bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Responsive Hydrogel Microcarrier‐Integrated Microneedles for Versatile and Controllable Drug Delivery
Authors: Fan Lu , Zhang Xiaoxuan , Liu Xiaoyu , Sun Bo , Li Ling , Zhao Yuanjin 
Published: March 2021

AbstractStratagems of drug delivery are important for disease treatment and other biomedical areas. In this study, a novel stratagem is presented for versatile and controllable drug delivery by integrating photoresponsive drug delivery microspheres (PDDMs) into pyramid microneedle (MN) arrays. The PDDMs, containing black‐phosphorus (BP) and poly (N‐isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAM), are generated by a flexible capillary microfluidic method. Benefiting from the high water content of the pNIPAM hydrogel, various bioactive substances can be loaded and maintain biological activity. Furthermore, due to the near‐infrared (NIR) absorption and conversion capabilities of the contained BP, the PDDMs can increase temperature, shrink volume, and release their encapsulated bioactives under the trigger of biocompatible NIR. In addition, as the PDDMs are stuffed into the solid MN arrays of porous ethoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate (ETPTA), the composited PDDMs–MNs system has enough mechanical strength to penetrate into the skin and can deliver drugs underneath the skin uniformly. Based on the resultant PDDMs–MNs, it is demonstrated that insulin can be controllably released to adjust blood glucose levels of streptozotocin (STZ)‐induced diabetic mice. Thus, it is believed that the PDDMs–MNs can act as an excellent drugs delivery system and will find many practical values in clinical medicine.
Recent Advances in Silicon‐Based Electrodes: From Fundamental Research toward Practical Applications
Authors: Ge Mingzheng , Cao Chunyan , Biesold Gill M. , Sewell Christopher D. , Hao Shu‐Meng , Huang Jianying , Zhang Wei , Lai Yuekun , Lin Zhiqun 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe increasing demand for higher‐energy‐density batteries driven by advancements in electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, and portable electronic devices necessitates the development of alternative anode materials with a specific capacity beyond that of traditional graphite anodes. Here, the state‐of‐the‐art developments made in the rational design of Si‐based electrodes and their progression toward practical application are presented. First, a comprehensive overview of fundamental electrochemistry and selected critical challenges is given, including their large volume expansion, unstable solid electrolyte interface (SEI) growth, low initial Coulombic efficiency, low areal capacity, and safety issues. Second, the principles of potential solutions including nanoarchitectured construction, surface/interface engineering, novel binder and electrolyte design, and designing the whole electrode for stability are discussed in detail. Third, applications for Si‐based anodes beyond LIBs are highlighted, specifically noting their promise in configurations of Li–S batteries and all‐solid‐state batteries. Fourth, the electrochemical reaction process, structural evolution, and degradation mechanisms are systematically investigated by advanced in situ and operando characterizations. Finally, the future trends and perspectives with an emphasis on commercialization of Si‐based electrodes are provided. Si‐based anode materials will be key in helping keep up with the demands for higher energy density in the coming decades.
Boosting Wide‐Range Tunable Long‐Afterglow in 1D Metal–Organic Halide Micro/Nanocrystals for Space/Time‐Resolved Information Photonics
Authors: Zhou Bo , Xiao Guowei , Yan Dongpeng 
Published: March 2021

AbstractMolecular afterglow materials with ultralong‐lived excited states have attracted considerable interest owing to their promise for light‐emitting devices, optical imaging, and anti‐counterfeiting applications. However, the realization of ultralong afterglow emission in low‐dimensional micro/nanostructures has remained an open challenge, limiting progress toward new‐generation photonic applications. In this work, new types of mono/binuclear metal–organic halide micro/nanocrystals with tunable afterglow properties, made possibly by the rational control over both ultralong‐lived room‐temperature phosphorescence and thermally activated delayed fluorescence, are developed. Interestingly, the mono/binuclear coordination complexes present excitation‐dependent luminescence across a wide range (wavelength > 150 nm) with broad emission color differences from blue to yellow owing to the multiple long‐lived excited states. The 1D binuclear metal–organic microrods further exhibit excitation‐dependent optical waveguide and space/time dual‐resolved afterglow emission properties, endowing them with great potential in wavelength‐division multiplexing information photonics and logic gates. Therefore, this work not only communicates the first example of wide‐range tunable ultralong afterglow of low‐dimensional metal–organic micro/nanocrystals under ambient conditions but also provides a new route to achieve optical communications and photonic logic compilation at the micro/nanoscale.
Stable Unbiased Photo‐Electrochemical Overall Water Splitting Exceeding 3% Efficiency via Covalent Triazine Framework/Metal Oxide Hybrid Photoelectrodes
Authors: Zhang Ying , Lv Haifeng , Zhang Zhen , Wang Lei , Wu Xiaojun , Xu Hangxun 
Published: March 2021

