bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of a Microfluidic Formatted Ultrasound‐Controlled Monodisperse Lipid Vesicles' Hydrogel Dressing Combined with Ultrasound for Transdermal Drug Delivery System
Authors: He Chengdian , He Xiong , Zhang Yi , Han Xiaofeng , Yang Yujun , Shen Yong , Wang Teng , Wu Qing , Yang Yukun , Xu Wei , Bai Jin , Wang Zhenyu
Published: May 2023

Transdermal drug delivery system (TDDS) has attracted much attention in the pharmaceutical technology area. However, the current methods are difficult to ensure penetration efficiency, controllability, and safety in the dermis, so its widespread clinical use has been limited. This work proposes an ultrasound‐controlled monodisperse lipid vesicles (U‐CMLVs) hydrogel dressing, which combines with ultrasound to form TDDS. Using microfluidic technology, prepare size controllable U‐CMLVs with high drug encapsulation efficiency and quantitative encapsulation of ultrasonic response materials, and even uniform mix them with hydrogel to prepare the required thickness of dressings. The high encapsulation efficiency can ensure sufficient dosage of the drugs and further realize the control of ultrasonic response through quantitative encapsulation of ultrasound‐responsive materials. Using high frequency (5 MHz, 0.4 W cm−2) and low frequency (60 kHz, 1 W cm−2) ultrasound to control the movement and rupture of U‐CMLVs, the contents not only penetrate the stratum corneum into the epidermis but also break through the bottleneck of penetration efficiency, and deep into the dermis. These findings provide the groundwork for deep, controllable, efficient, and safe drug delivery through TDDS and lay a foundation for further expanding its application.
Tremor in Patients with Relapsing‐Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: Clinical Characteristics and Impact on Quality of Life
Authors: Shalash Ali , Elhodeby Ahmed Mohamed , Saad Mahmoud , Abdelzaher Ibrahim Yosra , Hamid Eman , Nasef Ayman
Published: May 2023

Background

Little is known about the prevalence and clinical characteristics of tremors in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), their associated clinical disability, and their impact on quality of life (QoL).

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the frequency and types of tremors in patients with relapsing remitting MS (RRMS) in remission, and their impact on patients’ QoL.

Methods

A total of 250 patients with RRMS in remission were examined for tremors. All patients were assessed using the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). Patients with tremors underwent further assessment using the Fahn‐Tolosa‐Marin Tremor Rating Scale (FTMTRS), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scale, and the Short Form 36 Health Survey Questionnaire (SF‐36). Brain MRI was obtained for a subgroup of patients.

Results

Tremors were detected in 36 patients (14.4%) and were associated with significantly worse EDSS scores, BDI (P = 0.021), MoCA, most SF‐36 domains, higher total and last year relapses (P < 0.001) and longer disease duration (P = 0.027). Patients with tremors showed higher lesion load (P = 0.007), more infratentorial (P ≤ 0.001), cerebellar and diencephalic lesions (P = 0.024), and cortical atrophy (P = 0.012). Total FTMTRS was significantly correlated to age, EDSS, and physical functioning. Dystonia was associated with tremors in 17 patients (6.8% of total RRMS patients and 47.2% of patients with tremors).

Conclusion

The current study confirms the common occurrence of tremors and their subtypes among patients with RRMS with mild disability and demonstrates their association with increased disability and impaired QoL.
Bos d 13, A Novel Heat‐Stable Beef Allergen
Authors: Román‐Carrasco Patricia , Klug Christoph , Hemmer Wolfgang , Focke‐Tejkl Margarete , Raith Marianne , Grosinger Isabella , Stoll Peter , Quirce Santiago , Sanchez‐Jareño Marta , Martínez‐Blanco Mónica , Molina Elena , Somoza Veronika , Lieder Barbara , Marin Zana , Nöbauer Katharina , Hummel Karin , Razzazi‐Fazeli Ebrahim , Swoboda Ines
Published: May 2023

Scope

Red meat, a staple food of Western diets, can also induce IgE‐mediated allergic reactions. Yet, apart from the heat‐labile protein serum albumin and the carbohydrate α‐Gal, the molecules causing allergic reactions to red meat remain unknown.

Methods and results

IgE reactivity profiles of beef‐sensitized individuals are analyzed by IgE‐immunoblotting with protein extracts from raw and cooked beef. Two IgE‐reactive proteins are identified by peptide mass fingerprinting as myosinlight chain 1 (MYL1) and myosin light chain 3 (MYL3) in cooked beef extract and are designated Bos d 13 isoallergens. MYL1 and MYL3 are produced recombinantly in Escherichia coli. ELISAs proved their IgE reactivity and circular dichroism analysis showed that they represent folded molecules with remarkable thermal stability. In vitro gastrointestinal digestion experiments showed the higher stability of rMYL1 as compared to rMYL3. Exposure of a monolayer of Caco–2 cells to rMYL1 indicated that the molecule is able to cross intestinal epithelial cells without disturbing the integrity of the tight junctions, suggesting the sensitizing capacity of MYL1.

