bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Consumer Perspective on Forensic DNA Banking
Authors: Terry Sharon F. , Terry Patrick F.
Published: June 2006

The currently evolving debate over ethical and legal approaches to DNA data banks reflects, in part, shifting societal perceptions of dividing lines between humanity and commodity, definitions of genetic inheritance between individuals and families, and the rights of the individual versus the rights of the community. Tensions arise whether the data bank has been created for medical or for forensic purposes. The authors, through their work as community activists described more fully below, have come to realize that the key to resolving these tensions and developing ethically acceptable DNA data bank practices is meaningful community engagement. Not unlike medical DNA data banks, personally identifiable DNA samples are routinely retained by states long after a convict's or arrestee's DNA profile has been derived from it and entered into the state database. The question arises, then, as to what, if any, non-forensic uses can these samples – ethically – be put.
Equipoise and the Criteria for Reasonable Action
Authors: Evans Emily L. , London Alex John
Published: June 2006

In her recent article, “Evidence, Belief, and Action: The Failure of Equipoise to Resolve the Ethical Tension in the Randomized Clinical Trial,” Deborah Hellman gives a new twist to an old objection against clinical equipoise. Roughly, clinical equipoise is the requirement that there exist credible uncertainty in the expert medical community regarding the preferred treatment for a particular condition. This uncertainty is widely regarded as a necessary condition for enrolling participants in a clinical trial. The old objection is that clinical equipoise represents an overly permissive, and therefore morally unacceptable, mechanism for resolving the fundamental tension in clinical research between fidelity to the interests of the individual research participant, and fidelity to the statistical and scientific methods that are necessary to produce generalizable data in a reliable manner. Hellman's new twist on this objection utilizes some of the rudimentary architecture of Bayesian statistical theory to argue that clinical equipoise focuses our moral attention on the wrong issue.
Appeals Court Rejects Federal Jurisdiction over Chiropractors Challenge to Medicare Coverage – Am. Chiropractic Ass'n, Inc. v. Leavitt
Authors: Lewis Carmen E.
Published: June 2006

The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (“Appeals Court”) held that the district court did not have jurisdiction over the American Chiropractor's Association's (“ACA”) federal question claims brought under the Medicare Act, despite affirming the ACA's prudential standing to pursue its claims. The Appeals Court reversed the lower court's decision allowing a doctor of medicine or osteopathy to perform manual manipulations of the spine on Medicare beneficiaries to correct a subluxation.

The Medicare program “subsidizes medical insurance for elderly and disabled persons.” An enrollee selects a physician or obtains medical services through a managed-care provider, such as a health maintenance organization (“HMO”).
A Review of Steven Shavell's Foundations of Economic Analysis of Law
Authors: Posner Richard A
Published: June 2006

Steven Shavell's Foundations of Economic Analysis of Law (Harvard University Press, 2004) is a major theoretical contribution to “law and economics,” the applied field of economics that studies the economic properties and consequences of legal doctrines and institutions. It is a field of immense practical importance, but unfamiliar to many economists—a situation that Shavell's book bids fair to rectify. This review essay situates Shavell's book in the history of economic scholarship about law and uses the book as a springboard for speculation about new directions in that scholarship.
Does Culture Affect Economic Outcomes?
Authors: Guiso Luigi , Sapienza Paola , Zingales Luigi
Published: June 2006

Until recently, economists have been reluctant to rely on culture as a possible determinant of economic phenomena. Much of this reluctance stems from the very notion of culture: it is so broad and the channels through which it can enter the economic discourse so ubiquitous (and vague) that it is difficult to design testable, refutable hypotheses. In recent years, however, better techniques and more data have made it possible to identify systematic differences in people's preferences and beliefs and to relate them to various measures of cultural legacy. These developments suggest an approach to introducing culturally-based explanations into economics that can be tested and may substantially enrich our understanding of economic phenomena. This paper summarizes this approach and its achievements so far, and outlines directions for future research.
Determination of the length of sedimentation reaction in blood using the TEST 1 system: comparison with the Sedimatic 100 method, turbidimetric fibrinogen levels, and the influence of M-proteins
Authors: Ajubi Nasser E. , Bakker Andries J. , van den Berg Gita A.
Published: June 2006

Clin Chem Lab Med 2006;44:904–6.
Binding of T‐Antigen Disaccharides to Artocarpus hirsuta Lectin and Jacalin are Energetically Different
Authors: Gaikwad Sushama M. , Khan M. Islam
Published: June 2006

The thermodynamics of binding of Me‐α‐GalNAc, Gal‐β‐1‐3GalNAc‐α‐O‐Me (T‐antigen‐α), Gal‐β‐1‐3GalNAc and Gal‐α‐1‐6Glc (mellibiose) to Artocarpus hirsuta lectin was studied using fluorescence spectroscopy. The binding affinities of the saccharides are in the order Gal‐β‐1‐3GalNAc‐α‐O‐Me < Me‐α‐GalNAc < Me‐α‐Gal < Gal‐β‐1‐3GalNAc < Gal‐α‐1‐6Glc. The binding affinities were comparable to those for jacalin. However, binding of the saccharides to the A. hirsuta lectin was not affected as strongly by temperature as observed in jacalin and the trend was found to be reversed. Values for ΔH and AS were found to be positive in A. hirsuta lectin‐disaccharide binding despite similar binding affinities. Thus, with 99% structural and 96% sequence homology, with similar sugar specificity and affinity, the energetics of the disaccharide binding of the two lectins seem to be different. Me‐α‐GalNAc binding to A. hirsuta lectin is enthalpically driven, because the association constant decreases with increasing temperature. However, the binding of the T‐antigen disaccharides and mellibiose disaccharides to the lectin is entropically driven. The difference in the molecular associations in the packing and variation of the C‐terminal length of the β chain of the A. hirsuta lectin could be reflected in the different disaccharide binding energetics.
Trade Liberalization and International Mergers: The Case of Barley Malting in North America
Authors: Buschena David E. , Gray Richard S.
Published: June 2006

