bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Farmers' Willingness to Pay for Agricultural Extension Service, A Case Study of Nubaria's Farmers, Egypt
Authors: Badr Mostafa M. 
Published: February 2019

Aims: This study aimed to depict the current Extension Services (ES) in the new lands as perceived by farmers, also, identify farmers' Willing to Pay (WTP) for the ES.
Study Design: A descriptive design was implemented.
Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out in Albustan district, Nubaria region in North West of the Delta of Egypt from July to December 2018.
Methodology: A convenient sample of 147 respondents were selected of a proportion of 20 % in three villages. The sampling frame included all farmers regardless of their cropping pattern or farm size including beneficiaries and graduate youths. An interview questionnaire was developed to cover 1) socioeconomic characteristics, 2) current ES, 3) farmers WTP for ES and their terms. Frequency, percentage, average, and range utilized for description purposes, while logistic regression was applied to outline the significant covariates of farmers' WTP.
Results: Findings denote a high level of homogeneity regarding the socioeconomic characteristics, horticulture is the most common pattern (82%). The majority of the respondents (81%) noted that they haven't access to a convenient public ES, and near to half (45%) demanded paid ES. Theyindicated a high level of trust in public providers e.g. universities (67%) and public extension (58%), nonetheless, they noted input suppliers (73%) and agriculture experts (66%) as the most frequent seeking providers. Respondents terms for paid ES was focused on four topics i.e. pricing policy, quality, accountability, and other services to be included with ES. With a preference for providing both knowledge and inputs (40%), fixed price (58%) in cash (56%). Logistic regression showed exposure to the extension activities is significantly associated with farmers' WTP, while late payment for inputs at the end of the season is significantly negative.
Conclusion: Farmers' WTP may contribute to outsourcing and improving ES.
The Style of Ornament which prevailed from the Fourth to the Twelfth Century
Authors: Christie Alexander 
Published: February 2019

An account of Alexander Christie's lecture on the subject of decorative arts around Europe from the fourth to the twelfth century. Christie opines that architectural features and styles should be taken as representative of the decorative taste of the time. In his lecture, he showed the development of style through drawings and other illustrative props.

The minutes of the April 12, 1852 meeting of the Society are appended, largely an account of the donations received.
As-Needed Blood Pressure Medication and Adverse Outcomes in VA Hospitals
Authors: Canales Muna Thalji , Yang Seonkyeong , Westanmo Anders , Wang Xinping , Hadley Dexter , Ishani Areef , Mohandas Rajesh , Shorr Ronald , Lo-Ciganic Weihsuan 
Published: November 2024

ImportanceAsymptomatic blood pressure (BP) elevations in the hospital are commonly treated with as-needed BP medications, including recurring as-needed and 1-time administration. Veterans represent a population at risk of ischemic events from rapid lowering of BP, but the impact of as-needed BP medication use in this population is unknown.ObjectiveTo assess the risks of acute kidney injury (AKI) and other outcomes from as-needed BP medication administration in a hospitalized veteran cohort.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis retrospective cohort study using target trial emulation and propensity score matching included adult veterans, who were hospitalized 3 or more days in Veterans Administration hospitals between October 1, 2015, and September 30, 2020. Participants must have been hospitalized on a non–intensive care unit medical or surgical floor, must not have undergone surgery, and must have received at least 1 scheduled BP medication in the first 24 hours of admission. Participants also must have had at least 1 systolic BP more than 140 mm Hg during hospitalization. Data in this study were analyzed from April 2023 to August 2024.Main Outcomes and MeasuresThe primary outcome was time to first AKI occurrence during hospitalization. Secondary outcomes included greater than 25% reduction in systolic BP within 3 hours of as-needed BP medication administration and the composite outcome of myocardial infarction, stroke, or death during hospitalization.ResultsOf the 133 760 veterans eligible for analysis (mean [SD] age, 71.2 [11.6] years), 96% were male. The mean (SD) baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate was 75.7 (22.7) mL/min/1.73m2. A total of 28 526 patients (21%) received as-needed BP medication. As-needed BP medication use was associated with an increased AKI risk (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.23 [95% CI, 1.18-1.29]) compared to nonusers. Subgroup analyses showed higher AKI risk with intravenous as-needed BP medication use (compared to oral or combined oral and intravenous routes). Secondary analyses indicated as-needed BP medication users had a 1.5-fold greater risk of rapid BP reduction (95% CI, 1.39-1.62) and 1.69-fold higher rate of the composite outcome (95% CI, 1.49-1.92) compared to nonusers.Conclusions and RelevanceThe results of this retrospective cohort study showed that as-needed BP medication use among veterans is associated with increased AKI risk. The risks and benefits of this type of BP medication use would best be determined through a prospective trial, and these data suggest that there is the necessary equipoise to conduct such a trial.
Plant Nano‐Immunoengineering and Biostimulant Applications of Ti3C2Tx MXene Colloids for Enhanced Systemic Defense against Phytopathogens and Stress Resistance Mechanisms
Authors: Khanahmadi Soofia , Richter Carolin , Dhingra Sanjiv , Nava Cruz Naivy , Cord‐Landwehr Stefan , Böhmer Maik , Moerschbacher Bruno M. , Rafieerad Alireza 
Published: November 2024

