bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quantitative muscle magnetic resonance imaging in limb‐girdle muscular dystrophy type R1 (LGMDR1): A prospective longitudinal cohort study
Authors: Forsting Johannes , Wächter Marian , Froeling Martijn , Rohm Marlena , Güttsches Anne‐Katrin , De Lorenzo Alice , Südkamp Nicolina , Kocabas Abdulhadi , Vorgerd Matthias , Enax‐Krumova Elena , Rehmann Robert , Schlaffke Lara
Published: May 2024

Limb‐girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) type R1 (LGMDR1) is the most common subtype of LGMD in Europe. Prospective longitudinal data, including clinical assessments and new biomarkers such as quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (qMRI), are needed to evaluate the natural course of the disease and therapeutic options. We evaluated eight thigh and seven leg muscles of 13 LGMDR1 patients (seven females, mean age 36.7 years, body mass index 23.9 kg/m2) and 13 healthy age‐ and gender‐matched controls in a prospective longitudinal design over 1 year. Clinical assessment included testing for muscle strength with quick motor function measure (QMFM), gait analysis and patient questionnaires (neuromuscular symptom score, activity limitation [ACTIVLIM]). MRI scans were performed on a 3‐T MRI scanner, including a Dixon‐based sequence, T2 mapping and diffusion tensor imaging. The qMRI values of fat fraction (FF), water T2 relaxation time (T2), fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, axial diffusivity and radial diffusivity were analysed. Within the clinical outcome measures, significant deterioration between baseline and follow‐up was found for ACTIVLIM (p = 0.029), QMFM (p = 0.012). Analysis of qMRI parameters of the patient group revealed differences between time points for both FF and T2 when analysing all muscles (FF: p < 0.001; T2: p = 0.016). The highest increase of fat replacement was found in muscles with an FF of between 10% and 50% at baseline. T2 in muscles with low‐fat replacement increased significantly. No significant differences were found for the diffusion metrics. Significant correlations between qMRI metrics and clinical assessments were found at baseline and follow‐up, while only T2 changes in thigh muscles correlated with changes in ACTIVLIM over time (ρ = −0.621, p < 0.05). Clinical assessments can show deterioration of the general condition of LGMDR1 patients. qMRI measures can give additional information about underlying pathophysiology. Further research is needed to establish qMRI outcome measures for clinical trials.
Nature connection in adulthood: The role of childhood nature experiences
Authors: Barrable Alexia , Friedman Samantha , Beloyianni Vassiliki
Published: May 2024

Nature connection describes our relationship with the rest of the natural world. Promoting nature connection in children and adults has been identified as a worthwhile focus for education and public health, given the positive associations between nature connection, well‐being and pro‐environmental behaviours. Prior research has looked at activities that promote an individual's connection to nature, reporting that a variety of interventions can be effective. Particular emphasis has been placed on positive childhood nature experiences due to their effects on adult nature connection. Research from varied places such as New Zealand, Australia, the USA and Brazil suggest that an individual's childhood nature experiences can play a positive role in their adult connection to nature.

This paper is the first of its kind to explore the associations between childhood nature activities, both their type and frequency, and adult nature connection in a Greek sample (n = 401). We gathered the perspectives of Greek‐speaking adults using quantitative measures in an online survey.

Our results suggest that, in line with previous research, childhood nature experiences were significantly and positively correlated with adult nature connectedness. However, contrary to previous research, analysis suggested that adult nature experiences did not mediate the relationship between childhood nature experience and adult nature connection. Age was positively correlated with less structured childhood nature experiences such that older adults were more likely to have participated in unstructured outdoor activities like flower picking and general alone time outside during childhood.

Capturing retrospective self‐reports on the frequency and type of childhood nature experiences in this Greek sample helps us understand how these experiences may predict engagement and relationships with nature in adulthood. In turn, these findings inform context‐specific recommendations for encouraging nature contact in childhood. For instance, this may have implications for nature‐based learning in Greece as well as the provision of urban green and blue spaces.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Mechanical and biodegradation analysis under various environmental conditions of the waste vetiver root fiber reinforced soy composite
Authors: Pattnaik Shruti Swaroop , Behera Diptiranjan , Jali Pallavi , Behera Ajaya Kumar
Published: May 2024

To address the difficulty posed by non‐biodegradable thermoplastics, scientists are focusing on solid waste management research. Waste vetiver root fibers reinforced in polymerized soy matrix biomass composites were fabricated and tested for biodegradability and sustainability in different natural decomposing conditions like seawater aging and fungal and termite attacks. This study reports and compares the dimensional changes caused by these attacks, as well as the moisture absorption of vetiver‐soy and alkali‐treated vetiver‐soy composites at different relative humidity. After‐degradation characterizations included Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and SEM examinations, as well as weight loss, which gave additional insights into the degradation mechanism. The tensile strength of degraded samples decreased as the degradation duration increased. Mechanical properties like Izod impact strength, dynamic mechanical analysis and moisture absorption also provided insights into the structural firmness of the fabricated composite. This research contributes to a better knowledge of the bio‐deterioration process of cellulosic vetiver‐soy biocomposites under various situations, and to check their functionality in furniture and packaging industries. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
Comparison of dose selection based on target engagement versus inhibition of receptor–ligand interaction for checkpoint inhibitors
Authors: Head Sarah A. , Johnson Carter , Sarkar Saheli , Matteson Andrew , Marcantonio Diana H. , Hua Fei , Burke John M. , Apgar Joshua F. , Flowers David
Published: May 2024

