bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electrochemistry and band structure of semiconductors (TiO2, SnO2, ZnO): Avoiding pitfalls and textbook errors
Authors: Kavan Ladislav
Published: January 2024

This paper reviews selected problems, which appear in literature dealing with TiO2, SnO2, and ZnO. Some of them have more universal impact to semiconductor electrochemistry. The electronic band structure is a key for understanding fundamental properties and for rational design of applications, but the uncertainty of specific values determined experimentally or by theoretical calculations should not be ignored. The inappropriate use of Mott-Schottky plot for characterization of certain semiconductor electrodes is another source of problems. Some other technical and formal issues in research and development of semiconductors are discussed.
High-order methods beyond the classical complexity bounds: inexact high-order proximal-point methods
Authors: Ahookhosh Masoud , Nesterov Yurii
Published: January 2024

We introduce a Bi-level OPTimization (BiOPT) framework for minimizing the sum of two convex functions, where one of them is smooth enough. The BiOPT framework offers three levels of freedom: (i) choosing the order p of the proximal term; (ii) designing an inexact pth-order proximal-point method in the upper level; (iii) solving the auxiliary problem with a lower-level non-Euclidean method in the lower level. We here regularize the objective by a $$(p+1)$$

(
p
+
1
)

th-order proximal term (for arbitrary integer $$p\ge 1$$

p
≥
1

) and then develop the generic inexact high-order proximal-point scheme and its acceleration using the standard estimating sequence technique at the upper level. This follows at the lower level with solving the corresponding pth-order proximal auxiliary problem inexactly either by one iteration of the pth-order tensor method or by a lower-order non-Euclidean composite gradient scheme. Ultimately, it is shown that applying the accelerated inexact pth-order proximal-point method at the upper level and handling the auxiliary problem by the non-Euclidean composite gradient scheme lead to a 2q-order method with the convergence rate $${\mathcal {O}}(k^{-(p+1)})$$

O
(

k

-
(
p
+
1
)

)

(for $$q=\lfloor p/2\rfloor $$

q
=
⌊
p
/
2
⌋

and the iteration counter k), which can result to a superfast method for some specific class of problems.
Habitability of low-lying socio-ecological systems under a changing climate
Authors: Spencer Tom , Magnan Alexandre K. , Donner Simon , Garschagen Matthias , Ford James , Duvat Virginie K. E. , Wabnitz Colette C. C.
Published: January 2024

Climate change will push the planet worryingly close to its boundaries, across all latitudes and levels of development. One question therefore is the extent to which climate change does (and will) severely affect societies’ livelihoods, health, well-being, and cultures. This paper discusses the “severe climate risks” concept developed under Working Group II’s contribution to the Fifth and Sixth Assessment Reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, AR5, and AR6). Focusing on low-lying coastal socio-ecological systems (LCS) and acknowledging that attempts to define “severe” climate risk have been problematic at the level of global syntheses, we argue for a more place- and people-based framing relating to “habitability under a changing climate.” We summarize habitability in terms of five habitability pillars: land, freshwater, food, settlement and infrastructure, and economic and subsistence activities; we acknowledge social and cultural factors (including perceptions, values, governance arrangements, human agency, power structures) as critical underlying factors rather than as separate pillars. We further develop the habitability framing and examine climate risk to future human health and habitability for three climate “hotspot” archetypes (arctic coasts, atoll islands, densely populated urban areas). Building on the IPCC AR6 framing of severe climate risks, we discuss three key parameters describing severe climate risks in LCS: the point of irreversibility of changes, physical and socio-ecological thresholds, and cascading effects across various habitability dimensions. We also highlight the variability of severe risk conditions both between coastal archetypes and within each of them. Further work should consist of refining the case study framing to find the right balance between capturing context-specificities through real-world local case studies and commonalities derived from more generic archetypes. In addition, there is a need to identify appropriate methods to assess irreversibility, thresholds, and cascading effects, and thus severe climate risks to habitability.
From Barter to Market: an Agent-Based Model of Prehistoric Market Development
Authors: Kim Jangsuk , Conte Matthew , Oh Yongje , Park Jiyoung
Published: January 2024

Despite interest in preindustrial markets, archaeological discussions have largely been limited to proposing methods to determine the presence or absence of market exchange in ancient societies. While these contributions are important, methodological limitations have prevented theoretical considerations of the emergence and evolution of marketplaces and market exchange in prehistory. We propose that agent-based modeling provides a window to explore physical conditions and agent behaviors that facilitate the emergence of customary exchange locations and how such locations may evolve into socially embedded institutions. The model we designed suggests that simple bartering rules among agents can generate concentrated locations of exchange and that spatial heterogeneity of resources is the most important factor in facilitating the emergence of such locales. Furthermore, partner-search behaviors and exchange of information play a key role in the institutionalization of the marketplace. The results of our simulation suggest that marketplaces can develop, even with the absence of formalized currency or central planning, as a consequence of collective strategies taken up by agents to reduce exchange partner-search costs and make transactions more frequent and predictable. The model also suggests that, once established as a social institution, marketplaces may become highly conservative and resistant to change. As such, it is inferred that bottom-up and/or top-down interventions may have often been required to establish new marketplaces or relocate marketplaces to incorporate new resources, resolve supply–demand imbalances, or minimize rising economic costs that arise as a result of social, political, and economic change.
Systematic comparison of software agents and Digital Twins: differences, similarities, and synergies in industrial production
Authors: Reinpold Lasse M. , Wagner Lukas P. , Gehlhoff Felix , Ramonat Malte , Kilthau Maximilian , Gill Milapji S. , Reif Jonathan T. , Henkel Vincent , Scholz Lena , Fay Alexander
Published: January 2024

