bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tools for the Care of Elderly People Applying Information and Communications Technology to Fall Risk Assessment
Authors: Tamura Toshiyo , Yosimura Takumi
Published: October 2014

Assistive devices have been used to improve the quality of life in elderly society, and information and communication technology (ICT) and robotics have been applied extensively to this end. Falls are a common problem and fall risk assessments are created. This study involved assessment related to an application of information technology. First, to monitor and record falls during daily activities, wearable inertial sensors were used . The threshold of acceleration was used to detect falls. To prevent injury during falls, we also developed a wearable airbag system using an accelerometer, angular velocity, and airbags. The subjects wore the airbag vest with a motion detection belt. When the subject fell, the combination of acceleration and angular velocity signals detected the fall and inflated the airbag.
High-Density Implantable Microelectrode Arrays for Brain-Machine Interface Applications
Authors: Ghane-Motlagh Bahareh , Sawan Mohamad
Published: October 2014

Microelectrode arrays (MEAs) act as an interface between electronic circuits and neural tissues of implantable devices. Biological response to chronic implantation of MEAs is an essential factor in determining a successful electrode design. Finding appropriate coating materials which are biocompatible and improve electrical properties of MEAs are among the main challenges. In this paper, we propose a novel, three-dimensional (3D), high-density, silicon-based MEAs for both neural recording and stimulation. Electrodes were fabricated using micromachining techniques. Geometrical features of these electrodes not only cause less tissue damage during insertion but also provide more contacts between the electrodes and targeted neural tissues. In order to achieve the proposed geometry, we introduce a novel masking method to coat variable-height electrodes with uniform and small tip-exposure. More importantly, compared to conventional techniques, the new masking method significantly improves process time and costs. This technique needs only one step masking and reduces the conventional masking steps from ten to three. In the next step, the active sites of the electrodes were coated with thin-films of molybdenum (Mo) and platinum (Pt) due to their ability to transfer between ionic and electronic current and to resist corrosion. Electrodes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and impedance measurements. The average impedance of Mo and Pt electrodes at 1 kHz was 350 ± 50 kΩ and 150 ± 10 kΩ, respectively.
Effect of Phosphorus Implantation Prior to Oxidation on Electrical Properties of Thermally Grown SiO2/4H-SiC MOS Structures
Authors: Mikhaylov Aleksey , Sledziewski Tomasz , Afanasyev Alexey , Luchinin Victor , Reshanov Sergey A. , Schöner Adolf , Krieger M.
Published: October 2014

The electrical properties of metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) devices fabricated using dry oxidation on phosphorus-implanted n-type 4H-SiC (0001) epilayers have been investigated. MOS structures were compared in terms of interface traps and reliability with reference sample which was produced by dry oxidation under the same conditions. The notably lower interface traps density measured in MOS capacitor with phosphorus concentration exceeding 1018 cm-3 at the SiO2/SiC interface was attributed to interface traps passivation by incorporated phosphorus ions.
Analysis on 3C-SiC Layer Grown on Pseudomorphic-Si/Si1-xGex/Si(001) Heterostructures
Authors: Piluso Nicolo’ , Camarda Massimo , Anzalone Ruggero , Severino Andrea , Scalese Silvia , La Via Francesco
Published: October 2014

Micro Raman characterization has been used to determine the stress status of 3C-SiC epilayer grown on pseudomorphic-Si thin layer on Si1-xGex/Si(001). The strain conditions of the Si1-xGex films grown on Si(001) have been determined by the analysis of additional Silicon Raman peaks, which Raman shifts are related to the lattice parameter. Through the analysis of the Raman spectra, the correlation between the Si1-xGex film, the crystal quality and the stress relaxation of the 3C-SiC as a function of the Germanium fraction (x), have been evaluated. The increase of Germanium fraction determines the reduction of the voids density located at the 3C-SiC/Si interface and the relaxation of the stress within the epilayer. Moreover, the 3C-SiC crystal quality, monitored by the Full Width at Half Maximum of the TO Raman mode, remains unchanged for any Germanium fraction values.
Ge Assisted 3C-SiC Nucleation and Growth by Vapour Phase Epitaxy on On-Axis 4H-SiC Substrate
Authors: Alassaad Kassem , Soulière Véronique , Vivona Marelina , Giannazzo Filippo , Roccaforte Fabrizio , Ferro Gabriel
Published: October 2014

The aim of this work is to study the effect of Ge introduction during the nucleation step on the SiC growth on 4H-SiC on-axis substrate. After 10 minutes surface pretreatment at 1500°C under C3H8 or GeH4, the grown 3C layer at the same temperature can switch from highly twinned (C3H8) to almost twin-free single domain (GeH4). However, for too low and too high GeH4 fluxes, the layers display a mixture of polytype. Keeping the best pretreatment but varying the growth temperature degrades the morphology and changes the polytype of the layer. Preliminary electrical results using C-AFM on the 3C-SiC layer are also presented.
Lesions of the Seminal Vesicles and their MRI Characteristics
Authors: Reddy Mahati N , Verma Sadhna
Published: October 2014

Over the past few decades, MRI of the prostate has made great strides in improving cancer detection and is being embraced by more clinicians each day. This article aims to review the imaging characteristics of common and uncommon, but consequential lesions involving the seminal vesicles (SV), as seen predominantly on MRI. Many of these findings are seen incidentally during imaging of the prostate. Anatomy and embryology of the SV will be described which will help illustrate the associations of abnormalities seen. Congenital, infectious, neoplastic, and tumor mimics will be explored in detail, with discussion on clinical presentation and treatment strategies.
Cost-Effectiveness of Population-Level Physical Activity Interventions: A Systematic Review
Authors: Laine Johanna , Kuvaja-Köllner Virpi , Pietilä Eija , Koivuneva Mikko , Valtonen Hannu , Kankaanpää Eila
Published: October 2014

Objective.

