bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Flexible hexagonal boron nitride@liquid metal/polydimethylsiloxane composites with excellent thermal conductivity and superior mechanical properties
Authors: Chen Yu , Yao Fei , Niu Hongrang , Liu Chuanqi , Yang Zhou , Jiang Yue , Luo Zhou , Xu Zhiguang 
Published: July 2024

AbstractHexagonal boron nitride (h‐BN) has a layered lattice structure, high intrinsic thermal conductivity, and good chemical stability, and it has a promising applications in thermal management materials. However, poor interfacial compatibility and dispersion of BN flakes in the polymer matrix cause thermal contact resistance and gaps, directly impairing the performance of the composites and limiting their thermal conduction applications. Herein, the P‐BN@LM/PDMS thermally conductive composites with superior mechanical properties were fabricated by incorporating dopamine and liquid metal (LM) into BN flakes. The dopamine self‐polymerizes to form polydopamine (PDA) on the BN surface, denoted as P‐BN, which effectively improves interface compatibility and dispersion. The LM attaches to the functionalized P‐BN surface by mechanical grinding, acting as a bridge between adjacent BN flakes to enhance the integrity of the thermal conductive network within the composites. The coordination between P‐BN and LM increases interface strength, effectively improving mechanical performance. Hence, the P‐BN@LM/PDMS composites exhibit excellent thermal conductivity (4.0 W/mK) and an enhancement factor of 1373%, which is 2.22 times that of BN/PDMS composites with the same 30 wt% loading. Additionally, the composite shows superior tensile strength (2.11 MPa) and elongation at break (121%), representing 441% and 203% improvements compared with pure polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The P‐BN@LM/PDMS composites, with significant advantages in thermal conductivity and mechanical properties, are promising for future applications as flexible thermal interface materials in thermal management.Highlights
The P‐BN@LM/PDMS composites exhibit excellent thermal conductivity (4.0 W/mK) and an enhancement factor of 1373%, making them promising for future applications as flexible thermal interface materials in thermal management.
The P‐BN@LM/PDMS composites present a superior tensile strength (2.11 MPa) and elongation at break (121%).
PDA formed by the self‐polymerization of dopamine on the BN surface effectively enhances interfacial compatibility and dispersion.
LM attaches to the functionalized BN surface through mechanical grinding, acting as a bridge between adjacent BN flakes, thus enhancing the integrity of the thermal conductive network within the composites.
Implementation of compound optimal design in progressive first‐failure censored data
Authors: Dhameliya Vaibhav N. , Maurya Raj Kamal , Bhattacharya Ritwik 
Published: July 2024

