bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigation of Heavy and Trace Metals in Some Kurdistan Region Crude Oils by Spectroscan MAX-G
Authors: Mohammad Simo Sherwan , Aldin Naman Salah , Ramadan Ahmed Kanaan , Vladimirovna Razina Anastasiya , Arslan Faritovich Akhmetov
Published: October 2021

Four types of Kurdistan crude oils have been studied to determine the heavy and trace metals. The significance of determining trace elements that exist in crude oils is helpful for further information about exploration, production and the refining process. In this work crude oil can be separated into products such as (gasoline, kerosene, diesel, and atmospheric distillation residue +350°C) by using atmospheric distillation unit and vacuum distillation unit. The trace metals can be determined with acceptable accuracy and precision by spectroscan MAX-G. However, the values of Ni concentration were the best in accuracy among the group of metals of interest. The average values of the results will be employed as reference values of the trace metal content in the coming discussion and using Ni and V as test elements. The crude oil samples are characterized by with a dominance of V over Ni with a V/Ni ratio of 3.7 to 2.5. Trace element analysis of the five metals in crude oils and atmospheric distillation residues +350°C, for each crude oils and atmospheric distillation residues +350°C is investigated, samples of these areas has not been previously examined for trace element contents. In this study to find the relation between metals in crude oils and atmospheric distillation residue of samples. To detect the concentration of trace elements by using this instrument.
Photosynthesis, Growth and Dry Biomass Production in Euglena gracilis Klebs as Affected by Three Growth Irradiance Levels
Authors: Beneragama C. K. , Goto K. , Kodithuwakkuge V. N.
Published: October 2021

Aims: The research aimed to investigate the shade response of E. gracilis Klebs while making the irradiance a crucial factor for photosynthesis based physiological activities and its applicability for industrial level culture conditions.

Study Design: Euglena was cultured at three different light intensities of 30, 90, and 210 mol m-2s-1 photoautotrophically and axenically in modified Cramer-Meyer medium at 25 ˚C as batch cultures.

Methodology: The photosynthesis O2 evaluation of Euglena cultures was measured under exponential (EP), transitional (TP), and stationary phases (SP). The light compensation point (LCP), light saturation point (LSP), and dark respiration rate (DRR) were obtained. Cell volume and cell number in each culture were measured simultaneously. Cells were collected and obtained dry mass (DM) after drying aliquots at 80˚C. Specific growth rate (SGR) and relative growth rate (RGR) were calculated. Tests for homogeneity of variance were performed on all parameters and LSDs were used for the mean separation.

Results: In the TP, the lowest LCP was achieved in the higher light culture. The values of both the DRR and the LSP were the same as in EP. The DRR, LCP and LSP are lower in lower PFD cultures and decreased with increasing cell titers. The cellular growth levels were lower in lower light culture and decreased as each culture grew. Cellular DM was maintained constant in the EP, where SGR almost equaled RGR. In the EP, SGR was maintained constant in each culture, SGR displayed a saturation phenomenon. In the later TP, SGR became equal to RGR and all the cultures revealed constant DM.

Conclusion: Euglena photoautotrophic cultures can tolerate low light intensities. With the SGR and RGR behavior under the shade conditions, they can maintain the constant photosynthesis rate and constant dry matter level.
Production of Light Weight Blocks Using Rice Husk
Authors: Okpoechi C. U. , Emma-Ochu C. A. , Ibemere L. C. , Ibe P. , Onwuka E. O. , Suagwu A. O.
Published: October 2021

Affordable housing has remained a major challenge in Nigeria, as housing costs have continued to rise beyond the reach of the low income population. This paper explores the use of waste products like rice husk as alternative materials for housing construction. Rice husk is abundant as a waste product in areas where rice is processed commercially in Southeast Nigeria. The aim of the study is to create rice husk blocks that are cheap, lightweight, and appropriate for use in low income housing construction. The study was conducted through experimentation in the Building Technology workshop of Federal Polytechnic Nekede. A series of trial mixes were done involving a wide range of materials and mix proportions. Rice husk, Portland cement, and cassava starch, were found to be the most appropriate components for the blocks. The blocks produced were of good appearance, and lightweight. Five samples of solid core blocks measuring 150x150x150mm were tested in Strength of Materials laboratory of the Federal University of Technology Owerri. The average compressive strength of the blocks was 0.26N/mm2, which is below the Nigerian Industrial Standard NIS 87:2007. The blocks produced were considered appropriate for use as non-load bearing partitions and not structural walls. The result of the study is promising because the rice husk blocks help address the waste management problem in affected areas, and could also be an important component of a potentially useful material. This paper recommends further research in the area of improving the strength of the blocks, to make them usable as structural components in low rise buildings.
Assessment of Cob Characteristics of Sweet Corn on Sandy Soils under Different Irrigation Methods
Authors: Naveena B. , Babu G. Ravi
Published: October 2021

Drip irrigation is an incredibly efficient watering method that slowly delivers water directly to a plants root system, through a network of small pipes. This minimizes conventional losses such as deep percolation, runoff and soil erosion. A few low cost automation systems were developed and evaluated their performance with drip irrigation on sweet corn. Compared to flood irrigation and paired row drip irrigation, single row drip irrigation produced better results. The results indicated that the number of kernel rows per cob, number of kernels per cob, length and diameter of the cob and individual fresh cob weight were observed to be more in single row as compared to flood irrigation and paired row drip irrigation systems. The yield response was also observed to be best in soil moisture sensor based irrigation with single row spacing.
Gas Flaring in Niger Delta Nigeria and Sustainability Development Goal Framework: Qualitative Survey of the Health Impacts, Mitigation and Adaptation
Authors: I. Obi Nkemdilim , T. Bwititi Phillip , U. Nwose Ezekiel
Published: October 2021

Background: Petroleum exploitation and production have resulted in various environmental, socio-economic, political and health problems. This study is part of ongoing research to evaluate sustainability development goal in host communities of gas flaring operations.

