bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Efficient Infrared Solar Cells Employing Quantum Dot Solids with Strong Inter‐Dot Coupling and Efficient Passivation
Authors: Liu Sisi , Zhang Chongjian , Li Shuangyuan , Xia Yong , Wang Kang , Xiong Kao , Tang Haodong , Lian Linyuan , Liu Xinxing , Li Ming‐Yu , Tan Manlin , Gao Liang , Niu Guangda , Liu Huan , Song Haisheng , Zhang Daoli , Gao Jianbo , Lan Xinzheng , Wang Kai , Sun Xiao Wei , Yang Ye , Tang Jiang , Zhang Jianbing 
Published: December 2020

AbstractLead chalcogenide quantum dot (QD) infrared (IR) solar cells are promising devices for breaking through the theoretical efficiency limit of single‐junction solar cells by harvesting the low‐energy IR photons that cannot be utilized by common devices. However, the device performance of QD IR photovoltaic is limited by the restrictive relation between open‐circuit voltages (VOC) and short circuit current densities (JSC), caused by the contradiction between surface passivation and electronic coupling of QD solids. Here, a strategy is developed to decouple this restriction via epitaxially coating a thin PbS shell over the PbSe QDs (PbSe/PbS QDs) combined with in situ halide passivation. The strong electronic coupling from the PbSe core gives rise to significant carrier delocalization, which guarantees effective carrier transport. Benefited from the protection of PbS shell and in situ halide passivation, excellent trap‐state control of QDs is eventually achieved after the ligand exchange. By a fine control of the PbS shell thickness, outstanding IR JSC of 6.38 mA cm−2 and IR VOC of 0.347 V are simultaneously achieved under the 1100 nm‐filtered solar illumination, providing a new route to unfreeze the trade‐off between VOC and JSC limited by the photoactive layer with a given bandgap.
Stabilizing Anionic Redox Chemistry in a Mn‐Based Layered Oxide Cathode Constructed by Li‐Deficient Pristine State
Authors: Cao Xin , Li Haifeng , Qiao Yu , Jia Min , Li Xiang , Cabana Jordi , Zhou Haoshen 
Published: December 2020

AbstractLi‐rich cathode materials are of significant interest for coupling anionic redox with cationic redox chemistry to achieve high‐energy‐density batteries. However, lattice oxygen loss and derived structure distortion would induce serious capacity loss and voltage decay, further hindering its practical application. Herein, a novel Li‐rich cathode material, O3‐type Li0.6[Li0.2Mn0.8]O2, is developed with the pristine state displaying both a Li excess in the transition metal layer and a deficiency in the alkali metal layer. Benefiting from stable structure evolution and Li migration processes, not only can high reversible capacity (≈329 mAh g−1) be harvested but also irreversible/reversible anionic/cationic redox reactions are comprehensively assigned via the combination of in/ex situ spectroscopies. Furthermore, irreversible lattice oxygen loss and structure distortion are effectively restrained, resulting in long‐term cycle stability (capacity drop of 0.045% per cycle, 500 cycles). Altogether, tuning the Li state in the alkali metal layer presents a promising way for modification of high‐capacity Li‐rich cathode candidates.
Performance Limits of an Alternating Current Electroluminescent Device
Authors: Wang Vivian , Zhao Yingbo , Javey Ali 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe use of an alternating current (AC) voltage is a simple, versatile method of producing electroluminescence from generic emissive materials without the need for contact engineering. Recently, it was shown that AC‐driven, capacitive electroluminescent devices with carbon nanotube network contacts can be used to generate and study electroluminescence from a variety of molecular materials emitting in the infrared‐to‐ultraviolet range. Here, performance trade‐offs in these devices are studied through comprehensive device simulations and illustrative experiments, enhancing understanding of the mechanism and capability of electroluminescent devices based on alternating as opposed to direct current (DC) schemes. AC‐driven electroluminescent devices can overcome several limitations of conventional DC‐driven electroluminescent devices, including the requirement for proper alignment of material energy levels and the need to process emitting materials into uniform thin films. By simultaneously optimizing device geometry, driving parameters, and material characteristics, the performance of these devices can be tuned. Importantly, the turn‐on voltage of AC‐driven electroluminescent devices approaches the bandgap of the emitting material as the gate oxide thickness is scaled, and internally efficient electroluminescence can be achieved using low‐mobility single‐layer emitter films with varying thicknesses and energy barrier heights relative to the contact.
Tumor‐Associated Macrophage and Tumor‐Cell Dually Transfecting Polyplexes for Efficient Interleukin‐12 Cancer Gene Therapy
Authors: Qiu Nasha , Wang Guowei , Wang Jinqiang , Zhou Quan , Guo Mengyu , Wang Yaling , Hu Xuhao , Zhou Huige , Bai Ru , You Min , Zhang Zhen , Chen Chunying , Liu Ying , Shen Youqing 
Published: December 2020