To achieve a highly agile and flexible production, a transformational shift is envisioned whereby industrial production systems evolve to be more decentralized, interconnected, and intelligent. Within this vision, production assets collaborate with each other, exhibiting a high degree of autonomy. Furthermore, information about individual production assets is accessible throughout their entire life-cycles. To realize this vision, the use of advanced information technology is required. Two commonly applied software paradigms in this context are Software Agents (referred to as Agents) and Digital Twins (DTs). This work presents a systematic comparison of Agents and DTs in industrial applications. The goal of the study is to determine the differences, similarities, and potential synergies between the two paradigms. The comparison is based on the purposes for which Agents and DTs are applied, the properties and capabilities exhibited by these software paradigms, and how they can be allocated within the Reference Architecture Model Industry 4.0. The comparison reveals that Agents are commonly employed in the collaborative planning and execution of production processes, while DTs are generally more applied to monitor production resources and process information. Although these observations imply characteristic sets of capabilities and properties for both Agents and DTs, a clear and definitive distinction between the two paradigms cannot be made. Instead, the analysis indicates that production assets utilizing a combination of Agents and DTs would demonstrate high degrees of intelligence, autonomy, sociability, and fidelity. To achieve this, further standardization is required, particularly in the field of DTs.
Low-level tritium measurements in freshwater and seawater samples
Authors: Dymecka Małgorzata , Szaciłowski Grzegorz , Rzemek Katarzyna , Ośko Jakub
Published: January 2024

The aim of this study was to test two potential tritium determination methods (with and without electrolysis enrichment) suitable for low-level measurements. Both methodologies were applied to water samples from the Baltic Sea and ten Polish rivers providing new data on tritium activity concentration. Optimization steps carried out to the standard method lowered minimum detectable activity concentration (MDC) from 3.1 to 1.8 Bq L–1 (at 95% confidence level) enabling to apply it to environmental water samples. However, electrolytic enrichment method of MDC of 0.20 Bq L–1 provided more accurate results for tritium activity concentration in surface waters.
Evaluating the Patterns of FAPI Uptake in the Shoulder Joint: a Preliminary Study Comparing with FDG Uptake in Oncological Studies
Authors: Matsusaka Yohji , Werner Rudolf A. , Serfling Sebastian E. , Buck Andreas K. , Kosmala Aleksander , Sasaki Takanori , Weich Alexander , Higuchi Takahiro
Published: January 2024

Background

Fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPI) targeting PET has been introduced as a novel molecular imaging modality for visualizing cancer-associated fibroblasts. There have also been reports suggesting incidental findings of localized accumulation in the shoulder joints. However, further characterization in a larger patient cohort is still lacking.

Methods

77 consecutive patients (28 females; mean age, 63.1 ± 11.6) who underwent Ga-68 FAPI-04 PET/CT for diagnosis of solid tumors were included. The incidence and localization of tracer uptake in shoulder joints were investigated and compared with available F-18 FDG scans serving as reference.

Results

Ga-68 FAPI-04 uptake was evaluated in 77 patients (154 shoulder joints), of whom 54 subjects (108 shoulder joints) also had available F-18 FDG scans for head-to-head comparison. On FAPI-targeted imaging, 67/154 shoulders (43.5%) demonstrated increased radiotracer accumulation in target lesions, which were distributed as follows: acromioclavicular (AC) joints in 25/67 (37.3%), followed by glenohumeral and subacromial (GH + SA) joints in 23/67 (34.3%), or both (AC and GH + SA joints) in the remaining 19/67 (28.4%). Ga-68 FAPI-04 correlated with quantified F-18 FDG uptake (r = 0.69, p < 0.0001). Relative to the latter radiotracer, however, in-vivo FAP expression in the shoulders was significantly increased (Ga-68 FAPI-04, 4.7 ± 3.2 vs F-18 FDG, 3.6 ± 1.3, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Our study revealed focal accumulation of Ga-68 FAPI-04 in the shoulders, particularly in the AC joints, with higher uptake compared to the inflammatory-directed PET radiotracer F-18 FDG in oncological studies. As a result, further trials are warranted to investigate the potential of FAPI-directed molecular imaging in identifying chronic remodeling in shoulder joints. This could have implications for initiating anti-FAP targeted photodynamic therapy based on PET signal strength.
Developing a novel mobile application for cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia for people with schizophrenia: integration of wearable and environmental sleep sensors
Authors: Jeon Jae Min , Ma Junhua , Kwak Paulyn , Dang Bing , Buleje Italo , Ancoli-Israel Sonia , Malhotra Atul , Lee Ellen E.
Published: January 2024

