bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Attributed causes of excess mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic in a south Indian city
Authors: Lewnard Joseph A. , B Chandra Mohan , Kang Gagandeep , Laxminarayan Ramanan
Published: June 2023

Globally, excess deaths during 2020–21 outnumbered documented COVID-19 deaths by 9.5 million, primarily driven by deaths in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) with limited vital surveillance. Here we unravel the contributions of probable COVID-19 deaths from other changes in mortality related to pandemic control measures using medically-certified death registrations from Madurai, India—an urban center with well-functioning vital surveillance. Between March, 2020 and July, 2021, all-cause deaths in Madurai exceeded expected levels by 30% (95% confidence interval: 27–33%). Although driven by deaths attributed to cardiovascular or cerebrovascular conditions, diabetes, senility, and other uncategorized causes, increases in these attributions were restricted to medically-unsupervised deaths, and aligned with surges in confirmed or attributed COVID-19 mortality, likely reflecting mortality among unconfirmed COVID-19 cases. Implementation of lockdown measures was associated with a 7% (0–13%) reduction in all-cause mortality, driven by reductions in deaths attributed to injuries, infectious diseases and maternal conditions, and cirrhosis and other liver conditions, respectively, but offset by a doubling in cancer deaths. Our findings help to account for gaps between documented COVID-19 mortality and excess all-cause mortality during the pandemic in an LMIC setting.
Focused ultrasound thalamotomy for tremor treatment impacts the cerebello-thalamo-cortical network
Authors: Dahmani Louisa , Bai Yan , Li Meiling , Ren Jianxun , Shen Lunhao , Ma Jianjun , Li Haiyang , Wei Wei , Li Pengyu , Wang Danhong , Du Lei , Cui Weigang , Liu Hesheng , Wang Meiyun
Published: June 2023

High-intensity Magnetic Resonance-guided Focused Ultrasound (MRgFUS) is a recent, non-invasive line of treatment for medication-resistant tremor. We used MRgFUS to produce small lesions in the thalamic ventral intermediate nucleus (VIM), an important node in the cerebello-thalamo-cortical tremor network, in 13 patients with tremor-dominant Parkinson’s disease or essential tremor. Significant tremor alleviation in the target hand ensued (t(12) = 7.21, p < 0.001, two-tailed), which was strongly associated with the functional reorganization of the brain’s hand region with the cerebellum (r = 0.91, p < 0.001, one-tailed). This reorganization potentially reflected a process of normalization, as there was a trend of increase in similarity between the hand cerebellar connectivity of the patients and that of a matched, healthy control group (n = 48) after treatment. Control regions in the ventral attention, dorsal attention, default, and frontoparietal networks, in comparison, exhibited no association with tremor alleviation and no normalization. More broadly, changes in functional connectivity were observed in regions belonging to the motor, limbic, visual, and dorsal attention networks, largely overlapping with regions connected to the lesion targets. Our results indicate that MRgFUS is a highly efficient treatment for tremor, and that lesioning the VIM may result in the reorganization of the cerebello-thalamo-cortical tremor network.
Streptomyces polyketides mediate bacteria–fungi interactions across soil environments
Authors: Krespach Mario K. C. , Stroe Maria C. , Netzker Tina , Rosin Maira , Zehner Lukas M. , Komor Anna J. , Beilmann Johanna M. , Krüger Thomas , Scherlach Kirstin , Kniemeyer Olaf , Schroeckh Volker , Hertweck Christian , Brakhage Axel A.
Published: June 2023

Although the interaction between prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms is crucial for the functioning of ecosystems, information about the processes driving microbial interactions within communities remains scarce. Here we show that arginine-derived polyketides (arginoketides) produced by Streptomyces species mediate cross-kingdom microbial interactions with fungi of the genera Aspergillus and Penicillium, and trigger the production of natural products. Arginoketides can be cyclic or linear, and a prominent example is azalomycin F produced by Streptomyces iranensis, which induces the cryptic orsellinic acid gene cluster in Aspergillus nidulans. Bacteria that synthesize arginoketides and fungi that decode and respond to this signal were co-isolated from the same soil sample. Genome analyses and a literature search indicate that arginoketide producers are found worldwide. Because, in addition to their direct impact, arginoketides induce a secondary wave of fungal natural products, they probably contribute to the wider structure and functioning of entire soil microbial communities.
HerpSexDet: the herpetological database of sex determination and sex reversal
Authors: Nemesházi Edina , Bókony Veronika
Published: June 2023

Wildlife exhibits various sex-determination systems where sex chromosomes and environmental temperatures may both contribute to individual sexual development. The causes and consequences of this variability are important questions for evolutionary ecology, especially in light of ongoing environmental change. Amphibians and reptiles are emerging as a key group for studying these questions, with new data accumulating acceleratingly. We collected empirical data from earlier databases, reviews and primary literature to create the most up-to-date database on herpetological sex determination. We named our database HerpSexDet, which currently features data on genetic and temperature-dependent sex determination as well as reports on sex reversal for a total of 192 amphibian and 697 reptile species. This dataset, which we will regularly update in the future, facilitates interspecific comparative studies on the evolution of sex determination and its consequences for species-specific traits such as life history and conservation status, and may also help guiding future research by identifying species or higher taxa that are potentially most enlightening for the study of environmentally driven sex reversal.
Establishing in vivo and ex vivo chick embryo models to investigate fetal tendon healing
Authors: Nguyen Phong K. , Hart Christoph , Hall Kaitlyn , Holt Iverson , Kuo Catherine K.
Published: June 2023

