bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Rapid analysis of the chemical constituents of traditional Tibetan medicine Sbyor‐bzo‐ghi‐wang using ballpoint electrospray ionization technique
Authors: Song Rui , Wang Yu , Drolma Gazang , Drolga Nima , Drolma Dawa , Xia Bing , Zhou Yan 
Published: April 2024

RationaleThe chemical constituents of traditional Tibetan medicines (TTM) can be identified using high‐performance liquid chromatography and high‐resolution mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS/MS) technique. However, the HPLC–MS/MS technique requires the sample to be pretreated and then separated using the specific liquid chromatography method, which is time consuming. This study developed a ballpoint electrospray ionization (BPESI) technique for analyzing the chemical constituents of Sbyor‐bzo‐ghi‐wang. This technique is a simple and inexpensive method for the rapid identification of the chemical constituents of TTMs.MethodsAfter the important parameters of the homemade BPESI device were optimized, the chemical constituents of Sbyor‐bzo‐ghi‐wang were quickly identified without sample pretreatment. The raw data were converted to mzML file using MSConvert and then identified using SIRIUS 5 software.ResultsThe results showed that 30 compounds were identified from Sbyor‐bzo‐ghi‐wang, namely eight bile acids, six flavonoids, four alkaloids, three amino acids, and nine others. Compared to the ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography‐Q/Orbitrap and high‐resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC‐Q/Orbitrap HRMS) technique, the BPESI technique identified almost similar types of compounds and also a comparable number of compounds.ConclusionsCompared with the traditional HPLC–MS/MS methods, the BPESI technique does not require complex sample pretreatment and subsequent chromatographic separation steps; also it consumes a small quantity of samples. Therefore, BPESI can be used for the qualitative analysis of the chemical constituents of Sbyor‐bzo‐ghi‐wang.
Dynamic path planning for mobile robots based on artificial potential field enhanced improved multiobjective snake optimization (APF‐IMOSO)
Authors: Li Qilin , Ma Qihua , Weng Xin 
Published: April 2024