Background

People with serious mental illnesses (SMIs) have three-fold higher rates of comorbid insomnia than the general population, which has downstream effects on cognitive, mental, and physical health. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-i) is a safe and effective first-line treatment for insomnia, though the therapy’s effectiveness relies on completing nightly sleep diaries which can be challenging for some people with SMI and comorbid cognitive deficits. Supportive technologies such as mobile applications and sleep sensors may aid with completing sleep diaries. However, commercially available CBT-i apps are not designed for individuals with cognitive deficits. To aid with this challenge, we have developed an integrated mobile application, named “Sleep Catcher,” that will automatically incorporate data from a wearable fitness tracker and a bed sensor to track nightly sleep duration, overnight awakenings, bed-times, and wake-times to generate nightly sleep diaries for CBT-i.

Methods

The application development process will be described—writing algorithms to generating useful data, creating a clinician web portal to oversee patients and the mobile application, and integrating sleep data from device platforms and user input.

Results

The mobile and web applications were developed using Flutter, IBM Code Engine, and IBM Cloudant database. The mobile application was developed with a user-centered approach and incremental changes informed by a series of beta tests. Special user-interface features were considered to address the challenges of developing a simple and effective mobile application targeting people with SMI.

Conclusion

There is strong potential for synergy between engineering and mental health expertise to develop technologies for specific clinical populations. Digital health technologies allow for the development of multi-disciplinary solutions to existing health disparities in vulnerable populations, particularly in people with SMI.
Evaluating toxicity impacts of local chemical emissions in Life Cycle Assessment
Authors: Cappucci Grazia Maria , Neri Paolo , Ferrari Anna Maria , Fantke Peter
Published: January 2024

Purpose

The local dimension of toxicity effect on humans and ecosystem from chemical emissions into rural environments is currently not considered in impact characterization models underlying the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology. The aim of the present study was to understand the relevance of considering a local exposure environment for the magnitude of damage related to human toxicity and ecotoxicity impacts associated with chemical emissions into a local environment.

Method

Unit and realistic European emission scenarios were considered in a proposed multimedia nested box model, based on an existing framework modified with the inclusion of a local scale, and tested for ten chemicals in an illustrative case study.

Results

A substantial damage increase in terms of characterization factors in the proposed model was found for human health, mainly for local freshwater emissions (up to three orders of magnitude compared to emissions into continental freshwater for naphthalene) and soil emissions (up to two orders of magnitude, in particular for emissions into natural soil for 1,2-dichloroethane).

Conclusions

Based on our results, we suggest to use the proposed framework in LCA applications, when more specific information about the local emission environment is known. With respect to considering the local-scale, however, spatialized models might be preferable over nested box models to properly capture local phenomena in rather highly densely populated areas.
Abnormal Winter Drought-Induced Transient Dieback of Korean Fir in the Montane Forests of Mt. Jirisan, South Korea
Authors: Kim Hangyeol , Kim Eunsuk , Lee Seonmi , Cho Yong-Chan
Published: January 2024

Although climate change-related concerns have long been raised regarding the sudden dieback of Korean fir (Abies koreana), the event’s etiology and subsequent ecosystem processes must be explained. Our study aims to clarify the continuity or transience of mass mortality events within the coarse woody debris (CWD) structure and, if transient, to identify the climatic conditions (1974–2021) that could be responsible for the massive dying phenomena in Korean fir populations. On average, precipitation during the non-growing season (November–April as winter) constituted 18.5% relative to the growth period; in the winter of 1999, it was 4.8% due to an abnormal drought event. The dead stems occurred evenly across all size classes. In the CWD structure, the density and biomass of the dead fir individuals peaked in decay classes II or III. The size distribution of the retained fir was inverse-J shaped across the entire altitudinal range. The abnormal winter drought event, causing root damage by soil frost and heaving, may be one of the factors that increased Korean fir mortality across the entire stem size range. Despite transient cohort senescence, the retained Korean fir individuals transmitted drought-resistant traits into the regional pool following the drought event.
Debiasing Education Algorithms
Authors: Idowu Jamiu Adekunle
Published: January 2024

This systematic literature review investigates the fairness of machine learning algorithms in educational settings, focusing on recent studies and their proposed solutions to address biases. Applications analyzed include student dropout prediction, performance prediction, forum post classification, and recommender systems. We identify common strategies, such as adjusting sample weights, bias attenuation methods, fairness through un/awareness, and adversarial learning. Commonly used metrics for fairness assessment include ABROCA, group difference in performance, and disparity metrics. The review underscores the need for context-specific approaches to ensure equitable treatment and reveals that most studies found no strict tradeoff between fairness and accuracy. We recommend evaluating fairness of data and features before algorithmic fairness to prevent algorithms from receiving discriminatory inputs, expanding the scope of education fairness studies beyond gender and race to include other demographic attributes, and assessing the impact of fair algorithms on end users, as human perceptions may not align with algorithmic fairness measures.
Cu-Based Materials for Enhanced C2+ Product Selectivity in Photo-/Electro-Catalytic CO2 Reduction: Challenges and Prospects
Authors: Rhimi Baker , Zhou Min , Yan Zaoxue , Cai Xiaoyan , Jiang Zhifeng
Published: January 2024