Injured adult tendons heal fibrotically and possess high re-injury rates, whereas fetal tendons appear to heal scarlessly. However, knowledge of fetal tendon wound healing is limited due in part to the need for an accessible animal model. Here, we developed and characterized an in vivo and ex vivo chick embryo tendon model to study fetal tendon healing. In both models, injury sites filled rapidly with cells and extracellular matrix during healing, with wound closure occurring faster in vivo. Tendons injured at an earlier embryonic stage improved mechanical properties to levels similar to non-injured controls, whereas tendons injured at a later embryonic stage did not. Expression levels of tendon phenotype markers, collagens, collagen crosslinking regulators, matrix metalloproteinases, and pro-inflammatory mediators exhibited embryonic stage-dependent trends during healing. Apoptosis occurred during healing, but ex vivo tendons exhibited higher levels of apoptosis than tendons in vivo. Future studies will use these in vivo and ex vivo chick embryo tendon injury models to elucidate mechanisms of stage-specific fetal tendon healing to inform the development of therapeutic approaches to regeneratively heal adult tendons.
Cis-regulatory elements and transcription factors related to auxin signaling in the streptophyte algae Klebsormidium nitens
Authors: Tounosu Noriaki , Sesoko Kanami , Hori Koichi , Shimojima Mie , Ohta Hiroyuki
Published: June 2023

The phytohormone auxin affects numerous processes in land plants. The central auxin signaling machinery, called the nuclear auxin pathway, is mediated by its pivotal receptor named TRANSPORT INHIBITOR RESPONSE 1/AUXIN SIGNALING F-BOX (TIR1/AFB). The nuclear auxin pathway is widely conserved in land plants, but auxin also accumulates in various algae. Although auxin affects the growth of several algae, the components that mediate auxin signaling have not been identified. We previously reported that exogenous auxin suppresses cell proliferation in the Klebsormidium nitens that is a member of streptophyte algae, a paraphyletic group sharing the common ancestor with land plants. Although K. nitens lacks TIR1/AFB, auxin affects the expression of numerous genes. Thus, elucidation of the mechanism of auxin-inducible gene expression in K. nitens would provide important insights into the evolution of auxin signaling. Here, we show that some motifs are enriched in the promoter sequences of auxin-inducible genes in K. nitens. We also found that the transcription factor KnRAV activates several auxin-inducible genes and directly binds the promoter of KnLBD1, a representative auxin-inducible gene. We propose that KnRAV has the potential to regulate auxin-responsive gene expression in K. nitens.
People with higher autistic traits show stronger binding for color–shape associations
Authors: Chen Na , Watanabe Katsumi , Spence Charles , Wada Makoto
Published: June 2023

Non-synesthetes exhibit a tendency to associate specific shapes with particular colors (i.e., circle–red, triangle–yellow, and square–blue). Such color–shape associations (CSAs) could potentially affect the feature binding of colors and shapes, thus resulting in people reporting more binding errors in the case of incongruent, rather than congruent, colored-shape pairs. Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibit atypical sensory processing and impaired multisensory integration. Here, we examined whether autistic traits ﻿(Autism-Spectrum Quotient; AQ) influence the strength of color–shape associations, as evidenced by the occurrence of binding errors in incongruent minus congruent conditions. Participants took part in an experiment designed to reveal binding errors induced by incongruent and congruent colored-shape pairs, and completed the Japanese version of the AQ score. The results revealed a significant correlation between AQ scores and occurrence of binding errors when participants were presented with the circle–red and triangle–yellow CSAs: That is, individuals with higher autistic traits tend to make more binding errors in incongruent minus congruent colored-shape pairs, indicating a stronger binding of circle–red and triangle–yellow associations. These results therefore suggest that autistic traits play a role in forming color–shape associations, shedding light on the nature of both color–shape associations and autistic perception.
Bismuth release from endodontic materials: in vivo analysis using Wistar rats
Authors: Marciano M. A. , Pelepenko L. E. , Francati T. M. , Antunes T. B. M. , Janini A. C. P. , Rohwedder J. J. R. , Shelton R. M. , Camilleri J.
Published: June 2023

Calcium silicate-based materials are used to block the communication between the root canal and the periodontal ligament space. This brings the materials into contact with tissues and the potential for local and systemic elemental release and movement. The aim of the study was to evaluate the elemental release of bismuth from ProRoot MTA in contact with connective tissues after 30 and 180 days as well as any accumulation in peripheral organs using an animal model. Tricalcium silicate and hydroxyapatite containing 20% bismuth oxide (HAp-Bi) were used as controls. The null hypothesis was that bismuth migrates from tricalcium silicate-based materials when associated with silicon. The materials were examined using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) and X-ray diffraction prior to implantation as well as using SEM/EDS, micro X-ray fluorescence and Raman spectroscopy after implantation to assess elemental presence in surrounding tissues. Histological analysis was used to evaluate the changes in tissue architecture and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to investigate the elemental deposition. For the systemic investigation, routine blood analysis was performed and organs were obtained to evaluate the presence of bismuth and silicon using ICP-MS after acid digestion. In the histological analysis of the implantation sites, macrophages and multinucleated giant cells could be observed after 30 days which after 180 days became a chronic infiltrate; although, no major differences were identified in red and white blood cell analyses and biochemical tests. Implantation altered the materials as observed in the Raman analysis and bismuth was detected both locally and within kidney samples after both periods of analysis, indicating the potential for accumulation of bismuth in this organ. Smaller amounts of bismuth than observed in the kidney were also detected in blood, liver and brain for the ProRoot MTA and HAp-Bi after 180 days. Bismuth was released from the ProRoot MTA locally and was detected systemically and in samples without silicon; thus, the null hypothesis was rejected. The bismuth release demonstrated that this element accumulated both locally and systemically, mainly in the kidneys in comparison with brain and liver regardless of the material base.
Social preferences trump emotions in human responses to unfair offers
Authors: Buskens Vincent , Kovacic Ingrid , Rutterkamp Elwin , van de Rijt Arnout , Terburg David
Published: June 2023