AbstractWith the widespread adoption of mobile robots, effective path planning has become increasingly critical. Although traditional search methods have been extensively utilized, meta‐heuristic algorithms have gained popularity owing to their efficiency and problem‐specific heuristics. However, challenges remain in terms of premature convergence and lack of solution diversity. To address these issues, this paper proposes a novel artificial potential field enhanced improved multiobjective snake optimization algorithm (APF‐IMOSO). This paper presents four key enhancements to the snake optimizer to significantly improve its performance. Additionally, it introduces four fitness functions focused on optimizing path length, safety (evaluated via artificial potential field method), energy consumption, and time efficiency. The results of simulation and experiment in four scenarios including static and dynamic highlight APF‐IMOSO's advantages, delivering improvements of 8.02%, 7.61%, 50.71%, and 12.74% in path length, safety, energy efficiency, and time‐savings, respectively, over the original snake optimization algorithm. Compared with other advanced meta‐heuristics, APF‐IMOSO also excels in these indexes. Real robot experiments show an average path length error of 1.19% across four scenarios. The results reveal that APF‐IMOSO can generate multiple viable collision‐free paths in complex environments under various constraints, showcasing its potential for use in dynamic path planning within the realm of robot navigation.
An online hyper‐volume action bounding approach for accelerating the process of deep reinforcement learning from multiple controllers
Authors: Aflakian Ali , Rastegarpanah Alireza , Hathaway Jamie , Stolkin Rustam 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThis paper fuses ideas from reinforcement learning (RL), Learning from Demonstration (LfD), and Ensemble Learning into a single paradigm. Knowledge from a mixture of control algorithms (experts) are used to constrain the action space of the agent, enabling faster RL refining of a control policy, by avoiding unnecessary explorative actions. Domain‐specific knowledge of each expert is exploited. However, the resulting policy is robust against errors of individual experts, since it is refined by a RL reward function without copying any particular demonstration. Our method has the potential to supplement existing RLfD methods when multiple algorithmic approaches are available to function as experts, specifically in tasks involving continuous action spaces. We illustrate our method in the context of a visual servoing (VS) task, in which a 7‐DoF robot arm is controlled to maintain a desired pose relative to a target object. We explore four methods for bounding the actions of the RL agent during training. These methods include using a hypercube and convex hull with modified loss functions, ignoring actions outside the convex hull, and projecting actions onto the convex hull. We compare the training progress of each method using expert demonstrators, employing one expert demonstrator with the DAgger algorithm, and without using any demonstrators. Our experiments show that using the convex hull with a modified loss function not only accelerates learning but also provides the most optimal solution compared with other approaches. Furthermore, we demonstrate faster VS error convergence while maintaining higher manipulability of the arm, compared with classical image‐based VS, position‐based VS, and hybrid‐decoupled VS.
Annual extent of prescribed burning on moorland in Great Britain and overlap with ecosystem services
Authors: Shewring Mike P. , Wilkinson Nicholas I. , Teuten Emma L. , Buchanan Graeme M. , Thompson Patrick , Douglas David J. T. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractIn the UK uplands, prescribed burning of unenclosed heath, grass and blanket bog (‘moorland’) is used to support game shooting and grazing. Burning on moorland is contentious due to its impact on peat soils, hydrology and habitat condition. There is little information on spatial and temporal patterns of burning, the overlap with soil carbon and sensitive habitats and, importantly, whether these patterns are changing. This information is required to assess the sustainability of burning and the effectiveness of new legislation. We developed a method for semi‐automated detection of burning using satellite imagery – our best performing model has a balanced accuracy of 84.9%. We identified annual burn areas in Great Britain in five burning seasons from 2017/18 to 2021/22 of 8333 to 20 974 ha (average 15 250 ha year−1). Annual extent in England in 2021/22 was 73% lower than the average of the four previous seasons. Burning was identified over carbon‐rich soils (mean 5150 ha or 34% by area of all burning annually) and on steep slopes – 915 ha across the five seasons (1.3%), contravening guidance. Burning (>1 ha) was recorded in 14% of UK protected areas (PAs) and, within these, the percentage area of moorland burned varied from 2 to 31%. In England in some years, the percentage area of moorland burned inside PAs was higher than outside, while this was not the case in Scotland. Burning in sensitive alpine habitats totalled 158 ha across the five seasons. The reduction in burned area in England in 2021/22 could relate to England‐specific legislation, introduced in May 2021, to prohibit burning on deep peat in PAs. This suggests that regulation can be effective. However, the continued overlap with sensitive features suggests that burning falls short of sustainable practices. Our method will enable repeatable re‐assessment of burning extents and overlap with ecosystem services.
Study of hydrothermal characteristics of large‐scale water conveyance trunk canals in seasonally frozen ground regions under the influence of different initial water contents
Authors: Wang Miao , Hai Mingwei , Su Anshuang , Xu Jinzhong , Guo Yanxiu , Yan Han 
Published: April 2024

AbstractIn seasonal frozen soil, freezing and thawing can change the physical and mechanical properties and affect slope stability. There are complex moisture conditions in the main water transfer canal. A study of the hydrothermal evolution of canals with different initial water contents under the action of freezing and thawing is of great importance for the prevention and control of canal slope slides. Hydrothermal coupling models are the key to revealing the canal's hydrothermal evolution. As some of the modeling parameters in the current hydrothermal coupling model are based on empirical values, particularly those in the van Genuchten equation, which are not necessarily related to soil properties, they are not suitable for analyzing the hydrothermal evolution of canals. This paper determines the soil‐water characteristic curve from the cumulative curve of particle gradation in the subsoil, and then determines the hydraulic parameters of the subsoil using the VG model, which then corrects the hydrothermal coupling model. The method of modifying the hydrothermal coupling model is original, which makes the model more realistically reflect drainage soil characteristics. During freezing and thawing of channel slopes with different initial water contents (21%, 25%, 29%, 33%, 37%, and 41%), temperature field, water field, and ice content distributions were investigated. Using the V‐G model, the optimal parameters for canal subsoil were a = 0.06, n = 1.2, and m = 0.17, and temperature distribution trends between canals with different water contents were basically similar. Water will accumulate at the bottom as the liquid water content increases at the canal boundary.
Diastereoselective Supramolecular Encapsulation and Chirality Transfer Between Cholesteryl Binaphthyl Conjugates and Polyaromatic Hydrocarbon
Authors: Zhang Qi , Hao Aiyou , Xing Pengyao 
Published: April 2024

