bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Changes in HPV prevalence, incidence, and clearance following the use of HIV pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among MSM in Xinjiang, China: An observational cohort study
Authors: Tian Tian , Fu Leiwen , Lu Zhen , Bian Junye , Zhou Xinyi , Wang Bingyi , Lin Yi‐Fan , Zhang Zewen , Liu Lirong , Xi Miaomiao , Zhen Chen , Dai Jianghong , Zou Huachun
Published: September 2023

The association between HIV pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and the natural history of human papillomavirus (HPV) has not been well documented. Our objective was to evaluate the impact of PrEP on the prevalence, incidence, and clearance of anal HPV among men who have sex with men (MSM). Sexually active, HIV‐negative MSM aged 18 years and older in Xinjiang, China since September 1, 2016, were enrolled in an ongoing observational cohort study of HPV. At baseline and every 6 months, an anal swab was taken to test for HPV and a questionnaire on sociodemographic characteristics and sexual behaviors was collected. Those who consented to receive PrEP were enrolled in an open‐label PrEP intervention study from November 1, 2019, to June 30, 2021. This study analyzed data from participants present in the HPV cohort between November 1, 2019, and June 30, 2021. We compared the prevalence, incidence, and clearance of anal HPV between men who received PrEP (PrEP users) and those who did not (non‐PrEP users), and compared men before and after initiating PrEP. We calculated prevalence ratios (PRs), incidence rate ratios (IRRs), and clearance rate ratios (CRRs) for both comparisons. Of the 870 participants present in the HPV cohort during the period between November 1, 2019, and June 30, 2021, 859 had adequate β‐globin for HPV genotype testing and were included in our study. Among them, 429 were PrEP users, while 430 were non‐PrEP users. Median age was 32 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 26–38). Among PrEP users, 217 were tested for anal HPV before PrEP initiation. PrEP users had lower prevalence of HPV 45, 51, and 54 (PRs: 0.27 [95% CI: 0.09–0.80], 0.42 [0.21–0.85], and 0.41 [0.17–0.99], respectively) and lower clearance of HPV 16 (CRR: 0.31 [0.10–0.91]) compared with non‐PrEP users. PrEP users exhibited lower prevalence of HPV 51 (PR: 0.31 [0.12–0.84]), lower incidence of HPV 6, 11, 16, 39 and 61 (IRRs: 0.34 [0.13–0.90], 0.26 [0.08–0.87], 0.44 [0.21–0.91], 0.21 [0.05–0.93], and 0.19 [0.04–0.82], respectively), as well as higher clearance of HPV 52 (CRR: 2.17 [1.08–4.35]) after PrEP initiation. PrEP use may lower the risk of HPV infection among MSM in Xinjiang, China. Our findings further extend the knowledge of the impact of PrEP on sexually transmitted infections.
Dominant role of cold vortices on the precipitation in Northeast China still exists in midsummer
Authors: Xu Shi‐Qi , Gao Hui , Fang Yi‐He , Yang Xue‐Yan , Zhao Si‐Wen
Published: September 2023

The summer precipitation in Northeast China (NEC) can usually be divided into two stages, namely the Northeast China cold vortex (NECV) influencing stage in early summer (May–June) and the monsoon influencing stage in midsummer (July–August). In this study, the influence of NECV on the precipitation at multi‐timescales during different summer periods is studied. The results show that even in midsummer, though the effect of the western Pacific subtropical high is strengthened, the NECV still has the major impact on the precipitation over NEC. High co‐variability could be found between the daily precipitation and the NECV index in each month. The running correlation with an 11‐day window between precipitation and the NECV index also proves that the NECV has large impact on the precipitation over NEC during the whole summer. Key linkage of NECVs and the precipitation in midsummer can still be detected in synoptic extreme rainfall events. The composite analysis shows that, for the heavy rainfall extremes in NEC, the dominant circulation is an obvious ‘negative–positive–negative’ vorticity pattern at high latitudes of Asia. The positive vorticity in the pattern corresponds to stronger and more active NECV. That means the NECV is still the most critical factor affecting the NEC precipitation in midsummer.
A comparison of machine learning methods to find clinical trials for inclusion in new systematic reviews from their PROSPERO registrations prior to searching and screening
Authors: Liu Shifeng , Bourgeois Florence T. , Narang Claire , Dunn Adam G.
Published: September 2023

Searching for trials is a key task in systematic reviews and a focus of automation. Previous approaches required knowing examples of relevant trials in advance, and most methods are focused on published trial articles. To complement existing tools, we compared methods for finding relevant trial registrations given a International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) entry and where no relevant trials have been screened for inclusion in advance. We compared SciBERT‐based (extension of Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers) PICO extraction, MetaMap, and term‐based representations using an imperfect dataset mined from 3632 PROSPERO entries connected to a subset of 65,662 trial registrations and 65,834 trial articles known to be included in systematic reviews. Performance was measured by the median rank and recall by rank of trials that were eventually included in the published systematic reviews. When ranking trial registrations relative to PROSPERO entries, 296 trial registrations needed to be screened to identify half of the relevant trials, and the best performing approach used a basic term‐based representation. When ranking trial articles relative to PROSPERO entries, 162 trial articles needed to be screened to identify half of the relevant trials, and the best‐performing approach used a term‐based representation. The results show that MetaMap and term‐based representations outperformed approaches that included PICO extraction for this use case. The results suggest that when starting with a PROSPERO entry and where no trials have been screened for inclusion, automated methods can reduce workload, but additional processes are still needed to efficiently identify trial registrations or trial articles that meet the inclusion criteria of a systematic review.
Durability of intercalary endoprosthesis for humeral reconstruction
Authors: Labott Joshua R. , Heidenreich Mark J. , Broida Samuel E. , Mills Gavin L. , Rose Peter S. , Houdek Matthew T.
Published: September 2023