People commonly reject unfair offers even if this leaves them worse off. Some explain this as a rational response based on social preferences. Others argue that emotions override self-interest in the determination of rejection behavior. We conducted an experiment in which we measured responders’ biophysical reactions (EEG and EMG) to fair and unfair offers. We measured biophysicaltrait angerusing resting-state EEG (frontal alpha-asymmetry),state angerusing facial expressions, offerexpectancy processingusing event-related EEG (medial-frontal negativity; MFN) and self-reported emotions. We systematically varied whether rejections led proposers to lose their share (Ultimatum Game; UG) or not (Impunity Game; IG). Results favor preference-based accounts: Impunity minimizes rejection despite increasing subjectively reported anger. Unfair offers evoke frowning responses, but frowning does not predict rejection. Prosocial responders reject unfair UG offers more often after unmet fairness expectations. These results suggest that responders do not reject unfairness out of anger. Rather, people seem motivated to reject unfair offers when they violate their behavioral code but only when rejection has payoff consequences for the proposer, allowing them to reciprocate and restore equity. Thus, social preferences trump emotions when responding to unfair offers.
Slip instability behavior of block rock masses on dynamic-static combined loads
Authors: Wang Kaixing , Shi Purui , Pan Yishan , Oparin V. N. , Dou Linming
Published: June 2023

A rock mass is a system of various scale blocks embodied into one another. Inter-block layers are usually composed of weaker and fissured rocks. On the action of dynamic-static loads, it can induce slip instability between blocks. In this paper, the slip instability laws of block rock masses are studied. Based on theory and calculation analysis finding that the friction force between rock blocks varies with block vibration and the friction between rock blocks can drop sharply, resulting in slip instability. The critical thrust and occurrence time of block rock masses slip instability are proposed. The factors affecting block slipping instability are analyzed. This study has significance to the rock burst mechanism induced by slip instability of rock masses.
Artificial reefs reduce the adverse effects of mud and transport stress on behaviors of the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus
Authors: Hu Fangyuan , Wang Huiyan , Tian Ruihuan , Wu Guo , Wang Luo , Chang Yaqing , Zhao Chong
Published: June 2023

Poor survival of seeds reduces the production efficiency of the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus in pond culture. We investigated the effects of sea mud on the movement-related behaviors of A. japonicus with different body sizes. Mud significantly decreased crawling behavior and wall-reaching behavior in small seeds (~ 1 g of body weight), but not in the large ones (~ 2.5 g of body weight). These behaviors were significantly greater in the large seeds of A. japonicus than those in the small individuals when they were both on the mud. This clearly suggests that mud has negative effects on the movement-related behaviors of small seeds, but not on large individuals. We further assessed the effects of inevitable transport stress on the movement-related behaviors of A. japonicus on mud. Significantly poorer performances in crawling behavior, wall-reaching behavior and struggling behavior were observed in stressed A. japonicus (both sizes) than those in unstressed groups. These new findings indicate that transport stress further increases the adverse effects on the movement-related behaviors of A. japonicus on mud. Moreover, we investigated whether adverse effects can be reduced when individuals are directly seeded onto artificial reefs. Crawling behavior, wall-reaching behavior and struggling behavior in stressed A. japonicus (both sizes) seeded onto artificial reefs were significantly greater than those on mud, whereas artificial reefs did not significantly improve the crawling and struggling behaviors of unstressed small seeds. These results collectively indicate that mud and transport stress show negative impacts on the movement-related behaviors of sea cucumbers. Artificial reefs greatly reduce these adverse effects and probably contribute to improving the production efficiency of sea cucumbers in pond culture.
Differences in engineers’ brain activity when CAD modelling from isometric and orthographic projections
Authors: Lukačević Fanika , Becattini Niccolò , Perišić Marija Majda , Škec Stanko
Published: June 2023

