnancy induces modifications in some physiological responses to haemorrhage. The information generated could be used in monitoring maternal health during pregnancy and risks of changes associated with haemorrhage in mammals.
Assessing Food Safety Implications of Multi Antibiotic Resistant Fermented-Food-Condiment-Environment-Adapted Bacteria
Authors: Ogunshe Adenike A. O.
Published: March 2019

Problem of Research: Food safety implications of fermented-condiment-adapted bacterial strains, regarding their intrinsic, acquired and transferable antibiotic resistance potentials are yet to be reportedly fully ascertained.

Aim: To determine food safety implications of culturalable fermented-condiment-adapted bacterial strains.

Methodology: Using the Kirby-Bauer agar disc-diffusion method, phenotypic multi-antibiotic-drug-in-discs resistance (MADIDR) profiles of 138 fermented-condiment-borne (Gram-positive = 71; Gram-negative = 67) bacterial strains from iru, ogiri and okpehe were evaluated by in-discs antibiotics, which are commonly administered in human and animal prophylaxis and therapy.

Results: None of the fermented-condiment-adapted bacterial strains was totally susceptible to the test in-discs antibiotics; just five (3.62%: n = 0.7%: Gram-positive: n = 2.9% Gram-negative) strains were mono-resistant, while six (4.37%) were totally or pandrug-resistant (PDR). Of the remaining 92.03% fermented-condiment-adapted-bacterial strains, 6.57% exhibited co-antibiotic drug resistance (CDR); 43.8% (Gram-positive = 17.52%; Gram-negative = 26.28%) were multi-drug resistant (MDR); and 41.55% (Gram-positive = 25.55%: Gram-negative = 16.0%) displayed extensive-drug resistance (XDR). A total of 43.48% Gram-positive and 36.96% Gram-negative bacterial strains were multi-resistant to between four and eight of the test in-discs antibiotics. Overall, augmentin (95.8%), cloxacillin (94.4%) cotrimoxazole (71.8%) and erythromycin (71.8%) were the most-resisted in-discs antibiotics by the condiment-adapted Gram-positive bacteria, while cloxacillin (93.8%), ciprofloxacin (80.0%) and augmentin (76.9%) were the most-resisted in-discs antibiotics by Gram-negative bacteria.

Conclusion: Tremendous multi and extensive resistance to in-discs antibiotics were recorded among fermented-food-condiment-environment-adapted bacteria, indicating a serious food safety challenge in the ethnic cottage-food industries, food chain, and the community. Thus, preliminary screening for antibiotic resistance in food-condiment-borne bacteria, using in-discs antibiotics is strongly suggested.
Flaws in the Scientific Method and Their Relevance for Energy Research: A Cautionary Tale
Authors: J. Burns Thomas J. Burns , W. Boyd Tom
Published: March 2019

The Aim of the Paper is to explore how scientific methods, while strong in principle, can have serious flaws in practice. In focusing on circumscribed aspects of an overall system, science is able to bring a greater level of control over what is under its gaze.  Yet imposing order on some aspect of a system increases entropy in other parts of that system. Because of the combination of what is at stake and the secrecy of many of its aspects, this is of particular concern with Energy Research.

Using Methods that flow from the interface of the disciplines of Sociology and Philosophy, the paper considers the most pressing problems and suggests ways of addressing them. The Sociological perspective involves observation and analysis of science as it engages and is impacted by society. The philosophical approach is brought into play in the interest of considering science as a social phenomenon. The disciplines converge around a phenomenological approach to examining science, both as a world view and as a social enterprise.  In the process, the article raises implicit ethical questions.

Results of the analysis offer a series of challenges and invitations to the scientific community, encouraging scientists to lead the way in reexamining their methods and how they relate to and impact both society and ecology. Typically, the most profoundly affected parts are those most closely connected with the elements under study and manipulation, and yet defined out of the system.  Scientific paradigms would be more viable if a metavariable were incorporated into them—one informed by where the processes in question stand within the scope of history and the trajectory of life. The article also underscores the fact that science itself is a social enterprise and, as such, bears questioning by the society of which it is part. With appreciation and respect for what discoveries science has made thus far, the paper makes the case that it is time to examine the inertia of scientific methods as they have come to be honed by practice over the last several centuries.
Simulation of Convection Flow and Sensitivity Analysis of Model Parameters of Evacuated Glass Tube Solar Water Heater
Authors: D. N. Kumari K. , K. Wijerathna J.
Published: March 2019

The water-in-glass evacuated collectors are made up of parallel circular tubes. They are installed with some inclination angle to the horizontal. The thermal performance of water-in-glass evacuated tube solar water heater heavily depends on weather conditions. The analysis of the sensitivity of the model parameter and weather conditions on heat transfer process is extremely important to install a solar water heater system in order to achieve its maximum efficiency. The evaluation of the sensitivity of the system parameters is done by considering one parameter after another while keeping the remaining fixed. Further to the analysis of the heat transfer process, the average heat transfer coefficient and the average natural circulation flow rate are calculated.

