bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Structural Characterization of 6‐Halo‐6‐Deoxycelluloses by Direct‐Dissolution Solution‐State NMR Spectroscopy
Authors: Dryś Magdalena , Koso Tetyana V. , Kilpeläinen Petri O. , Rinne‐Garmston Katja T. , Todorov Aleksandar R. , Wiedmer Susanne K. , Iashin Vladimir , King Alistair W. T.
Published: April 2024

Regioselective modifications of cellulose using activated cellulose derivatives such as 6‐halo‐6‐deoxycelluloses provide a convenient approach for developing sustainable products with properties tailored to specific applications. However, maintaining precise regiochemical control of substituent distribution in 6‐halo‐6‐deoxycelluloses is challenging due to their insolubility in most common solvents and the resulting difficulties in precise structure elucidation by modern instrumental analytical techniques. Herein, an accessible NMR‐based approach toward detailed characterization of 6‐halo‐6‐deoxycelluloses, including the determination of the degrees of substitution at carbon 6 (DS6), is presented. It is shown that the direct‐dissolution cellulose solvent, tetrabutylphosphonium acetate:DMSO‐d6, converts 6‐halo‐6‐deoxycelluloses to 6‐monoacetylcellulose, enabling in situ solution‐state NMR measurements. A range of 1D and 2D NMR experiments is used to demonstrate the quantitivity of the conversion and provide optimum dissolution conditions. In comparison with other NMR‐based derivatization protocols for elucidating the structure of 6‐halo‐6‐deoxycelluloses, the presented approach offers major advantages in terms of accuracy, speed, and simplicity of analysis, and minimal requirements for reagents or NMR instrumentation.
Effect of a Home‐Base Core Stability Exercises in Hereditary Ataxia. A Randomized Controlled Trial. A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Cabanas‐Valdés Rosa , Fernández‐Lago Helena , Peláez‐Hervás Selma , Serra‐Rusiñol Laura , López‐de‐Celis Carlos , Masbernat‐Almenara Maria
Published: April 2024

Background

Core stability exercises (CSE) have been shown to be effective in improving trunk function in several neurological diseases, but the evidence is scarce on Hereditary Ataxias (HA).

Objective

To evaluate the effectiveness of a 5‐week home‐based CSE program in terms of ataxia severity, trunk function, balance confidence, gait speed, lower limb motor function, quality of life, health status and falls rate in HA individuals at short‐ and long‐term.

Methods

This is an assessor‐blind randomized controlled clinical trial parallel group 1:1. The individuals were divided in experimental group (EG) performed standard care in addition to CSE, and control group (CG) performed standard care alone. The CSE home‐program was conducted 1‐h/day, 5‐day/week for 5‐week. The assessment was performed at baseline, endpoint (5‐week), and follow‐up (10‐week). The primary outcomes were ataxia severity assessed by the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia and trunk function assessed by Spanish‐version of Trunk Impairment Scale 2.0. The secondary outcomes were balance confidence assessed by Activities‐specific Balance Confidence (ABC), gait speed by 4‐meter walk test (4‐MWT), the lower limb motor function by 30‐s sit‐to‐stand, quality of life by EuroQol 5‐dimension 5‐level (EQ‐5D‐5L), health‐status by EQ‐5D and falls rate.

Results

Twenty‐three HA individuals were recruited (51.8 ± 11.10 years). Statistically significant group‐time interaction was shown in ABC (F:5.539; P = 0.007), EQ‐5D‐5L Total (F:4.836; P = 0.013), EQ 5D (F:7.207; P = 0.006).

Conclusions

No statistical differences between groups for ataxia severity and trunk function were observed. However, were differences for balance confidence, gait speed, quality of life, and falls rate in HA individuals.
How to promote the digital business model innovation of high‐tech SMEs through government venture capital? An evolutionary game perspective
Authors: Yin Hang , Liu Jiaxin , Zeng Nengmin
Published: April 2024

Digital business model innovation plays a crucial role in the growth of high‐tech small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs). In this research, we introduced tripartite evolutionary game models that include the government, venture capital (VC) institutions, and high‐tech SMEs, operating within the context of government venture capital. Within the scenarios of government revenue and loss compensation, we assess the evolutionary stable strategies of each stakeholder and analyze variations in the evolution results. Using numerical simulation, we investigate how factors impact players' strategic choices and the evolution of the system. The findings indicate the presence of an indirect transmission mechanism among players' strategic choices, which collaboratively stabilizes the game system. Furthermore, we investigate the policy consequences of various compensation mechanisms and find that high‐tech SMEs' strategic choices are not influenced by these compensation approaches. However, the incentive effects of different compensation on the government and VCs' investment strategies vary. Revenue compensation is more favorable for VC institutions but places a greater financial burden on the government. In contrast, loss compensation is a more efficient approach for the government. This study offers valuable insights for the management and operation of government venture capital funds, and the advancement of digital business model innovation for high‐tech SMEs.
Adaptable cascaded registration for personalized maxilla completion and cleft defect volume estimation
Authors: Zhang Yungeng , Pei Yuru , Guo Yixiao , Chen Si , Zhou Zhi‐bo , Xu Tianmin , Zha Hongbin
Published: March 2024

Background

Cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT) images provide high‐resolution insights into the underlying craniofacial anomaly in patients with cleft lip and palate (CLP), requiring non‐negligible annotation costs to measure the cleft defect for the guidance of the clinical secondary alveolar bone graft procedures. Considering the cumbersome volumetric image acquisition, there is a lack of paired CLP CBCTs and normal CBCTs for learning‐based anatomical structure restoration models. Nowadays, the registration‐based method relieves the annotation burden, though one‐shot registration and the regular mask are limited to handling fine‐grained shape variations and harmony between restored bony tissues and the defected maxilla.

