bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Additive Manufacturing of Optical Waveguides
Authors: Chu Yushi , Dong Liling , Luo Yanhua , Zhang Jianzhong , Peng Gang-Ding
Published: June 2022

Optical waveguides play an important role in both scientific research and industrial applications. Additive manufacturing (AM) or three-dimensional (3D)-printing technology has great potential to revolutionize manufacturing of optical waveguides. AM offers a great opportunity in developing optical waveguides demanding new material compositions and structure designs for functionalities needed in fast-evolving modern applications such as Internet of things (IoT). These demands have become so diverse and sophisticated that the traditional waveguide manufacturing cannot meet. In this chapter, we briefly introduce optical fibers one of the most common typical optical waveguides and present the process and perspective of optical fiber fabrication by AM technology.
Larval Development of Non-Insect Arthropods: Metamorphosis and Sexual Differentiation
Authors: Toyota Kenji , Sakae Yuta , Iguchi Taisen
Published: June 2022

In insects, metamorphosis is one of the most important research topics. Their drastic morphological and physiological changes from larvae to pupae, and then to adults, have fascinated many people. These changing life history patterns are tightly regulated by two endocrine systems, the ecdysteroids (molting hormones) and the juvenile hormones. Metamorphosis is also the most universal phenomenon in non-insect arthropods (especially crustaceans). Additionally, as dwarf males (e.g., barnacle crustaceans) show distinct sexual dimorphism during the larval developmental stage, larval development and sexual differentiation are also intimately associated. Our knowledge of endocrinology and gene cascades underlying metamorphosis and sexual differentiation in non-insect arthropods is rudimentary at best and relies heavily on well-studied insect models. Advances in newly developed applications, omics technologies and gene-targeting, are expected to lead to explorative molecular studies that reveal components and pathways unique to non-insect arthropods. This chapter reconciles known components of metamorphosis and sexual differentiation in non-insect arthropods and reflects on our findings in insects to outline future research.
Humic Acids and Fulvic Acids: Characteristics, Sorption of Hydrophobic Organic Contaminants, and Formation of Disinfection by-Products during Chlorination
Authors: Vo-Minh Nguyen Hang , Hur Jin , Shin Hyun-Sang
Published: June 2022

Humic and fulvic acids, which can be extracted from soils, are abundant in surface water because of their high discharges from runoff during torrential rainfall, storm events, and summer monsoon. Both humic and fulvic acids adversely affect water supply as they produce disinfection by-products (DBPs) during chlorination and serve as the sorbent for the binding of hydrophobic organic contaminants. In the present study, we conducted chlorination and phenanthrene sorption for humic and fulvic acids that were extracted from nine soil samples. We also analyzed and compared their characteristics by using elemental 13C NMR analysis, spectroscopy analysis, and size exclusion chromatography. Our results showed that the changes in their structural characteristic, their DBP formation, and phenanthrene sorption behavior differed critically between humic and fulvic acids. For chlorinated humic acids, high SUVA, low molecular weight, low N/C, and low O groups of aromatic C were associated with high trihalomethane (THM) formation. In comparison, low O groups of aliphatic C in fulvic acids were associated with both oxidation and incorporation in terms of THM formation. Humic acids exhibited higher sorption ability than fulvic acids due to their higher MWw, SUVA, and %THLF. These findings provide key information for monitoring water quality in rivers and lakes.
Overview of Primary Cell Culture Models in Preclinical Research of Prostate and Bladder Cancer
Authors: Killekar Kalyani , I. Puranik Sridevi , Akbar A. Aimen , C. Ghagane Shridhar , B. Nerli Rajendra , B. Hiremath Murigendra
Published: June 2022

The number of patients diagnosed with prostate and bladder cancer is increasing worldwide and one of the most important challenges remains the development of effective, safe and economically viable antitumor drugs. Clinical approval for drugs tested in preclinical studies enabling them to enter phase I clinical trials is essential. Cell lines are in vitro model systems that are widely used in different fields of medical research, especially basic cancer research and drug discovery. Their usefulness is primarily linked to their ability to provide an indefinite source of biological material for experimental purposes. Under the right conditions and with appropriate controls, authenticated cancer cell lines retain most of the genetic properties of the cancer of origin. Studies conducted during the initial development of drugs such as toxicity, corrosion and drug activity were carried out on animals; however, in the past two decades, alternatives have been sought due to the fact that animals do not effectively model to human in vivo conditions and unexpected responses are observed in the studies. Also, more than 100 million animals were used and billion dollars were spent for animal toxicity experiments. Cell culture studies made positive contributions to the initial development of drugs and is highly desirable, as it provides systems for ready, direct access and evaluation of tissues. Contrary to animal studies, less cost and the need for low drug and a short response time are the characteristics for in vitro cell culture methods. In vitro tumor models are a necessary tool, in not only the search for new substances showing antitumor activity but additionally for assessing their effectiveness. This chapter reviews the main features of primary cancer cell cultures, provides an overview of the different methods for their selection and management, and summarizes the wide range of studies that can be performed with them to improve the understanding of prostate and bladder cancer preclinical treatment processes.
Two new species of the treehopper genus Machaerotypus Uhler, 1896 from China (Hemiptera: Membracidae: Centrotinae)
Authors: Li Feng-E. , Yang Lin , Long Jian-Kun , Chang Zhi-Min , Chen Xiang-Sheng
Published: June 2022

