bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Using Generic Inductive Approach in Qualitative Educational Research: A Case Study Analysis
Authors: Liu Lisha
Published: March 2016

Qualitative research strategy has been widely adopted by educational researchers in order to improve the quality of their empirical studies. This paper aims to introduce a generic inductive approach, pragmatic and flexible in qualitative theoretical support, by describing its application in a study of non-English major undergraduates’ English learning transition from school to university in China. Through an analysis of how this case study was conducted, the main features of the generic inductive approach are discussed in detail. Subsequently, some suggestions for its effective use are put forward so that this approach can help to provide meaningful interpretive power to make sense of the findings in educational research.
Woonplaatsvereisten en export van studiefinanciering
Authors: van Ooik R.H.
Published: March 2016

Woonplaatsvereisten en export van studiefinanciering

In de zaak Prinz en Seeberger spreekt het Hof van Justitie zich (opnieuw) uit over de vraag of een woonplaatseis als voorwaarde voor een recht op export van studiefinanciering, verenigbaar is met de verdragsbepalingen over het vrij verkeer van EU-burgers (art. 20 en 21 VWEU). De twee betrokkenen, Duitse onderdanen, wilden in Nederland respectievelijk Spanje gaan studeren met Duitse studiefinanciering. Zij voldeden echter niet aan de in het Duitse recht vastgelegde zogenoemde driejaarregel: recht op Duitse studiefinanciering voor een volledige hogeronderwijsstudie in een andere EU-lidstaat bestaat alleen indien betrokkene direct voorafgaand aan die buitenlandse studie minstens drie jaar in Duitsland heeft gewoond. Volgens Prinz en Seeberger vormt deze driejaarregel een niet te rechtvaardigen beperking van het recht van Unieburgers op vrij verkeer en verblijf. Na een korte schets van de feitelijke en juridische achtergronden van de zaak wordt het arrest van het Hof van Justitie thematisch besproken, in welke thema’s het commentaar van de auteur is verwerkt, en vervolgens wordt afgesloten met de gevolgen van het arrest voor Nederland.

HvJ EU 18 juli 2013, gevoegde zaken C-523/11 en C-585/11, Laurence Prinz/Land Hannover respectievelijk Philipp Seeberger/Studentenwerk Heidelberg, n.n.g.
De toegang tot het mededingingsdossier
Authors: Beumer A.E.
Published: March 2016

De toegang tot het mededingingsdossierMet Donau Chemie is het einde van de saga nog niet in zicht

In de zaak Donau Chemie bevindt het Hof van Justitie zich wederom op het spanningsveld tussen het faciliteren van schadevergoedingsacties en het beschermen van een effectief clementieprogramma. Het Hof van Justitie oordeelt dat de voorwaarden voor toegang tot documenten uit dossiers van de nationale mededingingsautoriteit met betrekking tot de toepassing van het Europese mededingingsrecht weliswaar worden bepaald door het nationale recht maar dat de doeltreffendheid van een nationaal clementieprogramma kan rechtvaardigen dat een document niet wordt verspreid. Het Hof van Justitie zet hiermee de lijn voort die in het arrest Pfleiderer was ingezet.

HvJ EU 6 juni 2013, zaak C-536/11, Bundeswettbewerbsbehörde/Donau Chemie e.a., n.n.g.
Duurzaamheidsbelangen in het mededingingsrecht
Authors: Gerbrandy A.
Published: March 2016

Duurzaamheidsbelangen in het mededingingsrecht: de positie van ACM ten opzichte van het Hof van Justitie en de Europese Commissie

Met de aankondiging van ACM dat zij in haar mededingingsbeoordeling van samenwerkingsverbanden tussen ondernemingen duurzaamheidsbelangen als relevant in aanmerking neemt, neemt ACM stelling in de discussie over de relatie tussen mededingingsrecht en duurzaamheid. De vraag of ACM eigenstandig beleid kan voeren betreft de verhouding ACM - Europese Commissie - Hof van Justitie. De ruimte die ACM in deze verhouding heeft, is het onderwerp van dit artikel.
Eten is weten: nieuwe regels voor voedselinformatie aan consumenten
Authors: Defares K.J. , Bruggers J.N.
Published: March 2016

Eten is weten: nieuwe regels voor voedselinformatie aan consumenten

De Voedselinformatieverordening brengt een ingrijpende wijziging van de wet- en regelgeving omtrent voedselinformatie op het etiket met zich mee. De belangrijkste bepalingen van deze verordening treden op 13 december 2014 in werking. Op die datum worden tevens het Warenwetbesluit Etikettering van levensmiddelen en het Warenwetbesluit Voedingswaarde-informatie levensmiddelen ingetrokken en treedt het Warenwetbesluit informatie levensmiddelen in werking.

Verordening (EU) nr. 1169/2011 van het Europees Parlement en de Raad van 25 oktober 2011 betreffende de verstrekking van voedselinformatie aan consumenten, tot wijziging van Verordeningen (EG) nr. 1924/2006 en (EG) nr. 1925/2006 van het Europees Parlement en de Raad en tot intrekking van Richtlijn 87/250/EEG van de Commissie, Richtlijn 90/496/EEG van de Raad, Richtlijn 1999/10/EG van de Commissie, Richtlijn 2000/13/EG van het Europees Parlement en de Raad, Richtlijnen 2002/67/EG en 2008/5/EG van de Commissie, en Verordening (EG) nr. 608/2004 van de Commissie, Pb. EU 2011, L 304/18 (rectificatie in Pb. EU 2012, L 247/17)
Splitsing energiebedrijven Europeesrechtelijk belicht
Authors: de Vlam R.
Published: March 2016

