bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimized Hybrid Block Methods with High Efficiency for the Solution of First-order Ordinary Differential Equations
Authors: S. O. Gbenro,
Published: February 2025

This article presents optimized hybrid block methods for solving first-order ordinary differential equations. The derivation employed the interpolation and collocation techniques using a three-parameter approximation. The hybrid points were obtained by minimizing the local truncation error of the main method. The obtained schemes were reformulated to reduce the number of function evaluations. The discrete schemes were derived as a by-product of the continuous scheme and used simultaneously to solve first-order initial value problems (IVPs). The schemes are self-starting, consistent, zero-stable, and convergent. The numerical results were compared with some existing techniques and found to be more accurate and efficient.
Bridging Mental Health Gaps for Underserved Communities through Trauma-Informed Care
Authors: Adeyemo Idowu. R. , Ukagwu Chijindu. A. , Asiedu Lydia. A.
Published: February 2025

Aim: To review how trauma-informed care frameworks have been implemented in practice to improve gaps in mental health among the underserved populations across the United States, with emphasis on the integration of CBT and culturally adapted modalities.
Study Design: A literature-based review concerning systemic barriers, effective interventions, and scalability of the trauma-informed approach among the underserved population.
Methodology: A systematic review of the peer-reviewed literature between 2019 and 2024 through databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Cochrane Library. The review targeted interventions for trauma-related mental health problems, including intimate partner violence, exposure to violence during youth, and systemic inequities.
Results: The study revealed that trauma-informed care, together with cognitive behavioral treatment and community-based interventions, showed a great enhancement regarding mental health for underserved populations. Early interventions, along with culturally competent strategies, have been identified to reduce the long-term effects of trauma, reduce disparities, and increase access to mental health services. Interventions incorporating group therapy adapted to cultural contexts demonstrated measurable success in fostering engagement and recovery.
Conclusions: Trauma-informed care provides a practical framework for bridging mental health gaps in underserved communities. It is necessary to address structural and cultural barriers to equitable access to effective and sustainable mental health solutions.
Synergistic Influence of Bacterial and Fungal Inoculum on Microbial Biomass Carbon, Phosphorus and Nitrogen
Authors: Chaudhary Monika , Garg Amar P. , Jabborova Dilfuza
Published: February 2025

Background: Soil microbial biomass plays a crucial role in nutrient cycling, storing large amount of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus essential for soil fertility, while also driving organic matter decomposition and supporting plant nutrient uptake. Beneficial microorganisms like Azotobacter chroococcum and Serendipita indica have demonstrated plant growth-promoting properties by enhancing nutrient uptake, stress resistance, and microbial biomass. Their synergistic use aligns with sustainable agriculture practices, reducing dependency on chemical fertilizers and improving soil health.
Materials and Methods: The study utilized cultures of S. indica and A.chroococcum grown in jaggery- based broth for bulk multiplication were made during the present study. Tests in the field were carried out during May–October 2023, with treatments: Control (C), T1 (A. chroococcum), T2 (S. indica), and T3 (combination). Microbial biomass carbon (MBC), Phosphorus (MBP), and Nitrogen (MBN) were estimated using fumigation extraction techniques. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA and Duncan’s Multiple Range Test at a 5% significance level.
Results: The study revealed substantial increase in soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC), phosphorus (MBP), and nitrogen (MBN) in rice varieties PB 1121 and PB 1718 following treatment with S. indica and A. chroococcum. The study revealed significant increases in soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC), phosphorus (MBP), and nitrogen (MBN) with S. indica and A. chroococcum treatments in rice varieties PB 1121 and PB 1718. For PB 1121, MBC, MBP, and MBN increased by 67, 218, and 67.5%, respectively, with A. chroococcum treatment, while combined application increased the following by 122, 273, and 123%. Similarly, for PB 1718, A. chroococcum increased MBC, MBP, and MBN by 146, 54, and 148%, respectively, with combined treatment synergistically increased them by 213, 147, and 216% as compared to control.
Conclusion: The co-inoculation of A. chroococcum and S. indica significantly enhanced soil microbial biomass carbon, phosphorus, and nitrogen compared to individual treatments or control. This synergistic effect supports nutrient cycling and sustainable agricultural practices by reducing chemical fertilizer use and improving soil fertility. The findings highlight the potential of microbial inoculants in developing bio-fertilizers and fostering long-term agricultural sustainability. The research highlights the importance of bio-fertilizers as a sustainable alternate to chemical fertilizers, which have detrimental effect on the environment and living beings. By demonstrating the synergistic benefits of A. chroococcum and S. indica in enhancing soil fertility, it highlights the potential to reduce chemical fertilizer dependency for farmers. The development of cost-effective, accessible, and easy-to-use bio-fertilizers stands with the urgent need for eco-friendly agricultural solutions.
Evaluation of Fungicides, Organic Amendments and Botanicals against Powdery Mildew of Black Gram in Field Condition
Authors: Meena Sakshi , Meena Mahendra Kumar , Bunkar R. N. , Saini Deepak Kumar
Published: February 2025