Conclusion

MYLs are identified as novel heat‐stable bovine meat allergens.
Myositis‐related autoantibody profile and clinical characteristics stratified by anti‐cytosolic 5′‐nucleotidase 1A status in connective tissue diseases
Authors: Diederichsen Louise Pyndt , Iversen Line Vinderslev , Nielsen Christoffer Tandrup , Jacobsen Søren , Hermansen Marie‐Louise , Witting Nanna , Cortes Rikke , Korsholm Sine Søndergaard , Krogager Markus Engebæk , Friis Tina
Published: May 2023

Introduction/Aims

Cytosolic 5′‐nucleotidase 1A (cN‐1A) autoantibodies have been recognized as myositis‐related autoantibodies. However, their correlations with clinical characteristics and other myositis‐specific and myositis‐associated autoantibodies (MSAs/MAAs) are still unclear. We aimed to establish the prevalence and clinical and laboratory associations of cN‐1A autoantibodies in a cohort of patients with connective tissue diseases.

Methods

A total of 567 participants (182 idiopathic inflammatory myopathies [IIM], 164 systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE], 121 systemic sclerosis [SSc], and 100 blood donors [BD]) were tested for the presence of cN‐1A autoantibodies and other myositis‐specific and myositis‐associated autoantibodies (MSAs/MAAs). Clinical and laboratory characteristics were compared between anti‐cN‐1A positive and negative patients with sporadic inclusion body myositis (sIBM) and between anti‐cN‐1A positive and negative patients with non‐IBM IIM.

Results

In the sIBM cohort, 30 patients (46.9%) were anti‐cN‐1A positive vs. 18 (15.2%) in the non‐IBM IIM cohort, 17 (10%) were anti‐cN‐1A positive in the SLE cohort and none in the SSc or the BD cohorts. Anti‐cN‐1A positivity had an overall sensitivity of 46.9% and a specificity of 93.2% for sIBM. Dysphagia was more frequent in the anti‐cN‐1A positive vs. negative sIBM patients (p = .04). In the non‐IBM IIM group, being anti‐cN‐1A antibody positive was associated with the diagnosis polymyositis (p = .04) and overlap‐myositis (p = .04) and less disease damage evaluated by physician global damage score (p < .001).

Discussion

cN‐1A autoantibodies were predominantly found in IIM patients and was associated with dysphagia in sIBM patients. Notably, anti‐cN‐1A appears to identify a distinct phenotype of anti‐cN‐1A positive non‐IBM IIM patients with a milder disease course.
An analytical solution for the dynamic response of a seawater‐sloping seabed‐bedrock system under an oblique incident P wave
Authors: Shan Zhendong , Xie Zhinan , Dong Rui , Jing Liping
Published: May 2023

Many offshore marine structures are built on seabeds with slight or considerable slopes, while most analytical studies have focused on the dynamic responses of horizontal seabeds. Based on the theory of porous media, an analytical solution for the response of a sloping seabed to earthquakes is developed in this paper. Stress and displacement responses can be shown at any location of the seabed. Using numerical examples, we analyze the influence of the slope angle, frequency and angle of incident waves, and thicknesses of the seawater and sediment layers on the dynamic response of the seabed. The results show that the solid displacement amplification factor of the surface of the horizontal seabed is always constant, while that of the sloping seabed changes periodically along the seabed surface. Even at a small site, the difference between a horizontal seabed and a sloping seabed is still significant. The slope angle has different effects on the seabed at different depths, and the inclination plays an amplification role at some depths and a reduction role at other depths. With an increase in slope angle, the difference between a horizontal seabed and a sloping seabed becomes more significant. Especially at natural frequencies, the amplification factor becomes more significant with increasing slope angle. Therefore, even though the same seawater depth is used in the model, a horizontal seabed model cannot be used to analyze the dynamic response of a sloping seabed or significant errors will occur.
Risk‐averse optimization and resilient network flows
Authors: Eshghali Masoud , Krokhmal Pavlo A.
Published: May 2023

We propose an approach to constructing metrics of network resilience, where resilience is understood as the network's amenability to restoring its optimal or near‐optimal operations subsequent to unforeseen (stochastic) disruptions of its topology or operational parameters, and illustrated it on the examples of the resilient maximum network flow problem and the resilient minimum cost network problem. Specifically, the network flows in these problems are designed for resilience against unpredictable losses of network carrying capacity, and the mechanism of attaining a degree of resilience is through preallocation of resources toward (at least partial) restoration of the capacities of the arcs. The obtained formulations of resilient network flow problems possess a number of useful properties, for example, similarly to the standard network flow problems, the network flow is integral if the arc capacities, costs, and so forth, are integral. It is also shown that the proposed formulations of resilient network flow problems can be viewed as “network measures of risk”, similar in properties and behavior to convex measures of risk. Efficient decomposition algorithms have been proposed for both the resilient maximum network flow problem and the resilient minimum cost network flow problem, and a study of the network flow resilience as a function of network's structure has been conducted on networks with three types of topology: that of uniform random graphs, scale‐free graphs, and grid graphs.
“Nobody wants to be a dead hero”: Coping with precarity at the frontlines of the Brazilian and Mexican pandemic response
Authors: Lotta Gabriela , Nieto‐Morales Fernando , Peeters Rik
Published: May 2023

