bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Universal Design Strategy for Air‐Stable Layered Na‐Ion Cathodes toward Sustainable Energy Storage
Authors: Li Hongliang , Wang Jingyang , Xu Sheng , Chen Aoyuan , Lu Hangyu , Jin Yan , Guo Shaohua , Zhu Jia 
Published: March 2024

AbstractNa‐ion batteries (NIBs) are sustainable alternatives to Li‐ion technologies due to the abundant and widely‐distributed resources. However, the most promising cathode materials of NIBs so far, O3 layered oxides, suffer from serious air instability issues, which significantly increases the manufactural cost and carbon footprint because of the long‐term use of dry rooms. While some feasible strategies are proposed via case studies, universal design strategies for air‐stable cathodes are yet to be established. Herein, the air degradation mechanisms of O3 cathodes are investigated via combined first‐principles and experimental approaches, with bond dissociation energy proposed as an effective descriptor for predicting air stability. Experimental validations in various unary, binary, and ternary O3 cathodes confirm that the air stability can indeed be effectively improved via simple compositional design. Guided by the predictive model, the designed material can sustain 30‐day air‐storage without structural or electrochemical degradation. It is calculated that such air‐stable cathodes can significantly reduce both energy consumption (≈4 100 000 kWh) and carbon footprint (≈2200‐ton CO2) annually for a 2 GWh NIBs manufactory. Therefore, the fundamental understandings and universal design strategy presented open an avenue for rational materials design of NIBs toward both elemental and manufactural sustainability.
Al‐Rich AlGaN Transistors with Regrown p‐AlGaN Gate Layers and Ohmic Contacts
Authors: Klein Brianna , Allerman Andrew , Armstrong Andrew , Rosprim Mary , Tyznik Colin , Zhu Yinxuan , Joishi Chandan , Chae Chris , Rajan Siddharth 
Published: March 2024

AbstractEpitaxial regrowth processes are presented for achieving Al‐rich aluminum gallium nitride (AlGaN) high electron mobility transistor (HEMTs) with p‐type gates with large, positive threshold voltage for enhancement mode operation and low resistance Ohmic contacts. Utilizing a deep gate recess etch into the channel and an epitaxial regrown p‐AlGaN gate structure, an Al0.85Ga0.15N barrier/Al0.50Ga0.50N channel HEMT with a large positive threshold voltage (VTH = +3.5 V) and negligible gate leakage is demonstrated. Epitaxial regrowth of AlGaN avoids the use of gate insulators which can suffer from charge trapping effects observed in typical dielectric layers deposited on AlGaN. Low resistance Ohmic contacts (minimum specific contact resistance = 4 × 10−6 Ω cm2, average = 1.8 × 10−4 Ω cm2) are demonstrated in an Al0.85Ga0.15N barrier/Al0.68Ga0.32N channel HEMT by employing epitaxial regrowth of a heavily doped, n‐type, reverse compositionally graded epitaxial structure. The combination of low‐leakage, large positive threshold p‐gates and low resistance Ohmic contacts by the described regrowth processes provide a pathway to realizing high‐current, enhancement‐mode, Al‐rich AlGaN‐based ultra‐wide bandgap transistors.
Dual‐Scale Spiral Material for Balancing High Load Bearing and Sound Absorption
Authors: Yu Chenlei , Duan Mingyu , Ti Fei , Xin Fengxian , Zhao Guiping , Lu Tian Jian , Yu Runpei , Li Moxiao , Chen Xin 
Published: March 2024

AbstractPorous materials with sound absorption and load‐bearing capabilities are in demand in engineering fields like aviation and rail transportation. However, achieving both properties simultaneously is challenging due to the trade‐off between interconnected pores for sound absorption and mechanical strength. Inspired by quilling art, a novel design using spiral material formed by rolling planar materials into helical structures is proposed. Experimental results show high structural strength through self‐locking mechanisms, while double porosities from interlayer spiral slits and aligned submillimeter pores provide excellent sound absorption. These spiral sheets surpass foam aluminum in specific strength (up to 5.1 MPa) and approach aerogels in sound absorption (average coefficient of 0.93 within 0–6400 Hz). With its adaptability to various planar materials, this spiral design allows for hybrid combinations of different materials for multi‐functionality, paving the way for designing advanced, lightweight porous materials for broad applications.
PGC1α‐Inducing Senomorphic Nanotherapeutics Functionalized with NKG2D‐Overexpressing Cell Membranes for Intervertebral Disc Degeneration
Authors: Liu Sheng , Li Kanglu , He Yuxin , Chen Sheng , Yang Wenbo , Chen Xuanzuo , Feng Shiqing , Xiong Liming , Peng Yizhong , Shao Zengwu 
Published: March 2024

