bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Live imaging reveals the progenitors and cell dynamics of limb regeneration
Authors: Alwes Frederike , Enjolras Camille , Averof Michalis
Published: October 2016

Regeneration is a complex and dynamic process, mobilizing diverse cell types and remodelling tissues over long time periods. Tracking cell fate and behaviour during regeneration in active adult animals is especially challenging. Here, we establish continuous live imaging of leg regeneration at single-cell resolution in the crustacean Parhyale hawaiensis. By live recordings encompassing the first 4-5 days after amputation, we capture the cellular events that contribute to wound closure and morphogenesis of regenerating legs with unprecedented resolution and temporal detail. Using these recordings we are able to track cell lineages, to generate fate maps of the blastema and to identify the progenitors of regenerated epidermis. We find that there are no specialized stem cells for the epidermis. Most epidermal cells in the distal part of the leg stump proliferate, acquire new positional values and contribute to new segments in the regenerating leg.
TRIM28 regulates the nuclear accumulation and toxicity of both alpha-synuclein and tau
Authors: Rousseaux Maxime WC , de Haro Maria , Lasagna-Reeves Cristian A , De Maio Antonia , Park Jeehye , Jafar-Nejad Paymaan , Al-Ramahi Ismael , Sharma Ajay , See Lauren , Lu Nan , Vilanova-Velez Luis , Klisch Tiemo J , Westbrook Thomas F , Troncoso Juan C , Botas Juan , Zoghbi Huda Y
Published: October 2016

Several neurodegenerative diseases are driven by the toxic gain-of-function of specific proteins within the brain. Elevated levels of alpha-synuclein (α-Syn) appear to drive neurotoxicity in Parkinson's disease (PD); neuronal accumulation of tau is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD); and their increased levels cause neurodegeneration in humans and model organisms. Despite the clinical differences between AD and PD, several lines of evidence suggest that α-Syn and tau overlap pathologically. The connections between α-Syn and tau led us to ask whether these proteins might be regulated through a shared pathway. We therefore screened for genes that affect post-translational levels of α-Syn and tau. We found that TRIM28 regulates α-Syn and tau levels and that its reduction rescues toxicity in animal models of tau- and α-Syn-mediated degeneration. TRIM28 stabilizes and promotes the nuclear accumulation and toxicity of both proteins. Intersecting screens across comorbid proteinopathies thus reveal shared mechanisms and therapeutic entry points.
MEF2C regulates cortical inhibitory and excitatory synapses and behaviors relevant to neurodevelopmental disorders
Authors: Harrington Adam J , Raissi Aram , Rajkovich Kacey , Berto Stefano , Kumar Jaswinder , Molinaro Gemma , Raduazzo Jonathan , Guo Yuhong , Loerwald Kris , Konopka Genevieve , Huber Kimberly M , Cowan Christopher W
Published: October 2016

Numerous genetic variants associated with MEF2C are linked to autism, intellectual disability (ID) and schizophrenia (SCZ) – a heterogeneous collection of neurodevelopmental disorders with unclear pathophysiology. MEF2C is highly expressed in developing cortical excitatory neurons, but its role in their development remains unclear. We show here that conditional embryonic deletion of Mef2c in cortical and hippocampal excitatory neurons (Emx1-lineage) produces a dramatic reduction in cortical network activity in vivo, due in part to a dramatic increase in inhibitory and a decrease in excitatory synaptic transmission. In addition, we find that MEF2C regulates E/I synapse density predominantly as a cell-autonomous, transcriptional repressor. Analysis of differential gene expression in Mef2c mutant cortex identified a significant overlap with numerous synapse- and autism-linked genes, and the Mef2c mutant mice displayed numerous behaviors reminiscent of autism, ID and SCZ, suggesting that perturbing MEF2C function in neocortex can produce autistic- and ID-like behaviors in mice.
Unidirectional radiative heat transfer with a spectrally selective planar absorber/emitter for high-efficiency solar thermophotovoltaic systems
Authors: Kohiyama Asaka , Shimizu Makoto , Yugami Hiroo
Published: October 2016

A high-efficiency solar thermophotovoltaic (STPV) system has been demonstrated using spectrally selective planar absorber/emitter systems and a GaSb TPV cell. In this study, a novel approach for designing the STPV system based on the efficiency of unidirectional radiative heat transfer has been introduced. To achieve high extraction and photovoltaic conversion efficiencies, the spectrally selective absorber/emitter based on a coherent perfect absorber composed of a thin molybdenum layer sandwiched between hafnium layers was applied. The extraction efficiency was further investigated with respect to the absorber/emitter area ratio. The experimental efficiency of STPV reached 5.1% with the area ratio of 2.3.
Response of magnetic tunnel junction-based spin-torque oscillator to series of sub-nanosecond magnetic pulses
Authors: Nagasawa Tazumi , Suto Hirofumi , Kudo Kiwamu , Mizushima Koichi , Sato Rie
Published: October 2016

Spin-torque oscillator (STO) read heads with a high data transfer rate for hard disk drives have been proposed. To investigate the oscillation stability and frequency agility of the STO under magnetic pulses, we measured the response waveforms of the STO to a series of sub-nanosecond magnetic pulses and calculated the delay-detection output signal from the STO waveforms. We found that stable oscillation was maintained under the magnetic pulses and that the delay-detection output signal reproduced the applied pulse pattern. The results indicate that the STO read heads can operate at data transfer rates higher than 2 Gbits/s.
Spatial and temporal genetic homogeneity of the Monterey Spanish mackerel,Scomberomorus concolor, in the Gulf of California
Authors: Magallón-Gayón Erika , Diaz-Jaimes Pindaro , Uribe-Alcocer Manuel
Published: October 2016

