bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DEFINING OPTIMAL LOCATIONS OF ESTABLISHMENTS AND TRANSPORTATION ROUTES FOR TREATMENT AND STORAGE OF ANIMAL WASTE
Authors: PONJAVIC Mirza , CELEBICANIN Sanja , STANOJEVIC Slavoljub , GAZDIC Melisa
Published: April 2018

In order to ensure a high level of public health and animal health protection inBosnia and Herzegovina, it is necessary to improve the existing and/or providequality management of animal by-products, i.e. to establish an infrastructure forquality and efficient treatment/disposal of animal by-products and waste of animalorigin. This implies a wide range of activities in this field, such as measures toimprove the legal and institutional framework, better data system management,establishment of by-product management model including transport solutions andtechnologies and provision of an adequate financial framework and sources offunding. At this point, the issue of management of animal by-products and animalwaste in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) has not been adequately addressed andposes a threat to both human and animal health. In this regard, establishment of asustainable management system for animal by-products and animal waste is ofutmost importance for further development of BiH agriculture. Inadequatemanagement of animal by-products and animal waste poses a huge threat to theenvironment, endangering natural resources, watercourses, sources of drinkingwater, soil and atmosphere. This paper presents some of the activities related toestablishment of this infrastructure, relating to the methodology of selection oflocations for central plant and intermediate establishments for treatment andcollection of animal waste and the definition of optimal transport routes andtransport capacities.
Formation of retinal direction-selective circuitry initiated by starburst amacrine cell homotypic contact
Authors: Ray Thomas A , Roy Suva , Kozlowski Christopher , Wang Jingjing , Cafaro Jon , Hulbert Samuel W , Wright Christopher V , Field Greg D , Kay Jeremy N
Published: April 2018

A common strategy by which developing neurons locate their synaptic partners is through projections to circuit-specific neuropil sublayers. Once established, sublayers serve as a substrate for selective synapse formation, but how sublayers arise during neurodevelopment remains unknown. Here, we identify the earliest events that initiate formation of the direction-selective circuit in the inner plexiform layer of mouse retina. We demonstrate that radially migrating newborn starburst amacrine cells establish homotypic contacts on arrival at the inner retina. These contacts, mediated by the cell-surface protein MEGF10, trigger neuropil innervation resulting in generation of two sublayers comprising starburst-cell dendrites. This dendritic scaffold then recruits projections from circuit partners. Abolishing MEGF10-mediated contacts profoundly delays and ultimately disrupts sublayer formation, leading to broader direction tuning and weaker direction-selectivity in retinal ganglion cells. Our findings reveal a mechanism by which differentiating neurons transition from migratory to mature morphology, and highlight this mechanism’s importance in forming circuit-specific sublayers.
Electrophysiological evidence for temporal dynamics associated with attentional processing in the zoom lens paradigm
Authors: Zhang Qing , Liang Tengfei , Zhang Jiafeng , Fu Xueying , Wu Jianlin
Published: April 2018

Background

Visuospatial processing requires wide distribution or narrow focusing of attention to certain regions in space. This mechanism is described by the zoom lens model and predicts an inverse correlation between the efficiency of processing and the size of the attentional scope. Little is known, however, about the exact timing of the effects of attentional scaling on visual searching and whether or not additional processing phases are involved in this process.

Method

Electroencephalographic recordings were made while participants performed a visual search task under different attentional scaling conditions. Two concentric circles of different sizes, presented to the participants at the center of a screen modulated the attentional scopes, and search arrays were distributed in the space areas indicated by these concentric circles. To ensure consistent eccentricity of the search arrays across different conditions, we limited our studies to the neural responses evoked by the search arrays distributed in the overlapping region of different attentional scopes.

Results

Consistent with the prediction of the zoom lens model, our behavioral data showed that reaction times for target discrimination of search arrays decreased and the associated error rates also significantly decreased, with narrowing the attentional scope. Results of the event-related potential analysis showed that the target-elicited amplitude of lateral occipital N1, rather than posterior P1, which reflects the earliest visuospatial attentional processing, was sensitive to changes in the scaling of visuospatial attention, indicating that the modulation of the effect of changes in the spatial scale of attention on visual processing occurred after the delay period of P1. The N1 generator exhibited higher activity as the attentional scope narrowed, reflecting more intensive processing resources within the attentional focus. In contrast to N1, the amplitude of N2pc increased with the expansion of the attentional focus, suggesting that observers might further redistribute attentional resources according to the increased task difficulty.

Conclusion

These findings provide electrophysiological evidence that the neural activity of the N1 generator is the earliest marker of the zoom lens effect of visual spatial attention. Furthermore, evidence from N2pc shows that there is also a redistribution of attentional resources after the action of the zoom lens mechanism, which allows for better perform of the search task in the context of low attentional resolution. On the basis of the timing of P1, N1, and N2pc, our findings provide compelling evidence that visuospatial attention processing in the zoom lens paradigm involves multi-stage dynamic processing.
No tears in heaven: did the media create the pseudo-phenomenon “altitude-adjusted lachrymosity syndrome (AALS)”?
Authors: Wicks Paul , Lancashire Lee
Published: April 2018

Objective

In the media, numerous public figures have reported involuntary emotional outbursts arising from watching films on planes, resembling neurological phenomena such as pseudobulbar affect. Putative risk factors put forward include altitude, mild hypoxia, or alcohol. Our objective was to determine whether watching a film on an airplane is really more likely to induce involuntary, uncontrollable, or surprising crying than watching one on the ground, described in some social media as “altitude-adjusted lachrymosity syndrome” (AALS), or whether this is a pseudo-phenomena.