Introduction

The humerus is a common site of metastases and primary tumors. For some patients with a segmental defect and/or diaphyseal cortical destruction a cemented intercalary device may provide a more reliable construct, however data on their use is limited.

Methods

We reviewed 43 (28 male and 15 female) patients treated with an intercalary humeral spacer at a single tertiary referral center between 1989 and 2022. Humeral lesions were most commonly secondary to metastatic disease (n = 29, 68%), with 25 (58%) patients presenting with a pathologic fracture. Mean age and body mass index were 66 years and 27.9 kg/m2. First generation taper joint device were used in 22 patients and second‐generation lap device in 21 patients.

Results

Following reconstruction the 2‐year overall survival was 30%. Mechanical complications occurred in 11 patients, most commonly aseptic loosening (n = 6, 14%). With death as a competing risk, the cumulative incidence of mechanical failure was 28% at 2‐years postoperative. Following the procedure, mean Musculoskeletal Tumor Society scores was 70% and mean shoulder elevation was 87°.

Conclusion

Reconstruction of the humeral diaphysis with an intercalary endoprosthesis provides restoration of function of the upper extremity, however, is associated with one in four patients having mechanical failure.
Evaluating equity of access and predictors of minimally invasive hysterectomy for endometrial and cervical cancer from 2000 to 2017 in Ontario, Canada: A population‐based cohort study
Authors: McGinnis Justin M. , Pond Gregory R. , Reade Clare J. , Schnarr Kara L. , Simunovic Marko , Elit Lorraine M. , Seow Hsien‐Yeang , Helpman Limor
Published: September 2023

Introduction

We sought to assess the uptake of minimally invasive hysterectomy among patients with endometrial and cervical cancer in Ontario, Canada, and assess the equity of access to minimally invasive surgery (MIS) by evaluating associations with patient, disease, institutional, and provider factors.

Methods

This is a retrospective population‐based cohort study of hysterectomy for endometrial and cervical cancer in Ontario (2000–2017). Surgical approach, clinicopathologic, sociodemographic, institutional, and provider factors were identified through administrative databases. Fisher's exact, χ2, Wilcoxon rank sum, logistic regression, and Cox proportional hazards modeling were used to explore factors associated with MIS.

Results

A total of 27 652 patients were included. In total, 6199/24 264 (26%) endometrial and 842/3388 (25%) cervical cancer patients received MIS. The proportion of MIS to open surgeries increased from <0.1% in 2000 to over 55% in 2017 (odds ratio [OR] = 1.31, confidence interval [CI] = 1.28–1.34). Low‐income quintile, rurality, low hospital volume, nonacademic hospital, nongynecologic oncology surgeon, and earlier year of surgeon graduation were associated with reduced odds of MIS (OR < 1).

Conclusions

The uptake of MIS hysterectomy increased steadily over the time period. Receipt of MIS is dependent upon multiple social determinants, provider variables, and systems factors. These disparities raise concern for health equity in Ontario and have significant implications for health systems planning and resource allocation.
The Role of Bilateral Superior Laryngeal Nerve Block in Managing Refractory Chronic Cough
Authors: Quinton Brooke A. , Tierney William S. , Benninger Michael S. , Nelson Rebecca C. , Gau Victoria L. , Hrelec Candace M. , Bryson Paul C.
Published: September 2023

Objective(s)

The aim was to investigate the utilization and efficacy of bilateral superior laryngeal nerve block in patients with refractory chronic cough.

Methods

A retrospective chart review of 164 patients with refractory chronic cough who underwent bilateral SLN block at a single institution between November 2018 and September 2022 was performed. Demographics, comorbidities, and patient‐reported outcomes including pre‐ and postinjection Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ) scores were collected and analyzed.

Results

The cohort underwent an average of 2.97 bilateral injections (range 1–22), containing either corticosteroid and local anesthetic or corticosteroid alone. Notably, 116 of 164 of patients reported an average of 67.3% reduction in their symptoms, with the treatment effect lasting 7.60 weeks on average. The average pre‐ and postinjection LCQ scores were 9.70 and 13.82, respectively. A lower LCQ score represents a greater impairment of health status due to cough, and the minimum important change is 1.3 points between questionnaires. The average improvement on LCQ following bilateral SLN block was 4.11 points for this cohort.

