bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An interactive system to map land degradation and inform decision‐making to achieve land degradation neutrality via convergence of evidence across scales: A case‐study in Ecuador
Authors: Teich Ingrid , Harari Nicole , Caza Pablo , Henao‐Henao Juan Pablo , Lopez Juan Calles , Raviolo Eugenia , Díaz‐González Ana María , González Hernán , Bastidas Soledad , Morales‐Opazo Cristian , García César Luis
Published: February 2023

One of the core challenges to achieve land degradation neutrality (LDN) is to spatially identify, and strategically prioritise, the areas to implement actions to avoid, reduce and reverse land degradation. To achieve this, a tool for a participatory and data‐driven assessment considering both the biophysical and socio‐economic dimensions of land degradation across scales was developed for Ecuador. In this paper, we present the methodology and results obtained, including the spatially explicit interactive tool developed to integrate indicators that support the scaling‐up of sustainable land management (SLM). The process involved specialists from various national and international institutions, as well as decision makers from the public sector and other relevant stakeholders. Cloud computing allowed the integration of five main sources of data: (1) the results of a participatory land degradation assessment based on an expert knowledge questionnaire following the land degradation assessment in drylands (LADA) and world overview of conservation approaches and technologies (WOCAT) methodology; (2) the Hand‐in‐Hand Initiative Ecuador typology maps based on poverty and estimated agricultural potential and efficiency scores from household surveys; (3) National datasets on land cover and land use, soil properties, and hydro climatic indicators; (4) global satellite‐derived LDN indicators, such as land productivity dynamics; and (5) documented SLM practices from WOCAT Global SLM Database. The tool is based on a Google Earth Engine application and allows decision makers to easily compare results and obtain statistics at different spatial scales and landscapes, including land use systems delimited by experts. It also includes a multi‐criteria module to identify areas with specific characteristics to prioritise different types of interventions to achieve the Country's LDN targets. Convergence of local and global evidence allowed the identification of hotspots of degradation as well as areas of false positives/negatives—if only global or remote sensing indicators were considered. The participatory process contributed to strengthening multi‐sector cooperation mechanisms and to guaranteeing ownership of the tool and the results. The system will support Ecuador's efforts to monitor and report progress towards LDN to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. The system's code is shared as a repository at Earth Engine and can be adapted to and used by other countries and regions.
Influence of contamination with diesel oil on water sorptivity and hydrophobicity of sandy loam soil
Authors: Hewelke Edyta , Weber Jerzy , Gozdowski Dariusz , Hewelke Piotr
Published: February 2023

This paper shows the changes in water sorptivity (Sw) and hydrophobicity following soil contamination with petroleum hydrocarbons (PHs) under different soil moistures. Laboratory experiments were carried out to verify that contamination with PHs reduces Sw, thus affecting the infiltrability, which in practice influences the field water capacity and the availability of water for plants. Soil water repellency (SWR) was estimated by the repellency index (R) and water drop penetration time (WDPT). The increase in PHs contamination contributed to SWR and caused a significant decrease in Sw. With the decrease in moisture, the water sorptivity of the soil increased, reaching its maximum at 0.12–0.15 cm3 cm−3, which was the threshold value in the case of the analysed soil, and then decreased drastically. The R index and the WDPT revealed a similar trend, inversely related to the level of soil contamination with PHs. The increase in SWR and the accompanying decrease in Sw made the soil less resistant to drought. The total amount of water available to plants in the control soil was 19.04%, whereas contamination with PHs equal to 100 g kg−1 caused a decrease to 6.36%. The almost threefold decrease in the total amount of water has a fundamental influence on increasing the risk of soil drought. The results obtained indicated that the interrelationship presented between the level of contamination with PHs, water sorptivity, SWR and soil moisture are the keys to predicting the environmental effects of contamination with PHs. The obtained results indicate that the undertaken remediation measures aimed at restoring the hydrological function of the soil system should be preceded by an assessment of soil hydrophobicity.
LipR functions as an intracellular pH regulator in Bacillus thuringiensis under glucose conditions
Authors: Cai Xia , Qin Jiaxin , Li Xuelian , Yuan Taoxiong , Yan Bing , Cai Jun
Published: February 2023

Intracellular pH critically affects various biological processes, and an appropriate cytoplasmic pH is essential for ensuring bacterial growth. Glucose is the preferred carbon source for most heterotrophs; however, excess glucose often causes the accumulation of acidic metabolites, lowering the intracellular pH and inhibiting bacterial growth. Bacillus thuringiensis can effectively cope with glucose‐induced stress; unfortunately, little is known about the regulators involved in this process. Here, we document that the target of the dual‐function sRNA YhfH, the lipR gene, encodes a LacI‐family transcription factor LipR as an intracellular pH regulator when B. thuringiensis BMB171 is suddenly exposed to glucose. Under glucose conditions, lipR deletion leads to early growth arrest by causing a rapid decrease in intracellular pH (~5.4). Then, the direct targets and a binding motif (GAWAWCRWTWTCAT) of LipR were identified based on the electrophoretic mobility shift assay, the DNase‐I footprinting assay, and RNA sequencing, and the gapN gene encoding a key enzyme in glycolysis was directly inhibited by LipR. Furthermore, Ni2+ is considered a possible effector for LipR. In addition to YhfH, the lipR expression was coregulated by itself, CcpA, and AbrB. Our study reveals that LipR plays a balancing role between glucose metabolism and intracellular pH in B. thuringiensis subjected to glucose stress.
Sobaity Seabream Culture in High-Temperature Conditions
Authors: Young Benjamin C. , Shaikhi Ali Al
Published: February 2023