The study presents an attempt to explain the potential control of powdery mildew disease of black gram caused by obligate fungus Erysiphe polygoni. It causes both quantitative and qualitative losses of grains. The fungicides, botanicals and organic amendments which found best effective were further tested as foliar spray alone as well as in integration of each other for powdery mildew disease suppression. The susceptible black gram variety ‘PU 31’ was used for this experiment. Lowest powdery mildew severity percent disease index (PDI) after third spray (10.67%) with maximum per cent efficiency of disease control (PEDC) (85.19%) of powdery mildew disease and 9.3 q/ha black gram yield was recorded by foliar spray of Propiconazole (13.9%) 15% W/V + Difenconazole (13.9%) 15% W/V 0.1%+ Neem leaf extract 5% + Panchgavya 10% as compared to control with highest (72%) powdery mildew disease severity with lowest 4.12 q/ha yield.
Bio Efficacy of Emamectin Benzoate 5 SG and 1.9 EC against Shoot and Fruit Borers of Okra
Authors: R Sheeba Jasmine
Published: February 2025

Okra also known as Bhendi (Abelomoschus esculentus L) is heavily infested by a variety of insect pests causing considerable damage and yield reduction.  Among the pests, borers are most dreaded pests of national importance. Emamectin benzoate is an avermectin effective against several pests in number of crops. Two field experiments were conducted to evaluate the bio efficacy of emamectin benzoate against borers of bhendi. Emamectin benzoate 5 SG and 1.9 EC @ 7,11 15 and 20 g a.i. ha-1 were tested in comparison with Proclaim 5 SG @ 11 g a.i. ha-1, chlorpyrifos 20 EC 200 g a..i ha-1 and untreated check. Observations on larval population and fruit damage were made prior to spraying and on 3, 7, 10 and 14 days after spraying from 10 randomly tagged plants per plot and the mean worked out. The fruit damage was assessed based on bore holes found on the fruit. The total number of fruits and infested fruits in ten randomly selected plants per plot were counted and the per cent fruit damage was worked out and the yield of bhendi fruits was also recorded.  Results clearly showed that emamectin benzoate 5 SG @ 20 g a.i.ha-1 followed by 1.9 EC @ 20 g a.i.ha-1 were found to be more effective in controlling bhendi borers.  The order of efficacy was emamectin benzoate 5 SG at 20 g a.i.ha-1 ³ emamectin benzoate 1.9 EC at 20 g a.i.ha-1 >emamectin benzoate 5 SG at 15 g a.i.ha-1 ³ emamectin benzoate 1.9 EC at 15 g a.i.ha-1>emamectin benzoate 5 SG at 11 g a.i.ha-1 ³ Proclaim 5 SG at 11 g a.i.ha-1 ³  emamectin benzoate 1.9 EC at 11g a.i.ha-1 >emamectin benzoate 5 SG at 7 g a.i.ha-1 ³ emamectin benzoate 1.9 EC at 7 g a.i.ha-1 > chlorpyrifos 20 EC 200 g a..i ha-1
Effect of Chitosan Fortified Briquettes and Nano Urea Formulations on Growth, Yield and Biochemical Parameters of Sweet Corn (Zea mays saccharata L.)
Authors: S.S. Patil , T.N. Thorat , S.H. Lohale , P.S. Bodake , S.G. Dalvi , V.A. Rajemahadik
Published: February 2025

Aims: The field experiment was conducted to study the effect of chitosan fortified briquettes and nano urea formulations on growth, yield and biochemical parameters of sweet corn (Zea mays saccharata L.).
Study Design: The field trial was laid out by using randomized block design comprising eleven treatments replicated thrice.
Place and Duration of Study: The field experiment was carried out at the Instructional Farm, Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Dapoli, Ratnagiri, Maharashtra during Rabi 2023-24.
Methodology: The treatments of the experimental trial were T1 : Control, T2 : 100% RDF through straight fertilizer (SF), T3 : 100%  RDF through Konkan Annapurna Briquettes (KAB), T4 : 100% RDF through Chitosan fortified briquettes (CFB), T5 : 75% RDF through CFB, T6  : T5 + Foliar application of synthesized Nano urea @ 30 ppm, T7 : T5 + Foliar application of synthesized Nano urea @ 60 ppm, T8 : T5 + Foliar application of synthesized Nano urea @ 90 ppm, T9 : T5 + Foliar application of synthesized Nano urea conjugate @ 30 ppm, T10 : T5 + Foliar application of synthesized Nano urea conjugate @ 60 ppm, T11 : T5 + Foliar application of synthesized Nano urea conjugate @ 90 ppm. Sweet corn var. Sweet-70 was used for the trial. Seeds were sown at spacing of 60 cm × 20 cm. The recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) used in the experiment was 200:60:60 NPK kg ha-1. Briquette application was done at 15 and 40 DAS and foliar application of nano urea was done at 25 and 50 DAS.
Results: Results revealed that significantly higher values of growth, yield attributes, yield and biochemical parameters of sweet corn was observed in treatment 75 % RDF (CFB) + foliar application of synthesized nano urea conjugate @ 30 ppm (T9) over rest of the treatments. The green cob and green stover yield of sweet corn was increased in treatment T9 by 152.93% and 145.97% over control (T1), respectively.
Conclusion: Application of 75% RDF through chitosan fortified briquettes (at 15 and 40 DAS) along with foliar application of 30 ppm synthesized nano urea conjugate twice at 25 and 50 DAS might increase the growth, yield attributes, yield and biochemical parameters of sweet corn.
An Analysis of Migration during Covid-19 Pandemic
Authors: Kumari Meenu
Published: February 2025