As free trade policy merges formerly distinct markets characterized by stable Cournot oligopolies and having similar cost structures, additional incentives are created for mergers within the newly combined industry that affect the gains from free trade. We use a Cournot‐Nash oligopoly model to examine the incentives for malting company mergers following Canadian‐U.S. free trade agreement. Mergers reduce free trade gains to malt consumers and malt barley producers while producer surplus in the malting industry increases. Overall, mergers increase the total gains from free trade beyond those without mergers.
Cross‐Border Trade and Perceptions: Friend or Foe?
Authors: Tronstad Russell , Wong-González Pablo
Published: June 2006

Agribusiness leaders in the border states of Arizona and Sonora feel strongly that trade will be more important to their future business than it is at present. Each state believes that there is a potential or expanding market available. Little support was found for the opinion that each other's state serves as a business competitor. Integration, complementarity, and regional specialization have allowed cross‐border agribusiness firms to become more competitive. Opportunities for risk reduction are felt to exist through cross‐border expansion. The highest ranked items for increasing the economic vitality of agribusiness in the region are streamlining border crossing formalities for products, unifying grades and standards, improving Sonora's transportation and communication infrastructure, developing better financing strategies/legal agreements, and forming a bilingual regional agricultural agency to disseminate information regarding current regulations specific to agriculture. This agency may also help facilitate capital and trade flows by providing a voluntary certified trading license.
Confined Animal Production and Groundwater Protection
Authors: Letson David , Gollehon Noel , Kascak Catherine , Breneman Vincent , Mose Carlyle
Published: June 2006

Our national screening model considers agricultural practices, hydrologie vulnerability, and groundwater use to identify areas that might need in‐depth study to determine whether agricultural manure use contributes to groundwater quality problems. Economic efficiency dictates that, at the margin, the benefits of reducing manure nitrogen loadings to groundwater should be at least as great as the costs. However, efficiency on a national scale is complicated by the variability of costs and benefits across groundwater basins. National mandates are unlikely to be efficient, except as minimal protection. Case‐by‐case approaches can provide efficient additional protection as needed, but they have substantial information requirements. The high cost of site‐specific data on water use, values, and hydrologic settings demands that the cases examined be selected with care. We focus on the threat of manure to groundwater use for three reasons. First, manure nutrient loadings might be on the rise because of ongoing structural changes in animal production. Second, prevention in some cases is the most economic response to threats or incidents of contamination. Replacement costs for the provision of bottled water or other alternatives are often higher than the cost of preserving existing groundwater resources. Third, the 1996 Federal Improvement and Reform Act (FAIR) authorizes $1.3 billion for environmental and conservation improvements, at least half of which must go to animal production. FAIR also mandates that the spending maximize environmental benefits per dollar. Clearly, groundwater protection is a candidate for such spending.
An Analysis of the Economic Benefit Provisions of the Food Quality Protection Act
Authors: Phillips Mark , Gianessi Leonard P.
Published: June 2006

In 1996, President Clinton signed into law the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA). The act reduces the historic role economic benefits play in determining whether known carcinogenic pesticides should be granted crop labels. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) now considers pesticide benefits only if at least one of two conditions is present: (a) the pesticide protects consumers against adverse health effects that are greater than the health risks posed by the pesticide itself, and (b) the pesticide is needed to prevent a “significant disruption in [the] domestic production of an adequate, wholesome and economical food supply.” Congress cited an administrative action taken by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an example of the type of situation that legitimately might represent a potential “significant disruption” of our food supply. The action raised the recommended ceilings for a dangerous carcinogenic mycotoxin, called aflatoxin, to reduce its impact on the availability of field corn. However, it is uncertain whether the corn/aflatoxin incident is a clear‐cut example of a “significant disruption” of our food supply. Evidence suggests that it might not be, as a drought had already destroyed a large part of the crop, and aflatoxin testing methods were inadequate. Furthermore, it is uncertain whether a strong nexus exists between crop losses caused by aflatoxin and crop losses suffered following the removal of pesticides. Several pesticide/crop combinations suggest that the nexus is not strong. The act would be more effective if economists estimated the unique crop‐loss threshold for each pesticide/crop combination.
Firma Hebrona: A Private Enterprise in Latvia
Authors: MacKinnon Douglas , Schaffner David J.
Published: June 2006

With the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, independence came to the Baltic republics. The focus of this case study is on Ainars Kadish and his entrepreneurial efforts in bringing an abandoned greenhouse operation back to a productive and profitable state. Also discussed are the post‐Soviet environment and the privatization process as carried out in Latvia. The case provides financial information to explore Ainars' alternatives: should he continue producing at the current facility or build a new greenhouse complex?
The 21st Century Alliance: A Dry Edible Bean Cooperative
Authors: Boland Michael , Daniel Scott , Katz Jeff , Parcell Joe , Aristizabal Ioanna Romer de
Published: June 2006