AbstractPhoto‐electrochemical (PEC) water splitting systems using oxide‐based photoelectrodes are highly attractive for solar‐to‐chemical energy conversion. However, despite decades‐long efforts, it is still challenging to develop efficient and stable photoelectrodes for practical applications. Here, thin layers of covalent triazine frameworks (CTF‐BTh) containing a bithiophene moiety are conformably deposited onto the surfaces of a Cu2O photocathode and a Mo‐doped BiVO4 photoanode via electropolymerization to construct new hybrid photoelectrodes, successfully addressing the efficiency and stability issues. The CTF‐BTh possesses a suitable band structure to form favorable band edge alignment with each metal oxide, creating a p–n junction and a staggered type‐II heterojunction with Cu2O and Mo‐doped BiVO4, respectively. Thus, the as‐fabricated hybrid photoelectrodes exhibit substantially increased PEC performances. Meanwhile, the CTF‐BTh film also serves as an effective corrosion‐resistant overlayer for both photoelectrodes to inhibit photocorrosion and enable long‐term operation for 150 h with only ≈10% loss in photocurrent densities. Furthermore, a stand‐alone unbiased PEC tandem device comprising CTF‐BTh‐coated photoelectrodes exhibits 3.70% solar‐to‐hydrogen conversion efficiency. Even after continuous operation for 120 h, the efficiency can still retain at 3.24%.
Bulk and Short‐Circuit Anion Diffusion in Epitaxial Fe2O3 Films Quantified Using Buried Isotopic Tracer Layers
Authors: Kaspar Tiffany C. , Taylor Sandra D. , Yano Kayla H. , Lach Timothy G. , Zhou Yadong , Zhu Zihua , Kohnert Aaron A. , Still Evan K. , Hosemann Peter , Spurgeon Steven R. , Schreiber Daniel K. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractSelf‐diffusion is a fundamental physical process that, in solid materials, is intimately correlated with both microstructure and functional properties. Local transport behavior is critical to the performance of functional ionic materials for energy generation and storage, and drives fundamental oxidation, corrosion, and segregation phenomena in materials science, geosciences, and nuclear science. Here, an adaptable approach is presented to precisely characterize self‐diffusion in solids by isotopically enriching component elements at specific locations within an epitaxial film stack, and measuring their redistribution at high spatial resolution in 3D with atom probe tomography. Nanoscale anion diffusivity is quantified in a‐Fe2O3 thin films deposited by molecular beam epitaxy with a thin (10 nm) buried tracer layer highly enriched in 18O. The isotopic sensitivity of the atom probe allows precise measurement of the initial sharp layer interfaces and subsequent redistribution of 18O after annealing. Short‐circuit anion diffusion through 1D and 2D structural defects in Fe2O3 is also directly visualized in 3D. This versatile approach to study precisely tailored thin film samples at high spatial and mass fidelity will facilitate a deeper understanding of atomic‐scale diffusion phenomena.
Antiresonance in Transmission through a Heterojunction Formed by Topological Nodal‐Line Semimetals
Authors: Zhang Di , Li Xue‐Si , Zhang Lian‐Lian , Xu Tong‐Tong , Chu Hao , Gong Wei‐Jiang 
Published: March 2021

