bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Estrogen‐Related Receptor Gamma (ERRγ) as Biomarker and Novel Target for Therapeutic Intervention on Cancer: A Review
Authors: Upadhyay Priyanka , Goel Ridhima , Gulwani Deepak , Sarangthem Vijaya , Singh Thoudam Debraj
Published: July 2024

Estrogen‐related receptors (ERRs), genes similar to estrogen receptors, are identified as hormone‐responsive systems associated with the ERR subfamily. These hormone‐responsive systems facilitate oncometabolic programs to nourish cancer cell growth, a central node at the interface of cellular energy metabolism and cancer. Several independent studies have implicated ERR isoforms like ERRα, ERRβ, and ERRγ in the pathways of cancer development and progression. The construction of tissue‐specific ERR transgenic or knockout mice and the application of synthetic ligands have precisely indicated the critical and diverse role of ERRγ than other isoforms. ERRγ, plays a critical and diverse role, enabling switching metabolism to oncometabolism in favor of cancer cells, making it a “hot target” in cancer therapy. ERRγ expression is correlated with the clinical status of diverse cancer types and various cancer tissue treatments. The dual feature of ERRγ raises interest in understanding its biogenesis and function in different tissues. This review aims to describe the structural organization of ERRs, their central occupancy at the interface of cancer and metabolism, and their biogenesis and expression profile across different cancers. It concludes that ERRγ has potential as a clinical marker in cancer prognosis and a novel non‐conventional therapeutic target.
Modulating the Structure of Interlayer/Layer Matrix on δ‐MnO2 via Cerium Doping‐Engineering toward High‐Performance Aqueous Zinc Ion Batteries
Authors: Chen Yao , Lin Changzheng , Chen Xin , Lu Zehua , Zhang Kaicheng , Liu Yong , Wang Jianan , Han Gaorong , Xu Gang
Published: July 2024

δ‐MnO2 has been vigorously developed as an ideal cathode material for rechargeable aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (AZIBs) due to its spacious layer spacing suitable for ion storage. However, poor intrinsic conductivity, structural collapse, and sluggish reaction kinetics are major limitations restricting their battery performance. Doping engineering has been proven to be an effective strategy for modifying the structure, conductivity, and electronic properties of Mn‐based oxides. Here, a series of δ‐MnO2 hierarchical flowers with different cerium‐doped sites are proposed as high‐performance cathodes for AZIBs, revealing the effects of various Ce doping sites on the MnO2 layer‐by‐layer structure and battery performance. Chemical analysis and theoretical calculations indicate that δ‐MnO2 with both in‐layer and interlayer Ce doping (Cein/inter‐MnO2) allows for sufficient Zn2+ storage sites, higher conductivity, and enhanced reaction kinetics due to enlarged interlayer spacing, increased oxygen defects, and reduced Coulombic repulsion between zinc ions and manganese oxide hosts. As a result, Cein/inter‐MnO2 with extended ion transfer channels and sturdy structure delivers a superior capacity of 348.8 mAh g−1 at a current density of 300 mA g−1 over 100 cycles, and a high retention rate of ≈100% at a current density of 3000 mA g−1 over 2000 cycles.
Near‐infrared reactance spectroscopy‐derived visceral adipose tissue for the assessment of metabolic syndrome in a multi‐ethnic sample of young adults
Authors: Graybeal Austin J. , Brandner Caleb F. , Wise Havens L. , Henderson Alex , Aultman Ryan S. , Vallecillo‐Bustos Anabelle , Newsome Ta' Quoris A. , Stanfield Diavion , Stavres Jon
Published: July 2024

Objectives

Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is highly associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS), which is rapidly increasing in young adults. However, accessible VAT measurement methods are limited, restricting the use of VAT in early detection. This cross‐sectional study sought to determine if near‐infrared reactance spectroscopy (NIRS)‐derived VAT (VATNIRS) was associated with MetS in a multi‐ethnic sample of young adults.

Methods

A total of 107 male and female (F:62, M:45) participants (age: 23.0 ± 4.3y; BMI: 27.1 ± 6.6 kg/m2) completed measurements of fasting blood pressure, blood glucose (FBG), blood lipids, and anthropometric assessments including waist circumference and VATNIRS. MetS severity (MetSindex) was calculated from the aforementioned risk factors using sex and race‐specific equations.

Results

VATNIRS was higher in participants with, and at risk for, MetS compared to those with lower risks (all p < .001). VATNIRS was positively associated with MetSindex for all groups (all p < .001). VATNIRS showed positive associations with systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP), LDL‐C and LDL‐C‐related biomarkers, and FBG; and negative associations with HDL‐C and HDL‐C‐to‐total cholesterol ratio (all p < .050). Associations between VATNIRS and blood pressure for females, and LDL‐C and LDL‐C‐related biomarkers for males, were nonsignificant (all p > .050). VATNIRS was positively associated with DBP in African–American participants, and SBP in White participants, resulting in positive associations with MAP for both groups (all p < .050).

Conclusions

VATNIRS is associated with MetS and individual MetS risks factors in a multi‐ethnic sample of young adults; providing a noninvasive, cost‐effective, portable, and accessible method that may assist in the early detection of MetS and other cardiometabolic abnormalities.
Well supplied in life, set aside in death: A multi‐isotope study of Justinian plague victims fromSaint‐Doulchard(France, 7th–8th centuriesAD)
Authors: Vytlačil Zdeněk , Durand Raphaël , Kacki Sacha , Holleville Marion , Drtikolová Kaupová Sylva , Brůžek Jaroslav , Castex Dominique , Velemínský Petr
Published: July 2024

Objectives

Justinian plague and its subsequent outbreaks were major events influencing Early Medieval Europe. One of the affected communities was the population of Saint‐Doulchard in France, where plague victim burials were concentrated in a cemetery enclosure ditch. This study aimed to obtain more information about their life‐histories using the tools of isotope analysis.

