bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Online Teaching during the Covid-19 Pandemic: The Philippine Experience
Authors: Gallespen Ervie Emelda
Published: June 2022

Teachers shifted to online teaching when schools were shut down due to the Coronavirus-19 global pandemic. The study determined the experiences, challenges, and responses of teachers while doing online teaching. A survey through Microsoft Teams was administered to 194 Senior High School and College teachers in Riverside College, Bacolod City, Philippines.  Findings revealed that support system was experienced by the teachers through the webinars provided, the assistance of colleagues and housemates, and the help extended by parents to their children. The challenges identified were the extent of students’ learning as observed and the teachers’ learning climate, their living conditions, work environment, devise used, and connectivity. A positive response was reflected in the teachers’ adaptability, level of enjoyment, and work-life balance. Their readiness in the resumption of face-to-face classes resulted from the stress experienced. Teachers’ stress levels differed when they were compared according to their department and employment status. Their satisfaction towards the Microsoft Teams platform significantly differed when they were grouped according to their department. No significant difference was observed in the teachers’ extent of readiness in the resumption of face-to-face classes when they were compared according to their department, employment status, and the number of subject load preparations. The results consider the impact of online teaching on the students’ learning and the teachers’ well-being.
A Comparative Study of Deep Learning and Transfer Learning in Detection of Diabetic Retinopathy
Authors: Kamiri Jackson , Wambugu Geoffrey Mariga , Oirere Aaron Mogeni
Published: June 2022

Computer vision has gained momentum in medical imaging tasks. Deep learning and Transfer learning are some of the approaches used in computer vision. The aim of this research was to do a comparative study of deep learning and transfer learning in the detection of diabetic retinopathy. To achieve this objective, experiments were conducted that involved training four state-of-the-art neural network architectures namely; EfficientNetB0, DenseNet169, VGG16, and ResNet50. Deep learning involved training the architectures from scratch. Transfer learning involved using the architectures which are pre-trained using the ImageNet dataset and then fine-tuning them to solve the task at hand. The results show that transfer learning outperforms learning from scratch in all three models. VGG16 achieved the highest accuracy of 84.12% in transfer learning. Another notable finding is that transfer learning is able to not only achieve high accuracy with very few epochs but also starts higher than deep learning in the first epoch. This study has also demonstrated that in image processing tasks there are a lot of transferrable features since the ImageNet weights worked well in the Diabetic retinopathy detection task.
Constraints Faced by Loom Weavers Related to Production and Marketing of Weaved Products in Bhagalpur District of Bihar
Authors: Divyanshi . , Kumar Sanjay , Singh Vikas
Published: June 2022

The cloth and loom were a long history since the emergence of human beings on the earth. The Hindu epics, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, the Vedas and the sacred books of Hindu mythology speak of the art of weaving. Loom work is proving a large-scale employment in rural and urban places and it is an ancient industry. Weaving is the traditional occupation in India as well as in the Bhagalpur district of Bihar. Even though weavers form an integral part of the Indian loom industry, there is not enough recognition of their contribution to the sector due to various production and marketing constraints. It leads to poor economic conditions which casts doubt on their social security and future aspirations. Bhagalpur district of Bihar state was selected for this study.120 respondents were selected from 3 villages based on the population of weavers in villages. The present study was conducted in the years 2021-2022.The main constraints in production and marketing are revealed by respondents as scarcity of raw materials, insufficient weaving facility, COVID- 19 lockdown, lack of cooperative support, high commission charges, less transportation etc.
Development of Operating Model for the Design of Stirrer Arms of Slurries: A Review
Authors: Okpighe S. O. , Shadrack M. U. , Nwosu H. U.
Published: June 2022

An in dept review of the Development of Operating Model for the Design of Stirrer Arms of Slurries is reported. The works of several authors were reviewed. These works covered research on the importance of slurries, application of different slurries in the area of Agriculture and agricultural farming, construction and allied industries, foods and pharmaceutical industries, chemical and paints industries. Also considered were the research works on the design, fabrication and test investigation of performance of different stirrer arms. From the review, three key outcomes from three set of researchers were identified thus: Researcher team 1:  the TTP propeller was the most efficient in liquid phase mixing; Researcher team 2: the TEET geometry contributed the best quality of the mixing and significantly reduced the cost of the mixing process; Researcher team 3: the two Z blade stirrer arm was considered as the best in terms of mixing effectiveness. These three outcomes appear as standalone and do not give the user(s) information on comparative advantages for deployment of stirrer arms. Consequent on the above, further theoretical and empirical   research will need to be done to evaluate the Order of Merit of these stirrer arms to be called to bar.
Assessment of Domestic Investment, Export Expansion and Economic Performance in Nigeria: A Vector Autoregression Approach
Authors: Ozegbe Azuka Elvis , Yussuff Rukkayat O.
Published: June 2022

The purpose of this article is to investigate the nexus between domestic investment, export expansion and economic growth in Nigeria. To achieve this purpose, annual time series data from the period between 1981 and 2018 was tested using the Johansen co-integration analysis, VECM and the Granger-Causality test. The result of the analysis revealed an insignificant relationship between domestic investment and export expansion. Based on the Granger-Causality test, the result indicated a bi-directional relationship between domestic investment and economic growth. These results provide evidence that domestic investment and economic growth are not viewed as sources of export expansion in Nigeria during the period under review. Therefore, changes in policies and regulations to accelerate the export expansion of Nigeria will ultimately yield positive results in terms of achieving high rates of stable economic growth. Policymakers in Nigeria should search for the alternative catalyst to stimulate domestic investment and economic growth geared towards promoting long-term export expansion in Nigeria effectively.
Challenges in Hybrid Teaching Amidst Pandemic: The Proposed Model
Authors: Nebrida Jimmy , Bangud Aldrin
Published: June 2022

