bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“Our Defense is a Holy Defense!” - The Iran-Iraq War and its Legacy in
Contemporary Iranian Factional Politics
Authors: Smith Wright
Published: March 2015

The Iran-Iraq War is one of the most influential conflicts in the history of the modern Middle East. It is well-known that it has affected the geopolitics and security policies of regional powers such as Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the other Gulf States. However, the role of the war's legacy in domestic politics of these nations is significantly less understood. This paper analyzes public statements and newspaper editorials from prominent Iranian political figures to assess the different ways in which the Iran-Iraq War is understood in the Iranian domestic context, and to determine how it impacts political rhetoric in the Islamic Republic. The argument is made that Iranian policymakers hold similar views
towards the war in regards to foreign policy, but differ significantly when discussing economic policy.
Somali Women and the Socialist State
Authors: Mohamed Iman Abdulkadir
Published: March 2015

The Somali government under President Mohamed Siad Barre was the first to introduce laws and policies that promoted gender equality. One of the most radical laws that came out of this state-driven advancement of women’s rights was the Family Law of 1975. This paper examines Somali women's relationship with the state and how they gained or lost from policies that targeted them. The majority of Somali women were unable to exercise many of the newfound rights that were bestowed upon them by Barre’s regime. The Family Law, in particular, may have been more harmful than beneficial to women’s rights and public perception on gender equality.
Sawt Al-Arab or Sawt Al-Nasser? The Case of Mass Media under Gamal Abdel Nasser and the Convoluted Rise of Pan-Arabism
Authors: Diong Natalie Jia Ning
Published: March 2015

Under the rule of Gamal Abdel Nasser from 1956 to 1970, The Voice of the Arabs or Sawt Al-Arab–a radio broadcasting program created by Nasser himself–played a prominent role in strengthening the Pan-Arabian identity, fueling anti-colonial sentiments and nationalist ideologists. This paper looks into the factors that led to the success of the radio as a medium of mass media, followed by a close analysis of the methods and forms of propaganda employed by Nasser through the radio program to promote and maintain these ideologies. Radio thrived within the Arab world as it was considered as an extension of cultural features rooted in the Arabic culture and one which complimented the tradition of oral communication. The region's familiarity with this media platform led them to overlook Nasser's true intentions. Such associations only masked the capacity for the people to recognize methods of propaganda which dominated the airwaves, in an effort to strengthen the gap between the state and society. Ultimately, this paper seeks to prove that The Voice of the Arabs played a significant role in enabling Gamal Abdel Nasser to maintain Pan-Arabism in the Middle East, as it was employed as state apparatus to spread propaganda, fueling an atmosphere of anti-colonial discontent and, amongst other ideas, the dissemination of nationalist ideologies.
Egypt as a Conflict/Fragile State
Authors: Jawadi Ziad
Published: March 2015

Egypt has experienced a very turbulent four years since the eruption of the Arab Spring in January 2011. Millions of Egyptians have demonstrated across the country dozens of times, resulting in the ouster of two presidents and Egypt moving from a state of ‘transition’ to a ‘fragile state’ by the OECD's annual standards. This paper will analyze the current political situation in Egypt through the lens of the OECD’s definition of fragility. It will then seek to explore the merits of moving Egypt to a ‘fragile state’ by examining the primary conflict and fragility factors, the historical context by which these factors arose, and finally, it will consider the impact on the current ability to deliver services to
the people.
The Efficacy of United States Sanctions on the Republic of Sudan
Authors: Malik Mohamed , Malik Malik
Published: March 2015

This paper examines the relationship between the United States (US) and the Republic of Sudan (Sudan), the complicated nature of which is an end result of the US’s ongoing sanctions on Sudan. The paper also provides a careful analysis of the legitimacy of the US Department of State’s label of Sudan as a sponsor of terrorism. Additionally, the paper will examine the implications of the US sanctions on the livelihoods of everyday citizens in the country across a variety of different sectors, while also providing a glimpse into how the Sudanese government and its top officials have managed to thrive. The paper will then conclude by looking at alternative solutions, on the basis that the sanctions are an inherently ineffective tool of diplomacy.
Exploring the Systemic Struggles of Moroccan Women in a Changing Environment: Redefining their Role within the Family, their Position in the Labor Force and their Access to Reproductive Healthcare
Authors: Acuña Andrea Cristina Quevedo
Published: March 2015

With the coming to power of King Mohamed VI, the feminist movement in Morocco has aided the process of democratization as well as the politicization of women's issues in the country. A key success in the acknowledgment of women's rights and a significant attempt to empower women and increase their agency in both the public and private spheres has been the enactment of the new Family Code of 2004. This paper aims at exploring the ways in which the Family Code has increased women's freedom within the family despite the persistence of tradition, and has enhanced their voice in regards to reproductive health, and the number and spacing of their children. Furthermore, the
paper analyzes the limitations that women face within the labor force, giving emphasis to the problems of mobility and the two-fold effect of economic globalization on women in Export Processing Zones.
In Defense of the Great Satan: The Role of Colonialism in Iranian and Saudi Arabian Oil Governance
Authors: Ghaderi Kabreya
Published: March 2015

