bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
FOIM: Thermal Foaming of Shape Memory Polyurethane Foil
Authors: Poser Anna‐Lisa , Pretsch Thorsten
Published: February 2025

This work introduces the semi‐finished product FOIM, a neologism from FOIl and foaM, a phase segregated polyester urethane urea (PEUU) foam, which is synthesized from poly(1,6‐hexylene adipate) diol, 4,4’‐methylene diphenyl diisocyanate, polyethylene glycol and water as blowing agent. The PEUU is obtained by following a one‐shot synthesis and is characterized by a hard/soft segment ratio of 1.06 and an open pore content of 78%. Differential scanning calorimetry reveals a melting peak at 45 °C and a crystallization signal at 14 °C, both of which are associated with the phase transitions of the soft segment. The glass transition temperature, which is determined as a local maximum within the tan δ using dynamic mechanical analysis, is 1 °C. During programming, the foam is heavily compressed at 60 °C. Once unloaded at 23 °C, a translucent foil, the FOIM, is obtained. When reheated to 60 °C, the foil switches back to the foam due to its pronounced shape memory properties. Intriguingly, the structure remains largely unaffected by the drastic deformation as indicated by buoyancy and heat transmission measurements. The ease of manufacture and functionality makes the technology attractive for applications, in which both low transport volumes and drastic shape changes are desired.
Chan–Vese aided fuzzy C‐means approach for whole breast and fibroglandular tissue segmentation: Preliminary application to real‐world breast MRI
Authors: Qadri Syed Furqan , Rong Chao , Ahmad Mubashir , Li Jing , Qadri Salman , Zareen Syeda Shamaila , Zhuang Zeyu , Khan Salabat , Lin Hongxiang
Published: February 2025

Background

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a highly sensitive modality for diagnosing breast cancer, providing an expanding range of clinical usages that are crucial for the care of women at elevated risk of breast cancer development. Segmentation of the whole breast and fibroglandular tissue (FGT), used to evaluate breast cancer risk, is often manually delineated by radiologists in clinical practice. In this paper, we aim to substitute handcrafted breast density segmentation and categorization. The traditional fuzzy C‐means (FCM) enable automatic segmentation but may be susceptible to heterogeneity or sparse FGT distribution in MRI.

Purpose

We develop a new automated technique for the segmentation of whole breast and FGT for the coronal‐view MRI.

Methods

We propose a Chan–Vese (CV) aided FCM segmentation approach for estimating the FGT in the whole breast using fat‐suppressed (FS) precontrast T1‐weighted breast MRI. We present a methodology pipeline comprising region‐of‐interest (ROI) extraction, nonparametric non‐uniform intensity normalization N4 algorithm‐based intensity inhomogeneity correction, skin‐layer extraction, and then whole breast and FGT segmentation. Our approach involves the FCM algorithm to assign membership degrees to pixels, distinguishing FGT regions from surrounding adipose tissues by assessing their probability of belonging to specific FGT regions, and subsequently, the region‐based active contour CV model leverages these membership degrees to direct contour evolution and enhance segmentation boundaries. The proposed method adeptly tackles common challenges in MRI, including blurred edges, low contrast, and intensity inhomogeneity, with efficiency.

Results

We evaluated our approach on the Duke Breast Cancer MRI data (DBCM‐data) and achieved good segmentation accuracy in terms of Dice similarity coefficient (DSC), Intersection‐over‐Union (IoU), and Sensitivity (SEN). Our method demonstrates significant accuracy, achieving a DSC (%) of 93.2 ± 3.3 and 84.1 ± 4.9, IoU (%) of 86.4 ± 3.5 and 73.2 ± 5.1, and SEN 87.3 ± 4.1 and 76.7 ± 4.1 for the segmentations of whole breast and FGT, respectively.

Conclusion

Our results demonstrated that the CV‐aided FCM approach significantly outperformed the existing methods and resulted in significantly more accurate whole breast and FGT segmentation in MRI data.
Impact of porous lung substitute on linear energy transfer (LET) assessed via Monte Carlo simulation and CR‐39 measurement with a carbon‐ion beam
Authors: Zhao Jingfang , Chen Bo , Moyers Michael , Yang Zhiyuan , Yang Shiyan , Wang Weiwei
Published: February 2025

Background

Carbon‐ion beam radiotherapy offers substantial physical and biological advantages due to its distinct Bragg peak (BP) depth dose distribution and higher linear energy transfer (LET) in the peak region that enhances its efficacy in tumor eradication compared to x‐ray beams. Porous structures, such as those found in lung and lung‐equivalent tissues, unfortunately, introduce significant uncertainties in both dose and LET distributions, which current treatment planning systems (TPS) inadequately address.

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the effects of porous lung‐equivalent structures on LET distribution using Monte Carlo (MC) simulations and CR‐39 measurements. It seeks to understand how porous structures influence LET spectra and dose‐averaged LET (LETd) in carbon‐ion beams.

Methods

A Gammex LN300 phantom and a binary voxel virtual phantom composed of water and air were used to represent lung‐equivalent tissues for measurements and MC simulations. LET spectra measured with CR‐39 at different depths within the LN300 slabs were compared with MC‐calculated LETd distributions. The impact of porous structures on dose and LETd distributions was evaluated using various beam configurations, including single‐beam and multi‐beam setups. Additionally, a convolution method with modulation power (Pmod) was proposed to improve LETd prediction in porous media.

