bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Characterization of GaSb photodiode for gamma-ray detection
Authors: Juang Bor-Chau , Prout David L. , Liang Baolai , Chatziioannou Arion F. , Huffaker Diana L. 
Published: June 2016

Abstract
We extract the carrier mobility-lifetime products for epitaxially grown GaSb and demonstrate the spectral response to gamma rays of a GaSb p–i–n photodiode with a 2-µm-thick absorption region. Under exposure from 55Fe and 241Am radioactive sources at 140 K, the photodiode exhibits full width at half maximum energy resolutions of 1.238 ± 0.028 and 1.789 ± 0.057 keV at 5.89 and 59.5 keV, respectively. We observe good linearity of the GaSb photodiode across a range of photon energies. The electronic noise and charge trapping noise are measured and shown to be the main components limiting the measured energy resolutions.
Pteridine levels and head weights are correlated with age and colony task in the honey bee,Apis mellifera
Authors: Rinkevich Frank D. , Margotta Joseph W. , Pittman Jean M. , Ottea James A. , Healy Kristen B. 
Published: June 2016

Background.The age of an insect strongly influences many aspects of behavior and reproduction. The interaction of age and behavior is epitomized in the temporal polyethism of honey bees in which young adult bees perform nurse and maintenance duties within the colony, while older bees forage for nectar and pollen. Task transition is dynamic and driven by colony needs. However, an abundance of precocious foragers or overage nurses may have detrimental effects on the colony. Additionally, honey bee age affects insecticide sensitivity. Therefore, determining the age of a set of individual honey bees would be an important measurement of colony health. Pteridines are purine-based pigment molecules found in many insect body parts. Pteridine levels correlate well with age, and wild caught insects may be accurately aged by measuring pteridine levels. The relationship between pteridines and age varies with a number of internal and external factors among many species. Thus far, no studies have investigated the relationship of pteridines with age in honey bees.Methods.We established single-cohort colonies to obtain age-matched nurse and forager bees. Bees of known ages were also sampled from colonies with normal demographics. Nurses and foragers were collected every 3–5 days for up to 42 days. Heads were removed and weighed before pteridines were purified and analyzed using previously established fluorometric methods.Results.Our analysis showed that pteridine levels significantly increased with age in a linear manner in both single cohort colonies and colonies with normal demography. Pteridine levels were higher in foragers than nurses of the same age in bees from single cohort colonies. Head weight significantly increased with age until approximately 28-days of age and then declined for both nurse and forager bees in single cohort colonies. A similar pattern of head weight in bees from colonies with normal demography was observed but head weight was highest in 8-day old nurse bees and there was no relationship of head weight with age of foragers.Discussion.Although the relationship between pteridine levels and age was significant, variation in the data yielded a +4-day range in age estimation. This allows an unambiguous method to determine whether a bee may be a young nurse or old forager in colonies with altered demographics as in the case of single cohort colonies. Pteridine levels in bees do not correlate with age as well as in other insects. However, most studies used insects reared under tightly controlled laboratory conditions, while we used free-living bees. The dynamics of head weight change with age is likely to be due to growth and atrophy of the hypopharyngeal glands. Taken together, these methods represent a useful tool for assessing the age of an insect. Future studies utilizing these methods will provide a more holistic view of colony health.
Transient Elastography for Spleen Stiffness Measurement in Patients With Cirrhosis
Authors: Chien Cheng-Hung , Lin Yi-Lan , Chien Rong-Nan , Hu Ching-Chih , Yen Cho-Li , Lee Tsung-Shih , Hsieh Po-Jen , Lin Chih-Lang 
Published: July 2016

ObjectivesThe purpose of our study was to evaluate the relationship between spleen stiffness measured by transient elastography and the degree of thrombocytopenia in patients with liver cirrhosis.MethodsA total of 67 patients with liver cirrhosis were prospectively enrolled in the study. All patients underwent single‐day hematologic and biochemical tests, sonography, and transient elastography of the liver and spleen. Thrombocytopenia was categorized as mild (platelet count, 75,000–150,000/μL), moderate (50,000–75,000/μL), and severe (<50,000/μL).ResultsThe degree of thrombocytopenia was significantly correlated with spleen stiffness (P = .001) and spleen size (P = .002) but not with liver stiffness (P = .086). In patients without splenomegaly, spleen stiffness values were significantly higher in patients with thrombocytopenia than in those without thrombocytopenia (P = .035). In patients with splenomegaly, spleen stiffness values were significantly higher in patients with moderate to severe thrombocytopenia than in those with a normal platelet count or mild thrombocytopenia (P = .007). Compared to liver stiffness, spleen stiffness showed a better and statistically significant correlation with platelet count and spleen size in patients with cirrhosis.ConclusionsThe degree of thrombocytopenia was directly correlated with spleen stiffness, irrespective of the presence of splenomegaly. The clinical phenomenon of unexpected thrombocytopenia may be explained by a subtle or irreversible change in spleen stiffness.
Efficient Pump Scheduling for Large‐Scale Multiproduct Pipelines Using Deep Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Shao Kai , Wang Xinmin , Liu Min , Xu Aobo , Jian Ling 
Published: September 2024