This study aimed to understand how an engineering division transforms its practices to attune to hybrid teaching pedagogy in higher education. Specifically, it aimed to identify challenges encountered by lecturers and students and how these challenges are responded to. Furthermore, it was aimed to develop a model to address problems in hybrid teaching. The study made use of a qualitative research design to gather in-depth insights about the problem and generate new ideas for research. Theoretical sampling is used as prescribed for grounded theory. It identifies the participants which allows a theory to emerge and supports the conducting of interviews with an initial interview from the head of division until saturation is achieved. Results of the study showed that the engineering division recognized the challenges brought by hybrid teaching like unequal opportunity among students to be engaged in class activities, inefficient support for online students, technical issues with the platform, lack of devices for online learning, additional time during the weekend, unresponsive online students, inability to monitor online students, low level of readiness and hesitation among lecturers, unstable internet connection and sound-related issues. The division responded with solutions like provision of laptops, collaborative teaching, online teaching apps, gamification, audio-visual learning, tutorial videos, use of school and personal resources, and repetition for mastery. The mechanism utilized in addressing the challenges faced are continuous professional development, informal sharing and discussion with colleagues, and institutional in-house training.
Exploring Lived Experiences of Selected Educational Entrepreneurs in and around Harare during the COVID 19 Pandemic
Authors: Chifamba Constance
Published: June 2022

The aim of this research is to explore lived experiences of education entrepreneurs during the Covid 19 pandemic. An interpretive phenomenological study was carried out on eight purposively selected educational entrepreneurs from Harare Urban and Harare peri-Urban in order to study their lived experiences through the Covid 19 Pandemic. Semi- structured interviews were used to collect data from the 8 research participants. Data collected was coded and placed into clusters according to similarities. Similar clusters were merged into 5 themes. These 5 themes summarized the lessons learnt through the lived experiences of the research participants. Although the Covid 19 pandemic has caused negative impacts globally, the reports from the lived experiences indicate that there were several positive aspects that emerged from this pandemic. Such positive outcomes include opening business opportunities for educational entrepreneurs, job creation, professional development and development of resilience. The study recommends that since the Covid 19 Pandemic is unique and has an evolving nature, educational entrepreneurs should shift their focus from simply mitigating and focus on proactively developing entrepreneurial innovativeness and adaptability skills in order to cope with a future that is inherently unpredictable. This may bolster their confidence so as to be ready to respond assertively as well as flexibly in the face of such a phenomenon in order to cope with the challenges posed and come out of it with resilience.
Home‐based biofeedback speech treatment improves dysarthria in repeat‐expansion SCAs
Authors: Vogel Adam P. , Graf Lisa H. , Magee Michelle , Schöls Ludger , Rommel Natalie , Synofzik Matthis
Published: June 2022

CAG repeat‐expansion spinocerebellar ataxias (CAG‐SCAs) are genetically defined multisystemic degenerative diseases, resulting in motor symptoms including dysarthria with a substantial impact on daily living. Whilst speech therapy is widely recommended in ataxia, very limited evidence exists for its use. We evaluated the efficacy of a home‐delivered, ataxia‐tailored biofeedback‐driven speech therapy in CAG‐SCA in 16 individuals with SCA1, 2, 3, or 6. Treatment was delivered intensively over 20 days. Efficacy was evaluated by blinded ratings of intelligibility (primary) and acoustic measures (secondary) leveraging an intra‐individual control design. Intelligibility improved post‐treatment (Z = −3.18, p = 0.004) whilst remaining stable prior to treatment (Z = 0.53, p = 1.00).
Ultralight Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotube Aerogels for Low‐Frequency Sound Absorption
Authors: Yanagi Reo , Segi Takahiro , Oda Ryoya , Ueno Tomonaga
Published: June 2022

Absorbing low‐frequency sound below 1000 Hz with an ultralight material is a critical challenge. Nanofibrous sound‐absorbing materials have many interfaces for air‐borne sound loss. In addition, nanofibers with a high elastic modulus can increase the loss of sound propagating in the solid, enabling good, low‐frequency sound absorption. Herein, a composite aerogel based on single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as an ultralight material that effectively absorbs low‐frequency sound is reported. This ultralight aerogel has a hierarchical porous structure composed of high‐modulus SWCNT–CMC composite nanofibers. A sample with an areal density of 20 mg cm−2 (bulk density: 5 mg cm−3, thickness: 39 mm) achieves a sound‐absorption coefficient of 0.44 at 500 Hz. The sound‐absorption behavior is sufficiently described by the Biot–Johnson–Champoux–Allard model, indicating the significant effect of the high elastic modulus of the nanofibers on the sound‐absorption performance. The article presents a new design principle for ultralight materials with low‐frequency sound absorption that takes into consideration both the porous structure and the elastic modulus of the material framework.
A Strain Rate‐Dependent Constitutive Model for Asymmetric Hardening Behavior of TB9 Titanium Alloy
Authors: Jin Xiaochao , Xu Qipeng , Qiu Ji , Jin Tao , Li Pan , Hou Cheng , Liu Le , Fan Xueling
Published: June 2022