Immune checkpoint inhibitors block the interaction between a receptor on one cell and its ligand on another cell, thus preventing the transduction of an immunosuppressive signal. While inhibition of the receptor–ligand interaction is key to the pharmacological activity of these drugs, it can be technically challenging to measure these intercellular interactions directly. Instead, target engagement (or receptor occupancy) is commonly measured, but may not always be an accurate predictor of receptor–ligand inhibition, and can be misleading when used to inform clinical dose projections for this class of drugs. In this study, a mathematical model explicitly representing the intercellular receptor–ligand interaction is used to compare dose prediction based on target engagement or receptor–ligand inhibition for two checkpoint inhibitors, atezolizumab and magrolimab. For atezolizumab, there is little difference between target engagement and receptor–ligand inhibition, but for magrolimab, the model predicts that receptor–ligand inhibition is significantly less than target engagement. The key variables explaining the difference between these two drugs are the relative concentrations of the target receptors and their ligands. Drug‐target affinity and receptor–ligand affinity can also have divergent effects on target engagement and inhibition. These results suggest that it is important to consider ligand–receptor inhibition in addition to target engagement and demonstrate the impact of using modeling for efficacious dose estimation.
Strategic Review of Organic–Inorganic Perovskite Photodetectors
Authors: Goel Neeraj , Kushwaha Aditya , Kwoka Monika , Kumar Mahesh
Published: May 2024

Metal halide perovskites have aroused worldwide efforts for developing optoelectronic devices due to their unique optical properties and low‐cost simple fabrication process. In recent years, various perovskites‐based miniaturized optical devices have been actively investigated due to their record‐breaking efficiency in different fields, including environmental monitoring, remote sensing, biomedical imaging, and optical communications. In this review, a succinct and critical survey of recently discovered organic–inorganic perovskite photodetectors providing insights into their structural properties and key performance parameters is staged. First, key features of perovskites‐based photodetectors emphasizing their optoelectronic and electrical properties are introduced. Then, the polarization‐sensitive detection of metal halide perovskites using polarization‐selective optical structures is discussed. The bandgap engineering for tailoring the properties of perovskite photodetectors by changing the chemical composition and material structures is also highlighted in this report. Finally, a perspective on future opportunities and current challenges for designing perovskite‐based optoelectronic devices is presented.
Fatigue reliability evaluation for impellers with consideration of multi‐source uncertainties using a WOA‐XGBoost surrogate model
Authors: Qian Cheng , Li Wenjuan , Wei Shengxing , Sun Bo , Ren Yi
Published: May 2024

When using Monte Carlo simulation involving repeated finite element analysis (FEA) to perform fatigue reliability evaluation for an impeller, a variety of uncertainties should be considered to ensure the comprehensiveness of fatigue predictions. These uncertainties include the aleatory uncertainty from the geometric, material and load condition, and epistemic uncertainty from the parameters of the physics‐of‐failure (PoF) model to yield fatigue prediction. However, the latter uncertainty is often ignored in fatigue reliability analysis. And the reliability assessment will become computationally unaffordable and inefficient when there are many random variables involved, as an enormous amount of FEAs are demanded. To address this problem, a Whale Optimization Algorithm‐extreme gradient boosting (WOA‐XGBoost) surrogate model is developed, based on relatively few FEA results obtained using a Latin hypercube sampling (LHS). Its strengths lie in the interpretability of the design variables and effective determination of fine‐tuned hyperparameters. A case study on an impeller is conducted considering uncertainties from 11 input variables, where an efficient XGBoost model with an R2 greater than 0.93 on test set is established using 400 samples from practical FEAs. In addition, the importance analysis indicates that elasticity modulus and density play the greatest impact on the maximum strain, showing a combined importance of 82.3%. Furthermore, the reliability assessment results under fatigue parameter derived from the Median method tend to be more conservative compared to those obtained from the Seeger method.
Chiral structures in azobenzene‐containing systems: Construction, regulation, and application
Authors: He Zixiang , Cheng Xiaoxiao , Wang Zhao , Zhang Wei
Published: May 2024

Chirality is a fundamental property in nature, which is essential for the existence and survival of living organisms. Smart responsive chiroptical materials have garnered increasing attention due to their unique structural characteristics and potential applications. Among these, azobenzene (Azo), as a typical photoresponsive chromophore, plays a crucial role in constructing and controlling chiral structures. The unique cis‐trans isomerization, liquid crystallinity, and other physicochemical properties allow for a wide range of tunability in stimuli‐responsive chiroptical materials. Herein, we review the research studies in the field of chiral/achiral Azo building blocks for multilevel chiral generation as well as chiral switching, and summarize the recent advances on the applications of the chiral Azo structures from micro to macro levels. Finally, we aim to provide an overview of the potential challenges and new research opportunities for the development of novel smart responsive chiroptical materials.
On the typical structure of graphs not containing a fixed vertex‐critical subgraph
Authors: Engelberg Oren , Samotij Wojciech , Warnke Lutz
Published: May 2024