Producers of the 21st Century Alliance in western Kansas had an opportunity to vertically integrate in the dry edible bean industry in the winter of 1998. Demand for dry edible beans, especially pinto beans, has been increasing in recent years. The major decision in this case was to determine whether to (a) build new facilities, (b) build a dual‐purpose grain elevator for beans and other crops, (c) not buy, or (d) purchase an existing facility in Burlington, Colorado, or Sharon Springs, Kansas.
The transcript expression profile of the leptin receptor-coding gene assayed with the oligonucleotide microarray technique — Could this be an Anorexia nervosa marker?
Authors: Janas-Kozik Małgorzata , Mazurek Urszula , Krupka-Matuszczyk Irena , Stachowicz Małgorzata , Głogowska-Ligus Joanna , Wilczok Tadeusz
Published: June 2006

Anorexia nervosa is a serious eating disorder with the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder. The DSM-IV classification differentiates two AN types: the restricting type (AN-R) and the binge-eating/purging type (AN-BP). Leptin (LEP) levels can be thought of as a signal to the body of its energy reserves. The leptin receptor (including all its mRNA isoforms) is expressed in many tissues. Our aim was to discover the transcript expression profile of the LEP receptor-coding gene in the peripheral blood mononuclears in AN-R and AN-BP patients. Three young women suffering from Anorexia nervosa (one with AN-BP and two with AN-R) took part in the study, along with three non-anorexic subjects as our reference group. LEP receptor gene expression was examined using the oligonucleotide microarray method (HG-U133A, Affymetrix). The results were normalized using RMAExpress. Next, the accumulation analysis method was used (clustering). Hierarchical clustering resulted in three groups of separate clusters. The first group (cluster I) consisted of AN-R patients. The next group (cluster II) consisted of reference group patients suffering from different psychic disorders not related to eating disorders. Cluster III consisted of two patients — the first with AN-BP and the second with an adaptive disorder.
Inclusion and the Challenge of Assimilation for Teachers of Students with Severe Disabilities
Authors: Goessling Deborah Peters
Published: June 2006

The perceptions of fourteen teachers from fourteen different public schools about their changing roles and responsibilities as they moved into inclusive settings with students with severe disabilities were explored in this qualitative study. It discusses their experiences of cultural dissonance as they left the segregated culture of special education and attempted to assimilate themselves into general education classrooms, grades K-8. Their dilemmas, doubts, and hopes for the future are discussed as well as the challenges that attempted cultural assimilation presents for special educators.
Practical Application of Functional Behavioral Assessment in Schools
Authors: Knoster Timothy P.
Published: June 2006

Individualized Educational Program (IEP) teams working with students who have disabilities and a history of problem behavior that impedes their learning or that of others have the responsibility to develop their capacity to conduct functional behavioral assessments that lead to the delivery of effective behavior intervention plans. This article provides guidance to school-based teams that should prove useful to practitioners and families. In particular, this article highlights (a) the necessary components of a functional behavioral assessment, (b) a decision making framework concerning the selection of assessment and intervention procedures to be used at school, and (c) a description of one practical functional behavioral assessment tool—the Initial Line of Inquiry—that has been employed by school-based teams.
The Behavior Chain Interruption Strategy: A Review of Research and Discussion of Future Directions
Authors: Carter Mark , Grunsell Julie
Published: June 2006

This review examines research studies that utilize the behavior chain interruption strategy (BCIS) to teach communication skills to individuals with severe disabilities. The BCIS is a naturalistic teaching procedure that uses an interruption to a behavior chain (i.e., a routine) as the point of instruction. The BCIS has been successfully applied to the teaching of communication skills to individuals across a wide range of ages and of levels of disability, including learners with multiple disabilities. It has been employed to teach a range of communication forms, including pictorial communication systems, natural gestures, signing, and a switch activated communication device. However, a number of questions remain regarding the BCIS. In particular, it is questioned whether the type of interruptions employed in the procedure are likely to occur outside a training context and whether communication taught with the procedure generalizes to out-of-routine contexts. Implications for practice are considered and suggestions are offered for future research.
Situational Assessment of Task Preferences among Adults with Multiple Severe Disabilities in Supported Work
Authors: Parsons Marsha B. , Reid Dennis H. , Green Carolyn W.
Published: June 2006

Identifying work related preferences is an important aspect of supporting people with disabilities in community based jobs. However, how to accurately determine preferences among supported workers who have multiple severe disabilities and highly significant communication challenges has received little research attention. We evaluated the use of a situational assessment for identifying work task preferences among three individuals with multiple severe disabilities. Two participants worked on a yard maintenance crew and one was assigned to cleaning offices. The assessment involved systematically observing indices of happiness and unhappiness while the participants worked on different tasks. The observations revealed distinct differences regarding the tasks that the workers liked and disliked. The validity of the identified preferences was supported through observations, which indicated that work engagement of the workers was most frequent when they worked on their most preferred task and least frequent when they worked on their least preferred task. Overall, these results offer support for use of the situational assessment to identify preferred work tasks for adults with multiple severe disabilities. Results are discussed in terms of evaluating the assessment process with other aspects of work placements beyond specific job tasks to further enhance the likelihood that supported workers will work in job situations in accordance with their work preferences.
Sexuality Education for Adults with Cognitive Disabilities in Austria: Surveys of Attitudes and the Development of a Model Program
Authors: Plaute Wolfgang , Westling David L. , Cizek Brigitte
Published: June 2006

