bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Mechanical Properties on the Miscibility of a PHBV/PP Blend
Authors: Hamour Noura , Boukerrou Amar , Beaugrand Johnny
Published: October 2023

The present work is dedicated to the study of the mechanical and rheological properties of poly (hydroxybutyrate‐co‐hydroxyvalerate) PHBV blends with polypropylene PP. Given the incompatibility of these homopolymers, the use of a compatibilizing agent is essential. For this purpose, titanium dioxide (TiO2) and maleic anhydride (MA) are used. These constituents are chosen on the basis of some work that showed a high compatibility between it and the two homopolymers PHBV and PP. Thus, this copolymer has a great potential to improve the interfacial adhesion between these two polymers. From the results obtained from the techniques used in this study, it can be concluded that the immiscible PP/PHBV mixture can be effectively compatibilizing for by maleic anhydride. The latter is able to create chemical bonds between the macromolecular chains of the two polymers at the interface and therefore improves their properties.
Development of Numerical Simulation Techniques for the Analysis of a Rollover Tractor
Authors: Felaco Amelia , Caputo Francesco , Lamanna Giuseppe
Published: October 2023

One of the leading causes of death in the word is the injury in the field of agriculture. Agricultural machinery, in fact, is very dangerous for workers and rollover accidents are due to several reasons. First, it must be considered that these machines operate on nonlinear land and on extremely steep slopes, so the causes are due to operational, tractor, and soil characteristics. Furthermore, recent studies have shown that in 33% of the rollovers that are analyzed, passive safety devices, such as seat belt, are not used by workers (who got thrown out of the safety zone). Another cause of fatal accidents is that, until now, the mechanical design of tractors has not provided for occupant protection. In fact, there are no standard tests that assess the safety of the occupant. This study aims to conduct an explicit finite element (FE) analysis of a rollover test of a generic T5 category tractor to assess the structural characteristics and the biomechanical performance of the occupant.
A 37–43.5 GHz front‐end MMIC for 5G high‐performance channel emulator in 0.1 μm GaAs pHEMT
Authors: Zhu Wentao , Chen Jixin , Nie Xinghe , Li Zekun , Hong Wei
Published: October 2023

A front‐end MMIC working at 37–43.5 GHz for 5G high‐performance channel emulator is presented in this paper. The chip is fabricated in a 0.1‐μm commercial GaAs pHEMT process and integrated with a passive star mixer and a local oscillator (LO) chain, which is composed of a frequency tripler, a bandpass filter, a power amplifier, and an LO filter. The 10.5 GHz intermediate frequency (IF) signal is upconverted with the high frequency LO signal of 48–54 GHz through a passive double‐balanced star mixer, which can output 37–43.5 GHz radiofrequency signal. The high frequency LO can avoid the increase of bit error rate caused by the frequency band of input signal covering IF frequency. The conversion gain of −11.2 to −9.7 dB, the OP1‐dB of −0.26 to 1.7 dBm are achieved and the front‐end chip occupies an area of 2.78 × 0.9 mm2.
Improvement of LED‐based photoacoustic imaging using lag‐coherence factor (LCF) beamforming
Authors: Paul Souradip , Mulani Sufayan , Singh Mithun Kuniyil Ajith , Singh Mayanglambam Suheshkumar
Published: October 2023

Background

Owing to its portability, affordability, and energy‐efficiency, LED‐based photoacoustic (PA) imaging is increasingly becoming popular when compared to its laser‐based alternative, mainly for superficial vascular imaging applications. However, this technique suffers from low SNR and thereby limited imaging depth. As a result, visual image quality of LED‐based PA imaging is not optimal, especially in sub‐surface vascular imaging applications.

Purpose

Combination of linear ultrasound (US) probes and LED arrays are the most common implementation in LED‐based PA imaging, which is currently being explored for different clinical imaging applications. Traditional delay‐and‐sum (DAS) is the most common beamforming algorithm in linear array‐based PA detection. Side‐lobes and reconstruction‐related artifacts make the DAS performance unsatisfactory and poor for a clinical‐implementation. In this work, we explored a new weighting‐based image processing technique for LED‐based PAs to yield improved image quality when compared to the traditional methods.

Methods

We are proposing a lag‐coherence factor (LCF), which is fundamentally based on the combination of the spatial auto‐correlation of the detected PA signals. In LCF, the numerator contains lag‐delay‐multiply‐and‐sum (DMAS) beamformer instead of a conventional DAS beamformer. A spatial auto‐correlation operation is performed between the detected US array signals before using DMAS beamformer. We evaluated the new method on both tissue‐mimicking phantom (2D) and human volunteer imaging (3D) data acquired using a commercial LED‐based PA imaging system.

