bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Towards an advanced representation of precipitation over Morocco in a global climate model with resolution enhancement and empirical run‐time bias corrections
Authors: Balhane Saloua , Cheruy Frédérique , Driouech Fatima , El Rhaz Khalid , Idelkadi Abderrahmane , Sima Adriana , Vignon Étienne , Drobinski Philippe , Chehbouni Abdelghani
Published: February 2024

Morocco, as a Mediterranean and North African country, is acknowledged as a climate change hotspot, where increased drought and related water resource shortages present a real challenge for human and natural systems. However, its geographic position and regional characteristics make the simulation of the distribution and variability of precipitation particularly challenging in the region. In this study, we propose an approach where the Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique Zoom (LMDZ) GCM is run with a stretched grid configuration developed with enhanced resolution (35 km) over the region, and we apply run‐time bias correction to deal with the atmospheric model's systematic errors on large‐scale circulation. The bias‐correction terms for wind and temperature are built using the climatological mean of the adjustment terms on tendency errors in an LMDZ simulation relaxed towards ERA5 reanalyses. The free reference run with the zoomed configuration is compared to two bias‐corrected runs. The free run exhibits noticeable improvements in mean low‐level circulation, high frequency variability and moisture transport and compares favourably to precipitation observations at the local scale. The mean simulated climate is substantially improved after bias correction w.r.t. to the uncorrected runs. At the regional scale, the bias‐correction showed improvements in moisture transport and precipitation distribution, but no noticeable effect was observed in mean precipitation amounts, interannual variability and extreme events. To address the latter, model tuning after grid refinement and developing more “scale‐aware” parameterizations are necessary. The observed improvements on the large‐scale circulation suggest that the run‐time bias correction can be used to drive regional climate models for a better representation of regional and local climate. It can also be combined with “a posteriori” bias correction methods to improve local precipitation simulation, including extreme events.
Computer simulation study of cementless cup placement for dysplastic hip osteoarthritis using subluxation percentage of Crowe classification
Authors: Otaka Keiji , Osawa Yusuke , Takegami Yasuhiko , Iida Hiroki , Ozawa Yuto , Funahashi Hiroto , Imagama Shiro
Published: February 2024

It is often difficult to achieve adequate bone coverage of the cup in total hip arthroplasty in cases of severe developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between subluxation percentage of Crowe classification and cup center‐edge (cup‐CE) angle to investigate whether subluxation percentage according to the Crowe classification is a useful indicator for cementless cup placement. Cementless cup placement was simulated in 77 women with DDH in 91 hips (Crowe I, 35 hips; Crowe II, 35 hips; and Crowe III, 21 hips) using computed tomography‐based computer simulation software. The cups were placed at the anatomic hip center (AHC) and 10‐mm high hip center (HHC). The relationship between the subluxation percentage and cup‐CE angle was evaluated using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. In addition, the cutoff values for the subluxation percentage that satisfied a cup‐CE angle ≥0° were determined using the receiving operating characteristic curve. The cup‐CE angle was negatively correlated with the subluxation percentage in both AHC and 10‐mm HHC (correlation coefficient ρ = −0.542 [p < 0.01] and −0.704 [p < 0.01], respectively). The cutoff values for subluxation percentage that satisfied a cup‐CE angle ≥0° were 56.1% and 73.6% for AHC and 10‐mm HHC, respectively. Cementless cup placement in AHC is difficult in cases with the subluxation percentage ≥56.1%, and HHC reconstruction or femoral structural autograft technique should be considered as an alternative. Moreover, placement at 10 mm above AHC is difficult in cases with subluxation percentage ≥73.6%.
A theoretical study on the mechanism and kinetics of the reactions between diazine isomers and OH radicals
Authors: Hashemi Seyyed Rasoul , Koopman Jeffrey , Nyman Gunnar
Published: February 2024

The reactions of pyrazine, pyridazine, and pyrimidine with hydroxyl radicals are theoretically studied. The barrier heights obtained with different electronic structure methods indicate that the reactions can competitively proceed via either abstraction of a hydrogen atom by an OH radical or OH addition to carbon sites. However, the rate constants computed within the temperature range 200 to 1500 K suggest that tunneling play a role resulting in large branching ratios in favor of hydrogen abstraction channels at lower temperatures.
Low‐Temperature Extrusion of Waterborne Polyurethane–Polycaprolactone Composites for Multi‐Material Bioprinting of Engineered Elastic Cartilage
Authors: Wang Di , Feng Zhaoxuan , Zeng Jinshi , Wang Qian , Zheng Yudong , Liu Xia , Jiang Haiyue
Published: February 2024