Carbon dioxide conversion into valuable products using photocatalysis and electrocatalysis is an effective approach to mitigate global environmental issues and the energy shortages. Among the materials utilized for catalytic reduction of CO2, Cu-based materials are highly advantageous owing to their widespread availability, cost-effectiveness, and environmental sustainability. Furthermore, Cu-based materials demonstrate interesting abilities in the adsorption and activation of carbon dioxide, allowing the formation of C2+ compounds through C–C coupling process. Herein, the basic principles of photocatalytic CO2 reduction reactions (PCO2RR) and electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction (ECO2RR) and the pathways for the generation C2+ products are introduced. This review categorizes Cu-based materials into different groups including Cu metal, Cu oxides, Cu alloys, and Cu SACs, Cu heterojunctions based on their catalytic applications. The relationship between the Cu surfaces and their efficiency in both PCO2RR and ECO2RR is emphasized. Through a review of recent studies on PCO2RR and ECO2RR using Cu-based catalysts, the focus is on understanding the underlying reasons for the enhanced selectivity toward C2+ products. Finally, the opportunities and challenges associated with Cu-based materials in the CO2 catalytic reduction applications are presented, along with research directions that can guide for the design of highly active and selective Cu-based materials for CO2 reduction processes in the future.
Diphylleia Grayi-Inspired Intelligent Temperature-Responsive Transparent Nanofiber Membranes
Authors: Zhao Cengceng , Liu Gaohui , Lin Yanyan , Li Xueqin , Meng Na , Wang Xianfeng , Fu Shaoju , Yu Jianyong , Ding Bin
Published: January 2024

Nanofiber membranes (NFMs) have become attractive candidates for next-generation flexible transparent materials due to their exceptional flexibility and breathability. However, improving the transmittance of NFMs is a great challenge due to the enormous reflection and incredibly poor transmission generated by the nanofiber-air interface. In this research, we report a general strategy for the preparation of flexible temperature-responsive transparent (TRT) membranes, which achieves a rapid transformation of NFMs from opaque to highly transparent under a narrow temperature window. In this process, the phase change material eicosane is coated on the surface of the polyurethane nanofibers by electrospray technology. When the temperature rises to 37 °C, eicosane rapidly completes the phase transition and establishes the light transmission path between the nanofibers, preventing light loss from reflection at the nanofiber-air interface. The resulting TRT membrane exhibits high transmittance (> 90%), and fast response (5 s). This study achieves the first TRT transition of NFMs, offering a general strategy for building highly transparent nanofiber materials, shaping the future of next-generation intelligent temperature monitoring, anti-counterfeiting measures, and other high-performance devices.
Superhydrophobic Surface-Assisted Preparation of Microspheres and Supraparticles and Their Applications
Authors: Pan Mengyao , Shao Huijuan , Fan Yue , Yang Jinlong , Liu Jiaxin , Deng Zhongqian , Liu Zhenda , Chen Zhidi , Zhang Jun , Yi Kangfeng , Su Yucai , Wang Dehui , Deng Xu , Deng Fei
Published: January 2024

Superhydrophobic surface (SHS) has been well developed, as SHS renders the property of minimizing the water/solid contact interface. Water droplets deposited onto SHS with contact angles exceeding 150°, allow them to retain spherical shapes, and the low adhesion of SHS facilitates easy droplet collection when tilting the substrate. These characteristics make SHS suitable for a wide range of applications. One particularly promising application is the fabrication of microsphere and supraparticle materials. SHS offers a distinct advantage as a universal platform capable of providing customized services for a variety of microspheres and supraparticles. In this review, an overview of the strategies for fabricating microspheres and supraparticles with the aid of SHS, including cross-linking process, polymer melting, and droplet template evaporation methods, is first presented. Then, the applications of microspheres and supraparticles formed onto SHS are discussed in detail, for example, fabricating photonic devices with controllable structures and tunable structural colors, acting as catalysts with emerging or synergetic properties, being integrated into the biomedical field to construct the devices with different medicinal purposes, being utilized for inducing protein crystallization and detecting trace amounts of analytes. Finally, the perspective on future developments involved with this research field is given, along with some obstacles and opportunities.
Bioinspired Multifunctional Self-Sensing Actuated Gradient Hydrogel for Soft-Hard Robot Remote Interaction
Authors: Liu He , Chu Haoxiang , Yuan Hailiang , Li Deliang , Deng Weisi , Fu Zhiwei , Liu Ruonan , Liu Yiying , Han Yixuan , Wang Yanpeng , Zhao Yue , Cui Xiaoyu , Tian Ye
Published: January 2024