A way of presenting information in visual representations of technical systems influences the progress and the outcome of the engineering design process. Consequently, improving the means by and through which information is utilised during the process is one suggested approach to advancing engineering design. Engineers’ interaction with visual representations of technical systems is mainly visual and virtual. Although such interactions are cognitively complex, little is known about cognition (mental information processing) underlying the utilisation of design information during engineering design. To narrow the research gap, this study explores how visual representations of technical systems affect engineers’ brain activity while generating computer-aided design (CAD) models based on them. More precisely, the brain activity of 20 engineers is captured and analysed using electroencephalography (EEG) during the visuospatially-intensive design tasks of CAD modelling in two conditions; when technical systems are presented with orthographic and isometric projections in technical drawings. The results imply the sensitivity of engineers’ brain activity in CAD modelling to the visual representation from which a technical system is interpreted. In particular, significant differences are found in theta, alpha, and beta task-related power (TRP) over the cortex when interpreting the technical drawings and CAD modelling from them. Furthermore, the results reveal significant differences in theta and alpha TRP when considering the individual electrodes, the cortical hemispheres, and the cortical areas. In particular, theta TRP over the right hemisphere and the frontal area seems essential in distinguishing neurocognitive responses to the orthographic and isometric projections. As such, the conducted exploratory study sets the foundations for exploring engineers’ brain activity while performing visuospatially-intensive design tasks, whose segments are relatable to the aspects of visuospatial thinking. Future work will explore brain activity in other design activities that are highly visuospatial, with a larger sample size and an EEG device of a higher spatial resolution.
Targeting CDK1 in cancer: mechanisms and implications
Authors: Wang Qiushi , Bode Ann M. , Zhang Tianshun
Published: June 2023

Cyclin dependent kinases (CDKs) are serine/threonine kinases that are proposed as promising candidate targets for cancer treatment. These proteins complexed with cyclins play a critical role in cell cycle progression. Most CDKs demonstrate substantially higher expression in cancer tissues compared with normal tissues and, according to the TCGA database, correlate with survival rate in multiple cancer types. Deregulation of CDK1 has been shown to be closely associated with tumorigenesis. CDK1 activation plays a critical role in a wide range of cancer types; and CDK1 phosphorylation of its many substrates greatly influences their function in tumorigenesis. Enrichment of CDK1 interacting proteins with Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis was conducted to demonstrate that the associated proteins participate in multiple oncogenic pathways. This abundance of evidence clearly supports CDK1 as a promising target for cancer therapy. A number of small molecules targeting CDK1 or multiple CDKs have been developed and evaluated in preclinical studies. Notably, some of these small molecules have also been subjected to human clinical trials. This review evaluates the mechanisms and implications of targeting CDK1 in tumorigenesis and cancer therapy.
Mineral evolution facilitated Earth’s oxidation
Authors: Shang Haitao
Published: June 2023

Oxygenation events remarkably altered the distribution, diversity, and abundance of minerals on Earth’s surface. However, the causality in the opposite direction—the influence of mineral evolution on atmospheric oxygen levels—has rarely been explored. Here I propose that mineral evolution might have led Earth’s oxygen cycle to lose stability, facilitating oxygenation events in deep time. First, I introduce a conceptual model for the system of organic matter and minerals and investigate their interactions via a probabilistic approach. Second, in light of the theoretical results, I suggest that the evolution of iron and clay minerals likely had an underappreciated relevance to the Great Oxidation Event and Neoproterozoic Oxidation Event, respectively. Finally, I use the parameter values estimated from observations in modern environments as benchmarks to test these speculations. This study provides a minimalistic theoretical framework illustrating the possible influence of mineral evolution on Earth’s oxygen cycle over geologic time.
Landscape heterogeneity and soil biota are central to multi-taxa diversity for oil palm landscape restoration
Authors: Montoya-Sánchez Vannesa , Kreft Holger , Arimond Isabelle , Ballauff Johannes , Berkelmann Dirk , Brambach Fabian , Daniel Rolf , Grass Ingo , Hines Jes , Hölscher Dirk , Irawan Bambang , Krause Alena , Polle Andrea , Potapov Anton , Sachsenmaier Lena , Scheu Stefan , Sundawati Leti , Tscharntke Teja , Zemp Delphine Clara , Guerrero-Ramírez Nathaly
Published: June 2023

Enhancing biodiversity in monoculture-dominated landscapes is a key sustainability challenge that requires considering the spatial organization of ecological communities (beta diversity). Here, we tested whether increasing landscape heterogeneity, through establishing 52 tree islands in an oil-palm landscape, is a suitable restoration strategy to enhance the diversity of six taxa (multi-taxa diversity). Further, we elucidated whether patterns in the spatial distribution of above- and below-ground taxa are related, and their role in shaping multi-taxa beta diversity. After five years, islands enhanced diversity at the landscape scale by fostering unique species (turnover). Partial correlation networks revealed that dissimilarity, in vegetation structural complexity and soil conditions, impacts multi-taxa beta diversity and turnover. In addition, soil fauna, bacteria, and fungi were more strongly associated with the overall community than aboveground taxa. Thus, strategies aiming to enhance multi-taxa diversity should consider the central role of landscape heterogeneity and soil biota.
By how much can closed-loop frameworks accelerate computational materials discovery?
Authors: Kavalsky Lance , Hegde Vinay I. , Muckley Eric , Johnson Matthew S. , Meredig Bryce , Viswanathan Venkatasubramanian
Published: June 2023

A combination of task automation, calculation runtime improvements, machine learning surrogatization, and sequential learning-guided candidate selection within a closed-loop computational workflow can accelerate materials discovery by up to 20×.
A review of recent advances on cyanidin-3-glucoside: the biotransformation, absorption, bioactivity and applications of nano-encapsulation
Authors: Yang Mengyu , Abdullah  , Ahmad Naveed , Hussain Muhammad , Lu Xiaoqin , Xu Jie , Zhong Hao , Guan Rongfa
Published: June 2023