3D bioprinting of elastic cartilage tissues that are mechanically and structurally comparable to their native counterparts, while exhibiting favorable cellular behavior, is an unmet challenge. A practical solution for this problem is the multi‐material bioprinting of thermoplastic polymers and cell‐laden hydrogels using multiple nozzles. However, the processing of thermoplastic polymers requires high temperatures, which can damage hydrogel‐encapsulated cells. In this study, the authors developed waterborne polyurethane (WPU)‐polycaprolactone (PCL) composites to allow multi‐material co‐printing with cell‐laden gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogels. These composites can be extruded at low temperatures (50–60 °C) and high speeds, thereby reducing heat/shear damage to the printed hydrogel‐capsulated cells. Furthermore, their hydrophilic nature improved the cell behavior in vitro. More importantly, the bioprinted structures exhibited good stiffness and viscoelasticity compared to native elastic cartilage. In summary, this study demonstrated low‐temperature multi‐material bioprinting of WPU‐PCL‐based constructs with good mechanical properties, degradation time‐frames, and cell viability, showcasing their potential in elastic cartilage bio‐fabrication and regeneration to serve broad biomedical applications in the future.
Preemptive patenting, secondary patents, and the persistence of monopoly
Authors: Miljkovic Dragan
Published: February 2024

We develop a theoretical economic model that establishes the link between fragmented patenting systems in an industry already characterized as a monopoly resulting in continuous/steady monopolistic market structure. We demonstrated that preemptive patenting strategy, by using secondary patenting scheme, may lead to an increase in the number of patents without changing actual number of products on the market. Moreover, when such a strategy is employed by a monopoly, it only serves to sustain and further monopolistic and therefore socially suboptimal market structure. Institutional/legal framework must exist to promote this kind of socially suboptimal behavior and resulting outcomes.
Robust T2 estimation with balanced steady state free precession
Authors: Bieri Oliver , Weidensteiner Claudia , Ganter Carl
Published: February 2024

Purpose

To develop a novel signal representation for balanced steady state free precession (bSSFP) displaying its T2 independence on B1 and on magnetization transfer (MT) effects.

Methods

A signal model for bSSFP is developed that shows only an explicit dependence (up to a scaling factor) on E2 (and, therefore, T2) and a novel parameter c (with implicit dependence on the flip angle and E1). Moreover, it is shown that MT effects, entering the bSSFP signal via a binary spin bath model, can be captured by a redefinition of T1 and, therefore, leading to modification of E1, resulting in the same signal model. Various sets of phase‐cycled bSSFP brain scans (different flip angles, different TR, different RF pulse durations, and different number of phase cycles) were recorded at 3 T. The parameters T2 (E2) and c were estimated using a variable projection (VARPRO) method and Monte‐Carlo simulations were performed to assess T2 estimation precision.

Results

Initial experiments confirmed the expected independence of T2 on various protocol settings, such as TR, the flip angle, B1 field inhomogeneity, and the RF pulse duration. Any variation (within the explored range) appears to directly affect the estimation of the parameter c only—in agreement with theory.

Conclusion

BSSFP theory predicts an extraordinary feature that all MT and B1‐related variational aspects do not enter T2 estimation, making it a potentially robust methodology for T2 quantification, pending validation against existing standards.
Mechanisms of glutamate metabolic function and dysfunction in vascular dementia
Authors: Wang Jiawen , Zhang Yingmei , Tian Ning , Ya Dongshan , Yang Jiaxin , Jiang Yanlin , Li Xiaoxia , Lin Xiaohui , Yang Bin , Li Qinghua , Liao Rujia
Published: February 2024

As the global population ages, research on the pathogenesis and treatment options for older patients with dementia has become increasingly important. Vascular dementia (VaD), the second most frequent type of dementia, is characterized by vascular impairment caused by inadequate blood supply to the brain. VaD is a complex neurological disorder involving multiple cells and signaling pathways, and its prevention and treatment pose clinical challenges with significant behavioral implications. Glutamate, the most abundant amino acid in the brain, plays a critical role as an excitatory neurotransmitter, impacting cognitive function, learning, and memory. Abnormal glutamate metabolism has been closely linked to dementia, and reduced blood flow to the brain can lead to excessive glutamate accumulation, resulting in neuronal death. This article highlights the connection between VaD and glutamate metabolism, aiming to identify better methods for preventing and treating VaD via regulating glutamate metabolism.
Absolute neutrophil count clinical trial eligibility criteria for pediatric oncology phase I and phase I/II trials by sponsorship
Authors: Ruiz Jenny , Kelly Rebecca K. , Aplenc Richard , Laetsch Theodore W. , Seif Alix E.
Published: February 2024

Normal absolute neutrophil count (ANC) variations, as seen with Duffy‐null associated neutrophil count (DANC), are not accounted for in trial eligibility, which may contribute to racial enrollment disparities. We describe ANC eligibility for pediatric oncology phase I/II clinical trials according to primary sponsorship from 2010 to 2023 using ClinicalTrials.gov. Out of 438 trials, 20% were industry‐sponsored. Total 17% of trials required ANC ≥1500 cells/μL for enrollment; however, industry‐sponsored trials were significantly more likely to require ANC ≥1500 cells/μL than non‐industry‐sponsored trials (odds ratio 2.53, 95% confidence interval: 1.39–4.62; p < .001). These data suggest laboratory exclusion criteria are one possible mechanism for pediatric clinical trial enrollment disparities.
Patients with advanced cancer and their spouses parenting minor children: The role of the relationship context in parenting concerns
Authors: Milbury Kathrin , Ann‐Yi Sujin , Jones Morgan , Li Yisheng , Whisenant Meagan , Yousuf Sania , Necroto Victoria , Chavez Mac Gregor Mariana , Bruera Eduardo
Published: February 2024

Objective

Patients with advanced cancer who parent minor children report parenting concerns and increased psychological distress. This cross‐sectional study seeks to understand parenting‐related issues in patients and spousal caregivers from a relationship perspective.

