bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bilingual neurocognitive resiliency, vulnerability, and Alzheimer's disease biomarker correlates in Latino older adults enrolled in the Health and Aging Brain Study ‐ Health Disparities (HABS‐HD)
Authors: Grasso Stephanie M. , Clark Alexandra L. , Petersen Melissa , O'Bryant Sid ,   for the Health and Aging Brain Study (HABS‐HD) Study Team
Published: December 2023

INTRODUCTION

The effects of bilingualism on neuropsychological test performance in bilinguals with and without cognitive impairment are not well‐understood and are relatively limited by small sample sizes of Latinos.

METHODS

Using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), we explored patterns of cognitive performance and impairment across a large sample of community‐dwelling bilingual and monolingual Latino older adults with (n = 180) and without (n = 643) mild cognitive impairment (MCI) enrolled in HABS‐HD.

RESULTS

Bilinguals demonstrated cognitive resiliency in the form of significantly better performance on the Trail Making Test and Digit Symbol Substitution Test, observed across the cognitively unimpaired and MCI groups. In contrast, bilinguals demonstrated cognitive vulnerability in the form of significantly poorer performance and higher impairment rates on phonemic fluency in the MCI phase, only. Follow‐up analyses revealed less balanced bilinguals demonstrated poorer performance and higher impairment rates on this measure, supported by lower levels of plasma Aβ 42/40.

DISCUSSION

Patterns of cognitive performance and impairment differ as a function of bilingualism. Bilingualism must be considered when evaluating cognitive and biomarker outcomes in Latino older adults.

Highlights

Latino bilinguals perform better on measures of processing speed and coding.

Latino bilinguals with MCI demonstrate cognitive vulnerability in verbal fluency.

Less balanced bilinguals demonstrate greatest vulnerability anchored by Aβ 42/40.
Self‐Powered Piezo‐Supercapacitors Based on ZnO@Mo‐Fe‐MnO2 Nanoarrays
Authors: Sun Luo , Ye Zhiguo , Peng Xinyuan , Zhuang Shaojie , Li Duosheng , Jin Zhong
Published: December 2023

The development of self‐charging supercapacitor power cells (SCSPCs) has profound implications for smart electronic devices used in different fields. Here, we epitaxially electrodeposited Mo‐ and Fe‐codoped MnO2 films on piezoelectric ZnO nanoarrays (NAs) grown on the flexible carbon cloth (denoted ZnO@Mo‐Fe‐MnO2 NAs). A self‐charging supercapacitor power cell device was assembled with the Mo‐ and Fe‐codoped MnO2 nanoarray electrode and poly(vinylidenefluoride‐co‐trifluoroethylene) (PVDF‐Trfe) piezoelectric film doped with BaTiO3 (BTO) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) (denoted PVDF‐Trfe/CNTs/BTO). The self‐charging supercapacitor power cell device exhibited an energy density of 30 μWh cm−2 with a high power density of 40 mW cm−2 and delivered an excellent self‐charging performance of 363 mV (10 N) driven by both the piezoelectric ZnO nanoarrays and the poly(vinylidenefluoride‐co‐trifluoroethylene) piezoelectric film doped with BaTiO3 and carbon nanotubes. More intriguingly, the device could also be self‐charged by 184 mV due to residual stress alone and showed excellent energy conversion efficiency and low self‐discharge rate. This work illustrates for the first time the self‐charging mechanism involving electrolyte ion migration driven by both electrodes and films. A comprehensive analysis strongly confirmed the important contribution of the piezoelectric ZnO nanoarrays in the self‐charging process of the self‐charging supercapacitor power cell device. This work provides novel directions and insights for the development of self‐charging supercapacitor power cells.
Recent Advances in the Palladium‐Catalyzed Synthesis of Unnatural Tryptophans
Authors: Goswami Koushik , Chakraborty Amrita , Sinha Surajit , Jana Anupam
Published: December 2023

Unnatural tryptophans are introduced to explore and engineer the dynamics, function and properties of modified proteins because of intrinsic fluorescence decay, participation in various π‐system interactions, and high occurrences of tryptophan nucleolus in proteins. Due to its role in protein stability and utility as a fluorophore, it becomes a useful unit for protein studies. Several unnatural tryptophans including the oxygen and sulfur analogues have been constructed as endogenous tryptophan analogues to modify the fluorescent character with minimal perturbation to the native structure, while others have been synthesized to probe the cellular mechanisms of protein synthesis. A number of efficient methods for the construction of this important building block, including Larock indolisation, Heck coupling, Negishi coupling and Sonagashira coupling followed by cyclisation have been widely studied and patented as well, by different research groups. Surprisingly, there is a scarcity of any comprehensive reviews on palladium catalyzed synthesis of unnatural tryptophans. Therefore, we summarized the development of different palladium catalysts, ligands and synthetic approaches for the unnatural tryptophans from 2005 to the most recent results. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first review on the synthesis of unnatural tryptophans.
Cherry blossom and ginkgo leaf coloration phenology dataset of China from 2009 to 2019 extracted from big data
Authors: Wang Shenghong , Liu Haolong , Qin Xinyue , Dai Junhu , Liu Jun
Published: December 2023

