bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Does the Reclamation Period Affect the Variation of Soil Nutrients Across Different Vegetation Types in a Reclaimed Opencast Coal Mine Dump? Validated Through Three Soil Sampling Replicates
Authors: Sun Wenwu , Fan Xiang , Guan Yanjun , Zhou Wei , Bai Zhongke , Sun Tinglan
Published: October 2024

Soil reconstruction and vegetation rehabilitation play essential roles in the ecological restoration of opencast coal mining areas. The significant interaction between these two initiatives has been widely recognized, but further investigation is needed to determine whether the variations in reconstructed soil nutrients among different vegetation types are influenced by the reclamation period. By conducting three repeated soil samplings in 2013, 2017, and 2021, soil nutrient data such as available phosphorus (SAP), available potassium (SAK), total nitrogen (STN), and organic matter (SOM) under different vegetation types (cereal crops [CC], herbaceous plants [HP], arbor‐shrubs [AS], and wild grasses [WG]) on the surface of a reclaimed dump in the Pingshuo opencast coal mine on the Loess Plateau were obtained. Through descriptive statistical analysis, geostatistical analysis, two‐way analysis of variance, and geo‐detector model, this study analyzed the spatial and temporal variations in the response of reconstructed soil nutrients to different vegetation types based on different land reclamation periods. This study found that apart from SAP, spatial differences in soil nutrients were only significantly influenced by vegetation types in 2021 (p ≤ 0.05), indicating that in the early stages of reclamation (in 2013 and 2017), rehabilitated vegetation types were not sufficient to serve as the primary explanation for spatial variations in soil nutrients. However, as the reclamation period progressed, the spatial differentiation characteristics of reconstructed soil nutrients gradually became influenced by vegetation types. During the period of 2013–2017, WG represented the vegetation type exhibiting the fastest efficiency in soil nutrient restoration among SAK and STN categories. However, over the 2013–2021 timeframe, it transitioned to become the vegetation type with the slowest rate of soil nutrient recovery among SAP and SAK types. Regardless of whether in the period of 2017–2021 or 2013–2021, HP was consistently identified as the vegetation type with the quickest rate of soil nutrient restoration for the majority of nutrient categories. This highlighted the significant advantage of delineating suitable vegetation types at appropriate reclamation stages in promoting efficient soil nutrient recovery.
Microfluidic Fabrication of Gelatin‐Nano Hydroxyapatite Scaffolds for Enhanced Control of Pore Size Distribution and Osteogenic Differentiation of Dental Pulp Stem Cells
Authors: Bayram Cem , Ozturk Sukru , Karaosmanoglu Beren , Gultekinoglu Merve , Taskiran Ekim Z. , Ulubayram Kezban , Majd Hamta , Ahmed Jubair , Edirisinghe Mohan
Published: October 2024

The combination of gelatin and hydroxyapatite (HA) has emerged as a promising strategy in dental tissue engineering due to its favorable biocompatibility, mechanical properties, and ability to support cellular activities essential for tissue regeneration, rendering them ideal components for hard tissue applications. Besides, precise control over interconnecting porosity is of paramount importance for tissue engineering materials. Conventional methods for creating porous scaffolds frequently encounter difficulties in regulating pore size distribution. This study demonstrates the fabrication of gelatin‐nano HA scaffolds with uniform porosity using a T‐type junction microfluidic device in a single‐step process. Significant improvements in control over the pore size distribution are achieved by regulating the flow parameters, resulting in effective and time‐efficient manufacturing comparable in quality to the innovative 3D bioprinting techniques. The overall porosity of the scaffolds exceeded 60%, with a remarkably narrow size distribution. The incorporation of nano‐HAinto 3D porous gelatin scaffolds successfully induced osteogenic differentiation in stem cells at both the protein and gene levels, as evidenced by the significant increase in osteocalcin (OCN), an important marker of osteogenic differentiation. The OCN levels are 26 and 43 times higher for gelatin and gelatin‐HA scaffolds, respectively, compared to the control group.
Corrosivity Control Inside Offshore Wind Power Turbines by Combined Dehumidification and Overpressure
Authors: Troskie Benjamin , Toftegaard Rasmus , Bonnez Keld
Published: October 2024

The contribution explores the significance of employing dry‐air technology as an efficient method for controlling and mitigating corrosion inside offshore wind turbine nacelles and towers. The article describes a dry‐air approach that curtails the necessity for costly corrosion protection measures and it explains its ability to diminish and regulate relative humidity. Additionally, it is outlined how the utilization of a dry‐air strategy results in the creation of an internal overpressure within the wind turbine structure. This overpressure effectively serves as a barrier against the ingress of moisture‐laden, salt‐infused air. Comparative site‐sensor data are presented and discussed for two dehumidification techniques. Finally, practical solutions are presented.
Enhancing the Biomimetic Mechanics of Bottlebrush Graft‐Copolymers through Selective Solvent Annealing
Authors: Umarov Akmal Z. , Collins Joseph , Nikitina Evgeniia A. , Moutsios Ioannis , Rosenthal Martin , Dobrynin Andrey V. , Sheiko Sergei S. , Ivanov Dimitri A.
Published: October 2024