This work studies the typical structure of sparse ‐free graphs, that is, graphs that do not contain a subgraph isomorphic to a given graph . Extending the seminal result of Osthus, Prömel, and Taraz that addressed the case where is an odd cycle, Balogh, Morris, Samotij, and Warnke proved that, for every , the structure of a random ‐free graph with vertices and edges undergoes a phase transition when crosses an explicit (sharp) threshold function . They conjectured that a similar threshold phenomenon occurs when is replaced by any strictly 2‐balanced, edge‐critical graph . In this paper, we resolve this conjecture. In fact, we prove that the structure of a typical ‐free graph undergoes an analogous phase transition for every in a family of vertex‐critical graphs that includes all edge‐critical graphs.
Efficient Intra‐Supramolecular Electron Transfer in Zinc Porphyrin‐Coumarin Dyads
Authors: Eldeeb Alzahraa M. , Mousa Karim , El‐Mashtoly Samir F. , El‐Khouly Mohamed E.
Published: May 2024

We report herein the electron transfer process of a novel supramolecular dyads composed of zinc tetraphenylporphyrin (ZnTPP) and zinc 5,15‐dinonyl‐10,20‐diphenylporphyrin (ZnDPP), as electron donors, and ethyl(4‐pyridyl) coumarin‐3‐carboxylate (EPCC), as an electron acceptor, through metal‐ligand coordination bond in dichloromethane. The optical absorption studies revealed the formation of the moderate stable supramolecular donor‐acceptor dyads. The fluorescence measurements showed a significant fluorescence quenching of the singlet‐excited state of the singlet‐excited states of ZnTPP and ZnDPP upon addition of different amounts of EPCC. Such quenching behavior could be attributed to the electron transfer from the singlet‐excited state of porphyrin to EPCC. The bimolecular quenching rates were determined to be 1.98×1012 and 7.59×1012 L mol−1 s−1 for ZnTPP‐EPCC and ZnDPP‐EPCC, respectively, respectively. The fluorescence lifetime measurements suggest fast and efficient intra‐supramolecular electron transfer from the singlet states of porphyrin derivatives to EPCC. Furthermore, the formation of the supramolecular dyads was confirmed by the Raman technique and computational studies. The finding that the examined zinc porphyrin ‐ coumarin supramolecular dyads absorb light in a wide range of UV‐visible spectrum, fast and efficient electron transfer render the examined supramolecular dyad as simple models for the reaction centers of the artificial photosynthetic systems.
Bifunctional Squaramide‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Michael/Cyclization Reactions of 3‐Hydroxychromenones with Isatylidenemalononitriles
Authors: Geng Xue‐Yang , Du Da‐Ming
Published: May 2024

A squaramide‐catalyzed asymmetric Michael/cyclization tandem reaction between 3‐hydroxychromenones and isatylidenemalononitriles was developed. Using this strategy, a wide scope of spiro[indoline‐3,4′‐pyrano[3,2‐b]chromene] derivatives, which combined chromone, pyran, indolone in one molecule, could be obtained in moderate to excellent yields (up to 94 %) with moderate enantioselectivities (up to 95 % ee). In addition, the scaled‐up experiment also confirmed the synthetic practicality of this synthetic strategy.
Pharmacological Perspectives of 2‐alkoxy‐3‐Cyanopyridine Scaffolds: An Up‐to‐Date Review
Authors: Mahesha Priyanka , Shetty Nitinkumar S.
Published: May 2024

The 2‐alkoxy‐3‐cyanopyridine derivatives’ straightforward synthesis, ease of structural manipulation, and variety of intriguing biological activity continue to captivate medicinal chemists. A substantial body of research has demonstrated that these derivatives exhibit several intriguing biological characteristics, including anticancer, antibacterial, antidiabetic, antioxidant, vasorelaxant, antiviral, and anti‐inflammatory effects. Based on the basic skeleton of 2‐alkoxy‐3‐cyanopyridine, some lead compounds have been prepared with varied pharmaceutical characteristics. These served as excellent models for the development of novel medications since they showed potential in vitro and in vivo action against several cell lines that were both drug‐susceptible and drug‐resistant. To expand the use of 2‐alkoxy‐3‐cyanopyridine in biomedicine, though, a lot more efforts are essential. To combat medication resistance and boost specificity, potential hybrids that unite the 2‐alkoxy‐3‐cyanopyridine moiety with other pharmacophores are indeed required. This review offers a summary of pharmacological screening, including studies of pertinent structure‐activity connections, action mechanisms, and potential therapeutic use.
A Review of Synthetic Application of Homogeneous, Heterogenised‐Homogeneous, and Microwave‐Assisted Catalytic Carbonylation of Selected Substrates
Authors: Pant Bhawana , Prakash Deep , Dhami Devendra Singh
Published: May 2024