Objective: The research purposes to generate thematic opinions of the community regarding the risks associated with gas flaring and evaluate the mitigation and adaptation programs of government and oil and gas companies in the Delta region, Nigeria.

Methods: This was qualitative with a quantitative component utilizing a survey of 8 open-ended and 2 semi-quantitative questions. Sample size was N = 488 and participants were over 18 years old. Thematic analysis adopted word cloud, followed by thematic aggregation and quantification.

Results: The response rates were 99.2%, 76.2%, 75.4% and 70.1% for Sections B, C, D, and F, respectively. Over 66% reported negative impacts of gas flaring including specifications of some health problems and stress and respiratory problems were most common. Lack of opinion e.g. on how oil and gas companies liaise with the community (47%) and on how government liaises with companies (63%) were observed.

Conclusion: While the majority of respondents had opinions, they however lacked knowledge regarding what the government and/or oil and gas companies could do on mitigation and adaptation on negative impacts of gas flaring. This therefore calls for awareness campaign and health promotion in the affected communities.
To Assess the Effectiveness of Self-Instructional Module on Knowledge Regarding Obstetric Danger Signs, Birth Preparedness and Complications Readiness among the Primigravida Mothers
Authors: Lalawmpuii A. , Taksande Vaishali
Published: October 2021

Background: Every pregnant woman faces the possibility of unforeseeable pregnancy problems, which can result in morbidity or fatality for herself or her infant. As a result, the concept of birth preparedness and complication readiness was developed, in which the family and community should plan ahead of time to protect the safety and well-being of the women and their new-borns throughout pregnancy, delivery, and after delivery. In the event of pregnancy and delivery problems, delivery intrapartum, and after postpartum, good plans and preparations will enhance usage of professional care and reduce delays in receiving care. Good plans and preparations will increase the usage of expert care and reduce the time it takes to seek care in the case of pregnancy and delivery complications [1].

Objectives: 1. To assess the existing knowledge on obstetric danger signs, birth preparedness and complications readiness among primigravida mothers. 2. To evaluate the effectiveness of self- instructional module on knowledge regarding obstetric dangers signs, birth preparedness and complications readiness among the primigravida mothers. 3. To find out the association between the knowledge regarding obstetric danger signs, birth preparedness and complications readiness with selected demographic variables.

Materials and Methods: It is a quantitative research approach, in which one group pre-test post-test design will be used. Purposive sampling technique will be used to collect the data. Self-instructional module and structured questionnaire will be used to assess the effectiveness of self-instructional module on knowledge regarding obstetric danger signs, birth preparedness and complication readiness among the primigravida mothers.
To Assess the Effectiveness of Patterned Breathing Technique in Reduction of Pain during First Stage of Labour among Primigravida Mothers
Authors: Lalhriatpuii . , Mahakarkar Manjusha
Published: October 2021

Background: The pain of labour is intense, but his memory decreases over time, despite this. Labour is an emotional phenomenon that encompasses both psychological and physiological processes. The active method of delivering a foetus is labour, which is characterized by frequent, painful uterine contractions that increase in frequency and intensity [5]. There are many ways, both pharmacological and non-pharmacological, to relieve work pain and help to relax. During labour and childbirth, comfort measures that offer natural pain relief can be very effective.

Methods and Materials: Quantitative Research Approach and Non-randomized control group design will be used, 56 subjects (28 in experimental group and 28 in control group) will be randomly allotted. The experimental group received breathing exercise during contraction at a rate of 45 mins interval 3 times during the active phase of labour whereas routine care will be provided to the subjects in the control group. Pain level will be assessed after each contraction with Wong weber’s facial pain scale.

Expected Outcome: This study is planned to assess the effectiveness of patterned breathing technique during first stafe of labour among primigravida mothers to reduce their pain and their pain perception. Hence, it is expected to reduce their pain perception among primigravida mothers and it will make it easy to bear the labour pain.
An Effective Stability Indicating RP-HPLC Method for Simultaneous Estimation of Lamivudine and Raltegravir in Bulk and Their Tablet Dosage Form
Authors: Kumar Gundapaneni Ravi , Rao Rayala Rama , Vardhan Vadde Megha , Abbaraju V. D. N. Kumr
Published: October 2021

Background: In the current study, asimple and specific stability indicating RP-HPLC method was developed and validated for the determination of Lamivudine and Raltegravir in bulk drug and it tablet dosage form using an UV-detector. Good separation was achieved by isocratic ally on a Zorbax SB-Phenyl (150 × 4.6 mm, 3.5 μ, 80 A°) column, using a mobile phase composition of buffer (0.1% v/v Phosporic acid in water): Acetonitrile (40:60 v/v) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The eluted analytes detected at 260 nm wavelength.

