bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Benefitting productivity and the environment: Current and future maize cropping systems improve yield while reducing nitrate load
Authors: Dohleman Frank G. , Barten Ty J. , Helland Nicholas , Dahal Subash , Arrizia Juan Lopez , Gehlhar Sarah , Foresman Charles , Mack David , Gillespie Kelly , Archontoulis Sotirios , Castellano Michael J.
Published: January 2024

Increases in cereal crop yield per area have increased global food security. “Era” studies compare historical and modern crop varieties in controlled experimental settings and are routinely used to understand how advances in crop genetics and management affect crop yield. However, to date, no era study has explored how advances in maize (Zea mays L.) genetics and management (i.e., cropping systems) have affected environmental outcomes. Here, we developed a cropping systems era study in Iowa, USA, to examine how yield and nitrate losses have changed from “Old” systems common in the 1990s to “Current” systems common in the 2010s, and to “Future” systems projected to be common in the 2030s. We tested the following hypothesis: If maize yield and nitrogen use efficiency have improved over previous decades, Current and Future maize systems will have benefits to water quality compared to Old systems. We show that not only have maize yield and nitrogen use efficiency (kg grain kg−1 N), on average, improved over time but also yield‐scaled nitrate load + soil nitrate was reduced by 74% and 91% from Old to Current and Future systems, respectively. Continuing these trajectories of improvement will be critical to meet the needs of a growing and more affluent population while reducing deleterious effects of agricultural systems on ecosystem services.
Soil organic carbon data comparison after 85 years and new 13C/12C compositions: The case study of the Ferrara province (Northeastern Italy)
Authors: Salani Gian Marco , Bianchini Gianluca , Brombin Valentina , Natali Claudio
Published: January 2024

The main causes of soil organic matter (SOM) loss are land use (e.g., conventional agriculture) and land‐use change (e.g., conversion of wetlands into croplands). Before World War II and until 1960s, the Ferrara province in the Emilia‐Romagna region (Northeast Italy) enlarged its agricultural production area through drainage of wetlands. After that, the newly drained area was put into intensive agricultural production with practices that proved to be unsustainable, and whose negative effects (depletion of soil organic carbon [SOC] and emissions of greenhouse gases [GHGs], e.g., CO2) have never been quantified. In this work, we estimated the changes in SOC 85 years after the drainage of the palustrine environment, by comparing 1937 SOC measurements with those made in 2022. Comparison of SOC maps from 1937 and 2022 indicates that most of the area suffered a significant SOC loss (∆OC85 years from 0.05 to 18.57 wt%), except for northern areas in which the peat nature of the soil has been preserved. We also measured the 13C/12C on the 2022 soil samples and generated a present‐day map of the SOC isotopic ratios, which could be used in future as a benchmark to evaluate changes in soil carbon stocks and fluxes.
Assessing Postoperative Motor Risk in Insular Low‐Grade Gliomas Patients: The Potential Role of Presurgery MRI Corticospinal Tract Shape Measures
Authors: Yang Zuo‐cheng , Yeh Fang‐cheng , Xue Bo‐wen , Yin Chuan‐dong , Song Xin‐yu , Li Gen , Deng Zheng‐hai , Sun Sheng‐jun , Hou Zong‐gang , Xie Jian
Published: January 2024

Background

Insular low‐grade gliomas (LGGs) are surgically challenging due to their proximity to critical structures like the corticospinal tract (CST).

Purpose

This study aims to determine if preoperative CST shape metrics correlate with postoperative motor complications in insular LGG patients.

Study Type

Retrospective.

Population

42 patients (mean age 40.26 ± 10.21 years, 25 male) with insular LGGs.

Field Strength/Sequence

Imaging was performed using 3.0 Tesla MRI, incorporating T1‐weighted magnetization‐prepared rapid gradient‐echo, T2‐weighted space dark‐fluid with spin echo (SE), and diffusional kurtosis imaging (DKI) with gradient echo sequences, all integrated with echo planar imaging.

Assessment

Shape metrics of the CST, including span, irregularity, radius, and irregularity of end regions (RER and IER, respectively), were compared between the affected and healthy hemispheres. Total end region radius (TRER) was determined as the sum of RER 1 and RER 2. The relationships between shape metrics and postoperative short‐term (4 weeks) and long‐term (>8 weeks) motor disturbances assessing by British Medical Research Council grading system, was analyzed using multivariable regression models.

Statistical Testing

Paired t‐tests compared CST metrics between hemispheres. Logistic regression identified associations between these metrics and motor disturbances. The models were developed using all available data and there was no independent validation dataset. Significance was set at P < 0.05.

Results

Short‐term motor disturbance risk was significantly related to TRER (OR = 199.57). Long‐term risk significantly correlated with IER 1 (OR = 59.84), confirmed as a significant marker with an AUC of 0.78. Furthermore, the CST on the affected side significantly had the greater irregularity, larger TRER and RER 1, and smaller span compared to the healthy side.

Data Conclusion

Preoperative evaluation of TRER and IER 1 metrics in the CST may serve as a tool for assessing the risk of postoperative motor complications in insular LGG patients.