AbstractThe large‐scale implementation of antimicrobial agrochemicals to increase plant resistance against invasive phytopathogenic organisms and to secure crop yields and quality imposes critical cost and environmental challenges in agriculture. Thus, there is a growing need for alternative sustainable methods in today's farming to boost the plants’ growth and immune systems, safeguarding them from biotic stresses more eco‐economically. In this context, interest in the potential applications of functional carbon‐based nanomaterials has surged due to their tunable physicochemical/biological properties. MXenes, the latest materials in this family, are revolutionizing various fields in biology‐medicine, as they have been shown to possess intrinsic anti‐inflammatory/antimicrobial/anticancer properties and biocompatibility with different cells/tissues at controlled doses, opening avenues for advancing nanoagriculture. Here, innovative applications of mixed‐low‐dimensional titanium carbide MXene (Ti3C2Tx)‐based aqueous colloids are reported for plant immunoengineering and biostimulation, including autoclave‐treated Ti3C2Tx nanosheets’ impacts on enhancing defense‐related biological responses, seed‐to‐seedling transition, and underlying gene/hormone regulatory mechanisms. Foliar application of their relatively low doses serves as elicitor/priming active and stomatal closure‐inducing agent to boost plant innate immunity, expression of defense genes, systemic disease resistance, and defense/growth‐related responses. This sophisticated bioactivity resulted in reactive‐oxygen‐species production, inducing anti‐phytoviral/anti‐phytobacterial/anti‐phytofungal modes‐of‐action through direct pathogens‐inhibition and indirect regulation of plant immune system, implying MXene's potential for agricultural‐protection‐by‐nanodesign.
Zero Thermal Expansion via the Unconventional Sublattice‐Magnetovolume Effect in Rare‐Earth Ferrimagnets
Authors: Xu Jiawang , Wang Guyue , Xing Shouyuan , Xi Lei , Sheng Junchao , Li Shihao , Kan Xucai , Zheng Meng , Gao Yawei , Wang Dingsong , Zheng Xinqi , Zhang Jingyan , Xu Juping , Yin Wen , Zhou Shiming , Shen Baogen , Wang Shouguo 
Published: November 2024

AbstractZero thermal expansion (ZTE) alloys are critically needed in sophisticated modern industries, including telescope manufacturing, satellite technology, and semiconductor production, owing to their exceptional dimensional stability. In this study, high‐performance ZTE with a negligible coefficient of thermal expansion αv = 2.7 ppm K−1 over a broad temperature range of 10–220 K is discovered in ErCo2.8Fe0.2 magnet. Owing to an unconventional sublattice‐magnetovolume effect in the Er atoms, the negative thermal expansion in Fe‐substituted ErCo3−xFex magnets can be easily tuned to high‐performance ZTE. Moreover, the direct visualization of the magnetic transition in the predominant magnetization from the Er to the Co/Fe sublattices, as observed by the Lorentz transmission electron microscopy, further elucidates the manipulation mechanism behind the high‐performance ZTE. This study reports a convenient and effective strategy to optimize the thermal expansion characteristics of Er‐Co‐Fe magnets, which can guide future research that broadens the application scope of magnetic materials by leveraging the significant correlation between the magnetic properties and crystal structure of such systems.
Kirigami‐Inspired Stretchable Piezoelectret Sensor for Analysis and Assessment of Parkinson's Tremor
Authors: Xie Qisen , Han Liuyang , Liu Jie , Zhang Wenjie , Zhao Liuyan , Liu Yuhan , Chen Yanru , Li Yuzhen , Zhou Qian , Dong Ying , Wang Xiaohao 
Published: November 2024