Splitsing energiebedrijven Europeesrechtelijk belicht

In het hier te bespreken arrest heeft het Hof van Justitie de bestaande jurisprudentie met betrekking tot het recht van een lidstaat om zijn eigendom in te richten verder aangescherpt. Een algeheel privatiseringsverbod valt binnen de werking van artikel 345 VWEU maar moet desondanks worden getoetst aan de verkeersvrijheden. Een verbod op het uitvoeren van netbeheerstaken binnen een groep waarin ook commerciële energieactiviteiten worden verricht, vormt een inbreuk op de verkeersvrijheden maar kan worden gerechtvaardigd door het niet (zuiver) economische belang van voorkomen van kruissubsidies. Proportionaliteit en functionaliteit van de maatregel moeten door de nationale rechter worden beoordeeld.HvJ EU 22 oktober 2013, gevoegde zaken C-105/12 tot en met C-107/12, Staat der Nederlanden/Essent NV en Essent Nederland BV, Eneco Holding NV en Delta NV, n.n.g.
Enige Europeesrechtelijke aspecten van schaliegaswinning
Authors: Douma W.Th.
Published: March 2016

Enige Europeesrechtelijke aspecten van schaliegaswinning

De bestaande MER-Richtlijn dient zo te worden uitgelegd dat schaliegasprojecten m.e.r.-plichtig zijn, maar dat gebeurt in de praktijk niet. Milieueffectbeoordeling moet daarom expliciet verplicht worden gesteld via de momenteel aanhangige wijzigingsvoorstellen. Wat betreft het gebruik van chemicaliën vormt de REACH Verordening de basis voor evaluatie van gevolgen voor mens en milieu, maar ontbreekt informatie over schaliegaswinning waardoor ook hier aanpassingen wenselijk zijn. Eind 2013 komt er een voorstel van de Commissie dat deze en andere aspecten van schaliegaswinning zou moeten omvatten om mens en milieu beter te beschermen en gelijke uitgangsposities voor concurrenten te scheppen in de EU.

Vindplaats nog invullen
Distribution of vascular plant species in woodland patches of Ojców National Park (southern Poland) in relation to seed dispersal
Authors: Moszkowicz Łukasz
Published: March 2016

Plant diaspore dispersal is a fundamental process affecting the development of forest vegetation and its natural regeneration, especially with regard to typical woodland species, which spread slowly and form short-term soil seed banks. Most of these species have poor seed dispersal mechanisms, which is the major cause of their very slow expansion.

The following questions were asked: (i) is there a relationship between the age of a woodland and the presence of forest vascular plant species representing different seed dispersal types; (ii) how do the proportions change between species representing different seed dispersal types in relation to the age of woodland; (iii) what factors determine the presence of species representing a given seed dispersal type; (iv) which factors affect the presence and which ones influence the abundance of selected woodland species? A multiple regression models were developed based on data obtained from 144 woodland patches designated for the study. A probit regression analysis was performed for selected species exhibiting various seed dispersal models.

Woodland plants of all seed dispersal types show a significant relationship with the age of woodland, starting from the strongest linkage: anemochores, myrmecochores, endozoochores, epizoochores, barochores, autochores. As the woodland ages, the proportion of forest myrmecochores and anemochores grows, whilst the proportion of autochores, epizoochores and endozoochores shrinks. Results obtained indicate that the direct proximity of ancient woodland has a major effect on the occurrence of more poorly dispersing plants in recent woodlands, such as myrmecochores and heavy anemochores.
An electrochemically-driven dual-mode display device with both reflective and emissive modes using poly(p-phenylenevinylene) derivatives
Authors: Tsuneyasu Shota , Jin Lu , Nakamura Kazuki , Kobayashi Norihisa
Published: March 2016

We demonstrate a novel electrochemical dual-mode displaying (DMD) device, which enables control of both coloration and light emission using an electrochemical reaction. The coloration control of the DMD device was based on an electrochromic (EC) reaction, whereas the light emission of the device was caused by an electrochemiluminescence (ECL) mechanism. This novel DMD device consisted of a pair of facing conductive polymer-modified electrodes: comb-shaped interdigitated Au electrodes modified with poly[2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] (MEH-PPV) layers and poly(2,3-dihydrothieno-1,4-dioxin)–poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT/PSS) film-modified indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes. When a bias voltage was applied between the PEDOT/PSS film-modified ITO electrode and the comb-shaped electrodes, a color change of the device was observed by the EC reaction of the MEH-PPV and PEDOT/PSS. On the other hand, an emission was obtained when the bias voltage was applied between two comb-shaped interdigitated electrodes. The orange emission was ascribed to the ECL reaction of the MEH-PPV layer, which resulted from the formation of a p–i–n junction in this layer.
Study on void reduction in direct wafer bonding using Al2O3/HfO2 bonding interface for high-performance Si high-k MOS optical modulators
Authors: Han Jae-Hoon , Takenaka Mitsuru , Takagi Shinichi
Published: March 2016

We have investigated the direct wafer bonding (DWB) method with a thin bonding dielectric interface to fabricate Si high-k MOS optical modulators with a thin equivalent oxide thickness (EOT). To suppress void generation on the bonded wafer during high-temperature annealing, we examined the high-k dielectric bonding interfacial layers, such as Al2O3 and HfO2. We found that the Al2O3/HfO2 bilayer enables void-less wafer bonding in conjunction with pre-bonding annealing at 700 °C. By using the 0.5-nm Al2O3/2.0-nm HfO2 bonding interface, the density of voids is reduced by three orders of magnitude as compared with that in the case of using the Al2O3 bonding interface. We achieved a density of voids of approximately 2 × 10−3 cm−2 even when the bonded wafer is annealed at 700 °C. By thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS), we found that degassing from the bonding interface is successfully suppressed by the introduction of the HfO2 layer and the pre-bonding annealing at 700 °C, which are considered to suppress void generation. Wafer bonding with thin Al2O3/HfO2 high-k bonding interface is promising for Si high-k MOS optical modulators.
Evaluation of in-plane local stress distribution in stacked IC chip using dynamic random access memory cell array for highly reliable three-dimensional IC
Authors: Tanikawa Seiya , Kino Hisashi , Fukushima Takafumi , Koyanagi Mitsumasa , Tanaka Tetsu
Published: March 2016

