bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Gamma‐ray and neutron attenuation of carbon fiber/epoxy composites with carbon nanotubes and boron nitride nanoparticles for passive shielding applications in space
Authors: Peker Muhammed Yasin , Erbay Onur , Çetin Mehmet Emin , Reyhancan İskender Atilla , Avci Ahmet 
Published: December 2024

AbstractComposite materials have made far‐reaching changes in the space industry since they have been adopted into the structural and thermal control subsystems of space vehicles because of their several multi‐functions, including being lightweight as well as having advanced mechanical and thermal properties. The use of composites as space radiation shielding materials is also one of the most crucial applications because space radiation is a major impediment for current and future deep‐space missions. Investigation of carbon fiber composites with a diverse array of element and nanoparticle reinforcements has revealed their potential as an alternative to conventional radiation shielding materials in space. This study focused on the alleviation of gamma‐ray and neutron radiation by carbon fiber/epoxy composites incorporated with various weight ratios of carbon nanotube (CNT) and boron nitride (BN) nanoparticles. A narrow beam geometry setup was used for gamma radiation tests with a Cs‐137 gamma‐ray source, while neutron radiation experiments were conducted in a neutron howitzer with a 239Pu‐Be neutron source. Six groups of specimens, namely, pure carbon fiber/epoxy, 0.5 wt% CNT, 0.5 wt% BN, 0.5 wt% CNT + 0.5 wt% BN, 1 wt% CNT + 1 wt% BN, and 2 wt% BN, were examined against these two types of radiation. Results have indicated that the 2 wt% BN specimen showed the best attenuation properties against both gamma‐ray and neutron radiation among all tested specimens; furthermore, it was almost three times more effective against neutron radiation than against gamma‐ray radiation.Highlights
Varying weight ratios of CNT and BN nanoparticles used for radiation shielding.
A Cs‐137 gamma‐ray source used in narrow beam geometry.
Neutron radiation studies were conducted in a 239Pu‐Be neutron howitzer.
The 2 wt% BN sample showed the best attenuation against gamma‐ray and neutron radiation.
It resulted in an HVL of 6.86 cm for gamma‐ray radiation and 2.13 cm for neutron radiation.
DLP Printing Eutectic Gels Crosslinked by Dopamine‐Grafted Nano‐Cellulose for Flexible Wearable Devices
Authors: Du Xia , Zhang Xiaomin , Zhao Zhuang , Rong Youjie , Cui Pengdi , Huang Xiaobo 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTEutectic gels have great advantages in the application of flexible wearable electronic devices due to their good stability and flexibility. However, the adhesion properties of current eutectic gels are poor and the processing process is complicated. Based on this, this study proposed a eutectic gel with excellent adhesion properties that can be photocurable for 3D printing. We designed a polymerizable deep eutectic solvent (PDES) using acrylic acid as the main monomer, acrylic acid/choline chloride (AA/ChCl) as the eutectic solvent, and dopamine‐grafted cellulose nanocrystals (DC) as the nanoscale crosslinking agent. The introduction of DC endows the gel with a denser hydrogen bond network, which can effectively provide energy dissipation and improve the mechanical properties of the gel. The introduction of mussel‐inspired dopamine into the gel network gives the gel good adhesion. The low freezing point and low volatility of PDES give the gel excellent freezing resistance and long‐term storage stability. Furthermore, the gel has a sensitivity factor of up to 9.5 (at 0%–900% strain), showing excellent strain sensing performance. In addition, the gel can not only realize the customization of various complex structures through digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing technology, but also the manufactured wearable devices can complete the accurate sensing of various strain signals of the human body. Therefore, the combination of multi‐performance compatible eutectic gel materials and photocurable 3D printing technology will provide a new idea for the design and manufacture of flexible wearable devices.
A case of polyploid utility in biocontrol: reproductively‐impaired triploid Nasonia vitripennis have high host‐killing ability
Authors: Li Xuan , Leung Kelley 
Published: December 2024