AbstractIn many research studies, multiple objectives need to be considered simultaneously to ensure an effective and efficient investigation. A compound optimal design provides a viable solution to this problem, allowing for the maximization of overall benefits through the integration of several factors. The paper addresses the application of compound optimal designs in the context of progressive first‐failure censoring, with a particular focus on the Generalized Exponential distribution with two parameters. The paper provides an illustrative example of compound designs by considering the cost function along with trace, variance, and determinant of inverse Fisher information. The best design is determined using a graphical solution technique that is both comprehensible and precise. Using a simple example, we demonstrate the advantage of compound optimal designs over constraint optimal designs. Furthermore, the paper examines real‐world data collection to demonstrate the practical utility of compound optimal designs.
Pharmacoinformatics and quantum chemicals‐based analysis of aromatic molecule decanal as a potent drug against breast cancer
Authors: Arumugam Karthick , Chandran Kaliraj , Zochedh Azar , Ansar Sabah , Sultan Asath Bahadur , Kumar Yedluri Anil , Kathiresan Thandavarayan 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThis study's primary goal is to perform density functional theory and molecular docking simulation to determine decanal's structural stability and biological activity against proteins allied to breast cancer in order to validate its anti‐cancer potential. Initially, the drug‐likeness features of decanal was predicted and the outcomes confirmed that it is non‐toxic and follows Lipinski's rule. Through basis set 6‐311++G (d, p), the structural optimization was performed and molecular geometry was investigated. The FT‐IR and UV–Visible spectroscopic analysis was theoretically performed and validated via experimental analysis. The reactive surface of decanal was further investigated using a calculated molecular electrostatic potential surface. The molecular structural stability and bio‐reactivity of decanal was determined by using the HOMO‐LUMO energies and energy gap calculated is 6.215 eV. The charge distribution among the atoms of decanal was ascertained through the analysis of Mulliken and natural population distribution. To look at the decanal molecule's topological properties, electron localization function and localized orbital locator were used. The decanal's weak interactions were investigated via reduced density gradient assessment. The docking evaluation was performed against the proteins involved in breast cancer and the highest binding ability was calculated against the protein Bcl‐2 with the score of −6.5 kcal/mol. These theoretical findings will pave a way to understand the decanal's structural stability, reactivity and breast cancer inhibitory property and can be used as a drug candidate against tumor after in vitro and clinical evaluation.
The weakly bound states in Gaussian wells: From the binding energy of deuteron to the electronic structure of quantum dots
Authors: Rodriguez‐Espejo G. , Nader D. J. , Segura‐Landa J. A. , Ortiz‐Monfil J. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractGaussian potentials serve as a valuable tool for the comprehensive modeling of short‐range interactions, spanning applications from Nuclear Physics to the artificial confinement of electrons within quantum dots. This study focuses on examining the lowest states within Gaussian wells, with particular emphasis on the weakly bound regime. The analysis delves into the asymptotic behavior of the exact wave function at both small and large distances, motivating the development of a few parametric Ansatz which is locally accurate and yields to a fast convergent basis set. To validate its efficacy, we assess its convergence rate using a toy model of Nuclear Physics, specifically for Deuteron. Furthermore, we employ the expansion of the energy close to the threshold to derive an analytical formula for the binding energy of the Deuteron whose accuracy improves as the effective parameter approaches the critical. To conclude our study, we test the ability of our Ansatz to describe relativistic corrections into a quantum dot and its performance as an orbital in the exploration of the electronic structure of a two‐electron quantum dot.
Selective bronchial occlusion for acquired bronchobiliary fistula caused by treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: A case series
Authors: Zhao Bi , Huang Rui Chen , Xia Yang , Dong Yuchao , Huang Haidong , Zhao Lijun , Zhang Wei 
Published: July 2024

AbstractAcquired bronchobiliary fistula (ABBF) is very rare among the complications that occur in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after treatment. Although surgery and drainage have been the main methods for treating ABBF for a long time, they are not entirely suitable for patients with refractory ABBF resulting from HCC therapy. In this study, we present four cases of ABBF caused by HCC treatment, who were treated using selective bronchial occlusion (SBO). Among the 4 patients with ABBF treated with SBO, 3 cases successfully blocked ABBF with SBO, and the treatment success rate was 75%. All successfully treated patients reported disappearance of symptoms of bilioptysis and cough was alleviated. No life‐threatening adverse reactions were reported following SBO intervention, and no deaths occurred. We believe that the use of video bronchoscopy to place a self‐made silicone plug in the bronchus to treat refractory ABBF is a feasible palliative treatment, which can significantly improve the condition of ABBF patients.
Self‐blame, posttraumatic stress, and cardiovascular reactivity among sexual trauma survivors
Authors: Sinnott Sinead M. , Park Crystal L. , Pescatello Linda S. , Sharda Kriti 
Published: July 2024