AbstractDiastereoselective effect plays an important role in the synthesis of chiral complexes and macrocyclic compounds, while its function in selective coassembly and chirality transfer has yet to be unveiled. In this work, two pairs of diastereomers containing R/S‐ binaphthyl and homochiral cholesteryl domains are synthesized, which provide multiple sites to encapsulate polyaromatic hydrocarbon through π–π and CH–π interactions. X‐ray structures and computational studies suggest the binaphthol derivatives feature CH–π folding into butterfly‐like open geometry, while binaphthylenediamine derivatives adopt closed geometry supported by van der Waals between cholesteryl domains. Driven by solvophobic forces, the building units self‐assemble into vesicles and nanofibers in the aqueous and methanol phases, respectively. Binaphthol derivatives selectively encapsulate pyrene by naphthalene domains in the vesicle phase, while binaphthylenediamine derivatives encapsulate pyrene by cholesteryl domains in the nanofiber phase. Density functional theory‐based calculations and circular dichroism spectra evidence the closed geometry of binaphthylenediamine derivatives facilitates a clamp‐type host to increase the affinity toward pyrene in spite of the strong solvation competition. This work unveils the diastereoselectivity in the chiral coassembly, deepening the understanding of the precise synthesis of functional chiroptical complexes.
Shielding Mn3+ Disproportionation with Graphitic Carbon‐Interlayered Manganese Oxide Cathodes for Enhanced Aqueous Energy Storage System
Authors: Zhang Yue , Han Xu , Huang Zi‐Hang , Lei Lei , Duan Xiaoguang , Li Hui , Ma Tianyi 
Published: April 2024

AbstractManganese dioxide (MnO2) materials have recently garnered attention as prospective high‐capacity cathodes, owing to their theoretical two‐electron redox reaction in charge storage processes. However, their practical application in aqueous energy storage systems faces a formidable challenge: the disproportionation of Mn3+ ions, leading to a significant reduction in their capacity. To address this limitation, the study presents a novel graphitic carbon interlayer‐engineered manganese oxide (CI‐MnOx) characterized by an open structure and abundant defects. This innovative material serves several essential functions for efficient aqueous energy storage. First, a graphitic carbon layer coats the MnOx molecular interlayer, effectively inhibiting Mn3+ disproportionation and substantially enhancing electrode conductivity. Second, the phase variation within MnOx generates numerous crystal defects, vacancies, and active sites, optimizing electron‐transfer capability. Third, the flexible carbon layer acts as a buffer, mitigating the volume expansion of MnOx during extended cycling. The synergistic effects of these features result in the CI‐MnOx exhibiting an impressive high capacity of 272 mAh g−1 (1224 F g−1) at 0.25 A g−1. Notably, the CI‐MnOx demonstrates zero capacity loss after 90 000 cycles (≈3011 h), an uncommon longevity for manganese oxide materials. Spectral characterizations reveal reversible cation intercalation and conversion reactions with multielectron transfer in a LiCl electrolyte.
Thermally Evaporated Metal Halide Perovskites and Their Analogues: Film Fabrication, Applications and Beyond
Authors: Wang Zitong , Lyu Miaoqiang , Zhang Bo Wei , Xiao Mu , Zhang Chengxi , Han EQ , Wang Lianzhou 
Published: April 2024