The development of bioinspired gradient hydrogels with self-sensing actuated capabilities for remote interaction with soft-hard robots remains a challenging endeavor. Here, we propose a novel multifunctional self-sensing actuated gradient hydrogel that combines ultrafast actuation and high sensitivity for remote interaction with robotic hand. The gradient network structure, achieved through a wettability difference method involving the rapid precipitation of MoO2 nanosheets, introduces hydrophilic disparities between two sides within hydrogel. This distinctive approach bestows the hydrogel with ultrafast thermo-responsive actuation (21° s−1) and enhanced photothermal efficiency (increase by 3.7 °C s−1 under 808 nm near-infrared). Moreover, the local cross-linking of sodium alginate with Ca2+ endows the hydrogel with programmable deformability and information display capabilities. Additionally, the hydrogel exhibits high sensitivity (gauge factor 3.94 within a wide strain range of 600%), fast response times (140 ms) and good cycling stability. Leveraging these exceptional properties, we incorporate the hydrogel into various soft actuators, including soft gripper, artificial iris, and bioinspired jellyfish, as well as wearable electronics capable of precise human motion and physiological signal detection. Furthermore, through the synergistic combination of remarkable actuation and sensitivity, we realize a self-sensing touch bioinspired tongue. Notably, by employing quantitative analysis of actuation-sensing, we realize remote interaction between soft-hard robot via the Internet of Things. The multifunctional self-sensing actuated gradient hydrogel presented in this study provides a new insight for advanced somatosensory materials, self-feedback intelligent soft robots and human–machine interactions.
Solvation Engineering via Fluorosurfactant Additive Toward Boosted Lithium-Ion Thermoelectrochemical Cells
Authors: Xu Yinghong , Li Zhiwei , Wu Langyuan , Dou Hui , Zhang Xiaogang
Published: January 2024

Lithium-ion thermoelectrochemical cell (LTEC), featuring simultaneous energy conversion and storage, has emerged as promising candidate for low-grade heat harvesting. However, relatively poor thermosensitivity and heat-to-current behavior limit the application of LTECs using LiPF6 electrolyte. Introducing additives into bulk electrolyte is a reasonable strategy to solve such problem by modifying the solvation structure of electrolyte ions. In this work, we develop a dual-salt electrolyte with fluorosurfactant (FS) additive to achieve high thermopower and durability of LTECs during the conversion of low-grade heat into electricity. The addition of FS induces a unique Li+ solvation with the aggregated double anions through a crowded electrolyte environment, resulting in an enhanced mobility kinetics of Li+ as well as boosted thermoelectrochemical performances. By coupling optimized electrolyte with graphite electrode, a high thermopower of 13.8 mV K−1 and a normalized output power density of 3.99 mW m–2 K–2 as well as an outstanding output energy density of 607.96 J m−2 can be obtained. These results demonstrate that the optimization of electrolyte by regulating solvation structure will inject new vitality into the construction of thermoelectrochemical devices with attractive properties.
Highly Aligned Ternary Nanofiber Matrices Loaded with MXene Expedite Regeneration of Volumetric Muscle Loss
Authors: Kang Moon Sung , Yu Yeuni , Park Rowoon , Heo Hye Jin , Lee Seok Hyun , Hong Suck Won , Kim Yun Hak , Han Dong-Wook
Published: January 2024

Current therapeutic approaches for volumetric muscle loss (VML) face challenges due to limited graft availability and insufficient bioactivities. To overcome these limitations, tissue-engineered scaffolds have emerged as a promising alternative. In this study, we developed aligned ternary nanofibrous matrices comprised of poly(lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) integrated with collagen and Ti3C2Tx MXene nanoparticles (NPs) (PCM matrices), and explored their myogenic potential for skeletal muscle tissue regeneration. The PCM matrices demonstrated favorable physicochemical properties, including structural uniformity, alignment, microporosity, and hydrophilicity. In vitro assays revealed that the PCM matrices promoted cellular behaviors and myogenic differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts. Moreover, in vivo experiments demonstrated enhanced muscle remodeling and recovery in mice treated with PCM matrices following VML injury. Mechanistic insights from next-generation sequencing revealed that MXene NPs facilitated protein and ion availability within PCM matrices, leading to elevated intracellular Ca2+ levels in myoblasts through the activation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and serum/glucocorticoid regulated kinase 1 (SGK1), ultimately promoting myogenic differentiation via the mTOR-AKT pathway. Additionally, upregulated iNOS and increased NO– contributed to myoblast proliferation and fiber fusion, thereby facilitating overall myoblast maturation. These findings underscore the potential of MXene NPs loaded within highly aligned matrices as therapeutic agents to promote skeletal muscle tissue recovery.
A Review on Engineering Design for Enhancing Interfacial Contact in Solid-State Lithium–Sulfur Batteries
Authors: Qi Bingxin , Hong Xinyue , Jiang Ying , Shi Jing , Zhang Mingrui , Yan Wen , Lai Chao
Published: January 2024

