bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Recent Advances in Cost‐Effective ZnO‐Based Electrode Material for Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Savitha H , Kottam Nagaraju , Sampath C. , Madhu G. M. , Aishwarya C. S. 
Published: October 2024

AbstractFuel cell and lithium ion battery (LIB) technologies are increasingly recognized as cutting‐edge power sources that are gradually displacing various versions of older systems. High‐performance electrode materials must be developed for enhanced next‐generation LIBs. Because of their low cost, high theoretical specific capacity, and environmental friendliness, nanoparticles based on zinc oxide (ZnO) have been regarded as promising alternatives. However, significant problems including intrinsic poor conductivity and significant volume expansion have made ZnO‐based nanomaterials for less viable. In this review we discussed about the mechanism of lithium ion battery and how strategies to overcome intrinsic poor conductivity and significant volume expansion of ZnO‐based nanomaterials. Followed by the best methods for improving the lithium ion storage capacity of ZnO‐based materials as cathode and anode separately reviewed. And summarized the challenges and potential lines of inquiry for Zn‐based nanomaterials in the future.
Inhibitory Potential of Silychrystin on ERR‐γ, Keap‐1, and NF‐κB Proteins in Acute Pancreatitis Explored Through Molecular Docking and Molecular Dynamics Simulation
Authors: Das Tridip J. , Ullah Tanzim Nishad , Tiwari Shaurya , Gowala Upasa , Deka Satyendra , Bhattacharya Kunal , Tag Hui , Hui Pallabi K. 
Published: October 2024

AbstractAcute pancreatitis (AP) presents a substantial burden in India, characterized by evolving disease patterns and life‐threatening complications. Globally, the increasing incidence of AP underscores the urgent need for effective therapeutic interventions. Key proteins such as ERR‐γ, Keap‐1, and NF‐κB play pivotal roles in the pathophysiology of AP, contributing to dysregulated molecular pathways and cellular interactions. Targeting these proteins offers a promising avenue to modulate these dysregulated pathways and improve AP outcomes. Smilax perfoliata, widely recognized for its diverse medicinal properties, presents a promising opportunity for the exploration of novel antipancreatitis agents, although data on its efficacy remains limited. In this study, we employed molecular docking simulations to evaluate the binding interactions between 23 identified phytocompounds from Smilax perfoliata and the target proteins ERR‐γ, Keap‐1, and NF‐κB. Among the compounds tested, silychrystin exhibited the highest binding affinity with Keap‐1 (−11.2 kcal/mol), followed by ERR‐γ (−10.2 kcal/mol) and NF‐κB (−8.5 kcal/mol). Additionally, a 200‐ns molecular dynamics simulation using GROMACS (GROningen MAchine for Chemical Simulations) confirmed the stability of the silychrystin‐target protein complex, revealing consistent interaction stability and minimal structural fluctuations. These findings suggest that silychrystin could serve as a promising therapeutic candidate for AP, warranting further research to evaluate its efficacy in preclinical and clinical settings.
POE‐Mediated Tunable Quantum Yield of Carbon Dots−Derived From Agapanthus Africanus (L.) Hoffmann Leaves
Authors: Nunes Paulo J. , Pereira Rui F. P. , Nunes S. C. , Correia Sandra F. H. , Fu Lianshe , Ferreira Rute A. S. , Fernandes Mariana , Bermudez Verónica de Zea 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThe green synthesis of carbon dots (CDs) from natural sources is a challenging goal. Herein CDs are produced from Agapanthus africanus (L.) Hoffmann leaves by carbonization at 200/300 °C for 2/3 h. Samples are named CZ‐X‐Y, where Z, X, and Y represent carbonization, temperature, and time, respectively. CZ‐200‐3, CZ‐300‐2, and CZ‐300‐3 CDs have average sizes of 3.7 ± 0.7, 5.3 ± 1.2, and 5.1 ± 1.6 nm, respectively. Their surface, devoid of chlorophyll, contains ─OH, ─C═O, and ─C(═O)OH groups and sylvite. Isolated CZ‐300‐3 emits at 400 nm (excited at 260 nm) and exhibits an emission quantum yield (QY) value of 2 ± 1%. Embedding in the d‐U(600)/d‐(900) di‐ureasil matrices resulted in transparent films with emission intensity maxima at 420/450 nm (360 nm), and QY values of 7 ± 1/16 ± 2% (400 nm). The enhancement of the QY value of the bare CDs agrees with an efficient passivation provided by the hybrid host. The hydrophilic CZ‐300‐3 CDs also exerted a marked surface modifying role, changing the surface roughness and the wettability of the hybrid films.