Methods

Patients with a metastatic solid malignancy and their spouses independently completed cross‐sectional assessments of psychological distress (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), parenting concerns (Parenting Concern Questionnaire) and efficacy (Cancer‐Related Parenting Self‐Efficacy Scale), and relationship measures (DAS‐7, Couples' Illness Communication Scale, and Family Relationship Index).

Results

Of the 51 patients (57% female, 49% NHW, mean age 42 years) and spouses (43% female, 43% NHW, mean age of 42 years), approximately 50% couples endorsed psychological distress and were at risk for family dysfunction. Spouses reported significantly higher levels of parenting‐related concerns (t = −2.0, p < 0.05) and anxiety (t = −2.8, p < 0.001) than patients. Parenting concerns were significantly associated with illness communication (r = −0.56, p < 0.001) and family function (r = −0.38, p < 0.001). Although the expected interactions between parenting concerns and relationship variables (i.e., illness communication, dyadic adjustment, and family function) were significant for depressive symptoms at p < 0.05, the associations were not in the expected direction. Relationship function buffered against depressive symptoms for those with low rather than high parenting concerns.

Conclusions

Not only patients but also spouses report cancer‐related parenting concerns. The associations between parenting concerns and distress were stronger for spouses than patients. Dual caregiving appears to be a particularly stressful role. Because relationship function was associated with parenting concerns, we suggest that parent support programs that are couple‐based and include both parenting‐specific and relationship‐specific content may be most effective in reducing distress for this vulnerable population.
Simplified risk stratification based on cardiopulmonary exercise test: A Spanish two‐center experience
Authors: Martínez‐Meñaca Amaya , Cruz‐Utrilla Alejandro , Mora‐Cuesta Víctor Manuel , Luna‐López Raquel , Segura‐de la Cal Teresa , Flox‐Camacho Ángela , Alonso‐Lecue Pilar , Escribano‐Subias Pilar , Cifrián‐Martínez José Manuel
Published: February 2024

A simplified 4‐strata risk stratification approach based on three variables is widespread in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) at follow‐up. This study aimed to assess the impact of replacing the 6‐min walk test (6MWT) with the peak 02 uptake evaluated by the cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) on risk stratification by this scale. We included 180 prevalent patients with PAH from two reference hospitals in Spain, followed up between 2006 and 2022. Patients were included if all the variables of interest were available within a 3‐month period on the Spanish Registry of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (REHAP): functional class (FC); NT‐proBNP; 6MWT; and CPET. The original 4‐strata model (NT‐proBNP, 6MWT, FC) identified most patients at low or intermediate‐low risk (36.7% and 51.1%, respectively). Notably, the modified scale (NT‐proBNP, CPET, FC) improved the identification of patients at intermediate‐high risk up to 18.9%, and at high risk up to 1.1% in comparison with the previous 12.2% and 0.0% in the original scale. This new model increased the number of patients correctly classified into higher‐risk strata (positive NRI of 0.06), as well as classified more patients without events in lower‐risk strata (negative NRI of 0.04). The proposed score showed a slightly superior prognostic capacity compared with the original model (Harrel's C‐index 0.717 vs. 0.709). Using O2 uptake instead of distance walked in the 6MWT improves the identification of high‐risk patients using the 4‐strata scale. This change could have relevant prognostic implications and lead to changes in the specific treatment of PAH.
Analyzing future marine cold spells in the tropical Indian Ocean: Insights from a regional Earth system model
Authors: Dinesh Anand Singh , Kumar Pankaj , Mishra Alok Kumar , Pandey Lokesh Kumar , Tewari Mukul , Cabos William , Sein Dmitry V.
Published: February 2024

In this study, a future projection of marine cold spells (MCSs) over the tropical Indian Ocean is made using a fully coupled regional Earth system model, namely ROM, under two representative concentration pathways (RCPs): RCP4.5 and RCP8.5. In both RCPs, the future MCS properties have been estimated across three distinct time intervals: the near future (NF; 2010–2039), the middle future (MF; 2040–2069), and the far future (FF; 2070–2099). The future MCS computations were examined with respect to fixed historical baseline periods and varying baseline periods. MCSs were frequent, intense, and prolonged during the historical period. ROM effectively simulated these historical MCS metrics and their trends and outperformed the forcing general circulation model as well as the multimodel ensemble mean of Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 5 models. In the future, MCSs will cease to occur in ∼13% (4%), ∼56% (66%) and ∼69% (93%) of the area of the tropical Indian Ocean in the NF, MF, and FF respectively under the RCP4.5 (RCP8.5) scenario using a fixed historical baseline period. This departure of MCSs led to the disappearance of events, first identified over the Arabian Sea in both RCPs. The decrease in net heat flux and increase in wind speed contribute to the genesis and severity of MCS events. Further, during the El Niño regime, the MCS events dramatically decrease due to the basin‐wide warming, but during the La Niña phase, the MCS intensity and spatial range increase. This study further investigates the sensitivity of MCSs with the choice of baseline period. Adopting varying baseline periods over time does not result in the disappearance of MCSs but does produce declining trends in MCS activity, highlighting the need for careful consideration in choosing a baseline period.
Generating optimal designs with user‐specified pure replication structure
Authors: Walsh Stephen J. , Bolton Thomsen B. , Borkowski John J.
Published: February 2024