ABSTRACTOptimizing pump scheduling in multiproduct pipelines can significantly reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions. For pump scheduling in multiproduct pipelines, to describe hydraulic losses more accurately, the model needs to adopt shorter discrete time intervals, which will lead to longer decision‐making time. It combined with the large solution space of large‐scale pipelines, will lead to low solution efficiency with dynamic programming methods and poor solution quality with heuristic optimization algorithms. Given that, this article develops a multiproduct refined oil transmission simulation system and employs the enhanced Proximal Policy Optimization (PPO) algorithm with action space shaping trick to optimize pump scheduling for large‐scale multiproduct pipelines. The method of converting discrete action space to multi‐discrete action space through action shaping can address PPO's low convergence efficiency issue resulting from the large discrete action space challenge common in large‐scale multiproduct pipelines. The experimental results indicate that the proposed method, that is, PPO algorithm with multidiscrete action space exhibits significant advantages in terms of efficiency and robustness in large‐scale pipelines compared to mainstream methods for pump scheduling such as dynamic programming (DP), genetic algorithms (GA), and ant colony optimization (ACO). Furthermore, we demonstrate the effectiveness of action space shaping in large‐scale pipelines from the perspectives of exploration and exploitation.
S‐Scheme Heterojunction Fabricated from Covalent Organic Framework and Quantum Dot for Enhanced Photosynthesis of Hydrogen Peroxide from Water and Air
Authors: Ma Xiaolin , Li Senzhi , Gao Ying , Li Ning , Han Yuesheng , Pan Houhe , Bian Yongzhong , Jiang Jianzhuang 
Published: September 2024

AbstractCovalent organic frameworks (COFs) with stable crystalline porous structures and flexible assembly properties contribute to the direct photocatalytic synthesis of H2O2 to meet the growing global demand. To address the challenges of insufficient redox capacity and photogenerated carrier recombination of COFs, S‐scheme heterojunction is constructed from COFs with quantum dots (QDs) to improve the photocatalytic production of H2O2. Herein, 0D ZnCdS QDs (ZCS) uniformly anchor on the surface of a 2D conjugated tetrathiafulvalene‐based COF (TT‐COF), affording the S‐scheme heterojunction TT‐COF/ZCS. Formation of S‐scheme heterojunction effectively prevents the agglomeration of ZCS, modulates the energy band structure of TT‐COF, and enhances the migration of photogenerated carriers and redox ability. As a total consequence, the optimized heterojunction (TZ‐40) is able to afford H2O2 in the yield up to 5171 µmol g−1 h−1 under visible light irradiation with H2O and O2, much higher than those for TT‐COF, 2520 µmol g−1 h−1, and ZCS, 2647 µmol g−1 h−1. The present result demonstrates the great potential of COFs/QDs‐based S‐scheme heterojunctions for photocatalytic applications including photocatalytic H2O2 production.
High‐Efficiency Thick Film Binary Organic Photovoltaics via Asymmetric Alkyl Chain Engineering
Authors: Zhu Shengtian , Chen Shihao , Hong Ling , Hao Lu , Xie Juxuan , Zhong Zuiyi , Zhang Jiabin , Jing Jianhua , Zhang Kai , Huang Fei 
Published: September 2024

AbstractThe development of high‐performance organic photovoltaics (OPVs) with thick film active layers is key to moving this technology from laboratory preparation to industrial production. Design and synthesis of active layer materials to achieve a bi‐continuous interpenetrating morphology with appropriate nanoscale phase separation has been demonstrated as an effective method to realize high‐efficiency thick film devices. Here, two non‐fullerene acceptors are developed to compare the effect of symmetric (diDT‐BO) and asymmetric (DTC11‐BO) substituted alkyl chains on active layer morphology and device performance by introducing asymmetric side chains to the central core pyrrole ring. Based on the solubility and crystallinity differences of DTC11‐BO and diDT‐BO, the power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of 19.0% and 18.1% are realized with D18 as the donor. Importantly, D18:DTC11‐BO devices with 300 and 500 nm active layers achieve excellent PCEs of 17.7% and 16.1%, which are among the top‐class values for thick film OPVs reported to date. The work demonstrates that tunning the crystallinity by optimizing the asymmetric alkyl chains is an effective material design strategy to achieve high‐efficiency thick film OPVs.
Unveiling the Role of Boron on Nickel‐Based Catalyst for Efficient Urea Oxidation Assisted Hydrogen Production
Authors: Hu Yitao , Shao Li , Jiang Zhiqi , Shi Lei , Li Qiuju , Shu Kaiqian , Chen Hui , Li Guodong , Dong Yan , Wang Tongzhou , Li Jihong , Jiao Lifang , Deng Yida 
Published: September 2024