AbstractInterleukin 12 (IL12) is a potent pro‐inflammatory chemokine with multifunction, including promoting cytotoxic T‐cell‐mediated killing of cancer cells. IL12‐based cancer gene therapy can overcome IL12's life‐threatening adverse effects, but its clinical translation has been limited by the lack of systemic gene‐delivery vectors capable of efficiently transfecting tumors to produce sufficient local IL12. Macrophages inherently excrete IL12, and tumor‐associated macrophages (TAMs) are the major tumor component taking up a large fraction of the vectors arriving in the tumor. It is thus hypothesized that a gene vector efficiently transfecting both cancer cells and TAMs would make the tumor to produce sufficient IL12; however, gene transfection of TAMs is challenging due to their inherent strong degradation ability. Herein, an IL12 gene‐delivery vector is designed that efficiently transfects both cancer cells and TAMs to make them as a factory for IL12 production, which efficiently activates anticancer immune responses and remodels the tumor microenvironment, for instance, increasing the M1/M2 ratio by more than fourfold. Therefore, the intravenously administered vector retards tumor growth and doubles survival in three animal models’ with negligible systemic toxicities. This work reports the first nonviral IL12 gene delivery system that effectively makes use of both macrophages and tumor cells.
Water‐in‐Fluorocarbon Nanoemulsions Stabilized by Phospholipids and Characterized for Pharmaceutical Applications
Authors: Ullmann Kirsten , Meier Manuel , Benner Carolyn , Leneweit Gero , Nirschl Hermann 
Published: December 2020

AbstractFluorocarbons are one of the most promising hydrophobic phases for future pharmaceutical production processes and various biomedical applications. Yet, because of their specific characteristics such as high density and refractive index similar to water, analysis of water‐in‐fluorocarbon (w/fc) nanoemulsions remains a challenge. The present work examines w/fc nanoemulsions stabilized with phospholipids as natural emulsifiers and tackles the measuring problems of photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS) when used for investigation of fluorocarbon nanoemulsions. These emulsions are suitable to form liposomes via centrifugation and thus, are required to meet certain criteria such as stability and size. The results imply a stability of up to 4 weeks with an average size of 180 nm. The intensity mean diameter gained from PCS measurements shows large scattering directly after sonication which is due to gas bubbles from sonication. The number mean is not influenced by gas bubbles and gives a more accurate depiction of the produced nanoemulsions. These findings are supported by small‐angle X‐ray scattering data, which are additionally applied for liposome analysis measuring a size of approximately 60 nm.
Self‐Assembled Nanoparticles as Cancer Therapeutic Agents
Authors: Ge Wei , Wang Lei , Zhang Jiayao , Ou Changjin , Si Weili , Wang Wenjun , Zhang Qingming , Dong Xiaochen 
Published: December 2020

AbstractMost therapeutic agents for cancer are currently suffering from the shortcomings of poor solubility, severe side effects, and multidrug resistance. Supramolecular self‐assembly (SSA) in nanomedicines is a promising way to overcome these obstacles due to the distinguished properties of noncovalent self‐assembly such as functional diversity, easy stimulus‐response, high biocompatibility, and biodegradability. Moreover, it is more potential to transform them from lab to clinic. In this review, based on lots of state‐of‐the‐art studies, a summary is presented about the recent advances in SSA for cancer treatment, with the introduction of noncovalent driving forces, classifications, design, and applications of multifunctional self‐assembled nanoparticles (SANPs). Finally, the prospects of SANPs on both developing drugs and clinical transformation are discussed.
A High Catalytic Activity Photocatalysts Based on Porous Metal Sulfides/TiO2 Heterostructures
Authors: Qian Yongteng , Wang Le , Du Jimin , Yang Hao , Li Mancong , Wang Yina , Kang Dae Joon 
Published: December 2020