Over recent decades, optimal experimental design has surged in popularity due to affordable computing and efficient algorithms. However, some researchers highlight that this focus has often side‐lined the importance of including pure experimental replication in designs, as many optimality criteria do not inherently suggest designs with replicates. In this study, we introduce an approach that allows the designer to input a desired replication structure into the optimal design search. We list all potential replication structures, indicate the corresponding budget for pure‐error (PE) and lack‐of‐fit (LOF) degrees‐of‐freedom, and use particle swarm optimization to search for the optimal design in each scenario. We demonstrate our approach on various unexplored ‐optimal design scenarios and several scenarios recently discussed in literature. Our findings reveal the existence of highly‐efficient ‐optimal designs with unique replication structures, offering designers informed choices on allocating a limited budget for PE and LOF degrees‐of‐freedom. This method is versatile and compatible with other optimizers, such as the coordinate exchange.
The GHP scaling limit of uniform spanning trees of dense graphs
Authors: Archer Eleanor , Shalev Matan
Published: February 2024

We consider dense graph sequences that converge to a connected graphon and prove that the GHP scaling limit of their uniform spanning trees (USTs) is Aldous' Brownian CRT. Furthermore, we are able to extract the precise scaling constant from the limiting graphon. As an example, we can apply this to the scaling limit of the USTs of the Erdös–Rényi sequence for any fixed , and sequences of dense expanders. A consequence of GHP convergence is that several associated quantities of the spanning trees also converge, such as the height, diameter and law of a simple random walk.
A Bayesian nonparametric meta‐analysis model for estimating the reference interval
Authors: Cao Wenhao , Chu Haitao , Hanson Timothy , Siegel Lianne
Published: February 2024

A reference interval represents the normative range for measurements from a healthy population. It plays an important role in laboratory testing, as well as in differentiating healthy from diseased patients. The reference interval based on a single study might not be applicable to a broader population. Meta‐analysis can provide a more generalizable reference interval based on the combined population by synthesizing results from multiple studies. However, the assumptions of normally distributed underlying study‐specific means and equal within‐study variances, which are commonly used in existing methods, are strong and may not hold in practice. We propose a Bayesian nonparametric model with more flexible assumptions to extend random effects meta‐analysis for estimating reference intervals. We illustrate through simulation studies and two real data examples the performance of our proposed approach when the assumptions of normally distributed study means and equal within‐study variances do not hold.
Two‐stage stratified designs with survival outcomes and adjustment for misclassification in predictive biomarkers
Authors: Chen Yanping , Lin Yong , Lu Shou‐En , Shih Weichung J. , Quan Hui
Published: February 2024

Biomarker stratified clinical trial designs are versatile tools to assess biomarker clinical utility and address its relationship with clinical endpoints. Due to imperfect assays and/or classification rules, biomarker status is prone to errors. To account for biomarker misclassification, we consider a two‐stage stratified design for survival outcomes with an adjustment for misclassification in predictive biomarkers. Compared to continuous and/or binary outcomes, the test statistics for survival outcomes with an adjustment for biomarker misclassification is much more complicated and needs to take special care. We propose to use the information from the observed biomarker status strata to construct adjusted log‐rank statistics for true biomarker status strata. These adjusted log‐rank statistics are then used to develop sequential tests for the global (composite) hypothesis and component‐wise hypothesis. We discuss the power analysis with the control of the type‐I error rate by using the correlations between the adjusted log‐rank statistics within and between the design stages. Our method is illustrated with examples of the recent successful development of immunotherapy in nonsmall‐cell lung cancer.
Sleep‐phasic heart rate variability predicts stress severity: Building a machine learning‐based stress prediction model
Authors: Fan Jingjing , Mei Junhua , Yang Yuan , Lu Jiajia , Wang Quan , Yang Xiaoyun , Chen Guohua , Wang Runsen , Han Yujia , Sheng Rong , Wang Wei , Ding Fengfei
Published: February 2024

We propose a novel approach for predicting stress severity by measuring sleep phasic heart rate variability (HRV) using a smart device. This device can potentially be applied for stress self‐screening in large populations. Using a Holter electrocardiogram (ECG) and a Huawei smart device, we conducted 24‐h dual recordings of 159 medical workers working regular shifts. Based on photoplethysmography (PPG) and accelerometer signals acquired by the Huawei smart device, we sorted episodes of cyclic alternating pattern (CAP; unstable sleep), non‐cyclic alternating pattern (NCAP; stable sleep), wakefulness, and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep based on cardiopulmonary coupling (CPC) algorithms. We further calculated the HRV indices during NCAP, CAP and REM sleep episodes using both the Holter ECG and smart‐device PPG signals. We later developed a machine learning model to predict stress severity based only on the smart device data obtained from the participants along with a clinical evaluation of emotion and stress conditions. Sleep phasic HRV indices predict individual stress severity with better performance in CAP or REM sleep than in NCAP. Using the smart device data only, the optimal machine learning‐based stress prediction model exhibited accuracy of 80.3 %, sensitivity 87.2 %, and 63.9 % for specificity. Sleep phasic heart rate variability can be accurately evaluated using a smart device and subsequently can be used for stress predication.
Interface Engineering of PdPt Ultrafine Ethanol Electro‐Oxidation Nanocatalysts by Bacterial Soluble Extracellular Polymeric Substances (s‐EPS) to Break through Sabatier Principle
Authors: Liu Chang , Tang Qinyuan , Fan Puyang , Wei Yuhui , Yu Yang , Wen Xinwei , Li Xianghong , Li Lei , Qu Qing
Published: February 2024