Level of Evidence

2

Technical Efficacy

Stage 2
Efficacy and Safety of Elobixibat in Parkinson's Disease with Chronic Constipation: CONST‐PD Study
Authors: Hatano Taku , Oyama Genko , Shimo Yasushi , Ogaki Kotaro , Nishikawa Noriko , Nakamura Ryota , Tsunemi Taiji , Ogawa Takashi , Eguchi Hiroto , Daida Kensuke , Kurita Naohide , Ueno Shin‐ichi , Fukae Jiro , Sako Wataru , Shiina Kenta , Nakajima Sho , Oji Yutaka , Wakamori Ryo , Saiki Shinji , Nishioka Kenya , Okuzumi Ayami , Taniguchi Daisuke , Takeshige‐Amano Haruka , Fuse Atsuhito , Nakajima Asuka , Kano Masayoshi , Kamo Hikaru , Yamashita Yuri , Shindo Atsuhiko , Yanagisawa Naotake , Hattori Nobutaka
Published: January 2024

Background

Chronic constipation is a common digestive complication of Parkinson's disease (PD).

Objectives

To verify the usefulness of elobixibat, an ileal bile acid transporter inhibitor, for chronic constipation in PD.

Methods

This double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study consisted of a 2‐week observation/washout period and a 4‐week treatment period. All patients received a Bowel Movement Diary at Week ‐2 and were allocated to elobixibat (10 mg) or placebo at Week 0. Patients visited at Weeks 2 and 4 to report daily spontaneous bowel movements (SBM), stool form, drug use, quality of life (QOL), and safety. Changes in these parameters were assessed.

Results

The study included 38 patients in the elobixibat group and 39 in the placebo group, and 37 each completed the study. SBM frequency/week (mean ± standard deviation) increased significantly from 4.2 ± 2.6 at baseline to 5.9 ± 3.2 at Week 4 in the elobixibat group (P = 0.0079), but not in the placebo group (4.5 ± 2.7 to 5.3 ± 3.5; P = 0.0889). On analysis of covariance, the between‐group difference in frequency changes at Week 4 (primary endpoint) was not significant after adjustment by baseline and sex (point estimate = 0.8; 95% confidence interval = −0.57 to 2.09, P = 0.2601), although a significant difference (P = 0.0011) was evidenced at Week 1 by a similar analysis. Stool form and scores of satisfaction and stigma were improved by elobixibat. Adverse events were as previously reported.

Conclusions

Elobixibat improved the SBM frequency, though the defined primary endpoint was not evidenced. QOL parameters (stool consistency and treatment satisfaction) were also improved. Elobixibat may have therapeutic benefits in PD patients suffering from chronic constipation.

Trial Registration Information

Trial Registration Number: JPRN‐jRCTs031200172 (submitted: October 26, 2020; first patient enrolment: December 23, 2020; https://jrct.niph.go.jp/en-latest-detail/jRCTs031200172).
Effect of risk aversion on the performance of supply chain and carbon reducing initiatives under asymmetric information
Authors: Wu Qunli , Xu Xinxin , Lin Ronghao , Tian Ye
Published: January 2024

This paper considers a supply chain in which the risk‐averse manufacturer invests in carbon emission reduction (CER) technology and the risk‐averse retailer makes green sales efforts to reduce carbon footprint. The results show that when the information is symmetrical, the two‐part tariff contract can eliminate the double‐marginalization effect. Moreover, when the information is asymmetric, the manufacturer encourages retailer to report true market size and improve green sales effort by providing an incentive contract. This menu of contract ensures the manufacturer obtains more utilities with low carbon emissions. In addition, through the analysis of risk aversion coefficients, we find that under centralized decision, with the improvement of risk aversion awareness, both supply chain players will reduce the green efforts. However, under asymmetric information, compared with the manufacturer, the retailer's higher risk aversion will have an opposite effect on the equilibrium decision‐making, utilities, and carbon footprint of the supply chain.
Big data analytics and corporate financing constraints: Evidence from a developing country
Authors: Chen Hongzhang , Ai Suchen , Xiong Xiancheng , Feng Dawei
Published: January 2024

Using the panel data of A‐share listed companies from 2011 to 2020, we explore the effect of big data analytics (BDA) development on corporate financing constraints. We innovatively design quantitative indicators of BDA with the help of textual methods and found that BDA can significantly mitigate corporate financing constraints after a series of robust and endogeneity test. Moreover, BDA can promote the corporate's total factor productivity (TFP) and increase the financing capacity of corporation. Overall, BDA will significantly ease corporate financing constraints.
Gain of regularity for a coupled system of generalized nonlinear Schrödinger equations
Authors: Nina Mollisaca Raul , Sepúlveda Cortés Mauricio , Véjar Asem Rodrigo , Vera Villagran Octavio
Published: January 2024

In this paper, we study the smoothness properties of solutions to a one‐dimensional coupled nonlinear Schrödinger system equations that describe some physical phenomena such as propagation of polarized laser beams in birefringent Kerr medium in nonlinear optics. We show that the equations dispersive nature leads to a gain in regularity for the solution. In particular, if the initial datum
possesses certain regularity and sufficient decay as
, then the solution
will be smoother than
for
, where
is the existence time of the solution.
Addressing the algebraic structure of a linear mixed model with balanced design towards model extension
Authors: Santos Carla , Dias Cristina , Brites Nuno M. , Nunes Célia , Mexia João Tiago
Published: January 2024