This systematic review synthesizes the evidence on the cost-effectiveness of population-level interventions to promote physical activity.

Data Source.

A systematic literature search was conducted between May and August 2013 in four databases: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and SPORTDiscus.

Study Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria.

Only primary and preventive interventions aimed at promoting and maintaining physical activity in wide population groups were included. An economic evaluation of both effectiveness and cost was required. Secondary interventions and interventions targeting selected population groups or focusing on single individuals were excluded.

Data Extraction.

Interventions were searched for in six different categories: (1) environment, (2) built environment, (3) sports clubs and enhanced access, (4) schools, (5) mass media and community-based, and (6) workplace.

Data Synthesis.

The systematic search yielded 2058 articles, of which 10 articles met the selection criteria. The costs of interventions were converted to costs per person per day in 2012 U.S. dollars. The physical activity results were calculated as metabolic equivalent of task hours (MET-hours, or MET-h) gained per person per day. Cost-effectiveness ratios were presented as dollars per MET-hours gained. The intervention scale and the budget impact of interventions were taken into account.

Results.

The most efficient interventions to increase physical activity were community rail-trails ($.006/MET-h), pedometers ($.014/MET-h), and school health education programs ($.056/MET-h).

Conclusion.

Improving opportunities for walking and biking seems to increase physical activity cost-effectively. However, it is necessary to be careful in generalizing the results because of the small number of studies. This review provides important information for decision makers.
Wat kan een wijsgerige ethiek met theologale deugden?
Authors: van Tongeren Paul
Published: October 2014

Abstract
Can theological virtues be integrated in a secular moral philosophy?In the early days of the revival of virtue ethics (in Germany and France since the beginning of the 20th century, in the Anglophone world since the 19-fifties) the ‘theological’
or ‘Christian virtues’ (faith, hope and charity) played an important role. In contemporary virtue ethics they seem to almost be forgotten outside of theology. The question is asked whether (and if: how) these virtues can be integrated in a secular moral philosophy. This seems at
first hand to be very problematic, because of their definition, which states among other things that these virtues are God-given and orientated towards God. However: hypothesizing that religious conceptions are related to general human experiences, it may be worth the effort to try and also
interpret these theological virtues in a philosophical theory about what makes a human life flourishing. The suggestion is made that these virtues remind us of the importance of a certain passivity or receptivity and of an transcendental openness of our conceptions of happiness.
TeV Cosmic Ray Anisotropy and the Heliospheric Magnetic Field
Authors: Desiati P. , Lazarian A.
Published: October 2014

Abstract. Cosmic rays are observed to possess a small non uniform distribution in arrival direction. Such anisotropy appears to have a roughly consistent topology between tens of GeV and hundreds of TeV, with a smooth energy dependency on phase and amplitude. Above a few hundreds of TeV a sudden change in the topology of the anisotropy is observed. The distribution of cosmic ray sources in the Milky Way is expected to inject anisotropy on the cosmic ray flux. The nearest and most recent sources, in particular, are expected to contribute more significantly than others. Moreover the interstellar medium is expected to have different characteristics throughout the Galaxy, with different turbulent properties and injection scales. Propagation effects in the interstellar magnetic field can shape the cosmic ray particle distribution as well. In particular, in the 1–10 TeV energy range, they have a gyroradius comparable to the size of the Heliosphere, assuming a typical interstellar magnetic field strength of 3 μG. Therefore they are expected to be strongly affected by the Heliosphere in a manner ordered by the direction of the local interstellar magnetic field and of the heliotail. In this paper we discuss on the possibility that TeV cosmic rays arrival distribution might be significantly redistributed as they propagate through the Heliosphere.
The Reluctant Folklorist: Jon Y. Lee, Paul Radin, and the Fieldwork Process
Authors: Buccitelli Anthony Bak
Published: October 2014

In the early 1930s, the anthropologist Paul Radin hired Jon Lee to collect Chinese American folk narratives in Oakland’s Chinatown. These were later published as The Golden Mountain: Chinese Tales Told in California. Despite being lead fieldworker for the project, Lee’s contributions have been largely overlooked. This paper examines Lee’s important folkloristic work and opens up a wider discussion about the role that professional aspirations play in shaping the field methodologies of folklorists.
"Rose Connolly" Revisited: Re-Imagining the Irish in Southern Appalachia
Authors: Kader Emily
Published: October 2014