Two new species of the treehopper genus Machaerotypus Uhler, 1896, M. stigmosus Li & Chen sp. nov. and M. nodulus Li & Chen sp. nov., are described and illustrated from Guizhou Province, China. A checklist and key to species of Machaerotypus are provided with a map of geographic distribution.
Derivación de pacientes. Centros y Unidades de Referencia. CSUR y ERN
Authors: Muñoz y Ramón José María , Martín Vega Alberto
Published: June 2022

La creciente complejidad de los procesos atendidos y de los procedimientos diagnósticos y terapéuticos disponibles justifica la necesidad de definir fórmulas innovadoras para garantizar el derecho a la salud de todos los ciudadanos.En España, los Centros, Servicios y Unidades de Referencia (CSUR) identifican a los dispositivos asistenciales que pueden prestar una mejor atención especializada en las patologías y procedimientos más complejos. A través del Sistema de Información del Fondo de Cohesión (SIFCO), se realizan las gestiones necesarias para la atención de los pacientes en CSUR ubicados en otra Comunidad Autónoma.Hasta el momento, se han acordado 74 patologías o procedimientos para los que es necesario designar CSUR en el Sistema Nacional de Salud.A diferencia de los CSUR, las Redes Europeas de Referencia (ERN) no se constituyen para la derivación de pacientes de unos centros a otros, sino para facilitar la comunicación entre los especialistas europeos que cuentan con la mayor experiencia en las patologías más raras o complejas. Las primeras 24 ERNs fueron aprobadas en marzo de 2017, incorporando a más de 900 centros de alta especialización en más de 300 hospitales de 26 estados miembros. Una de estas ERN está coordinada por un hospital español.
Reconstruction of Wind Turbine Blade Geometry and Shape Matching of Airfoil Profiles to Point Clouds
Authors: Bermek Mehmet , Gentry Russell
Published: June 2022

Wind Turbine Blades have a limited operation life due to safety and performance concerns. At the end of this cycle, these massive composite structures still retain more than sufficient structural capacity for architectural and infrastructure re-use applications. Re-Wind research group develops ideas and technologies for at scale solutions of accumulating blade waste problem. Blade Machine (BM) is the software workflow used in construction of reliable digital twins for these objects. We share the results of turbine blade geometry reconstructions from 3D point clouds using a knowledge-based approach. With necessary adjustments the described method can be generalized for application in a vast array of objects in the built environment for surveying or re-use.
Platology: A Digital Twin Ontology Suite for the Complete Lifecycle of Infrastructure
Authors: Khan Rehan , Tomar Rahul , Hartmann Timo , Ungureanu Lucian , Chacón Roland , Ibrahim Ahmed
Published: June 2022

The construction industry will have to presentcompelling solutionsto achieve the UN societal development goals (SDG).A digital twin has the potential to revolutionize the design, construction, and performance of civil infrastructureassets across the environment.This paper proposes an ontology mappingthe physical objects with required attributes aiming toaugment builtinfrastructure developmentthroughout theircomplete lifecycle in the context of cyber-physical synchronicity of the digital twin paradigm. This research is conducted within the frameworkof the H2020 project ASHVIN, aiming to develop a real-time Digital Twin forthe Design, Construction,and Operationphase of the infrastructure. The proposed “Platology”ontology suite will encompassphysical assets and processes of aninfrastructure’slifecycleand the possibility for accurate version, configuration, and state managementto form a bidirectional communication path between the physical and the virtual.
SFS-A68: a Dataset for the Segmentation of Space Functions in Apartment Buildings
Authors: Abbas Ziaee Amir , Suter Georg
Published: June 2022

Analyzing building models for usable area, building safety, or energy analysis requiresfunction classification data of spaces and related objects. Automated space function classificationis desirable to reduce input model preparation effort and errors. Existing space function classifiersuse space feature vectors or space connectivity graphs as input. The application of deep learning(DL) image segmentation methods to space function classification has not been studied. As aninitial step towards addressing this gap, we present a dataset, SFS-A68, that consists of input andground truth images generated from 68 digital 3D models of space layouts of apartment buildings.The dataset is suitable for developing DL models for space function segmentation. We use thedataset to train and evaluate an experimental space function segmentation network based ontransfer learning and training from scratch. Test results confirm the applicability of DL imagesegmentation for space function classification.
New Ways of Data Governance for Construction? Decentralized Data Marketplaces as Web3 Concept just around the Corner
Authors: F. Bucher David , M. Hall Daniel
Published: June 2022

In the upcoming era of distributed technological integration known as Web3, the built environment will need to adapt. Solving the most significant social, environmental and economic challenges will likely require new approaches to data sharing and efficient data management. This will need to occur within organizations, across software tools, and between partners. However, today’s approach of data fragmentation and a scattered system of data islands prevent efficient data usage in the construction industry.The question that now arises is whether the decentralized marketplace approach has the potential to make construction data sets more uniform, efficient,and usable for all stakeholders through distributed technological integration.Therefore, this paper’s contribution isto provide a conceptual starting point and possible research stream approach towards thisquestion. Doing so by outlining current data management challenges and discussing themin comparison with already existing web3 approaches in research and industry.
Self-supervised Learning Approach for Excavator Activity Recognition Using Contrastive Video Representation
Authors: Ghelmani Ali , Hammad Amin
Published: June 2022