AbstractPorous metal sulfides/TiO2 (P‐MST) photocatalysts are successfully prepared via a low‐cost strategy. It is found that the P‐MST possesses a high crystallinity with average pore size of ≈500 nm, which greatly enhances the structural stability as well as catalytic activity. The catalytic properties of the P‐MST are examined by monitoring the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) under visible‐light irradiation. Particularly, the optimized 7% Bi2S3–CdS–MoS2–TiO2 heterostructures exhibit a remarkable catalytic performance (i.e., the degradation of RhB of ≈98.9%) and long‐term cyclic stability (i.e., the catalytic activity of ≈91.7% even after 30 cyclic test), compared with that of other P‐MST heterostructures. The exceptional catalytic performance may be ascribed to the following benefits: i) the porous structure supplies ample carrier charge transfer channels and lots of surface reaction sites; and ii) the suitable amount of metal sulfides grown on TiO2 have contributed to significant improvement of the electrical conductivity and the light absorption capability.
Insights into Synergistic Effect of Acid on Morphological Control of Vanadium Oxide: Toward High Lithium Storage
Authors: Zhou Yang , Pan Qiwen , Zhang Jing , Han Chunmiao , Wang Lei , Xu Hui 
Published: December 2020

AbstractMorphological control is a fundamental challenge of nanomaterial development. Commonly, hierarchical nanostructures cannot be induced by a single driving force, but obtained through balancing multiple driving forces. Here, a feasible strategy is reported based on the synergistic effect of proton and acid anion, leading to the morphological variation of vanadium oxide from nanowire, bundle, to hierarchical nanoflower (HNF). Protons can only induce the formation of nanowire through reducing the pH value ≤ 2. However, acid anions with strong coordination ability, e.g., phosphate radicals, can also participate in morphological regulation at high concentration. Through coordinating with exposed vanadium ions, the enrichment of phosphate radicals at ledge and kink changes the growth directions, giving rise to the advanced structures of bundle and HNF. The lithium ion batteries using HNF as a cathode achieve a 30% improved initial discharge specific capacity of 436.23 mAh g−1 at a current density of 0.1 A g−1, reaching the theoretical maximum value of vanadium oxide based on insertion/desertion of three lithium ions, in addition to strong cyclic stability at 1 A g−1.
Predicting within‐field cotton yields using publicly available datasets and machine learning
Authors: Leo Stephen , De Antoni Migliorati Massimiliano , Grace Peter R. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractEarly detection of within‐field yield variability for high‐value commodity crops, such as cotton (Gossypium spp.), offers growers potential to improve decision‐making, optimize yields, and increase profits. Over recent years, publicly available datasets have become increasingly available and at a resolution where within‐field yield prediction is possible. However, the viability of using these datasets with machine learning to predict within‐field cotton lint yield at key growth stages are largely unknown. This study was conducted on two cotton fields, located near Mungindi, New South Wales, Australia. Three years of yield data, soil, elevation, rainfall, and Landsat imagery were collected from each field. A total of 12 models were created using: (a) two machine learning algorithms: random forest (RF) and gradient boosting machines (GBM); (b) three growth stages: squaring, flowering, and boll‐fill; and (c) two different amounts of variables: all variables and the optimal variables determined by a recursive feature elimination (RFE). Results showed a strong agreement between predicted and observed yields at flowering and boll‐fill when more information was available. At flowering and boll‐fill, root mean square error (RMSE) ranged between 0.15 and 0.20 t ha−1 and Lin's concordance correlation coefficient (LCCC) ranged between 0.50 and 0.66, with RF providing superior results in most cases. Models created using the optimal variables determined by the RFE provided similar results compared to using all variables, allowing greater model accuracy and resolution with targeted sampling. Overall, these findings indicate significant potential of publicly available datasets to predict within‐field cotton yield and guide decision‐making in‐season.
GLYT1 encephalopathy: Further delineation of disease phenotype and discussion of pathophysiological mechanisms
Authors: Mademont‐Soler Irene , Casellas‐Vidal Dolors , Trujillo Alberto , Espuña‐Capote Núria , Maroto Anna , García‐González Maria del Mar , Ruiz María Dolores , Diego‐Álvarez Dan , Queralt Xavier , Perapoch Josep , Obón María 
Published: December 2020