Conclusion

The use of in‐office bilateral SLN block is an effective treatment that can be used alone or in conjunction with oral medications for the treatment of refractory chronic cough.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 134:1773–1777, 2024
A healthy lifestyle is a social lifestyle: The vital link between social connection and health outcomes
Authors: Proctor Andrew S. , Barth Abigail , Holt‐Lunstad Julianne
Published: September 2023

Social connection impacts physical health in a variety of ways, including longevity. A diverse and robust body of evidence demonstrates the importance of social connection as a key element of lifestyle relevant to health. Among this evidence, data illustrate the mechanisms linking social connection to health, emphasizing how aspects of social connection impact traditional behavioral lifestyle‐related activities directly and indirectly. The evolving landscape of social engagement through digital technologies further suggests important implications for one's social lifestyle on population health. This evidence points to the importance of considering how social connection impacts health across the lifespan and the need for policy, programming, and other strategies as part of prevention and mitigation efforts to improve social health.
Enablers for end‐user entrepreneurship: An investigation on Italian food bloggers
Authors: Cuomo Maria Teresa , Tortora Debora , Festa Giuseppe , Giordano Alex , Metallo Gerardino
Published: September 2023

This article examines unconventional entrepreneurship (accidental or end‐user entrepreneurs) to determine whether the decision‐making phase of the entrepreneurial process is collective. The analysis identified a virtuous circle that links knowledge, innovation, judgment, and decision making to collective interactions built on passion, experience, and sharing. To study food bloggers as unconventional user entrepreneurs, data were collected and analyzed using netnographic analysis. A supplementary online survey of food bloggers and their followers was also performed. Three groups of food bloggers are identified: amusing, functional, and fervent. Only fervent food bloggers, thanks to the virtuous circle built on passion, experience, and sharing as enablers, can be considered accidental or end‐user entrepreneurs.
Comprehensive evaluation of serum circHAS2 as a novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for gastric cancer
Authors: Ma Shuo , Yao Yuming , Xu Yanhua , Zou Mingyuan , Zhou Meiling , Abudushalamu Gulinaizhaer , Chen Yaya , Cai Shijie , Zhang Chen , Wu Guoqiu
Published: September 2023

The diagnosis and screening indicators for gastric cancer (GC) are not satisfactory, resulting in a large number of GC patients being missed and missing the best treatment time. Due to the special structure of circular RNAs (circRNAs), they have a more accurate and powerful ability to detect tumor occurrence. In addition, circHAS2 has been found to promote the proliferation, migration, and invasion of GC cells. Therefore, this study explored the potential of circHAS2 as a biomarker for GC. The expression level of circHAS2 in the specimens was detected by real‐time fluorescent quantitative PCR. The molecular characteristics of circHAS2 were verified by agarose gel electrophoresis and Sanger sequencing. The feasibility of the circHAS2 detection method was verified by room temperature placement and repeated freezing and thawing. The diagnostic effect of circHAS2 on GC was evaluated by receiver‐operating curve analysis. The correlation between circHAS2 expression level and clinical pathological parameters was analyzed using the χ2‐test. Kaplan–Meier survival curve analysis was used to analyze the survival situation of the circHAS2 high‐ and low‐expression group. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to evaluate the influencing factors of prognosis in GC patients. CircHAS2 in cells can be secreted into the blood, and its expression level is significantly upregulated in the serum of patients with GC. The expression level of circHAS2 is correlated with the tissue differentiation, tumor node metastasis staging, classification, and lymph node metastasis of GC patients. CircHAS2 can effectively identify GC and even early GC. In addition, the expression levels of circHAS2 in postoperative GC patients significantly decreased and returned to normal after the second stage of chemotherapy. Finally, the circHAS2 low‐expression group had better survival. The upregulated expression of circHAS2 in the serum of GC patients can effectively identify GC and early GC and can be used for effective monitoring of the prognosis of GC patients. In summary, circHAS2 can be used as an effective diagnostic and prognostic marker for GC.
Organ‐aware CBCT enhancement via dual path learning for prostate cancer treatment
Authors: Chen Xu , Pang Yunkui , Ahmad Sahar , Royce Trevor , Wang Andrew , Lian Jun , Yap Pew‐Thian
Published: September 2023

Background

Cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT) plays a crucial role in the intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) of prostate cancer. However, poor image contrast and fuzzy organ boundaries pose challenges to precise targeting for dose delivery and plan reoptimization for adaptive therapy.

Purpose

In this work, we aim to enhance pelvic CBCT images by translating them to high‐quality CT images with a particular focus on the anatomical structures important for radiotherapy.

Methods

We develop a novel dual‐path learning framework, covering both global and local information, for organ‐aware enhancement of the prostate, bladder and rectum. The global path learns coarse inter‐modality translation at the image level. The local path learns organ‐aware translation at the regional level. This dual‐path learning architecture can serve as a plug‐and‐play module adaptable to other medical image‐to‐image translation frameworks.

Results

We evaluated the performance of the proposed method both quantitatively and qualitatively. The training dataset consists of unpaired 40 CBCT and 40 CT scans, the validation dataset consists of 5 paired CBCT‐CT scans, and the testing dataset consists of 10 paired CBCT‐CT scans. The peak signal‐to‐noise ratio (PSNR) between enhanced CBCT and reference CT images is 27.22 ± 1.79, and the structural similarity (SSIM) between enhanced CBCT and the reference CT images is 0.71 ± 0.03. We also compared our method with state‐of‐the‐art image‐to‐image translation methods, where our method achieves the best performance. Moreover, the statistical analysis confirms that the improvements achieved by our method are statistically significant.