The post-World War II history of sexuality education programs for people with cognitive disabilities in Austria reveals limited success. To determine the state of current knowledge and attitudes on this topic in Austria, several survey studies were planned and conducted. Following this activity, and based on some of the findings, Lebenshilfe Salzburg initiated a program of sexuality education for adults with cognitive disabilities, their parents, and professionals. The surveys that were conducted are summarized in this article and the sexuality education program involving parents, professionals, and adults with disabilities is described.
The Effectiveness of Contextually Supported Play Date Interactions between Children with Autism and Typically Developing Peers
Authors: Koegel Robert L. , Werner Grace A. , Vismara Laurie A. , Koegel Lynn Kern
Published: June 2006

Difficulties with social interaction are characteristic of autism. This study presents data illustrating the use of motivational strategies in play dates to improve the quality of social interactions between children with autism and their typically developing peers. Specifically, a multiple baseline design across participants shows how a contextual support package implemented during play dates can promote reciprocal interactions and improve affect. These results support the use of intervention strategies that target the pivotal area of motivation and provide evidence for using play dates as a context for intervention. The findings are discussed in terms of promoting quality interactions and encouraging friendship development.
Efforts in Organized Medicine to Eliminate Harmful Race-Based Clinical Algorithms
Authors: Cleveland Manchanda Emily C. , Aikens Blair , De Maio Fernando , Jordan William , Brown Jennifer T. , Sivashanker Karthik , Maybank Aletha
Published: March 2024

This survey study describes efforts to eliminate harmful race-based clinical algorithms among state or territorial medical associations and specialty societies in the US.
Recruitment of ubiquitin E2 enzymes is determined jointly by the U‐box domains and substrates of E3 ligases
Authors: Jin Bo , Li Bei , Qu Junyao , Sun Yiheng , Wang Mengran , Yang Changjiang , Fan Yuchen , Wang Yanan , Xu Peng , Sun Haiying , Jiang Bo , Zhao Bo
Published: March 2024

Ubiquitination is a cascade reaction involving E1, E2, and E3 enzymes. The orthogonal ubiquitin transfer (OUT) method has been previously established to identify potential substrates of E3 ligases. In this study, we verified the ubiquitination of five substrates mediated by the E3 ligases CHIP and E4B. To further explore the activity of U‐box domains of E3 ligases, two mutants with the U‐box domains interchanged between CHIP and E4B were generated. They exhibited a significantly reduced ubiquitination ability. Additionally, different E3s recruited similar E2 ubiquitin‐conjugating enzymes when ubiquitinating the same substrates, highlighting that U‐box domains determined the E2 recruitment, while the substrate determined the E2 selectivity. This study reveals the influence of substrates and U‐box domains on E2 recruitment, providing a novel perspective on the function of U‐box domains of E3 ligases.
Impact of setup errors on the robustness of linac‐based single‐isocenter coplanar and non‐coplanar VMAT plans for multiple brain metastases
Authors: Sun Xiaohuan , Guan Fada , Yun Qinghui , Jennings Matthew , Biggs Simon , Wang Zhongfei , Wang Wei , Zhang Te , Shi Mei , Zhao Lina
Published: March 2024

Purpose

Patient setup errors have been a primary concern impacting the dose delivery accuracy in radiation therapy. A robust treatment plan might mitigate the effects of patient setup errors. In this reported study, we aimed to evaluate the impact of translational and rotational errors on the robustness of linac‐based, single‐isocenter, coplanar, and non‐coplanar volumetric modulated arc therapy treatment plans for multiple brain metastases.

Methods

Fifteen patients were retrospectively selected for this study with a combined total of 49 gross tumor volumes (GTVs). Single‐isocenter coplanar and non‐coplanar plans were generated first with a prescribed dose of 40 Gy in 5 fractions or 42 Gy in 7 fractions to cover 95% of planning target volume (PTV). Next, four setup errors (+1  and +2 mm translation, and +1° and +2° rotation) were applied individually to generate modified plans. Different plan quality evaluation metrics were compared between coplanar and non‐coplanar plans. 3D gamma analysis (3%/2 mm) was performed to compare the modified plans (+2 mm and +2° only) and the original plans. Paired t‐test was conducted for statistical analysis.

Results

After applying setup errors, variations of all plan evaluation metrics were similar (p > 0.05). The worst case for V100% to GTV was 92.07% ± 6.13% in the case of +2 mm translational error. 3D gamma pass rates were > 90% for both coplanar (+2 mm and +2°) and the +2 mm non‐coplanar groups but was 87.40% ± 6.89% for the +2° non‐coplanar group.

Conclusion

Translational errors have a greater impact on PTV and GTV dose coverage for both planning methods. Rotational errors have a greater negative impact on gamma pass rates of non‐coplanar plans. Plan evaluation metrics after applying setup errors showed that both coplanar and non‐coplanar plans were robust and clinically acceptable.
From Experimental Epistemology to Experimental Architecture
Authors: Sweeting Ben
Published: March 2024

A life‐long beacon for Lebbeus Woods was his understanding of the ideas of second‐order cybernetics and attempts to assimilate them into his architectural projects. An introduction to this discourse was provided in Urbana‐Champaign in the early 1960s by his most important intellectual mentor, cyberneticist Heinz von Foerster. Poised at the intersection of architecture and cybernetics, Ben Sweeting charts some of the lines of their interactions and friendship.
Thermally Engineered Ferric Yolk‐Shells for Vaginal Secretion Based Cervical Cancer Screening
Authors: Wu Jiao , Wei Yingting , Shi Chunjing , Huang Yida , Hong Zubei , Liu Wanshan , Gu Liying , Wang Ruimin , Li Yuling , Cao Jing , Di Wen , Hou Xumin , Liu Jian , Qian Kun , Qiu Lihua
Published: March 2024