Rapid Assessment of Biomarkers on Single Extracellular Vesicles Using “Catch and Display” on Ultrathin Nanoporous Silicon Nitride Membranes
Authors: Walker Samuel N. , Lucas Kilean , Dewey Marley J. , Badylak Stephen F. , Hussey George S. , Flax Jonathan , McGrath James L. 
Published: October 2024

AbstractExtracellular vesicles (EVs) are particles released from cells that facilitate intercellular communication and have tremendous diagnostic and therapeutic potential. Bulk assays lack the sensitivity to detect rare EV subsets relevant to disease, and while single EV analysis techniques remedy this, they are often undermined by complicated detection schemes and prohibitive instrumentation. To address these issues, a microfluidic technique for EV characterization called “catch and display for liquid biopsy (CAD‐LB)” is proposed. In this method, minimally processed samples are pipette‐injected and fluorescently labeled EVs are captured in the nanopores of an ultrathin membrane. This enables the rapid assessment of EV number and biomarker colocalization by light microscopy. Here, nanoparticles are used to define the accuracy and dynamic range for counting and colocalization. The same assessments are then made for purified EVs and for unpurified EVs in plasma. Biomarker detection is validated using CD9 and Western blot analysis to confirm that CAD‐LB accurately reports relative protein expression levels. Using unprocessed conditioned media, CAD‐LB captures the known increase in EV‐associated ICAM‐1 following endothelial cell cytokine stimulation. Finally, to demonstrate CAD‐LB's clinical potential, EV biomarkers indicative of immunotherapy responsiveness are successfully detected in the plasma of bladder cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint blockade.
Onion‐Like Carbon Nanozyme: Controlling Peroxidase‐Like Activity by Carbon Hybridization Patterns for Antibacterial Therapy
Authors: Shi Yuxi , Zheng Xiangyun , Zhao Qi , Feng Yuchen , Zhang Hanxin , Gao Guanyue , Wang Hao , Zhi Jinfang 
Published: October 2024

AbstractSince the inception of the concept of nanozymes, there has been a growing interest in the rational design and controllable synthesis of nanozymes with adjustable activities. In this study, onion‐liked carbon (OLC) with remarkable peroxidase‐like (POD) activity are developed through delicately controlling the sp2/sp3 configuration. The investigation reveals that enzymatic activity of OLC increases first and then decreases with the increased graphitic degree, with the highest activity observed at a moderate sp2/sp3 ratio of 17.17%. A series of experiments and theoretical calculations are conducted to elucidate the catalytic mechanism, and the structure‐dependent activity is attributed to a synergistic effect of surface adsorption and electron transfer processes. The POD activity enables the OLC to catalyze the decomposition of H2O2, producing reactive oxygen species for eradicating Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria. Additionally, toxicity tests based on nematode and mouse models confirmed the excellent biocompatibility of OLC. Furthermore, the OLC exhibited antibacterial ability and promoted bacterial‐infected wound healing in a mouse model. This work not only gives a deeper understanding of the structure‐activity relationship and catalytic mechanism of carbon‐based nanozymes, but also unveils a novel avenue for antibacterial therapy and wound healing applications.
Reversibly Compressible Silanated Cellulose Nanofibril Aerogel for Triboelectric Taekwondo Scoring Sensors
Authors: Rajabi‐Abhari Araz , Yoo Hyunjoon , Kim Ji‐Seok , Yoon Hong Yeon , Park Jeong Young , Yan Ning , Tabassian Rassoul , Oh Il‐Kwon 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThe integration of bio‐based materials into triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) for energy harvesting from human body motions has sparked considerable research attention. Here, a silanated cellulose nanofibril (SCNF) aerogel is reported for structurally reliable TENGs and reversely compressible Taekwondo scoring sensors under repeated impacts. The preparation of the aerogel involves silanizing cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) with vinyltrimethoxysilane (VTMS), following by freeze–drying and post‐heating treatment. The SCNF aerogel with crosslinked physico‐chemical bonding and highly porous network is found to exhibit superior mechanical strength and reversible compressibility as well as enhanced water repellency and electron‐donating ability. The TENG having a tribo‐positive SCNF layer exhibits exceptional triboelectric performances, generating a voltage of 270 V, current of 11 µA, and power density of 401.1 mW m−2 under an applied force of 8 N at a frequency of 5 Hz. With its inherent merits in material composition, structural configuration, and device sensitivity, the SCNF TENG demonstrates the capability to seamlessly integrate into a Taekwondo protection gear, serving as an efficient self‐powered sensor for monitoring hitting scores. This study highlights the significant potential of a facilely fabricated SCNF aerogel for the development of high‐performance, bio‐friendly, and cost‐effective Bio‐TENGs, enabling their application as self‐powered wearable devices and sports engineering sensors.