Self‐assembled networks of bottlebrush copolymers are promising materials for biomedical applications due to a unique combination of ultra‐softness and strain‐adaptive stiffening, characteristic of soft biological tissues. Transitioning from ABA linear‐brush‐linear triblock copolymers to A‐g‐B bottlebrush graft copolymer architectures allows significant increasing the mechanical strength of thermoplastic elastomers. Using real‐time synchrotron small‐angle X‐ray scattering, it is shown that annealing of A‐g‐B elastomers in a selective solvent for the linear A blocks allows for substantial network reconfiguration, resulting in an increase of both the A domain size and the distance between the domains. The corresponding increases in the aggregation number and extension of bottlebrush strands lead to a significant increase of the strain‐stiffening parameter up to 0.7, approaching values characteristic of the brain and skin tissues. Network reconfiguration without disassembly is an efficient approach to adjusting the mechanical performance of tissue‐mimetic materials to meet the needs of diverse biomedical applications.
ALKBH5‐Mediated m6A Modification of XBP1 Facilitates NSCLC Progression Through the IL‐6–JAK–STAT3 Pathway
Authors: Liang Hengxing , Zhang Chunmin , Hu Minxin , Hu Fang , Wang Saihui , Wei Wei , Hu Wen
Published: October 2024

The X‐box‐binding protein 1 (XBP1) is an important transcription factor during endoplasmic reticulum stress response, which was reported as an oncogene in non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tumorigenesis and development. However, the regulatory mechanism of XBP1 expression in NSCLC progression was less reported. N6‐methyladenosine (m6A) RNA modification is an emerging epigenetic regulatory mechanism for gene expression. This study aimed to investigate the regulatory role of the m6A modification in XBP1 expression in NSCLC. We identified XBP1 as a downstream target of ALKBH5‐mediated m6A modification in A549 and PC9 cells. Knockdown of ALKBH5 increased the m6A modification and the stability of XBP1 mRNA, while overexpression of ALKBH5 had the opposite effect. Furthermore, IGF2BP3 was confirmed to be a reader of XBP1 m6A methylation and to enhance the stability of XBP1 mRNA. Additionally, IGF2BP3 knockdown significantly reversed the increase in XBP1 stability mediated by ALKBH5 depletion. In vivo and in vitro experiments demonstrated that ALKBH5/IGF2BP3 promotes the proliferation, migration, and invasion of NSCLC cells by upregulating XBP1 expression. In addition, we also showed that XBP1 promoted NSCLC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion by activating IL‐6–JAK–STAT3 signaling. Our research suggested that ALKBH5‐mediated m6A modification of XBP1 facilitates NSCLC progression through the IL‐6–JAK–STAT3 pathway.
Assessing the biological effects of boron neutron capture therapy through cellular DNA damage repair model
Authors: Yu Chenxi , Geng Changran , Tang Xiaobin
Published: October 2024

Background

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a targeted radiotherapy that relies on the 10B (n, α) 7Li reaction, which produces secondary particles with high linear energy transfer (LET), leading to a high relative biological effectiveness (RBE) in tumors. The biological effectiveness of BNCT is influenced by factors such as boron distribution and concentration, necessitating improved methods for assessing its radiobiological effects and clarifying the sensitivity of the differences in different factors to the biological effects.

Purpose

This paper introduces a method to evaluate the biological effects of BNCT using the cellular repair model. This method aims to overcome some of the limitations of current evaluation approaches. The primary goal is to provide guidance for clinical treatments and the development of boron drugs, as well as to investigate the impact of the synergistic effects of mixed radiation fields in BNCT on treatment outcomes.

Methods

The approach involves three key steps: first, extending the radial energy deposition distribution of BNCT secondary particles using Geant4‐DNA. This allows for the calculation of initial DNA double‐strand breaks (DSBs) distributions for a given absorbed dose. Next, the obtained initial DSB distributions are used for DNA damage repair simulations to generate cell survival curves, then thereby quantifying RBE and compound biological effectiveness (CBE). The study also explores the synergistic effects of the mixed radiation fields in BNCT on assessing biological effects were also explored in depth.

Results

The results showed that the RBE of boronophenylalanine (BPA) and sodium borocaptate (BSH) drugs at cell survival fraction 0.01 was 2.50 and 2.15, respectively. The CBE of the boron dose component was 3.60 and 0.73, respectively, and the RBE of the proton component was 3.21, demonstrating that BPA has a significantly higher biological impact than BSH due to superior cellular permeability. The proton dose significance in BNCT treatment is also underscored, necessitating consideration in both experimental and clinical contexts. The study demonstrates that synergistic effects between disparate radiation fields lead to increased misrepairs and enhanced biological impact. Additionally, the biological effect diminishes with rising boron concentration, emphasizing the need to account for intercellular DNA damage heterogeneity.

Conclusions

This methodology offers valuable insights for the development of new boron compounds and precise assessment of bio‐weighted doses in clinical settings and can be adapted to other therapeutic modalities.
A Fast Cross‐Chain Protocol Based on Trusted Notary Group for Metaverse
Authors: Ding Yong , Huang Weiguo , Liang Hai , Wang Yujue , Yang Changsong , Wang Huiyong
Published: October 2024

