bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
pH‐Responsive Charge‐Conversion Progelator Peptides
Authors: Carlini Andrea S. , Choi Wonmin , McCallum Naneki C. , Gianneschi Nathan C. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractA simple strategy for generating stimuli‐responsive peptide‐based hydrogels via charge‐conversion of a self‐assembling peptide (SAP) is described. These materials are formulated as soluble, polyanionic peptides, containing maleic acid, citraconic acid, or dimethylmaleic acid amide masking groups on each lysine residue, which do not form assemblies, but instead flow easily through high gauge needles and catheters. Acid‐induced mask hydrolysis renews the zwitterionic nature of the peptides with concomitant and rapid self‐assembly via β‐sheet formation into rehealable hydrogels. The use of different masks enables one to tune pH responsiveness and assembly kinetics. In anticipation of their potential for in vivo hydrogel delivery and use, progelators exhibit hemocompatibility in whole human blood, and their peptide components are shown to be noncytotoxic. Finally, demonstration of stimuli‐induced self‐assembly for dye sequestration suggests a simple, non‐covalent strategy for small molecule encapsulation in a degradable scaffold. In summary, this simple, scalable masking strategy allows for preparation of responsive, dynamic self‐assembling biomaterials. This work sets the stage for implementing biodegradable therapeutic hydrogels that assemble in response to physiological, disease‐relevant states of acidosis.
Implantable Cardiac Kirigami‐Inspired Lead‐Based Energy Harvester Fabricated by Enhanced Piezoelectric Composite Film
Authors: Xu Zhe , Jin Congran , Cabe Andrew , Escobedo Danny , Gruslova Aleksandra , Jenney Scott , Closson Andrew B. , Dong Lin , Chen Zi , Feldman Marc D. , Zhang John X. J. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractHarvesting biomechanical energy to power implantable electronics such as pacemakers has been attracting great attention in recent years because it replaces conventional batteries and provides a sustainable energy solution. However, current energy harvesting technologies that directly interact with internal organs often lack flexibility and conformability, and they usually require additional implantation surgeries that impose extra burden to patients. To address this issue, here a Kirigami inspired energy harvester, seamlessly incorporated into the pacemaker lead using piezoelectric composite films is reported, which not only possesses great flexibility but also requires no additional implantation surgeries. This lead‐based device allows for harvesting energy from the complex motion of the lead caused by the expansion‐contraction of the heart. The device's Kirigami pattern has been designed and optimized to attain greatly improved flexibility which is validated via finite element method (FEM) simulations, mechanical tensile tests, and energy output tests where the device shows a power output of 2.4 µW. Finally, an in vivo test using a porcine model reveals that the device can be implanted into the heart straightforwardly and generates voltages up to ≈0.7 V. This work offers a new strategy for designing flexible energy harvesters that power implantable electronics.
Cascade Catalytic Nanoplatform Based on “Butterfly Effect” for Enhanced Immunotherapy
Authors: Shao Yanjiang , Wang Zeying , Hao Yutong , Zhang Xueli , Wang Ning , Chen Kunlun , Chang Junbiao , Feng Qianhua , Zhang Zhenzhong 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe unique tumor microenvironment (TME) characteristics such as immunosuppression impeded traditional cancer treatments. In contrast, developing cascade catalytic nanoplatforms by fully making use of substances in TME for cancer therapy may deserve full credit. Herein, a cascade catalytic nanoplatform based on glucose oxidase (GOD) modified mesoporous iron oxide nanoparticles (IONP) loaded with Artemisinin (ART) is developed, which is designed as IONP‐GOD@ART. GOD can catalyze the oxidization of glucose into gluconic acid and H2O2, which not only realizes tumor starvation therapy, but also provides H2O2 for IONP mediated Fenton reaction. Simultaneously, mesoporous IONP releases Fe2+ and Fe3+ ions in acidic TME. On the one hand, iron ions undergo Fenton reaction to generate hydroxyl radicals for chemodynamic therapy. On the other hand, the endoperoxide bridge in ART is broken in presence of Fe2+ and further generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) to achieve therapeutic purpose. In this sense, IONP‐GOD@ART manipulates TME characteristics and leads to “butterfly effect”, which brings out a large amount of ROS for eliciting immunogenic cell death, inducing M1‐TAMs polarization, and further reprogramming immunosuppressive TME for enhanced immunotherapy. By this delicate design, the cascade catalytic nanoplatform of IONP‐GOD@ART realizes potent cancer immunotherapy for tumor regression and metastasis prevention.