Methods

Amazon Mechanical Turk survey participants (N = 1,084) living in the United States who had watched a film on a plane in the past 12 months were invited to complete an online survey. The main outcome measures were likelihood of crying in a logistic regression model including location of viewing, age, gender, genre of film, subjective film rating, annual household income, watching a “guilty pleasure” film, drinking alcohol, feeling tired or jetlagged, or having a recent emotional life event.

Results

About one in four films induced crying. Watching a film on a plane per se does not appear to induce involuntary crying. Significant predictors of crying included dramas or family films, a recent life event, watching a “guilty pleasure”, high film ratings, and female gender. Medical conditions, age, income, alcohol use, and feeling tired or jetlagged were not significant.

Conclusion

People reporting the pseudo-phenomena of AALS are most likely experiencing “dramatically heightened exposure”, watching as many films on a plane in a week’s return trip as they would in a year at the cinema. Such perceptions are probably magnified by confirmation bias and further mentions in social media.
Significaciones de la democracia en los mensajes presidenciales chilenos: 1990-2014
Authors: Durán Migliardi Carlos Salvatore
Published: April 2018

Este artículo se propone describir las significaciones que asume la democracia en el primero de los mensajes ante el Congreso Pleno emitido por cada uno de los presidentes de Chile durante el periodo 1990-2014. Junto con relevar el lugar del discurso en las dinámicas políticas, se pretende dar cuenta de las relaciones de continuidad y ruptura en torno a las significaciones hegemónicas que, en relación a este significante clave del lenguaje político, han circulado en el campo político chileno desde el retorno a la democracia en 1990.
Impacto de composición familiar en los niveles de pobreza de Perú
Authors: Castro Salinas Rodolfo José , Rivera Renzo , Seperak Rosa
Published: April 2018

El presente estudio utiliza los datos de la última versión de la Encuesta Nacional de Hogares (Enaho) —una encuesta anual y representativa de la población de Perú— para determinar en qué medida la composición y estructura familiar puede predecir o evitar que los miembros del hogar sobrepasen la línea de pobreza. Los resultados obtenidos, a través de un modelo de regresión logística, indican que las familias constituidas por padres que mantienen una unión libre o convivencia con hijos menores de edad, los hogares con número extenso de miembros y la mala calidad de empleo del jefe de familia son aspectos que incrementan la posibilidad de que el hogar sea pobre. Por otro lado, las variables consideradas y relacionadas a menores probabilidades de escenarios de pobreza son: contar con dos o más perceptores de ingresos en el hogar, vivir en un área urbana, tener un mejor grado de instrucción, tenencia de activos y la jefatura femenina del hogar; todos ellos aspectos que tienen la capacidad de mitigar los efectos de la pobreza
Antropología y desastres: Entrevista con Susanna Hoffman
Authors: Díaz Crovetto Gonzalo
Published: April 2018

Esta entrevista se realizó en mayo del 2016 en Dubvronik, al alero del InterCongreso de la IUAES, donde justamente Susanna coordinó un grupo de trabajo titulado «The increasing importance of anthropology in understanding risk and disaster review of the current state of the field».
PDF completo número 27,1
Authors: Cuhso Revista
Published: April 2018

.
Que Variáveis Contribuem para a Prisão do Agressor em Caso de Violência Doméstica? Uma análise dos inquéritos policiais do município de Aracaju/SE
Authors: Mota Emily Santos , Jorge Marco Antonio
Published: April 2018

No Brasil existem altas taxas de violência doméstica contra a mulher. O objetivo do presente trabalho é, a partir dos dados dos inquéritos policiais registrados no município de Aracaju em 2014, analisar os fatores que elevam a probabilidade de prisão decorrente de ato de violência doméstica contra a mulher. O trabalho divide-se em quatro seções, além da introdução. Na primeira aborda-se a economia do crime como uma ferramenta de análise da racionalidade dos agressores. A segunda seção apresenta o modelo, bem como a técnica de regressão logística. A terceira seção, além de uma análise descritiva dos dados, discute os resultados do modelo, dentre os quais: as relações de ex-companheirismo e namoro, agressores que trabalham na Administração Pública, que ingerem bebida alcoólica, e a reincidência reduzem a probabilidade de prisão, já o agressor ser natural de fora do estado eleva tal probabilidade. Por fim, a última seção traz breves considerações finais.
Gastos sociais e calendário eleitoral na Bahia: uma investigação a partir dos ciclos eleitorais para mesorregião metropolitana de Salvador
Authors: Fraga Thaís Lima , Cassuce Francisco Carlos Cunha , Cirino Jader Fernandes , Jacob Kamila Gabriela
Published: April 2018

O escopo deste trabalho consiste em investigar a existência de ciclos eleitorais na Mesorregião Metropolitana de Salvador (MMS) de 1997 a 2011. Foram analisados o comportamento dos seguintes grupos de gastos sociais: educação e cultura, saúde e saneamento, habitação e urbanismo e transferências do programa Bolsa Família, utilizando dados em painel. Os resultados comprovaram a incidência de ciclo eleitoral para as funções: saúde e saneamento, habitação e urbanismo e transferências do programa Bolsa Família, o que indica que os policymakers aproveitam-se da configuração social local para manter-se no governo.
Solow's golden rule application for brazilian economy
Authors: Melo Marcelo Miranda , Campelo Guaracyane , Almeida Cleycianne
Published: April 2018