The landscape of the global sector has undergone a massive transformation as “Big Oil” has been replaced with national oil companies, but one issue remains in question: the role of the West. Controlling approximately 70 percent of the world’s proven reserves, the national oil companies that comprise the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) must reconcile the legacy of their colonial past with their future success in the post-colonial world. OPEC’s two largest exporters, Saudi Arabia and Iran, have a starkly different relationship with the West that has ultimately affected present-day realities of their oil companies as well as the ability of these petro-states to govern. This article first examines the impact of Western influence on Saudi Arabian and Iranian nationalization narratives and identifies key drivers that have encouraged Saudi Arabia’s open cooperation with the West, while simultaneously fostering Iran’s isolationism. The paper subsequently analyzes the impact of these relationships on Saudi Arabian and Iranian oil governance, ultimately suggesting that greater Western influence tends to better overall governance. With the rise of national oil companies the shift towards symbiotic mutualism has become a necessary means for national oil companies to establish sustainable oil governance in a post-colonial context.
Enumerations for Compositions and Complete Homogeneous Symmetric Polynomial
Authors: Bera Soumendra
Published: March 2015

We count the number of occurrences of t as the summands (i) in the compositions of a positive integer n into r parts; and (ii) in all compositions of n; and subsequently obtain other results involving compositions. The initial counting further helps to solve the enumeration problems for complete homogeneous symmetric polynomial.
The Distribution of Zeros of Quadratic Forms over Finite Fields
Authors: Hakami Ali H.
Published: March 2015

Let $m$ be a positive integer with $m < p/2$ and $p$ is a prime. Let $\mathbb{F}_q$ be the finite field in $q = p^f$ elements, $Q({\mathbf{x}})$ be a nonsinqular quadratic form over $\mathbb{F}_q$ with $q$ odd, $V$ be the set of points in $\mathbb{F}_q^n$ satisfying the equation $Q({\mathbf{x}}) = 0$ in which the variables are restricted to a box of points of the type\[\mathcal{B}(m) = \left\{ {{\mathbf{x}} \in \mathbb{F}_q^n \left| {x_i  = \sum\limits_{j = 1}^f {x_{ij} \xi _j } ,\;\left| {x_{ij} } \right| < m,\;1 \leqslant i \leqslant n,\;1 \leqslant j \leqslant f} \right.} \right\},\]where $\xi _1 , \ldots ,\xi _f$ is a basis for $\mathbb{F}_q$ over $\mathbb{F}_p$ and $n > 2$ even. Set $\Delta  = \det Q$ such that $\chi \left( {( - 1)^{n/2} \Delta } \right) = 1.$ We shall motivate work of (Cochrane, 1986) to obtain lower bounds on $m,$ size of the box $\mathcal{B},$ so that $\mathcal{B} \cap V$ is nonempty. For this we show that the box $\mathcal{B}(m)$ contains a zero of $Q({\mathbf{x}})$ provided that $m \geqslant p^{1/2}.$ We also show that the box $\mathcal{B}(m)$ contains $n$ linearly independent zeros of $Q({\mathbf{x}})$ provided that $m \geqslant 2^{n/2} p^{1/2} .$
Soliton Solutions of a General Rosenau-Kawahara-RLW Equation
Authors: Zuo Jin-ming
Published: March 2015

In this paper, we consider a general Rosenau-Kawahara-RLW equation. The exact bright and dark soliton solutions for the consideredmodel are obtained by sech and tanh ansatzes methods. The mass and momentum conserved quantities are also calculated for the case of bright soliton solution.
The Construction of a New Kind of Weakening Buffer Operators
Authors: Zhou Rui , Li Jun-jie
Published: March 2015

Through optimizing the existing weakening buffer operator and introducing then m as parameter, this paper constructs a kind of weakening buffer operator, which improved the prediction accuracy; and verified by an example, the effect tis good.
The Cyclic Groups via Bezout Matrices
Authors: Deveci Omur , Akuzum Yesim , Karaduman Erdal , Erdag Ozgur
Published: March 2015

In this paper, we define the Bezout matrices by the aid of the characteristic polynomials of the k-step Fibonacci, the generalized order-k Pell and the generalized order-k Jacobsthal sequences then we consider the multiplicative orders of the Bezout matrices when read modulo m. Consequently, we obtain the rules for the order of the cyclic groups by reducing the Bezout matrices modulo m.
A Regularized Newton Method with Correction for Unconstrained Nonconvex Optimization
Authors: Wang Heng , Qin Mei
Published: March 2015

In this paper, we present a modified regularized Newton method for minimizing a nonconvex function whose Hessian matrix may be singular. We show that if the gradient and Hessian of the objective function are Lipschitz continuous, then the method has a global convergence property. Under the local error bound condition which is weaker than nonsingularity, the method has cubic convergence.
Effect of Some Preceded Peanut Cultivars on Wheat Yield and Agro – Economic Feasibility Under Two Cropping Systems in Sandy Soil
Authors: Abdel-Galil Abdel-Galil Mohamed , Abdel-Wahab Sherif Ibrahim , Abdel-Wahab Tamer Ibrahim
Published: March 2015