This essay revisits the Appalachian murder ballad "Rose Connolly," the subject of a 1979 essay by D. K. Wilgus. Following Wilgus, I offer further evidence of the song’s presence in Ireland and interrogate persistent hesihistorytancy to claim Irish influence on Appalachian folklore. My analysis then traces this bias to the influence of Cecil Sharp’s English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians (Sharp and Campbell 1917) and his theories of race in the British Isles and Appalachia. Ultimately, I use "Rose Connolly" to re-imagine Irish diasporic and Appalachian identities.
Phytoclimatic characterization and potentiality of Juniperus thurifera L. in the Iberian Peninsula
Authors: García López J. M. , Allué Camacho C.
Published: October 2014

This paper presents some contributions to the phytoclimatic characterization of stands of Juniperus thurifera L. in the Iberian Peninsula. For the phytoclimatic characterization, 1.098 sampling points from the 2nd National Forest Inventory of actual vegetation in which Juniperus thurifera was the principle especies in the forest were considered. The phytoclimatic diagnosis followed the phytoclimatic models of Allué-Andrade. Phytoclimatic territorial models were constructed in digital format on the basis of preliminary territorial factorial estimations, wich were used to determine climatic factors and phytoclimatic terns. The potential phytoclimatic area and the factorial ambits for the existence of Juniperus thurifera was performed in five phases of increasing strictness, based on factorial comparison (convex hull), phytoclimatic terns comparison, phytoclimatic suitability and evaluation of competitor Quercus and Fagus species. Juniperus thurifera stands are found in the phytoclimatic subtypes VI(IV)1, VI(IV)2, IV(VI)1, IV3, IV4, VI(VII) and VIII(VI). Subtype VI(IV)1 is both the most prevalent of the species (70% of stations studied) and the one with the highest index of phytoclimatic suitability. The highest phytoclimatic suitability is found in the phytoclimatic terns (VI(IV)1; VI(IV)2;-; -; -) and (VI(VI)2; IV(VI)1;- ;-;-). These terns are also the most prevalent of the species. In the strictest phase this calculation determined potential areas of high phytoclimatic viability for Juniperus thurifera totalling 1.958.700 ha in the center-east of the Iberian Peninsula. However, any practical interpretation of these results must take into consideration the phytoclimatic capacity for competition from some forest species. The territorial highest suitability phytoclimatic data set is available at www.fitoclimoal.com.
Ecology of seed germination of Pinus sylvestris L. at its southern, Mediterranean distribution range
Authors: Castro J. , Zamora R. , Hodar J A. , Gómez J. M.
Published: October 2014

Seed germination of Pinus sylvestris L. in south eastern Spain was studied under field and growth chamber conditions to assess the effect of the most representative microhabitats of these forests. Under growth chamber conditions, germination was high (almost 95%) in the litter from all microhabitats. Germination under field conditions was highest (up to 95%) in shade-free microhabitats and therefore higher soil temperature (e.g. areas of bare soil and meadows), and lowest (down to 62%) in microhabitats with dense canopy shade and thus lower soil temperature (e.g. under the canopy of pines and under the canopy of juniper). Nevertheless, germination was high also in shaded microhabitats in a year with high rainfall during the germination period, supporting the hypothesis that germination was determined by a combination of appropriate levels of soil temperature, moisture, and light intensity. In contrast, biotic speciesspecific characteristics of the microhabitat were not relevant. Germination may thus reach high percentages in all the microhabitats of the understory during rainy years that ensure appropriate soil moisture during the germination period. However, during dry years germination will concentrate in sunny microhabitats because they reach higher soil temperature early in the season before soil desiccation. These patterns have implications for forest management and stand regeneration via direct seeding.
Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco wood basic density in the Patagonia Argentina
Authors: Jovanovski A. , Davel M. , Mohr-Bell D.
Published: October 2014

In the Andean region of Patagonia, Argentina, in the provinces of Neuquén, Río Negro and Chubut, there are numerous Douglas Fir [Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb) Franco] plantations, which constitute one of the timber species most widely used in the region for commercial plantations. In this work, we studied Douglas Fir wood basic density and its variation within trees and among trees. Also, the relationship between wood density, ring-with and the proportion of latewood was examined by regression analysis, determining at the some time wood density of juvenile and mature wood. We found that mean wood density of Douglas Fir was 0,366 g/cm3, which is one of the lowest wood density values reported for this species elsewhere. Results show that rings-width and latewood proportion were significantly related to specific gravity. We also found that Douglas fir trees begun to produce mature wood at around 17 years of age.
Volume ratio models for prediction of merchantable volumes of Radiata pine in the Basque Country
Authors: Chauchard L. , Sbrancia R.
Published: October 2014

Four volume ratio equations were fitted as part of a Pinus radiata yield tables updating project in plantations within the Basque Country. In this approach, volume ratio equation gives the proportion of merchantable volume to total volume using final diameter and breast height diameter as independent variables. For models fitting, data from 71 felled trees were used. Trees were cubed by the Smalian formula, obtaining from each one both, the total volume over bark and the merchantable volume over bark for 7, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 cm of final diameter. Despite the four models exhibited a high precision to estimate merchantable individual volume, the model 1 (Parresol) had the best performance. They are considered original for this species in Spain.
Floristic and soil description of gypsum steppes in Castilla-La Mancha region
Authors: Ferrandis P. , Herranz J. Mª. , Copete M. A.
Published: October 2014