Esse trabalho acadêmico utilizou a teoria da regra de ouro do modelo de Solow na economia brasileira. Uma função de produção modificada foi introduzida no modelo com os seguintes argumentos: capital e crédito. Dados econômicos nacionais foram comparados envolvendo Brasil, parceiros selecionados na América Latina e também o grupo dos BRICs. Variáveis macroeconômicas como: Produto Interno Bruto (PIB) (preços constantes) % variação, Taxa Nacional de Poupança Bruta (% PIB), Inflação % variação foram comparadas entre os países selecionados. O Brasil tem a menor taxa de poupança (% PIB) entre países latinos americanos. Também entre países latinos americanos o Brasil apresentou uma das menores taxas de crescimento econômico perdendo apenas para o México. Entre os BRICs a China apresentou com folga o maior crescimento econômico com a maior taxa de poupança (% PIB) e a mais baixa taxa de inflação. Brasil e África do Sul parecem ter dados similares. O modelo de Solow foi desenvolvido e utilizando técnicas de otimização encontrou-se a taxa de poupança ótima para a economia brasileira. Utilizou-se análise de regressão com dados abrangendo o período de 1991 a 2012 usando PIB, Crédito e Capital. A taxa de poupança ótima foi encontrada em s=42,94 (%PIB). Atualmente a taxa de poupança brasileira está bem abaixo da taxa ótima, s=13,0 (%PIB), o que em grande parte explica o baixo crescimento brasileiro. O Brasil deve elevar sua taxa de poupança no sentido de obter um crescimento econômico sadio e sustentável.
Salário, educação e experiência: Uma abordagem econométrica
Authors: Resende Oliveira Felipe , Lenon Casagrande Dieison , Studart Guilherme , Bezerra da Silva Inaldo , Henrique Monteiro Guimarães Paulo
Published: April 2018

Este trabalho busca analisar e identificar as relações entre educação e experiência na fixação dos salários hora dos trabalhadores belgas. O resultado da regressão por MQO ilustra uma forte relação e significante entre o salário, experiência e educação. Existe uma relação positiva entre os níveis de educação e o salário hora, ou seja, o adicional da escolaridade está associado com aumento percentual do salário. O coeficiente da experiência2 indica uma correlação negativa, o que sugere o retorno decrescente de experiência de trabalho sobre o percentual de aumento de salário.
Considerações sobre a Política Nacional de Desenvolvimento Regional (2003-2010) e o Nordeste.
Authors: Milani Ana Maria Rita , Pessoah Sarah Regina Nascimento
Published: April 2018

Este trabalho tem por objetivo realizar uma análise crítica da atuação do governo Federal na redução das disparidades regionais através da Política Nacional de Desenvolvimento Regional (2007) e do Plano Estratégico de Desenvolvimento Sustentável do Nordeste (2006), buscando evidenciar se as diretrizes e prioridades delineadas convergiram com as ações realizadas e a intencionalidade do governo em desenvolver o Nordeste. Foi possível constatar fragilidades na implementação da PNDR. Para além, com a abordagem de desigualdades em múltiplas escalas, a política passou a tratar de forma unificada o atraso relativo de todas as macrorregiões, não dando a real e necessária prioridade ao Nordeste. Observou-se uma falta de convergência entre as linhas prioritárias e os investimentos previstos no plano estratégico, como também diversas limitações dos fundos de financiamentos que, dentre outros elementos, destacam-se a baixa capacidade de influenciar a localização dos investimentos e de seletividade setorial na indução de segmentos estratégicos.
Sex Disparities in Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia Mortality
Authors: Carter Bethan L. , Underwood Jonathan
Published: October 2024

This cohort study examines sex differences in 30- and 90-day mortality among patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia in Wales, United Kingdom.
Maternal-Newborn ABO Blood Groups and Risk of Bacterial Infection in Newborns
Authors: Butler Emily Ana , Ray Joel G. , Cohen Eyal
Published: October 2024

Importance

Newborn immunity largely relies on maternal-fetal transfer of antibodies in utero. Incongruency in ABO blood groups between a mother and newborn may be associated with protection against serious infections, but data specific to newborn bacterial infections are lacking.

Objective

To ascertain the association between maternal-newborn ABO blood group incongruence and lower risk of bacterial infection in newborns.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cohort study used linked patient-level datasets for all singleton live births between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2020, in hospitals and health centers in Ontario, Canada. The cohort comprised maternal-newborn pairs with known ABO blood groups. Data analysis was conducted between February and May 2024.

Exposure

Maternal-newborn ABO blood group incongruence vs congruence.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was a bacterial infection arising in newborns within 30 days of birth. Bacterial infection was cultured from either blood, cerebrospinal fluid, urine, or lung specimen. Secondary outcomes were a bacterial infection with 7 days and 90 days of birth. Modified Poisson regression generated adjusted relative risks (ARRs) and 95% CIs, adjusted for neonatal sex and preterm birth.