C3G can be enzymatically decomposed into aglycone and further degraded into phenolic substances. Next, C3G was degraded in the distal small intestine and large intestine, and then entered the liver through blood circulation.
Inverse design of viral infectivity-enhancing peptide fibrils from continuous protein-vector embeddings
Authors: Kaygisiz Kübra , Dutta Arghya , Rauch-Wirth Lena , Synatschke Christopher V. , Münch Jan , Bereau Tristan , Weil Tanja
Published: June 2023

We apply machine learning to find infectivity-enhancing fibrillar peptides. Using a regression model on the continuous vector representations of a peptide library and employing Monte Carlo sampling, we predictde novosequences with a 25% hit rate.
Ir(iv) and Ir(iii) in situ transition promotes ROS generation for eradicating multidrug-resistant bacterial infection
Authors: Zhu Xufeng , Yang Yonglan , Chen Xu , Ye Gang , Liu Jie , Liu Yanan
Published: June 2023

Whether reactive oxygen species are a consequence or a cause of antibacterial activity is not fully known.
Design and synthesis of a terrylene diimide-based stable cyan dye for printable electrofluidic display
Authors: Deng Yong , Guo Yuanyuan , Ye Dechao , Chen Wangqiao , Zhou Guofu
Published: June 2023

We synthesized a terrylene diimide (TDI)-based cyan dye TDIC, which exhibited excellent device performance with an extraordinarily high molar absorption coefficient up to 65 000 L moL−1 cm−1, high optical stability, and fast response in the EFD.
Feng chiralN,N′-dioxide ligands: uniqueness and impacts
Authors: Chen Dian-Feng , Gong Liu-Zhu
Published: June 2023

Privileged Feng ligands feature designerN,N’-dioxide amides with a unique conformational and coordination flexibility. This highlight summarizes the increasingly profound impact of Feng ligands on modern catalytic asymmetric synthesis.
Assembling tetrazole-rings on a fused ring framework: toward energetic materials with enhanced performance
Authors: Feng Shangbiao , Yang Boqian , Zhang Baoseng , Xu Chuanhao , Liu Yang , Zhu Shuangfei , Gou Ruijun , Zhang Shuhai , Yin Ping
Published: June 2023

A series of nitrogen-rich fused ring energetic compounds assembled with different numbers of tetrazole rings were achieved by the classic Dimroth rearrangement (DR) reaction.
Copper-catalysed controllable hydrodefluorination of trifluoromethylated alkenes
Authors: Lian Chong , Xi Longlong , Yuan Yu , Shi Zhuangzhi , Wang Minyan
Published: June 2023

An effective method for the construction of difluoromethylated alkenes through Cu-catalysed controllable hydrodefluorination of trifluoromethylated alkenes is described.
Transition-metal-catalyzed asymmetric defluorinative reactions
Authors: Ge Danhua , Chen Jia-Wei , Chen Yu-Lan , Ma Mengtao , Shen Zhi-Liang , Chu Xue-Qiang
Published: June 2023

The latest achievements in transition-metal-catalyzed enantioselective defluorinative coupling reactions have been comprehensively summarized on the basis of the classification of transition-metal catalysts.
Theoretical studies of phosphorene as a drug delivery nanocarrier for fluorouracil
Authors: Esfandiarpour Razieh , Badalkhani-Khamseh Farideh , Hadipour Nasser L.
Published: June 2023

The interactions between phosphorene nanosheets (PNSs) and 5-fluorouracil (FLU) were explored using the density functional theory (DFT) method and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations.
Electronic and valleytronic properties of crystalline boron-arsenide tuned by strain and disorder
Authors: Craco L. , Carara S. S. , da Silva Barboza E. , Milošević M. V. , Pereira T. A. S.
Published: June 2023

Crystal structure of cubic BAs bulk crystal. B and As are represented as small and large spheres, respectively.
Lead-free double perovskite Cs2MBiCl6 (M = Ag, Cu): insights into the optical, dielectric, and charge transfer properties
Authors: Ben Bechir Mohamed , Dhaou Mohamed Houcine
Published: June 2023

Recently, double perovskites have shown excellent potential considering the instability and toxicity problems of lead halide perovskites in optoelectronic devices.
Fabrication of novel strain sensors from green TPV nanocomposites based on poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV)/silicone rubber/silicon-modified graphene oxide
Authors: Moshkriz Ali , Shahroodi Zahra , Darvishi Reza
Published: June 2023

This study demonstrates the improved mechanical and electrical properties of PHBV TPV by adding silicone rubber/silicon-modified graphene oxide nanoparticles. Excellent stretchability, sensitivity, and repeatability is exhibited, ideal for biomedical strain sensors.
Fast-response photothermal bilayer actuator based on poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)–graphene oxide–hydroxyethyl methacrylate/polydimethylsiloxane
Authors: Li Shun , Cai Zhuo , Han Jiemin , Ma Yifei , Tong Zhaomin , Wang Mei , Xiao Liantuan , Jia Suotang , Chen Xuyuan
Published: June 2023

Schematic illustration of the preparation of the PNIPAM-based composite hydrogel and the driving behavior of the PGH/PDMS photothermal bilayer actuator when switching between a light/hot and cold environment.
Correction: Study on ultrasonic leaching and recovery of fluoride from spent cathode carbon of aluminum electrolysis
Authors: Wang Chenchen , Mao Song , Li Longjiang
Published: June 2023

