bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Towards Low‐Voltage and High‐Capacity Conversion‐Based Oxide Anodes by Configuration Entropy Optimization
Authors: Qian Lizhi , Li Jinliang , Lan Gongxu , Wang Yuan , Cao Sufeng , Bai Lu , Zheng Runguo , Wang Zhiyuan , Bhargava Suresh K , Sun Hongyu , Arandiyan Hamidreza , Liu Yanguo
Published: December 2022

Transition metal oxide (TMO)‐based anodes attract much attention for lithium storage due to the merits of high theoretical capacity, facile synthesis, and easy scale‐up. Moreover, the increased working potential avoids the issue of lithium dendrites formation and thus improves battery safety. Herein, we propose a route to significantly improve the electrochemical performance of TMO anodes through configurational entropy optimization. For example, high‐entropy oxide (FeCoNiCrCu)3O4 is synthesized by carefully selecting metal elements. The (FeCoNiCrCu)3O4 electrode ensures not only low potential but also holds high capacity. In the half‐cell configuration, the (FeCoNiCrCu)3O4 electrode provides a specific capacity of 575.7 mAh g−1 after 200 cycles at 0.2 A g−1. More importantly, the electrode showed a relatively low discharge voltage of 0.39 V at 0.5 A g−1, which is caused by the configuration entropy optimization. The assembled (FeCoNiCrCu)3O4//LCO coin‐type full cell exhibits a high capacity of 266.3 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles at 0.2 A g−1 and an operating voltage up to 3.9 V.
Ionic Liquid‐Modified Silicon Nanoparticles Composite Gel Polymer Electrolyte for High‐Performance Lithium Batteries
Authors: Niu Huizhe , Ding Minling , Zhang Nan , Guo Xulong , Guan Ping , Hu Xiaoling
Published: December 2022

The excessive nano‐fillers in gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) would trend to agglomeration, which will have adverse effect on the electrochemical performance. Modifying the surface properties of nano‐fillers will be an effective way for resolving the problem. In this paper, an ionic liquid (IL), (1‐(trimethoxysilylpropyl)‐3‐butylimidazole bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, [CPIM]TFSI) is grafted onto the surface of dendritic mesoporous silica nanoparticles (DMSN), and IL‐modified DMSN (DMSN‐IL) is prepared. The prepared DMSN and DMSN‐IL are respectively introduced into a poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)‐based gel polymer electrolyte (GPE@IL) to form composite polymer electrolytes (GPE@DMSN and GPE@DMSN‐IL), and their physicochemical characteristics and electrochemical performances are investigated. Due to the surface modification, GPE@DMSN‐IL obtains high ionic conductivity of 1.69×10−3 S cm−1 at 30 °C and large Li+ transference number (0.40). Furthermore, the improved mechanical strength and interface stability enable the Li/GPE@DMSN‐IL/LiFePO4 cell to achieve high rate capacity and outstanding cycle performance at high current density, showing ability for using in high‐performance lithium batteries.
Dendrite‐Free 3D Lithium Metal Anode Formed in a Cellulose Based Separator for Lithium‐Metal Batteries
Authors: Hasegawa Takumi , Bai Fan , Mori Daisuke , Taminato Sou , Takeda Yasuo , Yamamoto Osamu , Izumi Hiroaki , Minami Hironari , Imanishi Nobuyuki
Published: December 2022

Lithium metal is the best candidate anode for high specific energy density batteries because of its high specific capacity and low negative potential. However, lithium dendrite formation and growth during the lithium plating and stripping cycles have hindered the use of lithium metal as the anode for practical batteries. Here, a mechanism for the suppression of lithium dendrite formation and growth in a composite separator of Kimwipe paper (KW) and porous polyethylene (PE) for various electrolytes was examined. The Li/KW/PE electrode in an electrolyte of 1 m Li(CFSO3)2N (LiFSI) in 1,4, dioxane (DX)‐1,2 dimethoylethane (DME) (1 : 2 v/v) with a wide electrochemical window was successfully cycled without lithium dendrite short‐circuiting at 5 mA cm−2 and 25 °C for 10 h over 25 cycles. Lithium was deposited into the cellulose fiber network during the lithium plating process, which resulted in the formation of a three‐dimensional (3D) lithium electrode. Whereas, the composite separator of KW and PE was not effective to suppress the lithium dendrite formation and growth with the conventional carbonate based electrolyte of 1 m LiPF6 in ethylene carbonate‐dimethyl carbonate.
Reagent‐Controlled Regioselective Intramolecular [2+2] Cycloaddition between Vinylsilanes and Allenes
Authors: Yoshioka Shohei , Takehara Tsunayoshi , Suzuki Takeyuki , Arisawa Mitsuhiro
Published: December 2022

This paper provides the first report of the intramolecular [2+2] cycloaddition of vinylsilane. The [2+2] cycloaddition of allenes is a useful reaction that can synthesize cyclobutanes. However, no previous works have attempted to control the regioselectivity between the two double bonds of allenes only by changing the reaction conditions, although there have been some reports of the regioselective [2+2] cycloaddition of allenes by changing the substrate. In this study, we have succeeded in controlling intramolecular [2+2] cycloaddition reactions at the proximal and distal positions of allenes simply by changing the reaction conditions. We found that the atomic radius of silicon is very important for perfect control of the reaction's sites. The structures of all key compounds were determined by the crystal sponge method which could identify the structures of liquid compounds.
AIE‐doped Poly(Ionic Liquid) Photonic Spheres for the Discrimination of Psychoactive Substances
Authors: Liu Chengcheng , Li Wenyun , Zhang Wanlin , Zhao Hongwei , He Guokang , Li Chi , Wang Chen , Li Guangtao
Published: December 2022