The genetic homogeneity of the Monterey Spanish mackerelScomberomorus concolorpopulation in the Gulf of California was confirmed using nine nuclear microsatellite loci in combination with mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequences. Samples were collected from the upper and central Gulf areas, representing the two main biogeographical regions of the Gulf. The analyses support the existence of a single panmictic population ofS. concolorinhabiting the Gulf of California which in terms of fishery management represents a single genetic stock. Additionally, the contemporary effective population size estimated for theS. concolorpopulation (Ne = 3056.9) was high and similar to another pelagic species. The gene flow seems to be bidirectional between the upper and central Gulf, which coincides with the seasonal movements between both regions related to spawning and feeding activities. A population expansion event was detected, which agrees with a colonization-expansion hypothesis of theS. concolorpopulation in the Gulf.
Baseline reef health surveys at Bangka Island (North Sulawesi, Indonesia) reveal new threats
Authors: Ponti Massimo , Fratangeli Francesca , Dondi Nicolò , Segre Reinach Marco , Serra Clara , Sweet Michael J.
Published: October 2016

Worldwide coral reef decline appears to be accompanied by an increase in the spread of hard coral diseases. However, whether this is the result of increased direct and indirect human disturbances and/or an increase in natural stresses remains poorly understood. The provision of baseline surveys for monitoring coral health status lays the foundations to assess the effects of any such anthropogenic and/or natural effects on reefs. Therefore, the objectives of this present study were to provide a coral health baseline in a poorly studied area, and to investigate possible correlations between coral health and the level of anthropogenic and natural disturbances. During the survey period, we recorded 20 different types of coral diseases and other compromised health statuses. The most abundant were cases of coral bleaching, followed by skeletal deformations caused by pyrgomatid barnacles, damage caused by fish bites, general pigmentation response and galls caused by cryptochirid crabs. Instances of colonies affected by skeletal eroding bands, and sedimentation damage increased in correlation to the level of bio-chemical disturbance and/or proximity to villages. Moreover, galls caused by cryptochirid crabs appeared more abundant at sites affected by blast fishing and close to a newly opened metal mine. Interestingly, in the investigated area the percentage of corals showing signs of ‘common’ diseases such as black band disease, brown band disease, white syndrome and skeletal eroding band disease were relatively low. Nevertheless, the relatively high occurrence of less common signs of compromised coral-related reef health, including the aggressive overgrowth by sponges, deserves further investigation. Although diseases appear relatively low at the current time, this area may be at the tipping point and an increase in activities such as mining may irredeemably compromise reef health.
A 12-year record of intertidal barnacle recruitment in Atlantic Canada (2005–2016): relationships with sea surface temperature and phytoplankton abundance
Authors: Scrosati Ricardo A. , Ellrich Julius A.
Published: October 2016

On the Gulf of St. Lawrence coast of Nova Scotia (Canada), recruitment of the barnacleSemibalanus balanoidesoccurs in May and June. Every year in June between 2005 and 2016, we recorded recruit density for this barnacle at the same wave-exposed rocky intertidal location on this coast. During these 12 years, mean recruit density was lowest in 2015 (198 recruits dm−2) and highest in 2007 (969 recruits dm−2). The highest recruit density observed in a single quadrat was 1,457 recruits dm−2(in 2011) and the lowest was 34 recruits dm−2(in 2015). Most barnacle recruits appear during May, which suggests that most pelagic larvae (which develop over 5–6 weeks before benthic settlement) are in the water column in April. An AICc-based model selection approach identified sea surface temperature (SST) in April and the abundance of phytoplankton (food for barnacle larvae, measured as chlorophyll-aconcentration –Chl-a–) in April as good explanatory variables. Together, April SST and April Chl-aexplained 51% of the observed interannual variation in recruit density, with an overall positive influence. April SST was positively related to March–April air temperature (AT). April Chl-awas negatively related to the April ratio between the number of days with onshore winds (which blow from phytoplankton-limited offshore waters) and the number of days with alongshore winds (phytoplankton is more abundant on coastal waters). Therefore, this study suggests that climatic processes affecting April SST and April Chl-aindirectly influence intertidal barnacle recruitment by influencing larval performance.
Proliferation of group II introns in the chloroplast genome of the green algaOedocladium carolinianum(Chlorophyceae)
Authors: Brouard Jean-Simon , Turmel Monique , Otis Christian , Lemieux Claude
Published: October 2016

Background

The chloroplast genome sustained extensive changes in architecture during the evolution of the Chlorophyceae, a morphologically and ecologically diverse class of green algae belonging to the Chlorophyta; however, the forces driving these changes are poorly understood. The five orders recognized in the Chlorophyceae form two major clades: the CS clade consisting of the Chlamydomonadales and Sphaeropleales, and the OCC clade consisting of the Oedogoniales, Chaetophorales, and Chaetopeltidales. In the OCC clade, considerable variations in chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) structure, size, gene order, and intron content have been observed. The large inverted repeat (IR), an ancestral feature characteristic of most green plants, is present inOedogonium cardiacum(Oedogoniales) but is lacking in the examined members of the Chaetophorales and Chaetopeltidales. Remarkably, theOedogonium35.5-kb IR houses genes that were putatively acquired through horizontal DNA transfer. To better understand the dynamics of chloroplast genome evolution in the Oedogoniales, we analyzed the cpDNA of a second representative of this order,Oedocladium carolinianum.

