bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Light‐Switchable Liquid Metamaterial Mirror
Authors: Cormier Sean , Salmon Andrew R. , Kos Dean , Baumberg Jeremy J. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractA metamaterial film composed of gold nanoparticles wrapped in thin thermoresponsive polymer shells is described. The nanoparticle shells are kept partially hydrated so that the film acts as a “liquid mirror” and shows subtle interactions due to its composite metamaterial nature. Optically heating the film collapses the polymer, increasing the gold fill fraction and raising the reflectivity. This in turn decreases the optothermal absorption, making both the reflectivity and optothermal absorption nonlinear. When the polymer collapses, the film buckles due to thermophoretic flows competing against surface tension. These interactions generate a remarkable array of dynamic behaviors. Exposing the films to light causes an insulator‐to‐metal transition. Defects can be healed by returning the film to the liquid phase. Laser illumination of micrometer‐scale regions generates local dimples at low power and sinters microscale tracks at high power. When microbeads are combined into these films, optical switching results in quenching of their photoluminescence as well as the ability to manipulate their spatial position in real time.
Chemical Insight into the Structure and Formation of Coke on PtSn Alloy during Propane Dehydrogenation
Authors: Wang Zhe , Chen Yuzhuo , Mao Shanjun , Wu Kejun , Zhang Kaichao , Li Qichuan , Wang Yong 
Published: June 2020

AbstractPropane dehydrogenation (PDH) catalyzed by PtSn/Al2O3 is a vital industrial process for producing propylene, a significant building block in the chemical industry. However, coke produced in the process deactivates the catalyst and the energy‐intensive regeneration procedures can produce considerable CO2 emission. In this work, coke on the spent catalysts is analyzed by thermogravimetric‐mass spectra, Raman spectra, 1H solid NMR spectra, and infrared spectra. Several C3 species, including propyl, propylidene and propylidyne are found on the surface of the PtSn alloy. Several reaction pathways are investigated by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. It is also found that this coke can be hydrogenated to propylene in the PDH process. These results could provide theoretical guidance for optimizing process parameters in industry.
Enhanced Solar Photothermal Catalysis over Solution Plasma Activated TiO2
Authors: Yu Fei , Wang Changhua , Li Yingying , Ma He , Wang Rui , Liu Yichun , Suzuki Norihiro , Terashima Chiaki , Ohtani Bunsho , Ochiai Tsuyoshi , Fujishima Akira , Zhang Xintong 
Published: June 2020

AbstractColored wide‐bandgap semiconductor oxides with abundant mid‐gap states have long been regarded as promising visible light responsive photocatalysts. However, their catalytic activities are hampered by charge recombination at deep level defects, which constitutes the critical challenge to practical applications of these oxide photocatalysts. To address the challenge, a strategy is proposed here that includes creating shallow‐level defects above the deep‐level defects and thermal activating the migration of trapped electrons out of the deep‐level defects via these shallow defects. A simple and scalable solution plasma processing (SPP) technique is developed to process the presynthesized yellow TiO2 with numerous oxygen vacancies (Ov), which incorporates hydrogen dopants into the TiO2 lattice and creates shallow‐level defects above deep level of Ov, meanwhile retaining the original visible absorption of the colored TiO2. At elevated temperature, the SPP‐treated TiO2 exhibits a 300 times higher conversion rate for CO2 reduction under solar light irradiation and a 7.5 times higher removal rate of acetaldehyde under UV light irradiation, suggesting the effectiveness of the proposed strategy to enhance the photoactivity of colored wide‐bandgap oxides for energy and environmental applications.
Peasecod‐Like Hollow Upconversion Nanocrystals with Excellent Optical Thermometric Performance
Authors: Fu Huhui , Liu Caiping , Peng Pengfei , Jiang Feilong , Liu Yongsheng , Hong Maochun 
Published: June 2020