Drugs of abuse has drawn intense attention due to increasing concerns to public health and safety. The construction of a sensing platform with the capability to identify them remains a big challenge because of the limitations of synthetic complexity, sensing scope and receptor extendibility. Here a kind of poly(ionic liquid) (PIL) photonic crystal spheres doped with aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) luminogens was developed. As diverse noncovalent interactions involve in PIL moieties, the single sphere shows different binding affinity to a broad range of psychoactive substances. Furthermore, the dual‐channel signals arising from photonic crystal structures and sensitive AIE‐luminogens provide high‐dimensional information for discriminative detection of targets, even for molecules with slight structural differences. More importantly, such single sphere sensing platform could be flexibly customized through ion‐exchange, showing great extendibility to fabricate high‐efficiency/high‐throughput sensing arrays without tedious synthesis.
Electroreduction of Carbon Dioxide to Acetate using Heterogenized Hydrophilic Manganese Porphyrins
Authors: Abdinejad Maryam , Yuan Tiange , Tang Keith , Duangdangchote Salatan , Farzi Amirhossein , Iglesias van Montfort Hugo‐Pieter , Li Mengran , Middelkoop Joost , Wolff Mädchen , Seifitokaldani Ali , Voznyy Oleksandr , Burdyny Thomas
Published: December 2022

The electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) to value‐added chemicals is a promising strategy to mitigate climate change. Metalloporphyrins have been used as a promising class of stable and tunable catalysts for the electrochemical reduction reaction of CO2 (CO2RR) but have been primarily restricted to single‐carbon reduction products. Here, we utilize functionalized earth‐abundant manganese tetraphenylporphyrin‐based (Mn‐TPP) molecular electrocatalysts that have been immobilized via electrografting onto a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) to convert CO2 with overall 94 % Faradaic efficiencies, with 62 % being converted to acetate. Tuning of Mn‐TPP with electron‐withdrawing sulfonate groups (Mn‐TPPS) introduced mechanistic changes arising from the electrostatic interaction between the sulfonate groups and water molecules, resulting in better surface coverage, which facilitated higher conversion rates than the non‐functionalized Mn‐TPP. For Mn‐TPP only carbon monoxide and formate were detected as CO2 reduction products. Density‐functional theory (DFT) calculations confirm that the additional sulfonate groups could alter the C−C coupling pathway from *CO→*COH→*COH‐CO to *CO→*CO‐CO→*COH‐CO, reducing the free energy barrier of C−C coupling in the case of Mn‐TPPS. This opens a new approach to designing metalloporphyrin catalysts for two carbon products in CO2RR.
Helping an Attractive Group that Ostracized Me: An Experimental Vignette Study
Authors: Fiset John , Al Hajj Raghid , Vongas John G.
Published: December 2022

We examine the impact of group attractiveness on the relationship between workplace ostracism and organizational citizenship behaviours directed toward the group (OCBG). Research has long overlooked contextual features of ostracism at work. Using an experimental vignette methodology (N = 312), we found that physical attractiveness was critical in determining the mechanism by which ostracism influenced OCBG. The victims' social anxiety served as a mediator through which ostracism influenced OCBG when the ostracizing group was deemed to be low on attractiveness. However, the negative direct effect between ostracism and OCBG was observed only when group attractiveness was high. Our findings have implications for understanding the interplay between victims' individual differences and the context in which workplace ostracism is manifested.
Conservation and divergence of the G‐interfaces of Drosophila melanogaster septins
Authors: de Freitas Fernandes Adriano , Leonardo Diego Antonio , Cavini Italo Augusto , Rosa Higor Vinícius Dias , Vargas Jhon Antoni , D'Muniz Pereira Humberto , Nascimento Alessandro S. , Garratt Richard Charles
Published: December 2022

Septins possess a conserved guanine nucleotide‐binding (G) domain that participates in the stabilization of organized hetero‐oligomeric complexes which assemble into filaments, rings and network‐like structures. The fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, has five such septin genes encoding Sep1, Sep2, Sep4, Sep5 and Pnut. Here, we report the crystal structure of the heterodimer formed between the G‐domains of Sep1 and Sep2, the first from an insect to be described to date. A G‐interface stabilizes the dimer (in agreement with the expected arrangement for the Drosophila hexameric particle) and this bears significant resemblance to its human counterparts, even down to the level of individual amino acid interactions. On the other hand, a model for the G‐interface formed between the two copies of Pnut which occupy the centre of the hexamer, shows important structural differences, including the loss of a highly favourable bifurcated salt‐bridge network. Whereas wild‐type Pnut purifies as a monomer, the reintroduction of the salt‐bridge network results in stabilizing the dimeric interface in solution as shown by size exclusion chromatography and thermal stability measurements. Adaptive steered molecular dynamics reveals an unzipping mechanism for dimer dissociation which initiates at a point of electrostatic repulsion within the switch II region. Overall, the data contribute to a better understanding of the molecular interactions involved in septin assembly/disassembly.
Undersampling of approaching the classification boundary for imbalance problem
Authors: Jiang Lei , Yuan Peng , Liao Jing , Zhang Qiongbing , Liu Jianxun , Li Keqin
Published: December 2022