Detecting construction equipment and classifying their activities are important steps for evaluating their performance and productivity on construction sites. To this end, many automated activity monitoring frameworks based on computer vision have been developed. However, most of the current state-of-the-art activity recognition methods for construction equipment are based on supervised deep learning methods. A major drawback of these approaches is that large, annotated datasets are required for each equipment and activity. To address this problem, this work adapts and customizes the self-supervised, spatiotemporal contrastive video representation learning method for excavator activity recognition. Self-supervised methods use the spatiotemporal information present in video frames as a source of information for pre-training a deep neural network without labels, which is then fine-tuned using a few labeled data. The results show the potential of this method, obtaining the recognition accuracy of 84.6% while using only 10% of the labeled data in an available dataset.
Tongue immune compartment analysis reveals spatial macrophage heterogeneity
Authors: Lyras Ekaterini Maria , Zimmermann Karin , Wagner Lisa Katharina , Dörr Dorothea , Klose Christoph SN , Fischer Cornelius , Jung Steffen , Yona Simon , Hovav Avi-Hai , Stenzel Werner , Dommerich Steffen , Conrad Thomas , Leutz Achim , Mildner Alexander
Published: June 2022

The tongue is a unique muscular organ situated in the oral cavity where it is involved in taste sensation, mastication, and articulation. As a barrier organ, which is constantly exposed to environmental pathogens, the tongue is expected to host an immune cell network ensuring local immune defence. However, the composition and the transcriptional landscape of the tongue immune system are currently not completely defined. Here, we characterised the tissue-resident immune compartment of the murine tongue during development, health and disease, combining single-cell RNA-sequencing with in situ immunophenotyping. We identified distinct local immune cell populations and described two specific subsets of tongue-resident macrophages occupying discrete anatomical niches. Cx3cr1+ macrophages were located specifically in the highly innervated lamina propria beneath the tongue epidermis and at times in close proximity to fungiform papillae. Folr2+ macrophages were detected in deeper muscular tissue. In silico analysis indicated that the two macrophage subsets originate from a common proliferative precursor during early postnatal development and responded differently to systemic LPS in vivo. Our description of the under-investigated tongue immune system sets a starting point to facilitate research on tongue immune-physiology and pathology including cancer and taste disorders.
Bokanmeldelse. Digitale medier og materialitet
Authors: Søyland Lovise
Published: June 2022

Jon Hoems bok er høyst aktuell, og et etterlengtet og viktig bidrag som åpner opp nye forståelser, per­spektiver og muligheter knyttet til digitale medier og materialitet. Hoem løfter fram ulike eksisterende syn og forståelseshorisonter som vi kan bruke til å nærme oss materialitet. Det er ikke bare de fysiske omgivelsene og materialene vi har rundt oss som har en materialitet som kan sanses og erfares. Hoem stiller viktige spørsmål som: Hva skjer når grunnleggende betingelser for hvordan vi sanser endres, og hvordan sanser vi det immaterielle? Samspillet mellom materialer, digitale teknologier og mennesker – og hvilke skapende handlingsmuligheter som ligger i dette koblingsfeltet, er noe av det mest sentrale ved boka. Hoem går i bredden både på hvordan vi kan forstå digital materialitet som uttrykk og som ulike representasjonsformer.
Evaluation of Selected Empirical Schemes of Calculating Sensible Heat Flux from Routinely-Measured Meteorological Parameters in a Tropical Location
Authors: Obisesan Omodara E.
Published: June 2022

The accurate estimation of sensible heat flux (Hs) is imperative in the exchange of energy and mass between the earth’s systems. However, the process of acquiring the sensible heat flux data is challenging due to the complexity in its direct measurement hence, not readily available. The alternative is to use estimations which are derived from specific models. This study evaluated the performances of five selected schemes of estimating Hs from routinely-measured meteorological parameters using statistical methods such as Mean Bias Error (MBE), Mean Percentage Difference (MPD), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Index of Agreement (IA), Correlation Coefficient (R) and Coefficient of Determination (R2). The empirical schemes selected are: Berkowicz and Prahm (BP), Bowen Ratio Energy Balance (BREB), Holstlag and Van Ulden (HU), Smith (ST) and Surface Temperature (ST) schemes. The results obtained revealed that in the dry season, MBE values of 6.9 Wm-2, 7.2 Wm-2, 7.5 Wm-2, 6.3 Wm-2 and -3.8 Wm-2 were obtained for BP, BREB, HU, SMT and ST respectively. In the wet season, BP, BREB, HU, SMT and ST had MBE values of 37.4 Wm-2, 14.2 Wm-2, 4.2 Wm-2, 12.0 Wm-2 and -1.1 Wm-2 respectively. The MBEs, RMSEs and MPDs obtained for the schemes were higher in the wet season (about 70 %) than in the dry season; implying that the schemes performed better in the dry season than in the wet season. The study rated BREB as the best method of estimating the sensible heat flux at the study location having the lowest MBE, lowest MPD, lowest RMSE, high R, high R2 and high IA in both seasons.
Relevance of Algae as Biological Indicators of Pollution Management Studies
Authors: O. M. Agbogidi, , O. E. Michael, , O. W. Egboduku, , O. F Stephen, , O. M. Agbogidi,
Published: June 2022