Purpose

This study aimed to design and evaluate a novel method for deformable partial registration of the CLP CBCTs and normal CBCTs, enabling personalized maxilla completion and cleft defect volume prediction from CLP CBCTs.

Methods

We proposed an adaptable deep registration framework for personalized maxilla completion and cleft defect volume prediction from CLP CBCTs. The key ingredient was a cascaded partial registration to exploit the maxillary morphology prior and attribute transfer. Cascaded registration with coarse‐to‐fine registration fields handled morphological variations of cleft defects and fine‐grained maxillary restoration. We designed an adaptable cleft defect mask and volumetric Boolean operators for reliable voxel filling of the defected maxilla. A total of 36 clinically obtained CLP CBCTs were used to train and validate the proposed model, among which 22 CLP CBCTs were used to generate a training dataset with 440 synthetic CBCTs by B‐spline deformation‐based data augmentation and the remaining for testing. The proposed model was evaluated on maxilla completion and cleft defect volume prediction from clinically obtained unilateral and bilateral CLP CBCTs.

Results

Extensive experiments demonstrated the effectiveness of the adaptable cleft defect mask and the cascaded partial registration on maxilla completion and cleft defect volume prediction. The proposed method achieved state‐of‐the‐art performances with the Dice similarity coefficient of 0.90 0.02 on the restored maxilla and 0.84 0.04 on the estimated cleft defect, respectively. The average Hausdorff distance between the estimated cleft defect and the manually annotated ground truth was 0.30 0.08 mm. The relative volume error of the cleft defect was 0.08. The proposed model allowed for the prediction of cleft defect maps that were in line with the ground truth in the challenging unilateral and bilateral CLP CBCTs.

Conclusions

The results suggest that the proposed adaptable deep registration model enables patient‐specific maxilla completion and automatic annotation of cleft defects, relieving tedious voxel‐wise annotation and image acquisition burdens.
Is exercise therapy therighttreatment for rotator cuff‐related shoulder pain? Uncertainties, theory, and practice
Authors: Powell Jared K. , Lewis Jeremy , Schram Ben , Hing Wayne
Published: April 2024

Background

Exercise therapy is a popular non‐surgical treatment to help manage individuals with rotator cuff‐related shoulder pain (RCRSP) and is recommended in all clinical practice guidelines. Due to modest effect sizes, low quality evidence, uncertainty relating to efficacy, and mechanism(s) of benefit, exercise as a therapeutic intervention has been the subject of increasing scrutiny.

Aims

The aim of this critical review is to lay out where the purported uncertainties of exercise for RCRSP exist by exploring the relevant quantitative and qualitative literature. We conclude by offering theoretical and practical considerations to help reduce the uncertainty of delivering exercise therapy in a clinical environment.

Results and Discussion

Uncertainty underpins much of the theory and practice of delivering exercise therapy for individuals with RCRSP. Nonetheless, exercise is an often‐valued treatment by individuals with RCRSP, when provided within an appropriate clinical context. We encourage clinicians to use a shared decision‐making paradigm and embrace a pluralistic model when prescribing therapeutic exercise. This may take the form of using exercise experiments to trial different exercise approaches, adjusting, and adapting the exercise type, load, and context based on the individual's symptom irritability, preferences, and goals.

Conclusion

We contend that providing exercise therapy should remain a principal treatment option for helping individuals with RCRSP. Limitations notwithstanding, exercise therapy is relatively low cost, accessible, and often valued by individuals with RCRSP. The uncertainty surrounding exercise therapy requires ongoing research and emphasis could be directed towards investigating causal mechanisms to better understand how exercise may benefit an individual with RCRSP.
Symptom management experiences of Chinese individuals with Crohn's disease: A longitudinal descriptive qualitative study
Authors: Chen Lingxi , Zhou Yunxian
Published: April 2024

Individuals diagnosed with Crohn's disease, a chronic lifelong condition, experience a dynamic or fluctuating process of developing symptom management behavior. However, less clear is how these individuals respond to and manage their symptoms over time. The aim of this study was to longitudinally explore the symptom management experiences of individuals with Crohn's disease in China. A longitudinal qualitative design was used. Eighteen individuals with newly diagnosed Crohn's disease were purposely selected. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted on four occasions over a 12‐month period. Interviews at each time point were transcribed and coded using conventional content analysis. Afterward, data analyses of each time point were compared longitudinally to form a holistic understanding. Three themes and eight subthemes emerged from the analysis: (1) disclosing symptoms strategically: voluntary disclosure, reluctance to disclose, no need to disclose; (2) decreasing vigilance in symptom prevention: preventing symptoms stringently, preventing symptoms discriminatively, preventing symptoms with decreased diligence; and (3) increasing autonomy in symptom treatment: actively seeking medical advice, self‐treatment and self‐observation. The participants were inclined to keep symptoms hidden from relatives and friends and showed a downward trend in actively disclosing physical discomfort to medical staff within the course of 1 year. The participants' attention to symptom prevention declined, but the enthusiasm and independence to eliminate symptoms on their own increased over time. Nurses could implement targeted interventions according to the characteristics of different periods to assist individuals with Crohn's disease in managing symptoms effectively, reducing symptom burden and improving their quality of life.
Grinding performance investigation of multidirectional CF/PEEK composites—A comparative with unidirectional CF/PEEK
Authors: Wen Zihang , Zhao Huan , Yan Xin , Li Pulin , Ding Han
Published: April 2024

