bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Minskade kostnader och ökad lönsamhet. Hållbarhet och föredömlighet som mål och medel hos svenska företag med statligt ägande
Authors: Skärlund Sanna 
Published: April 2020

Svenska staten äger 46 olika bolag (2020), vars aktiviteter årligen sammanfattas i rapporten Verksamhetsberättelse för företag med statligt ägande, utgiven av regeringen. År 2007 slog regeringen fast att de statliga företagen måste rapportera om sitt hållbarhetsarbete varje år, och 2016 inkluderades också Agenda 2030 och FN:s 17 globala mål för en hållbar utveckling i den statliga ägarpolicyn. Men hur motiverar den svenska regeringen att de statliga företagen ska arbeta med hållbarhet och hur har regeringens användning av hållbarhet som begrepp förändrats över tid? I den här artikeln redogörs för detta utifrån kvalitativa och kvantitativa undersökningar av regeringens Verksamhetsberättelse för företag med statligt ägande från perioden 1999–2017. Det visar sig att hållbarhet har kommit att inkludera allt fler områden och att det vanligaste argument som förs fram i texterna är att företagen tjänar ekonomiskt på att implementera hållbarhet i verksamheten. Skäl som har med planetens framtid att göra nämns däremot aldrig. Om företagen verkligen gör en ekonomisk vinst av hållbarhetsarbete har dock ifrågasatts av tidigare forskning.
I anslutning till frågan om motiv till att arbeta med hållbarhet blir det också relevant att analysera hur de statliga företagen i verksamhetsberättelserna framställs som föredömen för andra företag. De områden som framhålls som viktiga vad gäller föredömlighet är framförallt hållbarhet, jämställdhet, mång-fald, etik och miljö, vilket är teman som också kan ses som viktiga aspekter av den svenska självbilden. Det beskrivs dock sällan att de statliga företagen är föredömen; istället anges det att de ska vara föredömen. Detta skulle kunna ses som en förhoppning för framtiden, men också som en uppmaning från regeringen till de statliga företagens ledningar.
Icariin protects against sodium azide—induced neurotoxicity by activating the PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β signaling pathway
Authors: Zhang Ying , Huang Nanqu , Lu Hao , Huang Juan , Jin Hai , Shi Jingshan , Jin Feng 
Published: April 2020

Background
Icariin (ICA) is one of the major active flavonoids extracted from the traditional Chinese herb Epimedium brevicornum Maxim and has been shown to have neuroprotective effects. This study was designed to investigate the effect of ICA on sodium azide (NaN3)-induced rat adrenal pheochromocytoma (PC12) cell damage and to further examine the underlying mechanisms.

Methods
To explore its possible mechanism, we used NaN3 (50 mM)-induced neuronal PC12 cell damage. Cell viability was evaluated by CCK-8 and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assays. Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was detected by JC-1. Glucose concentration was assessed by the glucose oxidase method. The role of ICA in the PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β signaling pathway was explored by Western blotting.

Results
The results indicate that pretreatment with ICA reduced NaN3-induced cell damage and significantly reduced the leakage rate of LDH in PC12 cells. ICA pretreatment increased the MMP and a decrease in glucose concentration indicate increased glucose consumption. Furthermore, the protein levels of p-PI3K (p85), PI3K-110α, p-Ser473-Akt and p-Ser9-GSK-3β were markedly decreased in PC12 cells after NaN3 treatment for 24 h, whereas these effects were reverted after pretreatment with ICA. Tau phosphorylation at the Ser396/404 and Thr217 sites was significantly decreased by pretreatment with ICA.

Conclusions
These results suggest that ICA protects against NaN3-induced neurotoxicity in PC12 cells by activating the PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β signaling pathway.
Determination of Oxalates in Corms of Selected Taro (Colocasia esculenta) Varieties in Malaysia Using Ultra High-Performance Liquid Chromatography
Authors: Zulkhairi A. Mohd , Razali M. , Umikalsum M. B. , Norfaizal G. Mohd , Athirah A. Aimi , Aisyah M. N. Siti 
Published: April 2020

