bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hairy‐Skin‐Adaptive Viscoelastic Dry Electrodes for Long‐Term Electrophysiological Monitoring
Authors: Tian Qiong , Zhao Hang , Wang Xin , Jiang Ying , Zhu Mingxing , Yelemulati Huoerhute , Xie Ruijie , Li Qingsong , Su Rui , Cao Zhengshuai , Jiang Naifu , Huang Jianping , Li Guanglin , Chen Shixiong , Chen Xiaodong , Liu Zhiyuan
Published: April 2023

Long‐term epidermal electrophysiological (EP) monitoring is crucial for disease diagnosis and human–machine synergy. The human skin is covered with hair that grows at an average rate of 0.3 mm per day. This impedes a stable contact between the skin and dry epidermal electrodes, resulting in motion artifacts during ultralong‐term EP monitoring. Therefore, accurate and high‐quality EP signal detection remains challenging. To address this issue, a new solution—the hairy‐skin‐adaptive viscoelastic dry electrode (VDE) is reported. This innovative technology is capable of bypassing hair and filling into the skin wrinkles, leading to long‐lasting and stable interface impedance. The VDE maintains a stable interface impedance for a remarkable period of 48 days and 100 cycles. The VDE is highly effective in shielding against hair disturbances in electrocardiography (ECG) monitoring, even during intense chest expansion, and in electromyography (EMG) monitoring during large strain. Furthermore, the VDE is easily attachable to the skull without requiring any electroencephalogram (EEG) cap or bandage, making it an ideal solution for EEG monitoring. This work represents a substantial breakthrough in the field of EP monitoring, providing a solution for the previously challenging issue of monitoring human EP signals on hairy skin.
Terpolymerization and Regioisomerization Strategy to Construct Efficient Terpolymer Donors Enabling High‐Performance Organic Solar Cells
Authors: Cheng Fuliang , Cui Yongjie , Ding Feng , Chen Zeng , Xie Qian , Xia Xinxin , Zhu Peipei , Lu Xinhui , Zhu Haiming , Liao Xunfan , Chen Yiwang
Published: April 2023

Terpolymerization and regioisomerization strategies are combined to develop novel polymer donors to overcome the difficulty of improving organic solar cells (OSCs) performance. Two novel isomeric units, bis(2‐hexyldecyl)‐2,5‐bis(4‐chlorothiophen‐2‐yl)thieno[3,2‐b]thiophene‐3,6‐dicarboxylate (TTO) and bis(2‐hexyldecyl) 2,5‐bis(3‐chlorothiophen‐2‐yl)thieno[3,2‐b]thiophene‐3,6‐dicarboxylate (TTI), are obtained and incorporated into the PM6 backbone via random copolymerization to form a series of terpolymers. Interestingly, it is found that different chlorine (Cl) substituent positions can significantly change the molecular planarity and electrostatic potential (ESP) owing to the steric hindrance effect of the heavy Cl atom, which leads to different molecular aggregation behaviors and miscibility between the donor and acceptor. The TTO unit features a higher number of multiple S···O non‐covalent interactions, more positive ESP, and fewer isomer structures than TTI. As a result, the terpolymer PM6‐TTO‐10 exhibits a much better molecular coplanarity, stronger crystallinity, more obvious aggregation behavior, and proper phase separation in the blend film, which are conducive to more efficient exciton dissociation and charge transfer. Consequently, the PM6‐TTO‐10:BTP‐eC9‐based OSCs achieve a champion power conversion efficiency of 18.37% with an outstanding fill factor of 79.97%, which are among the highest values reported for terpolymer‐based OSCs. This work demonstrates that terpolymerization combined with Cl regioisomerization is an efficient approach for achieving high‐performance polymer donors.
Enhancing Bioavailability of Fertilizer through an Amyloid‐Like Protein Coating
Authors: Su Hao , Zhang Yujia , Liu Yongchun , Lu Runqiu , Gao Aiting , Han Qian , Wen Bin , Hu Bowen , Yang Peng
Published: April 2023

Foliar fertilization acts as a ubiquitous component of conventional crop production, which brings considerable economic and ecological costs. Due to droplets rebounding and splashing during spraying and rain erosion, low bioavailability of fertilizer results in severe environmental pollution. Contrary to conventional fertilizer formulations with polymers, surfactants, and organic reagents, a method of improving fertilizer bioavailability based on a biocompatible protein coating is presented herein. In this system, whey protein concentrate (WPC) can undergo amyloid‐like aggregation after the reduction of its disulfide bond by the reducing agent tris(2‐carboxyethyl) phosphine (TCEP). Such aggregation affords a fast formation of the optically transparent and colorless phase‐transitioned WPC (PTW) coating at the solid/water interface, with robust interfacial adhesion stability. Upon packaging with fertilizers through electrostatic and hydrogen‐bonding interactions, such reliable interfacial adhesion thereby facilitates the effective deposition of fertilizers on superhydrophobic and hydrophobic leaf surfaces, with excellent adhesion stability. Based on practical farmland test, this work demonstrates that the application of PTW can significantly boost the bioavailability of fertilizers and decrease at least 30% fertilizer use in large‐scale crop planting. This innovative strategy has the great potential to offer a transformative step forward in managing fertilizer contamination and overuse in future agriculture.
Probing transport energies and defect states in organic semiconductors using energy resolved electrochemical impedance spectroscopy
Authors: Shahi Maryam , Atapattu Harindi R. , Baustert Kyle N. , Anthony John E. , Brill Joseph W. , Johnson Stephen , Graham Kenneth R.
Published: April 2023