Catalytic carbonylation has gained a lot of interest over the past 20 years. It produced various pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and intermediates that can made through this process. The carbonylation process is the most straightforward method to insert CO into any organic substrate using a simple carbonyl source, i. e., CO gas. Apart from gaseous CO, many techniques have devised for producing CO in situ using surrogates such as HCOOH, DMF, Formic acid, Phenyl Formate, Oxalic acid, and Chloroform. Several carbonylation methods, such as aminocarbonylation, alkoxycarbonylation, double carbonylation, and oxidative carbonylation, provide viable and appealing substitutes for conventional synthetic methods on a commercial or laboratory scale. Many recent studies focus on catalyst‐product separation, catalyst recoverability, and reusability in these reactions. Therefore, advancements in using different approaches, such as supported liquid phase catalysis and biphasic catalysis, to anchor homogeneous catalysts are becoming increasingly important. These carbonylation methods are easy to use, cost‐effective, and do not require ligands. They also produce excellent yields of the products necessary. Using phosphine ligands has drawbacks, including high work‐up costs, laborious work‐up techniques, and sensitivity to air and moisture. Several phosphine‐free carbonylation pathways offer affordable and straightforward ways to accomplish these changes without phosphine ligands. This review summarizes the synthetic application of homogeneous and immobilized catalysts in producing carboxylic acid derivatives and heterocycles that have medicinal properties.
Upgrading Polyolefin Plastic Waste into Multifunctional Porous Graphene using Silicone‐Assisted Direct Laser Writing
Authors: Qu Menglong , Guo Yani , Cai Yahan , Nie Zhengwei , Zhang Cheng
Published: May 2024

The widespread use of plastics, especially polyolefin including polyethylene and polypropylene, has led to severe environmental crises. Chemical recycling, a promising solution for extracting value from plastic waste, however, is underutilized due to its complexity. Here, a simple approach, silicone‐assisted direct laser writing (SA‐DLW) is developed, to upgrade polyolefin plastic waste into multifunctional porous graphene, called laser‐induced graphene (LIG). This method involves infiltrating polyolefins with silicone, which retards ablation during the DLW process and supplies additional carbon atoms, as confirmed by experimental and molecular dynamic results. A remarkable conversion yield of 38.3% is achieved. The upgraded LIG exhibited a porous structure and high conductivity, which is utilized for the fabrication of diverse energy and electronic devices with commendable performance. Furthermore, the SA‐DLW technique is versatile for upgrading plastic waste in various types and forms. Upgrading plastic waste in the form of fabric has significantly simplified pre‐treatment. Finally, a wearable flex sensor is fabricated on the non‐woven fabric of a discarded medical mask, which is applied for gesture monitoring. This work offers a simple but effective solution to upgrade plastic waste into valuable products, contributing to the mitigation of environmental challenges posed by plastic pollution.
Miracle in “White”:Hexagonal Boron Nitride
Authors: Wang Jiaqi , Xu Tongzhou , Wang Weipeng , Zhang Zhengjun
Published: May 2024

The exploration of 2D materials has captured significant attention due to their unique performances, notably focusing on graphene and hexagonal boron nitride (h‐BN). Characterized by closely resembling atomic structures arranged in a honeycomb lattice, both graphene and h‐BN share comparable traits, including exceptional thermal conductivity, impressive carrier mobility, and robust pi–pi interactions with organic molecules. Notably, h‐BN has been extensively examined for its exceptional electrical insulating properties, inert passivation capabilities, and provision of an ideal ultraflat surface devoid of dangling bonds. These distinct attributes, contrasting with those of h‐BN, such as its conductive versus insulating behavior, active versus inert nature, and absence of dangling surface bonds versus absorbent tendencies, render it a compelling material with broad application potential. Moreover, the unity of such contradictions endows h‐BN with intriguing possibilities for unique applications in specific contexts. This review aims to underscore these key attributes and elucidate the intriguing contradictions inherent in current investigations of h‐BN, fostering significant insights into the understanding of material properties.
Customization of Manganese Oxide Cathodes via Precise Electrochemical Lithium‐Ion Intercalation for Diverse Zinc‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Zhao Jiangqi , Yu Haojie , Yang Ruijie , Tan Feipeng , Zhou Zhan , Yan Weibin , Zhang Qingyong , Mei Liang , Zhou Jiang , Tan Chaoliang , Zeng Zhiyuan
Published: May 2024

Manganese oxide‐based aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (ZIBs) are attractive energy storage devices, owing to their good safety, low cost, and ecofriendly features. However, various critical issues, including poor conductivity, sluggish reaction kinetics, and unstable structure still restrict their further development. Oxygen defect engineering is an effective strategy to improve the electrochemical performance of manganese oxides, but challenging in the accurate regulation of oxygen defects. In this work, an effective and controllable defect engineering strategy‐controllable electrochemical lithium‐ion intercalation – is proposed to tackle this issue. The incorporation of lithium ions and oxygen defects can promote the conductivity, lattice spacing, and structural stability of Mn2O3 (MO), thus improving its capacity (232.7 mAh g−1), rate performance, and long‐term cycling stability (99.0% capacity retention after 3000 cycles). Interestingly, the optimal ratio of intercalated lithium‐ion varies at different temperature or mass‐loading of MO, which provides the possibility to customize diverse ZIBs to meet different application conditions. In addition, the fabricated ZIBs present good flexibility, superior safety, and admirable adaptability under extreme temperatures (−20–100 °C). This work provides an inspiration on the structural customization of metal oxide nanomaterials for diverse ZIBs, and sheds light on the construction of future portable electronics.
Incorporating Sodium‐Conductive Polymeric Interfacial Adhesive with Inorganic Solid‐State Electrolytes for Quasi‐Solid‐State Sodium Metal Batteries
Authors: Gao Shihui , Yang Tingzhou , Liu Jiabing , Zhang Xinyu , Zhang Xiaoyi , Yang Tai , Zhang Yongguang , Chen Zhongwei
Published: May 2024