Algae are multicellular or unicellular organisms that photosynthesize but lack the typical features such as leaves, roots, flowers and stems evident in higher vascular plants. They constitute the grasses of the waters. Algae differ in colour and class and occur in all water bodies including lotic and lentic fresh, brackish or salt. An attempt has been made here to establish the fact that as primary producers in aquatic systems, they can be utilised as bio-indicators to ascertain and qualify the outcome of pollutants and assess the degree of contamination in the ecosystem with the ultimate objective of ensuring that local resources used in the water sector applying biodiversity friendly management measures within their day-to-day practices. Among the benefits of utilising algae as bioindicators are short life cycles and rapid reproduction, direct influences by physical and chemical environmental factors, a cost effective monitoring tool, and ease of sampling, less labour and less impact on other organisms. Besides, their role in removing different pollutants including heavy metals and other toxic substances from aquatic environments qualify them as candidates for bionindicators.
Fragment‐based drug discovery—the importance of high‐quality molecule libraries
Authors: Bon Marta , Bilsland Alan , Bower Justin , McAulay Kirsten
Published: June 2022

Fragment‐based drug discovery (FBDD) is now established as a complementary approach to high‐throughput screening (HTS). Contrary to HTS, where large libraries of drug‐like molecules are screened, FBDD screens involve smaller and less complex molecules which, despite a low affinity to protein targets, display more ‘atom‐efficient’ binding interactions than larger molecules. Fragment hits can, therefore, serve as a more efficient start point for subsequent optimisation, particularly for hard‐to‐drug targets. Since the number of possible molecules increases exponentially with molecular size, small fragment libraries allow for a proportionately greater coverage of their respective ‘chemical space’ compared with larger HTS libraries comprising larger molecules. However, good library design is essential to ensure optimal chemical and pharmacophore diversity, molecular complexity, and physicochemical characteristics. In this review, we describe our views on fragment library design, and on what constitutes a good fragment from a medicinal and computational chemistry perspective. We highlight emerging chemical and computational technologies in FBDD and discuss strategies for optimising fragment hits. The impact of novel FBDD approaches is already being felt, with the recent approval of the covalent KRASG12C inhibitor sotorasib highlighting the utility of FBDD against targets that were long considered undruggable.
Generation of universal natural killer cells from a cryopreserved cord blood mononuclear cell‐derived induced pluripotent stem cell library
Authors: Du Wei , Cui Lijuan , Zhang Jinmei , Zhang Hua , Liu Rongzhi , Yang Wenling , Zhang Yu
Published: June 2022

Natural killer (NK) cells play a key role in innate immunity and are regarded as a promising candidate for cellular immunotherapy. Natural killer cells may be generated from different sources, including induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs); these stem cells produce an abundant amount of NK cells to meet the needs of a wide range of clinical applications. Autologous iPSCs are expensive and labor‐intensive to prepare, while allogeneic iPSCs require human leukocyte antigen (HLA) matched cells to avoid the risk of immune rejection. In the current study, we prepared HLA‐matched iPSCs using HLA common haplotype homozygous (HLAh) donors from cryopreserved human cord blood (CB) sourced from the Tianjin Cord Blood Public Bank. This approach was designed to generate a CB‐derived iPSC library from HLAh donors and use it to produce off‐the‐shelf NK cells. Starting with readily available cryopreserved CB mononuclear cells (cryoCBMCs), we produced cryoCBMC‐derived iPSCs (cryoCB‐iPSCs). These cryoCB‐iPSCs were induced to generate embryoid bodies (EBs) using an improved 3D suspension culture method, and induced NK (iNK) cells were differentiated from EBs. iNK cells expressed specific surface markers of NK cells, exhibited cytotoxicity comparable with NK cells generated from CB (CB‐NK) and peripheral blood (PB‐NK), and expressed lower levels of KIRs and HLA‐DR compared to CB‐NK and PB‐NK. Taken together, we have shown that an iPSC library can be established from HLAh cryoCBMCs, and cryoCB‐iPSCs can be used to generate a large number of ‘universal’ NK cells for future clinical applications.
Identity and Second Language Acquisition
Authors: Norton Bonny
Published: June 2022

Identity and second language acquisition (SLA) is best understood with reference to changing conceptions of the individual, language, and learning in the field of applied linguistics. These changes are indexical of a shift in the field from a predominantly psycholinguistic approach to SLA to include a greater focus on sociological and anthropological dimensions of language learning, particularly with reference to sociocultural, poststructural, and critical theory. This entry examines the work of scholars who are centrally concerned with the relationship between the language learner and the larger social world, and the way in which power is implicated in SLA. Key directions in identity research are addressed, including identity and investment, social categories, and digitally mediated language learning. It is argued that social processes marked by inequities of gender, race, class, ethnicity, and sexual orientation may serve to position learners in ways that silence and exclude. At the same time, however, learners may resist marginalization through both covert and overt acts of resistance. Of central interest to researchers of second language identity is that the very articulation of power, identity, and resistance is expressed in and through language.
Rating Scales and Rubrics in Language Assessment
Authors: Baker Beverly A. , Turner Carolyn E.
Published: June 2022