Ground‐based phenological observation data are the most accurate phenological monitoring data currently available. Making effective use of available information on social media to retrieve phenological data is of considerable value in alleviating the lack of phenological data in regions with missing observation sites. In this study, a logistic curve fitting method was developed to extract phenological data on specific species from social media data. After verifying the relationship between the site observation data and the temperature, timing data for two typical phenological phenomena in China, namely cherry blossom flowering in spring and ginkgo leaf coloration in autumn were reconstructed and published. The data availability is from 2010 to 2019 in 176 cities and 2009 to 2018 in 155 cities. This dataset is an effective supplement for existing phenological data, and this method also provides a reference for obtaining phenological data for specific species.
Challenging the Status Quo in Secondary Literature Classrooms: A review of Challenging Traditional Classroom Spaces with YA Literature: Students in Community as Course Co‐designers
Authors: Walsh Jennifer A.
Published: December 2023

This paper reviews the book Challenging Traditional Classroom Spaces with YA Literature: Students in Community as Course Co‐Designers by Ricki Ginsberg (2022). Published amid increasingly contentious censoring of teachers' autonomy and students' rights to read in many districts across the United States, this book is a timely call for educators to rethink traditional curriculum choices and pedagogical approaches in the secondary literature classroom. Ginsberg makes a strong case for privileging engaging and relevant texts utilizing YA literature and centering students and their voices in communities of practice in the classroom. She offers a wide range of approaches to make this book relevant for teachers across the spectrum of autonomy, including impactful additions to existing curriculum for those in more constrained environments and a blueprint for a stand‐alone YA literature course for those with more flexibility. Geared toward an audience of secondary literature teachers with many practical pedagogical considerations and suggestions, the solid theoretical base makes this book a useful read for literacy researchers and administrators interested in promoting student‐centered pedagogical methods, leveraging meaningful communities of practice in classroom settings, and reaping the benefits of YA literature with secondary students.
Crude Tieguanyin oolong tea polysaccharides regulate intestinal immune and gut microflora in dextran sulfate sodium‐induced mice colitis
Authors: Zhang Yuxi , Pan Yani , Lin Haiyu , Chen Xue , He Puming , Wang Yuefei , Chen Ping , Chu Qiang
Published: December 2023

BACKGROUND

The global incidence and prevalence of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) have been increasing. Epidemiological studies, clinical trials, and animal experiments have indicated a negative association between the consumption of tea and IBD. This study aims to investigate the protective effects of crude Tieguanyin oolong tea polysaccharides (CTPS) on experimental colitis, while also exploring the underlying mechanisms.

RESULTS

The administration of CTPS significantly alleviated IBD in the mouse model, and was found to regulate T‐cell mediated immune responses in the colon by modulating cytokine production associated with T cells. Furthermore, CTPS demonstrated a positive impact on the gut microbiota, reversing the increase in pathogenic Helicobacter and enhancing the relative abundances of beneficial bacteria such as Akkermansia, Lachnospiraceae, and Odoribacter. Oral administration of CTPS also led to an improvement in intestinal metabolism, specifically by increasing the levels of short‐chain fatty acids.

CONCLUSION

This study provides the first in vivo evidence of the protective effects of CTPS on colitis in mice. The effects are likely facilitated through the regulation of T cell‐mediated responses and modulation of the gut microbiota, suggesting that CTPS may be a potential preventive and therapeutic approach for IBD. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
The process of solid‐state fermentation of soybean meal: antimicrobial activity, fermentation heat generation and nitrogen solubility index
Authors: Zhu Junsong , Lu Feng , Liu Dandan , Zhao Xiaoxue , Chao Jiapin , Wang Yucheng , Luan Yu , Ma Haile
Published: December 2023

BACKGROUND

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens has excellent protease production ability and holds great prospects for application in the solid‐state fermentation of soybean meal (SBM).

RESULTS

Among eight strains of bacteria, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subsp. plantarum CICC 10265, which exhibited higher protease production, was selected as the fermentation strain. The protease activity secreted by this strain reached 106.41 U mL−1. The microbial community structure differed significantly between natural fermentation and inoculation‐enhanced fermented soybean meal (FSBM), with the latter showing greater stability and inhibition of miscellaneous bacterial growth. During fermentation, the temperature inside the soybean meal increased, and the optimal environmental temperature for FSBM was found to be between 35 and 40 °C. Sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis and nitrogen solubility index (NSI) results demonstrated that solid‐state fermentation had a degrading effect on highly denatured proteins in SBM, resulting in an NSI of 67.1%.

CONCLUSION

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subsp. plantarum CICC 10265 can enhance the NSI of SBM in solid‐state fermentation and inhibit the growth of miscellaneous bacteria. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Spectral CT image reconstruction using a constrained optimization approach—An algorithm for AAPM 2022 spectral CT grand challenge and beyond
Authors: Hu Xiaoyu , Jia Xun
Published: December 2023

Background

CT reconstruction is of essential importance in medical imaging. In 2022, the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) sponsored a Grand Challenge to investigate the challenging inverse problem of spectral CT reconstruction, with the aim of achieving the most accurate reconstruction results. The authors of this paper participated in the challenge and won as a runner‐up team.

Purpose

This paper reports details of our PROSPECT algorithm (Prior‐based Restricted‐variable Optimization for SPEctral CT) and follow‐up studies regarding the algorithm's accuracy and enhancement of its convergence speed.