AbstractUrea oxidation reaction (UOR) is an ideal alternative to oxygen evolution reaction (OER) for efficient hydrogen production but is immensely plagued by slow kinetics. Herein, a multilayer hole amorphous boron‐nickel catalyst (a‐NiBx) is fabricated through a simple chemical plating method, which displays intriguing catalytic activity toward UOR, demanding a low working potential of 1.4 V to reach 100 mA cm−2. The high performance is credited to the formation of metaborate (BO2−), which can promote the formation of high‐oxidation‐state NiOOH active phase and optimize the adsorption of urea molecules. This can be confirmed by the operando spectroscopy characteristics and density functional theory calculations. Consequently, the assembled electrolyzer utilizing NiBx as bifunctional catalysts exhibited splendid catalytic activity, requiring an evidently lower voltage of 1.66 V to reach a current density of 100 mA cm−2 and 1.57 V when using Pt/C as a cathode catalyst. Moreover, the assembled electrolyzer secured a robust stability of over 200 h, as well as a four times higher hydrogen production rate than traditional water electrolysis.
Conductive Li2S‐NbSe2 Cathode Material Capable of Bidirectional Self‐Activation for High‐Performance All‐Solid‐State Lithium Metal Batteries
Authors: Hu Yaqi , Liu Yanchen , Lu Yang , Zhang Zongliang , Liu Siliang , He Fangbo , Liu Yang , Chen Yongle , Liu Fangyang 
Published: September 2024

AbstractAll‐solid‐state lithium metal batteries (ASSLBs) offer an alternative route to safe and high energy density power sources. Sulfur‐based cathodes with high theoretical specific capacity and low cost are crucial for advancing ASSLBs. However, the electronic insulation and sluggish kinetics of sulfide materials like Li2S severely limit battery performance. Herein, the strategy is proposed that a highly electronic conductive Li2S‐NbSe2 material enhances the electrochemical performance through bidirectional self‐activation. The chemical interaction between Li2S and NbSe2 induces NbSe2‐xSx and Li2Se derivatization, serving as the basis for activation. The carrier transport properties, chemical evolution and self‐activation mechanism of Li2S‐NbSe2 during the oxidation–reduction process are revealed. The chemical activation of NbSe2‐xSx is explored to accelerate the electrochemical processes by modifying the conductivity of sulfur species and the conversion pathways without insulating Li2S and S aggregation. Therefore, ASSLBs using Li2S‐NbSe2 as cathode active material achieve an electrode‐level energy density of 394 Wh kg−1 and a power density of 524 W kg−1 at 1 C (4.35 mA cm−2) and 25 °C. The capacity retention after 100 cycles at 0.5 C is ≈99.3% with almost no degradation. This work provides new options and insights for the rational design and development of chalcogenide cathode active materials for high‐performance ASSLBs.
Fabrication of Mechanical Strong Supramolecular Waterborne Polyurethane Elastomers With the Inspiration of Hierarchical Dynamic Structures of Scallop Byssal Threads
Authors: Zhang Mingguang , Wang Yining , Yang Minghang , Deng Yu , Zhou Wenhui , Wang Haidong , Jian Xigao , Chen Yousi 
Published: September 2024