AbstractBACKGROUNDIntentionally impairing the fecundity of mass‐reared insects has important utility in controlling pest species. Typically, sterilized individuals are competed against wild counterparts, reducing pest population size. A novel consideration is creating biocontrol agents with lower reproductive capacity that are less likely to establish permanently or admix with wild populations, which are both emerging as legal barriers. Hymenopterans have diploid females, but archetypically infertile polyploid triploid females occur for various parasitoid species. As a first test of polyploid utility for these biocontrol concerns, we assessed the species with the best characterized polyploid biology, the gregarious idiobiont Nasonia vitripennis, for triploid female host‐killing ability on pupal blowfly hosts (Calliphora vomitoria).RESULTSWe examined four polyploid lines: the old Whiting polyploid line (WPL) derived from a spontaneous mutation, and new polyploid lines made through RNAi knockdown of sex determination genes transformer, transformer‐2 and wasp‐overruler‐of‐masculinization. For diploid and triploid females of each polyploid line, and control diploids of the STDR and oyster lines used to maintain them, we measured lifetime number of hosts killed; lifetime number of hosts that produced at least one offspring; the percentage of the hosts killed and the percentage of hosts that produced offspring out of those offered; and lifespan. For all lines, triploids produced viable offspring in far fewer hosts than their diploid counterparts (≤70% less). Surprisingly though, they killed as many or more hosts than diploids over similar lifespans. The offspring production ability of the WPL triploid was half that of the other lines, but lines varied only slightly in the number of hosts killed (±10) among the polyploids.CONCLUSIONThe ability of reproductively impaired triploids to kill as many hosts as fertile diploids demonstrate high biocontrol utility for polyploidized females, and downstream potential for reducing ecological risk. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
The Beneficial Effects of Combined Exercise and Polyphenols in Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Tan Qinghua 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTRegular exercise enhances life quality, lowers the risk of cognitive damage, and slows the advancement of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Natural compounds rich in polyphenols have garnered attention as a non‐pharmacological means of treating and preventing AD. The primary component of wine, grape seeds, and nuts is polyphenols. Research suggests that polyphenols slow down the rate of neurodegeneration in AD and lessen learning impairment. Furthermore, polyphenols lessen brain impairments related to cognition. Additionally, polyphenols can specifically restructure amyloid‐β (Aβ) structures and soluble oligomers into non‐toxic alternative species. They have also been revealed to increase brain‐derived neurotrophic factors expression, suggesting that they have a positive impact on the creation of neurotrophins. The benefits of polyphenol supplementation and exercise, which can both provide neuroprotection, have not been well studied in AD patients. This review aimed to investigate the effects of combined exercise polyphenols on inflammation, neuroprotection, several conformational toxic species of Aβ, and Aβ‐induced apoptosis in AD.
Bioinspired Carbon‐Silver Sulfide Scaffold with Synergistic Enhanced Light Capture and Anti‐Biofouling Property for Stable Solar Steam Generation
Authors: You Yang , Xing Hanye , Li Kangkang , Xie Yuqing , Ye Meiqi , Lu Yang , Xue Jingzhe 
Published: December 2024

AbstractCarbon material is a hot topic in solar evaporation. Due to the widely distributed microorganisms in natural water, biofouling has limited the actual application of solar evaporation material. Although carbon material lacks of nutrition for microbe, it is still vulnerable to biofouling because of the efficient pollutant adsorption property. However, current anti‐biofouling design focuses on microbial control, neglects its influence on evaporators light absorption, that is usually a trade‐off with evaporation efficiency. Herein, a bioinspired aligned carbon‐Ag2S scaffold is introduced with synergistical enhanced light absorption (increased to 98.0% from 97.4%) and anti‐biofouling property. The bioinspired aligned carbon‐Ag2S scaffold exhibits a 1.87 kg m−2 h−1 evaporation rate under one sun, superior to pure carbon scaffold (1.78 kg m−2 h−1). It also maintains efficient light capture (‐97.2%) and evaporation rate (1.73 kg m−2 h−1) after bacterial interference, avoiding sharp decline in light absorption (reduced to 83.3–87.6%) and evaporation performance (reduced to 1.24–1.28 kg m−2 h−1) which occurs in carbon scaffold due to biofouling. The carbon‐Ag2S scaffold shows solid advantage in balancing light captures and biofouling control, compared to carbon‐ZnO scaffold with conventional anti‐biofouling design, which inhibits biofouling sacrificing light absorption (reduced to 89.8%) and evaporation performance (reduced to 1.41 kg m−2 h−1).
Crosslinking‐Driven Chemical Homogeneity Enhances Performance of Pre‐Seeded Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Zhang Xiao , Wang Linqing , Shafian Shafidah , Wang Peng , Zhao Yuping , Wang Pengcheng , Wu Bin , Zhai Jiaxue , Chen Jiayan , Sun Licheng , Hua Yong , Xie Lin 
Published: December 2024