The TB9 titanium alloy is one of the most promising materials for engineering application due to high strength, high toughness, and corrosion resistance. Constitutive modeling is an important issue for investigating the materials properties and mechanical behaviors of TB9 titanium alloys using the numerical simulation method. This article presents a pressure‐dependent elastoplastic asymmetric constitutive model that has a high capability of describing the deformation behavior of TB9 titanium alloy. The strain rate sensitivity model of strength differential coefficient evolution is proposed for an accurate simulation of the asymmetric yielding effect. Furthermore, an idea of yield surface plotted in the deviatoric stress space is presented for the decoupling of coupling effect of hydrostatic pressure and lode angle. The validity of this constitutive model is confirmed by comparing the compression stress–strain responses calculated using the proposed model with the experimental observations on TB9 titanium alloy.
Development of Pure Green Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Material by Cyano Substitution
Authors: Oda Susumu , Sugitani Takumi , Tanaka Hiroyuki , Tabata Keita , Kawasumi Ryosuke , Hatakeyama Takuji
Published: June 2022

Multiple resonance (MR)‐effect‐induced thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) materials have garnered significant attention because they can achieve both high color purity and high external quantum efficiency (EQE). However, the reported green‐emitting MR‐TADF materials exhibit broader emission compared to those of blue‐emitting ones and suffer from severe efficiency roll‐off due to insufficient rate constants of reverse intersystem crossing process (kRISC). Herein, a pure green MR‐TADF material (ν‐DABNA‐CN‐Me) with high kRISC of 105 s−1 is reported. The key to success is introduction of cyano groups into a blue‐emitting MR‐TADF material (ν‐DABNA), which causes remarkable bathochromic shift without a loss of color purity. The organic light‐emitting diode employing it as an emitter exhibits green emission at 504 nm with a small full‐width at half‐maximum of 23 nm, corresponding to Commission Internationale d'Éclairage coordinates of (0.13, 0.65). The device achieves a high maximum EQE of 31.9% and successfully suppresses the efficiency roll‐off at a high luminance.
Ion–Dipole Interaction Regulation Enables High‐Performance Single‐Ion Polymer Conductors for Solid‐State Batteries
Authors: Wen Kaihua , Xin Chengzhou , Guan Shundong , Wu Xinbin , He Shan , Xue Chuanjiao , Liu Sijie , Shen Yang , Li Liangliang , Nan Ce‐Wen
Published: June 2022

Solid polymer electrolytes with large ionic conductivity, high ionic transference number, and good interfacial compatibility with electrodes are highly desired for solid‐state batteries. However, unwanted polarizations and side reactions occurring in traditional dual‐ion polymer conductors hinder their practical applications. Here, single‐ion polymer conductors (SIPCs) with exceptional selectivity for Li‐ion conduction (Li‐ion transference number up to 0.93), high room‐temperature ionic conductivity of about 10−4 S cm−1, and a wide electrochemical stability window (>4.5 V, vs Li/Li+) are prepared by precisely regulating the ion–dipole interactions between Li+ and carbonyl/cyano groups. The resulting SIPCs show an excellent electrochemical stability with Li metal during long‐term cycling at room temperature and 60 °C. LiFePO4‐based solid‐state cells containing the SIPCs exhibit good rate and cycling performance in a wide temperature range from −20 to 90 °C. By the same way of ion–dipole interaction regulation, sodium‐ and potassium‐based SIPCs with both high ionic conductivity and high cationic transference numbers are also prepared. The findings in this work provide guidance for the development of high‐performance SIPCs and other metal‐ion systems beyond Li+.
Fluorinated Perylene‐Diimides: Cathode Interlayers Facilitating Carrier Collection for High‐Performance Organic Solar Cells
Authors: Yao Jia , Ding Shiyu , Zhang Rui , Bai Yang , Zhou Qiuju , Meng Lei , Solano Eduardo , Steele Julian A. , Roeffaers Maarten B. J. , Gao Feng , Zhang Zhi‐Guo , Li Yongfang
Published: June 2022

Organic solar cells (OSCs) have experienced rapid progress with the innovation of near‐infrared (NIR)‐absorbing small‐molecular acceptors (SMAs), while the unique electronic properties of the SMAs raise new challenges in relation to cathode engineering for effective electron collection. To address this issue, two fluorinated perylene‐diimides (PDIs), PDINN‐F and PDINN‐2F, are synthesized by a simple fluorination method, for application as cathode interlayer (CIL) materials. The two bay‐fluorinated PDI‐based CILs possess a lower lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy level of ≈−4.0 eV, which improves the energy level alignment at the NIR‐SMAs (such as BTP‐eC9)/CIL for a favorable electron extraction efficiency. The monofluorinated PDINN‐F shows higher electron mobility and better improved interfacial compatibility. The PDINN‐F‐based OSCs with PM6:BTP‐eC9 as active layer exhibit an enhanced fill factor and larger short‐circuit current density, leading to a high power conversion efficiency (PCE) exceeding 18%. The devices with PDINN‐F CIL retain more than 80% of their initial PCE after operating at the maximum power point under continuous illumination for 750 h. This work prescribes a facile, cost‐effective, and scalable method for the preparation of stable, high‐performance fluorinated CILs, and instilling promise for the NIR‐SMAs‐based OSCs moving forward.
Thinking sustainably? Identifying Stakeholders' positions toward corporate sustainability in floriculture with Q methodology
Authors: Derksen Dirtje Marie , Mithöfer Dagmar
Published: June 2022

