bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
ZnO/SrTiO3, ZnO/WO3, and ZnO/Zn2SnO4 Bilayer as Electron Transport Layers for Lead Sulfide Colloidal Quantum Dots Solar Cells
Authors: Bashir Rabia , Bilal Muhammad Kashif , Bashir Amna , Asif Sana Ullah , Peng Yicheng 
Published: September 2024

AbstractIn order to enhance the overall efficiency of colloidal quantum dots solar cells, it is crucial to suppress the recombination of charge carriers and minimize energy loss at the interfaces between the transparent electrode, electron transport layer (ETL), and colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) light‐absorbing material. In the current study, ZnO/SrTiO3 (STO), ZnO/WO3 (TO), and ZnO/Zn2SnO4 (ZTO) bilayers are introduced as an ETL using a spin‐coating technique. The ZTO interlayer exhibits a smoother surface with a root‐mean‐square (RMS) value of ≈ 3.28 nm compared to STO and TO interlayers, which enables it to cover the surface of the ITO/ZnO substrate entirely and helps to prevent direct contact between the CQDs absorber layer and the ITO/ZnO substrate, thereby effectively preventing efficient charge recombination at the interfaces of the ETL/CQDs. Furthermore, the ZTO interlayer possesses superior electron mobility, a higher visible light transmission, and a suitable energy band structure compared to STO and TO. These characteristics are advantageous for extracting charge carriers and facilitating electron transport. The PbS CQDs solar cell based on the ITO/ZnO/ZTO/PbS‐FABr/PbS‐EDT/NiO/Au device configuration exhibits the highest efficiency of 15.28%, which is significantly superior than the ITO/ZnO/PbS‐FABr/PbS‐EDT/NiO/Au solar cell device (PCE = 14.38%). This study is anticipated to offer a practical approach to develop ultrathin and compact ETL for highly efficient CQDSCs.
A Flexible Multifunctional Cyanoethyl‐Modified Bacterial Cellulose Nanofiber Framework for High‐Energy and High‐Power Density Aqueous Li‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Zhang Long , Ma Tao , Zhou Peng‐Hu , Yang Yi‐Wen , Lu Lei‐l. , Hu Bi‐Cheng , Yu Shu‐Hong 
Published: September 2024

AbstractAqueous rechargeable lithium‐ion batteries (ARLIBs) are extensively researched due to their inherent safety, typical affordability, and potential high energy density. However, fabricating ARLIBs with both high energy density and power performance remains challenging. Herein, based on cyanoethyl‐modified bacterial cellulose nanofibers (CBCNs), a multifunctional fast ion transport framework is developed to construct the flexible free‐standing ARLIBs with high areal loading and excellent rate performance. Benefiting from the unique merits of CBCNs, such as ultra‐high aspect ratio, excellent toughness, superior adhesion, good lithiophilicity and ideal stability, the flexible free‐standing and highly robust electrodes are fabricated and exhibit a long‐term stable cycling of 1200 cycles with a high specific capacity of 117 mAh∙g−1 at 15 C. Remarkably, the corresponding full cell with the free‐standing high mass loading (45.5 mg∙cm−2) electrodes under the condition of ultra‐low addition of battery binder demonstrates a cycle lifespan of over 1000 cycles with a specific capacity of 120 mAh∙g−1 and a capacity decay as low as 0.03% per cycle, which is far superior to those of almost all previous reports. This work provides a strategy for constructing ARLIBs with high energy density and power performance by introducing a unique fast ion transport nanofiber framework.
Modular Customized Biomimetic Nanofluidic Diode for Tunable Asymmetric Ion Transport
Authors: Chen Sifan , Meng Wentong , Tong Zheming , Chen Pu , Gao Feng , Hou Yang , Lu Jianguo , He Qinggang , Wang Haihua , Zhan Xiaoli , Zhang Qinghua 
Published: September 2024

