bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Magnetic‐Driven Micro‐Gear Pair Fabricated by Femtosecond Laser Writing
Authors: Peng Sida , Lei Xiaonan , Sun Shengzhi , Zhu Yi , Qiu Jianrong , Yang Huayong
Published: February 2024

Gear transmission holds paramount significance for intricate mechanical systems. However, when the size of the driving gear is miniaturized to less than 50 microns, both manufacturing and control meet challenges. Here, a magnetic‐driven micro‐gear pair (MMGP) and its manipulation strategy are proposed. The MMGP is composed of two micro‐gears fabricated by the two‐photon polymerization (TPP) and its manipulation strategy depends on the gear engagement. The driving gear is processed with a magnetic photoresist and can rotate stably with a rapid rotation response (<100 ms) under the control of an external magnetic field. The driven gear can be driven by the driving gear through the meshing relationship of the gear teeth. As a proof of concept, number counters and the delivery of drugs are achieved by specially designed MMGPs. This development establishes a pivotal foundation for micro‐gear transmission in complex intelligent systems, microfluid operation, and biological manipulation.
Amplification‐Free, Sequencing‐Free, Detection of Viral RNAs with Variant Specification by Discrete Nanocounting
Authors: Wang Zixun , Zhao Xi , Chan Wan‐Mui , Ji Xianglin , Huang Linfeng , Xie Xi , Li Wei , Zhang Wenjun , To Kelvin Kai‐Wang , Shi Peng
Published: February 2024

This study describes an amplification‐free, sequencing‐free platform (NanoPick‐array) for fast analysis of viral RNAs. The platform combines selective short‐cut of viral RNAs, cherry‐picking isolation of target genes, and micro‐arrayed discrete nanoimaging to enable the detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) at a concentration of 60 copies µL−1, a detection limit that is hardly achieved by Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)‐based methods without amplification, regardless of electrochemical or colorimetric approaches. Notably, the NanoPick‐array provides specific virus variant information with differentiation to single‐nucleotide genetic mutation. The avoidance of the amplification procedure gives direct quantification of viral copy number and reduces false positive results caused by amplicon contamination; the sequencing‐free viral variant specification significantly reduces the turn‐over time for the acquisition of a complete diagnostic viral picture within just 2 h. In a demonstration using clinical samples with a wide range of viral loads of cycle threshold (Ct) value ranging from 18 to 36, the technique achieves an overall accuracy of 89.7% viral detection and 100% accuracy for identifying all Delta variants. The viral detection accuracy is further tested to be 100% for the clinical samples with Ct values around or less than 28.
Interface‐Confined Assembly of Layered Molecular Crystal Arrays Toward Wearable UV‐Radiation Monitor
Authors: Qiu Yuchen , Gao Hanfei , Cao Shiqi , Zhang Yu , Wei Yanjie , Wei Xiao , Li Xinyi , Zhang Xuesong , Jiang Lei , Zhao Ziguang , Wu Yuchen
Published: February 2024

Organic semiconductors have significant potential for wearable optoelectronics due to their designable molecular structures, tunable photoelectronic properties, and flexibility. For their integration into optoelectronic devices, organic semiconductors need to be assembled into single‐crystalline arrays with both precise alignment of micro‐/nanostructures and long‐range order of molecules. In this study, an interface‐confined lithography technique is developed for fabricating organic single‐crystalline microwire arrays with layered molecular stacking and ordered crystallographic orientation toward wearable UV radiation monitor. This interface‐confined strategy introduces parallel gas–liquid–solid three‐phase contact line (TPCL) arrays to suppress the lateral growth of single crystals. Meanwhile, TPCLs with controlled dewetting direction promote longitudinal growth, thus universally yielding 1D arrays based on various organic semiconducting small molecules. These 1D single‐crystalline arrays exhibit high average mobility of 12.5 cm2 V−1 s−1 with uniform electronic properties of 9.3% variation, and good mechanical stability after 1000 bending times. Based on organic 1D arrays, wearable devices with robust photoresponsivity of 8.26 × 103 A W−1 and high mechanical flexibility achieve real‐time monitoring of UV radiation to prevent skin disease. This confined‐assembly strategy opens a new avenue to construct wearable optoelectronic devices for health monitoring.
Strong Magnetic–Dielectric Synergistic Gradient Metamaterials for Boosting Superior Multispectral Ultra‐Broadband Absorption with Low‐Frequency Compatibility
Authors: Ma Wenle , Liu Xiaoyan , Yang Tianyue , Wang Jianbin , Qiu Zhengrong , Cai Zhihao , Bai Peijia , Ji Xinyi , Huang Yi
Published: February 2024