Results

A total of 138 207 maternal-newborn pairs (maternal mean [SD] age, 31.8 [5.1] years among those with ABO blood group incongruency and 31.5 [5.1] years among those with ABO blood group congruency; newborn mean [SD] gestational age, 38.5 [2.3] weeks among those with incongruency and 38.4 [2.5] weeks among those with congruency; 19 475 males [51.3%] with incongruency and 52 041 males [51.9%] with congruency) were analyzed. Of these pairs, 37 953 (27.5%) had ABO blood group incongruency and 100 254 (72.5%) had ABO blood group congruency. Within 30 days of birth, 328 (8.6 per 1000) newborns in the incongruent group and 1029 (10.3 per 1000) newborns in the congruent group experienced a bacterial infection, corresponding to an ARR of 0.91 (95% CI, 0.81-1.03). The ARRs for bacterial infection within 7 days and 90 days of birth were 0.89 (95% CI, 0.73-1.09) and 0.86 (95% CI, 0.78-0.94), respectively.

Conclusions and Relevance

This cohort study found no association between maternal-newborn ABO blood group incongruence and risk of bacterial infection in newborns within 30 and 7 days of birth. However, incongruence was associated with a decreased risk of bacterial infection within 90 days of birth.
Resting Heart Rate and Incident Atrial Fibrillation in Black Adults in the Jackson Heart Study
Authors: Yogeswaran Vidhushei , Wiggins Kerri L. , Sitlani Colleen M. , Ilkhanoff Leonard , Benjamin Emelia J. , Heckbert Susan R. , Kassahun-Yimer Wondwosen , Floyd James S.
Published: October 2024

Importance

Resting heart rate (RHR) is a widely available measure of cardiovascular fitness that has been associated with several cardiovascular outcomes. RHR has previously been associated with the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) among individuals of European ancestry, but little is known about this association in Black adults.

Objective

To evaluate the association between RHR and incident AF in a large community-based sample of Black adults, independently of established risk factors.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cohort study uses data from the Jackson Heart Study, a prospective community-based cohort in Jackson, Mississippi. Participants without prevalent AF were included and were monitored for new-onset AF during follow-up, from 2000 through 2016. Data analysis was performed from August 1 to December 11, 2023.

Exposure

RHR was assessed from resting 12-lead electrocardiograms performed at examination 1 (2000-2004) and examination 3 (2009-2013).

Main Outcomes and Measures

AF was identified from study electrocardiograms, hospitalization discharge diagnosis codes, and Medicare claims diagnosis codes. Cox regression was used to evaluate the association between baseline (examination 1) RHR and incident AF, adjusting for established AF risk factors.

Results

Among 4965 Black adults eligible for analysis, the mean (SD) age was 55 (13) years, 1830 (37%) were male, and the mean (SD) RHR at baseline was 65 (11) beats per minute (bpm). During a median (IQR) 14 (12-15) years of follow-up, there were 458 incident AF events, resulting in an incident rate of 7.5 per 1000 person-years (95% CI, 6.8-8.2 incidents per 1000 person-years). Each 10-bpm higher RHR was associated with a 9% higher risk of incident AF after adjustment for AF risk factors (hazard ratio, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.00-1.19). In a sensitivity analysis that excluded individuals with prior heart failure, prior myocardial infarction, and antiarrhythmic medication use at baseline, the hazard ratio was 1.14 (95% CI, 1.02-1.28). There was little evidence of effect modification of these associations by age, sex, body mass index, hypertension, or physical activity level.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this large prospective cohort study of Black adults, elevated baseline RHR was associated with increased risk of incident AF, consistent with findings from previous studies of European ancestry populations. Future research should focus on determining whether RHR can be used to screen patients at high risk of AF.
Blood–brain barrier profile pretreatment is associated with hemorrhagic transformation after endovascular reperfusion
Authors: Leigh Richard , Seners Pierre , Rousseau Vanessa , Christensen Soren , Albucher Jean‐François , Drif Amel , Cognard Christophe , Guenego Adrien , Viguier Alain , Sommet Agnes , Raposo Nicolas , Calviere Lionel , Januel Anne‐Christine , Mlynash Michael , Bonneville Fabrice , Gaudilliere Brice , Thalamas Claire , Sibon Igor , Tourdias Thomas , Mazighi Mikael , Heit Jeremy J , Maier Benjamin , Albers Gregory W. , Olivot Jean‐Marc ,   the FRAME Investigators
Published: October 2024

Background

While advances in endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) have led to high reperfusion rates, most patients treated with EVT do not avoid disability. Post‐reperfusion hemorrhagic transformation (HT) is a potential target for improving outcomes. This study examined pretreatment blood–brain barrier (BBB) disruption in tissue that would subsequently become part of the final infarct to evaluate its role in post‐EVT HT.

Methods

This post hoc analysis of the FRAME study, which enrolled patients with anterior large vessel occlusion who received EVT within 6 hours of onset, included patients if they had successful pretreatment MRI perfusion weighted imaging (PWI) and underwent successful EVT. BBB disruption was measured as the percent signal change due to gadolinium leakage on the PWI source images prior to thrombectomy. Mean permeability derangement (MPD) was defined as the average of all voxels in the stroke core that are two standard deviations above normal. The primary outcome was hemorrhagic transformation with parenchymal hematoma (PH).

Results

In total, 164 patients were included; mean age was 71 and 48% were female. PH occurred in 57 patients. Median MPD was 13.5% for patients with PH versus 3.6% for patients without (p < 0.0001). Elevated MPD was independently associated with PH with a 20% increased risk of PH for each 5% increase in MPD (OR 1.206; 95% CI 1.037:1.405; p = 0.0147, adjusted for NIHSS and procedure duration).