Results

The study demonstrated that porous structures broaden both the dose and LETd distributions, especially around the BP region. Multiple beam angles helped mitigate dose degradation but did not resolve discrepancies in the LETd distributions. Compared with calculation results based on CT images, intensity‐modulated particle therapy (IMPT) using a distal LETd patching method in porous structure increased the median LETd in the target from 67.2 to 69.6 keV/µm, and the minimum LETd from 51.5 to 58.0 keV/µm, respectively. Moreover, to improve the prediction of LETd in porous structures, analytical convolution‐based predictions showed good agreement with the MC simulations, with mean LETd deviations of −1.9% ± 1.6% in the plateau, −3.1% ± 4.9% in the BP, and −1.1% ± 7.7% in the tail region.

Conclusions

Porous lung‐equivalent structures significantly affect LETd distributions in carbon‐ion therapy, as confirmed by both CR‐39 measurements and MC simulations. IMPT with LETd optimization may be more impacted by porous structures in terms of median and minimum LETd values within the target. The Gaussian convolution function shows promise for enhancing LETd calculation accuracy, but further validation in anatomically complex models is needed to assess its clinical feasibility.
Impact of Bladder Management Strategies on Autonomic Dysreflexia Severity in People With Spinal Cord Injuries
Authors: Palanjian Rita , Welk Blayne , Myers Jeremy B. , Lenherr Sara M. , Elliott Sean P. , O'Dell Diana , Stoffel John T.
Published: February 2025

Purpose

We investigated whether severity of autonomic dysreflexia (AD) was associated with more patient‐reported bladder and bowel symptoms and compared AD severity by bladder management strategy in people with spinal cord injury (SCI).

Methods

The Neurogenic Bladder Research Group SCI Registry is a prospective study which evaluated quality of life after SCI. Bladder and bowel symptoms were assessed through Neurogenic Bladder Symptom Score and Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction score, respectively. AD severity was assessed with the Autonomic Dysreflexia Following Spinal Cord Injury (ADFSCI) instrument. Bladder management was classified as volitional voiding, clean intermittent catheterization (CIC), indwelling catheter (IDC), and surgery (augmentation and diversion).

Results

AD scores were identified for 1473 people. The mean age was 45. Bladder management was CIC in 754 (51%), IDC in 271 (18%), surgery in 195 (13%) and voiding in 259 (18%). On univariate analysis, higher ADFSCI scores occurred with complete injuries (3.1 vs 3.4, p = 0.03), cervical/thoracic injuries (3.8 vs 1.5, p < 0.0001), and chronic pain (3.9 vs 2.9, p = 0.0004). IDC (5.2) and surgery (4.5) had higher ADFSCI scores than CIC (3.0) and volitional voiding (2.8) (p < 0.0001). Sub‐analysis showed bladder augmentation had significantly higher ADSCI scores than diversion (4.7 vs 3.7, p = 0.03). On multivariate analysis, level of injury, bladder management, and bowel and bladder symptoms remained associated with worse AD.

Conclusion

Level of injury, age, worse bowel and bladder symptoms and bladder management type were associated with higher AD scores. Bladder management with surgery, particularly bladder augment, and IDC had associated greater AD symptoms compared to CIC or voiding.

Trial Registration

clinicaltrials.gov NTC06216081 and HSRP20153564, U.S. National Library of Medicine, wwwcf.nlm.nih.gov.
Improving acrylonitrile rubber properties by recycled nano graphene oxide prepared from sugarcane bagasse
Authors: EL‐Nashar Doaa , Tohamy Hebat‐Allah S. , Koriem Adel
Published: February 2025

Naturally occurring inexpensive substance is useful as a raw material like graphite. Graphene oxide (GO) is made from sugarcane bagasse (SB) to create nano graphene oxide (GO‐SB). Nitrile rubber (NBR) was used as base matrix while (GO‐SB) filler was combined at various loadings [2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 Part per hundred part of rubber (phr)]. The impact of the prepared (GO‐SB) loading on the physicomechanical and curing characteristics of NBR nanocomposites was examined and evaluated. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), x‐ray Diffraction (XRD), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT‐IR) were used to estimate and characterize the prepared investigated rubber samples. Excellent dispersion of (GO‐SB) (8 phr) in the NBR matrix was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The filler agglomerations in the matrix were found to be a heterogeneous dispersion of (GO‐SB) (10 phr). Curing characterizations showed that the compounded rubber with (GO‐SB) had larger maximum and minimum torques, a torque difference at 8 phr, and a faster cure rate than the unfilled NBR compound. The equilibrium swelling and mechanical characteristics demonstrated that reinforcing effect of the prepared nanocomposites contained 8 phr (GO‐SB). When the filler content increased up to 10 phr, Shore A hardness values increased.

Highlights

Graphene oxide nanosized prepared from sugarcane bagasse.

Transmission electron microscopy verified the nanoscale of Graphene oxide.

Nano Graphene oxide and ingredients are incorporated in NBR by rubber mixer.

Effect of Nano Graphene oxide on mechanical properties of NBR evaluated.