The COVID-19 pandemic has been negatively impacting the entire world economy. The plight of migrants and their struggle to return home in the period of lockdown has been highlighted during lockdown. The migrants see no future in returning to cities; they want to go back to their homeland and are prepared to make the very minimum of money that is possible there. The COVID-19 pandemic has generally resulted in reverse migration, which has highlighted the importance of addressing migrant workers' socioeconomic needs and promoting inclusive and sustainable development in both urban and rural areas.
This paper analyses the scenario of migration in India during the pandemic period and the evaluation of current policy responses by the central government and state governments. These initiatives supported the reintegration of returning migrant workers into the local economy, promoted sustainable livelihoods through employment and entrepreneurship, and helped offer immediate assistance to them. The welfare of millions of migrant workers and the management of the migration crisis depended heavily on cooperation between the central and state governments. The purpose of this article is to discuss the crises of reverse migration amid Covid 19 and the initiatives taken by the Government of India. The article uses PLFS 2020-21 data to analyze the issue.
It observes that the female migration rates have been steadily increasing during the period 2020-21. The majority of migrants in intra-state movement are women, and the majority of migrants in inter-state migration are men. The primary causes of migration brought on by COVID-19 include health issues, the departure of a parent or other family member who earns money, job loss or a lack of work opportunities.
Sadism in the context of intergroup aggression
Authors: Dyduch‐Hazar Karolina
Published: January 2024

People more readily harm members of outgroups than ingroups, often enjoying the inflicted agony. Yet it remains unclear how these malevolent tendencies towards outgroups relate to sadism. Sadists often harm others, driven by a desire to feel pleasure from their suffering. In attempt to bridge these two lines of research, this work examined relationships between sadism and aggression against ingroup and outgroup members in three studies (total N = 755) that focused on two groups with a history of conflict (i.e., the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland). Across all studies, British participants’ sadistic tendencies were just as strongly linked to their aggression against ingroup members (i.e., British partners) as to their aggression against outgroup members (i.e., Irish partners). Despite this lack of a preference for greater outgroup aggression, they tended to enjoy outgroup aggression more than ingroup aggression, especially at its extreme levels. These findings extend works linking sadism to aggression into the domain of intergroup relations and bind together research on sadism and intergroup schadenfreude.
Provoked and unprovoked aggression in toddlerhood: Evaluating measurement invariance and latent means across gender, age, and time
Authors: Peets Kätlin , Del Vecchio Tamara
Published: January 2024

This paper re‐examined the factor structure of a recently developed parent report of aggression, the Provoked and Unprovoked Aggression Questionnaire, and evaluated measurement invariance and latent mean differences across gender, age, and time. Participants were 333 mothers of toddlers (younger age group: n = 167, 53.9% boys, Mage Time 1 = 18.30 months, SD = 0.45; older age group: n = 166, 48.8% boys, Mage Time 1 = 24.29 months, SD = 0.38) who filled out provoked (eight items) and unprovoked (five items) aggression scales twice over a 3‐month period. We found evidence for the configural, metric, and scalar measurement invariance—a requirement needed to make a meaningful comparison between aggression means across gender, age groups, and time. When comparing means for boys and girls, gender differences emerged earlier for unprovoked than provoked aggression. Also, the frequency of provoked aggression increased among younger, but not older, toddlers. By developing a brief parental report of aggression in toddlerhood, we hope to fill a void of early aggression measures that tap the contextual variability in aggressive behaviors, and thereby stimulate more research to further our understanding of different types of aggression and their correlates in toddlerhood.
Referral Patterns for People With Musculoskeletal Complaints in General Practice: An Analysis From an Australian Primary Care Database
Authors: Haas Romi , Gorelik Alexandra , O'Connor Denise A. , Pearce Christopher , Mazza Danielle , Bennell Kim L. , Hinman Rana S. , Buchbinder Rachelle
Published: January 2024

Objective

Our objective was to examine referral patterns for people with musculoskeletal complaints presenting to Australian general practitioners (GPs).

Methods

This longitudinal analysis from the Population Level Analysis Reporting (POLAR) database includes 133,279 patients with low back (≥18 years old) or neck, shoulder, and/or knee (≥45 years old) complaints seen by 4,538 GPs across 269 practices from 2014 through 2018. Referrals to allied health and medical and/or surgical specialists were included. We determined the number of patients with referrals and GPs who made referrals and examined their timing, associations, and trends over time.

Results

A total of 43,666 patients (33%) received and 3,053 GPs (67%) made at least one referral. Most referrals were to allied health (n = 25,830, 19%), followed by surgeons (n = 18,805, 14%). Surgical referrals were higher for knee complaints (n = 6,140, 24%) compared with low back, neck, and shoulder complaints (range 8%–15%). The referral category varied predominantly by body region followed by gender, socioeconomic status, and primary health network. Time to allied health referral ranged between median (interquartile range [IQR]) 14 days (0–125 days) for neck complaints and 56 days (5–177 days) for knee complaints. Surgical referrals occurred sooner for those with knee complaints (15 days, IQR 0–128 days). There was a 2.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.9%–2.4%) annual increase in the proportion of allied health referrals and a 1.9% (95% CI 1.6%–2.1%) decrease in surgical referrals across all sites.