Determining the relative energies of transport states in organic semiconductors is critical to understanding the properties of electronic devices and in designing device stacks. Futhermore, defect states are also highly important and can greatly impact material properties and device performance. Recently, energy‐resolved electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (ER‐EIS) is developed to probe both the ionization energy (IE) and electron affinity (EA) as well as sub‐bandgap defect states in organic semiconductors. Herein, ER‐EIS is compared to cyclic voltammetry (CV) and photoemission spectroscopies for extracting IE and EA values, and to photothermal deflection spectroscopy (PDS) for probing defect states in both polymer and molecular organic semiconductors. The results show that ER‐EIS determined IE and EA are in better agreement with photoemission spectroscopy measurements as compared to CV for both polymer and molecular materials. Furthermore, the defect states detected by ER‐EIS agree with sub‐bandgap features detected by PDS. Surprisingly, ER‐EIS measurements of regiorandom and regioregular poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT) show clear defect bands that occur at significantly different energies. In regioregular P3HT the defect band is near the edge of the occupied states while it is near the edge of the unoccupied states in regiorandom P3HT.
Tunable Encapsulation and Doping of Monolayer MoS2 by In Situ Probing of Excitonic Properties During Atomic Layer Deposition
Authors: Henning Alex , Levashov Sergej , Qian Chenjiang , Grünleitner Theresa , Primbs Julian , Finley Jonathan J. , Sharp Ian D.
Published: April 2023

Here, it is shown that in situ spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) is a powerful method for probing the effects of reactant adsorption and film formation on the excitonic properties of 2D materials during atomic layer deposition (ALD), thus allowing optimization of both film growth and opto(electronic) characteristics in real time. Facilitated by in situ SE during ALD on monolayer MoS2, a low temperature (40 °C) process for encapsulation of the 2D material with a nanometer‐thin alumina (AlOx) layer is investigated, which results in a 2D/3D interface governed by van der Waals interactions rather than chemical bonding. Charge transfer doping of MoS2 by AlOx is found to be an interfacial phenomenon that initiates from the earliest stages of film formation, but saturates upon deposition of a closed layer. However, the lack of chemical binding interactions at the 2D/3D interface enables physical removal of the AlOx that results in a reversal of the charge transfer doping effect. Overall, it is demonstrated that in situ SE of 2D materials during ALD can precisely probe the impact of film formation on sensitive optoelectronic characteristics of 2D materials, which is of key importance in the development of integrated 2D/3D systems.
Atomic Layer Deposition of Ru Thin Film Using a Newly Synthesized Precursor with Open‐Coordinated Ligands
Authors: Oh Seung Hoon , Hwang Jeong Min , Park Hyeonbin , Park Dongseong , Song Young Eun , Ko Eun Chong , Park Tae Joo , Eom Taeyong , Chung Taek‐Mo
Published: April 2023

Ru films are grown on Pt, TiN, and SiO2 substrates via atomic layer deposition (ALD) using Ru(II)(η5‐C7H7O)(η5‐C7H9) as the novel Ru metalorganic precursor and O2 as the reactant. The ALD self‐limiting film growth is confirmed at the low temperature of 200 °C by manipulating the injection time and purge time of the Ru precursor and O2, and the saturated growth per cycle is 0.22 Å cy−1. It is confirmed that the combustion reaction occurs during the deposition process from the formation of the H2O and CO2 by‐products. Thin films with a low resistivity of 17–19 µΩ cm are grown at a thickness of ≈15 nm. The Ru incubation times are remarkably short at 200 °C (negligible on Pt, ≈30 cycles on TiN and SiO2), but increase with increasing temperature. The energy dispersive X‐ray mapping image of the Ru film on the pattern in which TiN is formed on SiO2 shows that the Ru film with a novel precursor has the intrinsic substrate selectivity at the deposition temperature of 300 °C. Furthermore, the substrate affects the properties of the Ru film. Particularly because Ti serves as an oxygen reservoir, a relatively large amount of RuOx is produced on the TiN substrate.
Effects of the Polymer Amount and pH on Proton Transport in Mesopores
Authors: Despot Laura , Andrieu‐Brunsen Annette
Published: April 2023

Proton exchange membranes (PEMs) have various applications, such as in electrolysis technology for hydrogen generation, vanadium flow batteries for energy storage, and fuel cells for energy conversion. To increase PEM performance and expand the range of PEM applications, the underlying transport mechanisms of PEMs need to be understood. Mesoporous silica thin films are versatile model materials for proton transport investigation and are prepared with a pore size of ≈12 nm and film thickness of ≈565 nm by evaporation‐induced self‐assembly, providing an ordered, mesoporous, rigid matrix that allows us to deduce the structure‐property relationship with respect to proton conductivity. Different amounts of sulfonic acid‐bearing groups are introduced into the mesopores using the grafting‐through polymerization of sulfopropylmethacrylate. The relationship between proton transport and the pH of the surrounding solution in poly‐sulfopropylmethacrylate‐functionalized mesopores is investigated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The proton conductivity is found to depend on both the proton concentration in solution and the number of proton transporting groups inside the pore, indicating the major role of charge regulation and the confinement effect on proton transport.
Additively Manufactured Iron‐Based Bulk Metallic Glass Composite Electrocatalysts: Effect of Microstructural States on the Oxygen Evolution Reaction Activity
Authors: Wegner Jan , Martínez‐Hincapié Ricardo , Čolić Viktor , Kleszczynski Stefan
Published: April 2023