Methods

TheOedocladiumcpDNA was sequenced and annotated. The evolutionary distances separatingOedocladiumandOedogoniumcpDNAs and two other pairs of chlorophycean cpDNAs were estimated using a 61-gene data set. Phylogenetic analysis of an alignment of group IIA introns from members of the OCC clade was performed. Secondary structures and insertion sites of oedogonialean group IIA introns were analyzed.

Results

The 204,438-bpOedocladiumgenome is 7.9 kb larger than theOedogoniumgenome, but its repertoire of conserved genes is remarkably similar and gene order differs by only one reversal. Although the 23.7-kb IR is missing the putative foreign genes found inOedogonium, it contains sequences coding for a putative phage or bacterial DNA primase and a hypothetical protein. Intergenic sequences are 1.5-fold longer and dispersed repeats are more abundant, but a smaller fraction of theOedocladiumgenome is occupied by introns. Six additional group II introns are present, five of which lack ORFs and carry highly similar sequences to that of the ORF-less IIA intron shared withOedogonium. Secondary structure analysis of the group IIA introns disclosed marked differences in the exon-binding sites; however, each intron showed perfect or nearly perfect base pairing interactions with its target site.

Discussion

Our results suggest that chloroplast genes rearrange more slowly in the Oedogoniales than in the Chaetophorales and raise questions as to what was the nature of the foreign coding sequences in the IR of the common ancestor of the Oedogoniales. They provide the first evidence for intragenomic proliferation of group IIA introns in the Viridiplantae, revealing that intron spread in theOedocladiumlineage likely occurred by retrohoming after sequence divergence of the exon-binding sites.
How to Choose the Best Job for You
Authors: Blumenthal Daniel M. , Jellinek Mike
Published: September 2024

This Viewpoint provides practicing clinicians who are considering choosing a new employer with guidance about questions relevant to evaluating governance, rewards systems, and culture.
Historical Redlining, Contemporary Gentrification, and Severe Maternal Morbidity in California, 2005-2018
Authors: Gao Xing , Morello-Frosch Rachel , Nuru-Jeter Amani M. , Snowden Jonathan M. , Carmichael Suzan L. , Mujahid Mahasin S.
Published: September 2024

Importance

Historically redlined neighborhoods may experience disinvestment, influencing their likelihood of gentrification, a process of neighborhood (re-)development that unequally distributes harms and benefits by race and class. Understanding the combined outcomes of redlining and gentrification informs how the mutually constitutive systems of structural racism and racial capitalism affect pregnancy outcomes.

Objective

To examine if historical redlining and contemporary gentrification is associated with increased severe maternal morbidity (SMM) odds.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cross-sectional study used data from a statewide population-based sample of all live hospital births at 20 weeks’ gestation or more between 2005 and 2018 in California. Analysis was conducted from March 2023 to January 2024.

Exposure

Redlining (as characterized by the federal Home Owners’ Loan Corporation mortgage security maps) and displacement (using present-day sociodemographic and housing market information).

Main Outcomes and Measures

Mixed-effects logistic regression models were used to assess the association of census tract–level exposure to historical redlining and contemporary gentrification with increased SMM odds, adjusting for sociodemographic and pregnancy related factors. Outcome classification was based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention SMM index, which defines SMM as having any of the 21 procedures and diagnoses based on the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision and International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision codes.

Results

The study sample included 1 554 837 births (median [SD] maternal age, 29.0 [6.4] years; 3464 American Indian or Alaskan Native [0.2%], 224 774 Asian [14.5%], 132 240 Black [8.5%], 880 104 Hispanic [56.6%], 312 490 White [20.1%]), with 22 993 cases of SMM (1.4%). Residents in historically redlined neighborhoods that were undergoing gentrification or displacement were more likely to be Black, Hispanic, and American Indian or Alaskan Native. Independent of individual-level characteristics, SMM odds were greater for individuals living in redlined neighborhoods that experienced displacement (OR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.14-1.28) and in redlined neighborhoods undergoing gentrification (OR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.13-1.29) compared with those in continuously advantaged neighborhoods.

Conclusions and Relevance

Findings from this cross-sectional study demonstrate that the legacies of redlining, intertwined with current dynamics of displacement and gentrification, affect SMM. Place-based sociopolitical mechanisms that inequitably distribute resources may be important intervention points to address structural drivers of adverse pregnancy outcomes and their racial inequities.
Alzheimer Dementia Among Individuals With Down Syndrome
Authors: Rubenstein Eric , Tewolde Salina , Michals Amy , Weuve Jennifer , Fortea Juan , Fox Matthew P. , Pescador Jimenez Marcia , Scott Ashley , Tripodis Yorghos , Skotko Brian G.
Published: September 2024

Importance

With the advancement in administrative data as a research tool and the reliance on public health insurance for individuals with Down syndrome, population-level trends in Alzheimer dementia in this population are beginning to be understood.

Objective

To comprehensively describe the epidemiology of Alzheimer dementia in adults with Down syndrome in a full US Medicare and Medicaid sample.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cohort study included 132 720 adults aged 18 years or older with Medicaid and/or Medicare claims data with an International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems code for Down syndrome. Data were collected from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2019, and analyzed from August 2023 to May 2024.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The main outcome was prevalence of Alzheimer dementia in each calendar year and during the 9-year period. Alzheimer dementia incidence rates by calendar year and age and stratified for race or ethnicity as well as time to death after Alzheimer dementia diagnosis were also assessed.