Conclusion

One‐third of patients receive, and two‐thirds of GPs make, referrals for musculoskeletal complaints. Understanding the reasons for referral and differences between GPs who refer more and less frequently may identify factors that explain variations in practice.
High Selectivity toward Electrochemical Ozone Production of Sb‐SnO2 with Cu and Ni Co‐doped
Authors: Jin Beichen , Cheng Shaoan , Sun Yi , Xie Pengfei , Li Longxin
Published: January 2024

Ni‐Sb‐SnO2(Ni‐ATO) can generate ozone electrochemically which compensates the energy efficiency. However, the selectivity of electrochemical ozone production (EOP) on Ni‐ATO surface is yet insufficient for practical application. In this study, ATO with Cu and Ni co‐doped (CuNi‐ATO) is prepared to enhance the electrochemical performance and stability of ozone generation. CuNi‐ATO achieves the highest known current efficiency of 71% for EOP under acidic conditions, which is 2.4 times higher than that of Ni‐ATO. Efficient EOP is maintained with diverse pH, temperature, and electrolytes. Notably, the service lifetime of CuNi‐ATO is 2.7 times longer than that of Ni‐ATO. DFT calculations further reveal that ATO with Cu and Ni co‐doped presents weakened adsorption toward O*, O2*, and O3*. The spontaneous combination of O* and O2* is the main reason for enhanced EOP capacity on CuNi‐ATO. This work provides a novel insight into designing materials for efficient ozone production.
Pump‐Less, Recirculating Organ‐on‐Chip (rOoC) Platform to Model the Metabolic Crosstalk between Islets and Liver
Authors: Aizenshtadt Aleksandra , Wang Chencheng , Abadpour Shadab , Menezes Pedro Duarte , Wilhelmsen Ingrid , Dalmao‐Fernandez Andrea , Stokowiec Justyna , Golovin Alexey , Johnsen Mads , Combriat Thomas M. D. , Røberg‐Larsen Hanne , Gadegaard Nikolaj , Scholz Hanne , Busek Mathias , Krauss Stefan J. K.
Published: January 2024

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), obesity, and metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) are epidemiologically correlated disorders with a worldwide growing prevalence. While the mechanisms leading to the onset and development of these conditions are not fully understood, predictive tissue representations for studying the coordinated interactions between central organs that regulate energy metabolism, particularly the liver and pancreatic islets, are needed. Here, a dual pump‐less recirculating organ‐on‐chip platform that combines human pluripotent stem cell (sc)‐derived sc‐liver and sc‐islet organoids is presented. The platform reproduces key aspects of the metabolic cross‐talk between both organs, including glucose levels and selected hormones, and supports the viability and functionality of both sc‐islet and sc‐liver organoids while preserving a reduced release of pro‐inflammatory cytokines. In a model of metabolic disruption in response to treatment with high lipids and fructose, sc‐liver organoids exhibit hallmarks of steatosis and insulin resistance, while sc‐islets produce pro‐inflammatory cytokines on‐chip. Finally, the platform reproduces known effects of anti‐diabetic drugs on‐chip. Taken together, the platform provides a basis for functional studies of obesity, T2DM, and MASLD on‐chip, as well as for testing potential therapeutic interventions.
A Comprehensive Review of Advancements and Challenges from Solid–Solid to Liquid–Solid Triboelectric Nanogenerators
Authors: Cheng Guanggui , Zhang Tianhao , Fu Xianpeng , Hua Jing , Dai Wei , Cao Jie , Sun Wan , Ding Jianning
Published: January 2024

As the increasing scarcity of fossil fuels and the ever‐present need to address environmental concerns are faced, the development of efficient and sustainable energy harvesting techniques gains more and more significance. The liquid–solid triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) has emerged as a promising solution for harvesting mechanical energy in water. Although the liquid–solid contact electrification technique is studied by numerous researchers, there is still a need to enhance energy harvesting efficiency in liquid–solid TENG. This comprehensive review discusses recent advances in kinetic energy harvesting from water, focusing on the solid–solid and liquid–solid interaction mechanisms when using TENGs as an energy conversion medium. The review summarizes the recent developments in structure design and material improvements, as well as hybridization with other generators as methods of enhancing the output performance of TENG. Besides discussing advancements of TENG, the potential impact and future challenges of liquid–solid TENG are highlighted. This paper provides insight into the current state of knowledge and the future directions of research in the field of liquid–solid TENG energy harvesting.
AuNPs/CNC Nanocomposite with A “Dual Dispersion” Effect for LDI‐TOF MS Analysis of Intact Proteins in NSCLC Serum Exosomes
Authors: Shan Liang , Qiao Yongxia , Ma Lifang , Zhang Xiao , Chen Changqiang , Xu Xin , Li Dan , Qiu Shiyu , Xue Xiangfei , Yu Yongchun , Guo Yinlong , Qian Kun , Wang Jiayi
Published: January 2024

Detecting exosomal markers using laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (LDI‐TOF MS) is a novel approach for examining liquid biopsies of non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) samples. However, LDI‐TOF MS is limited by low sensitivity and poor reproducibility when analyzing intact proteins directly. In this report, gold nanoparticles/cellulose nanocrystals (AuNPs/CNC) is introduced as the matrix for direct analysis of intact proteins in NSCLC serum exosomes. AuNPs/CNC with “dual dispersion” effects dispersed and stabilized AuNPs and improved ion inhibition effects caused by protein aggregation. These features increased the signal‐to‐noise ratio of [M+H]+ peaks by two orders of magnitude and lowered the detection limit of intact proteins to 0.01 mg mL–1. The coefficient of variation with or without AuNPs/CNC is measured as 10.2% and 32.5%, respectively. The excellent reproducibility yielded a linear relationship (y = 15.41x – 7.983, R2 = 0.989) over the protein concentration range of 0.01 to 20 mg mL–1. Finally, AuNPs/CNC‐assisted LDI‐TOF MS provides clinically relevant fingerprint information of exosomal proteins in NSCLC serum, and characteristic proteins S100 calcium‐binding protein A10, Urokinase plasminogen activator surface receptor, Plasma protease C1 inhibitor, Tyrosine‐protein kinase Fgr and Mannose‐binding lectin associated serine protease 2 represented excellent predictive biomarkers of NSCLC risk.
A tumor‐targeting nano‐adjuvant for in situ vaccine based on ultrasound therapy
Authors: Cui Linjie , Yao Haochen , Xue Fuxin , Sun Jiali , Ren Xitong , Zheng Mengfei , Liu Zhilin , Tang Zhaohui
Published: January 2024