The construction of 3D porous structures and metamaterials (MMs) is the most promising approaches to achieve broadband electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption. However, it is still a huge challenge to achieve multispectral ultra‐broadband EMW absorption properties compatible with low‐frequency band (L‐ and S‐band) due to its ultralong wavelength and strong bypass capability. Herein, magnetic–dielectric synergistic gradient MMs (MDSGM) consisting of oriented flaky carbonyl iron (FCI) film and periodical RGO/CNT/CNF aerogel (GTFA) array are demonstrated. Benefiting from the synergistic effect of strong magnetic–dielectric loss, structural loss, and excellent impedance matching, MDSGM harvests an exciting multispectral ultra‐broadband EMW absorption performance with a remarkable effective absorption bandwidth covering the whole measured frequency of 1–40, 50–110 GHz, and 0.1–2.0 THz for the first time. The minimum RL (RLmin) reaches −40.24 dB and average RL is up to −19.3 dB (98.8% EMW being absorbed) in microwave band. Moreover, this multispectral ultra‐broadband EMW absorption property is less affected by the incident angle. This work pioneered realization of multispectral ultra‐broadband EMW absorption compatible with low‐frequency, which provides a great thrust for the development of stealth technology in the upcoming smart era.
Ionic‐Liquid‐Gating‐Induced Hydrogenation in Epitaxial Strontium Ferrite
Authors: Yan Fengbo , Korostelev Vladislav , Cho Eunsoo , Yang Kaichuang , Wu Jingrui , Lu Qiyang , Luo Feng , Ross Caroline A. , Klyukin Konstantin , Ning Shuai
Published: February 2024

Incorporating hydrogen into complex oxides holds promise for discovering exotic phenomena and novel functionalities by promoting couplings between ion and lattice/charge/spin/orbital degrees of freedom. Here, electrolyte gating‐driven hydrogenation is investigated in epitaxial brownmillerite SrFeO2.5 thin films in which the hydrogenation‐induced lattice distortion is qualitatively different from its counterpart SrCoO2.5. The achievable lattice expansion in hydrogenated SrFeO2.5 is weaker than in SrCoO2.5 and primarily occurs along the normal of the stacked octahedral FeO6 and tetrahedral FeO4 layers. Upon the substitution of Fe with Co, the lattice expansion monotonically increases with increase of Co/Fe ratio, implying an intrinsic difference in accommodating hydrogen between Fe‐ and Co‐based brownmillerites. Moreover, a net magnetic moment in hydrogenated SrFeO2.5 films is observed above room temperature, which gradually weakens with the increase of Co substitution, suggesting a stronger canted magnetism in Fe‐based hydrogenated brownmillerites. This work clarifies the electrolyte gating‐driven hydrogenation mechanisms in brownmillerite SrFeO2.5 epitaxial thin films and those with Co substitution, particularly the deterministic role of Co/Fe ratio in the evolution of structure and properties upon hydrogenation.
From Synthesis to Mechanisms: In‐Depth Exploration of the Dual‐Atom Catalytic Mechanisms Toward Oxygen Electrocatalysis
Authors: Lei Lei , Guo Xinghua , Han Xu , Fei Ling , Guo Xiao , Wang De‐Gao
Published: February 2024

Dual‐atom catalysts (DACs) hold a higher metal atom loading and provide greater flexibility in terms of the structural characteristics of their active sites in comparison to single‐atom catalysts. Consequently, DACs hold great promise for achieving improved catalytic performance. This article aims to provide a focused overview of the latest advancements in DACs, covering their synthesis and mechanisms in reversible oxygen electrocatalysis, which plays a key role in sustainable energy conversion and storage technologies. The discussion starts by highlighting the structures of DACs and the differences in diatomic coordination induced by various substrates. Subsequently, the state‐of‐the‐art fabrication strategies of DACs for oxygen electrocatalysis are discussed from several different perspectives. It particularly highlights the challenges of increasing the diatomic loading capacity. More importantly, the main focus of this overview is to investigate the correlation between the configuration and activity in DACs in order to gain a deeper understanding of their active roles in oxygen electrocatalysis. This will be achieved through density functional theory calculations and sophisticated in situ characterization technologies. The aim is to provide guidelines for optimizing and upgrading DACs in oxygen electrocatalysis. Additionally, the overview discusses the current challenges and future prospects in this rapidly evolving area of research.
Regulating d‐Orbital Hybridization of Subgroup‐IVB Single Atoms for Efficient Oxygen Reduction Reaction
Authors: Zhao Xue , Sun Yong , Wang Jinming , Nie Anmin , Zou Guodong , Ren Liqun , Wang Jing , Wang Yong , Fernandez Carlos , Peng Qiuming
Published: February 2024

Highly active single‐atom electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction are crucial for improving the energy conversion efficiency, but they suffer from a limited choice of metal centers and unsatisfactory stabilities. Here, this work reports that optimization of the binding energies for reaction intermediates by tuning the d‐orbital hybridization with axial groups converts inactive subgroup‐IVB (Ti, Zr, Hf) moieties (MN4) into active motifs (MN4O), as confirmed with theoretical calculations. The competition between metal‐ligand covalency and metal‐intermediate covalency affects the d‐p orbital hybridization between the metal site and the intermediates, converting the metal centers into active sites. Subsequently, dispersed single‐atom M sites coordinated by nitrogen/oxygen groups have been prepared on graphene (s‐M‐N/O‐C) catalysts on a large‐scale with high‐energy milling and pyrolysis. Impressively, the s‐Hf‐N/O‐C catalyst with 5.08 wt% Hf exhibits a half‐wave potential of 0.920 V and encouraging performance in a zinc‐air battery with an extraordinary cycling life of over 1600 h and a large peak power‐density of 256.9 mW cm−2. This work provides promising single‐atom electrocatalysts and principles for preparing other catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction.
Recent Progress in Implantable Drug Delivery Systems
Authors: He Guang‐Qin , Li Haimei , Liu Junyi , Hu Yu‐Lin , Liu Yi , Wang Zhong Lin , Jiang Peng
Published: February 2024