The influence of crystallinity on the electrocatalytic activity of complex alloys requires further clarification to optimize their properties. In this work, the electrocatalytic properties of additively manufactured Fe‐based bulk metallic glasses (BMG), namely, their activity toward the oxygen evolution reaction are studied in alkaline media. Laser powder bed fusion (PBF‐LB/M) is applied to fabricate electrodes with different numbers of glass‐forming Fe75Mo14.3Ni1.6P6C2.2B1 layers on 316L stainless steel substrates. Electrochemical and physicochemical characterization techniques are used to characterize the surface of the electrodes both as‐built and after annealing and devitrification. Although different process parameters lead to similar electrochemical responses, certain differences are observable. Namely, the thickness of the BMG‐coating and the ratio of crystalline/amorphous phases seems to determine the catalytic activity. In particular, it is noticeable that partially crystallized samples display higher activities, contrary to some previous observations on different materials. The measurements indicate a complex interplay between crystallinity and active surface area that determines the electrochemical properties of the investigated electrode material.
Synergistically Improving the Thermal Conductivity and Mechanical Strength of PEEK/MWCNT Nanocomposites by Functionalizing the Matrix with Fluorene Groups
Authors: Jiang Zilong , Jiang Bo , Yang Boyin , Liu Xin , Yang Yang , Zhang Chunling , Shang Yingshuang , Zhang Haibo
Published: April 2023

Nanofiller reinforcement is an effective method to prepare high thermally conductive polymer‐matrix composites. However, the poor dispersion of nanofillers and high interfacial thermal resistance between the filler and matrix seriously affect the thermal conductivity and mechanical properties of composites. To solve this problem, a small amount of conjugated fluorene group is introduced into the polymer chain of poly (ether ether ketone) (PEEK) to afford the fluorene‐functionalized copolymer matrix (FD‐PEEK). In an in situ polymerization procedure, the matrix non‐covalently binds to multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) to allow highly filled PEEK/MWCNT nanocomposites. With the filler dispersion and matrix–filler interfacial bonding improved, the prepared nanocomposites possess both high thermal conductivity and tensile strength. At the optimal ratio of 2 mol% fluorene groups in the polymer chain, the nanocomposite with 10 wt% MWCNT exhibits an excellent thermal conductivity of 2.41 W m−1 K−1, which is 868% higher than pristine PEEK, with tensile strength remaining 104.3 MPa. The PEEK/MWCNT nanocomposites can be further used as matrix resins to build double‐segregated network multi‐component composites, which contributes to an innovative strategy to design high‐performance thermally conductive materials.
Multiscale Superhydrophobic Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework Coating for Static and Dynamic Anti‐Icing Purposes
Authors: Saeidiharzand Shaghayegh , Sadaghiani Abdolali K. , Yürüm Alp , Koşar Ali
Published: April 2023

Ice formation is a major challenge for engineering systems. Superhydrophobic surfaces constitute an effective approach to address this challenge. However, in addition to complex preparation methods, surface texture‐ and chemistry‐related shortcomings reduce their effectiveness. In this study, a functionalized metal–organic framework (ZIF‐8) based micro‐nano‐subnano scale coating (SuperHydrophobic Multiscale Coating – SHMC) with CA (contact angle) > 172°, rolling angle < 5°, and CAH (contact angle hysteresis) < 3° is developed and applied to metallic surfaces by spray coating. A fractal theory‐based model of contact angle is adapted to reveal its non‐wetting mechanism. SHMC extends the icing time by at least 300% and maintains its superhydrophobicity for > 30 icing/deicing cycles. The generated capillary pressure ranges within the multiscale coating are studied. The three‐phase contact line characteristics including contact times, contact diameters, and interfacial heat transfer during droplet impact are assessed. A numerical model is developed using dynamic contact angle physics for transient heat transfer during the impact. Compared to the plain surface, which leads to instant icing at 60 ms after impact, no icing is observed on the developed coating. At least an order of magnitude reduction in heat transfer rate during the droplet contact time is obtained with SHMC.
Flat Solenoidal Ice‐Binding Proteins as Scaffolds for Solid‐Binders
Authors: de Haas Robbert J. , van Ossenbruggen Jannick , van der Hoeven Jeffrey , Timmermans Roel J. , Tas Roderick P. , Voets Ilja K. , de Vries Renko
Published: April 2023

Solid interfacing biomaterials is a crucial aspect of bionanotechnology and important for applications such as biosensing. Because of their potentially large contact area, flat solenoidal proteins are ideal scaffolds for designing proteins binding to surfaces of man‐made solids such as minerals, metals, and plastics. To explore this opportunity, a naturally occurring flat solenoidal protein: the Rhagium inquistor Antifreeze Protein from the insect Rhagium inquisitor is re‐designed. By mutating 4, 6, and 10 out of its 4 × 5 arrays of threonines into arginines, it have arrived at the silica‐binding proteins RiSiBP‐4, RiSiBP‐6, and RiSiBP‐10. Variants with increasing numbers of arginines bind stronger to silica, but are also less stable and increasingly difficult to produce. It is found that the RiSiBP‐6 variant binds strongly to silica yet still has good stability and easy production. It is shown that sfGFP‐RiSiBP‐6 fusions allow for the functional display of a monolayer of sfGFP cargo on silica surfaces, suggesting the general usefulness of flat solenoidal proteins as scaffolds for designing solid‐binding proteins.
Surface Oxidation State Variations and Insulator–Metal Transition Modulations in Vanadium Oxides with Pulsed Hydrogen Plasma
Authors: Zhang Lepeng , Niu Linkui , Yang Wanli , Huang Tiantian , Zhang Rui , Xu Peiran , Liu Feng , Chen Zhimin , Chen Xin , Dai Ning
Published: April 2023