Linear mixed models provide a general and versatile approach for analyzing data collected in experiments, suitable for modeling repeated, longitudinal, or clustered observations. Important results for estimation can be obtained when subclasses of these mixed models are considered, based on some characteristics of their algebraic structure. The class of the models with commutative orthogonal block structure, for which least squares estimators are the best linear unbiased estimators, is of great interest. In an approach based on the algebraic structure of the models, and availing ourselves of U matrices, we study the possibility of extending a balanced mixed model, which could lead to a model with commutative orthogonal block structure.
Hub‐and‐spoke social networks among Indonesian cocoa farmers homogenise farming practices
Authors: Matous Petr , Bodin Örjan
Published: January 2024

Smallholder farms support the livelihoods of 2.5 billion people and their decisions on how to manage their land has profound consequences for the environment and the food security of billions of people. However, farmers' values, norms and resulting management practices are usually not formed in isolation.

Triangulating multiple analytical, modelling and simulation methods, we investigated if and how social influence exerted through peer‐to‐peer information exchange affect soil nutrition management among 2734 Indonesian smallholder cocoa farmers across 30 different villages.

The results show that the relational structures of these village‐based social networks strongly relate to farmers' use of fertiliser. In villages with highly centralised networks (i.e. hub‐and‐spoke networks where one or very few farmers holds disproportionately central position in the village network), a large majority of farmers report the same fertiliser use, and that practice is typically to avoid using fertilisers. By contrast, in less centralised networks, fertiliser use varies widely.

The observed community‐level distributions of fertiliser use can be most closely reproduced through simulations by complex contagion mechanisms in which social influence is only exerted by opinion leaders that are much more socially connected than others. However, even such leaders' abilities to influence others to change fertiliser use may be limited in practice.

The combination of our quantitative and qualitative findings provides significant policy implications for development programs targeting smallholder farming communities. An important practical lesson is that common interventions which primarily engage socially central farmers may not be effective in stimulating desired transitions in social‐ecological systems.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Face validity of the Kids’ ITP Tools (KIT) in the era of thrombopoietin receptor agonists
Authors: McGuire Catherine , Young Nancy L. , Livingston Joel , Dhir Vinita , Blanchette Victor S. , Kirby‐Allen Melanie , Klaassen Robert J.
Published: January 2024

The Kids’ ITP Tools (KIT) is a questionnaire to assess quality of life of children with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). The aim of this study was to update this previously validated tool to align with changes in clinical practice, specifically, treatment with thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO‐RAs). Children aged 1–18 with ITP and/or their families were recruited to participate in interviews to review the KIT. Twenty‐six interviews were conducted. Based on interview data from children and families, current guidelines, and expert opinion, five changes were made to the KIT in order to improve its face validity.
Strain sensor based on polyurethane/carbon nanotube elastic conductive spiral yarn with high strain range and sensitivity
Authors: Nie Hao , Chen Zhengwen , Tang Haoming , Ren Yu , Liu Wanwan
Published: January 2024

Wearable flexible electronic strain sensor devices have gained significant attention in recent years due to their potential for detecting human motion in various scenarios. However, the development of strain sensors with high sensitivity across a wide range of strains remains a major challenge. We present herein a novel strain sensor based on a graded structure thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)/carbon nanotube (CNT) composite yarn with significantly enhanced mechanical performance imparted by the designed structure. The twisted CNTs/TPU spiral yarn demonstrated a fracture elongation of up to 1066% while maintaining charge conductivity under high‐strain conditions. Moreover, it exhibited sensitive changes in resistance versus tensile strain, excellent repeatability, and stability. As a strain sensor, it achieved a gauge factor (GF) of 67.2 within a strain range below 50%, reaching 51.7 in a strain range exceeding 150%. With a fast response time of 0.12 s, it enabled accurate identification of movements in different body parts. These findings highlight the broad application potential of the designed spiral yarn strain sensor in areas such as human motion monitoring and human–computer interaction.

Highlights

Prepares a flexible strain sensor with graded‐structure (CNT‐fiber‐yarn).

Shows high sensitivity and a wide strain response range

Reveals the conductive model of strain sensor.
Self‐healing polymers for aviation applications and their impact on circular economy
Authors: Pandey Sanjiv Kumar , Mishra Sunidhi , Ghosh Sourav , Rohan Rupesh , Maji Pradip K.
Published: January 2024