Unsatisfactory performance of ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) catalysts hinders the application of direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFCs), while traditional alloy catalysts (like PdPt) is cursed by Sabatier principle due to countable active site types. However, bacterial soluble extracellular polymeric substances (s‐EPS) owning abundent functional groups may help breacking through it by contrusting different active sites on PdPt and inducing them to play synergy effect, which is called interface engineering. Using s‐EPS to engineer catalysts is more green and consumes lower energy compared to chemical reagents. Herein, PdPt alloy nanoparticles (≈2.1 nm) are successfully in situ synthesized by/on s‐EPS of Bacillus megaterium, an ex‐holotype. Tryptophan residuals are proved as the main reductant. In EOR, PdPt@s‐EPS shows higher activity (3.89 mA cm−2) than Pd@s‐EPS, Pt@s‐EPS, Pt/C and most reported akin catalysts. Its stability and durability are excellent, too. DFT modelling further demonstrates that, interface engineering by s‐EPS breaks through Sabatier principle, by the synergy of diverse sites owning different degrees of d‐p orbital hybridization. This work not only makes DEFCs closer to practice, but provides a facile and green strategy to design more catalysts.
Interfacial Polarization Locked Flexible β‐Phase Glycine/Nb2CTx Piezoelectric Nanofibers
Authors: Zheng Weiying , Li Tong , Jin Fei , Qian Lili , Ma Juan , Wei Zhidong , Ma Xiying , Wang Fuyi , Sun Jiangtao , Yuan Tao , Wang Ting , Feng Zhang‐Qi
Published: February 2024

Biomolecular piezoelectric materials show great potential in the field of wearable and implantable biomedical devices. Here, a self‐assemble approach is developed to fabricating flexible β‐glycine piezoelectric nanofibers with interfacial polarization locked aligned crystal domains induced by Nb2CTx nanosheets. Acted as an effective nucleating agent, Nb2CTx nanosheets can induce glycine to crystallize from edges toward flat surfaces on its 2D crystal plane and form a distinctive eutectic structure within the nanoconfined space. The interfacial polarization locking formed between O atom on glycine and Nb atom on Nb2CTx is essential to align the β‐glycine crystal domains with (001) crystal plane intensity extremely improved. This β‐phase glycine/Nb2CTx nanofibers (Gly‐Nb2C‐NFs) exhibit fabulous mechanical flexibility with Young's modulus of 10 MPa, and an enhanced piezoelectric coefficient of 5.0 pC N−1 or piezoelectric voltage coefficient of 129 × 10−3Vm N−1. The interface polarization locking greatly improves the thermostability of β‐glycine before melting (≈210°C). A piezoelectric sensor based on this Gly‐Nb2C‐NFs is used for micro‐vibration sensing in vivo in mice and exhibits excellent sensing ability. This strategy provides an effective approach for the regular crystallization modulation for glycine crystals, opening a new avenue toward the design of piezoelectric biomolecular materials induced by 2D materials.
Molecular Connectors Boosting the Performance of MoS2 Cathodes in Zinc‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Guo Haipeng , Montes‐García Verónica , Peng Haijun , Samorì Paolo , Ciesielski Artur
Published: February 2024

Zinc‐ion batteries (ZIBs) are promising energy storage systems due to high energy density, low‐cost, and abundant availability of zinc as a raw material. However, the greatest challenge in ZIBs research is lack of suitable cathode materials that can reversibly intercalate Zn2+ ions. 2D layered materials, especially MoS2‐based, attract tremendous interest due to large surface area and ability to intercalate/deintercalate ions. Unfortunately, pristine MoS2 obtained by traditional protocols such as chemical exfoliation or hydrothermal/solvothermal methods exhibits limited electronic conductivity and poor chemical stability upon charge/discharge cycling. Here, a novel molecular strategy to boost the electrochemical performance of MoS2 cathode materials for aqueous ZIBs is reported. The use of dithiolated conjugated molecular pillars, that is, 4,4′‐biphenyldithiols, enables to heal defects and crosslink the MoS2 nanosheets, yielding covalently bridged networks (MoS2‐SH2) with improved ionic and electronic conductivity and electrochemical performance. In particular, MoS2‐SH2 electrodes display high specific capacity of 271.3 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1, high energy density of 279 Wh kg−1, and high power density of 12.3 kW kg−1. With its outstanding rate capability (capacity of 148.1 mAh g−1 at 10 A g−1) and stability (capacity of 179 mAh g−1 after 1000 cycles), MoS2‐SH2 electrodes outperform other MoS2‐based electrodes in ZIBs.
Photothermal‐Enhanced S‐Scheme Heterojunction of Hollow Core–Shell FeNi2S4@ZnIn2S4 toward Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution
Authors: Wang Shikai , Zhang Dong , Pu Xipeng , Zhang Lizhi , Zhang Dafeng , Jiang Jizhou
Published: February 2024