Engineering of materials is crucial for the advanced detection of bio‐molecules, particularly in laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (LDI‐MS). However, effective screening with enhanced LDI performance remains challenging due to the lack of engineered substrate materials. Herein, thermally engineered ferric yolk‐shells are designed for enhanced metabolic screening of cervical cancer (CC) using vaginal secretion. A facile thermal engineering strategy is developed to prepare amorphous ferric yolk‐shells with integrated properties. Notably, the amorphous mesoporous yolk‐shells offer signal amplification up to orders of magnitude in LDI‐MS for standard metabolites and diverse bio‐samples. High‐performance CC screening (including identification of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, high‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL), and CC) is achieved, with the areas under the curve of 0.842–0.963. Finally, a metabolic panel for CC screening, covering the stages of HPV, HSIL, and CC, is established. This work elucidates the LDI‐MS mechanism for enhanced metabolic detection and highlights potential applications in cancer screening.
Electrically‐Reconfigurable Extremely‐High Density Physical Unclonable Cryptographic Keys Based on Aurivillius Ferroelectrics
Authors: Miao Yuan , Zhou Xuefan , Wang Zhongwang , Liu Xiaochi , Yuan Yahua , Jing Yumei , Luo Hang , Zhang Dou , Sun Jian
Published: March 2024

In the era of information, emerging hardware security primitives, i.e., hardware random number generators and physically unclonable functions, hold profound promise for the establishment of exceptionally secure network information systems. Nonetheless, these potential solutions are constrained by inherent drawbacks, including the need for additional error correction circuits or algorithms, heightened susceptibility to environmental interference, and limited data density. This paper demonstrates the extremely high‐density, physical‐unclonable cryptographic keys by harnessing stochastically ferroelectric domain polarizations in Aurivillius ferroelectric material CaBi2Nb2O9 (CBNO). Ferroelectric polarization of CBNO nanodomains can serve as a robust source of physical unclonable entropy. Through the application of high‐speed voltage pulses, the inherent randomness of ferroelectric polarizations can be enhanced, thereby yielding cryptographic keys characterized by remarkable uniformity, uniqueness, and negligible environmental sensitivity. More importantly, the voltage pulse operations facilitate the configurability of the ferroelectric cryptographic keys with no correlation. An unprecedented data density of 435 Gbit µm−2 is therefore achievable with a miniaturized CBNO of less than 1 um2. Notably, the reconfigured keys successfully pass the National Institute of Standards and Technology random number tests without requiring additional post‐processing steps. Emanating from the inherent attributes of the material, these high‐density ferroelectric keys confer intrinsic advantages to information security, evincing substantial resistance to duplication or cloning.
Investigations of Morphology and Carrier Transport Characteristics in High‐Performance PEDOT:PSS/Tellurium Binary Composite Fibers Produced via Continuous Wet‐Spinning
Authors: Wen Ningxuan , Guan Xin , Zuo Xueqing , Guo Yuan , Chen Zhonghua , Li Chengwei , Xu Hui , Pan Lujun , Fan Zeng
Published: March 2024

Fiber‐based flexible thermoelectric (TE) generators are highly desirable due to their capability to convert thermal energy into electricity and their potential applications in wearable electronics. High‐performance poly(3,4‐ethylene dioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)/Tellurium (Te) composite TE fibers have been successfully developed via a continuous wet‐spinning approach followed by sulphuric acid treatment. With a simple pre‐modification to Te nanowires, the inorganic Te fillers form uniform distribution in PEDOT:PSS. At the optimal condition, the composite fibers exhibit a power factor of 233.5 µW m−1 K−2 and mechanical strength of 205 MPa, which are among the highest values reported so far for the PEDOT:PSS‐based TE fibers. From the viewpoint of TE property enhancement mechanism, understanding the morphology and carrier transport behavior in the 1D organic/inorganic composite fibers remains still challenging. On basis of a series of PEDOT:PSS/Te composite fibers with varying Te fractions, orientations of both the inorganic and organic constituents are quantitatively evaluated. Their electrical conductivities and Seebeck coefficients are also analyzed with modified series‐parallel models and energy filtering theory. This work may not only provide a universal approach to produce high‐performance organic/inorganic composite TE fibers for various wearable applications, but also help to understand the morphology and charge transport between heterogeneous phases in a 1D composite.
Fabricating Solid‐Solution‐Type Perovskite/Fluoride Nanocomposites Through Sublattice Interlocking for High‐Performance Photovoltaics
Authors: Wei Youchao , Wang Xianjin , Wang Zhaoyu , Wang Di , Chen Yameng , Zhang Haoyu , Zhao Yao , Liu Yongsheng , Zhao Qing , Hong Maochun
Published: March 2024