Results: Lamivudine and Raltegravir were eluted at 3.1 and 5.4 min respectively with run time 7 min. Linearity in the method was measured in the concentration range of 30 – 70 μg/mL and 60 – 140 μg/mL for Lamivudine and Raltegravirrespectively. The percentage recoveries of Lamivudine and Raltegravirwere determined to be 100.30% and 100.53%, respectively. The validation of the developed method is carried as per USFDA and ICH guidelines, and the degradants were well resolved from Raltegravir and Lamivudine peaks. The developed RP-HPLC method was highly precise, specific, sensitive, and stability indicating.

Conclusion: The results of the analysis prove that thedeveloped RP-HPLC method is simple, economical and widely acceptable, which can be used in routine quality control tests in the industry.
Implementação de Sistemas Municipais de Cultura em cidades de médio porte: desafios para a governança e para a participação social
Authors: Silveira Luciana Braga , Zanotti Larissa Antunes , Amâncio Júlia Moretto
Published: October 2021

O Plano Nacional de Cultura e o Sistema Nacional de Cultura são políticas estruturantes que preveem o fortalecimento da institucionalidade da cultura no Brasil. No município de Lavras, Minas Gerais, a publicação da lei que cria o Sistema Municipal de Cultura (SMC) ocorreu em 2013, resultado de um processo encampado pelo Ministério da Cultura (MinC). As dificuldades encontradas para a implementação desse sistema no município em questão foram experienciadas ao longo de uma pesquisa-intervenção de caráter qualitativo, demonstrando que, ainda que o MinC fornecesse os recursos técnicos e administrativos para tanto, os recursos individuais dos gestores de cultura nesse período foram mais relevantes para a adesão de Lavras ao SNC. Nesse sentido, no momento que o MinC se retira da cena, a assessoria de cultura de Lavras perde uma legitimidade já escassa e enfrenta dificuldades para a manutenção de estruturas de governança básicas, como a realização de conferências e fóruns municipais e das eleições para o Conselho Municipal do setor.
Políticas culturais para a capoeira no Brasil: a avaliação dos mestres quanto à participação social
Authors: Lacerda Alice Pires de
Published: October 2021

O que pensam os mestres sobre as políticas públicas de cultura desenvolvidas para a capoeira no Brasil? Uma extensa pesquisa de campo buscou conhecer a avaliação que os mestres de capoeira fazem das ações do Estado para a área a partir de suas diferentes condições de participação nas políticas culturais: proponentes de projetos, colaboradores da gestão e participantes de debates públicos. Os resultados mostraram que os mestres de capoeira reconhecem como importantes e necessárias as políticas culturais desenvolvidas para o campo – especialmente as do período entre 2003 e 2010 –, assim como a presença da comunidade da capoeira nos espaços de participação social. Os mestres apontaram ainda a instabilidade e a descontinuidade das políticas, além da falta de efetividade dos resultados da participação social nas ações, como desafios ainda latentes.
cineclubismo de Luiz Orlando: o ˜"desde dentro para desde fora" de um militante negro nas políticas e no mercado cinematográfico dos anos 1980
Authors: Caribé Pedro Andrade
Published: October 2021

Na década de 1980, um militante e intelectual negro, Luiz Orlando da Silva (1945- 2006), coordenou em Salvador uma rede de mais de cinquenta cineclubes e espalhada em territórios de história e demografia negra. O “desde dentro para desde fora” é um modo de viver e pensar o legado africano no Brasil, que encontra uma geração dos movimentos negros envolta em epistemologias de desnudamento do mito da democracia racial. Tal experiência permeia o Estado e suas políticas com foco na distribuição e na exibição, duas entraves no desenvolvimento do cinema nacional, baiano e independente.
olhar sobre política cultural nas fronteiras da afrodiáspora
Authors: Biriba Raissa Conrado
Published: October 2021

temática das políticas culturais tem sido alvo de debate entre pesquisadores da área. Apesar da existência de leis e políticas públicas de incentivo à cultura, seu verdadeiro papel vem sendo questionado, sobretudo diante da urgência em se transformar as estruturas sociais hegemônicas, por um movimento de descolonização dos saberes permitido pela própria ação das políticas culturais. Nesta direção, a emergência da ideia de diáspora africana – debate histórico que insurge em plena segunda década do século XXI – direciona os olhares para trilhar novos caminhos para as políticas culturais na contemporaneidade.
The potassium channel Kv1.3 as a therapeutic target for immunocytoprotection after reperfusion
Authors: Chen Yi‐Je , Cui Yanjun , Singh Latika , Wulff Heike
Published: October 2021

Objective

The voltage‐gated potassium channel Kv1.3, which is expressed on activated, disease‐associated microglia and memory T cells, constitutes an attractive target for immunocytoprotection after endovascular thrombectomy (EVT). Using young male mice and rats we previously demonstrated that the Kv1.3 blocker PAP‐1 when started 12 h after reperfusion dose‐dependently reduces infarction and improves neurological deficit on day 8. However, these proof‐of‐concept findings are of limited translational value because the majority of strokes occur in patients over 65 and, when considering overall lifetime risk, in females. Here, we therefore tested whether Kv1.3 deletion or delayed pharmacological therapy would be beneficial in females and aged animals.

Methods

Transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO, 60 min) was induced in 16‐week‐old and 80‐week‐old male and female wild‐type C57BL/6J and Kv1.3−/− mice. Stroke outcomes were assessed daily with the 14‐score tactile and proprioceptive limp placing test and on day 8 before sacrifice by T2‐weighted MRI. Young and old female mice were treated twice daily with 40 mg/kg PAP‐1 starting 12 h after reperfusion. Microglia/macrophage activation and T‐cell infiltration were evaluated in whole slide scans.