Results

There were 132 720 unique adults with Down syndrome from 2011 to 2019: 79 578 (53.2%) were male, 17 090 (11.7%) were non-Hispanic Black, 20 777 (15.7%) were Hispanic, 101 120 (68.8%) were non-Hispanic White, and 47 692 (23.3%) had ever had an Alzheimer dementia diagnosis. Incidence was 22.4 cases per 1000 person-years. The probability of an incident Alzheimer dementia diagnosis over 8 years was 0.63 (95% CI, 0.62-0.64) for those entering the study between ages 55 to 64 years. Mean (SD) age at incident diagnosis was 54.5 (7.4) years and median (IQR) age was 54.6 (9.3) years. Mean (SD) age at death among those with Alzheimer dementia was 59.2 (6.9) years (median [IQR], 59.0 [8.0] years). The mean (SD) age at onset for the Hispanic group was 54.2 (9.2) years, 52.4 (7.8) years for the American Indian or Alaska Native group, and 52.8 (8.2) years for the mixed race groups compared with 55.0 (7.8) years for the White non-Hispanic group. For age at death, there were no differences by sex. The mean (SD) age at death was later for the White non-Hispanic group (59.3 [6.8] years) compared with the Hispanic group (58.5 [7.8] years), Native American group (57.8 [7.1] years), and mixed race group (58.2 [7.0] years).

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cohort study of adults with Down syndrome who were enrolled in Medicaid and Medicare, Alzheimer dementia occurred at high rates. Consistency with clinical studies of dementia in Down syndrome supports the use of administrative data in Down syndrome–Alzheimer dementia research.
Role of Hospital Connectedness in Brain Metastasis Outcomes
Authors: Tong Lilin , Patel Ruchit V. , Aizer Ayal A. , Dhand Amar , Bi Wenya Linda
Published: September 2024

Importance

Although patients with brain metastases receive interdisciplinary and multi-institutional care, the association between neuro-oncologic care networks and patient outcomes remains unknown. As patients often interact with multiple facilities, quantifying this association across a network of hospitals is critical to capture the complexity of the health care journey for patients with brain metastases.

Objective

To evaluate how statewide health care network metrics are associated with inpatient mortality and hospital length of stay (LOS) for patients with brain metastases.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This multicenter, statewide cohort study used data from the 2018 to 2019 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient and Emergency Department Databases. Primary analyses were completed by August 2023. Participants included adults with a brain metastases receiving care in Massachusetts.

Exposure

All inpatient and emergency department visits mapped for patients following the first diagnosis of brain metastasis.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Inpatient mortality and hospital LOS were the main outcomes assessed. Hospital interdependence in brain metastases care was calculated using a connectedness score (weighted degree: weighted sum of ties to other care facilities). The association between hospital connectedness and clinical outcomes was analyzed using mixed-effects logistic and linear regression models, adjusting for hospital-level features.

Results

In this cohort study, 4679 patients with brain metastases were identified with inpatient or ED encounters in Massachusetts (from 2018 to 2019). The median (IQR) age was 64 (57-73) years, and 2559 (55%) were female. There was interdependence in brain metastases care, with 993 patients (21%) visiting 2 or more unique hospitals. Highly connected hospitals were heterogeneous, with many being small and one-half lacking subspecialty neuro-oncologic care or teaching status. Increased hospital connectedness was significantly associated with improved inpatient mortality for patients with brain metastases, with the lowest connectedness quartile associated with more than double the risk of mortality compared with the highest quartile (odds ratio, 2.34; 95% CI, 1.33-4.11; P = .003). A stepwise increase in inpatient mortality risk was observed as hospital connectedness decreased, independently of hospital volume. Furthermore, intermediate hospital connectedness was associated with increased hospital LOS (coefficient, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.17-1.95; P = .006).

Conclusions and Relevance

This study found that hospital-to-hospital interconnectedness was significantly associated with improved clinical outcomes for patients with brain metastases. The salience of network metrics highlights their potential role alongside other patient-level and hospital-level variables to evaluate and improve oncology care delivery.
Towards robust visual understanding: A paradigm shift in computer vision from recognition to reasoning
Authors: Gokhale Tejas
Published: September 2024

Models that learn from data are widely and rapidly being deployed today for real‐world use, but they suffer from unforeseen failures that limit their reliability. These failures often have several causes such as distribution shift; adversarial attacks; calibration errors; scarcity of data and/or ground‐truth labels; noisy, corrupted, or partial data; and limitations of evaluation metrics. But many failures also occur because many modern AI tasks require reasoning beyond pattern matching and such reasoning abilities are difficult to formulate as data‐based input–output function fitting. The reliability problem has become increasingly important under the new paradigm of semantic “multimodal” learning. In this article, I will discuss findings from our work to provide avenues for the development of robust and reliable computer vision systems, particularly by leveraging the interactions between vision and language. This article expands upon the invited talk at AAAI 2024 and covers three thematic areas: robustness of visual recognition systems, open‐domain reliability for visual reasoning, and challenges and opportunities associated with generative models in vision.
Preferences for Tapering Biologic Disease‐Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs Among People With Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Discrete Choice Experiment
Authors: Chan Suz Jack , Stamp Lisa K. , Treharne Gareth J. , Cheung Janet M. Y. , Dalbeth Nicola , Grainger Rebecca , Stebbings Simon , Marra Carlo A.
Published: September 2024

Objective

Little is known about the preferences of people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) regarding tapering of biologic disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs). The aim of this study was to assess the preferences of people with RA in relation to potential treatment‐related benefits and risks of bDMARD tapering and the health care service–related attributes that affect tapering.