The fluid flow is assumed to be unsteady, two-dimensional, laminar and incompressible. The heat and fluid flow are analyzed using the Navier-Stokes equations and temperature equation for an incompressible fluid, subject to density variation with temperature. The discretization of the governing equations is done by Finite Volume Method (FVM). The Open FOAM computational fluid dynamic software with PISO-SIMPLE algorithm is used for the simulation.

The results show that the heat transfer process is improved when there is a moderate level inclination angle. Further, it is found that when the ratio of tube length to diameter is high, the heat transfer process is improved. The solar radiation input highly affects the performance of a solar water heater. The cold-water inlet temperature does not directly affect the buoyancy induced flow, but it influences the temperature gain.

The angle of the solar rays vary within the daytime, however it does not affect the performance of the solar water heater since an evacuated-tube has a circular absorbing surface, it passively tracks the sun throughout the day. 

These results recommend using moderate level tube inclination angle and high  ratio to improve the performance of a solar water heater.
Investigation on Statistical Sizing Schemes for Hybrid Energy Storage Systems
Authors: -Tsung Ma Chao , -Lung Hsieh Chin
Published: March 2019

This paper explores the power and capacity planning problems in hybrid energy storage systems (HESS) used in grid-connected solar/wind power systems using statistical analysis and numerical methods. A proper HESS operation and power management system allows for real-time power distribution control with the required system dynamic response and the characteristics of the internal energy storage devices. The goal of instantaneous power allocation of HESS is to effectively manage the state of charge (SOC), power level, and operating conditions of its internal energy storage devices to achieve optimal efficiency and capacity optimisation. The HESS power and capacity planning method discussed in this paper can be used in most HESS planning cases on a given set of system operating conditions. In order to present the feasibility of the proposed method, the HESS application case discussed in this paper aims to smooth the power fluctuation of wind            and solar power generations and simultaneously ensure the specified dispatching power level               and quality. In this paper, HESS cases analysis and numerical comparison studies are carried out with a typical solar/wind power generation system corresponding to two different power dispatching levels.
Economic Evaluation of Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems for Electricity Generation in Nigeria: A Discounted Cash Flow Analysis
Authors: Aba Michael , Ladeinde Ayodeji , Afimia Emmanuel
Published: March 2019

Nigeria has great renewable energy resource potential comprising solar, wind, biomass and hydro and much work has been done on estimation of this potential. Variability of a single resource type, high cost of energy from renewable sources and impracticability of grid extension to distant rural areas from the national grid has led to the development of hybrid renewable energy systems (HRES). Although Nigeria is rich in these renewable resources, a hybrid application approach seems more feasible to ensure a reliable and cost-effective power supply from these sources. This study was conducted to assess Nigeria’s technological readiness for adopting HRES, its environmental impact and its viability over a 20-year period. A review of past literature was carried out to ascertain the country’s readiness for HRES and its environmental impact, while the discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis, along with other economic indicators of net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR) and payout period (PO) were adopted to estimate the economic viability of the system. The outcome of this paper shows that HRES for power generation in Nigeria is economically viable.
Supramolecular Assembly‐Enabled Transdermal Therapy of Hypertrophic Scarring Through Concurrent Ferroptosis‐Apoptosis
Authors: Zhao Bin , Wei Mengying , Zhou Xiaomeng , Liu Wenfeng , Li Qiang , Xue Yumeng , Tan Li‐Li , Shang Li
Published: November 2024