Aims: To determine the oxalate contents in different varieties of taro (Colocasia esculenta) collected in Peninsular Malaysia.
Study Design: Ultra High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC) with UV detector (Diode Array Detection, (DAD)) was used to determine the total and soluble oxalate contents in different varieties of taro corms. Meanwhile, the insoluble oxalate content (calcium oxalate) was estimated from the subtraction of soluble oxalate content from total oxalate content.
Place and Duration of Study: Malaysian Agriculture Research and Development Institute (MARDI Headquarters), Persiaran MARDI-UPM, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia between December 2018 to December 2019.
Methodology: 9 different varieties of taro were collected from different locations in Peninsular Malaysia. All the samples were analysed for their oxalate contents. Extractions were carried out to determine the total oxalate and soluble oxalate contents. All the samples were analysed using UHPLC. The generated data of oxalate contents were analysed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA).
Results: There is a significant difference (P <.05) between the oxalate content in the examined varieties with respect to the amount of total, soluble and insoluble oxalate contents. The putih variety has significantly the highest amount of total oxalate content with 218.8 ± 28.2 mg/100 g DW (dry weight) followed by the udang variety with 184.2 ± 24.7 mg/100 g DW and the wangi variety with 178.3 ± 5.1 mg/100 g DW. Tapak badak variety has the lowest total oxalate content with 70.5 ± 20.1 mg/100 g DW. Result showed that wangi variety has significantly the highest soluble oxalate content with 135.1 ± 4.8 mg/100 g DW followed by udang with 100.9 ± 49.8 mg/100 g DW. The lowest soluble oxalate content was found in tapak badak with 17.7 ± 2.9 mg/100 g DW.
Conclusion: Despite many factors contributing to the difference in oxalate content between varieties, this study would help researchers or policy makers to suggest potential taros for commercial cultivation.
Assessment of Commercial Charcoal Production Effect on Savannah Woodland of Nasarawa State, Nigeria
Authors: Ekpo A. S. , Mba E. H. 
Published: April 2020

Charcoal is used as fuel in cooking for household, large food consumption and also in some industries especially those involved in casting bronze and other metals. It can be produced year round which involves woodland exploitation that contributes to deforestation with various negative consequences like loss of valuable resources and environment, drives climate change through the release of greenhouse gases, it also reduces the bio-productivity of ecosystems by disrupting the habitats of thousands of species, transforms forest lands into barren deserts and exposes bare surfaces which are susceptible to soil erosion, thus making the entire ecosystem unstable.
These are among the major threats to forest reserves and contributes highly to deforestation with 0.038 hectare of savanna woodland depleted for production of a single 15 kg capacity bag of charcoal in the study area and this had led to forest degradation which 96.2% of the respondents attested. The study was to determine the impacts of charcoal production to the forest reserves and also the public perceptions of the environmental effect of unplanned cutting of tree for Charcoal Production and it recommended awareness, prudent forest management and getting involve the private sectors, combined with proactive actions and policies.
Burden and Factors Associated with Refractive Errors Post Cataract Surgery at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center: A Hospital Based Retrospective Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Uwemeye Livin , Makupa William U. 
Published: April 2020

Aims: To determine the burden and factors associated with refractive errors after cataract surgery in a training institution.
Study Design: A retrospective cross-sectional study.
Place and Duration of the Study: Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center Eye department. Northern Tanzania, from January 2016 to December 2017.
Methods: A review of files of all adult patients who have had cataract surgery in 2016 and 2017 was conducted. A total of 626 eyes of 554 patients who had post-operative refraction by experienced optometrists were included. Information were extracted from patients’ files then entered into SPSS version 20 for analysis. The main outcomes were post-operative refraction and best corrected visual acuity.
Results: Mean age was 69.3 years (SD=10.7) and ECCE accounted for 76% of surgeries. At least 84.6% had post-operative refractive error and astigmatism was the most common refractive error (56.8%). Spherical error accounted for 27.8%. Spherical error ranged from -12 to 4DS, mean = -0.42 (SD=1.3) DS and median = 0.00DS. The maximum cylindrical error was -7.5 DC, mean = -1.15 (SD=1.36) DC and median = -1.0DC. At least 56% had spherical equivalent within 1D of emmetropia. A BCVA of 6/18 or better was achieved in 92.8%. Age, poor pre-operative VA, poor presenting VA, astigmatism on keratometry, difference between recommended and inserted IOL, ECCE, grade of surgeon and suturing were associated with refractive errors.
Conclusion: Refractive errors following cataract surgery are common. Best corrected visual acuity outcome was in normal recommended range; however, the magnitude of refractive errors was high and the proportion of patients who achieved a final refraction within 1D of emmetropia was below the recommended range. An effort should be made to lower the prevalence and magnitude of refractive errors associated with cataract surgery in training institutions.
Ultrafine Pt‐Based Nanowires for Advanced Catalysis
Authors: Xu Hui , Shang Hongyuan , Wang Cheng , Du Yukou 
Published: April 2020