Polymers have swiftly replaced conventional metallic materials in aviation due to their lightweight and easy processability. Usages of polymers are presently mostly limited to non‐critical components. Flight safety is paramount in aviation and overrides all other factors. The aviation industry is averse to the usage of polymeric materials in critical component applications owing to the nature of failure being catastrophic. The review has covered various polymeric component failures and their root cause reasons. To overcome the inherent weakness in polymers currently used, a strategy to mimic nature is being explored by researchers. Self‐healing polymers can overtake metals if coupled with safe fail technology. Such materials have additional advantages in terms of enhanced longevity and ultimate life cycle. This review critically analyzed various factors driving research and development of self‐healing material for aviation applications. Various extrinsic and intrinsic self‐healing materials have been reviewed in the present work. Composites with an extrinsic self‐healing mechanism possess good healability and strength and can potentially replace current materials. Further, candidate polymeric materials with intrinsic self‐healing capability for the aviation field are extensively reviewed. Various aviation‐grade polymers like epoxy, Poly(methyl methacrylate), polycarbonate, and elastomeric materials with possible chemistries of intrinsic healing like Diel‐Alder reaction, Shape memory assisted self‐healing and covalently adaptable networks have been critically examined. Authors believe that extrinsic self‐healing technology is mature enough for use in the secondary structure of aircraft. At the same time, present technologies of intrinsic materials are not mature enough for flight safety reasons in aircraft; however, they are candidate materials for UAVs. Fast‐growing aviation field, coupled with the entry of UAVs, calls for environmentally sustainable material support. Therefore, this review explores materials within the sphere of high mechanical properties coupled with a low environmental impact.
Characteristics of the 3D‐printed composite material in different raster orientations under thermal effects
Authors: Fan Fang‐Yu , Lin Wei‐Chun , Huang Chiung‐Fang , Shen Yung‐Kang , Lai Jing‐Shiuan , Wang Liping
Published: January 2024

In this study, polylactic acid (PLA) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) were used to fabricate composite materials with different raster orientations by a 3D printing process. The idea of this study came from the fact that in nature, many plants have vertical or horizontal lines on their leaves or branches. The authors made use of the composite material of a material structure under a thermal effect to achieve the material concept. Finally, their characteristics were observed by applying a thermal effect, tensile tests (to evaluate toughness), and a dynamic mechanical analysis (tan δ to evaluate energy absorption). After a thermal effect (temperature) from a heat source was applied, it was found that the material exhibited negative Poisson's ratio (NPR) characteristic. A single material with two layers on 00 raster orientation of a material in this study had the maximum tan δ (energy absorption), an NPR, and toughness regardless of the kind of material. Among the composite materials, 0° raster orientation of them also had a larger NPR, and the absolute value of Poisson's ratio decreased as the temperature increased.

Highlights

The innovative two‐layer composite material fabricated by 3D printing.

The material characteristics with various raster orientations are discussed.

PLA0 has the largest tan δ, toughness, and negative Poisson's ratio.
Sterilization effect and mechanism exploration of a mode‐combination method on Staphylococcus aureus in thick ice layers in a large sealed freezer
Authors: Chen Min , Liu Dingxin , Wang Zifeng , Zhang Jishen , Lin Jiao , Zhao Pengyu , Li Tianhui , Zhang Hao , Guo Li , Rong Mingzhe
Published: January 2024

Cold‐chain transport is a crucial cross‐regional transmission pathway for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and other microorganisms. In this study, the mode‐combination method is adopted for sterilization in a 1.138 m3 freezer by mixing effluent gases of NOx and O3 mode air discharges. The mixed gas can effectively inactivate Staphylococcus aureus in 10 mm ice within 3 h, which significantly surpasses O3 gas. Moreover, the inactivation effect of the mixed gas can penetrate deep into ice, contrasting with the surface effect of O3 gas. This disparity is linked to the difference in penetration depth of strong oxidizing long‐lived reactive species. This study validates the sterilization efficacy of cold atmospheric plasma in practical cold‐chain environment, critical for curbing infectious disease transmission.
Phases, Electrical Properties, and Stability of High‐Entropy Pyrochlores [(La0.25Nd0.25Sm0.25Eu0.25)1−xCax]2Zr2O7−δ Oxides
Authors: Wei Huina , Chen Wenzhuo , Hou Keke , Duan Xiaoxu , Liu Laijun , Xu Jungu
Published: January 2024

Series of Ca2+ ion‐doped high‐entropy [(La0.25Nd0.25Sm0.25Eu0.25)1−xCax]2Zr2O7−δ (x = 0.025, 0.05, 0.075, 0.1, and 0.2) materials are prepared through a traditional solid‐state reaction method. The solubility of Ca is revealed to be x = 0.075, which is higher than that in the cases with single lanthanide on the A‐site of A2Zr2O7‐based pyrochlore materials. The study of electrical properties discloses that the conductivities of [(La0.25Nd0.25Sm0.25Eu0.25)1−xCax]2Zr2O7−δ increased with Ca‐doping level and dominated by oxide ion conduction, without noticeable proton conduction. Good chemical stability is revealed for these materials under a wet CO2 atmosphere.
Chronic kidney disease in Sri Lanka: Health systems challenges of patients on hemodialysis
Authors: Weerakoon D. C. R. , Siriwardana E. P. E. D. Z. , Jayasekara J. M. K. B. , Damayanthi H. D. W. T. , Dorji Thinley , Lucero‐Prisno Don Eliseo
Published: January 2024