Surface often determines the formation and function of nanoscale thin films and nanomaterials. In correlated vanadium oxides, oxidation states and stoichiometry play important roles in regulating reversible insulator–metal transition (IMT) behaviors. This study presents the surface oxidation state reductions and IMT modulations in vanadium oxides. Oxidation states of vanadium in the surface layer are changed in the nanostructures of vanadium oxides through pulsed hydrogen plasma (PHP). The thickness‐dependent variations are also observed with Raman and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and verified in vanadium oxides with different oxidation states. Obvious modulations on IMT behaviors are then demonstrated and related to such variation of surface oxidation states in the VO2 thin film and nanobeam. It is expected that such surface manipulations are beneficial to a better understanding of the IMT in correlated vanadium oxides and the fabrication of advanced functional electronic and photoelectronic devices.
Inkjet‐Printed p‐NiO/n‐ZnO Heterojunction Diodes for Photodetection Applications
Authors: González Sergio , Vescio Giovanni , Frieiro Juan Luis , Hauser Alina , Linardi Flavio , López‐Vidrier Julian , Oszajca Marek , Hernández Sergi , Cirera Albert , Garrido Blas
Published: April 2023

Transparent Conducting Oxides (TCOs) are an enticing family of optoelectronic materials which have been proven to increase efficiency when incorporated into perovskite light emitting diode (PE‐LED) and organic OLED architectures as transport layers. Solution‐processed metal oxide inks have already been demonstrated, although there is still a need for high‐quality inkjet‐printable metal oxide inks with a thermal post‐process below 200 °C. The set of inks in this work are adapted from low‐boiling point colloidal suspensions of metal oxide nanoparticles synthesized via flame spray pyrolysis. High quality, pinhole‐ and wrinkle‐free inkjet‐printed layers are obtained at low temperatures through vacuum oven post process, as proven by scanning electron microscopy. The crystallinity of the layers is confirmed by X‐ray diffraction, showing the expected hexagonal and cubic structures respectively for ZnO and NiO. The thin film layers reach over 70% (ZnO) and 90% (NiO) transparency in the visible spectrum. Their implementation in the inkjet‐printed p–n diode shows excellent I–V rectifying behavior with an ON/OFF ratio of two orders of magnitude at ±3 V and a forward threshold voltage of 2 V. Furthermore, the device exhibits an increase in photocurrent around four orders of magnitude when illuminated under a 1‐sun solar simulator.
Micro/Nano‐Pores and Anti‐Fingerprint Coating by Vacancy‐Capture and Interface Intelligent Control
Authors: Luo Yimin , Hao Boran , Li Jingbo , Liu ZhiPeng , Yang Yujie , Chen Litao , Liu Shuaikang , Luo Zhuangzhu
Published: April 2023

In this work, a simple anti‐fingerprint strategy (reduced ≈40–60%) to rearrange fingerprint droplets by patterned micro/nano‐pore/spoons texture, air cushion and low surface energy is reported. Superior to previous precise and complex preparation methods, the micro/nano‐texture are fabricated through conventional process of spray and dip. The pore and spoon can be freely switched by changing the process. The number (N) and size (r) of pores and spoons are controlled intelligently by solvent volatilization and interfacial tension ( and γFP/PU − Solvent), the key for pore/spoon's forming and expanding. A physical model of interface intelligent controlling the micro/nano‐pore/spoon surface texture induced by “Vacancy‐Capture” is proposed. The description is being reported, for the first time, to the knowledge, expecting to make it possible to prepare anti‐fingerprint engineering materials with newly potential industrial applications on optical device for large‐scale in the future.
Dynamic and Degradable Imine‐Based Networks for 3D‐Printing of Soft Elastomeric Self‐Healable Devices
Authors: Grosjean Mathilde , Guth Lucien , Déjean Stéphane , Paniagua Cédric , Nottelet Benjamin
Published: April 2023

Self‐healable degradable networks encounter a growing popularity for biomedical applications due to their ability to recover their properties after damage. Self‐healable hydrogels dominate with applications in tissue engineering and drug delivery. On the opposite and despite their potential for medical devices, self‐healable elastomers remain scarce, especially if they must be compatible with fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D‐printing and self‐heal at physiological temperature under a hydrated state. These unmet challenges are addressed in this work with degradable elastomeric networks based on dynamic imine bonds prepared from multi(aldehyde) and multi(amine) hydrophobic PEG‐PLA star‐shaped copolymers. The star topology of these copolymers is the key feature of the strategy as it allows the design of multifunctional high molecular weights pre‐polymers that ensure an efficient dynamic chemical crosslinking while guaranteeing access to the FDM process generally restricted to thermoplastics. The proposed elastomeric networks combine high self‐healing efficiencies at 37 °C (>97%) with mechanical properties compatible with soft tissues and a linear degradation profile. Their FDM processing to produce self‐healable tubular devices is demonstrated. Finally, their cytocompatibility is assessed and confirm their potential as biodegradable elastomeric networks to be used for the design of self‐healable 3D‐printed devices for biomedical applications.
N‐Type Single Walled Carbon Nanotube Thin Film Transistors Using Green Tri‐Layer Polymer Dielectric
Authors: Tousignant Mathieu N. , Ronnasi Bahar , Tischler Vanessa , Lessard Benoît H.
Published: April 2023