AbstractAt the frontier of electrocatalysis and heterogeneous reactions, significant effort has been devoted to Pt‐based nanomaterials owing to their advantages of tunable morphology and excellent catalytic properties. In contrast to Pt‐based nanocatalysts with other morphologies, nanowire catalysts, especially 1D ultrafine nanowire (NW) structure, are garnering increased attention because of their advantages of high atomic efficiency, intrinsic isotropy, rich high‐index facets, better conductivity, robust structure stability for prohibiting dissolution, ripening, and aggregation. Regardless of these advantages, it is still challenging to realize the precise control of ultrafine Pt‐based NWs in terms of their size, crystal phase structure, and composition. Aiming to synthesize advanced ultrafine Pt‐based NWs catalysts with higher activity, durability, and selectivity toward catalytic reactions, this review summarizes the recently available approaches for improving the catalytic performance of ultrafine Pt‐based NWs with detailed guidance. A summary of recent progress in ultrafine Pt‐based NWs catalysts for advanced catalysis and heterogeneous reactions is also provided. Furthermore, integrated experimental and theoretical studies are reviewed to explain the activity, stability, and selectivity enhancement mechanism. In the final section, the challenges and outlook are also discussed to provide guidance for the rational engineering of efficient ultrafine Pt‐based NWs catalysts for applications in renewable‐energy‐related devices.
Solution‐Processable Epitaxial Metallic Delafossite Oxide Films
Authors: Wei Renhuai , Gong Penglai , Zhao Minglin , Tong Haiyun , Tang Xianwu , Hu Ling , Yang Jie , Song Wenhai , Zhu Xuebin , Sun Yuping 
Published: April 2020

AbstractMetallic delafossites ABO2, as the new benchmark of ultra‐high conductive oxides, have recently attracted great interest. The harsh processing conditions and dimensional sizes obviously limit the fundamental sciences and technological applications. Here, a low‐cost and facile solution approach is realized to synthesize epitaxial metallic ABO2 thin films including PtCoO2, PdCoO2, and PdCrO2 with a dimension up to two‐inches in diameter, showing ultra‐high room temperature conductivity. The electrical properties, growth mechanisms, and potential technical applications including transparent conducting films and hydrogen evolution reaction activity are unveiled. The achievements of epitaxial metallic delafossites ABO2 thin films through solution methods will pave the route to producing wafer‐scaled ultra‐high conductive metallic delafossites.
Advanced Matrixes for Binder‐Free Nanostructured Electrodes in Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Zhang Lihan , Qin Xianying , Zhao Shiqiang , Wang Aurelia , Luo Jun , Wang Zhong Lin , Kang Feiyu , Lin Zhiqun , Li Baohua 
Published: April 2020