Facile Chemical Route to Prepare Water Soluble Epitaxial Sr3Al2O6 Sacrificial Layers for Free‐Standing Oxides
Authors: Salles Pol , Caño Ivan , Guzman Roger , Dore Camilla , Mihi Agustín , Zhou Wu , Coll Mariona 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe growth of epitaxial complex oxides has been essentially limited to specific substrates that can induce epitaxial growth and stand high temperature thermal treatments. These restrictions hinder the opportunity to manipulate and integrate such materials into new artificial heterostructures including the use of polymeric and silicon substrates and study emergent phenomena for novel applications. To tackle this bottleneck, herein, a facile chemical route to prepare water‐soluble epitaxial Sr3Al2O6 thin films to be used as sacrificial layer for future free‐standing epitaxial complex oxide manipulation is described. Two solution processes are put forward based on metal nitrate and metalorganic precursors to prepare dense, homogeneous and epitaxial Sr3Al2O6 thin films that can be easily etched by milli‐Q water. Moreover, as a proof of concept, a basic heterostructure consisting of Al2O3/Sr3Al2O6 on SrTiO3 is fabricated to subsequently exfoliate the Al2O3 thin film and transfer it to a polymer substrate. This is a robust chemical and low‐cost methodology that could be adopted to prepare a wide variety of thin films to fabricate artificial heterostructures to go beyond the traditional electronic, spintronic, and energy storage and conversion devices.
An Intrinsically Conductive Elastomer for Thromboembolism Diagnosis
Authors: Tao Xinglei , Yi Wentian , He Yonglin , Lyu Shanzhi , Xu Xiao‐Qi , Liao Shenglong , Wang Yapei 
Published: January 2021

AbstractAs a minimally invasive procedure, balloon dilation is one crucial means to assist the delivery of stent and anti‐hyperplasia drugs to the embolism sites in the typical endovascular interventional treatments. However, it is rarely noted that the degree of balloon dilation is blurry, though it is extremely important to the efficiency of stent implantation, drug delivery, and even the postoperative recurrence rate of embolism. Herein, an innovative strategy of applying the balloon itself as an electrical sensor to monitor the dilation process is conceived. An intrinsically conductive elastomer formulated with polyurethane and potassium chloride is exploited as the biocompatible balloon, which integrates sufficient mechanical endurance, conductivity, biocompatibility, and pressure sensitivity against balloon expansion comprehensively. As a practical demonstration, the balloon sensor has been successfully applied to detect thrombus in tubular channels via real‐time pressure and temperature monitoring, which is anticipated to open an avenue to examine and treat cardiovascular diseases with a more controllable and reliable procedure.
Heterogeneities and Emissive Defects in MAPbI3 Perovskite Revealed by Spectrally Resolved Luminescence Blinking
Authors: Gerhard Marina , Louis Boris , Frantsuzov Pavel A. , Li Jun , Kiligaridis Alexander , Hofkens Johan , Scheblykin Ivan G. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe fate of excited charge carriers in metal halide perovskite semiconductors is influenced by energetic disorder and defects. Here, photoluminescence (PL) blinking is used to probe metastable nonradiative (NR) centers and the nanoscale energy landscape. Temporal activation of an NR center creates a local region with increased NR recombination. Activation and deactivation of this local PL quenching does not only lead to PL blinking, but also to fluctuations of the PL spectra, if the crystal is inhomogeneous in the sense that the PL emission spectrum is slightly different from one location to another. It resembles the spectral hole‐burning technique; however, here the eliminated excited states are chosen by their spatial localization close to the quencher. In MAPbI3, PL spectral fluctuations at low temperature reveal energetic inhomogeneities on the order of 5 to 10 meV. Quenching of the main PL band is often found to correlate with an increase of the low‐energetic tail of the PL spectra, which is attributed to partially radiative recombination of charges captured by the NR center. The transition energy of the NR center is found to be only ≈80 meV smaller than the bandgap, implying that the underlying defect cannot be a single mid‐bandgap state.