The products have better physico mechanical properties.
Adjustable and weak negative permittivity behavior in carbon nanofiber/poly(vinylidene fluoride) metacomposites
Authors: Ma Rongwei , Li Jia , Hu Zhiyuan , Cheng Chuanbing , Fan Runhua
Published: February 2025

Metacomposites with negative permittivity have advanced significantly in recent years, and yet the weak negative permittivity behavior is still not easily adjusted, which obstructs the advancement of metacomposites in electronic devices. Herein, poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) composites with different carbon nanofiber (CNF) contents were prepared to explore regulatory mechanism of weak negative permittivity behavior. As the CNF contents were low, the long‐range isolated nanofibers endowed the composites with hopping conductance, capacitance characteristic and positive permittivity. When the CNF contents reached the percolation threshold, many nanofibers were in close contact and enough conductive network was formed to generate metal‐like conductivity, inductance characteristic and negative permittivity. Interestingly, a weak negative permittivity behavior could be realized the composites with high CNF contents (5.94 ~ 17.48 wt%), and its magnitude could be precisely adjusted (−60 ~ −538). The weak negative permittivity behavior was imputed to the suppressed low‐frequency plasma state of free electron in the sparse CNF network. The PVDF could impede the formation of nanofiber network and tunneling effect between adjacent nanofibers, and thus the negative permittivity was weakly dependent on the CNF content. These findings suggested that the negative permittivity could be affected by the synergistic effect of both conductive filler and insulating matrix, offering a new thread of researches in adjusting weak negative permittivity behavior.

Highlights

The weak negative permittivity behavior was observed in CNF/PVDF composites.

The magnitude of negative permittivity could be precisely adjusted.

Adjustable negative permittivity could be well explained by Drude model.

The synergistic effect of both CNF and PVDF affected negative permittivity.
Synthesis and characterization of silicon‐containing arylacetylene resins‐like heat‐resistant silane coupling agents: Enhancement of interfacial properties for composites
Authors: Zhu Huamei , Jin Chaoen , Wang Fan , Zhu Yaping , Deng Shifeng , Qi Huimin
Published: February 2025

Silicon‐containing arylacetylene (PSA)‐based composites show excellent heat resistance and dielectric properties, making them highly promising for applications in the aerospace and electronic information fields. However, the low polarity of PSAs and poor interfacial adhesion with fibers lead to weak mechanical properties of their composites. In this study, a novel PSAs‐like heat‐resistant silane coupling agent (P‐SCA) was synthesized through Grignard reagent condensation reaction and used to modify the surface of quartz fiber (QF). Due to the special chemical structure of P‐SCA, the siloxanes in P‐SCA can undergo dehydration condensation with silicon hydroxyl groups on the quartz fiber cloths and graft onto the surface, while the alkynes in P‐SCA can react with the PSAs resin, enhancing the interfacial bonding by forming strong mechanical interlocking and chemical bonds. The composite prepared by quartz fiber cloth treated with 3.5 wt% P‐SCA (QF@3.5%P‐SCA) shows that the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) and flexural strength are 21.0 and 270.6 MPa at room temperature, respectively, which have increased by 32.1% and 63.2%, respectively. And at 500°C, the ILSS and flexural strength are 9.3 and 131.7 MPa, increasing by 44.3% and 50.7%, respectively. The mechanical properties of QF@P‐SCA/PSA composites are significantly improved while maintaining their excellent heat resistance.

Hightlights

A heat‐resistant silane coupling agent with alkynes was synthesized.

The high temperature resistant interface is constructed by the coupling agent.

Mechanical interlocking and chemical bonding can occur at the interface.

The composites showed good mechanical properties at elevated temperature.
Addressing Ethnicity in the Design and Evaluation of an Educational Intervention on Interindividual Variation in Pharmacokinetics
Authors: Koenig Jennifer A. , Olafuyi Olusola , Patel Rakesh
Published: February 2025

Interindividual variation in pharmacokinetics can occur due to diet, environmental or lifestyle factors, underlying pathology, and gene variants, typically single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Genetic mechanisms have received the most attention in research and education about ethnic differences in pharmacokinetics. Making this connection between genetics and ethnicity is problematic because it could reinforce the erroneous idea that there is a biological basis to ethnicity. The aim of this work was to design an educational intervention about interindividual variation in pharmacokinetics, explore how students perceive ethnicity and genetic differences prior to the educational intervention, and then assess the impact of the intervention and whether it could influence any misconceptions students might have about ethnicity and genetic similarity. Through the use of questionnaires and focus groups, we found that students typically refer to ethnicity to mean culture and place of origin, whereas in the pharmacological literature, ethnicity is synonymous with racial groups, that is, Black, White, and Asian. Prior to the educational intervention, students tended to expect a genetic mechanism for ethnic differences in drug metabolism and this was reduced after the intervention when a range of other nongenetic mechanisms were presented for interindividual variation. However, students' views about possible underlying mechanisms for ethnic differences in hypertension and about ethnicity more generally were unaffected by the intervention. This highlights the importance of reevaluating the way ethnicity is presented across the medical and medical sciences curriculums to be clear that ethnicity is socially constructed and avoid implying a biological basis.
Mechanical Gain Enhanced Propagation of Light in a Hybrid Spin‐Mechanical System
Authors: Chen Hua‐Jun , Sun Yi , Zheng Di‐Di , Pan Gui‐Xia
Published: February 2025