Herein, guided by the results of density functional theory prediction, the study rationally designs a hollow core–shell FeNi2S4@ZnIn2S4 (FNS@ZIS) Step‐scheme (S‐scheme) heterojunction for photocatalytic H2 evolution with photothermal‐assisted. The hollow FNS spheres offered substrate for coating the ZIS nanosheets, which can inhibit ZIS nanosheets from agglomerating into pellet, enrich the active site, increase specific surfaces, and raise the light absorption. Notably, due to its excellent photothermal properties, FNS core generated heat unceasingly inside under visible‐light irradiation and effectively prevent the heat loss of the reaction system, which increased the local temperature of photocatalysts and thus accelerated the charge migration. In addition, the S‐scheme heterojunction construction via in situ growth has a tight interface, which can facilitate the separation and transfer of carriers and achieve high redox potential. Owning to the distinctive construction, the hollow core–shell FNS@ZIS S‐scheme heterojunction show extraordinary stability and photocatalytic H2 evolution rate with 7.7 mmol h−1 g−1, which is ≈15.2‐fold than pristine ZIS. Based on the double evidence of theoretical predictions and experimental confirmations, the photothermal effect and electron transfer mechanism of this innovative material are investigated in depth by the following infrared thermography technology and deep DFT calculations.
Durable Superhydrophobic Surfaces with Self‐Generated Wenzel Sites for Efficient Fog Collection
Authors: Zhang Jiaren , Li Bucheng , Zhou Zhengqiang , Zhang Junping
Published: February 2024

Harvesting freshwater from fog is one of the possible solutions to the global water scarcity crisis. Surfaces with both hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions are extensively employed for this purpose. Nevertheless, the longevity of these surfaces is still constrained by their delicate surface structures. The hydrophilic zones may become damaged or contaminated after repeated use, thereby compromising their effectiveness in fog collection. The preparation of generally applicable durable superhydrophobic coatings with self‐generated Wenzel sites is reported here for long‐term efficient and stable fog collection. The coatings are prepared by depositing the poly(tannic acid) coating as the primer layer on various substrates, self‐assembly of trichlorovinylsilane into staggered silicone nanofilaments, and then thiol–ene click reaction with 1H,1H,2H,2H‐perfluorodecanethiol. The coatings demonstrate remarkable static superhydrophobicity, robust impalement resistance, and stable self‐generated Wenzel sites for water droplets. Therefore, the fog collection rate (FCR) of the coatings reaches 2.13 g cm−2 h−1 during 192 h continuous fog collection, which is triple that of bare substrate and outperforms most previous studies. Moreover, the systematic experiments and models have revealed that the key factors for achieving high FCR on superhydrophobic coatings are forming condensed droplets ≈1 mm in critical radius and a Wenzel site proportion of 0.3–0.4.
Robust and Corrosion‐Resistant Overall Water Splitting Electrode Enabled by Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Guo Binbin , Lin Jie , Mo Funian , Ding Yihong , Zeng Tianbiao , Liang Haowen , Wang Liping , Chen Xiaoteng , Mo Jiewen , Li Dong‐sheng , Yang Hui Ying , Bai Jiaming
Published: February 2024

Electrolysis of water has emerged as a prominent area of research in recent years. As a promising catalyst support, copper foam is widely investigated for electrolytic water, yet the insufficient mechanical strength and corrosion resistance render it less suitable for harsh working conditions. To exploit high‐performance catalyst supports, various metal supports are comprehensively evaluated, and Ti6Al4V (Ti64) support exhibited outstanding compression and corrosion resistance. With this in mind, a 3D porous Ti64 catalyst support is fabricated using the selective laser sintering (SLM) 3D printing technology, and a conductive layer of nickel (Ni) is coated to increase the electrical conductivity and facilitate the deposition of catalysts. Subsequently, Co0.8Ni0.2(CO3)0.5(OH)·0.11H2O (CoNiCH) nanoneedles are deposited. The resulting porous Ti64/Ni/CoNiCH electrode displayed an impressive performance in the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and reached 30 mA cm−2 at an overpotential of only 200 mV. Remarkably, even after being compressed at 15.04 MPa, no obvious structural deformation is observed, and the attenuation of its catalytic efficiency is negligible. Based on the computational analysis, the CoNiCH catalyst demonstrated superior catalytic activity at the Ni site in comparison to the Co site. Furthermore, the electrode reached 30 mA cm−2 at 1.75 V in full water splitting conditions and showed no significant performance degradation even after 60 h of continuous operation. This study presents an innovative approach to robust and corrosion‐resistant catalyst design.
Effect of Microstructure on Corrosion Resistance of Ultralow‐Carbon Bainitic Steel
Authors: Feng Chun , Wang Peng , Zhu Lijuan , Gui Xiaolu , Li Zhi , Gao Guhui
Published: February 2024