Materials and Methods

Dietary analysis using carbon and nitrogen isotopes was conducted on 97 individuals buried at Le Pressoir in Saint‐Doulchard, with 36 of those originating from the enclosure ditch. This sample set includes all individuals analyzed for plague DNA in a previous study. Mobility analysis using strontium isotope analysis supplements the dietary study, with 47 analyzed humans. The results are supported by a reference sample set of 31 animal specimens for dietary analysis and 9 for mobility analysis.

Results

The dietary analysis results showed significantly different dietary behavior in individuals from the ditch burials, with better access to higher quality foods richer in animal protein.87Sr/86Sr ratios are similar for both studied groups and indicate a shared or similar area of origin.

Discussion

The results suggest that the ditch burials contain an urban population from the nearby city of Bourges, which overall had a better diet than the rural population from Saint‐Doulchard. It is implied that city's population might have been subjected to high mortality rates during the plague outbreak(s), which led to their interment in nearby rural cemeteries.
Characterization of Entanglement via Non‐Existence of a Subquantum Random Field
Authors: Khrennikov Andrei
Published: July 2024

Any pure state of a compound system with the state space determines a kind of covariance operator acting in the Cartesian product . If this operator is positively defined, then it determines a random field valued in . In this case compound quantum system can be treated as a classical random field system whose configuration space is not tensor, but Cartesian product space. It happens that and a subquantum process exists if and only if quantum state is not entangled. The technical framework used in this note is already presented by von Neumann.
Formate‐Mediated Electroenzymatic Synthesis via Biological Cofactor NADH
Authors: Wang Chuanjun , Dong Wenjin , Zhang Pengye , Ma Yaya , Han Zhiwei , Zou Yutai , Wang Wenshuo , Li Hao , Hollmann Frank , Liu Jian
Published: July 2024

Synthetic biohybrid systems by coupling artificial system with nature's machinery may offer a disruptive solution to address the global energy crisis. We developed a versatile electroenzymatic pathway for the continuous synthesis of valuable chemicals, facilitated by formate‐driven NADH regeneration. Utilizing a bismuth electrocatalyst, we achieved stable CO2 reduction to formate with approximately 90 % Faraday efficiency at a current density of 150 mA cm−2. The generated formate acts as a mediator to regenerate NADH, which is then coupled with immobilized redox enzymes—alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), L‐lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and L‐glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH)—to produce targeted chemicals at significant rates and exceptionally high turnover numbers (1.8×106 to 3.1×106). These achievements not only underscore the efficiency of the system but also its practical applicability in industrial settings. By leveraging in situ generated formate, this innovative approach demonstrates the potential of integrating electrocatalysis with enzymatic reactions for sustainable and efficient chemical production on a practical scale.
Rapid Aminations of Functionalized Aryl Fluorosulfates in Water
Authors: Iyer Karthik S. , Dismuke Rodriguez Kylee B. , Lammert Robert M. , Yirak Jordan R. , Saunders John M. , Kavthe Rahul D. , Aue Donald H. , Lipshutz Bruce H.
Published: July 2024

Aryl fluorosulfates of varying complexities have been used in amination reactions in water using a new Pd oxidative addition complex (OAC‐1) developed specifically to match the needs of the fine chemicals industry, not only in terms of functional group tolerance, but also reflecting time considerations associated with these important C−N couplings. Also especially noteworthy is that they replace both PFAS‐related triflates and nonaflates, which are today out of favor due to recent government regulations. The new complex based on the BippyPhos ligand is used at low loadings and under aqueous micellar conditions. Moreover, it is easily prepared and stable to long term storage. DFT calculations on the OAC precatalyst compare well with the X‐ray structure of the crystals with π‐complexation to the aromatic system of the ligand and also confirm the NMR data showing a mixture of conformers in solution that differ from the X‐ray structure in rotation of the phenyl and t‐butyl ligand substituents. An extensive variety of coupling partners, including pharmaceutically relevant APIs, readily participate under mild and environmentally responsible reaction conditions.
Peperomia pellucida (L.) Kunth suppresses glycation‐induced inflammatory response in human retinal pigment epithelial cell line ARPE‐19 via JAK‐STAT3 signaling
Authors: Ho Keat Lam , Yong Phaik Har , Lim Siew Huah , Ng Zhi Xiang
Published: July 2024