The metaverse is a virtual environment that combines the real and digital worlds through technological and social structures. It heralds a novel paradigm in internet applications and societal engagement by weaving together diverse cutting‐edge technologies to facilitate a virtual representation of the tangible world. Within the metaverse, the facets of economy, culture, and other dimensions are fully documentable, trackable, and quantifiable, largely owing to the capabilities of blockchain technology. Nonetheless, the transactional volume within the metaverse is typically substantial, posing challenges for a singular blockchain platform in terms of efficiency and support capacity. Consequently, a multi‐blockchain infrastructure becomes essential to underpin the economic fabric of the metaverse. Enabling the collaborative operation of multiple blockchain platforms, specifically achieving the seamless transfer of value across different blockchain ecosystems, has emerged as a critical challenge. To address this challenge, this paper introduces a cross‐chain protocol predicated on a multi‐role notary system designed to facilitate inter‐blockchain value transfers. The protocol specifies the functions of different entities within the notary framework, allocating specific duties to notaries, committees, and a leader. It also promotes mutual oversight among notaries to sustain a dynamic and equitable group structure. Furthermore, an incentive mechanism is proposed to motivate committee members toward prompt and judicious decision‐making regarding votes. Based on experiments conducted on the Ethereum platform, our proposed solution exhibits a 75% reduction in transaction time compared to Ethereum's transaction confirmation time.
Knowledge and Performance on Intravenous Medication Administration to Patients: A Cross‐Sectional Observational Study Among Nurses of Nepal
Authors: Dhungana Jaya , Bajracharya Subina , Reynolds Nancy R.
Published: October 2024

Aim

To evaluate knowledge and performance levels regarding intravenous (IV) medication administration to patients among nurses working in paediatric centers of Nepal.

Design

A cross‐sectional descriptive observational study.

Methods

Enumerative sampling method was used for participant selection from the four hospitals having paediatric units. Data were collected using knowledge survey and observational checklist on four phases of IV medication administration.

Results

Of 115 nurses, 14 (12.2%) had adequate knowledge about IV medication administration whereas none had good level and only 20 nurses (17.4%) had fair level of performance. There was a weak negative correlation between knowledge and practice scores. Nurses working 8‐h shifts had better performance than those working 6‐h shifts; however, the recommended nurse–patient ratio was not maintained in 80% of observed shifts. The findings highlight the importance of upgrading nurses' knowledge and professional competencies on medication administration to improve the quality of patient care.
Globally exponentially mean‐square stabilization on disturbed networked switched systems using optimized event‐triggered scheme
Authors: Zhao Xinyu , Gao XianQiang , Chen Hao , Zhang Zhenzhen , Zhong Shouming , Shen Lili
Published: October 2024

This article is concerned with the globally exponentially mean‐square stabilization problem for uncertain disturbed networked switched systems (NSSs) subject to mixed network attacks and multiple asynchronous switching by exploring an optimized event‐triggered scheme. First, we consider a new challenge of multiple asynchronous switching stemmed from the varying switching delays within the event‐triggered scheme and controller. Second, assume that the data transmission network is subject to attacks consisting of deception attacks and aperiodic DoS attacks. Third, an optimized resilient dynamic event‐triggered scheme (ORD‐ETS) with switching behavior and external noises is proposed to intelligently reduce the inessential released data. For further improving the system performance, the updated ORD‐ETS (UORD‐ETS) is designed by introducing some fixed signals‐released points. Then, based on the mode‐dependent multiple Lyapunov functionals, integral inequality, incorporated switching signal technique and proposed asynchronous analysis method, some criteria are attained to ensure the globally exponentially mean‐square stable of the uncertain disturbed NSSs with a weighted performance. Further, the co‐design of the desired controller and the event‐triggered scheme is achieved. Ultimately, a numerical simulation with comparative analysis and a practical simulation are conducted to substantiate the validity of the obtained results.
Theranostic potential of miRNAs in oral cancer: An emerging approach for precision oncology
Authors: Biju Tina Sara , Veeraraghavan Vishnu Priya , Francis Arul Prakash
Published: October 2024

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as pivotal regulators in the pathogenesis of oral cancer, offering promising diagnostic and therapeutic opportunities in precision oncology. Dysregulated miRNA expression profiles are reliable biomarkers for oral cancer diagnosis and prognosis. Specific miRNAs, including miR‐21, miR‐31, miR‐375, miR‐let‐7a, miR‐125a, and miR‐200c, show altered expression patterns linked to oral cancer diagnosis, staging, and prognosis. Furthermore, these differentially expressed miRNAs can be detected in readily available biofluids such as saliva and plasma, improving their utility as non‐invasive diagnostic tools. Aberrant miRNA expression contributes to crucial oncogenic pathways in oral cancer progression, metastasis, and drug resistance. Using miRNA mimics or anti‐miRNAs to manipulate miRNA expression provides a mechanism for influencing downstream target genes and sensitizing cancer cells to conventional chemotherapy or targeted therapies. Preclinical studies have demonstrated the efficiency of miRNA‐based therapeutics in suppressing the development of oral cancer cells and triggering apoptosis. Furthermore, miRNAs have been linked to medication resistance, opening up new options for improving therapy response in patients with oral cancer. Further research and clinical validation are warranted to fully exploit the theranostic potential of miRNAs in oral cancer management and advance precision oncology.
To make or buy commercialization: A synthetic control approach
Authors: Coupet Jason
Published: October 2024

Many public service organizations engage in commercialization, or market‐oriented strategies designed to generate non‐public revenue for the organization. Managers and policymakers sometimes choose to “buy” these commercialization strategies by setting up separate organizations, ostensibly to avoid inefficiencies associated with coordinating market activity within an organization designed for public service. Using a synthetic control approach, this study measures the effect on efficiency of a commercialization strategy in the tech transfer domain by leveraging the spin‐off of a large public tech transfer enterprise. I find that the spin‐off decreased revenue and licensing activity, and I find no meaningful effect on contract costs. My findings suggest that government entities in pursuit of revenue and efficiency gains should not consider “buying” commercialization strategies a magic bullet for efficiency gains.
Coupled chemo‐electro‐mechanical model for galvanic corrosion in clinched components
Authors: Harzheim Sven , Chen Chin , Hofmann Martin , Wallmersperger Thomas
Published: October 2024