The survival, growth performance, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio of cultured Sobaity Seabream Sparidentex hasta in local high temperatures of 24, 28, and 32°C were estimated in this study. Experiments were conducted in triplicates with 40 fish (99 g average body weight; 17 cm average total length) in each indoor 1-metric-ton fiber-reinforced plastic tank. For 96 d, the fish were fed a commercial diet (6-mm pellets, 46.36% crude protein, and 12.54% crude lipid). The results showed that survival and growth performance of juvenile Sobaity Seabream were affected by temperature. Total weight gain was significantly higher in the 32°C group (158.57 g), followed by the 28°C group (138.25 g), and the lowest weight gain was observed in the 24°C group (116.98 g). The feed conversion ratio (1.62) was significantly lower in the 32°C group than in the 28°C (1.8) and 24°C (1.85) groups. Feed intake was significantly higher in the 32°C and 28°C groups (6.20–6.43 g) than in the 24°C group (5.41 g). In the 32°C group, the survival rate was significantly lower. The condition factor showed no significant difference among the three temperatures. Overall, Sobaity Seabream farming is feasible at temperatures ranging from 24°C to 32°C.
Flexible-Pass-Through Antennas for Half-Duplex Passive Integrated Transponder Tags in Medium to Large Rivers Used to Study Size-Selective Reservoir Passage
Authors: Ohms Haley A. , Tranquilli J. Vincent , Brooks Gabriel , Boughton David A.
Published: February 2023

The use of passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags for studying fish behavior and demography in medium-large rivers is hindered by antenna designs that are susceptible to damage in those environments and low detection efficiencies. We designed a vertically oriented, flexible PIT tag antenna for half-duplex tags that is simple to construct and deploy, resilient to the dynamic river environment, retains the higher detection efficiency of pass-through antennas, and is suitable for rivers up to 30 m wide and 1.5 m deep. These “flexible-pass-through antennas” are economical to build and cost ~US$435 to $680 for a one- or two-winding antenna, respectively. We used two flexible-pass-through antennas to test for size-selective reservoir passage in juvenile steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss (anadromous Rainbow Trout) and Rainbow Trout. We found that flexible-pass-through antennas withstood high flows and debris during a spring out-migration season and provided data to reject the hypothesis of size-selective fish passage at the Los Padres Dam and Reservoir on the Carmel River (California, USA).
4 Market Trends that Will Impact the Nonprofit Sector in 2023
Authors: Konrad Scott
Published: February 2023

The projected economic decline has made 63% of donors more cautious with their giving. Heading into 2023, economic uncertainty, along with the threat of a looming recession, labor shortages and inflation will present challenges to all nonprofits.
3D printed peripheral vascular stents based on degradable poly(trimethylene carbonate‐b‐(L‐lactide‐ran‐glycolide)) terpolymer
Authors: Ni Na , Fan Tiantang , Ye Wuyou , Xia Qi , Liu Dongyang , Qin Jingwen , Fan Zhongyong , Liu Qing
Published: February 2023

Poly(L‐lactic acid) (PLLA) is a biocompatible material and has found its application in bioresorbable vascular stents (BVS). However, the crystallization of pure PLLA makes it brittle as a medical implant device. In this work, the biodegradable poly(1,3‐trimethylene carbonate‐b‐(L‐lactide‐ran‐glycolide acid)) (PTLG) terpolymers with improved mechanical performance were developed and processed into peripheral vascular stents by a novel 3D 4‐axial printing technology. The PTLG terpolymers were successfully synthesized by ring‐opening copolymerization of L‐lactic acid (LLA), 1,3‐trimethylene carbonate (PTMC) and glycolide acid (GA) units. The crystallinity and mechanical properties of the PTLG terpolymers with various degradation rate depends on the chain sequence structure and the component contents. Compared with the stent prepared by laser engraving, the peripheral vascular stent prepared by the 3D 4‐axial printing technology exhibit a finer structure and smoother strut surface. It was found that both the strut diameters and the molecular weight of PTMC affect the radial force of the stents and that the apparent activation energy of thermal decomposition of the stents is mainly influenced by the molecular weight of PTMC and the component ratio. Therefore, the addition of the PTMC segment can effectively improve the flexibility of the PTLG terpolymer stent and the 3D printed PTLG terpolymer‐based stent. Furthermore, CCK‐8 and live/dead staining suggested that the stents have good biocompatibility.
Pain mitigation and management strategies for anti‐GD2 infusions: An expert consensus
Authors: Nysom Karsten , Morad Andrea Gomez , Rafael Margarida Simão , Zier Judith , Marachelian Araz , Watt Tanya , Morgenstern Daniel A.
Published: February 2023

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting disialoganglioside 2 (GD2) are an important treatment advance for high‐risk neuroblastoma, including in patients with refractory or relapsed disease. Dinutuximab and dinutuximab beta are administered for ≥8 hours (and up to 10 days for dinutuximab beta), whereas naxitamab is administered over 0.5 to 2 hours as tolerated. As acute pain is a class effect of anti‐GD2 mAbs, effective pain management is crucial to successful treatment. Here, we provide an overview of current pain‐management strategies for anti‐GD2 mAb infusions, with a focus on strategies suitable for naxitamab infusions, which cause a more rapid onset of often severe pain. We discuss opioid analgesics, ketamine, gabapentin, and other similar agents and nonpharmacologic approaches. Potential future pain‐management options are also discussed, in addition to the use of sedatives to reduce the anxiety that may be associated with infusion‐related pain. In this expert consensus paper, specific guidance for pain management during naxitamab infusions is provided, as these infusions are administered over 0.5 to 2 hours and may not need overnight hospitalization based on the physician's assessment, and require rapid‐onset analgesia options suitable for potential outpatient administration.
Novel and replicated clinical and genetic risk factors for toxicity from high‐dose methotrexate in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Zobeck Mark , Bernhardt M. Brooke , Kamdar Kala Y. , Rabin Karen R. , Lupo Philip J. , Scheurer Michael E.
Published: February 2023