Chronic kidney disease has now attained epidemic proportions, placing a significant strain on Sri Lanka's healthcare system. The North Central Province of Sri Lanka has been afflicted by this disease for decades, confronting multiple challenges. Hemodialysis is the primary form of renal replacement therapy available to end‐stage renal disease patients in Sri Lanka. Providing hemodialysis sessions free of cost in the government health sector comes with major costs on the healthcare system. As a country with a low‐to‐middle income status undergoing through reeling economic crisis, providing free healthcare in government hospitals and increasing the capacity and quality of treatment facilities for the growing number of patients with chronic kidney disease will remain a major challenge for the coming decade. The high cost for a single dialysis session, lack of resources and workforce to meet demand, occupational barriers of patients, and the economic burdens including out‐of‐pocket expenditures significant barriers in achieving quality treatment sessions and the quality of life of patients. In addition, the absence of a consistent screening program has contributed to the progression of the disease ending up requiring renal replacement therapy. This article suggests potential strategies that can be implemented to mitigate the aforementioned problems and enhance the overall health, quality of life, and survival of patients with chronic kidney disease and those who receive hemodialysis.
Promoted Overall Water Splitting Catalytic Activity and Durability of Ni3Fe Alloy by Designing N‐Doped Carbon Encapsulation
Authors: Jeong Dong In , Lee Ui Young , Kim Hyunchul , Bang Hyeon‐Seok , Choi Hyung Wook , Kim Jiwon , Choi Hyuck Gu , Oh Hyung‐Suk , Kang Bong Kyun , Yoon Dae Ho
Published: January 2024

Combining an electrochemically stable material onto the surface of a catalyst can improve the durability of a transition metal catalyst, and enable the catalyst to operate stably at high current density. Herein, the contribution of the N‐doped carbon shell (NCS) to the electrochemical properties is evaluated by comparing the characteristics of the Ni3Fe@NCS catalyst with the N‐doped carbon shell, and the Ni3Fe catalyst. The synthesized Ni3Fe@NCS catalyst has a distinct overpotential difference from the Ni3Fe catalyst (ηOER = 468.8 mV, ηHER = 462.2 mV) at (200 and −200) mA cm−2 in 1 m KOH. In stability test at (10 and −10) mA cm−2, the Ni3Fe@NCS catalyst showed a stability of (95.47 and 99.6)%, while the Ni3Fe catalyst showed a stability of (72.4 and 95.9)%, respectively. In addition, the in situ X‐ray Absorption Near Edge Spectroscopy (XANES) results show that redox reaction appeared in the Ni3Fe catalyst by applying voltages of (1.7 and −0.48) V. The decomposition of nickel and iron due to the redox reaction is detected as a high ppm concentration in the Ni3Fe catalyst through Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP−OES) analysis. This work presents the strategy and design of a next‐generation electrochemical catalyst to improve the electrocatalytic properties and stability.
Multiple Magneto‐Optical Microrobotic Collectives with Selective Control in Three Dimensions Under Water
Authors: Sun Mengmeng , Yang Shihao , Jiang Jialin , Wang Qianqian , Zhang Li
Published: January 2024

Inspired by natural swarms, various methods are developed to create artificial magnetic microrobotic collectives. However, these magnetic collectives typically receive identical control inputs from a common external magnetic field, limiting their ability to operate independently. And they often rely on interfaces or boundaries for controlled movement, posing challenges for independent, three‐dimensional(3D) navigation of multiple magnetic collectives. To address this challenge, self‐assembled microrobotic collectives are proposed that can be selectively actuated in a combination of external magnetic and optical fields. By harnessing both actuation methods, the constraints of single actuation approaches are overcome. The magnetic field excites the self‐assembly of colloids and maintains the self‐assembled microrobotic collectives without disassembly, while the optical field drives selected microrobotic collectives to perform different tasks. The proposed magnetic‐photo microrobotic collectives can achieve independent position and path control in the two‐dimensional (2D) plane and 3D space. With this selective control strategy, the microrobotic collectives can cooperate in convection and mixing the dye in a confined space. The results present a systematic approach for realizing selective control of multiple microrobotic collectives, which can address multitasking requirements in complex environments.
Magnetic Field Enhanced Oxygen Reduction Reaction via Oxygen Diffusion Speedup
Authors: Yang Yongqiang , Han Guojun , Xie Minghui , Silva Gabriel Vinicius De Oliveira , Miao Guo‐Xing , Huang Yunhui , Fu Jing
Published: January 2024

The mass‐transfer of oxygen in liquid phases (including in the bulk electrolyte and near the electrode surface) is a critical step to deliver oxygen to catalyst sites (especially immersed catalyst sites) and use the full capacity of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Despite the extensive efforts of optimizing the complex three‐phase reaction interfaces to enhance the gaseous oxygen transfer, strong limitations remain due to oxygen's poor solubility and slow diffusion in electrolytes. Herein, a magnetic method for boosting the directional hydrodynamic pumping of oxygen toward immersed catalyst sites is demonstrated which allows the ORR to reach otherwise inaccessible catalytic regions where high currents normally would have depleted oxygen. For Pt foil electrodes without forced oxygen saturation in KOH electrolytes, the mass‐transfer‐limited current densities can be improved by 60% under an external magnetic field of 435 mT due to the synergistic effect between bulk‐ and surface‐magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flows induced by Lorentz forces. The residual magnetic fields are further used at the surface of magnetic materials (such as CoPt alloys and Pt/FeCo heterostructures) to enhance the surface‐MHD effect, which helps to retain part of the ORR enhancement permanently without applying external magnetic fields.
Effect of Hydrogel Matrix and Fluid Shear Stress on the Behavioral Regulation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Authors: Kang Shenghui , Wu Xiaoyu , Qi Hang , Yang Kai , Feng Ruoyu , Guo Wenlan , Sun Chen , Duan Xuexin , Wang Yanyan
Published: January 2024