AbstractHuman muscle activity contains rich information that can reflect human movement patterns and conditions of diseases or physical abnormalities. Flexible pressure sensors enable the assessment of muscle tremors in Parkinson's disease (PD) through Force Myography (FMG). Here, an easily fabricated, ultra‐sensitive, and stretchable piezoelectret pressure sensor is presented. Utilizing an effective integration of Kirigami structure and piezoelectret air gap, the sensor achieved a dynamic sensitivity of ≈725 pC/N (@5 Hz), measurement repeatability of <2.5%, measurement hysteresis of <1%, a pressure detection limit of <15 Pa, a response time of ≈2.5 ms, stable output within ±3% over 40 000 cycles, and output decay of <2.5% after 1000 cycles of complex deformation, meeting non‐distorted measurement conditions up to 20 Hz. Successful monitoring and assessment of hand muscle tremors are demonstrated. Furthermore, using a 1×3 sensor array enabled tremor localization, achieving a high accuracy rate of 99.5% with machine learning algorithms. Additionally, the sensor facilitated the experimental quantification and assisted scoring of the Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS‐UPDRS), with an accuracy of ≈85%. The sensor demonstrates potential for assisting in the diagnosis and rehabilitation monitoring of Parkinson's disease.
High‐Performance Giant InP Quantum Dots with Stress‐Released Morphological ZnSe‐ZnSeS‐ZnS Shell
Authors: Chen Hsueh‐Shih , Chen Cheng‐Yang , Wu You‐Cneng 
Published: November 2024

AbstractIndium phosphide (InP) quantum dots (QDs) are increasingly considered potent alternatives to traditional cadmium‐based QDs. Notwithstanding, the material stability of InP, especially when juxtaposed with its cadmium‐based counterparts, poses significant challenges in its application. Generally, a thick ZnS shell is applied to InP cores to thwart photo‐oxidation and diminish nonradiative recombination. Yet, the pronounced lattice mismatch between the InP core and the ZnS shell can introduce lattice defects, consequently attenuating the luminescence efficiency. This makes the cultivation of a flawless thick shell a paramount challenge. In the present research, a synthetic methodology is elucidated to fabricate highly efficient InP QDs with dimensions exceeding 20 nm, achieved by alleviating the lattice mismatch strain during the shell growth. By regulating the shell composition and morphology, InP/ZnSe/ZnSeS/ZnS QDs with shield‐like morphology are prepared and demonstrate a photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of ≈90%, exhibiting significantly enhanced photostability and thermal stability. This discovery is expected to greatly advance the preparation of highly efficient InP‐based or other QDs, expanding their potential in various applications such as environmentally friendly displays and energy‐saving lighting.
4D Printing of Electrically Activated Reversible Deformation Composite Actuators
Authors: Wang Nan , Xiao Xingzhi , Liu Tingting , Zhang Changdong , Gu Mingfei , Qi Ximeng 
Published: November 2024

Abstract4D printing of shape memory polymers combines smart materials and 3D printing technology enabling transformations in shape, properties, and functionalities. However, existing research predominantly addresses unidirectional deformation, necessitating the application of external force for reprogramming after each deformation. This limitation impedes the realization of continuous reversible deformation, posing challenges to meet the demands of reversible deformation in complex scenarios. This study introduces an innovative method for fabricating electrically activated reversible composite actuators by 4D printing. The composite actuator's structure comprises conductive ink and shape memory PEEK. Upon current excitation, the composite actuator attains controlled and reversible deformation, attributed to the electro‐thermal sintering properties of the conductive ink, combined with the shape memory effect and phase transition of PEEK. The actuator's deformation performance is validated by subjecting the composite actuator to varying high‐low current excitations, modifying the excitation circuit's configuration, and refining the PEEK printing process. Concurrently, the reversible deformation performance of the actuator is evaluated through the application of cyclic current excitation. Additionally, an inchworm‐like crawling robot is fabricated to demonstrate validation, achieving a speed exceeding 8 mm min−1. The 4D printing technique for composite actuators developed in this study expands potential applications in fields such as reversible actuators, soft robotics, and deployable structures.
Back‐Bias Effects in a SiGe Nanosheet Transistor with Multiple Independent Gates
Authors: Beyer Christoph , Bhattacharjee Niladri , Mikolajick Thomas , Trommer Jens 
Published: November 2024