Results

Kv1.3 deletion provided no significant benefit in young females but improved outcomes in young males, old males, and old females compared with wild‐type controls of the same sex. Delayed PAP‐1 treatment improved outcomes in both young and old females. In old females, Kv1.3 deletion and PAP‐1 treatment significantly reduced Iba‐1 and CD3 staining intensity in the ipsilateral hemisphere.

Interpretation

Our preclinical studies using aged and female mice further validate Kv1.3 inhibitors as potential adjunctive treatments for reperfusion therapy in stroke by providing both genetic and pharmacological verification.
Frequency of Contraception Documentation in Women With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Rheumatoid Arthritis Within the Rheumatology Informatics System for Effectiveness Registry
Authors: Clowse Megan E. B. , Li Jing , Talabi Mehret Birru , Eudy Amanda M. , Schmajuk Gabriela
Published: October 2021

Objective

We sought to understand the frequency of contraception documentation for women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a large US electronic health record (EHR)–based registry and to identify disparities by teratogen prescription and patient race and ethnicity.

Methods

Contraception documentation from structured data fields within the Rheumatology Informatics System for Effectiveness (RISE) registry was collected for women of childbearing age (18–45 years) in 2018 who had at least 2 visits with International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision or Tenth Revision, diagnosis codes for SLE or RA (at any time). Univariate and multivariate analyses compared the frequency of contraception documentation based on patient characteristics including diagnosis, age, race, and teratogenicity of prescribed antirheumatic medications.

Results

In 2018, there were 9,826 women of childbearing age with SLE and 19,009 with RA, of whom 9.1% had any contraception documented. Rates of contraceptive documentation were significantly lower for women with SLE (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.84 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.76–0.92]). Women of Hispanic ethnicity and Black and Asian race were all less likely than White women to have contraception documentation. Teratogen prescription was associated with higher rates of contraception documentation for women with RA but not SLE (RA adjusted OR 1.31 [95% CI 1.16–1.47]; SLE adjusted OR 1.08 [95% CI 0.91–1.28]).

Conclusion

There are large gaps in contraception documentation within the RISE registry that are particularly stark among women of color. Although these data likely underestimate contraception use, they highlight that most rheumatologists do not have a systematic approach to collecting and recording this information in the EHR.
Does Low‐Level Substitution Aid in Improving Thermoelectric Properties? A Case Study of M0.1Ni0.9Cr2S4 (M = Mn, In)
Authors: Groß Hendrik , Poschmann Michael , Groeneveld Dennis , Koenig Jan D. , Kienle Lorenz , Bensch Wolfgang
Published: October 2021

The influence of low‐level metal cation substitution in the thermoelectric material NiCr2S4, treated via field‐assisted sintering, is investigated in X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies. NiCr2S4 and Mn0.1Ni0.9Cr2S4 can be synthesized and compacted as phase‐pure pellets, while In0.1Ni0.9Cr2S4 appears as a mixture of different phases. XRD investigations reveal that Mn can be incorporated into the host material's Ni lattice sites, while In is mainly incorporated into additional phases. Both NiCr2S4 and Mn0.1Ni0.9Cr2S4 form a structure of chemically segregated, nanoscale domains, which appear significantly more pronounced for Mn0.1Ni0.9Cr2S4. All materials exhibit similar, promising thermal conductivities around 2.0 W m−1 K−1, with Seebeck coefficients ranging from −55 to −65 μV K−1. Only the electrical conductivity is noticeably influenced by the substitutions, with the highest value of 504 S cm−1 obtained for the pristine material, and subsequently declining for both substituted phases.
3D Printed Reduced Graphene Oxide/Elastomer Resin Composite with Structural Modulated Sensitivity for Flexible Strain Sensor
Authors: Qian Cheng , Xiao Ting , Chen Yang , Wang Ning , Li Bo , Gao Yang
Published: October 2021

High‐performance flexible strain sensors with cost‐effective and scalable fabrication methods are highly demanded for human–machine interfaces, soft robotics, and health monitoring. Herein, a digital light processing‐based 3D printing method, which manufactures structures in a scalable and efficient layer‐by‐layer manner, is developed to prepare a type of flexible strain sensors consisting of reduced graphene oxide/elastomer resin (RGO/ER) composite as the strain sensing element and RGO/ER composite with rhombic structure as the electrode. The RGO/ER composite as the sensing element has a sensitivity of 6.723 at a linear strain detection range from 0.01% to 40% and a high mechanical stability of more than 10 000 stretching–relaxing cycles. Furthermore, through the structural modulation, the sensitivity of the composite responding to mechanical deformation is modulated and suppressed, which can be used as the electrode for the strain sensor. The all‐3D printed device with structurally modulated performance can be used for monitoring various human motions.
A Friendly Soluble Protic Additive Enabling High Discharge Capability and Stabilizing Li Metal Anodes in Li–O2 Batteries
Authors: Wan Hao , Sun Yingjie , Cai Wenlong , Shi Qianqi , Zhu Yongchun , Qian Yitai
Published: October 2021