Mechanical clinching is a frequently used joining method for technical components. These joints are usually weak spots. Here, corrosion and fatigue are decisive influencing factors for the assessment of the service life of such joints. Corrosion generally leads to material deterioration and thus to premature failure of the joints. Under certain circumstances, however, corrosion can lead to an increased fatigue life. While this effect has not yet been fully understood, the present work provides a possible explanation and a modeling approach to predict the fatigue life of precorroded clinched joints. The increased fatigue life is observed when the clinched components are briefly (up to 3 weeks) exposed to a salt spray environment. During this time, a small layer of corrosion products protrudes from the metal surface and fills the gaps between the joined sheets. Due to the increased contact area, the mechanical stress in the joint decreases, resulting in an improved fatigue performance. Although there are a variety of corrosion phenomena, for example, pitting, intergranular, and transgranular corrosion as well as galvanic corrosion, experimental studies indicate that galvanic corrosion is the main contributor of this effect. In the present work, a coupled electro‐chemo‐mechanical corrosion model is presented and applied to two test cases. Case I: corrosion products growth, and Case II: corrosion products growth and mechanical loading.
A deep learning approach to calculate elementary effects of morris sensitivity analysis
Authors: Raj Rohit , Tismer Alexander , Gaisser Lukas , Riedelbauch Stefan
Published: October 2024

The shape optimization of the multicomponent hydraulic turbomachinery is complex and computationally expensive due to the high number of computational fluid dynamics simulations. It is essential to identify the most influential parameters for which sensitivity analysis is needed to reduce the number of simulations. Morris sensitivity analysis provides a cost‐effective alternative for global sensitivity analysis that screens the essential parameters, requiring only a few computations to identify the most influential parameters from many parameters. This method is based on the elementary effects (EEs), which calculates the derivatives using the finite difference method. A deep learning (DL) approach is proposed to estimate the Morris method's EE. Two DL methods are proposed: the first utilizes the backpropagation of deep neural networks to calculate the partial derivatives of outputs to inputs; the second method relies on an artificial neural network‐based surrogate model which is trained using the optimization run dataset of hydraulic machinery with 30 parameters. The experimental results showed that the surrogate model trained with at least 7000 samples computes similar EEs as the classical Morris method with 310 samples. However, the backpropagation approach on Morris samples was observed to be less effective compared to a surrogate modeling approach.
Enhanced Dielectric, Thermal, Energy Storage, Quality Factor, Impedance, and Conductivity Properties of Novel PVDF/PAN/ZrO2 Polymer Nanocomposites for Flexible Electronics Applications
Authors: Vilvanatha Prabu A. , Vijayaraghavan G. V. , Basheer Ahamed M. , Suganya R.
Published: October 2024

In this study, novel polymer nanocomposite films based on polyvinylidene fluoride/polyacrylonitrile/zirconium dioxide (PVDF/PAN/ZrO2) were prepared using a solution casting technique. The structural modifications and morphological properties were analyzed by x‐ray diffraction (XRD) and high resolution scanning electron microscopy (HRSEM). The obtained results verified the filler‐polymer interactions and uniform dispersion of the ZrO2 filler in the host polymers (PVDF and PAN). Thermal stability of up to 46% leftover residue for 30% ZrO2 nano‐filler loading in the blend polymer nanocomposite was analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The dielectric properties such as dielectric constant and dielectric loss values and impedance, Q‐factor, and AC conductivity were analyzed using an impedance analyzer. The decrement in impedance with increasing nano‐filler content with improved dielectric, thermal, Q‐factor, energy density and conductivity properties signifies the prepared novel PVDF/PAN/ZrO2 polymer nanocomposite as an effective material for flexible electronics applications.
Li–Fraumeni‐associated osteosarcomas: The French experience
Authors: Saucier Emilie , Bougeard Gaëlle , Gomez‐Mascard Anne , Schramm Catherine , Abbas Rachid , Berlanga Pablo , Briandet Claire , Castex Marie‐Pierre , Corradini Nadège , Coze Carole , Guerrini‐Rousseau Léa , Guinebretière Jean‐Marc , Khneisser Pierre , Lervat Cyril , Mansuy Ludovic , Marec‐Berard Perrine , Marie‐Cardine Aude , Mascard Eric , Saumet Laure , Tabone Marie‐Dominique , Winter Sarah , Frebourg Thierry , Gaspar Nathalie , Brugieres Laurence
Published: October 2024

Purpose

Describe clinical characteristics and outcome of Li–Fraumeni syndrome (LFS)‐associated osteosarcomas.

Methods

TP53 germline pathogenic/likely pathogenic variant carriers diagnosed with osteosarcoma in France between 1980 and 2019 were identified via the French Li–Fraumeni database at Rouen University Hospital. Sixty‐five osteosarcomas in 52 patients with available clinical and histological data were included. The main clinical characteristics were compared with data from National Cancer Institute's SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results) for patients of the same age group.