Methods

We formulated the reconstruction task as an optimization problem. PROSPECT employed a one‐step backward iterative scheme to solve this optimization problem by allowing estimation of and correction for the difference between the actual polychromatic projection model and the monochromatic model used in the optimization problem. PROSPECT incorporated various forms of prior information derived by analyzing training data provided by the Grand Challenge to reduce the number of unknown variables. We investigated the impact of projection data precision on the resulting solution accuracy and improved convergence speed of the PROSPECT algorithm by incorporating a beam‐hardening correction (BHC) step in the iterative process. We also studied the algorithm's performance under noisy projection data.

Results

Prior knowledge allowed a reduction of the number of unknown variables by . PROSPECT algorithm achieved the average root of mean square error (RMSE) of in the test data set provided by the Grand Challenge. Performing the reconstruction with the same algorithm but using double‐precision projection data reduced RMSE to . Including the BHC step in the PROSPECT algorithm accelerated the iteration process with a 40% reduction in computation time.

Conclusions

PROSPECT algorithm achieved a high degree of accuracy and computational efficiency.
A strategy towards simultaneously improving strength and processability of polyamide 6 using bespoke dynamic covalent chain extender
Authors: Ye Weihua , Yuan Yanchao , Liu Shumei , Zhao Jianqing
Published: December 2023

The chain extension of polyamide 6 (PA6) via a chemical reaction between a chain extender and the amino and carboxyl groups of the polymer increases the molecular weight and improves the mechanical properties, while typically deteriorates PA6 processability owing to cross‐linking. To resolve this issue, a dynamic covalent chain extender containing two anhydride groups is synthesized, which reacts only with amino groups, and employed to connect the PA6 molecular chains via the reaction between anhydride groups and terminal amino groups of PA6. On adding 3 wt% of the chain extender, the content of amino end groups is decreased from 30.6 to 5.8 μmol g−1 and the yield strength and elastic modulus of chain‐extended PA6 exceed those of original PA6 by 15.8% and 23.4%, respectively; meanwhile, the melt torque of chain‐extended PA6 is lower by 35.0% approximately, and the complex viscosity is also decreased. As far as we know, the dynamic covalent chain extender is used for the first time in the chain extension of PA6. This study provides a prospective approach to recycle PA6 for simultaneously improving mechanical properties and processability.
Hope, hype, and cure: Ethics and four‐letter words in pediatric cancer care
Authors: Unguru Yoram
Published: December 2023

Cancer occupies a special place in the collective consciousness, influencing how hope is expressed. Patients, families, and clinical teams hope for the best possible medical outcome, yet may perceive a given outcome as more or less likely to occur. Hope, hype, and cure exist along a continuum. These four‐letter words influence care delivery, including uptake of innovative therapies. Physicians shape patient/parental hope. What physicians say may be viewed as less important than how it is said. Subtle changes in how hope is understood may contribute to hype and perspectives on cure. Through listening to children/parents, physicians respect and reinforce patients’/families’ hopes.
A new working reference material for cassiterite oxygen isotope microanalysis
Authors: He Sheng , Li Yang , Wu Li‐Guang , Liu Rui‐Ping , Guo Dong‐Fa , Li Zi‐Ying , Li Xian‐Hua
Published: December 2023

Cassiterite is the principal ore mineral for tin, and its oxygen isotope is a promising proxy to trace the origin and evolution of ore‐forming fluids, which requires precise and accurate oxygen isotopic analysis. Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) is a powerful tool for oxygen isotope analysis, especially when samples bear complicated textures, but matrix‐matched reference materials are critical for accurate microanalysis. The only available matrix‐matched reference material for cassiterite oxygen isotope analysis is Yongde‐Cst, and more reference materials are required. Here, we report Piaotang‐Cst as a potential working reference material for cassiterite oxygen isotope microanalysis. Our extensive SIMS microanalysis confirmed that Piaotang‐Cst is relatively homogeneous, with an average two standard deviations (2SD) of 0.49‰ (n = 626). The δ18OVSMOW value of Piaotang‐Cst is 5.33 ± 0.07‰ (2SD, n = 5) as determined by a conventional fluorination isotope ratio mass spectrometer. We also demonstrated that there is no measurable matrix effect caused by the variable contents of trace elements for cassiterite oxygen isotope microanalysis. We proposed that the Piaotang‐Cst can be used as a working reference material for monitoring the external reproducibility and accuracy of SIMS analysis.
Combining Mendelian randomization with the sibling comparison design
Authors: Sjölander Arvid , Frisell Thomas , Öberg Sara , Wang Yunzhang , Hägg Sara
Published: December 2023

Mendelian randomization (MR) is a popular epidemiologic study design that uses genetic variants as instrumental variables (IVs) to estimate causal effects, while accounting for unmeasured confounding. The validity of the MR design hinges on certain IV assumptions, which may sometimes be violated due to dynastic effects, population stratification, or assortative mating. Since these mechanisms act through parental factors it was recently suggested that the bias resulting from violations of the IV assumptions can be reduced by combing the MR design with the sibling comparison design, which implicitly controls for all factors that are constant within families. In this article, we provide a formal discussion of this combined MR‐sibling design. We derive conditions under which the MR‐sibling design is unbiased, and we relate these to the corresponding conditions for the standard MR and sibling comparison designs. We proceed by considering scenarios where all three designs are biased to some extent, and discuss under which conditions the MR‐sibling design can be expected to have less bias than the other two designs. We finally illustrate the theoretical results and conclusions with an application to real data, in a study of low‐density lipoprotein and diastolic blood pressure using data from the Swedish Twin Registry.
My kind of people: Political polarization, ideology, and firm location
Authors: Barber Benjamin , Blake Daniel J.
Published: December 2023

Research Summary

With increased political polarization, Americans are displaying more animus across, and affinity within, ideological identity groups. We argue this dynamic incentivizes firms to minimize ideological misalignments across their workforce by locating new establishments in areas that are ideologically proximate to their current operations. We further argue that the desire to minimize ideological distance to new establishments is stronger in knowledge‐intensive industries and young organizations. We find support for these arguments through the analysis of over 220,000 new establishment openings from 2009 to 2014. Critically, we find the effect of ideological distance on location is stronger when societal polarization is high. Our theory, and findings, contribute to several literatures and advance our understanding of the impact of polarization on strategy.