AbstractQuantum transmission through a heterojunction formed by two types of nodal‐line semimetals is investigated. Results show that the initial energy and energy range of the quantum transmission can be modulated efficiently when the barrier region demonstrates its different energy‐band properties. Antiresonance points can also appear in the transmission function spectra. Moreover, if the barrier is parallel to the basal planes of the nodal‐line semimetals, one gap appears in the transmission function spectrum instead of the normal antiresonance point. In addition, the Klein tunneling displays new characteristics in such a heterojunction. All these results provide useful information for adjusting the transmission behaviors in the heterojunctions of nodal‐line semimetals.
Oncological outcomes of dose reductions in cisplatin due to renal dysfunction for patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma
Authors: Murakami Tetsushi , Kikuchi Eiji , Ide Hiroki , Umezawa Yuta , Takahashi Takayuki , Izawa Mizuki , Hakozaki Kyohei , Shigeta Keisuke , Ogihara Koichiro , Kobayashi Hiroaki , Kanai Kunimitsu , Maeda Takahiro , Yoshimine Shunsuke , Mizuno Ryuichi , Nishimoto Koshiro , Oya Mototsugu 
Published: March 2021

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate whether dose reductions in cisplatin due to renal dysfunction were associated with worse clinical outcomes in metastatic urothelial carcinoma (UC) patients.Patients and methodsOne hundred and fifty one metastatic UC patients who received first‐line gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GC) salvage chemotherapy without a previous history of peri‐surgical chemotherapy were included in this retrospective study. Patients with endogenous creatinine clearance of 60 mL/min or more were treated with a full dose of cisplatin, while those with 45‐59 and 30‐44 mL/min were treated with 75% and 50% doses, respectively. Patients were divided into three groups based on the average administered dose of cisplatin of 100% (Group A, N = 43), 99%‐75% (Group B, N = 59), and less than 75% (Group C, N = 49), and therapeutic responses and the toxicity of GC were compared.ResultsComplete response rates were 9.3%, 13.6%, and 14.3% in groups A, B, and C, respectively. One‐year progression‐free survival rates were 22.9%, 31.1%, and 36.7% in groups A, B, and C with no significant differences. One‐year cancer‐specific survival rates were 56.1%, 71.1%, and 68.3% in groups A, B, and C with no significant differences. A multivariate Cox's regression analysis showed that the dose of cisplatin was not an independent prognostic factor for disease progression and cancer death. Furthermore, there were no significant differences in the incidence of severe adverse events.ConclusionsDose reductions in cisplatin due to renal dysfunction did not worsen clinical outcomes for metastatic UC.
Norm avoiders: The effect of optional descriptive norms on charitable donations
Authors: Andersson Per A. , Erlandsson Arvid , Västfjäll Daniel 
Published: March 2021

AbstractKnowing the descriptive norm concerning others' prosociality could affect your behavior, but would you seek out or avoid such knowledge? This high‐powered preregistered experiment explores the effect of both forced and optionally revealed descriptive norms on real monetary donations. These norms were established by learning the proportion of previous participants who had donated to a charitable organization that the respondent now was asked to donate to. For those learning about a norm, participants were more likely to donate if they were shown that a majority donates, compared with if they were shown that a minority donates. For the participants who were asked if they wanted to reveal the norm or not, we found that about half choose to reveal the norm. Those who avoided revealing the norm donated less frequently; both compared with revealers and with those who were forced to view the norm. However, these norm avoiders also donate a higher mean amount. Taken together, this hints at norm avoiders being composed of both altruistic and non‐altruistic people, with fewer of those who are undecided. This type of norm avoidance may be more related to information avoidance motives rather than mere curiosity or reactance. The present findings can inspire further research into the motives of norm avoidance.
Cox regression analysis for distorted covariates with an unknown distortion function
Authors: Liu Yanyan , Wu Yuanshan , Zhang Jing , Zhou Haibo 
Published: March 2021