AbstractAlthough trauma is closely linked with hyperarousal and cardiovascular health, little research has examined the effects of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) on cardiovascular reactivity to trauma reminders among sexual trauma survivors. One type of negative appraisal after trauma, self‐blame, is common after sexual trauma, but its relation to cardiovascular reactivity is unknown. The present study aimed to examine the influence of both PTSS and self‐blame on blood pressure and heart rate (HR) reactivity to a trauma reminder. Cardiovascular reactivity was measured before, during, and after a laboratory‐based sexual trauma reminder among 72 young adult women who have experienced sexual trauma. Higher PTSS predicted lower diastolic blood pressure (DBP) reactivity during the trauma reminder. Higher levels of self‐blame predicted higher HR and systolic blood pressure (SBP) reactivity during and after the trauma reminder. Overall, these findings suggest that survivors of sexual trauma with higher levels of PTSS experience a blunting reaction of DBP when exposed to trauma reminders, as opposed to a more typical cardiovascular stress reaction that may elevate and then extinguish to baseline levels. Meanwhile, individuals with higher levels of self‐blame have heightened cardiovascular SBP and HR responses during trauma reminders that do not return to baseline levels, perhaps due to self‐blame leading individuals to be more ‘on guard’ to prevent future threats. Longitudinal studies are needed to explore the potential long‐term cardiovascular impacts of heightened self‐blame and PTSS and their associated cardiovascular reactivity patterns.
N‐Doped Ti3C2Tx Interfacial Layer Enabling Uniform Zn Deposition along (002) Plane for Stable Aqueous Zinc‐Ion Battery
Authors: Zhang Zhanrui , Wang Yao , Sun Jie , Dang Liqin , Li Qi , He Xuexia , Liu Zonghuai , Lei Zhibin 
Published: July 2024

AbstractAqueous zinc‐ion batteries hold great potentials for large‐scale grid energy storage. However, the electrode corrosion, hydrogen evolution, and dendrite growth of Zn anode often lead to cell failure. Herein, N groups in Ti3C2Tx (NMXH) are introduced as interfacial layer through hydrothermal treatment of Ti3C2Tx with urea. The experimental analysis and density functional theory calculation indicate that N groups in Ti3C2Tx can homogenize electric field distribution, promote adsorption of Zn2+ on N groups, and strength interactions between N groups and Zn atoms on (002) plane. Thereby, the use of NMXH interfacial layer can effectively suppress the side reactions and realize uniform Zn deposition along the (002) plane. As a consequence, the NMXH─Zn//Zn cell exhibits an ultralow nucleation overpotential (1 mA cm−2, 18.9 mV) and can stably operate for 1400 h at 1 mA cm−2 (1 mAh cm−2) and 110 h at 40 mA cm−2 (1 mAh cm−2). A full battery with V2O5 nanowires as cathode displays a discharge capacity of 219 mAh g−1 (1.0 A g−1), along with a decent rate capability and cyclability. The significant role of N groups reported in this work offers a promising avenue to improve the cycling stability of Zn anodes of aqueous zinc batteries.
Unraveling the Active Sites on Mesoporous CuFe2O4@N‐Carbon Catalysts with Abundant Oxygen Vacancies and M‐N‐C Content for Boosted Nitrogen Reduction Toward Electrosynthesis of Ammonia
Authors: Bhat Aamir Y. , Bashir Aejaz Ul , Jain Priya , Bhat Mohsin A. , Ingole Pravin Popinand 
Published: July 2024

AbstractTransition metal centers dispersed over nitrogen‐doped carbon (M–NC) supports have been widely explored for electrocatalytic reactions; however, sparsely reported for electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (ENRR). Particularly, the single‐atom catalysts (SACs) have shown reasonable ammonia yield rate and faradaic efficiency (FE), but their complex synthesis and low durability for long‐term electrocatalysis runs restrict their use on a larger scale. Importantly, the catalytic active sites in metal nanostructured‐based M‐NC catalysts toward enhanced N2 adsorption and activation are still not clear as they are highly challenging to reveal. A few studies have predicted that the surface oxygen vacancies (Ovac) favor an enhanced ENRR performance. Herein, a strategy using tailored M‐NC content and Ovac in a single catalyst for enhanced ammonia electrosynthesis is devised. A mesoporous bimetallic spinel oxide (CuFe2O4) supported over N‐doped carbon (CuFe2O4@NC) derived from Prussian blue analog (PBA) via controlled pyrolysis possess is found to show boosted ENRR activity. Moreover, operando NH3 formation over the catalyst is observed using four electrode set up. This approach enables rapid evaluation ofelectrocatalytic efficacy and avoids false positive results. The rotating disc electrode results reveal that mass transport in acidic media and surface absorption in alkline media primarily regulate ENRR over CuFe2O4@NC electrocatalyst.
Optically Mediated Hydrogel‐Based Ionic Diode
Authors: Ren Weijia , Jing Houchao , Ding Shengyong , Dan Junyan , Xu Zhijun , Guo Tongkun , Wei Hua , Liu Yue , Liu Yaqing 
Published: July 2024