Hypertrophic scar (HS) remains a major challenge for clinicians due to unsatisfactory therapeutic performance. Although inducing apoptosis of HS fibroblasts (HSFs) has proved to be an effective nonsurgical treatment strategy, potential chemotherapy resistance to apoptosis of HSFs makes the development of new and efficient strategies highly demanding. Herein, a ferroptosis‐apoptosis combined therapeutic strategy for the treatment of HS is developed through supramolecular self‐assembly between cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) and two bioactive agents, dihydroartemisinin (DHA) and gold nanoclusters (AuNCs). The resulting self‐assembled supramolecular nanoparticles, named CAD NPs, showed high guest loading efficiency and prominent pH‐responsive degradability in the acidic lysosomes of HSFs. Importantly, both DHA and AuNCs act synergistically to generate excessive reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation, leading to mitochondrial damage, and ultimately inducing concurrent ferroptosis and apoptosis on HSFs. Upon further loading into hydrogel microneedles to facilitate their transdermal delivery, these CAD NPs showed superior antiscar therapeutic effects in shortening the treatment span to 3 weeks and improving the HS appearance, as demonstrated at a rabbit ear model of HS. The present supramolecular assembly‐based ferroptosis‐apoptosis strategy provides an innovative guideline for efficiently treating HS as well as other diseases.
Low Temperature Rapid Interfacial Kinetics Achieved by Sodium Titanate Anode Co‐Intercalation Storage Mechanism and Stable Solid Electrolyte Interface
Authors: Zhu Jiaming , Yan Xiaofeng , Jiang Yuhang , Li Yingying , Wang Gang , Xia Yuan , Wang Hui , Wang Beibei
Published: November 2024

Quasi‐layered sodium titanates have been extensively studied as anode materials for sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) owing to their quasi‐zero‐strain intercalative storage chemistry and high theoretical capacity. However, their sluggish sodiation kinetics and unstable electrode/electrolyte interface lead to rapid capacity decay at low temperatures. Herein, the local electronic structure and interlayer spacing of Na2Ti2O5 are finely regulated by heteroelement Sn‐doping, oxygen rich vacancies, and carbon‐confined structure (Sn‐HNTO@C) to improve low‐temperature performance. Theoretical calculations and Sn doping concentration control confirm that appropriate concentrations of heteroelement Sn‐doping and vacancy defects can redistribute charge density, enhance Na+ adsorption, reduce Na+ diffusion energy barriers, and endow Sn‐HNTO@C anode with stable capacity. In addition, optimizing electrolyte systems at low temperatures allows Sn‐HNTO@C to exhibit a Na+‐solvent co‐intercalation storage mechanism in ether‐based electrolytes, avoiding high desolvent energy barriers and reducing charge transfer activation energy. Furthermore, the thin, stable solid electrolyte interface rich in organic components promotes the low‐temperature interfacial Na+ kinetics. Consequently, Sn‐HNTO@C anode delivers high capacity over 500 cycles (177 mAh g−1) and Sn‐HNTO@C//Na3(VPO4)2F3 full cell presents 91 mAh g−1 over 200 cycles (−15 °C). This study provides unique guidance for optimizing sodium titanate anodes and emphasizes the importance of the low‐temperature electrode/electrolyte interface for SIBs.
Metal Nitride Controlled Atomic Doping of Mox+ in NiFe (Oxy)Hydroxide to Trigger Lattice Oxygen‐Mediated Mechanism for Superior Oxygen Evolution
Authors: Wang Junyu , Xing Zhenyu , Kang Ruiyi , Zheng Yijuan , Zhang Zhen , Ma Tian , Wang Yi , Yin Bo , Liao Yaozu , Li Liang , Cheng Chong , Li Shuang
Published: November 2024

The covalency of the metal─oxygen (M─O) bond is significantly amplified in the transition metal sites with elevated oxidation states, thereby enabling the lattice oxygen‐mediated mechanism (LOM) to transcend the traditional linear scaling limitations of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Here, an innovative surface atom release speed‐mediated doping of Mo atoms in NiFe (oxy)hydroxides by controlled dissolution of Mo atoms from the Mo2N surface, which resulted in the formation of NiFeMo(OH)2 with high valence Ni species for OER. Structural characterizations, coupled with in situ Raman and theoretical calculations, elucidate that the incorporation of Mo in NiFeMo(OH)2 modulates the electronic configuration of the metal centers, thereby diminishing the formation energy of Ni 3+/4+ species. This modulation augments the M─O bond covalency, facilitating a shift in the OER pathway from the conventional absorbate evolution mechanism to the more efficient LOM. Consequently, the NiFeMo(OH)2 displays a low overpotential of 236 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm−2, along with long stability (>500 h) at 50 mA cm−2. Furthermore, when integrated into an anion exchange membrane water electrolyzer, it achieves a current density of 1.0 A cm−2 at a cell voltage of merely 2.27 V, underscoring its potential for practical applications.
Synergistic Effect Enables Aqueous Zinc‐Ion Batteries to Operate at High Temperatures
Authors: Zhuang Changlei , Zhang Siwen , Yu Zhi Gen , Yang Jinzhang , Sun Ying , Wen Hanyu , Wen Haokun , Li Hui , Yin Bosi , Ma Tianyi
Published: November 2024