Development of a micromodel that recapitulates multiple mechanical properties to mimic the complex mechanical microenvironment is crucial for cell‐based research. Herein, a microsystem combining structure of hydrogel matrix and acoustic streaming (AS) to mimic the cellular microenvironment is proposed, which can realize multiplex cellular mechanical cues, including matrix stiffness, fluid shear stress (FSS) generated by AS, and matrix roughness. The results demonstrate that the cell spreading area enlarges with the increase of matrix stiffness, and cell spreading is encouraged by integrin β1 cluster to polymerize actin when combines the hydrogel matrix with FSS. In addition, FSS has the influence on the roughness of the hydrogel, which further affects the cell morphology and mechanical properties, inducing mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) differentiation into astrocytes rapidly. Meanwhile, cell migration is also enhanced by FSS stimulation, particularly, undifferentiated cells at 22 kPa hydrogel have the fastest migration speed, and change the movement model from contact inhibition to contact stimulation migration. Especially, matrix roughness and stiffness dominantly control of cell spreading and differentiation, whereas FSS affects cell migration. In conclusion, the microsystem in this work shows superior performance in regulating the spreading, differentiation, and migration of MSCs, which provides a new tool for cell‐microenvironment study.
The Heterogeneous Packaging of A 3 × 3 Mini‐LED Array for Smart Contact Lens Display Applications
Authors: Tsai Cheng‐Wei , Yeh Guan‐Ting , Hsu Shun‐Hsi , Wu Shin‐Ho , Huang Yu‐Hsuan , Chiueh Herming , Chiou Jin‐Chern
Published: January 2024

For the needs of augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR), smart contact lenses (SCL) have become an important platform as a display source in the future consumer market. Accordingly, this paper demonstrates a display device based on contact lenses. This device integrates a 3 × 3 Mini‐LED display array, a micro antenna, and a driver and transmission chip and is packaged in a smart contact lens made of hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA). It is note that in order to simultaneously meet the goals of wearing comfort, biocompatibility, wireless energy transmission and adjustable display functions, the final package thickness needs to be less than 200 μm. Here, we use heterogeneous packaging technology to connect the driver and transmission chip and the Mini‐LED display array with metal wires on the flexible substrate, and use metal wires on the same conductive layer to design the antenna required for wireless energy transmission. In order to complete the above functions, we use 920 MHz RFID technology as the energy source for wireless energy transmission. When the antenna of the RFID reader is 2 cm away from the smart contact lens, the designed receiving chip can receive 100 μW of energy. After converting this energy to DC 3 V, it can drive Mini‐LED with a current of about 30 μA, and the mini‐LED display array can be instantly controlled to display different contents by transmitting display commands through the RFID protocol. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Prehospital hemorrhage management in low‐ and middle‐income countries: A scoping review
Authors: Kulkarni Ashwin J. , Batra Amber , Eisner Zachary J. , Delaney Peter G. , Pine Haleigh , Klapow Maxwell C. , Raghavendran Krishnan
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs) account for 90% of deaths due to injury, largely due to hemorrhage. The increased hemorrhage mortality burden in LMICs is exacerbated by absent or ineffective prehospital care. Hemorrhage management (HM) is an essential component of prehospital care in LMICs, yet current practices for prehospital HM and outcomes from first responder HM training have yet to be summarized.

Methods

This review describes the current literature on prehospital HM and the impact of first responder HM training in LMICs. Articles published between January 2000 and January 2023 were identified using PMC, MEDLINE, and Scopus databases following PRISMA‐ScR guidelines.

Inclusion criteria spanned first responder training programs delivering prehospital care for HM. Relevant articles were assessed for quality using the Newcastle‐Ottawa scale.

Results

Of the initial 994 articles, 20 met inclusion criteria representing 16 countries. Studies included randomized control trials, cohort studies, case control studies, reviews, and epidemiological studies. Basic HM curricula were found in 15 studies and advanced HM curricula were found in six studies. Traumatic hemorrhage was indicated in 17 studies while obstetric hemorrhage was indicated in three studies. First responders indicated HM use in 55%–76% of encounters, the most frequent skill they reported using. Mean improvements in HM knowledge acquisition post‐course ranged from 23 to 58 percentage points following training for pressure and elevation, gauze application, and tourniquet application.