Study Objective

Methotrexate (MTX) is a key component of treatment for high‐risk pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) but may cause acute kidney injury and prolonged hospitalization due to delayed clearance. The purpose of this study is to identify clinical and genetic factors that may predict which children are at risk for creatinine increase and prolonged MTX clearance.

Design

We conducted a single‐center, retrospective cohort study of pediatric patients with ALL who received 4000–5000 mg/m2 of MTX. Measurements We performed germline genotyping to determine genetic ancestry and allele status for 49 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) identified from the literature as related to MTX disposition. Bayesian hierarchical ordinal regression models for creatinine increase and for prolonged MTX clearance were developed.

Main Results

Hispanic ethnicity, body mass index (BMI) < 3%, BMI between 85%–95%, and Native American genetic ancestry were found to be associated with an increased risk for creatinine elevation. Older age, Black race, and use of the intensive monitoring protocol were associated with a decreased risk for creatinine elevation. Older age, B‐ compared to T‐ALL, and the minor alleles of rs2838958/SLC19A1 and rs7317112/ABCC4 were associated with an increased risk for delayed clearance. Black race, MTX dose reduction, and the minor allele of rs2306283/SLCO1B1 were found to be associated with a decreased risk for delayed clearance.

Conclusions

These predictors of MTX toxicities may allow for more precise individualized toxicity risk prediction.
Proteomic identification of intracellular vesicle trafficking and protein glycosylation requirements for lumen inflation in Ciona notochord
Authors: Wang Zhuqing , Tan Zicheng , Bi Jianqing , Liu Amei , Jiang An , Dong Bo
Published: February 2023

Lumen formation and inflation are crucial steps for tubular organ morphogenesis, yet the underling mechanism remains largely unrevealed. Here, we applied 4D proteomics to screen the lumenogenesis‐related proteins and revealed the biological pathways potentially that are involved in lumen inflation during notochord lumen formation in the ascidian Ciona savignyi. In total, 910 differentiated expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified before and after notochord lumen formation utilizing Mfuzz analysis. Those DEPs were grouped into four upregulated clusters based on their quantitative expression patterns; the functions of these proteins were enriched in protein metabolic and biosynthetic process, the establishment of localization, and vesicle‐mediated transport. We analyzed the vesicle trafficking cluster and focused on several vesicle transport hub proteins. In vivo function‐deficient experiments showed that mutation of vesicle transport proteins resulted in an abnormal lumen in notochord development, demonstrating the crucial role of intracellular trafficking for lumen formation. Moreover, abundant extracellular matrix proteins were identified, the majority of which were predicted to be glycosylated proteins. Inhibition of glycosylation markedly reduced the lumen expansion rate in notochord cells, suggesting that protein glycosylation is essential for lumenogenesis. Overall, our study provides an invaluable resource and reveals the crucial mechanisms in lumen formation and expansion.
Adhesion improvement on the inner side of LLDPE/PA tubular film exposed to DCSBD roll‐to‐roll plasma system from the outer side of the film
Authors: Štěpánová Vlasta , Šrámková Petra , Sihelník Slavomír , Zemánek Miroslav , Jurmanová Jana , Stupavská Monika , Kováčik Dušan
Published: February 2023

Diffuse coplanar surface barrier discharge (DCSBD) was used to activate the opposite side of the plasma‐exposed linear low‐density polyethylene/polyamide (LLDPE/PA) tubular film of multilayer casing. We determined that conductive metal rubber roller in the DCSBD system allowed the formation of microfilaments perpendicular to the film surface, resulting in improved wettability and adhesion of inner LLDPE side of the tubular film. These findings were supported by increasing the concentration of polar functional groups. Based on these remarkable outcomes obtained after a very short plasma exposure time of 0.5 s, DCSBD roll‐to‐roll system in proper arrangement affords adhesion improvement of the opposite side of the treated film without any material damage, hence can compete with industrial corona in commercial sphere of plasma treatments.
Genetically encoded non‐canonical amino acids reveal asynchronous dark reversion of chromophore, backbone, and side‐chains in EL222
Authors: Chaudhari Aditya S. , Chatterjee Aditi , Domingos Catarina A. O. , Andrikopoulos Prokopis C. , Liu Yingliang , Andersson Inger , Schneider Bohdan , Lórenz‐Fonfría Víctor A. , Fuertes Gustavo
Published: February 2023