The study describes plant communities of gypsum steppes in Castilla-La Mancha region from the analysis of vegetation in 80 sites. The soil in the habitat was also characterized by analyzing several soil parameters in samples collected from sites. Vegetation data (cover and species composition) were examined by cluster techniques and soil ones by a principal component analysis. The cluster analysis clearly differentiated communities dominated by few shrub species, which have been described in detail in the phytosociological literature: Lygeum spartum steppes, Ononis tridentata var. edentula shrublands, and thermophilous gypsophilous shrublands in Hellín area. Other site groups identified by the analysis were dominated by Gypsophila bermejoi or Vella pseudocytisus. However, the analysis failed to discriminate most of plant associations described by phytosociologists in the study area for Lepidion subulati alliance, whose geographical limits were not well defined. The principal component analysis showed the lack of definitive differences in soil parameters between Thymo-Teucrion verticillati and Lepidion subulati communities. Conservation areas in the region containing representative samples of this exceptional habitat type are proposed.
An analysis of the forest utilization effect on the structural diversity in «El Cielo» cloud forest, Tamaulipas, Mexico
Authors: Corral Rivas J. J. , Aguirre Calderon O. A. , Jimenez Perez J. , Corral Rivas S.
Published: October 2014

This study intends to analyze the forest utilization effect on the structural diversity in «El Cielo» cloud forest, Tamaulipas, Mexico. The purpose was to know how the forest utilization modified the species composition, the spatial structure and the dimensional structure in this forest ecosystem. The assessment was done by means of comparing the stand structure of two experimental plots with different historical of management using several indices. These indices are derived from the neighbourhood relations between the trees that constitute an ecosystem. The basis for the calculation of these indices was the sampling method so-called here «structural group of five trees». The results indicated that the plant community covering an area of half hectare was a mixture of tropical and template trees of approximately 30 different species with a density larger than 1,000 trees ha-1. The comparative structural analysis indicated significant evidence that the forest utilization decreased the species diversity, modified the spatial distribution and changed the dimensional differentiation.
Semi-automated updating of polygon boundaries in the Forest Map of Spain
Authors: Castilla G.
Published: October 2014

The principles of the future European Directive on Spatial Data Infrastructures inspire the new Spanish Information System on Land Occupation (SIOSE), where the information from the various existing landcover/landuse maps will be integrated, including that of the Forest Map of Spain (MFE). This work describes a test commissioned by the Nature Database Department of the Ministry of Environment, whose goal is to evaluate the possibility of semiautomatic updating, by means of an image segmentation algorithm developed by the author, of MFE polygon edges. The updated map may be used later to represent forest areas in SIOSE. The result, although needs to be confirmed by further tests, is very positive, because more than 80% of the edges of the final map come from the automatic segmentation, which may represent more than a 40% time-saving in the photointerpretation.
Distribution and autoecology off Prunus lusitanica L. in Iberian Peninsula.
Authors: Beltran R. S.
Published: October 2014

In the present work the distribution, the physical medium, and the vegetal groups of this species (which presents an outstanding botanical interest) on the Iberian Peninsula, have been studied. A survey was carried out, and 133 locations of the species in the Iberian Peninsula have been described, of which 25 were discovered during the field work. This survey has served to make a cartography of this species, and it has also served the collection of plants data and physical medium data (lithological and physiographic mainly). At a later stage, new data about the physical medium have been collected (edaphic and climatic mainly). All the data collected during the two previous stages have been analysed in order to obtain the common features of all locations on the one hand; and, on the other hand, the particularities of each geographical area of the Iberian Peninsula inhabited by the above mentioned species.
Teucrium oxylepis Font Quer subsp. marianum Ruiz de la Torre & Ruiz del Castillo in Western Sierra Morena
Authors: Rodriguez Marzal J. L.
Published: October 2014

This work deals with the finding of a new population of Teucrium oxylepis subsp. marianum in the Sierra de Aguafría (Western Sierra Morena, Southern Badajoz Province). This is an Iberian endemism restricted to the luso-extremadurense chorologic Province, since it has only been reported till the present moment from Eastern Sierra Morena (Jaén) and Eastern Montes de Toledo (Toledo and Ciudad Real). This study offers a description of the physical environment and vegetation of the Sierra de Aguafría together with some information about the ecological and phytosociological features of this population.
Decision-Making in Physical Intelligent Systems Regulated by Growth Rate Factors
Authors: Frank Till D.
Published: October 2014

In the literature, self-organizing physical and chemical systems have been proposed as candidates for physical intelligent systems that may solve problems in the field of artificial intelligent in a non-algorithmic way that is not based on computation. In this theoretical study, decision-making in such physical intelligent systems is discussed in terms of non-equilibrium transitions between two self-organized states. The control parameter driving the non-equilibrium transitions is related to two growth rate factors. It is shown for a particular non-equilibrium system that the decision-making process satisfies the principle of selecting the state with the fastest growth rate factor. The system under consideration is a two component gas discharge system whose current flows can be described by means of an electronic blueprint.
Selection of Optimal Parameters for ECG Signal Smoothing and Baseline Drift Removal
Authors: Stantic Dejan , Jo Jun
Published: October 2014