This study analyzes how adverse working conditions shape frontline workers' behavioral and cognitive coping mechanisms. It builds on the idea of frontline work as a precarious profession and explores how workers deal with associated challenges. Specifically, evidence is provided for factors associated with alienative commitment among frontline workers. We do so against the background of the 2020–2021 Mexican and Brazilian pandemic response by health workers, social workers, and police officers. Findings from our qualitative analysis show that they feel abandoned, vulnerable, and left to deal with the risks of the pandemic by themselves. In response, they tend to cognitively disconnect from their work and prioritize their own job survival. We contribute to the literature by showing how institutional factors over which street‐level bureaucrats have little control, such as resource scarcity, lack of job security and managerial support, and low trust by citizen‐clients, are fertile conditions for these coping patterns.
Novel bionanocomposites of chitosan‐based blend containing LaB6: Thermal, dielectric, and biological properties
Authors: Erol Ibrahim , Hazman Ömer , Aksu Mecit , Uygur Ilyas
Published: May 2023

In the presented study, a strategy that will offer alternative usage areas by strengthening the physicochemical properties of the green polymer chitosan (CS) is aimed. For this purpose, a compatible blend of CS (CS‐PFPAMA) with poly 2‐(4‐fluorophenyl)‐2‐oxoethyl‐2‐methylprop‐2‐enoate (PFPAMA), a methacrylate‐based synthetic polymer, was prepared by hydrothermal method. Miscibility and compatibility of the CS‐PFPAMA blend were confirmed by the single glass transition temperature (Tg) determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Then, lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6) nanoparticles (NPs) prepared by the chemical method were successfully added to the CS‐PFPAMA blend at different weight ratios by hydrothermal method. Morphological characterizations of CS‐PFPAMA blend and produced nanocomposites were performed with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy, and thermal characterizations were made with thermogravimetric analysis and DSC. The thermal stability and Tg values of the obtained CS‐PFPAMA blend and nanocomposites were lower than the values of the CS. However, LaB6 NPs increased the dielectric properties of the CS‐PFPAMA blend. Thus, the potential use of the produced nanocomposites in electronic devices may be in question. According to the results of antibiogram tests performed by the disk diffusion method, it was determined that nanocomposites showed a serious resistance against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus pathogens. In addition, both antioxidant and oxidant properties of nanocomposites showed values close to the reference material used. The determined biological properties indicate that the CS‐based nanocomposites can be used as biomaterials.
Mechanical, thermal properties and shape memory behaviors of PLA/PCL/PLA‐g‐GMA blends
Authors: Ye Gaoyuan , Gu Tongfei , Chen Boyuan , Bi Hongjie , Hu Yingcheng
Published: May 2023

To improve the toughness of polylactic acid (PLA), in this research, a tough polymer polycaprolactone (PCL) was combined with PLA to prepare blends, and a compatibilizer of glycidyl methacrylate grafted PLA (PLA‐g‐GMA) was produced to enhance the compatibility of PLA/PCL blend. Compared with PLA/PCL blend, the compatibilized blend exhibited a lower melting temperature and greater thermal stability. The tensile test indicates that the addition of compatibilizer greatly improved the toughness of the PLA/PCL blend. Particularly, the elongation at break of PLA/PCL blend with 6 wt% PLA‐g‐GMA increased to 370% and reached about 66 times of neat PLA. In addition, compatibilized blends have good shape memory performance. The research provides a simple and feasible method to overcome the brittleness of PLA, supplying a new strategy to modify PLA.
VOC‐losses across the band gap: Insights from a high‐throughput inline process for CIGS solar cells
Authors: Gutzler Rico , Witte Wolfram , Kanevce Ana , Hariskos Dimitrios , Paetel Stefan
Published: May 2023

Big sets of experimental data are key to assess statistical device performance and to distill underlying trends. This insight, in turn, can then be used to improve on the fabrication process. We here describe a standardized and optimized inline fabrication process and present a statistical analysis of tens of thousands of cells with chalcopyrite‐type Cu(In,Ga)Se2 absorber. The large number of samples allows us to point out where Ag alloying into the absorber offers improvements, and how it couples with compositional and optoelectronic properties. Solar cell parameters as a function of chemical composition of the absorber highlight the importance of fill factor on overall cell performance. Finally, we calculate losses in open‐circuit voltage as a function of band gap energy and show that radiative losses can be reduced by increasing the amount of Cu and/or Ag.
Comprehending the influence of the particle size and stoichiometry on Al/CuO thermite combustion in close bomb: A theoretical study
Authors: Tichtchenko Emilian , Bedat Benoit , Simonin Olivier , Glavier Ludovic , Gauchard David , Esteve Alain , Rossi Carole
Published: May 2023

The paper is a theoretical exploration of complex Al/CuO thermite combustion processes, using a zero‐dimensional (0D) model which integrates both condensed phase and gas phase reactions, and considers all thermodynamic stable molecular or atomic species identified during the Al+CuO reaction. We found that the particle size mainly influences the reaction kinetics and pressure development. Thermite with nano‐sized particles (nanothermites) burns ∼10 times faster than the same thermite with micron‐sized particles (microthermites). This is due to the fact that the thermite reaction occurs mainly in condensed phase, i. e. in the melted Al phase, as all gaseous oxygens released by the CuO decomposition are spontaneously absorbed on the huge specific surface area of metallic Al. As a consequence, the pressure development in nanothermites follows the thermite chemical reaction, the gas phase is mostly composed of a metal vapor (mostly Cu and Al), Al suboxides, but is free of molecular oxygen. In contrast, when dealing with microthermites, an oxygen pressure peak occurs prior to the thermite reaction due to the gaseous O2 released by the early CuO decomposition, that cannot be absorbed on the Al particles surface in real time. The powder stoichiometry greatly impacts the final pressure. Al lean thermites generate a higher final pressure (×3) than stoichiometric and Al rich mixtures, due to unreacted gaseous oxygen which remains in the gas phase after the full consumption of the metallic Al.
18F‐FDG PET/CT imaging in neuroendocrine prostate cancer: Relation to histopathology and prognosis
Authors: Shen Kai , Yu Minghao , Ji Yiyi , Zhou Xiang , Liu Bo , Zhang Weiwei , Su Ruopeng , Qi Jun , Wang Qi , Xue Wei
Published: May 2023

Background

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of 18F‐fluoro‐2‐deoxy‐D‐glucose Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F‐FDG PET/CT) in predicting prognosis and characterizing the intratumoral glucose uptake of neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC).