Managerial Summary

Being a liberal or a conservative is central to many Americans' identity. As political polarization rises, individuals increasingly trust and favor others who share their ideological identity, while distrusting and avoiding those that do not. This study investigates how these societal trends affect where firms choose to locate new facilities. Because social ties and trust across workers support collaboration, resource‐sharing and organizational performance, we argue that managers will seek ideological alignment within their firms by locating new establishments in areas that are ideologically proximate to existing operations. Analysis of over 220,000 new establishment openings from 2009 to 2014 supports this contention, and shows that the tendency to avoid ideologically distant locations is stronger when societal polarization is higher.
Specific Hydrogen Spillover Pathways Generated on Graphene Oxide Enabling the Formation of Non‐Equilibrium Alloy Nanoparticles
Authors: Shun Kazuki , Matsukawa Satoshi , Mori Kohsuke , Yamashita Hiromi
Published: December 2023

The phenomenon of hydrogen spillover is investigated as a means of realizing a hydrogen‐based society for over half a century. Herein, a graphene oxide having a precisely tuned architecture via calcination in air to introduce ether groups onto basal planes along with carbon defects is reported. This material provides specific pathways for the spillover of atomic hydrogen and has practical applications with regard to the synthesis of non‐equilibrium solid‐solution alloy nanoparticles. A combination of experimental work and simulations confirmed that the presence of ether groups associated with carbon defects facilitated hydrogen spillover within the basal planes of this graphene oxide. This enhanced hydrogen spillover ability, in turn, enables the simultaneous reduction of Ru3+ and Ni2+ ions to form RuNi alloy nanoparticles under hydrogen reduction conditions. Energy dispersive X‐ray and X‐ray absorption near edge structure simulations establish that this strategy forms unique alloy nanoparticles each comprising a Ru core with a RuNi solid‐solution shell having a hexagonal close‐packed structure. These non‐equilibrium RuNi alloy nanoparticles exhibit greater catalytic activity than monometallic Ru nanoparticles during the hydrolysis of ammonia borane.
Centimeter‐Sized Single Crystals of Tetrahedral Manganese (II) Halide Hybrids for Wide‐Color Gamut Backlighting Displays
Authors: Cheng Xiaohua , Chang Xuerui , Lin Yufan , Lv Longyun , Cong Li , Jia Yuxin , Yin Jun , Li Juan , Cui Bin‐Bin
Published: December 2023

Phosphors with narrow‐band green emissions and high photoluminescent quantum efficiency (PLQY) are significantly required for backlighting displays with wider color gamut. In this work, two centimeter‐sized manganese (II) halide single crystals TMG2MnCl4 and TMG2MnBr4 (TMG = 1,1,3,3‐tetramethylguanidine) are synthesized, exhibiting bright narrow‐band green emissions with high PLQYs up to 62% and 90%, respectively. The narrow‐band green light emission is located at 520 nm with a full‐width at half‐maximum (FWHM) of only 57 nm. The photoluminescence mechanisms of two single crystals are elaborated. Two white‐light‐emitting diodes for backlighting displays (BD‐WLEDs) based on them are fabricated, exhibiting the widest color gamut of 122% National Television Standards Committee (NTSC), and a luminous efficacy reached ≈93 lm W−1 with excellent luminescence stability at high temperatures. These properties indicate the potential applications of tetrahedral manganese (II) hybrids in wide‐color gamut backlighting displays.
A Novel High Entropy Hydroxide Electrode Material for Promoting Energy Density of Supercapacitors and Its Efficient Synthesis Strategy
Authors: Zhu Ziyang , Zhang Yingjin , Kong Dehao , He Nan , Chen Qicheng
Published: December 2023

In this work, a novel high entropy hydroxide NiCoMoMnZn‐layered double hydroxide(LDH) is synthesized as an electrode material for supercapacitors using a novel template re‐etching method to promote the energy density. As a positive electrode material for supercapacitors, NiCoMoMnZn‐LDH has the advantage of a uniform distribution of elements, high specific surface area, porous and stable structure. More importantly, the specific capacitance can reach 1810.2 F g−1 at the current density of 0.5 A g−1, and the NiCoMoMnZn‐LDH//AC HSC assembled from the material has an energy density of up to 62.1 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 475 W kg−1. Moreover, the influence of different compositions on their morphological, structural, and electrochemical properties is investigated based on the characterization results. Then, the synergistic mechanism among the components of the high entropy NiCoMoMnZn‐LDH is revealed in detail by DFT calculations. In addition, the synthesis strategy proposed in this work for high‐entropy hydroxides exhibits universality. Experimental results show that the proposed strategy successfully avoids not only phase separation and element aggregation in the formation of high entropy materials, but also reduces structural distortion, which is beneficial for efficient and large‐scale synthesis of high entropy hydroxides.
Dynamics of Electron Transfer in CdS Photocatalysts Decorated with Various Noble Metals
Authors: Meng Zheng , Zhang Jianjun , Jiang Chenchen , Trapalis Christos , Zhang Liuyang , Yu Jiaguo
Published: December 2023