The cropping system is an approach to help farmer in decision making to remain sustainable in an ever-changing agricultural environment. A two-year study was carried out at Ismailia Agricultural Experiments and Research Station, ARC, Ismailia governorate, Egypt during 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 seasons to study the effect of preceded peanut cultivars on yield and profitability of wheat under two cropping systems in sandy soil. This experiment included six treatments which were the combinations of three peanut cultivars (Giza 4, Giza 5 and Ismailia 1) as preceding cultivars in the summer season and two cropping systems (conventional and intensive). A split plot design replicated thrice was used. The results indicated that peanut cv. Ismailia 1 increased available soil nitrogen (N) content which affected positively number of grains per spike and grain weight per spike and finally the economic yield. Growing fahlberseem in transition period between peanut and wheat enhanced available soil N content that increased grain yield per ha by about 1.00 percent as compared with those of conventional cropping system. Accordingly, intensive cropping system increased wheat grain yield and its attributes as compared with conventional cropping system. Peanut cultivars × cropping systems interaction had a significant effect on available soil N content and all the studied wheat traits except number of spikes/m2. Intensive cropping system increased total and net returns as compared with conventional cropping system. The Egyptian farmers could achieve an increase in their income by $ 2603.2 per ha when using intensive cropping system which included peanut cv. Ismailia 1
The impacts of BSMV on vegetative growth and water status in hulless barley (Hordeum vulgare var. nudum) in VIGS study
Authors: Liang Junjun , Chen Xin , Zhao Huanhuan , Yu Shuiyang , Long Hai , Deng Guangbing , Pan Zhifen , Yu Maoqun
Published: March 2015

Barley stripe mosaic virus (BSMV) is an established and extensively used virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) vector for gene function analysis in monocots. However, the phenotypes generated by targeted gene silencing may be affected or masked by symptoms of BSMV infection. To better understand the potential effects of BSMV-VIGS in hulless barley (Hordeum vulgare var. nudum), the accumulation pattern of BSMV and its impacts on vegetative growth and water status were investigated. The results indicated that the vegetative growth of infected plants was significantly and continuously impacted by BSMV from 10 to 40 days post inoculation (dpi). When the accumulation of BSMV was extremely high (7 to 11 dpi), infected plants displayed twisted leaf tips with an increased water lose rate (WLR) and decreased water content (WC). Virus accumulation declined and stabilized after 25 dpi, at this stage, the WLR and WC were unaffected in the infected plants. The efficiency of VIGS was tested by the silencing of Phytoene desaturase (PDS). RT-qPCR indicated that BSMV-VIGS can be sustained with good efficiency for up to 40 dpi under an altered condition with lower temperature (22 ±1°C) and higher relative humidity (70 ±10%). It was concluded that 25 to 40 dpi was the appropriate time zone for drought-related gene analysis by BSMV-VIGS under such condition.
The Prevalence of Interdigital Erythrasma
Authors: Polat Muhterem , İlhan Mustafa N.
Published: March 2015

Background

Erythrasma is a superficial skin infection caused by Corynebacterium minutissimum. Interdigital erythrasma is the most common form and is easily confused with tinea pedis. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of interdigital erythrasma in patients with clinically suspected tinea pedis.

Methods

This study was performed between January 1, 2011, and January 31, 2012. It included 182 patients who presented with concerns about interdigital lesions. All of the patients were examined with a Wood's lamp, and smears were stained with Gram's method. Direct examination with 20% potassium hydroxide was performed.

Results

Of 182 patients with interdigital lesions, 73 (40.1%) were diagnosed as having erythrasma. The mean ± SD age of the patients with erythrasma was 45.52 ± 10.83 years (range, 22–70 years). Most of the patients with erythrasma were women (56.2%). The most often clinical finding was desquamation. Using only Wood's lamp examination or Gram's staining resulted in 31 (42.5%) or 14 (19.2%) positive patients, respectively. Using Wood's lamp examination and Gram's staining concurrently resulted in 28 positive patients (38.4%).

Conclusions

Interdigital erythrasma is a common condition and can be difficult to differentiate from tinea pedis. Simple and rapid diagnosis can be made with Wood's lamp examination, but Gram's staining is also a useful method, especially in patients with negative Wood's lamp examination findings.
Occupational Stress Among Australian Podiatric Physicians in General and Geriatric Practice
Authors: Tinley Paul
Published: March 2015

Background

High levels of occupational stress have been reported in podiatric physicians practicing in Australia. One possible stressor is the predominance of the treatment of aged patients with chronic disease in podiatric medical practice.

Methods

Forty podiatric physicians attending a regional podiatric medical conference were invited to participate in the research using a convenience sampling method. Podiatric physicians were asked to complete a survey examining occupational stress in general and specifically in relation to practice with older adults (defined as those older than 65 years).

Results

The survey of sources of occupational stress among podiatrists identified patient demands and expectations as the most significant stressor in general and geriatric practice for the podiatric physician. The perceived limited clinical gains and chronic nature of the conditions in older patients was also ranked highly as a stressor.

Conclusions

Working with the elderly is a substantial part of podiatric medical practice and, as such, needs to be seen with a more positive attitude by many practitioners. The development of geriatric practice as a speciality within the profession may help raise the value of working with the elderly. This has implications for preparing podiatric physicians for practice with the geriatric population along with the need for strategies to avoid or minimize these work stressors.
To Cipro or Not to Cipro
Authors: Seidel Jay , Clarke Terry , Mathew Bindu
Published: March 2015

Ciprofloxacin and other fluoroquinolones are commonly used broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents for treating bacterial infections. This class of antibiotic drugs has uncommon adverse effects that include tendonitis, tendon ruptures, and other tendon abnormalities. We describe a patient with spontaneous bilateral complete Achilles tendon rupture after ciprofloxacin treatment. Surgical repair was performed successfully, and the patient completed physical rehabilitation without incident. Care should be exercised when selecting pharmaceutical agents to maintain a positive benefit-to-risk balance.
Post-transcriptional regulation of satellite cell quiescence by TTP-mediated mRNA decay
Authors: Hausburg Melissa A , Doles Jason D , Clement Sandra L , Cadwallader Adam B , Hall Monica N , Blackshear Perry J , Lykke-Andersen Jens , Olwin Bradley B
Published: March 2015