To distinguish the grinding performance of the multidirectional (MD) and unidirectional (UD) carbon fiber‐reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) composites, MD and UD carbon fiber‐reinforced poly‐etherether‐ketone (CF/PEEK) composites were employed in this study. Different ply stacking sequences and process parameters were set for grinding experiments. Subsequently, the surface morphologies and roughness were observed and measured. Experimental results indicated that the variations of grinding forces with grinding parameters of MD‐CF/PEEK and UD‐CF/PEEK were consistent. However, the heat transfer mechanism and the effects of grinding parameters on the maximum grinding temperatures were different between the two composites. The grinding forces and temperatures of MD‐CF/PEEK were slightly lower than UD‐CF/PEEK, and MD‐CF/PEEK reached better surface quality under the same parameters, indicating that the grinding performance of MD‐CF/PEEK was not the simple superposition of UD‐CF/PEEK. In addition, the chip formation and material removal mechanism of CF/PEEK were investigated. The grinding performance of MD‐CF/PEEK was primarily dependent on the θ elements of laminate while the grinding performance of UD‐CF/PEEK was closely related to the fiber orientation angles during grinding. This study established a more in‐depth understanding into the grinding performance of MD‐CF/PEEK and provided technical guidance for high‐quality grinding of CFRTP.

Highlights

The grinding performance of the multidirectional (MD) and unidirectional (UD) carbon fiber‐reinforced poly‐etherether‐ketone (CF/PEEK) is compared.

The grinding forces and temperatures of MD‐CF/PEEK are slightly lower than that of UD‐CF/PEEK, and the MD‐CF/PEEK reach a better surface quality under the same grinding parameters.

The grinding performance of MD‐CF/PEEK is primarily dependent on the θ elements of laminate, and the change of layering order is not a critical factor.

The grinding performance of UD‐CF/PEEK is closely related to the fiber orientation angles during the grinding process.

The surface quality of MD‐CFRTP can be effectively improved by reducing the grinding depth and feed speed, and increasing the grinding wheel speed.
Elevation‐dependent tree growth response to climate in a natural Scots pine/downy birch forest in northern Sweden
Authors: Fassl Magdalena , Aakala Tuomas , Östlund Lars
Published: April 2024

Forests dominate the landscape at high latitudes in the boreal regions and contribute significantly to the global carbon stock. Large areas are protected and provide possibilities to analyze natural forest dynamics including resilience to climate change. In Fennoscandia, Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and downy birch (Betula pubescens Ehrh.) often coexist in natural forests close to the limits of their ecological ranges. Tree growth in these forests is generally thought to be limited by temperature, and changes in growth trends can therefore serve as early indicators of the impact of global warming on natural ecosystems. We sampled 592 Scots pine and downy birch trees along two elevational gradients spanning the transition from the forest zone to the coniferous treeline in Tjeggelvas nature reserve, northern Sweden. Based on the tree‐ring data, we compared annual basal area increment (BAI) trends from 1902 to 2021, analyzed the ring‐width indices (RWI) in relation to local climate data, and investigated trends in climate–growth relationships. We found that the mean annual growth of both species was higher in more recent years than at the beginning of the 20th century. The RWI were positively correlated with summer temperatures, however, we found a much stronger relationship for Scots pine than downy birch. We noticed a decrease in the importance of summer temperature for Scots pine growth, whereas the importance of late spring temperatures increased over the 120‐year‐long study period. Due to strongly positive BAI trends combined with a decrease in temperature sensitivity, the overall conclusion of our study is that the influence of increasing temperatures is still positive and outweighs the negative impacts of climate change on Scots pine growth in natural forests in northern Sweden, particularly at higher elevations. Natural forests are important natural experiments that contrast the managed forests and are key to understanding the latter.
Abundance and diversity of fungal endophytes isolated from monk fruit (Siraitia grosvenorii) grown in a Canadian research greenhouse
Authors: Ma Li , Elmhirst Janice F. , Darvish Rojin , Wegener Lisa A. , Henderson Deborah
Published: April 2024

Monk fruit (Siraitia grosvenorii) is an herbaceous perennial vine of the Cucurbitaceae family cultivated commercially mainly in southern China. There is very little information available about the fungal endophytes in monk fruit. In this study, monk fruit plants were grown from seeds in a research greenhouse at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in British Columbia, Canada to explore the abundance and diversity of their fungal endophytes. Fungal endophytes were isolated from seeds, seedlings, mature monk fruit plants, and fruits, and cultured on potato dextrose agar and water agar media. Isolates were identified by microscopic examination and BLAST comparison of ITS sequences to published sequences in GenBank. At least 150 species of fungal endophytes representing 60 genera and 20 orders were recovered from monk fruit tissues. Non‐metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) was carried out to explore the similarity of fungal communities among roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds based on fungal orders. Our study showed that monk fruit plants are a rich source of fungal endophytes with the greatest abundance and diversity in leaves. This work has deepened our understanding of the intricate interactions between plants and fungi that sustain ecosystems and underpin plant health and resilience.
3D printing of hybrid solid–liquid structures
Authors: Hsieh Chia‐Min , Cipriani Ciera E. , Pentzer Emily B.
Published: April 2024