Results

Median age at first osteosarcoma diagnosis was 13.7 years (range: 5.9–36.7). Compared to unselected osteosarcomas, LFS‐associated osteosarcomas occurred more frequently in patients less than 10 years of age (23% vs. 9%), and when compared with osteosarcomas in patients less than 25 years were characterized by an excess of axial (16% vs. 10%) and jaw sites (15% vs. 3%) and histology with predominant chondroblastic component and periosteal subtypes (17% vs. 1%). Metastases incidence (25%) was as expected in osteosarcomas. After the first osteosarcoma treatment, the rate of good histologic response (62%) and the 5‐year progression‐free survival (55%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 42.6−71.1) were as expected in unselected series of osteosarcomas, whereas the 5‐year event‐free survival was 36.5% [95% CI: 25.3−52.7] due to the high incidence of second malignancies reaching a 10‐year cumulative risk of 43.4% [95% CI: 28.5−57.5].

Conclusion

In osteosarcoma, young age at diagnosis, axial and jaw sites, histology with periosteal or chondroblastic subtype, and synchronous multifocal tumors should prompt suspicion of a germline TP53 mutation. Standard treatments are effective, but multiple malignancies impair prognosis. Early recognition of these patients is crucial for tailored therapy and follow‐up.
Study on recycled carbon fiber obtained by thermal activated oxide semiconductor and mechanical properties of its reinforced polymer composites
Authors: Cheng Huanbo , Tang Mingxi , Guo Lijun , Qian Zhengchun , Wang Qingze , Zhai He
Published: October 2024

Considering the types of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) waste and the length of recycled carbon fiber (rCF), it is still a challenge to obtain high‐performance rCF and realize its high‐value reuse. In this paper, rCF was obtained by the thermal activated oxide semiconductor, and the effects of temperature and time on the resin decomposition rate of CFRP with different resin systems were analyzed. Three remanufacturing processes, namely wet fiber alignment (WFA), direct ink writing (DIW) and fused deposition modeling (FDM), were used to remanufacture rCF in millimeter and micron scale into recycled carbon fiber reinforced polymer (rCFRP) and the effects of rCF content on the mechanical properties of rCFRP were studied. The results showed that the optimal recycling parameter for EP‐EDA is 520°C, 45 min, and for EP‐MeTHPA and phenolic resin, the optimal recycling parameter is 520°C, 35 min. With the increase of rCF content, the tensile strength and modulus of WFA, DIW and FDM samples all increased to varying degrees. When the rCF content is 15 wt%, the tensile strength of WFA, DIW and FDM samples is increased by 355.6%, 68.4%, and 34.5%, respectively, compared with the corresponding pure resin samples. The mechanical properties of WFA, DIW and FDM samples are greatly different due to the rCF content, rCF length, interface bonding and alignment of rCF. This paper emphasizes the important effects of remanufacturing process, material composition and rCF content on the properties of rCFRP, and provides multiple ways for high‐value reuse of rCF.

Highlights

rCF obtained by thermal activated oxide semiconductor.

Resin decomposition rate of CFRP waste with different resin systems.

Multiple remanufacturing processes for rCF.

Effects of rCF content and material composition on the properties of rCFRP.
Peer support and academic engagement: The moderated mediation model for college students
Authors: Yang Hongli , Xiang Jingjing
Published: October 2024

The relationship between peer support and academic engagement has been widely explored. However, scarce research examined this relationship for college students, and little was known about the underlying mechanism under this relationship. This study aimed to examine the effect of peer support on academic via the mediation of academic motivation and the moderator of academic anxiety. This model was examined among 4581 Chinese college students (mean age = 20.22, SD = 0.92) who completed the measurement of peer support, academic motivation, academic engagement and academic anxiety. The results revealed that for Chinese college students, peer support significantly positively predicted academic engagement (r = .755, p < .001) and academic motivation could mediate the relationship between peer support and academic engagement (β = .036, 95% CI [0.493, 0.638]). Moreover, as a moderator, academic anxiety weakened the correlation between peer support and academic motivation (β = −.048 95% CI [−0.062, −0.033]). The current research highlights the mechanisms underlying the relationship between peer support and academic engagement, which played a vital role in facilitating college students' academic engagement.
Green synthesized and electro spun flexible carbon current collector for supercapacitor applications
Authors: P U Sreeranjini , D Pughal Selvi , V Vishnu Narayanan , K S Rajni , Joseph Antony , Sajith V.
Published: October 2024

In this work, the carbon flakes were green synthesized from peanut shells and converted into nanofibers (CNF) using a mixture of N, N dimethylformamide, polyvinylidene fluoride, and polyvinyl fluoride polymers by electrospinning technique. The (002) plane of carbon is reflected in the XRD analysis and is supported by the D and G bands reflected in the Raman analysis. The FESEM analysis indicated the formation of nanofibers with a size of 160 nm. The active surface area was calculated from the BET analysis and found to be 889 m2/g. The prepared RuO2 nanoparticles had a spherical grain size of 7.63 nm. the A1g, B2g, and Eg modes of vibrations of the Raman spectrum reflect the phase purity. The electrochemical performance of the prepared CNF current collector was analyzed and compared with that of commercially available current collectors (stainless steel [SS], nickel foam, and carbon cloth). The CV and GCD indicated that the SS has the best performance with RuO2 active material with the highest specific capacitance of 186. 98 F/g at a scan rate of 40 mV/s with maximum energy density and power density values of 2401.19 Wh/Kg and 3.57 W/Kg respectively. The prepared CNF has the second‐best performance with the highest specific capacitance value of 101 F/g at 40 mV/s with maximum energy density and power density values of 1799.58 Wh/Kg and 2.25 W/Kg respectively. The results were supported by the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.
Phase Transition and Thermodynamic Stability in an Entropy‐Driven Universe
Authors: Chakrabarti Soumya
Published: October 2024