The aim of this study is to explore the different perspectives of floricultural stakeholders on sustainability. Q methodology is used to identify the diversity of viewpoints. Based on 34 statements derived from stakeholder‐interviews and ranked by 12 stakeholders, three perspectives were identified: Attitude over strategy, business‐centered approach, and pragmatic approach. The viewpoints shared a predominantly weak sustainability‐understanding and differed in their evaluation of nature, global sustainability issues and organizational perspectives. The perspectives were inconsistent and ambiguous; the stages of the sustainability spectrum of Landrum can only be regarded as a conceptual guideline leaving the idea of clearly delineated stages behind.
Online learning‐based predictive control of crystallization processes under batch‐to‐batch parametric drift
Authors: Zheng Yingzhe , Zhao Tianyi , Wang Xiaonan , Wu Zhe
Published: June 2022

This work considers a seeded fesoterodine fumarate (FF) cooling crystallization and presents the methodology and implementation of a real‐time machine learning modeling‐based predictive controller to handle batch‐to‐batch (B2B) parametric drift. Specifically, an autoencoder recurrent neural network‐based model predictive controller (AERNN‐MPC) is developed to optimize product yield, crystal size, and energy consumption while accounting for the physical constraints on cooling jacket temperature. Deviations in the kinetic parameters are considered in the closed‐loop simulations to account for the B2B parametric drift, and two error‐triggered online update mechanisms are proposed to address issues pertaining to the availability of real‐time crystal property measurements and are incorporated into the AERNN‐MPC to improve the model prediction accuracy. Closed‐loop simulation results demonstrate that the proposed AERNN‐MPC with online update, irrespective of the accessibility to real‐time crystal property data, achieves a desired closed‐loop performance in terms of maximizing product yield and minimizing energy consumption.
The Steering Jump Control of a Locust Bio‐Robot via Asynchronous Hindleg Kickings
Authors: Ma Songsong , Li Bing , Li Yao
Published: June 2022

The locust's steering behavior has long been thought to be achieved under the control of fore‐ and mesothoracic legs before takeoff. This turning strategy is not necessarily present in all steering jumps. It is found that the locust could achieve a large‐angle steering jump without significant yaw rotation beforehand. Herein, how the hindlegs contribute to the steering jump, including kinematic analyses and reaction forces measurement, is studied. It is found that the contralateral hindleg of the turn direction presses down tens of milliseconds earlier than the ipsilateral side. The time lag between both hindlegs is primarily responsible for the steering jumps. The leg kickings with a time lag is induced exogenously by designing sequential electrical stimulation signals for the muscles of both legs. Under 0‐ms, 20‐ms, and 40‐ms time lags, the induced steering angles are 2.1°, 22.1°, and 24.2°, respectively, in the loosely tethered jumps. A locust is transformed into a bio‐robot via a custom e‐backpack and demonstrate a remote‐controlled 20° jump of the bio‐robot. The asynchronous actions of bilateral actuators for steering jumps are extremely beneficial for micro‐robots, as both the jumping and the steering functions can be compacted together.
Hearing impairment and tinnitus among older construction workers employed at DOE facilities
Authors: Ringen Knut , Dement John M. , Quinn Patricia , Cloeren Marianne , Chen Anna , Cranford Kim , Haas Scott
Published: June 2022

Background

Few studies have defined the risk of hearing impairment and tinnitus after retirement. This report measures hearing impairment and tinnitus prevalence among older construction trades workers.

Methods

The study cohort included 21,340 participants in a national medical screening program (www.btmed.org). Audiometric hearing impairment was classified according to the Global Burden of Disease Study. Tinnitus was determined by self‐report. An internal subcohort of nonconstruction trades workers served as a reference group. Stratified analyses and multivariate analyses were used to measure the prevalence of hearing impairment and tinnitus by age, sex, and job category.

Results

Prevalence of any hearing impairment was 55.2% (males, 57.7%; females, 26.8%) and increased rapidly with age. Construction trades workers were 40% more likely to have hearing impairment than the reference group. The overall prevalence of tinnitus was 46.52% and followed patterns similar to hearing impairment. Workers with hearing impairment were more likely to also have tinnitus, but tinnitus was frequently reported in the absence of measured hearing impairment.

Conclusions

Hearing impairment and tinnitus prevalence were much higher in this study than in previous research. A significant reason for the difference is that BTMed follows participants after they have retired. To draw conclusions about the risk for work‐related chronic diseases and disorders it is important to monitor workers through their lifetimes. Also, tinnitus by itself should be given greater significance. These findings reinforce the need to promote noise reduction and hearing conservation in construction.
Intrinsic Ability of the β‐Oxidation Pathway To Produce Bioactive Styrylpyrones
Authors: Huang Ying , Hoefgen Sandra , Gherlone Fabio , Valiante Vito
Published: June 2022