Using imbalanced data in classification affect the accuracy. If the classification is based on imbalanced data directly, the results will have large deviations. A common approach to dealing with imbalanced data is to re‐structure the raw dataset via undersampling method. The undersampling method usually uses random or clustering approaches to trimming the majority class in the dataset, since some data in the majority class makes not contribute to classification model. In this paper a revised undersampling approach is proposed. First, we perform space compression in the vertical direction of the separating hyperplane. Then, a weighted random sampling hybrid ensemble learning method is carried out to make the sampled objects spread more widely near the separating hyperplane. Experiments with 7 under‐sampling methods on 21 imbalanced datasets show that our method has achieved good results.
Super‐Slippery Poly(Dimethylsiloxane) Brush Surfaces: From Fabrication to Practical Application
Authors: Jiao Shouzheng , Ma Deping , Cheng Zhongjun , Meng Junhui
Published: December 2022

Superwetting surfaces with special slippery performances have been the focus of practical applications and basic research for decades. Compared to superhydrophobic/superoleophobic and slippery liquid‐infused porous surfaces (SLIPS), liquid‐like covalently attached poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) brush surfaces have no trouble in constructing the micro/nanostructure and the loss of infused lubricant, meanwhile, it can also provide lots of new advantages, such as smooth, transparent, pressure‐ and temperature‐resistant, and low contact angle hysteresis (CAH) to diverse liquids. This paper focuses on the relationship between the wetting performance and practical functional application of PDMS brush surfaces. Recent progress of the preparation of PDMS brush surfaces and their super‐slippery performances, with a special focus on diverse functional applications were summarized. Finally, perspectives on future research directions are also discussed.
Diabetic retinopathy relates to the incidence of foot ulcers and amputations in type 2 diabetes
Authors: Borderie Gauthier , Foussard Ninon , Larroumet Alice , Blanco Laurence , Barbet‐Massin Marie‐Amélie , Ducos Claire , Rigo Marine , Arab Lila Rami , Domenge Frédéric , Mohammedi Kamel , Ducasse Eric , Caradu Caroline , Delyfer Marie‐Noelle , Korobelnik Jean‐François , Rigalleau Vincent
Published: December 2022

Aims

We investigated whether Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is related to Diabetic Foot Ulcer (DFU) development, adjusted for the stratification of the International Work Group on Diabetic Foot (IWGDF) guidance.

Materials and Methods

DR and IWGDF stratification was registered retrospectively in patients hospitalised from 2009 to 2017 for uncontrolled and/or complicated type 2 diabetes. New DFUs were registered until 2020. Survival analyses categorised the subjects for DR, and multivariate Cox regression adjusted for confounders.

Results

The 522 patients (57.9% male) were 62 ± 9 years old with a diabetes duration of 14 ± 10 years, HbA1c of 8.7 ± 1.8%, 33.9% macroangiopathies and 44.8% diabetic kidney diseases. Their grades of DFU risk were 0 for 43.3%, 1 for 23.9%, 2 for 7.1%, and 3 for 25.6%. During the 52 months follow‐up (Inter Quartile Range: 32–71), 58 new DFUs and 18 lower‐limb amputations occurred, mostly in patients with DR present in 140 (26.8%) patients. Adjusted for age, sex and conventional risk factors (duration and control of diabetes, arterial hypertension, and dyslipidemia), and other complications (macroangiopathy and diabetic kidney disease), DR was associated with a greater incidence of DFUs. Adjusted for the IWGDF classification, DR was related to new DFUs (HR: 2.51, 95%Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.48–4.26) and amputations (HR: 3.56, 95%CI: 1.26–10.07). This relationship persisted in ascending IWGDF grades with incidences of DFUs from 2/1000 (grade 0, no DR) to 121/1000 patient‐years (grade 3 and DR) and amputations from 0 (grade 0, no DR) to 38/1000 patient‐years (grade 3 and DR).

Conclusions

Diabetic retinopathy independently relates to the incidence of foot ulcers and amputations in patients hospitalised for type 2 diabetes.
Hidden in plain sight: Integrated population models to resolve partially observable latent population structure
Authors: Lawson Abigail J. , Jodice Patrick G. R. , Rainwater Thomas R. , Dunham Kylee D. , Hart Morgan , Butfiloski Joseph W. , Wilkinson Philip M. , McFadden K. W. , Moore Clinton T.
Published: December 2022