Photoreceptors containing the light‐oxygen‐voltage (LOV) domain elicit biological responses upon excitation of their flavin mononucleotide (FMN) chromophore by blue light. The mechanism and kinetics of dark‐state recovery are not well understood. Here we incorporated the non‐canonical amino acid p‐cyanophenylalanine (CNF) by genetic code expansion technology at 45 positions of the bacterial transcription factor EL222. Screening of light‐induced changes in infrared (IR) absorption frequency, electric field and hydration of the nitrile groups identified residues CNF31 and CNF35 as reporters of monomer/oligomer and caged/decaged equilibria, respectively. Time‐resolved multi‐probe UV/visible and IR spectroscopy experiments of the lit‐to‐dark transition revealed four dynamical events. Predominantly, rearrangements around the A'α helix interface (CNF31 and CNF35) precede FMN‐cysteinyl adduct scission, folding of α‐helices (amide bands), and relaxation of residue CNF151. This study illustrates the importance of characterizing all parts of a protein and suggests a key role for the N‐terminal A'α extension of the LOV domain in controlling EL222 photocycle length.
Magnetic Ordering and Interplay between the Magnetic and Charge Subsystems in New Francisite‐Analog Cu3Dy(SeO3)2O2Cl as Studied by the Spectroscopy of Kramers Doublets
Authors: Klimin Sergei , Berdonosov Peter , Kuznetsova Elena
Published: February 2023

The rare‐earth (RE) counterparts of francisite mineral Cu3Bi(SeO3)2O2Cl demonstrate strong interplay between d‐ and f‐magnetic subsystems and interesting magnetic properties, including multiferroicity. Herein, an optical spectroscopic study of a new member of the RE‐francisite family, dysprosium francisite, Cu3Dy(SeO3)2O2Cl, is presented. The inherent property of the Kramers degeneracy to be lifted by a magnetic field is used to study the magnetic and thermodynamic properties of the crystal. The splitting of the spectral lines corresponding to f–f transitions in the Dy3+ Kramers ion unambiguously points to the magnetic ordering of the crystal at a temperature of TN = 39 K. The value of the single‐ion anisotropy of the Dy3+ ion is estimated; it dominates the magnetic anisotropy of the copper subsystem. The specific behavior of the spectral lines in the vicinity of TN clearly indicates low‐dimensional magnetism and the interaction between the magnetic and charge degrees of freedom in Cu3Dy(SeO3)2O2Cl, i.e., the multiferroicity, previously reported in the literature for Cu3Bi(SeO3)2O2Cl.
Wearable Thermoelectric Generators: Materials, Structures, Fabrications, and Applications
Authors: Liu Jin , Liu Qiutong , Lin Shuping , Leung Man Yui , Ma Yuan , Tao Xiaoming
Published: February 2023

Wearable thermoelectric generators are solid‐state devices that produce electric energy by harvesting thermal energy from human body or environments. They normally work at relatively mild temperatures that are suitable for human, being light, compact, deformable to the 3D surface, safe to human and environment, comfortable, durable, and cost‐effective. As the potential power suppliers for wearable or mobile microelectronic systems, they have attracted considerable attention. Herein, a critical overview and review of the state‐of‐the‐art wearable thermoelectric generators are presented, covering their operational principles, functional and structural materials, device structures, fabrication processes, and potential applications. Also theoretical aspects of their working mechanisms are included and the scientific and practical challenges are discussed.
Inhibiting mitochondrial inflammation through Drp1/HK1/NLRP3 pathway: A mechanism of alpinetin attenuated aging‐associated cognitive impairment
Authors: Chen Yuanyuan , Yang Chuan , Zou Mi , Wang Dan , Sheng Ruilin , Zhan Meng , Chen Qi , Yang Wenqin , Liu Xiao , Xu Shijun
Published: February 2023

Mitochondrial inflammation triggered by abnormal mitochondrial division and regulated by the Drp1/HK1/NLRP3 pathway is correlated with the progression of aging‐associated cognitive impairment (AACI). Alpinetin is a novel flavonoid derived from Zingiberaceae that has many bioactivities such as antiinflammation and anti‐oxidation. However, whether alpinetin alleviates AACI by suppressing Drp1/HK1/NLRP3 pathway‐inhibited mitochondrial inflammation is still unknown. In the present study, D‐galactose (D‐gal)‐induced aging mice and BV‐2 cells were used, and the effects of alpinetin on learning and memory function, neuroprotection and activation of the Drp1/HK1/NLRP3 pathway were investigated. Our data indicated that alpinetin significantly alleviated cognitive dysfunction and neuronal damage in the CA1 and CA3 regions of D‐gal‐treated mice. Moreover, D‐gal‐induced microglial activation was markedly reduced by alpinetin by inhibiting the Drp1/HK1/NLRP3 pathway‐suppressed mitochondrial inflammation, down‐regulating the levels of p‐Drp1 (s616), VDAC, NLRP3, ASC, Cleaved‐caspase 1, IL‐18, and IL‐1β, and up‐regulating the expression of HK1. Furthermore, after Drp1 inhibition by Mdivi‐1 in vitro, the inhibitory effect of alpinetin on Drp1/HK1/NLRP3 pathway was more evident. In summary, the current results implied that alpinetin attenuated aging‐related cognitive deficits by inhibiting the Drp1/HK1/NLRP3 pathway and suppressing mitochondrial inflammation, suggesting that the inhibition of the Drp1/HK1/NLRP3 pathway is one of the mechanisms by which alpinetin attenuates AACI.
Improvements to the parametrization of snow in AROME in the context of ice crystal icing
Authors: Wurtz Jean , Bouniol Dominique , Vié Benoît
Published: February 2023