AbstractMetal halide perovskites emerge as promising semiconductors for optoelectronic devices due to ease of fabrication, attractive photophysical properties, their low cost, highly tunable material properties, and high performance. High‐quality thin films of metal halide perovskites are the basis of most of these applications including solar cells, light‐emitting diodes, photodetectors, and electronic memristors. A typical fabrication method for perovskite thin films is the solution method, which has several limitations in device reproducibility, adverse environmental impact, and utilization of raw materials. Thermal evaporation holds great promise in addressing these bottlenecks in fabricating high‐quality halide perovskite thin films. It also has high compatibility with mass‐production platforms that are well‐established in industries. This review first introduces the basics of the thermal evaporation method with a particular focus on the critical parameters influencing the thin film deposition. The research progress of the fabrication of metal halide perovskite thin films is further summarized by different thermal evaporation approaches and their applications in solar cells and other optoelectronic devices. Finally, research challenges and future opportunities for both fundamental research and commercialization are discussed.
A Versatile Strategy for the Controlled Synthesis of Atomically Precise Palladium Nanoclusters
Authors: Tang Xiongkai , Shen Hui , Huang Huayu , Li Lei , Luo Fan , Tian Guolong , Deng Hongwen , Teo Boon K. , Zheng Nanfeng 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe study of the structures, applications, and structure‐property relationships of atomically precise metal nanoclusters relies heavily on their controlled synthesis. Although great progress has been made in the controlled synthesis of Group 11 (Cu, Ag, Au) metal nanoclusters, the preparation of Pd nanoclusters remains a grand challenge. Herein, a new, simple, and versatile synthetic strategy for the controlled synthesis of Pd nanoclusters is reported with tailorable structures and functions. The synthesis strategy involves the controllable transformations of Pd4(CO)4(CH3COO)4 in air, allowing the discovery of a family of Pd nanoclusters with well‐defined structure and high yield. For example, by treating the Pd4(CO)4(CH3COO)4 with 2,2‐dipyridine ligands, two clusters of Pd4 and Pd10 whose metal framework describes the growth of vertex‐sharing tetrahedra have been selectively isolated. Interestingly, chiral Pd4 nanoclusters can be gained by virtue of customized chiral pyridine‐imine ligands, thus representing a pioneering example to shed light on the hierarchical chiral nanostructures of Pd. This synthetic methodology also tolerates a wide variety of ligands and affords phosphine‐ligated Pd nanoclusters in a simple way. It is believed that the successful exploration of the synthetic strategy would simulate the research enthusiasm on both the synthesis and application of atomically precise Pd nanoclusters.
A Star‐Structured Polymer Electrolyte for Low‐Temperature Solid‐State Lithium Batteries
Authors: Zhang Xingzhao , Cui Ximing , Li Yuxuan , Yang Jing , Pan Qinmin 
Published: April 2024

AbstractSolid‐state polymer lithium metal batteries (SSLMBs) have attracted considerable attention because of their excellent safety and high energy density. However, the application of SSLMBs is significantly impeded by uneven Li deposition at the interface between solid‐state electrolytes and lithium metal anode, especially at a low temperature. Herein, this issue is addressed by designing an agarose‐based solid polymer electrolyte containing branched structure. The star‐structured polymer is synthesized by grafting poly (ethylene glycol) monomethyl‐ether methacrylate and lithium 2‐acrylamido‐2‐methylpropanesulfonate onto tannic acid. The star structure regulates Li‐ion flux in the bulk of the electrolyte and at the electrolyte/electrode interfaces. This unique omnidirectional Li‐ion transportation effectively improves ionic conductivity, facilitates a uniform Li‐ion flux, inhibits Li dendrite growth, and alleviates polarization. As a result, a solid‐state LiFePO4||Li battery with the electrolyte exhibits outstanding cyclability with a specific capacity of 134 mAh g−1 at 0.5C after 800 cycles. The battery shows a high discharge capacity of 145 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C after 200 cycles, even at 0 °C. The study offers a promising strategy to address the uneven Li deposition at the solid‐state electrolyte/electrode interface, which has potential applications in long‐life solid‐state lithium metal batteries at a low temperature.
SoTL in the health professions: An international case study
Authors: Berisha Merita , Cruz Laura , Kaja Amina 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThis article presents a case study of the integration of the scholarship of teaching and learning at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Prishtina in Kosovo. We discuss the challenges and opportunities inherent in bringing together a specific cultural, economic, and political context with the beliefs and practices of SoTL in the health professions.
Beyond urban farm and community garden, a new typology of urban and peri‐urban agriculture in Europe
Authors: Jansma Jan Eelco , Veen Esther J. , Müller Daniela 
Published: April 2024