Scattering From Controlled Defects in Woodpile Photonic Crystals
Authors: Aeby Stefan , Aubry Geoffroy J. , Muller Nicolas , Scheffold Frank 
Published: January 2021

AbstractPhotonic crystals display partial or full band gaps that become more pronounced with rising refractive index contrast. However, imperfections in the material cause light scattering and extinction of the interfering propagating waves. Positive as well as negative defect volumes may contribute to this kind of optical perturbation. In this study, 3D woodpile photonic crystals are fabricated and characterized with a pseudo‐bandgap for near‐infrared optical wavelengths. By direct laser writing, defects are introduced in the periodic structure at selected positions. It is shown that defect scattering can be modeled by considering the difference between the disordered and the regular structure. The findings pave the way toward better control and understanding of the role of defects in photonic materials that will be crucial for their usability in potential applications.
Multifunctional Bipolar Materials Serving as Emitters for Efficient Deep‐Blue Fluorescent OLEDs and as Hosts for Phosphorescent and White OLEDs
Authors: Xu Jingwen , Liu Hao , Li Jinshi , Zhao Zujin , Tang Ben Zhong 
Published: January 2021

AbstractBlue luminescent materials are always highly desired for organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) but the electroluminescence (EL) performances for most blue emitters still need to be improved in both efficiency and stability. In this work, four bipolar molecules with twisted donor‐acceptor structures (PIPD‐MP‐DPA, PIPD‐MP‐IMDB, PIPD‐MP‐DMAC, and PIPD‐MP‐DPAC) are designed and synthesized. These molecules possess good thermal and electrochemical stabilities, and exhibit strong deep‐blue photoluminescence. Their non‐doped OLEDs show deep‐blue EL emissions at 418–438 nm, and high maximum external quantum efficiencies (ηext,max) of up to 4.4% with a CIEy value of only 0.078. Furthermore, the phosphorescent OLEDs (PhOLEDs) based on PIPD‐MP‐DPA host achieve excellent ηext,max of 25.9% and 28.0% for green and orange, respectively, with small efficiency roll‐offs. In addition, PIPD‐MP‐DPA is also employed to construct hybrid white OLEDs (WOLEDs), giving high ηext,max of 21.6% for two‐color WOLEDs, and 16.3% for four‐color WOLEDs. In brief, these bipolar materials reveal outstanding EL performances in deep‐blue fluorescent, phosphorescent, and hybrid white OLEDs, indicating huge potential applications in display and lighting techniques.
Tunable Positive/Negative Young's Modulus in Graphene‐Based Metamaterials
Authors: Lin Feng , Xiang Yang , Shen Hui‐Shen 
Published: January 2021

AbstractMechanical metamaterials exhibit unusual mechanical properties that originate from their topological design. Origami graphene may provide a platform for constructing novel carbon nanostructures. In the current study, a novel composite material that incorporates aligned graphene with localized origami shapes into the copper matrix is designed. Unlike many auxetic materials that have void phase, the proposed layer‐by‐layer assembled composite material appears to be solid in the microscopic scale. Based on the molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, it is observed that depending on the origami shapes, the in‐plane Poisson's ratio of origami graphene reinforced copper (100) composites can be tuned from positive to negative and, more importantly, it is discovered that the Young's modulus of the graphene/Cu composites can also be tuned from positive to negative in certain in‐plane directions.