In recent years, tremendous effort is devoted to developing platforms, such as implantable drug delivery systems (IDDSs), with temporally and spatially controlled drug release capabilities and improved adherence. IDDSs have multiple advantages: i) the timing and location of drug delivery can be controlled by patients using specific stimuli (light, sound, electricity, magnetism, etc.). Some intelligent “closed‐loop” IDDS can even realize self‐management without human participation. ii) IDDSs enable continuous and stable delivery of drugs over a long period (months to years) and iii) to administer drugs directly to the lesion, thereby helping reduce dosage and side effects. iv) IDDSs enable personalized drug delivery according to patient needs. The high demand for such systems has prompted scientists to make efforts to develop intelligent IDDS. In this review, several common stimulus‐responsive mechanisms including endogenous (e.g., pH, reactive oxygen species, proteins, etc.) and exogenous stimuli (e.g., light, sound, electricity, magnetism, etc.), are given in detail. Besides, several types of IDDS reported in recent years are reviewed, including various stimulus‐responsive systems based on the above mechanisms, radio frequency‐controlled IDDS, “closed‐loop” IDDS, self‐powered IDDS, etc. Finally, the advantages and disadvantages of various IDDS, bottleneck problems, and possible solutions are analyzed to provide directions for subsequent research.
Pressure‐Induced Enhancement of Photoluminescence and Photocurrent in Organic Semiconductor Rubrene
Authors: Zhang Haiwa , Zhang Guozhao , Cui Shouxin , Feng Haocheng , Chen Lin , Wang Qinglin , Li Qian , Li Yinwei , Liu Cailong
Published: February 2024

As a typical organic semiconductor material, rubrene plays a prominent role in the field of optoelectronic devices. Here, a notable photoluminescence (PL) and photocurrent enhancement of rubrene by 8‐ and 2.5‐fold is reported under compression, respectively. The shortening of the π−π stacking distance and the twisting of the lateral phenyl are crucial reasons for the decrease in the bandgap, resulting in the enhancement of PL emission and photocurrent. Pressure can effectively suppress the excitons transition from a free exciton state to a self‐trapped exciton state and improve the emission efficiency. The photocurrent is subject to dual regulation by bandgap and resistance. Interestingly, rubrene undergoes an electronic structure transition at about 4.8 GPa, which is responsible for the weakening of PL emission and photocurrent. This work provides a strategy for optimizing the performance of rubrene‐based optoelectronic devices and designing novel optoelectronic materials.
Concentrated formate produced through co‐electrolysis of CO2 and methanol in a zero‐gap electrolyzer
Authors: Lin Jianlong , Chi Haoyuan , Liu Hai , Fan Qun , Yan Tianxiang , Kuang Siyu , Wang Hui , Li Minglu , Yan Yabo , Zhang Tianying , Zhang Sheng , Ma Xinbin
Published: February 2024

Recent progresses have highlighted the enormous potentials of renewable electricities driven carbon dioxide (CO2) electrolysis in achieving carbon neutrality. However, its further industrial application is limited by low liquid product concentrations, which requires energy‐intensive downstream separation processing. Herein we report a CO2 and methanol co‐electrolysis strategy to produce formate at both electrodes and collect highly concentrated formate in zero‐gap CO2 electrolyzers. An anion exchange membrane was employed to enable formate product crossover from cathode to anode. A bismuth silicate derived nanofiber electrocatalyst with rich grain boundaries was synthesized and exhibited excellent formate selectivity (Faradaic efficiency >95%), high activity (partial current density >500 mA cm−2), as well as good stability (>120 h). Coupled with NiOX anode catalyst for methanol selective oxidation to formate in a zero‐gap electrolyzer, we demonstrate a ~180% of formate Faradaic efficiency and a full‐cell voltage of 2.43 V at an industrially relevant current density of 0.2 A cm−2. By decoupling product generation and collection, our electrolyzer produced a highly concentrated formate of 3.24 M, which could be directly used as anode fuel for fuel cells.
Electrogenerated Chemiluminescence Imaging of Single‐Atom Nanocatalysts
Authors: Kong Yan‐Chen , Ye Daixin , Xu Cong‐Hui , Ma Zijian , Zhao Hongbin , Zhao Wei
Published: February 2024

Single‐atom catalysts (SACs), distinguished by their maximum atom efficiency and precise control over the coordination and electronic properties of individual atoms, show great promise in electrocatalysis. Gaining a comprehensive understanding of the electrochemical performance of SACs requires the screening of electron transfer process at micro/nano scale. This research pioneers the use of electrogenerated chemiluminescence microscopy (ECLM) to observe the electrocatalytic reactions at individual SACs. It boasts sensitivity at the single photon level and temporal resolution down to 100 ms, enabling real‐time capture of the electrochemical behavior of individual SACs during potential sweeping. Leveraging the direct correlation between ECL emission and heterogeneous electron transfer processes, we introduced photon flux density for quantitative analysis, unveiling the electrocatalytic efficiency of individual SACs. This approach systematically reveals the relationship between SACs based on different metal atoms and their peroxidase (POD)‐like activity. The outcomes contribute to a fundamental understanding of SACs and pave the way for designing SACs with diverse technological and industrial applications.
Thermal degradation behavior and kinetics of porous polymer based on high functionality components
Authors: Luo Yumei , Pu Kefu , Gao Jie , Zhou Yun , Wan Jinyu , Bai Xiaodong
Published: February 2024