AbstractPerovskite solar cells (PSCs) have achieved impressive efficiency, but their commercialization is limited by issues like chemical homogeneity within the perovskite films, leading to defects and phase segregation, which severely compromise the stability and performance of PSCs. This study presents a novel approach to overcoming these barriers by employing N,N‐methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as a multifunctional crosslinking agent within the perovskite structure. MBA enhances chemical uniformity both laterally and vertically, improves crystallinity, and boosts overall film stability by forming a robust crosslinked network that regulates nucleation and growth dynamics during the pre‐seeding process. This modification ensures a uniform distribution within the perovskite matrix and significantly reduces defect densities. As a result, MBA‐treated PSCs achieved a notable improvement in power conversion efficiency (PCE), reaching up to 24.26%, compared to 22.64% in control devices. Additionally, the MBA‐modified devices demonstrated remarkable stability, maintaining 90% of their initial efficiency after 1200 h of continuous illumination, in contrast to the 50% efficiency loss observed in control devices after just 500 h. These findings underscore the transformative potential of MBA as an additive in PSCs, offering a viable pathway to not only enhance efficiency but also significantly improve the long‐term stability of these devices, thus bringing PSCs closer to commercial viability.
Automated Actuation of Biodegradable and Self‐Fluorescent Chlorella Swarms Using Magnetic Tweezers
Authors: Su Guangfei , Zheng Liushuai , Wang Cheng , Wang Shuaida , Wen Qi , Chen Jiazheng , Jia Lanlan , Guo Yaoxian , Li Feng , Huang Hanjin , Li Junyang 
Published: December 2024

AbstractMagnetic microrobot swarms have broad application prospects in human‐targeted therapy. However, the automated assembly and actuation of functional large‐volume swarms is a challenging topic. Chlorella with self‐fluorescence and biodegradability is used in this paper as a template to prepare magnetic Chlorella‐based microrobots through magnetron sputtering. The assembly and actuation of large‐volume Chlorella swarms are realized using a magnetic tweezer system with a robust magnetic field. Experimental results indicate that the magnetic Chlorella swarms (MCS) possess excellent degradation capability and mobility, enabling automatic navigation in various scenarios. Notably, the MCS successfully moved on the spiral channel containing bovine serum and effectively crossed the simulated channel. Furthermore, in vitro studies of real articular cartilage fragments have revealed the motion capacity of the MCS. This research provides a functional microrobot swarm platform for targeted delivery and precision therapy.
P‐Doped NiFe Alloy‐Based Oxygen Evolution Electrocatalyst for Efficient and Stable Seawater Splitting and Organic Electrosynthesis at Neutral pH
Authors: Huang Shih‐Ching , Yu Hsiang‐Chun , Peng Chun‐Kuo , Lin Yan‐Gu , Lin Chia‐Yu 
Published: December 2024

AbstractDevelopment of high‐performance and inexpensive electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at neutral pH is important for direct seawater splitting and organic electrosynthesis but remains challenging due to the sluggish OER kinetics and diverse side reactions inherent to the constituents of working electrolytes. Herein, we report on a P:NiFe electrode, containing P‐doped NiFe alloy, as an excellent electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and OER pre‐catalyst for efficient OER in both seawater and organic electrolyte for adiponitrile (ADN) electrosynthesis at neutral pH. Fe and P species modulate the coordination environment of nickel sites, which enables the simultaneous formation of OER‐active nickel species and FePOx passivation layer, thus transforming HER‐active P:NiFe to OER‐active a‐P:NiFe. Besides, the redox‐dependent interconversion between HER‐active P:NiFe and OER‐active a‐P:NiFe is fast and reversible. Finally, efficient and stable overall seawater‐splitting and ADN electrosynthesis at an industrially relevant current density (100 mA cm−2) in pH‐neutral media are also demonstrated.
Attenuation of Pathway Complexity in Arginine‐Rich Peptide with Polydopamine
Authors: Mavlankar Nimisha A. , Awasthi Anand K. , Pradhan Manas K. , Chandran Yadu , Balakrishnan Viswanath , Srivastava Aasheesh , Pal Asish 
Published: December 2024

