bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A case study: Promoting interprofessional community-based learning opportunities for health sciences students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
Authors: Moodley I , Singh S
Published: September 2023

Background. Preventing disease and promoting health call for interprofessional collaboration of health professionals working in a team, making it important for student health professionals to experience collaborative teamwork while in training, rather than learning and working in silos. Objectives. To describe the opinions of participating students and supervising staff in an intraprofessional community-based initiative involving the disciplines of physiotherapy and dentistry at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), Durban, South Africa.

Methods. This was a qualitative descriptive study demonstrating teamwork of students from two health sciences disciplines, giving a joint health education talk to patients at a local community health centre. Data were collected from focus group discussions. Three such discussions were held with purposively selected samples: (i) 5 physiotherapy students; (ii) 6 dental therapy students; and (iii) 6 staff members from both disciplines who supervised the students. These data were analysed using thematic analysis. Ethical approval was obtained from UKZN.

Results. By working collaboratively, the students believed that they learnt more about the other health professionals and obtained a deeper understanding of their roles within the healthcare team. Staff believed that the collaborative project could break down professional barriers to work cohesively in the work environment. The main difficulties encountered were the language barrier and rigid timetables.

Conclusion. This case study provides an example of intraprofessional collaboration and teamwork, capable of positively influencing participating students, emphasising the need for interprofessional learning opportunities for students across all health sciences disciplines while in training.
Medicine and the Law
Authors: McQuoid-Mason D J
Published: September 2023

Problems arise when a lawfully appointed surrogate decision-maker wishes to decide on a course of action on behalf of a mentally incompetent patient that is against the patient’s best interests. This may arise: (i) where there is no advance directive, and the decision is made by the surrogate decision-maker on religious grounds; (ii) where the medical practitioners are of the opinion that the surrogate decision-maker’s decision is not in the best interests of the patient; (iii) where the close relatives of the patient do not agree with the decision by the surrogate decision-maker; and (iv) where the surrogate decision-maker asks the medical practitioners to undertake treatment or a procedure on the patient that is unlawful or unethical. Suggestions are made regarding what doctors should do when faced with each of these situations.
Perinatal outcome of maternal deaths at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa, January 2014 - June 2019
Authors: Msibi-Afolayan N , Nchinyani M , Nakwa F , Adam Y
Published: September 2023

Background. Maternal death is a tragic event. Of maternal deaths worldwide, 99% occur in low- and middle-income countries. Perinatal outcome is related to maternal wellbeing. Maternal death has a negative impact on fetal and neonatal outcome in the short and long term.
Objectives. To determine the perinatal outcomes of pregnancies that ended in a maternal death at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (CHBAH), Johannesburg, South Africa, over a 5-year period, to describe the causes of maternal death, and to determine the stillbirth rate (SBR) and early neonatal death (ENND) rate in this population.
Methods. This was a retrospective cross-sectional study of maternal deaths in women with a viable pregnancy from January 2014 to June 2019 at CHBAH. All maternal deaths with gestation >26 weeks or fetal weight >500 g were included in the study. Information on demographics, booking status, antenatal care, pregnancy outcome, and fetal and neonatal outcome was extracted from maternal and neonatal files.
Results. Of a total of 183 maternal deaths during the study period, 147 were included in the study. The institutional maternal mortality ratio was 135 deaths per 100 000 live births. Hypertension was the main direct cause of death (36.5%; n=27/74), followed by pregnancy related sepsis (27.4%; n=21/74) and obstetric haemorrhage (20.6%; n=15/74). Non-pregnancy-related infections, of which 91.4% were HIV and HIV-related complications, comprised 47.9% (n=35/73) of indirect causes of death, followed by medical and surgical disorders. Of a total of 151 babies, including two sets of twins and one set of triplets, 137 were delivered and 14 were undelivered at the time of maternal death. Ninety-one babies (61.9%) were born alive and 51 (34.6%) were stillbirths. Of the 91 liveborn infants, 6 (6.5%) had an ENND. Of the 51 stillbirths, 14 (27.5%) were undelivered and 11 (21.6%) were delivered by perimortem caesarean section. The SBR was 347 per 1 000 maternal deaths and the ENND rate 66 per 1 000 live births. The perinatal mortality rate (PMR) was 388 per 1 000 maternal deaths, which is 12 times higher than the PMR per 1 000 live births for the general population.
Conclusion. Women who experience maternal death have babies with very poor perinatal outcomes, with a very high SBR, ENND rate and PMR. The health of the mother has a direct and significant effect on fetal and neonatal outcomes.
Further evidence of misclassification of the injury deaths in South Africa: When will the barriers to accurate injury death statistics be removed?
Authors: Groenewald P , Kallis N , Holmgren C , Glass T , Anthony A , Maud P , Akhalwaya Y , Afonso E , Niewoudt I , Martin L J , De Vaal C , Cheyip M , Morof D , Prinsloo M , Matzopoulos R , Bradshaw D
Published: September 2023