AbstractIonic diodes with environmentally modulated ion‐rectifying characteristics have attracted much attention and show great promise in the construction of smart devices with environmental adaptability. One immediate challenge is to integrate stimuli responsiveness and ion rectification into one single ionic diode, which requires a close cooperation of chemical principles and device technologies. Herein, an ionic diode based on a photoresponsive hydrogel with optically mediated ion‐rectifying performances is introduced. Relying on the photoresponsive concentration of proton in the hydrogel, the ionic current rectification can be prominently enhanced upon ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. A maximum ionic current rectification ratio of the optically mediated ionic diode about 4 × 105 is achieved. Furthermore, the hydrogel‐based diode can serve as an AND logic gate operated by UV light and voltage bias as two independent inputs. As a proof of concept, to use the optically mediated diode is achieved to modulate the feedback of a robot with logic behaviors. This work provides a novel and valuable strategy for designing functional hydrogel‐based devices with the integration of stimuli‐responsiveness and logic signal processing through chemical approaches.
Insect pollinators: The time is now for identifying species of greatest conservation need
Authors: deMaynadier Phillip , Schlesinger Matthew D. , Hardy Spencer P. , McFarland Kent P. , Saucier Laura , White Erin L. , Zarrillo Tracy A. , Young Bruce E. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractSevere declines in the abundance of insects, including economically and ecologically important pollinators, are alarming conservationists and the public. Yet despite these increasingly well‐documented declines, relatively few pollinating insects other than butterflies, moths, and bumble bees have appeared as Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) in State Wildlife Action Plans, decadal‐scale blueprints for wildlife conservation efforts across the United States that require updating in 2025. Species absent from SGCN lists are ineligible for congressionally appropriated State Wildlife Grants that direct millions of dollars annually for their conservation. In the past, knowledge about the distribution and abundance of many insect pollinators was too poor to identify those meeting state guidelines for inclusion as SGCN. Using case studies from 4 northeastern states, we demonstrate that sufficient conservation status data now exist for many pollinators, including bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, and flower flies, to identify at‐risk species meriting inclusion on SGCN lists in many states. Doing so will increase funding for surveys, habitat protection and enhancement, and other conservation activities that will benefit this vitally important guild.
Asymptotic smoothness effects and global attractor for a peridynamic model with energy damping
Authors: Bezerra Flank D. M. , da Silva Severino H. , Narciso Vando 
Published: July 2024

AbstractIn this paper, we consider a peridynamic model with energy damping inspired by the works of Balakrishnan and Taylor on “damping models” based on the instantaneous total energy of the system. We study the asymptotic behavior of solutions, in the sense of attractors, of these peridynamic models in suitable phase space; more precisely, we prove a result of existence and characterization of compact global attractors with a nonlinear strongly continuous semigroup approach based in the asymptotic smoothness property thanks to Chueshov and Lasiecka and Nakao's lemma.
Local Government in England: An Existential Crisis?
Authors: Laffin Martin , Diamond Patrick 
Published: July 2024