The formation of advanced glycation end product (AGE) is a risk factor for diabetic retinopathy. Since the current treatment for diabetic retinopathy is accompanied by side effects, preliminary findings have suggested Peperomia pellucida (L.) Kunth as a potential alternative therapeutic option for diabetic retinopathy. This study aimed to elucidate the anti‐inflammatory mechanism of P. pellucida in the AGE‐stimulated human retinal pigment epithelial cell line ARPE‐19. Phytochemical analysis revealed phenylpronanoids, terpenes, and fatty acids in P. pellucida. Through in vitro cell viability assay, the P. pellucida methanolic extract (IC50 = 8.70 mg/mL) and ethyl acetate fraction (IC50 = 7.34 mg/mL) were considered as non toxic for ARPE‐19. AGE induced an inflammatory response in ARPE‐19 by upregulating the gene (2.4–5.8‐fold) and protein (1.4–2.3‐fold) expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), interleukin‐8 (IL‐8), monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1, matrix metalloproteinase 2, and vascular endothelial growth factor. At 1.5 mg/mL, P. pellucida methanolic extract suppressed IL‐8 expression (p < 0.05), implying its anti‐inflammatory action at the early inflammatory stage through the Janus kinase (JAK)‐STAT3 pathway. The methanolic extract also restored the ARPE‐19 viability under AGE‐induced inflammatory stress. The downregulation of inflammatory biomarkers along the JAK‐STAT3 pathway suggested P. pellucida as a promising anti‐inflammatory source for diabetic retinopathy.
Ethanediamine Intercalation Induced Hydrogen Bond Network in Vanadium Oxide for Ultralong‐Life Aqueous Ammonium Ion Batteries
Authors: Lu Tzu‐Hao , Liu Qiyu , He Jinjun , Liu Hao , Yu Yanxia , Wang Yi , Lu Xihong
Published: July 2024

Aqueous ammonium‐ion batteries (AAIBs) have received tremendous attention as a potential energy technology, but their development is severely challenged by the fact that the as‐reported electrode materials are usually unable to meet the requirements of high capacity and high stability simultaneously. Herein, an organic‐inorganic hybrid material of ethanediamine (EDA) intercalated vanadium oxide (VO‐EDA) is synthesized as a high‐performance anode material for AAIBs. The intercalated EDA molecules not only act as an electron donor to bind with NH4+, but also form hydrogen bonding network structures with vanadium oxides to facilitate charge/ion transfer. As a result, this hybrid material provides a high specific capacity of 104.4 mAh g−1 at 0.5 A g−1 and good cycling stability after 5000 cycles 10 A g−1 with a coulombic efficiency of ~100 %. Moreover, the ammonium‐ion full cell based on VO‐EDA anode and NiHCF cathode achieves a specific capacity of 55 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 and impressive cycling stability with 88.6 % capacity retention after 10000 cycles at 5 A g−1.
In‐situ biological biogas upgrading using upflow anaerobic polyfoam bioreactor: Operational and biological aspects
Authors: Baransi‐Karkaby Katie , Yanuka‐Golub Keren , Hassanin Mahdi , Massalha Nedal , Sabbah Isam
Published: July 2024

A high rate upflow anaerobic polyfoam‐based bioreactor (UAPB) was developed for lab‐scale in‐situ biogas upgrading by H2 injection. The reactor, with a volume of 440 mL, was fed with synthetic wastewater at an organic loading rate (OLR) of 3.5 g COD/L·day and a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 7.33 h. The use of a porous diffuser, alongside high gas recirculation, led to a higher H2 liquid mass transfer, and subsequently to a better uptake for high CH4 content of 56% (starting from 26%). Our attempts to optimize both operational parameters (H2 flow rate and gas recirculation ratio, which is the total flow rate of recirculated gas over the total outlet of gas flow rate) were not initially successful, however, at a very high recirculation ratio (32) and flow rate (54 mL/h), a significant improvement of the hydrogen consumption was achieved. These operational conditions have in turn driven the methanogenic community toward the dominance of Methanosaetaceae, which out‐competed Methanosarcinaceae. Nevertheless, highly stable methane production rates of 1.4–1.9 L CH4/Lreactor.day were observed despite the methanogenic turnover. During the different applied operational conditions, the bacterial community was especially impacted, resulting in substantial shifts of taxonomic groups. Notably, Aeromonadaceae was the only bacterial group positively correlated with increasing hydrogen consumption rates. The capacity of Aeromonadaceae to extracellularly donate electrons suggests that direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) enhanced biogas upgrading. Overall, the proposed innovative biological in‐situ biogas upgrading technology using the UAPB configuration shows promising results for stable, simple, and effective biological biogas upgrading.
Resistance from generation to generation: The Saturday Mothers in Istanbul
Authors: Kaya Orhan , Acar Yasemin Gülsüm , Agar Celal Cahit , Neville Fergus
Published: July 2024

The Saturday Mothers (Cumartesi Anneleri) are a group that has gathered in Istanbul for a 30‐min sit‐in every Saturday since 1995 seeking justice for forced disappearances and political murders in Turkey. What started with a group of approximately 30 mainly family and close relatives of those who disappeared has grown to include thousands of participants. The initial protests were composed predominantly of mothers of victims, but over the past 28 years other relatives, including children, have joined the vigils. In many cases, those children then continue to participate and join the social movement. We are particularly interested in the Saturday Mothers' ability to sustain participation in weekly collective action, including the ways in which intergenerational transmission shapes and encourages this action. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 19 members of the Saturday Mothers. Analysis of participants' narratives and experiences included three main themes: family as a model, shared experiences, and functions of the movement. Findings highlight the complex interplay between familial influences, collective memory, and the formation of the Saturday Mothers' identity.
Chemical Profile, Antibacterial Activity and Antioxidant Activity of Bark Volatile Oil of Terminalia arjuna
Authors: Rauf Mahd , Intisar Azeem , Manzoor Sobia , Qaisar Uzma , Bano Shehar , Ahmed Ejaz , Mutahir Zeeshan , Ul Ain Noor
Published: July 2024