AbstractDynamic peptide networks represent an attractive structural space of supramolecular polymers in the realm of emergent complexity. Point mutations in the peptide sequence exert profound effects over the landscapes of self‐assembly with an intricate interplay among the structure‐function relationships. Herein, the pathway complexity of an arginine‐rich peptide is studied, FmocVFFARR derived by the mutation of minimalist amyloid‐inspired peptide amphiphile FmocVFFAKK, thereby focusing on its pathway‐dependent self‐assembly behavior. Interestingly, an interplay of competing primary and secondary nucleation in this minimalist model presumably due to the sticky interactions of the di‐arginine motifs is encountered. This furnishes transient nanosheets from on‐pathway metastable nanoparticles upon pH trigger, eventually leading to nanofibers. Moreover, external cues, e.g., pH, and temperature convert the nanofibers in off‐pathway nanoparticles. For the first time, polydopamine‐based surface engineering strategy to mask the arginines is demonstrated to render permanent arrest of the dynamic, transient peptide nanostructures. Finally, such polydopamine layer over the peptide nanostructures furnishes resilience against environmental stress, while also imparting mechanical robustness to the composites. The dynamic peptide nanostructures exhibited adaptive systems capable of processing chemical information while the surface coated nanostructures open wide avenues for designing stress‐resilient biomaterials.
Durable Hydrophobic Iridescent Films with Tunable Colors from Self‐Assembled Cellulose Nanocrystals
Authors: Li Zongzhe , Wang Phoebe , Zhang Yinghao , Michal Carl A. , MacLachlan Mark J. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractCellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are known to self‐assemble into a left‐handed chiral nematic lyotropic liquid crystalline phase in water. When captured in the solid state, this structure can impart films with photonic properties that make them promising candidates in photonics, sensing, security, and other areas. Unfortunately, the intrinsic hydrophilicity of CNCs renders these iridescent films susceptible to moisture, thereby limiting their practicality. To address this issue, a novel strategy to prepare hydrophobic iridescent films from pre‐assembled CNC films is reported here. These films underwent a swelling process, followed by esterification using acid anhydrides to render them hydrophobic. By increasing the alkyl chain length of the anhydride reagent, the hydrophobicity of the resulting iridescent films can be enhanced. They showed water contact angles ranging from 34° to 115° and demonstrated tunable structural color spanning from blue to red. Moreover, they also exhibited good durability when exposed to water for 24 h. This innovative method for producing durable hydrophobic iridescent thin films is expected to facilitate their use in water‐proof photonic coatings, optical sensors, and other applications.
Regulating Growth Kinetics of Carbon Nanotubes Toward Efficient Microwave Absorption
Authors: Yan Yi , Zhou Jintang , Tao Jiaqi , Duan Lvtong , Liu Yijie , Cheng Zhenyu , Wang Yucheng , Liu Zhenglin , Ning Zuolong , Wang Xinzhuo , Tao Xuewei , Liu Peijiang , Yao Zhengjun 
Published: December 2024

AbstractCarbon nanotubes (CNTs) show great promise for microwave absorption (MA) due to their excellent electrical conductivity and lightweight properties, which are conferred by the one dimensional hollow tubular structure. However, the ambiguous intrinsic motivations behind the formation of CNTs and the intricate growth processes have resulted in a lack of a systematic methodology for precisely controlling their electromagnetic properties. Herein, a flexible CNTs regulation strategy is designed to develop, with the core focus being the directional growth of carbon atoms and the differential catalysis of metal sources. By improving CNTs growth kinetics, the material achieves effective impedance matching and microwave attenuation, displaying notable magnetoelectric coupling effects. In particular, COMSOL simulations reveal the enhanced dielectric loss contributing to efficient electromagnetic energy conversion. Ultimately, the material demonstrates a minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of −55.85 dB and an effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 6.35 GHz at 1.76 mm, which is significantly better than the untreated sample (EAB = 2.02 GHz). This study expands the theoretical foundation of multifactor catalysis in CNTs growth and provides a novel strategy for optimizing the electromagnetic properties of carbon‐based materials.
Dual‐Energy Integration in Photoresponsive Micro/Nanomotors: From Strategic Design to Biomedical Applications
Authors: Chen Yufen , Gonçalves João Marcos , Ferrer Campos Rebeca , Villa Katherine 
Published: December 2024