Methods

Participants with RA who had experience taking a bDMARD completed an online discrete choice experiment. Participants were asked their preferences when given three hypothetical treatment scenarios in which varying the frequency of treatment might alter their chance of adverse effects, of regaining disease control, and of other health care service–related effects. Preference weights were estimated using a multinomial logit model.

Results

There were 142 complete responses. Reduced dosing frequency of bDMARD treatment had the largest impact on preference (mean 1.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.8–1.2), followed by chance of disease flare (mean 0.7, 95% CI 0.6–0.9). Participants were willing to accept an increased risk of flare between 10.6% (95% CI 3.2–17.9) and 60.6% (95% CI 48.1–72.9) in exchange for benefits associated with tapering bDMARDs. Participants with better quality of life were more likely to choose to remain on current treatment. The predicted uptake of bDMARD tapering was high among people with RA, suggesting bDMARD tapering was a favored option.

Conclusion

For individuals with RA, making decisions about tapering bDMARDs involves considering several factors, with the most important determinants identified as dosing frequency and the risk of disease flare. Understanding patient perspectives of bDMARD tapering may enable physicians to make patient‐focused shared health care decisions.
Adaptive Variable Emissivity Reflector for Seasonal and Daily Thermal Regulation in Regions with Significant Temperature Variations
Authors: Geng Chenchen , Chen Yanyu , Wei Hang , Zhao Tao , Zhao Qianqian , Tian Zhaoshuo , Dou Shuliang , Liu Yufang , Li Yao
Published: September 2024

Temperature‐adaptive variable emissivity reflectors offer an electricity‐free and environmentally friendly cooling strategy, holding substantial potential to improve the global energy landscape. However, challenges associated with unoptimized solar absorptance can lead to overcooling or overheating when the modulation of infrared emittance is held constant, thereby increasing extra energy consumption. Herein, a temperature‐adaptive variable emissivity reflector based on W‐Mg co‐doped VO2 (W‐Mg‐VER) is proposed, engineered to optimize solar absorptance (αL = 0.40) while maintaining effective infrared emittance modulation (Δɛ = 0.69) near ambient temperature. To maximize year‐round energy savings in regions experiencing significant daily temperature fluctuations, W‐Mg co‐doped VO2 is employed to reduce solar absorptance by modifying electron occupancy in the V 3d orbital and expanding the optical bandgap. Outdoor experiments have validated the remarkable temperature management and energy‐saving capabilities of the W‐Mg‐VER, facilitated by its seamless transition between radiative cooling and heat‐retaining modes. Numerical simulation indicates that a W‐Mg‐VER roof covering 100 m2 would save 152.9 GJ of energy annually in locations with significant daily temperature variations. Moreover, W‐Mg‐VER demonstrates robust performance, exhibiting less than 1% degradation in emittance tunability and solar absorptance after 10 000 cycles. This approach provides valuable insights and practical guidance for significantly enhancing global energy savings.
Versatile Ultrahigh‐Output Bilayer Hydrogel for Electricity Generation and Passive Cooling
Authors: Chen Guopeng , Xie Shangzhen , Xiang Kang , Wu Huangying , Lv Song , Jiang Xingchi , Guo Zhiguang
Published: September 2024

The gradient concentration in nature has garnered significant attention as a promising source for energy harvesting. Researchers have explored various methods to harness electricity from gradient‐concentration‐induced flows, including evaporation‐driven nanogenerators and humidity‐gradient‐based power generators. However, their low current and power density are the main obstacles toward practical applications. Herein, a Bilayer Hydrogel Electricity Generator (BHEG) is presented to enable efficient energy harvesting through the synergy between ion gradient concentration and galvanic effects. A BHEG unit employing identical materials for both electrodes demonstrates an open‐circuit voltage of 0.7 V and a short‐circuit current of 4.34 mA—surpassing the currently reported average by over 73 times—and achieves a maximum power density of 72.2 mW m−2. Moreover, another BHEG unit using Zn─C electrode materials exhibit an open‐circuit voltage of 1.86 V and a short‐circuit current of 92 mA. Furthermore, the versatility of the BHEG extends beyond power generation, effectively providing passive thermal management for electronics, resulting in a maximum temperature reduction of ≈20 °C. Consequently, the study contributes insights into the design and fabrication of efficient hydrogel‐based power generators, providing a promising avenue for leveraging natural‐flow‐induced energy for various applications.
Achieving Tunable Band Structure and Photocarrier Dynamics by Regulating 2D Atomic Layer Stacking Toward High‐Performance Self‐Powered Broadband and Deep‐UV Photodetection
Authors: Zhang Junjun , Long Liyuan , Zhao Chengyang , Lv Gangyang , Chen Jiahui , Li Wenqing , Yan Shiming , Wang Dunhui
Published: September 2024