In language testing and assessment settings, language learners are often required to perform tasks which generate extended samples of speech and writing, such as interacting in discussions or writing essays. The more complex these samples are, the more they represent the complexity of language ability and use—and the more challenging they are to score. Whether they are for high‐stakes standardized examinations, or classroom‐based language performance assessments, rating scales are tools that are developed in an attempt to score these performances efficiently, systematically, and transparently. For decades, the term “rating scale” has been the preferred term. However, “rubric” is now used as often, if not more often, in research related to writing assessment in particular, and is a more familiar term to researchers and practitioners in educational settings. The provision of a rating scale and rater training does not automatically lead to similar scores among different raters with that scale (i.e., inter‐rater reliability). In addition, there currently exists a certain tension in research on rater–rating scale relationships: On the one hand, raters can be perceived as sources of potential measurement error that threaten quality rating, and, on the other hand, they can be perceived as resources and sources of expertise. This entry discusses rating scales as they are used in the assessment of language performance, and includes a discussion of their purposes and development, research on current issues, and challenges in their use.
Systemic Functional Linguistics
Authors: Gebhard Meg , Accurso Kathryn
Published: June 2022

This entry outlines Halliday's theory of text/context dynamics. It explains Halliday's theory of language, learning, and social change by describing the three metafunctions of multilingual/multimodal discourse—the ideational, interpersonal, and textual metafunctions—and showing how these metafunctions are realized through the choice of field, tenor, and mode resources in a variety of fields of inquiry, especially educational linguistics.
Validation of Language Assessments
Authors: Schmidgall Jonathan , Xi Xiaoming
Published: June 2022

Validation is an activity that establishes the extent to which a language assessment is meaningful and useful. This activity involves the collection of different types of evidence in order to make a holistic evaluation of an assessment's fitness for a purpose. Several frameworks have been introduced to guide the collection and evaluation of this evidence for language assessments, and the argument‐based approach has become increasingly prominent. This entry outlines the consensus view of validation, highlights prominent validation frameworks and their extensions, and provides a brief overview of prevailing concerns for validation.
Prevalence estimates as priors: Juror characteristics, perceived base rates, and verdicts in cases reliant on complainant and defendant testimony
Authors: Helm Rebecca K. , Growns Bethany
Published: June 2022

Jurors often have to make decisions about whether they believe a complainant's or defendant's account of an event. However, the relative ambiguity of cues in testimony creates a situation where juror evaluations can vary significantly. As a result, in cases heavily reliant on testimony there is a particular likelihood that juror characteristics will be associated with verdicts, and it is important to understand these associations. This research investigates the relationships between two juror characteristics—gender and cultural worldviews—and verdicts in two such cases, and the potential for those relationships to be explained by differences in perceived prevalence of alleged events acting as prior probability judgements. As predicted, results show significant relationships between gender and cultural worldview and verdicts and show that these relationships are mediated by differences in underlying prevalence estimates. These findings have important implications for understanding associations between juror characteristics and verdicts, and related policy.
Martensitic Transformation Temperatures of Ceramics
Authors: Zarinejad Mehrdad , White Tim , Tong Yunxiang , Rimaz Sajjad
Published: June 2022

The renewed interest in shape memory and toughened ceramics for small‐scale applications makes the relationship between the chemistry of the ceramics and martensitic transformation temperatures (forward and reverse temperatures M
s and A
s) of paramount importance. Dependence of transformation temperatures of the ceramics with shape memory effect and/or martensitic phase change on valence electron ratio (VER), number of valence electrons (e
v), and average atomic number of the ceramics (Z) is investigated. Depending on chemical composition, the ceramics have average numbers of valence electrons (4.571 ≤ e
v ≤ 5.667), Z = 13–29.333, and VER in the range of (0.17–0.44). A clear correlation of transformation temperatures to VER for most ceramics is found. M
s and A
s both decrease with increasing VER. Aliovalent doping alters e
v and makes it influential in controlling the transformation temperatures. The influence of VER, e
v, Z, and the suppressive effect of oversized solutes on M
s is addressed.
Functional Behavior and Energy Absorption Characteristics of Additively Manufactured Smart Sandwich Structures
Authors: Mehrpouya Mehrshad , Edelijn Tom , Ibrahim Mohamed , Mohebshahedin Abed , Gisario Annamaria , Barletta Massimiliano
Published: June 2022

Additive manufacturing (AM) of functional parts using smart materials has attracted considerable interest in both scientific and industrial domains. The application of shape memory polymers (SMPs) opens up new possibilities in the fabrication process and makes them able to recover their initial shape after deformation. This study aims to demonstrate the synergic potentiality of the SMPs in fused filament fabrication (FFF) to manufacture 4D printed smart sandwiches and address their functional behavior. This technological solution promises lightweight and biodegradable parts, which boast exceedingly valuable performance in reusable energy absorbing applications. Several designs, materials, and process parameters including nozzle temperature, layer height, and printing speed are investigated in this work. The results show that selecting the appropriate core geometries could enhance the mechanical strength as well as the deformation capability in the sandwich structures. Likewise, the applied materials considerably affect the energy absorption characteristics. Moreover, tweaking the process parameters is found to be a useful approach for maximizing the mechanical properties and displacement in the 4D‐printed sandwiches.
Synthesis of 2D α‐GeTe Single Crystals and α‐GeTe/WSe2 Heterostructures with Enhanced Electronic Performance
Authors: Li Wei , Wu Ruixia , Li Qiuqiu , Tao Quanyang , Saeed Muhammad Zeeshan , Li Xin , Wan Si , Song Rong , Shen Dingyi , Huang Kejing , Liu Miaomiao , Li Bailing , Zhao Bei , Liu Jialing , Liu Yuan , Li Bo , Li Jia , Duan Xidong
Published: June 2022