Promoting the solution phase formation of Li2O2 rather than on the cathode surface is a key issue for high‐performance Li–O2 batteries. Protic additives have been reported to guide the discharge of Li2O2 in the electrolyte solution, while further advances are stalled by the intrinsical reactivity to Li metal to deteriorate the lifespan of Li–O2 batteries. Herein, rhodamine B (RhB), a protic additive, is first introduced into electrolyte as a phase‐transfer catalyst to achieve solution phase formation of Li2O2. The yield of Li2O2 is 90.79%, and the discharge capacity is 46 000 mAh gcarbon−1 at current density of 1000 mA gcarbon−1, which is 23‐fold higher than that of blank electrolyte. Density functional theory calculations further demonstrate the feasibility of RhB to boost solution phase discharge. Most notably, the free chlorine ion in RhB assists the in situ formation of a stable Li+‐conducting solid electrolyte interphase to protect Li anode from corrosion and dendrite formation during cycling. As a result, Li||Li symmetric cells exhibit a long cycle performance up to 1300 h at 1 mA cm−2 with low hysteresis voltage. Benefiting from the above results, Li–O2 batteries with RhB present long cycle stability.
Light‐Soaking Induced Optical Tuning in Rare Earth‐Doped All‐Inorganic Perovskite
Authors: Ouyang Yu , Jiang Xingxing , Jiang Feng , Li Lihui , Zhao Hepeng , Zhang Chi , Zheng Min , Zheng Weihao , Jiang Ying , Zhu Xiaoli , Feng Yexin , Zhuang Xiujuan
Published: October 2021

Understanding and manipulating the photoluminescence (PL) of all‐inorganic perovskites is significant in applications toward light‐emitting diodes. Doping has proved to be a very promising approach for tuning the luminescence properties of perovskites. Herein, rare earth (Er and Yb) doped 3D all‐inorganic perovskite flakes (CsPb(Cl/Br)3) are synthesized. At room temperature, they possess a narrow emission peak at 506 nm with 10 nm linewidth and a quite broad peak at 700 nm with 170 nm linewidth, which are from band‐edge PL of α‐CsPb(Cl/Br)3 and self‐trapped excitons of δ‐CsPb(Cl/Br)3, respectively. When exposing the flakes under a light‐soaking, the samples present a color tuning capability spanning from red to green by extension of the soaking time, and the emission properties can recover by removing the light‐soaking and undergoing a certain recovery time. Time‐resolved photoluminescence indicates a photoinduced reduction of defects density in the doped perovskite flakes. Based on further density functional theory calculations, a photoinduced O2‐diffused defect‐passivation mechanism is proposed. The discovery is expected to promote the optical tuning capability of the all‐inorganic perovskites and expand their potential application in optoelectronics devices.
A Flash Vacuum‐Induced Reaction in Preparing High Performance Thermoelectric Cu2S
Authors: Yu Yimeng , Yang Dongwang , Li Jun , Zhang Mingqi , Luo Hao , Liang Qi , Ye Hengqiang , Zhang Qingjie , Tang Xinfeng , Wu Jinsong
Published: October 2021

Synthesis of high‐performance thermoelectric (TE) materials with tunable compositions and nanostructures normally require sophisticated and high‐cost methods, such as high‐temperature melting and solid‐state reactions, which consume a large amount of time and energy and incur high costs. Herein, a fast, reliable, low‐cost, and environmentally friendly method, namely the vacuum‐induced method, is developed to rapidly synthesize Cu2S‐based materials with high TE performance. By mixing finely ground powders of metal‐Cu and S at room temperature, Cu2–xS compounds with a tunable x varied from 0–0.07 can be instantly formed by a quick sulfurization reaction once the mixture is placed inside a low vacuum (≈about 30 Pa and beyond). The atomic mechanism of Cu2–xS formation is studied by transmission electron microscopy, as a heterogeneous growth with the diffusion of both Cu+‐cations and S2−‐anions. In a low vacuum, the sulfur vapor is preferably attached to the copper surface with rich defected sites such as atomic vacancies, steps, and edges. The synthesized Cu2–xS powders with further plasma‐activated sintering treatment show high TE performance with ZT ≈ 1.56 around 800 K. Such a simple synthesis method may provide an effective and low‐cost way to prepare sulfides with potential applications in TE materials and solid electrolytes.
Organic Cathode Materials for Sodium‐Ion Batteries: From Fundamental Research to Potential Commercial Application
Authors: Zhang Hang , Gao Yun , Liu Xiao‐Hao , Yang Zhuo , He Xiang‐Xi , Li Li , Qiao Yun , Chen Wei‐Hua , Zeng Rong‐Hua , Wang Yong , Chou Shu‐Lei
Published: October 2021

Organic electroactive compounds hold great potential to act as cathode material for organic sodium‐ion batteries (OSIBs) because of their environmental friendliness, sustainability, and high theoretical capacity. Although some organic electrodes have been developed with good performance, their practical application is still obstructed by some inherent drawbacks such as low conductivity and solubility in organic electrolytes. In addition, research on OSIBs has been mainly focused on the performance of electrodes on the material level and neglected the trade‐off relationship between the high redox potentials and specific capacities. Almost all organic cathodes used in OSIBs lack the ability to be charged first in half‐cells because of the absence of detachable sodium ions, resulting in low attractiveness when assembling full cells with hard carbon as anode. Here, this review presents several existing reaction mechanisms in OSIBs and designs of organic cathode materials. Furthermore, strategies are proposed in order to provide guidelines for improving their performance according to some critical parameters (output voltage, specific capacity, and cycle life) in potential practical OSIBs, and some accounts of organic materials assembled in full cells are summarized. Finally, the challenges and prospects of organic electrodes for OSIBs are also discussed in this review.
In Situ Chemical Patterning Technique
Authors: Guan Yuduo , Ai Bin , Wang Zengyao , Chen Chong , Zhang Wei , Wang Yu , Zhang Gang
Published: October 2021