The spin‐mechanical hybrid systems provide a potential platform to reach quantum science and technology, but practical applications with such hybrid quantum systems need the integration of more physical units. In the article, a multi‐mode spin‐mechanical hybrid quantum system is proposed with two‐mode coupling nanomechanical carbon nanotube (CNT) resonators, in which one CNT resonator is loss and the other CNT resonator can be loss, neutral, or gain. The two carbon nanotube (CNT) resonators can interact through a phase‐dependent phonon‐exchange mechanism, which couples them to the same nitrogen vacancy centers in diamond via magnetomechanical effects. By modulating the phase of phonon–phonon coupling and leveraging the Fano‐like resonance phenomenon, double electromagnetically induced transparency can be achieved in this system. This is accompanied by rapid dispersion, resulting in subtle advancements or delays in light propagation. The group index can be manipulated and periodically switched by tuning the modulation phase, with fast‐ and slow‐light effects being particularly pronounced when one CNT resonator is in an active (gain) state compared to lossy or neutral states. This study establishes a foundation for the application of phonon‐mediated optical information storage and processing.
Engineering Topological States and Quantum‐Inspired Information Processing Using Classical Circuits
Authors: Chen Tian , Zhang Weixuan , Zou Deyuan , Sun Yifan , Zhang Xiangdong
Published: February 2025

Based on the correspondence between circuit Laplacian and Schrodinger equations, recent investigations have shown that classical electric circuits can be used to simulate various topological physics and Schrödinger's equation. Furthermore, a series of quantum‐inspired information processing has been implemented by using classical electric circuit networks. In this review, the similarity between the circuit Laplacian and the lattice Hamiltonian is analyzed, with topological physics introduced based on classical circuits. Subsequently, reviews of the research progress in quantum‐inspired information processing based on the electric circuit are provided, including discussions of topological quantum computing with classical circuits, quantum walk based on classical circuits, quantum combinational logics based on classical circuits, electric‐circuit realization of fast quantum search, implementing unitary transforms and so on.
Deterministic Implementation of SWAP Gates and CSWAP Gates Using Rydberg Atoms Via Transitionless Quantum Driving
Authors: Wang Jie , Ji Yan‐Qiang , Wang Ji‐Ping , Yang Li‐Ping , Dong Li , Xiu Xiao‐Ming
Published: February 2025

Quantum logic gates are the fundamental operational units in quantum computing. The SWAP gate, as an important two‐qubit logic gate, has long been the focus of scholars for seeking to achieve high‐fidelity implementations. This study proposes a scheme for realizing a SWAP gate using Rydberg atoms. The scheme ingeniously utilizes the interactions between Rydberg atoms to construct the model and combines the “transitionless quantum driving” algorithm to design the control laser. Numerical simulations show that this scheme not only achieves a high‐fidelity SWAP gate but also robust against experimental imperfections such as atomic spontaneous emission. At last, this scheme is extended to realize CSWAP gate.
Flow Matters: Unravelling the Interactive Influences of Flow Variation and Non‐Native Trout on Vulnerable Galaxiids
Authors: Hore Olivia R. , Tonkin Jonathan D. , Boddy Nixie C. , McIntosh Angus R.
Published: February 2025

Understanding the interactive effects of non‐native species and alterations to flow regimes is important to combat threats to freshwater communities. Low‐flow conditions may either exacerbate or offset influences of non‐natives but the mechanisms determining the direction are poorly understood. We evaluated how stream drying affected interactions between vulnerable native stream‐resident galaxiids and non‐native trout in Aotearoa, New Zealand. We electrofished (December–March) paired perennial and drying reaches containing galaxiids (Galaxias vulgaris and G. paucispondylus) to compare abundance and growth rates in streams with high abundance (n = 2), low abundance (n = 2) or no brown trout (n = 3; Salmo trutta). Low flows greatly reduced trout abundance and size, likely reducing predatory threats to galaxiids since risk is size‐related. Galaxiid densities were consistently lower in drying compared to perennial reaches of troutless streams. However, galaxiids were less affected by low flows than trout, setting the scene for an interaction between trout and low flow. In streams with high numbers of trout, galaxiid numbers were very low in perennial reaches, whereas they were moderate in drying reaches. That meant galaxiid numbers increased with a decreasing flow in streams with many trout, an indirect positive effect, although their abundance never reached the high levels of trout‐free perennial reaches. In low‐density trout streams, there were no clear differences in galaxiid abundance between reaches of different flow types. Thus, the effects of trout on galaxiids depended on the flow regime, likely driven by harsh low‐flow conditions suppressing large trout, which were more sensitive to low flow than galaxiids. Galaxiid growth rates actually increased with conspecific densities in trout streams, whereas growth rates decreased with increasing galaxiid densities in troutless streams. Thus, growth advantages for galaxiids in the presence of trout possibly helped drive these low‐flow effects on their populations in trout streams, potentially via an attractive sink‐type mechanism. Overall, although low‐flow conditions likely reduced predatory effects of non‐natives and may have indirectly bolstered growth rates of natives, populations of natives were also suppressed by low flow. Such interactive effects of flow reduction are likely common and appear controlled by relative vulnerability and size‐structured interactions and will be key to balancing the maintenance of natural flows with minimising effects of non‐native sports fish. Flow depletion might create some refuge for native fishes in the presence of a non‐native, but net effects could still be worse than no flow depletion as we observed. Thus, it will be important to ascertain how flow‐depleted reaches affect the long‐term persistence of native fish populations before relaying on flow reduction to suppress non‐natives.
Nanoceria Supported Copper Salophen Nanomaterial (Cu(II)Salophen@APTES/CeO2) for Catalytic Reduction of Organic Dye
Authors: Ghosh Srabanti , Mallik Tapas , Roy Mahendra Nath , Ekka Deepak
Published: February 2025