Ice crystal icing (ICI) poses a threat nowadays for airplane pilots crossing the anvils of tropical mesoscale convective systems (MCSs). The use of fine‐scale operational numerical weather predictions as provided by the French limited‐area model AROME could help to better understand this phenomenon and to help its anticipation. To enable AROME to simulate ICI‐prone conditions, modifications of its single‐moment microphysical scheme Intercity‐Express 3 (ICE3) are tested. Using a temperature‐dependent snow particle distribution deeply impacts the organization and the ice phase of the simulated MCS. Notably, while the size of convective regions decreases, the size of anvil clouds increases and the low stratiform rain increases as well. As a result, by increasing the quantity of snow and decreasing the quantity of graupel, the simulation of ICI‐prone conditions in the anvils of convective systems is enabled. Using this parametrization, further modifications fine‐tune the representation of snow and further increase the size of the anvil cloud. The Marshall–Palmer snow distribution is replaced by a generalized gamma and the terminal fall velocities of snow hydrometeors are parametrized so that they are in closer agreement with observations.
Hydroxyl‐initiated oxidation processes of phenylenediamines treated by the atmospheric plasma: A theoretical study in gas phase
Authors: Xu Shaofeng , Zhong Xiaoxia , Guo Ying , Shi Jianjun
Published: February 2023

The low temperature atmospheric plasma are kinds of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) reactors and have potential applications on gas cleaning and water treatment; however, the underlying reaction mechanisms of organic compounds degradation are not well understood. In this study, the gas phase multistep OH‐initiated dehydrogenations of p‐, m‐, and o‐phenylenediamine with C2h, C2, and C2 point groups were investigated using density functional theory. Intrinsic reaction calculations were performed for transition states at the M062X/Def2TZVPP level of theory. The distinct directed graphs of the predominant pathways are presented to elucidate the dehydrogenation processes of three isomers of phenylenediamines. The information reported in this paper reveals the AOPs of phenylenediamines.
Dual‐Gate GaAs‐Nanowire FET for Room Temperature Charge‐Qubit Operation: A NEGF Approach
Authors: Nag Chowdhury Basudev , Chattopadhyay Sanatan
Published: February 2023

The performance of dual‐gate GaAs‐nanowire field‐effect‐transistor (FET) is investigated as a charge‐qubit device operating at room temperature. In compatibility with the state‐of‐the‐art classical bit technology, it is shown that the single gate of a nanowire FET can be replaced by two localized gates to achieve such charge‐qubit operation. On application of relevant biases to the localized gates, two voltage tunable quantum dots are created within the nanowire channel with electrostatically controlled single‐state‐occupancy and interdot coupling leading to charge‐qubit operation at room temperature. The associated electron transport is theoretically modeled on the basis of nonequilibrium Green's function formalism. The “initialization” and “manipulation” for qubit operation are performed by applying suitable gate voltages, whereas the “measurement” is executed by applying a small drain bias to obtain a pulse current of ≈pA order. A ≈25 MHz frequency of coherent oscillation is observed for the qubit and a characteristic decay time of ≈ 70 ns is achieved. The results suggest that such dual gate nanowire FET is a promising architecture for charge‐qubit operation at room temperature.
Ferromagnetism Induced by Magnetic Dilution in Van der Waals Material Metal Thiophosphates
Authors: Peng Jin , Yang Xinyu , Lu Ziye , Huang Lin , Chen Xiyu , He Miao , Shen Jingdong , Xing Yu , Liu Meifeng , Qu Zhe , Wang Zhicheng , Li Linglong , Dong Shuai , Liu Jun‐Ming
Published: February 2023

Metal thio(seleno) phosphates MPX3 attract considerable attention with potential application in spintronics and other types of devices. Here, ferromagnetism in an Ising type diluted magnetic semiconductor Fe1‐xZnxPS3 is reported. Bulk single crystals of Fe1‐xZnxPS3 have been synthesized via chemical vapor transport method and characterized by X‐ray diffraction. The weak ferromagnetism associated with spin/cluster spin glass emerges at 30% Zn doping. A nearly static ferromagnetic order is observed in the highly diluted magnets Fe0.1Zn0.9PS3. X‐ray photoemission measurements indicate introduction of holes and associated Fe3+ in samples with ferromagnetic order. Density functional theory calculations confirm the Ising‐type ferromagnetic state in highly diluted compounds with hole doping. The interplay between bound magnetic polarons induces impurity‐band‐exchange and superexchange interactions can explain the evolution of magnetism with Zn doping. The findings suggest that the magnetic diluted FePS3 system is a candidate for potential applications in magnetic devices, and its quantum mechanism should be explored by using microscopic techniques in the near future.
Carbon tax, energy policy, and sustainable development in Indonesia
Authors: Hartono Djoni , Indriyani Witri , Iryani Beta Septi , Komarulzaman Ahmad , Nugroho Anda , Kurniawan Robi
Published: February 2023

The effectiveness of carbon taxes has been subject to important debates on the sustainable development pathway. As an archipelagic country that is vulnerable to climate change, the impact of implementing this policy instrument is still understudied in the literature. This study examines the effect of carbon tax and recycling scenarios on the Indonesian economy by employing a dynamic computable general equilibrium (CGE). The result revealed that carbon tax revenue recycling combined with household transfer and investment yielded better GDP and employment rate than a household transfer only in the medium and long terms. Furthermore, the carbon tax revenue recycling on household transfer and renewable energy investment created energy intensity reductions. This study recommends implementing the tax by prioritizing specific sectors, setting appropriate tax levels, applying a transitional policy, and diversifying the investment strategy to align with the sustainable development pathway.
Controlling the Nonlinear Optical Behavior and Structural Transformation with A‐Site Cation in α‐AZnPO4 (A = Li, K)
Authors: He Xianmen , Qi Lu , Zhang Wenyao , Zhang Ruixin , Dong Xiaoyu , Ma Junhong , Abudoureheman Maierhaba , Jing Qun , Chen Zhaohui
Published: February 2023