AbstractMicro/nanomotors (MNMs) are highly versatile small‐scale devices capable of converting external energy inputs into active motion. Among the various energy sources, light stands out due to its abundance and ability to provide spatiotemporal control. However, the effectiveness of light‐driven motion in complex environments, such as biological tissues or turbid water, is often limited by light scattering and reduced penetration. To overcome these challenges, recent innovations have integrated light‐based actuation with other external stimuli—such as magnetic, acoustic, and electrical fields—broadening the functional range and control of MNMs. This review highlights the cutting‐edge developments in dual‐energy powered MNMs, emphasizing examples where light is paired with secondary energy sources for enhanced propulsion and task performance. Furthermore, insights are offered into the fabrication techniques, biomedical applications, and the future directions of such hybrid MNMs, while addressing the remaining challenges in this rapidly evolving field.
Open‐Metal and Carboxamide‐Tethered Redox‐Active Undulated Framework for Mild‐Condition Synthesis of Therapeutic Drugs and Tandem Catalysis with Size‐Selectivity
Authors: Pandit Atanu , Mondal Partha Pratim , Palakkal Athulya S. , Neogi Subhadip 
Published: December 2024

AbstractA mixed‐ligand‐based thermo‐chemically robust and undulated metal‐organic framework (MOF) is developed that embraces carboxamide moiety‐grafted porous channels and activation‐induced generation of open‐metal site (OMS). The guest‐free MOF acts as an outstanding heterogeneous catalyst in Hantzsch condensation for electronically assorted substrates with low catalyst loading and short duration under greener conditions than the reported materials. Besides Lewis acidic OMS, the carboxamide group activates the substrate via two‐point hydrogen bonding, highlighting the effectiveness of custom‐made functionalities in this multi‐component reaction. Importantly, the framework demonstrates first ever one‐pot synthesis of 1,4‐dihydropyridine‐based antihypertensive drug foridon, along with four therapeutic molecules ethidine, nifedipine, nemadipine B and Nitrendipine, which are characterized via X‐ray crystallography besides conventional spectroscopic analyses. The integration of redox‐active Co(II) center and acid‐base dual sites benefit the activated MOF catalyzing mild‐condition alcohol oxidation‐Knoevenagel condensation to produce benzylidene malononitriles with wide substrate tolerance and multicyclic performance. For both the multi‐component and atom‐economic reactions, astutely designed control experiments and density functional theory‐based reaction energy profile rationalize synergistic catalysis via pore‐decked antagonistic sites that predominantly transpires inside the MOF channel. This study marks a paradigm shift in sustainable catalysis through task‐specific functionality fuelling, and provides valuable insights on structure‐property synergism at the cutting‐edge MOF design.
Design of an Iterative Method for Blockchain Optimization Incorporating DeepMiner and AnoBlock
Authors: Kumar Shipra Ravi , Goyal Mukta 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTThe burgeoning demand for blockchain technology in diverse sectors requires advanced optimization methods to improve the performance, security and privacy. However, today common blockchain mechanisms are effected by problems like suboptimal miner selection processes, susceptibility to abnormal transactions and types of attacks affecting non‐negligible parts of the ecosystem, performance bottlenecks and so forth, rendering them far from scalability and real‐world usage. This paper addresses the problem, by introducing a set of sophisticated methods that solve recent issues and enhances the robustness, scalability, confidentiality in blockchain networks. Firstly, we present “DeepMiner”, a deep learning‐based solution that leverages historical blockchain data samples to infer optimal miner nodes. This method improves the block generation efficiency by optimizing miner node selection in real‐time, which is an essential addition to traditional random or otherwise static methods for selecting miners. Secondly, “AnoBlock” which uses anomaly detection model to detect fraud in blockchain transactions using the statistical methods like Gaussian mixture models and isolation forests. Thirdly, “OptiChain” uses data analytics to dynamically optimize blockchain performance by continuously evaluating live network metrics and the transaction throughout. Lastly, “PrivyChain” which uses privacy preservation techniques such as zero‐knowledge proofs and homomorphic encryption to achieve transaction confidentiality while retaining blockchain transparency. Their solution addresses these issues with a dual approach to protect any sensitive transaction details from being leaked and make it feasible for computations over encrypted data, the result of which aligns blockchain technology with stringent privacy standards.