The utilization of solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) presents a promising solution to the issues of safety concern and shuttle effect in Li–S batteries, which has garnered significant interest recently. However, the high interfacial impedances existing between the SSEs and the electrodes (both lithium anodes and sulfur cathodes) hinder the charge transfer and intensify the uneven deposition of lithium, which ultimately result in insufficient capacity utilization and poor cycling stability. Hence, the reduction of interfacial resistance between SSEs and electrodes is of paramount importance in the pursuit of efficacious solid-state batteries. In this review, we focus on the experimental strategies employed to enhance the interfacial contact between SSEs and electrodes, and summarize recent progresses of their applications in solid-state Li–S batteries. Moreover, the challenges and perspectives of rational interfacial design in practical solid-state Li–S batteries are outlined as well. We expect that this review will provide new insights into the further technique development and practical applications of solid-state lithium batteries.
Cybersecurity 4.0: safeguarding trust and production in the digital food industry era
Authors: Alqudhaibi Adel , Krishna Ashish , Jagtap Sandeep , Williams Nikki , Afy-Shararah Mohamed , Salonitis Konstantinos
Published: January 2024

The food industry is vital manufacturing sector globally, with an ever-increasing reliance on digitalisation and technology-driven processes. However, this advancement introduces inherent cyberattack risks, encompassing data breaches and system disruptions, which can severely impact production and disrupt the entire food chain. Consequently, cyber threats can evoke fear and mistrust among consumers, potentially tarnishing a company's brand. This paper presents a comprehensive research methodology, including an extensive literature review and a detailed survey, aimed at assessing the current state of cybersecurity within the food industry. The problem at hand is the industry's apparent lack of robust cybersecurity measures to protect against the growing threat landscape, which this research aims to address. Our findings reveal a clear gap in cybersecurity preparedness within the food industry, with potential vulnerabilities that could be exploited by cyber adversaries. In response, we propose a specialised security framework designed to mitigate these risks. The framework is built upon a thorough analysis of the industry's existing cybersecurity posture and the identification of both current and emerging cyber threats. The contribution of this research relies in the development of a security framework that strengthens the industry's cyber defenses, thereby enhancing its competitive advantage. The framework emphasizes the importance of continuous employee education and training as a cornerstone for improving the security environment. Enhancing the security environment through ongoing employee education and training is crucial for fostering consumer trust and enabling seamless growth within the industry. By adopting a proactive approach to cybersecurity, the food industry can ensure the sustainability and reliability of its operations in the face of evolving cyber threats.
Complexity Economics and Sustainable Development
Authors: Guerrero Omar A. , Castañeda Gonzalo
Published: January 2024

The Sustainable Development Goals are global objectives set by the UN. They cover fundamental issues in development such as poverty, education, economic growth, and climate. Despite growing data across policy dimensions, popular statistical approaches offer limited solutions as these datasets are not big or detailed enough to meet their technical requirements. Complexity Economics and Sustainable Development provides a novel framework to handle these challenging features, suggesting that complexity science, agent-based modelling, and computational social science can overcome these limitations. Building on interdisciplinary socioeconomic theory, it provides a new framework to quantify the link between public expenditure and development while accounting for complex interdependencies and public governance. Accompanied by comprehensive data of worldwide development indicators and open-source code, it provides a detailed construction of the analytic toolkit, familiarising readers with a diverse set of empirical applications and drawing policy implications that are insightful to a diverse readership.
Radical Adaptation
Authors: Stone, Jr. Brian
Published: January 2024

This book considers the everyday conduits through which climate instability will manifest: the storm sewer drain on your street, the powerlines transporting your electricity, the mix of vegetation in your backyard or neighborhood park – these are the channels through which climate change is most likely to impact your life. For many, these are the last places we expect it to. In this book, Stone's aim is to understand how climate change is altering our lives in the present period – this period of transition between the ancient, stable climate of our ancestors and the unfolding, no longer stable climate of our children – and how our cities might adapt to these changes. Stone's concern is with the risks posed by a new environmental regime for which our modes of living are ill adapted, and with how these modes of living must be altered – radically altered – to persist in a climate changed world.
Frontiers of Empire
Authors: Nelson Robert L.
Published: January 2024

How did the homesteads and reservations of the Prairies of Western North America influence German colonization, ethnic cleansing and genocide in Eastern Europe? Max Sering, a world-famous agrarian settlement expert, stood on the Great Plains in 1883 and saw Germany's future in Eastern Europe: a grand scheme of frontier settlement. Sering was a key figure in the evolution of Germany's relationship with its eastern frontier, as well as in the overall transformation of the German Right from the Bismarckian 1880s to the Hitlerian 1930s. 'Inner colonization' was the settlement of farmers in threatened borderland areas within the nation's boundaries. Focusing on this phenomenon, Frontiers of Empire complicates the standard thesis of separation between the colonizing country and the colonized space, and blurs the typical boundaries between colonizer and colonized subjects. This title is part of the Flip it Open Programme and may also be available Open Access. Check our website Cambridge Core for details.
The Psychology of Reading
Authors: Reichle Erik D. , Yu Lili
Published: January 2024