In this work, preparation of a heterojunction nano catalyst has been reported by the fabrication of Cu(II) Salophen complex to nano ceria (CeO2) through a silica linkage 3‐Aminopropyl triethoxysilane (APTES), which is easily separable by centrifugation. The nanocatalyst was characterized by FTIR, XRD, HRTEM, and EDX analysis. The catalytic activity of the synthesized catalyst was examined for the reduction of organic dyes methyl orange and methyl red in aqueous medium at room temperature. The dye solutions became colorless within a very short period of time in presence of synthesized catalyst and NaBH4 as a source of hydride ions. The reduction process for both the dyes followed pseudo first‐order reaction kinetics with a high catalytic efficiency.
Proteins for Hyperelastic Materials
Authors: Su Rui , Ma Chao , Han Bing , Zhang Hongjie , Liu Kai
Published: February 2025

Meticulous engineering and the yielded hyperelastic performance of structural proteins represent a new frontier in developing next‐generation functional biomaterials. These materials exhibit outstanding and programmable mechanical properties, including elasticity, resilience, toughness, and active biological characteristics, such as degradability and tissue repairability, compared with their chemically synthetic counterparts. However, there are several critical issues regarding the preparation approaches of hyperelastic protein‐based materials: limited natural sequence modules, non‐hierarchical assembly, and imbalance between compressive and tensile elasticity, leading to unmet demands. Therefore, it is pivotal to develop an alternative strategy for biofabricating hyperelastic materials. Herein, the molecular design, engineering, and property regulation of hyperelastic structural proteins are overviewed. First, methodologies for deeper exploration of mechanical modules, including machine learning‐aided de novo design, random mutations of natural sequences, and multiblock fusion techniques, are actively introduced. These methodologies facilitate the generation of elastomeric protein modules and demonstrate enhanced structural and functional versatility. Subsequently, assembly tactics of hyperelastic proteins (i.e., physical modulation, genetic adaptations, and chemical modifications) are reviewed, yielding hierarchically ordered structures. Finally, advances in biophysical techniques for more nuanced characterization of protein ensembles are discussed, unveiling the tuning mechanisms of protein elasticity across scales. Future developments in structural hyperelastic protein‐based biomaterials are also envisioned.
A New Combined Computational and Experimental Approach to Characterize Photoactive Conjugated 3D Polymers
Authors: Mollart Catherine , Heasman Patrick , Sherrett Ellena , Fletcher Peter A. T. J , Fayon Pierre , Thomas Jens M. H. , Franckevičius Villius , Peach Michael J. G. , Trewin Abbie
Published: February 2025

A tractable new computational protocol is proposed to elucidate oligomeric‐scale detail from experimental spectra, providing insight into the local and longer‐range electronic and molecular structures of amorphous materials. The protocol uses an in‐house code Ambuild to grow kinetically‐controlled representative oligomeric clusters of an amorphous polymeric material. Generating many clusters, the statistical prevalence of different structural motifs is identified, and used to develop a ‘subset’ of structures that capture a broad range of important morphologies. Subsequent electronic structure calculations allow the prediction of IR, NMR, and UV–vis spectra of the bulk materials, providing significant insight into oligomeric scale topologies and helping develop structure–property relationships by identifying the underlying structural origins of different spectral features observed experimentally. Two known, and two novel, pyrene‐based conjugated microporous polymers (CMPs) are synthesized and characterized as a test bed for this newly‐proposed protocol. Meaningful IR, NMR, and UV–vis absorption spectral data, and experimentally comparable computationally derived spectra are obtained. Whilst IR and NMR reliably probe the local environment, UV–vis absorption spectroscopy is found to be particularly sensitive to the longer‐range structural motifs observed on an oligomeric scale, providing significant structural insight into the synthesized materials with reasonable computational cost.
Fractal Scaling in the Gas‐Phase Agglomeration of Nanowires
Authors: Abomailek Nabil , Gómez‐Palos Isabel , Carnicero Cristian , Murillo María , Schäufele Richard , Qiao Rulan , Boies Adam , Vilatela Juan J.
Published: February 2025