Plasmonic nanochemistry is employed to develop a chemical patterning technique for multiscale distributed plasmonic nanoparticle (NP) arrays by a spatial confined in situ growth process. Ag NPs grow exclusively following the maximum plasmonic field areas of Au nanohole arrays under light illumination, and Ag NP‐assembly arrays (NAAs) with controllable morphology from nanoring to nanodisk are realized precisely. Combining with conventional photolithography, letters, and patterns ranging from macroscopic to sub‐microscale are accurately obtained. The region‐specific generated Ag NAAs acted as an excellent surface‐enhanced Raman scattering substrate to realize quantitative detection and Raman imaging, which are further applied to multilevel encryption applications. Moreover, the lithography strategy shows good universality where it can be utilized to fabricate Au NAAs and polypyrrole nanodisks, and applied on flexible polydimethylsiloxane and curved glass substrates. Overall, this lithography strategy has good general applicability to obtain a multiscale engineered large‐area array of colloidal metallic NPs and organic polymers without the presence of either heat or specific adhesive layers, thus offers an approach to plasmonic engineering for a myriad of applications ranging from plasmonic anti‐counterfeit labels to electrical devices.
Transformation Metamaterials
Authors: Xu Lin , Chen Huanyang
Published: October 2021

Based on the form‐invariance of Maxwell's equations under coordinate transformations, mathematically smooth deformation of space can be physically equivalent to inhomogeneous and anisotropic electromagnetic (EM) medium (called a transformation medium). It provides a geometric recipe to control EM waves at will. A series of examples of achieving transformation media by artificially structured units from conventional materials is summarized here. Such concepts are firstly implemented for EM waves, and then extended to other wave dynamics, such as elastic waves, acoustic waves, surface water waves, and even stationary fields. These shall be cataloged as transformation metamaterials. In addition, it might be conceptually attractive and practically useful to control diverse waves for multi‐physics designs.
High‐Specificity In Vivo Tumor Imaging Using Bioorthogonal NIR‐IIb Nanoparticles
Authors: Luo Zichao , Hu Dehong , Gao Duyang , Yi Zhigao , Zheng Hairong , Sheng Zonghai , Liu Xiaogang
Published: October 2021

Lanthanide‐based NIR‐IIb nanoprobes are ideal for in vivo imaging. However, existing NIR‐IIb nanoprobes often suffer from low tumor‐targeting specificity, limiting their widespread use. Here the application of bioorthogonal nanoprobes with high tumor‐targeting specificity for in vivo NIR‐IIb luminescence imaging and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is reported. These dual‐modality nanoprobes can enhance NIR‐IIb emission by 20‐fold and MRI signal by twofold, compared with non‐bioorthogonal nanoprobes in murine subcutaneous tumors. Moreover, these bioorthogonal probes enable orthotopic brain tumor imaging. Implementation of bio‐orthogonal chemistry significantly reduces the nanoprobe dose and hence cytotoxicity, providing a paradigm for real‐time in vivo visualization of tumors.
Insights into Redox Processes and Correlated Performance of Organic Carbonyl Electrode Materials in Rechargeable Batteries
Authors: Lu Yong , Cai Yichao , Zhang Qiu , Chen Jun
Published: October 2021

Organic carbonyl electrode materials have shown great prospects for rechargeable batteries in view of their high capacity, flexible designability, and sustainable production. However, organic carbonyl electrode materials still suffer from unsatisfactory electrochemical performance, which is highly relevant to their redox processes. Herein, an in‐depth understanding on redox processes and the correlated electrochemical performance of organic carbonyl electrode materials is provided. The redox processes discussed mainly involve molecular structure evolution (intermediates), crystal structure evolution (phase transition), and charge storage mechanisms. The properties of intermediates can affect voltage, cycling stability, reversible capacity, and rate performance of batteries. Moreover, the reversible capacity/cycling stability and rate performance would be also influenced by phase transition and charge storage mechanisms (diffusion‐ or surface‐controlled), respectively. To accelerate the practical applications of organic carbonyl electrode materials, future work should focus on developing more in situ or operando characterization techniques and further understanding the intrinsic relationships between redox processes and performance. It is hoped that the work discussed herein will stimulate more attention to the detailed redox processes and their correlations with the performance of organic carbonyl electrode materials in rechargeable batteries.
Controllable SiOx Nanorod Memristive Neuron for Probabilistic Bayesian Inference
Authors: Choi Sanghyeon , Kim Gwang Su , Yang Jehyeon , Cho Haein , Kang Chong‐Yun , Wang Gunuk
Published: October 2021

Modern artificial neural network technology using a deterministic computing framework is faced with a critical challenge in dealing with massive data that are largely unstructured and ambiguous. This challenge demands the advances of an elementary physical device for tackling these uncertainties. Here, we designed and fabricated a SiOx nanorod memristive device by employing the glancing angle deposition (GLAD) technique, suggesting a controllable stochastic artificial neuron that can mimic the fundamental integrate‐and‐fire signaling and stochastic dynamics of a biological neuron. The nanorod structure provides the random distribution of multiple nanopores all across the active area, capable of forming a multitude of Si filaments at many SiOx nanorod edges after the electromigration process, leading to a stochastic switching event with very high dynamic range (≈5.15 × 1010) and low energy (≈4.06 pJ). Different probabilistic activation (ProbAct) functions in a sigmoid form are implemented, showing its controllability with low variation by manufacturing and electrical programming schemes. Furthermore, as an application prospect, based on the suggested memristive neuron, we demonstrated the self‐resting neural operation with the local circuit configuration and revealed probabilistic Bayesian inferences for genetic regulatory networks with low normalized mean squared errors (≈2.41 × 10‐2) and its robustness to the ProbAct variation.
Photocatalytic Z‐Scheme Overall Water Splitting: Recent Advances in Theory and Experiments
Authors: Abdul Nasir Jamal , Munir Akhtar , Ahmad Naveed , Haq Tanveer ul , Khan Zaibunisa , Rehman Ziaur
Published: October 2021