All‐inorganic α‐phase CsPbI3 perovskite with a suitable bandgap and superb optoelectronic properties is transforming the landscape of perovskite photovoltaics, but its long‐term lability associated with “soft” ionic lattice still imposes a great challenge for practical applications. Herein, a unique solid‐solution fluorination strategy is proposed to deliver an “ideal” perovskite matrix of α‐phase CsPbI3 abundant with F ions through interlocking the soft lattice of CsPbI3 with cubic‐phase CsF·3/2HF. Such a sublattice interlocking can not only stabilize the soft lattice of α‐phase CsPbI3 perovskite nanocrystals but also passivate their notorious surface defects, thereby producing a “rigid” solid‐solution‐type perovskite/fluoride CsPbI3/CsF (termed as CsPbI3:F) nanocomposite with excellent long‐term stability and a near‐unity photoluminescence efficiency. Of particular note is that these CsPbI3:F nanocomposites can work well as effective grain boundary anchors to significantly improve the photovoltaic performance of perovskite solar cells because of their F‐rich perovskite lattice, achieving a T80 stability of 1500 h under continuous maximum power point tracking and AM 1.5G illumination without the need for encapsulation. This work paves a new way to deliver perovskite materials with desirable properties for photovoltaics.
W7Nb4O31 Nanorods with a Mixed Crystal Structure: A Very Fast‐ and Stable‐Charging Anode Material for Aqueous Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Yuan Qiang , Zhu Xiangzhen , Zhao Yan , Wang Lei , Lei Yi , Liu Xuehua , Lin Chunfu
Published: March 2024

Aqueous lithium‐ion batteries (ALIBs) have attracted extensive interest since the safety problems of traditional lithium‐ion batteries are waived. Although the energy density of ALIBs is improved, their rate capability and power density are still poor due to the slow Li+ diffusivity of the existing anode materials, and their cyclic stability is also poor. Here, W7Nb4O31 nanorods with very fast‐ and stable‐charging capability are explored as a new anode material for ALIBs for the first time. This material owns different tetragonal tungsten bronze (TTB) structures together with 4 × 4 ReO3‐type blocks confined by TTB matrices, allowing abundant pentagonal and quadrangular tunnels for Li+ transport. These large‐sized tunnels combine with the large interlayer spacing (≈3.95 Å) not only lead to extremely fast Li+ diffusivity but also small unit‐cell volume variations (maximum 2.1%) during lithiation/delithiation, thereby enabling the LiMn2O4//W7Nb4O31 full cell to possess excellent rate capability with a 50C versus 1C capacity ratio of 68.3%, ultrahigh power density of 9854 W kg–1, and superior cyclic stability with capacity retention of 89.7/66.7/72.0% at 1C/5C/50C over 1000/10 000/10 000 cycles. This comprehensive study demonstrates that the W7Nb4O31 nanorods are highly promising for fast‐ and stable‐charging ALIBs.
Controlled Formation of Nanoribbons and Their Heterostructures via Assembly of Mass‐Selected Inorganic Ions
Authors: Zhang Xuejiao , Srot Vesna , Wu Xu , Kern Klaus , van Aken Peter A. , Anggara Kelvin
Published: March 2024

Control of nanomaterial dimensions with atomic precision through synthetic methods is essential to understanding and engineering of nanomaterials. For single‐layer inorganic materials, size and shape controls have been achieved by self‐assembly and surface‐catalyzed reactions of building blocks deposited at a surface. However, the scope of nanostructures accessible by such approach is restricted by the limited choice of building blocks that can be thermally evaporated onto surfaces, such as atoms or thermostable molecules. Herein this limitation is bypassed by using mass‐selected molecular ions obtained via electrospray ionization as building blocks to synthesize nanostructures that are inaccessible by conventional evaporation methods. As the first example, micron‐scale production of MoS2 and WS2 nanoribbons and their heterostructures on graphene are shown by the self‐assembly of asymmetrically shaped building blocks obtained from the electrospray. It is expected that judicious use of electrospray‐generated building blocks would unlock access to previously inaccessible inorganic nanostructures.
Teflon AF–Coated Nanotextured Aluminum Surfaces for Jumping Droplet Thermal Rectification
Authors: Shimokusu Trevor J. , Nathani Alia , Liu Zhen , Yap Te Faye , Preston Daniel J. , Wehmeyer Geoff
Published: March 2024

Jumping droplet thermal diodes (JDTDs) are promising candidates to achieve thermal rectification for next‐generation thermal control. However, most prior demonstrations of JDTDs have relied on monolayer‐coated copper‐based superhydrophobic (SHPB) surfaces, while lower‐cost aluminum JDTDs with more durable thin polymeric coatings have not been explored. In this work, a JDTD is constructed that employs SHPB aluminum surfaces coated with protective thin films of Teflon AF (amorphous fluoropolymer) 1601. Measurements for different heating orientations, gap heights (H), and fill ratios (ϕ) show that a maximum thermal rectification ratio of 7 can be achieved for H  =  2.4 mm and ϕ  =  10%. A thermal circuit is demonstrated that uses the JDTD to rectify time‐periodic temperature profiles, achieving thermal circuit effectiveness values up to 30% of the ideal‐diode limit. Coupon‐level durability tests and device‐level cycling show that dip coated Teflon AF enables stable operation of Al JDTDs over >20 cycles, improving on the performance of a monolayer‐coated surface that fails after 5 cycles. The findings of this work signify that Teflon AF coated Al SHPB surfaces can be used for thermal rectification and motivate future research into Al JDTDs for advanced thermal management applications.
Non‐Invasive Flexible Electro‐Mechanical Sensors for Human Respiratory Monitoring and Chronic Disease Management
Authors: Liu Moran , Wang Yiguo , Chen Jing , Zhang Jinyong , Xu Chengsheng , Tang Wei , Zhang Qiming , Li Hui
Published: March 2024