As three-dimensional (3D) ICs have many advantages, IC performances can be enhanced without scaling down of transistor size. However, 3D IC has mechanical stresses inside Si substrates owing to its 3D stacking structure, which induces negative effects on transistor performances such as carrier mobility changes. One of the mechanical stresses is local bending stress due to organic adhesive shrinkage among stacked IC chips. In this paper, we have proposed an evaluation method for in-plane local stress distribution in the stacked IC chips using retention time modulation of a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) cell array. We fabricated a test structure composed of a DRAM chip bonded on a Si interposer with dummy Cu/Sn microbumps. As a result, we clarified that the DRAM cell array can precisely evaluate the in-plane local stress distribution in the stacked IC chips.
Highly flexible nearest-neighbor-search associative memory with integrated k nearest neighbor classifier, configurable parallelism and dual-storage space
Authors: An Fengwei , Mihara Keisuke , Yamasaki Shogo , Chen Lei , Mattausch Hans Jürgen
Published: March 2016

VLSI-implementations are often applied to solve the high computational cost of pattern matching but have usually low flexibility for satisfying different target applications. In this paper, a digital word-parallel associative memory architecture for k nearest neighbor (KNN) search, which is one of the most basic algorithms in pattern recognition, is reported applying the squared Euclidean distance measure. The reported architecture features reconfigurable parallelism, dual-storage space to achieve a flexible number of reference vectors, and a dedicated majority vote circuit. Programmable switching circuits, located between vector components, enable scalability of the searching parallelism by configuring the reference feature-vector dimensionality. A pipelined storage with dual static-random-access-memory (SRAM) cells for each unit and an intermediate winner control circuit are designed to extend the applicability by improving the flexibility of the reference storage. A test chip in 180 nm CMOS technology, which has 32 rows, 4 elements in each row and 2-parallel 8-bit dual-components in each element, consumes altogether 61.4 mW and in particular only 11.9 mW during the reconfigurable KNN classification (at 45.58 MHz and 1.8 V).
High-performance calcium-doped zinc oxide thin-film transistors fabricated on glass at low temperature
Authors: Yu Wen , Han Dedong , Cui Guodong , Cong Yingying , Dong Junchen , Zhang Xiaomi , Zhang Xing , Wang Yi , Zhang Shengdong
Published: March 2016

High-performance calcium-doped zinc oxide thin-film transistors (Ca-ZnO TFTs) have been successfully fabricated on transparent glass at low temperature by RF magnetron sputtering. To study the effects of calcium doping on zinc oxide thin-film transistors, the characteristics of Ca-ZnO TFTs and ZnO TFTs are compared and analyzed in detail from different perspectives, including electrical performance, surface morphology, and crystal structure of the material. The results suggest that the incorporation of calcium element can decrease the root-mean-square roughness of the material, suppress growth of a columnar structure, and improve device performance. The TFTs with Ca-ZnO active layer exhibit excellent electrical properties with the saturation mobility (μsat) of 147.1 cm2 V−1 s−1, threshold voltage (V
t) of 2.91 V, subthreshold slope (SS) of 0.271 V/dec, and I
on/I
off ratio of 2.34 × 108. In addition, we also study the uniformity of the devices. The experimental results show that the Ca-ZnO TFTs possess good uniformity, which is important for large-area application.
Photoassisted impedance spectroscopy for quantum dot solar cells
Authors: Hoshii Takuya , Naitoh Shunya , Okada Yoshitaka
Published: March 2016

In this study, the photoirradiation effect on the impedance of quantum dot solar cells (QDSCs) is evaluated. QDSCs under 1070 nm LED irradiation show current generation owing to the combination of photoexcitation and thermal escape via the QD state and exhibit an increase in conductance. On the other hand, 1550 nm LED irradiation increases the conductance of QDSCs with Si doping, although the current is not extracted. This result can be explained by the state filling of QDs by Si doping. Furthermore, the carrier generation efficiency is estimated, which implies that photoassisted impedance spectroscopy can potentially be used to evaluate intermediate-band solar cells.
Rental Housing Deposits and Health Care Use
Authors: Knox Margae J. , Hernandez Elizabeth A. , Ahern Jennifer , Brown Daniel M. , Rodriguez Hector P. , Fleming Mark D. , Brewster Amanda L.
Published: September 2024

Importance

Housing deposits and tenancy supports have become new Medicaid benefits in multiple states; however, evidence on impacts from these specific housing interventions is limited.

Objective

To evaluate the association of rental housing deposits and health care use among Medicaid beneficiaries receiving social needs case management as part of a Whole-Person Care (Medicaid 1115 waiver) pilot program in California.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cohort study compared changes in health care use among a group of adults who received a housing deposit between October 2018 and December 2021 along with case management vs a matched comparison group who received case management only in Contra Costa County, California, a large county in the San Francisco Bay Area. All participants were enrolled in health and social needs case management based on elevated risk of acute care use. Data analysis took place from March 2023 to June 2024.