Photocatalytic water splitting is considered one of the most important and appealing approaches for the production of green H2 to address the global energy demand. The utmost possible form of artificial photosynthesis is a two‐step photoexcitation known as “Z‐scheme”, which mimics the natural photosystem. This process solely relies on the effective coupling and suitable band positions of semiconductors (SCs) and redox mediators for the purpose to catalyze the surface chemical reactions and significantly deter the backward reaction. In recent years, the Z‐scheme strategies and their key role have been studied progressively through experimental approaches. In addition, theoretical studies based on density functional theory have provided detailed insight into the mechanistic aspects of some breathtakingly complex problems associated with hydrogen evolution reaction and oxygen evolution reaction. In this context, this critical review gives an overview of the fundamentals of Z‐scheme photocatalysis, including both theoretical and experimental advancements in the field of photocatalytic water splitting, and suggests future perspectives.
Engineering Polysaccharide‐Based Hydrogel Photonic Constructs: From Multiscale Detection to the Biofabrication of Living Optical Fibers
Authors: Guimarães Carlos F. , Ahmed Rajib , Mataji‐Kojouri Amideddin , Soto Fernando , Wang Jie , Liu Shiqin , Stoyanova Tanya , Marques Alexandra P. , Reis Rui L. , Demirci Utkan
Published: October 2021

Solid‐state optics has been the pillar of modern digital age. Integrating soft hydrogel materials with micro/nanooptics could expand the horizons of photonics for bioengineering. Here, wet‐spun multilayer hydrogel fibers are engineered through ionic‐crosslinked natural polysaccharides that serve as multifunctional platforms. The resulting flexible hydrogel structure and reversible crosslinking provide tunable design properties such as adjustable refractive index and fusion splicing. Modulation of the optical readout via physical stimuli, including shape, compression, and multiple optical inputs/outputs is demonstrated. The unique permeability of the hydrogels is also combined with plasmonic nanoparticles for molecular detection of SARS‐CoV‐2 in fiber‐coupled biomedical swabs. A tricoaxial 3D printing nozzle is then employed for the continuous fabrication of living optical fibers. Light interaction with living cells enables the quantification and digitalization of complex biological phenomena such as 3D cancer progression and drug susceptibility. These fibers pave the way for advances in biomaterial‐based photonics and biosensing platforms.
High‐Performance Aqueous Zinc Batteries Based on Organic/Organic Cathodes Integrating Multiredox Centers
Authors: Zhao Yi , Huang Yongxin , Wu Feng , Chen Renjie , Li Li
Published: October 2021

Organic cathode materials with redox‐active sites and flexible structure are promising for developing aqueous zinc ion batteries with high capacity and large output power. However, the energy storage of most organic hosts relies on the coordination/incoordination reaction between Zn2+/H+ and a single functional group, which result in inferior capacity, low discharge platform, and structural instability. Here, the lead is taken in in situ electrodepositing stable poly(1,5‐naphthalenediamine, 1,5‐NAPD) as interlayer and excellent conductive poly(para‐aminophenol, pAP) skin onto nanoporous carbon in sequence for the structural optimization of organic/organic cathodes, designated as C@multi‐layer polymer. In situ analyses, electrochemical measurements, and theoretical calculation prove that both CO and CN active groups can act as a strong electron donor as well as Zn2+ host during the discharging process. Benefiting from the synergistic effect of the double organic layers, C@multi‐layer polymer delivers high capacity, long lifespan, and excellent capacity reservation even at large discharge current and commercial mass loading (>10 mg cm−2). Introducing multiredox centers into one organic composites will provide new insights into designing advanced Zn–organic batteries.
A Super‐Stretchable and Highly Sensitive Carbon Nanotube Capacitive Strain Sensor for Wearable Applications and Soft Robotics
Authors: Hu Xiaoguang , Yang Furui , Wu Mengxi , Sui Yu , Guo Di , Li Ming , Kang Zhan , Sun Jining , Liu Junshan
Published: October 2021

The study of flexible and stretchable strain sensors is growing rapidly owing to the demands for human motion detection, human–machine interaction, and soft robotics. However, super‐stretchable and highly sensitive strain sensors with high linearity and low hysteresis are especially lacking, which therefore limits the use of soft strain sensors in varied practical applications. The stretchability and sensitivity of the capacitive strain sensor are constrained by the material characteristics and structure of parallel plate capacitor (theoretical gauge factor [GF] is 1). To address these limitations, a super‐stretchable and highly sensitive capacitive strain sensor composed of two strips of wrinkled carbon nanotubes‐based electrodes separated by a tape dielectric, is presented. By integrating nanomaterials and wrinkled film structure, this device achieves a GF of 2.07 at 300% strain with excellent linearity and negligible hysteresis. This is the first type of capacitive strain sensors that can achieve super‐stretchability and sensitivity simultaneously. Additionally, the sensor has a fast signal response time of ≈80 ms, and good mechanical durability during 1000 stretching and releasing cycles. The authors demonstrate the use of this sensor as a versatile wearable device for human motion tracking, and as a smart real‐time monitoring device for soft pneumatic robots.
Cyclometalated Platinum(II) β‐Diketonate Complexes with Extremely High External Quantum Efficiency for White Organic Light‐Emitting Diodes
Authors: Kang Jisu , Zaen Rena , Park Ki‐Min , Lee Kyung Hyung , Lee Jun Yeob , Kang Youngjin
Published: October 2021

