bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Regulating the Positive Localized Electric Field in Mixed Matrix Membranes by Charge Reversal of ILs‐COF for Boosting CO2 Separation
Authors: Liang Chao , Zhang Yong , Yu Jiangnan , Che Qingbin , Wang Shaofei , Li Xueqin 
Published: December 2024

AbstractCovalent organic frameworks (COFs), characterized by their high porosity and stability, hold great potential for applications in gas separations. However, achieving precise size sieving without hindering the gas diffusion rate is challenging. This study presents a novel approach to establishing tunable localized electric fields in COF channels to achieve efficient CO2 separation in Pebax‐based mixed matrix membranes (MMMs). Different charge densities of the localized electric field are achieved by the host–guest interaction between COF and varying charged ionic liquids (ILs). Remarkably, the MMM with a positive localized electric field attains the optimal CO2/CH4 separation performance with a significantly enhanced permeability (≈38%) and selectivity (≈99%), surpassing the Robeson upper bound. Through density functional theory (DFT) calculations, the enhanced CO2/CH4 selectivity of MMM is due to the “sieving effect” of a positive localized electric field on CO2 over CH4. Specifically, the negatively charged O atom in CO2 exhibits stronger electrostatic interaction than the positively charged H atom of CH4. Therefore, the strategy of regulating the localized electric field can be employed as an efficient design for CO2 separation in MMMs.
Intrinsic Screening Descriptor for Organic Proton Donors to Enable Long Lifespan Aqueous Zinc||Polyaniline Batteries
Authors: Zhang Qianjin , Chen Tao , Qian Xiaohu , Fu Jiajun 
Published: December 2024

AbstractThe incorporation of additives into aqueous electrolytes provides substantial opportunities to mitigate dendrite formation and side reactions on zinc anodes. However, there is a lack of an effective guideline for selecting suitable electrolyte additives based on critical performance‐limiting factors. Herein, the use of the acid dissociation constant (pKa) as an intrinsic descriptor for screening suitable organic proton donors is proposed to achieve highly reversible Zn||polyaniline (PANI) batteries. Experimental results and theoretical calculations reveal that L‐malic acid (L‐MA) with a low pKa can supply constant protons to effectively reduce the accumulation of nonconductive alkaline byproducts and address the deprotonation issue of the PANI cathode. Meanwhile, the deprotonated malate anions form bidentate coordination with Zn2+, thereby reconfiguring a water‐deficient solvation structure of hydrated Zn2+ and facilitating the formation of ZnCO3‐rich solid electrolyte interphase. Taking L‐MA as a demonstration, Zn||Zn symmetric cells can stably cycle for over 460 h at a high depth of discharge of 80%. Additionally, the L‐MA additive enables Zn||PANI full cells to retain 89% capacity after 5000 cycles. The screening principle of organic proton‐donors that can simultaneously stabilize Zn anode and cathode of aqueous batteries is highlighted here.
Functionally Graded Impact Attenuator Using Bonded Construction
Authors: dos Reis M. Q. , Carbas R. J. C. , Marques E. A. S. , da Silva L. F. M. 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTAutomotive collisions are one of the major causes of death in the European Union, especially in childhood and adolescence. However, improvements in vehicle safety cannot be achieved only by increasing the size and dimensions of the structures, as this demands more materials and more costly manufacturing processes, which leads to an increased resource expenditure and lowered sustainability. Moreover, the increase of the structure size raises the vehicle's weight, leading to added fuel consumption, which cannot be accepted considering modern environmental regulations. To solve these issues, the application of bonded joints using the combination of several adherends materials, such as steel and aluminium alloys and fibber‐reinforced polymers with crash‐resistant adhesives presents itself as a novel solution, allowing to attain enhanced joint strength, energy absorption and weight reduction. The present works introduce a novel concept of an impact attenuator using bonded, geometrically optimized using the concept of functionally graded adherends to maximize energy absorption by ensuring that a load‐bearing path is kept during impact, converting the impact energy into the plastic deformation of panels with variable mechanical properties, tailored to withstand specific load cases, fulfilling a gap in the literature regarding impact absorption devices that combines graded materials and bonded construction. The results obtained present an increase in the energy absorption values of the graded impact attenuators above 200% when compared to the homogenous materials.
Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Reactive Dyes Under Visible Light Using ZnO/CdS/Co Nanocomposites: A Step Toward Advanced Environmental Remediation
Authors: Arun Velumani , Priyadharsan Arumugam , Sivakumar Santhanam , Ranjith Rajendran , Handayani Murni , Muqoyyanah  , Redhyka Grace Gita , Wadaan Mohammad Ahmad , Mythili Raja , Rahmayanti Yosephin Dewiani 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTIn this study, ZnO, CdS, ZnO/CdS, and ZnO/CdS/Co nanostructures were successfully synthesized using a simple chemical precipitation method. The formation of these nanostructures was confirmed through x‐ray diffraction (XRD), but their morphological properties were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Their optical properties were investigated using UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV‐DRS) and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). The photocatalytic activity of these materials was tested for the degradation of Reactive Blue 160 (RB 160) under visible light. It was observed that ZnO/CdS nanocomposites exhibited superior photocatalytic performance compared to pure ZnO. Furthermore, the inclusion of cobalt (Co) in the ZnO/CdS nanocomposites significantly enhanced this activity, likely due to improved visible light absorption. These findings suggest that ZnO/CdS/Co nanocomposites are promising candidates for efficient photocatalytic applications, particularly in environmental remediation under visible light.
Mesenchymal Stem Cells‐Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles and Their Validation as a Promising Treatment for Chondrosarcoma in a 3D Model in Vitro
Authors: Romano Eugenia , Perut Francesca , Avnet Sofia , Di Pompo Gemma , Silvestri Simona , Roffo Felicia , Baldini Nicola , Netti Paolo Antonio , Torino Enza 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTChondrosarcomas (CHS) constitute approximately 20% of all primary malignant bone tumors, characterized by a slow growth rate with initial manifestation of few signs and symptoms. These malignant cartilaginous neoplasms, particularly those with dedifferentiated histological subtypes, pose significant therapeutic challenges, as they exhibit high resistance to both radiation and chemotherapy. Ranging from relatively benign, low‐grade tumors (grade I) to aggressive high‐grade tumors with the potential for lung metastases and a grim prognosis, there is a critical need for innovative diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, particularly for patients with more aggressive forms. Herein, small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) derived from mesenchymal stem cells are presented as an efficient nanodelivery tool to enhance drug penetration in an in vitro 3D model of CHS. Employing high‐pressure homogenization (HPH), we achieved unprecedented encapsulation efficiency of doxorubicin (DXR) in sEVs derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSC‐EVs). Subsequently, a comparative analysis between free DXR and MSC‐EVs encapsulated with DXR (DXR‐MSC‐EVs) was conducted to assess their penetration and uptake efficacy in the 3D model. The results unveiled a higher incidence of necrotic cells and a more pronounced toxic effect with DXR‐MSC‐EVs compared to DXR alone. This underscores the remarkable ability of MSC‐EVs to deliver drugs in complex environments, highlighting their potential application in the treatment of aggressive CHS.
The Impact of Metaphors on Academic Text Comprehension: The Case of Students With Dyslexia
Authors: Cersosimo Rita , Domaneschi Filippo , Cancer Alice 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTMetaphor has long been used by scholars to make concepts more comprehensible. However, this use of figurative language has never been investigated in relation to the way students with dyslexia learn from academic texts. This study aims to assess the impact of metaphors on overall academic text comprehension in university students with and without dyslexia. Excerpts from scientific articles containing metaphors were adapted to be presented in two comparable conditions: metaphorical and literal. Legibility indexes were controlled for to guarantee the same difficulty between conditions. Twenty‐eight students with dyslexia and thirty students without dyslexia underwent a multiple‐choice comprehension task for two texts, one for each condition, and provided evaluations of text perception. A standardised assessment of general reading comprehension and cognitive abilities, such as reading speed, reading accuracy, and working memory was conducted. Data revealed that, when reading ability was controlled for, students with dyslexia presented significantly lower comprehension scores only in texts containing metaphors, despite comparable perceived complexity and increased interest in metaphorical texts. These findings suggest that metaphors used in educational discourse may not be entirely inclusive, as they seem to impose additional cognitive demands on students with dyslexia.