Background. Contrary to the World Health Organization’s internationally recommended medical certificate of cause of death, the South African (SA) death notification form (DNF) does not allow for the reporting of the manner of death to permit accurate coding of external causes of injury deaths.
Objectives. To describe the injury cause-of-death profile from forensic pathology records collected for the National Cause-of-Death Validation (NCoDV) Project and compare it with profiles from other sources of injury mortality data. In particular, the recording of firearm use in homicides is compared between sources.
Methods. The NCoDV Project was a cross-sectional study of deaths that occurred during a fixed period in 2017 and 2018, from a nationally representative sample of 27 health subdistricts in SA. Trained fieldworkers scanned forensic records for all deaths investigated at the forensic mortuaries serving the sampled subdistricts during the study period. Forensic practitioners reviewed the records and completed a medical certificate of cause of death for each decedent. Causes of death were coded to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases, 10th revision (ICD-10), using Iris automated coding software. Cause-specific mortality fractions for injury deaths were compared with Injury Mortality Survey 2017 (IMS 2017) and Statistics South Africa 2017 (Stats SA 2017) datasets. The cause profile for all firearm-related deaths was compared between the three datasets.
Results. A total of 5 315 records were available for analysis. Males accounted for 77.6% of cases, and most decedents were aged between 25 and 44 years. Homicide was the leading cause of death (34.7%), followed by transport injuries (32.6%) and suicide (14.7%). This injury cause profile was similar to IMS 2017 but differed markedly from the official statistics, which showed markedly lower proportions of these three causes (15.0%, 11.6% and 0.7%, respectively), and a much higher proportion of other unintentional causes. Investigation of firearm-related deaths revealed that most were homicides in NCoDV 2017/18 (88.5%) and IMS 2017 (93.1%), while in the Stats SA 2017 data, 98.7% of firearm deaths were classified as accidental. Approximately 7% of firearm-related deaths were suicides in NCoDV 2017/18 and IMS 2017, with only 0.3% in Stats SA 2017.
Conclusion. The official cause-of-death data for injuries in SA in 2017 differed substantially from findings from the NCoDV 2017/18 study and IMS 2017. Accurate data sources would ensure that public health interventions are designed to reduce the high injury burden. Inclusion of the manner of death on the DNF, as is recommended internationally, is critically important to enable more accurate, reliable and valid reporting of the injury profile.
The importance of including manner of (injury) death on the death notification form
Authors: Groenewald P , Matzopoulos R , Afonso E , Bradshaw D
Published: September 2023

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Sobre algunos "quanta" en la sociedad aymara del altiplano boliviano
Authors: Rivière Gilles
Published: September 2023

En la sociedad aymara (altiplano de Bolivia) cabe destacar un cierto número de conjuntos numéricos. Tienen nombres específi cos y corresponden a lo que Olivier Keller llama quanta. En este artículo destacaremos algunos de ellos, en particular una tétrada llamada Pusisuyu, un quantum fundamental realizado en diversos contextos que da cuenta de la relación con el tiempo (pasado/presente y futuro) y con el espacio local y cosmológico. La rotación de las autoridades tradicionales de los ayllu a lo largo de un ciclo de cuatro años pone de manifi esto este quantum, que es también expresión de un intento de neutralizar la inestabilidad y el desequilibrio inherentes al dualismo.
A vueltas con María Nsué Angüe: su narrativa breve en el marco de la literatura hispanoguineana poscolonial
Authors: Jiménez Gómez Cristina
Published: September 2023

María Nsué Angüe fue una escritora, periodista y miembro de la Academia Guineoecuatoriana de la Lengua Española. Es reconocida por su obra maestra Ekomo (1985), pero son pocos los que han prestado atención a sus cuentos y relatos cortos, donde ofrece una mirada particular de la realidad histórica, cultural y política de Guinea Ecuatorial. En este sentido, intentaremos demostrar cómo la autora se caracteriza por una escritura híbrida y dicotómica que evidencia una identidad afrohispánica y diaspórica a partir de mecanismos como el intertexto, la contraescritura y el sincretismo cultural. Todo ello nos permitirá conocer qué lugar ocupa la narrativa breve nsueniana en el contexto de la crítica poscolonial y el posmodernismo transnacional.
Unilateral approach for bilateral clipping of posterior communicating artery aneurysms in a hybrid operating room: A technical note
Authors: Gómez-Amador Juan Luis , Guerrero-Suárez Pablo David , Martínez-Anda Jaime Jesús , Aragón-Arreola Jorge Fernando , Castillo-Matus Andrea , Marian-Magaña Ricardo , Sangrador-Deitos Marcos V , Hernández-Hernández Alan , Delgado-Jurado Ernesto Javier , Villagrana-Sánchez Ricardo Santiago , Gallegos-Pedraza Abraham , Diaz-Espinoza Jorge Luis
Published: September 2023

Bilateral posterior communicating (pComm) artery aneurysms represent only 2% of mirror intracranial aneurysms. Usually, these are surgically approached through bilateral craniotomies for clipping. We present the case of a 50-year-old female presenting with headache and horizontal diplopia. Neurological examination revealed a left oculomotor palsy, with no other neurological deficits. Imaging studies revealed bilateral aneurysmatic lesions in both internal carotid arteries (ICA). A conventional left pterional approach was planned in order to treat the symptomatic aneurysm, and, if deemed feasible, a contralateral clipping through the same approach. The procedure was performed in a hybrid operating room (HOR), performing an intraoperative digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and roadmapping assistance during dissection and clipping. Transoperatively, a post-fixed optic chiasm was identified, with a wide interoptic space, which allowed us to perform the contralateral clipping through a unilateral approach. This technique for clipping bilateral pComm aneurysms can be performed when the proper anatomical features are met.
Examining the perceived impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cervical cancer screening practices among clinicians practicing in Federally Qualified Health Centers: A mixed methods study
Authors: Fuzzell Lindsay , Lake Paige , Brownstein Naomi C , Fontenot Holly B , Whitmer Ashley , Michel Alexandra , McIntyre McKenzie , Rossi Sarah L , Kajtezovic Sidika , Vadaparampil Susan T , Perkins Rebecca
Published: September 2023

Background:

The COVID-19 pandemic led to reductions in cervical cancer screening and colposcopy. Therefore, in this mixed methods study we explored perceived pandemic-related practice changes to cervical cancer screenings in federally qualified health centers (FQHCs).