To address charge recombination in photocatalysis, the prevalent approach involves the use of noble metal cocatalysts. However, the precise factors influencing this performance variability based on cocatalyst selection have remained elusive. In this study, CdS hollow spheres loaded with distinct noble metal nanoparticles (Pt, Au, and Ru) are investigated by femtosecond transient absorption (fs‐TA) spectroscopy. A more pronounced internal electric field leads to the creation of a larger Schottky barrier, with the order Pt‐CdS > Au‐CdS > Ru‐CdS. Owing to these varying Schottky barrier heights, the interface electron transfer rate (Ke) and efficiency (ηe) of metal‐CdS in acetonitrile (ACN) exhibit the following trend: Ru‐CdS > Au‐CdS > Pt‐CdS. However, the trends of Ke and ηe for metal‐CdS in water are different (Ru‐CdS > Pt‐CdS > Au‐CdS) due to the influence of water, leading to the consumption of photogenerated electrons and affecting the metal/CdS interface state. Although Ru‐CdS displays the highest Ke and ηe, its overall photocatalytic performance, particularly in H2 production, lags behind that of Pt‐CdS due to the electron backflow from Ru to CdS. This work offers a fresh perspective on the origin of performance differences and provides valuable insights for cocatalyst design and construction.
Sonochemical‐Assisted Synthesis of Ultrathin NiCu layered Double Hydroxide for Enhanced CN Coupling toward Electrocatalytic Urea Synthesis
Authors: Guo Hele , Fu Siyu , Xue Guohao , Lai Feili , Liu Tianxi
Published: December 2023

The electrocatalytic carbon–nitrogen (CN) coupling, facilitating one‐step urea synthesis under ambient conditions, holds great promise as a viable alternative to conventional protocols. However, developing efficient and low‐cost electrocatalysts for CN coupling remains a great challenge. Herein, a “bottom‐up” strategy is proposed to synthesize multidimensional hybrid materials of ultrathin NiCu layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanosheets on carbon nanofiber (u‐NiCu‐LDH/CNF) through an ultrasonic‐assisted solvothermal method. The NiCu‐LDH nanosheets in the u‐NiCu‐LDH/CNF composite exhibit a significantly thinner morphology compared to NiCu‐LDH/CNF prepared by conventional solvothermal without ultrasonic assistance. Leveraging its large specific surface area and well‐exposed active sites, the u‐NiCu‐LDH/CNF demonstrates dramatically improved electrocatalytic activity in CN coupling for urea production, leading to a satisfactory urea yield rate (19.43 mmol g−1 h−1) and a high Faradaic efficiency (13.95%). Density functional theory calculations reveal that the CN coupling step on the NiCu‐LDH model starts through the reaction between *NO2 and *CO2 intermediates. This spontaneous CN coupling process is beneficial in promoting high levels of urea yield. This work presents a facile approach for preparing 2D ultrathin LDH, showcasing tremendous prospects in electrocatalytic urea synthesis.
Highly Efficient Nonfullerene Organic Solar Cells: Morphology Control and Characterizations
Authors: Yu Ting , Ma Dongling
Published: December 2023

Nonfullerene acceptors (NFAs) are currently a major research focus in the development of organic solar cells (OSCs) because of their readily tunable optical and electronic properties, enabling bulk heterojunction (BHJ) NFA‐based OSCs to achieve photovoltaic efficiencies exceeding 19%. Significant efforts have been made to yield the optimal nanoscale morphology, enabling the achievement of highly efficient NFA‐based OSCs. This review discusses the structural characteristics of NFAs and their relationship with morphology. Subsequently, the correlation between the morphology and photovoltaic parameters is introduced, which provides a fundamental basis for morphology modulation. This review then points out the major challenges of morphological characterization of NFA‐based blend films while using some conventional real‐space techniques due to low phase contrast and summarizes recently emerging characterization techniques capable of characterizing high‐contrast phase morphologies at multiple length scales. Finally, strategies for targeted morphological optimization through materials design, processing solvents, posttreatment, and ternary strategies are presented, although it is challenging to obtain an ideal morphology (e.g., appropriate phase separation and ideal donor/acceptor molecular interactions) due to the anisotropic structural characteristics of NFAs in the as‐cast films. This review is expected to provide guidance to continuously advancing the success of NFA‐based OSCs from the morphology perspective in the future.
Development of a Liquid Level Sensor Using a Floating Microbial Fuel Cell
Authors: Hirose Soichiro , Nakamoto Trang , Taguchi Kozo
Published: December 2023

In disaster prevention, it is important to know the liquid level, and various methods for sensing it have been proposed. In this letter, a liquid‐level sensor using a floating microbial fuel cell (FMFC) was developed. Since FMFC extracts electrical energy from the liquid, this sensor is power‐free. The liquid level sensor has a selectable resolution, and in this experiment, measurements were taken in 5‐cm increments. In addition, no effect on sensing performance was observed even when the properties of the solution to be measured changed. © 2023 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Coordinated Control of DC Distribution System Based on Three‐Level Energy Interaction
Authors: Tian Xin , Chen Quan , Wang Qunjing
Published: December 2023