Results

Our novel correlation‐based weighting technique showed LED‐based PA image quality improvement when it is combined with conventional DAS beamformer. Both phantom and human volunteer imaging results gave a direct confirmation that by introducing LCF, image quality was improved and this method could reduce side‐lobes and artifacts when compared to the DAS and coherence‐factor (CF) approaches. Signal‐to‐noise ratio, generalized contrast‐to‐noise ratio, contrast ratio and spatial resolution were evaluated and compared with conventional beamformers to assess the reconstruction performance in a quantitative way. Results show that our approach offered image quality enhancement with an average signal‐to‐noise ratio and spatial resolution improvement of around 20% and 25% respectively, when compared with conventional CF based DAS algorithm.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate that the proposed LCF based algorithm performs better than the conventional DAS and CF algorithms by improving signal‐to‐noise ratio and spatial resolution. Therefore, our new weighting technique could be a promising tool to improve the performance of LED‐based PA imaging and thus accelerate its clinical translation.
A self‐determination theory perspective on how autonomy‐supportive and chaotic leadership relate to volunteers' need‐based experiences and turnover intentions: A variable‐centered and person‐centered approach
Authors: De Clerck Tom , Haerens Leen , Devos Geert , Willem Annick
Published: October 2023

Many nonprofit and voluntary organizations rely primarily on volunteers to deliver their services. However, they often struggle to retain their volunteers. Leadership within these organizations plays a pivotal role in addressing this issue. Therefore, this study adopted self‐determination theory as a guiding framework to investigate the role of leaders in volunteers' turnover intentions (i.e., intentions to leave the organization). Specifically, in a sample of 355 Flemish sports club volunteers, this study examined the associations between volunteers' perceptions of their leaders' autonomy‐supportive and chaotic style and their turnover intentions. Furthermore, it studied whether experiences of need satisfaction and need frustration could explain these relations. Structural equation modeling pointed toward the unique roles of a chaotic leadership style and experiences of need frustration in turnover intentions. Cluster analyses further confirmed that those volunteers who perceived their leaders as moderately to highly chaotic tend to report greater levels of need frustration and heightened turnover intentions. In addition, these analyses underscored the potential challenge faced by nonprofit leaders as they strive to maintain an autonomy‐supportive style without inadvertently slipping into chaotic behavior. This study lays the foundation for a new research agenda which prioritizes a systematic exploration of the relation between maladaptive leadership styles and dark side variables such as experiences of need frustration and turnover.
Using Geographic Information Systems in health disparities research: Access to care considerations
Authors: Stansberry Tracey T. , Tran Liem , Myers Carole
Published: October 2023

In health disparities research, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) provide nurse researchers with powerful tools to incorporate spatial factors, such as access to care and related attributes like socioeconomic and environmental characteristics, into their studies. This article educates nurse scientists about GIS‐based research benefits and considerations (focusing on access‐to‐care factors) and the influence of various access‐to‐care metrics on research outcomes. We present an overview of GIS in nursing and health disparities research, along with findings from our 2022 study examining access to care's relationship with county‐level mortality rates in Tennessee, especially in areas where rural hospitals closed between 2010 and 2019. We highlight three distinct access‐to‐care measures (Euclidean distances and road network‐based travel times based on county and census tract centroids), showcasing how different calculations impact our modeling results. Our results underscore the importance of understanding the choice of access‐to‐care metrics in GIS‐based research to draw valid conclusions.
Parametric optimization of poly(ether sulfone) electrospun membrane for effective oil/water separation
Authors: Askari Abdullah , Nabavi Seyed Reza , Omrani Abdollah
Published: October 2023

Electrospinning is a technique that can produce cost‐efficient, large output, very permeable membranes with high surface‐to‐mass ratio, and be used for many different applications. In this research, poly(ether sulfone) (PES) electrospun fibers were prepared for potential application in oil/water separation. A comprehensive investigation was carried out to study how the performance of the electrospun fibers is influenced by various operating conditions and the composition of the solution. The electrospun mats were evaluated by SEM, tensile test, TGA, and water contact angle techniques. The morphology of the fabricated membranes has been altered due to changes in the process and solution parameters. This alteration is evident when comparing mats that have been solely electrospray to those with the highest density of junctions between the nanofibers. Due to the utilization of a combination of solvents, namely N,N‐dimethylformamide, and N‐methyl‐pyrrolidinone (DMF/NMP), the mechanical properties of the fabricated membranes were enhanced. With this trick, a membrane with a tensile strength of 8.9 MPa was obtained, which had a relatively good performance in oil/water separation. This enhancement occurs through the improved fusion of inter‐fiber junction points, which is facilitated by the presence of NMP, a high vapor pressure component, in the solvent mixture. Thermal analysis showed suitable thermal stability for a model of prepared membranes. The prepared PES membrane in optimum electrospinning condition, was used in the oil/water separation process and was found to be 80% efficient. Oil/water separation experiments for PES showed its bright future in the treatment of oil/water wastewater.

Highlights

The effect of solution and process parameters was studied on PES electrospinning.

The tensile strength of the membrane was improved by using DMF/NMP solvent.