Conclusions

Our study summarizes the current literature on prehospital HM in LMICs pertaining to epidemiology, interventions, and outcomes. HM resources should be a priority for further development.
Highly sensitive detection of ions and dopamine molecules by a hydrogen‐bonded organic framework
Authors: Wang Zuen , Shen Penglei , Zeng Ni , Chen Faqiang , Xu Hui , Xu Shiqing
Published: January 2024

Hydrogen‐bonded organic frameworks (HOFs) represent an emerging class of porous crystalline materials, have attracted growing interest in the field of fluorescence sensing area due to their distinctive luminescent characteristics, large surface area and abundant recognition sites. Herein, the porous material HOF‐BTB‐NH2 featuring one‐dimensional pore structure was successfully synthesized through hydrogen‐bonding self‐assembly using the organic building molecule 2,4,6‐Tris(4‐carboxyphenyl)aniline (BTB‐NH2) in methanol. HOF‐BTB‐NH2 showed excellent sensitivity and selectivity for metal ion Cu2+ and anion CO32−, and the limits of detection (LOD) reached 0.23 μM and 0.33 μM, respectively. In addition, HOF‐BTB‐NH2 was employed as a biosensing material for the highly selective and sensitive detection of dopamine (DA). The synthesis of porous HOF‐BTB‐NH2 and the excellent sensing performance greatly expanded the application of hydrogen‐bonded organic framework materials in fluorescence sensing.
Introduction: Knowledge and Digital Technology
Authors: Panitz Robert , Glückler Johannes
Published: January 2024

Development happens as a society undergoes structural transformation. Structural change in a society’s culture, institutions, and technologies is driven by new ways of thinking, new knowledge, and innovations. Although the latest wave of technological change, often referred to as the fifth Kondratieff cycle (Schumpeter, 1961), has been transforming world society since the 1990s, innovative uses of digital technology have continued to yield radical and disruptive changes. Digitization has been central to shaping new ways of observing (e.g., by collecting big data and augmenting reality), knowing (e.g., supported by machine learning), and transforming (e.g., by automation and robotics) our environment. As humanity uses its knowledge to advance technologies, which in turn have an effect on human knowledge and our ways of learning, we have dedicated this book to the reflexive relationship between knowledge and technology. In addition, geography is an important, yet frequently neglected, context for the ways in which people and organizations generate new knowledge, how they adopt and use new technologies, and how the use of these technologies affects their knowledge. Coincidently, technological advances have an immediate impact on human knowledge of geography and space. Whereas people once used maps and compasses to find their way around, today GPS-based navigation services take over all the work, with the effect of gradually diminishing both human cognition of space (Yan et al., 2022) and spatial knowledge acquisition (Brügger et al., 2019). This 19th volume in the Springer Series of Knowledge and Space has brought together leading interdisciplinary expertise, new empirical evidence, and conceptual propositions on the conditions, impact, and future potential of digital technologies for varying geographies of human society.
Relational Spaces of Digital Labor
Authors: Burns Ryan
Published: January 2024

The distinction between everyday life and work is gradually diminishing, as productive capacities are increasingly hard-coded into quotidian activities bearing little resemblance to colloquial understandings of “work”. Digital labor research has made important contributions to our understanding of these processes and their attendant relations, inequalities, and implications. However, this body of research has insufficiently attended to the spaces through which this labor takes place. On the one hand, most research foregoes the spatial forms and relations through which the labor occurs. On the other hand, when the spaces of digital labor are considered, it is usually done through its “absolute” spaces that rely on Euclidean geometries. In this chapter, I argue that a relational spaces framework is needed to advance understanding of digital labor. A relational framework conceives of actors and practices as constituted through networks and connections, and space as produced for phenomena like digital labor. With relationality, digital labor is not confined by nation-state boundaries nor as occurring only at a simple location on the globe, but instead as constituted by intertwined positionalities that span the globe. A relational spatial framework also enables an analysis of digital labor as immaterial, cognitive, attentional, and symbolic labor, rather than as a discrete, remunerated act.
The Promise and Prospects of Blockchain-Based Decentralized Business Models
Authors: Tumasjan Andranik
Published: January 2024

The emergence of Bitcoin and its underlying blockchain technology have enabled novel solutions for creating, transacting, and validating digital assets. Inspired by these developments, a variety of project teams have been building blockchain-based “decentralized” business models (BDBM), marketplaces, and organizations. However, ambiguity and confusion exist around the meaning of “decentralized” in the context of blockchain technology-based business models in both research and practice. Moreover, the implications of BDBM’s mainstream adoption from a mass customers’ perspective are insufficiently understood. This article discusses and develops a two-dimensional framework explicating the notion of decentralization in BDBM. Based on this typology, the article analyzes the implications, prerequisites, and desirability of decentralization for BDBMs’ mainstream adoption.
Big Data without Big Brothers: The Potential of Gentle Rule Enforcement
Authors: Erev Ido , Hreib Manal , Teodorescu Kinneret
Published: January 2024

The authors argue that a wise use of big data technology can facilitate the enforcement of laws and regulations in two ways: it can reduce the necessity of severe and costly punishments, and can reduce invasion of privacy. This suggestion rests on two key observations. First, examining basic decision research reveals that experience leads people to underweight rare events and select the options that lead to the best payoffs in most cases. Second, most consequential violations start with less important violations that, if detected, can be stopped without collecting personal data. In other words, the authors propose focusing on the development of gentle rule enforcement technology that generalizes the success behind the seat-belt alarm system.
Data-Based Frictions in Civic Action: Trust, Technology, and Participation
Authors: Powell Alison B.
Published: January 2024