Population models often require detailed information on sex‐, age‐, or size‐specific abundances, but population monitoring programs cannot always acquire data at the desired resolution. Thus, state uncertainty in monitoring data can potentially limit the demographic resolution of management decisions, which may be particularly problematic for stage‐ or size‐structured species subject to consumptive use. American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis; hereafter alligator) have a complex life history characterized by delayed maturity and slow somatic growth, which makes the species particularly sensitive to overharvest. Though alligator populations are subject to recreational harvest throughout their range, the most widely used monitoring method (nightlight surveys) is often unable to obtain size class‐specific counts, which limits the ability of managers to evaluate the effects of harvest policies. We constructed a Bayesian integrated population model (IPM) for alligators in Georgetown County, SC, USA, using records of mark–recapture–recovery, clutch size, harvest, and nightlight survey counts collected locally, and auxiliary information on fecundity, sex ratio, and somatic growth from other studies. We created a multistate mark–recapture–recovery model with six size classes to estimate survival probability, and we linked it to a state‐space count model to derive estimates of size class‐specific detection probability and abundance. Because we worked from a count dataset in which 60% of the original observations were of unknown size, we treated size class as a latent property of detections and developed a novel observation model to make use of information where size could be partly observed. Detection probability was positively associated with alligator size and water temperature, and negatively influenced by water level. Survival probability was lowest in the smallest size class but was relatively similar among the other five size classes (>0.90 for each). While the two nightlight survey count sites exhibited relatively stable population trends, we detected substantially different patterns in size class‐specific abundance and trends between each site, including 30%–50% declines in the largest size classes at the site with greater harvest pressure. Here, we illustrate the use of IPMs to produce high‐resolution output of latent population structure that is partially observed during the monitoring process.
Host density shapes the relative contribution of vector‐based and aerial transmission of a pathogenic fungus
Authors: Antonovics Janis , Amoroso Caroline R. , Bruns Emily , Hood Michael
Published: December 2022

Pathogen transmission mode is a key determinant of epidemiological outcomes. Theory shows that host density can influence the spread of pathogens differentially depending on their mode of transmission. Host density could therefore play an important role in determining the pathogen transmission mode. We tested theoretical expectations using floral arrays of the alpine carnation Dianthus pavonius in field experiments of spore dispersal of the anther‐smut fungus, Microbotryum, by vector (pollinator)‐based floral transmission and passive aerial transmission at a range of host densities. Pollinators deposited fewer spores per plant at high host density than at lower density (ranging from a 0.2–2 m spacing between plants), and vector‐based spore deposition at higher densities declined more steeply with distance from diseased plant sources. In contrast, while aerial spore deposition declined with distance from the diseased source, the steepness of this decline was independent of host density. Our study indicates that the amount and distance of vector‐based transmission are likely to be a nonmonotonic function of host density as a result of vector behavior, which is not readily encapsulated by fixed dispersal functions. We conclude that the spatial spread of pathogens by vectors is likely to be greater at lower and intermediate densities, whereas the spatial spread of aerially transmitted pathogens would be greater at high densities. These contrasting patterns could lead to differential importance of each transmission mode in terms of its contribution to subsequent infections across host densities.
Anger in predicting the index futures returns
Authors: Cao Zhen , Shen Jiancheng , Wei Xinbei , Zhang Qunzi
Published: December 2022

This paper aims to investigate how different emotions affect the subsequent index futures returns. We test the forecasting regressions which predict the S&P 500 index futures returns with lagged text‐based emotion (anger, joy, fear, optimism, and gloom) indices and find asymmetric forecasting power exists between pessimism and optimism emotion indices. We show that only the text‐based anger index could reliably perform at predicting index futures return in‐sample and outperform the prevailing unconditional mean out‐of‐sample. Notably, the predictive power of the text‐based anger index persists after controlling for other emotion indices, investor sentiment indices, and fundamental variables known to predict the futures market. And the asset allocation conditioning on text‐based anger index can generate substantial economic benefits. Furthermore, the anger index influences the index futures return through both the discount rate and cash flow channels.
Corporate social responsibility assurance, board characteristics and social performance disclosure. Evidence of listed firms in India
Authors: Oware Kofi Mintah , Moulya Harshitha , Mallikarjunappa Thathaiah
Published: December 2022

The study examines board characteristics, corporate social responsibility (CSR) assurance and social performance disclosure of listed firms before and after mandatory CSR reporting in India. We used the Indian stock market as the testing grounds and applied panel regression and difference‐in‐differences to analyse 960 firm‐year observations between 2010 and 2021. The first findings show that independent board directors and total board size are insignificant in CSR assurance engagement in a mandatory CSR policy period. However, CEO duality is less than likely causing CSR assurance engagement. The second findings show that CSR assurance engagement more than likely causes an increase in social performance disclosure before mandatory CSR policy implementation and increases social performance after policy implementation. The third findings show that the interactive effect of board characteristics (independent directors, total board size and CEO duality) and CSR assurance engagement causes an increase in social performance disclosure. The study sought clarity on the impact of CSR assurance and mandatory CSR reporting on information asymmetry problems to stakeholders. The study also contributes new knowledge on the influence of the interactive effect of board characteristics and CSR assurance on the social performance disclosure of listed firms in India.
Phosphoproteomic analysis identifies supervillin as an ERK3 substrate regulating cytokinesis and cell ploidy
Authors: Javary Joaquim , Goupil Eugénie , Soulez Mathilde , Kanshin Evgeny , Bouchard Antoine , Seternes Ole‐Morten , Thibault Pierre , Labbé Jean‐Claude , Meloche Sylvain
Published: December 2022

Extracellular signal‐regulated kinase 3 (ERK3) is a poorly characterized member of the mitogen‐activated protein (MAP) kinase family. Functional analysis of the ERK3 signaling pathway has been hampered by a lack of knowledge about the substrates and downstream effectors of the kinase. Here, we used large‐scale quantitative phosphoproteomics and targeted gene silencing to identify direct ERK3 substrates and gain insight into its cellular functions. Detailed validation of one candidate substrate identified the gelsolin/villin family member supervillin (SVIL) as a bona fide ERK3 substrate. We show that ERK3 phosphorylates SVIL on Ser245 to regulate myosin II activation and cytokinesis completion in dividing cells. Depletion of SVIL or ERK3 leads to increased cytokinesis failure and multinucleation, a phenotype rescued by wild type SVIL but not by the non‐phosphorylatable S245A mutant. Our results unveil a new function of the atypical MAP kinase ERK3 in cell division and the regulation of cell ploidy.
Associations of metabolic heterogeneity of obesity with frailty progression: Results from two prospective cohorts
Authors: He Di , Qiu Yiwen , Yan Mengsha , Zhou Tianjing , Cheng Zongxue , Li Jun , Wu Qiong , Liu Zuyun , Zhu Yimin
Published: December 2022

Background

Previous studies indicated that obesity would accelerate frailty progression. However, obesity is heterogeneous by different metabolic status. The associations of metabolic heterogeneity of obesity with frailty progression remain unclear.