Inorganic solid‐state electrolytes have attracted enormous attention due to their potential safety, increased energy density, and long cycle‐life benefits. However, their application in solid‐state batteries is limited by unstable electrode‐electrolyte interface, poor point‐to‐point physical contact, and low utilization of metallic anodes. Herein, interfacial engineering based on sodium (Na)‐conductive polymeric solid‐state interfacial adhesive is studied to improve interface stability and optimize physical contacts, constructing a robust organic‐rich solid electrolyte interphase layer to prevent dendrite‐induced crack propagation and security issues. The interfacial adhesive strategy significantly increases the room‐temperature critical current density of inorganic Na‐ion conductors from 0.8 to 3.2 mA cm−2 and markedly enhances the cycling performance of solid‐state batteries up to 500 cycles, respectively. Particularly, the Na3V2(PO4)3‐based full solid‐state batteries with high cathode loading of 10.16 mg cm−2 also deliver an excellent cycling performance, further realizing the stable operation of solid‐state laminated pouch cells. The research provides fundamental perspectives into the role of interfacial chemistry and takes the field a step closer to realizing practical solid‐state batteries.
Ru Single Atom Dispersed on MoS2/MXene for Enhanced Sulfur Reduction Reaction in Lithium–Sulfur Batteries
Authors: Bai Yanqun , Nguyen Thanh Tuan , Song Hewei , Chu Rongrong , Tran Duy Thanh , Kim Nam Hoon , Lee Joong Hee
Published: May 2024

The high theoretical energy density (2600 Wh kg−1) and low cost of lithium–sulfur batteries (LSBs) make them an ideal alternative for the next‐generation energy storage system. Nevertheless, severe capacity degradation and low sulfur utilization resulting from shuttle effect hinder their commercialization. Herein, Single‐atom Ru‐doped 1T/2H MoS2 with enriched defects decorates V2C MXene (Ru–MoS2/MXene) produced by a new phase‐engineering strategy employed as sulfur host to promote polysulfide adsorption and conversion reaction kinetics. The Ru single atom‐doped adjusts the chemical environment of the MoS2/MXene to anchor polysulfide and acts as an efficient center to motivate the redox reaction. In addition, the rich defects of the MoS2 and ternary boundary among 1T/2H MoS2 and V2C accelerate the charge transfer and ion movements for the reaction. As expected, the Ru–MoS2/MXene/S cathode‐based cell exhibits a high‐rate capability of 684.3 mAh g−1 at 6 C. After 1000 cycles, the Ru–MoS2/MXene/S cell maintains an excellent cycling stability of 696 mAh g−1 at 2 C with a capacity degradation as low as 0.02% per cycle. Despite a high sulfur loading of 9.5 mg cm−2 and a lean electrolyte‐to‐sulfur ratio of 4.3, the cell achieves a high discharge capacity of 726 mAh g−1.
Synthesis of 2D Gallium Sulfide with Ultraviolet Emission by MOCVD
Authors: Maßmeyer Oliver , Günkel Robin , Glowatzki Johannes , Klement Philip , Ojaghi Dogahe Badrosadat , Kachel Stefan Renato , Gruber Felix , Müller Marius , Fey Melanie , Schörmann Jörg , Belz Jürgen , Beyer Andreas , Gottfried J. Michael , Chatterjee Sangam , Volz Kerstin
Published: May 2024

Two‐dimensional (2D) materials exhibit the potential to transform semiconductor technology. Their rich compositional and stacking varieties allow tailoring materials’ properties toward device applications. Monolayer to multilayer gallium sulfide (GaS) with its ultraviolet band gap, which can be tuned by varying the layer number, holds promise for solar‐blind photodiodes and light‐emitting diodes as applications. However, achieving commercial viability requires wafer‐scale integration, contrasting with established, limited methods such as mechanical exfoliation. Here the one‐step synthesis of 2D GaS is introduced via metal–organic chemical vapor deposition on sapphire substrates. The pulsed‐mode deposition of industry‐standard precursors promotes 2D growth by inhibiting the vapor phase and on‐surface pre‐reactions. The interface chemistry with the growth of a Ga adlayer that results in an epitaxial relationship is revealed. Probing structure and composition validate thin‐film quality and 2D nature with the possibility to control the thickness by the number of GaS pulses. The results highlight the adaptability of established growth facilities for producing atomically thin to multilayered 2D semiconductor materials, paving the way for practical applications.
Experimental and Computational Study Toward Identifying Active Sites of Supported SnOx Nanoparticles for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction Using Machine‐Learned Interatomic Potentials
Authors: Shi Junjie , Pršlja Paulina , Jin Benjin , Suominen Milla , Sainio Jani , Jiang Hua , Han Nana , Robertson Daria , Košir Janez , Caro Miguel , Kallio Tanja
Published: May 2024