AbstractCellular senescence is a significant contributor to intervertebral disc aging and degeneration. However, the application of senotherapies, such as senomorphics targeting senescence markers and the senescence‐associated secretory phenotype (SASP), remains limited due to challenges in precise delivery. Given that the natural killer group 2D (NKG2D) ligands are increased on the surface of senescent nucleus pulposus (NP) cells, the NKG2D‐overexpressing NP cell membranes (NNPm) are constructed, which is expected to achieve a dual targeting effect toward senescent NP cells based on homologous membrane fusion and the NKG2D‐mediated immunosurveillance mechanism. Then, mesoporous silica nanoparticles carrying a peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐ɣ coactivator 1α (PGC1α)inducer (SP) are coated with NNPm (SP@NNPm) and it is found that SP@NNPm selectively targets senescent NP cells, and the SP cores exhibit pH‐responsive drug release. Moreover, SP@NNPm effectively induces PGC1α‐mediated mitochondrial biogenesis and mitigates senescence‐associated markers induced by oxidative stress and the SASP, thereby alleviating puncture‐induced senescence and disc degeneration. This dual‐targeting nanotherapeutic system represents a novel approach to delivery senomorphics for disc degeneration treatment.
Synergistic Combination of Sb2Si2Te6 Additives for Enhanced Average ZT and Single‐Leg Device Efficiency of Bi0.4Sb1.6Te3‐based Composites
Authors: Tan Xian Yi , Dong Jinfeng , Liu Jiawei , Zhang Danwei , Solco Samantha Faye Duran , Sağlık Kıvanç , Jia Ning , You Ivan Joel Wen Jie , Chien Sheau Wei , Wang Xizu , Hu Lei , Luo Yubo , Zheng Yun , Soo Debbie Xiang Yun , Ji Rong , Goh Ken Choon Hwa , Jiang Yilin , Li Jing‐Feng , Suwardi Ady , Zhu Qiang , Xu Jianwei , Yan Qingyu 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThermoelectric materials are highly promising for waste heat harvesting. Although thermoelectric materials research has expanded over the years, bismuth telluride‐based alloys are still the best for near‐room‐temperature applications. In this work, a ≈38% enhancement of the average ZT (300−473 K) to 1.21 is achieved by mixing Bi0.4Sb1.6Te3 with an emerging thermoelectric material Sb2Si2Te6, which is significantly higher than that of most BiySb2−yTe3‐based composites. This enhancement is facilitated by the unique interface region between the Bi0.4Sb1.6Te3 matrix and Sb2Si2Te6‐based precipitates with an orderly atomic arrangement, which promotes the transport of charge carriers with minimal scattering, overcoming a common factor that is limiting ZT enhancement in such composites. At the same time, high‐density dislocations in the same region can effectively scatter the phonons, decoupling the electron‐phonon transport. This results in a ≈56% enhancement of the thermoelectric quality factor at 373 K, from 0.41 for the pristine sample to 0.64 for the composite sample. A single‐leg device is fabricated with a high efficiency of 5.4% at ΔT = 164 K further demonstrating the efficacy of the Sb2Si2Te6 compositing strategy and the importance of the precipitate‐matrix interface microstructure in improving the performance of materials for relatively low‐temperature applications.
Platinum/Tantalum Carbide Core–Shell Nanoparticles with Sub‐Monolayer Shells for Methanol and Oxygen Electrocatalysis
Authors: Wang Zhenshu , Kang Jin Soo , Göhl Daniel , Paciok Paul , Gonçalves Danelle S. , Lim Hyung‐Kyu , Zanchet Daniela , Heggen Marc , Shao‐Horn Yang , Ledendecker Marc , Román‐Leshkov Yuriy 
Published: March 2024