Methods

A total of 6730 participants from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) and 4713 from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) were included at baseline. Metabolic heterogeneity of obesity was evaluated based on four obesity and metabolic phenotypes as metabolically healthy normal weight (MHNW), metabolically unhealthy normal weight (MUNW), metabolically healthy overweight/obesity (MHOO), and metabolically unhealthy overweight/obesity (MUOO). Frailty status was assessed by the frailty index (FI) ranging from 0 to 100 and frailty was defined as FI ≥ 25. Linear mixed‐effect models were used to analyse the associations of metabolic heterogeneity of obesity with frailty progression.

Results

In the CHARLS, MUOO and MUNW presented the accelerated FI progression with additional annual increases of 0.284 (95% CI: 0.155 to 0.413, P < 0.001) and 0.169 (95% CI: 0.035 to 0.303, P = 0.013) as compared with MHNW. MHOO presented no accelerated FI progression (β: ‐0.011, 95% CI: −0.196 to 0.173, P = 0.904) as compared with MHNW. In the ELSA, the accelerated FI progression was marginally significant for MUOO (β: 0.103, 95% CI: −0.005 to 0.210, P = 0.061) and MUNW (β: 0.157, 95% CI: −0.011 to 0.324, P = 0.066), but not for MHOO (β: ‐0.047, 95% CI: −0.157 to 0.062, P = 0.396) in comparison with MHNW. The associations of MUOO and MUNW with the accelerated FI progression were stronger after excluding the baseline frail participants in both cohorts. The metabolic status changed over time. When compared with stable MHNW, participants who changed from MHNW to MUNW presented the accelerated FI progression with additional annual increases of 0.356 (95% CI: 0.113 to 0.599, P = 0.004) and 0.255 (95% CI: 0.033 to 0.477, P = 0.024) in the CHARLS and ELSA, respectively. The accelerated FI progression was also found in MHOO participants who transitioned to MUOO (CHARLS, β: 0.358, 95% CI: 0.053 to 0.663, P = 0.022; ELSA, β: 0.210, 95% CI: 0.049 to 0.370, P = 0.011).

Conclusions

Metabolically unhealthy overweight/obesity and normal weight, but not metabolically healthy overweight/obesity, accelerated frailty progression as compared with metabolically healthy normal weight. Regardless of obesity status, transitions from healthy metabolic status to unhealthy metabolic status accelerated frailty progression as compared with stable metabolically healthy normal weight. Our findings highlight the important role of metabolic status in frailty progression and recommend the stratified management of obesity based on metabolic status.
Removal of Cu(II) from acid leach solution of electronic waste utilizing magnetic activated carbon derivatized with α‐benzoinoxime: alternate mining source
Authors: Iqbal Aamir , Jan Muhammad. Rasul. , Shah Jasmin , Sarwar M. Nazim
Published: December 2022

BACKGROUND

Copper plays a leading role in the electronics industry. Drastic innovation and fast obsolescence rate raise the demand for copper for electrical and electronic equipment. The high amount of electronic waste discarded is considered the primary alternative source and is now seen as a secondary reservoir for copper metal. Besides the economic impact, copper interferes with selective recovery of other metals such as critical, precious and rare earth elements from electronic waste.

RESULTS

In this work, to purify acid leach solution of electronic waste from Cu(II) ions, a selective sorbent was synthesized. A Cu(II) specified ligand, α‐benzoinoxime, was impregnated with magnetic nanoparticle‐modified activated carbon and utilized as magnetic solid‐phase sorbent. The synthesized sorbent was analysed for its morphological and other characteristic properties.

CONCLUSION

The study indicates that percent recovery increased from 89% to >95% after impregnation. Complexation between Cu(II) and α‐benzoinoxime‐modified activated carbon caused the sorbent to attain higher retention at pH > 8.5. Sorption capacity calculated from Langmuir sorption isotherm was 147 mg g−1, while the sorption process follows a pseudo‐second‐order kinetic model. The sorbed Cu(II) was quantitatively (>97%) eluted with 1 mol L−1nitric acid. The method was validated with standard reference material GF10928752‐Aldrich. Results show that the synthesized sorbent is good for Cu(II) masking and recovery, even if applied to samples with a complex sample matrix. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
Green synthesis of ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles using Chrysanthemum spp. flower extract for the adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of malachite green dye
Authors: Nguyen Uyen Thi Phuong , Bui Duyen Xuan My , Nguyen Thuy Thi Thanh , Nguyen Ngoc Hoi , Nguyen Duyen Thi Cam , Tran Thuan Van
Published: December 2022

BACKGROUND

Nowadays, the large amount of organic textile dyes being regularly consumed also releases hazardous residues into water sources. Nanotechnology can solve part of this problem by using nanoparticles as adsorbents and catalysts for the removal of dyes from water. The present study explored the facile and green synthesis of ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles using Chrysanthemum spp. flower‐mediated extract (ZFOB) as a reducing and capping agent for the removal of cationic malachite green (MG). ZFOB nanoparticles were characterized by various techniques, such as X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy.