The performance of aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (AZIBs) at high temperatures (HT) is severely compromised by active water corrosion, parasitic reactions, and dendrite growth. Herein, zinc trifluoroacetate is introduced at a low concentration (0.2 m), dissolved in triethyl phosphate (TEP) and H2O. The active water is suppressed due to the reconstructed original hydrogen bond network, which helps inhibit parasitic reactions and severe corrosion. Meanwhile, a solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formed on the zinc anode due to the decomposition of the introduced zinc salt. The high‐tolerance SEI physically separates the electrolyte and anode, reducing the corrosion caused by active water. Moreover, TEP, as a prevalent fire‐retardant cosolvent, can preferentially anchor on the zinc sheet, serving as a shielding buffer layer. TEP is not only reconstructing the structure of the electric double layer (EDL), decreasing the content of active water, but also accelerating the prompt formation of SEI further. As proof of this synergistic effect, the assembled symmetric Zn‖Zn cells sustain to 700 h under the condition of 0.5 mA cm−2, and the Zn‖NH4V4O10 (NVO) full cells achieve 1400 cycles at 1 A g−1 at 60 °C. This work offers a promising solution to prompt the commercialization of AZIBs at HT.
Dendrimer‐Cu(II) Complexes Mediate Enzyme Delivery for Lactate Depletion‐Enhanced Combinational Treatment of Leukemia and Glioma
Authors: Li Aiyu , Gao Yue , Xiao Xianghao , Guo Honghua , Wang Jinxia , Zhang Ziwen , He Liangyu , Li Kangan , Shcharbin Dzmitry , Shi Xiangyang , Shen Mingwu
Published: November 2024

Cancer cells engage in active aerobic glycolysis to meet their bioenergetic synthesis needs, which is known as the Warburg effect. Such a process leads to lactate accumulation in the tumor microenvironment (TME), further promoting cancer progression and inducing immunosuppression. Herein, functionalized dendrimer‐Cu(II) complexes (for short, D‐Cu(II)) as a nanocarrier, which enables a Fenton‐like reaction is developed to generate a large amount of hydroxyl radicals and shows a T1‐weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging performance. Importantly, the D‐Cu(II) allows efficient delivery of lactate oxidase (LOx) to cancer cells, directly downregulating the lactate levels. When combining with an immune activator of leukadherin‐1, the developed D‐Cu(II)/LOx complexes alleviate the symptoms of mouse leukemia. With a further coating of macrophage membranes, the generated D‐Cu(II)/LOx@M allows for effective blood‐brain barrier crossing to treat an orthotopic murine glioma model under the guidance of Cu(II)‐facilitated MR imaging. By integrating the LOx‐mediated lactate depletion with Cu(II)‐mediated chemodynamic therapy, the developed dendrimer nanomedicines improve the overall survival and antitumor immune responses of mice, and help to remodel the immunosuppressive TME in both cancer models, greatly sensitizing the treatment efficacy of immune activator. Such dendrimer technology may further be used for theranostics of other cancer types through lactate depletion‐enhanced combinational therapy.
Non‐Interleaved Shared‐Aperture Full‐Stokes Metalens via Prior‐Knowledge‐Driven Inverse Design
Authors: Wang Yuzhong , Wang Yifei , Yu Axiang , Hu Mingshuang , Wang Qiming , Pang Cheng , Xiong Huimin , Cheng Yayun , Qi Jiaran
Published: November 2024