AbstractTrivalent lanthanide (Ln3+)‐doped hollow upconversion nanocrystals (UCNCs) usually exhibit unique optical performance that cannot be realized in their solid counterparts, and thus have been receiving tremendous interest from their fundamentals to diverse applications. However, all currently available Ln3+‐doped UCNCs are solid in appearance, the preparation of hollow UCNCs remains nearly untouched hitherto. Herein, a class of UCNCs based on Yb3+/Er3+‐doped tetralithium zirconium octafluoride (Li4ZrF8:Yb/Er) featuring 2D layered crystal lattice is reported, which makes the fabrication of hollow UCNCs with a peasecod‐like shape possible after Ln3+ doping. By employing the first‐principle calculations, the unique peasecod‐like hollow nanoarchitecture primarily associated with the hetero‐valence Yb3+/Er3+ doping into the 2D layered crystal lattice of Li4ZrF8 matrix is revealed. Benefiting from this hollow nanoarchitecture, the resulting Li4ZrF8:Yb/Er UCNCs exhibit an abnormal green upconversion luminescence in terms of the population ratio between two thermally coupled states (2H11/2 and 4S3/2) of Er3+ relative to their solid Li2ZrF6:Yb/Er counterparts, thereby allowing to prepare the first family of hollow Ln3+‐doped UCNCs as supersensitive luminescent nanothermometer with almost the widest temperature sensing range (123–800 K). These findings described here unambiguously pave a new way to fabricate hollow Ln3+‐doped UCNCs for numerous applications.
Graphene Field‐Effect Transistors on Hexagonal‐Boron Nitride for Enhanced Interfacial Thermal Dissipation
Authors: Liu Donghua , Chen Xiaosong , Zhang Ying , Wang Dingguan , Zhao Yan , Peng Huisheng , Liu Yunqi , Xu Xiangfan , Wee Andrew Thye Shen , Wei Dacheng 
Published: June 2020

AbstractOwing to its atomic thickness, thermal dissipation is one significant bottleneck for the practical application of graphene in electronics. Here, it is demonstrated that a high‐quality ultraclean van der Waals interface can be obtained after modifying the SiO2/Si substrate with hexagonal‐boron nitride (h‐BN) by plasma‐enhanced chemical vapor deposition, which improves the mobility and the interfacial thermal dissipation of graphene field‐effect transistors (FETs). On h‐BN, interfacial thermal resistance decreases by more than 77% and the saturated power density of graphene FETs increases by 2–3‐folds to 3.45 × 105 W cm−2, higher than the power density of current CPUs (≈100 W cm−2), demonstrating its potential in future graphene‐based electronics.
Ion‐Activated Greatly Enhanced Conductivity of Thin Organic Semiconducting Films in Two‐Terminal Devices
Authors: Kapetanakis Eleftherios , Katsogridakis Charalampos , Dimotikali Dimitra , Argitis Panagiotis , Normand Pascal 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe energetics of metal/organic semiconductor (OSC) and polymer electrolyte/OSC interfaces play a key role in the operation of a variety of electronic and optoelectronic devices. Despite extensive research in the field, the way such energetics impact on device properties is often poorly understood and overlooked. They can cause unusual phenomena as reported herein in the case of metal/OSC/electrolyte systems for which an increase of up to three orders of magnitude in the conductivity of thin OSC films is observed. Using coplanar electrode devices and OSC films made of regioregular poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT) materials, it is shown that such a phenomenon results from synergistic effects between the metal/P3HT interface energetics, charge transport, and electrolyte conductivity. The experiments make evident the existence of a thickness‐dependent electrostatic potential at the P3HT surface, which leads to ion‐assisted hole accumulation at the upper edge of the P3HT film. Together with the potential of the investigated two‐electrode devices for sensing applications, this study provides new insights for the development of electrolyte‐gated transistors and can serve as a generic method for the extraction of parameters like the space‐charge width of metal/OSC junctions.
Ring Airy‐Like Beams along Predesigned Parabolic Trajectories
Authors: Hong Shihan , Yang Xinyu , Zhou Kangzhu , Wu You , Fu Xinming , Deng Dongmei 
Published: June 2020

AbstractBy phase‐modulating ring Airy Gaussian beams, ring Airy‐like beams propagating along predesigned parabolic trajectories are presented which combine the properties of accelerating beams and abruptly autofocusing beams analytically and numerically for the first time. The enhancement of the quadratic term ratio α shortens the autofocus distance and increases the slope of the beams after autofocusing. Interestingly, the main lobe tends to break into pieces as α increases and the possible reasons have been discussed. Furthermore, the distribution factor β and the radius of the primary r0 can prominently affect the autofocus distance and the intensity at the focal point but do not change the slope of the beams after the autofocusing. In addition, the self‐healing properties are validated to be retainable while RAiG beams via predesigned parabolic trajectories with various α.
Synthesis, characterization, biological evaluation, and in silico studies of novel 1,3‐diaryltriazene‐substituted sulfathiazole derivatives
Authors: Işık Mesut , Akocak Süleyman , Lolak Nabih , Taslimi Parham , Türkeş Cüneyt , Gülçin İlhami , Durgun Mustafa , Beydemir Şükrü 
Published: June 2020