The proliferation of disposable, wearable, and implantable printable electronics requires the development of high‐performance biodegradable, and sustainable electronic components. Often green materials don't have the necessary properties for high‐performance electronics, therefore obtaining the ideal properties requires a combination of multiple green materials. A tri‐layer dielectric is reported using poly(lactic acid) (PLA), poly(vinyl alcohol)/cellulose nanocrystals (PVAc), and toluene diisocyanate terminated poly(caprolactone) (TPCL), which is integrated into semiconducting single‐walled carbon nanotube (sc‐SWCNT) based thin film transistors (TFTs) in a top gate bottom contact architecture. The PVA provides a high dielectric constant due to the hydroxy groups, the cellulose is used to optimize the viscosity, the TPCL layer provides a robust hydrophobic surface, and the PLA eliminates the interfacial charge traps present in the PVAc and improves the adhesion between PVAc and the substrate. This leads to a decrease in leakage currents and reduces the polarity at the dielectric/semiconductor interface. The TFTs fabricated using tri‐layer dielectrics led to air‐stable n‐type devices with higher overall performance when compared against the PVAc/TPCL bilayer devices.
The Criterion of Supercooled Bionic Lotus Surfaces Repelling Impacting Droplets for Anti‐Icing Engineering
Authors: Zhu Zewei , Li Jingbo , Luo Yimin , Li Xia , Chen Litao , Yang Yujie , Luo Zhuangzhu
Published: April 2023

Icephobic material is of great importance in power transportation, communication, aerospace, and so on. Bionic lotus superhydrophobic surfaces show good application prospects in anti‐icing by repelling impacting droplets. However, the boundary (criterion) between droplet bounce and deposition on superhydrophobic surface under cold freezing rain is unclear. Here, from the view of statistics, the boundary and internal heat transfer mechanism of the droplet bounce, pinning, and three kinds of deposition including icing at later, early retraction, and spread. are clarified Droplet viscosity increase reduces droplet contact with surface and inhibited splash at high We. Surfaces with temperature above −20.6 °C showed 100% droplet bounce after impact on We = 64.7, and the probability of water adhesion and ice nucleation decreases to ≈0%, resulting in completely anti‐icing. Droplet bounce transition mainly ascribe to the decrease retraction driven force caused by interface freezing and transition temperature increases approximately linearly from −25.9 to −21.1 °C within 21.6 < We < 75.5. Ice nuclei brought by condensation in humid environment (60–100 RH%) further cause droplet eccentric retraction and transition temperature increases to −6 to −10 °C. The fundamental understanding of droplet behaviors on supercooled superhydrophobic surface is beneficial for icephobic surfaces applications.
Strong Impact of Underlayers on the Voltage‐Controlled Magnetic Anisotropy in Interface Engineered Co/MgO Junctions with Heavy Metals
Authors: Nakayama Hiroyasu , Nozaki Takayuki , Nozaki Tomohiro , Yuasa Shinji
Published: April 2023

The voltage‐controlled magnetic anisotropy (VCMA) effect in ferromagnets is of crucial interest for next‐generation non‐volatile magnetic memory technologies since it enables spin manipulation with low power consumption in addition to high‐speed operation and high writing endurance. Although intense efforts are made in the past decade to increase the efficiency of the purely electronic VCMA effect, the physical origin of this phenomenon is still elusive, particularly for interface‐engineered ferromagnetic materials. Here, a pathway is proposed to tune the VCMA effect by exploiting a combination of the insertion of heavy metals and underlayers. Focusing on Co/MgO junction deposited on Os underlayer, a large VCMA effect of −100 fJ V−1 m−1 is demonstrated with Pt insertion, which is ≈50% greater than the case deposited on Pt underlayer. On the other hand, smaller VCMA effect is observed with Ir insertion, and even a positive VCMA effect is observed with Os insertion, which are vastly different from the case deposited on Pt underlayer. The systematic variation of VCMA coefficient depending on the underlayer materials implies the effect of electron depletion from underlayers. The concepts demonstrated here can be applicable for other spintronic materials and may open a way to interfacial spin‐orbit engineering for VCMA effect.
Improving the Stability, Selectivity, and Cell Voltage of a Bipolar Membrane Zero‐Gap Electrolyzer for Low‐Loss CO2 Reduction
Authors: Siritanaratkul Bhavin , Sharma Preetam K. , Yu Eileen H. , Cowan Alexander J.
Published: April 2023

Electrolyzers for CO2 reduction containing bipolar membranes (BPM) are promising due to low loss of CO2 as carbonates and low product crossover, but improvements in product selectivity, stability, and cell voltage are required. In particular, direct contact with the acidic cation exchange layer leads to high levels of H2 evolution with many common cathode catalysts. Here, Co phthalocyanine (CoPc) is reported as a suitable catalyst for a zero‐gap BPM device, reaching 53% Faradaic efficiency to CO at 100 mA cm−2 using only pure water and CO2 as the input feeds. It is also shown that the cell voltage can be lowered by constructing a customized BPM using TiO2 water dissociation catalyst, however this is at the cost of decreased selectivity. Switching the pure‐water anolyte to KOH improved both the cell voltage and CO selectivity (62% at 200 mA cm−2), but cation crossover could cause complications. The results demonstrate viable strategies for improving a BPM CO2 electrolyzer toward practical‐scale CO2‐to‐chemicals conversion.
Highly Boosting Circularly Polarized Luminescence of Chiral Metal–Imidazolate Frameworks
Authors: Wang Xue‐Zhi , Zhou Chuang‐Wei , Zheng Ji , Lian Zhao‐Xia , Sun Meng‐Ying , Huang Yong‐Liang , Luo Dong , Li Yan Yan , Zhou Xiao‐Ping
Published: April 2023