AbstractEnglish local government is currently facing an existential crisis over its future purpose and capacity which is analysed in terms of three underlying crises. (1) A fiscal crisis created by over a decade of financial austerity imposed by successive Conservative-led and Conservative governments since 2011, the consequences of which have been intensified by rising inflation and consequent higher service costs. (2) A governing crisis reflecting the gradual re-engineering of local authorities from their original, post-war high discretion role in welfare state service delivery towards a role closer to that as agents of the centre. (3) A policy role crisis as local authorities have lost entire services and major parts of other services through governance changes, and their capacity to sustain, let alone enact, a policy role has been seriously eroded. Moreover, the Mayoral Combined Authorities (MCAs) recently created in the main city sub-regions are further complicating the role of local government. The MCAs have ill-defined and limited powers mainly focussed on economic development are imposed on top of the existing LAs.
Intergovernmental Relations in Flanders: What Can Be Learned from the Financial Support to Flemish Local Governments During COVID-19?
Authors: Descamps Benjamin , Smolders Carine 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThis book chapter offers an analysis of the financial dimension of the intergovernmental relations between the regional Flemish governments and the local governments during the COVID-19 crisis. By examining the formal legal framework of the 22 COVID-19 grant programs that the regional government distributed, we deconstructed the political choices that were made during the crisis. Our analysis shows that a large majority of the schemes was designed as conditional grants that were predominantly criteria-based. This is in contrast with the period 2014–2019, when a clear tendency to more unconditional grants was present. Yet, the ministerial decrees’ explanatory sections revealed that relying on existing conditional funding schemes and distribution criteria was a rather pragmatic option to strengthen local financial resilience in an adequate and timely manner. Though decisions on which grant schemes to install and how to distribute them were highly centralized at the regional level, no tensions were reported between the distributing and receiving authorities. Moreover, the fact that local governments responded to the crisis challenges in a highly effective way, was mentioned as one of the major rationales to increase decentralization initiatives in the years to come. We therefore conclude that the financial intergovernmental relation between the Flemish regional level and the local level should be classified as an example of a centralized governance process, but not as a conflicted one, in which the COVID-19 crisis could not have altered the policy trend towards more decentralization.
Intergovernmental Relations in Urban Climate Policy: How Berlin and Paris Formulate and Implement Climate Strategies
Authors: Vellani Tomás , Oehlert Franziska , Walkenhorst Janina 
Published: July 2024

AbstractUrban climate strategies have become central tools for steering climate policy in cities. Local policymakers must coordinate a wide range of actors, among them sub-municipal administrative units and neighbouring administrations, in order to ensure legitimate, socially accepted and effective policy. The study examines, from a comparative perspective, how intergovernmental relations (IGR) play out in the formulation and implementation of climate strategies in the metropolitan areas of Berlin and Paris. Embedded in different institutional contexts, both cities followed a trajectory initiated by relatively centralized strategy formulation with an ongoing shift towards more decentralized and coordinated intergovernmental approaches with their respective district administrations. In terms of horizontal IGR, Berlin took a decoupled approach with limited coordination with the state of Brandenburg, whereas Paris was much more closely integrated with its surrounding areas through the inter-municipal metropolis of Greater Paris. Institutional capacity, multilevel coordination and participation demands are identified as three challenges for the existing IGR structures. Addressing these challenges places significant strains on local administrative capacity. The findings highlight the limitations of centralized approaches to IGR at the local level and the importance of aligning the distribution of functional responsibilities with the rights of consultation and participation in climate policy formulation processes.
Improved constraints on dark matter annihilations around primordial black holes
Authors: Chanda Prolay , Scholtz Jakub , Unwin James 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
Cosmology may give rise to appreciable populations of both particle dark matter and primordial black holes (PBH) with the combined mass density providing the observationally inferred value ΩDM ≈ 0.26. Early studies highlighted that scenarios with both particle dark matter and PBH are strongly excluded by γ-ray limits for particle dark matter with a velocity independent thermal cross section 〈σν〉 ~ 3 × 10−26cm3/s, as is the case for classic WIMP dark matter. Here we examine the limits from di use γ-rays on velocity-dependent, including annihilations which are p-wave with 〈σν〉 ∝ v2 or d-wave 〈σν〉 ∝ v4, which we find to be considerably less constraining. This work also utilizes a refined treatment of the PBH dark matter density profile. Importantly, we highlight that even if the freeze-out process is p-wave it is typical for (loop/phase-space) suppressed s-wave processes to actually provide the leading contributions to the experimentally constrained γ-ray flux from the PBH halo.