Correction for ‘Study on ultrasonic leaching and recovery of fluoride from spent cathode carbon of aluminum electrolysis’ by Chenchen Wang et al., RSC Adv., 2023, 13, 16300–16310, https://doi.org/10.1039/D3RA02088F.
Efficient recovery of indium from waste indium tin oxide (ITO) targets by pressure leaching with sulfuric acid
Authors: Pu Qianyou , Zhang Ba , Zhou Shiwei , Wei Yonggang , Li Bo , Wang Hua
Published: June 2023

As a high indium content material, resourceful recycling of waste ITO targets plays an important role in dealing with the increasing depletion of indium resources.
Novel ternary fluorinated electrolyte's enhanced interfacial kinetics enables ultra-low temperature performance of lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Adams Ethan , Parekh Mihit , Gribble Daniel , Adams Thomas , Pol Vilas G.
Published: June 2023

A novel ternary fluorinated electrolyte (F-FFN) has been devolved that retained 61% of its RT capacity at −50 °C with a low Ea,CT of 55.71 kJ mol−1 compared to the commercial electrolyte, which retained only 25% of its RT capacity at −25 °C.
Forty-two days in the SPA, building a stability parameter analyzer to probe degradation mechanisms in perovskite photovoltaic devices
Authors: Dunfield Sean P. , Louks Amy E. , Waxse Jay , Tirawat Robert , Robbins Steve , Berry Joseph J. , Reese Matthew O.
Published: June 2023

Dunfield et al. discuss various options for satisfying the ISOS light stability series (ISOS-L-#) of tests, a homebuilt testing apparatus and software suite for such tests, and a case study.
Carbon capture from corn stover ethanol production via mature consolidated bioprocessing enables large negative biorefinery GHG emissions and fossil fuel-competitive economics
Authors: Kubis Matthew R. , Lynd Lee R.
Published: June 2023

Potential to capture 70% of feedstock carbon while >50% of feedstock lower heating value is converted to biofuel and coproducts.
Instantaneous degradation of nerve agent simulants using zirconium-based metal–organic polyhedra
Authors: Kiaei Kimia , Brunson Kieran , Gładysiak Andrzej , Smith Kyle , Hunter Kye , Thomas Ava , Radke Delaney , Zuehlsdorff Tim , Stylianou Kyriakos C.
Published: June 2023

Metal–organic polyhedra (MOPs) are discrete molecules made of metal ions/clusters and organic ligands, and their crystal packing leads to the generation of intrinsic and extrinsic porosity.
Nitroimino as an energetic group in designing energetic materials for practical use, a tautomerism from nitroamino
Authors: Wang Yaxi , Hu Lu , Pang Siping , Shreeve Jean'ne M.
Published: June 2023

Hydrogen transfer from nitroamino to nitroimino promotes density, energy and safety of energetic materials suggesting excellent application prospects in designing next generation high energy density materials.
Machine learning-assisted computational exploration of the optimal loading of IL in IL/COF composites for carbon dioxide capture
Authors: Yan Tongan , Tong Minman , Liu Dahuan , Yang Qingyuan , Zhong Chongli
Published: June 2023

The “volumetric loading ratio” is proposed as a descriptor for regulating the IL loading of IL/COF composites. IL and COFs can form CO2favorable “wire-tube” and “wall-arm” type structures in COFs with pore sizes <10 Å and ≥10 Å, respectively.
A bio-inspired electrolyte with in situ repair of Zn surface cracks and regulation of Zn ion solvation chemistry to enable long life and deep-cycling zinc metal batteries
Authors: Hu Nan , Lv Wensong , Tang Huan , Qin Hongyu , Zhou Yuhang , Yi Li , Huang Dan , Wu Zhenrui , Liu Jian , Chen Zhengjun , Xu Jing , He Huibing
Published: June 2023

A bio-inspired electrolyte was first designed with tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) additive as a “healing agent” to in situ repair the Zn surface crack and modulate the Zn2+ solvation chemistry, rendering long-life and deep-cycling Zn metal anodes.
Flexible Bi2Te3/PEDOT nanowire sandwich-like films towards high-performance wearable cross-plane thermoelectric generator and temperature sensor array
Authors: Du Minzhi , Ouyang Jianyong , Zhang Kun
Published: June 2023

Flexible Bi2Te3/PEDOT nanowire sandwich-like films with a zT of 0.27 were fabricated for cross-plane wearable thermoelectric generation and thermal mapping.
Construction of spidroin coacervate microdroplets and regulation of their morphology
Authors: Nie Lanheng , Tao Zhengyu , Zhu Xueying , Huang Xin , Liu Xiaoman
Published: June 2023

The underlying reason for the unique adherent population morphology of spidroin coacervate microdroplets is the response of the complex structures to environmental changes.
Frequency-triggered circuit transition in organic light-emitting diodes probed by impedance spectroscopy
Authors: Park Joon Hyung , Shin Ye Ji , Kymissis Ioannis , Jeon Yongmin , Kim Chang-Hyun
Published: June 2023