3D printing is a versatile technology for creating objects with custom geometries and compositions and is increasingly employed for fabricating hybrid solid–liquid composites (SLCs). These composites, comprising solid matrices with integrated liquid components, showcase unique properties such as enhanced flexibility and improved thermal and electrical conductivities. This review focuses on methods to fabricate SLCs directly by different 3D printing techniques, e.g. without needing to backfill or impregnate a porous matrix. The techniques of extrusion, vat photopolymerization and material jetting combined with microfluidics, inkjet printing, vacuum filling and ultraviolet light curing to produce SLCs are emphasized. We also discuss the development of feedstocks, focusing on emulsions and polymer capsules as fillers, and analyze current literature to highlight their significance. The review culminates in a perspective on new directions, highlighting the potential of bicontinuous interfacially jammed emulsion gels (bijels) to facilitate the printing of continuous liquid pathways, alongside the importance of understanding ink formulation and stability. Concluding with future perspectives, we underline the transformative impact of 3D‐printed SLCs in diverse applications, signaling a significant advancement in the field. © 2024 The Authors. Polymer International published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Industrial Chemistry.
Electrical and Optical Properties of a Cu2O/β‐Ga2O3 pn‐Junction
Authors: Khartsev Sergiy , Sarakovskis Anatolijs , Grinberga Liga , Hammar Mattias , Nordell Nils , Hallén Anders
Published: April 2024

A pn‐heterojunction is fabricated by depositing an n‐type β‐Ga2O3 film by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) on c‐cut Al2O3. P‐type cuprous oxide films, Cu2O, are then deposited by PLD, as well as by radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering. It is concluded that hole injection is prohibited by a 3.26 eV valence band barrier, as measured by X‐ray photo‐electron spectroscopy (XPS) and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS). Heterojunction diode structures are prepared on the front side and electrical measurements demonstrate a rectification ration of 8 orders of magnitude and an ideality factor close to 2, indicating interface recombination‐controlled forward current. The junction is also optically active and shows a very fast photo‐response to 275 nm UV light.
Unilateral pulmonary agenesis with ipsilateral facial congenital anomalies in an adult with obstructive airway disease
Authors: Gunathilaka Nilanthi , Bandara Harshana , Dissanayaka Tharindi , Sathiyamoorthy Sathiaruban , Gunasinghe Wathsala , Kularatne Saman
Published: March 2024

Pulmonary agenesis is a rare congenital anomaly which can be isolated or co‐exist with other developmental defects. Boyden et al has described three degrees of mal development of lung which include agenesis, hypoplasia and aplasia. Almost all the reported cases are in paediatric age group patients while, adults with pulmonary developmental abnormalities are sparsely documented in the literature. Interestingly, adult with coexisting hemifacial anomaly and pulmonary agenesis has not been reported in the medical literature. Here, we describe a middle‐aged female who initially presented with bronchial asthma and her chest radiography showed absent left lung which was later confirmed with enhanced CT imaging. Furthermore, she had ipsilateral hemi facial microsomia, microtia, facial nerve palsy and mixed sensory loss, left side large café au lait patch, splenicule and hemangioma in segment V/VI of the liver.
Lake survival of hatchery‐reared adfluvial brown trout—A case study in a large natural lake in Sweden
Authors: Palm Daniel , Lundberg Petter , Persson Lo , Losee James , Brodin Tomas , Hellström Gustav
Published: March 2024

Throughout their native range, adfluvial brown trout populations have declined due to habitat degradation and over exploitation. As a consequence, numerous restoration projects that include stocking of hatchery‐reared trout have been conducted; however, estimates of survival in large lakes remain scarce. Here, we use telemetry to evaluate the survival of stocked trout smolts and sub‐adults in a large lake in central Sweden. Of the smolts released in the main tributary, 42% entered the lake. Both life stages suffered high rates of mortality. Only 8% of smolts survived the first 10 months after entering the lake and 10% of those released as sub‐adults survived 23 months post‐release. In agreement with studies on anadromous trout, we conclude that stocking of hatchery‐reared individuals is not an efficient method to recover population numbers due to poor performance in the wild. Similar studies from other large lakes and comparisons with wild conspecifics would increase the applicability of the results and promote further understanding of the utilization of hatchery‐origin trout to rebuild wild populations and sustain fisheries.
A joint frailty model for recurrent and competing terminal events: Application to delirium in the ICU
Authors: Etzkorn Lacey H. , Coënt Quentin Le , van den Boogaard Mark , Rondeau Virginie , Colantuoni Elizabeth
Published: April 2024