Ultrasound‐generated antigens combined with TLR7/8 agonists as adjuvants have demonstrated significant anti‐tumor efficacy as an in‐situ vaccine. However, the use of TLR7/8 agonists can cause severe inflammatory responses. In this study, we present a novel tumor‐targeting nano‐adjuvant termed aPDL1‐PLG/R848 NPs, which are composed of aPDL1 antibody, Fc‐III‐4C peptide linker (Fc‐linker) and poly(L‐glutamic acid)‐grafted‐R848. Under ultrasound irradiation, antigen‐presenting cells activate immune mechanisms in vivo under dual stimulation of in situ antigens and immune adjuvants. The strategy inhibits primary tumor growth and induces a strong antigen‐specific immune memory effect to prevent tumor recurrence in vivo. This work offers a safe and potent platform for an in situ cancer vaccine based on ultrasound therapy.
The Retaining Pse5Ac7Ac Pseudaminyltransferase KpsS1 Defines a Previously Unreported glycosyltransferase family (GT118)
Authors: Walklett Abigail J. , Flack Emily K. P. , Chidwick Harriet S. , Hatton Natasha E. , Keenan Tessa , Budhadev Darshita , Walton Julia , Thomas Gavin H. , Fascione Martin A.
Published: January 2024

Cell surface sugar 5,7‐diacetyl pseudaminic acid (Pse5Ac7Ac) is a bacterial analogue of the ubiquitous sialic acid, Neu5Ac, and contributes to the virulence of a number of multidrug resistant bacteria, including ESKAPE pathogens Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii. Despite its discovery in the surface glycans of bacteria over thirty years ago, to date no glycosyltransferase enzymes (GTs) dedicated to the synthesis of a pseudaminic acid glycosidic linkage have been unequivocally characterised in vitro. Herein we demonstrate that A. baumannii KpsS1 is a dedicated pseudaminyltransferase enzyme (PseT) which constructs a Pse5Ac7Ac‐α(2,6)‐Glcp linkage, and proceeds with retention of anomeric configuration. We utilise this PseT activity in tandem with the biosynthetic enzymes required for CMP‐Pse5Ac7Ac assembly, in a two‐pot, seven enzyme synthesis of an α‐linked Pse5Ac7Ac glycoside. Due to its unique activity and protein sequence, we also assign KpsS1 as the prototypical member of a previously unreported GT family (GT118).
Helitwistacenes—Combining Lateral and Longitudinal Helicity Results in Solvent‐Induced Inversion of Circularly Polarized Light
Authors: Shioukhi Israa , Batchu Harikrishna , Schwartz Gal , Minion Louis , Deree Yinon , Bogoslavsky Benny , Shimon Linda J. W. , Wade Jessica , Hoffman Roy , Fuchter Matthew J. , Markovich Gil , Gidron Ori
Published: January 2024

Helicity is expressed differently in ortho‐ and para‐fused acenes—helicenes and twistacenes, respectively. While the extent of helicity is constant in helicenes, it can be tuned in twistacenes, and the handedness of flexible twistacenes is often determined by more rigid helicenes. Here, we combine helicenes with rigid twistacenes consisting of a tunable degree of twisting, forming helitwistacenes. While the X‐ray structures reveal that the connection does not affect the helicity of each moiety, their electronic circular dichroism (ECD) and circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) spectra are strongly affected by the helicity of the twistacene unit, resulting in solvent‐induced sign inversion. ROESY NMR and TD‐DFT calculations support this observation, which is explained by differences in the relative orientation of the helicene and twistacene moieties.
An initial investigation for employing ACH depth function in degradation model selection: A case study with real data
Authors: Asadi Arefe , Fouladirad Mitra , Tomassi Diego
Published: January 2024

In degradation modeling, stochastic processes often do not meet the classical properties necessary for traditional goodness‐of‐fit tests. This paper presents an initial investigation into employing the ACH depth function and its potential in degradation model selection. We commence by presenting various stochastic processes as degradation models and their selection criteria. Subsequently, we delve into the ACH depth function, highlighting its potential in this context. Through simulated data, we assess the application of this functional depth measure for model selection. The methodology's validity is further reinforced by its application to real‐world data, underscoring its effectiveness.
Elucidating Gas Evolution of Prussian White Cathodes for Sodium‐ion Battery Application: The Effect of Electrolyte and Moisture
Authors: Dreyer Sören L. , Maddar Faduma M. , Kondrakov Aleksandr , Janek Jürgen , Hasa Ivana , Brezesinski Torsten
Published: January 2024