Conclusions

The proposed method demonstrates its superiority in enhancing pelvic CBCT images, especially at the organ level, compared to relevant methods.
Mechanical properties and oxidative ablation behaviors of polysilazane‐modified phenolic resin aerogel/carbon fiber fabric composites
Authors: You Qi , Liu Gang , Zhong Ya , Xu Huanhuan , Zhang Xuanfeng , Shang Sisi , Yuan Man , Cui Sheng , Shen Xiaodong
Published: September 2023

Nanoporous composites have been extensively applied in aerospace applications for their outstanding thermal insulation and ablation resistance. A ceramizable polysilazane (PSZ)‐modified phenolic resin (PSZ‐PR)/carbon fiber fabric (PSZ‐PR/CF) aerogel composite was synthesized through ambient pressure drying (APD). The homogeneous nanopore structure and improved thermal stability of the PSZ‐PR aerogel matrix provided the composites with good performance (thermal conductivity as low as 0.126 W/(m·K)). The PSZ‐PR/CF composites achieved high compressive strength (up to 43.75 MPa), tensile strength (59.22–124.75 MPa), and bending strength (23.35–97.94 MPa). Furthermore, the generation of ceramization products during the oxyacetylene flame ablation process, specifically SiC and Si3N4, enhanced the ablation resistance of PSZ‐PR/CF composites: the linear ablation rates are as low as 0.112 and 0.018 mm/s at 4.18 MW/m2 (20 s) and 1.20 MW/m2 (120 s) of oxyacetylene heat flow, respectively. The corresponding maximum back temperatures are only 51.0°C and 60.3°C. Notably, the carbon/ceramic network is still present in the ablation layer to protect the carbon fibers from oxidation. This ceramizable PSZ‐PR/CF composite has good potential for application in the field of thermal protection.

Highlights

PSZ improves thermal stability and ablation properties of PSZ‐PR/CF.

The PSZ‐PR/CF composites exhibit excellent mechanical and ablation properties.

The ceramic products improve the scouring resistance of aerogel matrixes.

The ceramizable PSZ‐PR/CF was prepared by low‐cost ambient pressure drying.
Changes in molecular relaxations and network properties of a triaromatic liquid crystal epoxy resin with nonterminal functional groups
Authors: Włodarska Magdalena , Mossety‐Leszczak Beata , Kisiel Maciej , Zając Weronika , Okrasa Lidia
Published: September 2023

Two types of liquid crystal epoxy precursors and corresponding epoxy‐amine networks are investigated in this paper. The epoxy groups are non‐terminal in one of the monomers (NTEM) and terminal in the other one (MU22). Both monomers contain the same mesogen and exhibit liquid crystal properties. Structural differences between the carbon chains affect physical properties of the monomers and the products of curing, which involves a typical diamine—DDM (4,4′‐diaminodiphenylmethane). Phase transition temperatures, conditions of the curing reaction and glass transition temperatures in the cured products are determined through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), optical observations (POM) and broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS). The modification of the carbon chains affects the phase transition temperatures, dielectric response, and the glass transition in the cured products. The dielectric response of NTEM monomer reveals two relaxation processes (β and γ) associated with molecular motions of polar groups in the mesogen (β‐process) and in the carbon chains (γ‐process). In contrast, MU22 only displays a similar β‐process. A segmental α‐process related to structural reorientation (connected with glass transition) appears in both cured products, but in NTEM the glass transition temperature is significantly lower. Local relaxations in the epoxy networks match the corresponding processes in their respective precursors.
Psychosocial care for cancer survivors: A global review of national cancer control plans
Authors: Mullen Louise , Signorelli Christina , Nekhlyudov Larissa , Jacobsen Paul B. , Gitonga Isaiah , Estapé Tania , Lim Høeg Beverley , Miles Anne , Sade Cristina , Mazariego Carolyn , Degi Csaba L. , Howard Fuchsia , Manne Sharon , Travado Luzia , Jefford Michael ,   International Psycho‐Oncology Society Survivorship Special Interest Group
Published: September 2023

Objective

National Cancer Control Plans (NCCPs) are high‐level policy documents that prioritise actions to be taken to improve cancer control activities. As the number of cancer survivors grows globally, there is an urgent need to assess whether and how psychosocial care across the cancer care continuum is included in NCCPs. This review aimed to ascertain the extent to which NCCPs referenced psycho‐oncology care for cancer survivors in the post‐treatment phase.

Methods

NCCPs were obtained from the International Cancer Control Partnership (ICCP) portal (in November 2021) and reviewed in two phases. In Phase 1, all available NCCPs were screened to determine whether they mentioned psycho‐oncology or survivorship. In Phase 2, reviewers extracted data from the NCCPs identified in Phase 1 on the degree that each plan articulated objectives/goals to improve psychosocial care in the post‐treatment survivorship phase.