Exposure

Rental housing deposit funds that covered 1-time moving transition costs. Funds averaged $1750 per recipient.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Changes in hospitalizations, emergency department visits, primary care visits, specialty care visits, behavioral health visits, psychiatric emergency services, or detention intakes during the 6 months before vs 6 months after deposit receipt. Changes 12 months before and after deposit receipt were examined as a sensitivity analysis.

Results

Of 1690 case management participants, 845 received a housing deposit (362 [42.8%] <40 years old; 422 [49.9%] male) and 845 received case management only (367 [43.4%] <40 years old; 426 [50.4%] male). In adjusted analyses, deposit recipients had no statistically significant differential changes in health care use for any measure compared to participants who received case management alone. Twelve-month sensitivity analyses yielded consistent results.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cohort study, compared to case management only, housing deposits with case management were not associated with short-term changes in health care use. There may be other unmeasured health benefits or downstream benefits from greater case management engagement. States considering housing deposits as an expanded Medicaid benefit may need to temper expectations about short-term health care use impacts.
Drug-Drug Interactions and the Clinical Tolerability of Colchicine Among Patients With COVID-19
Authors: Alfehaid Lama S. , Farah Subrina , Omer Azza , Weber Brittany N. , Alkhezi Omar , Tawfik Yahya M. K. , Shah Amil M. , Libby Peter , Buckley Leo F.
Published: September 2024

Importance

Colchicine has many drug-drug interactions with commonly prescribed medications. Only pharmacokinetic studies have provided data on colchicine drug-drug interactions.

Objective

To evaluate the clinical tolerability of colchicine according to the presence or absence of a drug-drug interaction.

Design, Setting, and Participants

A secondary analysis of the COLCORONA trial was performed. The COLCORONA trial was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted in Brazil, Canada, Greece, South Africa, Spain, and the US between March 23, 2020, and January 20, 2021. The COLCORONA trial included ambulatory patients with COVID-19 with at least 1 high-risk characteristic and compared the effects of colchicine (0.5 mg twice daily for 3 days, then 0.5 mg daily thereafter) with placebo for 27 days. Data analysis was performed from February 24, 2023, to June 20, 2024.

Exposure

In this secondary analysis, baseline medications that had interactions with colchicine were identified using a previously published expert classification.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome for this analysis was the composite of serious and nonserious treatment-related and treatment-unrelated gastrointestinal adverse events. The secondary outcomes were other adverse events and the composite of death or hospital admission due to COVID-19 infection. Logistic regression models adjusted for age, sex, estimated glomerular filtration rate, diabetes, heart failure, and myocardial infarction were assessed for effect modification of the association between the randomization arm and the outcomes of interest by drug-drug interaction status.

Results

The cohort included 2205 participants in the colchicine arm and 2227 in the placebo arm (median age, 54 [IQR, 47-61] years; 2389 [54%] women). The most common colchicine drug-drug interactions were rosuvastatin (12%) and atorvastatin (10%). In fully adjusted models, the odds of any gastrointestinal adverse event were 1.80 (95% CI, 1.51-2.15) times higher in the colchicine arm than the placebo arm among people without a drug-drug interaction and 1.68 (95% CI, 1.24-2.26) times higher in the colchicine arm than the placebo arm among people with a drug-drug interaction (P = .69 for interaction). Drug-drug interaction status did not significantly modify the effect of colchicine on the composite of COVID-19 hospitalization or death (odds ratio, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.59-1.40 for drug-drug interaction and 0.84; 95% CI, 0.60-1.19 for no drug-drug interaction; P = .80 for interaction).

Conclusions and Relevance

In this secondary analysis of the COLCORONA trial, operational classification of drug interactions system class 3 or 4 drug-drug interactions did not appear to significantly increase the risk of colchicine-related adverse effects.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04322682
COVID-19 and Rates of Cancer Diagnosis in the US
Authors: Burus Todd , Lei Feitong , Huang Bin , Christian W. Jay , Hull Pamela C. , Ellis Amanda R. , Slavova Svetla , Tucker Thomas C. , Lang Kuhs Krystle A.
Published: September 2024

Importance

US cancer diagnoses were substantially lower than expected during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. A national study on the extent to which rates recovered in 2021 has not yet been conducted.

Objective

To examine observed vs expected cancer rate trends for January 2020 to December 2021.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cross-sectional, population-based study of cancer incidence trends used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results 22 (SEER-22) Registries Database, which covers 47.9% of the US population. Included individuals were those with an invasive cancer diagnosis reported to registries included in SEER-22 between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2021.

Exposures

Age, sex, race and ethnicity, urbanicity, and stage at diagnosis.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Expected cancer incidence rates were measured for the COVID-19 pandemic years of 2020 and 2021 from prepandemic trends using ensemble forecasting methods. Relative difference between observed and expected cancer incidence rates and numbers of potentially missed cases were measured.

Results

The SEER-22 registries reported 1 578 697 cancer cases in 2020 and 2021, including 798 765 among male individuals (50.6%) and 909 654 among persons aged 65 years or older (57.6%). Observed all-sites cancer incidence rates were lower than expected by 9.4% in 2020 (95% prediction interval [PI], 8.5%-10.5%), lower than expected by 2.7% in 2021 (95% PI, 1.4%-3.9%), and lower than expected by 6.0% across both years combined (95% PI, 5.1%-7.1%), resulting in 149 577 potentially undiagnosed cancer cases (95% PI, 126 059-176 970). Of the 4 screening-detected cancers, only female breast cancer showed significant recovery in 2021, exceeding expected rates by 2.5% (95% PI, 0.1%-4.8%), while significant reductions remained for lung cancer (9.1% lower than expected; 95% PI, 6.4%-13.2%) and cervical cancer (4.5% lower than expected; 95% PI, 0.4%-8.0%), particularly for early stage at diagnosis. Rates of all-sites cancer incidence returned to prepandemic trends in 2021 among female individuals, persons aged younger than 65 years, and persons of non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander race and ethnicity.