Conclusions

Even in patients who are successfully recanalized in an early time window, pretreatment BBB disruption in regions that go on to infarct is associated with an increased risk of post‐EVT HT.
IL‐12p70 Induces Neuroprotection via the PI3K‐AKT‐BCL2 Axis to Mediate the Therapeutic Effect of Electroacupuncture on Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction
Authors: Huang Tingting , Hong Jie , Ling Jia , Zhu Lin , Zhao Wei , Zhang Xinlu , Yan Xinze , Hu Chen , Zhang Ruijie , Gao Chen , Zhang Shengzhao , Chen Chen , Yang Runhuai , Wu Weiwei , Wang Chunhui , Gao Qian
Published: October 2024

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD), a postsurgical decline in cognitive function, primarily affects older adults and worsens their prognosis. Although elevated interleukin‐12p70 (IL‐12p70) is closely correlated with slower cognitive decline in older adults, its role in POCD remains unclear. Here, IL‐12p70 is identified as a significant mediator of therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on POCD. EA at acupoints ST36, GV20, and GV24 significantly enhanced cognitive behaviors of POCD mice. IL‐12p70, downregulated in POCD mice but rescued by EA treatment, is the cytokine closely associated with EA's therapeutic effect. Clinically, IL‐12p70 is downregulated in older adults’ serum post‐surgery. Furthermore, IL‐12p70 exerts a potent neuroprotective effect in both neuronal cell lines and primary hippocampal neurons. The PI3K‐AKT‐BCL2 axis enriched by in silico analysis is validated as the signaling mechanism underlying IL‐12p70‐induced neuroprotection. In vivo, beneficial effects of EA treatment on the activation of PI3K‐AKT‐BCL2 axis and POCD are reproduced by IL‐12p70 administration but attenuated by IL‐12p70 knockdown. The findings reveal a novel mechanism underlying the therapeutic effect of EA on POCD, demonstrating that IL‐12p70 exerts a neuroprotective effect by activating PI3K‐AKT‐BCL2 axis in hippocampal neurons. The newly‐discovered function and mechanism of IL‐12p70 highlight its potential in treating cognitive disorders.
Desolvation Effect Triggered by TiS2‐TiO2 Heterostructure for Ultrahigh‐Rate Aqueous Zinc‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Chen Manlin , Zhou Min , Wang Qingyuan , Xu Cheng , Wang Sheng , Ning Jing , Wang Tianqi , Wang Kangli , Jiang Kai
Published: October 2024

Aqueous Zn ion batteries (AZIBs) represent a promising candidate for the next‐generation energy storage and conversion systems due to their high safety and cost‐effectiveness. However, sluggish kinetics arising from interface desolvation processes pose challenges in achieving high‐power density and long cycle life for AZIBs. Here, it is discovered for the first time that heterostructures utilize built‐in electric field forces to promote the desolvation process at the electrode‐electrolyte interface. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations and structural characterization demonstrate that heterogeneous structures simultaneously accelerate the desolvation process and enhance ion diffusion, resulting in the outstanding rate performance (160.9 mA h g−1 at 5 A g−1) of TiS2‐TiO2 heterostructures, far exceeding that of a conventional TiS2 electrode with 14.2% capacity retention. Meanwhile, the insertion/extraction of the desolvated charge carriers reduced the volume change of TiS2‐TiO2 material during the charging/discharging processes, enabling the long‐lasting cycling stability (108.6 mA h g−1 after 2000 cycles at 0.5 A g−1). This study provides instructive electrode design strategies for the construction of fast‐charging electrochemical energy storage systems.
Tailored Regulation of Graphite Microcrystals via Tandem Catalytic Carbonization for Enhanced Electrochemical Performance of Hard Carbon in the Low‐Voltage Plateau
Authors: Zhou Limin , Zhang Gaoyue , Xu Chenchen , Li Junxiao , Liu Yanyan , Li Baojun , Wang Ao , Sun Kang
Published: October 2024

The sodium storage behavior in the plateau region is crucial for determining the capacity and rate capability of hard carbon (HC) anodes in sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs). Key structural features for achieving excellent plateau performance include extended graphite domains and increased interlayer spacing. However, synchronously optimizing these two structures is challenging due to their inherent trade‐off. Herein, a tandem catalytic carbonization strategy is developed to construct HC with long graphite domains (La = 5.31 nm) and large interlayer spacing (d002 = 0.389 nm) simultaneously. Comprehensive in situ and ex situ tests unravel the catalytic selective bond breaking and aromatization effects of ZnCl2, the catalytic graphitic layers enlargement and occupied effects of formed ZnO and Zn in different temperature stages, leading to the formation of the unique structure. The optimal HCZ‐0.1 exhibits a high reversible capacity of 346.9 mAh g−1 with a plateau capacity of 249.4 mAh g−1, and high‐rate performance (114.0 mAh g−1 at 5 A g−1). In addition, the sodium storage mechanism and origin of enhanced Na+ kinetics of HCZ‐0.1 are also revealed. This work offers a precise method to engineer the graphite microcrystal structure in HC for superior sodium storage in the plateau region.
Comparative Study of Indium Oxide Films for High‐Mobility TFTs: ALD, PLD and Solution Process
Authors: Guo Min , Wu Jianting , Ou Hai , Xie Dongyu , Zhu Qiaoji , Huang Yi , Wang Mengye , Liang Lingyan , Liang Xiaoci , Liu Fengjuan , Ning Ce , Lu Xubing , Cao Hongtao , Yuan Guangcai , Liu Chuan
Published: October 2024