As one of the important physiological signals of the human body, changes in respiration can provide an important reference for human health and is an early warning signal for some chronic respiratory diseases on heart or lung diseases. Usually, doctors combine such changes with electrocardiograph (ECG), electroencephalograph (EEG), electromyography (EMG), and electrooculogram (EOG) results of the patient to make a comprehensive analysis and judgment of the condition. Traditional respiratory monitoring methods have the limitation that portability and accuracy cannot be balanced; while the wearable respiratory monitoring sensors have come into the public's view due to their excellent performances, such as light weight, fast response, not interfering with the subject's daily movement, and maintaining excellent measurement accuracy, which provide more possibilities for the improvement of the performances of the wearable devices applied in the early stage of chronic diseases.
Polaronic Stabilities of Exciton Sensitizers Govern Operational Lifetime of Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Assisted Fluorescence Organic Light‐Emitting Devices
Authors: Moon Yu Kyung , Jang Ho Jin , Shin Dong Jin , Lee Jeeyeon , Lee Jun Yeob , You Youngmin
Published: March 2024

Thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) assisted fluorescence organic light‐emitting devices (TAF‐OLEDs), also known as hyperfluorescence OLEDs, sometimes have limited operational lifetimes, making them unsuitable for industrial applications. Although, this limitation is believed to originate from the irreversible degradation of constituent materials, the chemical processes underlying this degradation remain elusive. This study enables to better understand the chemical origins of the degradation processes by identifying key degradation intermediates in emission layers comprising 2,8‐di‐tert‐butyl‐5,11‐bis(4‐tert‐butylphenyl)‐6,12‐diphenyltetracene (TBRb) as the fluorescent emitter and 1,4‐azaborin‐based molecules exhibiting multi‐resonance (MR) TADF behaviors, 5,9‐diphenyl‐5,9‐diaza‐13b‐boranaphtho[3,2,1‐de]anthracene (DABNA‐1) and 9‐([1,1′‐biphenyl]‐3‐yl)‐N,N,5,11‐tetraphenyl‐5,9‐dihydro‐5,9‐diaza‐13b‐boranaphtho[3,2,1‐de]anthracen‐3‐amine (DABNA‐2), as exciton sensitizers. Despite the sensitizers facilitating energy transfer to TBRb, they also reduce the device's longevity. While the singlet and triplet excitons of TBRb, as well as excitons of the sensitizers, prove to be relatively stable, the radical ions of the sensitizers prove to be the key limit to device longevity. Comparisons with donor–acceptor‐type TADF exciton sensitizers, 2,4,5,6‐tetrakis(9H‐carbazol‐9‐yl)benzene‐1,3‐dicarbonitrile (4CzIPN), 10,10′‐(sulfonyldi‐4,1‐phenylene)bis[9,10‐dihydro‐9,9‐dimethylacridine] (DMAC‐DPS), and 10‐[4‐(4,6‐diphenyl‐1,3,5‐triazin‐2‐yl)phenyl]‐9,10‐dihydro‐9,9‐dimethylacridine (DMAC‐TRZ), corroborate the findings, pointing to radical ions as primary degradation intermediates. This knowledge is essential for enhancing the durability of TAF‐OLEDs in future designs.
Exploring the Feasibility of Monoclinic‐ZrO2‐Based Memristors as Artificial Olfactory Sensors: An Atomistic Simulation Approach
Authors: Chaurasiya Rajneesh , Chen Kuan‐Ting , Shih Li‐Chung , Huang Ya‐Chi , Chen Jen‐Sue
Published: March 2024

Memory devices with sensitivity, selectivity, and operation voltage towards the gases are rarely reported for artificial olfactory sensors. Additionally, there are no reports available on the atomistic aspects of artificial olfactory sensors. This study reports an atomistic simulation of monoclinic‐ZrO2 (m‐ZrO2). The impact of external electric field on the formation of the oxygen vacancies are evaluated by considering the different directions of electric field. Furthermore, it is conducted nudged elastic band calculations which showed a decrease in the migration barrier energy with an increase in the electric field for all considered directions. Moreover, it is simulated the memristor device (Ta/m‐ZrO2/Pt) and investigated the impact of oxygen vacancies on electrical conductivity by considering oxygen vacancies at different locations in m‐ZrO2. Finally, it is evaluated the possibility of using the m‐ZrO2 based memristor device for an artificial olfactory sensor by studying the gas sensing properties of the (111) surface of m‐ZrO2. The pristine structure exhibits low sensitivity towards toxic molecules (CO2, CO, NH3, and NO2), while the sensing performance is significantly enhanced on the oxygen vacancy rich surface. These atomistic simulation results provide an atomic level understanding of the Ta/m‐ZrO2/Pt device and suggest the potential for it to be use as an artificial olfactory sensor.
Programming a Ferroptosis‐to‐Apoptosis Transition Landscape Revealed Ferroptosis Biomarkers and Repressors for Cancer Therapy
Authors: Vinik Yaron , Maimon Avi , Dubey Vinay , Raj Harsha , Abramovitch Ifat , Malitsky Sergey , Itkin Maxim , Ma'ayan Avi , Westermann Frank , Gottlieb Eyal , Ruppin Eytan , Lev Sima
Published: March 2024