AbstractWe study inference for censored survival data where some covariates are distorted by some unknown functions of an observable confounding variable in a multiplicative form. An example of this kind of data in medical studies is normalizing some important observed exposure variables by patients' body mass index , weight, or age. Such a phenomenon also appears frequently in environmental studies where an ambient measure is used for normalization and in genomic studies where the library size needs to be normalized for the next generation sequencing of data. We propose a new covariate‐adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression model and utilize the kernel smoothing method to estimate the distorting function, then employ an estimated maximum likelihood method to derive the estimator for the regression parameters. We establish the large sample properties of the proposed estimator. Extensive simulation studies demonstrate that the proposed estimator performs well in correcting the bias arising from distortion. A real dataset from the National Wilms' Tumor Study is used to illustrate the proposed approach.
A sensitive turn‐off–on fluorometric sensor based on S,N co‐doped carbon dots for environmental analysis of Hg(II) ion
Authors: Abolghasemi‐Fakhri Zahra , Hallaj Tooba , Amjadi Mohammad 
Published: March 2021

AbstractA simple and sensitive fluorescence turn‐off‐on sensor was established by means of S,N co‐doped carbon dots (S,N‐CDs) and Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) for the determination of Hg2+. For this purpose, blue emissive S,N‐CDs were hydrothermally synthesized and characterized using transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy. We observed that the fluorescence intensity of the as‐prepared S,N‐CDs was impressively quenched by AgNPs. The quenching mechanism was studied and attributed to nanosurface energy transfer and the inner filter effect between S,N‐CDs and AgNPs. Furthermore, by adding Hg2+, the fluorescence intensity of S,N‐CDs/AgNPs was restored as a result of aggregation of AgNPs in the presence of Hg2+. Based on these facts, S,N‐CDs and AgNPs were exploited to design a sensitive turn‐off–on sensor for analysis of Hg2+. The recovered fluorescence signal was proportional to the concentration of Hg2+ in the range 1.5–2000 nM with a detection limit of 0.51 nM. The established sensor was used with satisfactory results for measurement of Hg2+ in environmental water samples.
Christmas, acute ischemic stroke and stroke‐related mortality in Hungary
Authors: Folyovich András , Mátis Réka , Al‐Muhanna Nadim , Jarecsny Tamás , Dudás Eszter , Jánoska Dorottya , Pálosi Mihály , Béres‐Molnár Anna K. , Toldi Gergely 
Published: March 2021

AbstractObjectivesRisk factors for stroke include psychological effects, such as depression. Festive occasions (such as Christmas in Hungary) may carry a significant emotional impact and may therefore contribute to increased cardiovascular risk. Thrombolytic treatment of acute ischemic stroke has a narrow time window and allows for the precise assessment of stroke incidence.Materials & MethodsWe analyzed anonymized national data of the number of thrombolytic treatments for acute ischemic stroke and the number of stroke‐related deaths between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2016 in Hungary within 2‐day, 5‐day, and 1‐month periods preceding and following 24 December each year. Analysis of subgroups based on age (below and over 65 years) and sex was also performed.ResultsThe number of thrombolytic treatments was higher in all three periods preceding Christmas compared to the corresponding period that follows the feast. This increase was particularly prominent in men below 65 years of age. While overall stroke‐associated mortality was increased 1 month after Christmas, the death rate was higher a month before rather than after Christmas in men below 65 years of age and in women both below and over 65 years of age 5 days before Christmas.ConclusionsThese findings may predominantly relate to emotional and psychological factors. In case of women, the anxiety secondary to festive preparations, while in men below 65 years, the increased psychological stress of providing financial security for the celebration may play an important role.
External stakeholder engagement: Complementary and substitutive effects on firms' eco‐innovation
Authors: Acebo Enrique , Miguel‐Dávila José‐Ángel , Nieto Mariano 
Published: March 2021