Enhance the Performance of CZTSSe Solar Cells Through Inhibiting the Cu2+, Tu, and (─COOH) Association Reaction
Authors: Wang Lei , SiQin Letu , Wang Yiming , Li Shuyu , Xin Wenjing , Guo Jingyuan , Liu Ruijian , Luan Hongmei , Zhu Chengjun 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThe Sol‐gel precursor solution reaction mechanism has a significant impact on the Cu2ZnSn(S, Se)4 (CZTSSe) solar cells. It is discovered that in the Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) precursor solution (CZTS‐PS) in the preparation, there is an association reaction among Cu2+, thiourea (Tu), and carboxyl (‐COOH), which is an important reason for the undesirable CZTSSe solar cells. The strong association reaction generates excessive Cu2+ ions, forming the CuxSe secondary phase on the surface of the CZTSSe absorber. The secondary phase causes a short circuit and deterioration of gadget performance. Following a 6‐h aging period for the CZTS‐PS, the average photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) of the device is enhanced to 8.02%, and there is also an improvement in device uniformity, as evidenced by a decrease in the standard deviation to less than 1. To inhibit the association reaction and eliminate the aging time phenomenon, a strategy is developed using hydrochloric acid to regulate the CZTS‐PS environment. This strategy shifts the REDOX reaction in Cu2++Sn2+ toward the formation of Cu1++Sn4+, leading to a decrease in the defect concentrations of VSn(−/0) and CuSn(−/0), which increases the carrier concentration and reduces the impact of band tailing. The average power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the devices improved from 7.45% to 9.26%, the PCE of the best‐performing CZTSSe solar cells increased from 9.25% to 9.83%, and the consistency among the devices is further enhanced, as indicated by a reduction in the standard deviation from 0.98 to 0.44. Ultimately, the device performance of the Cu2++Sn2+‐DMF system improved by 11.01% (without the MgF2 layer) after optimization. This study serves as a reference for regulating the environment of the CZTS‐PS to further enhance the CZTSSe devices' performance, and the photoelectric conversion efficiency is improved by ≈30%.
Revealing the Role of Ruthenium on the Performance of P2‐Type Na0.67Mn1‐xRuxO2 Cathodes for Na‐Ion Full‐Cells
Authors: Altin Emine , Moeez Iqra , Kwon Eunji , Bhatti Ali Hussain Umar , Yu Seungho , Chung Kyung Yoon , Arshad Muhammad , Harfouche Messaoud , Buldu Murat , Altundag Sebahat , Bulut Fatih , Sahinbay Sevda , Altin Serdar , Ates Mehmet Nurullah 
Published: October 2024

AbstractHerein, P2‐type layered manganese and ruthenium oxide is synthesized as an outstanding intercalation cathode material for high‐energy density Na‐ion batteries (NIBs). P2‐type sodium deficient transition metal oxide structure, Na0.67Mn1‐xRuxO2 cathodes where x varied between 0.05 and 0.5 are fabricated. The partially substituted main phase where x = 0.4 exhibits the best electrochemical performance with a discharge capacity of ≈170 mAh g−1. The in situ X‐ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) and time‐resolved X‐ray Diffraction (TR‐XRD) measurements are performed to elucidate the neighborhood of the local structure and lattice parameters during cycling. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) revealed the oxygen‐rich structure when Ru is introduced. Density of States (DOS) calculations revealed the Fermi‐Level bandgap increases when Ru is doped, which enhances the electronic conductivity of the cathode. Furthermore, magnetization calculations revealed the presence of stronger Ru─O bonds and the stabilizing effect of Ru‐doping on MnO6 octahedra. The results of Time‐of‐flight secondary‐ion mass spectroscopy (TOF‐SIMS) revealed that the Ru‐doped sample has more sodium and oxygenated‐based species on the surface, while the inner layers mainly contain Ru–O and Mn–O species. The full cell study demonstrated the outstanding capacity retention where the cell maintained 70% of its initial capacity at 1 C‐rate after 500 cycles.
Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Slip Effect on Nanofiber Filter Performance at Low Pressures
Authors: Pan Zhengyuan , Ou Qisheng , Romay Francisco J. , Chen Weiqi , Liang Yun , Pui David Y. H. 
Published: October 2024

AbstractNanofiber filters are widely used in air filtration applications due to their superior performance over microfiber filters. Velocity slip around nanofibers has been identified as a key factor contributing to their high figure of merit, yet its impact on filter performance, especially particle collection efficiency, remains unclear due to the difficulty in isolating the slip effect as the sole variable. This study combines experimental and simulation methods to investigate the slip effect by adjusting the air molecule mean free path, rather than varying fiber size as done in previous studies. Filter media with mean fiber sizes ranging from 16.2 to 0.084 µm are utilized. An image‐based regression method is developed to address the challenge of determining the solidity of thin nanofiber layers. The results show that the slip effect is enhanced as the testing pressure decreases, reducing pressure drop by less than 15% for microfiber filters and over 50% for nanofiber filters ≈100 nm. The enhanced slip effect at low pressures (i.e., relatively low pressure compared to the ambient environment) significantly improves filtration efficiency, especially for particles larger than 100 nm. It also proposes semi‐empirical equations for predicting filter performance in slip and transition flow regimes.
A powerful molecular marker to detect mutations at sorghum LOW GERMINATION STIMULANT 1
Authors: Adeyanju Adedayo O. , Rich Patrick J. , Ejeta Gebisa 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThe parasitic weed Striga (Striga hermonthica) limits productivity of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and other cereals in sub‐Saharan Africa and elsewhere. Improved host plant genetics is an effective control method but verified loci contributing to Striga resistance are limited. LOW GERMINATION STIMULANT 1 remains the only known sorghum locus affecting resistance to Striga. Functional loss (lgs1) alleles at this locus result in low Striga germination stimulant activity. We developed a robust polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐based LGS1 marker that detects all known natural lgs1 alleles. We have successfully used this marker to improve Striga resistance in our sorghum breeding program. To check its utility among diverse sets of germplasm, we genotyped 406 lines of the sorghum association panel (SAP) with the marker and phenotyped them for Striga germination stimulant activity. The SAP contains 23 lines (6%) with lgs1 mutations that involve a complete loss of this gene. Three previously described deletion alleles (lgs1‐1, lgs1‐2, and lgs1‐3) ranging from 28.5 to 34 kbp are present among SAP members with a new one, lgs1‐6, missing nearly 50 kbp relative to the reference genome. All 23 members of the SAP carrying lgs1 alleles had low Striga germination stimulant activity. The smaller previously described intragenic deletion mutations lgs1‐4 and lgs1‐5 are not present in the SAP. The LGS1 marker is useful for both detecting sources of lgs1 and introgressing Striga resistance into new genetic backgrounds.
A comparison of home range estimates using the time local convex hull (T‐LoCoH) and minimum convex polygon (MCP) methods for African savannah elephants in a semi‐arid protected area
Authors: Mukomberanwa Nobert T. , Taru Phillip , Utete Beaven , Ngorima Patmore 
Published: October 2024

AbstractKnowledge of home ranges (HRs) helps conservationists understand movement patterns and can aid management including avoidance of human‐wildlife conflicts. This study examined the African savannah elephant seasonal HRs and space use using telemetry data in Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe. The objectives were to (i) compare the HR sizes and (ii) construct utilization distribution of African savannah elephants using the minimum convex polygon (MCP) method and the time‐local convex hull (T‐LoCoH). The results revealed that the dry, transitional, and wet season HR sizes estimated by the MCP method were significantly larger than those of the T‐LoCoH method. Significant differences were observed between core T‐LoCoH home‐range distributions for the wet, transition, and dry seasons. T‐LoCoH more accurately represented the HR size and nuances of repeated movements and internal spaces than the MCP method. The findings show larger‐scale movements in the transition season, which would enhance the potential for human–elephant conflicts.