The Psychology of Reading reviews what has been learned about skilled reading and dyslexia using research on one of the most important but often overlooked languages and writing systems – Chinese. It provides an overview of the Chinese language and writing systems, discusses what is known about the cognitive and neural processes that support the skilled reading of Chinese, as well as its development and impairment, and describes the computer models that have been developed to understand these topics. It is written in an accessible way to appeal to anyone with an interest in cognitive psychology, language, or education.
Collective Self-Defence in International Law
Authors: Green James A.
Published: January 2024

Collective self-defence can be defined as the use of military force by one or more states to aid another state that is an innocent victim of armed attack. However, it is a legal justification that is open to abuse and its exercise risks escalating conflict. Recent years have seen an unprecedented increase in the number of collective self-defence claims. It has been the main basis for US-led action in Syria (2014-) and was advanced by Russia in relation to its full-scale invasion of Ukraine (2022-). Yet there still has been little analysis of collective self-defence in international law. This book crucially progresses the debate on various fundamental and under-explored questions about the conceptual nature of collective self-defence and the requirements for its operation. Green provides the most detailed and extensive account of collective self-defence to date, at a time when it is being invoked more than ever before.
The Nag Hammadi Codices and their Ancient Readers
Authors: Linjamaa Paul
Published: January 2024

Since their discovery in 1945, the Nag Hammadi Codices have generated questions and scholarly debate as to their date and function. Paul Linjamaa contributes to the discussion by offering insights into previously uncharted aspects pertinent to the materiality of the manuscripts. He explores the practical implementation of the texts in their ancient setting through analyses of codicological aspects, paratextual elements, and scribal features. Linjamaa's research supports the hypothesis that the Nag Hammadi texts had their origins in Pachomian monasticism. He shows how Pachomian monks used the texts for textual edification, spiritual development and pedagogical practices. He also demonstrates that the texts were used for perfecting scribal and editorial practice, and that they were used as protective artefacts containing sacred symbols in the continuous monastic warfare against evil spirits. Linjamaa's application of new material methods provides clues to the origins and use of ancient texts, and challenges preconceptions about ancient orthodoxy. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
Magnetic Communications
Authors: Liu Erwu , Sun Zhi , Wang Rui , Guo Hongzhi
Published: January 2024

The ideal reference book providing all the information needed to fully understand magnetic communications in a self-contained source, written by experts in the field. This book offers a comprehensive introduction to magnetic communication using easy-to-understand language to explain concepts throughout and introduces the theory step by step with examples. A careful balance of combined theoretical and practical perspective is given throughout the book with interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary considerations for in-depth and diverse understanding. This book covers the background, developments, fundaments, antennas, channels, performance, protocol related to magnetic communications as well as applications that are of current interest, such as IoT, MIMO and wireless power transfer. The figures of merit within magnetic communication system components are included, demonstrating how to both model and analyze them. This book will be of great benefit to graduate students, researchers, and electrical engineers working in the fields of wireless communications and the internet of things.
Ethnicity in Medieval Europe, 950-1250
Authors: Weeda Claire
Published: January 2024

Students in
twelfth-century Paris held slanging matches, branding the
English drunkards, the Germans madmen and the French as
arrogant. On crusade, army recruits from different ethnic
backgrounds taunted each other's military skills. Men producing
ethnography in monasteries and at court drafted derogatory
descriptions of peoples dwelling in territories under
colonisation, questioning their work ethic, social organisation,
religious devotion and humanness. Monks listed and ruminated on
the alleged traits of Jews, Saracens, Greeks, Saxons and Britons
and their acceptance or rejection of
Christianity.

In this radical new approach to
representations of nationhood in medieval western Europe, the
author argues that ethnic stereotypes were constructed and
wielded rhetorically to justify property claims, flaunt military
strength and assert moral and cultural ascendance over others.
The gendered images of ethnicity in circulation reflect a
negotiation over self-representations of discipline, rationality
and strength, juxtaposed with the alleged chaos and weakness of
racialised others. Interpreting nationhood through a religious
lens, monks and schoolmen explained it as scientifically
informed by environmental medicine, an ancient theory that held
that location and climate influenced the physical and mental
traits of peoples. Drawing on lists of ethnic character traits,
school textbooks, medical treatises, proverbs, poetry and
chronicles, this book shows that ethnic stereotypes served as
rhetorical tools of power, crafting relationships within
communities and towards others.
Peer review of clinical and translational research manuscripts: Perspectives from statistical collaborators
Authors: Schulte Phillip J. , Goldberg Judith D. , Oster Robert A. , Ambrosius Walter T. , Bonner Lauren Balmert , Cabral Howard , Carter Rickey E. , Chen Ye , Desai Manisha , Li Dongmei , Lindsell Christopher J. , Pomann Gina-Maria , Slade Emily , Tosteson Tor D. , Yu Fang , Spratt Heidi
Published: January 2024