Regulating the crystal structure by A‐site cation substitution is one of the effective methods to explore high‐performance nonlinear optical (NLO) materials. Herein, two non‐centrosymmetric (NCS) compounds, α‐MZnPO4 (M = Li, K) with short UV absorption edges 221 and 225 nm, are obtained by performing A‐site cation substitution method. It is noteworthy that α‐LiZnPO4 (α‐LZPO) achieves >10 times second harmonic generation (SHG) response (2.3 × KDP) enhancement compared with that of α‐KZnPO4 (α‐KZPO) (0.2 × KDP), which is the only case among phosphates with different A‐site cations. By structural comparison, it is found that the A‐site cations play important roles for anion rearrangements, and further the structure features of the two compounds by designing two suppositional crystal models as well as performing other theoretical calculations are analyzed. The study confirms the feasibility to design promising NLO materials with strengthen SHG response and structural stability in orthophosphate system.
Quantitative Prediction of Inorganic Nanomaterial Cellular Toxicity via Machine Learning
Authors: Shirokii Nikolai , Din Yevgeniya , Petrov Ilya , Seregin Yurii , Sirotenko Sofia , Razlivina Julia , Serov Nikita , Vinogradov Vladimir
Published: February 2023

Organic chemistry has seen colossal progress due to machine learning (ML). However, the translation of artificial intelligence (AI) into materials science is challenging, where biological behavior prediction becomes even more complicated. Nanotoxicity is a critical parameter that describes their interaction with the living organisms screened in every bio‐related research. To prevent excessive experiments, such properties have to be pre‐evaluated. Several existing ML models partially fulfill the gap by predicting whether a nanomaterial is toxic or not. Yet, this binary categorization neglects the concentration dependencies crucial for experimental scientists. Here, an ML‐based approach is proposed to the quantitative prediction of inorganic nanomaterial cytotoxicity achieving the precision expressed by 10‐fold cross‐validation (CV) Q2 = 0.86 with the root mean squared error (RMSE) of 12.2% obtained by the correlation‐based feature selection and grid search‐based model hyperparameters optimization. To provide further model flexibility, quantitative atom property‐based nanomaterial descriptors are introduced allowing the model to extrapolate on unseen samples. Feature importance is calculated to find an interpretable model with optimal decision‐making. These findings allow experimental scientists to perform primary in silico candidate screening and minimize the number of excessive, labor‐intensive experiments enabling the rapid development of nanomaterials for medicinal purposes.
Re‐Dispersion of Platinum From CNTs Substrate to α‐MoC1 ‐ x to Boost the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Cai Huizhu , Wang Li , Liu Wei , Zhang Xiao , Chen Bingbing , Mao Peiyuan , Fang Jiancong , Gao Rui , Shi Chuan
Published: February 2023

Developing high‐performance electrocatalysts toward hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is important for clean and sustainable hydrogen energy, yet still challenging. Herein, an α‐MoC1 ‐ x induced redispersing strategy to construct a superior HER electrocatalyst (Pt/CNTs‐N + α‐MoC1 ‐ x) by mechanical mixing of α‐MoC1 ‐ x with Pt/CNTs‐N followed by thermal reduction is reported. It is found that thermo‐activation treatment enables partial Pt atoms to redisperse on α‐MoC1 ‐ x substrate from carbon nanotubes, which creates dual active interfaces of Pt species dispersed over carbon nanotubes and α‐MoC1 ‐ x. Benefiting from the strong electronic interaction between the Pt atom and α‐MoC1 ‐ x, the utilization efficiency of the Pt atom and the zero‐valence state of Pt is evidently enhanced. Consequently, Pt/CNTs‐N + α‐MoC1 ‐ x catalyst exhibits excellent HER activity with low overpotentials of 17 and 34 mV to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm−2 in acidic and alkaline electrolytes, respectively. Density functional theory calculations further reveal that the synergistic effect between Pt and α‐MoC1 ‐ x makes it accessible for the dissociation of water molecules and subsequent desorption of hydrogen atoms. This work reveals the crucial roles of α‐MoC1 ‐ x additives, providing practical solutions to enhance platinum dispersion, and thereby enhance the catalytic activity in HER.
Targeting Mucin Protein Enables Rapid and Efficient Ovarian Cancer Cell Capture: Role of Nanoparticle Properties in Efficient Capture and Culture
Authors: Feely Nathan , Wdowicz Anita , Chevalier Anne , Wang Ying , Li Peng , Rollo Fanny , Lee Gil U.
Published: February 2023

The development of specific and sensitive immunomagnetic cell separation nanotechnologies is central to enhancing the diagnostic relevance of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and improving cancer patient outcomes. The limited number of specific biomarkers used to enrich a phenotypically diverse set of CTCs from liquid biopsies has limited CTC yields and purity. The ultra‐high molecular weight mucin, mucin16 (MUC16) is shown to physically shield key membrane proteins responsible for activating immune responses against ovarian cancer cells and may interfere with the binding of magnetic nanoparticles to popular immunomagnetic cell capture antigens. MUC16 is expressed in ≈90% of ovarian cancers and is almost universal in High Grade Serous Epithelial Ovarian Cancer. This work demonstrates that cell bound MUC16 is an effective target for rapid immunomagnetic extraction of expressor cells with near quantitative yield, high purity and viability from serum. The results provide a mechanistic insight into the effects of nanoparticle physical properties and immunomagnetic labeling on the efficiency of immunomagnetic cell isolation. The growth of these cells has also been studied after separation, demonstrating that nanoparticle size impacts cell‐particle behavior and growth rate. These results present the successful isolation of “masked” CTCs enabling new strategies for the detection of cancer recurrence and select and monitor chemotherapy.
Construction of Cu7S4@CuCo2O4 Yolk–Shell Microspheres Composite and Elucidation of Its Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity, Mechanism, and Pathway for Carbamazepine Degradation
Authors: He Zuming , Yang Hanpei , Wong Ngie Hing , Ernawati Lusi , Sunarso Jaka , Huang Zhengyi , Xia Yongmei , Wang Yong , Su Jiangbin , Fu Xiaofei , Wu Mi
Published: February 2023