Aspects of inclined magnetohydrodynamics and heat transfer in a non‐Newtonian tri‐hybrid bio‐nanofluid flow past a wedge‐shaped artery utilizing artificial neural network scheme
Authors: Shah Syed Zahir Hussain , Ayub Assad , Bhatti Saira , Khan Umair , Ishak Anuar , Sherif El‐Sayed M. , Pop Ioan 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThe incorporation of three distinct nanoparticles in blood within the context of cubic autocatalysis holds significant potential for enhancing biomedical applications, particularly in targeted drug delivery and therapeutic interventions. The increased reaction rate improves the efficiency of catalytic processes within the bloodstream. This research investigates the thermal transport characteristics of a trihybrid Carreau nanofluid (blood) containing copper (Cu), titanium dioxide (TiO2), and aluminum oxide (Al2O3), nanoparticles in the context of a wedge‐shaped artery under the influence of autocatalytic cubic autocatalysis. Effects of thermal radiation, and heat generation are used for heat transport analysis, heterogeneous‐homogeneous chemical process included for blood concentration, and an inclined magnetic field is imposed for securitization of blood velocity. Also, the generated PDEs from the physical model are handled through similarity transformations and converted into ODEs. Bvp4c, a numerical technique is used to get the solution and then Levenberg‐Marquardt neural network (LM‐NN), a multilayer neural network scheme is used to train and predict the solution for each parameter. In addition, the numerical values of volumetric friction of coefficients enhance the thermal conductivity, and the heat transport rate is increased. The magnetic parameter, radiation and chemical processes enhance the rate of heat transport while the Weissenberg number reduces the velocity profile.
Human-Centered Collaborative Decision-Making and Steering Control with Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Yan Liang , Wu Xiaodong , Lu Hangyu 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThis paper presents a novel human-centered collaborative driving scheme using model-free reinforcement learning (RL) approach. The human-machine cooperation is achieved in both decision-making and steering control levels to improve driving safety while leaving space for human freedom as much as possible. A Markov decision process is firstly derived from the collaborative driving problem, then a RL agent is developed and trained to cooperatively control the vehicle steering under the guidance of a heuristic reward function. Twin delayed deep deterministic policy gradient (TD3) is conducted to attain the optimal control policy. In addition, two extended algorithms with distinct agent action definitions and training patterns are also devised. The effectiveness of the RL-based copilot system is finally validated in an obstacle avoidance scenario by simulation experiments. Driving performance and training efficiency of different RL agents are measured and compared to demonstrate the superiority of the proposed method.
Interactive and Robust Prevention of Lane Departure
Authors: Edamoto Syouma , Kimura Shuuji , Tamura Tsutomu , Gao Richard , Fuchs Robert 
Published: October 2024

AbstractLane Keeping Assistance (LKA) is one of the most common Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) functions on the market, yet it is still not well accepted by drivers. Although LKA can reduce the occurrence of traffic accidents by correcting the vehicle heading in the event of an unintentional lane departure, poor usability often results in manual deactivation of the function. We provide considerations on how to specify LKA functions in general and propose admittance control as a solution to improve the state-of-the-art from the widely used concept of torque overlay, which is limited by a trade-off between automated and manual driving modes. Using the proposed LKA function, unintentional lane departure is prevented while maintaining comfortable reaction torque which allows the driver to easily steer the vehicle.
Energy Efficiency Oriented Robust Model Predictive Stability Control for Autonomous Electric Vehicles
Authors: Tian Ziang , Yu Huilong , Xi Junqiang 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThe four-wheel independent steering and drive autonomous vehicle is a typical over-actuated system. The complexity of controlling it is increasing with the number of actuators. Since the model-based approach can solve the constrained multiple output problem, it is mostly utilized in the existing works. However, they usually investigate a single objective optimization, while employing simplified prediction models to relieve computational burdens. In this case, the robustness of the controller will inevitably suffer from model mismatch, which makes it hard to fulfill the various demands of autonomous driving. This work proposes a multi-objective control framework, which optimizes stability and energy efficiency simultaneously. Furthermore, robust model predictive control is introduced to address the model mismatch. Compared with the state-of-the-art, the effectiveness of the proposed approach has been validated by hardware-in-the-loop tests. Under the double lane change Maneuver, the longitudinal speed is maintained 1.7% higher. The vehicle stability is enhanced, while the motor energy loss and tire slip energy are reduced by 23.3% and 8.3%, respectively.