Conclusions and Relevance

This population-based cross-sectional study of US cancer incidence trends found that rates of diagnosis improved in 2021 but continued to be lower than expected, adding to the existing deficit of diagnosed cases from 2020. Particular attention should be directed at strategies to immediately increase cancer screenings to make up lost ground.
Cigarette use low, binge drinking up in 35‐50 year olds: MTF
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: September 2024

There were positive and negative findings in the latest Monitoring the Future survey. Dividing the public into two adult groups – ages 19 to 30 and ages 35 to 50 – there was one positive in both: cigarette use stayed low.
Laser Patterning for 2D Lateral and Vertical VS2/MoS2 Metal/Semiconducting Heterostructures
Authors: Liang Jingyi , Huang Wen , Zhang Zimei , Li Xin , Lu Pin , Li Wei , Liu Miaomiao , Huangfu Ying , Song Rong , Wu Ruixia , Li Bo , Lin Zhang , Chai Liyuan , Duan Xidong , Li Jia
Published: September 2024

2D metal/semiconducting heterostructures have attracted extensive attention for potential applications in future electronic and optoelectronic devices. However, the simple and fast preparation of patterned metal/semiconducting heterostructures with controllable channel lengths still faces challenges. Here, a simple and reliable laser patterning method for preparing patterned lateral/vertical 1T/2H VS2/MoS2 metal/semiconducting heterostructures is reported. Specifically, site‐selective etching of VS2 can be realized through the combination of laser radiation and acid solution etching. Further, pre‐patterned VS2 nanoplates with edge dangling bonds can offer effective nucleation points for the lateral epitaxial growth of MoS2, thus generating patterned VS2‐MoS2 lateral heterostructures. The laser processing method can further be used to create patterned VS2/MoS2 vertical van der Waals (vdWHs), which can only selectively etch the upper layer VS2 while maintaining the intrinsic structure of the bottom layer MoS2. The obtained patterned VS2/MoS2 vdWHs show a similar channel length of ≈420 nm, and the VS2 vdW contact MoS2 transistor is fabricated, delivering an On‐state current of 4.01 µA/µm, and carrier mobility of 3.56 cm2 s−1 V−1. This approach is also general for preparing patterned VSe2, VSe2/WSe2 heterostructures.
Investigation of Key Electronic States in Layered Mixed Chalcogenides With a d0 Transition Metal as Li‐Ion Cathodes
Authors: Kumar Khagesh , Sunariwal Neelam , Louis Jacques , Leube Bernhard T. , Roy Indrani , Sterbinsky George E. , Tarascon Jean‐Marie , Cabana Jordi
Published: September 2024

Lithium‐rich transition metal chalcogenides are witnessing a revival as candidates for Li‐ion cathode materials, spurred by the boost in their capacities from transcending conventional redox processes based on cationic states and tapping into additional chalcogenide states. A particularly striking case is Li2TiS3‐ySey, which features a d0 metal. While the end members are expectedly inactive, substantial capacities are measured when both Se and S are present. Using X‐ray absorption spectroscopy, it is shown that the electronic structure of Li2TiS3‐ySey is not a simple combination of the end members. The data confirm previous hypotheses that, in Li2TiS2.4Se0.6, this behavior is underpinned by concurrent and reversible redox of only S and Se, and identify key electronic states. Moreover, wavelet transforms of the extended X‐ray absorption fine structure provide direct evidence of the formation of short Se–Se units upon charging. The study uncovers the underpinnings of this intriguing reactivity and highlights the richness of redox chemistry in complex solids.
Flexible Ti3C2Tx MXene Regulated Photoelectrochemical Sensing Platform for Sensitive Monitoring of Dopamine
Authors: Jiang Degang , Cao Xueying , Shi Yantian , Chen Jiahao , Li Xinyue , Liu Jing , Zhou Hong
Published: September 2024

Flexible photoelectrochemical (PEC) based sensors have been extensively investigated for noninvasive healthcare monitoring. However, known electrode materials struggle to combine technologically relevant metrics of high sensitivity and flexibility due to their low electrical conductivity and fragile mechanical properties. Herein, a flexible PEC‐based sensor for dopamine (DA) detection is presented by integrating highly conductive and flexible MXene between CdS quantum dots and g‐C3N4 with suitable energy level matching. Theoretical calculations reveal that the interfaces of constructed PEC electrodes with enhanced electronic conductivity derived from MXene not only improve the electron transfer kinetics, but form built‐in electric fields at the interfaces, facilitating the separation efficiency of electron–hole pairs. As a result, the as‐prepared sensors display the combined advantages of a wide detection range (1 nM–0.1 mM), low detection limit (0.48 nM), high stability, selectivity, and repeatability for DA detection. Building on these metrics, a scalable screen‐printing method is further developed for integrating the sensors on flexible platforms. These all‐integrated PEC‐based sensors exhibit stable photocurrent signals under different bending angles and bending cycles. Therefore, this work demonstrates the scalable development of flexible PEC‐based sensors for the sensitive detection of DA and holds promise for the future development of noninvasive healthcare monitoring.
Pt‐Sn/Sb Interaction Induces Reversed Charge Transfer and Selective Hydroxyl Adsorption for Enhanced Hydrogen Electro‐Oxidation
Authors: Wang Xiaoning , Gao Xiaochun , Tang Li , Sun Puhua , Liu Ying , Hou Shaoqi , Tong Yanfu , Yin Xitao , Ma Xiaoguang
Published: September 2024