Assembling 1D nanoparticles (nanowires (NW) or nanotubes) as networks enables bridging multiple scales to form macroscopic materials such as fibers, sheets and electrodes. This can be done directly in the gas phase from 1D nanoparticle aerosols grown by floating catalyst chemical vapor deposition (FCCVD). In FCCVD nanowires/nanotubes grow to high aspect ratios (102–106) floating in a gas stream and can agglomerate to form an aerogel. This work studies the agglomeration of Si nanowires by scanning electron microscopy of samples taken from the gas downstream of the reaction zone, and through simulations with a Brownian collision algorithm to form agglomerate models. In the experimental analysis of over 312 samples no individualized NWs are found, only agglomerates. This is consistent with the fast binary collision rates of 0.24 s estimated. The agglomerates show “fractal” scaling, with a fractional dimension Df of 1.8 and agglomerate size increasing with the number of nanowires to the power of 1/Df, consistent with a diffusion limited cluster aggregation process. Formation of a nanowire aerogel involves percolation of agglomerates, therefore occurring at much lower volume fraction than for individualized particles considering excluded volume theory. Compared to FCCVD carbon nanotubes of higher aspect ratio, these SiNWs require longer residence time for gelation.
Granular Interfaces in TENGs: The Role of Close‐Packed Polymer Bead Monolayers for Energy Harvesters
Authors: Jimidar Ignaas S. M. , Mālnieks Kaspars , Sotthewes Kai , Sherrell Peter C. , Šutka Andris
Published: February 2025

Over the last decade, triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) are proposed as a viable alternative to address the impetus for affordable and clean energy. Here, a novel, cost‐effective granular‐based TENG comprising two electrodes covered with HCP monolayers of monodisperse polymer (PMMA, PS, and MF‐resin) beads with diameters ranging between 0.5 and 10 µm is proposed. These monolayers are attained in <20 s by employing a solvent‐free particle rubbing assembly technique on fluorocarbon‐coated substrates. The performance of the proposed granular‐based TENG is characterized using contact‐separation (CS) experiments by changing the bead sizes (topography effects) and the polymer material (mechanical properties). These findings show that when identical polymer material is utilized, large beads charged negatively, and the small beads positively, coinciding with bulk polymer film reports. In addition, the MF particles always charge positively and show the highest charging due to their relatively higher Young's modulus. The results elucidate that a specific pair's surface charge density is enhanced when one of the electrodes is covered with the smaller bead with the highest Young's modulus, highlighting that mechanical properties dominate and that a substantial difference in size benefits the output. The stable performance of the TENG devices after 10 000 cycles corroborates its robustness.
Dimensional Design of Cellulose Aerogels with Schottky Contact for Efficient Microwave Absorption
Authors: Zhu Congcong , An Xiaopeng , Wang Jingna , Chen Yikun , Nan Kai , Wang Yan
Published: February 2025

Cellulose aerogels, as a novel class of carbon‐based materials, exhibit immense potential in the field of microwave absorption (MWA) due to their biocompatibility, low density, unique porous structure, and tunable architecture. However, the development of multi‐dimensional components with specialized heterogeneous structures, which are based on cellulose aerogels, remains a significant challenge. This 0D/1D/3D structural configuration facilitates tunable electromagnetic properties and favorable impedance matching. The Schottky contact at the ZnO/Ni interface, in particular, induces a strong interfacial polarization, and the multi‐dimensional structural design results in multiple heterointerfaces. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the unique Schottky contact induces a Schottky barrier that causes band bending, facilitating the directed migration of electrons at the interface and the formation of an internal electric field, thus significantly accelerating the multipolar relaxation process. As anticipated, the CCMC/ZnO@Ni aerogel exhibits a minimum reflection loss (RLmin) value of −64.0 dB at 13.9 GHz at a thickness of 2.0 mm, and its effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) reaches 4.9 GHz. This work gives valuable guidance and inspiration for the design of multi‐dimensional materials that are composed of dimensional gradient structures, which holds great application potential for electromagnetic wave (EMW) attenuation.
Anionic‐Based Layered Oxide Cathodes with High Electrochemical Performance through Dual‐Site Substitutions for Sodium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Thanwisai Panya , Yang Songge , Yao Zeyi , Meng Zifei , Hou Jiahui , Vanaphuti Panawan , Sultanov Maksim , Wen Jianguo , Yang Zhenzhen , Zhong Yu , Wang Yan
Published: February 2025

Mn‐rich layered oxide cathodes with anionic redox promise high energy density for sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) due to ultra‐high capacity derived from both Mn and O redox couples. Nevertheless, instability of the reactions that lead to poor electrochemical stability hinders the cathodes from practical applications. Here, the Al and Zn dual‐site substitution strategy is proposed to enhance electrochemical performance. The designed cathode, Na0.73Zn0.03Li0.25Mn0.76Al0.01O2 (AlZn), delivers a high discharge capacity of 242 mAh g−1 with an impressive rate capability (162 mAh g−1 at 1000 mA g−1) and excellent capacity retention (89.69% over 150 cycles). In addition, full‐cell SIB based on AlZn coupled with hard carbon exhibits a high energy density of 317 Wh kg−1 (based on both cathode and anode mass) and a reasonable capacity retention of 80.8% after 250 cycles. Revealed by advanced investigations, the synergy of robust Al–O in TM layers and O–Zn–O pillars in Na layers helps alleviate severe inactive spinel/rock‐salt phase transformation and intragranular cracks in the AlZn cathode. This consequently leads to greatly enhanced electrochemical performance over the pristine cathode. This work provides insight into improving electrochemical properties of anionic‐redox‐based layered oxides by Al/Zn co‐substitutions toward high‐energy SIBs.
Evaluating Dimensionality Reduction Techniques in Bitcoin Ransomware Detection: Comparative Analysis of Incremental PCA and UMAP
Authors: Amissah Daniel Kwame , Yaokumah Winfred , Ansong Edward Danso , Appati Justice Kwame
Published: February 2025