AbstractSilicon germanium presents a great opportunity to improve the performance of Schottky barrier transistors through band gap engineering. This work presents a multi‐gated reconfigurable transistor built from pure SiGe channel material for bandgap reduction. The device utilizes industrial‐grade SiGe‐on‐insulator wafers, a hysteresis‐free HfO2‐based dielectric, and alloyed NiTiGeSi contacts, leading to Fermi‐level pinning of the Schottky contact about 200 meV above the valance band. Electron and hole transport in this complex structure have been analyzed as a function of the applied back‐bias by electrical measurements and corresponding technology computer‐aided design simulation. An on/off ratio of 103 with on‐currents up to 3.15 µA can be achieved for the p‐mode. At the same bias, the n‐mode showed no influence of the top gates due to a dominant parasitic hole current path. A strong positive back‐bias induced an n‐type switching operation, resulting in similar on/off‐ratio and subthreshold slopes as achieved with the p‐type mode. Opposed to this, it is shown that a strong negative back‐bias leads to a loss of gate control over the p‐mode, inducing an always‐on behavior. The results will give guidelines for applying Schottky barrier devices in industrial SiGe technologies, e.g., for reconfigurable or cryogenic computing.
Lipid Nanoparticles With Fine‐Tuned Composition Show Enhanced Colon Targeting as a Platform for mRNA Therapeutics
Authors: Rampado Riccardo , Naidu Gonna Somu , Karpov Olga , Goldsmith Meir , Sharma Preeti , Ezra Assaf , Stotsky Lior , Breier Dor , Peer Dan 
Published: November 2024

AbstractLipid Nanoparticles (LNPs) recently emerged as an invaluable RNA delivery platform. With many LNP‐based therapeutics in the pre‐clinical and clinical pipelines, there is extensive research dedicated to improving LNPs. These efforts focus mainly on the tolerability and transfectability of new ionizable lipids and RNAs, or modulating LNPs biodistribution with active targeting strategies. However, most formulations follow the well‐established lipid proportions used in clinically approved products. Nevertheless, investigating the effects of LNPs composition on their biodistribution can expand the toolbox for particle design, leading to improved delivery strategies. Herein, a new LNPs (30‐n‐LNPs) formulation with increasing amounts of phospholipids is investigated as a possible mRNA delivery system for treating Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. Compared to LNPs with benchmark composition (b‐LNPs), n‐LNPs containing 30% distearoylphosphatidylcholine (DSPC) are well tolerated following intravenous administration and display natural targeting toward the inflamed colon in dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)‐colitis bearing mice, while de‐targeting clearing organs such as the liver and spleen. Using interleukin‐10‐encoding mRNA as therapeutic cargo, n‐LNPs demonstrated a reduction of pathological burden in colitis‐bearing mice. n‐LNPs represent a starting point to further investigate the influence of LNPs composition on systemic biodistribution, ultimately opening new therapeutic modalities in different pathologies.
Flux Synthesis of A‐site Disordered Perovskite La0.5M0.5TiO3 (M═Li, Na, K) Nanorods Tailored for Solid Composite Electrolytes
Authors: Wang Tao , Ock Jiyoung , Chen X. Chelsea , Wang Fan , Li Meijia , Chambers Matthew S. , Veith Gabriel M. , Shepard Lauren B. , Sinnott Susan B. , Borisevich Albina , Chi Miaofang , Bhattacharya Amit , Clément Raphaële J. , Sokolov Alexei P , Dai Sheng 
Published: November 2024

AbstractInorganic fillers play an important role in improving the ionic conductivity of solid composite electrolytes (SCEs) for Li‐ion batteries. Among inorganic fillers, perovskite‐type lithium lanthanum titanate (LLTO) stands out for its high bulk Li+ conductivity on the order of 10−3 S cm−1 at room temperature. According to a literature survey, the optimal LLTO filler should possess the following characteristics: i) a single‐crystal structure to minimize grain boundaries; ii) a small particle size to increase the filler/polymer interface area; iii) a 1D morphology for efficient interface channels; and iv) cubic symmetry to facilitate rapid bulk Li+ diffusion within the filler. However, the synthesis of single crystal, 1D LLTO nanomaterials with cubic symmetry is challenging. Herein, a flux strategy is developed to synthesize La0.5M0.5TiO3 (LMTO, M═Li, Na, and K) single‐crystal nanorods with an A‐site‐disordered, cubic perovskite phase. The flux media promotes the oriented growth of nanorods, prevents nanorods from sintering, and provides multiple alkali metal ion doping at M sites to stabilize the cubic phase. SCEs compositing the Li+‐conducting LMTO nanorods as fillers and poly[vinylene carbonate‐co‐lithium sulfonyl(trifluoromethane sulfonyl)imide methacrylate] matrix exhibit more than twice the conductivity of the neat polymer electrolyte (30.6 vs 14.0 µS cm−1 at 303 K).
End‐to‐End Pierced Carbon Nanosheets with Meso‐Holes
Authors: Kim Minjun , Nara Hiroki , Asakura Yusuke , Hamada Takashi , Yan Peng , Earnshaw Jacob , An Meng , Eguchi Miharu , Yamauchi Yusuke 
Published: November 2024