SnOx has received great attention as an electrocatalyst for CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR), however; it still suffers from low activity. Moreover, the atomic‐level SnOx structure and the nature of the active sites are still ambiguous due to the dynamism of surface structure and difficulty in structure characterization under electrochemical conditions. Herein, CO2RR performance is enhanced by supporting SnO2 nanoparticles on two common supports, vulcan carbon and TiO2. Then, electrolysis of CO2 at various temperatures in a neutral electrolyte reveals that the application window for this catalyst is between 12 and 30 °C. Furthermore, this study introduces a machine learning interatomic potential method for the atomistic simulation to investigate SnO2 reduction and establish a correlation between SnOx structures and their CO2RR performance. In addition, selectivity is analyzed computationally with density functional theory simulations to identify the key differences between the binding energies of *H and *CO2−, where both are correlated with the presence of oxygen on the nanoparticle surface. This study offers in‐depth insights into the rational design and application of SnOx‐based electrocatalysts for CO2RR.
Anchored VN Quantum Dots Boosting High Capacity and Cycle Durability of Na3V2(PO4)3@NC Cathode for Aqueous Zinc‐Ion Battery and Organic Sodium‐Ion Battery
Authors: Dong Ciqing , Zhang Junye , Huang Chen , Liu Ruona , Xia Zijie , Lu Shigang , Wang Linlin , Zhang Ling , Chen Luyang
Published: May 2024

Na3V2(PO4)3 is a promising high‐voltage cathode for aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (ZIBs) and organic sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs). However, the poor rate capability, specific capacity, and cycling stability severely hamper it from further development. In this work, Na3V2(PO4)3 (NVP) with vanadium nitride (VN) quantum dots encapsulated by nitrogen‐doped carbon (NC) nanoflowers (NVP/VN@NC) are manufactured as cathode using in situ nitridation, carbon coating, and structural adjustment. The outer NC layer increases the higher electronic conductivity of NVP. Furthermore, VN quantum dots with high theoretical capacity not only improve the specific capacity of pristine NVP, but also serve as abundant “pins” between NVP and NC to strengthen the stability of NVP/VN@NC heterostructure. For Zn‐ion storage, these essential characteristics allow NVP/VN@NC to attain a high reversible capacity of 135.4 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1, and a capacity retention of 91% after 2000 cycles at 5 A g−1. Meanwhile, NVP/VN@NC also demonstrates to be a stable cathode material for SIBs, which can reach a high reversible capacity of 124.5 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1, and maintain 92% of initial capacity after 11000 cycles at 5 A g−1. This work presents a feasible path to create innovative high‐voltage cathodes with excellent reaction kinetics and structural stability.
The Accurate Synthesis of a Multiscale Metallic Interface on Graphdiyne
Authors: Zhang Xiaonan , Wang Ning , Li Yuliang
Published: May 2024

The accurate construction of composite material systems containing graphdiyne (GDY) and other metallic materials has promoted the formation of innovative structures and practical applications in the fields of energy, catalysis, optoelectronics, and biomedicine. To fulfill the practical requirements, the precise formation of multiscale interfaces over a wide range, from single atoms to nanostructures, plays an important role in the optimization of the structural design and properties. The intrinsic correlations between the structure, synthesis process, characteristic properties, and device performance are systematically investigated. This review outlines the current research achievements regarding the controlled formation of multiscale metallic interfaces on GDY. Synthetic strategies for interface regulation, as well as the correlation between the structure and performance, are presented. Furthermore, innovative research ideas for the design and synthesis of functional metal‐based materials loaded onto GDY‐based substances are also provided, demonstrating the promising application potential of GDY‐based materials.
Unleaded agriculture: Myth to reality by wetland microbial flora
Authors: Ghosh Sanjana , Mitra Arup Kumar , Choudhury Sudeshna Shyam , Chandra Ayan
Published: May 2024

Wetlands, refer to the confluence with regards to land and water having a rich biological diversity with multiple purpose. As per the Ramsar Convention, framed in August 2002, East Kolkata Wetlands have been considered to be of global significance. Although inappropriate supervision of these wetlands, has led to the gradual deterioration of this wetland. In this present study, the soil sample was collected from these reclaimed agricultural wetlands of Chowbaga area, of East Kolkata areas with coordinates of 22.5296°N, 88.4207°E. The predominant or lingering bacterial flora was isolated from the soil surrounding the rhizospheric region of Cucurbita sp. and Zea mays and their plant growth promotion properties of the lingering bacterial flora were analyzed. These plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) included some species of Bacillus sp. that could augment plant growth by different methodologies like nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, phytohormone synthesis, and siderophore production. One of the bacterial isolates DPP(C) showed highest ability of siderophore production of 37.89% at 48 hours, whereas DCP(A) showed better capability in IAA production of 56.785 μg/mL than rest of the bacterial isolates. These reclaimed agricultural lands were found to have very high quantities of heavy metals, especially lead. All the bacterial isolates, were found to have great potential in lead mitigation, whereby they could adsorb up to 8.28% of lead. Some studies have shown the capability of microbial degradation for bioremediation of organic forms of lead and thereby can be removed from agricultural field for longer period of time. The prospective potential use of PGPR has gradually escalated, since it is one of the best substitutes against the constant usage of chemical fertilizers as well as pesticides. The use of these PGPR is one of the most reliable methods for ensuring sustainable agriculture. Furthermore, in future, the PGPR population will be correlated with the nutrient availability and productivity of the plants.
A new aromatic compound from Parmotrema cristiferum (Taylor) Hale
Authors: Minh Nguyen Thi Anh , Van Nguyen Thi Ngoc , Vy Tran Nguyen Yen , Phung Nguyen Kim Phi , Chi Huynh Bui Linh , Duong Ngo Thi Thuy
Published: May 2024