RESULTS

The average particle size and Brunauer‐Emmett‐Teller (BET) surface area of ZFOB were found to be 60–80 nm and 10.9 m2/g, respectively. The pore size distribution indicated a characteristic of meso‐macropores of the biosynthesized ZFOB nanoparticles. The MG adsorption of the green ZFOB nanoparticles was investigated under batch mode through the effect of various parameters, including contact time (0–60 min), initial concentration (5–100 mg/L), pH (4.0–10.0), and adsorbent dosage (0.25–1.0 g/L). The adsorption process followed the Elovich kinetic model, () = 0.9992, while the adsorption behavior can be described by Koble‐Corrigan, () = 0.9915. Meanwhile, the maximum adsorption capacity was 121.2 mg/g from the Langmuir model at a contact time of 30 min, dosage of 0.5 g/L, and pH 7. Green ZFOB nanoparticles showed a good photocatalytic activity (80.4%) under solar light irradiation and they were able to be recycled up to four times while retaining their high stability.

CONCLUSION

ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles biosynthesized using Chrysanthemum spp. flower extract can be a good adsorbent and photocatalyst for the removal of MG dye. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
Stepwise cluster ensemble downscaling for drought projection under climate change
Authors: Wen Yizhuo , Yang Aili , Fan Yurui , Wang Bingqing , Scott Daniel
Published: December 2022

Drought is one of the most serious natural disasters exacerbated by climate change. Changes in precipitation and temperature in the future increase the likelihood of drought in China. In this study, a stepwise cluster ensemble downscaling (SCED) model was developed to bias‐correct projections of temperature and precipitation from multiple RCM outputs, and further characterized the drought hazards. The developed SCED model was used to aggregate and correct the results of multiple regional climate models, and its performance was proved to be reliable by comparing with the observed results. The proposed SCED method has been applied for drought projections over the Fujian province, China. The results showed that the changes of precipitation and temperature in Fujian would have obvious spatial heterogeneous characteristics. The temperature in the southeast coastal areas will increase by up to 4°C and the precipitation will decrease by 3.1% in the late 21st century, while the temperature rises and precipitation increases in the southwest. Temperature in inland areas will be lower and precipitation will be less. The drought hazards were also characterized by both SPI and SPEI based on biased‐corrected projections from SCED model. According to the SPI and SPEI indices, although the number of dry months in Fujian province will not change significantly in future, the spatial and temporal heterogeneity may become more explicit. Moreover, the moderate drought (from SPI) may increase while the general drought may decrease (from both SPI and SPEI). For extreme droughts, there would not be visible changes detected by SPI, but an increasing trend characterized since the impact of temperature was included in SPEI. In addition, there would be an increasing trend on drought when increasing temperature and precipitation occurred simultaneously.
Interproximal implant thread exposure after initial bone remodeling as a risk indicator for peri‐implantitis
Authors: Ravidà Andrea , Samal Ankita , Qazi Musa , Webber Liana Preto , Wang Hom‐Lay , Galindo‐Moreno Pablo , Borgnakke Wenche S. , Saleh Muhammad H. A.
Published: December 2022

Background

Due to the clinical challenges involved in successfully treating peri‐implantitis, it is imperative to identify patient‐ and implant‐level risk factors for its prevention. The main goal of this retrospective longitudinal radiographic and clinical study was to investigate whether interproximal radiographic implant thread exposure after physiological bone remodeling may be a risk factor for peri‐implantitis. The secondary goal was to evaluate several other potential risk indicators.

Methods

Of 4325 active dental school patients having implants placed, 165 partially edentulous adults (77 men, 88 women) aged 30–91 with ≥2 years of follow‐up upon implant restoration were included. Implants with ≥1 interproximal thread exposed (no bone‐to‐implant contact) (n = 98, 35%) constituted the test group and those without exposed threads (n = 182, 65%) the control group. Descriptive, binary, and multivariate regression analyses were evaluated for goodness of fit. Wald tests were used to evaluate for significance set at 0.05.

Results

Of the 280 implants (98 test, 182 control), 8 (2.9%) failed over a mean follow‐up period of 7.67 (±2.63) years, and 27 implants (19 test, 8 control) developed peri‐implantitis, with the exposed group having eight‐fold (7.82 times) adjusted greater odds than the non‐exposed. The risk increased four‐fold (3.77 times) with each thread exposed. No other patient‐ or implant‐related potentially confounding risk factors were identified.