AbstractCommercial lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs), limited by their insufficient reversible capacity, short cyclability, and high cost, are facing ever‐growing requirements for further increases in power capability, energy density, lifespan, and flexibility. The presence of insulating and electrochemically inactive binders in commercial LIB electrodes causes uneven active material distribution and poor contact of these materials with substrates, reducing battery performance. Thus, nanostructured electrodes with binder‐free designs are developed and have numerous advantages including large surface area, robust adhesion to substrates, high areal/specific capacity, fast electron/ion transfer, and free space for alleviating volume expansion, leading to superior battery performance. Herein, recent progress on different kinds of supporting matrixes including metals, carbonaceous materials, and polymers as well as other substrates for binder‐free nanostructured electrodes in LIBs are summarized systematically. Furthermore, the potential applications of these binder‐free nanostructured electrodes in practical full‐cell‐configuration LIBs, in particular fully flexible/stretchable LIBs, are outlined in detail. Finally, the future opportunities and challenges for such full‐cell LIBs based on binder‐free nanostructured electrodes are discussed.
Scalable Manufacturing of Free‐Standing, Strong Ti3C2Tx MXene Films with Outstanding Conductivity
Authors: Zhang Jizhen , Kong Na , Uzun Simge , Levitt Ariana , Seyedin Shayan , Lynch Peter A. , Qin Si , Han Meikang , Yang Wenrong , Liu Jingquan , Wang Xungai , Gogotsi Yury , Razal Joselito M. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractFree‐standing films that display high strength and high electrical conductivity are critical for flexible electronics, such as electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding coatings and current collectors for batteries and supercapacitors. 2D Ti3C2Tx flakes are ideal candidates for making conductive films due to their high strength and metallic conductivity. It is, however, challenging to transfer those outstanding properties of single MXene flakes to macroscale films as a result of the small flake size and relatively poor flake alignment that occurs during solution‐based processing. Here, a scalable method is shown for the fabrication of strong and highly conducting pure MXene films containing highly aligned large MXene flakes. These films demonstrate record tensile strength up to ≈570 MPa for a 940 nm thick film and electrical conductivity of ≈15 100 S cm−1 for a 214 nm thick film, which are both the highest values compared to previously reported pure Ti3C2Tx films. These films also exhibit outstanding EMI shielding performance (≈50 dB for a 940 nm thick film) that exceeds other synthetic materials with comparable thickness. MXene films with aligned flakes provide an effective route for producing large‐area, high‐strength, and high‐electrical‐conductivity MXene‐based films for future electronic applications.
Electrode Work Function Reduction by Polyethylenimine Interlayers: Choice of Solvent and Residual Solvent Removal for Superior Functionality
Authors: Bontapalle Sujitkumar , Opitz Andreas , Schlesinger Raphael , Marder Seth R. , Varughese Susy , Koch Norbert 
Published: April 2020

AbstractUltrathin polyethylenimine (PEI) interlayers are frequently used to reduce the work function of electrode materials; however, to exploit the full potential of this material for application in optoelectronic devices, further fundamental understanding is required. Here, it is demonstrated that intermixing of PEI deposited from water solution onto the conductive polymer poly(3,4‐ethylene‐dioxythiophene) (PEDOT):polystyrene sulfonate can be avoided by using anhydrous butanol as solvent. At the same time, this choice of solvent prevents de‐doping of PEDOT and preserves the electrode's transparency. For inorganic electrode materials, i.e., ZnO and graphite, it is demonstrated that residual solvent in PEI films, present even after annealing in inert gas atmosphere, leads to significant surface dewetting, and thus inhomogeneity in terms of the morphology and work function. However, annealing in ultrahigh vacuum removes residual solvent, establishes homogenous surface coverage with PEI, and allows one to achieve the maximum work function reduction. For the transparent electron transport material ZnO, a record low work function value of 2.3 eV is achieved, which can enable the formation of ohmic contacts to most semiconductors.
Aggregation‐Induced Emissive and Circularly Polarized Homogeneous Sulfono‐γ‐AApeptide Foldamers
Authors: Shi Yan , Sang Peng , Yin Guangqiang , Gao Ruixuan , Liang Xiao , Brzozowski Robert , Odom Timothy , Eswara Prahathees , Zheng Youxuan , Li Xiaopeng , Cai Jianfeng 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThrough continuous efforts in developing a new class of foldamers, homogeneous sulfono‐γ‐AApeptides have been designed and synthesized using tetraphenylethylene (TPE) moieties attached to the backbone as luminogenic sidechains. Based on previous crystal structures, it is found that these foldamers adopted a left‐handed 414‐helix. Due to the constraint of the helical scaffold, the rotation of the TPE moieties is restricted, leading to fluorescent emissive properties with high quantum yields not only at the aggregate state but also in solution. Investigation of the relationship between the structure and fluorescence behavior reveals that emission is induced by the combined effect of the aggregation‐induced emission and the rotated restriction from the backbone. Furthermore, as the packing mode of the luminogens can be precisely adjusted by the helical backbone, these foldamers are found to be circularly polarizable with relatively large luminescence dissymmetry factor. Interestingly, possessing cationic amphipathic structures similar to that of host‐defense peptides, these sulfono‐γ‐AApeptides are able to inhibit the growth of Gram‐positive bacteria, methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus through membrane interactions.
Spin Logical and Memory Device Based on the Nonvolatile Ferroelectric Control of the Perpendicular Magnetic Anisotropy in PbZr0.2Ti0.8O3/Co/Pt Heterostructure
Authors: Ren Zengyao , Wang Mengxi , Liu Pengfei , Liu Qi , Wang Kaiyou , Jakob Gehard , Chen Jikun , Meng Kangkang , Xu Xiaoguang , Miao Jun , Jiang Yong 
Published: April 2020