Skeletal muscle satellite cells in their niche are quiescent and upon muscle injury, exit quiescence, proliferate to repair muscle tissue, and self-renew to replenish the satellite cell population. To understand the mechanisms involved in maintaining satellite cell quiescence, we identified gene transcripts that were differentially expressed during satellite cell activation following muscle injury. Transcripts encoding RNA binding proteins were among the most significantly changed and included the mRNA decay factor Tristetraprolin. Tristetraprolin promotes the decay of MyoD mRNA, which encodes a transcriptional regulator of myogenic commitment, via binding to the MyoD mRNA 3′ untranslated region. Upon satellite cell activation, p38α/β MAPK phosphorylates MAPKAP2 and inactivates Tristetraprolin, stabilizing MyoD mRNA. Satellite cell specific knockdown of Tristetraprolin precociously activates satellite cells in vivo, enabling MyoD accumulation, differentiation and cell fusion into myofibers. Regulation of mRNAs by Tristetraprolin appears to function as one of several critical post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms controlling satellite cell homeostasis.
Recent Advances in Laser Manufacturing: Multifunctional Integrative Sensing Systems for Human Health and Gas Monitoring
Authors: Huang Yangyi , Yang Rongliang , Li Mitch Guijun
Published: August 2024

Since its first application in the 1950s, the laser has become an indispensable tool in scientific research and manufacturing. Laser manufacturing includes traditional methods such as cutting and engraving and emerging methods such as laser‐induced surface modification, laser‐induced materials transfer, and laser ablation synthesis. Laser manufacturing is widely applied in the fabrication of multifunctional sensing systems. Compared with other manufacturing methods such as lithography, vacuum deposition, and etching processes, laser manufacturing technology has several advantages, including maskless patterning, high precision, non‐contact processing, minimum heat affected zone, high throughput, ability to work with multiple materials, and ease of automation and integration. Here, this review aims to present a comprehensive analysis of the applications of laser manufacturing in various components of health and gas monitoring systems. Emphasis is placed on the application of laser manufacturing in various components of biosensors, including microchannels, sensing circuits, and working electrodes. Subsequently, laser manufacturing of physical and gas sensors is introduced. Meanwhile, traditional laser manufacturing methods, laser surface modification, laser‐induced material transfer, and laser ablation synthesis are introduced. Finally, the challenges and prospects of laser manufacturing in sensing systems are discussed.
Phonon Coherence in Bismuth‐Halide Perovskite Cs3Bi2Br9 With Ultralow Thermal Conductivity
Authors: Li Yongheng , Li Xiang , Wei Bin , Liu Juanjuan , Pan Feihao , Wang Hongliang , Cheng Peng , Zhang Hongxia , Xu Daye , Bao Wei , Wang Jinchen , Hao Lijie , Deng Guochu , Zhang Guodong , Hong Jiawang
Published: August 2024

Halide perovskites emerge as promising candidates for thermoelectrics due to their ultralow thermal conductivity. The conventional theory based on the phonon gas model, which treats thermal transport as particle‐like behavior, shows limitations to describe the unusual thermal transport property in some halide perovskites with strong anharmonicity. Here, the significance of phonon coherence effect on thermal transport of bismuth‐halide perovskite Cs3Bi2Br9 is reported by inelastic neutron scattering and simulations including density functional theory and machine‐learning potential based molecular dynamics. This study shows that the restrictive low‐energy acoustic phonons lead to the limited particle‐like thermal conductivity, which seriously underestimates the lattice thermal conductivity of Cs3Bi2Br9. The significant contribution of wave‐like optical phonon modes, driven by the coherence effect, accounts for an additional ≈50% wave‐like thermal conductivity. Besides, the experimental weak temperature dependence of thermal conductivity along z direction (κ ≈T−0.35) is well reproduced by calculation (κ ≈T−0.37) when including phonon coherence. This work highlights the critical role of phonon coherence in Cs3Bi2Br9 and enhances understanding on the unusual thermal transport properties in halide perovskites and other related materials with strong anharmonicity.
Design and Optimization of SiOx/AZO Transparent Passivating Contacts for High‐Efficiency Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells
Authors: Cai Haihuai , Zhong Zhuotong , Nong Qingxian , Gao Pingqi , He Jian
Published: August 2024

A highly transparent passivating contact (TPC) used for high‐efficiency crystalline silicon (c‐Si) solar cells should meet several key criteria: high optical transparency, excellent c‐Si surface passivation, low contact resistivity, and a low‐temperature fabrication process suitable for device integration. Here, a simple TPC is developed structure consisting of a silicon oxide (SiOx) tunneling passivating layer and an aluminum doped zinc oxide (AZO) electron‐selective transporting layer (SiOx/AZO). This TPC demonstrated remarkable passivation quality with a low contact recombination current density of below 2.2 fA cm−2, an implied open‐circuit voltage of close to 740 mV and a contact resistivity below 20 mΩ·cm2 when contact with lightly doped n‐type c‐Si. This excellent passivation performance can be attributed to improved interfacial hydrogen chemical passivation and the field‐effect passivation induced by the highly Al‐doped ZnO film. Demonstrated n‐type c‐Si solar cells using full‐area SiOx/AZO rear contacts achieved a significant efficiency of 23.17%. Further power loss analysis based on numerical simulations outlines the pathway to achieving efficiencies exceeding 26%.
Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Elastomer Coatings with Brilliant Structural Colors and Mechanochromic Response Fabricated by Spray Deposition
Authors: Li Xiaohan , Chen Yuanhao , Du Changxiang , Liao Xiaojian , Yang Yanzhao , Feng Wei
Published: August 2024