One new aromatic compound ethyl cristiferoate (1), together with two depsides (2, 4), one depsidone (3), and two monoaromatic compounds (5, 6) were isolated from Parmotrema cristiferum (Taylor) Hale. The chemical structure of new compound was confirmed by analyses of NMR spectroscopy (1D and 2D) and high resolution mass spectroscopy. The structures of the others were interpreted based on NMR, MS as well as compared with the references. Some isolated compounds were tested for their α‐glucosidase inhibition and compounds 2 and 4 displayed remarkable inhibitory activities with IC50 around 10 µg/mL.
Computational exploration of strain‐induced in the physical characteristics of inverse‐spinel Li2RuSn4 via density functional theory
Authors: Jabar Abderrahim , Idrissi Samira , Bahmad Lahoucine
Published: May 2024

In this research, the physical properties of the inverse‐spinel Li2RuSn4 compound have been investigated using ab‐initio computational methods within the Wien2k package. The LSDA+mBJ approach was employed to determine the exchange‐correlation potential. The compound was found to exhibit metallic and nonmagnetic behavior in terms of electronic properties. The optical characteristics have been analyzed along xx, yy, and zz directions, revealing an increase in absorption coefficient with rising photon energies, culminating in a prominent peak in the UV domain. The higher intensity in xx and yy directions signify stronger absorption along these axes. The thermodynamic properties of Li2RuSn4, including volume, Debye temperature, Grüneisen parameter, volumetric thermal expansion coefficient, and lattice thermal conductivity were examined. The Debye temperature was found to rise proportionally with tensile strain and decrease with temperature, suggesting that dilatation strain can enhance the mechanical and thermal stability of the compound. The thermoelectric analysis revealed n‐type behavior, with negative Seebeck coefficient values. This research offers valuable insights into the properties of Li2RuSn4, contributing to the understanding of its potential applications.
Adaptation to climate change in the mountain regions of Central Asia: A systematic literature review
Authors: Saidaliyeva Zarina , Muccione Veruska , Shahgedanova Maria , Bigler Sophie , Adler Carolina , Yapiyev Vadim
Published: May 2024

The mountains of Central Asia support many environmental functions and ecosystem services. The mountain environments and their services are affected by climate change and climate change adaptation (CCA) actions are required to increase resilience of regional communities. This paper is a systematic review of the English and Russian‐language literature published between 2013 (IPCC AR5) and May 2021 (IPCC AR6) focusing on CCA in the Central Asian mountains. In all, 52 publications have been reviewed. Criteria defining incremental and transformative adaptation were established and the reviewed studies were assigned to one of these approaches. The relatively low number of publications shows that the extent of CCA knowledge represented in academic literature is limited in comparison to other mountainous regions. There is a disparity between the growing body of publications addressing climate change and limited and decreasing number of academic publications focusing on adaptation in the region. Only 11 publications reported transformative adaptation actions. Most of the reviewed papers (55%) focus on water resources and future water availability; 15% focus on land degradation, 10% on changes in vertical zonation of plant species, 7% on loss of plant species, 3% on impacts of hazardous events, and 10% on multiple impacts of climate change. The awareness of the importance of CCA among the regional actors should be improved through closer collaboration between researchers, international organizations focusing on sustainable development and adaptation which have recently become more active in the region, practitioners, and local communities and co‐production of knowledge on the development and implementation of CCA.

This article is categorized under:

Trans‐Disciplinary Perspectives > Humanities and the Creative Arts

Trans‐Disciplinary Perspectives > Humanities and the Creative Arts

Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change > Institutions for Adaptation

Assessing Impacts of Climate Change > Observed Impacts of Climate Change
Gross morphologic features of surgical specimen in rectal cancer patients with pathological complete response following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Fazeli Amir Reza , Tadbir Vajargah Kiana , Fazeli Mohammad Sadegh , Behboudi Behnam , Ahmadi‐Tafti Seyed Mohsen , Kazemeini Alireza , Keshvari Amir , Keramati Mohammad Reza
Published: May 2024

Background

pathological complete response (pCR) is achieved in 10%–30% of rectal cancer patients following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and surgery. Residual mucosal abnormalities, which make patients ineligible for nonoperative management, may not be an accurate indicator of the pCR. The purpose of this study was to report the gross findings of rectal cancer patients with pathological complete responses.

Methods

This study was conducted at Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. A total of 130 patients with rectal adenocarcinoma, treated by neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, followed by surgical resection between March 2007, and March 2017, with a surgical pathology report of pCR, were included. Patients' demographics and pretreatment tumor characteristics were collected from the medical records. Data regarding residual mucosal abnormalities were extracted from postoperative surgical pathology reports. Abnormal findings were reported as "ulcer" or " non‐ulcerative lesion".