Terminalia arjuna is an evergreen medicinal plant that belongs to the Combretaceae family of flowering plants. The bark of the plant exhibits antiviral, anticancer, hypocholesterolemic, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. In this study, composition antibacterial activity, antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity of bark oil of Terminalia arjuna(Roxb.) were reported. Oils were extracted by microwave assisted hydrodistillation where an oil yield of 0.18 % was obtained followed by the identification of 35 compounds by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. The most abundant volatiles were furfural (11.11 %), isoeugenol (9.99 %), p‐ethylguaiacol (9.97 %), α‐cadinol (9.57 %), and estragole (9.47 %). The oil was further evaluated against ten different drug resistant strains where oil showed significant activity against all pathogens and the highest activity was found against Acinetobacter baumannii(22 mm), Klebsiella pneumoniae (22 mm) and Staphylococcus aureus(22 mm) in a concentration‐dependent manner. Antioxidant activity evaluation demonstrated 68 % radical scavenging activity by the volatile oil as compared to 81 % of the standard, ascorbic acid at a concentration of 1000 μg. Cytotoxicity studies were conducted to see the effect of sample on the expression level of a housekeeping gene, Glyceraldehyde 3‐phosphate dehydrogenase where it did not affect the normal transcription of the gene.
Biosynthesis of Arcyriaflavin F from Streptomyces venezuelae ATCC 10712
Authors: Lai Hung‐En , Kennedy Agata , Tanner Lewis , Bartram Emma A. , Mei Chee Soo , Freemont Paul S. , Moore Simon J.
Published: July 2024

Indolocarbazoles are natural products with a broad spectrum of bioactivity. A distinct feature of indolocarbazole biosynthesis is the modification of the indole and maleimide rings by regioselective tailoring enzymes. Here, we study a new indolocarbazole variant, which is encoded by the acfXODCP genes from Streptomyces venezuelae ATCC 10712. We characterise the pathway by expressing the acfXODCP genes in Streptomyces coelicolor, which led to the production of a C‐5/C‐5’‐dihydroxylated indolocarbazole, which we assign as arcyriaflavin F. We also show that a flavin‐dependent monooxygenase AcfX catalyses the C‐5/C‐5’ dihydroxylation of the unsubstituted arcyriaflavin A into arcyriaflavin F. Interestingly, AcfX shares homology to EspX from erdasporine A biosynthesis, which instead catalyses a single C‐6 indolocarbazole hydroxylation. In summary, we report a new indolocarbazole biosynthetic pathway and a regioselective C‐5 indole ring tailoring enzyme AcfX.
Bailout subintimal trans‐catheter withdrawal (STRAW) technique for a distally extended coronary hematoma
Authors: Tadano Yutaka , Sugie Takuro , Kanno Daitaro , Fujita Tsutomu
Published: July 2024

A coronary hematoma, which can sometimes obstruct coronary flow, may be left behind after tip‐detection antegrade dissection and reentry. We present a novel bailout technique utilizing subintimal trans‐catheter withdrawal technique with the assistance of a stent and a balloon. This technique can be used before performing bailout long stenting or a fenestration procedure with a cutting balloon, which are standard treatments for hematoma, to improve impaired coronary flow caused by a distally extended hematoma.
Maximizing CO2 Reduction Efficiency: Surface‐Regulated Highly Porous Ag‐Cu Alloy Aerogel Inserted With Multi‐Wall Carbon Nanotube Achieving Nearly Complete CO Selectivity
Authors: Wang Junyan , Soo‐Hyun Park Jennifer , Imam Ahmer , Yu Zixin , Fang Zehao , Noroozifar Meissam , Kraatz Heinz‐Bernhard
Published: July 2024

The electrochemical reduction of CO2 (eCO2RR) holds promise in mitigating atmospheric greenhouse gas levels but is hindered by low reaction kinetics, high energy barriers, and poor selectivity. To address these challenges, we developed a novel series of cost‐effective AgCu‐containing metal‐aerogel catalysts with high electrochemical surface areas (ECSA) using a top‐down reduction approach. The Ag85Cu15 aerogel, with an ECSA of 27.41 cm2, achieved a Faraday efficiency (FE%) of 89.3 % for CO production at −0.9 V vs. RHE. Increasing the Cu content to over 50 % in the aerogel matrix produced small amounts of C2H4, with a maximum FE% of 12.9 % at −1.0 V vs. RHE. To further enhance CO2 reduction efficiency, multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (CNT) were incorporated into the Ag85Cu15 alloy aerogel via a hydrothermal treatment. The highly dispersed CNTs within the aerogel matrix increased the ECSA to 57.00 cm2 by forming a well‐defined porous structure through van‐der Waals interactions, improving CO selectivity, and achieving a FE% of 98.6 % at −0.7 V vs. RHE and a partial current density of 9.6 mA/cm2 in an H‐cell. 86 % of the initial FECO% was maintained during an 18 h test with continuous electrolysis.
Iodine‐Catalyzed Carbonyl‐Alkyne Metathesis Reactions
Authors: Arndt Thiemo , Breugst Martin
Published: July 2024