Structural color coatings with brilliant color is important in practical applications, such as aesthetic decoration, bionic skins, colorimetric sensors, and other color‐related fields. However, the intrinsic conflict between fast self‐assembly and bright structural color hinders their widespread applications. Here, cholesteric liquid crystal elastomer (CLCE) coatings with brilliant color and mechanochromic response are developed by spraying the cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) paints followed by evaporation‐induced self‐assembly (EISA) and photocuring. The Marangoni flow within the paints, which drives the orientation of liquid crystal molecules along the flow track in the EISA process, is found to be crucial for achieving both rapid self‐assembly time (60 s) and high reflectivity structural color (42%). The as‐prepared CLCE coatings present uniform structural colors, circularly polarized reflection, and mechanochromic response. Several proof­of­concept applications are also demonstrated, including patterned CLCE coatings on flat substrates, fully covered CLCE coatings on 3D objects, and non‐spectral colors via additive mixing method. The research disclosed herein provides unprecedented levels of efficiency and reliability for preparing structural color coatings.
Water‐Enhancing Gels Exhibiting Heat‐Activated Formation of Silica Aerogels for Protection of Critical Infrastructure During Catastrophic Wildfire
Authors: Dong Changxin , d'Aquino Andrea I. , Sen Samya , Hall Ian A. , Yu Anthony C. , Crane Gabriel B. , Acosta Jesse D. , Appel Eric A.
Published: August 2024

A promising strategy to address the pressing challenges with wildfire, particularly in the wildland‐urban interface (WUI), involves developing new approaches for preventing and controlling wildfire within wildlands. Among sprayable fire‐retardant materials, water‐enhancing gels have emerged as exceptionally effective for protecting civil infrastructure. They possess favorable wetting and viscoelastic properties that reduce the likelihood of ignition, maintaining strong adherence to a wide array of surfaces after application. Although current water‐enhancing hydrogels effectively maintain surface wetness by creating a barricade, they rapidly desiccate and lose efficacy under high heat and wind typical of wildfire conditions. To address this limitation, unique biomimetic hydrogel materials from sustainable cellulosic polymers crosslinked by colloidal silica particles are developed that exhibit ideal viscoelastic properties and facile manufacturing. Under heat activation, the hydrogel transitions into a highly porous and thermally insulative silica aerogel coating in situ, providing a robust protective layer against ignition of substrates, even when the hydrogel fire suppressant becomes completely desiccated. By confirming the mechanical properties, substrate adherence, and enhanced substrate protection against fire, these heat‐activatable biomimetic hydrogels emerge as promising candidates for next‐generation water‐enhancing fire suppressants. These advancements have the potential to dramatically improve the ability to protect homes and critical infrastructure during wildfire.
Affinity‐Controlled Partitioning of Biomolecules at Aqueous Interfaces and Their Bioanalytic Applications
Authors: Cao Yang , Chao Youchuang , Shum Ho Cheung
Published: August 2024

All‐aqueous phase separation systems play essential roles in bioanalytical and biochemical applications. Compared to conventional oil and organic solvent‐based systems, these systems are characterized by their rich bulk and interfacial properties, offering superior biocompatibility. In particular, phase separation in all‐aqueous systems facilitates the creation of compartments with specific physicochemical properties, and therefore largely enhances the accessibility of the systems. In addition, the all‐aqueous compartments have diverse affinities, with an important property known as partitioning, which can concentrate (bio)molecules toward distinct immiscible phases. This partitioning affinity imparts all‐aqueous interfaces with selective permeability, enabling the controlled enrichment of target (bio)molecules. This review introduces the basic principles and applications of partitioning‐induced interfacial phenomena in a typical all‐aqueous system, namely aqueous two‐phase systems (ATPSs); these applications include interfacial chemical reactions, bioprinting, and assembly, as well as bio‐sensing and detection. The primary challenges associated with designing all‐aqueous phase separation systems and several future directions are also discussed, such as the stabilization of aqueous interfaces, the handling of low‐volume samples, and exploration of suitable ATPSs compositions with the efficient protocol.
An Active‐Matrix Synaptic Phototransistor Array for In‐Sensor Spectral Processing
Authors: Li Dingwei , Chen Yitong , Ren Huihui , Tang Yingjie , Zhang Siyu , Wang Yan , Xing Lixiang , Huang Qi , Meng Lei , Zhu Bowen
Published: August 2024