AbstractAdvancing the development of eco‐friendly waterborne polyurethane elastomers (WPUEs) can significantly reduce the reliance on organic solvents, which is crucial for environmental conservation. Nevertheless, achieving superior mechanical properties and self‐healing capabilities in WPUEs presents a considerable challenge. Drawing inspiration from the hierarchical dynamic structures observed in scallop byssal threads, a high‐strength supramolecular waterborne polyurethane elastomer (SWPUE), designated SWPU‐DESH‐Zn, is developed in this study. Owing to the precise regulation of the hydrogen bonding state of acylsemicarbazide (ASC) fragments via disulfide bonds, and the formation of coordination interactions between carboxyl and zinc ions, the as‐prepared elastomer exhibited a robust mechanical strength of 52.07 MPa, comparable to that of solvent‐based polyurethane elastomers. Additionally, it exhibited notable self‐healing capability and excellent reprocessability. Meanwhile, high‐performance ionic skins and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials are also fabricated using SWPU‐DESH‐Zn as the matrix, further illustrating its potential applications. This novel biomimetic approach, inspired by scallop byssal threads, offers valuable insights for designing healable waterborne polymers with enhanced mechanical properties.
Atomic‐Scale Structural Dynamics at a‐Si:H/c‐Si Heterointerface During Low‐Temperature Thermal Annealing
Authors: Qu Xianlin , Chu Feihong , He Yongcai , Chen Xiaoqing , Zheng Zilong , Xu Xixiang , Li Zhenguo , Yan Hui , Zhang Yongzhe , Zheng Kun 
Published: September 2024

AbstractThe integrity of the hydrogenated amorphous silicon/crystalline silicon (a‐Si:H/c‐Si) interface is essential for the enhanced performance of a‐Si:H/c‐Si heterojunction‐based devices. However, during annealing processes aimed at passivating silicon dangling bonds, unexpected Si epitaxy and nanotwin formation tend to emerge, even under low‐temperature conditions. Therefore, understanding the influence of such annealing on the a‐Si:H/c‐Si interfacial structure is therefore pivotal for device optimization. In this study, the atomic‐scale structural transformation of the a‐Si:H/c‐Si heterointerface subjected to low‐temperature annealing is delved into. The dynamic evolution of this interface is captured by employing in situ spherical aberration (CS)‐corrected transmission electron microscopy (TEM), molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The TEM observations indicated that Si epitaxy initiated before Si nanotwin formation, and these nanotwins are inclined to revert to epitaxial structures upon sustained annealing. Through MD and DFT insights, the thermodynamic and kinetic intricacies driving the concerted tri‐layer atomic shift characterizing the Si nanotwin‐to‐epitaxy transition are decoded. The findings shed light on the thermal behavior of a‐Si:H/c‐Si interfaces, offering new perspectives on the thermal management in silicon heterojunction devices.
Unveiling Hierarchical Self‐Assembly of Triazolylferrocenyl Dendrimers: Producing Non‐Traditional Intrinsically Green Fluorescent Vesosomes for Nanotheranostics
Authors: Braga Carolyne B. , Perli Gabriel , Wang Qi , Wylie Luke , Bertuzzi Diego L. , Soares Marco C. P. , Ramos Miguel D. , Ruiz Jaime , Padua Agilio , Astruc Didier , Ornelas Catia 
Published: September 2024

AbstractDendrimers and supramolecular chemistry continue to fascinate researchers due to the endless unrevealed potential of their combination. This study investigates the self‐assembly process of a series of hydrophobic triazolylferrocenyl dendrimers in aqueous medium. Deep investigation through NMR spectroscopy, absorption UV–vis spectroscopy along with theoretical simulations demonstrates that the ferrocenyl moieties interact intramolecularly and intermolecularly driving the self‐assembly process. Data obtained by DLS, NTA, SEM, TEM, and EF‐TEM demonstrate that these dendrimers, in water, spontaneously self‐assemble through a hierarchical process. The dendrimers first self‐assemble into uniform nanovesicles, which in turn self‐assemble into larger vesosomes. The resulting vesosomes emit green non‐traditional intrinsic fluorescence, which is a property that emerged from the self‐assembled architectures. The vesosomes are efficiently uptaken by cancer cells and induce significant cytotoxic activity against the cancer cell line MCF‐7, up to the submicromolar concentration. Positive dendritic effects are identified in the fluorescence intensity and in the cytotoxic activity of the vesosomes, which follow the trend G0‐9Fc < G1‐27Fc < G2‐81Fc. This work showcases the remarkable potential of combining the two dynamic fields of dendrimers and supramolecular chemistry, which resulted in green fluorescent vesosomes capable of performing the dual role of cell imaging and killing, with potential applications in nanotheranostics.
Phase‐Separated Nano‐Antibiotics Enhanced Survival in Multidrug‐Resistant Escherichia coli Sepsis by Precise Periplasmic EcDsbA Targeting
Authors: Zou Pengfei , Huang Lin , Li Yi , Liu Dan , Che Junwei , Zhao Te , Li Hui , Li Jiaxin , Cui Ya‐Nan , Yang Guobao , Li Zhiping , Li Li‐Li , Gao Chunsheng 
Published: September 2024