Naturally occurring α‐pyrones with biological activities are mostly synthesised by polyketide synthases (PKSs) via iterative decarboxylative Claisen condensation steps. Remarkably, we found that some enzymes related to the fatty acid β‐oxidation pathway in Escherichia coli, namely the CoA ligase FadD and the thiolases FadA and FadI, can synthesise styrylpyrones with phenylpropionic acids in vivo. The two thiolases directly utilise acetyl‐CoA as an extender unit for carbon‐chain elongation through a non‐decarboxylative Claisen condensation, thus making the overall reaction more efficient in terms of carbon and energy consumption. Moreover, using a cell‐free approach, different styrylpyrones were synthesised in vitro. Finally, targeted feeding experiments led to the detection of styrylpyrones in other species, demonstrating that the intrinsic ability of the β‐oxidation pathway allows for the synthesis of such molecules in bacteria, revealing an important biological feature hitherto neglected.
Metal‐Free PAZE‐NH4X3⋅H2O Perovskite for Flexible Transparent X‐ray Detection and Imaging
Authors: Li Zhizai , Peng Guoqiang , Chen Huanyu , Shi Chang , Li ZhenHua , Jin Zhiwen
Published: June 2022

Metal‐free perovskites are of interest for their chemical diversity and eco‐friendly properties, and recently have been used for X‐ray detection with superior carrier behavior. However, the size and shape complexity of the organic components results in difficulties in evaluating their stability in high‐energy radiation. Herein, we introduce multiple hydrogen‐bond metal‐free PAZE‐NH4X3⋅H2O perovskite, where H2O leads to more hydrogen bonds appearing between organic molecules and the perovskite host. As suggested by the theoretical calculations, multiple hydrogen bonds promote stiffness of the lattice, and increase the diffusion barrier to inhibit ionic migration. Then, low trap density, high μτ products and structural flexibility of PAZE‐NH4Br3⋅H2O give a flexible X‐ray detector with the highest sensitivity of 3708 μC Gyair−1 cm−2, ultra‐low detection limit of 0.19 μGyair−1 s−1 and superior spatial resolution of 5.0 lp mm−1.
Site‐Selective Coordination Assembly of Dynamic Metal‐Phenolic Networks
Authors: Xu Wanjun , Pan Shuaijun , Noble Benjamin B. , Chen Jingqu , Lin Zhixing , Han Yiyuan , Zhou Jiajing , Richardson Joseph J. , Yarovsky Irene , Caruso Frank
Published: June 2022

Coordination states of metal‐organic materials are known to dictate their physicochemical properties and applications in various fields. However, understanding and controlling coordination sites in metal‐organic systems is challenging. Herein, we report the synthesis of site‐selective coordinated metal‐phenolic networks (MPNs) using flavonoids as coordination modulators. The site‐selective coordination was systematically investigated experimentally and computationally using ligands with one, two, and multiple different coordination sites. Tuning the multimodal Fe coordination with catechol, carbonyl, and hydroxyl groups within the MPNs enabled the facile engineering of diverse physicochemical properties including size, selective permeability (20–2000 kDa), and pH‐dependent degradability. This study expands our understanding of metal‐phenolic chemistry and provides new routes for the rational design of structurally tailorable coordination‐based materials.
Correlating Electrochemical Kinetic Parameters of Single LiNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2 Particles with the Performance of Corresponding Porous Electrodes
Authors: Li Xu , Li Na , Zhang Kai‐Lun , Huang Jun , Jiao Shuqiang , Chen Hao‐Sen , Song Wei‐Li
Published: June 2022

Characterizing microscale single particles directly is requested for dissecting the performance‐limiting factors at the electrode scale. In this work, we build a single‐particle electrochemical setup and develop a physics‐based model for extracting the solid‐phase diffusion coefficient (Ds) and exchange current density (i0) from electrochemical impedance measurements. We find that the carbon coating on the LiNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2 surface enhances i0. In addition, Ds and i0 decay irreversibly by ≈25 % and ≈10 %, respectively, when the cutoff charge voltage increases from 4.3 V to 4.4 V. Moreover, we correlate intrinsic parameters of single particles with the performance of porous electrodes. Porous electrodes assembled with active particles with higher i0 values deliver a greater capacity and faster capacity fade. The methods developed in this combined experimental and theoretical work can be useful in correlating the single‐particle scale and porous‐electrode scale for other similar systems.
In Operando Visualization and Dynamic Manipulation of Electrochemical Processes at the Electrode–Solution Interface
Authors: Xin Huaijia , Wang Hang , Zhang Wei , Chen Yu , Ji Qinghua , Zhang Gong , Liu Huijuan , Taylor André D. , Qu Jiuhui
Published: June 2022

Revealing the dynamic processes at the electrode–solution interface is imperative for understanding electrochemical phenomena. Most techniques have been developed to sense the electrode surface changes at the nanoscale, but provide limited information on potential‐induced interfacial ion redistribution at the mesoscale. Herein, we present an in operando visualization method utilizing a microfabricated electrochemical cell combined with a laser scanning confocal microscope to observe high‐resolution and fast‐response interfacial processes. We report potential‐induced formation and transformation of the Nernst diffusion layer, demonstrating that pulsed voltage dynamically perturbs the interface and promotes ion diffusion. This provides an additional insight into developing a dynamic manipulation method to control the electrochemical process. Our novel visualization method can easily be applied to monitor different ionic behaviors in electrochemical reactions at the mesoscale.
A PEGylated Tin Porphyrin Complex for Electrocatalytic Proton Reduction: Mechanistic Insights into Main‐Group‐Element Catalysis
Authors: Chaturvedi Ashwin , McCarver Gavin A. , Sinha Soumalya , Hix Elijah G. , Vogiatzis Konstantinos D. , Jiang Jianbing
Published: June 2022