Two‐dimensional (2D) materials have attracted extensive attention due to their important prospects in electronics and optoelectronics. Synthesizing new 2D materials, characterizing their properties, and developing their applications are still important topics. Herein, the synthesis of α‐GeTe nanoplates on different substrates via the chemical vapor deposition process and the systematical investigation of their structure and electrical properties, is reported. By controlling the synthesis temperature and carrier gas, α‐GeTe nanoplates, with a lateral dimension up to 30 µm and a thickness down to 1.2 nm, which corresponds to the thickness of one unit cell, can be obtained on 2D WSe2 substrate. Electrical transport studies show 2D α‐GeTe nanoplates have an excellent conductivity (9.33 × 105 S m−1) and an extraordinary breakdown current density (6.1× 107 A cm−2). Compared with traditional WSe2 transistors with deposited metal electrodes, the WSe2 transistors with the metallic α‐GeTe nanoplates as van der Waals metal electrodes achieved much better performance, such as higher on‐state current (from 7.83 to 23.23 µA µm−1) and electron mobility (from 16.5 to 75.0 cm2 V1 S1). This study demonstrates an effective pathway to achieve ultrathin 2D materials and provides an accessible strategy to improve the performance of 2D electronic devices.
Electrical Discharge Induced Bulk‐to‐Nanoparticle Transformation: Nano High‐Entropy Carbide as Catalysts for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Niu Shiyu , Yang Zhenwen , Qi Fugong , Han Ying , Shi Zizheng , Qiu Qiwen , Han Xiaopeng , Wang Ying , Du Xiwen
Published: June 2022

High‐entropy carbide (HEC) is a promising alternative to precious metal catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). However, the preparation of nanoscale HECs is a great challenge although many methods have been developed to prepare bulk HEC materials. Herein, an electrical discharge induced bulk‐to‐nanoparticle transformation method is reported, by which well dispersed sub‐10 nm high entropy (MoWVNbTa)C nanoparticles with high‐density surface defects can be directly obtained by centrifugation of the waste liquid produced during wire‐cut electrical discharge machining of bulk HEC. The resultant HEC nanoparticles exhibit excellent catalytic activity and durability for HER, which is attributed to the combination of unique microstructure generated during the extremely nonequilibrium thermodynamic process and enhanced electronic effects induced by high configurational entropy. This facile and cost‐effective bulk‐to‐nanoparticle transformation method can be extended to other conductive materials and shed light on the development of high‐performance catalysts.
Introduction of Water Treatment in Slot‐Die Coated Organic Solar Cells to Improve Device Performance and Stability
Authors: Han Nara , Heo Youn‐Jung , Lee Minwoo , Moon Yina , Yang Dongseong , Kim Yunseul , Kim Dong‐Yu
Published: June 2022

Recent advances in the development of organic solar cells (OSCs) have produced power conversion efficiency (PCE) of over 19%. Various studies have been conducted on scalable coating methods that are compatible with large‐area production of organic photovoltaic modules. However, it is still difficult to control the bulk heterojunction (BHJ) morphology of the active layer during large‐scale fabrication of OSCs. This study reports a morphology‐controllable strategy in OSCs using water treatment (WT) in the stirring process of the active solution, thus resulting in vortex agitation. The effects of WT and water injection volume are investigated based on three reference cells for the optimization of small‐ and large‐area devices, and the physicochemical and optical properties of the films are compared with those without WT. The thin films with WT exhibit a smoother morphology than those without WT, indicating well‐dispersed donor–acceptor phases. Therefore, enhanced efficiencies of the films are achieved via WT. Furthermore, large‐area solar cell modules with a total effective area of 10 cm2 are fabricated, and they exhibit superior PCEs as high as 11.92% (H‐NF‐DIW10), indicating that the WT method is a simple and effective strategy to fabricate large‐area organic photovoltaic modules.
A Top‐Down Strategy to Engineer ActiveLayer Morphology for Highly Efficient and Stable All‐Polymer Solar Cells
Authors: Fu Huiting , Peng Zhengxing , Fan Qunping , Lin Francis R. , Qi Feng , Ran Yixin , Wu Ziang , Fan Baobing , Jiang Kui , Woo Han Young , Lu Guanghao , Ade Harald , Jen Alex K.‐Y.
Published: June 2022