Results

We screened 237 NCCPs. Of these, initial potential reference to psycho‐oncology and survivorship content were identified in 97 plans (41%). In Phase 1, 57/97 (59%) had reference to psycho‐oncology or survivorship content within defined criteria. In Phase 2, 27/97 (28%) had little mention of psycho‐oncology specifically in survivorship, 47/97 (48%) had some (general or brief) mention, and the remaining 23/97 (24%) had substantial content/specific sections and clearly articulated goals and/or objectives. Common goals for improving psychosocial care in the post‐treatment period included building capacity of healthcare professionals, implementing rehabilitation models, and increasing the utilisation of community services.

Conclusions

Most NCCPs did not reference psycho‐oncology and only one‐quarter contained clear objectives specifically in the post‐treatment survivorship phase.
Clinical determinants for State–Trait Anxiety Inventory of the parents of children with respiratory problems
Authors: Boonjindasup Wicharn , Marchant Julie M. , McElrea Margaret S. , Yerkovich Stephanie T. , Newcombe Peter A. , Chang Anne B.
Published: September 2023

Backgrounds

Understanding factors associated with anxiety of parents/carers of children with respiratory problems is clinically important yet there is relative paucity of data. In 106 children seen in the respiratory clinic of a pediatric hospital, we evaluated (a) the determinants for parental anxiety and (b) whether the anxiety scores correlate with quality‐of‐life (QoL) scores in the subset with chronic cough.

Methods

We opportunistically re‐analyzed data of our main study that examined the benefits of using spirometry for pediatric respiratory consultation where parents completed an anxiety questionnaire (State–Trait Anxiety Inventory, STAI) pre‐ and postconsultation. A subset (children with chronic cough) also completed the parent‐proxy quality‐of‐life (PC‐QoL) tool. We computed the association between clinical characteristics and anxiety scores using multivariable regression and between the two patient‐reported outcome measures using Spearman's correlation.

Results

The majority of parents/carers were women (n = 89, 84%). Most children (mean age = 10.9 years, SD = 3.7 years) were previously seen at the clinic (n = 67, 63.2%). In multivariate regression, parental anxiety score was significantly associated with reported presence of cough [coefficient β = 17.31 (95% confidence interval 9.62, 25.1)] and lower forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) [−3.88 (−7.05, −0.71)] at preconsultation, but associated with cough only [coefficient β = 12.04 (5.24, 18.84)] at postconsultation, all p < .05. STAI strongly correlated with PC‐QoL scores at pre‐ but only modestly at postconsultation (rs = −.63 and −.39, respectively, p < .05).

Conclusion

Parental anxiety levels of children attending respiratory clinics are influenced by the presence of cough and low FEV1/FVC of their child and are associated with poorer QoL. These highlight the need for on‐going research to reduce parental anxiety focusing on cough and lung function indices.
Tunable Emission Enhancement in Surface Plasmon‐Enhanced GaN Light‐Emitting Diode Based on the Ag–SiO2 (Ag‐Rich) Cermet Material
Authors: Zhang Haosu , Ma Cheng , Wang Tao , Miao Jianming , Gong Xi , Zheng Ruohan , Zhao Zhuo , Zhou Shiyin
Published: September 2023

The metal–dielectric cermet (metal‐rich) material is utilized for turning the dispersion properties of surface plasmon in GaN‐light‐emitting diode. The designed structure contains a cermet layer coated on p‐GaN layer. The optimized ingredients in the cermet material and thickness of the cermet layer are obtained by the simulations. For enhancing the extraction of surface plasmon, the designed structure is further optimized by inserting a layer of low refractive index. The calculated results indicate that the Purcell factor in optimized structure is greater than 100 over the emission spectrum and the extraction efficiency of surface plasmon is effectively improved. The photoluminescence (PL) experiment by bottom excitation demonstrates that peaks of PL spectra of the designed and optimized samples are enhanced by 1.6 and 3.4 times, respectively, compared with the sample covered by Ag film. Compared with the naked sample, peaks of PL spectra of bottom pumping of optimized and designed samples are enhanced by 36.3 and 17.2 times, respectively. Peaks of normalized PL spectra by top excitation of optimized and designed samples are enhanced by 29.0 and 9.1 times, respectively. The results of numerical calculations are substantially consistent with the results of PL tests.
Giant Ferroelectric and Piezoelectric Properties of Lead Free Ba0.85Ca0.15Ti0.90Zr0.10O3 Thin Film in 100 nm Thickness Range
Authors: Dai Qingping , Li Yumin , Wei Jun , Li Qiongmin , Qiu Zhibin , Pu Yuanmao
Published: September 2023

Lead‐free Ba0.85Ca0.15Ti0.90Zr0.10O3/SrRuO3 (BCZT/SRO)‐heterostructured thin film grown on (001)‐SrTiO3 substrate is prepared by pulse laser deposition. The microstructure, ferroelectric, and piezoelectric of the thin film are investigated in detail. Giant ferroelectric properties of the BCZT thin films with thickness ≈100 nm and remanent polarization Pr of 57.1 μC cm−2 are obtained, which are attributed to the (00L)‐oriented epitaxial structure and lower substrate clamping. In addition, the BCZT/SRO heterostructure exhibits excellent piezoelectric properties with the d33 values of different grain size (40–140 nm) varied from 75 to 130 pm V−1, providing a potential candidate used as piezoelectric material for magnetoelectric composite films. The BCZT/SRO‐heterostructured thin film with excellent ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties may be a good alternative to Pb(ZrxTi1−x)O3 thin films for piezoelectric device applications.
Quodon Current in Tungsten and Consequences for Tokamak Fusion Reactors
Authors: Russell Francis Michael , Archilla Juan F. R. , Mas José L.
Published: September 2023