When compared to the AC distribution system, the DC distribution system can better adapt to the integration of large‐scale distributed generations (DGs), but it also has some challenges and limitations due to its complex control. This paper investigates the coordinated control of a DC distribution system containing multiple DC microgrids and proposes a coordinated control strategy for energy interaction at the microgrid, cluster, and main grid‐levels to address this problem. To begin, the interaction at the microgrid‐level employs a decentralized control strategy that only requires local voltage information and adjusts the operation modes of each unit within the microgrid based on the bus voltage information. Second, a new power equalization optimization control is added to the cluster‐level interaction based on the decentralized control strategy to achieve power equalization among microgrids with different line impedances. Furthermore, at the main grid‐level, the interaction uses one‐way communication of time‐of‐use (TOU) price to optimize system economy, ensuring that even if communication fails, the system's operation reliability is not compromised. Finally, simulation results demonstrate that the proposed three‐level energy interaction and switching meet the system's reliability requirements. Furthermore, the proposed coordinated control strategy reduces the system's reliance on communication while maintaining economic efficiency. © 2023 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC.
The PES1/FOXM1 heterodimer suppresses TCF21 and ERβ expression in ovarian endometriosis
Authors: Zhu Jingwen , Wu Peili , Lu Ruihui , Zeng Cheng , Peng Chao , Zhou Yingfang , Xue Qing
Published: December 2023

Transcription factor 21 (TCF21) and estrogen receptor beta (ERβ, encoded by ESR2) are highly expressed in endometriotic stromal cells (ESCs) and contribute to the pathogenesis of endometriosis. However, the exploration of TCF21 and ERβ expression regulation at the molecular level remains limited. Here, by using bioinformatics analysis and experimental verification, we identified PES1, also known as Pescadillo, as a negative regulator in the development of endometriosis that downregulates TCF21 and ERβ expression in ESCs. PES1 overexpression regulated critical biological processes involved in endometriosis development, such as invasion and apoptosis. A coimmunoprecipitation assay showed that PES1 could form a complex with Forkhead box M1 (FOXM1). Further analyses elucidated that siPES1 in ectopic lesions decreased the stability of FOXM1 protein and reduced the binding activities of FOXM1 to TCF21 and ESR2 promoters, thus weakening the transcriptional inhibition of TCF21 and ERβ by FOXM1. Moreover, in an endometriosis mouse model, overexpressing PES1 effectively reduced the growth of ectopic lesions and suppressed TCF21 and ERβ expression, which suggests a promising therapeutic strategy for endometriosis. Collectively, our results indicate that the loss of PES1 in ectopic lesions contributes to endometriosis progression by upregulating ERβ and TCF21 expression through heterodimer formation with FOXM1. Moreover, targeting PES1 could serve as a treatment method for endometriosis.
Collaborations Between Academics, Artists and Activists: Transforming Public Understandings and Representations of Migration Issues
Authors: Erel Umut
Published: December 2023

This chapter reflects on collaborations between academics, artists and activists in order to explore the complexity of issues of migration and to engage with diverse audiences. It positions these collaborations within an ethical framework drawing on participatory action research values. While in recent years, migration has been a constant topic of public debate, the terms of this debate often ignore the voices and viewpoints of the migrants themselves. One way to honour migrants’ self-representations in public debates is collaboration with artists and activists, which can help to side-step dominant discourses that draw strict boundaries between “society” and “migrants” and, instead, enable dialogic exchanges. This chapter, therefore, draws on public engagement work to make suggestions and recommendations for migration researchers collaborating with artists and activists. Drawing on my work in the UK, I think it is important to provide the context in which this public engagement took place, although I hope that this will be useful for researchers in other national contexts, as well. The ethos and values of participatory action research approaches can be useful for migration researchers seeking to problematise public understandings of migration. Arts-based methods, in particular, offer the possibility to constitute a transformative sphere for understanding issues around migration outside of established polarised discourses. Drawing on a public engagement project, the chapter presents the ways in which concrete examples and reflections on how alternative spaces and formats can allow for transformative ways of intervening in public understandings of migration that challenge racialised and exclusionary practices of research, representation and knowing.
Transforming Italy Through Literature and Cinema? Voices and Gazes of Racialised Artists
Authors: Frisina Annalisa , Kyeremeh Sandra Agyei
Published: December 2023

This chapter analyses how the cultural production of racialised artists has exposed the Italian colonial archive and contested the dominant representation of Italians as “good/innocent people”. Based on qualitative research, it shows how racialised artists use literature and cinema as tools to affirm their political subjectivity and to contest the place assigned to children of immigrants in Italian society. The first section focuses on how Black and Muslim women writers have committed themselves to naming the long-lasting racism/sexism of Italian society through literature. Subsequently, we show that, according to these racialised artists, the time has come to “change the narrative” in Italian audio-visual productions. Finally, we offer some concluding remarks on how the struggle of racialised artists is hampered by structural conditions and reveal what collective strategies they use to cope with these material difficulties.
Optimal determination of new physics couplings: a comparative study
Authors: Bhattacharya Subhaditya , Jahedi Sahabub , Wudka Jose
Published: December 2023