As global energy storage demand increases, sodium‐ion batteries are often considered as an alternative to lithium‐ion batteries. Hexacyanoferrate cathodes, commonly referred to as Prussian blue analogues (PBAs), are of particular interest due their low‐cost synthesis and promising electrochemical response. However, because they consist of ~50 wt% cyanide anions, a possible release of highly toxic cyanide gases poses a significant safety risk. Previously, we observed the evolution of (CN)2 during cycling via differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS), but were unable to determine a root cause or mechanism. In this work, we present a systematical investigation of the gas evolution of Prussian white (PW) with different water content via DEMS. While H2 is the main gas detected, especially in hydrated PW and during overcharge (4.6 V vs. Na+/Na), the evolution of CO2 and (CN)2 depends on the electrolyte conductive salt. The use of oxidative NaClO4 instead of NaPF6 is the leading cause for the formation of (CN)2. Mass spectrometric evidence of trace amounts of HCN is also found, but to a much lower extent than (CN)2, which is the dominant safety risk when using NaClO4‐containing electrolyte, which despite being a good model salt, is not a viable option for commercial applications.
Broadband near‐infrared (NIR) emitting Cr3+‐doped La3Ga5SnO14 phosphor with long persistent and photostimulated persistent luminescence
Authors: Hu Zhiyu , Zhang Yayin , Li Zijun , Chen Weirui , Du Zhan , Wang Bo
Published: January 2024

Recently, long persistent phosphors (LPPs) have attracted significant attention as promising candidates for biomedical applications. However, the serious decrease in luminescence intensity in tissue still remains a major challenge. Therefore, exploring more competitive LPPs and achieving reproducible tissue imaging is crucial. In this study, a new series of near‐infrared (NIR) phosphors La3Ga5Sn1‐xO14:xCr3+ (x = 0.005–0.05) were synthesized using a high‐temperature solid‐state method. The as‐synthesized samples were characterized using X‐ray diffraction, diffuse/photoluminescence spectroscopy, fluorescence decay curves, and thermoluminescence spectroscopy. Upon excitation with ultraviolet light, strong emission bands were observed in the range 600–1200 nm with an optimal doping concentration of x = 0.02 mol. Moreover, La3Ga5SnO14:Cr3+ exhibits persistent luminescence due to the presence of suitable energy traps, which prompted the phosphor to emit NIR light even after the removal of the excitation source.
Method development for gas chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry analysis of trace level polycyclicaromatic hydrocarbons, alkyl polycyclicaromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, and organochlorinepesticides in pine needle specimen
Authors: Chung David , Kim Tae Kyung , Park Ki Wan , Choi Seo Yeong , Oh Yun‐Suk , Shin Ho‐Sang
Published: January 2024

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) have been important monitoring targets in the atmosphere due to their deleterious biological effects. Pine needles have been used to monitor atmospheric pollutants. An analytical method was developed to measure 21 PAHs, 14 alkyl PAHs, 7 PCBs, and 23 OCPs in pine needles using ultrasonically assisted extraction and gas chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS). The ranges of the lower limits of detection of PAHs, PCBs, and OCPs were 0.01–0.05, 0.02–0.06, and 0.01–0.07 μg/kg, respectively. The feasibility of the proposed method was validated by analyzing dust standard reference materials of the samples, which gave satisfactory results with a precision of 0.83%–7.80% (PAHs), 0.93%–4.78% (PCBs), and 0.73%–4.71% (OCPs), and an accuracy of 89.2%–102% (PAHs), 94.6%–109% (PCBs), and 99.4%–102% (OCPs). The PAHs, PCBs, and OCPS were determined from real pine needle samples using the developed method.
Structure Regulation of Single‐atom Catalysts for Electrocatalytic Sensing
Authors: Shu Yijin , Mo Qijie , Gao Qingsheng
Published: January 2024

Single‐atom catalysts (SACs) have received extensive attention in the fields of electrocatalytic sensing, and in response to the requirements of different sensing systems, a variety of metal single‐atom structures have been emerged. In this review, we at first introduce the current mainstream synthesis methods of SACs, and then focus on the structural regulation strategies of SACs and the structure‐performance relationship generated in electrocatalytic sensing. It is worth noting that we classify the regulation engineering of single‐atom structures and describe the corresponding enhanced performance of electrocatalytic sensing, which makes up for the shortcomings of reviews in this field. Eventually, the opportunities and challenges of SACs based electrochemical sensors are outlined.
Design Strategies towards Advanced Hydrogen Evolution Reaction Electrocatalysts at Large Current Densities
Authors: Qiao Man , Li Bo , Fei Teng , Xue Mingren , Yao Tianxin , Tang Qin , Zhu Dongdong
Published: January 2024

Hydrogen (H2), produced by water electrolysis with the electricity from renewable sources, is an ideal energy carrier for achieving a carbon‐neutral and sustainable society. Hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is the cathodic half‐reaction of water electrolysis, which requires active and robust electrocatalysts to reduce the energy consumption for H2 generation. Despite numerous electrocatalysts have been reported by the academia for HER, most of them were only tested under relatively small current densities for a short period, which cannot meet the requirements for industrial water electrolysis. To bridge the gap between academia and industry, it is crucial to develop highly active HER electrocatalysts which can operate at large current densities for a long time. In this review, the mechanisms of HER in acidic and alkaline electrolytes are firstly introduced. Then, design strategies towards high‐performance large‐current‐density HER electrocatalysts from five aspects including number of active sites, intrinsic activity of each site, charge transfer, mass transfer, and stability are discussed via featured examples. Finally, our own insights about the challenges and future opportunities in this emerging field are presented.
Modelling a five‐level LLC resonant converter for bidirectional battery application
Authors: Alatai Salah , Salem Mohamed , Delgado M. T. , Ishak Dahaman , Kamarol Mohamad
Published: January 2024