AbstractIn this paper, we investigate whether firms' engagements in collaboration agreements with different types of external stakeholders produce complementary effects on the likelihood of eco‐innovation. Although collaboration network and open eco‐innovation theories affirm that the combination of external partners such as scientific partners, suppliers and customers produces complementary effects on the firm's likelihood of eco‐innovation, several empirical studies found the existence of substitutive effects between them. To bridge this gap in the literature, we shape the nature of the interaction between different external partners, analysing an unbalanced panel sample of 10,918 innovative Spanish firms, covering the period 2008–2016. Consequently, we can show how firms benefit the most from collaboration with external partners. Our results show that firms that simultaneously collaborate with scientific partners, suppliers and customers generate partial complementary effects, which increase the firm's likelihood to eco‐innovate the most, and that the combination of customer‐collaboration with scientific partners, or supplier‐collaboration, produces partial substitutive effects. Taking this in account, our results also confirm that engaging with scientific partners, suppliers or customers, independent of one another, increases firms' likelihood of eco‐innovation more than noncollaboration. These results have important implications for managers, researchers and policy designers. For managers, this study provides a correct understanding of the benefits that they can expect to obtain from multi‐partner external collaboration. For researchers, it introduces the marginal analysis to estimate interaction on nonlinear models. Finally, for policy designers, it shows the need for sponsored R&D collaboration to encourage coordinated ecosystems in which sustainability goals are pursued together.
Asparaginyl Ligases: New Enzymes for the Protein Engineer's Toolbox
Authors: Rehm Fabian B. H. , Tyler Tristan J. , Xie Jing , Yap Kuok , Durek Thomas , Craik David J. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractEnzyme‐catalysed site‐specific protein modifications enable the precision manufacture of conjugates for the study of protein function and/or for therapeutic or diagnostic applications. Asparaginyl ligases are a class of highly efficient transpeptidases with the capacity to modify proteins bearing only a tripeptide recognition motif. Herein, we review the types of protein modification that are accessible using these enzymes, including N‐ and C‐terminal protein labelling, head‐to‐tail cyclisation, and protein‐protein conjugation. We describe the progress that has been made to engineer highly efficient ligases as well as efforts to chemically manipulate the enzyme reaction to favour product formation. These enzymes are powerful additions to the protein engineer‘s toolbox.
Pd‐Nanocomposites Formed by Calcination of [Pd(2‐pymo)2]n Framework as Catalysts of Phenylacetylene Semihydrogenation in Water
Authors: Augustyniak Adam W. , Trzeciak Anna M. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe novel Pd‐nanocomposites, fabricated via calcination of the MOF [Pd(2‐pymo)2]n (2‐pymo=2‐pyrimidinolate), were used for the first time in the transfer hydrogenation of phenylacetylene with NaBH4. The presence of Pd NPs or PdO in the studied materials was evidenced by XPRD, Raman spectroscopy, XPS and HR‐TEM. Under mild reaction conditions, in water as a solvent, Pd‐nanocomposites, Pd/CPYMO and PdO/Pd/CPYMO, provided better catalytic results than the pristine [Pd(2‐pymo)2]n, producing styrene with good selectivity. These two catalysts showed also good durability in subsequent reuses, while the productivity of PdO/CPYMO decreased after the second run.
Pt/C Electrocatalyst Durability Enhancement by Inhibition of Pt Nanoparticle Growth Through Microwave Pretreatment of Carbon Support
Authors: Sharma Raghunandan , Gyergyek Sašo , Chamier Jessica , Morgen Per , Andersen Shuang M. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractDurability enhancement of Pt supported on carbon (Pt/C) electrocatalysts through a simple microwave (MW) pretreatment of the carbon support has been studied. Vulcan XC 72 carbon (either in suspension or dry state) was subjected to MW irritation for a short period of time (∼5 min) prior to synthesis of the Pt/C electrocatalysts (20 wt.% Pt) through a polyol route. Platinum deposited onto MW‐pretreated and unmodified carbons demonstrated similar initial Pt particle size distributions (average particle size ∼3.3 nm) and electrochemical surface area (ECSA). However, ECSA evolution based on an accelerated stress test (AST) in acidic conditions suggested a clear durability enhancement of the MW‐pretreated Pt/C samples over the unmodified equivalent. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) images of the post‐AST samples reveal spherical and nanorod morphologies of the Pt nanoparticles for the untreated and the MW–pretreated carbon supports, respectively. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) evidences presence of surface active sites (C−O*) on the carbon support generated from the MW irradiation. Those active sites turned out to be suitable nucleation sites for redeposition of the dissolved Pt species to form new Pt nanoparticles during AST. The mechanism reduces the rate of Pt nanoparticle active surface area loss, and thus provides increased durability. The proposed concept opens a new territory for a scalable process to further advance the electrocatalyst.