Electrocatalytic proton reduction to form dihydrogen (H2) is an effective way to store energy in the form of chemical bonds. In this study, we validate the applicability of a main‐group‐element‐based tin porphyrin complex as an effective molecular electrocatalyst for proton reduction. A PEGylated Sn porphyrin complex (SnPEGP) displayed high activity (−4.6 mA cm−2at −1.7 V vs. Fc/Fc+) and high selectivity (H2Faradaic efficiency of 94 % at −1.7 V vs. Fc/Fc+) in acetonitrile (MeCN) with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) as the proton source. The maximum turnover frequency (TOFmax) for H2production was obtained as 1099 s−1. Spectroelectrochemical analysis, in conjunction with quantum chemical calculations, suggest that proton reduction occurs via an electron‐chemical‐electron‐chemical (ECEC) pathway. This study reveals that the tin porphyrin catalyst serves as a novel platform for investigating molecular electrocatalytic reactions and provides new mechanistic insights into proton reduction.
Anionic N18 Macrocycles and a Polynitrogen Double Helix in Novel Yttrium Polynitrides YN6 and Y2N11 at 100 GPa
Authors: Aslandukov Andrey , Trybel Florian , Aslandukova Alena , Laniel Dominique , Fedotenko Timofey , Khandarkhaeva Saiana , Aprilis Georgios , Giacobbe Carlotta , Lawrence Bright Eleanor , Abrikosov Igor A. , Dubrovinsky Leonid , Dubrovinskaia Natalia
Published: June 2022

Two novel yttrium nitrides, YN6 and Y2N11, were synthesized by direct reaction between yttrium and nitrogen at 100 GPa and 3000 K in a laser‐heated diamond anvil cell. High‐pressure synchrotron single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction revealed that the crystal structures of YN6 and Y2N11 feature a unique organization of nitrogen atoms—a previously unknown anionic N18 macrocycle and a polynitrogen double helix, respectively. Density functional theory calculations, confirming the dynamical stability of the YN6 and Y2N11 compounds, show an anion‐driven metallicity, explaining the unusual bond orders in the polynitrogen units. As the charge state of the polynitrogen double helix in Y2N11 is different from that previously found in Hf2N11 and because N18 macrocycles have never been predicted or observed, their discovery significantly extends the chemistry of polynitrides.
Preparation of highly branched polyolefins by controlled chain‐walking olefin polymerization
Authors: Lei Tong , Ma Zhanshan , Liu Hongju , Wang Xiaoyue , Li Pei , Wang Feifei , Wu Weitai , Zhang Shaojie , Xu Guoyong , Wang Fuzhou
Published: June 2022

A series of α‐diimine nickel(II) catalysts bearing different para‐substituted groups, {[(4‐R‐2,6‐Me2‐C6H2NC)2Nap]NiBr2, Nap: 1,8‐naphthdiyl; R = CHMePh (C1); R = CHPh2 (C2); R = tBu (C3); R = Br (C4); R = Me (C5)}, were synthesized and characterized. The molecular structures of C1 and C3 were determined by single crystal X‐ray analysis and show distorted tetrahedron geometry with C2v symmetry. The catalytic behaviors of these catalysts toward ethylene polymerization were investigated in the presence of diethylaluminum chloride (Et2AlCl) as a cocatalyst. The fast chain‐walking process in N,N‐chelated nickel system can be efficiently modulated via the introduction of para‐sec‐phenethyl substituents with improved thermal stability and catalytic performance. C1‐Et2AlCl exhibited high thermal stabilities and high activities reaching 4.61 × 106 g PE (mol Ni h)−1, producing highly branched amorphous polyethylenes (up to 143 branches/1000C) with high molecular weight and narrow polydispersity. This catalyst system conducted successfully conducted 2‐octene polymerization in comparison with the corresponding 1‐octene polymerization. The result demonstrated 2‐octene polymerized slower than 1‐octene and produced the highly‐branched poly(2‐octene)s with approximately 120 branches/1000C, including methyl, ethyl, amyl, and hexyl branches and a small amount of the long methylene sequence due to monomer isomerization.
No cuts, no buts: Satisfaction of first‐year medical students with a hybrid prosection‐based model for learning gross anatomy during the Covid‐19 pandemic
Authors: Schurr Alissa F. , Burg Brandon J. , Dickinson Edwin , Granatosky Michael C.
Published: June 2022

Few realized the extent of disruption that the Covid‐19 global pandemic would impose upon higher anatomical education. While many institutions were obliged to adopt a fully‐remote online model, the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine strove to develop a curriculum that would allow medical students to receive an in‐person anatomy education. A hybrid model that emphasized learning from prosected cadavers and self‐study stations was implemented, with the remainder of the students' time directed toward studying at home. Through an anonymous survey aimed at gleaning student satisfaction, this study demonstrates that this hybrid prosection‐based anatomy course aligned with student preferences both assuming no health risk (64.6% agreed) and given the current risk of contracting Covid‐19 (78.5% agreed). Generally, students felt that their education was equal to that of previous years (Likert scale = 3.24 ± 1.05), fostered an appreciation for anatomy (4.56 ± 0.59), promoted teamwork (4.13 ± 0.85), and prepared them for practical examinations (4.18 ± 0.74). Linear mixed‐effect models demonstrated that specific differences in results could be attributed to students' preconceived preferences toward student‐led dissections and to past medical training. Importantly, most students “disagree” (1.97 ± 1.00) that they were concerned about the risk of exposure to Covid‐19 during in‐person anatomy laboratory sessions. Areas requiring improvement were identified by the model, including the provision of access to the cadavers outside of the regularly scheduled laboratory times (3.89 ± 1.08). These findings should be utilized when designing future gross anatomy courses in response to the “new normal”.
Identification ofMycoplasma pneumoniaeby DNA‐modified gold nanomaterials in a colorimetric assay
Authors: Qin Dapeng , Gong Qiuping , Li Xin , Gao Yanping , Gopinath Subash C. B. , Chen Yeng , Yang Zehua
Published: June 2022