AbstractCore–shell architectures provide great opportunities to improve catalytic activity, but achieving nanoparticle stability under electrochemical cycling remains challenging. Herein, core–shell nanoparticles comprising atomically thin Pt shells over earth‐abundant TaC cores are synthesized and used as highly durable electrocatalysts for the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) and the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) needed to drive direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). Characterization data show that a thin oxidic passivation layer protects the TaC core from undergoing dissolution in the fuel cell‐relevant potential range, enabling the use of partially covered Pt/TaC core–shell nanoparticles for MOR and ORR with high stability and enhanced catalytic performance. Specifically, at the anode the surface‐oxidized TaC further enhances MOR activity compared to conventional Pt nanoparticles. At the cathode, the Pt/TaC catalyst feature increases tolerance to methanol crossover. These results show unique synergistic advantages of the core–shell particles and open opportunities to tailor catalytic properties for electrocatalytic reactions.
Founder effects identify languages of the earliest Americans
Authors: Nichols Johanna 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe known languages of the Americas comprise nearly half of the world's language families and a wide range of structural types, a level of diversity that required considerable time to develop. This paper proposes a model of settlement and expansion designed to integrate current linguistic analysis with other prehistoric research on the earliest episodes in the peopling of the Americas. Diagnostic structural features from phonology and morphology are compared across 60 North American languages chosen for coverage of geography and language families and adequacy of description. Frequency comparison and graphic cluster analysis are applied to assess the fit of linguistic types and families with late Pleistocene time windows when entry from Siberia to North America was possible. The linguistic evidence is consistent with two population strata defined by early coastal entries ~24,000 and ~15,000 years ago, then an inland entry stream beginning ~14,000 ff. and mixed coastal/inland ~12,000 ff. The dominant structural properties among the founder languages are still reflected in the modern linguistic populations. The modern linguistic geography is still shaped by the extent of glaciation during the entry windows. Structural profiles imply that two linguistically distinct and internally diverse ancient Siberian linguistic populations provided the founding American populations.ObjectivesDescribe early North American linguistic population structure and chronology; align distribution of structural types with archeological and paleoclimatological evidence on the earliest settlements. Propose an improved model of early settlement and expansion and pose some priority research questions.Materials and MethodsClassification of languages based on a tripartite geolinguistic division based on geographical and linguistic evidence. Survey of phonological and morphological patterns of 60 languages representing the structural, geographical, and genealogical diversity of North America. Survey of 16 morphological and phonological features of known or likely high stability and family‐identifying value across those languages. Frequency comparison and cluster analysis to elucidate the tripartite analysis and compare to the chronology and geolinguistics implied by paleoclimatological and archeological work.ResultsThere is enough evidence (linguistic, archeological, genetic, and geological) to indicate four glacial‐age openings allowing entries to North America: coastal c. 24,000 and 15,000 years ago; inland c. 14,000 years ago and continuing; and coastal c. 12,000 years ago and continuing. Geographical distribution of modern languages reflects the geography and chronology of the openings and the two human and linguistic population strata they formed, and plausibly also the structural types of the founding languages.DiscussionImproved model of North American settlement (two chronological strata, four entries); comparison to other proposed models. Further questions and research issues for linguistic, genetic, and archeological research.
American Rhinologic Society expert practice statement part 1: Skull base reconstruction following endoscopic skull base surgery
Authors: Douglas Jennifer E. , Adappa Nithin D. , Choby Garret , Levine Corinna G. , Rabinowitz Mindy R. , Sindwani Raj , Wang Eric W. , Woodworth Bradford A. , Kuan Edward C. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe goal of this American Rhinologic Society expert practice statement (EPS) is to summarize the best available evidence for technical factors that optimize outcomes in skull base reconstruction following endoscopic skull base surgery for intradural pathologies. These topics include the use of free mucosal grafts versus vascularized pedicled nasoseptal flaps; the use of autologous versus synthetic grafts; and the roles of lumbar drains, dural sealants, and nasal packing. This EPS was developed following the recommended methodology and approval process as previously outlined. As there are a myriad of techniques and limited agreement on the accepted principles of skull base reconstruction, this EPS aims to summarize the existing evidence and provide clinically meaningful guidance on these divergent practices. Following a modified Delphi approach, five statements were developed, four of which reached consensus and one of which reached near consensus. These statements and the accompanying evidence are summarized along with an assessment of future needs.
Metal‐chelating antioxidant peptides: Biosensor screening methods as alternatives to the ferrozine assay
Authors: Bjørlie Mads , Irankunda Rachel , Yesiltas Betül , Moltke Sørensen Ann‐Dorit , Girardet Jean‐Michel , Boschi‐Müller Sandrine , Jacobsen Charlotte , Canabady‐Rochelle Laetitia 
Published: March 2024

AbstractPreventing metal‐catalyzed lipid oxidation in food products, which decreases nutritional value and sensory quality, is crucial in the food industry. This is typically achieved through the use of metal‐chelating molecules. While the ferrozine assay is widely used to screen protein hydrolysates for metal chelating activity, it has proven difficult to use with pure peptides. This study evaluates the potential of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and electrically switchable nanolever technology (switchSENSE®) as alternative screening methods. Unfortunately, solubility issues and large standard deviations precluded a direct correlation between the ferrozine assay and these biosensor techniques. Both techniques, however, were able to quantitatively distinguish between two peptides with very similar sequences despite the absence of a correlation between dissociation constants determined by SPR and switchSENSE®. This study highlights the potential of SPR and switchSENSE® for screening the metal chelating activity of pure peptides, advancing the understanding of peptide‐metal ion interactions.
Five years of local democracy in federal Nepal (2017–2022)
Authors: Bhusal Thaneshwar , Acharya Keshav Kumar 
Published: March 2024