This study designed and evaluated an integrated cascaded pair of full‐bridge LLC resonant bidirectional DC–DC converters usable in varied applications, including in energy storage systems, to function as an interface between two dc voltage buses in a variety of applications. The proposed converter combines an isolated five‐level cascaded H‐bridge LLC (IFCHB‐LLC) resonant circuit with a buck/boost circuit (bidirectional converter BID). In this converter, the inbuilt capabilities of an LLC converter, which function as a current source and a voltage source, were exploited, resulting in the constant current (CC) and constant voltage (CV) charges while CV was implemented in the discharge stage (reverse flow). The modelling of the LLC converter was done following the first harmonic approximation (FHA) approach. Furthermore, to ensure improved efficiency of the proposed system, the passive elements of the resonance tank and isolation transformer ratio were programmed in a manner that the converter can be operated within the zero‐voltage switching (ZVS) and zero‐current switching (ZCS) regions. The feasibility and validity of the converter were tested using a 500 W prototype converter with an input voltage of 200 V resulting in the highest efficiency level of 94.46%.
Compensatory traits can explain the concave cost function of purely sexual traits
Authors: Hasegawa Masaru
Published: January 2024

The cost of ornamentation is often measured experimentally to study the relative importance of sexual and viability selection for ornamentation, but these experiments can lead to a misleading conclusion when compensatory trait is ignored. For example, a classic experiment on the outermost tail feathers in the barn swallow Hirundo rustica explains that the concave (or U‐shaped) aerodynamic performance cost of the outermost tail feathers would be the evolutionary outcome through viability selection for optimal tail length, but this conclusion depends on the assumption that compensatory traits do not cause reduced performance. Using a simple “toy model” experiment, I demonstrated that ornamentation evolved purely though sexual selection can produce a concave cost function under the presence of compensatory traits, which was further reinforced by a simple mathematical model. Therefore, concave cost function (and the low performance of individuals with reduced ornaments) cannot be used to infer the evolutionary force favoring ornamentation, due to a previously overlooked concept, “overcompensation,” which can worsen the whole body performance.
A preliminary study of genetic diversity in populations of Montrichardia Crueg. (Araceae) estimated with ISSR molecular markers
Authors: de Moraes e Sousa Eduardo , de Amaral Val João Vitor Carvalho , dos Reis Renata Brito , dos Santos Luciano Maria Claudia , Mayo Simon Joseph , de Andrade Ivanilza Moreira
Published: January 2024

The two species of Montrichardia (Araceae) are perennial herbs of great ecological, economic, and ethnobotanical importance that form populations by clonal growth and sexual reproduction. Here, genetic diversity was studied within a drainage system distant from Amazonia. Five populations were sampled from the Rio Parnaíba Delta (northeast Brazil) and two outside it. The eight ISSR primers selected generated 342 marker bands. The non‐Delta populations (M. arborescens) were grouped together by cluster analysis and Bayesian simulation but the Delta populations (M. linifera) were only grouped weakly. Ordination and Bayesian simulation grouped populations into three pairs along an east–west axis. All population pairs were significantly different (pairwise PhiPT, p ≤ 0.001). Between‐population variance (AMOVA, 39.9% variance, p < 0.001) was much greater than between‐species (12.2%, p < 0.034), but within‐population variance was greatest (48.0%). Within the Delta, geographical distance between populations did not predict genetic similarity, but relative within‐population diversity appears to be influenced by habitat differences. There is genetic evidence, but relatively weak, for recognizing the Delta populations as M. linifera and the non‐Delta ones as M. arborescens; Paulino Neves (Maranhão) appears to be the easternmost record for this species. The strong between‐population differences previously reported for M. linifera are corroborated.
Graph alignment exploiting the spatial organization improves the similarity of brain networks
Authors: Calissano Anna , Papadopoulo Theodore , Pennec Xavier , Deslauriers‐Gauthier Samuel
Published: January 2024

Every brain is unique, having its structural and functional organization shaped by both genetic and environmental factors over the course of its development. Brain image studies tend to produce results by averaging across a group of subjects, under the common assumption that it is possible to subdivide the cortex into homogeneous areas while maintaining a correspondence across subjects. We investigate this assumption: can the structural properties of a specific region of an atlas be assumed to be the same across subjects? This question is addressed by looking at the network representation of the brain, with nodes corresponding to brain regions and edges to their structural relationships. Using an unsupervised graph matching strategy, we align the structural connectomes of a set of healthy subjects, considering parcellations of different granularity, to understand the connectivity misalignment between regions. First, we compare the obtained permutations with four different algorithm initializations: Spatial Adjacency, Identity, Barycenter, and Random. Our results suggest that applying an alignment strategy improves the similarity across subjects when the number of parcels is above 100 and when using Spatial Adjacency and Identity initialization (the most plausible priors). Second, we characterize the obtained permutations, revealing that the majority of permutations happens between neighbors parcels. Lastly, we study the spatial distribution of the permutations. By visualizing the results on the cortex, we observe no clear spatial patterns on the permutations and all the regions across the context are mostly permuted with first and second order neighbors.
Aging effects on dual‐route speech processing networks during speech perception in noise
Authors: Wang Songjian , Chen Younuo , Liu Yi , Yang Liu , Wang Yuan , Fu Xinxing , Hu Jiong , Pugh Esther , Wang Shuo
Published: January 2024