Joint models linking longitudinal biomarkers or recurrent event processes with a terminal event, for example, mortality, have been studied extensively. Motivated by studies of recurrent delirium events in patients receiving care in an intensive care unit (ICU), we devise a joint model for a recurrent event process and multiple terminal events. Being discharged alive from the ICU or experiencing mortality may be associated with a patient's hazard of delirium, violating the assumption of independent censoring. Moreover, the direction of the association between the hazards of delirium and mortality may be opposite of the direction of association between the hazards of delirium and ICU discharge. Hence treating either terminal event as independent censoring may bias inferences. We propose a competing joint model that uses a latent frailty to link a patient's recurrent and competing terminal event processes. We fit our model to data from a completed placebo‐controlled clinical trial, which studied whether Haloperidol could prevent death and delirium among ICU patients. The clinical trial served as a foundation for a simulation study, in which we evaluate the properties, for example, bias and confidence interval coverage, of the competing joint model. As part of the simulation study, we demonstrate the shortcomings of using a joint model with a recurrent delirium process and a single terminal event to study delirium in the ICU. Lastly, we discuss limitations and possible extensions for the competing joint model. The competing joint model has been added to frailtypack, an R package for fitting an assortment of joint models.
Nornicotine‐Typed Insecticides: The Potential Insecticides with Strong Activity Against Aedes Albopictus
Authors: Cao Fangfei , Deng Ying , Zhang Yanxin , Hu Pengfei , Song Xiaoping , Pan Beiyu , Zhong Yunsheng , Cen Yijing , Song Yiming , Liu Qingchao
Published: April 2024

Aedes albopictus, the main vector of dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya, and Zika, has caused significant public health concerns, but there are still few effective insecticides. Nicotine and nornicotine‐typed compounds are well‐known for their potential as an insecticide, which has potential activity against Ae. albopictus. Here we report the effects of nornicotine‐typed insecticide against larvae of Ae. albopictus. We developed a novel synthetic strategy for nicotine and nornicotine‐typed compounds. Novel compounds A1‐A8 and B1‐B26 were synthesized by the synthesized nornicotine. And bioassays indicated that most of these compounds exhibited good effects against larvae of Ae. albopictus, and compounds A3, B4, B20, and B26 had excellent activity against Ae. albopictus, and they were not toxic to humans according to other reports. After considering the cost, compounds B4, B20, and B26 could be potential lead compounds against Ae. albopictus and other Aedes mosquitoes.
Effortless Fabrication of Bi2O3‐Co3O4 Nanocomposite Catalyst: Harnessing Photocatalytic Power for Efficient Cationic Dye Degradation
Authors: Pradhan Debapriya , Nayak Nibedita , Kanar Monalisha , Kumar Dash Suresh
Published: April 2024

A cost‐effective and simple co‐precipitation approach was used to create an efficient photocatalyst Co3O4‐Bi2O3 with identical stoichiometry (1 : 1 of both Co3O4 and Bi2O3). XRD, FTIR, TEM, SEM‐EDS, XPS, UV‐DRS, PL, BET, and TGA were used to characterize the produced material‘s structural and optical properties. The presence of a single phase spinel structure with a distinctive plane (311) was verified by the XRD peak of 2 at 36.9° for Co3O4‐Bi2O3. The SEM pictures revealed clustered consolidated spheres, suggesting particle homogeneity and high interconnectedness. The HR‐TEM and SAED pictures revealed an average crystallite size of 28 nm for the Co3O4‐Bi2O3 heterojunction. The UV‐DRS spectral data demonstrated a 2.1 eV reduction in band gap energy for Co3O4‐Bi2O3 (whereas Co3O4 is 2.4 eV and Bi2O3 is 2.7 eV). Under solar light irradiation, pristine Co3O4, Bi2O3, and Co3O4‐Bi2O3 composites were investigated for photocatalytic degradation of Methylene Blue (MB) and Malachite green (MG) dyes. By adjusting factors such as pH, starting dye concentration, catalyst dosage, and agitation duration, the optimal efficiency was determined. The acquired results showed Co3O4‐Bi2O3 ′s superior activity over both precursors. The composite obtained maximal degradation of 98 % (at pH=11) and 97 % (at pH=9) for MB and MG, respectively. The enhanced photo degradation activity of Co3O4‐Bi2O3 can be due to larger visible light absorption, increased surface area, and decreased h+/e− recombination. The reactive species trapping study was performed to determine the importance of superoxide and hydroxyl radicals during photo degradation. Dye degradation was governed by a pseudo‐first‐order kinetic model. The reusability and stability of Co3O4‐Bi2O3 were confirmed by utilizing the same material for five consecutive runs with both MB and MG dyes. Mass spectra analysis provided insights into the successful degradation of dyes, elucidating intermediate products. The synthesized Co3O4‐Bi2O3 nanocomposite offers unrivalled advantages in terms of structural and optical properties, superior photocatalytic activity, and remarkable stability, making it a promising candidate for efficient dye degradation applications without the formation of toxic by‐products.
Interface‐Engineered InAlN/Cu2O Photocathode with Accelerated Charge Separation for Boosting Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting
Authors: Zeng Hui , Chang Jui‐Che , Qu Yuanju , Wang Weimin , Birch Jens , Hsiao Ching‐Lien , Sun Jianwu
Published: March 2024