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 189 NEPC patients from two medical centers between January 2009 and April 2021. Of these, 44 patients met the inclusion criteria. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) was measured to assess the metabolic state of NEPC and comparison were made between different histopathological subtypes. Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression analyses were performed to evaluate the predictive value of SUVmax on overall survival (OS) and progression‐free survival (PFS).

Results

This study analyzed 44 NEPC patients and found that 13 patients had small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (SCNC), while 31 were diagnosed with adenocarcinoma with neuroendocrine differentiation (Ad‐NED) based on histopathology, and a positive correlation was found between SUVmax and SCNC via Spearman correlation test (rs = 0.60, p < 0.0001). Furthermore, SUVmax demonstrated good diagnostic accuracy in differentiating SCNC from Ad‐NED (area under the curve 0.88, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.76–0.99). Kaplan–Meier survival analyses and univariate analyses revealed that patients with SUVmax > 10.2 had a significantly shorter OS than patients with SUVmax ≤ 10.2 (hazard ratio = 4.83, 95% CI 1.45–16.1, p = 0.01).

Conclusions

The histopathological subtypes in NEPC showed a close correlation with the glucose metabolic activity of primary tumors as assessed by 18F‐FDG PET/CT. High SUVmax values in primary prostate tumors were associated with a worse OS in NEPC patients.
Functional response of an egg parasitoid,Trichogramma chilonisIshii to sublethal imidacloprid exposure
Authors: Ray Aishwarya , Gadratagi Basana Gowda , Budhlakoti Neeraj , Rana Dhanendra Kumar , Adak Totan , Govindharaj Guru Pirasanna Pandi , Patil Naveenkumar Basavanagouda , Mahendiran Annamalai , Rath Prakash Chandra
Published: May 2023

BACKGROUND

The effectiveness of a biological control agent depends on how well it can control pests and how compatible it is with pesticides. Therefore, we reported the multigenerational effect of a commonly used insecticide, imidacloprid, on the functional response of a widely acclaimed egg parasitoid,Trichogramma chilonisIshii, to different densities of the hostCorcyra cephalonicaStainton eggs. The study investigated the outcomes of the median lethal concentration (LC50) and sublethal concentrations (LC5, LC30), along with control treatments for five continuous generations (F1to F5).

RESULTS

The results showed that the F5generation of LC30, both of the F1and F5generations of LC50, and the control all had a Type II functional response. A Type I functional response was exhibited for the F1generation of LC30and both generations of LC5. The attack rate on host eggs treated with LC5and LC30did not change (decrease) with the shift in the type of functional response as compared to the control. A significant increase in the searching efficiency (a) was observed in the later generation (F5) under the exposure of LC5and LC30imidacloprid concentrations. A lower handling time (Th) in both generations of the LC5followed by LC30treated individuals was observed when compared with the control and LC50treatments. Theper capitaparasitization efficiency (1/Th) and the rate of parasitization per handling time (a/Th) were also considerably higher in both the generations of LC5and LC30than in the control and LC50, thereby implying positive effects of imidacloprid on the parasitization potential ofT.chilonis.

CONCLUSION

Altogether, these multigenerational outcomes on the functional response ofT.chiloniscould be leveraged to control the intractable lepidopteran pests under the mild exposure of imidacloprid in integrated pest management (IPM) programs as well as in the mass rearing of the parasitoid,T.chilonis. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Diffusion of Magnesium in Czochralski Silicon
Authors: Portsel Leonid M. , Lodygin Anatoly N. , Abrosimov Nikolay V. , Astrov Yuri A.
Published: May 2023

The diffusion of magnesium in monocrystalline dislocation‐free Czochralski silicon (Cz–Si) with an oxygen concentration of (3–4) × 1017 cm−3 is studied. Initial silicon wafers are doped with Mg by using the sandwich technique. The impurity diffusion profiles are investigated in n‐Si samples by the differential conductivity method. The diffusivity of electrically active magnesium in the temperature range of 1,100–1,250 °C is two to three orders of magnitude lower than the values observed at doping high‐purity silicon crystals grown by the float‐zone method (Fz–Si). The diffusion in Cz–Si is retarded through the trapping of diffusing Mg atoms by oxygen‐related traps. The observed high value of the activation energy of Mg diffusion in investigated samples (4.1 eV) is due—along with the migration energy of interstitial magnesium in the crystal lattice (1.83 eV) —to the significant binding energy of Mg atoms with traps (2.27 eV). A study of the temperature dependence of the Hall effect in bulk‐doped samples reveals two types of deep double donors: interstitial Mg atoms and MgO complexes.
Control of Metal‐Rich Growth for GaN/AlN Superlattice Fabrication on Face‐to‐Face‐Annealed Sputter‐Deposited AlN Templates
Authors: Mokutani Naoya , Deura Momoko , Mouri Shinichiro , Shojiki Kanako , Xiao Shiyu , Miyake Hideto , Araki Tsutomu
Published: May 2023