Mycoplasma pneumoniaeis a highly infectious bacterium and the major cause of pneumonia especially in school‐going children.Mycoplasma pneumoniaeaffects the respiratory tract, and 25% of patients experience health‐related problems. It is important to have a suitable method to detectM. pneumoniae, and gold nanoparticle (GNP)‐based colorimetric biosensing was used in this study to identify the specific target DNA forM. pneumoniae. The color of GNPs changes due to negatively charged GNPs in the presence of positively charged monovalent (Na+) ions from NaCl. This condition is reversed in the presence of a single‐stranded oligonucleotide, as it attracts GNPs but not in the presence of double‐stranded DNA. Single standard capture DNA was mixed with optimal target DNA that cannot be adsorbed by GNPs; under this condition, GNPs are not stabilized and aggregate at high ionic strength (from 100 mM). Without capture DNA, the GNPs that were stabilized by capture DNA (from 1 μM) became more stable under high ionic conditions and retaining their red color. The GNPs turned blue in the presence of target DNA at concentrations of 1 pM, and the GNPs retained a red color when there was no target in the solution. This method is useful for the simple, easy, and accurate identification ofM. pneumoniaetarget DNA at higher discrimination and without involving sophisticated equipment, and this method provides a diagnostic forM. pneumoniae.
Controlling Horizontal Growth of Zinc Platelet by OP‐10 Additive for Dendrite‐Free Aqueous Zinc‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Han Dong , Sun Tianjiang , Du Haihui , Wang Qiaoran , Zheng Shibing , Ma Tao , Tao Zhanliang
Published: June 2022

Rechargeable zinc‐ion batteries based on aqueous electrolytes are advantageous in terms of being environmentally friendly, safe and low cost. However, the problems of zinc dendrites and irreversible by‐products on the Zn metal surface during the charging and discharging processes limit its practical application. Herein, octenyl phenol polyoxyethylene ether‐10 (OP‐10) with an oxygen‐rich chain is used as an electrolyte additive to significantly improve the stability of the Zn anode. With an ultralow addition content of about 0.1 wt %, the OP‐10 can not only promote the uniform deposition of Zn2+ by adjusting the growth orientation of the (002) crystal plane of Zn but also alleviate side‐reaction on the metal surface. Thus, the Zn//Zn cell is stable for more than 800 hours at 1 mA cm−2, and the Zn//Cu cell has a Coulombic efficiency of up to 99.80 %. Further, the Zn//V2O5 ⋅ 1.6H2O battery exhibits outstanding cycle stability over 1000 cycles (maintain 92.12 % at 10 C), which is much superior to pure ZnSO4 electrolyte. OP‐10 not only reduces cost but also increases battery energy density, which is more in line with the modification idea of “small dose and large effect” of additives.
A water‐soluble 1,8‐naphthalimide‐based fluorescent pH probe for distinguishing tumorous tissues and inflammation in mice
Authors: Jia Chunmiao , Wang Xiaodong , Zan Qi , Yang Qianqian , Wang Yubin , Yu Xue , Zhang Yuewei , Dong Chuan , Fan Li
Published: June 2022

A water‐soluble fluorescent probe BPN, by introducing a piperazine as the pH‐sensitive fluorescence signaling motif to the hydrophilic propionic acid‐substituted 1,8‐naphthalimide fluorophore, is highly sensitive to pH changes within cytoplasm matrix in living cells, as well as pH‐related diseases models. Owing to the protonation‐induced inhibition of the photoinduced electron transfer (PET) from piperazine to naphthalimide fluorophore, BPN displayed a significant fluorescence enhancement (more than 131‐fold) upon the pH decreasing from 11.0 to 3.0. The linear range was between pH 6.4 to 8.0 with a pKa value of 6.69 near the physiological pH, which was suitable for cytosolic pH research. Furthermore, BPN exhibited a large Stokes shift (142 nm), good water solubility, excellent photostability, high selectivity and low cytotoxicity. All these advantages were particularly beneficial for intracellular pH imaging. Using BPN, we demonstrated the real‐time monitoring of cytosolic pH changes in living cells. Most importantly, BPN has not only been successfully applied for distinguishing inflammation in mice, but also the surgical specimens of cancer tissue, making it of great potential application in cancer diagnosis.
miRNA‐384‐3p alleviates sevoflurane‐induced nerve injury by inhibiting Aak1 kinase in neonatal rats
Authors: Chen Yuanyuan , Gao Xuan , Pei Hao
Published: June 2022

Objective

Sevoflurane is a common anesthetic and is widely used in pediatric clinical surgery to induce and maintain anesthesia through inhalation. Increasing studies have revealed that sevoflurane has neurotoxic effects on neurons, apoptosis, and memory impairment. miR‐384 is involved in the process of neurological diseases. However, the role of miRNA‐384‐3p in sevoflurane‐induced nerve injury is not clear. This study focused on exploring the roles and mechanisms of miRNA‐384‐3p in sevoflurane‐induced nerve injury.