Two kinds of porous polymer were prepared based on high functionality components. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) is used to compare the thermal degradation behavior and kinetics of these two materials. The thermogravimetric tests of rigid polyurethane foam (H‐RPUF) and polyurea aerogel (H‐PUA) were carried out in nitrogen atmosphere at different heating rates. The thermal degradation characteristics of the porous polymer were obtained. The apparent activation energy (Ea) of thermal degradation of the porous polymer was investigated by model‐free methods. The results showed that the thermal degradation temperature and ash content of H‐RPUF were higher than those of H‐PUA, and the volatile content was lower. With the rise of heating rate, thermal hysteresis effect of the two porous polymer was relatively high, while the release amount of volatiles was unchanged. For the Kissinger method, Ea of H‐PUA and H‐RPUF was 212.8 kJ mol−1 and 157.4 kJ mol−1, respectively. According to Starink method, the average activation energy of H‐PUA and H‐RPUF was 220.2 kJ mol−1 and 107.2 kJ mol−1, respectively. Obtained by Flynn‐Wall‐Ozawa model, the average activation energy of H‐PUA and H‐RPUF was 219.0 kJ mol−1 and 111.5 kJ mol−1, respectively. The data obtained from the three models all show that Ea of thermal degradation of H‐PUA is higher than that of H‐RPUF, and it is less likely to decompose.
Multifunctional aptamer grafted targeted nano‐drugs execute molecular cross‐talks with cancer cells
Authors: Manna Sounik , Mahata Rumi , Dey Surya K. , Das Chaudhuri Angsuman , Choudhury Sujata M.
Published: February 2024

The biggest obstacles in treating cancer with traditional chemotherapy are unpleasant side effects and drug resistance. A growing amount of interest has been exhibited in using aptamers as target ligands for targeted cancer therapy and specific cancer cell identification due to their distinct benefits. Aptamer‐conjugated nano‐materials have recently provided new prospects in cancer treatment with their improved therapeutic efficacy and capability of reducing toxicity. Consequently, they are not perceived as alien substances our body, which allows their comfortable acceptance. Several tumor markers such as nucleolin, mucin, and the epidermal growth factor receptor can be effectively recognized by aptamers. In addition, glycoproteins on the surface of tumor cells can be recognized using aptamers. So surface modification of drug by aptamer are accomplished for enhanced tumor‐specific recognition by which drug‐specific accretion, internalization, and drug retention in tumors increased through specific ligand‐mediated interactions and thus therapeutic index is increased. Here, we highlight some promising classes of aptamer‐conjugated nanoparticles for the specific recognition of cancer cells and targeted drug delivery and the molecular mechanism and immunomodulatory regulation of these aptamer have been focused.
Use of electrolyte leakage to assess floral damage after freezing
Authors: Savage Jessica A. , Hudzinski Sydney J. , Olson Mady R.
Published: February 2024

Premise

With growing interest in the impact of false springs on plant reproduction, there is the need to develop reliable, high‐throughput methods for assessing floral freezing damage. Here we present a method for use with floral tissue that will facilitate more comparative work on floral freezing tolerance in the future.

Methods and Results

We examined the effectiveness of a modified electrolyte leakage protocol to assess floral freezing damage. By comparing data from temperature response curves to an estimate of visual tissue damage, we optimized the protocol for different floral types and improved the signal‐to‐noise ratio for floral data.

Conclusions

Our modified protocol provides a quick and straightforward method for quantifying floral freezing damage that can be standardized across floral types. This method allows for cross‐species comparisons and can be a powerful tool for studying broad patterns in floral freezing tolerance.
Chiral Magnetic Phases in Moire Bilayers of Magnetic Dipoles
Authors: Tapia Ignacio , Cazor Xavier , Mellado Paula
Published: February 2024

In magnetic insulators, the sense of rotation of the magnetization is associated with novel phases of matter and exotic transport phenomena. Aimed to find new sources of chiral magnetism rooted in intrinsic fields and geometry, twisted square bilayers of magnetic dipoles with easy plane anisotropy are studied. For no twist, each lattice settles in the zig‐zag magnetic state and orders antiferromagnetically to the other layer. The moire patterns that result from the mutual rotation of the two square lattices influence such zig‐zag order, giving rise to several phases that depict non‐collinear magnetic textures with chiral motifs that break both time and inversion symmetry. For certain moire angles, helical and toroidal magnetic orders arise. Changing the vertical distance between layers can further manipulate these novel phases. It is shown that the dipolar interlayer interaction induces an emergent twist‐dependent chiral magnetic field orthogonal to the direction of the zig‐zag chains, which is responsible for the internal torques conjugated to the toroidal orders.
Amino acid degradation pathway inhibitory by‐products trigger apoptosis in CHO cells
Authors: Martínez Verónica S. , Rodriguez Karen , McCubbin Timothy , Tong Junjie , Mahler Stephen , Shave Evan , Baker Kym , Munro Trent P. , Marcellin Esteban
Published: February 2024

Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells are widely used to produce complex biopharmaceuticals. Improving their productivity is necessary to fulfill the growing demand for such products. One way to enhance productivity is by cultivating cells at high densities, but inhibitory by‐products, such as metabolite derivatives from amino acid degradation, can hinder achieving high cell densities. This research examines the impact of these inhibitory by‐products on high‐density cultures. We cultured X1 and X2 CHO cell lines in a small‐scale semi‐perfusion system and introduced a mix of inhibitory by‐products on day 10. The X1 and X2 cell lines were chosen for their varied responses to the by‐products; X2 was susceptible, while X1 survived. Proteomics revealed that the X2 cell line presented changes in the proteins linked to apoptosis regulation, cell building block synthesis, cell growth, DNA repair, and energy metabolism. We later used the AB cell line, an apoptosis‐resistant cell line, to validate the results. AB behaved similar to X1 under stress. We confirmed the activation of apoptosis in X2 using a caspase assay. This research provides insights into the mechanisms of cell death triggered by inhibitory by‐products and can guide the optimization of CHO cell culture for biopharmaceutical manufacturing.
A generic pump‐free organ‐on‐a‐chip platform for assessment of intestinal drug absorption
Authors: Guo Yaqiong , Xie Yingying , Qin Jianhua
Published: February 2024

Organ‐on‐a‐chip technology has shown great potential in disease modeling and drug evaluation. However, traditional organ‐on‐a‐chip devices are mostly pump‐dependent with low throughput, which makes it difficult to leverage their advantages. In this study, we have developed a generic, pump‐free organ‐on‐a‐chip platform consisting of a 32‐unit chip and an adjustable rocker, facilitating high‐throughput dynamic cell culture with straightforward operation. By utilizing the rocker to induce periodic fluid forces, we can achieve fluidic conditions similar to those obtained with traditional pump‐based systems. Through constructing a gut‐on‐a‐chip model, we observed remarkable enhancements in the expression of barrier‐associated proteins and the spatial distribution of differentiated intestinal cells compared to static culture. Furthermore, RNA sequencing analysis unveiled enriched pathways associated with cell proliferation, lipid transport, and drug metabolism, indicating the ability of the platform to mimic critical physiological processes. Additionally, we tested seven drugs that represent a range of high, medium, and low in vivo permeability using this model and found a strong correlation between their Papp values and human Fa, demonstrating the capability of this model for drug absorption evaluation. Our findings highlight the potential of this pump‐free organ‐on‐a‐chip platform as a valuable tool for advancing drug development and enabling personalized medicine.
Effects of elevated CO2 concentration gradients on rice grain quality under two cultivation practices in cold region
Authors: Li Yuting , Liu Yi , Xie Feng , Han Xue , Feng Yongxiang
Published: February 2024

Background and Objectives

The effect of elevated atmospheric CO2 (eCO2) on rice (Oryza sativa L.) grain quality has been widely studied, but mostly under two contrasting levels of CO2 concentration. Our study was conducted in a new version of CO2 Gradient Tunnel (CGT) to study the responses of grain quality of japonica rice cv. Wuyoudao no.4 (WYD4) and Songjing no.9 (SJ9) to five CO2 concentrations (390–600 μmol·mol−1) gradient levels at two cultivation practices: traditional flooding (TF) and non‐flooded plastic film mulching (PM).

Findings

The results showed that the response of SJ9 to eCO2 was more pronounced under TF cultivation. When the CO2 concentration increased to 450 μmol·mol−1, the brown rice ratio and milled rice ratio of SJ9 decreased by 4.2% and 17.7%, respectively. However, when CO2 concentration increased to 600 μmol·mol−1, the brown rice ratio increased by 3.7%. These results reveal that different gradients of eCO2 have different effects on rice quality. Besides that, eCO2 decreased the nutritional quality of SJ9 by decreasing the protein content and amylose content, while eCO2 improved rice appearance and eating quality. Different from SJ9, when CO2 concentration increased to 500–600 μmol·mol–1, the milled rice ratio and head rice ratio of WYD4 increased by 5.9%–7.5% and 16.7%–19.5% under PM cultivation. Furthermore, eCO2 decreased the chalky grain rate or chalkiness by 34.5%–80.5% and 53.1%–77.1%, respectively.

Conclusions

Under PM cultivation, the rice milling quality and appearance quality of WYD4 were promoted by eCO2. Rice nutritional quality was significantly decreased in both cultivation practices. In the comparison of rice quality between the two cultivations, except for rice eating quality, the other grain quality parameters of SJ9 under PM cultivation were better than those under TF cultivation. The opposite was true for WYD4.

Significance and Novelty

Under future production conditions with eCO2, the high‐yielding SJ9 cultivar is more suitable for water‐saving cultivation with mulching film, while the high‐quality WYD4 is suitable for TF cultivation.
Association between performance measures and clinical outcomes in patients with heart failure in China: Results from the HERO study
Authors: Zheng Shiyue , Li Li , Jiang Chao , He Liu , Lai Yiwei , Li Wenjie , Zhao Xiaoyan , Wang Xiaofang , Li Ling , Du Xin , Ma Changsheng , Dong Jianzeng
Published: February 2024

Background

There is great heterogeneity in the quality of care among hospitals in China, but studies on the performance measures and prognosis of patients with heart failure (HF) are still deficient.

Hypothesis

Performance measures have been used as a guideline to clinicans, however, the association between them and outcomes among HF patients in China remains unclear.

Methods

We analyzed 4497 patients with HF from the Heart Failure Registry of Patient Outcomes study. Performance measures were determined according to the guidelines, and the patients were divided into four groups based on a composite performance score. Multiple imputation and Cox proportional‐hazard regression models were used to assess the association between the performance measures and clinical outcomes.