The human retina perceives and preprocesses the spectral information of incident light, enabling fast image recognition and efficient chromatic adaptation. In comparison, it is reluctant to implement parallel spectral preprocessing and temporal information fusion in current complementary metal‐oxide‐semiconductor (CMOS) image sensors, requiring intricate circuitry, frequent data transmission, and color filters. Herein, an active‐matrix synaptic phototransistor array (AMSPA) is developed based on organic/inorganic semiconductor heterostructures. The AMSPA provides wavelength‐dependent, bidirectional photoresponses, enabling dynamic imaging and in‐sensor spectral preprocessing functions. Specifically, near‐infrared light induces inhibitory photoresponse while UV light results in exhibitory photoresponse. With rational structural design of the organic/inorganic hybrid heterostructures, the current dynamic range of phototransistor is improved to over 90 dB. Finally, a 32 × 64 AMSPA (128 pixels per inch) is demonstrated with one‐switch‐transistor and one‐synaptic phototransistor (1‐T‐1‐PT) structure, achieving spatial chromatic enhancement and temporal trajectory imaging. These results reveal the feasibility of AMSPA for constructing artificial vision systems.
Advances and Challenges of Porous Structure on Solid–Liquid Interfaces in Polyanionic Sodium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Zhao Wenxi , Dong Hanghang , Xing Zhao , Zhou Limin , Chen Shuangqiang , Liu Hua‐Kun , Dou Shi‐Xue , Zhao Zhengwei , Xia Hui , Chou Shulei , Chen Mingzhe
Published: August 2024

The sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) are expected to be the substitute for lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) because of their low cost, high abundance, and similar working mechanism. Among them, polyanion‐type electrodes show great application prospects due to their superior ion diffusion channels and structural stability. However, there are still many scientific issues that need to be thoroughly investigated, especially the formation mechanism, structural stability, and interface impedance of solid–liquid interfaces. Therefore, it is of great significance to systematically study the mechanism of interface reaction and the electrochemical behavior, to promote the further practical application of SIBs. Fortunately, the polyanionic electrodes can effectively improve the transport dynamics and the interfacial stability of the solid–liquid interfaces through constructing the porous structure, surface modification, and electrolyte strategies, thus improving the cycle and rate performance. This review discusses the characteristics and formation mechanisms of electrode/electrolyte interface (EEI), as well as their electrochemical behavior in porous structures with different dimensions. Furthermore, this review covers the application of porous materials in improving transport kinetics and EEI. In particular, it highlights the various strategies employed to comprehend the interplay among structure, chemistry, preparation methods, and the mechanisms of porous electrodes that ultimately affect the electrochemical properties of SIBs.
Tuning FeO covalency boosts catalytic ozonation over spinel oxide for chemical industrial wastewater decontamination
Authors: Cao Xu , Wang Zhao‐Hua , Guo Zhi‐Yan , Yang Si‐Yu , Wu Gang , Hu Jun , Li Wen‐Wei , Liu Xian‐Wei
Published: August 2024

Heterogeneous catalytic ozonation (HCO) emerges as a promising chemical industrial wastewater treatment solution, offering enhanced ozone utilization and reduced secondary pollutants. However, challenges in scaling HCO arise from a limited understanding of the catalytic mechanisms of metal oxides, particularly in generating active ozone sites. Here, we demonstrated the improvement of catalytic ozonation efficiency by enhancing the covalent bonding between FeO in Fe/Co spinel oxides. This alteration exploits the stronger electron‐donating capacity of Fe (II), enhancing FeOM bonds and electron enrichment at iron sites, leading to a significant reduction in the activation energy for ozone. Pilot experiments demonstrated a 75.3% COD removal efficiency and a threefold increase in ozone utilization efficiency compared to pure ozone system for chemical industrial wastewater treatment. This study not only advances our understanding of spinel oxides in ozone catalysis but also opens new avenues for practical HCO applications in water treatment.
Inbreeding in Chinese fir: Insights into the adaptive growth traits of selfed progeny from mRNA, miRNA, and copy number variation
Authors: Deng Houyin , Huang Rong , Wei Ruping , Wang Runhui , Yan Shu , El‐Kassaby Yousry A. , Sun Yuhan , Li Yun , Zheng Huiquan
Published: August 2024

Premise

The impact of inbreeding on biological processes is well documented in individuals with severe inbreeding depression. However, the biological processes influencing the adaptive growth of normal selfed individuals are unknown. Here, we aimed to investigate how inbreeding affects gene expression for adaptive growth of normal selfed seedlings from a self‐fertilizing parent in Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata).

Methods

Using RNA‐seq data from above‐ and underground tissues of abnormal and normal selfed seedlings, we analyzed GO biological processes network. We also sequenced small RNAs in the aboveground tissues and measured the copy number variations (CNV) of the hub genes.

Results

Phenotypic fitness analysis revealed that the normal seedlings were better adapted than their abnormal counterparts. Upregulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were associated with development processes, and downregulated DEGs were mainly enriched in fundamental metabolism and stress response. Results of mRNA‐miRNA parallel sequencing revealed that upregulated target genes were predominantly associated with development, highlighting their crucial role in phosphorylation in signal transduction networks. We also discovered a moderate correlation (0.1328 < R2 < 0.6257) between CNV and gene expression levels for three hub genes (TMKL1, GT2, and RHY1A).