Ferroptosis and apoptosis are key cell‐death pathways implicated in several human diseases including cancer. Ferroptosis is driven by iron‐dependent lipid peroxidation and currently has no characteristic biomarkers or gene signatures. Here a continuous phenotypic gradient between ferroptosis and apoptosis coupled to transcriptomic and metabolomic landscapes is established. The gradual ferroptosis‐to‐apoptosis transcriptomic landscape is used to generate a unique, unbiased transcriptomic predictor, the Gradient Gene Set (GGS), which classified ferroptosis and apoptosis with high accuracy. Further GGS optimization using multiple ferroptotic and apoptotic datasets revealed highly specific ferroptosis biomarkers, which are robustly validated in vitro and in vivo. A subset of the GGS is associated with poor prognosis in breast cancer patients and PDXs and contains different ferroptosis repressors. Depletion of one representative, PDGFA‐assaociated protein 1(PDAP1), is found to suppress basal‐like breast tumor growth in a mouse model. Omics and mechanistic studies revealed that ferroptosis is associated with enhanced lysosomal function, glutaminolysis, and the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, while its transition into apoptosis is attributed to enhanced endoplasmic reticulum(ER)‐stress and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE)‐to‐phosphatidylcholine (PC) metabolic shift. Collectively, this study highlights molecular mechanisms underlying ferroptosis execution, identified a highly predictive ferroptosis gene signature with prognostic value, ferroptosis versus apoptosis biomarkers, and ferroptosis repressors for breast cancer therapy.
Endogenous Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Interface for Reversible Zn Electrochemistry
Authors: Liu Xingtai , Wang Xiaofang , Yao Jia , Li Jingying , Gan Yi , Wu Ziang , Zheng Junjie , Hao Wenyu , Lv Lin , Tao Li , Zhang Jun , Wang Hanbin , Ji Xiao , Wan Houzhao , Wang Hao
Published: March 2024

Despite rechargeable aqueous Zn‐ion batteries (AZIBs) exhibit advantages such as high safety, high specific energy, and low cost, etc, the implementation of Zn anodes is still hampered by insufficient cyclability and grievous side reactions. To improve the cycling stability of the zinc anode, a stable zinc anode/electrolyte interface is needed to suppress dendrite formation and side reactions. Herein, a self‐regulating endogenous organic–inorganic hybrid interface layer (EHI) in situ on the surface of the Zn anode by regulating solvent molecules is constructed. The EHI consists of an organic outer layer containing N─H and ─CH3 and an inorganic inner layer containing ZnO and ZnCO3, which effectively inhibits hydrogen evolution and dendrite growth. Consequently, AZIBs with the EHI achieve a lifespan exceeding 5500 h in 3 mA cm−2, and stripping/plating on copper foils for 600 cycles with an average coulomb efficiency (CE) of 99.47%. This study provides a feasible idea for realizing stable and reversible zinc‐ion batteries.
SHP2 inhibition displays efficacy as a monotherapy and in combination with JAK2 inhibition in preclinical models of myeloproliferative neoplasms
Authors: Pandey Garima , Mazzacurati Lucia , Rowsell Tegan M. , Horvat Nathan P. , Amin Narmin E. , Zhang Guolin , Akuffo Afua A. , Colin‐Leitzinger Christelle M. , Haura Eric B. , Kuykendall Andrew T. , Zhang Ling , Epling‐Burnette Pearlie K. , Reuther Gary W.
Published: March 2024

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), including polycythemia vera, essential thrombocytosis, and primary myelofibrosis, are clonal hematopoietic neoplasms driven by mutationally activated signaling by the JAK2 tyrosine kinase. Although JAK2 inhibitors can improve MPN patients' quality of life, they do not induce complete remission as disease‐driving cells persistently survive therapy. ERK activation has been highlighted as contributing to JAK2 inhibitor persistent cell survival. As ERK is a component of signaling by activated RAS proteins and by JAK2 activation, we sought to inhibit RAS activation to enhance responses to JAK2 inhibition in preclinical MPN models. We found the SHP2 inhibitor RMC‐4550 significantly enhanced growth inhibition of MPN cell lines in combination with the JAK2 inhibitor ruxolitinib, effectively preventing ruxolitinib persistent growth, and the growth and viability of established ruxolitinib persistent cells remained sensitive to SHP2 inhibition. Both SHP2 and JAK2 inhibition diminished cellular RAS‐GTP levels, and their concomitant inhibition enhanced ERK inactivation and increased apoptosis. Inhibition of SHP2 inhibited the neoplastic growth of MPN patient hematopoietic progenitor cells and exhibited synergy with ruxolitinib. RMC‐4550 antagonized MPN phenotypes and increased survival of an MPN mouse model driven by MPL‐W515L. The combination of RMC‐4550 and ruxolitinib, which was safe and tolerated in healthy mice, further inhibited disease compared to ruxolitinib monotherapy, including extending survival. Given SHP2 inhibitors are undergoing clinical evaluation in patients with solid tumors, our preclinical findings suggest that SHP2 is a candidate therapeutic target with potential for rapid translation to clinical assessment to improve current targeted therapies for MPN patients.
Synthesis of 1‐amino‐3‐aryl Naphthalenes from Bis(perfluoroalkanesulfonyl)imide with 1,2‐diethynylbenzenes
Authors: Kawamoto Takuji , Yamasaki Tetsushi , Ikazaki Tsubasa , Matsubara Hiroshi , Kamimura Akio
Published: March 2024

Although the synthesis of vinyl triflates has a long history, the synthesis of vinyl bis(perfluoroalkanesulfonyl)imides has not been reported yet. Here, we report a simple synthetic route to vinyl bis(perfluoroalkanesulfonyl)imides that does not require any additives. The stereoselectivity originates from the steric hindrance between the aryl group and the imide. The reaction proceeds chemoselectively, and subsequent cyclization provides the 1‐amino‐3‐aryl naphthalene derivatives.