Reforming Agricultural Support for Improved Environmental Outcomes
Authors: Mamun Abdullah , Martin Will , Tokgoz Simla 
Published: January 2021

AbstractAgricultural support has changed substantially in both rich and poor countries in recent years. In rich countries, there has been a strong move to decoupled subsidies and a fall in average rates of protection. In developing countries, market price support remains the dominant form of protection, and average rates of support have risen—breaking the traditional pattern of taxing agriculture. Emissions from agriculture and land use change have contributed up to a third of total greenhouse gas emissions, with beef, milk and rice production accounting for more than 80% of agricultural emissions. Agricultural support was biased against emission‐intensive goods until recent years and is now only slightly biased toward them. Although emission intensities are relatively higher in the developing countries, they have fallen far more rapidly in developing countries than in the rich countries in the past quarter century, as agricultural productivity has grown in developing countries. Policy reform will be challenging given the strong political‐economy support for the current structure of protection. Increasing investments in research and development to raise productivity and lower the emissions intensity of agricultural output would help agriculture and the environment.JEL CLASSIFICATIONF18; F64; Q18; H23; Q58
Jumping transition in the liquid's heat capacity revealed by the scanning transitiometry
Authors: Chorążewski Mirosław A. , Randzio Stanisław L. , Wilhelm Emmerich , Grolier Jean‐Pierre E. , Postnikov Eugene B. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThis manuscript reports the direct observations of the clear jump transition of the specific orthobaric heat capacity to the specific isochoric heat capacities during the continuous heating of liquid samples in a closed vessel as well as the respective theory explaining such effects. The measurements have been performed with n‐heptane and toluene and the results have been thoroughly analyzed with the derived equations and compared with the values from the known literature data. The detection and accurate tracking of a jump in the heat capacity far from the standard points of phase transitions are not only of fundamental thermodynamic interest but also demonstrates future research targets and now attainable data which can be achieved by modern calorimetric technology. It has been proven that by using high‐pressure scanning calorimeter (transitiometry technology) it is possible to directly measure the specific orthobaric heat capacities and specific isochoric heat capacities accurately.
Rapid multi‐component phase‐split calculations using volume functions and reduction methods
Authors: Fathi Mohamad , Hickel Stefan 
Published: January 2021

AbstractWe present a new family of fast and robust methods for the calculation of the vapor–liquid equilibrium at isobaric‐isothermal (PT‐flash), isochoric‐isothermal (VT‐flash), isenthalpic‐isobaric (HP‐flash), and isoenergetic‐isochoric (UV‐flash) conditions. The framework is provided by formulating phase‐equilibrium conditions for multi‐component mixtures in an effectively reduced space based on the molar specific value of the recently introduced volume function derived from the Helmholtz free energy. The proposed algorithmic implementation can fully exploit the optimum quadratic convergence of a Newton method with the analytical Jacobian matrix. This article provides all required exact analytic expressions for the general cubic equation of state. Computational results demonstrate the effectivity and efficiency of the new methods. Compared to conventional methods, the proposed reduced‐space iteration leads to a considerable speed‐up as well as to improved robustness and better convergence behavior near the spinodal and coexistence curves of multi‐component mixtures, where the preconditioning by the reduction method is most effective.
Commercial truck drivers should be a priority population for COVID‐19 vaccinations
Authors: Lemke Michael K. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractAs COVID‐19 vaccines become available, supply is expected to initially fall short of demand. In response, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has issued guidance on which groups should be prioritized to receive vaccines. For the first phase of vaccine allocation, the ACIP recommended healthcare personnel and long‐term care facility residents as recipients. This recommendation was based on risks endemic to these populations, as well as ethical principles related to benefits and harms, mitigating health inequalities, and promoting justice. Commercial truck drivers have played a vital and underappreciated role during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Despite the indispensable role that commercial drivers play in distributing vaccines, they have not been recommended for vaccine allocation in the next phase (1b) by the ACIP. However, the rationale and ethical principles cited for the first vaccine phase suggest that these workers should be recommended for inclusion. By doing so, the acquisition and transmission of COVID‐19 may be mitigated, which would benefit both these workers and the US public. Further, persistent vulnerabilities render commercial truck drivers susceptible to severe COVID‐19 infection; therefore, vaccination during the next phase is imperative to curb the exacerbation of extant health inequities. Finally, because present‐day COVID‐19 vulnerabilities in these workers have been shaped by unjust policies over the past several decades, and because COVID‐19 public health policies have excluded and potentially exacerbated the impacts of the pandemic for these workers, allocating vaccines to commercial truck drivers is a necessary step toward promoting justice.