The PES membrane showed its bright future in the oil/water separation.
A systematic review of clozapine‐associated inflammation and related monitoring
Authors: Leung Jonathan G. , Zhang Lusi , Markota Matej , Ellingrod Vicki L. , Gerberi Danielle J. , Bishop Jeffrey R.
Published: October 2023

Clozapine is an effective antipsychotic medication used for treatment‐resistant schizophrenia. However, it is underutilized due to rigorous hematologic monitoring requirements and many adverse drug reactions. Publications have highlighted the occurrence of inflammatory reactions, some life‐threatening, particularly during the early stages of clozapine treatment. Although guidelines have suggested monitoring for inflammatory processes during clozapine initiation, screening in clinical practice is not universal. This systematic review aimed to investigate the relationship between clozapine and inflammation and assess the importance of monitoring for inflammatory reactions. A comprehensive literature search yielded 6915 unique publication records after removal of duplicates. After a rigorous screening process, 75 publications were included in the review, which focused on three main aspects: (i) the impact of clozapine on inflammatory markers, (ii) monitoring cardiac and other organ function during clozapine‐associated inflammatory processes, and (iii) monitoring non‐specific signs and symptoms of inflammation. Elevated levels of C‐reactive protein (CRP) and several proinflammatory cytokines have been observed in association with clozapine treatment. However, the practicality of measuring specific markers in clinical practice remains uncertain. Current evidence supports monitoring CRP levels during the first 4–8 weeks of treatment, especially to facilitate myocarditis screening. Further research is needed to establish clinically relevant CRP thresholds for intervention. The implementation of monitoring protocols during the early phase of clozapine treatment may mitigate adverse reactions and allow for continued use of clozapine. Future studies should also explore the association between clozapine‐associated inflammation and pneumonia, as well as investigate the impact of inflammation on clozapine metabolism to predict the need for dose adjustment. These endeavors may facilitate the development and implementation of evidence‐based guidelines for the monitoring of clozapine‐associated inflammation.
Computational investigation of the structures, properties, and host‐guest chemistry of prism[n]arenes
Authors: Xie Ju , Xi Ziqing , Yang Yanwu , Zhang Xuecheng , Yang Zhenshan , He Maoxia
Published: October 2023

The discovery of new and functional macrocyclic host compounds is an important part of supramolecular chemistry. Since the experimental synthesis, prism[n]arenes (Pr[n]As), a class of naphthol‐based macrocyclic arenes, have attracted much attention. In this work, from the perspective of theoretical calculation and research, Pr[n]As (n = 4 ~ 7) were studied by density functional theory (DFT) calculations and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The prismatic configuration isomers, electronic structures, absorption spectra, and host‐guest chemistry were discussed thoroughly. DFT calculation results showed that 1,5‐, 3,7‐, and “hybrid” 15,37‐Pr[n]As were the most representative configurations with the rigid prismatic molecular skeleton. Based on time‐dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT), the absorption spectra of Pr[n]As were all in the range of ultraviolet light which were mainly attributed to π‐π* transitions. The molecular cavities of Pr[n]As were electron‐rich and capable of accommodating a variety of cations or electron‐conjugated molecules. MD simulation results showed that a Pr[n]A molecule was able to capture the guest molecule into its molecular cavity and maintain in the state of equilibrium in solvents.
Quantum Combinational Logics and their Realizations with Circuits
Authors: Tong Xiaoxue , Chen Tian , Pan Naiqiao , Zhang Xiangdong
Published: October 2023

Classical combinational logic circuits (CCLCs) are widely used in various fields. Corresponding to the CCLCs, here schemes are given for some quantum combinational logic circuits (QCLCs) based on the quantum NAND tree. Three typical circuits, adder, comparator, and seven‐segment display decoder, are discussed in detail as examples. All the designs of the schemes are based on the quantum random walk theory. Furthermore, these QCLCs are mapped onto the classical circuit networks and design new types of CCLCs, and take advantage of the fact that there is a good correspondence between the voltage in the circuit satisfying Kirchhoff's law and the system wave function satisfying the Schrodinger equation. These CCLCs that are designed have exponential speedup functions compared with conventional ones, which have been demonstrated experimentally. Because classical circuit networks possess good scalability and stability, the realization of QCLCs on classical circuits is expected to have potential applications for information processing in the era of big data.
Soil washing for removal of per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances from investigation‐derived waste
Authors: Miceli Justin , Varghese Juby R. , Holsen Thomas M. , Crimi Michelle
Published: October 2023

The accumulation of significant amounts of investigation‐derived waste (IDW) from investigations of per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination at active and former military installations has generated the need for viable disposal methods, which are currently limited to incineration or landfilling. Soil washing has been proposed as a more environmentally friendly alternative method to remove PFAS sorbed to IDW media, potentially allowing more cost‐effective disposal of the media as nonhazardous waste. This systematic investigation of IDW washing explored the effect of water‐, methanol‐, and salt‐based solutions, which are typically used for ion exchange (IX) resin regeneration. These solutions were tested for PFAS removal using four different field IDW solids with different pHs, total organic carbon content, and anion exchange capacity. In long washes extending to a week, distilled water was found to be effective in the removal of short‐chain PFASs (perfluorcarboxylic acids with fewer than seven fluorinated carbon atoms and perfluorosulfonic acids with fewer than six fluorinated carbon atoms) and some long‐chain PFASs including perfluorooctanoic acid, but not perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS). PFOS was only removed using water:methanol solutions with salt. Optimized 30‐min washes containing water:methanol and salt effectively removed precursors, and short‐ and long‐chain PFAS. Kinetic, soil extraction, and leaching experiments revealed that PFAS can be removed within a matter of minutes, with greater than 70% PFAS removal on the first wash; however, longer‐chain PFASs required up to three washes to be removed. Important IDW wash solution relationships influencing PFAS desorption are discussed and PFOS is proposed as an indicator species for IDW washing effectiveness. Results demonstrate that adapting components of IX regeneration solutions to IDW wash solutions facilitates an alternative means to separate PFAS contaminants from IDW, advancing PFAS remediation efforts.
The upper tail problem for induced 4‐cycles in sparse random graphs
Authors: Cohen Antonir Asaf
Published: October 2023