Deposition of indium oxide base films for high‐mobility thin film transistors (TFTs) has been an important part in the implementation of high‐resolution and high‐frequency display back panels. In this study, three types of In2O3 (InO) films have been fabricated for TFTs using atomic layer deposition (ALD), pulsed laser deposition (PLD), and solution process, respectively. ALD‐derived InO films show controllable grain formation and optimized TFTs show the field effect mobility of ≈100 cm2 V−1s−1 in both the conventional transistor measurements and critical four‐probe measurements, reaching the level of low‐temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS). Combined spectroscopy investigations show that the ALD‐derived InO film features advantages as compared to those of the PLD‐deposited and solution‐processed InO film in providing a smoother surface morphology, good crystallinity, and more orderly atomic growth mode. Moreover, the bias‐stress stability of ALD‐derived TFTs can be improved with further passivation.
Solution‐Processed Multifunctional Thin‐Film Encapsulation of Perovskite Thin Films and Devices
Authors: Khaleed Abdul , Mo Hongbo , Syed Ali Asghar , Rehman Atta Ur , Li Yin , Wang Jingbo , Wang Yixuan , Zhu Tao , Shen Yanting , Li Gang , Shih Kaimin , Djurišić Aleksandra B.
Published: October 2024

Herein, the effect of multicomponent composite encapsulation on the stability of perovskite thin films and perovskite solar cells, as well as lead leakage upon water immersion, is investigated. The encapsulation is simple and low cost since it is entirely deposited by solution processed techniques in the ambient atmosphere. It consists of a spray‐coated composite layer sandwiched between two spin‐coated layers. The composite layer contains hygroscopic nanomaterials, oxygen scavengers, and lead adsorbing nanomaterials, which enables reduced lead leakage and improved stability of encapsulated perovskite during storage in ambient, immersion in water, as well as illumination in dry air. The encapsulation layers show high transmittance and did not have a significant effect on the short‐circuit current density and open‐circuit voltage despite the deposition of encapsulation in ambient air. The encapsulated devices retain 80% of their initial performance after 4 h of immersion in water.
Does Contract Farming Improve Diet Quality? The Case of Senegalese Smallholders
Authors: Ndip Francis E. , Sakurai Takeshi
Published: October 2024

The institution of contract farming has gained prominence in most developing countries owing to its numerous benefits. While several studies have already highlighted the welfare benefits of contract farming, very few have investigated the effects on diet quality, despite poor quality diets being a serious challenge in most parts of the developing world. Moreover, such existing studies deal with contract farming in speciality crops, although contract farming in staple crops may have different effects on diet quality. Therefore, this study evaluates the role of staple crop contracts on diet quality, proxied by two measures of dietary diversity. Using cross‐sectional data from rice‐producing households in Senegal, we employ linear models through ordinary least squares to estimate the relationship between contract farming and diet quality. Our results show that participation in contract farming is positively associated with household dietary diversity and hence, diet quality. Our results further show that income is the main pathway through which contracts and diet quality are associated. With increasing calls for agriculture to be nutrition‐sensitive, our results suggest that the institution of contract farming can play an important role in this regard by improving diet quality.
Towards Predictive Pollution Control Through Traffic Flux Forecasting With Deep Learning: A Case Study in the City of Valencia
Authors: Folgado Miguel G. , Sanz Verónica , Hirn Johannes , Lorenzo‐Sáez Edgar , Urchueguía Javier F.
Published: October 2024

Traffic congestion represents a significant urban challenge, with notable implications for public health and environmental well‐being. Consequently, urban decision‐makers prioritize the mitigation of congestion. This study delves into the efficacy of harnessing extensive data on urban traffic dynamics, coupled with comprehensive knowledge of road networks, to enable Artificial Intelligence (AI) in forecasting traffic flux well in advance. Such forecasts hold promise for informing emission reduction measures, particularly those aligned with Low Emission Zone policies. The investigation centers on Valencia, leveraging its robust traffic sensor infrastructure, one of the most densely deployed worldwide, encompassing approximately 3500 sensors strategically positioned across the city. Employing historical data spanning 2016 and 2017, we undertake the task of training and characterizing a Long Short‐Term Memory (LSTM) Neural Network for the prediction of temporal traffic patterns. Our findings demonstrate the LSTM's efficacy in real‐time forecasting of traffic flow evolution, facilitated by its ability to discern salient patterns within the dataset.
Recyclable Ag/g‐C3N4 Catalyzed Visible‐light Promoted Heterogeneous Synthesis of Unsymmetric Diaryl Chalcogenides
Authors: Ji Hong‐Tao , Yi Yu‐Tao , Zhou Min‐Hang , Luo Qing‐Xia , Jiang Jun , He Wei‐Min
Published: October 2024

With Ag/g‐C3N4 semiconductor as the heterogeneous photocatalyst, the visible light promoted heterogeneous synthesis of unsymmetric diaryl chalcogenides could be achieved under additive‐free and mild conditions. A series of unsymmetric diaryl chalcogenides were generated in good to excellent yields with high functional group tolerance. The Ag/g‐C3N4 photocatalyst is easily recovered from the reaction mixture and reused at least 5 times, opening the way for larger‐scale industrial applications of this type of photocatalytic bond‐forming reactions.
Beyond the First Nations Voice to Parliament: Who “owns” the state?
Authors: O'Sullivan Dominic
Published: October 2024