GaN/AlN superlattices consisting of few‐monolayer GaN wells have attracted considerable attention for use in deep‐ultraviolet (DUV) light‐emitting devices. To avoid the formation of droplets and AlGaN interface layers, precise growth control is essential for fabricating superlattices with flat and abrupt interfaces. Herein, GaN/AlN superlattice structures are grown on face‐to‐face‐annealed sputter‐deposited AlN (FFA Sp‐AlN) template substrates using radio‐frequency plasma‐excited molecular beam epitaxy (RF‐MBE) utilizing in situ reflection high‐energy electron diffraction (RHEED) monitoring. Both AlN and GaN are grown under metal‐rich conditions, and subsequently, the droplets are eliminated by droplet elimination by radical beam irradiation (DERI) method for AlN and by growth interruption for GaN. Furthermore, the dependence of AlN thickness on the properties of superlattices is investigated. The AlN thickness changes linearly with the supply time of the Al metal; thus, the AlN thickness is easily controllable. A total of 20‐period GaN/AlN superlattices with flat and abrupt interfaces is fabricated, as confirmed using atomic force microscopy and X‐ray diffraction. Cathodoluminescence with a peak wavelength of 230–260 nm at room temperature is obtained from the fabricated superlattices. Moreover, the emission wavelength shifts with an increase in AlN thickness.
Film Thicknesses Influence on the Interfacial Thermal Resistances within Ge‐Rich Ge2Sb2Te5/Ge2Sb2Te5Multilayers
Authors: Chassain Clément , Kusiak Andrzej , Gaborieau Cécile , Anguy Yannick , Tran Nguyet-Phuong , Sabbione Chiara , Cyrille Marie-Claire , Battaglia Jean-Luc
Published: May 2023

Phase change memories (PCRAM) are often made of chalcogenide alloys in the form of multilayer systems (MLS). The mostly used alloys are Ge2Sb2Te5and Ge‐rich Ge2Sb2Te5. The current article reports on the thermal characterization of very thin (<5 nm) Ge‐rich Ge2Sb2Te5/Ge2Sb2Te5MLS by modulated photothermal radiometry (MPTR). The MPTR method allows for the investigation of such samples by determining, with an inverse method, the total thermal resistance of the stack deposited on the substrate. With the measurement of the total thermal resistance, it is possible to determine the thermal conductivity of the deposit and the interfacial thermal resistances between layers. The interfacial thermal resistance between Ge‐rich Ge2Sb2Te5/Ge2Sb2Te5is characterized, which is an important parameter to reduce the energy cost of the PCRAM functioning. It is also possible to highlight a decrease in interface quality inside the MLS after the beginning of the phase transition around 250 °C.
Helping scientists reflect on their relationship with rivers via frames
Authors: Allan Catherine
Published: May 2023

Reflecting on practice is valuable for river scientists, but rarely part of their expected skillset or practice. This paper demonstrates how considering metaphors in written, verbal and visual discourse can help rivers scientists reflect on their practice. Understanding the language they use is important for river scientists and their communities, as frames influence how issues are defined and addressed. Here, I explore the frames used by a selection of river scientists and managers. I examined the abstracts of all papers published in the journal River Research and Applications in 2002 (n = 43) and 2021 (n = 75), using an inductive metaphor analysis. The rivers in the abstracts appear to be framed in 15 ways. The River as Damaged frame provided justification for action, often by scientists as indicated by the River as Laboratory frame, but also by other experts as suggested by framing the River as a Machine, Ledger and Battlefield, with underlying elements of control through tasks based on expert knowledge. A few abstracts used other frames such as River as Art, River as Spirit or River as Market, and these were the only frames that did not occur in both sets of abstracts. I demonstrate how frames such as these can be used as a starting point for reflecting on practice. Recognizing frames in use can be a pathway for river scientists and their communities to reflect on their relationships with rivers, and the implications of those relationships.
Did court dismiss student's free speech claim?
Authors: Lyerly Eric
Published: May 2023

A member of the Virginia Tech women's soccer team refused to kneel in support of the Black Lives Matter movement during the team's opening match — despite the coach and other team members’ decision to kneel. During halftime, the coach allegedly berated the student‐athlete for “doing her own thing.” The coach engaged in the same behavior at a film‐review session the following week. He removed the student‐athlete from the starting lineup and reduced her playing time for the next two games. The student‐athlete resigned from the soccer team after the third game of the season.
The “Department of Human Needs”: Renewable energy and the water–energy–land nexus in Zanzibar
Authors: Dean Erin
Published: May 2023