Motivated by the notion that the mathematics of gravity can be reproduced from a statistical requirement of maximal entropy, the consequences of introducing an entropic source term in the Einstein–Hilbert action are studied. For a spatially homogeneous cosmological system driven by this entropic source and enveloped by a time‐evolving apparent horizon, a modified version of the second law of thermodynamics is formulated. An explicit differential equation governing the internal entropy profile is found. Using a Hessian matrix analysis of the internal entropy, the author checked the thermodynamic stability for three categorically different toy models describing (i) a cosmology, (ii) a unified cosmic expanson, and (iii) a non‐singular ekpyrotic bounce. The mathematical condition for a second order phase transition during these evolutions from the divergence of specific heat at constant volume is found. The new‐found condition is purely kinematic and quadratic in nature, relating the deceleration parameter and the jerk parameter that chalks out an interesting curve on the parameter space. This condition is valid even without the entropic source term and may be treated as a general property of any phase transition.
Design and synthesis aldehydes–thiourea and thiazolyl hydrazine derivatives as promising antifungal agents against Monilinia fructicola
Authors: Wang Yi‐Rong , Yang Liu , Wang Deng‐Tuo , Li An‐Ping , Zhang Shao‐Yong , Qin Lu‐Lu , Bian Qiang , Zhang Zhi‐Jun , Ding Yan‐Yan , Zhou Han , Peng Deng , Wang Guang‐Han , Liu Ying‐Qian
Published: October 2024

BACKGROUND

Fungal diseases present a significant threat to global agriculture, necessitating the development of new, safe, and effective fungicides. Existing fungicides face resistance and health risks, prompting the synthesis of novel compounds. Researchers have synthesized aldehyde‐based thiourea and thiazolyl hydrazine derivatives, evaluating their antifungal activities to identify impactful pesticide molecules.

RESULTS

The results showed that most of the compounds had broad‐spectrum antifungal activity against six plant pathogenic fungi and four post‐harvest fungi. Notably, compound LN18 showed the best antifungal activity against Monilinia fructicola with a half‐maximal effective concentration (EC50) of 0.17 μg mL−1, which was better than the commercial fungicide natamycin. A structure–activity relationship (SAR) study showed that the presence of unsaturated double bonds in the structure and the length of the carbon chain were the main factors affecting antifungal activity. The presence of unsaturated double bonds and an increase in the length of the carbon chain greatly improved inhibitory activity against the tested pathogens. The preliminary mechanism study showed that LN18 could damage the integrity of the mycelial plasma membrane, leading to leakage of intracellular nucleic acid and protein. LN18 also induced an increase in the intracellular reactive oxygen species level to exert its antifungal effects. In addition, compound LN18 had a stronger antifungal effect in vivo, and better phytotoxicity than natamycin, indicating broad application prospects in agriculture.

CONCLUSION

Aldehydes–thiourea and thiazolyl hydrazine derivatives demonstrate remarkable antifungal efficacy against plant pathogenic and post‐harvest fungi, offering a promising avenue for commercialization as highly efficacious, cost‐effective and safe antifungal agents. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
Biological Synthesis of ZnO Nanoparticles Using Fruit Extract of Ruta Chalepensis as Photolectrode for Dye Sensitized Solar Cell Application
Authors: Kedir Sabir Fedlu , Tadesse Betemariam Samuel , Tilahun Bekele Eneyew , Abdisa Gonfa Bedasa , Amare Zereffa Enyew , Deressa Edosa Gemechu , Esubalew Debebe Siraye , Tsegaye Mohammed Endale , Haile Habtemariam Tesfaye , Badruddin M. Irfan Anjum
Published: October 2024

Currently energy crisis is one of the challenging issues worldwide. As such, generation of green alternative energy should take the attention of researchers around the globe. This work reports synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using biological method (using fruit extract of Ruta chalepensis) for photoanode of dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). In the study, the performance of DSSCs derived from chemically synthesized and biologically synthesized ZnO NPs were evaluated. The plant extract templated synthesis of ZnO NPs were prepared in varied zinc nitrate to R. chalepensis fruit extract ratios of 1 : 2,1 : 1, and 2 : 1 and labeled as g‐ZnO(1 : 2), g‐ZnO(1 : 1) and g‐ZnO(2 : 1); and that of chemically synthesized ZnO NPs is labelled as c‐ZnO (as a control). Thermogravimetric analysis‐differential thermal analysis (TGA/DTA) reveals that ZnO NPs are stable above 450 °C. From X‐ray diffraction (XRD) pattern, average size of g‐ZnO(1 : 2), g‐ZnO(1 : 1), g‐ZnO(2 : 1) and c‐ZnO NPs were estimated to be 7, 13, 18 and 26 nm, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) reveals the presence of ZnO in clustered, flake‐like, and some agglomerated spherical forms; and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDX) confirms presence of Zn and O atoms in the sample. The optical band gaps of g‐ZnO (1 : 2), g‐ZnO(1 : 1), g‐ZnO(2 : 1) and c‐ZnO NPs were measured to be 3.30, 3.25, 3.23 and 3.22 eV respectively using ultraviolet‐visible (UV‐Vis) absorbance spectrophotometer. Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopic analysis shows the absorption band for Zn−O bonding between 400 and 600 cm−1. The produced photoanode, crystal violet dye, quasi‐solid‐state electrolyte, and counter electrode were used to fabricate DSSCs. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the constructed DSSC device with a c‐ZnO photoanode is 1.95 %, and those with a g‐ZnO (2 : 1), g‐ZnO(1 : 1), and g‐ZnO(1 : 2) photoanodes have PCE of 1.9 %, 1.36 %, and 0.215 % respectively.
Bioactive Compounds from Achyranthes Aspera L. Extract: A UHPLC Profile and In Silico Study for Mouth Cancer
Authors: Israr Juveriya , Ahamad Tanveer , Alam Shabroz , Misra Sankalp , Gupta Divya , Ahmad Rumana , Arshad Md , Khan Mohd Faheem , Maurya Priyanka , AlShammari Latifah , Ali Abuzer , Barkat Md. Abul , Siddiqui Sahabjada
Published: October 2024