In 2023, Australian voters defeated a constitutional amendment to establish a First Nations' Voice to Parliament. This representative body would have been empowered to make representations to parliament and executive government. It was proposed by First Nations people as the first stage in a Voice, Treaty, Truth process of political and constitutional reform. As the implications of this defeat are considered, it is instructive to examine what lessons New Zealand's politics and policies of Māori self‐determination may contribute to local deliberations, including on the principles that could inform treaties such as those under consideration in the state of Victoria. The ongoing point of contention in both countries has profound implications for how and why policy is made, for whom and by whom. The point of contest is over who, in practical political terms, “owns” the state and, therefore, its policymaking systems? Are First Nations people shareholders in state authority, or should they reside always on its periphery? If not, what are the terms of their inclusion?
A cradle‐to‐grave life cycle assessment of the endoscopic sinus surgery considering materials, energy, and waste
Authors: Mousania Zeinab , Kayastha Darpan , Rimmer Ryan A. , Atkinson John D.
Published: October 2024

Background

Operating rooms generate 1.8 million tons of waste annually, or 20%‒30% of the total healthcare waste in the United States. Our objective was to perform a life cycle assessment (LCA) for endoscopic sinus surgeries (ESSs) in order to analyze its environmental impact.

Methods

A comprehensive LCA of ESS was performed considering energy, climate, and water use impacts associated with the materials and processes used. It focuses on the ESS performed at a large tertiary academic hospital and then extends the impacts to consider annual US surgeries. The assessment considers end‐of‐life waste management at both landfills and incinerators.

Results

Single‐use instrument production constitutes 89%‒96% of the total impacts throughout the life cycle of an ESS. Waste‐to‐energy incineration is shown to be a preferred end‐of‐life destination, as it recovers much of the input production energy of plastic items, ultimately reducing the input to 36%, although this is done at the expense of higher greenhouse gas emissions. For multi‐use items, decontamination dominates environmental impact (>99% of totals), but consideration of reusable items reduces overall energy consumption and global warming potential (GWP) by 25%‒33%.

Conclusion

Single‐use items dominate the total environmental impact of ESS. While multi‐use items require additional decontamination over their lifetimes, results show that their incorporation reduces energy consumption and GWP by 25%‒33%, demonstrating the clear environmental benefit.
Development and validation of the four‐item Concise Aging adults Smell Test to screen for olfactory dysfunction in older adults
Authors: Soler Zachary M. , Gregoski Mathew J. , Kohli Preeti , LaPointe Kristina A. , Schlosser Rodney J.
Published: October 2024

Background

Olfactory dysfunction (OD) in the elderly is common and associated with numerous comorbidities, yet often underrecognized. This study sought to develop an instrument for widespread screening of this condition.

Methods

Demographic factors, comorbidities, and olfactory‐related questions were examined in a focus group (N = 20) and development cohort (N = 190). The 4‐item Concise Aging adults Smell Test (4‐CAST) screening instrument was then developed to predict OD on Sniffin Sticks testing. An independent validation cohort (N = 147) was then examined to confirm ability of the 4‐CAST to predict OD on Smell Identification Test 40 (SIT40).

Results

The most important variables for predicting olfactory loss in older subjects were age, type II diabetes status, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) of overall rating of smell, and VAS of impact of smell upon safety. In the development cohort, the 4‐CAST model yielded predictive probability (area under the curve) of 0.805 (p < 0.001) for predicting the bottom 25th percentile on Sniffin Sticks. Results were similar in the validation cohort, as the 4‐CAST accurately classified 83.8% subjects (area under the curve [AUC] 0.789, p < 0.001) in the bottom 25th percentile of SIT40 testing. The 4‐CAST was able to accurately classify 89.4% of subjects with anosmia.

Conclusion

The 4‐CAST is a quick screening instrument for predicting OD in older adults and has similar performance characteristics in independent populations using the two most common validated olfactory tests. Given the high prevalence of unrecognized olfactory loss in this population, this can be a useful tool for practitioners to determine which subjects may benefit from more extensive olfactory testing.
An Organometallic Umpolung Approach for Iron‐Mediated Propargylic C−H Etherification
Authors: Xia Yue , Zhu Jin , Durham Austin C. , Wang Yi‐Ming
Published: October 2024

Propargylic ethers serve as useful intermediates for the synthesis of a variety of complex targets. However, propargylic substitution of prefunctionalized alkyne starting materials remains the dominant method for the synthesis of propargyl ethers, while direct etherification of simple alkynes via propargylic C−H functionalization remains largely underreported. Herein, we report an organometallic umpolung approach for iron‐mediated C−H propargylic etherification. A telescopic protocol for iron‐mediated C−H deprotonation followed by mild oxidative coupling with alcohols enabled the use of simple or functionalized alkynes for the expedient synthesis of propargylic ethers with excellent functional group compatibility, chemoselectivity and regioselectivity.
Local Structure‐Induced Selective Interactions Enables High‐Performance and Burn‐in‐Free Organic Photovoltaics
Authors: Fan Baobing , Gao Huanhuan , Yu Liyang , Li Ruipeng , Wang Lei , Zhong Wenkai , Wang Yunfan , Jiang Wenlin , Fu Huiting , Chen Tianqi , Kan Bin , Tsang Sai‐Wing , Jen Alex K.‐Y.
Published: October 2024