In designating its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the United Nations invoked the “water–energy–land (WEL) nexus” to emphasize the interconnections between different policy sectors and accentuate the importance of an integrated approach to human and environmental welfare. Identifying the WEL nexus draws attention to the interplay of technical and moral values, the intersections or overlaps between these values, and the areas where values conflict, tradeoffs happen, and priorities are set or shifted. And within this WEL resource nexus, the development and expansion of renewable energy technologies has the potential to redefine and reorder the balance of values. The archipelago of Zanzibar, a semiautonomous protectorate within the East African nation of Tanzania, is currently making complex energy choices that highlight the significance and fragility of this resource nexus and the role of renewable energy in reshaping it. In this article, I draw on ethnographic research in peri‐urban Zanzibari communities to consider how the WEL nexus in Zanzibar is generated by and generative of complex gradations of value and to explore how the development of renewable energy technologies, particularly solar technology, is both entrenching and transforming the linkages between energy, water, and land in Zanzibar.
Fully order restricted multi‐arm multi‐stage clinical trial design
Authors: Kanapka Lauren , Ivanova Anastasia
Published: May 2023

We consider a multi‐arm trial with two or more active treatments plus a control where it is reasonable to assume an order for the treatment effects of the active arms compared to control. For example, the arms could be a high dose and low dose of a new drug and a placebo. The objective of the trial is to compare each active arm to control while maintaining strong control of the type 1 error rate. We show that when the study is powered to identify all promising treatments, a design that uses the order of the treatment effects to calculate the test statistic and to set the order of testing requires a smaller sample size than a design where each active arm is tested against the control arm independently. Under the considered settings, the sample size for a single‐stage trial and a two‐stage trial was reduced by at least 20%.
Nonpolar Solvent Modulated Inkjet Printing of Nanoparticle Self‐Assembly Morphologies
Authors: Guo Dan , Xu Yanan , Ruan Jun , Tong Junhua , Li Yixuan , Zhai Tianrui , Song Yanlin
Published: May 2023

Patterning of luminescent nanomaterials is critical in the fields of display and information encryption, and inkjet printing technology have shown remarkable significance with the advantage of fast, large‐scalable and integrative. However, inkjet printing nanoparticle deposits with high‐resolution and well controlled morphology from nonpolar solvent droplets is still challenging. Herein, a facile approach of nonpolar solvent modulated inkjet printing of nanoparticles self‐assembly patterns driven by the shrinkage of the droplet and inner solutal convection is proposed. Through regulating the solvent composition and nanoparticle concentration, multicolor light‐emissive upconversion nanoparticle self‐assembly microarrays with tunable morphologies are achieved, showing the integration of designable microscale morphologies and photoluminescences for multimodal anti‐counterfeit. Furthermore, inkjet printing of nanoparticles self‐assembled continuous lines with adjustable morphologies by controlling the coalescence and drying of the ink droplets is achieved. The high resolution of inkjet printing microarrays and continuous lines’ width < 5 and 10 µm is realized, respectively. This nonpolar solvent‐modulated inkjet printing of nanoparticle deposits approach facilitates the patterning and integration of different nanomaterials, and is expected to provide a versatile platform for fabricating advanced devices applied in photonics integration, micro‐LED, and near‐field display.
Modifying PTAA/Perovskite Interface via 4‐Butanediol Ammonium Bromide for Efficient and Stable Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Li Yang , Zhang Lixin , Xia Junming , Liu Tanghao , Wang Kaiyang
Published: May 2023

Inverted perovskite solar cells (IPSCs) have witnessed an impressive development in recent years. However, their efficiency is still significantly behind theoretical limits, and device instabilities hinder their commercialization. Two main obstacles to further enhancing their performance via one‐step deposition are: 1) the unsatisfactory film quality of perovskite and 2) the poor surface contact. To address the above issues, 4‐butanediol ammonium Bromide (BD) is utilized to passivate Pb2+ defects by forming PbN bonds and fill vacancies of formamidinium ions at the buried surface of perovskite. The wettability of poly [bis (4‐phenyl) (2,4,6‐triMethylphenyl) amine] films is also improved due to the formation of hydrogen bonds between PTAA and BD molecules, resulting in better surface contacts and enhanced perovskite crystallinity. As a result, BD‐modified perovskite thin films show a significant increase in the mean grain size, as well as a dramatic enhancement in the PL decay lifetime. The BD‐treated device exhibits an efficiency of up to 21.26%, considerably higher than the control device. Moreover, the modified devices show dramatically enhanced thermal and ambient stability compared to the control ones. This methodology paves the way to obtain high‐quality perovskite films for fabricating high‐performance IPSCs.
Electrochemically Dealloyed 3D Porous Copper Nanostructure as Anode Current Collector of Li‐Metal Batteries
Authors: Ma Yifan , Ma Xuetian , Bai Jianming , Xu Wenqian , Zhong Hui , Liu Zhantao , Xiong Shan , Yang Lufeng , Chen Hailong
Published: May 2023

The commercialization of high‐energy Li‐metal batteries is impeded by Li dendrites formed during electrochemical cycling and the safety hazards it causes. Here, a novel porous copper current collector that can effectively mitigate the dendritic growth of Li is reported. This porous Cu foil is fabricated via a simple two‐step electrochemical process, where Cu‐Zn alloy is electrodeposited on commercial copper foil and then Zn is electrochemically dissolved to form a 3D porous structure of Cu. The 3D porous Cu layers on average have a thickness of ≈14 um and porosity of ≈72%. This current collector can effectively suppress Li dendrites in cells cycled with a high areal capacity of 10 mAh cm−2 and under a high current density of 10 mA cm−2. This electrochemical fabrication method is facile and scalable for mass production. Results of advanced in situ synchrotron X‐ray diffraction reveal the phase evolution of the electrochemical deposition and dealloying processes.
Creation of a Field‐Induced Co(II) Single‐Ion Magnet by Doping into a Zn(II) Diamagnetic Metal–Organic Framework
Authors: Wakizaka Masanori , Ishikawa Ryuta , Tanaka Hisaaki , Gupta Shraddha , Takaishi Shinya , Yamashita Masahiro
Published: May 2023