Building on the techniques from the breakthrough paper of Harel, Mousset and Samotij, which solved the upper tail problem for cliques, we compute the asymptotics of the upper tail for the number of induced copies of the 4‐cycle in the binomial random graph . We observe a new phenomenon in the theory of large deviations of subgraph counts. This phenomenon is that, in a certain (large) range of , the upper tail of the induced 4‐cycle does not admit a naive mean‐field approximation.
1,3‐Oxazine as a Promising Scaffold for the Development of Biologically Active Lead Molecules
Authors: Gupta Nidhi , Saini Vipin , Basavarajaiah S. M. , Dar Mohammad Ovais , Das Rina , Dahiya Randhir Singh
Published: October 2023

Heterocyclic compounds form an important part of wide range of biologically active molecules. The heteroatom provides them specificity for various receptors. 1,3‐oxazine has been considered as a privileged scaffold in many medicinal chemistry applications. Compounds having 1,3‐oxazine moiety exhibit broad range of biological applications such as anticancer, antimicrobial, anti‐inflammatory, antiplatelet, antitubercular and alpha‐glucosidase inhibition activities. In this review, we consolidate the recent developments in the synthesis and biological activities of 1,3‐oxazine containing compounds. Also, the structure activity relationship (SAR) studies of different derivatives exhibiting several biological activities are summarized. Database such as Science direct, Pubmed and Google scholar were searched using keywords ‘1,3‐Oxazine’, ‘synthesis’, ‘derivatives’, and ‘biological activities’. The review would provide a lead for the development of competent candidates with 1,3‐oxazine moiety having broad range of applications in the treatment of several human disorders.
Study on Magnetron Sputtered Nb‐Doped ZnO Thin Films switching properties for RRAM Applications
Authors: Chawla Amit K. , Pandey Ratnesh , Rao Akula Umamaheswara , Kharb Archana Singh , Chanana Avaani , Mir Kifayat H. , Kumar Pramod , Garg Tarun , Chawla Vipin , Jain Ravish , Pant Charu , Kumar Sanjeev
Published: October 2023

Resistive switching characteristics of ZnO‐based nanomaterials make them useful candidates for applications in resistive random access memory (RRAM). In the present work, Nb‐doped ZnO thin films prepared using RF sputtering with varying doping concentrations were studied using XRD, UV‐Vis spectroscopy, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), Energy Dispersive X‐ray Spectroscopy (EDS), I‐V, XPS and AFM measurements to investigate the structural, optical, electrical properties and roughness of the films. The XRD analysis revealed a shift in the (002) peak corresponding to hexagonal wurtzite structure, towards lower angles with increasing doping concentration, indicating a doping‐induced modification of crystal structure. The UV‐Vis spectroscopy showed an increase in the band gap energy with increasing doping concentration. The electrical conductivity of the films was found to increase with doping concentration, as determined by I‐V measurements. The XPS analysis confirmed the presence of Nb in the doped films and provided information on the chemical states of the elements. Overall, the results suggest that Nb doping can significantly modify the structural properties of ZnO thin films which alters the electrical properties to match the requirements for potential applications in memory devices.
Monolayer Borophene Formation on Cu(111) Surface Triggered by ⟨11¯0⟩$\langle {1\bar{1}0} \rangle $ Step Edge
Authors: Li Hao , Yang Jiangang , Ma Yaping , Liu Guowei , Xu Xin , Huo Zhe , Chen Junbo , Li Jing , Zhang Weifeng , Wang Kedong , Chen Lan , Xiao Xudong
Published: October 2023

Borophene, a promising material with potential applications in electronics, energy storage, and sensors, is successfully grown as a monolayer on Ag(111), Cu(111), and Au(111) surfaces using molecular beam epitaxy. The growth of two‐dimensional borophene on Ag(111) and Au(111) is proposed to occur via surface adsorption and boron segregation, respectively. However, the growth mode of borophene on Cu(111) remains unclear. To elucidate this, scanning tunneling microscopy in conjunction with theoretical calculations is used to study the phase transformation of boron nanostructures under post‐annealing treatments. Results show that by elevating the substrate temperature, boron nanostructures undergo an evolution from amorphous boron to striped‐phase borophene (η = 1/6) adhering to the Cu step edge, and finally to irregularly shaped β‐type borophene (η = 5/36) either on the substrate surface or embedded in the topmost Cu layer. dI/dV spectra recorded near the borophene/Cu lateral interfaces indicate that the striped‐phase borophene is a metastable phase, requiring more buckling and electron transfer to stabilize the crystal structure. These findings offer not only an in‐depth comprehension of the β‐type borophene formation on Cu(111), but also hold potential for enabling borophene synthesis on weakly‐binding semiconducting or insulating substrates with 1D active defects.
Enhanced Solar Fuel Production over In2O3@Co2VO4 Hierarchical Nanofibers with S‐Scheme Charge Separation Mechanism
Authors: Deng Xianyu , Wen Zhenhai , Li Xuanhua , Macyk Wojciech , Yu Jiaguo , Xu Feiyan
Published: October 2023