AbstractIn the present study, a series of eleven novel 1,3‐diaryltriazene‐substituted sulfathiazole moieties (ST1–11) was synthesized by the reaction of diazonium salt of sulfathiazole with substituted aromatic amines and their chemical structures were characterized by Fourier transform infrared, 1H‐NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance), 13C‐NMR, and high‐resolution mass spectroscopy methods. These synthesized novel derivatives were found to be effective inhibitor molecules for α‐glycosidase (α‐GLY), human carbonic anhydrase (hCA), and acetylcholinesterase (AChE), with KI values in the range of 426.84 ± 58.42–708.61 ± 122.67 nM for α‐GLY, 450.37 ± 50.35–1,094.34 ± 111.37 nM for hCA I, 504.37 ± 57.22–1,205.36 ± 195.47 nM for hCA II, and 68.28 ± 10.26–193.74 ± 19.75 nM for AChE. Among the synthesized novel compounds, several lead compounds were investigated against the tested metabolic enzymes. More specifically, ST11 (4‐[3‐(perfluorophenyl)triaz‐1‐en‐1‐yl]‐N‐(thiazol‐2‐yl)benzenesulfonamide) showed a highly efficient inhibition profile against hCA I, hCA II, and AChE, with KI values of 450.37 ± 50.35, 504.37 ± 57.22, and 68.28 ± 10.26 nM, respectively. Due to its significant biological inhibitory potency, this derivative may be considered as an interesting lead compound against these enzymes.
Compound craniosynostosis, intellectual disability, and Noonan‐like facial dysmorphism associated with 7q32.3‐q35 deletion
Authors: Bukowska‐Olech Ewelina , Dmitrzak‐Węglarz Monika , Larysz Dawid , Wojciechowicz Bartosz , Simon Dorota , Walczak‐Sztulpa Joanna , Jamsheer Aleksander 
Published: June 2020

AbstractObjectiveCraniosynostosis (CS) is the premature fusion of the cranial sutures, occurring either in isolated or syndromic form. Syndromic CS, which was described in over 180 genetic syndromes, accounts for 15–30% of all CS cases and usually originates from mutations within the FGFR1, FGFR2, FGFR3, and TWIST1 genes. However, causative alterations in other genes, or rarely copy number variations (CNVs) were also reported. In this article, we describe a patient with Noonan‐like facial dysmorphism accompanied by intellectual disability and compound CS, involving coronal, sagittal, and squamous sutures.MethodsWe applied karyotyping, copy number variations analysis using array comparative genomic hybridization, and microarray‐based genes expresion analysis.ResultsWe have shown that the index carried a large and rare heterozygous deletion, which encompassed 12.782 Mb and mapped to a chromosomal region of 7q32.3‐q35 (HG38 – chr7:131837067‐144607071). The aberration comprised 109 protein‐coding genes, including BRAF, that encodes serine/threonine‐protein kinase B‐Raf, being a part of the RAS/MAPK signaling pathway.DiscussionThe RAS/MAPK pathway plays an essential role in human development; hence, its dysregulation not surprisingly results in severe congenital anomalies, such as phenotypically overlapping syndromes termed RASopathies. To our best knowledge, we report here the first CNV causing haploinsufficiency of BRAF, resulting in dysregulation of the RAS/MAPK cascade, and consequently, in the phenotype observed in our patient. To conclude, with this report, we have pointed to the involvement of the RAS/MAPK signaling pathway in CS development. Moreover, we have shown that the molecular analysis based on both DNA and RNA profiling, undoubtedly constitutes a comprehensive diagnostic and research strategy for elucidating a cause of genetic diseases.
Measuring intrarater association between correlated ordinal ratings
Authors: Nelson Kerrie P. , Zhou Thomas J. , Edwards Don 
Published: June 2020