Broad-band impedance spectroscopy and equivalent-circuit modeling reveal the emergence of frequency-triggered internal circuit transitions in high-performance organic light-emitting diodes.
High-pressure ilmenite-type MnVO3: crystal and spin structures in the itinerant-localized regimes
Authors: Solana-Madruga Elena , Mentré Olivier , Arévalo-López Eugenia P. , Khalyavin Dmitry , Fauth Francois , Missiul Alexandr , Arévalo-López Angel M.
Published: June 2023

High-pressure ilmenite MnVO3shows a semiconductor to metal transition on heating that resembles that of VO2. Clues of correlation and band effects are observed suggesting a borderline case between Mott and Peierls scenarios.
Use of Concentrated Growth Factor (CGF) in Prosthetic-Guided Reconstruction on Two-Wall Bone Defect after Cystectomy: An Alternative to Traditional Regeneration
Authors: Franco Rocco , Cervino Gabriele , Vazzana Giuseppe , Rocca Fabio della , Ferrari Giulia , Cicciù Marco , Minervini Giuseppe
Published: June 2023

This clinical case report's objective was to describe an alternative technique executed to ensure bone regeneration after removing a cystic lesion in the upper jaw. The bone defect after the cystectomy was filled with autologous fibrin-rich clots containing concentrated growth factor (CGF). A 45-year-old female patient was presumed to have a cystic lesion with massive bone destruction on the vestibular and palatal walls between teeth 2.2 and 2.3. CGF was applied to fill the gap to promote the development of the bone. The tooth was asymptomatic and repair was still increasing steadily after a year, according to the results of the clinical and radiological follow-up assessment. This article describes a different way to treat a two-wall defect involving both the palatal and buccal bone, after removing a cystic lesion, with the use of CGF as an equivalent to the traditional use of autologous or heterologous bone. A promising substance for bone repair is CGF fibrin, which may encourage the growth of new bone in jaw deformities and promote bone tissue healing.
Comparative Evaluation of Serum Lithium Estimation Using Plain Glass Vial and Serum Clot Activator Vacutainer by Reflectance Photometry
Authors: Sahu Prabesh Kumar , Sahoo Sibasish , Chatterjee Namrata , Majhi Jitendra , Dutta Atanu Kumar , Goswami Kalyan , Pal Amit
Published: June 2023

Introduction The collection of blood samples in different vacutainers can affect the result of serum lithium estimation due to the presence of distinct additives in the blood collection vacutainer for enhancing the clot formation process. Due to the low therapeutic index and threat of toxicity of lithium, it is imperative to correctly report the test result. Thus, it has become a challenge for the laboratory physician to estimate lithium in any clinical laboratory setup.

Materials and Methods Sample of 100 patients were collected and paired into clot activator vacutainers and plain glass vials. After centrifugation, samples from the paired collection tubes were processed immediately for serum lithium estimation by VITROS 4600 analyzer working on the principle of reflectance photometry. Both the paired tubes were stored at 2 to 8°C and were further analyzed, at 24 and 48 hours, respectively, from the time of their collection. The statistical analysis was done in IBM SPSS software version 23.

Results There was a statistically significant differences between the mean of lithium values when processed within 1st hour of collection, obtained from clot activator vacutainers in comparison to glass vials. However, within tube comparison, there was no statistical difference in the lithium values estimated at 1st hour, 24 hours, and 48 hours of collection.

Conclusion In this study, lithium values measured by clot-activated vacutainers are found to be lower as compared with values measured through glass vials.
Grassroots governance and social development: theoretical and comparative legal aspects
Authors: Qin Yunyi
Published: June 2023

Democracy, as a political regime and a political system in which the people are recognised as the source of power, is now facing new challenges. The expansion of human rights raises important new issues for society, such as who should be held accountable for decisions. In contrast to traditional representative democracy, grassroots democracy expands civil rights and liberties and holds citizens more accountable at the local level. Concurrently, it generates some potential benefits for social development, both for the individuals who take part in it and for society as a whole. This study examines the experience of nations worldwide in implementing grassroots democracy and grassroots governance mechanisms. It makes an effort to evaluate the potential and prospects of legal conceptualisation of the concept of grassroots governance and adaptation of personal self-governance systems in terms of the social growth of communities.
Measurement of the coupling coordination relationship between the structures of secondary vocational school programs and industries in China
Authors: Zhan Qinglong , Li Guo , Zhan Wenjie
Published: June 2023

Secondary vocational education faces constant challenges such as the absence of higher quality, industrial structure upgrading, and a mismatch between the supply of skills and the needs of a specific industry. Therefore, investigating the relationship between the structures of secondary vocational school (SVS) programmes and industries can help us understand their positive interactions and reduce skill mismatch, which is of great significance to the strategies of secondary vocational education and sustainable economic development. Studies on the interactive relationship between SVS programmes and industries and the use of quantitative methods are still lacking. To address this research gap, this paper uses the perspective of coupling and coordination to build a conceptual framework and a computation model to measure the relationship between the two. The method of grey relational analysis is utilized to explore the influencing factors between indicators of SVS programmes and the coupling coordination degree(CCD). Using data from Tianjin, China, the findings are as follows: The interaction between the structure of the SVS programme and industries shows that with the increase in the contribution of the SVS programme structure to the coupling system, the CCD between the two also increases. Compared with the primary and tertiary industries, the secondary industrial structure is more closely related to the SVS programme’s structure, the interaction between the two has a high degree of influence, and the correlation is relatively high between the indicators of secondary industry programmes in SVSs and the CCD. It is necessary to adjust the number of programmes, increase the number of students in the secondary-industry-related programmes and reduce the number of students in the programmes of the primary and tertiary industries to adapt to the needs of a dynamic industrial structure gradually. SVSs should improve programmes in primary and tertiary industries to enhance students’ skills, prepare them for a competitive labour market and strengthen students’ transition from school to work. This study found that the coupling coordination relationship between the two is affected by the following crucial factors: interaction between the two, the contribution of the programme’s structure, regional featured or key industries, and changes in admission policies by the local education authority.
A model heterostructure with engineered Berry curvature
Authors: Schreiber Nathaniel J. , Miao Ludi , Goodge Berit H. , Kourkoutis Lena F. , Shen Kyle M. , Schlom Darrell G.
Published: June 2023