In order to address climate change and persistent air pollution, many cities have developed policy plans to reduce vehicle through-traffic on residential roads. These are ‘smart city’ policies in the sense that they use data-sets and predictions related to air quality, traffic levels and climate change models to derive policy positions. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, several London inner-city governments introduced low-traffic neighbourhood policies as ‘experimental’ interventions, consulting residents after introducing measures temporarily. Vociferous opposition emerged to these schemes, coalescing on social media including Twitter and Facebook groups. This essay examines the nature of citizen action in a data-based environment, exploring how citizen responses to smart governance create the conditions for political polarization, because not enough opportunity is provided for frictions or feelings of dissent. Although previous work on citizen action and smart cities has identified that permitting frictions between these different actors might increase the depth or legitimacy of citizen involvement in data-based policies (Powell, Undoing optimization: civic action in smart cities. Yale University Press, New Haven, 2021), analysis of posts made on a Facebook group discussion opposition to data-driven Low Traffic Neighbourhood policies reveals that different qualities of feeling influence the extent to which policy interventions are perceived as legitimate. Without the capacity to have opposition listened to or heard in a data-driven ‘smart governance’ setting, people begin to consider all government-collected data to be illegitimate, generate their own vernacular evidence, and form shared identities based on perceived alienation from elite decision-makers. The results of this analysis suggest that data frictions need to be understood in relation to affective politics. Without space for strong feelings to become part of a socially validated process, these harden into antagonism and animosity, leaving space for political polarization.
Dense geodesics, tower alignment, and the Sharpened Distance Conjecture
Authors: Etheredge Muldrow
Published: January 2024

Abstract

The Sharpened Distance Conjecture and Tower Scalar Weak Gravity Conjecture are closely related but distinct conjectures, neither one implying the other. Motivated by examples, I propose that both are consequences of two new conjectures: 1. The infinite distance geodesics passing through an arbitrary point ϕ in the moduli space populate a dense set of directions in the tangent space at ϕ. 2. Along any infinite distance geodesic, there exists a tower of particles whose scalar-charge-to-mass ratio (–∇log m) projection everywhere along the geodesic is greater than or equal to $$ 1/\sqrt{d-2} $$
1
/

d
−
2

. I perform several nontrivial tests of these new conjectures in maximal and half-maximal supergravity examples. I also use the Tower Scalar Weak Gravity Conjecture to conjecture a sharp bound on exponentially heavy towers that accompany infinite distance limits.
Lorentzian Robin Universe
Authors: Ailiga Manishankar , Mallik Shubhashis , Narain Gaurav
Published: January 2024

Abstract

In this paper, we delve into the gravitational path integral of Gauss-Bonnet gravity in four spacetime dimensions, in the mini-superspace approximation. Our primary focus lies in investigating the transition amplitude between distinct boundary configurations. Of particular interest is the case of Robin boundary conditions, known to lead to a stable Universe in Einstein-Hilbert gravity, alongside Neumann boundary conditions. To ensure a consistent variational problem, we supplement the bulk action with suitable surface terms. This study leads us to compute the necessary surface terms required for Gauss-Bonnet gravity with the Robin boundary condition, which wasn’t known earlier. Thereafter, we perform an exact computation of the transition amplitude. Through ħ → 0 analysis, we discover that the Gauss-Bonnet gravity inherently favors the initial configuration, aligning with the Hartle-Hawking no-boundary proposal. Remarkably, as the Universe expands, it undergoes a transition from the Euclidean (imaginary time) to the Lorentzian signature (real time). To further reinforce our findings, we employ a saddle point analysis utilizing the Picard-Lefschetz methods. The saddle point analysis allows us to find the initial configurations which lead to Hartle-Hawking no-boundary Universe that agrees with the exact computations. Our study concludes that for positive Gauss-Bonnet coupling, initial configurations corresponding to the Hartle-Hawking no-boundary Universe gives dominant contribution in the gravitational path-integral.
Massive ambitwistor-strings; twistorial models
Authors: Albonico Giulia , Geyer Yvonne , Mason Lionel
Published: January 2024

Abstract

Ambitwistor-strings are chiral strings whose targets are spaces of complex massless particles, and whose correlation functions directly lead to simple, compact formulae for scattering amplitudes and loop integrands for massless gauge and gravity theories. This article extends the framework to massive particles in 4d, obtained via a symmetry reduction of higher dimensional massless models based on twistors. The target space of the resulting models turns out to be the phase space of 4d massive particles in a twistorial representation, and the worldsheet theory agrees with the two-twistor string previously introduced by the authors. The paper has been written so as to be largely self-contained. We discuss two interesting classes of massive theories in detail. For gauge theories, the reduction procedure is explicitly adapted to supersymmetric gauge theories on the Coulomb branch. For supergravity theories, the reduction is adapted to give theories obtained via Cremmer, Scherk & Schwartz (CSS) reduction, with broken supersymmetry and massive multiplets. The reduction procedure gives explicit and systematic rules to obtain amplitudes for all these theories and their amplitudes from two compact master formulae that have their origins in 6d based on the polarized scattering equations; in the CSS case the formulae are new, and in both cases their derivation is systematic. The freedom to include mass allows the definition of a loop insertion operator, thereby extending the formulae to 1-loop. Unlike the massless 4d twistorial models, these all display a perfect double copy structure, here incorporating massive particles in the relationship between gauge theory and CSS supergravity amplitudes.