The effect of microstructure on the corrosion behaviors of ultralow‐carbon bainitic (ULCB) steel in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution is discussed. Four ULCB steel specimens with different microstructures are designed via controlling the cooling routes after austenization, namely, furnace cooling (FC), air cooling (AC), oil cooling (OC), and water cooling (WC). Their corrosion behaviors are investigated by alternating immersion test (including weight loss and rust layer observation) and electrochemical tests (including polarization curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopic measurements). Results show that the corrosion resistance of ULCB steel specimens decreases with increase of cooling rate, that is, in the following sequence: FC > AC > OC > WC. Furthermore, the electron backscatter diffraction characterization and scanning Kelvin probe force microscopy are performed to build the relationship between microstructure and corrosion behaviors of ULCB steels. The reduced corrosion resistance of ULCB steels results from the increased number of microgalvanic couples because of the significantly increased density of grain boundaries with increase of cooling rate.
Vision‐based probabilistic post‐earthquake loss estimation for reinforced concrete shear walls
Authors: Azhari Samira , Hamidia Mohammadjavad , Rouhani Fatemeh
Published: February 2024

In this paper, a probabilistic methodology based on image analysis is proposed for earthquake‐induced loss estimation in rectangular reinforced concrete shear walls (RCSWs) in compliance with FEMA P‐58. The methodology is developed using a databank of 285 surface crack patterns gathered from the result of experimental research on 99 rectangular RCSWs with wide‐ranging structural and geometric characteristics. For the complexity extraction, three fractal geometry indices of the damaged specimens are taken into consideration. Fragility functions are generated to determine the probability of exceeding a FEMA P‐58 compliant damage state based on the various methods of repair for specific complexity indices. The fragility functions are obtained using four common probabilistic distributions including lognormal, Weibull, gamma, and beta. The fitness of the fragility curves is examined by two goodness‐of‐fit tests, namely the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test and Lilliefors test. Results show that the Weibull is the best‐fitting distribution for the majority of damage states and succolarity possesses the best results in goodness‐of‐fit tests among fractal geometry indices. Empirical loss indices are also derived in this paper aimed at optimizing the goodness‐of‐fits. Finally, the proposed procedure is utilized for a sample specimen from the databank at various damage levels.
Coupling effect of ionic liquids on the mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties of polymer composites: A succinct review
Authors: Shamsuri Ahmad Adlie , Md. Jamil Siti Nurul Ain , Abdan Khalina
Published: February 2024

The growing study of polymer composites has motivated scientists to explore more methodologies to enhance the final demanding properties of polymer composites. Polymer composites have commonly been fabricated using thermosets or thermoplastics with synthetic or natural fillers. Lately, ionic liquids have been applied as coupling agents for polymer composites. In this succinct review, two types of ionic liquids, specifically imidazolium‐ and phosphonium‐based ionic liquids that are applied as coupling agents, are identified. Additionally, the synthesis of ionic liquids with different precursors and reactions is explained. The coupling effect of ionic liquids on the mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties of polymer composites is also succinctly reviewed. The knowledge shown in this review gives a more transparent comprehension of the fabrication of polymer composites coupled with ionic liquids and the essential properties of polymer composites. In conclusion, most imidazolium‐ and phosphonium‐based ionic liquids can improve several mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties of thermoset and thermoplastic composites.
High efficacy fluconazole loaded ZnO‐poly (vinyl alcohol) nanocomposite: Interpretive breakpoints for biological applications
Authors: Das Abinash , Ringu Togam , Ghosh Sampad , Pramanik Nabakumar
Published: February 2024

Nanotechnology, a versatile field, holds promise in diverse applications, such as advanced pharmaceutical techniques and innovative chemical compound fabrication. Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) has identified sepsis as a global health priority, attributing most sepsis‐related deaths to the underlying infection. Sepsis is a complex disease that manifests in various ways, depending on factors, such as pathogen involved, mode of transmission, and the patient's immune competence. This study focuses on synthesizing zinc oxide (ZnO) through an in‐situ precipitation method and employing a solution‐based technique to coat the inorganic ZnO nanomaterial with the antimicrobial drug fluconazole (FLZ), resulting in a FLZ‐ZnO composite. Further enhancement is achieved by modifying the composite with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) to improve mechanical strength, physicochemical characteristics, and the interfacial network between ZnO and FLZ. Characterization through X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), particle size distribution (PSD), and thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) confirms the synthesized compounds are stoichiometric in nature. The FLZ‐ZnO‐PVA nanocomposite demonstrates significant antifungal activity against C. albicans and A. niger, as well as enhanced antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus evaluated through well diffusion technique. In vitro cellular compatibility assessment using the MTT assay with NIH‐3T3 cells reveals exceptional viability (above 75%) and negligible cytotoxicity at a concentration of 1.56 μg/mL, indicating high biosafety. The FLZ‐ZnO‐PVA nanocomposite exhibits outstanding biological performance, making it a promising candidate for clinical applications in preventing sepsis and prospective infections.