Oligomeric acceptors (OAs) have attracted considerable attention in the organic photovoltaics (OPV) field owing to their capacity in balancing the merits from both monomeric and polymeric acceptors. A delicate control over the distortion between blocks of OAs usually determines the performance and stability of relevant OPV devices. However, it imposes great complexity to realize a controllable degree of distortion by tuning the skeleton of blocks and the position of linker between blocks. Herein, we developed a facile strategy to rationally control the geometry distortion of OAs via a straightforward substitution of alkoxy side‐chains on their blocks. This helps elucidate the integrated influences of molecular distortion and non‐bonded contacts on the selective interactions between OA molecules and between OA and host acceptor in ternary blend. We demonstrate the alkoxy‐OA molecules having stronger self‐interactions would mitigate their interactions with host acceptor, therefore alleviating the kinetic diffusion and excessive aggregation of total acceptors. Combining with a composite‐interlayer strategy by introducing a phenyl‐substituted self‐assembled monolayer to enhance the doping with polyoxometalate, an impressive efficiency of 20.1 % is achieved accompanied by a negligible burn‐in loss against physical aging. This study demonstrates the validation of tuning of selective interactions towards high‐performance and burn‐in‐free OPV.
Enabling Interfacial Lattice Matching by Selective Epitaxial Growth of CuS Crystals on Bi2WO6 Nanosheets for Efficient CO2 Photoreduction into Solar Fuels
Authors: Tian Jiaqi , Zhang Yangyang , Shi Zuhao , Liu Zhongyi , Zhao Zaiwang , Li Jun , Li Neng , Huang Hongwei
Published: October 2024

Photocatalytic CO2 reduction serves as an important technology for value‐added solar fuel production, however, it is generally limited by interfacial charge transport. To address this limitation, a two‐dimensional/two‐dimensional (2D/2D) p‐n heterojunction CuS‐Bi2WO6 (CS‐BWO) with highly connected and matched interfacial lattices was designed in this work via a two‐step hydrothermal tandem synthesis strategy. The integration of CuS with BWO created a robust interface electric field and provided fast charge transfer channels due to the work function difference, as well as highly connected and matched interfacial lattices. The p‐n heterojunction combination promoted the electron transfer from the Cu to Bi sites, leading to the coordination of Bi sites with high electronic density and low oxidation state. The Bi sites in the BWO nanosheets facilitated the adsorption and activation of CO2, and the generation of high‐coverage key intermediate b‐CO32−, while CuS (CS) acted as a broad light‐harvesting material to provide abundant photoinduced electrons that were injected into the conduction band of BWO for CO2 photoreduction reaction. Remarkably, the p‐n heterojunction CS‐BWO exhibited average CO and CH4 yields of 33.9 and 16.4 μmol g−1 h−1, respectively, which were significantly higher than those of CS, BWO, and physical mixture CS‐BWO samples. This work provided an innovative design strategy for developing high‐activity heterojunction photocatalyst for converting CO2 into value‐added solar fuels.
Rapid Untargeted Puff‐by‐Puff Analysis of (Electronic) Cigarette Emissions by Concentric Dielectric Barrier Discharge Ionisation Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Gao Yong‐Qi , Gasilova Natalia , Wolf Jan‐Christoph , Patiny Luc , Menin Laure , Pavlou Maria
Published: October 2024

Despite the soaring popularity of e‐cigarettes among teenagers and young adults, our understanding of the full extent of their health hazards have remained limited. This is due to the vast complexities of e‐cigarette aerosols and the difficulty in their full characterisation. Conventional mass spectrometry methods of e‐cigarette analysis, though pioneering in driving political and medical discourse, have been limited in their capabilities to uncover all compounds in its emissions due to prominent limitations in experimental setup. To overcome this major hurdle, we have developed a setup for puff‐by‐puff analysis of electronic and conventional cigarette emissions by concentric dielectric barrier discharge ionisation mass spectrometry. In this pilot study, the simple setup of in‐line dilution and high‐resolution mass spectrometry analysis allowed us to directly uncover 225 compounds in e‐cigarette puffs across a wide spectrum of chemical classes in two sequential 5‐minute runs. These include acids, carbonyls, aromatic cyclics, heterocyclics, unsaturated and saturated hydrocarbons, alcohols, esters, alkaloids, sulfur‐containing compounds, oxides, and nitriles. As a result, our setup provided a significant improvement in rapid compound identification, and demonstrated a much broader chemical landscape in e‐cigarette emissions than previously reported.
Efficient Capture of Phosphate From Aqueous Media Using Bimetallic La‐Zr‐MOF
Authors: Song Jiangyan , Yu Yongyi , Zhang Ziyi , Yang Weisen , Pan Wenbin , Jian Shaoju , Jiang Shaohua , Hu Jiapeng
Published: October 2024

Deposition of excessive phosphate in natural water column caused several issues, like the eutrophication and destruction of aquatic ecosystems. Adsorption has been an effective and convenient method for phosphate elimination. Herein, a novel bimetallic metal–organic framework adsorbent, namely, La‐Zr‐MOF, was prepared, and the morphology, crystallite, characteristic functional groups, specific surface area, and composite material surfaces were analyzed using XRD, FT‐IR, SEM‐EDS, and BET. The adsorption performance of the adsorbent was systematically evaluated by batch adsorption experiments, and the adsorption thermodynamic and kinetic properties were analyzed. The results reveal that La‐Zr‐MOF exhibits a high selectivity and sorption performance for phosphate, and the adsorption of La‐Zr‐MOF follows the Langmuir and pseudo–second‐order models; the phosphate removal procedure is a chemisorption accompanied by an endothermic reaction, and the maximum capacity was 127.7 mg g−1. Combined with batch adsorption experiments, kinetic and thermodynamic studies and various characterization analyses together revealed the phosphate removal mechanism, mainly ligand exchange and electrostatic interactions.