AbstractArtificial ion diodes, inspired by biological ion channels, have made significant contributions to the fields of physics, chemistry, and biology. However, constructing asymmetric sub‐nanofluidic membranes that simultaneously meet the requirements of easy fabrication, high ion transport efficiency, and tunable ion transport remains a challenge. Here, a direct and flexible in situ staged host‐guest self‐assembly strategy is employed to fabricate ion diode membranes capable of achieving zonal regulation. Coupling the interfacial polymerization process with a host‐guest assembly strategy, it is possible to easily manipulate the type, order, thickness, and charge density of each module by introducing two oppositely charged modules in stages. This method enables the tuning of ion transport behavior over a wide range salinity, as well as responsive to varying pH levels. To verify the potential of controllable diode membranes for application, two ion diode membranes with different ion selectivity and high charge density are coupled in a reverse electrodialysis device. This resulted in an output power density of 63.7 W m−2 at 50‐fold NaCl concentration gradient, which is 12 times higher than commercial standards. This approach shows potential for expanding the variety of materials that are appropriate for microelectronic power generation devices, desalination, and biosensing.
Magnetic Hydrogel Microbots for Efficient Pollutant Decontamination and Self‐Catalyzed Regeneration in Continuous Flow Systems
Authors: Pereira Veronica , Goh Zheng Xun Denver , Raja Mogan Tharishinny , Ng Li Shiuan , Das Sankar , Li Haitao , Lee Hiang Kwee 
Published: September 2024

AbstractThe efficient removal of organic pollutants from water is crucial for protecting human health and the ecosystem. While adsorbent‐based approaches offer advantages over traditional chemical and thermal methods, they still suffer from slow adsorption kinetics, high energy demand, and limited material lifespan. Herein, an efficient decontamination platform is introduced, using magnetic hydrogel microbots (MHMs) made from picolitre‐sized hydrogel droplets coated with multifunctional magnetic nanoparticles. This approach includes 1) dividing a droplet into smaller microbots to enhance their interaction with sample solution and 2) dynamically spinning these MHMs to generate hydrodynamic flows that actively draw pollutants toward the embedded hydrogel for capture. The MHMs show high decontamination effectiveness in both bulk and continuous flow setups, achieving ≈95% removal efficiency within 3 min. Further integrating MHMs with a non‐pressurized fluidic platform enables energy‐efficient continuous flow decontamination, removing ≥95% total organic carbon from a complex pollutant mixture at a flow rate surpassing other recent designs. Additionally, the MHMs facilitate self‐catalyzed regeneration using an environmentally friendly H2O2 precursor, allowing for long‐term and repeated usage. By enabling the unique divide‐and‐arrest decontamination of toxic pollutants, the multifunctional design holds tremendous promise for on‐site wastewater treatment to ensure safe water access for everyone, even in resource‐limited environments.
Controlled Fabrication of Unimolecular Micelles as Versatile Nanoplatform for Multifunctional Applications
Authors: Yao Xikuang , Cao Xudong , He Jiayu , Hao Linhui , Chen Haobo , Li Xin , Huang Wei 
Published: September 2024

AbstractUnimolecular micelles (UMs) are nano‐sized structures that are composed of single molecules with precise composition. Compared to self‐assembled polymeric micelles, UMs possess ultra‐stable property even in complex biological environment. With the development of controllable polymerization and coupling chemistry, the preparation of narrowly monodispersed UMs with precise morphology and size has been realized, which further facilitates their multifunctional applications. After brief introduction, state‐of‐the‐art advances in the synthesis and applications of UMs are discussed with an emphasis on their bioapplications. It is believed that these UMs have great potential in future fabrication of multifunctional nanoplatforms.
Magnetically Enhanced Oxygen Evolution Reaction in Mild Alkaline Electrolytes by Building Catalysts on Magnetic Frame
Authors: Xie Ming‐Hui , Wang Hao‐Tian , Li Xian‐Jun , Han Guo‐Jun , Yang Yong‐Qiang , Shi Xin‐Yue , Lin Shi‐Yi , Miao Guo‐Xing , Yang Meng‐Hao , Fu Jing 
Published: September 2024