The conversion of CO2 into valuable solar fuels via photocatalysis is a promising strategy for addressing energy shortages and environmental crises. Here, novel In2O3@Co2VO4 hierarchical heterostructures are fabricated by in situ growing Co2VO4 nanorods onto In2O3 nanofibers. First‐principle calculations and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements reveal the electron transfer between In2O3 and Co2VO4 driven by the difference in work functions, thus creating an interfacial electric field and bending the bands at the interfaces. In this case, the photogenerated electrons in In2O3 transport to Co2VO4 and recombine with its holes, indicating the formation of In2O3@Co2VO4 S‐scheme heterojunctions and resulting in effective separation of charge carriers, as confirmed by in situ irradiation XPS. The unique S‐scheme mechanism, along with the enhanced optical absorption and the lower Gibbs free energy change for the production of *CHO, significantly contributes to the efficient CO2 photoreduction into CO and CH4 in the absence of any molecule cocatalyst or scavenger. Density functional theory simulation and in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy are employed to elucidate the reaction mechanism in detail.
Ammonium Folate‐Reinforced Self‐Assembly of Gelatin into N/B/O‐Enriched Hierarchical Porous Carbons with Loosely Layered Structure for Anti‐Freezing Flexible Supercapacitors
Authors: Yu Shiyu , Ye Yong , Yang Mei , Liu Yijiang , Yang Duanguang , Li Huaming , Liu Bei
Published: October 2023

Heteroatom‐doped layered porous carbons are recently regarded as promising electrode materials for high energy density supercapacitors because they can integrate high‐level heteroatom‐doping and layered nano‐space together to provide huge pseudocapacitive reaction areas and accelerate ion diffusion/transport. Herein, an innovative strategy is reported to prepare N/B/O co‐doped layered porous carbons via ammonium folate‐reinforced self‐assembly of gelatin and boric acid followed by carbonization. Biomass‐derived ammonium folate not only acts as an N‐riched precursor but also can fasten in the process of self‐assembly via boric acid‐assisted electrostatic adsorption and hydrogen bonding to promote the formation of stable 3D cross‐linked networks, resulting in the obtained N/B/O co‐doped layered porous carbon (BNLC‐850) has a large specific surface area (1822 m2 g−1), hierarchical porous structure and super‐high heteroatom contents (N, 12.65; B, 5.67; and O, 13.84 at.%). The BNLC‐850 achieves an ultrahigh specific capacitance of 525.2 F g−1 in the alkaline electrolyte at 0.5 A g−1, meanwhile, DFT calculations reveal that the high‐level N/B/O‐doping can effectively weaken the adsorption barriers of K‐ions. Moreover, the BNLC‐850 assembles anti‐freezing flexible solid‐state supercapacitors in MPEI‐TF‐IL gel polymer electrolyte deliver a high energy density of 41.2 Wh kg−1, excellent flexibility, and long cycle‐life at −20 °C.
Conjugated Molecules Based Multi‐Component Artificial Photosynthesis System for Producing Multi‐Objective Products
Authors: Zhu Chuanwei , Gao Zhiqiang , Yu Wen , Xia Shengpeng , Chen Weijian , Song Gang , Huang Yiming , Lv Fengting , Bai Haotian , Wang Shu
Published: October 2023

The development of artificial photosynthesis systems that mimics natural photosynthesis can help address the issue of energy scarcity by efficiently utilizing solar energy. Here, it presents liposomes‐based artificial photosynthetic nanocapsules (PSNC) integrating photocatalytic, chemical catalytic, and biocatalytic systems through one‐pot method. The PSNC contains 5,10,15,20‐tetra(4‐pyridyl) cobalt‐porphyrin, tridipyridyl‐ruthenium nitrate, oligo‐pphenyl‐ethylene‐rhodium complex, and creatine kinase, efficiently generating oxygen, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), and adenosine triphosphate with remarkable enhancements of 231%, 30%, and 86%, compared with that of molecules mixing in aqueous solution. Additionally, the versatile PSNC enables simulation of light‐independent reactions, achieving a controllable output of various target products. The regenerated NADH within PSNC further facilitates alcohol dehydrogenase, yielding methanol with a notable efficiency improvement of 37%. This work introduces a promising platform for sustainable solar energy conversion and the simultaneous synthesis of multiple valuable products in an ingenious and straightforward way.
Regulating Anionic Redox via Mg Substitution in Mn‐Rich Layered Oxide Cathodes Enabling High Electrochemical Stability for Sodium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Thanwisai Panya , Vanaphuti Panawan , Yao Zeyi , Hou Jiahui , Meng Zifei , Ma Xiaotu , Guo Hua , Gao Guanhui , Yang Zhenzhen , Wang Yan
Published: October 2023