Water pollution caused by the massive use of medicines has caused significant environmental problems. This work first reports the synthesis and characterization of the Cu7S4/CuCo2O4 (CS/CCO) yolk–shell microspheres via hydrothermal and annealing methods, and then investigates their photocatalytic performance in removing organic water pollutants. The 10‐CS/CCO composite with yolk–shell microspheres exhibits the highest photodegradation rate of carbamazepine (CBZ), reaching 96.3% within 2 h. The 10‐CS/CCO also demonstrates more than two times higher photodegradation rates than the pure (Cu7S4) CS and (CuCo2O4) CCO. This outstanding photocatalytic performance can be attributed to the unique yolk–shell structure and the Z‐scheme charge transfer pathway, reducing multiple reflections of the acting light. These factors enhance the light absorption efficiency and efficiently transfer photoexcited charge carriers. In‐depth, photocatalytic degradation pathways of CBZ are systematically evaluated via the identification of degradation intermediates with Fukui index calculation. The insights gained from this work can serve as a guideline for developing low‐cost and efficient Z‐scheme photocatalyst composites with the yolk–shell structure.
Twisty C‐TiO2/PCN S‐Scheme Heterojunction with Enhanced n→π * Electronic Excitation for Promoted Piezo‐Photocatalytic Effect
Authors: Tang Rongdi , Zeng Hao , Feng Chengyang , Xiong Sheng , Li Ling , Zhou Zhanpeng , Gong Daoxin , Tang Lin , Deng Yaocheng
Published: February 2023

Herein, a twisty C‐TiO2/PCN (CNT) Step‐scheme (S‐scheme) heterojunction is fabricated and applied to degrade ciprofloxacin (CIP) with the assistance of ultrasonic vibration and visible light irradiation. The nitrogen‐rich twisty polymeric carbon nitride (PCN) can not only induce a non‐centrosymmetric structure with enhanced polarity for a better piezoelectric effect but also provide abundant lone pair electrons to promote n→π* transition during photocatalysis. Its hybridization with C‐TiO2 particles can construct S‐scheme heterojunction in CNT. During the piezo‐photocatalysis, the strain‐induced polarization electric field in the heterojunction can regulate the electron migration between the two components, resulting in a more effective CIP degradation. With the synergistic effect of ultrasonic vibration and visible light irradiation, the reaction rate constant of CIP degradation by CNT increases to 0.0517 min−1, which is 1.86 times that of photocatalysis and 6.46 times that of ultrasound. This system exhibits a stable CIP decomposition efficiency under the interference of various environmental factors. In addition, the in‐depth investigation found that three pathways and 12 major intermediates with reduced toxicity are produced after the reaction. Hopefully, the construction of this twisty CNT S‐scheme heterojunction with enhanced piezo‐photocatalytic effect offers inspiration for the design of environmentally functional materials.
Fe(III)‐Naphthazarin Metal–Phenolic Networks for Glutathione‐Depleting Enhanced Ferroptosis–Apoptosis Combined Cancer Therapy
Authors: Liu Zhendong , Liu Sainan , Liu Bin , Bian Yulong , Yuan Meng , Yang Chunzheng , Meng Qi , Chen Changxiao , Ma Ping'an , Lin Jun
Published: February 2023

Nowadays, Fenton chemistry‐based chemodynamic therapy (CDT) is an emerging approach to killing tumor cells by converting endogenous H2O2 into cytotoxic hydroxyl radicals (·OH). However, the elimination of ·OH by intracellular overexpressed glutathione (GSH) results in unsatisfactory antitumor efficiency. In addition, the single mode of consuming GSH and undesirable drug loading efficiency cannot guarantee the efficient cancer cells killing effect. Herein, a simple one‐step strategy for the construction of Fe3+‐naphthazarin metal–phenolic networks (FNP MPNs) with ultrahigh loading capacity, followed by the modification of NH2‐PEG‐NH2, is developed. The carrier‐free FNP MPNs can be triggered by acid and GSH, and rapidly release naphthazarin and Fe3+, which is further reduced to Fe2+ that exerts Fenton catalytic activity to produce abundant ·OH. Meanwhile, the Michael addition between naphthazarin and GSH can lead to GSH depletion and thus achieve tumor microenvironment (TME)‐triggered enhanced CDT, followed by activating ferroptosis and apoptosis. In addition, the reduced Fe2+ as a T1‐weighted contrast agent endows the FNP MPNs with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) functionality. Overall, this work is the debut of naphthazarin as ligands to fabricate functional MPNs for effectively depleting GSH, disrupting intracellular redox homeostasis, and enhancing CDT effects, which opens new perspectives on multifunctional MPNs for tumor synergistic therapy.
Converting CO2 into Value‐Added Products by Cu2O‐Based Catalysts: From Photocatalysis, Electrocatalysis to Photoelectrocatalysis
Authors: Li Chu‐fan , Guo Rui‐tang , Zhang Zhen‐rui , Wu Tong , Pan Wei‐guo
Published: February 2023