The challenges encountered by Pt‐based electrocatalysts in alkaline hydrogen oxidation reaction include high Pt dosage and conflicting demands for modulating adsorption strengths among diverse intermediates. Here, an ultrasmall Pt cluster grafted on antimony tin oxide nanocrystalline with strong electron donor ability to minimal Pt dosage yet maximized electrocatalytic performance is developed. Mechanism studies show that the formation of Pt–Sn/Sb interaction at the heterointerface and the resultant reversed electron transfer selectively enhance the adsorption for OH‐ while concurrently weakening the binding strength for *H and CO toward Pt clusters. This accelerates the kinetics of H2/CO oxidation by promoting the binding of OH species with *H/*CO, yielding the catalyst with up to 5.7‐fold higher mass‐specific activity than benchmark Pt/C and increased resistance to CO poisoning. This work demonstrates the rational design of the synergistic multi‐site interactions towards advanced Pt‐based catalysts.
Thieno[3, 4‐b]thiadiazole Based Donor‐Acceptor Cyclic Oligomers: Ring Size‐Dependent Photophysical Properties and Efficient Near‐Infrared Electroluminescence Beyond 900 nm
Authors: Zhang Wenxuan , Liu Wansheng , Xu Zhichen , An Kang , Li Qian‐Hui , Wang Zhengyan , Lei Peng , Zeng Qingdao , Li Ning , Yi YuanPing , Wu Hongbin , Wan Jun‐Hua
Published: September 2024

Organic donor‐acceptor (D‐A) conjugated macrocycles, which are regarded as terminal‐less counterparts of linear π‐systems, have emerged as a promising class material for organic optoelectronics. Nevertheless, circular symmetry generally makes the lowest electronic transition symmetry forbidden, which is a huge obstacle to developing bright near‐infrared macrocyclic dyes. Here, a series of cyclic D‐A oligomers (e.g., cyclic D‐A dimer ([2]C16TT‐TPA), trimer ([3]C16TT‐TPA), and tetramer ([4]C16TT‐TPA)) are synthesized in which triphenylamine and 4,6‐bisthienylthieno[3,4‐c]thiadiazole are alternately coupled. The ring size‐dependent photophysical properties of D‐A cyclic oligomers, such as photoluminescence quantum yield and radiative decay rate, are revealed through both experiments and theoretical calculations. Owing to conformational flexibility and dominant twisted conformation, [3]C16TT‐TPA shows increasing S0→S1 transition and thereby produces a champion photoluminescence quantum yield of 6.35  % in solution with emission beyond 900 nm, much higher than that of acyclic oligomer (1.56%). Furthermore, the [3]C16TT‐TPA‐based organic light‐emitting diode achieves a relatively high external quantum efficiency of 0.15% with a maximum radiance of 2897 mW sr−1 m−2. The study not only provides insights into the mechanism of ring size‐dependent photophysical properties but also demonstrates the potential of D–A cyclic oligomers for bright near‐infrared emitters.
Achieving Eu2+ Luminescence at Trivalent Lattice Site in Rb3Y(PO4)2:Eu toward Multicolor Emissions by Carbon and Hydrogen Coreduction
Authors: Zhao Ming , Ge Yeping , Li Yurong , Song Xiaoyan , Zhang Xinping
Published: September 2024

The advancement of Eu2+‐activated luminescent materials tailored to exhibit a range of properties is crucial for addressing the specific demands of various application fields. However, the lack of suitable lattice sites in numerous compounds for stable Eu2+ incorporation restricts their potential for diverse optical properties. Herein, a facile strategy of carbon and hydrogen coreduction utilizing graphite crucibles is proposed to effectively achieve the impressive luminescence of Eu2+ at trivalent Y sites in Rb3Y(PO4)2:Eu phosphors. Rb3Y(PO4)2:Eu exhibits blue‐violet emission when Eu2+ predominantly occupies the Rb1 and Rb2 sites. Inspiringly, by facilitating the reduction of more Eu3+ to Eu2+, a yellow emission band at 550 nm arising from Eu2+ at Y sites emerges, enabling the realization of single‐component white‐emitting and yellow‐emitting Rb3Y(PO4)2:Eu phosphors. The diverse luminescent properties of Rb3Y(PO4)2:Eu expand its potential applications in different white light source devices and optical thermometry. This work presents an innovative synthetic strategy to develop remarkable Eu2+ luminescence at trivalent cation sites, thereby broadening the optical properties of the material and enabling multifunctional applications.
Hybrid Passive Cooling for Power Equipment Enabled by Metal‐Organic Framework
Authors: Liu Xiangyu , Li Pengli , Liu Yijie , Zhang Chuan , He Meng , Pei Zhantao , Chen Jie , Shi Kunming , Liu Fei , Wang Wanlin , Zhang Wang , Jiang Pingkai , Huang Xingyi
Published: September 2024

While providing electrical energy for human society, power equipment also consumes electricity and generate heat. Cooling equipment consumes a significant amount of electricity, further increasing energy consumption and load on the power grid. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop low‐energy and sustainable cooling technologies for power equipment. In this study, a hybrid passive cooling composite designed to enhance heat dissipation for heavy‐load power equipment is introduced. Specifically, the composite material achieves outstanding radiative cooling performance with an average solar reflectance of up to 0.98, while its excellent atmospheric water harvesting performance ensures high evaporation cooling power without the need for manual water replenishment. As a result, the composite effectively lowers the temperature of outdoor heavy‐load power equipment (e.g., transformers) by 25.3 °C. The excellent heat dissipation properties of the composite make it a powerful tool in safeguarding electrical systems.
Balancing Edge Defects and Graphitization in a Pt–Fe/Carbon Electrocatalyst for High‐Power‐Density and Durable Flow Seawater‐Al/Acid Hybrid Fuel Cells and Zn–Air Batteries
Authors: Li Hao , Zhang Mengtian , Wang Mi , Du Minghao , Wang Zijian , Zou Yongxing , Pan Guangxing , Zhang Jiaheng
Published: September 2024