The reaction between aldehydes or ketones and alkynes—the carbonyl‐alkyne metathesis—constitutes a very useful strategy for the synthesis of α,β‐unsaturated carbonyls. We now demonstrate that iodine is a highly efficient catalyst for both the intra‐ and intermolecular metathesis reaction in very small concentrations (0.1–1 mol %). Our protocol outperforms other catalytic systems, is operationally very simple, cheap, metal‐free, and tolerates a large variety of functional groups (e. g., −CN, −CO2Me, −Br, −OH) at very low catalyst loadings. We can furthermore show that iodine‐catalyzed carbonyl‐alkyne metatheses can be combined with other iodine‐catalyzed reactions in one‐pot procedures to afford larger and more complex molecular structures. Finally, our mechanistic studies indicate that the iodonium ion is the active catalyst under the reaction conditions.
Stimuli‐Responsive Interconversion between Poly‐NHC‐Based Organometallic Assemblies and Their Self‐Aggregated Dimers
Authors: Jin Guang‐Feng , Han Ying‐Feng
Published: July 2024

Comprehensive Summary

Poly‐NHC‐based organometallic assemblies 3‐PF6, 3‐SbF6 and 3‐OTf were obtained and verified by NMR spectroscopy, ESI mass spectrometry and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analyses. Controllable structural interconversion was observed between the poly‐NHC‐based organometallic assemblies and their self‐aggregated dimers in solution affected by concentration, solvent and metal ion. 1H NMR spectra of assembly 3‐PF6 in CD3CN at different concentrations demonstrated controllable structural interconversion, and 19F NMR spectrum of assembly 3‐PF6 at high concentration further evidenced the presence of the free hexafluorophosphate anion and encapsulated hexafluorophosphate anion for its two sets of signals. In addition, single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis provided clear evidence that in the solid state, two assemblies 3‐PF6 were vertically stuck, forming a self‐aggregated dimer with an encapsulated hexafluorophosphate anion. Investigating the reversible structural interconversion is beneficial for revealing the intrinsic nature on the atom level and paving the way to design the stimuli‐responsive functional system.
Porous N‐Doped Carbon‐encapsulated Iron as Novel Catalyst Architecture for the Electrocatalytic Hydrogenation of Benzaldehyde
Authors: Pota Filippo , Costa de Oliveira Maida A. , Schröder Christian , Brunet Cabré Marc , Nolan Hugo , Rafferty Aran , Jeannin Olivier , Camerel Franck , Behan James A. , Barrière Frédéric , Colavita Paula E.
Published: July 2024

Carbon porous materials containing nitrogen functionalities and encapsulated iron‐based active sites have been suggested as electrocatalysts for energy conversion, however their applications to the hydrogenation of organic substrates via electrocatalytic hydrogenation (ECH) remain unexplored. Herein, we report on a Fe@C:N material synthesized with an adapted annealing procedure and tested as electrocatalyst for the hydrogenation of benzaldehyde. Using different concentrations of the organic, and electrolysis coupled to gas chromatography experiments, we demonstrate that it is possible to use such architectures for the ECH of unsaturated organics. Potential control experiments show that ECH faradaic efficiencies >70 % are possible in acid electrolytes, while maintaining selectivity for the alcohol over the pinacol dimerization product. Estimates of product formation rates and turnover frequency (TOF) values suggest that these carbon‐encapsulated architectures can achieve competitive performance in acid electrolytes relative to both base and precious metal electrodes.
Water‐Based Recycling Process of FTO/SnO2 Substrate for Sustainable Perovskite Solar Cell Technology
Authors: Gunasekara Pivini , Chiu Wei‐Hsun , Senanayeke Saveen , Yang Yang , Tam Hoang Minh , Sonar Prashant , O'Mullane Anthony P. , Wang Hongxia
Published: July 2024

Fluorine‐doped tin oxide (FTO) substrate is an important and expensive component in perovskite solar cells (PSCs), which accounts for up to 40 % of a typical PSC raw material cost. In this study, we investigated the recyclability of SnO2/FTO in PSCs by washing the spent PSCs using different solvent such as dimethylformamide (DMF), dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), acetone, water, and acetone/water mixture. Characterisation of properties of the SnO2/FTO substrates recovered from the PSC show the surface wettability of SnO2/FTO is largely unchanged with water washing while a higher hydrophobicity is obtained with organic solvent washing. Comparison of electronic properties of the SnO2/FTO substrate shows a downward shift of the conduction band by 180 meV with water washing, creating favourable energy alignment with adjacent perovskite for efficient interfacial charge injection. Consequently, PSCs using the water‐based recycled SnO2/FTO substrates produced a high power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 19.33 % which is comparable to the device using fresh SnO2/FTO substrate (PCE=19.85 %). Furthermore, we demonstrated that the water washing process could retain property of SnO2/FTO substrate for decent PSC performance up to four recycling cycles. This study opens new avenues towards recycling of valuable FTO substrates in PSCs for increased sustainability and cost‐effectiveness.
Photoinduced Lignin Cα−Cβ Bond Cleavage and Chemodivergent Functionalization via Iron Catalysis
Authors: Li Yi , Wu Simeng , Liu Yongqian , He Zhiyang , Li Wei , Li Shujun , Chen Zhijun , Liu Shouxin , Tian Bing
Published: July 2024

The photocatalytic conversion of lignin into value‐added chemicals especially those functionalized molecules represent one of the most important strategies for sustainable and environmental‐friendly development. Cleavage of C−C bonds in lignin under mild photocatalytic conditions for refining lignin into useful molecules is meaningful but challenging. Meanwhile, the assembly of diverse functional groups into active lignin fragments during the depolymerization is of great challenging. Herein, using cheap iron catalysts under visible light irradiation, the highly selective and efficient cleavage of Cα−Cβ bond in lignin is realized via ligand‐to‐metal charge transfer (LMCT) and hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) processes. The subsequent divergent functionalization of generated lignin fragment‐based radical intermediates enables an efficient formation of diverse functionalized molecules. This method is also effective for cleavage of Cα−Cβ bond in native lignin, yielding two identified benzaldehyde monomers in a total yield of 8.7 wt %.
Opportunity and Challenge of Advanced Porous Sorbents for PFAS Removal
Authors: Lai Zhuozhi , Zhou Yaolu , Bai Shanshan , Sun Qi
Published: July 2024