AbstractUnder large current densities, the excessive hydroxide ion (OH) consumption hampers alkaline water splitting involving the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). High OH concentration (≈30 wt.%) is often used to enhance the catalytic activity of OER, but it also leads to higher corrosion in practical systems. To achieve higher catalytic activity in low OH concentration, catalysts on magnetic frame (CMF) are built to utilize the local magnetic convection induced from the host frame's magnetic field distributions. This way, a higher reaction rate can be achieved in relatively lower OH concentrations. A CMF model system with catalytically active CoFeOx nanograins grown on the magnetic Ni foam is demonstrated. The OER current of CoFeOx@NF receives ≈90% enhancement under 400 mT (900 mA cm−2 at 1.65 V) compared to that in zero field, and exhibits remarkable durability over 120 h. As a demonstration, the water‐splitting performance sees a maximum 45% magnetic enhancement under 400 mT in 1 m KOH (700 mA cm−2 at 2.4 V), equivalent to the concentration enhancement of the same electrode in a more corrosive 2 m KOH electrolyte. Therefore, the catalyst‐on‐magnetic‐frame strategy can make efficient use of the catalysts and achieve higher catalytic activity in low OH concentration by harvesting local magnetic convection.
Oxygen Vacancy Engineering and Constructing Built‐In Electric Field in Fe‐g‐C3N4/Bi2MoO6 Z‐Scheme Heterojunction for Boosting Photo‐Fenton Catalytic Degradation Performance of Tetracycline
Authors: Wang Zhanshou , Meng Shuang , Li Jinlong , Guo Dongxuan , Fu Shanshan , Zhang Dantong , Yang Xue , Sui Guozhe 
Published: September 2024

AbstractA novel Fe‐g‐C3N4/Bi2MoO6 (FCNB) Z‐scheme heterojunction enriched with oxygen vacancy is constructed and employed for the photo‐Fenton degradation of tetracycline (TC). The 2% FCNB demonstrates prominent catalytic performance and mineralization efficiency for TC wastewater, showing activity of 8.20 times greater than that of pure photocatalytic technology. Density‐functional theory (DFT) calculations and degradation experiments confirm that the formation of Fe‐N4 sites induces spin‐polarization in the material, and the difference in Fermi energy levels results in the formation of built‐in electric field at the contact interface, which facilitates the continuous generation and migration of photogenerated carriers to address the issue of insufficient cycling power of Fe (III)/Fe (II).The reactive radicals persistently target the extremely reactive sites anticipated by the Fukui function, causing the mineralization of TC molecules into “non‐toxic” compounds through processes of hydroxylation, demethylation, and deamidation. This work holds significant importance in the domain of eliminating organic pollutants from water.
Physiochemical, Pasting, and Morphological Properties of Native Oat Starch and Citrate‐Modified Oat Starch
Authors: Alexander Vanessa , Beta Trust , Malunga Lovemore Nkhata 
Published: September 2024

AbstractStarch is widely utilized in the food industry, but its native form may have limitations in terms of functionality and nutrition. This study examines the characteristics of native oat starch and explores its potential for chemical modification by cross‐linking, with the aim of gaining a deeper understanding of its functionality. Citrate‐modified oat starch (COS) is generated by cross‐linking native oat starch (NOS) with citric acid. Chemical analysis reveals distinctions between NOS and COS, notably in terms of resistant starch content, which is elevated in COS. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) results reveal that NOS exhibits crystalline peaks characteristic of A‐type starch, distinguishing it from COS. In contrast, COS displays absent crystalline peaks, attributed to cross‐linking. Swelling factor, solubility, and paste clarity along with most of the pasting properties are found to be significantly lower for COS compared to NOS. The scanning electron microscopic images show how cross‐linking can alter the morphology of the NOS. The findings from this investigation highlight significant distinctions between NOS and COS. The cross‐linking process successfully enhances the resistant starch content and imparted distinctive properties absent in native oat starch. Consequently, there is potential for incorporating modified oat starch as a food ingredient.
Convergence rates of Metropolis–Hastings algorithms
Authors: Brown Austin , Jones Galin L. 
Published: September 2024

AbstractGiven a target probability density known up to a normalizing constant, the Metropolis–Hastings algorithm simulates realizations from a Markov chain which are eventual realizations from the target probability density. A key element for ensuring a reliable Metropolis–Hastings simulation experiment is understanding how quickly the simulation will generate a representative sample from target density. This corresponds to understanding the convergence properties of the Metropolis–Hastings Markov chain. State‐of‐the‐art methods for convergence analysis of Metropolis–Hastings algorithms are considered and reviewed. Practically important topics are discussed for an interdisciplinary audience. This includes convergence properties in high dimensions, proper tuning, initialization, and limitations of current convergence analyses.This article is categorized under:
Statistical and Graphical Methods of Data Analysis > Markov Chain Monte Carlo
Statistical and Graphical Methods of Data Analysis > Monte Carlo Methods
Statistical and Graphical Methods of Data Analysis > Bayesian Methods and Theory
The Protest that Never Was: Silencing Political Activism at CERN Before and During the Vietnam War
Authors: Hof Barbara , Ienna Gerardo , Turchetti Simone 
Published: September 2024