Results

Overall, only 12.5% of patients met the top 25% of the performance measures, whereas 33.5% of patients met the bottom 25% of the measures. A total of 992 (22.2%) patients died within 1 year, involving a larger proportion of patients who had met only the bottom 25% of the performance measures than had met the top 25% (27.0% vs. 16.3%, respectively). The patients who met the top 25% of the measures had a lower 1‐year mortality rate (adjusted hazard ratio: 0.78, 95% confidence interval: 0.61–0.98).

Conclusions

The association between performance measures and mortality appeared to follow a dose–response pattern with a larger degree of compliance with performance measures being associated with a lower mortality rate in patients with HF. Accordingly, the quality of care for patients with HF in China needs to be further improved.
The association of tadalafil exposure with lower rates of major adverse cardiovascular events and mortality in a general population of men with erectile dysfunction
Authors: Kloner Robert A. , Stanek Eric , Desai Karishma , Crowe Christopher L. , Paige Ball Kathryn , Haynes Aaron , Rosen Raymond C.
Published: February 2024

Background

Tadalafil is a long‐acting phosphodiesterase‐5 inhibitor (PDE‐5i) indicated for erectile dysfunction (ED).

Hypothesis

Our hypothesis was that tadalafil will reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE: composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization, unstable angina, heart failure, stroke) and all‐cause death in men with ED.

Methods

A retrospective observational cohort study was conducted in a large US commercial insurance claims database in men with a diagnosis of ED without prior MACE within 1 year. The exposed group (n = 8156) had ≥1 claim for tadalafil; the unexposed group (n = 21 012) had no claims for any PDE‐5i.

Results

Primary outcome was MACE; secondary outcome was all‐cause death. Groups were matched for cardiovascular risk factors, including preventive therapy. Over a mean follow‐up of 37 months for the exposed group and 29 months for the unexposed group, adjusted rates of MACE were 19% lower in men exposed to tadalafil versus those unexposed to any PDE‐5i (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.81; 95% confidence intervals [CI] = 0.70−0.94; p = .007). Tadalafil exposure was associated with lower adjusted rates of coronary revascularization (HR = 0.69; 95% CI = 0.52−0.90; p = .006); unstable angina (HR = 0.55; 95% CI = 0.37−0.81; p = .003); and cardiovascular‐related mortality (HR = 0.45; CI = 0.22−0.93; p = .032). Overall mortality rate was 44% lower in men exposed to tadalafil (HR = 0.56; CI = 0.43−0.74; p < .001). Men in the highest quartile of tadalafil exposure had the lowest rates of MACE (HR: 0.40; 95% CI: 0.28−0.58; p < .001) compared to lowest exposure quartile.

Conclusion

In men with ED, exposure to tadalafil was associated with significant and clinically meaningful lower rates of MACE and overall mortality.
Processing‐in‐memory based multilateration localization in wireless sensor networks using memristor crossbar arrays
Authors: Mohammed Siyad B. , Mohan Ramasundaram
Published: February 2024

Most of the multilateration algorithms for object localization rely heavily on matrix multiplication for calculating the precise location of the target from all the reference points in a 3D domain. A significant disadvantage is that performing matrix multiplication can be computationally expensive, particularly for larger matrices, leading to slower performance and longer processing times. In this article, we propose a Processing‐in‐Memory (PIM) based localization approach for multilateration using a memristor crossbar array for performing faster matrix multiplication. The experiments were conducted on real‐time data collected through ultra‐wideband (UWB) chip. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed model is around 50% faster than the fastest known localization algorithm considered for evaluation and exhibits an average of 55% improvement in localization accuracy.
The Norbornadiene/Quadricyclane Pair as Molecular Solar Thermal Energy Storage System: Surface Science Investigations
Authors: Hemauer Felix , Steinrück Hans‐Peter , Papp Christian
Published: February 2024

For the transition to renewable energy sources, novel energy storage materials are more important than ever. This review addresses so‐called molecular solar thermal (MOST) systems, which appear very promising since they combine light harvesting and energy storing in one‐photon one‐molecule processes. The focus is on norbornadiene (NBD), a particularly interesting candidate, which is converted to the strained valence isomer quadricyclane (QC) upon irradiation. The stored energy can be released on demand. The energy‐releasing cycloreversion from QC to NBD can be initiated by a thermal, catalytic, or electrochemical trigger. The reversibility of the energy storage and release cycles determines the general practicality of a MOST system. In the search for derivatives, which enable large‐scale applications, fundamental surface science studies help to assess the feasibility of potential substituted NBD/QC couples. We include investigations under well‐defined ultra‐high vacuum (UHV) conditions as well as experiments in liquid phase. Next to the influence of the catalytically active surfaces on the isomerization between the two valence isomers, information on adsorption geometries, thermal stability limits, and reaction pathways of the respective molecules are discussed. Moreover, laboratory‐scaled test devices demonstrate the proof of concept in various areas of application.
Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production from Pure Water Using a IEF‐11/g‐C3N4 S‐Scheme Heterojunction
Authors: Qian An , Han Xin , Liu Qiaona , Fan Minwei , Ye Lei , Pu Xin , Chen Ying , Liu Jichang , Sun Hui , Zhao Jigang , Ling Hao , Wang Rongjie , Li Jiangbing , Jia Xin
Published: February 2024