Three cyclometalated Pt(II) β‐diketonate compounds with sky‐blue to green phosphorescence are prepared by modifying the substituents of the 2′,6′‐dimethoxy‐2,3′‐bipyridine (OMe2pypy, C^N) chelate ligand. These molecules have the general formula Pt(C^N)(O^O), where O^O = acetylacetonate; one is unsubstituted (1), one possesses a trimethylsilyl (TMS) substituent (2), and the other is substituted with dimesitylboron (BMes2) (3). The intermolecular interactions of 2 are greater than those of 1 and 3, based on color mapping and surface area results from Hirshfeld analyses. Time‐dependent density functional theory calculations reveal that the electronic transitions of monomeric 1 and 3 are predominantly intraligand or ligand‐to‐ligand charge transfer mixed with metal‐to‐ligand charge transfer transitions, while for the dimeric forms, dimeric 2, an additional strong metal–metal‐to‐ligand charge transfer transition is observed. White organic light‐emitting diode (WOLED) devices using an 1,3‐bis(N‐carbazolyl)benzene (mCP) or mCP:TSPO1(diphenyl[4‐(triphenylsilyl)phenyl]phosphine oxide) mixed host and 1–3 as dopants are fabricated. With a dopant concentration of 20 wt% in the emissive layer, compound 2 exhibited bright yellow–green emission with a maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 24.9%. This result corresponds to one of the highest EQEs among the reported C^N chelated Pt(II) β‐diketonate‐based WOLEDs.
Highly Efficient and Solution‐Processed Single‐Emissive‐Layer Hybrid White Organic Light‐Emitting Diodes with Tris(triazolo)triazine‐Based Blue Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Emitter
Authors: Chen Xinrui , Wang Shengyue , Lee Ha Lim , Lee Jun Yeob , Liao Xiaoqing , Li Lu , Zhu Weiguo , Wang Yafei
Published: October 2021

Solution processable organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) based on thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitters show inferior efficiency to devices produced via vacuum deposition. In this context, solution‐processed hybrid white OLEDs are fabricated using a TADF molecule and iridium complex as the blue and red dopants, respectively. First, solution‐processed OLEDs employing a tristriazolotriazine‐based TADF as the blue dopant are designed and fabricated, yielding maximum external quantum efficiency (EQEmax) of 23.23% with an emission peak at 492 nm. Use of the optimized tristriazolotriazine‐based TADF OLED structure and additional red phosphor achieves highly efficient white light emission with an EQEmax of 22.57%, stable Commission International de l'Eclairage (CIE) coordinates of (0.34, 0.34), a correlated color temperature of 5000 K, and a color rendering index of 73. Impressively, accelerated lifetime testing shows the white OLED possessing a lifetime to 80% of initial luminance (LT80) of 40 h, and an LT50 of 298 h. To the best of knowledge, the device performance demonstrated in this work is one of the best comprised of solution‐processed blue and fluorescent‐phosphorescent hybrid white OLEDs. This research provides a reliable method for high efficiency solution processable blue TADF and TADF‐phosphorescent hybrid OLEDs.
Photonic Platforms Using In‐Plane Optical Anisotropy of Tin (II) Selenide and Black Phosphorus
Authors: Jo Seong Soon , Wu Changming , Zhu Linghan , Yang Li , Li Mo , Jaramillo Rafael
Published: October 2021

Among layered and 2D semiconductors, there are many with substantial optical anisotropy within individual layers, including group‐IV monochalcogenides MX (M = Ge or Sn and X = S or Se) and black phosphorous (bP). Recent work has suggested that the in‐plane crystal orientation in such materials can be switched (e.g., rotated through 90°) through an ultrafast, displacive (i.e., nondiffusive), nonthermal, and lower‐power mechanism by strong electric fields, due to in‐plane dielectric anisotropy. In theory, this represents a new mechanism for light‐controlling‐light in photonic integrated circuits (PICs). Herein, numerical device modeling is used to study device concepts based on switching the crystal orientation of SnSe and bP in PICs. Ring resonators and 1 × 2 switches with resonant conditions that change with the in‐plane crystal orientations SnSe and bP are simulated. The results are broadly applicable to 2D materials with ferroelectric and ferroelastic crystal structures including SnO, GeS, and GeSe.
Control of Emission Characteristics of Perovskite Lasers through Optical Feedback
Authors: Palatnik Alexander , Cho Changsoon , Zhang Chonghe , Sudzius Markas , Kroll Martin , Meister Stefan , Leo Karl
Published: October 2021

Recent progress on perovskite lasers has shown the large potential for such materials to become a basis for commercially available microlasers in the near feature. Herein, distributed feedback (DFB) lasers based on vacuum‐processed are investigated. The expansion of the DFB structure from 1D to 2D suppresses parasitic amplified spontaneous emission (ASE), resulting in the multiple‐time‐enhanced lasing output. Further, the photoluminescence and lasing behavior of 1D and 2D DFB structures are explored through the k‐space imaging analysis.