AbstractGLYT1 encephalopathy is a form of glycine encephalopathy caused by disturbance of glycine transport. The phenotypic spectrum of the disease has not yet been completely described, as only four unrelated families with the disorder have been reported to date. Common features of affected patients include neonatal hypotonia, respiratory failure, encephalopathy, myoclonic jerks, dysmorphic features, and musculoeskeletal anomalies. All reported affected patients harbor biallelic genetic variants in SLC6A9. SNP array together with Sanger sequencing were performed in a newborn with arthrogryposis and severe neurological impairment. The novel genetic variant c.997delC in SLC6A9 was detected in homozygous state in the patient. At protein level, the predicted change is p.(Arg333Alafs*3), which most probably results in a loss of protein function. The variant cosegregated with the disease in the family. A subsequent pregnancy with ultrasound anomalies was also affected. The proband presented the core phenotypic features of GLYT1 encephalopathy, but also a burst suppression pattern on the electroencephalogram, a clinical feature not previously associated with the disorder. Our results suggest that the appearance of this pattern correlates with higher cerebrospinal fluid glycine levels and cerebrospinal fluid/plasma glycine ratios. A detailed discussion on the possible pathophysiological mechanisms of the disorder is also provided.
Diet, psychosocial stress, and Alzheimer's disease–related neuroanatomy in female nonhuman primates
Authors: Frye Brett M. , Craft Suzanne , Register Thomas C. , Andrews Rachel N. , Appt Susan E. , Vitolins Mara Z. , Uberseder Beth , Silverstein‐Metzler Marnie G. , Chen Haiying , Whitlow Christopher T. , Kim Jeongchul , Barcus Richard A. , Lockhart Samuel N. , Hoscheidt Siobhan , Say Brandon M. , Corbitt Sarah E. , Shively Carol A. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractIntroductionAssociations between diet, psychosocial stress, and neurodegenerative disease, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), have been reported, but causal relationships are difficult to determine in human studies.MethodsWe used structural magnetic resonance imaging in a well‐validated non‐human primate model of AD‐like neuropathology to examine the longitudinal effects of diet (Mediterranean vs Western) and social subordination stress on brain anatomy, including global volumes, cortical thicknesses and volumes, and 20 individual regions of interest (ROIs).ResultsWestern diet resulted in greater cortical thicknesses, total brain volumes, and gray matter, and diminished cerebrospinal fluid and white matter volumes. Socially stressed subordinates had smaller whole brain volumes but larger ROIs relevant to AD than dominants.DiscussionThe observation of increased size of AD‐related brain areas is consistent with similar reports of mid‐life volume increases predicting increased AD risk later in life. While the biological mechanisms underlying the findings require future investigation, these observations suggest that Western diet and psychosocial stress instigate pathologic changes that increase risk of AD‐associated neuropathology, whereas the Mediterranean diet may protect the brain.
Using acetone for rapid PCR‐amplifiable DNA extraction from recalcitrant woody plant taxa
Authors: Gouker Fred E. , Guo Yonghong , Pooler Margaret R. 
Published: December 2020