Highlights

Developments and preparation of FLZ‐ZnO‐PVA nanocomposite.

FLZ‐ZnO‐PVA nanocomposite shows optimum antimicrobial activity.

FLZ‐ZnO‐PVA shows cytotoxicity against the mouse embryonic fibroblast cell line.

FLZ‐ZnO‐PVA could be used as a suitable material for treatment of sepsis.
Comparison of multi‐component and mono‐component intumescent flame retardants for thermoplastic polyurethane composites
Authors: Li Minghao , Bi Siyi , Chen Chunhui , Hai Wenqing , Jiang Ziyang , Meng Qian , Hao Enquan , Li Hongjie , Shao Huiqi , Shao Guangwei , Jiang Jinhua , Chen Nanliang
Published: February 2024

Conventional intumescent flame retardant (IFR) is comprised of multiple components (acid, carbon, and gas source). In comparison, “all‐in‐one” design of mono‐component IFR is effective to impart the homogeneity to functional sources in polymer matrix, which is significant to improve the synergy against combustion. In this work, a core‐shell structured mono‐component IFR (MAPP@FDS) are prepared with ammonium polyphosphate (APP) and furfural‐derived Schiff base (FDS) and applied to modification of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). TPU composite with the as‐prepared mono‐component IFR (TPU/MAPP@FDS) exhibits V‐0 rating in UL‐94 test and a limiting oxygen index (LOI) value of 32.0%, with prominent bulkiness of carbonaceous layer. Cone calorimetry tests (CCTs) showed a significant reduction in total heat release (THR) and peak heat release rate (pHRR) for TPU/MAPP@FDS compared with the TPU composites with multi‐component IFR. By analyzing the morphology and composition of residual char, the flame‐retardant mechanism of TPU/MAPP@FDS is reasonably proposed. This work illustrates the superiority of the integration to prepare mono‐component IFR and provides a potential method in developing TPU composites with remarkable flame retardancy.

Highlights

TPU/MAPP@FDS achieves a LOI value of 32.0% and UL‐94 V‐0 rating.

TPU/MAPP@FDS exhibits significantly enhanced flame retardancy compared with TPU composites incorporated multi‐component IFR.

The synergy in multi‐component IFR is prominently strengthened.
Severity of natural calamities and crop yield prediction using hybrid deep learning model in Uttar Pradesh
Authors: Kumar Rajneesh , Mahapatra Rajendra Prasad
Published: February 2024

Crop yield prediction has gained major potential for global food production. Predicting crop yields based on specific parameters like soil, environment, crop, and water has been an interesting research topic in recent decades. To accurately predict crop yields, measuring the severities of natural calamities including water level is mainly required. However, the existing studies failed to predict crop yields accurately because of various issues like overfitting problems, difficulty in training, inability to handle large data, and reduced learning capability. Thus, the proposed study develops an efficient mechanism for accurately predicting crop yields by analyzing several natural calamities. Here, the input samples are initially pre‐processed to remove unwanted noises using data normalization and standardization. To enhance the performance of crop yield prediction, natural calamities are computed by using an Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) model based on parameters like the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI), Severe Hail Index (SHI), and Storm Severity Index (SSI). Also, the hyperparameters of XGBoost model are tuned by utilizing Sheep Flock Optimization Algorithm (SFOA). Finally, the crop yield is predicted by proposing a new one‐dimensional convolutional gated recurrent unit neural network (1D‐CGRU). The proposed classifier predicts the crop yields with reduced error rates like mean square error (MSE) of 0.4363, root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.1904, normalized root mean squared error (NRMSE) of 0.00101, mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.2437, and R‐squared (R2) of .2756. Also, the significant findings of the proposed study positively indicate that this study can be applicable to real‐time agricultural practices and is highly suitable for water quality predictions. Also, it can assist farmers and farming businesses in predicting the yield of crops in a specific season when to harvest and crop a plant for attaining improved crop yields.
Tensors
Authors: Breiding Paul , Kohn Kathlén , Sturmfels Bernd
Published: February 2024

Tensors are generalizations of matrices. They can be viewed as tables of higher dimension. A 2 × 2-matrix is a table that contains four numbers aligned in two directions, and each direction has dimension 2. Similarly, a 2×2×2-tensor is a table with eight numbers aligned in three directions where each direction has dimension 2.
Polar Degrees
Authors: Breiding Paul , Kohn Kathlén , Sturmfels Bernd
Published: February 2024

The notion of polar degrees is fundamental for assessing the algebraic complexity of polynomial optimization problems of a metric origin.We already recognized this point for Euclidean distance optimization in Section 2.3, and we will see it again in Theorem 5.5 for polyhedral norms, with focus on theWasserstein metric from optimal transport theory. The punchline is that polar degrees govern linear programming over real algebraic varieties.
New Perspectives on Socio-environmental Transformations in Past Societies
Authors: Kirleis Wiebke , Müller Johannes
Published: February 2024

In this introduction to the volume, we highlight the importance of transformation research from an archaeological and palaeoenvironmental perspective, including definitions pertinent to transformations as complex phenomena. Following a consideration of integrative archaeology as a means to disentangle socio-environmental transformation processes through interdisciplinary research, we provide an overview of the chapters in this volume.