2D materials with unique layer‐dependent electronic structure can bring precise control to their photocarrier dynamics for optimizing and expanding optoelectronic applications, while the challenge of controlling layer stacking makes the layer dependency law still underexplored in emerging 2D ternary metal chalcogenides. Herein, 2D rhombohedral‐phase ZnIn2S4 (R‐ZIS) with controllable layer thickness is achieved by confined‐growth strategy in high yield, exhibiting continuously tunable direct bandgap (2.39–2.77 eV) with evident upshift of conduction band minimum (CBM) and Fermi level (EF), demonstrated arising from the synergistic effect of reduced interlayer interaction with inevitably increasing Zn defects. Remarkably, the carrier dynamics of R‐ZIS in photoelectrochemical (PEC) device is successfully regulated by adjusted CBM and EF, resulting in continuously tunable optical absorption band, photocarrier separation efficiency, self‐powered capability, and dark current noise. Beneficial from tailored band structure and carrier dynamics, self‐powered PEC‐type photodetector with broadband photoresponse (254–765 nm), is achieved fast response speed (12.3/5.3 ms) and high responsivity (90.29 mA W−1) in multilayer R‐ZIS, while deep‐UV photodetector with ultra‐high specific detectivity (1.62 × 1012 Jones) at 254 nm in monolayer R‐ZIS, exhibiting the record performance in both fields. This work motivates the development of tailored band structure for 2D‐materials‐based optoelectronic devices in strategy and mechanism.
Molecular Beam Epitaxy of Homogeneous Topological HgTe on Doped InAs Substrate
Authors: Biswas Mahitosh , Fürst Lena , Kamp Martin , Schreyeck Steffen , Buhmann Hartmut , Molenkamp Laurens W.
Published: September 2024

HgTe has been considered to be one of the most versatile topological materials. Depending on the in‐plane strain, Weyl and Dirac semi‐metal, as well as topological insulator phases, are feasible. Here, for the first time it is reported, that an InAs:S substrate promotes an initial 2D growth of a ZnTe thin layer and subsequent high crystalline quality ZnTe/CdTe superlattices serve as a smooth and continuous virtual substrate for the growth of (Cd,Hg)Te/HgTe/(Cd,Hg)Te heterostructures with unstrained quantum well HgTe (topological insulator) and compressively strained bulk HgTe (Weyl semimetal) by molecular beam epitaxy. Compared with the superlattices previously grown on GaAs substrates, the quantum well and bulk heterostructures exhibit homogeneous surfaces with root mean square roughnesses of 0.88–0.93 nm, which is three times lower than those observed for 3D islands (2.7–3.4 nm) on GaAs substrates. Additionally, magnetotransport measurements confirm high electronic quality and demonstrate that the S‐doped InAs substrate can be used as an effective back gate. These results manifest a (big) step forward toward the improvement of micro‐ and nanometer‐sized top‐ and back‐gated device fabrication on topological materials.
Electrically Tunable Chiral Ferroelectric Nematic Liquid Crystal Reflectors
Authors: Himel Md Sakhawat Hossain , Perera Kelum , Adaka Alex , Guragain Parikshit , Twieg Robert J. , Sprunt S. , Gleeson James T. , Jákli Antal
Published: September 2024

Manipulating light is an important area of optical research and development. To that end, tunable dichroic devices in which the reflectivity at differing wavelengths can be adjusted, are particularly valuable. This work is motivated by recent studies of the optical properties of chiral ferroelectric nematic liquid crystals (FNLCs). Here electro‐optical studies are presented on two room temperature, FNLC materials that demonstrate electrically tunable reflectivity when subject to a field below 0.2 V µm−1. Moreover, under appropriate conditions, the reflectivity can also be electrically (and reversibly) tuned (without change of color) from 0% to 40%. Reversible, low voltage tunable mirrors, having miniscule power consumption and operable around ambient temperature are expected to be useful in diverse applications ranging from energy‐saving, smart windows to virtual reality interfaces.
Efficient X‐Ray Scintillators Based on Facile Solution Processed 0D Organic Manganese Bromide Hybrid Films
Authors: Manny Tarannuma Ferdous , Shonde Tunde Blessed , Liu He , Islam Md Sazedul , Olasupo Oluwadara Joshua , Viera Jarek , Moslemi Sahel , Khizr Mohammad , Chung Cianna , Winfred J.S. Raaj Vellore , Stand Luis M. , Hilinski Edwin F. , Schlenoff Joseph , Ma Biwu
Published: September 2024

0D organic metal halide hybrids (OMHHs) have recently emerged as a new generation of scintillation materials, due to their high luminescence quantum efficiency, sensitivity, stability, and cost‐effectiveness. While numerous 0D OMHH scintillators have been developed to date, most of them are based on solution grown single crystals that require time‐consuming synthesis and are limited in size. Here, high‐performance X‐ray scintillators based on facile solution processed 0D OMHH amorphous films are reported for the first time. By reacting triphenyl(9‐phenyl‐9H‐carbazol‐3‐yl) phosphonium bromide (TPPcarzBr) with manganese bromide (MnBr2), 0D (TPPcarz)₂MnBr₄ amorphous films can be prepared via solution processing with mild thermal annealing, which exhibits green photoluminescence with an emission maximum ≈517 nm and a photoluminescence quantum efficiency of ≈87%. The X‐ray scintillation of 0D (TPPcarz)₂MnBr₄ amorphous films is characterized to exhibit a light yield of 44600 photon MeV−1 and an outstanding linearity with a low limit of detection of 32.42 nGyairs−1 over a wide range of X‐ray dose rates. The versatile processability of 0D (TPPcarz)₂MnBr₄ is illustrated with remarkable recyclability, high cost‐effectiveness, and scalability for large‐scale production. By taking advantage of the amorphous nature of newly designed OMHHs, the approach opens up new opportunities for developing high‐performance, solution‐processable scintillators.
Organic Heterophase Composites Induced Sulfur Vacancies and Internal Electric Field Enhancement for Advanced Magnesium Storage of Copper Sulfide Cathodes
Authors: He Xiaoqian , Cheng Ruiqi , Sun Xinyu , Sun Fengzhan , Fu Yang , Li Yitong , Li Peng , Li Zhao , Xu Hao , Laine Richard M. , Zou Jianxin
Published: September 2024