Mouth cancer is the most frequent cancer of the head and neck in both older and younger people. Achyranthes aspera L. has been used in ethnotraditional and pharmacological applications since ancient times for a variety of disorders. This study was formulated to examine bioactive phenolic and flavonoid compounds from the ethanolic extract of Achyranthes aspera and their binding efficacy targeting growth factor receptors (GFRs) against mouth cancer through in silico molecular docking and simulation studies. Phytochemicals were investigated through the UHPLC technique. A molecular docking study was accomplished using docking software AutoDock 4.2, and MD simulation was executed through GROMACS software. Drug‐likeness, pharmacokinetics, and toxicity profiles of phytocompounds were evaluated using Molinspiration, Swiss ADME, OSIRIS Data Warrior tools, respectively. UHPLC analysis detected phenolics and flavonoids, viz., fisetin, rutin, and fumaric acid, which satisfied Lipinski's rule of five and pharmacokinetic properties. In molecular docking assessment, fisetin exhibited promising interactions with core targeted proteins VEGFR‐2 (B.E. = −8.30 kcal mol−1) and FGFR‐2 (B.E. = −7.64 kcal mol−1) of mouth cancer. Moreover, molecular dynamics simulation data demonstrated stable interactions with both VEGFR‐2 and FGFR‐2 proteins. This binding interaction and stability of A. aspera phytocompounds with therapeutic proteins might contribute to their therapeutic potential in mouth cancer management.
Synthesis and Antibacterial Properties of Manganese Dioxide Nanostructures: A Review
Authors: Velho‐Pereira S. , Parmekar Mira V.
Published: October 2024

Transition element‐based materials hold advantageous morphological and physicochemical attributes due to their remarkably varying valence states and highly stable metal ions. Amidst them, manganese dioxide (MnO2) has gained massive interest from researchers due to its ease of fabricating diverse nanostructures with unique morphological, physicochemical, and optoelectronic features. In addition, MnO2 has displayed exciting potential as biomedicine owing to its good biocompatibility, large surface area, and ultrathin thickness. This allows its participation in intracellular biochemical reactions, causing alteration of the internal microenvironment. To domain these exceptional features and enhance biocompatibility, several MnO2‐based nanocomposites have been devised by researchers. In this review article, we attempt to provide a comprehensive assessment of various MnO2‐based nanoparticle synthesis and its corresponding antibacterial activity explored over the past decade.
A New Sorafenib Isoster and its Rearrangement Product: Synthesis, Characterization, and in Vitro Cytotoxicity and Enzyme Inhibition Studies
Authors: Yu Qunying , Lei Ting , Li Hongkun
Published: October 2024

Cancer is a devastating disease, with female breast cancer becoming the leading cause of global cancer morbidity. Sorafenib is a multiple kinase inhibitor, and exhibits activity against a wide spectrum of tumor types, however, in some cases it proves insufficient. Synthesis of sorafenib analogs can be an efficient way to discover potent cancer therapeutic agents. In this work, we intended to design sorafenib analogs and determine their antiproliferative activity against five cancer cell lines (A549, HepG2, HCT116, MDA‐MB‐231, and PC‐3) using MTS method. As a result, we synthesized a sorafenib analog 1 A and its base‐promoted arranged compound 1 A2. Their in‐vitro cytotoxicity and potencies in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibition study revealed that compound 1 A displayed higher inhibition activity than cisplatin in MDA‐MB‐231 (breast cancer) cells with an IC50 value of 16.18±1.42 μM. The structure of 1 A2 was explicitly confirmed by the single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis.
Low‐Quality Indian Coal Derived Fluorescent Carbon Nano‐Onions for Tissue Imaging
Authors: Mandal Tuhin , Rag Mishra Shiv , Banerjee Abhishek , Firoz Ghazal , Poddar Raju , Singh Vikram
Published: October 2024