AbstractVariability between raters' ordinal scores is commonly observed in imaging tests, leading to uncertainty in the diagnostic process. In breast cancer screening, a radiologist visually interprets mammograms and MRIs, while skin diseases, Alzheimer's disease, and psychiatric conditions are graded based on clinical judgment. Consequently, studies are often conducted in clinical settings to investigate whether a new training tool can improve the interpretive performance of raters. In such studies, a large group of experts each classify a set of patients' test results on two separate occasions, before and after some form of training with the goal of assessing the impact of training on experts' paired ratings. However, due to the correlated nature of the ordinal ratings, few statistical approaches are available to measure association between raters' paired scores. Existing measures are restricted to assessing association at just one time point for a single screening test. We propose here a novel paired kappa to provide a summary measure of association between many raters' paired ordinal assessments of patients' test results before versus after rater training. Intrarater association also provides valuable insight into the consistency of ratings when raters view a patient's test results on two occasions with no intervention undertaken between viewings. In contrast to existing correlated measures, the proposed kappa is a measure that provides an overall evaluation of the association among multiple raters' scores from two time points and is robust to the underlying disease prevalence. We implement our proposed approach in two recent breast‐imaging studies and conduct extensive simulation studies to evaluate properties and performance of our summary measure of association.
Prevalence of low anterior resection syndrome and impact on quality of life after rectal cancer surgery: population-based study
Authors: Pieniowski E H A , Nordenvall C , Palmer G , Johar A , Tumlin Ekelund S , Lagergren P , Abraham-Nordling M 
Published: June 2020

AbstractBackgroundThe prevalence of major low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) after rectal cancer surgery varies from 17·8 to 56·0 per cent, but data from high-quality studies are sparse. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of LARS and its association with quality of life (QoL) in a large, well defined, population-based cohort.MethodsThis was a population-based study that included all patients who had curative rectal cancer surgery with total or partial mesorectal excision in Stockholm County in Sweden between 2007 and 2013. Patients without a remaining stoma, free from cancer and alive in April 2017 were eligible for the study. The LARS score questionnaire, EORTC QLQ-C30 and Cleveland Clinic Florida Fecal Incontinence score were used as outcome measures. Adjusted mean scores (and differences) of EORTC QLQ-C30 for LARS groups were calculated using repeated measures ANCOVA regression models while adjusting for predefined confounders.ResultsIn total, 481 patients (82·6 per cent response rate) were included in the analysis. Mean follow-up time was 6·7 (range 3·4–11·0) years after surgery. The prevalence of LARS was 77·4 per cent (370 of 478 patients), with 53·1 per cent (254 of 478) experiencing major LARS. Patients with major LARS reported worse on all EORTC QLQ-C30 subscales (except for financial difficulties) than patients without LARS. A higher mean LARS score was associated with a greater impact on bowel-related QoL.ConclusionAfter anterior resection for rectal cancer, the majority of patients suffer from major LARS with a negative impact on QoL.
Introduction of data analytics in the engineering probability course: Implementation and lessons learnt
Authors: Shankar P. Mohana 
Published: June 2020