To develop a simple and general method for improving the circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) performances of materials is of great significance. In this work, two pairs of CPL‐active homochiral metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) P/M‐Et and P/M‐Et(Cd) with eta topology are reported. In comparison to the reported isomorphic Zn‐imidazolate MOFs P‐Me and M‐Me, both luminescence dissymmetry factor (glum) and photoluminescence quantum yields (ΦPL) of P‐Et and M‐Et are largely improved by simply changing the methyl group to an ethyl group of ligands in P‐Et and M‐Et. Furthermore, the |glum| values are significantly amplified up to 0.015 from 0.0057 by introducing the non‐luminescent halogenated aromatics, while an enhanced fluorescence efficiency is observed simultaneously (from 27.2% to 47.3%). The figure of merit value is about 40 times larger than that of P‐Me and M‐Me. Similarly, the CPL performances of P/M‐Et(Cd) are improved by about five times after encapsulating fluorobenzene molecules. This work represents a new and simple method for developing CPL‐active MOF materials.
Systemic Tumor Suppression via Macrophage‐Driven Automated Homing of Metal‐Phenolic‐Gated Nanosponges for Metastatic Melanoma
Authors: Liao Xue , Gong Guidong , Dai Mengyuan , Xiang Zhenyu , Pan Jiezhou , He Xianglian , Shang Jiaojiao , Blocki Anna Maria , Zhao Zongmin , Shields C. Wyatt , Guo Junling
Published: April 2023

Cell‐based therapies comprising the administration of living cells to patients for direct therapeutic activities have experienced remarkable success in the clinic, of which macrophages hold great potential for targeted drug delivery due to their inherent chemotactic mobility and homing ability to tumors with high efficiency. However, such targeted delivery of drugs through cellular systems remains a significant challenge due to the complexity of balancing high drug‐loading with high accumulations in solid tumors. Herein, a tumor‐targeting cellular drug delivery system (MAGN) by surface engineering of tumor‐homing macrophages (Mφs) with biologically responsive nanosponges is reported. The pores of the nanosponges are blocked with iron‐tannic acid complexes that serve as gatekeepers by holding encapsulated drugs until reaching the acidic tumor microenvironment. Molecular dynamics simulations and interfacial force studies are performed to provide mechanistic insights into the “ON‐OFF” gating effect of the polyphenol‐based supramolecular gatekeepers on the nanosponge channels. The cellular chemotaxis of the Mφ carriers enabled efficient tumor‐targeted delivery of drugs and systemic suppression of tumor burden and lung metastases in vivo. The findings suggest that the MAGN platform offers a versatile strategy to efficiently load therapeutic drugs to treat advanced metastatic cancers with a high loading capacity of various therapeutic drugs.
Study on the Role of an Erythrocyte Membrane‐Coated Nanotheranostic System in Targeted Immune Regulation of Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Su Yanrong , Huang Yufen , Kou Qinjie , Lu Lu , Jiang Haiye , Li Xisheng , Gui Rong , Huang Rong , Huang Xueyuan , Ma Jinqi , Li Jian , Nie Xinmin
Published: April 2023

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases in the elderly population. Despite significant advances in studies of the pathobiology on AD, there is still no effective treatment. Here, an erythrocyte membrane‐camouflaged nanodrug delivery system (TR‐ZRA) modified with transferrin receptor aptamers that can be targeted across the blood–brain barrier to ameliorate AD immune environment is established. Based on metal‐organic framework (Zn‐CA), TR‐ZRA is loaded with CD22shRNA plasmid to silence the abnormally high expression molecule CD22 in aging microglia. Most importantly, TR‐ZRA can enhance the ability of microglia to phagocytose Aβ and alleviate complement activation, which can promote neuronal activity and decrease inflammation level in the AD brain. Moreover, TR‐ZRA is also loaded with Aβ aptamers, which allow rapid and low‐cost monitoring of Aβ plaques in vitro. After treatment with TR‐ZRA, learning, and memory abilities are enhanced in AD mice. In conclusion, the biomimetic delivery nanosystem TR‐ZRA in this study provides a promising strategy and novel immune targets for AD therapy.
Community Psychology's abuse of empowerment to further a white supremacist agenda
Authors: Tran Nellie
Published: April 2023

When White people are predominantly in power and the discipline has yet to grapple with its own involvement in oppressive and racist ideologies, the concept of empowerment has the potential of being misused, or worse, abused. This is my experience and observation within Community Psychology (CP). In this paper, I interrogate the history of CP, especially the interplay of colonized knowledge production practices and the concept of empowerment, and uncover the use and abuse of well‐meaning community psychological principles by scholars and leaders without the critical racial awareness to apply them to communities to which they do not belong. Lastly, I offer a “slash and burn” approach to starting over.
Synthetic Improvements and an Alternative Synthetic Approach to exo‐Dicyclopentadiene‐1‐one: A Useful Building Block for Cyclopentanoids
Authors: Kotha Sambasivarao , Reddy Keesari Ramakrishna
Published: April 2023

Here, we describe the synthetic improvements to the known compound exo‐dicyclopentadiene‐1‐one (exo‐DCPD‐1‐one). Also, an alternative and efficient synthetic approach to exo‐DCPD‐1‐one was developed in a non‐hazardous manner. All the synthesized compounds here are well‐characterized by NMR analysis. The structure and relative stereochemistry of some key intermediates were confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction (XRD) studies. Overall, the synthetic studies described here are useful to prepare exo‐DCPD‐1‐one on a multi‐gram scale in a safe manner. The exo‐DCPD‐1‐one is found to be a useful building block to prepare a wide variety of cyclopentanoids.
Copper‐catalyzed intramolecular annulation through C–H activation: Synthesis of carbazolones
Authors: Bashkar Mohammad , Nowrouzi Najmeh , Mohammadizadeh Mohammad Reza
Published: April 2023