A major challenge hindering the further development of all‐polymer solar cells (all‐PSCs) employing polymerized small‐molecule acceptors is the relatively low fill factor (FF) due to the difficulty in controlling the active‐layer morphology. The issues typically arise from oversized phase separation resulting from the thermodynamically unfavorable mixing between two macromolecular species, and disordered molecular orientation/packing of highly anisotropic polymer chains. Herein, a facile top‐down controlling strategy to engineer the morphology of all‐polymer blends is developed by leveraging the layer‐by‐layer (LBL) deposition. Optimal intermixing of polymer components can be achieved in the two‐step process by tuning the bottom‐layer polymer swelling during top‐layer deposition. Consequently, both the molecular orientation/packing of the bottom layer and the molecular ordering of the top layer can be optimized with a suitable top‐layer processing solvent. A favorable morphology with gradient vertical composition distribution for efficient charge transport and extraction is therefore realized, affording a high all‐PSC efficiency of 17.0% with a FF of 76.1%. The derived devices also possess excellent long‐term thermal stability and can retain >90% of their initial efficiencies after being annealed at 65 °C for 1300 h. These results validate the distinct advantages of employing an LBL processing protocol to fabricate high‐performance all‐PSCs.
Wettability‐Based Cell Sorting: Exploring Label‐Free Isolation Strategy for Mixed Primary Glial Cell Population
Authors: Park Eunyoung , Lee Minseok , Poon Mong Lung Steve , Lee Eunjung , Im Sung Gap , Shin Jennifer H.
Published: June 2022

Glial brain cells, including astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and microglia, have received much attention as crucial players in neurological diseases. As a result of their critical roles, numerous in vitro studies are being conducted, necessitating the use of appropriate isolation methods for different glial cell types. The most effective glial isolation at the moment is labeling‐based protocols that require expensive antibodies and equipment. More commonly used label‐free methods are better known for higher accessibility but with compromised accuracy and longer isolation time. In this study, a cost‐effective surface wettability‐based isolation protocol for mixed glial cell population that does not require labeling is established. Specifically, when cultured on a hydrophobized substrate coated with a thin‐film of poly (cyclohexyl methacrylate)(pCHMA), glial cells spontaneously segregate into substrate‐adherent microglia and spheroids of astrocyte/oligodendrocyte progenitor cells in suspension. In comparison to existing label‐free isolation methods, the strategic approach ensures rapid isolation and high purity. Furthermore, this is the first to demonstrate that the hydrophobic property of pCHMA‐coated substrate can be used to sort multiple brain glial cell types based on their differential adhesion properties without the need for complex labeling procedure. The study emphasizes the wettability‐controlled substrate's potential for segregating different cell types of various pathophysiological states.
Quasi‐2D Hybrid Perovskite Formation Using Benzothieno[3,2‐b]Benzothiophene (BTBT) Ammonium Cations: Substantial Cesium Lead(II) Iodide Black Phase Stabilization
Authors: Denis Paul‐Henry , Mertens Martijn , Van Gompel Wouter T. M. , Maufort Arthur , Mertens Sigurd , Wei Zimu , Van Landeghem Melissa , Gielen Sam , Ruttens Bart , Deduytsche Davy , Detarvernier Christophe , Lutsen Laurence , Grozema Ferdinand , Vandewal Koen , Vanderzande Dirk
Published: June 2022

3D hybrid perovskites (APbX3) have made a significant impact on the field of optoelectronic materials due to their excellent performance combined with facile solution deposition and up‐scalable device fabrication. Nonetheless, these materials suffer from environmental instability. To increase material stability, the organic cation (A) is substituted by the non‐volatile cesium cation. However, the desired photoactive cesium lead(II) iodide black phase is metastable in ambient conditions and spontaneously converts into the photo‐inactive yellow δ‐phase. In this work, the black phase is stabilized by the formation of a quasi‐2D perovskite containing a benzothieno[3,2‐b]benzothiophene (BTBT) large organic ammonium cation. Thermal analysis shows that degradation of the butylammonium (BA)‐based quasi‐2D perovskite (BA)2CsPb2I7 sets in at ≈130 °C, while (BTBT)2CsPb2I7 is phase‐stable until ≈230 °C. Additionally, the (BTBT)2CsPb2I7 film does not show any sign of degradation after exposure to 77% Relative Humidity in the dark for 152 days, while (BA)2CsPb2I7 degrades in a single day. Photoconductor‐type detectors based on (BTBT)2CsPb2I7 demonstrate an increased external quantum efficiency and a similar specific detectivity compared to the BA‐based reference detectors. The results demonstrate the utility of employing a BTBT cation within the organic layer of quasi‐2D perovskites to significantly enhance the stability while maintaining the optoelectronic performance.
A Black Phosphorus‐Based Fabry–Pérot Cavity and Its Application for Reversible Color Switching
Authors: Ban Yu , Jia Jingyuan , Zhan Yu , Liu Zeru , Li Haiyang , Liu Kuan , Su Ying , Lian Meng , Cao Tun
Published: June 2022

2D black phosphorus (BP) possesses an in‐plane anisotropy, offering another degree of freedom to create new optoelectronic and photonic devices, such as waveplates with atomic thickness. Yet, due to its very low energy bandgap, the anisotropy of BP crystal is mainly studied in the near‐infrared region and remains elusive in the visible region. Furthermore, the strength of optical anisotropy of few‐layer BP, which is crucial for practical applications, is still limited. Herein, a BP‐based Fabry–Pérot (FP) cavity that can increase the strength of BP anisotropy twice compared with the bare BP flake is proposed. Notably, the FP cavity composed of BP/Au dual‐layer structure sitting on the Si substrate could realize a reconfigurable color switching over the whole visible region by varying the polarization of the incident light, utilizing polarization‐dependent complex permittivity of the anisotropic BP crystal. The finding not only offers a simple approach to improve the optical anisotropy of 2D layered materials but also advises an efficient method to develop BP optical devices, including a phase plate, a linear polarizer, and a color display.
Computational Modelling of Doubly‐Photopolymerized Holographic Biosensors
Authors: Davies Samuel , Hu Yubing , Guo Dasan , Jiang Nan , Montelongo Yunuen , Naydenova Izabela , Yetisen Ali K.
Published: June 2022