The synthesis of novel contrast agents based on carbon nanomaterials is garnering significant attention because of their unique properties, such as biocompatibility, ease of fabrication, colloidal stability, and low cost. This article describes a possible and sustainable approach for developing blue‐emitting fluorescent carbon nano‐onions from low‐quality Indian coal using simple mild acid oxidation. The high‐resolution transmission electron micrograph of prepared carbon nanomaterials reveals the crystalline graphitic and multilayer nano‐onion morphology, further supported by Raman and X‐ray diffraction study. Optical coherence tomography was used to capture the tissue image by employing carbon nano‐onions as a contrast agent. The surface defect caused by the carboxylic and hydroxyl functional groups of fluorescent carbon nano‐onions enhances the contrast by increasing the backscattering signal received from the deeper regions in the tissue sample. The transmission electron microscopic study and tunable emission property of carbon nano‐onions confirmed the different sizes of carbon nano‐onions, which also play a crucial role in backscattering. This inventive approach for producing large‐scale fluorescent carbon nano‐onions from low‐quality Indian coal opens up new possibilities for the economical and sustainable development of contrast agents for biomedical imaging.
Optoelectronic and Nonlinear Optical Behavior of Corner‐Functionalized Borophene Derivatives and Composites Doped with Polyaniline
Authors: Arif Khadija , Ans Muhammad , Ayub Ali Raza , Naseem Zubera , Arif Rameesa , Mumtaz Nida , Salba  , Iqbal Javed
Published: October 2024

This study highlights the non‐covalent interactions between corner‐functionalized derivatives of borophene and polyaniline. The study investigates B36, its derivatives having functional groups at all the six corners of outermost rim boron atoms i. e., B36‐H, B36‐OH, B36‐COOH, B36‐NH2 as well as five singly doped composites with polyaniline coded as, B36‐Pol, B36‐H‐Pol, B36‐OH‐Pol, B36‐COOH‐Pol and B36‐NH2‐Pol. The study discovers the features of these molecules by applying different quantum methods, i. e., frontier molecular orbitals (FMOs), IR, Raman, UV, linear polarizability (α0), 1st order polarizability (β0), non‐covalent interactions (NCI) density of states (DOS), Iso‐surface analysis, dipole moment (μ), vertical ionization energy (EVI), Molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) analysis, electron density distribution map (EDDM) analysis and quantum reactivity parameters using DFT directing towards the efficient Non‐Linear Optical (NLO) study. Compared to pristine B36, the efficiency of electron transfer in the doped complexes was considerably enhanced by minimizing the bandgap (Eg) from 4.66 to 1.27 eV and elevation of absorption (λmax) from 589.80 to 1500.23 nm. The complex B36‐OH‐Pol illustrates a significant rise in 1st order polarizability (βo=61371.91 au) due to lower excitation energies as compared to pristine B36 surface (βo=1016.38 au). DFT methods computed that all the structures demonstrated better charge transport properties after doping with polyaniline. Therefore, they can be promising candidates for future NLO applications, particularly B36‐OH‐Pol.
Structure, Property, and Functionality of 2D ZnO Microplatelets with Low Photocatalytic Activity for Application as UV Filters in Sunscreens for Photoprotection
Authors: Kera Nazia H. , Pillai Sreejarani Kesavan , Ray Suprakas Sinha
Published: October 2024

This study focuses on the synthesis and characterization of 2D polygonic ZnO microplatelets for application as UV filters in sunscreens. ZnO microplatelets are obtained via a simple method involving chemical precipitation, aging, and calcination. XRD, SEM, and TEM analyses confirm the successful formation of ZnO microplatelets. DRUV‐Vis studies indicate that the ZnO microplatelets have a band gap energy value of 3.2 eV and exhibit good UV radiation absorption, similar to a commercial ZnO reference sample. Furthermore, in methylene blue photodegradation studies, the ZnO microplatelets show significantly lower photocatalytic activity than the ZnO reference sample. Under UV irradiation of 254 nm and 365 nm wavelengths, the dye in contact with ZnO microplatelets is photodegraded by only 38 % and 69 % after 5 h, compared to the reference sample, which photodegraded the dye by 87 % and 97 %, respectively. The performance of a sunscreen formulation containing the ZnO microplatelets (at 10 wt %), in terms of the photoprotection factors and photostability, is on par with that of a formulation containing the ZnO reference sample. Due to their microplatelet structure, good UVR absorption capacity, and relatively lower photocatalytic activity, the ZnO microplatelets show potential for application as UV filters in sunscreen products.
Repurposing Industrial and Agricultural Wastes as Sustainable Alternatives in Photovoltaic Cells and Dye Degradation
Authors: Bhakta Debjani , Gayen Debabrata , Bhattacharjee Jyoti , Chatterjee Rusha , Dastidar Prithwish , Roy Subhasis
Published: October 2024

Combustion of coal at thermal power plants generates enormous amounts of coal fly ash (CFA). Proper disposal of CFA is an important issue today because environmental problems are considered a burning issue worldwide. On the other hand, groundnut shells (GNS), regarded as agricultural waste in general, litter landfills everywhere and create soil degradation. Since both CFA and GNS contain abundant silica, this work focuses on extracting amorphous silica from these materials through a total dissolution–precipitation process. The silica was extracted from it and used to prepare titanium oxide (TiO₂) hybrids. The GNSS were extracted from GNS, and the CFAS was extracted from the CFA. The methods used were based on sol–gel. These hybrids were further tested for the performance of their solar cells in dissolving dyes. The overall results of the obtained physical properties of CFAS and GNSS are similar to those of conventional silica. More importantly, TiO₂/GNSS and TiO₂/CFAS hybrids showed enhanced photocatalytic efficiency compared to the pure TiO₂. Therefore, it is evidence of repurposing CFA and GNS, which have high potential for use as sustainable applications in renewable energy and environmental remediation.