Influence of ecological characteristics and phylogeny on native plant species' commercial availability
Authors: Zinnen Jack , Barak Rebecca S. , Matthews Jeffrey W. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractPlant vendors generate a commercial species pool, the subset of species in a regional flora that is purchasable. The availability of plant species from commercial vendors can influence the composition and outcomes of conservation, landscaping, and restoration plantings. Although previous research suggests that most plant species are unavailable, there is little information that identifies the plant characteristics associated with commercial availability. We studied the composition of the commercial species pool by examining the ecology, phylogeny, and phenology of a regional flora in the Midwestern United States. We used a database of native plant species sold by 557 vendors throughout the Midwest (USA) to characterize species' availability. We compiled ecological characteristics of all plant species, including range size, growth form, moisture requirements, and conservatism—meaning fidelity to high‐quality natural areas. We characterized phenological (bloom time) data for a subset of the regional flora. Finally, we constructed a regional phylogeny to assess the phylogenetic signal of plant availability. We expected that commercially unavailable species would be niche specialists or short‐lived (often nonconservative “weedy”) species, and that they would bloom earlier in the season and for a shorter time. We found that commercially available species were more long‐lived, had larger range sizes, had intermediate fidelities to wetlands and high‐quality or disturbed natural areas, and were associated with certain plant types, especially shrubs and trees. In contrast, ferns and graminoids were underrepresented in the commercial trade. There was a strong phylogenetic signal associated with commercial availability; some plant families had nearly all or none of their species commercially available. Example families with low representation included Orchidaceae, Potamogetonaceae, Cyperaceae, and fern families. Longer bloomed species were more commercially available, but we did not find differences in availability between early‐ and late‐blooming species. Despite the diversity of the commercial pool in the Midwest, it is an unrepresentative, nonrandom subset of the regional species pool. This finding may promote the mismatch in species diversity and composition between remnant natural habitats and restorations because many specialized species are commercially unavailable to conservation and restoration practitioners. We encourage strategies to promote the availability of underrepresented plant diversity in the commercial species pool.
Bee Habitat, but Not Bee Community Structure, Varies Across Grassland Management in Four National Parks in the Mid‐Atlantic, USA
Authors: Larson Diane L. , Simanonok Michael , Landsman Andrew , Larson Jennifer L. , Davies Cora , Otto Clint R. V. 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTNational Park Service units in the United States play a large role in providing habitat for native pollinators. In parks that are established to preserve cultural landscapes, park managers recognize an opportunity to improve pollinator habitat while maintaining historically accurate conditions. In this study, we document floral resources and native bees within managed park grasslands, with the goal of providing information to managers to help them maximize pollinator habitat while meeting other management objectives. The study was performed on 37 grassland properties in the mid‐Atlantic region of the eastern United States, distributed across four parks; each property was managed with one of three management types: cool‐season hayed, cool‐season pasture, or warm‐season meadows managed with multiple approaches. We surveyed bees and open flowers on 50‐m transects twice each year in 2021 and 2022. Repeated‐measures ANOVA models revealed that mean bee abundance, richness, evenness, and diversity did not vary among sites or management types. This finding was further supported by a principal coordinates analysis that showed that bee community composition was similar across management types. Nonetheless, we found evidence to indicate that the three management types did not produce equivalent habitat for bees. Species accumulation curves showed that the effective number of flower species was consistently lower in cool‐season pastures, relative to the other two management types. Furthermore, we detected positive correlations between bee and flower diversity metrics in one of the 2 years, indicating that floral metrics are associated with bee communities, at least under certain conditions. Collectively, our study suggests that cool‐season fields that are hayed and warm‐season meadows have higher floral diversity than cool‐season pastures within national park units of the mid‐Atlantic region, and this higher diversity of forbs has the potential to benefit native bee diversity.
The Elevational Distribution Patterns of Plant Diversity and Phylogenetic Structure Vary Geographically Across Eight Subtropical Mountains
Authors: Zu Kuiling , Chen Fusheng , Huang Chao , Liu Yuanqiu , Wang Fangchao , Zhu Guojin , Bu Wensheng , Fang Xiangmin , Guo Liping 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTMountains have been recognized as biodiversity hotspots and possess strong elevational gradients. Whether these gradients exhibit similar characteristics in the multidimensional diversity patterns across different mountain ranges is a subject of inquiry. Exploring the elevational patterns of the diversity and phylogenetic information of plant species in the different subtropical mountains is necessary. Here, we compiled the elevational patterns of plant diversity occurring in the eight subtropical mountains of China and focused on the assessment of the patterns and determinants of the multi‐dimensional diversity and phylogenetic structure in different mountains. We also detected the elevational patterns and their relationship between different groups. The results indicate two main patterns of multi‐dimensional diversity: monotonic decrease and hump‐shaped, along with the area effect on the species diversity. There is a strong positive link between the non‐native and native species of species richness, and significant differences in phylogenetic structure's elevational distribution. We did not find the same rule in the mountains that the plant species in the lowlands indicate phylogenetic overdispersion, and the species in the higher elevation regions indicate phylogenetic clustering. We found that the plants' diversity peak is related to the mountains size, and this result showed that we should pay more attention to the conservation of plant communities in the higher elevation regions for the higher mountains. This study suggested that we should take different protective measures for the subtropical mountains: the lowland regions should be paid more attention in Mt. Lushan (LS), Mt. Guanshan (GS), Mt. Huanggang (HG), and Mt. Fanjing (FJ), and the middle‐altitude regions should be of concern for other mountains. This study helps to better understand the elevational gradients of species diversity on different scales and provides supporting scientific basis for biodiversity conservation in the subtropical mountain regions.