Conclusions

We uncovered the key biological processes underpinning the growth of normal selfed seedlings and established the relationship between CNV and the expression levels of hub genes in selfed seedlings. Understanding the candidate genes involved in the growth of selfed seedlings will help us comprehend the genetic mechanisms behind inbreeding depression in the evolutionary biology of plants.
Doubling down on polyploid discoveries: Global advances in genomics and ecological impacts of polyploidy
Authors: Barker Michael S. , Jiao Yuannian , Glennon Kelsey L.
Published: August 2024

All flowering plants are now recognized as diploidized paleopolyploids (Jiao et al., 2011; One Thousand Plant Transcriptomes Initiative, 2019), and polyploid species comprise approximately 30% of contemporary plant species (Wood et al., 2009; Barker et al., 2016a). A major implication of these discoveries is that, to appreciate the evolution of plant diversity, we need to understand the fundamental biology of polyploids and diploidization. This need is broadly recognized by our community as there is a continued, growing interest in polyploidy as a research topic. Over the past 25 years, the sequencing and analysis of plant genomes has revolutionized our understanding of the importance of polyploid speciation to the evolution of land plants.
Synthesis, Anticancer Evaluation, in‐silico ADMET and Molecular Docking Studies for Tailored Pyrazolo‐Benzothiazole Hybrids
Authors: Bains Omkar , Kumar Ashish , Kamal Raj , Kour Rasdeep , Kaur Simrandeep , Kaur Satwinderjeet , Jangra Raman , Sharma Purshotam , Kumar Ravinder
Published: August 2024

The present article demonstrates the regioselective synthesis, characterization, and biological evaluation of eighteen novel pyrazolo‐benzothiazole hybrid molecules 5a–5r. We have utilized β,β‐ditosyloxy ketone protocol to synthesize these hybrid molecules. The synthesized compounds were tested for their in‐vitro antiproliferative activities using MTT assay against breast cancer (MCF‐7), cervical cancer (HeLa), and Lung cancer (A549) cell lines. Hybrid molecules 5a, 5m, 5n, and 5o with IC50 values of 0.359 mM, 0.051 mM, 0.079 mM, and 0.259 mM respectively exhibited admirable growth inhibitory properties against MCF‐7 cancer cells which are even better than reference carboplatin drug having IC50 (0.439 mM). Compound 5k with IC50 value of 0.765 mM was found to be the most potent antiproliferative agent for the HeLa cancer cells. Moreover, hybrid molecule 5f with IC50 value of 0.706 mM exhibited better inhibitory activity against A549 cancer cells in comparison to the reference carboplatin drug having IC50 (0.805 mM). The mechanism of cellular toxicity was studied using the Annexin V‐FITC/PI double staining method and cell cycle assay. Molecular docking studies for all the synthesized compounds have also been performed in the binding pocket of VEGFR2 sites (PDB code: 4ASD). Finally, the ADMET profile of the potent molecules was investigated to predict their drug‐likeness behaviour.
Higher Validity, Lower Radiation: A New Ictal Single‐Photon Emission Computed Tomography Framework
Authors: Bitzer Felix , Walger Lennart , Bauer Tobias , Schulte Freya , Gaertner Florian C. , Schmitz Matthias , Schidlowski Martin , von Wrede Randi , Rácz Attila , Baumgartner Tobias , Gnatkovsky Vadym , Paech Daniel , Borger Valeri , Vatter Hartmut , Weber Bernd , Michels Dominik L. , Stöcker Tony , Essler Markus , Sander Josemir W. , Radbruch Alexander , Surges Rainer , Rüber Theodor
Published: August 2024

Objective

To assess whether arterial spin labeling perfusion images of healthy controls can enhance ictal single‐photon emission computed tomography analysis and whether the acquisition of the interictal image can be omitted.

Methods

We developed 2 pipelines: The first uses ictal and interictal images and compares these to single‐photon emission computed tomography and arterial spin labeling of healthy controls. The second pipeline uses only the ictal image and the analogous healthy controls. Both pipelines were compared to the gold standard analysis and evaluated on data of individuals with epilepsy who underwent ictal single‐photon emission computed tomography imaging during presurgical evaluation between 2010 and 2022. Fifty healthy controls prospectively underwent arterial spin labeling imaging. The correspondence between the detected hyperperfusion and the postoperative resection cavity or the presumably affected lobe was assessed using Dice score and mean Euclidean distance. Additionally, the outcomes of the pipelines were automatically assigned to 1 of 5 concordance categories.

Results

Inclusion criteria were met by 43 individuals who underwent epilepsy surgery and by 73 non‐surgical individuals with epilepsy. Compared to the gold standard analysis, both pipelines resulted in significantly higher Dice scores and lower mean distances (p < 0.05). The combination of both provided localizing results in 85/116 cases, compared to 54/116 generated by the current gold standard analysis and the ictal image alone produced localizing results in 60/116 (52%) cases.

Interpretation

We propose a new ictal single‐photon emission computed tomography protocol; it finds relevantly more ictal hyperperfusion, and halves the radiation dose in about half of the individuals. ANN NEUROL 2024;96:1160–1173
Skeletal Editing of Aromatic N‐Heterocycles via Hydroborative Cleavage of C−N Bonds—Scope, Mechanism, and Property
Authors: Ren Chunping , Han Bo , Guo Hui , Yang Wendi , Xia Chungu , Jin Xu‐Hui , Wang Fang , Wu Lipeng
Published: August 2024