With the limited resources and high cost of lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) and the ever‐increasing market demands, sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) gain much interest due to their economical sustainability, and similar chemistry and manufacturing processes to LIBs. As cathodes play a vital role in determining the energy density of SIBs, Mn‐based layered oxides are promising cathodes due to their low cost, environmental friendliness, and high theoretical capacity. However, the main challenge is structural instability upon cycling at high voltage. Herein, Mg is introduced into the P2‐type Na0.62Ni0.25Mn0.75O2 cathode to enhance electrochemical stability. By combining electrochemical testing and material characterizations, it is found that substituting 10 mol% Mg can effectively alleviate the P2–O2 phase transition, Jahn‐Teller distortion, and irreversible oxygen redox. Moreover, structural integrity is greatly improved. These lead to enhanced electrochemical performances. With the optimized sample, a remarkable capacity retention of 92% in the half cell after 100 cycles and 95% in the full cell after 170 cycles can be achieved. Altogether, this work provides an alternative way to stabilize P2‐type Mn‐based layer oxide cathodes, which in turn, put forward the development of this material for the next‐generation SIBs.
Evolutionary measures and their correlations with the performance of cross‐version defect prediction for object‐oriented projects
Authors: Yu Qiao , Zhu Yi , Han Hui , Zhao Yu , Jiang Shujuan , Qian Junyan
Published: October 2023

Cross‐version defect prediction (CVDP) for evolutionary projects has attracted much attention from researchers in recent years. For multiple versions of an object‐oriented project, the degree of evolution (e.g., the degree of class change) between successive versions can reflect the differences between versions, which could affect the performance of CVDP. Therefore, how to measure the degree of evolution between successive versions and explore the correlations with the performance of CVDP are very important for software defect prediction. Based on the successive versions of evolutionary projects, this paper proposes six evolutionary measures from three aspects of class change, metric change, and label change, including the Ratio of New Classes (RNC), the Ratio of Deleted Classes (RDC), the Average Ratio of Metric Change (ARMC), the Ratio of Label Changed Classes (RLCC), the Ratio of Unchanged Classes (RUC), and the Ratio of Interference Classes (RIC). An empirical study was conducted on 40 versions of 11 object‐oriented projects from the PROMISE repository. Precision, Recall, F‐measure, and AUC were used as the performance indicators. Three correlation approaches (Pearson, Spearman, and Kendall) are applied to show the correlations between evolutionary measures and the performance of CVDP. The statistical results show that RNC, RDC, and RUC show no correlation with four performance indicators. ARMC shows weak or medium positive correlations with Recall and F‐measure. RLCC and RIC show very strong or strong negative correlations with Recall and F‐measure. The results indicate that the correlations between the proposed evolutionary measures and the performance of CVDP are different, which can guide the training set selection of CVDP.
Organic Nitrate Additive for High‐Rate and Large‐Capacity Lithium Metal Anode in Carbonate Electrolyte
Authors: Chen Chao , Zhou Qingfeng , Li Xiaodan , Zhao Bote , Chen Yunhua , Xiong Xunhui
Published: October 2023

Lithium nitrate has been widely used to improve the interfacial stability of Li metal anode in ether electrolyte. However, the low solubility limits its application in carbonate electrolytes for high‐voltage Li metal batteries. Herein, nitrated polycaprolactone (PCL‐ONO2), which is prepared via the acylation of polycaprolactone diol (PCL‐diol) followed by the grafting of nitrate group, has been proposed as an electrolyte additive to introduce high‐concentration NO3− into carbonate electrolytes for the first time. The theoretical calculations and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy depth profiling demonstrate that the PCL‐ONO2 additive preferentially reacts with Li metal and in situ constructs a stable dual‐layered solid electrolyte interphase film, presenting an inner nitride‐rich layer and an outer flexible PCL‐based layer on the surface of Li metal anode. As a result, the Li metal anode delivers an impressive long‐term cycling performance over 1400 h at an elevated area capacity of 10.0 mAh cm−2 and an ultrahigh current density of 10.0 mA cm−2 in the Li symmetrical cells. Moreover, the PCL‐ONO2 additive enables the full cells constructed by coupling high‐loading LiFePO4 (20.0 mg cm−2) or LiNi0.5Co0.2Mn0.3 (16.5 mg cm−2) cathode and thin Li metal anode (≈50 µm) to demonstrate greatly improved cycling stability and rate capability.
Piezoelectric Ba0.85Sr0.15TiO3 Nanosonosensitizer with Nitric Oxide Delivery for Boosting Cancer Therapy
Authors: Zhao Yunchao , Wang Shaobo , Yao Shuncheng , Wan Xingyi , Hu Quanhong , Zheng Minjia , Wang Zhuo , Li Linlin
Published: October 2023