Cu2O has emerged as a promising material for sustainable hydrogen production through photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting, while inefficient charge separation remains one of the main challenges hindering its development. In this work, a new architecture of InAlN/Cu2O heterojunction photocathode is demonstrated by combining n‐type InAlN and p‐type Cu2O to improve the charge separation efficiency, thus enhancing PEC water‐splitting performance. The Pt/InAlN/Cu2O photoelectrode exhibits a photocurrent density of 2.54 mA cm−2 at 0 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (VRHE), which is 3.21 times higher than that of Cu2O (0.79 mA cm−2 at VRHE). The enhanced PEC performance is explained by the larger built‐in potential Vbi of 1.43 V formed at the InAlN/Cu2O p–n junction than that in the single Cu2O photocathode (Vbi < 0.77 V), which improves the separation of the photogenerated carriers and thus relieves the bottlenecks of charge‐transfer kinetics at the electrode bulk and electrode/electrolyte interface. In this work, an avenue is opened for designing III‐nitrides/Cu2O heterojunction toward solar energy conversion.
Effect of Different Quenching Methods on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of 30MnB5NbTi
Authors: Wang Xinwei , Song Renbo , Chen Xinghan , Huo Weifeng , Zhao Shuai , Zhang Yingchao
Published: March 2024

The effects of different quenching methods on the microstructure and mechanical properties of 30MnB5NbTi hot stamping steel are investigated, and the quenched microstructure is characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The mechanical properties are evaluated by uniaxial tensile test. The results reveal that, in comparison to die quenching, oil quenching, or air cooling, water‐quenched samples (tempered after water quenching, die quenching and oil quenching) exhibit the highest ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and yield strength (YS), reaching 2052 and 1422 MPa, respectively. Various quenching methods enable multi‐level strength control for the same steel grade, achieving a strength control range of ≈1000 MPa. The microstructure of samples quenched by water, die, and oil is fully martensite, and martensite exhibited block and lath morphology. With the increase of cooling rate, martensite laths become finer and the prior austenite size decreased. The microstructure of air‐cooled samples is martensite, ferrite, and retained austenite. The strengthening mechanisms of different quenched samples are calculated. The results show that dislocation strengthening and precipitation strengthening are the two dominant strengthening mechanisms in 30MnB5NbTi hot stamping steel. Therefore, the properties of hot stamping steel can be improved by changing the cooling rate by designing physical dies.
Distributed Energy Resource Integration for Carbon Neutral Power Systems: Market‐Based Approaches to Ancillary Services and Microgrid Operation
Authors: Asano Hiroshi , Ishii Hideo , Takano Hirotaka
Published: April 2024

Electricity, as a sustainable energy carrier, plays a central role in the transition scenarios for carbon neutralization of energy systems. Expanding the potential of electricity requires intelligent integration of electricity infrastructures and electricity markets with distributed energy resources (DERs) including roof‐top solar photovoltaics (PVs), controllable loads, and storage batteries. This integration will advance the management of power distribution grids, resulting in harmonization of the distribution grids and variable renewable generation. In the foreseeable future, the DERs will be actively used to perform advanced management of power distribution grids and compensate fluctuation in variable renewable power generation such as PVs and wind power. Market‐based coordination mechanisms are already practiced in large‐scale electricity production, electricity trading and transmission around the world. Using these mechanisms at the distribution grid level to integrate numerous flexible devices into the grids remains an important research topic. This paper reviews the role of DER integration toward carbon‐neutral power systems, the state‐of‐art and challenges associated with market‐based approaches for integrating flexible demand, distributed generation, and storage. Methods for assessing the value of DER aggregation such as virtual power plants and microgrids are also explored. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Effect of emulsifier on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, intestinal morphology, faecal microbiology and blood biochemistry of broiler chickens fed low‐energy diets
Authors: Gholami Mohammadjavad , Shirzadi Hassan , Taherpour Kamran , Rahmatnejad Enayat , Shokri Alinaghi , Khatibjoo Ali
Published: March 2024

Background

This study hypothesizes that a natural multicomponent emulsifier (Lipidol) could improve production performance in broiler chickens by aiding lipid digestion and addressing digestive system limitations.

Objectives

The study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary emulsifier inclusion on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, intestinal morphology, faecal microbiology, blood biochemistry and liver enzyme activities of broiler chickens fed low‐energy diets.

Methods

The experiment involved 144 one‐day‐old male broiler chickens split into 4 treatments. Four diets were used: standard metabolizable energy (ME) as a control diet and three low‐ME diets, reducing by 100 kcal/kg by adding 0.5, 1 and 1.5 g/kg of exogenous emulsifier (Em).

Results

No significant differences were observed in body weight gain and feed intake. However, during the finisher period (25–42 days), supplementation emulsifier to low‐ME diets notably improved feed efficiency. Although crude protein, organic matter and ash digestibility remained unaffected, dry matter (DM) digestibility significantly increased in broilers fed low‐ME diets with emulsifier. Broilers receiving 0.5 g/kg of emulsifier showed the highest villus width and surface area values. Moreover, including 1.5 g/kg of emulsifier led to the highest villus height to crypt depth ratio. Faecal microbiota, blood biochemistry and liver enzyme activities showed no significant differences.