Conclusions

Exposed interproximal implant threads after physiologic bone remodeling may be an independent risk indicator for incident peri‐implantitis. Hence, clinicians should closely monitor patients with implant threads that have no bone‐to‐implant contact for incident peri‐implantitis.
The direct and legacy effects of drying‐rewetting cycles on active and relatively resistant soil carbon decomposition
Authors: Zhang Shuai , Lin Junjie , Wang Peng , Zhu Biao
Published: December 2022

Global climate change is expected to increase the frequency of drought and heavy precipitation, which could create more frequent drying‐rewetting cycles (DWC) in the soils. Although the DWC effects on soil organic carbon (SOC) decomposition have been widely studied, the effect of DWC and the subsequent legacy effect on the decomposition of different SOC pools is still unclear. We conducted a 128‐d laboratory incubation to investigate the DWC effects by using soils from old‐field for 15 years (OF, representing active SOC), bare‐fallow (BF)for 15 years, and BF for 23 years plus an extra 815‐d incubation (BF+, representing relatively resistant SOC). The experiment included nine 10‐d DWC of three treatments: (1) one mean constant‐moisture at 60% water‐holding capacity (WHC), (2) a mild DWC with 10‐d drying to 40% WHC and immediately rewetting to 80% WHC, and (3) a strong DWC with 10‐d drying to 20% WHC and immediately rewetting to 100% WHC. Following the DWC period (0–90 d), there was a 10‐d stabilization period (adjusting all treatments to 60% WHC), and then a 28‐d extended incubation under the constant moisture of 60% WHC. During the DWC period, the strong DWC had a strong effect on CO2 release compared with the constant‐moisture control, reducing the SOC decomposition of OF by 8% and BF by 10%, while increasing the SOC decomposition of BF+ by 16%. In addition, during the extended period, both mild and strong DWC significantly increased SOC mineralization of OF, but decreased that of BF and BF+. This legacy effect induced by DWC compensated for the changes in CO2 release during the DWC period, resulting in the minor response of SOC decomposition of OF and BF+ to the DWC during the entire incubation. Together, DWC could create both direct and legacy effects, and these effects vary with DWC intensity and SOC pools.
A bibliometric analysis on gift giving
Authors: Gupta Mansi , Parvathy  , Givi Julian , Dey Moumita , Kent Baker H. , Das Gopal
Published: December 2022

Gift‐giving is a typical consumer behavior with important implications for consumers and marketers. Accordingly, consumer gift‐giving behavior has received much attention from marketing scholars. We conduct a bibliometric analysis of 237 articles on gift‐giving from the Web of Science database. This analysis identifies the bibliometric attributes of the gift‐giving literature, including its publication trend, influential outlets, impactful articles, prolific scholars, international scope, state of collaboration, and featured topics and themes. Using content analysis, we identify three themes that categorize the consumer gift‐giving literature's key segments: (1) broad and nuanced outlooks of the social side of gift‐giving, (2) the less pleasant side of gift‐giving, and (3) the foundational research on consumer gift‐giving. This paper provides readers with a state‐of‐the‐art overview of consumer gift‐giving literature and identifies opportunities for future gift‐giving research.
Slot‐based CubeSat antenna with wide tunning capabilities
Authors: Hussain Rifaqat , Aljaloud Khaled , Rao Abida S. , Aziz Abdul , Aladadi Yosef T. , Alqahtani Ali H. , Alhuwimel Saad
Published: December 2022

A slot‐based miniaturized antenna design for CubeSat applications that operate in ultra high frequency (UHF) band is presented. The proposed antenna design consists of a frequency reconfigurable (FR) slot‐based antenna integrated on a Rogers RO4350 substrate. The frequency range covered by the FR antenna is 300–450 MHz. A single varactor diode is used to sweep the frequency of the design. The proposed meandered loop‐slot antenna design is small in size and has planar geometry with overall substrate dimensions of 100 × 100 mm2. The proposed downsized antenna with frequency reconfigurability is ideally suited for small satellite applications in the UHF band, especially CubeSats.
Feasibility of intrathecal therapeutic injections in spinal muscular atrophy patients via a percutaneous transsacral hiatus route: An initial neuroimaging morphometric study
Authors: Dhawan Siddhant Suri , Trinh Austin , Massoud Tarik F.
Published: December 2022

Introduction/Aims

Standard fluoroscopic lumbar puncture (LP) can be impossible in patients with severe spinal deformities from spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) who require intrathecal nusinersen therapy. There usually exists a straight trajectory in the lower sacral canal (SC) that could allow image‐guided percutaneous transsacral hiatus puncture of the lumbosacral dural sac. In this study we determine whether sacra are comparatively straighter in SMA patients (SMAps) vs healthy controls (HCs), which may facilitate unhindered transsacral hiatus spinal needle insertion for intrathecal nusinersen therapy.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed lumbosacral spine computed tomograms (CTs) or CT‐myelogram images of 38 SMAps and age‐ and sex‐matched HCs. We digitally measured ventrodorsal sacral curvatures, SC surface areas, dural sac termination levels, and distances from sacral hiatus to the most caudad aspects of dural sacs (“needle distance”).

Results

Mean ages of HCs and SMAps were 32.7 and 31.7 years, respectively, with dural sacs terminating at similar levels. Mean values for morphometrics were: (a) midsagittal SC surface area for HCs = 701.2 mm2, and for SMAps = 601.5 mm2 (not statistically significant [ns]); (b) using a “line method,” sacral curvature for HCs = 61.9°, and SMAp = 35.7° (P = .0009), and was similar when using an “angle summation method”; (c) width of sacral hiatus for HCs = 14.9 mm, and SMAps = 15.0 mm (ns); and (d) “needle distance” for HCs = 54.7 mm, and SMAps = 49.9 mm (ns).