Construction of S‐scheme heterojunction offers a promising way to enhance the photocatalytic performance of photocatalysts for converting solar energy into chemical energy. However, the photocatalytic H2 production in pure water without sacrificial agents is still a challenge. Herein, the IEF‐11 with the best photocatalytic H2 production performance in MOFs and suitable band structure was selected and firstly constructed with g‐C3N4 to obtain a S‐scheme heterojunction for photocatalytic H2 production from pure water. As a result, the novel IEF‐11/g‐C3N4 heterojunction photocatalysts exhibited significantly improved photocatalytic H2 production performance in pure water without any sacrificial agent, with a rate of 576 μmol/g/h, which is about 8 times than that of g‐C3N4 and 23 times of IEF‐11. The novel IEF‐11/g‐C3N4 photocatalysts also had a photocatalytic H2 production rate of up to 92 μmol/g/h under visible light and a good photocatalytic stability. The improved performance can be attributed to the efficient separation of photogenerated charge carriers, faster charge transfer efficiency and longer photogenerated carrier lifetimes, which comes from the forming of S‐scheme heterojunction in the IEF‐11/g‐C3N4 photocatalyst. This work is a promising guideline for obtaining MOF‐based or g‐C3N4‐based photocatalysts with great photocatalytic water splitting performance.
The DEI slide: How colleges and universities are managing the cultural shift
Authors: May Rachel
Published: February 2024

Kentucky and Wisconsin are the most recent states to grapple with proposed bans of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives. While the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents originally voted against the proposed DEI bill, they eventually reached an agreement with state legislators. The UW system was granted $800 million from the state for employee pay raises and construction projects, in exchange for freezing DEI hiring, changing position titles of existing DEI staff to “student success” roles, and eliminating DEI statements from student applications.
New year, new changes
Authors: Sutton Halley
Published: February 2024

Even though this is the March issue of Dean & Provost, I’m still writing this to you from January 2024, when the new year feels fresh and full of possibility and change. And one bittersweet change coming for me and this publication in 2024 is that I am moving on from my role as editor of this newsletter.
The ABA votes to eliminate LSAT requirement
Authors: Lyerly Eric
Published: February 2024

There has been an interesting development in law school admissions that could have an impact on admissions and standardized testing at all levels.
Mercer on Mission program makes global impact by integrating study abroad with service‐learning
Authors: McCarthy Claudine
Published: February 2024

Craig McMahan, M.Div., Ph.D., was just one year into working as Mercer University's Minister, Dean of Chapel, and Assistant Professor of Religion when the new University President gave him an assignment: to develop a program that integrates study abroad with meaningful service‐learning projects that go beyond “hugging babies and painting walls.” And that's how Mercer On Mission was born. In 14 years, the program has completed 163 trips with 2,877 Mercer students and faculty participants visiting 45 different international sites.
Drivers of desert plant beta diversity on the Qinghai–Tibet plateau
Authors: Wen Lu , Zhao Kexuan , Sun Haoyu , Feng Gang , Sun Qiang , Liang Cunzhu , Li Zhiyong , Wang Lixin , Svenning Jens‐Christian
Published: February 2024

The desert ecosystem of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP) is an important component of China's desert ecosystem. Studying the mechanisms shaping the taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional beta diversity of plant communities in the QTP desert will help us to promote scientific conservation and management of the region's biodiversity. This study investigated the effects of environmental (including altitude, climate factors, and soil factors) and geographic distances on three facets of beta diversity as well as their turnover and nestedness components based on field survey data. The results showed that turnover components dominate the three facets of beta diversity. However, the turnover contributions to phylogenetic and functional beta diversity were lower than for taxonomic beta diversity. Environmental distance had a greater influence than geographic distance, with the former uniquely explaining 15.2%–22.8% of beta diversity and the latter explaining only 1.7%–2.4%. Additionally, the explanatory power of different factors for beta diversity differed between herbs and shrubs, with environmental distance being more important for the latter. Distance‐based redundancy analysis suggested that soil total potassium content had a substantial impact on the beta diversity of three dimensions, with mean temperature of the coldest month and soil total phosphorus content having a substantial impact on taxonomic and functional beta diversity as well. Our results support that environmental sorting plays a predominant role in shaping plant community composition across QTP desert ecosystems. To maintain the plant diversity of this region, it is crucial to prioritize the conservation of its diverse environmental conditions and actively mitigate its degradation by anthropogenic pressures.
Developmental temperature, more than long‐term evolution, defines thermal tolerance in an estuarine copepod
Authors: Ashlock Lauren , Darwin Chelsea , Crooker Jessica , deMayo James , Dam Hans G. , Pespeni Melissa
Published: February 2024

Climate change is resulting in increasing ocean temperatures and salinity variability, particularly in estuarine environments. Tolerance of temperature and salinity change interact and thus may impact organismal resilience. Populations can respond to multiple stressors in the short‐term (i.e., plasticity) or over longer timescales (i.e., adaptation). However, little is known about the short‐ or long‐term effects of elevated temperature on the tolerance of acute temperature and salinity changes. Here, we characterized the response of the near‐shore and estuarine copepod, Acartia tonsa, to temperature and salinity stress. Copepods originated from one of two sets of replicated >40 generation‐old temperature‐adapted lines: ambient (AM, 18°C) and ocean warming (OW, 22°C). Copepods from these lines were subjected to one and three generations at the reciprocal temperature. Copepods from all treatments were then assessed for differences in acute temperature and salinity tolerance. Development (one generation), three generations, and >40 generations of warming increased thermal tolerance compared to Ambient conditions, with development in OW resulting in equal thermal tolerance to three and >40 generations of OW. Strikingly, developmental OW and >40 generations of OW had no effect on low salinity tolerance relative to ambient. By contrast, when environmental salinity was reduced first, copepods had lower thermal tolerances. These results highlight the critical role for plasticity in the copepod climate response and suggest that salinity variability may reduce copepod tolerance to subsequent warming.
Pace and parity predict the short‐term persistence of small plant populations
Authors: DePrenger‐Levin Michelle , Wunder Michael B.
Published: February 2024