Electrocardiogram (ECG) contains crucial clinical information about the cardiac activities of the heart, however, such signal a part of being in large volume is often characterised by a low quality due to the noise and other artifacts. In order to correctly extract the important features from the ECG signal, first it needs to be preprocessed, denoised and normilised. Significant attention in the literature has been directed toward the ECG preprocessing, though there are ambiguity to which wavelet performs the best for ECG signal processing as well as which decomposition level should be used and how the baseline wander can be removed. Parameters of wavelets have been investigated but the lack of evidence for recommendations is not found. This research conducts a comprehensive study to identify some characteristics of optimal decomposition level and to identify the span that should be used. We have taken into consideration all available wavelets within the Matlab environment and tested it on a number of randomly chosen ECG signals. Results indicate that the decomposition level of 4 should be used and that the Biorthogonal wavelet bior3.9 performs the best for smoothing and baseline drift removal. Also, we concluded that the optimal value for span is 100, which guarantees the best baseline wander removal.
Personalized Learning in Algebra
Authors: Walkington Candace , Sherman Milan , Howell Elizabeth
Published: October 2014

Connection to students' individual interests helps imprint mathematics concepts.
Definite Integration and the “Need to Know” Principle
Authors: Gethner Robert
Published: October 2014

Thoughts on how we might introduce concepts that students are not fully ready to understand.
Insights From a New National Academies Report on Caregiving
Authors: Jagsi Reshma , Phillips Robert , Fuentes-Afflick Elena
Published: August 2024

This Viewpoint details the findings of a report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine on family caregiving among those in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine.
The dual nature of TDC – bridging dendritic and T cells in immunity
Authors: Nelli Maria , Kuka Mirela
Published: August 2024

TDC are hematopoietic cells with unique features that provide intriguing insights into the interplay between innate and adaptive immunity. They express a combination of conventional dendritic cell (DC) and T‐cell markers and are found in secondary lymphoid organs (SLOs), lungs and liver of naïve mice, as well as in human blood. When analyzed ex vivo, TDC can behave either as DCs or as T cells, depending on the provided stimuli. Notably, TDC numbers and activation significantly increase in SLOs following viral infection, suggesting a potential role for TDC in antiviral immune responses. In this review, we discuss the properties of these fascinating cells, which call for more investigation on their physiological role during immune responses to both pathogens and tumors.
Deep learning based clinical target volumes contouring for prostate cancer: Easy and efficient application
Authors: Wen Feng , Chen Zhebin , Wang Xin , Dou Meng , Yang Jialuo , Yao Yu , Shen Yali
Published: August 2024

Background

Radiotherapy has been crucial in prostate cancer treatment. However, manual segmentation is labor intensive and highly variable among radiation oncologists. In this study, a deep learning based automated contouring model is constructed for clinical target volumes (CTVs) of intact and postoperative prostate cancer.

Methods

Computed tomography (CT) data sets of 197 prostate cancer patients were collected. Two auto‐delineation models were built for radical radiotherapy and postoperative radiotherapy of prostate cancer respectively, and each model included CTVn for pelvic lymph nodes and CTVp for prostate tumors or prostate tumor beds.

Results

In the radical radiotherapy model, the volumetric dice (VD) coefficient of CTVn calculated by AI, was higher than that of the one delineated by the junior physicians (0.85 vs. 0.82, p = 0.018); In the postoperative radiotherapy model, the quantitative parameter of CTVn and CTVp, counted by AI, was better than that of the junior physicians. The median delineation time for AI was 0.23 min in the postoperative model and 0.26 min in the radical model, which were significantly shorter than those of the physicians (50.40 and 45.43 min, respectively, p < 0.001). The correction time of the senior physician for AI was much shorter compared with that for the junior physicians in both models (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Using deep learning and attention mechanism, a highly consistent and time‐saving contouring model was built for CTVs of pelvic lymph nodes and prostate tumors or prostate tumor beds for prostate cancer, which also might be a good approach to train junior radiation oncologists.
Challenges and Opportunities for Proton Batteries: From Electrodes, Electrolytes to Full‐Cell Applications
Authors: Wu Sicheng , Guo Haocheng , Zhao Chuan
Published: August 2024

Proton batteries have emerged as a promising solution for grid‐scale energy storage benefiting their high safety and abundant raw materials. The battery chemistry based on proton‐ions is intrinsically advantageous in integrating fast diffusion kinetics and high capacities, thus offering great potential to break through the energy limit of capacitors and the power limit of traditional batteries. Significant efforts have been dedicated to advancing proton batteries, leading to successive milestones in recent years. Herein, the recent progress of proton batteries is summarized and insights into the challenges in electrodes, electrolytes and future opportunities for enhancing full‐cell applications are provided. The fundamentals of electrochemical proton storage and representative faradaic electrodes are discussed, delving into their current limitations in mechanism studies and electrochemical performances. Subsequently, the classification, challenges, and strategies for improving protonic electrolytes are addressed. Finally, the state‐of‐the‐art proton full‐cells are explored, and views on the rational design of proton battery devices for achieving high‐performance aqueous energy storage are offered.
Accelerating Materials Discovery by High‐Throughput GIWAXS Characterization of Quasi‐2D Formamidinium Metal Halide Perovskites
Authors: Yang Jonghee , Hidalgo Juanita , Song Donghoon , Kalinin Sergei V. , Correa‐Baena Juan‐Pablo , Ahmadi Mahshid
Published: August 2024