Healthy aging leads to complex changes in the functional network of speech processing in a noisy environment. The dual‐route neural architecture has been applied to the study of speech processing. Although evidence suggests that senescent increases activity in the brain regions across the dorsal and ventral stream regions to offset reduced periphery, the regulatory mechanism of dual‐route functional networks underlying such compensation remains largely unknown. Here, by utilizing functional near‐infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), we investigated the compensatory mechanism of the dual‐route functional connectivity, and its relationship with healthy aging by using a speech perception task at varying signal‐to‐noise ratios (SNR) in healthy individuals (young adults, middle‐aged adults, and older adults). Results showed that the speech perception scores showed a significant age‐related decrease with the reduction of the SNR. The analysis results of dual‐route speech processing networks showed that the functional connection of Wernicke's area and homolog Wernicke's area were age‐related increases. Further to clarify the age‐related characteristics of the dual‐route speech processing networks, graph‐theoretical network analysis revealed an age‐related increase in the efficiency of the networks, and the age‐related differences in nodal characteristics were found both in Wernicke's area and homolog Wernicke's area under noise environment. Thus, Wernicke's area might be a key network hub to maintain efficient information transfer across the speech process network with healthy aging. Moreover, older adults would recruit more resources from the homologous Wernicke's area in a noisy environment. The recruitment of the homolog of Wernicke's area might provide a means of compensation for older adults for decoding speech in an adverse listening environment. Together, our results characterized dual‐route speech processing networks at varying noise environments and provided new insight for the compensatory theories of how aging modulates the dual‐route speech processing functional networks.
Identifying subgroups of eating behavior traits unrelated to obesity using functional connectivity and feature representation learning
Authors: Choi Hyoungshin , Byeon Kyoungseob , Lee Jong‐eun , Hong Seok‐Jun , Park Bo‐yong , Park Hyunjin
Published: January 2024

Eating behavior is highly heterogeneous across individuals and cannot be fully explained using only the degree of obesity. We utilized unsupervised machine learning and functional connectivity measures to explore the heterogeneity of eating behaviors measured by a self‐assessment instrument using 424 healthy adults (mean ± standard deviation [SD] age = 47.07 ± 18.89 years; 67% female). We generated low‐dimensional representations of functional connectivity using resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging and estimated latent features using the feature representation capabilities of an autoencoder by nonlinearly compressing the functional connectivity information. The clustering approaches applied to latent features identified three distinct subgroups. The subgroups exhibited different levels of hunger traits, while their body mass indices were comparable. The results were replicated in an independent dataset consisting of 212 participants (mean ± SD age = 38.97 ± 19.80 years; 35% female). The model interpretation technique of integrated gradients revealed that the between‐group differences in the integrated gradient maps were associated with functional reorganization in heteromodal association and limbic cortices and reward‐related subcortical structures such as the accumbens, amygdala, and caudate. The cognitive decoding analysis revealed that these systems are associated with reward‐ and emotion‐related systems. Our findings provide insights into the macroscopic brain organization of eating behavior‐related subgroups independent of obesity.
Quantitative assessment of corneal elasticity distribution after FS‐LASIK using optical coherence elastography
Authors: Han Xiao , Zhang Yubao , Shi Gang , Liu Guo , Ai Sizhu , Wang Yidi , Zhang Qin , He Xingdao
Published: January 2024

Quantifying corneal elasticity after femtosecond laser‐assisted in situ keratomileusis (FS‐LASIK) procedure plays an important role in improving surgical safety and quality, since some latent complications may occur ascribing to changes in postoperative corneal biomechanics. Nevertheless, it is suggested that current research has been severely constrained due to the lack of an accurate quantification method to obtain postoperative corneal elasticity distribution. In this paper, an acoustic radiation force optical coherence elastography system combined with the improved phase velocity algorithm was utilized to realize elasticity distribution images of the in vivo rabbit cornea after FS‐LASIK under various intraocular pressure levels. As a result, elasticity variations within and between the regions of interest could be identified precisely. This is the first time that elasticity imaging of in vivo cornea after FS‐LASIK surgery was demonstrated, and the results suggested that this technology may hold promise in further exploring corneal biomechanical properties after refractive surgery.
Preclinical multi‐physiologic monitoring of immediate‐early responses to diverse treatment strategies in breast cancer by optoacoustic imaging
Authors: Lin Xiaoqian , Yang Changfeng , Lv Yijie , Zhang Bowen , Kan Junnan , Li Hao , Tao Jin , Yang Caixia , Li Xianglin , Liu Yan
Published: January 2024

Optoacoustic imaging enables the measurement of tissue oxygen saturation (sO2) and blood perfusion while being utilized for detecting tumor microenvironments. Our aim was to employ multispectral optoacoustic tomography (MSOT) to assess immediate‐early changes of hemoglobin level and sO2 within breast tumors during diverse treatments. Mouse breast cancer models were allocated into four groups: control, everolimus (EVE), paclitaxel (PTX), and photodynamic therapy (PDT). Hemoglobin was quantified daily, as well as sO2 and blood perfusion were verified by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. MSOT showed a temporal window of enhanced oxygenation and improved perfusion in EVE and PTX groups, while sO2 consistently remained below baseline in PDT. The same results were obtained for the IHC. Therefore, MSOT can monitor tumor hypoxia and indirectly reflect blood perfusion in a non‐invasive and non‐labeled way, which has the potential to monitor breast cancer progression early and enable individualized treatment in clinical practice.