Partly cloudy with a chance of mosquitoes: Developing a flexible approach to forecasting mosquito populations
Authors: McDevitt‐Galles Travis , Degaetano Arthur T. , Elmendorf Sarah C. , Foster John R. , Ginsberg Howard S. , Hooten Mevin B. , LaDeau Shannon , McClure Katherine M. , Paull Sara , Posthumus Erin , Rochlin Ilia , Grear Daniel 
Published: December 2024

AbstractClimate‐induced shifts in mosquito phenology and population structure have important implications for the health of humans and wildlife. The timing and intensity of mosquito interactions with infected and susceptible hosts are a primary determinant of vector‐borne disease dynamics. Like most ectotherms, rates of mosquito development and corresponding phenological patterns are expected to change under shifting climates. However, developing accurate forecasts of mosquito phenology under climate change that can be used to inform management programs remains challenging despite an abundance of available data. As climate change will have variable effects on mosquito demography and phenology across species it is vital that we identify associated traits that may explain the observed variation. Here, we review a suite of modeling approaches that could be applied to generate forecasts of mosquito activity under climate change and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the different approaches. We describe four primary life history and physiological traits that can be used to constrain models and demonstrate how this prior information can be harnessed to develop a more general understanding of how mosquito activity will shift under changing climates. Combining a trait‐based approach with appropriate modeling techniques can allow for the development of actionable, flexible, and multi‐scale forecasts of mosquito population dynamics and phenology for diverse stakeholders.
Disease suppression is driven by microbial community properties at fine taxonomic scales
Authors: Shan Shan , George Isabelle , Millican Michael D. , Kinkel Linda L. , Lankau Richard A. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractThe soil microbiome provides essential services in agroecosystems that can increase plant health and productivity, such as disease suppression and growth promotion. A small number of microbial groups have been proposed as main players behind disease suppression, but the complete picture of the underlying mechanisms remains unclear for both functions in many soil systems. Here, we investigated broad and fine‐scale microbial community features for their contributions to disease suppression and growth promotion for potato plants. In a greenhouse study, we grew potato plants in pots sharing a common background soil and inoculated with living soil microbial communities with or without a separate inoculation with Streptomyces scabiei, the causal agent of potato common scab disease. The suppression of common scab and growth promotion abilities of a variety of soil microbial communities were estimated and related to quantitative patterns in microbial community structure. We found that suppression of common scab was mostly driven by fine‐scale microbial community features, especially the diversity within the Actinomycetota phylum. Even though opposing components of microbial community structure might be related to the two functions, disease suppression did not cause a negative trade‐off in growth promotion. This suggests high functional redundancy in growth promotion. It may be possible to improve the multi‐functionality of soil microbial communities by engineering the communities toward optimized disease suppression and growth promotion ability.
High fire frequency in California chaparral reduces postfire shrub regeneration and native plant diversity
Authors: Grupenhoff Ashley R. , Safford Hugh D. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractFire is crucial for maintaining species diversity and resilience in fire‐adapted shrublands of the world's Mediterranean climate zones (MCZs), which include the chaparral shrublands of the North American MCZ. Chaparral is adapted to high‐intensity burning, with relatively long intervals between fires (30–100 years) typifying undegraded conditions. Modern fire frequencies are much higher in chaparral, driven largely by high densities of human ignitions and coincidence between ignitions and severe weather conditions. This change in the fire regime has major implications for biodiversity, leading to exotic invasion, decreased ecosystem services, and potential type conversion of shrubland to grassland dominated by exotic species. We studied the impact of increased fire frequencies on the composition and abundance of herbaceous and woody species in the Interior Coast Range of northern California. Our study area is one of the most frequently burned areas in California, which allowed us to investigate higher fire frequencies than previously published in the scientific literature for California. We surveyed fifty‐four 250‐m2 plots to assess changes in plant community composition and postfire regeneration of chaparral shrubs across a wide range of fire frequencies, including plots that have burned up to six times in the past 30 years. Our findings reveal that short‐interval fires significantly reduced postfire native woody regeneration, with obligate seeding species experiencing a 99% reduction and facultative species showing an 83% reduction in regeneration in the most frequently burned plots. Moreover, the overall marginal effect of one additional fire since 1985 decreased the proportion of native species cover by 12% and both richness and Shannon diversity by 4%. Consequently, areas with higher fire recurrence supported a more structurally and botanically homogeneous landscape dominated by a homogeneous group of non‐native species.