The intriguing functionalities of emerging quasi‐2D metal halide perovskites (MHPs) have led to further exploration of this material class for sustainable and scalable optoelectronic applications. However, the chemical complexities in precursors—primarily determined by the 2D:3D compositional ratio—result in uncontrolled phase heterogeneities in these materials, which compromises the optoelectronic performances. Yet, this phenomenon remains poorly understood due to the massive quasi‐2D compositional space. To systematically explore the fundamental principles, herein, a high‐throughput automated synthesis‐characterization workflow is designed and implemented to formamidinium (FA)‐based quasi‐2D MHP system. It is revealed that the stable 3D‐like phases, where the α‐FAPbI3 surface is passivated by 2D spacers, exclusively emerge at the compositional range (35–55% of FAPbI3), deviating from the stoichiometric considerations. A quantitative crystallographic study via high‐throughput grazing‐incidence wide‐angle X‐ray scattering (GIWAXS) experiments integrated with automated peak analysis function quickly reveals that the 3D‐like phases are vertically aligned, facilitating vertical charge conduction that can be beneficial for optoelectronic applications. Together, this study uncovers the optimal 2D:3D compositional range for complex quasi‐2D MHP systems, realizing promising optoelectronic functionalities. The automated experimental workflow significantly accelerates materials discoveries and processing optimizations that are transferrable to other deposition methods, while providing fundamental insights into complex materials systems.
Covalent–Organic‐Framework Membrane with Aligned Dipole Moieties for Biomimetic Regulable Ion Transport
Authors: Lai Zhuozhi , Ai Yuqing , Xian Weipeng , Guo Qing , Meng Qing‐Wei , Yin Shijie , Wang Sai , Zhang Li , Xiong Yubing , Chen Banglin , Sun Qi
Published: August 2024

Biological ion channels are renowned for their exceptional ion transport selectivity and adaptability to environmental changes, posing a significant challenge for synthetic mimicry. Herein, an innovative covalent–organic‐framework membrane featuring aligned benzothiadiazole units within its oriented 1D nanochannels is reported. These densely arrayed dipolar benzothiadiazole units enhance selective ion adsorption and facilitate membrane charge regulation. Consequently, the membrane can dynamically adjust its permselectivity toward ions, transitioning seamlessly between cation‐selective, ambipolar, and anion‐selective states. This versatility affects both the type of ions transported and the transport efficiency, supporting reversible and controlled membrane operation, as illustrated by the capacity to regulate the magnitude and direction of osmotic power. When interacting with multivalent anions, highly negatively charged channels of the membrane exhibit outstanding cation permselectivity and conductivity. Specifically, upon exposure to PO43− ions, the membrane achieves a remarkable osmotic power of 155 W m−2 and an energy conversion efficiency of 46.1% under salinity gradients of 0.5 and 0.01 m NaCl. Notably, introducing multivalent cations can reverse the polarity of the membrane. This work underscores the potential of exploiting ion‐dipolar interactions for the development of adaptive, ion‐selective membranes with promising applications in electrochemical sensing, energy conversion, and more.
Multivalent Cation Incorporated into Manganese‐Iron Based NASICON Cathodes for High Voltage Sodium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Zeng Jingyao , Gao Jinqiang , Jian Weishun , Wang Haoji , Li Wenyuan , Hong Ningyun , Zhang Baichao , Huang Jiangnan , Song Bai , Gan Chaolun , Yasar Sedat , Deng Wentao , Zou Guoqiang , Hou Hongshuai , Ji Xiaobo
Published: August 2024

Na4Mn1.5Fe1.5(PO4)2P2O7 (NMFPP), with its low cost and high energy density, is essential for accelerating the commercialization of sodium‐ion batteries. However, its practical application is limited by serious voltage hysteresis and detrimental Jahn‐Teller distortions. Herein, a high operating voltage and superior stable Nb‐doped NMFPP with fewer intrinsic anti‐site defects are elaborately designed by the reconstruction of the crystal lattice and electronic distribution. By introducing higher charge density Nb─O bonds, the lengths of Mn‐O bonds are shortened, enhancing lattice stability. As a result, the lattice volume contracted during Na+ extraction/insertion is decreased with niobium‐modified Na4(Mn0.5Fe0.5)2.94Nb0.06(PO4)2P2O7, mitigating lattice distortion from the Jahn‐Teller effect and increasing the capacity retention after 1000 cycles from 57.5% to 82.3%. More importantly, the delayed effect of Mn2+ involvement in redox reactions is significantly reduced, raising the average operating voltage from 3.32 to 3.64 V and increasing the overall energy density by 13%. This study opens new avenues to develop advanced sodium‐ion battery cathode materials with high energy density and long calendar life for energy storage.
An Electrostripping Strategy for Constructing a 3D Honeycomb‐Like Zn Anode Toward Dendrite‐Free Zinc‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Meng Dexin , Liang Xincheng , Liu Qian , Chen Xingfa , Huang Renshu , Peng Lin , Wen Huan , Yin Shibin
Published: August 2024