AbstractThe remarkable properties of 2D nanomaterials are well known. However, their high interfacial adhesion energy often leads to restacking issues, limiting their potential in various applications. A strategic synthetic approach is presented to overcome this challenge. Specifically, the study first demonstrates the use of layered aluminosilicate as a sacrificial 2D template to allow the growth of highly ordered meso‐holey polymeric layers, which can be subsequently exfoliated upon the removal of aluminosilicate and thermally converted to perpendicularly open meso‐holey carbon (POMC). On the other hand, perpendicularly blocked meso‐holey carbon (PBMC) is obtained with non‐sacrificial 2D template of graphene oxide. When both POMC and PBMC are evaluated by operando hydrodynamic electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and transmission line model analysis for electrochemical reduction of oxygen, POMC achieves a remarkable improvement of charge transfer and mass transfer by up to 4.1 and 7.9 times, respectively, as compared to PBMC. This study therefore highlights the importance of perpendicularly open 2D nanoarchitectures in circumventing the restacking effect, offering valuable insights for leveraging 2D nanomaterials with open meso‐holes in various applications.
Generation of Entanglement and Perfect One‐Way EPR Steering via Kerr Nonlinearity in Cavity Magnonics System
Authors: Wang Jia‐Xin , Bai Cheng‐Hua , Guo Qi 
Published: November 2024

AbstractA scheme is proposed for generating entanglement and achieving perfect one‐way EPR (Einstein–Podolsky–Rosen) steering in a cross‐shaped cavity magnonics system via the Kerr effect arising from magnetocrystalline anisotropy. The scheme involves two microwave cavities with distinct quality factors that simultaneously couple to a magnon mode of a macroscopic yttrium‐iron‐garnet sphere via the magnetic‐dipole interaction. It is demonstrated that both the bipartite and tripartite entanglement among the three modes will be generated due to Kerr nonlinearity, and the perfect one‐way EPR steering will also be achieved between the cavity with higher quality factor and the magnon mode. Notably, this scheme differs from conventional protocols that produce asymmetric EPR steering by introducing additional unbalanced losses or noises; instead, it can generate and manipulate one‐way EPR steering solely by adjusting the detuning between the magnon mode and the microwave drive field. It is also analyzed that the robustness of the entanglement and EPR steering against the dissipation of magnon and environmental temperature. The present scheme may provide a promising platform and an efficient quantum resource for quantum information processing.
On‐Site Portable Lithium Detection in Mining and Recycling Industries Based on a DNAzyme Fluorescent Sensor
Authors: Yang Zhenglin , Farrell Annie , Pradhan Shreestika , Zhang Karen Huilin , Guo Weijie , Wu Yuting , Shao Xiangli , Roy Aritra , Garcia Elijah S. , Lu Yi 
Published: November 2024

AbstractThe global demand for lithium has soared in recent years due to the wide use of lithium batteries. To meet this demand, we herein report developing novel on‐site sample preparation methods for the extraction of Li+ from relevant materials, including brine water, spodumene rock, as well as lithium‐ion battery electrodes, and a DNAzyme‐based fluorescent sensor for sensitive and robust detection of Li+ in these samples down to 1.4 mM (10 ppm) using a portable fluorometer. The system can distinguish key threshold lithium levels that indicate economic value across several industries, including 200 ppm Li+ for brine mining, 6 % Li2O or SC6 for rock mining, and Li+‐specific aging in LIBs. The methods developed and demonstrated in this work will allow highly selective, on‐site, portable detection of lithium in both environmental samples to identify new lithium resources and in battery electrodes to guide recycling strategies in order to meet the global demand for lithium.