Methods:

Between October 2021 and June 2022, we conducted a national web survey of clinicians (physicians and advanced practice providers) who performed cervical cancer screening in FQHCs in the United States during the post-acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, along with a sub-set of qualitative interviews via video conference, to examine perceived changes in cervical cancer screening practices during the pandemic.

Results:

A total of 148 clinicians completed surveys; a subset (n=13) completed qualitative interviews. Most (86%) reported reduced cervical cancer screening early in the pandemic, and 28% reported continued reduction in services at the time of survey completion (October 2021- July 2022). Nearly half (45%) reported staff shortages impacting their ability to screen or track patients. Compared to clinicians in Obstetrics/Gynecology/Women’s health, those in family medicine and other specialties more often reported reduced screening compared to pre-pandemic. Most (92%) felt that screening using HPV self-sampling would be very or somewhat helpful to address screening backlogs. Qualitative interviews highlighted the impacts of staff shortages and strategies for improvement.

Conclusions:

Findings highlight that in late 2021 and early 2022, many clinicians in FQHCs reported reduced cervical cancer screening and of pandemic-related staffing shortages impacting screening and follow-up. If not addressed, reduced screenings among underserved populations could worsen cervical cancer disparities in the future.

Funding:

This study was funded by the American Cancer Society, who had no role in the study’s design, conduct, or reporting.
Vertical contact forces affect vibration perception in human hairy skin
Authors: Schmidt Daniel , Schlee Guenther , Milani Thomas L. , Germano Andresa M. C.
Published: September 2023

Background

Skin is the largest organ of the human body and fulfills many important functions, like detecting mechanical stimuli. Skin can be divided into glabrous (non-hairy) and hairy skin. These two skin types differ with regard to their mechanical properties and in the distribution of mechanoreceptors. Although many investigations focus on glabrous skin, hairy skin still plays a fundamental role in various activities, e.g., with regard to the perception of pleasantness or for developing wearable vibrotactile devices for pattern recognition in persons with disabilities. Unfortunately, investigations on influencing factors, like vertical contactor force, are scarce for hairy skin. Similarly, it would also be interesting to investigate whether regional vibratory sensitivity differences are present across the human torso. Hence, this study investigated the effects of vertical contactor forces and different anatomical locations on vibration perception. Four anatomical torso regions were studied. Based on findings in glabrous skin, we generally hypothesized improved vibration perception with increasing contactor forces and regional sensitivity differences between the anatomical locations.

Methods

Forty young and healthy individuals participated (23.0 ± 2.0 yrs), and vibration perception thresholds (VPTs) were determined at 30 Hz for three vertical force levels (0.6, 2.4, and 4.8 N) at four torso locations (sternum, deltoid/shoulder, lower back, middle lateral torso side).

Results

Higher contactor forces resulted in lower VPTs corresponding to improved vibration perception, regardless of anatomical location. In addition, the sternum region was more sensitive than the remaining three regions, regardless of force level. The reasons for these findings may be a varying number and activation pattern of afferents activated under the different conditions. The findings of this study complement the understanding of vibrotactile sensitivity in hairy skin and may offer implications when developing vibrotactile devices or clothing/textiles, for example.
Progress in the discovery of isopods (Crustacea: Peracarida)—is the description rate slowing down?
Authors: Hartebrodt Lena , Wilson Simon , Costello Mark John
Published: September 2023

Taxonomic species are the best standardised metric of biodiversity. Therefore, there is broad scientific and public interest in how many species have already been named and how many more may exist. Crustaceans comprise about 6% of all named animal species and isopods about 15% of all crustaceans. Here, we review progress in the naming of isopods in relation to the number of people describing new species and estimate how many more species may yet be named by 2050 and 2100, respectively. In over two and a half centuries of discovery, 10,687 isopod species in 1,557 genera and 141 families have been described by 755 first authors. The number of authors has increased over time, especially since the 1950s, indicating increasing effort in the description of new species. Despite that the average number of species described per first author has declined since the 1910s, and the description rate has slowed down over the recent decades. Authors’ publication lifetimes did not change considerably over time, and there was a distinct shift towards multi-authored publications in recent decades. Estimates from a non-homogeneous renewal process model predict that an additional 660 isopod species will be described by 2100, assuming that the rate of description continues at its current pace.
Чья труба шире? Минералогическая сказка, "Природа"
Authors: Расцветаева Р.К.
Published: September 2023

Трубчатый кремнекислородный радикал — одномерный силикатный анион, имеющий форму трубки или трубчатой цепочки. Структуры с трубчатыми фрагментами на основе SiO2 вызывают интерес исследователей в связи с их использованием в нанотехнологиях наряду с углеродными нанотрубками. В данной сказке описаны структуры силикатов с трубчатыми фрагментами двух типов — тетраэдрическими и смешанными (из тетраэдров и октаэдров).
Дуплет турецких землетрясений 6 февраля 2023 года: вопросы и уроки, "Природа"
Authors: Родкин М.В. , Ирмак Т.С. , Таймаз Т.
Published: September 2023