The combination of single‐ion magnets (SIMs) and metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) is expected to produce new quantum materials. The principal issue to be solved in this regard is the development of new strategies for the synthesis of SIM‐MOFs. This work demonstrates a new simple strategy for the synthesis of SIM‐MOFs where a diamagnetic MOF is used as the framework into which the SIM sites are doped. 1, 0.5, and 0.2 mol% of the Co(II) ions are doped into the Zn(II) sites of [CH6N3][ZnII(HCOO)3]. The doped Co(II) sites in the MOFs perform as SIM with a positive D term of zero‐field splitting. The longest magnetic relaxation time is 150 ms (0.2 mol% Co) at 1.8 K under a static field of 0.1 T. Temperature dependency of the relaxation time suggests suppressing magnetic relaxation by reduction of spin–spin interaction upon doping in the rigid framework. Thus, this work represents a proof of concept for the creation of a single‐ion doped magnet in the MOF. This simple synthetic strategy will be widely applied for the creation of quantum magnetic materials.
Comparative Optical Analysis of Imprinted Nano‐, Micro‐ and Biotextures on Solar Glasses for Increased Energy Yield
Authors: Yoo Danbi , Tillmann Peter , Kraus Tobias , Sutter Johannes , Harter Angelika , Trofimov Sergei , Naydenov Boris , Jäger Klaus , Hauser Hubert , Becker Christiane
Published: May 2023

In modern photovoltaic (PV) systems such as bifacial and building‐integrated PV, a big share of sunlight impinges at large incident angles on the air‐to‐glass module interface. These designs exceedingly call for effective omnidirectional antireflective (AR) measures. Texturing of PV cover glasses can effectively mitigate reflection losses in a broad spectral and angular range. Numerous individual textures have been presented in the literature; however, the lack of consistent material stacks hinders a comparative evaluation. Herein, UV‐nanoimprint lithography is used to fabricate and analyze 12 different artificial and bioreplicated textures from nano‐ to mesoscale on glass. The angle‐resolved reflectance is examined for incident angles from 5° to 80° and analyzed the scattering properties. For example, the effect of the investigated textures on the annual energy yield is calculated for a tilted bifacial PV module located in Berlin, Germany. While well‐known moth‐eye nanostructures exhibit excellent AR behavior near‐normal incidence, their shallow angle performance is often not reported. The best‐performing textures exhibit features on microscale and a large surface enhancement factor, increasing the annual energy yield up to 5% when compared to nontextured devices. The results give clear design guidelines for textured glasses of future PV applications.
Physical Metallurgy Guided Machine Learning for Strain‐Induced Precipitation of Nb (C, N) Based on the Orthogonalized Small Data
Authors: Li Xin , Jiang Qiming , Cui Chunyuan , Zhou Xiaoguang , Cao Guangming , Liu Zhenyu
Published: May 2023

Strain‐induced precipitation (SIP) plays an important role in controlling the microstructure and properties of micro‐alloyed steels during hot rolling. However, due to lack of systematic experiments, the existing precipitation data are scarce and insufficient for accurate modeling of SIP behavior with good extrapolation. Herein, the data space of Niobium Carbonitride (Nb(C,N)) SIP kinetics is analyzed based on principle of orthogonal design, and the missing points in the orthogonal space are identified and supplemented in addition to the available data. The parameters in models for precipitation start and finish times are optimized by using the precipitation–time–temperature curves through genetic algorithm, and their relationships with compositions and processing conditions are established by support vector machine. Based on the orthogonally modified dataset, the machine learning (ML) models outperform the classical and ML models with the original data in terms of accuracy and are in good agreement with theoretical expectations. By using the new ML modeling, the evolution behavior of Nb (C, N) during hot deformation is predicted and verified with transmission electron microscope, and the influences of Nb content in steel, strain, strain rate, and the sensitivity of compositions and processing conditions on precipitation kinetics are quantitatively analyzed.
Relation between electrically conductive properties and flexural behaviors of ultra‐high‐performance concrete
Authors: Niu Yanfei , Jiao Chujie , Guo Wenhao , Li Jianxin , Huang Haoliang , Huang Jianzhang , Yang Guowei
Published: May 2023

The ability of the resistivity measurement to study the crack propagation behavior of the ultra‐high‐performance concrete (UHPC) under flexural loading was analyzed, and focused on investigating the effects of crack length and the fracture process zone (FPZ) on the change in electrical resistivity in the post‐cracking stage. The results indicated that the strain‐dependent resistivity characteristic was able to drawn by a linear‐fitting equation before the crack initiated (stage I). After the crack initiated, the change in electrical resistance of the UHPC can be good to reflect the crack development in the post‐cracking stages (II and III), then, the relationship between the crack propagation behavior and the fractional change in electrical resistance (FCR) can be quantitative analysis by using an exponential function. It was also found that the evolution of the crack length and FPZ also had an appreciable impact on the variation tendency of the FCR. The crack length increased dramatically at first and then increased smoothly with the increase of FRC, while the FPZ showed the reverse change trend.
Decision making for multi‐objective problems: Mean and median metrics
Authors: Efatmaneshnik Mahmoud , Chitsaz Nasim , Qiao Li
Published: May 2023