AbstractIn the field of memory and spin‐logical devices, multiferroics have the potentials of low‐energy informational operation. A novel memory and logic device in a PbZr0.2Ti0.8O3/Co/Pt (PZT/Co/Pt) multiferroic heterostructure with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) is proposed. The PMA of PZT/Co/Pt structure can be modulated via the PZT/Co interface by switching the polarization field in the PZT layer. Moreover, the anomalous Hall voltage (AHV) under downward polarization is about 63% higher than that under upward polarization at 50 K without magnetic field. Interestingly, this AHV modulation is reversible, fast, and nonvolatile. Furthermore, the multiferroic random access memory and logic device operations are demonstrated based on the ferroelectric‐modulated AHV, which can lower the operating current density. This nonvolatile manipulation via ferroelectric polarizations will offer a new pathway to improve spintronic and spin‐logical applications.
The Role of Grain Boundaries on Ionic Defect Migration in Metal Halide Perovskites
Authors: Phung Nga , Al‐Ashouri Amran , Meloni Simone , Mattoni Alessandro , Albrecht Steve , Unger Eva L. , Merdasa Aboma , Abate Antonio 
Published: April 2020

AbstractHalide perovskites are emerging as revolutionary materials for optoelectronics. Their ionic nature and the presence of mobile ionic defects within the crystal structure have a dramatic influence on the operation of thin‐film devices such as solar cells, light‐emitting diodes, and transistors. Thin films are often polycrystalline and it is still under debate how grain boundaries affect the migration of ions and corresponding ionic defects. Laser excitation during photoluminescence (PL) microscopy experiments leads to formation and subsequent migration of ionic defects, which affects the dynamics of charge carrier recombination. From the microscopic observation of lateral PL distribution, the change in the distribution of ionic defects over time can be inferred. Resolving the PL dynamics in time and space of single crystals and thin films with different grain sizes thus, provides crucial information about the influence of grain boundaries on the ionic defect movement. In conjunction with experimental observations, atomistic simulations show that defects are trapped at the grain boundaries, thus inhibiting their diffusion. Hence, with this study, a comprehensive picture highlighting a fundamental property of the material is provided while also setting a theoretical framework in which the interaction between grain boundaries and ionic defect migration can be understood.
Melatonin application enhances biochar efficiency for drought tolerance in maize varieties: Modifications in physio‐biochemical machinery
Authors: Alharby Hesham F , Fahad Shah 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThe roles of biochar, melatonin (Me), and P application have been well researched; however, biochar with Me application in helping plants be more drought tolerant are little understood. The aim of this greenhouse study is to evaluate the effects of Me and P in combination with biochar made from date (Phoenix dactylifera L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) residues on vegetative growth and biochemical impact of maize (Zea mays L.) varieties Azam and Mallika under drought stress. Date residue and wheat straw biochars combined with melatonin (D+W+Me) reduced oxidative stress caused by excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) the most. Generations of ROS species (malondialdehyde [MDA], H2O2, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances [TBARS], O2−, lipoxygenase [LOX], and electolyte leakage [EL]) was 118 and 700% higher in Azam variety compared to Mallika. The application of D+W+Me maintained osmolyte accumulation, α‐amylase activity, and antioxidant enzyme activities at higher levels in Mallika (2−7, 29, 9−55%, respectively) than in Azam and the rest of the treatments. The D+W+Me treatment also enhanced leaf gas exchange traits in Mallika (3−20%) under drought stress, helping to main better photosynthesis machinery. The D+W+P and D+Me treatments application alleviated a portion of the drought stress. Overall, Me application with date residue and wheat straw biochars enhanced the efficiency of biochar, by better assuaging the adverse drought stress influences.