В феврале 2023 г. на юге Турции произошел дуплет сильных землетрясений магнитудой 7.8 и 7.6. Очередное разрушительное землетрясение почти всегда вызывает обсуждение сейсмической опасности, а также ставит новые вопросы. Случай турецких землетрясений не стал исключением. Тем более, что они затронули экономически развитый район с высокой плотностью населения, причем довольно хорошо изученный и хорошо обеспеченный средствами геофизических наблюдений.
Мемориал героям Великой Отечественной войны во дворе здания Российской академии наук: кто они?, "Природа"
Authors: Демина Н.В.
Published: September 2023

Во дворе старого здания Российской академии наук (Москва, Ленинский проспект, д.14) стоит мемориал героям Великой Отечественной войны, на котором выгравировано: Вечная память павшим в борьбе за свободу и независимость Родины в Великой Отечественной войне 1941–45. Акользин В.Н., Белов М.Е., Битюков Л.Д., Куканов А.М., Леппин И.И., Николаев Б.Н., Разоренов Р.П., Сажнев И.Ф., Соловьев И.Г., Стамбульчик П.М., Сукновалов М.М.
The Role of Community Engagement and Entrepreneurship in the Sustainability Performance of Social Ventures in South Korea
Authors: Kim Heewon , Kiura Mary , Leach Rebecca , Cho Hee Jung
Published: September 2023

Social ventures, hybrid enterprises pursuing for-profit business and mission-driven nonprofit goals, have rapidly grown in South Korea owing to local governments’ proactive policies and support. Despite extensive government support, community-based social ventures often fail to sustain themselves due to lacking experience, strategies, and social networks. Informed by stakeholder theory, this study investigates the relationships between social venture strategies and the core dimensions of government-funded, community-based social enterprises’ sustainability performance (economic, human resources management, and social performance). We circulated our online survey among the employees of community-based social start-ups funded by local governments in South Korea. In total, 210 participants completed the survey. The results of structural equation modelling demonstrated that venture entrepreneurship and community engagement are positively associated with all dimensions of sustainability performance, subsequently improving work satisfaction. As community-based social ventures involve diverse stakeholders, organizational members should negotiate complementary or competing values in a holistic picture of all involved parties (e.g., funders, employees, and residents) to pursue sustainability efforts.
Beneficial Fungal Root Endophyte Piriformospora indica Diminishes Yield Loss Without Compromising Quality of Banana Fruits Due to Banana bract mosaic virus Infection through Better Soil Nutrient Mobilization
Authors: K. Sinijadas , Paul Amitha , N. S. Radhika , R. V. Manju , Johnson Joy Michal
Published: September 2023

Aims: Banana bract mosaic virus (BBrMV) is a significant viral disease that adversely impacts the yield and quality of banana (Musa acuminata) fruits. Endophytes have been recognized as a sustainable tool to enhance plant nutrient availability and uptake. Piriformospora indica is a beneficial fungal root endophyte that can improve nutrient utilization and confer tolerance to diverse abiotic and biotic stresses in banana plants. The effect of P. indica colonization on nutrient assimilation and fruit quality of BBrMV-infected banana plants still needs to be better understood, particularly in the humid tropical environments of southern laterites of Kerala. P. indica promotes both fruit size and quality, leading to an overall improvement of fruit attributes viz., fruit length, width, colour, TSS, acidity, moisture, and ash content etc., An experiment comprising four treatments with five replications revealed that P. indica colonization enhanced potassium concentration at the rhizosphere (603 Kg ha-1), whereas decreased in the diseased plants (318 Kg ha-1). The nutrient concentration in the rhizosphere recorded a substantial relation with disease severity. Compared to P. indica colonized plants, the uptake of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S and B by BBrMV infected plants exhibited 36.5, 37.6, 57.5, 44.1, 23.3, 43.7 and 48.9 per cent reduction respectively. Hence, pre-colonization of P. indica improved the nutrient mobilization (in soil), uptake and accumulation (in fruit) in the BBrMV infected banana plants compared to the virus alone infected plant. Fruits from P. indica pre-colonized plants challenged with the virus exhibited an enhanced K (515.5 ± 6.25 mg 100g -1) and Fe (0.42 ± 0.04 mg 100 g-1) content along with high total soluble sugars (27.25oBrix), titrable acidity (0.48%) and ash content (1.14%) compared to healthy and virus infected plants. Hence, this can instigate the appropriate sustainable virus disease management strategies in banana plants, emphasizing its improved fruit quality through nutrient assimilation.
Soil Texture Prediction Using Machine Learning Approach for Sustainable Soil Health Management
Authors: Abishek J. , Kannan P. , Devi M. Nirmala , Prabhaharan J. , Sampathkumar T. , Kalpana M.
Published: September 2023