Overcoming the trade‐off between the graphitization of the carbon substrate and enhanced electronic metal–support interaction (EMSI) and intrinsic activity of Pt‐C catalysts remains a major challenge for ensuring the durable operation of energy conversion devices. This article presents a hybrid catalyst consisting of PtFe nanoparticles and single Pt and Fe atoms supported on N‐doped carbon (PtFeNPs@PtFeSAs‐N‐C), which exhibits improved activities in hydrogen evolution and oxygen reduction reactions (HER and ORR, respectively) and has excellent durability owing to the high graphitization, rich edge defects, and porosity of the carbon in PtFeNPs@PtFeSAs‐N‐C, as well as strong EMSI between the PtFe nanoparticles and edge‐defective carbon embedded with Pt and Fe atoms. According to theoretical calculations, the strong EMSI optimizes the H* adsorption–desorption and facilitates the adsorption OOH*, accelerating the HER and ORR processes. A novel flow seawater‐Al/acid hybrid fuel cell using the PtFeNPs@PtFeSAs‐N‐C cathode can serve as a high‐efficiency energy conversion device that delivers a high power density of 109.5 mW cm−2 while producing H2 at a significantly high rate of 271.6 L m−2 h−1. Moreover, PtFeNPs@PtFeSAs‐N‐C exhibits a remarkable performance (high power density of 298.0 mW cm−2 and long‐term durability of 1000 h) in a flow Zn–air battery.
Cutaneous Electrohydraulic (CUTE) Wearable Devices for Pleasant Broad‐Bandwidth Haptic Cues
Authors: Sanchez‐Tamayo Natalia , Yoder Zachary , Rothemund Philipp , Ballardini Giulia , Keplinger Christoph , Kuchenbecker Katherine J.
Published: September 2024

By focusing on vibrations, current wearable haptic devices underutilize the skin's perceptual capabilities. Devices that provide richer haptic stimuli, including contact feedback and/or variable pressure, are typically heavy and bulky due to the underlying actuator technology and the low sensitivity of hairy skin, which covers most of the body. This article presents a system architecture for compact wearable devices that deliver salient and pleasant broad‐bandwidth haptic cues: Cutaneous Electrohydraulic (CUTE) devices combine a custom materials design for soft haptic electrohydraulic actuators that feature high stroke, high force, and electrical safety with a comfortable mounting strategy that places the actuator in a non‐contact resting position. A prototypical wrist‐wearable CUTE device produces rich tactile sensations by making and breaking contact with the skin (2.44 mm actuation stroke), applying high controllable forces (exceeding 2.3 N), and delivering vibrations at a wide range of amplitudes and frequencies (0–200 Hz). A perceptual study with 14 participants achieves 97.9% recognition accuracy across six diverse cues and verifies their pleasant and expressive feel. This system architecture for wearable devices gives unprecedented control over the haptic cues delivered to the skin, providing an elegant and discreet way to activate the user's sense of touch.
Flour‐Infused Dry Processed Electrode Enhancing Lithium‐Ion Battery Performance
Authors: He Renjie , Zhong Wei , Cai Chuyue , Li Shuping , Cheng Shijie , Xie Jia
Published: September 2024

Electrodes are vital for lithium‐ion battery performance. The primary method for large‐scale electrode production involves wet slurry casting methods, which encounter challenges related to solvent usage, energy consumption, and mechanical stability. Dry processed (DP) electrodes are a promising alternative but struggle with rate capability and mechanical properties. Here, an approach of incorporating 1 wt.% flour into DP electrodes (DP–1%F) through a binder fibrillation strategy is introduced, which enhances the mechanical strength, rate performance, and cycling stability of the electrodes. The cross‐linking of protein and starch in flour, along with the fibrillation of Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), enable the DP–1%F electrode to exhibit robust mechanical properties and high flexibility. Additionally, the incorporation of flour makes the DP electrode primarily create large pores, reducing electrode tortuosity, thereby endowing the DP–1%F electrode with improved kinetic behavior. The robust mechanical properties and improved kinetic behavior suppress the development of irreversible phase transitions and intragranular/intergranular cracks. These characteristics led to the superior cycling stability of the DP–1%F electrodes with a capacity retention of 80.3% after 260 cycles at 2C and 4.5 V (LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2). The findings offer valuable insights for the development of high‐power, long‐life DP electrodes, addressing key challenges in lithium‐ion batteries.
Thermal‐Assisted Photosynthesis of Nitric Acid From Air
Authors: Li Mingzhu , Fang Long , Zhang Linlin , Shi Chuanwei , Guo Mingxia , Jin Yu , Yang Xiaolong , Liu Xia , Ding Xin
Published: September 2024