Per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), comprising over 9,000 persistent synthetic organic contaminants, are extensively found in the environment and pose significant risks to both human and ecological health. Among the strategies for addressing PFAS contamination, adsorption processes have proven to be cost‐effective. Traditional sorbents such as ion‐exchange resins and activated carbon have been found to exhibit low adsorption capacities and slow equilibration times. Recent innovations in porous materials, including metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs), covalent organic frameworks (COFs), and porous organic polymers (POPs), however, offer significant improvements in the efficiency of PFAS adsorption. This review thoroughly examines the latest advancements in these materials, analyzing their mechanisms of adsorption, and concludes by suggesting directions for future research that could further enhance their effectiveness in PFAS management.
Distortion‐less video wireless transmission in 5G new radio using delay‐distortion‐rate optimization (DDRO)
Authors: Maheswari K. , Padmaja Nimmagadda
Published: July 2024

In this paper, a novel strategy of video communication over a 5G platform of new radio (NR) is developed, and it is named ViNR. With the support of optimization on the ViNR quality of service (QoS) system design, we stretched the outdated R‐D optimization to a novel delay‐distortion‐rate optimization (DDRO) control method. The entire model is partitioned with two types of coding: source coding and channel coding. For source coding, we affianced the inter‐frame prediction method of independent predicted frames (IPPPP) with Lagrange multiplier optimization. Channel coding is intricate with the minimization of delay‐distortion and getting the most out of the rate using resource allocation optimization in terms of sub‐slice allocation. To perform this sub‐slice resource assignment with optimization of DDR, the isolation resource allocation is premeditated in this work to ensure the service level profile of various groups of resource slots or grids dealing with the subject of middling delay and rate. The widespread simulation results divulge that the proposed algorithm NR‐DDRO achieves better QoS parameters of delay, distortion, and rate with the metrics of end‐to‐end distortion, encoding Y‐PSNR, encoding bit rate, encoding time, end‐to‐end PSNR, optimization time, and complete computation time.
Who's afraid of little old Taylor Swift?
Authors: Hodges Dawn Z.
Published: July 2024

According to a song on Taylor Swift's new album The Tortured Poet's Department, the answer to the question “Who's afraid of little old me?” is “Well, you should be.” Whether you love her or hate her (or feel completely indifferent), she is a force to be reckoned with.
Mesocarnivore sensitivity to natural and anthropogenic disturbance leads to declines in occurrence and concern for species persistence
Authors: Ganoe Laken S. , Mayer Amy E. , Brown Charles , Gerber Brian D.
Published: July 2024

Understanding mesocarnivore responses to both natural and anthropogenic disturbance is crucial for understanding species' potential to maintain landscape persistence into the future. We examined the response of five mesocarnivore species (bobcat, coyote, fisher, gray fox, and red fox) to both types of disturbances and climatic conditions. The Northeastern U.S. has experienced multiple large‐scale disturbances, such as a mass defoliation event following larval spongy moth outbreak and high densities of infrastructure that divide the natural landcover into roadless zones where these species inhabit. Using dynamic occupancy models in a Bayesian framework, we aimed to (1) examine variation in species' responses over a 4‐year study by estimating variation in site‐level occupancy, colonization and extirpation of each species in the state of Rhode Island relative to natural disturbance (i.e., defoliation event), anthropogenic disturbance (i.e., parceling of natural landcover bounded by roads, distance to roads), and climate (i.e., seasonal precipitation) and (2) compare current occurrence trends to predicted asymptotic occupancy to identify key variables contributing to distribution instability. Our findings indicated declines in the occurrence of both fox species, and fisher. There was variation in mesocarnivore response to disturbance among the species. We found gray fox and fisher occupancy dynamics to be sensitive to all forms of disturbance and coyote occurrence was positively associated with anthropogenic disturbance. Although bobcat and red fox were predicted to respond positively to future climate scenarios, fisher and gray fox were not, and persistence of fisher and gray fox in a landscape of disturbance relies on large areas with high forest and shrubland cover. With the wide‐spread spongy moth outbreak across much of southern New England, our findings indicate that efforts to conserve forested lands may be crucial in maintaining the persistence of several mesocarnivore species in this region experiencing large‐scale disturbance.
The temperate marine Peruvian Province: How history accounts for its unusual biota
Authors: Vermeij Geerat J. , DeVries Thomas J. , Griffin Miguel , Nielsen Sven N. , Ochoa Diana , Rivadeneira Marcelo M. , Salas‐Gismondi Rodolfo , Valdovinos Fernanda
Published: July 2024