An efficient protocol for synthesizing carbazolones from anilines and 1,3‐diketones by copper‐catalyzed intramolecular oxidative C–C coupling through the selective activation of the C–H bond is reported.
Study of preparation and properties of environmentally friendly phenolic resin for mining
Authors: Dong Hao , Hu Xiangming , Liu Jindi , Liang Yuntao , Wang Wei , Tang Hui , Zhu Fusheng , He Zhenglong , Wang Peng
Published: April 2023

In order to solve the problem of formaldehyde release from the traditional phenolic foam (PF) in the process of coal mine filling and plugging. In this paper, the effect of different factors on the efficiency of formaldehyde trapping agents were studied by adding formaldehyde trapping agents containing amino compounds after PF synthesis. The effect of formaldehyde trapping agents on the performance of resin was investigated. The results showed that the addition of formaldehyde trapping agents could greatly reduce the residual formaldehyde content in phenolic resin. Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) data showed that the addition of formaldehyde trapping agent not only successfully prepared PF, but also produced a stable formaldehyde trapping agent product. Compared with the unmodified PF, the pore size and foaming rate of the modified PF decreased in varying degrees, and the foaming temperature also decreased in varying degrees. Among them, urea modified phenolic resin (PUF) had the highest formaldehyde removal efficiency. It had the t lowest heat release during combustion and the foam pore size was large and uniform. In addition, through the application of urea‐modified PF in the goaf return air corner fissure sealing application, it was found that the CO concentration in the goaf maintained at the lowest state of 0.002%. It has reached the national industry standard of polymer gas plugging materials and conforms to the green development concept in the field of coal mine fire prevention.
Progress in design and processing of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs): Home compostable poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co—3‐hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBHHx)/polybutylene succinate‐co‐adipate (PBSA) blend
Authors: Cappiello G. , Aversa C. , Barletta M. , Gisario A.
Published: April 2023

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are biodegradable linear polyesters mainly produced by bacterial fermentation. These materials are biocompatible, non‐toxic, and have a low environmental impact, making them an excellent alternative to fossil‐based plastics in food packaging. Despite their promising characteristics, PHAs have several disadvantages, such as brittleness, slow nucleation process, thermal instability and consequently poor processability. In this article, poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hexanoate) (PHBHx), a copolymer belonging to the class of PHAs, was blended with polybutylene succinate‐co‐adipate (PBSA) and other process additives in order to improve its properties and realize a hot food container compostable in a domestic environment. The material in the pellet form was produced by reactive extrusion with a corotating twin‐screw extruder. The compound was then processed by cast extrusion and the resulting film was thermoformed into a rectangular container. All the semi‐finished products were characterized thermo‐mechanically and with chemical–physical tests, demonstrating good processability, thermal resistance of 100°C, complete impermeability to oxygen, transmission of light radiation less than 30% and high toughness (<5 kJ/m2). In addition, the morphology of the blende was also investigated by SEM and XRD analysis.
Enhanced adsorptive removal of As(V) ions in aqueous solution using polyethersulfone ultrafiltration mixed matrix membranes impregnated with 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane modified magnetite Fe3O4 nanoparticles
Authors: Mokubung Kopano Edward , Ndlovu Lloyd Njoka , Lau Woei Jye , Nxumalo Edward Ndumiso , Gumbi Nozipho Nonsikelelo
Published: April 2023

This study involves the fabrication of mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) for ultrafiltration, which contained 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane modified magnetite iron oxide nanoparticles (A‐Fe3O4 NPs), through a modified phase inversion technique. The physiochemical properties and surface morphologies of both the as‐synthesized A‐Fe3O4 NPs and fabricated MMMs were examined using advanced characterization techniques. The quasi‐spherical A‐Fe3O4 NPs had an average particle size of 12 nm and a Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area of 131.38 m2/g. Analysis by Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectroscopy confirmed the presence of NH2 and OH functional groups grafted onto the Fe3O4 NPs. The incorporation of higher loadings of A‐Fe3O4 NPs in the membrane matrix significantly improved the adsorptive ability and hydrophilicity of the adsorbent, leading to improved membrane water permeance, adsorption rate, and adsorption‐filtration properties. The water contact angle decreased from 70.7° to 63.2°, and the flux increased from 239.9 to 443.8 L/m2.h, while overall membrane porosity increased from 43.4% to 51.9%.
New spectrally selective coatings for CSP linear receivers operating in air at high temperature
Authors: Rossi Gabriella , D'Angelo Antonio , Diletto Claudia , Esposito Salvatore , Guglielmo Antonio , Lanchi Michela
Published: April 2023

An attractive candidate to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and replace them by renewable sources is represented by concentrated solar power (CSP) technology, whose wide deployment is still hindered by its high investment costs. In CSP linear collector plants, a key component with high technological content may be identified in receiver tubes, that are traversed by heat transfer fluid and located on focal line on which solar radiation is concentrated by mirrors. The proposed work aims at developing spectrally selective coatings for receiver tubes able to overcome state‐of‐the‐art technological limitation in terms of both vacuum encapsulation and maximum operative temperature, currently limited at 550°C for molten salts CSP plants. To this aim, a multilayer structure was designed and developed for coating a receiver tube to be employed in open‐air environment at temperature of 600°C. The multilayer coating is based on tungsten chromium titanium infrared reflector and includes a solar absorber layer developed with two alternative methods of reactive sputtering and thermal oxidation respectively, finally covered by antireflective and barrier bi‐layer of aluminum oxide and silica. Thermal stability was demonstrated of the new developed coatings, since only small variations were measured of the optical parameters after more than 2000 h of aging in open air conditions at temperature of 600°C (on average less than 5%), with final measured solar absorptance αs of 73% and 87% and thermal emissivity εth at 600°C of 18% and 27% for aged multilayer structures including the absorber layer obtained through thermal oxidation and sputtering process, respectively. These results pave the way for further improvement in terms of both optical performance and operative temperature increase, allowing to enhance efficiency and lower costs, thus contributing to ease to deployment of CSP technology.
Consensus control of discrete‐time multi‐agent systems with privacy preservation
Authors: Liu Chien‐Chun , Chen Chih‐Chiang , Chen Yung‐Yi , Liao Teh‐Lu
Published: April 2023