Research articles in the clinical and translational science literature commonly use quantitative data to inform evaluation of interventions, learn about the etiology of disease, or develop methods for diagnostic testing or risk prediction of future events. The peer review process must evaluate the methodology used therein, including use of quantitative statistical methods. In this manuscript, we provide guidance for peer reviewers tasked with assessing quantitative methodology, intended to complement guidelines and recommendations that exist for manuscript authors. We describe components of clinical and translational science research manuscripts that require assessment including study design and hypothesis evaluation, sampling and data acquisition, interventions (for studies that include an intervention), measurement of data, statistical analysis methods, presentation of the study results, and interpretation of the study results. For each component, we describe what reviewers should look for and assess; how reviewers should provide helpful comments for fixable errors or omissions; and how reviewers should communicate uncorrectable and irreparable errors. We then discuss the critical concepts of transparency and acceptance/revision guidelines when communicating with responsible journal editors.
Lessons from Environmental and Economic Crises
Authors: Kumekawa Ian
Published: January 2024

Historians have long explored the links between the environmental and the economic. Yet as the global climate crisis deepens with every passing month, it becomes ever more obvious just how related the environmental and the economic are. Driven by the by-products of economic growth, rising sea levels, floods, droughts, and extreme heat devastate ecosystems and claim increasing numbers of lives. They also continue to wreck enormous economic damage, itself the cause of untold immiseration. The climate crisis, most obviously, is an environmental crisis. But it is also an economic crisis and a crisis of political and social action.
The politics of ‘institutionalising’ social protection in Africa: The retrenchment of social cash transfers in Zambia, 2015–2021
Authors: Siachiwena Hangala , Seekings Jeremy
Published: January 2024

Social protection has expanded unevenly across Africa because of variations in both the initial adoption of programmes and their subsequent ‘institutionalisation’ through government-funded expansions in coverage. The case of Zambia illustrates how policy coalitions promoting the institutionalisation of social protection compete with other claimants over prioritisation in public spending. Even when faced with competitive elections, incumbent governments may prioritise other programmes over social protection. In Zambia, the incumbent government announced and budgeted for a massive government-funded expansion of social protection but failed to allocate the necessary funding – with the result that benefits were not paid to registered beneficiaries. If ‘institutionalisation’ is understood as entailing the political irreversibility of expansion, then the rhetoric of institutionalisation belied the reality (for several years) of retrenchment. The weakened policy coalition supporting social protection was unable to prevent government defunding as scarce government resources were allocated to competing programmes.
The influence of shared leadership on taking charge behavior: Dual perspective of cognition–affection
Authors: Zhang Dixuan , Wang Xiaohong , Zhang Shaopeng
Published: January 2024

The purpose of this paper is to explore the influencing mechanism of shared leadership (SL) on taking charge behavior (TCB) based on cognitive–affective system theory. Specifically, the current study intends to build a model of perceived insider status and emotional intelligence that mediate the relationship between SL and TCB from a dual cognitive–affective perspective. Further, given the nature of SL that develops through social interactions, we propose and examine the moderating role of social media use in the relationship between SL and TCB. We used multilevel and multi-sourced data to test the theoretical model and used a social network approach to measure SL in teams. Our findings provide a significant contribution to the literature in that this paper shows perceived insider status and emotional intelligence as a crucial dual mediating mechanism through which SL influences TCB and affords fresh thoughts for IT-related contextual conditions.
Foehn winds influence surface ablation on Glaciar Perito Moreno, southern Patagonian icefield
Authors: Minowa Masahiro , Skvarca Pedro , Fujita Koji
Published: January 2024

The southern Patagonian glaciers are known for having extremely high ablation rates. Foehn winds are one of the suspected causes, however, their influence on the annual ablation, their interannual variations, and their relationship with climate change is not well understood. We analysed the in-situ meteorological data from 2003–2020 recorded at Glaciar Perito Moreno. Daily temperature lapse rates varied substantially, from −7.8°C km−1 to 10.4°C km−1, due to foehn, fog, and katabatic winds. We find that, on average, foehn events occurred 1073 hours per year, and accounted for 20% of the annual surface ablation. This increase in surface ablation rates during foehn events occurs as a result of the enhanced sensible heat flux and net shortwave radiation. The downglacier-directed foehn winds warm the air mass over the glacier, but because of the high humidity of the foehn here, they often release latent heat by condensation. Variations in the Amundsen Sea Low influence foehn occurrence by modulating the westerly winds, which is related to the hemispherical ocean and atmospheric variability. Our results show that the local climate play an important role in the surface melting of Patagonian glaciers.
NOTE ON IMPLYING
Authors: CODY SEAN
Published: January 2024

A short core model induction proof of
$\mathsf {AD}^{L(\mathbb {R})}$
from
$\mathsf {TD} + \mathsf {DC}_{\mathbb {R}}$
.