AbstractDisulfide bond (Dsb) proteins, especially DsbA, represent a promising but as‐yet‐unrealized target in combating multidrug‐resistant (MDR) bacteria because their precise subcellular targeting through multibarrier remains a significant challenge. Here, a novel heterogenization‐phase‐separated nano‐antibiotics (NCefoTs) is proposed, through the co‐assembly of enzyme‐inhibiting lipopeptides (ELp component), membrane‐recognizing and disrupting lipopeptides (MLp component), and cefoperazone. The self‐sorting components of MLp “concentrated island‐liked clusters” on the surface of NCefoTs promote the efficient penetration of NCefoTs through the outer membrane. Triggered by the DsbA, the precisely spatiotemporal engineered NCefoTs transform to nanofibers in situ and further significantly enhance the inhibition of DsbA. The hydrolytic activity of β‐lactamase and the motility function of flagella are thereby impeded, confirming the efficacy of NCefoTs in restoring susceptibility to antibiotics and inhibiting infection dissemination. By these synergistic effects of NCefoTs, the minimum inhibitory concentration of antibiotics decreases from over 300 µM to 1.56 µM for clinically isolated E. coli MDR. The survival rate of sepsis‐inflicted mice is significantly enhanced from 0% to 92% upon encapsulation of cefoperazone in NCefoTs, which rapidly eliminates invading pathogens and mitigates inflammation. The universally applicable delivery system, based on an “on demands” strategy, presents a promising prospect for undruggable antibiotic targets in the periplasm to combat MDR bacteria.
Responsive Protection of Magnesium Alloys From Multicorrosive Media by Constructing Nanofluidic Channels in Self‐Repairing Coatings
Authors: Yang Yajie , Zha Min , Wang Dawei , Wang Tianshuai , Wang Yufei , Wang Cheng , Yuan Ye , Wang Hui‐Yuan 
Published: September 2024

AbstractLow‐density magnesium (Mg) alloys are excellent engineering materials, and can significantly reduce energy consumption by replacing existing steel and aluminum materials. However, Mg species are susceptible to corrosion, especially in harsh environments (high‐temperature or acidic), severely limiting the range of practical applications. Here, 2D covalent organic framework (COF) is synthesized with pore diameters ranging from 1.5 to 2.9 nm to obtain ultrafast nanofluidic channels. Loaded with silver (Ag+) ions, 2‐mercaptobenzimidazole (2‐MB) inhibitors are immobilized in the COF channels through the silver bridges. Based on the strong metal‐complexing capability, Ag+ ions precipitated with various corrosive media (Cl−, Br−, I−, SO32−, S2−, S2O32− SO42−, CO32−, PO43−); meanwhile, the 2‐MB inhibitors are rapidly released through the nanofluidic channels, forming a passivation film as a corrosion barrier to protect the Mg substrate. After integration with commercial polyethersulfone (PES), the COF‐based coating exhibits high repairing capability achieving 100% damage restoration within 7 h, outperforming all existing coatings of Mg alloys. Notably, the coating shows almost complete protection of Mg alloys after being treated in respective 473 K, acidic (pH ≈4.0), and alkaline (pH ≈10.0) environments.
Monomer Trapping Synthesis Toward Dynamic Nanoconfinement Self‐healing Eutectogels for Strain Sensing
Authors: Lv Yuesong , Li Changchun , Yang Zhangqin , Gan Mingxi , Wang Yuyan , Lu Minxun , Zhang Xinxing , Min Li 
Published: September 2024

AbstractThe rapid advancement in attractive platforms such as biomedicine and human‐machine interaction has generated urgent demands for intelligent materials with high strength, flexibility, and self‐healing capabilities. However, existing self‐healing ability materials are challenged by a trade‐off between high strength, low elastic modulus, and healing ability due to the inherent low strength of noncovalent bonding. Here, drawing inspiration from human fibroblasts, a monomer trapping synthesis strategy is presented based on the dissociation and reconfiguration in amphiphilic ionic restrictors (7000‐times volume monomer trapping) to develop a eutectogel. Benefiting from the nanoconfinement and dynamic interfacial interactions, the molecular chain backbone of the formed confined domains is mechanically reinforced while preserving soft movement capabilities. The resulting eutectogels demonstrate superior mechanical properties (1799% and 2753% higher tensile strength and toughness than pure polymerized deep eutectic solvent), excellent self‐healing efficiency (>90%), low tangential modulus (0.367 MPa during the working stage), and the ability to sensitively monitor human activities. This strategy is poised to offer a new perspective for developing high strength, low modulus, and self‐healing wearable electronics tailored to human body motion.