The Peruvian Province, from 6° S in Peru to 42° S in Chile, is a highly productive coastal marine region whose biology and fossil record have long been studied separately but never integrated. To understand how past events and conditions affected today's species composition and interactions, we examined the role of extinction, colonization, geologic changes to explain previously unrecognized peculiar features of the biota and to compare the Peruvian Province's history to that of other climatically similar temperate coasts. We synthesized all available data on the benthic (or benthically feeding) biota, with emphasis on fossilizable taxa, for the interval from the Miocene (23–5.4 Ma) and Pliocene (5.4–2.5 Ma) to the present. We outline the history of ecological guilds including primary producers, herbivores, predators, and suspension‐feeders and document patterns of extinction, colonization, and geographic restriction. We identify twelve unusual attributes of the biota, most of which are the result of repeated episodes of extinction. Several guilds present during the Miocene and Pliocene are not represented in the province today, while groups such as kelps and perhaps intertidal predatory sea stars are relative newcomers. Guilds on soft bottoms and in sheltered habitats were severely affected by extinction, whereas those on hard bottoms were most affected by colonists and held their own in diversity. The Peruvian Province has not served as a biogeographic refuge, in contrast to the coasts of Australasia and Argentina, where lineages no longer present in the Peruvian Province survive. The loss of sheltered habitats since the Pliocene explains many of the present‐day peculiarities of the biota. The history of the province's biota explains its unique attributes. High productivity, a rich Southern Hemisphere heritage, and colonization from the north account for the present‐day composition and unusual characteristics of the biota.
Indexing left ventricular end‐systolic dimension to body size: Association with mortality in patients with degenerative mitral regurgitation
Authors: Tribouilloy Christophe , Rusinaru Dan , Grigioni Francesco , Avierinos Jean‐François , Vanoverschelde Jean‐Louis , Benfari Giovanni , Bursi Francesca , Barbieri Andrea , Bohbot Yohann , Essayagh Benjamin , Michelena Hector , Enriquez‐Sarano Maurice
Published: July 2024

Aims

In patients with degenerative mitral regurgitation (DMR), left ventricular (LV) dysfunction is associated with increased risk of heart failure and excess mortality. LV end‐systolic diameter (LVESD) is an established trigger for intervention, yet recommended LVESD thresholds apply poorly to patients with small body size. Whether LV normalization to body surface area (BSA) may be used as a trigger for DMR correction is unknown. We examined the link between LVESD index (LVESDi) and outcome in DMR to identify appropriate thresholds for excess mortality.

Methods and results

This study focuses on 2753 consecutive patients with DMR due to flail leaflets diagnosed in tertiary centres from Europe and the United States, with prospective echocardiographic measurement of LVESD and BSA and long‐term follow‐up. The primary endpoint was mortality after diagnosis under conservative management. Secondary endpoints were mortality under conservative and surgical management and postoperative mortality of patients who underwent surgery. The optimal LVESDi cut‐off for mortality prediction was 20 mm/m2. Irrespective of management type, 10‐year survival was lower with LVESDi ≥20 mm/m2 than with LVESDi <20 mm/m2 (both p < 0.001). After covariate adjustment, LVESDi ≥20 mm/m2 was independently predictive of mortality under conservative management (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1.41, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.15–1.75), and with conservative and surgical management (adjusted HR 1.34, 95% CI 1.17–1.54). LVESDi remained associated with poorer postoperative outcome in patients who underwent intervention. LVESDi showed higher incremental predictive value over the baseline model compared to LVESD. The association between LVESDi ≥20 mm/m2 and outcome was consistent in subgroups of patients with DMR.

Conclusions

In severe DMR due to flail leaflets, LVESDi is a marker of risk additive and incremental to LVESD. Its use in clinical practice should lead to earlier referral to mitral valve surgery and improved long‐term outcome.
Josh Hibbard hones his management style at Whitworth University
Authors: D’Orio Wayne
Published: July 2024

The title of one session at this year's AACRAO conference in Columbus, Ohio, stood out. It was called, “80 Years of Mistakes and How to Avoid Them.”
Experimental study on the effects of complex discrete joints on the mechanical behavior of rock‐like material
Authors: Tang Qingteng , Wang Xingkai , Xie Wenbing , Liu Zuan
Published: July 2024

The strength and failure of rock masses are ambiguous due to their complex structure. Investigating the strength and failure of jointed rock mass remains a persistent concern in mining engineering. This study aims to investigate the effects of joint dip angles of complex discrete joints on the mechanical properties and fracture evolution of rock‐like material. Rock‐like specimens with complex joints were prepared using 3D printing technology and then tested under uniaxial compression loading. The experimental results reveal the following findings: (1) The anisotropy of rock‐like material with complex joints is lower compared to the rock‐like material with simple joints. (2) The ratio of long‐term strength to uniaxial compressive strength of rock‐like material remains consistent despite changes in the dip angle of the joints. (3) Differing from intact rocks, AE events of the rock‐like material with complex joints are obvious in the initial loading stage and elastic deformation stage. (4) When the dip angle of the joint sets is 0 and 90°, fractures progressively propagate, and the failure mode of the rock‐like material demonstrates tensile failure along the pre‐existing joints. Conversely, when the dip angle of the joint sets is 45° and 135°, fractures are simultaneously initiated at various locations within the rock‐like specimen, resulting in a failure mode of rotational failure by the newly generated block.
Compatible effects of adopting imaginary future generations and systems thinking in exploring future challenges: Evidence from a deliberation experiment
Authors: Hara Keishiro , Fuchigami Yukari , Arai Takanobu , Nomaguchi Yutaka
Published: July 2024