The severe dendrite issue of the Zn anode greatly hinders the practical application of aqueous zinc‐ion batteries, which demands a prompt solution. This work proposes an electrostripping strategy using sodium citrate (SC) solution as the electrolyte to fabricate a 3D honeycomb‐like Zn (3DH‐Zn) anode. Theoretical calculations and experimental results reveal that SC preferentially adsorbs on the Zn(100) and Zn(101) planes and exhibits a shielding effect, leading to the major dissolution of Zn atoms from the Zn(002) plane, thus obtaining a honeycomb‐like structure. Notably, convinced by morphology characterization and finite element simulation results, Zn2+ tends to deposit on the lateral sides of the hexagonal holes on the 3DH‐Zn anode, resulting in a flat deposition morphology dominated by Zn(101)/Zn(100) planes, which significantly inhibits dendrite formation. As a result, the 3DH‐Zn symmetric cell achieves an ultra‐long lifespan of 2000 h at 5.0 mA cm−2 and 1.0 mAh cm−2. Besides, the 3DH‐Zn||VO2 full cell works for 1000 cycles at 1.0 A g−1 with a residual capacity of 123.1 mAh g−1. This work opens up a new horizon for applying electrostripping strategy in designing advanced Zn anode.
Defect Engineering of Biodegradable Sulfide Nanocage Sonozyme Systems Enables Robust Immunotherapy Against Metastatic Cancers
Authors: Cai Jinming , Shen Qianwen , Wu Yue , Hu Jinyan , Pan Dengyu , Wu Yun , Geng Bijiang
Published: August 2024

It is important but challenging to innovate inorganic sonosensitizers with controlled biodegradability and enhanced sonodynamic and chemodynamic activities to harness and remodel the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) for awakening robust immune responses against metastatic cancers. Herein the rational design and defect engineering strategy of a pH‐responsive biodegradable sonozyme system in sulfide nanocages for augmented cancer immunotherapy is reported. A series of highly defective Co9S8‐x sonosensitizers with elevated sulfur‐vacancy (VS) levels are fabricated to systematically explore the VS‐dependent sonodynamic and chemodynamic properties by regulating the weight ratio of the sulfur to cobalt source. The bandgap is substantially reduced from 2.06 to 1.54 eV, and the atomic ratio of Co2+ to Co3+ is increased from 1.53 to 1.97. Therefore, the sonodynamic, chemodynamic, and antitumor immune responses of Co9S8‐x are dramatically augmented by defect engineering of a biodegradable sulfide sonozyme system. The slow degradation in the slightly acid TME substantially reduced the size for enhanced tumor targeting and infiltration, while exerting a slight influence on the sonodynamic performance. As a result, satisfactory therapeutic effects on the eradication of primary, distant, and metastatic tumors can be achieved. This work highlights the potential of defect engineering strategies in biodegradable sonosensitizers for enhanced immunotherapy in combating metastatic cancers.
Mild Lithium‐Rich Manganese‐Based Cathodes with the Optimal Activation of Li2MnO3 for Stable and High Capacity Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Chen Yong , Li Quan , Chen Zhuo , Zeng Weihao , Liu Zhaopei , Wang Meiyan , Xia Fanjie , Wang Guan , Wu Jinsong
Published: August 2024

The commercial application of lithium‐rich layered oxides still has many obstacles since the oxygen in Li2MnO3 has an unstable coordination and tends to be released when Li‐ion is extracted at the voltage higher than 4.5 V. In this work, a series of cobalt‐free lithium‐rich manganese‐based oxide cathodes (Li1+xTM1‐xO2, TM = Mn, Ni) are synthesized by gradually decreasing the Li/TM ratio. Among these cobalt‐free Li‐rich manganese‐based oxides (LRMO), LR‐1.2 (when Li/TM = 1.2) has an optimized dual‐phase (namely Li2MnO3 and LiTMO2‐like) structure, in which the coordination environment of part of oxygen is transformed from 4Li‐O‐2TM octahedra to 3Li‐O‐3TM octahedra due to the partial substitution of TM for Li at Li‐2b site. Thus, some of the original unstable Li–O–Li configurations change to Li–O–TM configurations, forming strong TM–O covalent bonding and enhancing the structural stability of the oxygen. Consequently, the LR‐1.2 achieved a high reversible capacity of 282.3 mAh g−1 (Coulombic efficiency of 90.9%) at 0.1 C, exhibiting outstanding cycling stability (capacity retention of 90.3% after 400 cycles at 2 C) and superior rate performance. This work establishes a correlation between the microstructure modulation tuned by the Li/TM ratio and their electrochemical performance, offering insights into the design of cathode materials for high‐performance lithium‐ion batteries.
A Photoconductor‐Type Position Recognition Mechanism with the Intrinsic High Gain for the Development of Ultra‐Sensitive Light Position Detection
Authors: Zeng Peiyu , Liu Kaiyang , Zhang Peng , Sun Hui , Wang Wenhui , Ni Zhenhua , Lu Junpeng
Published: August 2024