Methods

Seven‐day‐old rats were exposed to 2.3% sevoflurane to induce nerve injury. The morphological changes in neurons in the hippocampal CA1 region were detected by HE staining and Nissl staining. Neuronal apoptosis was detected by TUNEL and Western blot assays. Spatial memory and learning ability were detected by the Morris water maze assay. The target gene of miRNA‐384‐3p was verified through a luciferase reporter assay. A rescue experiment was used to confirm the miRNA‐384‐3p pathway in sevoflurane‐induced nerve injury.

Results

Sevoflurane reduced miRNA‐384‐3p expression in the rat hippocampus. miRNA‐384‐3p alleviated sevoflurane‐induced morphological changes in hippocampal neurons and apoptosis of neurons in the hippocampal CA1 region. Meanwhile, miRNA‐384‐3p attenuated the decline in spatial memory and learning ability induced by sevoflurane. miRNA‐384‐3p alleviated sevoflurane‐induced nerve injury by inhibiting the expression of adaptor‐associated kinase 1 (Aak1).

Conclusion

Our findings revealed the role and mechanism of miRNA‐384‐3p in sevoflurane‐induced nerve injury, suggesting that miRNA‐384‐3p could be a novel and promising strategy for reducing sevoflurane‐induced neurotoxicity.
Automatic image caption generation using deep learning and multimodal attention
Authors: Dai Jin , Zhang Xinyu
Published: June 2022

We present an improved image caption generation model that incorporating multimodal attention mechanism. We use ResNet‐101 to extract image features while incorporating channel attention mechanism and spatial attention mechanism. We use Faster R‐CNN for object detection and use a multi‐head attention structure consisting of spatial attention and self‐attention. This allows our algorithm to improve the model's capability to learn and use the internal grammatical features of natural sentences. Moreover, we use GPU parallel computing to accelerate the entire model training. We apply our model and algorithm to early education scenarios: show and tell for kids. We compare our algorithm with the state‐of‐the‐art deep learning algorithms. Our experimental results show that our model improves the captioning accuracy in terms of standard automatic evaluation metrics.
Sudden death due to fulminant lymphocytic myocarditis with atypical prodromal symptoms
Authors: Sacco Matteo Antonio , Abenavoli Ludovico , Cordasco Fabrizio , Galassi Francesco Maria , Varotto Elena , Ricci Pietrantonio , Aquila Isabella
Published: June 2022

Diagnosis of myocarditis is complex because it is not always preceded by clear symptoms. We report the case of a woman who died suddenly. Autopsy and histopathological investigations revealed a lymphocytic myocarditis. Clinical history showed the patient went to the hospital some days before for joint pain and low‐grade fever.
Understanding how aging experiences shape late career development
Authors: Fasbender Ulrike , Vignoli Michela , Topa Gabriela
Published: June 2022

Mature workers’ aging experiences are central in transforming the self and as such can shape career‐related outcomes, such as late career work engagement and motivation to continue working. We therefore investigate the relations between aging experiences (i.e., personal growth, gaining self‐knowledge, social loss, and physical loss) and career‐related outcomes. Moreover, we explore psychological capital as an adaptive set of resources that can explain how aging experiences are linked to mature workers’ motivation to continue working and late career work engagement. We test our hypotheses using structural equation modeling based on two‐wave data from a sample of 346 Spanish mature workers. Results showed that psychological capital mediated the positive effects of personal growth and gaining self‐knowledge as well as the negative effect of social loss on career‐related outcomes. By highlighting the links between mature workers’ experiences, resources, and career‐related outcomes, we contribute to a more profound understanding of late career development.
KxCy phase induced expanded interlayer in ultra‐thin carbon toward full potassium‐ion capacitors
Authors: Deng Xinglan , Tian Ye , Zou Kangyu , Chen Jun , Xiao Xuhuan , Tao Shusheng , Song Zirui , Deng Wentao , Hou Hongshuai , Zou Guoqiang , Ji Xiaobo
Published: June 2022

Carbonaceous materials have been regarded as highly promising anode candidates for potassium storage with their cost‐effectiveness and environmental benignity. However, low specific capacity and difficulty in large‐scale synthesis largely hinder their further development. Herein, a thermal‐induced potassium–carbon alloy phase (KxCy) with the expanded interlayer spacing strategy is first put forward. Through in situ high‐temperature X‐ray diffraction, a K2C2 phase is evoked by thermal energy during the in‐situ carbonization process of carbon quantum dots intermediate derived from potassium‐containing precursors, whereas no lithium or sodium–carbon alloy phase is observed from lithium/sodium‐containing precursors. The as‐obtained ultra‐thin carbon nanosheets achieve adjustable layer spacing, preparation in bulk, delivering reversible potassium storage of 403.4 mAh g−1 at 100 mA g−1 and 161.2 mAh g−1 even at 5.0 A g−1, which is one of the most impressive K‐storage performances reported so far with great potential application. Furthermore, the assembled potassium‐ion hybrid capacitor by combining the impressive CFMs‐900 anode with the three‐dimensional framework‐activated carbon delivers a high energy‐power density of 251.7 Wh kg−1 at 250 W kg−1 with long‐term stability. This study opens a scalable avenue to realize the expanded interlayer spacing, which can be extended to other multicarboxyl potassium salts and can provide approach for the design of high‐performance carbon anode materials for potassium storage.