Abstract

We study the determination of new physics (NP) parameters using the optimal observable technique (OOT) in situations where the standard model (SM) dominates over the NP effects, and when the NP dominates over the SM contribution, using the 2-Higgs doublet model as an illustrative example; for the case of SM domination we extend our results using an effective theory parameterization of NP effects. For the case of SM dominance we concentrate on $$ t\overline{t} $$
t

t
¯

production in an e+e− collider, while for the case of NP dominance we consider both $$ t\overline{t} $$
t

t
¯

production and pair production of charged scalars, also in an e+e− collider. We discuss the effects of the efficiency of background reduction, luminosity and beam polarization, and provide a comparison of the optimal uncertainties with those obtained using a standard χ2 analysis of (Monte Carlo generated) collider data.
Der besondere Fall: Koma bei vermeintlicher Alkoholintoxikation
Authors: Boehm Svea , Grinstein Lev , Singer Dominique , Lange Mario
Published: December 2023

Kasuistik eines 16 Jahre alten Jugendlichen, der mit einem GCS (Glasgow Coma Scale) von 3 und 2‑maligen Krampfanfällen intensivmedizinisch betreut wurde. Fremdanamnestisch habe eine Intoxikation mit einer größeren Menge hochprozentigem Alkohol bestanden, der Blutalkoholspiegel zeigte jedoch einen Wert von 0,1 ‰. Toxikologisch konnte bei ausgeprägter gemischter Acidose und passagerer Ateminsuffizienz eine Intoxikation mit Gammahydroxybutyrat festgestellt werden.
Formalisierte und effektuierte FFH-Schutzgebiete
Authors: Frenz Walter
Published: December 2023

Das EuGH-Urteil vom 21.9.2023 zeigte die teilweise Unionsrechtswidrigkeit des Habitatschutzes in Deutschland
auf und klärte zugleich einige Grundsatzfragen, wenn auch partiell mittelbar, so zur Dynamik von FFH-Gebieten
oder die Möglichkeit von Naturschutzverträgen.
Lifestyle changes in Botryosphaeriaceae as evidenced by ancestral genome expansion and horizontal gene transfer
Authors: Wang Xuncheng , Zhang Wei , Peng Junbo , Manawasinghe Ishara S. , Wu Linna , Li Yonghua , Xing Qikai , Li Xinghong , Yan Jiye
Published: December 2023

Botryosphaeriaceae (Botryosphaeriales, Dothideomycetes, Ascomycota) encompasses commonly encountered opportunistic pathogens that cause stem cankers on woody plants. Lifestyles of Botryosphaeriaceae species could vary as endophytes, pathogens and saprobes and one species can have one or more lifestyles. Therefore, this family is an excellent candidate to study the relationships among lifestyles and lifestyle changes. It is postulated that this family has saprobic ancestors, and the mechanisms by which they evolved from nonpathogenic ancestors to woody pathogens remain unclear. Here, we present an analysis of 18 Botryosphaeriaceae genomes, including four newly generated high-quality genomes of Botryosphaeriaceae strains. We compared Botryosphaeriaceae genomes with phylogenetically closely related Dothideomycetes taxa including plant pathogens and saprobes which revealed significant net gene family expansion in Botryosphaeriaceae. This gene expansion is prominent in the early ancestors before the divergence of genera of Botryosphaeriaceae. This expansion affected the pathogenicity-related genes and detoxification genes. Furthermore, we analysed horizontal gene transfer, which is a mechanism of transfer to genetic material between organisms that are not in a parent–offspring relationship and identified widespread putative intra-kingdom horizontal gene transfer events in this family. Most were transferred during the evolution of ancient ancestors of Botryosphaeriaceae, before the divergence of the modern genera and were enriched in pathogenicity-related genes and detoxification genes. Furthermore, The RNA sequencing analysis of the Botryosphaeriaceae species Lasiodiplodia theobromae revealed that pathogenicity-related genes and detoxification genes, including those obtained through gene family expansion and horizontal gene transfers, were significantly induced after the infection of plant hosts rather than before infection. These insights reveal critical roles for gene family expansion and horizontal gene transfers in the evolutionary adaptation of Botryosphaeriaceae in the infection of woody plants. We postulate that the pathogenic lifestyle of Botryosphaeriaceae species evolved from saprobic or endophytic lifestyles in the early divergence of this family. However, there are few endophytic genomes available for closely related species of Botryosphaeriaceae, thus further studies are necessary to clarify the evolutionary relationships of the endophytes.
Catalytic activity of Co (II)-porphyrin anchored onto polymeric support of electrospun polyacrylonitrile nanofiber: synthesis and efficient green oxidation of crystal violet dye with hydrogen peroxide
Authors: El-Khalafy Sahar H. , Azaam Mohamed M. , El-nshar Esraa M. , Kamoun Elbadawy A. , Kenawy El-Refaie
Published: December 2023