Tokamak fusion reactors produce energetic He ions that penetrate surfaces less than 20 μm and neutrons that spread throughout the reactor. Experiments with similar swift He ions in heavy metals show that the vibronic coupling of nonlinear lattice excitations creates mobile lattice excitations, called quodons. These are decoupled from phonons, move ballistically at near sonic speed, and propagate easily in metals and insulators. They can couple to and transport electric charge, which allows their observation in experiments. They rapidly disperse heat throughout a fusion reactor and carry charge through electrical insulators. In this article, an experimental design is presented that separates quodon current and conduction current and therefore makes it possible to measure the former. Also, the time‐of‐flight experiments are presented that lead to an estimation of quodon speed which is of the order of the sound velocity and therefore much faster than the drift of electrons or holes in conduction currents. Herein, results are presented on quodon current in tungsten, a material widely used in nuclear fusion technology, showing that many quodons are produced in fusion reactors. It is predicted that at high output powers, quodons created by He ions and neutrons may adversely impact on cryogenic systems.
Empathy in group musical performance: A review of the literature
Authors: Davila‐Barrio Pablo , Arriaga Cristina , Cabedo‐Mas Alberto
Published: September 2023

Empathy plays a fundamental role in the prosocial development of young people today as an essential skill for interacting with other human beings. Music, particularly in a small group set up, offers a fitting context for its development. This article presents a review of the different studies and investigations that examine the effects that the development of empathic capacity can produce in small group instrumental practice, the capacity of empathy to induce modifications in the final result of a small group musical interpretation, and empathy and its relationship with small group musical interpretation from the field of education. The aim of this article is to review and analyse literature on how empathy is researched in the context of small group (between 2 and 10 individuals) music performance in order to enquire if the empathic ability constitutes a basic and decisive foundation in the development of multiple actions executed jointly with other individuals. For that purpose, different aspects are analysed: (1) definition of empathy and how it is measured; (2) the instruments used for its measurement; (3) the characteristics of the participants in the studies and their level of music experience; and (4) the type of activities undertaken. The analysis of the results indicates that defining empathy in this context is an ongoing process, and the concept is measured by standardised and ad hoc tests. It also shows that the type of studies and activities are related to the discipline in which they are carried out. Notably, there is a lack of studies regarding the field of study and the age and the level of musical experience of the performers.

Context and implications

Rationale for this study

Empathy is considered a fundamental social ability to communicate. This review aims to analyse how empathy is researched in the context of a small music group set up in order to explore the state of empathy in group music performance and its benefits of developing social and emotional abilities in music students.

Why the new findings matter

This review provides details of research that reports the benefits of promoting empathy in a small music group set up and presents evidence that there are no standard ways of researching empathy in this sphere.

Implications for researchers and music educators

The emerging findings of this review affirm that promoting empathy in the context of a small music group set up affects students' social and emotional abilities. However, there is still no consensus of a standardised way to research empathy. The implications extend to researchers, who need to do more investigations on empathy not only in the sphere of music performance or music education but also in other spheres in order to narrow a way of standardising methods to research empathy. Moreover, this review is a call for all music educators, to implement and develop empathy through their daily educational strategies.
Environmental commitment, sustainable development, and regional efficiency in waste collection activities
Authors: Alberca Pilar , Parte Laura
Published: September 2023

Waste management industry is key to achieve environmental commitment, clean production, and Circular business models; as well as to promote sustainable development. The aim of this study is to contribute to the Circular Economy measuring business performance and firm efficiency of waste collection activities and their determinants, with emphasis on sustainable development and environmental challenges. The main research goals of this study are as follows: first, to examine firm efficiency scores in waste collection activity (dangerous and non‐dangerous waste); second, to analyze the main fluctuation patterns of business efficiency; third, to evaluate the differences in the average efficiency according to region; finally, to examine the relationship between efficiency score and environmental challenges (investment in environmental protection and COVID‐19 pandemic impact). The efficiency of firms is estimated using non‐parametric production frontiers in a sample of 5441 observations for the period 2010–2020. We used several non‐parametric tests, such as the Mann–Whitney U test and the Kruskal–Wallis test; as well as several regression models (Tobit and bootstrapping regressions) to test the relationship between efficiency scores and environmental variables. The main findings of this study provide new empirical evidence and go a step further, not only at the firm level, but also at the regional level.
Smaller Gold Nanoparticles Release DNA More Efficiently During fs Laser Pulsed Optical Heating
Authors: Hastman David A. , Oh Eunkeu , Melinger Joseph S. , Green Christopher M. , Thielemann Aaron J. P. , Medintz Igor L. , Díaz Sebastián A.
Published: September 2023