Results

One hundred and fifteen patients (88.5%; 95% CI: 81.7%–93.4%) had at least one abnormal finding in the gross examination, including ulcer or non‐ulcerative lesion (any mucosal abnormalities other than ulcers, including polyps, telangiectasia, etc.). Patients with higher‐stage tumors had a higher chance of having an ulcerative lesion (p = 0.05). Younger patients tended to have deeper layers of involvement (p = 0.013). Patients with different gross findings were not significantly different regarding baseline characteristics, except for the pretreatment stage, where patients with a higher stage had higher odds of having ulcerative lesions.

Conclusions

Most rectal cancer patients achieving a pCR exhibit abnormalities on gross examination. The higher pretreatment stages were significantly associated with gross abnormalities especially ulcers.
Spherical partial differential equation with non‐constant coefficients for modeling of nonlinear unsteady heat conduction in functionally graded materials
Authors: Delouei Amin Amiri , Emamian Amin , Ghorbani Saeed , He Fuli
Published: May 2024

The objective of this research paper is to propose an exact solution for resolving the transient conduction in a 2D sphere. The coefficients of governing equation are varied according to the material properties. The thermo‐physical properties are regarded as functions that follow a power‐law relationship concerning the radial direction. Both radial and angular thermal conductivity coefficients change with radius. Thermal boundary conditions are considered in a general state, which can cover different thermal conditions, including Dirichlet, Neumann, and Convection surface conditions. Laplace transform and Meromorphic function methods are used in the solution approach to the current unsteady problem. Two unsteady case studies with complex boundary conditions have been considered to show the credibility of the current solution. The results of both case studies have been successfully validated. The results confirm the high capability of the present solution in solving unsteady thermal problems of functionally graded materials in spherical coordinates.
A doubly history‐dependent quasivariational inequality arising in viscoelastic frictional contact problems with wear
Authors: Oultou Abderrahmane , Baiz Othmane , Benaissa Hicham
Published: May 2024

We aim here to investigate a new mathematical model that describes the contact between a viscoelastic body, accounting for long memory and wear effects, and an obstacle referred to as the foundation. The contact model is governed by a normal compliance condition, coupled with Coulomb's law of dry friction for sliding, and wear effects. We derive the variational formulation of the model, which involves coupling of a quasi‐variational inequality with a nonlinear equation. By pursuing the abstract history‐dependent quasi‐variational inequalities and leveraging the fixed point theorem, we establish results concerning both existence and uniqueness.
Integrated analysis of electroosmotic and magnetohydrodynamic peristaltic pumping in physiological systems: Implications for biomedical applications
Authors: Choudhari Rajashekhar , Tripathi Dharmendra , Vaidya Hanumesh , Prasad Kerehalli Vinayaka , Shetty Jyoti , Mebarek‐Oudina Fateh , Khan Sami Ullah , Ramesh Katta
Published: May 2024

The study of rheological properties in biological fluids, influenced by electroosmosis and magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) peristaltic mechanisms, plays a vital role in designing micro‐scale biomimetic pumping systems for targeted drug delivery. Considering these significant applications, the current study focuses on the integrated analysis of electroosmotic and magnetohydrodynamic peristaltic pumping of Williamson fluid within physiological systems with variable viscosity and thermal conductivity. The dimensional momentum equations are linearized under the approximation of lubrication theory. The current study deals with the impact of various physical parameters on flow, heat transfer, and pumping characteristics. These parameters include the magnetic parameter, variable viscosity, variable thermal conductivity, Helmholtz‐Smoluchowski velocity, and so on. It is noted from the current analysis that, Helmholtz‐Smoluchowski velocity and velocity slip parameters have decreasing effect on skin friction and Sherwood number. The electroosmotic and magnetic parameters contribute to larger trapped bolus sizes. These findings contribute significantly to advancing the development of efficient micro‐scale biomimetic pumping systems tailored for precise target drug delivery applications.
A cosmological tachyon collider: enhancing the long-short scale coupling
Authors: McCulloch Ciaran , Pajer Enrico , Tong Xi
Published: May 2024

Abstract

The squeezed limit of the primordial curvature bispectrum is an extremely sensitive probe of new physics and encodes information about additional fields active during inflation such as their masses and spins. In the conventional setup, additional fields are stable with a positive mass squared, and hence induce a decreasing signal in the squeezed limit, making a detection challenging.

Here we consider a scalar field that is temporarily unstable by virtue of a transient tachyonic mass, and we construct models in which it is embedded consistently within inflation. Assuming IR-finite couplings between the tachyon and the inflaton, we find an exchange bispectrum with an enhanced long-short scale coupling that grows in the squeezed limit parametrically faster than local non-Gaussianity. Our approximately scale-invariant signal can be thought of as a cosmological tachyon collider.

In a sizeable region of parameter space, the leading constraint on our signal comes from the cross correlation of μ-type spectral distortions and temperature anisotropies of the microwave background, whereas temperature and polarization bispectra are less sensitive probes. By including anisotropic spectral distortions in the analysis, future experiments such as CMB-S4 will further reduce the allowed parameter space.