The efficacy of sonodynamic therapy (SDT) mainly relies on the sonosensitizers, which generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) upon ultrasound (US) stimulation. However, the limited availability of high‐efficiency sonosensitizers hampers the therapeutic effectiveness of SDT as a standalone modality. In this work, a robust sonodynamic and gas cancer therapeutic platform is constructed based on strontium (Sr) doped barium titanate (BST) piezoelectric nanoparticles functionalized with L‐arginine (BST@LA). The doping of Sr into A site of the ABO3 piezoelectric nanocrystals not only introduces oxygen vacancies into the nanoparticles and enhance the intrinsic piezoelectricity, but also narrows the semiconductor band gap and enhances charge carrier migration, all of which facilitate the sonodynamic production of superoxide anion (•O2−) and hydroxyl radical (•OH). In addition, the generated ROS promotes the decomposition of the surface‐tethered LA, enabling the controlled release of nitric oxide (NO) gas at the tumor site, thereby achieving a combination therapeutic effect. In vivo experiments exhibit remarkable tumor suppression rate (89.5%) in 4T1 tumor mice model, demonstrating the effectiveness of this strategy. The ion doping and oxygen vacancy engineering to improve sonosensitizers, along with the synergistic combination of sonodynamic and gas therapy, provides promising avenues for improving cancer therapy.
Amber extract as a bio‐additive to poly(lactic acid) films: Multimethod analysis of crystallinity and stability
Authors: dos Santos C. A. B. , Ujčić A. , Sobótka M. , Jurczak P. , Lach S. , Rodziewicz‐Motowidło S. , Szustakiewicz K.
Published: October 2023

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) films with 1 wt% of amber extract (AbE) as a bio‐additive were obtained through solvent mixing using 1,4‐dioxane, which was later evaporated. The extract, derived from the residual amber generated during jewelry manufacturing in the Gdansk region (Poland), was evaluated for its morphology and thermal response. The resulting films were transparent, and the addition of AbE imparted a yellow hue. The crystallinity characteristics of the PLA/AbE films were analyzed through FTIR, DSC, POM, and XRD results. The cold crystallization ability of PLA in the presence of AbE was assessed by comparing the films with their annealed counterparts. The annealed films demonstrated a slight increase in the crystalline phase without any change in transparency. The presence of amber extract particles impeded the formation of stable polymorph crystals within the PLA structure, leading to an expanded size distribution of spherulites and a reduced crystallization rate. Furthermore, the addition of AbE showed promise in enhancing the UV–vis blocking of PLA, as AbE particles decreased the transmission rate across the entire UV–vis spectrum.

Highlights

PLA thin films with 1% AbE were produced by the casting method.

Amber extract from isopropanol fraction has a porous structure.

PLA and amber extract exhibit homogeneous mixing in 1,4‐dioxane solution.

The AbE particles improved the UV–vis blocking of PLA.
A dog with protothecosis in the Netherlands
Authors: Bontekoning Ilona , Maes Sofie M. J. , Mandigers Paul J. J.
Published: October 2023

Prototheca spp. are parasitic algae that can infect humans, cattle, cats and dogs. Although it is rarely seen, if protothecosis occurs in dogs, it is often fatal due to dissemination of the algae and a poor response to treatment. A 3‐year‐old, Scottish Collie dog, female, neutered, was presented with large bowel diarrhoea, weight loss and lethargy of 2 months. The dog had also experienced a short transient episode of acute horizontal nystagmus, left‐sided head tilt and cervical pain 2 weeks before presentation. Histology of the colon demonstrated an erosive neutrophilic colitis with periodic acid–Schiff stain‐positive structures compatible with Prototheca spp. confirmed using polymerase chain reaction. Treatment with nystatin (100,000 IU orally every 8 hours) was unsuccessful, and euthanasia was performed soon after diagnosis. This case report documents the first reported case of canine protothecosis in the Netherlands, and demonstrates that nystatin treatment is not successful in every canine protothecosis case.
Endoscopy and rectal enema for fecal collection in wild sea turtles (Chelonia mydas, Eretmochelys imbricata) in a field setting
Authors: Kaleel Kristina L. , Secoura Patricia L. , Muñoz‐Pérez Juan Pablo , Alarcón‐Ruales Daniela , Vallejo Felipe , Miranda Cristina , Lewbart Gregory A. , Townsend Kathy , Vaden Shelly L.
Published: October 2023

Forty‐seven free‐ranging sea turtles (46‐ Chelonia mydas, 1‐ Eretmochelys imbricata) were examined via novel use of an endoscopy combined with a rectal enema to obtain large fecal sample volumes. The cloaca was insufflated using an endoscope, after which the bladder and rectum separated, allowing access to the colon. Environmental conditions and location influenced the performance of the procedure initially, but after several attempts the procedure was successfully initiated. In all cases, fecal samples were obtained, and the animals were released to their respective locations. Fecal sample collection using this approach enhances the ability to obtain diagnostic information and perform other scientific analyses of sea turtles.
‘Open Sesame’: Skilled Immigrants’ Experiences with Bridging Programmes in the Validation Process in Norway
Authors: Nortvedt Line , Gillespie Astrid , Dahl Kari , Drange Ida
Published: October 2023

International agreements on the mutual exchange of skill and labour transcend national borders. Occupational regulations, however, maintain them. Because of this, completion courses and re-education are often the only option for those who seek to reconnect with their pre-migration occupation. These courses usually come last in a chain of requirements which include, e.g., residence permits, language skills, and validation of former education. Our theoretical lens, an ecological framework of resilience inspired by Ungar, allows us to explore success factors within the individual, structural, and political experiences of migrants.