Soil in the earth acts as a foothold for all crops. Soil texture is the most important soil health indicator being used for the selection of crops, mechanical manipulation, irrigation management, and fertilizer management. The texture of the soil influences the storage and flow of air and water within the soil, as well as root development, the accessibility of plant nutrients, and the activities of different microorganisms. These factors collectively impact the soil's fertility, quality, and soil health. A conventional method of soil texture analysis is cumbersome, time-consuming, and labor-intensive. Machine learning (ML) is a newly emerging technique being used to assess the soil's physical, chemical, and biological properties quickly in real-time. This is an eco-friendly approach since it does not involve any hazardous chemicals. Machine learning can learn complex features and predict nonlinear properties. Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) employs convolutional layers to automatically learn features from the input data and is widely used in image classification, object detection, and image generation tasks in a short time. Soil texture images are given as input dataset after the completion of image subsetting, data preprocessing, and Image augmentation. This gives a CNN-based soil texture predictive model with a reliable accuracy of 87.50% at a lower cost.
Integrated Approaches for Management of Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Gennadius) to Prevent Chilli Leaf Curl Disease in Chilli Crop: A Review
Authors: Kammara Meghalatha , Kumar Anoop , Singh Siddharth , Yogita  , Kumar Arun , Aman Ashutosh Singh , Bajpeyi Madan Mohan , Datt Naval
Published: September 2023

Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Gennadius) poses significant agricultural challenges due to its role as a vector for plant viral diseases, particularly the Chilli leaf curl disease (ChiLCD). This review discusses the multifaceted management strategies and elaborates on the future prospects and research directions to combat these threats. Precision agriculture is identified as a pivotal tool, with the utilization of drones, machine learning, and automated pesticide application offering early pest detection and targeted interventions. Exploration of novel biological controls, including RNA interference and microbiome manipulation, provide innovative avenues for sustainable pest management. A notable concern remains the development of resistance in pests. Genomic studies and an in-depth understanding of biochemical pathways have shed light on potential strategies to address resistance build-up mechanisms. Behavioral studies elucidate the adaptive changes in pests in response to pesticides. Effective management is not solely reliant on technological and biological advancements. Strengthening the linkages between farmers, extension services, and researchers is essential for the dissemination and practical application of research findings. Digital platforms, participatory research, and feedback mechanisms have emerged as beneficial in this context. While significant challenges persist in the management of Bemisia tabaci and ChiLCD, integrated approaches that combine advanced technology, innovative research, and robust stakeholder partnerships offer a promising pathway forward. This synthesis underscores the importance of interdisciplinary collaborations and continuous research in shaping sustainable agricultural practices.
VALIDATING AN INSTRUMENT TO MEASURE OPEN INNOVATION PRACTICES IN RESEARCH COMMERCIALIZATION
Authors: Muhammad Razaki Marina , Ismail Mohammad , Mohamad Anuar Nur Izzati
Published: September 2023

The Open Innovation Practice is getting well known as an initiative to help increase the rate of commercializing research output. Implementing open innovation practices within academia is essential in facilitating collaboration, fostering knowledge sharing, and facilitating technology transfer between academic institutions and industries. This pilot study aims to investigate and assess the validity and reliability of the instrument used to measure open innovation practices. Quantitative methodology was employed in this study, and data were gathered via a survey from 109 respondents. The respondents are among the lecturers at public universities in Malaysia that are actively involved in the commercialization of research output. The descriptive analysis shows that the respondents often practice open innovation in commercializing their research output. During the Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), the findings indicated that the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) value for the open innovation practice is 0.885, showing no severe problem of multicollinearity and Barlett's Test of Sphericity demonstrates a statistically significant result. No item is eliminated in this study. Meanwhile, the reliability test for nine instrument items in open innovation practice is accepted with Cronbach's Alpha of 0.916. To conclude, the discovery from this study indicates that the instrument acquires high validity and reliability and is well prepared to be tested for future stages.
Towards machines that understand people
Authors: Howes Andrew , Jokinen Jussi P. P. , Oulasvirta Antti
Published: September 2023

The ability to estimate the state of a human partner is an insufficient basis on which to build cooperative agents. Also needed is an ability to predict how people adapt their behavior in response to an agent's actions. We propose a new approach based on computational rationality, which models humans based on the idea that predictions can be derived by calculating policies that are approximately optimal given human‐like bounds. Computational rationality brings together reinforcement learning and cognitive modeling in pursuit of this goal, facilitating machine understanding of humans.
Prospect for Bismuth/Antimony Chalcohalides‐Based Solar Cells
Authors: He Jizhou , Hu Xiaodong , Liu Zonghao , Chen Wei , Longo Giulia
Published: September 2023

Inorganic–organic hybrid lead halide perovskites are emerging optoelectronic materials for solar cell application. However, the toxicity concerns and poor stability largely hamper their practical applications. For these reasons, the search for “perovskite‐inspired” alternatives, having the same advantages but overcoming the drawbacks of the lead‐based one, has become an important sector in the field. Among the candidates, Bi3+ and Sb3+ containing materials are of great interest, due to their electronic structures resembling the Pb2+. Bismuth/antimony chalcohalides have been known for a long time as the potential absorber in photovoltaics, even if their performances are still low. Interestingly, pnictogen chalcohalides can be the stepping stone toward numerous quaternary compounds, including some perovskite structures. The understanding of the fundamental properties and the current limitations of both the starting ternary compounds and the final quaternary materials can allow the achievement of improved photovoltaic absorbers, stable, and efficient. In this review, the fundamental properties and device performances of many ternary pnictogen chalcohalides and the derived quaternary compounds are summarized, focusing on the different preparation strategies.
Electrically Coupled Electrolyte Engineering Enables High Interfacial Stability for High‐Voltage Sodium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Lin Jialin , Peng Honghui , Huang Pei , Naren Tuoya , Liang Chaoping , Kuang Guichao , Chen Libao , Zhang Chunxiao , Wei Weifeng
Published: September 2023

Sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) suffer from severe capacity decay as the harmful substances caused by the violent decomposition of electrolyte under high voltages continue to erode the cathodes. Therefore, the design of high‐voltage electrolyte and construction of robust cathode–electrolyte interface (CEI) are critical for long‐life SIBs. Herein, an electrically coupled composite electrolyte that takes the merits of cross‐linked gel polymers and s well‐tuned antioxidant additive (4‐trifluoromethylphenylboronic acid, TFPBA) is proposed. Through an electrical coupling effect, TFPBA can be anchored by the cross‐linked polymer framework to immobilize the PF6− anion and adsorb onto cathode surface spontaneously, both of which promote the formation of a robust CEI layer to facilitate Na+ transportation and suppress subsequent side reactions and corrosive cracking. As a result, the cells integrating high‐voltage P2/O3 cathode and well‐tailored gel polymer electrolyte achieve stable cycling over 550 cycles within 1.8–4.2 V with a capacity retention of 71.0% and a high‐rate discharge capacity of 77.4 mAh g−1 at 5 C. The work paves the way for the development of functionalized quasi‐solid electrolyte for practical next generation high‐voltage SIBs.
Influence of Methylammonium Chloride on Wide‐Bandgap Halide Perovskites Films for Solar Cells
Authors: Guaita Maria G. D. , Szostak Rodrigo , da Silva Francisco M. C. , de Morais Andreia , Moral Raphael F. , Kodalle Tim , Teixeira Verônica C. , Sutter‐Fella Carolin M. , Tolentino Hélio C. N. , Nogueira Ana F.
Published: September 2023

Wide‐bandgap perovskites are of paramount importance as the photoactive layer of the top cell in high‐efficiency tandem solar cells. Comparably high Br contents are required to widen the perovskite bandgap. However, the increase in Br content causes heterogeneous halide distribution and photoinstability. Here, the positive effect of the additive methylammonium chloride (MACl) on the optical and electronic properties of Br‐rich perovskite, deposited using N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NMP) as co‐solvent and the gas quenching method, is investigated. Simultaneous in situ grazing‐incidence wide‐angle X‐ray scattering and photoluminescence spectroscopy are used to track the evolution of the structural and optoelectronic properties of the perovskites with different amounts of Br and MACl during the spin‐coating and thermal annealing steps. The formation mechanism is elucidated in the presence of MACl. It is observed that chloride ions inhibit the intermediate phases, favoring the formation of a perovskite phase with higher crystallinity. Nano X‐ray fluorescence mapping recognizes Br‐richer and poorer nanometric domains, whose average sizes reduce for samples with MACl. In conclusion, it is demonstrated that adding MACl affects the formation of wide‐bandgap perovskites via destabilization of the intermediate phases and acts on the homogenization of the halide distribution, leading to improved solar cell performances.
Semiconducting Transport in Pb10−XCux(PO4)6O Sintered from Pb2SO5 and Cu3P
Authors: Liu Li , Meng Ziang , Wang Xiaoning , Chen Hongyu , Duan Zhiyuan , Zhou Xiaorong , Yan Han , Qin Peixin , Liu Zhiqi
Published: September 2023

The recent claim on the discovery of ambient‐pressure room‐temperature superconductivity in Cu‐doped lead‐apatite has attracted sensational attention. The intriguing compound has been fabricated by sintering lanarkite (Pb2SO5) and copper(І) phosphide (Cu3P). To verify this exciting claim, Pb2SO5, Cu3P, and finally the modified lead‐apatite Pb10−xCux(PO4)6O have been successfully synthesized. Detailed electrical transport and magnetic properties of these compounds are systematically analyzed. It turns out that Pb2SO5 is a highly insulating diamagnet and Cu3P is a paramagnetic metal. The obtained nominal Pb10−xCux(PO4)6O compound sintered from Pb2SO5 and Cu3P exhibits semiconductor‐like transport behavior with a large room‐temperature resistivity of ≈1.94 × 104 Ω·cm, although the major phase of the compound shows consistent X‐ray diffraction spectrum with the previously reported structure data. In addition, when a Pb10−xCux(PO4)6O pellet pressed from uniformly ground powder is located on top of a commercial Nd2Fe14B magnet at room temperature, no repulsion can be felt and no magnetic levitation is observed either. The large difference in electrical and magnetic properties between the compounds and the previously reported compounds might be induced by distinct fine crystallographic structures, diverse multi‐phase distributions, and different concentrations of impurity phases such as Cu2S, all of which deserve further study.
The Origin of the Intracellular Silver in Bacteria: A Comprehensive Study using Targeting Gold–Silver Alloy Nanoparticles
Authors: Streich Carmen , Stein Frederic , Jakobi Jurij , Ingendoh‐Tsakmakidis Alexandra , Heine Nils , Rehbock Christoph , Winkel Andreas , Grade Sebastian , Kühnel Mark , Migunov Vadim , Kovács András , Knura Thomas , Stiesch Meike , Sures Bernd , Barcikowski Stephan
Published: September 2023