Rechargeable magnesium‐ion batteries (MIBs) hold significant promise for safe and efficient large‐scale energy storage, but the lack of high‐performance cathodes hinders their development for practical applications. In this work, a series of nanocomposites consisting of π‐conjugated perylene‐3,4,9,10‐tetracarboxylic dianhydride annealed at 450 °C and copper sulfide (CuSP) are synthesized solvothermally to explore their utility as a host for Mg2+ storage in MIBs. The carbonyl organics in the hybrid materials modify the predominant CuS phase, expanding interlayer spacing and enriching sulfur vacancies through modifications of the internal electric field. This synergistic interaction enhances magnesium storage performance and accelerates reaction kinetics. Using chlorine‐free Mg[B(hfip)4]2/DME electrolytes, the CuSP91 cathode containing an appropriate organic content displays a remarkably high reversible capacity of 285 mAh g−1 at 50 mA g−1, and demonstrates a stable capacity of 220 mAh g−1 at 100 mA g−1, surpassing pure CuS cathode in terms of shorter activation time. The CuSP91 cathode maintains a discharge capacity of 55 mAh g−1 over 1000 cycles at 500 mA g−1. A co‐redox mechanism is revealed through in/ex situ investigations and analyses. Overall, this research contributes valuable insights targeting the development of advanced organic–inorganic hybrid composite cathode materials in next‐generation energy storage systems.
Deciphering the Benefits of Coordinated Binders in Si‐Based Anodes by Combined Operando/In Situ and Ex Situ X‐Ray Micro‐ and Nano‐Tomographies
Authors: Vanpeene Victor , Huet Lucas , Villanova Julie , Olbinado Margie , Marone Federica , Maire Eric , Roué Lionel , Devic Thomas , Lestriez Bernard
Published: September 2024

The simple addition of a Zn(II) precursor to a preoptimized poly(carboxylic acid) binder solution enhances the electrochemical performance and cycle life of silicon‐based electrodes. The binder/cation couple forms a cross‐linked coordinated binder that plays a key role in enhancing the mechanical and chemical stability of the electrode microstructure. The impact of the addition of the Zn precursor on the microstructural evolution of the electrode during cycling is investigated at different scales (from cell/electrode to silicon particle scale) using complementary operando, in situ, and ex situ X‐ray tomography techniques. Comparative analyses conducted on the reference and with Zn electrode formulations using operando and in situ X‐ray micro‐tomography allow for monitoring of the electrode morphological deformations along with the crack pattern formation and evolution during cycling. The benefits of the precursor addition include enhancing the mechanical stability of the electrode through a strengthened microstructure more apt to maintaining its integrity, as well as a better anchoring to the current collector leading to decreased electrical disconnections and capacity fade. Moreover, complementary ex situ X‐ray nano‐tomography measurements highlight the benefits of the precursor addition in terms of chemical stability with mitigated solid electrolyte interface (SEI) formation over the electrode cycling.
Hierarchical Porous Biowaste‐Based Dual Humidity/Pressure Sensor for Robotic Tactile Sensing, Sustainable Health, and Environmental Monitoring
Authors: Rahman Sheik Abdur , Khan Shenawar Ali , Iqbal Shahzad , Khadka Ishwor Bahadur , Rehman Muhammad Muqeet , Jang Jae‐Won , Kim Woo Young
Published: September 2024

A crucial tradeoff between material efficacy and environmental impact is often encountered in the development of high‐performance sensors. The use of rare‐earth elements or intricate fabrication techniques is sometimes needed for conventional sensing materials, posing concerns regarding sustainability. Exploring the potential of tomato peel (TP) as a dual‐purpose sensing dielectric layer for pressure and humidity monitoring is a paradigm shift, capitalizing on its porous structure and hygroscopic nature. TP‐based humidity sensor (TP‐HS) exhibits impressive results, with a wide humidity sensing range (5%–95%), fast response/recovery time (6.5/9 s), a high sensitivity (12 500 pF %RH−1), and a high stability (30 days). Additionally, TP‐based pressure sensor (TP‐PS) also shows excellent performance in accurately sensing pressure changes in a wide range (0–196 kPa). TP‐HS can easily distinguish between breathing rates (normal, fast, and slow) and moisture content present in different moisturizers (aloe vera and sanitizer) along with its successful use for proximity sensing. Alternatively, TP‐PS demonstrates weight measurement (490 and 980 N), grip recognition (measuring the pressure exerted by each finger), and gesture detection (by monitoring multiple bending angles 0°, 30°, 50°, and 80°). A wearable, biocompatible dual sensor based on a promising sustainable material for environmental, robotic, and health monitoring applications is successfully demonstrated.
Swarm‐Optimized ZnO/CdS/CIGS/GaAs Solar Cell for Enhanced Efficiency and Thermal Resilience
Authors: Manzoor Habib Ullah , Manzoor Tareq , Hussain Sajjad , Manzoor Muhammad Nasir , Zoha Ahmed
Published: September 2024