Due to the dependence of consensus theory on multi‐agent systems (MAS) and the need to openly exchange status information with neighbors on each agent, private status and information are inevitably exposed to the public. In this paper, we present a consensus privacy protection algorithm to solve the consensus privacy problem of second‐order MAS. The proposed approach is based on the Paillier algorithm with semi‐homomorphic characteristics while combining a distributed control perspective to solve the privacy issues of sharing system status information. Under the conditions of our design, as long as there is at least one trustworthy neighbor node, the privacy of the topology nodes can be protected, and thus, the interconnected nodes are unable to detect the state information of systems from one another. We provide a new method for the privacy of the state information of the discrete‐time MAS and use restricted hardware devices to implement the consensus control. Finally, experiments verify the effectiveness of our method, while meeting the actual applicability
Type 2 diabetes, obesity, and risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A population‐based cohort study
Authors: Skajaa Nils , Riahi Emil Bjerregaard , Szépligeti Szimonetta Komjáthiné , Horváth‐Puhó Erzsébet , Sørensen Trine Toft , Henderson Victor W. , Sørensen Henrik Toft
Published: April 2023

Background

Type 2 diabetes and obesity may be inversely associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), but the evidence is controversial.

Methods

Using Danish, nationwide registries (1980‐2016), we identified patients with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes (N = 295,653) and patients with a diagnosis of obesity (N = 312,108). Patients were matched (1:3) to persons from the general population on birth year and sex. We computed incidence rates and Cox regression derived hazard ratios (HRs) of a diagnosis of ALS. In multivariable analyses, HRs were controlled for sex, birth year, calendar year, and comorbidities.

Results

We observed 168 incident cases of ALS (0.7 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.6–0.8] per 10,000 person‐years) among patients with type 2 diabetes and 859 incident cases of ALS (0.9 [95% CI: 0.9–1.0] per 10,000 person‐years) among matched comparators. The adjusted HR was 0.87 (95% CI: 0.72–1.04). The association was present among men (adjusted HR: 0.78 [95% CI: 0.62–0.99]) but not women (adjusted HR: 1.03 [95% CI: 0.78–1.37]), and among those aged ≥60 years (adjusted HR: 0.75 [95% CI: 0.59–0.96]) but not younger. We observed 111 ALS events (0.4 [95% CI: 0.4–0.5] per 10,000 person‐years) among obesity patients and 431 ALS events (0.5 [95% CI: 0.5–0.6] per 10,000 person‐years) among comparators. The adjusted HR was 0.88 (95% CI: 0.70–1.11).

Conclusions

Diagnoses of type 2 diabetes and obesity were associated with a reduced rate of ALS compared with general population comparators, particularly among men and patients aged 60 years or above. However, absolute rate differences were small.
Antisense oligonucleotides targeting basal forebrain ATXN2 enhances spatial memory and ameliorates sleep deprivation‐induced fear memory impairment in mice
Authors: Ma Tao , Feng Long , Wei Shi‐Nan , Wang Ying‐Ying , Li Guan‐Hua , Lu Yan , Zhang Ying‐Xin , Chu Yang , Wang Wei , Zhang Hao
Published: April 2023

Introduction

Regulation of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the basal forebrain ameliorates sleep deprivation‐induced fear memory impairments in rodents. Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) targeting ATXN2 was a potential therapy for spinocerebellar ataxia, whose pathogenic mechanism associates with reduced BDNF expression. We tested the hypothesis that ASO7 targeting ATXN2 could affect BDNF levels in mouse basal forebrain and ameliorate sleep deprivation‐induced fear memory impairments.

Methods

Adult male C57BL/6 mice were used to evaluate the effects of ASO7 targeting ATXN2 microinjected into the bilateral basal forebrain (1 μg, 0.5 μL, each side) on spatial memory, fear memory and sleep deprivation‐induced fear memory impairments. Spatial memory and fear memory were detected by the Morris water maze and step‐down inhibitory avoidance test, respectively. Immunohistochemistry, RT‐PCR, and Western blot were used to evaluate the changes of levels of BDNF, ATXN2, and postsynaptic density 95 (PSD95) protein as well as ATXN2 mRNA. The morphological changes in neurons in the hippocampal CA1 region were detected by HE staining and Nissl staining.

Results

ASO7 targeting ATXN2 microinjected into the basal forebrain could suppress ATXN2 mRNA and protein expression for more than 1 month and enhance spatial memory but not fear memory in mice. BDNF mRNA and protein expression in basal forebrain and hippocampus was increased by ASO7. Moreover, PSD95 expression and synapse formation were increased in the hippocampus. Furthermore, ASO7 microinjected into the basal forebrain increased BDNF and PSD95 protein expression in the basal forebrain of sleep‐deprived mice and counteracted sleep deprivation‐induced fear memory impairments.

Conclusion

ASOs targeting ATXN2 may provide effective interventions for sleep deprivation‐induced cognitive impairments.