Life history traits are used to predict asymptotic odds of extinction from dynamic conditions. Less is known about how life history traits interact with stochasticity and population structure of finite populations to predict near‐term odds of extinction. Through empirically parameterized matrix population models, we study the impact of life history (reproduction, pace), stochasticity (environmental, demographic), and population history (existing, novel) on the transient population dynamics of finite populations of plant species. Among fast and slow pace and either a uniform or increasing reproductive intensity or short or long reproductive lifespan, slow, semelparous species are at the greatest risk of extinction. Long reproductive lifespans buffer existing populations from extinction while the odds of extinction of novel populations decrease when the reproductive effort is uniformly spread across the reproductive lifespan. Our study highlights the importance of population structure, pace, and two distinct aspects of parity for predicting near‐term odds of extinction.
Trophic lengthening triggered by filamentous, N2‐fixing cyanobacteria disrupts pelagic but not benthic food webs in a large estuarine ecosystem
Authors: Steinkopf Markus , Krumme Uwe , Schulz‐Bull Detlef , Wodarg Dirk , Loick‐Wilde Natalie
Published: February 2024

Eutrophication, increased temperatures and stratification can lead to massive, filamentous, N2‐fixing cyanobacterial (FNC) blooms in coastal ecosystems with largely unresolved consequences for the mass and energy supply in food webs. Mesozooplankton adapt to not top‐down controlled FNC blooms by switching diets from phytoplankton to microzooplankton, resulting in a directly quantifiable increase in its trophic position (TP) from 2.0 to as high as 3.0. If this process in mesozooplankton, we call trophic lengthening, was transferred to higher trophic levels of a food web, a loss of energy could result in massive declines of fish biomass. We used compound‐specific nitrogen stable isotope data of amino acids (CSIA) to estimate and compare the nitrogen (N) sources and TPs of cod and flounder from FNC bloom influence areas (central Baltic Sea) and areas without it (western Baltic Sea). We tested if FNC‐triggered trophic lengthening in mesozooplankton is carried over to fish. The TP of cod from the western Baltic (4.1 ± 0.5), feeding mainly on decapods, was equal to reference values. Only cod from the central Baltic, mainly feeding on zooplanktivorous pelagics, had a significantly higher TP (4.6 ± 0.4), indicating a strong carry‐over effect trophic lengthening from mesozooplankton. In contrast, the TP of molluscivorous flounder, associated with the benthic food web, was unaffected by trophic lengthening and quite similar reference values of 3.2 ± 0.2 in both areas. This suggests that FNC blooms lead to a large loss of energy in zooplanktivorous but not in molluscivorous mesopredators. If FNC blooms continue to trigger the detour of energy at the base of the pelagic food web due to a massive heterotrophic microbial system, the TP of cod will not return to lower TP values and the fish stock not recover. Monitoring the TP of key species can identify fundamental changes in ecosystems and provide information for resource management.
Student affairs career led to college presidency
Authors: McCarthy Claudine
Published: February 2024

When Donna Brown applied for a fellowship as a student affairs professional working toward her doctorate degree, the application process required her to come up with a “lofty long‐term goal.” Acknowledging her start as a student at a tribal college, she thought, “my life would come full circle if I ever became a president of a tribal college,” she now recalls. “At that time, I don’t know if I believed it, but I wrote that as my long‐term goal,” she added.
Experiment and numerical simulation on the performance of multiple unidirectional single‐particle dampers under seismic excitation
Authors: Wang Bao‐shun , Xue Jian‐yang , Wei Jing‐hui , Liu Kang , Zhou Rui
Published: February 2024

This study designed and manufactured a 1/5‐scale model of a three‐story steel frame structure. Various types of ground motions, including non‐long period (NLP) ground motions, near‐fault pulse type (NFPT) ground motions, and non‐pulse long‐period (NPLP) ground motions, were selected following the site conditions of the structure. The multiple unidirectional single‐particle damper (MUSPD) and its layout schemes were then designed. A series of shaking table tests for the three‐story steel frame with and without MUSPD were performed. Subsequently, a mechanical model of the multi‐degree‐of‐freedom structure with MUSPDs was established, and a corresponding numerical simulation method was proposed. The results revealed that MUSPDs achieved an average damping rate of 18.24% for peak and 27.41% for Root Mean Square (RMS). Notably, MUSPD exhibited a superior damping effect on the RMS of the structure compared to the peak. The distributing floor particle mass according to the first‐order mode of the structure resulted in excellent damping performance. Additionally, determining the particle movement distance for each floor involved calculating the optimal distance using a single‐degree‐of‐freedom structure. MUSPDs exhibited a better damping effect under NLP ground motions compared to NFPT and NPLP ground motions. The shaking table test results confirmed the rationality and feasibility of the proposed numerical simulation method, demonstrating a high level of accuracy.