Optimizing solar cell design is vital for boosting efficiency, cutting production costs, and meeting the increasing demand for renewable energy solutions. Through meticulous adjustments in material compositions and device architectures, optimization enhances energy conversion efficiency, making solar power more competitive and adaptable across various applications. This article presents the optimization and efficiency enhancement of a ZnO/CdS/CIGS solar cell with GaAs. The optimization process utilizes the particle swarm optimization algorithm with a step‐by‐step approach. Solar cells are designed using SCAPS‐1D software, and optimization is performed using Python. The optimized ZnO/CdS/CIGS solar cell achieves an efficiency of 32.4%, which rises to 44.7% upon integrating a GaAs layer. Further efficiency gains are observed, reaching 53.2% through back contact optimization, providing a power density of 54 mW cm−2. Optimization also notices a significant improvement in quantum efficiency. The cells are tested under concentrated solar irradiance (1000–10 000 W m−2) and temperatures (300–800 K). Results show that at 10 000 W m−2 and 800 K, the ZnO/CdS/CIGS/GaAs cell requires 53.9% less material than the ZnO/CdS/CIGS cell. Thus, adding GaAs enhances efficiency and thermal resilience, making it ideal for concentrated photovoltaics.
Electrically conductive polyaniline: Graphite composite on porous polyurethane sponge with enhanced sensitivity of humidity
Authors: Das Dipankar , Das Jayanta , Dasgupta Debadrita , Saha Biswajit
Published: September 2024

Recent advancements in organic materials based sensor technology created a prospective field in designing sensors that are both cost‐effective and environment friendly. In view of that an electronic material system has been prepared depositing a uniform layer of graphite‐infused Polyaniline (PANI) onto the sponge framework using a straightforward physical vapor deposition technique. The prepared active materials were studied for the composition, morphology, optical properties, and charge transport characteristics. In the current context of rapidly growing sensor technology, this works describes an innovative approach of improving the response of the prepared electronic system of PANI/Gr composites, integrated into porous PU sponge substrates. Incorporation of graphite in PANI improved the electrical conductivity of the composite and porous structure of PU increased the interaction surface area. The performance of the prepared materials in humidity detection was evaluated by studying their resistive response under varying humidity levels, which was measured through current‐voltage (I‐V) characteristics. The higher interaction sites of the reported active sensing system leads to inspiring humidity sensitivity of 0.522–26.22 kΩ/% RH with reasonable response and recovery time of 572 and 416 sec respectively. Additionally, the reported sensor system consisting of degradable materials will offer a useful way of reducing electronic garbage.
Effect of Different Ratios of Polyvinyl Alcohol‐Gum Odina for the Preparation and Characterization of Biodegradable Composite Films
Authors: Tudu Mousumi , Hazra Ahana , Paul Pankaj , Mohanta Abhishek , Chatterjee Sohini , Samanta Amalesh
Published: September 2024

This research investigates the production of biodegradable films using a combination of gum odina (GO) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with varied ratio. The study focuses on the chemical, physical, and mechanical properties of PVA‐GO composite films, emphasizing how versatile and biodegradable they may be for a range of packaging applications. Solvent‐cast PVA‐GO films with different ratios are subjected to a methodical analytical process to determine several parameters like mechanical qualities, thermal stability, biodegradability in soil, contact angle, transparency, water vapor permeability, moisture content, thickness, density, water solubility, microstructure, and FTIR analysis. The outcomes demonstrate that GO improves UV barrier qualities and water vapor permeability. Additionally, the films showed notable biodegradability, acceptable thermal stability, and mechanical qualities. In short, PVA‐GO films can provide an eco‐friendly packing substitute with adaptable qualities fit for a range of uses. Therefore, this research may further contribute promising information in the field of biodegradable packaging materials in the future.
Toward sustainable development: The triple nexus for enhanced supply chain performance through information technology, resilience, and sustainability integration
Authors: Sadia Umma Habiba , Liu Da , Irfan Muhammad
Published: September 2024

The dynamic interaction between supply chain resilience (SCR) and sustainability has become a crucial area of study in the evolving business landscape. While research has made strides in connecting information technology (IT) and SCR, a gap remains in understanding how sustainability dimensions integrate into these aspects, particularly in socio‐economically and environmentally challenged countries. This study aims to address this gap by investigating how IT and SCR contribute to enhancing overall supply chain performance, with a specific focus on the role of social (SS), environmental (ENS), and economic (ECS) sustainability dimensions. To achieve this, we formulated hypotheses that were tested using structural equation modeling, based on data from a sample of 321 apparel enterprises in Bangladesh. The findings reveal that IT significantly enhances resilience, while SCR does not directly improve supply chain performance when sustainability dimensions are considered. However, SCR positively influences all dimensions of sustainability, underscoring the importance of the combined strength of IT and SCR for achieving enduring sustainability in an uncertain world. Moreover, the results show that the triad of sustainability (SS, ENS, and ECS) fully mediates the relationship between resilience and supply chain performance, serving as the linchpin that binds and strengthens these elements. This research advances the understanding of the interplay between IT, resilience, and sustainability, providing valuable guidance for policymakers and sustainability professionals. Moreover, by integrating sustainability into IT and resilience strategies, organizations can enhance their supply chain performance and ensure long‐term success.