Molecular-beam epitaxy enables ultrathin functional materials to be combined in heterostructures to create emergent phenomena at the interface. Magnetic skyrmions are an example of an exciting phase found in such heterostructures. SrRuO3 and SrRuO3-based heterostructures have been at the center of the debate on whether a hump-like feature appearing in Hall resistivities is sufficient evidence to prove the presence of skyrmions in a material. To address the ambiguity, we synthesize a model heterostructure with engineered Berry curvature that combines, in parallel, a positive anomalous Hall effect (AHE) channel (a Sr0.6Ca0.4RuO3 layer) with a negative AHE channel (a SrRuO3 layer). We demonstrate that the two opposite AHE channels can be combined to artificially reproduce a “hump-like” feature, which closely resembles the hump-like feature typically attributed to the topological Hall effect and the presence of chiral spin textures, such as skyrmions. We compare our heterostructure with a parallel resistor model, where the inputs are the AHE data from individual Sr0.6Ca0.4RuO3 and SrRuO3 films. To check for the presence of skyrmions, we measure the current dependence, angle dependence, and minor loop dependence of Rhump in the heterostructure. Despite the clear hump, no evidence of skyrmions is found.
Graphite–hexagonal diamond hybrid with diverse properties
Authors: Ge Yanfeng , Luo Kun , Liu Yong , Yang Guochun , Ying Pan , Wu Yingju , Tong Ke , Liu Bing , Li Baozhong , Gao Guoying , Zhou Xiang-Feng , Zhao Zhisheng , Xu Bo , Tian Yongjun
Published: June 2023

The recently discovered graphite–diamond hybrid materials (Gradia) with mixed sp2- and sp3-hybridizations have opened up a new direction in carbon allotropes research. Herein, we reported Gradia-HZ, constituted by interfaced graphite and hexagonal diamond parts in the unit cell, which demonstrates distinct electronic and mechanical properties. With the modulation of graphite width, Gradia-HZ exhibits unexpected topological nodal-line semimetal, semiconductor, and normal metal integrating with a distinctive Quasi-1D electronic transport capability based on first-principles calculations. More interestingly, pressure-induced graphite phase transformation might be an implementable and effective method to regulate the structure and physical properties of Gradia-HZ. The discovery of rich and peculiar physical properties in Gradia-HZ, e.g., high-conductivity metals, semiconductors with variable bandgap, and topological semimetals, will arouse great research interest to graphite–diamond hybrid materials, to promote their development and application in advanced devices.
Superconductivity at epitaxial LaTiO3–KTaO3 interfaces
Authors: Maryenko D. , Maznichenko I. V. , Ostanin S. , Kawamura M. , Takahashi K. S. , Nakamura M. , Dugaev V. K. , Sherman E. Ya. , Ernst A. , Kawasaki M.
Published: June 2023

The design of epitaxial interfaces is a pivotal way to engineer artificial structures where new electronic phases can emerge. Here, we report a systematic emergence of an interfacial superconducting state in epitaxial heterostructures of LaTiO3 and KTaO3. The superconductivity transition temperature increases with decreasing thickness of LaTiO3. Such a behavior is observed for both (110) and (111) crystal oriented structures. For thick samples, the finite resistance developing below the superconducting transition temperature increases with increasing LaTiO3 thickness. Consistent with previous reports, the (001) oriented heterointerface features a high electron mobility of 250 cm2 V−1 s−1 and shows no superconducting transition down to 40 mK. Our results imply a non-trivial impact of LaTiO3 on the superconducting state and indicate how superconducting KTaO3 interfaces can be integrated with other oxide materials.
Fabrication of uniaxially/biaxially tensile-strained Ge by strain redistribution method
Authors: Li Hongxiang , Zhang Qian , Liu Guanyu , Mu Zhiqiang , Wei Xing , Gao Yuyong , Jiang Haitao , Zhang Miao , Xue Zhongying
Published: June 2023

Tensile strain is a widely discussed method to improve electron mobility and luminescence of Ge and has been applied in infrared photodetectors. By combining thin film crimping technology with microelectronic processing technology, uniaxial or biaxial tensile strain is achieved in a suspended Ge micro-bridge structure. The strain state can be manipulated by adjusting the sizes of the patterns, and a uniaxial tensile strain of 3.46% and biaxial tensile strain of 0.31% have been demonstrated in this work. The three-dimensional finite element analysis proves that the tensile strain originates from the strain redistribution between the W film and the Ge micro-bridge structure, and finally, the simulation results agree with the experimental data very well.