PremiseQuick and effective DNA extraction from plants for subsequent PCR amplification is sometimes challenging when working across diverse plant taxa that may contain a variety of inhibitory compounds. Time‐consuming methods may be needed to overcome these inhibitory effects as well as the effects of various preservation and collection methods to extract DNA from leaf samples. Our objective was to develop a rapid DNA extraction protocol that could be used with diverse plant taxa to produce high‐quality DNA suitable for downstream PCR applications.Methods and ResultsWe tested the efficacy of acetone in extracting DNA from fresh, frozen, oven‐dried, acetone‐fixed, and herbarium leaf material of 22 species from 16 woody and herbaceous plant families. An improved simplified DNA extraction protocol was developed using acetone‐fixed leaf material. The addition of 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate solution resulted in the optimal extraction from all tissue samples. The DNA resulting from the extraction protocol was readily amplified using real‐time PCR assays.ConclusionsThe protocol described here resulted in the extraction of DNA from recalcitrant plant species that was of sufficient quality and quantity for PCR amplification, as indicated by the low threshold cycle values from real‐time assays. This method is simple, fast, and cost‐effective, and is a reliable tool for extracting high‐quality DNA from plant material containing PCR inhibitors.
An improved Hotelling's T2 chart for monitoring a finite horizon process based on run rules schemes: A Markov‐chain approach
Authors: Chew XinYing , Khoo Michael Boon Chong , Khaw Khai Wah , Lee Ming Ha 
Published: December 2020

AbstractQuality improvement has been receiving great attention in industries. In recent years, the finite horizon process is commonly encountered in industries due to flexible manufacturing production. Past research works on finite horizon process monitoring are still limited. Because of this, three run rules Hotelling's T2 charts are proposed to monitor a finite horizon process. The performance measures of the proposed charts are derived using the Markov‐chain approach. The proposed schemes can serve as a framework for quality engineers who wish to perform process monitoring easily and efficiently. Numerical comparisons between the proposed and existing Shewhart (SH) T2 charts have been made. The statistical performance measures were investigated in this article. The findings reveal that the proposed charts outperform the SH T2 chart for detecting small and moderate process shifts in a finite horizon process. The illustration of the run rules (RR) T2 chart is shown on a real manufacturing dataset in a finite horizon process.
Homogeneous catalyzed transesterification of neem seed oil to biodiesel and its kinetic modeling
Authors: Onukwuli Dominic O , Umeuzuegbu Jonah C , Ude Callistus N , Nwobi‐Okoye Chukwuemeka C 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThis study focuses on the kinetic modeling of homogeneous catalyzed transesterification of neem seed oil and the determination of the rate‐limiting step (RLS). The oil was extracted from the seeds by cold solvent extraction and it was characterized to determine its physicochemical properties. The effect of factors such as time, amount of catalyst, temperature, methanol / oil molar ratio, and agitation speed on the biodiesel yield were investigated. The kinetic experiments for the transesterification reaction were carried out by batch process, assuming a pseudo second‐order reaction. Rate equations for the arrays of reversible reactions of triglyceride to glycerol and biodiesel were developed to determine the RLS. The oil yield extracted was 34%. The extracted oil contained 60.2% monounsaturated fatty acid and the dominant monosaturated fatty acid is oleic acid having 40.6% of total composition of monosaturated fatty acid in the oil. The biodiesel yield produced by transesterification of pretreated neem oil was 90% and biodiesel properties were within the limits of American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) (D6751‐02) standards. The kinetic modeling of the reaction revealed that the rate constant values for forward reactions (transesterification) (k1, k3, and k5) were higher than those of backward reactions (k2, k4 and k6) at temperatures of 45, 55, and 65 °C. The rate constant (k1) for the conversion of triglyceride to diglyceride was the least among the rate constants of forward reactions at all the studied temperatures showing the RLS. The rate constants for the RLS are 0.0174, 0.0208, and 0.0303 min−1 at temperatures of 45, 55, and 65 °C respectively and the activation energy is 24.9 kJ mol−1. © 2020 Society of Industrial Chemistry and John Wiley & Sons Ltd
Dynamic and conformational switching in proteins
Authors: Scheraga H.A. , Rackovsky S. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractUsing bioinformatic methods for treating protein dynamics, developed in earlier work, we study the relationship between sequence mobility and dynamics in proteins. It is shown that sequence mobility drives a transition between two dynamic regimes in proteins, and that the specific details of this transition differ qualitatively between α‐helical proteins and those in other structural classes. We examine the possibility that conformational switching is related to dynamic switching, by considering a specific system of sequences which exhibit the switching phenomenon. It is shown that a relationship between dynamic and conformational switching is entirely plausible.