AbstractToday, many cites in Europe have rediscovered urban and peri‐urban agriculture (UA) as a contributor to a more healthy and sustainable urban environment. However, UA has not yet unfolded its potential due to gaps in knowledge, expertise, and advocacy. A clear typology is instrumental in identifying, understanding, and acknowledging the potential of UA at different levels of policy making. Although a number of typologies are used in practice and in literature, an overarching typology that steps beyond the local and national perspective, and that includes promising innovations like vertical farming, is lacking. The aim of this paper is to offer such a typology of urban agriculture in Europe. Based on interviews with experts in the field representing 11 European countries (n = 16) and an online survey on characteristics and dimensions of UA initiatives (n = 112; representing 18 countries), our typology exists of six different UA types: (1) urban farm, (2) community park, (3) do‐it‐yourself garden/farm, (4) zero acreage farm, (5) social farm, and (6) community garden. Although this paper presents these types as distinctive entities, we stress that a typology is inevitably a simplification of reality, as in real‐life there is an overlap in the proposed types. Moreover, seeing that the field of modern UA is highly dynamic, the typology is only a snapshot of current‐day UA. That said, the suggested typology—along with the dimensions that characterize it—structures the apparent diversity of UA and is therefore instrumental as conversation starter of UA's potential in Europe.
On the accuracy of saturation estimation from electrical measurements of soils with high swelling clay content
Authors: Saneiyan Sina , Gimenez Daniel , Siegenthaler Ethan , Slater Lee 
Published: April 2024

AbstractElectrical conductivity models have been widely used to estimate water content and petrophysical properties of soils in hydrogeophysical studies. However, these models are typically only valid for soils with non‐expandable matrices because they were originally developed for clean sandstone reservoir rocks. Soils containing swelling clays are characterized by matrices that expand/contract upon gaining/losing water. In this laboratory study, we demonstrate that soil matrix changes affect saturation estimation using Archie's laws. A sample of a soil containing a swelling clay was fully saturated with a potassium chloride solution, then left to dry evaporatively at room temperature for 8 days. The complex resistivity of the soil, along with its weight and volume shrinkage, were measured daily during the drying period, and the surface conductivity was calculated based on previous empirical findings. Over the course of the study, the simultaneous evaporation yielded a 33% decrease in volume and caused a nonlinear reduction in saturation with decreasing water content. Accounting for surface conductivity and correcting for saturation using the calculated volume reduction resulted in a power‐law relationship with high R2 values between resistivity and saturation along with reasonable saturation exponents. On the contrary, neglecting either surface conductivity or shrinkage caused similar underestimations of saturation exponents. These results indicate that the application of Archie's second law to soils with swelling clays leads to erroneous predictions of resistivity if saturation values are not corrected for changes in the volume of the soil and surface conductivity is neglected.
Re-ordering the EU and Europe: Old Boundaries and New Challenges
Authors: Smith Michael 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThis chapter interrogates the changing nature of European order, and the EU’s role within it. It begins by exploring the ideas put forward by EU policy-makers that the EU is a ‘garden’ of peace and order, and that the world outside is often a ‘jungle’ that needs to be subjected to the EU’s civilising influences. It goes on to assess a number of key junctures in the search for European order since the end of the Cold War, and the extent to which these have led to any form of new order and stability. It then argues that one of the EU’s key roles in the (re)ordering of Europe has been the construction and maintenance of boundaries—geopolitical, transactional, legal/institutional and cultural—drawing upon work by (Smith, Journal of Common Market Studies 34:5–28, 1996) and evaluates the extent to which those boundaries have either contributed to the ‘ordering’ of Europe in the recent periods of change, conflict and crisis or created new challenges for EU policy-making. Finally, it focuses on the current ‘omni-crisis’ in Europe and on the EU’s role(s) in it and assesses the extent to which concepts of boundaries assist the study of EU policy and its impact.