This study investigates the classification performance of various machine learning algorithms on the Bitcoin Heist ransomware dataset, focusing on the effects of dimensionality reduction techniques. The primary objective was to evaluate the classifiers' effectiveness in distinguishing between malicious and benign transactions under three experimental scenarios: without dimensionality reduction, utilizing Incremental Principal Component Analysis (IPCA), and applying Uniform Manifold Approximation and Projection (UMAP). The methodology involved rigorous experimentation with four classifiers: K‐Nearest Neighbors (KNN), XGBoost, Decision Tree, and Multi‐Layer Perceptron (MLP). The results demonstrated that dimensionality reduction techniques, particularly UMAP, improved the performance of KNN and Decision Tree classifiers while adversely affecting the performance of XGBoost and MLP. Notably, KNN consistently outperformed the other classifiers across different scenarios, indicating its robustness in handling reduced feature spaces. This study concludes that the effectiveness of dimensionality reduction is contingent upon the specific characteristics of the classifiers employed.
White Analytical Chemistry‐Driven Approach to the Sample Preparation and LC–MS/MS Determination of Nonsteroidal Anti‐Inflammatory Drugs and Their Metabolites in Real Contaminated Matrices
Authors: Bulkatov Denis P. , Melekhin Artem O. , Parfenov Michael Yu. , Tischenko Victor V. , Apyari Vladimir V. , Tolmacheva Veronika V.
Published: February 2025

Traces of medicinal formulations and their metabolites often remain in animal products. The presence of nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in food is a factor in chronic human health effects. Therefore, improved methods for their determination are needed for food safety. Usually, a complex sample preparation based on enzymatic, alkaline, or acidic hydrolysis is applied to recover residual NSAIDs from their hydroxyl‐, carboxyl‐, glucuronide‐, and other derivatives to the original forms. This work reports on a systematic study and comparison of the sample preparation of real samples for the determination of NSAIDs and their metabolites. The objects of analysis were meat and by‐products obtained from chickens that were treated with preparations containing metamizole, diclofenac, ketoprofen, ibuprofen, meloxicam, phenylbutazone, and mefenamic acid with their feed. The effects of acidity of the extraction solution, glucuronidase enzyme, and different sorbents for purification by solid‐phase extraction were studied. The hydroxyl‐ and carboxyl‐metabolites were detected by HPLC–MS/MS. It was shown that the long hydrolysis step during the sample preparation can be replaced with extraction into acetonitrile, making the full analytical procedure “whiter.”
Assessment of potential candidate genes for partial resistance to Sclerotinia stem rot caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum using real‐time quantitative PCR
Authors: Mugabe Deus , Najafabadi Mohsen Yoosefzadeh , Grainger Christopher , Rajcan Istvan
Published: February 2025

Sclerotinia stem rot (SSR), caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib) de Bary (S. sclerotiorum), is one of the most important diseases that causes significant soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] seed yield and quality losses in Canada and globally. Initiation of plant defense mechanisms is crucial for establishing partial resistance to the pathogenic fungus. To understand plant response to S. sclerotiorum, we conducted a temporal (1, 3, and 5 days post‐inoculation [DPI]) assessment of gene expression changes in the stem of soybean genotypes with contrasting phenotypic response. We focused on four genes that have been previously reported as associated with SSR partial resistance and are known to be involved in defense‐related functions such as cell wall modification, signaling, response to wounding, and response to fungus. The results showed a higher and earlier expression of the genes in partially resistant cultivars compared to the susceptible. Expression of some genes increased up to 11‐ (Glyma.02G059700) to 16‐fold (Glyma.09G232100) by 3 DPI in the partially resistant cultivar, OAC Drayton, while the genes were generally downregulated in the susceptible cultivar, OAC Shire, at the same DPI. This study improves our understanding of expression patterns of genes involved in plant defense against fungal pathogens in soybean. More importantly, the knowledge of genes that are essential in defense against S. sclerotiorum can be used to fine‐map the quantitative trait loci for SSR resistance and facilitate accelerated breeding of SSR‐resistant cultivars through gene‐based marker‐assisted selection.
Antiviral effectiveness and safety of azvudine in hospitalized SARS‐CoV‐2 patients with pre‐existing chronic respiratory diseases: A multicenter, retrospective cohort study
Authors: Sun Junyi , Yang Mengzhao , Yao Daoke , Zhou Yongjian , Hu Xiaobo , Qian Guowu , Yuan Yiqiang , Li Silin , Luo Hong , Zhang Shixi , Li Guangming , Zhang Donghua , Li Guotao , Zhang Yanyang , Hu Xinjun , Yu Zujiang , Cui Guangying , Ren Zhigang
Published: February 2025