A novel method was explored in this study to address water contamination challenges by utilizing nanofiber mat-supported metalloporphyrin materials. Specifically, electrospinning was employed to create various compositions of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) mixed with different concentrations of Co(II) complex of tetrakis-5, 10, 15, 20 (4-hydroxyphenyl)porphyrin Co(II)TPHPP 1 anchored to chloroacetylated poly (p-hydroxy styrene) CAPS. These resulting nanofiber mat-supported metalloporphyrin materials were comprehensively analyzed using UV, FTIR spectrum, SEM, and TGA thermographs. The study found that the designed nanofibers acted as efficient catalysts for the oxidative breakdown of crystal violet (CV) dye using H2O2 in aqueous solutions. Among these materials, the nanofiber composed of a 1:1 ratio of PAN to Co(II)TPHPP/CAPS with a lower Co(II)TPHPP loading (NF6), demonstrated the highest catalytic activity, decomposing CV completely within 60 min. Various experiments were conducted to explore the effects of H2O2 concentration, catalyst dosage, and temperature on the catalytic degradation of CV with the NF6 nanofiber mat-supported metalloporphyrin. An interesting finding was the enhanced recovery and recyclability of the catalyst due to the immobilization of metalloporphyrin on chloroacetylated polymer-supported nanofiber mats. Remarkably, even after five cycles of reuse, there was no significant degradation in the catalytic activity of the recycled catalyst. This breakthrough highlights the potential of these materials in addressing water pollution challenges efficiently and sustainably.
Mitigating Lattice Distortion of High-Voltage LiCoO2 via Core-Shell Structure Induced by Cationic Heterogeneous Co-Doping for Lithium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Lin Zezhou , Fan Ke , Liu Tiancheng , Xu Zhihang , Chen Gao , Zhang Honglei , Li Hao , Guo Xuyun , Zhang Xi , Zhu Ye , Hou Peiyu , Huang Haitao
Published: December 2023

Inactive elemental doping is commonly used to improve the structural stability of high-voltage layered transition-metal oxide cathodes. However, the one-step co-doping strategy usually results in small grain size since the low diffusivity ions such as Ti4+ will be concentrated on grain boundaries, which hinders the grain growth. In order to synthesize large single-crystal layered oxide cathodes, considering the different diffusivities of different dopant ions, we propose a simple two-step multi-element co-doping strategy to fabricate core–shell structured LiCoO2 (CS-LCO). In the current work, the high-diffusivity Al3+/Mg2+ ions occupy the core of single-crystal grain while the low diffusivity Ti4+ ions enrich the shell layer. The Ti4+-enriched shell layer (~ 12 nm) with Co/Ti substitution and stronger Ti–O bond gives rise to less oxygen ligand holes. In-situ XRD demonstrates the constrained contraction of c-axis lattice parameter and mitigated structural distortion. Under a high upper cut-off voltage of 4.6 V, the single-crystal CS-LCO maintains a reversible capacity of 159.8 mAh g−1 with a good retention of ~ 89% after 300 cycles, and reaches a high specific capacity of 163.8 mAh g−1 at 5C. The proposed strategy can be extended to other pairs of low- (Zr4+, Ta5+, and W6+, etc.) and high-diffusivity cations (Zn2+, Ni2+, and Fe3+, etc.) for rational design of advanced layered oxide core–shell structured cathodes for lithium-ion batteries.
Ethical reflections on groundwater in contaminated areas
Authors: Bento Sofia , Melo M. Teresa Condesso de , Gramaglia Christelle
Published: December 2023

Groundwater science has a well-known relationship with social issues when dealing with risk assessment, yet there is a lack of case studies on the topic. Here, we present reflections for dealing with two ethical challenges: (i) the access and use of public domain monitoring data and (ii) the dissemination of scientific research data and its controversial character. The case study is a long-term collaborative research project aiming to bridge the social and natural sciences to tackle ethical questions and their implications for technical reporting and scientific production in a highly contaminated area situated in Portugal. The method included comprehensive interviews with hydrogeologists within the common project, the consulting of documents and the collaborative analysis of situations in online meetings between sociologists and hydrogeologists. The interviews and formal discussions were recorded, transcribed and analysed. In the two cases related to groundwater assessment in contaminated areas we found that researchers refer to emotions and moral dilemmas when they come into regular contact with social actors. Results also show that a different kind of knowledge is produced in these cases and point to three types of researchers’ positionality. The significance of this paper is to encourage reflection and action on ethical issues in the scientific community and specifically in geoethics. Bringing researchers together to share their practice will help to disentangle some of the negative emotions and moral dilemmas of scientific practice and increase the attention researchers pay to other people’s points of view and interests so as to improve the robustness of scientific data.
Investigation of graded channel effect on analog/linearity parameter analysis of junctionless surrounded gate graded channel MOSFET
Authors: Misra Sarita , Biswal Sudhansu Mohan , Baral Biswajit , Pati Sudhansu Kumar
Published: December 2023

Linearity analysis of nanoscale devices is a vital issue as nonlinearity behavior is exhibited by them when employed in circuits for microwave and RF applications. In this work, a junctionless surrounded gate-graded channel MOSFET (JLSGGC MOSFET) is investigated thoroughly to analyze its linearity performance with the help of ATLAS tool of technology computer-aided design. The proposed device is compared systematically with the conventional junstionless surrounded gate MOSFET(JLSG MOSFET) to investigate their linearity. To evaluate the linearity, the figure of merits such as higher-order transconductance (Gm1, Gm2), intercept points(VIP2, VIP3, IIP3), IMD3 and 1 dB—compression point(P1 dB) are considered. The linearity of our proposed device improves by 35.5% in view of the compression point in comparison to JLSG MOSFET before the threshold voltage region of operation. The simulation results reveal a substantial enhancement in the linearity performance of the JLSGGC MOSFET. The improved linearity behavior of JLSGGC MOSFET makes it suitable for wireless RF and system-on-chip applications.Analog/RF performance is studied in terms of intrinsic gain (Gm/Gds), cut-off frequency (fT),maximum frequency of oscillation (fmax).Improved analog/RF performances of JLSGGC MOSFET suggests its applications in high frequency operating range.