We conducted 22 qualitative interviews with candidates enrolled in bridging programmes for nurses, teachers, and engineers in Norway and performed a narrative analysis of the interviews. Our findings show that the participants’ choice of a specific profession was motivated by determination, work opportunities, dreams of a better life, support from family, and the meaningfulness of contributing to society. They spoke of great professional responsibility in their country of origin; as professionals, they were respected in society, which, however, did not correspond with salary levels. In Norway, the participants lost their professional affiliation and encountered difficulties in professional recognition. They were motivated by acknowledgement, authorization, and qualification in the bridging programmes.
Reservoir Computing Based on Iterative Function Systems
Authors: Shimomura Suguru
Published: October 2023

Various approaches have been proposed to construct reservoir computing systems. However, the network structure and information processing capacity of these systems are often tied to their individual implementations, which typically become difficult to modify after physical setup. This limitation can hinder performance when the system is required to handle a wide spectrum of prediction tasks. To address this limitation, it is crucial to develop tunable systems that can adapt to a wide range of problem domains. This chapter presents a tunable optical computing method based on the iterative function system (IFS). The tuning capability of IFS provides adjustment of the network structure and optimizes the performance of the optical system. Numerical and experimental results show the tuning capability of the IFS reservoir computing. The relationship between tuning parameters and reservoir properties is discussed. We further investigate the impact of optical feedback on the reservoir properties and present the prediction results.
Quantum-Dot-Based Photonic Reservoir Computing
Authors: Tate Naoya
Published: October 2023

Reservoir computing is a novel computational framework based on the characteristic behavior of recurrent neural networks. In particular, a recurrent neural network for reservoir computing is defined as a reservoir, which is implemented as a fixed and nonlinear system. Recently, to overcome the limitation of data throughput between processors and storage devices in conventional computer systems during processing, known as the Von Neumann bottleneck, physical implementations of reservoirs have been actively investigated in various research fields. The author’s group has been currently studying a quantum dot reservoir, which consists of coupled structures of randomly dispersed quantum dots, as a physical reservoir. The quantum dot reservoir is driven by sequential signal inputs using radiation with laser pulses, and the characteristic dynamics of the excited energy in the network are exhibited with the corresponding spatiotemporal fluorescence outputs. We have presented the fundamental physics of a quantum dot reservoir. Subsequently, experimental methods have been introduced to prepare a practical quantum dot reservoir. Next, we have presented the experimental input/output properties of our quantum dot reservoir. Here, we experimentally focused on the relaxation of fluorescence outputs, which indicates the characteristics of optical energy dynamics in the reservoir, and qualitatively discussed the usability of quantum dot reservoirs based on their properties. Finally, we have presented experimental reservoir computing based on spatiotemporal fluorescence outputs from a quantum dot reservoir. We consider that the achievements of quantum dot reservoirs can be effectively utilized for advanced reservoir computing.
FRET Networks: Modeling and Analysis for Computing
Authors: Nakagawa Masaki
Published: October 2023

FRET networks, which refer to energy transfer networks between nanoparticles due to Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET), are promising physical phenomena for realizing high-speed, efficient, and compact information processing. These networks can generate rich spatiotemporal signals that help in information processing and are capable of function approximation, time-series prediction, and pattern recognition. This chapter presents a mathematical model and analysis for FRET networks, including some simulation methods for the model, and demonstrates the power of FRET networks for information processing.
Investigation on Oscillator-Based Ising Machines
Authors: Shirasaka Sho
Published: October 2023

Moore’s law is slowing down and, as traditional von Neumann computers face challenges in efficiently handling increasingly important issues in a modern information society, there is a growing desire to find alternative computing and device technologies. Ising machines are non-von Neumann computing systems designed to solve combinatorial optimization problems. To explore their efficient implementation, Ising machines have been developed using a variety of physical principles such as optics, electronics, and quantum mechanics. Among them, oscillator-based Ising machines (OIMs) utilize synchronization dynamics of network-coupled spontaneous nonlinear oscillators. In these OIMs, phases of the oscillators undergo binarization through second-harmonic injection signals, which effectively transform the broad class of network-coupled oscillator systems into Ising machines. This makes their implementation versatile across a wide variety of physical phenomena. In this Chapter, we discuss the fundamentals and working mechanisms of the OIMs. We also numerically investigate the relationship between their performance and their properties, including some unexplored effects regarding driving stochastic process and higher harmonics, which have not been addressed in the existing literature.
Insertion eines zweiten Elektrodenträgers – eine seltene Komplikation bei CI-Reimplantation
Authors: Ketterer M. C. , Brückerhoff K. , Arndt S. , Beck R. , Aschendorff A.
Published: October 2023

Die Notwendigkeit der Explantation eines Cochleaimplantats ist sowohl bei technischem Defekt als auch aus medizinischer Indikation möglich. Dieser Fall zeigt, dass bei Reimplantation der Cochlea das Risiko eines nicht luxierbaren Elektrodenträgers, wie hier beschrieben aus der Scala tympani, besteht. Die Insertion eines zweiten Elektrodenträgers in die freie und reizlose Scala vestibuli ist in diesem Fall gelungen. Nichtsdestotrotz muss die Indikation zur Reimplantation insbesondere bei tolerablen Einschränkungen mit nur wenig oder keinem Verlust im Sprachverstehen kritisch gestellt werden und sollte nicht allein aufgrund eines gewünschten Implantat-Upgrades durchgeführt werden.