The bactericidal effects of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) against infectious strains of multiresistant bacteria is a well‐studied phenomenon, highly relevant for many researchers and clinicians battling bacterial infections. However, little is known about the uptake of the Ag NPs into the bacteria, the related uptake mechanisms, and how they are connected to antimicrobial activity. Even less information is available on AgAu alloy NPs uptake. In this work, the interactions between colloidal silver–gold alloy nanoparticles (AgAu NPs) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) using advanced electron microscopy methods are studied. The localization of the nanoparticles is monitored on the membrane and inside the bacterial cells and the elemental compositions of intra‐ and extracellular nanoparticle species. The findings reveal the formation of pure silver nanoparticles with diameters smaller than 10 nm inside the bacteria, even though those particles are not present in the original colloid. This finding is explained by a local RElease PEnetration Reduction (REPER) mechanism of silver cations emitted from the AgAu nanoparticles, emphasized by the localization of the AgAu nanoparticles on the bacterial membrane by aptamer targeting ligands. These findings can deepen the understanding of the antimicrobial effect of nanosilver, where the microbes are defusing the attacking silver ions via their reduction, and aid in the development of suitable therapeutic approaches.
Pericardial Delivery of SDF‐1α Puerarin Hydrogel Promotes Heart Repair and Electrical Coupling
Authors: Luo Li , Li Yuetong , Bao Ziwei , Zhu Dashuai , Chen Guoqin , Li Weirun , Xiao Yingxian , Wang Zhenzhen , Zhang Yixin , Liu Huifang , Chen Yanmei , Liao Yulin , Cheng Ke , Li Zhenhua
Published: September 2023

The stromal‐derived factor 1α/chemokine receptor 4 (SDF‐1α/CXCR4) axis contributes to myocardial protection after myocardial infarction (MI) by recruiting endogenous stem cells into the ischemic tissue. However, excessive inflammatory macrophages are also recruited simultaneously, aggravating myocardial damage. More seriously, the increased inflammation contributes to abnormal cardiomyocyte electrical coupling, leading to inhomogeneities in ventricular conduction and retarded conduction velocity. It is highly desirable to selectively recruit the stem cells but block the inflammation. In this work, SDF‐1α‐encapsulated Puerarin (PUE) hydrogel (SDF‐1α@PUE) is capable of enhancing endogenous stem cell homing and simultaneously polarizing the recruited monocyte/macrophages into a repairing phenotype. Flow cytometry analysis of the treated heart tissue shows that endogenous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, hemopoietic stem cells, and immune cells are recruited while SDF‐1α@PUE efficiently polarizes the recruited monocytes/macrophages into the M2 type. These macrophages influence the preservation of connexin 43 (Cx43) expression which modulates intercellular coupling and improves electrical conduction. Furthermore, by taking advantage of the improved “soil”, the recruited stem cells mediate an improved cardiac function by preventing deterioration, promoting neovascular architecture, and reducing infarct size. These findings demonstrate a promising therapeutic platform for MI that not only facilitates heart regeneration but also reduces the risk of cardiac arrhythmias.
Fabric‐Based Smart Metasurface
Authors: Chen Hao , Lu Wei‐Bing , Geng Ming‐Yang , Yu Bu‐Yun , Zhang Chao , Bo Xin‐Zhi , Li Meng‐Zi , Kou Zhen‐Hao , Zhan Jun‐Lin , Liu Zhen‐Guo
Published: September 2023

Fabric presents several advantages including excellent flexibility, lightweight, bend resilience, breathable properties, and significant price advantage compared to commercial low‐loss boards, providing a natural advantage for the preparation of flexible electromagnetic (EM) devices and wearable systems. A key challenge when using fabric as the substrate for active devices lies in the contradiction between the poor high‐temperature resistance of fabric materials and the welding requirements for semiconductor components, leading to a significant gap between flexible and traditional RF technology. Benefiting from the unique fiber structure of fabric materials, a conjecture is creatively proposed for integrating lumped components onto fabric substrates through the sewing method and successfully verifying its validity and stability. As an application, a fabric‐based smart metasurface (FSM) is designed and realized for potential portable EM protection applications. The proposed FSM has the advantage of good flexibility, low cost, and a high strength‐to‐weight ratio. By carefully designing the structure of the metasurface and also the sensing module, large‐angle stable EM performance is achieved, and the FSM can function well even under highly distorted conditions. The proposed method and product inspire promising application aspects in wearable electronics, portable EM protection, and related flexible RF technologies.
Sonodynamic Therapy of NRP2 Monoclonal Antibody‐Guided MOFs@COF Targeted Disruption of Mitochondrial and Endoplasmic Reticulum Homeostasis to Induce Autophagy‐Dependent Ferroptosis
Authors: Zhao Zhiyu , Wu Yanjie , Liang Xiaochen , Liu Jiajing , Luo Yi , Zhang Yijia , Li Tingting , Liu Cong , Luo Xian , Chen Jialin , Wang Yunjie , Wang Shengyu , Wu Ting , Zhang Shaoliang , Yang Dong , Li Wengang , Yan Jianghua , Ke Zhihai , Luo Fanghong
Published: September 2023