Photocatalytic nitrogen oxidation reactions has emerged as promising techniques for air‐based nitrate synthesis, bolstering sustainable nitrogen fixation in industrial chains centered around nitrates. However, significant disparities in orbital energy levels impose constraints on N2 conversion, highlighting the pivotal role of nitrogen activation, particularly in oxygen‐rich environments. Herein, a novel Ir‐WO3 catalyst with cation vacancy chains is fabricated and utilized as a highly efficient catalyst for thermal‐assisted nitrogen oxidation under an innovative discontinuous light illumination strategy. Remarkably, an unexpected NO3− yield of 381.21 µmol g−1 h−1 is achieved, marking a 10.4‐fold increase compared to regular continuous light illumination. This exceptional performance is attributed to the unique structure and discontinuous light illumination, which lowered the energy barrier of the rate‐determining step for forming *NN(OH) intermediates and enhanced the abundance of •OH. Furthermore, a novel •OH assisted nitrogen activation mechanism is proposed based on the identification of crucial N2O intermediate and operando experiments. This work offers novel insights into free radicals‐based photocatalytic conversion processes and also presents a potential nitrate synthesis pathway for nitrates‐centric industrial nitrogen fixation chains.
Metal‐Free Generation of Acyl Fluorides via Activation of Cyclopropyl Esters using a Hypervalent Iodine(III) Species and Selectfluor
Authors: Choi Eun‐Sol , Lee Hyo‐Jun , Maruoka Keiji
Published: September 2024

An efficient method for the activation of non‐activated cyclopropyl esters is developed using a hypervalent iodine(III) species and Selectfluor for the generation of acyl fluoride intermediates. The reactive acyl fluoride intermediate is smoothly transformed into various functional groups such as amides, esters, thioesters, and ketones depending on the nucleophile used in the in‐situ transformation. Utilizing the oxidation process of an iodoarene by Selectfluor, the activation is improved from a stoichiometric to catalytic protocol. Furthermore, the activation is employed in the chemoselective activation of target cyclopropyl ester in the presence of other ester moieties.
Dying of pestilence: Stature and mortality from the Black Death in 14th‐century Kyrgyzstan
Authors: Hansen David W. , DeWitte Sharon N. , Slavin Philip
Published: September 2024

Objectives

Bioarchaeological studies have provided important information about mortality patterns during the second pandemic of plague, including the Black Death, but most to date have focused on European contexts. This study represents a spatial contribution to plague bioarchaeology, focusing on Central Asia, the origin of the second pandemic. We examine the relationship between stature and plague mortality during an outbreak of plague at Kara‐Djigach in northern Kyrgyzstan in 1338–1339, the earliest archaeological site known to contain victims of the Black Death in Eurasia.

Methods

This study uses epigraphic data and in situ measurements from the Syriac Christian cemeteries at Kara‐Djigach, obtained from field notes from excavations conducted by Russian archaeologists in the 1880s (n = 34 individuals). The epigraphic data provide detailed information about the interred individuals, including occupations, year of death, and gender. In situ measurements provide data on adult stature. This study uses chi‐square and Fisher's exact tests to examine relationships between stature and plague at the site.

Results

We find evidence that relatively short people were disproportionately affected by plague when compared with non‐plague years.

Discussion

These results might reflect increased mortality risks from plague based on exposure to early life biological stress events.
Technical note: Does scan resolution or downsampling impact the analysis of trabecular bone architecture?
Authors: Lukova Andrea , Dunmore Christopher J. , Tsegai Zewdi J. , Bachmann Sebastian , Synek Alexander , Skinner Matthew M.
Published: September 2024

The “gold standard” for the assessment of trabecular bone structure is high‐resolution micro‐CT. In this technical note, we test the influence of initial scan resolution and post hoc downsampling on the quantitative and qualitative analysis of trabecular bone in a Gorilla tibia. We analyzed trabecular morphology in the right distal tibia of one Gorilla gorilla individual to investigate the impact of variation in voxel size on measured trabecular variables. For each version of the micro‐CT volume, trabecular bone was segmented using the medical image analysis method. Holistic morphometric analysis was then used to analyze bone volume (BV/TV), anisotropy (DA), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), spacing (Tb.Sp), and number (Tb.N). Increasing voxel size during initial scanning was found to have a strong impact on DA and Tb.Th measures, while BV/TV, Tb.Sp, and Tb.N were found to be less sensitive to variations in initial scan resolution. All tested parameters were not substantially influenced by downsampling up to 90 μm resolution. Color maps of BV/TV and DA also retained their distribution up to 90 μm. This study is the first to examine the effect of variation in micro‐CT voxel size on the analysis of trabecular bone structure using whole epiphysis approaches. Our results indicate that microstructural variables may be measured for most trabecular parameters up to a voxel size of 90 μm for both scan and downsampled resolutions. Moreover, if only BV/TV, Tb.Sp or Tb.N is measured, even larger voxel sizes might be used without substantially affecting the results.
Rational Molecular Design of a Fluorescent Probe for Selectively Sensing Human Cytochrome P450 2D6
Authors: Ning Jing , Tian Zhenhao , Wang Jiayue , Yan Fei , Shi Chao , Zhang Shujing , Feng Lei , Shu Xiaohong , Cui Jingnan , James Tony D. , Ma Xiaochi
Published: September 2024

Cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) is a key enzyme that mediates the metabolism of various drugs and endogenous substances in humans. However, its biological role in drug‐drug interactions especially mechanism‐based inactivation (MBI), and various diseases remains poorly understood, owing to the lack of molecular tools suitable for selectively monitoring CYP2D6 in complex biological systems. Herein, using a tailored molecular strategy, we developed a fluorescent probe BDPM for CYP2D6. BDPM exhibits excellent specificity and imaging capability for CYP2D6, making it suitable for the real‐time monitoring of endogenous CYP2D6 activity in living bio‐samples. Therefore, our tailored strategy proved useful for constructing the highly selective and enzyme‐activated fluorescent probes. BDPM as a molecular tool to explore the critical roles of CYP2D6 in the pathogenesis of diseases, high‐throughput screening of inhibitors and intensive investigation of CYP2D6‐induced MBI in natural systems.