AbstractThis article focuses on the history of CERN from the perspective of its staff’s political initiatives. Notwithstanding the extensive coverage that the international physics laboratory has received, historians have yet to document these campaigns in full. What follows explains this omission by focusing on provisions that muzzled the activists’ initiatives. Since 1955, staff rules and regulations elaborated by CERN managers aimed at curbing efforts to promote political campaigning in the laboratory. Designed to safeguard its special legal status as an international organization in Switzerland devoted to scientific collaborations, these provisions strengthened its public image as a “sanctuary” for pure physics. With the war in Vietnam in full swing, however, it became more difficult to bottle in political initiatives, especially as CERN staff contributed to anti-war protests and supported local solidarity groups. At this critical junction, the laboratory managers muffled campaigns targeting Nobel-prize winning physicist Murray Gell-Mann, and made it seem as if a petition against the US military strikes in Vietnam signed by its staff was never put together.
Investigating a novel and highly efficient approach for the fabrication of diamond profile rollers using Wire Electrical Discharge Conditioning (WEDC)
Authors: Khosravi Jahangir , Azarhoushang Bahman , Behjat Saeed , Zahedi Ali 
Published: September 2024

AbstractThe fabrication of high-precision and high-performance profile rollers represents the main challenge of utilizing profile rollers as dressers to condition conventional grinding wheels. This results in high demands for an efficient process to manufacture profile rollers (form dressing wheels). Conventionally, diamond profile rollers have been produced through infiltration or negative electroplating methods. Nevertheless, these manufacturing methods suffer significant drawbacks, including extended production times and substantial costs. This study presents an innovative approach to fabricating diamond profile rollers using Wire Electrical Discharge Conditioning (WEDC). The WED-Conditioning emerges as an effective alternative to profile metal-bonded rotary diamond dressing tools. This innovative method leads to the production of diamond profile rollers in significantly shorter timeframes and at a more economical cost compared to the conventional manufacturing method with comparable quality. The research delves into the influence of profile roller specifications and conditioning strategies on the achievable profile accuracy and topography of the profile rollers. Also, the wear behavior of the WEDC-conditioned profile roller over long-term conditioning of conventional grinding wheels was studied. The findings highlight the significant contribution of the appropriate selection of WEDC strategies to the profile accuracy, with the potential to achieve profile accuracies comparable with conventional profile rollers. As well, grain size emerges as the primary determinant of achievable profile accuracy for profile rollers. The findings of this study could provide insights into optimizing the manufacturing process for super abrasive diamond profile rollers, thereby enabling their widespread use in the grinding industry.
Fine evaluation of surface integrity of hardened 1.4418 stainless steel after finish dry turning
Authors: Leksycki Kamil , Niesłony Piotr , Feldshtein Eugene , Ochał Kamil , Gradzik Andrzej 
Published: September 2024