Holographic sensors are optical devices capable of tuning reflection wavelength, dependent upon nanostructured variations in refractive index. Computational modelling is utilized to simulate the recording and swelling characteristics of developed doubly photopolymerized (DP) holographic sensors. The holographic devices simplify fabrication processes, reduce financial costs, and improve biocompatibility. A holographic grating is achieved through in situ photopolymerization of a highly crosslinked polymer to produce nanostructured refractive index modulation. The unique swelling characteristics DP holographic sensors possess necessitate the development of system‐specific computational modelling. Hydrogel parameters, including film thickness, refractive index change, layer number, and external medium refractive index are examined for their effect on reflection spectra. Optimized computational models are utilized to study the effect of differential swelling rates of individual layer spacings on sensor response, indicating an idealized reduction in a swelling of 50% for the highly crosslinked region. A 2D photonic crystal geometry with additional periodicity is developed, to inform further sensor design opportunities. Optimized parameters for both 1D and 2D photonic structures will assist the further development of DP holographic sensors.
Metasurface‐Programmable Wireless Network‐On‐Chip
Authors: F. Imani Mohammadreza , Abadal Sergi , del Hougne Philipp
Published: June 2022

This paper introduces the concept of smart radio environments, currently intensely studied for wireless communication in metasurface‐programmable meter‐scaled environments (e.g., inside rooms), on the chip scale. Wireless networks‐on‐chips (WNoCs) are a candidate technology to improve inter‐core communication on chips but current proposals are plagued by a dilemma: either the received signal is weak, or it is significantly reverberated such that the on–off‐keying modulation speed must be throttled. Here, this vexing problem is overcome by endowing the wireless on‐chip environment with in situ programmability which enables the shaping of the channel impulse response (CIR); thereby, a pulse‐like CIR shape can be imposed despite strong multipath propagation and without entailing a reduced received signal strength. First, a programmable metasurface suitable for integration in the on‐chip environment (“on‐chip reconfigurable intelligent surface”) is designed and characterized. Second, its configuration is optimized to equalize selected wireless on‐chip channels “over the air.” Third, by conducting a rigorous communication analysis, the feasibility of significantly higher modulation speeds with shaped CIRs is evidenced. The results introduce a programmability paradigm to WNoCs which boosts their competitiveness as complementary on‐chip interconnect solution.
X‐ray Stain Localization with Near‐Field Ptychographic Computed Tomography
Authors: Taphorn Kirsten , Busse Madleen , Brantl Johannes , Günther Benedikt , Diaz Ana , Holler Mirko , Dierolf Martin , Mayr Doris , Pfeiffer Franz , Herzen Julia
Published: June 2022

Although X‐ray contrast agents offer specific characteristics in terms of targeting and attenuation, their accumulation in the tissue on a cellular level is usually not known and difficult to access, as it requires high resolution and sensitivity. Here, quantitative near‐field ptychographic X‐ray computed tomography is demonstrated to assess the location of X‐ray stains at a resolution sufficient to identify intracellular structures by means of a basis material decomposition. On the example of two different X‐ray stains, the nonspecific iodine potassium iodide, and eosin Y, which mostly interacts with proteins and peptides in the cell cytoplasm, the distribution of the stains within the cells in murine kidney samples is assessed and compared to unstained samples with similar structural features. Quantitative nanoscopic stain concentrations are in good agreement with dual‐energy micro computed tomography measurements, the state‐of‐the‐art modality for material‐selective imaging. The presented approach can be applied to a variety of X‐ray stains advancing the development of X‐ray contrast agents.
Constructing Direct Z‐Scheme Heterostructure by Enwrapping ZnIn2S4 on CdS Hollow Cube for Efficient Photocatalytic H2 Generation
Authors: Li Chuan‐Qi , Du Xin , Jiang Shan , Liu Yan , Niu Zhu‐Lin , Liu Zhong‐Yi , Yi Sha‐Sha , Yue Xin‐Zheng
Published: June 2022

Rational design hybrid nanostructure photocatalysts with efficient charge separation and transfer, and good solar light harvesting ability have critical significance for achieving high solar‐to‐chemical conversion efficiency. Here a highly active and stable composite photocatalyst is reported by integrating ultrathin ZnIn2S4 nanosheets on surface of hollow CdS cube to form the cube‐in‐cube structure. Experimental results combined with density functional theory calculations confirm that the Z‐scheme ZnIn2S4/CdS heterojunction is formed, which highly boosts the charge separation and transfer under the local‐electric‐field at semiconductor/semiconductor interface, and thus prolongs their lifetimes. Moreover, such a structure affords the highly enhanced light‐harvesting property. The optimized ZnIn2S4/CdS nanohybrids exhibit superior H2 generation rate under visible‐light irradiation (λ ≥ 420 nm) with excellent photochemical stability during 20 h continuous operation.