Position‐sensitive detectors (PSDs) are widely used in optical inspection applications, such as precise measurement of distance and angle, surface profiling, and motion tracking, etc. The lateral photovoltaic effect is the mechanism employed by most PSDs to determine position, but its gain‐free nature hinders weak‐light detection and applications. Here, a new position recognition mechanism with an intrinsic high gain is proposed and employ it to design a weak‐light and large‐size photoconductor‐type PSD. The position recognition is established by the intrinsic link between the gain and channel length in a photoconductor, and the designed linear correlation between the channel length and position. The photoconductor‐type graphene/Si PSD based on the recognition mechanism shows an active length of over 1 mm, a high spatial position resolution at the sub‐micrometer level, and a low detection limit power of 100 pW. Compared with Si PSDs, the gain of the photoconductor‐type PSD is improved by 3–4 orders of magnitude. In addition, the operational wavelength range of the PSD is expanded to include the near‐infrared region, specifically at 1300 and 1550 nm. The new position recognition mechanism paves the way for the development of ultra‐sensitive light position detection.
Effect of Interfacial Ionic Defects in Perovskite Solar Cells and their Mitigation Mechanism: A Comprehensive Theoretical Analysis with Experimental Validation
Authors: Porwal Shivam , Bansal Nitin Kumar , Dey Sutapa , Singh Trilok
Published: August 2024

Interfacial ionic defects in perovskite solar cells (PSCs) significantly influence the efficiency and long‐term stability. In this study, primarily simulation‐assisted analyses are conducted to explore the capacitive effect of these defects on the performance of PSCs through impedance analysis. Simulated data indicate a decrease in capacitance with increasing frequency, leading to a higher built‐in potential (ΔVbi = 150 mV). Moreover, an increase in capacitance with increasing light intensity is observed. Additionally, reducing the ionic defect concentration at the interfaces (from 1019 to 1016 cm−3) results in more significant band bending and a higher Vbi. Potential solutions to mitigate interfacial ionic defects, including doping at transport layer interfaces are proposed. Doping at both interfaces introduces an energy spike (valence band offset) of 0.21 eV and a cliff (conduction band offset) of 0.16 eV, respectively, for holes and electrons, leading to an improvement in the open circuit voltage (VOC). Finally, experimental results demonstrate a notable enhancement in VOC of 0.04 V with the introduction of Li+ doping at the electron transport layer/perovskite interface. These findings provide essential perceptions for effectively mitigating the effect of interfacial ionic defects on the performance of PSCs and enhance their overall performance.
MGGTSP‐CAT: Integrating Temporal Convolution and LSTM for Multi‐Scale Greenhouse Gas Time Series Prediction via Cross‐Attention Mechanism
Authors: Zhong Changbin , Zheng Zhihang
Published: August 2024

Greenhouse gas‐induced global warming represents one of the most pressing environmental challenges currently faced, with methane, a primary constituent of greenhouse gases, exerting a more potent greenhouse effect than carbon dioxide. Precise prediction of methane concentrations is therefore of paramount importance. Owing to the complex interplay of factors affecting methane levels, existing forecasting methodologies often fall short in terms of accuracy and long‐term applicability. In response, this article leverages a multiscale time series to propose an attention‐based deep learning model. This approach synthesizes data across varied time spans, enhancing the extraction of periodic patterns and inter‐scale feature correlations. The model employs a hybrid framework and attention mechanisms to adaptively discern both short‐ and long‐term dependencies, as well as spatiotemporal correlations, capturing the intricate coupling of change mechanisms in the environment. Focusing on the Yanqing district of Beijing, a dataset integrating multiple features is developed and conduct forecasts 48 h in advance for both surface methane concentrations and the average molar fraction of total methane columns, comparing our model against several benchmarks. The model demonstrates superior performance, achieving an RMSE of 5.6123, MAE of 3.4959, and an R2 of 0.9148, which significantly exceeded the accuracy and generalizability of all baseline models.
CLK2 Condensates Reorganize Nuclear Speckles and Induce Intron Retention
Authors: Wang Bing , Li Jing , Song Yanyang , Qin Xuhui , Lu Xia , Huang Wei , Peng Chentai , Wei Jinxia , Huang Donghui , Wang Wei
Published: August 2024

Intron retention (IR) constitutes a less explored form of alternative splicing, wherein introns are retained within mature mRNA transcripts. This investigation demonstrates that the cell division cycle (CDC)‐like kinase 2 (CLK2) undergoes liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) within nuclear speckles in response to heat shock (HS). The formation of CLK2 condensates depends on the intrinsically disordered region (IDR) located within the N‐terminal amino acids 1‐148. Phosphorylation at residue T343 sustains CLK2 kinase activity and promotes overall autophosphorylation, which inhibits the LLPS activity of the IDR. These CLK2 condensates initiate the reorganization of nuclear speckles, transforming them into larger, rounded structures. Moreover, these condensates facilitate the recruitment of splicing factors into these compartments, restricting their access to mRNA for intron splicing and promoting the IR. The retained introns lead to the sequestration of transcripts within the nucleus. These findings extend to the realm of glioma stem cells (GSCs), where a physiological state mirroring HS stress inhibits T343 autophosphorylation, thereby inducing the formation of CLK2 condensates and subsequent IR. Notably, expressing the CLK2 condensates hampers the maintenance of GSCs. In conclusion, this research unveils a mechanism by which IR is propelled by CLK2 condensates, shedding light on its role in coping with cellular stress.