Characterization of electromagnetic wave polarization states is critical in various applications of materials, biomedical, and imaging. The emergence of metasurfaces opens up the possibility of implementing highly integrated full‐Stokes imagers. Despite rapid development, prevailing schemes on metasurface‐based full‐Stokes imagers require interleaved or cascaded designs, inevitably resulting in performance deterioration, bulky size, and complicating the imaging procedure due to misalignment. To overcome these challenges, a non‐interleaved shared‐aperture full‐Stokes metalens enabled by the prior‐knowledge‐driven inverse design methodology is proposed. The metalens can be directly deployed into imagers, performing high‐accuracy diffraction‐limited full‐Stokes imaging without other ancillary components, breaking intrinsic constraints of efficiency and resolution in interleaved design. To demonstrate this, the metalens is integrated into the W‐band passive imaging system, as an alternative solution, to perform polarimetric imaging, which reduces the reliance on the high cost and high complexity of the ortho‐mode transducer and broadband correlator in traditional polarimetric radiometers. Furthermore, with the assistance of a 3D reconstruction method, the feasibility of multi‐polarization information for contactless surface slope measurements is explored. This work may open new paradigms for the full‐Stokes imager designing and broaden the applications of metasurface polarimetric imaging.
UNLEASH: Ultralow Nanocluster Loading of Pt via Electro‐Acoustic Seasoning of Heterocatalysts
Authors: Ehrnst Yemima , Alijani Hossein , Bentley Cameron , Sherrell Peter C. , Murdoch Billy J. , Yeo Leslie Y. , Rezk Amgad R.
Published: November 2024

The shift toward sustainable energy has fueled the development of advanced electrocatalysts to enable green fuel production and chemical synthesis. To date, no material outperforms Pt‐group catalysts for key electrocatalytic reactions, necessitating advanced catalysts that minimize use of these rare and expensive constituents (i.e., Pt) to reduce cost without sacrificing activity. Whilst a myriad of routes involving co‐synthesis of Pt with other elements have been reported, the Pt is often buried within the bulk of the composite, rendering a large proportion of it inaccessible to the interfacial electrocatalytic reaction. Surface decoration of Pt on arbitrary substrates is therefore desirable to maximize catalytic activity; nevertheless, Pt electrodeposition suffers from clustering and ripening effects that result in large () aggregates that hinder electrocatalytic activity. Herein, an unconventional synthesis method is reported that utilizes high‐frequency (10 MHz) acoustic waves to electrochemically ‘season’ a gold working electrode with an ultralow loading of Pt nanoclusters. The UNLEASH platform is shown to facilitate high‐density dispersion of nanometer‐order clusters at the bimetallic interface to enable superior atomic utilization of Pt. This is exemplified by its utility for methanol oxidation reaction (MOR), wherein a mass activity of 5.28 A is obtained, outperforming all other Au/Pt bimetallic electrocatalysts reported to date.
UOTe: Kondo‐Interacting Topological Antiferromagnet in a Van der Waals Lattice
Authors: Broyles Christopher , Mardanya Sougata , Liu Mengke , Ahn Junyeong , Dinh Thao , Alqasseri Gadeer , Garner Jalen , Rehfuss Zackary , Guo Ken , Zhu Jiahui , Martinez David , Li Du , Hao Yiqing , Cao Huibo , Boswell Matt , Xie Weiwei , Philbrick Jeremy G. , Kong Tai , Yang Li , Vishwanath Ashvin , Kim Philip , Xu Su‐Yang , Hoffman Jennifer E. , Denlinger Jonathan D. , Chowdhury Sugata , Ran Sheng
Published: November 2024

Since the initial discovery of 2D van der Waals (vdW) materials, significant effort has been made to incorporate the three properties of magnetism, band structure topology, and strong electron correlations—to leverage emergent quantum phenomena and expand their potential applications. However, the discovery of a single vdW material that intrinsically hosts all three ingredients has remained an outstanding challenge. Here, the discovery of a Kondo‐interacting topological antiferromagnet is reported in the vdW 5f electron system UOTe. It has a high antiferromagnetic (AFM) transition temperature of 150 K, with a unique AFM configuration that breaks the combined parity and time reversal (PT) symmetry in an even number of layers while maintaining zero net magnetic moment. This angle‐resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) measurements reveal Dirac bands near the Fermi level, which combined with the theoretical calculations demonstrate UOTe as an AFM Dirac semimetal. Within the AFM order, the presence of the Kondo interaction is observed, as evidenced by the emergence of a 5f flat band near the Fermi level below 100 K and hybridization between the Kondo band and the Dirac band. The density functional theory calculations in its bilayer form predict UOTe as a rare example of a fully‐compensated AFM Chern insulator.
Achieving Significant Multilevel Modulation in Superior‐quality Organic Spin Valve
Authors: Zhang Cheng , Ding Shuaishuai , Tian Yuan , Ke Yunzhe , Wang Jian‐Tao , Wang Jing , Hu Fengxia , Hu Wenping , Shen Baogen
Published: November 2024