The lethality and chemotherapy resistance of pancreatic cancer necessitates the urgent development of innovative strategies to improve patient outcomes. To address this issue, we designed a novel drug delivery system named GDMCN2,which uses iron‐based metal organic framework (Fe‐MOF) nanocages encased in a covalent organic framework (COF) and modified with the pancreatic cancer‐specific antibody, NRP2. After being targeted into tumor cells, GDMCN2 gradually release the sonosensitizer sinoporphyrin sodium (DVDMS) and chemotherapeutic gemcitabine (GEM) and simultaneously generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) under ultrasound (US) irradiation. This system can overcome gemcitabine resistance in pancreatic cancer and reduce its toxicity to non‐targeted cells and tissues. In a mechanistic cascade, the release of ROS activates the mitochondrial transition pore (MPTP), leading to the release of Ca2+ and induction of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Therefore, microtubule‐associated protein 1A/1B‐light chain 3 (LC3) is activated, promoting lysosomal autophagy. This process also induces autophagy‐dependent ferroptosis, aided by the upregulation of Nuclear Receptor Coactivator 4 (NCOA4). This mechanism increases the sensitivity of pancreatic cancer cells to chemotherapeutic drugs and increases mitochondrial and DNA damage. The findings demonstrate the potential of GDMCN2 nanocages as a new avenue for the development of cancer therapeutics.
Biocompatible Cryogel with Good Breathability, Exudate Management, Antibacterial and Immunomodulatory Properties for Infected Diabetic Wound Healing
Authors: Li Yang , Yang Zifeng , Sun Qi , Xu Ruijun , Li Renjie , Wu Dingcai , Huang Rongkang , Wang Feng , Li Yong
Published: September 2023

Due to the complex microenvironment and healing process of diabetic wounds, developing wound dressing with good biocompatibility, mechanical stability, breathability, exudate management, antibacterial ability, and immunomodulatory property is highly desired but remains a huge challenge. Herein, a multifunctional cryogel is designed and prepared with bio‐friendly bacterial cellulose, gelatin, and dopamine under the condition of sodium periodate oxidation. Bacterial cellulose can enhance the mechanical stability of the cryogel by improving the skeleton supporting effect and crosslinking degree. The cryogel shows outstanding breathability and exudate management capability thanks to the interpenetrated porous structures. I2 and sodium iodides produced in situ by reduction of sodium periodate provide efficient antibacterial properties for the cryogel. The cryogel facilitates macrophage polarization from M1 to M2, thus regulating the immune microenvironment of infected diabetic wounds. With these advantages, the multifunctional cryogel effectively promotes collagen deposition and neovascularization, thus accelerating the healing of infected diabetic wounds.
Uncovering and Experimental Realization of Multimodal 3D Topological Metamaterials for Low‐Frequency and Multiband Elastic Wave Control
Authors: Dorin Patrick , Khan Mustafa , Wang K. W.
Published: September 2023

Topological mechanical metamaterials unlock confined and robust elastic wave control. Recent breakthroughs have precipitated the development of 3D topological metamaterials, which facilitate extraordinary wave manipulation along 2D planar and layer‐dependent waveguides. The 3D topological metamaterials studied thus far are constrained to function in single‐frequency bandwidths that are typically in a high‐frequency regime, and a comprehensive experimental investigation remains elusive. In this paper, these research gaps are addressed and the state of the art is advanced through the synthesis and experimental realization of a 3D topological metamaterial that exploits multimodal local resonance to enable low‐frequency elastic wave control over multiple distinct frequency bands. The proposed metamaterial is geometrically configured to create multimodal local resonators whose frequency characteristics govern the emergence of four unique low‐frequency topological states. Numerical simulations uncover how these topological states can be employed to achieve polarization‐, frequency‐, and layer‐dependent wave manipulation in 3D structures. An experimental study results in the attainment of complete wave fields that illustrate 2D topological waveguides and multi‐polarized wave control in a physical testbed. The outcomes from this work provide insight that will aid future research on 3D topological mechanical metamaterials and reveal the applicability of the proposed metamaterial for wave control applications.
Thermally Reentrant Crystalline Phase Change in Perovskite‐Derivative Nickelate Enabling Reversible Switching of Room‐Temperature Electrical Resistivity
Authors: Matsumoto Kota , Kawasoko Hideyuki , Nishibori Eiji , Fukumura Tomoteru
Published: September 2023

Reversible switching of room‐temperature electrical resistivity due to crystal‐amorphous transition is demonstrated in various chalcogenides for development of non‐volatile phase change memory. However, such reversible thermal switching of room‐temperature electrical resistivity has not reported in transition metal oxides so far, despite their enormous studies on the electrical conduction like metal‐insulator transition and colossal magnetoresistance effect. In this study, a thermally reversible switching of room‐temperature electrical resistivity is reported with gigantic variation in a layered nickelate Sr2.5Bi0.5NiO5 (1201‐SBNO) composed of (Sr1.5Bi0.5)O2 rock‐salt and SrNiO3 perovskite layers via unique crystalline phase changes between the conducting 1201‐SBNO with ordered (O‐1201), disordered Sr/Bi arrangements in the (Sr1.5Bi0.5)O2 layer (D‐1201), and insulating oxygen‐deficient double perovskite Sr2BiNiO4.5 (d‐perovskite). The O‐1201 is reentrant by high‐temperature annealing of ≈1000 °C through crystalline phase change into the D‐1201 and d‐perovskite, resulting in the thermally reversible switching of room‐temperature electrical resistivity with 102‐ and 109‐fold variation, respectively. The 1201‐SBNO is the first oxide to show the thermally reversible switching of room‐temperature electrical resistivity via the crystalline phase changes, providing a new perspective on the electrical conduction for transition metal oxides.