Liver transplant as a curative treatment in a pediatric patient with classic homocystinuria: A case report
Authors: Kerkvliet Stephanie P. , Rheault Michelle N. , Berry Susan A. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractWe report a patient with homocystinuria and hyperoxaluria who was cured of homocystinuria‐related disease following liver transplant. The patient was diagnosed with homocystinuria as a newborn and was treated with dietary modifications and supplements. At 22 months, he passed a calcium oxalate stone and was found to have numerous bilateral kidney stones. Genetic testing confirmed primary hyperoxaluria, type 1. He underwent preemptive liver transplant at age four to treat primary hyperoxaluria. Following transplant, his serum methionine and homocysteine levels normalized, thus, demonstrating resolution of homocystinuria. Methionine and homocysteine levels remained normal 6 years later. Homocystinuria is associated with ophthalmologic, skeletal, neurologic, and thromboembolic complications. As cystathionine beta‐synthase resides in the liver, transplant was hypothesized to be an effective treatment. Primary hyperoxaluria generally progresses to chronic kidney disease and is treated with combined kidney‐liver transplant at the time of end stage kidney disease. Given this patient's dual diagnoses, we proceeded with preemptive liver transplantation. Three prior cases of patients with homocystinuria treated with liver transplantation have been reported. In all cases, transplant resolved metabolic effects. However, our case represents a pediatric patient without disease‐related complications prior to transplant. This case supports liver‐targeted gene therapies as an effective treatment for homocystinuria.
Visible‐Light‐Induced Radical Difluoromethylation of Alkynoates by [bis(Difluoroacetoxy)iodo]benzene to Yield 3‐Difluoromethylated Coumarins
Authors: Lu Kui , Zhou Ting , Jia Xiaodong , Wei Peng , Lei Lingyu , Xi Xiaolan , Liu Jiang , Zhao Xia 
Published: January 2021

AbstractA visible‐light‐induced radical difluoromethylation of alkynoates using [bis(difluoroacetoxy)iodo]benzene as the CF2H radical precursor was developed for the first time. 3‐Difluoromethyl‐substituted coumarins were synthesized via a radical difluoromethylation/cyclization/ester migration cascade. The mild and catalyst‐free conditions, as well as the good functional group tolerance, render this protocol an alternative and green strategy for the synthesis of 3‐difluoromethyl‐substituted coumarins.
Tunable Redox‐Neutral Photocatalysis: Visible Light‐Induced Arylperfluoroalkylation of Alkenes Regulated by Protons
Authors: Li Yuan , Zhang Xin , Liang Deqiang , Li Yanni , Gao Shulin , Li Xiangguang , Dong Ying , Wang Baoling , Ma Yinhai 
Published: January 2021

AbstractA redox entanglement in photoredox catalysis is discovered and discussed. Using MeOH as a proton source and Eosin Y as a photocatalyst, a problematic and redox‐neutral perfluoroalkylation/cyclization cascade of alkenes with perfluoroalkyl iodides can be streamlined, furnishing perfluoroalkylated indolines, indoles, dihydroisoquinolinones, and indolin‐2‐ones with a good functional‐group tolerance under base‐, metal‐, and redox‐agent‐free conditions. Mechanistic investigations revealed that MeOH does not activate the perfluoroalkyl C−I bond, but rather enhances the oxidation part of the photocatalytic cycle.
Investigation of wet coal flow characteristics in silos by experiments and simulations
Authors: Dai Li , Yuan Zhulin , Guan Lei , Gu Conghui 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe investigation of the wet coal flow characteristics is carried out in a three‐dimensional silo system by experiments and simulations. The effect of the moisture content on the flow characteristics is firstly investigated by experiments, which is in terms of bulk density, angle of repose, and flow rate at outlet. When moisture content is below 9%, the coal particles act as the easy flow mode. When moisture content exceeds 9.8%, the flow pattern turns to be cohesive. For the further understanding of the influence of the moisture content, we develop the continuum method with the effect of moisture content being considered in the mathematic model. The simulation results of the discharge rate and the ash content at outlet have good agreements with a maximum deviation of 7.3%. It is found that the Mixing Index decreases with the moisture content increasing because the moisture strengthens mixing among particles. And the velocity difference between particles in the central axis and ones near the wall grows accordingly. Particles with higher moisture content are easier to get the funnel flow mode. For particles with good flowability, the mass flow mode appears in the silo.