Organic semiconductors, characterized by their exceptionally long spin relaxation times (≈ms) and unique spinterface effects, are considered game‐changers in spintronics. However, achieving high‐performance and wide‐range tunable magnetoresistance (MR) in organic spintronic devices remains challenging, severely limiting the development of organic spintronics. This work combines straintronic multiferroic heterostructures with organic spin valve (OSV) to develop a three‐terminal OSV device with a gate structure. The device exhibits a record‐high MR ratio of 281% which 10 times higher than the average in polymer systems. More importantly, this work can perform multilevel writing operations on the device using gate voltages and create at least 10 stable spin‐dependent working states within a single device. Both experiments and theoretical calculations confirm such an extraordinary tunability range originates from the synergistic effects of strain and charge accumulation that amplified by the spinterface. This study demonstrates the potential of OSV systems for efficient spin manipulation and highlights the spinterface as an ideal platform for amplifying spin effects for next‐generation spintronic devices.
Optimized Hybrid Probabilistic and Geometric Constellation Shaping for Coherent Optical Communication Systems Using End‐to‐End Learning
Authors: Liu Zhiyang , Zhang Lu , Liu Xiaoyu , Xiao Shilin , Yang Weiying , Hu Weisheng
Published: November 2024

To meet the growing demand for enhanced performance in coherent optical communication systems, increasing spectral efficiency and system capacity through constellation shaping is crucial. In this article, the end‐to‐end optimization of hybrid probabilistic and geometric constellation shaping (HPGS) under a Wiener phase noise channel is explored, enhanced by carrier phase estimation. By employing a differentiable two‐stage blind phase search algorithm integrated within digital signal processing (DSP) and utilizing gradient descent‐based back‐propagation, the approach ensures higher spectral efficiencies. Herein, the proposed method surpasses geometrically shaped 64QAM (QAM—quadrature amplitude modulation) by 0.082 bit per symbol in generalized mutual information at a 350 kHz linewidth. Additionally, the adaptivity of HPGS to higher‐order QAM formats, including 128QAM and 256QAM, is investigated, demonstrating significant performance gains. This research provides a cost‐effective solution for joint systematic optimization in optical communication systems, leveraging the differentiable channel model and receiver DSP.
Base‐Mediated Sequential Annulation Reaction of Conjugated Dienes and Crotonate‐Derived Sulfur Ylides: Effective Synthesis of Bicyclo[4.1.0]heptenes
Authors: Gan Zhenjie , Sun Jingran , Huang Zhangyun , Cai Zhenjue , Wang Yue , Li Er‐Qing
Published: November 2024

Herein we present a method for base‐mediated sequential annulation reaction of conjugated dienes. The method offers an efficient pathway for the effective construction of bicyclo[4.1.0]heptenes. Notable features of this approach include good yields, remarkable stereoselectivity, as well as a broad substrate scope and significant step efficiency. In addition, the reaction could be effectively scaled up to a gram scale under standard condition.
Giant Photoluminescence Enhancement of Ga‐Doped ZnO Microwires by X‐Ray Irradiation
Authors: He Siyuan , Cao Shuiyan , Liu Ying , Chen Wenfa , Lyu Pin , Li Weidian , Bao Jincheng , Sun Wenhui , Kan Caixia , Jiang Mingming , Liu Yanpeng
Published: November 2024

Ga‐doped zinc oxide (ZnO) microwires hold great promise for developing highly efficient light sources because of the wide bandgap with proper exciton binding energy. However, most microwires grown from one mainstream approach, i.e., chemical vapor deposition (CVD), are morphologically and crystallographically defective, exhibiting limited photoluminescence performances. Herein, a simple and effective X‐ray irradiation strategy is demonstrated for enhancing the photoluminescence of Ga‐doped ZnO microwire in ambient conditions. Under moderate doses (≤ 150 Gy), the photoluminescence monotonically rockets up with X‐ray dose increment and achieves nine‐fold enhancement at a dose of ≈150 Gy, recording high photoluminescence improvement of ZnO microwires to date. The elemental characteristics under different controlled irradiation atmospheres suggest the elimination of surface oxygen vacancy and the cross‐section transmission electron microscope reveals prominent lattice relaxations after mild X‐ray irradiation. In addition, the X‐ray irradiated microwires further exhibit elevated electroluminescence by over three times. The enhanced photoluminescence and electroluminescence as well as long‐term stability enable us to imagine the super‐rapid applications of ZnO microwires in modern optoelectronic devices.