Conclusions

Emulsifier supplementation compensated for the energy reduction and enhanced performance, DM digestibility and some intestinal morphology parameters in broiler chickens fed low‐ME diet. Using 0.5 g/kg of emulsifier per 100 kcal of ME reduction in broiler diets is suggested.
Hybridizing Islam in the Balkans: The Rise of Salafi-Hanafism in Bulgaria
Authors: Evstatiev Simeon
Published: March 2024

The present study involves the context of Bulgaria, revealing cases of “non-occurrence” of violence through an analysis of local actors belonging to transnational Salafism and perceived by law enforcement, the media, and society at large as radicalized Islamists. The analysis tackles the concepts of Islamism and Salafism by focusing on court cases of 13 and 14 Muslims accused of “propagating war”. Their personal pathways are seen as indicative of a new trend—the convergent indigenization of Salafism through a hybridization with various Islamic trends in a local context dominated by Hanafism. The chapter thus introduces the concept of Salafi-Hanafism designating a hybrid combination between a Salafi creed and Hanafi practices which shifts the stress from activism to a more inclusivist approach to religion and society.
Trittsicherheit auf Zukunftspfaden? Ungewissheitsbewältigung bei der Entsorgung hochradioaktiver Abfälle
Authors: Scheer Dirk , Becker Frank , Hassel Thomas , Hocke Peter , Leusmann Thorsten , Metz Volker
Published: April 2024

Die Wege für eine sichere Entsorgung hochradioaktiver Abfälle sind vielfältig und bleiben eine zentrale politisch-gesellschaftliche Herausforderung. Umweltverträglichkeit, Gesundheitsschutz und sozialer Frieden sind nur einige Aspekte, denen eine zukunftsgerichtete Endlagerung gerecht werden muss. Vor diesem Hintergrund ist es eine zentrale Aufgabe, zieladäquate Zukunftspfade der nuklearen Entsorgung hochradioaktiver Abfälle zu identifizieren, zu analysieren und zu bewerten – dies steht im Mittelpunkt dieses Beitrags. Ziel ist zum einen eine vergleichende Betrachtung der identifizierten Pfade hinsichtlich ihrer Priorisierung und Charakteristika. Zum anderen werden aus den Pfaden übergeordnete Strategien zum Umgang mit Ungewissheiten abgeleitet. Insgesamt wurden sieben Zukunftspfade identifiziert und hinsichtlich ihrer Plausibilität und Umsetzungswahrscheinlichkeit eingeordnet. Die einzelnen Pfade werden im Beitrag zunächst dargestellt mit einem besonderen Augenmerk auf drei Pfaden, die als sehr wahrscheinlich eingestuft wurden. Darauf folgt eine vergleichende Pfadbetrachtung aus dem Blickwinkel von Gewissheiten und Ungewissheiten als Kernthema des Beitrags. Daraus werden drei übergreifende Strategien der Ungewissheitsbewältigung bei Entsorgungspfaden hochradioaktiver Abfälle herausgearbeitet.
Holographic complexity: braneworld gravity versus the Lloyd bound
Authors: Aguilar-Gutierrez Sergio E. , Craps Ben , Hernandez Juan , Khramtsov Mikhail , Knysh Maria , Shukla Ashish
Published: April 2024

Abstract

We explore the complexity equals volume proposal for planar black holes in anti-de Sitter (AdS) spacetime in 2+1 dimensions, with an end of the world (ETW) brane behind the horizon. We allow for the possibility of intrinsic gravitational dynamics in the form of Jackiw-Teitelboim (JT) gravity to be localized on the brane. We compute the asymptotic rate of change of volume complexity analytically and obtain the full time dependence using numerical techniques. We find that the inclusion of JT gravity on the brane leads to interesting effects on time dependence of holographic complexity. We identify the region in parameter space (the brane location and the JT coupling) for which the rate of change of complexity violates the Lloyd bound. In an equivalent description of the model in terms of an asymptotically AdS wormhole, we connect the violation of the Lloyd bound to the violation of a suitable energy condition in the bulk that we introduce. We also compare the Lloyd bound constraints to previously derived constraints on the bulk parameters in this model that are based on bounds on entanglement growth in the dual CFT state.
Capping the positivity cone: dimension-8 Higgs operators in the SMEFT
Authors: Chen Qing , Mimasu Ken , Wu Tong Arthur , Zhang Guo-Dong , Zhou Shuang-Yong
Published: April 2024

Abstract

SMEFT Wilson coefficients are subject to various positivity bounds in order to be consistent with the fundamental principles of S-matrix. Previous bounds on dimension-8 SMEFT operators have been obtained using the positivity part of UV partial wave unitarity and form a (projective) convex cone. We derive a set of linear UV unitarity conditions that go beyond positivity and are easy to implement in an optimization scheme with dispersion relations in a multi-field EFT. Using Higgs scattering as an example, we demonstrate how to obtain closed bounds in the space of the three relevant dimension-8 coefficients, making use of the UV unitarity conditions as well as so-called null constraints that arise from full crossing symmetry. Specifically, we show that they are bounded by inequalities schematically going like C <$$ \mathcal{O} $$
O
((4π)2). We compare the newly obtained upper bounds with the traditional perturbative unitarity bounds from within the EFT, and discuss some phenomenological implications of the two-sided positivity bounds in the context of experimental probes of Vector Boson Scattering.
A novel gene-trap line reveals the dynamic patterns and essential roles of cysteine and glycine-rich protein 3 in zebrafish heart development and regeneration
Authors: Liang Shuzhang , Zhou Yating , Chang Yue , Li Jiayi , Zhang Min , Gao Peng , Li Qi , Yu Hong , Kawakami Koichi , Ma Jinmin , Zhang Ruilin
Published: March 2024