This work investigates the effect of plasmonic gold nanoparticle (AuNP) size on the rate of thermal release of single‐stranded oligonucleotides under femtosecond (fs)‐pulsed laser irradiation sources. Contrary to the theoretical predictions that larger AuNPs (50–60 nm diameter) would produce the most solution heating and fastest DNA release, it is found that smaller AuNP diameters (25 nm) lead to faster dsDNA denaturation rates. Controlling for the pulse energy fluence, AuNP concentration, DNA loading density, and the distance from the AuNP surface finds the same result. These results imply that the solution temperature increases around the AuNP during fs laser pulse optical heating may not be the only significant influence on dsDNA denaturation, suggesting that direct energy transfer from the AuNP to the DNA (phonon–phonon coupling), which is increased as AuNPs decrease in size, may play a significant role.
Honeycomb‐Structured MoSe2/rGO Composites as High‐Performance Anode Materials for Sodium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Li Zhuanxia , Yu Lianghao , Tao Xin , Li Yun , Zhang Linlin , He Xuedong , Chen Yan , Xiong Sha , Hu Wei , Li Jun , Wang Jichang , Jin Huile , Wang Shun
Published: September 2023

Sodium‐ion batteries are a promising substitute for lithium batteries due to the abundant resources and low cost of sodium. Herein, honeycomb‐shaped MoSe2/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composite materials are synthesized from graphene oxide (GO) and MoSe2 through a one‐step solvothermal process. Experiments show that the 3D honeycomb structure provides excellent electrolyte penetration while alleviating the volume change during electrochemical cycling. An anode prepared with MoSe2/rGO composites exhibits significantly improved sodium‐ion storage properties, where a large reversible capacity of 215 mAh g−1 is obtained after 2700 cycles at the current density of 30.0 A g−1 or after 5900 cycles at 8.0 A g−1. When such an anode is paired with Na3V2(PO4)3 to form a full cell, a reversible specific capacity of 107.5 mAh g−1 can be retained after 1000 cycles at the current of 1.0 A g−1. Transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and in situ X‐ray diffraction (XRD) characterization reveal the reversible storage reaction of Na ions in the MoSe2/rGO composites. The significantly enhanced sodium storage capacity is attributed to the unique honeycomb microstructure and the use of ether‐based electrolytes. This study illustrates that combining rGO with ether‐based electrolytes has tremendous potential in constructing high‐performance sodium‐ion batteries.
Phase‐Stabilized Crystal Etching to Unlock An Oxygen‐Vacancy‐Rich Potassium Vanadate For Ultra‐Fast Zn Storage
Authors: Luo Dan , Yu Huaibo , Zeng Li , Li Xiaolong , He Hanna , Zhang Chuhong
Published: September 2023

Despite holding the advantages of high theoretical capacity and low cost, the practical application of layered‐structured potassium vanadates in zinc ion batteries (ZIBs) has been staggered by the sluggish ion diffusion, low intrinsic electronic conductivity, and unstable crystal structure. Herein, for the first time, a phase stabilized crystal etching strategy is proposed to innovate an oxygen‐vacancy‐rich K0.486V2O5 nanorod composite (Ov‐KVO@rGO) as a high‐performance ZIB cathode. The in situ ascorbic acid assisted crystal etching process introduces abundant oxygen‐vacancies into the K0.486V2O5 lattices, not only elaborately expanding the lattice spacing for faster ion diffusion and more active sites due to the weakened interlayer electrostatic interaction, but also enhancing the electronic conductivity by accumulating electrons around the vacancies, which is also evidenced by density functional theory calculations. Meanwhile, the encapsulating rGO layer ably stabilizes the K0.486V2O5 crystal phase otherwise is hard to endure subject to such a harsh chemical etching. As a result, the optimized Ov‐KVO@rGO electrode delivers record‐high rate capabilities with 462 and 272.39 mAh g−1 at 0.2 and 10 A g−1, respectively, outperforming all previously reported potassium vanadate cathodes and most other vanadium‐based materials. This work highlights a significant advancement of layer‐structured vanadium based‐materials towards practical application in ZIBs.
Predicting Loss Analysis from Luminescence Images in Si Solar Cells with Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Huang Ziqiong , Ho Jian Wei , Choi Kwan Bum , Danner Aaron , Chan Keng Siew
Published: September 2023

In this work, deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are used to speed up the calculation of spatial nonuniform device parameters, voltage and fill factor (FF) losses in crystalline Si solar cells. Luminescence images on finished solar cells, specifically as‐measured electroluminescence (EL) and photoluminescence (PL) images, are used as input features to train the CNN models and losses analysis as output is from a finite‐element modeling program called Griddler. From the analysis of a small dataset of 250 commercial grade solar cells, the CNN models are able to predict the spatially nonuniform distribution of contact resistance and defect parameters of the devices under test and exhibit good performance in the inference of voltage and FF losses. As EL and PL images are widely collected in‐line production data, in the result, the possibility of deploying 2D spatial power loss analysis is implied as a fast, in‐line, and nondestructive analytic tool for solar cells manufacturing.
Enhancement of CsPbBr3 Hole‐Free Perovskite Solar Cells through Natural Dye Modifications
Authors: Liu Yili , Zhou Cheng , Cui Can , Liu Xing , Pang Beili , Feng Jianguang , Dong Hongzhou , Yu Liyan , Dong Lifeng
Published: September 2023