When dealing with problems with more than two objectives, sophisticated multi‐objective optimization algorithms might be needed. Pareto optimization, which is based on the concept of dominated and non‐dominated solutions, is the most widely utilized method when comparing solutions within a multi‐objective setting. However, in the context of optimization, where three or more objectives are involved, the effectiveness of Pareto dominance approaches to drive the solutions to convergence is significantly compromised as more and more solutions tend to be non‐dominated by each other. This in turn reduces the selection pressure, especially for algorithms that rely on evolving a population of solutions such as evolutionary algorithms, particle swarm optimization, differential evolution, etc. The size of the non‐dominated set of trade‐off solutions can be quite large, rendering the decision‐making process difficult if not impossible. The size of the non‐dominated solution set increases exponentially with an increase in the number of objectives. This paper aims to expand a framework for coping with many/multi‐objective and multidisciplinary optimization problems through the introduction of a min‐max metric that behaves like a median measure that can locate the center of a data set. We compare this metric to the Chebyshev norm L_∞ metric that behaves like a mean measure in locating the center of a data set. The median metric is introduced in this paper for the first time, and unlike the mean metric is independent of the data normalization method. These metrics advocate balanced, natural, and minimum compromise solutions about all objectives. We also demonstrate and compare the behavior of the two metrics for a Tradespace case study involving more than 1200 CubeSat design alternatives identifying a manageable set of potential solutions for decision‐makers.
A single origin of leaflessness in Afro‐Malagasy angraecoids (Orchidaceae, Angraecinae)
Authors: Farminhão João , Biteau Jean Philippe , Yakhouba Diallo , Savignac Marie , Simo‐Droissart Murielle , Droissart Vincent , Sonké Bonaventure , Stévart Tariq
Published: May 2023

Microcoelia and the monospecific Taeniorrhiza and Chauliodon are notable among Afrotropical angraecoid orchids for being leafless. However, the affinity among these genera was not addressed in previous molecular phylogenetic studies, thus precluding the understanding of how many times has leaflessness evolved in angraecoids. The discovery of an additional species ascribable to Taeniorrhiza in Gabon, and a revision of all material referrable to this genus in herbarium collections, created the possibility to investigate the phylogenetic position of Taeniorrhiza relative to Microcoelia and Chauliodon. Based on phylogenetic inference using ITS‐1 and two plastid regions (matK/trnK, trnL‐trnF), and including 20 of the 34 species of Microcoelia recognised prior to our study, we here demonstrate that Taeniorrhiza and Chauliodon are deeply imbedded in Microcoelia, and are thus treated here as synonyms of the last. Accordingly, we describe the novelty from Gabon as a new species of Microcoelia: Microcoelia nguemae sp. nov. The new species is illustrated with colour photographs, and also with line drawings. Its preliminarily IUCN conservation status is provided. The novelty is notable for the dorsiventrally asymmetric distribution of pneumathodes along its roots and for bearing the longest lip spur in this Afro‐Malagasy epiphytic genus. The new phylogenetic framework suggests a single origin of leaflessness in Afrotropical angrecoids and reveals the informative value of the rostellum to reconstruct relationships within Microcoelia. This serves as the basis of a newly proposed sectional treatment for Microcoelia, recognising 37 species, one new section, a new status for the defunct genus Encheiridion and the redefinition of Microcoelia sect. Microcoelia and sect. Brachyglossa.
Biomimicry: How the environment serves as a guide for technological advancements
Authors: Thiagarajan Chenniappan , Naveen Subbaiyan , Madhu Sundaram , Muthumari Perumal
Published: May 2023

Multiple ecological tactics, like the ones described here, can be imitated to strongly affect these two components in the construction sector. This article provides an in‐depth examination of the literature on biomimicry‐based strategies intended to enhance building designs. This analysis is motivated by the rising need for energy legislation to achieve future local goals and provide a framework for use in Panama. These biomimicry‐based methods have undergone more review and evaluation, and the incorporation of organism‐based design for three of Panama's climate types has been proposed. Therefore, a SWOT analysis assisted in realizing the full potential that biomimicry‐based techniques might have in raising the likelihood of satisfying local and international regulatory standards. In order to design constructions using biomimicry, multidisciplinary collaboration is required. This gives a competitive edge for better‐trained human resources and expands horizons in the conventional construction industry. Finally, the analysis provided here might act as the preliminary step for the additional technical assessment using numerical and experimental procedures.
The potential role of physical activity in the management of male sexual dysfunction
Authors: Wilson Jason J , Trott Mike , Ilie Cristian P , Pratsides Luke , Shah Sam , Tully Mark A , Smith Lee
Published: May 2023

Physical activity is likely to be beneficial for male sexual health, with some evidence suggesting it could be as effective as pharmacological therapy for certain aspects of male sexual dysfunction. More evidence of efficacy of physical activity in sexual dysfunction is needed. However, insights into possible mechanisms linking physical activity with improved male sexual function may give doctors confidence in recommending it for their patients, while waiting for more robust clinical trial evidence.
Journal watch
Authors: Kirby Mike
Published: May 2023

Professor Mike Kirby, Editor of Trends in Urology and Men's Health, picks some interesting recent papers and highlights the ‘take‐home’ messages.