AbstractData analytics‐based tools are used extensively in industry, business, science, engineering, and medicine. Efforts are being made to transform the undergraduate course in engineering probability by incorporating the data analytics while retaining the concept‐driven topics. The author has been engaged in these efforts since 2017–2018. This manuscript reports on a number of data analytics‐based assignments alongside the traditional ones consisting of exercises requiring proofs, derivations, and calculations created during the fall quarter of 2018–2019. These assignments rely on computational tools and are connected to the theoretical concepts allowing the students to understand and appreciate the use of conceptual topics to practical application in machine vision, robotics, medical diagnostics, and so forth. The details on these assignments along with their implementation, results, and lessons learnt and conclusions drawn are presented.
Using a Nitrophenol Cocktail Screen to Improve Catalyst Down‐selection
Authors: Shultz Lorianne R. , Hu Lin , Feng Xiaofeng , Jurca Titel 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe catalytic reduction of 4‐nitrophenol (4NP) with excess NaBH4 is the benchmark model for quantifying catalytic activity of nanoparticles. Although broadly useful, the reaction can be very selective. This can lead to false positives and negatives when utilized for catalyst down‐selection from a broader materials candidate pool. We report a multi‐nitrophenol cocktail screening methodology incorporating 4NP and other amino‐nitrophenols, utilizing Ag, Au, Pt, and Pd nanoparticles on carbon support. The reduction of the cocktail proceeds with no deleterious side reactions on the time‐scale tested. The resulting kinetic rates provide an improved correlation of relative catalyst activity when compared to performance with other reducible moieties (e. g. azo bonds), or when compared to solely 4NP screening.
Impact of climate change mitigation policies on corporate financial performance: Evidence‐based on European publicly listed firms
Authors: Secinaro Silvana , Brescia Valerio , Calandra Davide , Saiti Buerhan 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThis study examines the relationship between climate change and firm performance in the context of European publicly listed companies. We conduct a multivariate regression analysis using Corporate Environmental Performance and Corporate Financial Performance as independent and dependent variables, respectively. A financial statement analysis of European publicly traded firms with high environmental performance shows that they register high corporate financial performance. Environmental performance positively impacts financial performance (β = .013, p‐value < .01). Return on equity (ROE) is positively related to firm size and CE1 (carbon emissions) intensity but negatively linked to CE2, CE1 & 2, and capital intensities. However, return on investment (ROI) is positively correlated with all the control variables, including capital intensity, firm size, and growth. The results confirm that the firm‐wide adoption of environmental practices reduces environmental risks, and thereby lowers production costs and increases profits. These findings can guide policymakers and organizations pursuing climate change mitigation and sustainable business solutions.
Integrating top‐down and bottom‐up effects of local density across scales and a complex life cycle
Authors: Mutz Jessie , Underwood Nora , Inouye Brian D. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractEffects of group size (local conspecific density) on individual performance can be substantial, yet it is unclear how these translate to larger‐scale and longer‐term outcomes. Effects of group size can be mediated by both top‐down and bottom‐up interactions, can change in type or direction across the life cycle, and can depend on the spatial scale at which group size is assessed. Only by determining how these different processes combine can we make predictions about how selection operates on group size or link hierarchical patterns of density dependence with population dynamics. We manipulated the density of a leaf beetle,Leptinotarsa juncta, at three nested spatial scales (patch, plant within a patch, and leaf within plant) to investigate how conspecific density affects predator‐mediated survival and resource‐mediated growth during different life stages and across multiple spatial scales. We then used data from field predation experiments to assess howL. junctadensities at hierarchical scales affect different aspects of predation. Finally, we incorporated predator‐ and resource‐mediated effects of density in a model to explore how changes in group size due to density‐dependent predation might affect mass at pupation for survivors. The effects ofL. junctadensity on predation risk differed among scales. Per capita predation risk of both eggs and late instars was lowest at high patch‐scale densities, but increased with plant‐scale density. The final mass of late instars declined with increasing plant‐scale larval density, potentially because of truncated development of high‐density larvae. Predation incidence (i.e., group attack rate) increased with larval density at all spatial scales. A high coefficient of variation (i.e., greater aggregation) ofL. junctadensity was associated with lower predation incidence at some scales. Our model suggested that predator‐ and resource‐mediated effects of density interact: lower survival at high larval density is mitigated by high final mass of larvae in the resulting smaller groups. Our results emphasize the importance of spatial scale and demonstrate that effects of top‐down and bottom‐up interactions are not necessarily independent. To understand how group size influences fitness, predator‐ and resource‐mediated effects of density should be measured in their demographic and spatial context, and not in isolation.
A comparative experimental study on the performance of the air‐conditioning system through effective condenser cooling and preheating the refrigerant
Authors: Mohamed Ibrahim Mohamed Musthafa 
Published: June 2020

AbstractA comparative study was made on air conditioning system performance improvement by effective condenser cooling and preheating the refrigerant. This study was described with the experimental investigation through a test rig fabricated from car air conditioning components. In which slight modifications were made such as compressor has to run by the electric motor with provision to measure power consumption during functioning and condenser fan has to replace with exhaust fan enclosed by the cooling pad in which water is supplied with a controlled flow rate using a water pump. Preheating of refrigerant is done using engine exhaust gas with counterflow heat exchanger setup. Air conditioning test rig was run to achieve the desired cooling effect for two processes. The coefficient of performance (COP) was calculated in both operating conditions for the same cooling effect and comparative study was made. The conclusion revealed that a new cooling method showed higher COP than preheating. By this approach, the percentage increase in heat removal rate up 37% was achieved which results in decreases the compressor running time thus mileage of vehicle can be improved significantly.