Converting CO2 into value‐added products by photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, and photoelectrocatalysis is a promising method to alleviate the global environmental problems and energy crisis. Among the semiconductor materials applied in CO2 catalytic reduction, Cu2O has the advantages of abundant reserves, low price and environmental friendliness. Moreover, Cu2O has unique adsorption and activation properties for CO2, which is conducive to the generation of C2+ products through CC coupling. This review introduces the basic principles of CO2 reduction and summarizes the pathways for the generation of C1, C2, and C2+ products. The factors affecting CO2 reduction performance are further discussed from the perspective of the reaction environment, medium, and novel reactor design. Then, the properties of Cu2O‐based catalysts in CO2 reduction are summarized and several optimization strategies to enhance their stability and redox capacity are discussed. Subsequently, the application of Cu2O‐based catalysts in photocatalytic, electrocatalytic, and photoelectrocatalytic CO2 reduction is described. Finally, the opportunities, challenges and several research directions of Cu2O‐based catalysts in the field of CO2 catalytic reduction are presented, which is guidance for its wide application in the energy and environmental fields is provided.
Two Birds with One Stone: Dual‐Functional Difluorinated Modifier Enabling Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Liu Yang , Zhou Hongpeng , Song Jiaxing , Wang Weiyan , Wang Hai-Qiao
Published: February 2023

The interface between the perovskite layer and charge transport layer (CTL) plays an important role in the photoelectric conversion of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). In essence, the presence of defects and unideal contact at the perovskite/CTL interface induces severe nonradiative charge recombination, thus limiting the open‐circuit voltage and fill factor of PSCs. Herein, a two‐birds‐with‐one‐stone strategy to overcome the earlier challenges is reported, in which a single reagent 3,5‐difluorobenzenesulfonamide (3,5‐DFBS) is applied as an interface modifier between perovskite layer and spiro‐OMeTAD hole transport layer (HTL) in conventional PSCs. The 3,5‐DFBS molecules can passivate the undercoordinated Pb2+‐related surface defects by forming coordination through SO group and simultaneously strengthen the perovskite/HTL interface contact via F–π interactions, thus promoting hole extraction greatly. As a result, a champion efficiency of 23.69% with substantially improved stability is accomplished for 3,5‐DFBS PSCs. This work demonstrates that the two‐birds‐with‐one‐stone strategy is promising for achieving highly efficient and stable PSCs.
Nucleation, Growth, Sintering, and Densification of Sulfide in 1215MS Free‐Cutting Steel Billet
Authors: Tian Qianren , Liu Bin , Shen Wei , Hu Tao , Fu Jianxun , Xu Xiangyu
Published: February 2023

Herein, the nucleation, growth, aggregation, sintering, and densification of sulfide in 1215MS free‐cutting steel billet with a total oxygen concentration of 70 ppm are investigated. A portion of oxygen in the steel dissolves in sulfide to form oxysulfide, Mn(S,O), which can be single‐particle spherelike (SPS), double‐particle rodlike (DPR), and multi‐particle rodlike (MPR), and SiO2 can precipitate at the outer edge of the SPS and connection in the DPR and MPR inclusion particles to form Mn(S,O)–SiO2 inclusion, which is formed by the change of liquid inclusion, that undergoes monotectic reaction to form oxides and oxysulfide. The possible phase‐transition process can be expressed as (Mn,Si)x(S,O)y(l) → Mn(S,O)(l → s) + (Mn,Si)xOy(s) → Mn(S,O)(s) + SiO2(s). Oxysulfide inclusions can aggregate under the influence of van der Waals and viscous drag forces. The larger the particle, the greater the critical spacing and aggregation force. MPR oxysulfide can be divided into three parts: droplet, flat surface, and neck, which have decreasing chemical potentials in turn. Sintering and densification occur after the aggregation of particles, where surface diffusion of elements dominates, while grain boundary diffusion and bulk diffusion dominate in the densification of particles. Meanwhile, the formation and evolution of five different morphologies of sulfides in 1215MS free‐cutting steels are discussed.
Influence of Preheating Temperature on Microstructure Evolution and Hardness of High‐Speed Steel AISI M50 Processed by Laser Powder Bed Fusion
Authors: Qin Siyuan , Saewe Jasmin , Kunz Johannes , Herzog Simone , Kaletsch Anke , Schleifenbaum Johannes Henrich , Broeckmann Christoph
Published: February 2023

The laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) technology has been involved in the tooling industry to produce tools with complex geometry and integrated functions. However, tool steels with high carbon content tend to crack due to the thermal stresses during the LPBF process. One solution is increasing the powder bed temperature to avoid large thermal gradients. In the present study, the influence of the preheating temperature on microstructure and corresponding hardness is systematically investigated. With the help of time–temperature–transformation diagram, the phase evolution during the LPBF process is systematically explained. AISI M50 samples are produced by LPBF from room temperature to a preheating temperature of 650 °C. Higher preheating temperatures shift the optimal laser parameter window to lower volume energy densities. A cellular/dendritic microstructure formed during the rapid solidification with retained austenite is located at the interdendritic regions. Moreover, a high preheating temperature reduces the retained austenite fraction, specifically from 39% without preheating to 7.6% at 650 °C preheating temperature.