We adopted an innovative methodology that combines systems thinking with “imaginary future generations” (IFGs), a method for activating “futurability” in people, to discussions about the issues and needs of a future society, and we verified the effectiveness and value of this methodology. We conducted a series of five debate experiments in which groups comprised of company employees and university students worked to formulate a vision of the future state, social issues, and social needs of society in 2050, and to investigate policies that should be adopted in the years ahead. The results of a text analysis of group debates and questionnaire surveys of debate participants showed that (1) adopting IFGs facilitates the exploration of new issues and needs when depicting the images of the future state of society; (2) adopting IFGs gives rise to recognized cognitive changes in debate participants; and (3) combining the IFG methodology with causal loop diagrams (CLDs), a systems thinking tool, makes it possible to generate the effects of systems thinking while simultaneously maintaining a “future generation” perspective. Most importantly, the results show that the IFG methodology and CLDs could be compatible. These findings demonstrate that a combination of IFGs and systems thinking can effectively be used in discussions and decision‐making that deal with complex issues related to the future of society.
Sensitivity and specificity of the action observation network to kinematics, target object, and gesture meaning
Authors: Simonelli Francesca , Handjaras Giacomo , Benuzzi Francesca , Bernardi Giulio , Leo Andrea , Duzzi Davide , Cecchetti Luca , Nichelli Paolo F. , Porro Carlo A. , Pietrini Pietro , Ricciardi Emiliano , Lui Fausta
Published: July 2024

Hierarchical models have been proposed to explain how the brain encodes actions, whereby different areas represent different features, such as gesture kinematics, target object, action goal, and meaning. The visual processing of action‐related information is distributed over a well‐known network of brain regions spanning separate anatomical areas, attuned to specific stimulus properties, and referred to as action observation network (AON). To determine the brain organization of these features, we measured representational geometries during the observation of a large set of transitive and intransitive gestures in two independent functional magnetic resonance imaging experiments. We provided evidence for a partial dissociation between kinematics, object characteristics, and action meaning in the occipito‐parietal, ventro‐temporal, and lateral occipito‐temporal cortex, respectively. Importantly, most of the AON showed low specificity to all the explored features, and representational spaces sharing similar information content were spread across the cortex without being anatomically adjacent. Overall, our results support the notion that the AON relies on overlapping and distributed coding and may act as a unique representational space instead of mapping features in a modular and segregated manner.
Optimization of the cold‐side heat exchanger design to improve the performance of the motorcycle exhaust thermoelectric generator
Authors: Hong Thong Duc , Nguyen Duc Hong Tran , Pham Minh Quang , Van Huynh Em Bao , Tran Tien Anh
Published: July 2024

This study optimizes the main parameters of the cold‐side heat exchanger (CHE) longitudinal fin, including fin quantity (Nf), fin thickness (Tf), and fin height (Hf), to enhance the performance of motorcycle exhaust thermoelectric generator units (TGUs) utilizing the computational fluid dynamics approach. The investigation shows that these parameters significantly affect the dissipation area of the CHE heat and the outside air velocity distribution in fin gaps, resulting in the fluctuation of TGU output power. The output power increases with respect to Hf; nevertheless, it first increases as Nf and Tf increase but decreases dramatically when Nf or Tf becomes too large. Besides, Hf significantly affects output power, and its impact is almost independent of Tf and Nf, and vice versa; meanwhile, Tf and Nf have a strong relation. This study proposes two Hf of 40 and 60 mm along with the optimal Tf of 1 mm and Nf of 29, providing significantly high output power, low weight, and compact size for TGU. This work contributes insight into the effect of CHE parameters on the TGU performance, and it is a crucial case study for selecting suitable heat sink parameters for TGU, considering practical requirements and conditions.
Anisotropic thermally conductive films based on two‐dimensional nanomaterials
Authors: Li Lei , Cheng Qunfeng
Published: July 2024

The significant advancement of high‐power densification and miniaturization in modern electronic devices has attracted increasing attention to effective thermal management. The primary objective of thermal management is to transfer excess heat from electronics to the outside environment through the use of thermal conductive materials. The anisotropic thermally conductive films (TCFs) based on two‐dimensional (2D) nanomaterials exhibit outstanding controlled heat transfer capability, which effectively removes hotspots along the in‐plane direction and provides thermal insulation along the cross‐plane direction. However, a comprehensive review of anisotropic TCFs is rarely reported. Herein, we first discuss the intrinsic anisotropic thermal conductivity of 2D nanomaterials for preparing TCFs. Then, the preparation methods and anisotropic thermal conductivity of TCFs have been summarized and discussed. Furthermore, we conclude with the practical applications of TCFs for anisotropy thermal management. Finally, a conclusion of the challenges and outlook of TCFs is provided to promote their development in future scientific research.
Posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in postsecondary students exposed to childhood psychological abuse: Exploring the role of negative meta‐emotions
Authors: Watts Justin R. , Lazzareschi Nicholas R. , Warwick Lindsey A. , Gaa Melissa
Published: July 2024

Childhood psychological abuse (CPA) has failed to obtain substantial focus in existing literature when compared to other types of child maltreatment (CM), though those exposed are more likely to experience lifetime posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and report more severe symptoms. Far less is known regarding mechanisms predicting the maintenance and development of PTSD among young adults with CPA histories. With these factors in mind, our study examined the relationship between type of CM, negative meta‐emotions (i.e., negative emotional appraisals about one's emotions; NMEs), and current PTSD symptomology among a sample of college students (N = 387). Findings from correlational and multiple regression analyses indicated that CPA was the most substantial predictor of NMEs in our sample. Further, among those exposed to CPA, NMEs explained 42.6% of the variance in present PTSD symptoms. Finally, we discuss implications for counseling practice and future research.