Inorganic perovskite solar cells have attracted considerable interest for their thermal stability. In this study, turmeric and carotene natural dyes as additives for refining CsPbBr3 film crystal structure are explored. These dyes enhance light absorption and carrier transport by increasing CsPbBr3 crystal size and reducing defects. Capitalizing on the dyes’ light‐absorbing nature and their impact on device energy levels, turmeric and carotene additives elevate efficiency from 5.35% to 9.78% and 7.81%, respectively. Remarkably, device stability extends 90 days without encapsulation. In this work, an eco‐friendly, economical method to optimize perovskite crystallization is introduced and optoelectronic properties in inorganic perovskite solar cells are enhanced.
Potassium Pentaminodifluorobenzoate‐Modified SnO2 for Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Ren Yanqi , Li Bowen , Zhu Ying , Zhang Zhihao , Luo Qi , Weng Hongxin , Tan Xin , Xiang Peng , Tan Xinyu
Published: September 2023

Perovskite solar cells have rapidly developed into the standard representative of the third generation of photovoltaic power generation due to their low energy consumption and low cost. This device faces many challenges in achieving higher efficiency and better long‐term stability. The core issue is the passivation of various defects and appropriate energy‐level matching. Herein, the use of potassium pentaminodifluorobenzoate (KAFA) not only improves the light transmittance of SnO2/ITO, but also passivates the interface defects of SnO2/perovskite by introducing amino, carboxyl, fluorine, and potassium ions. This allows the device to form a suitable energy‐level arrangement, thereby greatly improving the performance of perovskite solar cells. Compared with 20.36% of the pristine device, the KAFA‐SnO2‐based device achieves a champion power conversion efficiency of 22.46%, with an increase in short‐circuit current from 23.94 to 24.78 mA cm−2 and open‐circuit voltage from 1.149 to 1.169 V. After 120 h of continuous illumination with standard sunlight under N2 atmosphere, its initial efficiency is still as high as 88.8%, showing excellent stability.
Automated Fixing Cost Estimation of Photovoltaic System Failures for the Creation of a Decision Support System
Authors: Gallmetzer Sandra , Lindig Sascha , Herz Magnus , Moser David
Published: September 2023

The increasing focus on sustainability connected to extended lifetimes with guaranteed high energy yields in the photovoltaic (PV) sector brings new challenges in operating and maintaining PV systems. Additionally, as the PV Terawatt Age has been reached in 2022 and a sustained exponential PV deployment growth is expected, operation and maintenance (O&M) companies have an ever‐increasing portfolio of PV plants to operate while maintaining cost competitive. Therefore, a shift from manual fault detection and solution toward smart and automated alternatives is required to keep downtime due to faults at a minimum while ensuring that PV systems can operate safely and efficiently. This work extends past developments of an automated O&M decision support system (DSS) by focusing on the automation of selecting and prioritizing solutions in case of PV system event/failure appearance. Thereby, the TRUST‐PV Solution Matrix is added to the published TRUST‐PV Risk Matrix, providing a standardized list of solutions for all events and failures which can appear in a PV system. Furthermore, the Cost Priority Number, a prioritization methodology to assess technical failures and their economic impact in energy systems, is improved by integrating automated fixing cost calculations into the DSS.
Machine‐Learning Accelerating the Development of Perovskite Photovoltaics
Authors: Liu Tiantian , Wang Sen , Shi Yinguang , Wu Lei , Zhu Ruiyu , Wang Yong , Zhou Jun , Choy Wallace C. H.
Published: September 2023

Perovskite solar cells (PSC) are a potential candidate for next‐generation photovoltaic technology. Despite the significant advancements in the field of PSCs, the ongoing development of stable and efficient metal halide perovskite materials, along with their successful integration into photovoltaic applications, remains challenges. These challenges originate from the diverse range of device structures and perovskite compositions, requiring meticulous consideration and optimization. Traditional trial‐and‐error methods are characterized by their sluggishness and labor‐intensive nature. Recently, the emergence of extensive datasets and advancements in computer hardware have facilitated the utilization of machine learning (ML) across multiple domains, including in various fields for material discovery and experimental optimization. Herein, the fundamental procedure of ML is briefly introduced, and latest progress of ML in the materials development and solar cell fabrication is comprehensively reviewed. The utilization of ML in PSCs at all stages of design can be categorized into four main areas: screening perovskite material, fabrication process optimization, device structure optimization, and understanding mechanism. The challenges and outlooks on the future development of ML are finally discussed. It is highly expected that this review can offer valuable guidance for the design and development of highly efficient and stable PSCs.
Telegraph to Tether: Challenges in the Global Payments System and the Struggle between Private and Public Interests
Authors: Schenk Catherine R.
Published: September 2023

Cross-border payments systems are fundamental to the smooth operation of the global economy, but they have attracted relatively little public or academic interest. To support trade and commerce, the system needs to be fast, efficient, inclusive and transparent but these characteristics are challenged by long transaction chains, fragmentation and complexity, legacy technology and high compliance costs. The geopolitical importance was highlighted by the exclusion of Russia from Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications (SWIFT) in 2022. This chapter examines the changing technology and the origins of two key institutions (SWIFT and Clearing House Interbank Payments System in New York, or CHIPS) with special focus on the private ownership of this public good. It draws on new archive evidence from central banks, commercial banks and multilateral institutions to offer fresh insights into how the global payments system has evolved.