Although azvudine has become a priority in the treatment of SARS‐CoV‐2, its effectiveness and safety among COVID‐19 patients who already have chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) have not been sufficiently validated. A retrospective, multicenter cohort study involving 10 hospitals in Henan Province was performed to assess inpatients with COVID‐19 and CRDs (Clinical Trial Registration Number: NCT06349655). Azvudine recipients and the control group were matched at a 1:1 ratio using propensity scores. The clinical outcomes (all‐cause death and composite disease progression) were analyzed using Kaplan‒Meier and Cox regression analyses, with additional subgroup and sensitivity analyses performed. Eighteen clinical features were included to construct a nomogram for predicting the survival of inpatients with COVID‐19 and CRDs. Out of 37,606 hospitalized COVID‐19 patients, 1462 azvudine recipients and 1462 matched controls were included in the analysis. The results of Kaplan‒Meier and multivariate Cox regression analyses demonstrated that in contrast to the controls, azvudine use was associated with a decreased risk of all‐cause death in patients with COVID‐19 and pre‐existing CRDs (log‐rank: p = .012; HR: 0.73; 95% CI: 0.553‒0.956); but was not significantly different in terms of composite disease progression (log‐rank: p = .82; HR: 1.15; 95% CI: 0.948‒1.383). An analysis of subgroups and three sensitivity appraisals validate the above outcomes. The number and type of adverse events associated with azvudine treatment were acceptable. The concordance index (0.8499, 0.8497) and area under the curve (86.1%, 80.4%) of the nomogram showed satisfactory discriminative ability in the training and test sets. Azvudine could be effective in reducing all‐cause death among inpatients with COVID‐19 and CRDs and had few serious adverse events.
Probiotic Viability and Bioactive Properties of Buffalo Yoghurt Produced Using High Cholesterol‐Assimilating Probiotic Strains
Authors: Akbal Sinan , Uğur Geçer Esra , Ertürkmen Pelin
Published: February 2025

Background

This study aimed to produce yoghurt with reduced cholesterol levels, enhanced antioxidant activity and angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity while maintaining acceptable health properties, using buffalo milk and probiotic microorganisms.

Method

Buffalo yoghurts were produced using three different probiotic strains, including Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Bifidobacterium lactis. ACE‐inhibitor activities (%), antioxidant activities as DPPH (%), and cholesterol activities in HPLC of these yoghurts were determined during the 28‐day storage period. In addition, probiotic microorganisms, total aerobic mesophilic bacteria and yeast mould were counted during storage.

Results

The viability of probiotic microorganisms in buffalo yoghurts remained above 5 log CFU/g at the end of the storage period. Antioxidant activity ranged from 9.30% to 27.20%. Buffalo yoghurt is produced with Lpb. plantarum, which exhibited the highest viability (9.12 log CFU/g) and antioxidant activity values of 61.48%. Gastrointestinal digestion affected the antioxidant and ACE‐inhibitor properties of the yoghurt samples. The highest ACE‐inhibitory effect after gastric digestion on the 28th day was observed in yoghurt‐produced Lpb. plantarum and B. lactis, with 24.30% and 25.14% values, respectively. Also, the ACE‐inhibitory activity of the outer (OUT) phase for all yoghurt samples was higher than that of undigested samples. According to cholesterol peaks obtained in HPLC, the highest cholesterol assimilation was detected in yoghurt produced using Lpb. plantarum.

Conclusion

The data obtained from the study may contribute to research on the potential of probiotic microorganisms with cholesterol‐assimilation ability and probiotic food products produced using them to reduce cholesterol risk.
Analytic two-loop four-point form factor of the stress-tensor supermultiplet in $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 4 SYM
Authors: Guo Yuanhong , Wang Lei , Yang Gang , Yin Yixiong
Published: February 2025

Abstract

We compute the two-loop four-point MHV form factor of the stress-tensor supermultiplet in planar

$$ \mathcal{N} $$

N

= 4 super Yang-Mills (SYM). This form factor is analogous to the Higgs plus four-gluon amplitudes in the heavy-top limit of QCD when translated to the

$$ \mathcal{N} $$

N

= 4 SYM context. We obtain the full D-dimensional integrands up to two loops via unitarity-cut methods. Subsequently, we utilize IBP reduction to express the result in terms of a set of uniformly transcendental basis integrals, incorporating the two-loop non-planar five-point one-mass integrals recently given by Abreu et al. [PRL 132 (2024) 14]. We obtain the two-loop finite remainder in the functional form in terms of the pentagon functions. The symbol of our remainder confirms the bootstrap results reported by Dixon et al. [PRL 130 (2023) 11]. We perform various non-trivial checks of our results, including the triple-collinear limit, which recovers the two-loop six-gluon remainder. We also show that the form factor has a directional dual conformal symmetry at the integrand level. Our results are expected to shed further light on the study of antipodal dualities and the computation of Higgs plus four-parton amplitudes in QCD.
Pauli form factor contributions to the inelastic proton bremsstrahlung and dark photon production
Authors: Gorbunov D. , Kriukova E.
Published: February 2025

Abstract

We study the production of hypothetical vector particles, dark photons γ′, with masses in the range 0.4–1.8 GeV via inelastic proton bremsstrahlung. We further develop the approach of refs. [1–3], where for the first time we considered the contributions to the cross section that are associated with the Pauli form factor in ppγ′ vertex and obtained new splitting functions. We demonstrate numerically the importance of these corrections to full inelastic proton bremsstrahlung cross section and refine the sensitivity of the ongoing and future fixed-target experiments T2K, DUNE and SHiP to the parameters of dark photon model. A dedicated experiment on measurements of the proton electromagnetic form factors in the time-like region below the proton-antiproton threshold, like those suggested in PANDA at FAIR, would help to obtain the robust predictions for the dark photon production by a proton beam at fixed target.