Abstract1.4418 hardened stainless steel (SS) is widely used in mechanical engineering because of its high functional properties. They can also be enhanced by procuring improvements in the state of the surface layer (SL) and, above all, in the factors of its strengthening, among others the average size of coherent scattering regions (ASCSR), dislocation density (DD), residual stresses (RS) of first and second orders, and relative micro-deformations of the crystal lattice (RMCL). This study investigates the effect of cutting speed (vc) ranging from 100 to 250 m/min and feed rate (f) ranging from 0.005 to 0.25 mm/rev on the indicators of SL condition after finish turning the steel tested. A reduction in ASCSR values below 8 nm was obtained for vc = 100–135 m/min, while an increase of ~ 20% was obtained for 180–250 m/min and with the f ranging from 0.2 to 0.25 mm/rev. An increase in RMCL of ~ 90% was registered for vc = 170–230 m/min and f = 0.2–0.25 mm/rev. A decrease in DD below 109 cm−2 was obtained for vc = 180–250 m/min and its ~ 25% increase for vc = 100–135 m/min. A high correlation between ASCSR and DD was shown. In the deformed material, the dislocation’s resistance to motion increases in proportion to the increase in its density. A high linear correlation coefficient in the range of 0.8–0.9 is found between ASCSR, DD, and first-order RS on the one hand, and Sa and Sz surface texture parameters, which are used in the industry to assess product quality, on the other. Additionally, the effect of plastic side flow (PSF) was observed and described. When machining with vc = 119 m/min and f = 0.22 mm/rev, the intense plastic deformation of the material causes outflow and shearing of the surface micro-hills. Favorable compressive stresses (below − 100 MPa) were registered in the range of vc = 225–250 m/min at f = 0.005–0.05 m/rev and 0.2–0.25 mm/rev, as well as vc = 115–180 m/min and f = 0.05–0.17 mm/rev. The study proved the existence of a relationship between the cutting parameters and indicators of the thin crystalline structure of SL. This means that by proper controlling of these parameters, it is possible to obtain such a state of the SL workpiece, which will ensure its long-term use.
Feeding ecology of the urchin symbiont Dactylopleustes yoshimurai (Amphipoda) revealed by DNA metabarcoding
Authors: Kodama Masafumi , Yamazaki Ryoga , Hayakawa Jun , Murata Gakuto , Tomikawa Ko , Kawamura Tomohiko , Kume Gen , Kobari Toru 
Published: September 2024

AbstractThe nature of symbiotic relationships between organisms can be difficult to assess and may range from commensalism, to mutualism, and parasitism. Trophic linkage and feeding ecology are essential to disentangle symbiont-host relationships/interactions. Amphipods of the genus Dactylopleustes are known as urchin symbionts. Though their ecology remains largely unknown, Dactylopleustes was recently reported to aggregate on diseased hosts, suggesting that Dactylopleustes feeds on diseased urchins’ tissues and uses urchins as both a habitat and prey. We investigated by DNA metabarcoding analyses, the feeding ecology of Dactylopleustes yoshimurai in relation to growth and disease status of the host (Strongylocentrotus intermedius). Contrary to our hypothesis, sequence reads from the gut contents were dominated by planktonic copepods regardless of body size or host disease status. These results suggest that they mainly feed on copepod fecal pellets deposited on sediments, and do not have a strong trophic linkage with their host. Large individuals on diseased urchins feed more on urchins than those on healthy urchins. However, their main prey still remains copepods, implying that host disease has a limited effect on the feeding behavior. In conclusion, our study indicates that this species is mainly commensal, but also may parasitize its host depending on the situation.
Mycorrhizal symbiosis and the nitrogen nutrition of forest trees
Authors: Pena Rodica , Tibbett Mark 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
Terrestrial plants form primarily mutualistic symbiosis with mycorrhizal fungi based on a compatible exchange of solutes between plant and fungal partners. A key attribute of this symbiosis is the acquisition of soil nutrients by the fungus for the benefit of the plant in exchange for a carbon supply to the fungus. The interaction can range from mutualistic to parasitic depending on environmental and physiological contexts. This review considers current knowledge of the functionality of ectomycorrhizal (EM) symbiosis in the mobilisation and acquisition of soil nitrogen (N) in northern hemisphere forest ecosystems, highlighting the functional diversity of the fungi and the variation of symbiotic benefits, including the dynamics of N transfer to the plant. It provides an overview of recent advances in understanding ‘mycorrhizal decomposition’ for N release from organic or mineral-organic forms. Additionally, it emphasises the taxon-specific traits of EM fungi in soil N uptake. While the effects of EM communities on tree N are likely consistent across different communities regardless of species composition, the sink activities of various fungal taxa for tree carbon and N resources drive the dynamic continuum of mutualistic interactions. We posit that ectomycorrhizas contribute in a species-specific but complementary manner to benefit tree N nutrition. Therefore, alterations in diversity may impact fungal-plant resource exchange and, ultimately, the role of ectomycorrhizas in tree N nutrition. Understanding the dynamics of EM functions along the mutualism-parasitism continuum in forest ecosystems is essential for the effective management of ecosystem restoration and resilience amidst climate change.

Key points
• Mycorrhizal symbiosis spans a continuum from invested to appropriated benefits.
• Ectomycorrhizal fungal communities exhibit a high functional diversity.
• Tree nitrogen nutrition benefits from the diversity of ectomycorrhizal fungi.

Graphical abstract