Discussion

SMAps have significantly straighter sacra compared with HCs, which theoretically renders them more amenable to percutaneous transsacral hiatus puncture of the dural sac.
A hybrid strategy blending primal‐dual interior point and return mapping methods for a class of hypoelastic‐plastic models with memory surface
Authors: Shintaku Yuichi , Nakamura Fumitoshi , Terada Kenjiro
Published: December 2022

By blending the primal‐dual interior point method (PDIPM) and the return mapping algorithm, we propose a hybrid strategy of implicit stress update for a class of hypoelastic‐plastic models with the hardening rule whose evolution is restricted by the memory surface. The inequality constraint relevant to the memory surface is replaced by the equality constraint by the introduction of a slack variable, and the duality gap is gradually reduced by using path‐following method. First, we formulate an optimization problem corresponding to the principle of maximum plastic dissipation for the standard von‐Mises plasticity with isotropic and kinematic hardening rules and its variant for the model with the memory surface. Next, after function forms employed for the elastic‐plastic model are specified, the PDIPM to realize an implicit stress update is briefly reviewed and then applied to the model involving the memory surface to replace the relevant inequality constraint by the equality constraint by the introduction of a slack variable. Then, we present a hybrid scheme that combines the standard return mapping algorithm with the PDIPM. The numerical accuracy of the proposed stress update algorithm for the conventional elastic‐plastic model is verified in comparison with the standard return mapping algorithm using iso‐error map. Also, targeting a notched round steel bar under cyclic loading with three different amplitudes, we demonstrate the performance for the stress update using the elastic‐plastic model with the memory surface. Finally, the capability of the proposed algorithm is proven through a typical real‐life example such that a steel bridge is subjected to earthquake for which the residual load carrying capacity must be estimated.
Predictors of mortality and ICU requirement in hospitalized COVID‐19 patients with diabetes: A multicentre study
Authors: Asaduzzaman Md , Romel Bhuia Mohammad , Zabed Jillul Bari Mohammad , Nazmul Alam Zhm , Rahman Khalidur , Hossain Enayet , Alam Munsi Mohammad Jahangir
Published: December 2022

Aim

This study aimed to identify the predictors of mortality and ICU requirements in hospitalized COVID‐19 Patients with Diabetes.

Design

Cross‐sectional study.

Methods

It was a retrospective study of patients hospitalized with COVID‐19 infection from October 2020–February 2021 in four hospitals in Sylhet, Bangladesh. Logistic regression analysis was applied to explore the predictors of ICU requirement and in‐hospital mortality.

Results

In the whole cohort (n = 500), 11% of patients died and 24% of patients required intensive care unit (ICU) support. Non‐survivors had significantly higher prevalence of lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia and leukocytosis. Significant predictors of in‐hospital mortality were older age, neutrophil count, platelet count and admission peripheral capillary oxygen saturation (SpO2). Older age, ischemic heart disease, WBC count, D‐dimer and admission SpO2 were identified as significant predictors for ICU requirement.

Patient or Public Contribution

No.
Factors affecting the length of stay in the emergency department for critically Ill patients transferred to regional emergency medical center
Authors: Lee Hyungbok , Lee Sangrim , Kim Hyeoneui
Published: December 2022

Aim

To identify the factors affecting Emergency Department Length of Stay for transferred critically ill patients.

Background

The Length of Stay of the transferred patients is an important indicator of Emergency Department service quality; thus, understanding the factors affecting the Emergency Department Length of Stay of transferred critically ill patients is essential.

Methods

Using the electronic medical records of 968 transferred critically ill Emergency Department patients of a tertiary hospital in Korea, prediction models for Emergency Department Length of Stay were built using various machine learning algorithms.

Results

The logistic regression (AUROC 0.85) models showed the best performance, followed by random forest (AUROC 0.83) and Naive Bayes (AUROC 0.83). The logistic regression model indicated that fewer consultations, the highest acuity level, need for an emergency operation or angiography, need for ICU admission, severe emergency disease and fewer diagnoses were the statistically significant predictors for Emergency Department Length of Stay of 6 h or less.

Conclusions

The transferred critically ill patients analysed in this study who required immediate or specialized care tended to receive needed care on time at the study site.

Implications for Nursing Management

Understanding the factors affecting the Emergency Department Length of Stay of transferred critically ill patients is crucial for developing strategies to manage the nursing resource of Emergency Department successfully.
Embodied labors during the state formation of Egypt and Nubia (ca. 4800–1750 BCE): Elucidating transformations in behavioral patterns with entheseal changes
Authors: Carballo‐Pérez Jared , Schrader Sarah A.
Published: December 2022

Throughout Egypt and Nubia's state formation periods (4400–1750 BCE), broad transformations impacted Nile Valley communities, which experienced agricultural consolidation, sedentarization, and more complex social organization. The current study examines the various patterns and levels of physical activity in the skeletal remains of 259 predynastic and early dynastic individuals from Nubia (Northern Dongola Reach) and Egypt (el‐Badari, Naqada, el‐Ballas, and Hu). Using entheseal changes in the upper and lower limbs and non‐parametric tests, we have observed changes in behavior patterns between the fifth and second millennia BCE in the Nile Valley. These transformations include an increased impact on the evolution of physical activity and possibly specialized occupations in the Old Kingdom. In this regard, we discovered differences in activity based on the type of burial and the tasks performed by females compared with males. Furthermore, we found additional evidence to support the hypothesis that the Nubian state of Kerma was based on a highly mobile pastoral way of life.