Skeletal editing of the core structure of heterocycles offers new opportunities for chemical construction and is a promising yet challenging research topic that has recently gained increasing interest. However, several limitations of the reported systems remain to be addressed. For example, the reagents employed are generally in high‐energy, such as chlorocarbene precursors, nitrene species, and metal carbenes, which are also associated with low atomic efficiencies. Thus, the development of simple systems for the skeletal editing of heterocycles is still desired. Herein, a straightforward and facile BH3‐mediated skeletal editing of readily available indoles, benzimidazoles, and several other aromatic heterocycles is reported. Structurally diverse products were readily obtained, including tetrahydrobenzo azaborinines, diazaboroles, O‐anilinophenylethyl alcohols, benzene‐1,2‐diamines, and more. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations and natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis revealed a BH3‐induced C−N bond cleavage reaction pathway. An exciting and counterintuitive indole hydroboration phenomenon of −BH2 shift from C3‐position to C2‐position was disclosed. Moreover, the photophysical properties of the synthesized diazaboroles were studied, and an interestingly and pronounced aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) behavior was disclosed.
Celebrating Ten Years of Covalent Organic Frameworks for Solar Energy Conversion: Past, Present and Future
Authors: Rodríguez‐Camargo Andrés , Endo Kenichi , Lotsch Bettina V.
Published: August 2024

Accelerated anthropogenic emission of greenhouse gases due to increasing energy demands has created a negative impact on our planet. Therefore, the replacement of fossil by renewable energy resources has become of paramount interest, both societally and scientifically. It is within this setting that organic photocatalysts have emerged as a new generation of earth‐abundant catalysts for the conversion of solar radiation into chemical energy. In 2014, the first example of a covalent organic framework (COF) photocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction was reported by our group, which has not only marked the beginning of COF photocatalysis for solar fuel production but also helped to accelerate research into “soft photocatalysis” based on porous polymers in general. In the last decade, significant progress has been made toward developing COFs as robust, molecularly precise platforms emulating artificial photosynthesis. This mini‐review commemorates the 10th anniversary of COF photocatalysis and gives a brief historical overview of the milestones in the field since its inception in 2014. We review milestones in the development of COFs for solar fuel production and related photocatalytic transformations, including hydrogen evolution, oxygen evolution, overall water splitting, CO2 reduction, N2 fixation, oxygen reduction, and alcohol oxidation. We discuss lessons learned for the design of structure‐property‐function relationships in COF photocatalysts, and future perspectives and challenges for the field of “soft photocatalysis” are given.
Boosting Reactive Oxygen Species Generation via Contact‐Electro‐Catalysis with FeIII‐Initiated Self‐cycled Fenton System
Authors: Li Weixin , Tu Jialuo , Sun Jikai , Zhang Yuanbao , Fang Jiale , Wang Mingda , Liu Xiangyu , Tian Zhong‐Qun , Ru Fan Feng
Published: August 2024

Contact Electro‐Catalysis (CEC) using commercial dielectric materials in contact‐separation cycles with water can trigger interfacial electron transfer and induce the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, the inherent hydrophobicity of commercial dielectric materials limits the effective reaction sites, and the generated ROS inevitably undergo self‐combination to form hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). In typical CEC systems, H2O2 does not further decompose into ROS, leading to suboptimal reaction rates. Addressing the generation and activation of H2O2 is therefore crucial for advancing CEC. Here, we synthesized a catalyst by loading the dielectric material polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) onto ZSM‐5 (PTFE/ZSM‐5, PZ for short), achieving uniform dispersion of the catalyst in water for the first time. The introduction of an FeIII‐initiated self‐cycling Fenton system (SF‐CEC), with the synergistic effects of O2 activation and FeIII‐activated H2O2, further enhanced ROS generation. In the FeIII‐initiated SF‐CEC system, the synergistic effects of ROS and protonated azo dyes enabled nearly 99 % degradation of azo dyes within 10 minutes, a sixfold improvement compared to the CEC system. This represents the fastest degradation rate of methyl orange dye induced by ultrasound to date. Without extra oxidants, this system enabled stable dissolution of precious metals in weakly acidic solutions at room temperature, achieving 80 % gold dissolution within 2 hours, 2.5 times faster than similar CEC systems. This study also corrects the unfavorable perception of CEC applications under acidic conditions, providing new insights for the fields of dye degradation and precious metal recovery.
Tricyanomethane or Dicyanoketenimine—Silylation makes the Difference
Authors: Surkau Jonas , Bresien Jonas , Michalik Dirk , Schulz Axel
Published: August 2024

Pseudohalides such as tricyanomethanide, [C(CN)3]−, are well known in chemistry, biochemistry and industrial chemistry. The protonated species HC(CN)3, a classic hydrogen pseudohalide Brønsted acid, is a very strong acid with a pKa value of −5. However, HC(CN)3 is difficult to handle as it tends to decompose rapidly or, more precisely, to oligo‐ and polymerize. Therefore, silylated pseudohalide compounds with the [Me3Si]+ as the “big organometallic proton” have become interesting, exhibiting similar chemical properties but better kinetic protection. Here, the stepwise silylation of the pseudohalide anion [C(CN)3]− is reported, forming the heavier homologue of HC(CN)3, namely [Me3Si][C(CN)3], and in presence of two additional [Me3Si]+ cations even the dicationic species [(Me3Si−NC)3C]2+ as stable [B(C6F5)4]− salt. Surprisingly, in contrast to the protonated species HC(CN)3, in which the proton is bound to the central carbon atom of [C(CN)3]−, silylation of the [C(CN)3]− anion occurs at one of the three terminal nitrogen atoms, thus forming the long‐sought dicyanoketenimine [Me3Si−NC−C(CN)2]. All further silylation steps take place exclusively on the terminal N atoms of the three CN groups and not on the central carbon atom, until the intriguing, highly symmetrical dication, [(Me3Si−NC)3C]2+, is finally generated. The experimental data are supported by quantum chemical calculations in terms of thermodynamics and chemical bonding.