Mutations in cysteine and glycine-rich protein 3 (CSRP3)/muscle LIM protein (MLP), a key regulator of striated muscle function, have been linked to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in patients. However, the roles of CSRP3 in heart development and regeneration are not completely understood. In this study, we characterized a novel zebrafish gene-trap line, gSAIzGFFM218A, which harbors an insertion in the csrp3 genomic locus, heterozygous fish served as a csrp3 expression reporter line and homozygous fish served as a csrp3 mutant line. We discovered that csrp3 is specifically expressed in larval ventricular cardiomyocytes (CMs) and that csrp3 deficiency leads to excessive trabeculation, a common feature of CSRP3-related HCM and DCM. We further revealed that csrp3 expression increased in response to different cardiac injuries and was regulated by several signaling pathways vital for heart regeneration. Csrp3 deficiency impeded zebrafish heart regeneration by impairing CM dedifferentiation, hindering sarcomere reassembly, and reducing CM proliferation while aggravating apoptosis. Csrp3 overexpression promoted CM proliferation after injury and ameliorated the impairment of ventricle regeneration caused by pharmacological inhibition of multiple signaling pathways. Our study highlights the critical role of Csrp3 in both zebrafish heart development and regeneration, and provides a valuable animal model for further functional exploration that will shed light on the molecular pathogenesis of CSRP3-related human cardiac diseases.
Representation theoretic interpretation and interpolation properties of inhomogeneous spin q-Whittaker polynomials
Authors: Korotkikh Sergei
Published: April 2024

We establish new properties of inhomogeneous spin q-Whittaker polynomials, which are symmetric polynomials generalizing $$t=0$$

t
=
0

Macdonald polynomials. We show that these polynomials are defined in terms of a vertex model, whose weights come not from an R-matrix, as is often the case, but from other intertwining operators of $$U'_q({\widehat{\mathfrak {sl}}}_2)$$

U
q
′

(

sl
^

2

)

-modules. Using this construction, we are able to prove a Cauchy-type identity for inhomogeneous spin q-Whittaker polynomials in full generality. Moreover, we are able to characterize spin q-Whittaker polynomials in terms of vanishing at certain points, and we find interpolation analogues of q-Whittaker and elementary symmetric polynomials.
Mapping and validation of Fusarium wilt race 2 resistance QTL from Citrullus amarus line USVL246-FR2
Authors: Ganaparthi Venkata Rao , Wechter Patrick , Levi Amnon , Branham Sandra E.
Published: March 2024

Key message

Fon race 2 resistant QTLs were identified on chromosomes 8 and 9. Families homozygous for resistance alleles at a haplotype of three KASP markers had 42% lower disease severity than those with susceptible alleles in an independent, interspecific validation population confirming their utility for introgression of Fusarium wilt resistance.

Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum (Fon) race 2 causes Fusarium wilt in watermelon and threatens watermelon production worldwide. Chemical management options are not effective, and no resistant edible watermelon cultivars have been released. Implementation of marker-assisted selection to develop resistant cultivars requires identifying sources of resistance and the underlying quantitative trait loci (QTL), developing molecular markers associated with the QTL, and validating marker-phenotype associations with an independent population. An intraspecific Citrullus amarus recombinant inbred line population from a cross of resistant USVL246-FR2 and susceptible USVL114 was used for mapping Fon race 2 resistance QTL. KASP markers were developed (N = 51) for the major QTL on chromosome 9 and minor QTL on chromosomes 1, 6, and 8. An interspecific F2:3 population was developed from resistance donor USVL246-FR2 (C. amarus) and a susceptible cultivar ‘Sugar Baby’ (Citrullus lanatus) to validate the utility of the markers for introgression of resistance from the wild crop relative into cultivated watermelon. Only 16 KASP markers segregated in the interspecific C. amarus/lanatus validation population. Four markers showed significant differences in the separation of genotypes based on family-mean disease severity, but together explained only 16% of the phenotypic variance. Genotypes that inherited homozygous resistant parental alleles at three KASP markers had 42% lower family-mean disease severity than homozygous susceptible genotypes. Thus, haplotype analysis was more effective at predicting the mean disease severity of families than single markers. The haplotype identified in this study will be valuable for developing Fon race 2 resistant watermelon cultivars.
Gaze data of 4243 participants shows link between leftward and superior attention biases and age
Authors: Strauch Christoph , Hoogerbrugge Alex J. , Ten Brink Antonia F.
Published: March 2024

Healthy individuals typically show more attention to the left than to the right (known as pseudoneglect), and to the upper than to the lower visual field (known as altitudinal pseudoneglect). These biases are thought to reflect asymmetries in neural processes. Attention biases have been used to investigate how these neural asymmetries change with age. However, inconsistent results have been reported regarding the presence and direction of age-related effects on horizontal and vertical attention biases. The observed inconsistencies may be due to insensitive measures and small sample sizes, that usually only feature extreme age groups. We investigated whether spatial attention biases, as indexed by gaze position during free viewing of a single image, are influenced by age. We analysed free-viewing data from 4,243 participants aged 5–65 years and found that attention biases shifted to the right and superior directions with increasing age. These findings are consistent with the idea of developing cerebral asymmetries with age and support the hypothesis of the origin of the leftward bias. Age modulations were found only for the first seven fixations, corresponding to the time window in which an absolute leftward bias in free viewing was previously observed. We interpret this as evidence that the horizontal and vertical attention biases are primarily present when orienting attention to a novel stimulus – and that age modulations of attention orienting are not global modulations of spatial attention. Taken together, our results suggest that attention orienting may be modulated by age and that cortical asymmetries may change with age.