AbstractNepalʼs 2015 federal constitution empowers local governments with significant autonomy, power, and resources for local policymaking, developmental programs, and public services. This research examines this new landscape of local governance as experienced during the first electoral tenure from 2017 to 2022, exploring the quality of local democracy in Nepal. Designed as interpretive research and analysed through a set of participatory democracy frameworks, the findings uncover mixed progress in the capacity of local democratic institutions to utilise constitutionally guaranteed power and resources. The findings of this study offer fresh academic and professional insights on Nepalʼs local democracy, participatory governance, and federalism.
Effect of carbonization temperatures on the synthesis of biocarbon from Borassus flabellifer fruit fiber for capacitive energy storage
Authors: Sumangala Devi Natarajan , Vivekanandhan Singaravelu 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBorassus flabellifer (Palmyra) fruit fiber (PFF) was extracted and converted into biocarbon materials at different carbonization temperatures of 400°C, 600°C, and 800°C under N2 atmosphere for 1 h. The physicochemical properties of obtained biocarbon materials were investigated via CHNS, SEM‐EDX, FTIR, RAMAN, XRD, BET‐specific surface area, and TGA techniques. The obtained results were correlated with the capacitive energy storage application of biocarbon materials. The highest specific surface area of 46.36 m2 g−1 was observed for the biocarbon materials obtained at 800°C, which also showed superior capacitive performances. The specific capacitances of PFF‐derived biocarbon materials obtained at 400°C, 600°C, and 800°C are respectively found to be 28.58, 37.07, and 45.76 F g−1 at 1 A g−1 employing 1M KOH as electrolyte. The biocarbon materials obtained at 800°C showed the highest specific energy and power of 1.99 and 261 W kg−1 at 1 A g−1.
Friends and foes: Embracing coopetition for sustainability in the New Zealand alternative protein industry
Authors: Vu Viet , Fath Benjamin 
Published: March 2024

AbstractDeveloping solutions to sustainability challenges requires cooperation among various stakeholders, including organizations that compete at the same time. Prior studies investigate the barriers, drivers, outcomes and tensions of coopetition among sustainable entrepreneurs. In this paper, we consider the coopetition both among sustainable entrepreneurs and between sustainable entrepreneurs and incumbents. Based on interviews with 23 key stakeholders from the New Zealand alternative protein industry, our findings confirm that value alignment plays an important role in determining firms' openness to coopetition and misalignment can hinder coopetitive relationships. However, value misalignment can be mitigated in situations where sustainable entrepreneurs demonstrate high sustainability orientation, allowing for coopetition between sustainable entrepreneurs and incumbents. Finally, coopetition with incumbents enables sustainable entrepreneurs to support sustainable development. Overall, these findings suggest that coopetition is an important yet complex strategy for sustainable entrepreneurs. The findings provide several contributions to the literature regarding sustainable entrepreneurship and coopetition.
Prognostic significance of systemic immune‐inflammation index in patients with nonfunction pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor undergoing surgical resection
Authors: Chen Guanhua , Liu Li , Tan Chunlu , Tan Qingquan , Chen Yonghua , An Xiangrong , Liu Xubao , Wang Xing 
Published: March 2024

AbstractPurposeThe purpose of our study was to investigate the clinical significance and prognostic role of the systemic immune‐inflammation index (SII) in patients who underwent surgical resection for nonfunctioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs).MethodsWe conducted a retrospective analysis of 364 patients with nonfunctioning pNETs. The association between the SII level and clinical parameters was investigated. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to calculate the optimal SII value. Cox proportional hazard analysis was performed to evaluate the prognostic factors.ResultsOur study included 364 patients with nonfunctioning pNETs who underwent surgery. The median age was 51.0 (43.0, 59.3), and 164 (45.1%) were male. The optimal threshold of SII determined by ROC analysis was 523.95. Higher SII levels were significantly associated with older age (p = 0.001), sex (p = 0.011), tumor size (p = 0.032), and tumor grade (p = 0.002). Recurrence was observed in 70 (19.2%) patients following a median follow‐up of 98 months. Univariate analysis showed that higher SII (p < 0.0001), tumor size >4 cm (p = 0.015), and G2/G3 grade (p = 0.002) were significantly associated with disease‐free survival (DFS). Multivariate analysis revealed that higher SII (HR: 7.35; 95% CI: 3.44, 15.70; p < 0.0001) and G2/G3 grade (HR: 3.11; 95% CI: 1.42, 6.82; p = 0.005) remained significantly associated with tumor recurrence. Furthermore, 46 (12.6%) patients died during the follow‐up. Higher SII (HR: 8.43; 95% CI: 3.19, 22.72; p < 0.0001) and G2/G3 grade (HR: 3.16; 95% CI: 1.01, 9.86; p = 0.048) were independent predictors of overall survival (OS) by multivariate analysis.ConclusionIn conclusion, our study revealed that a higher SII level was associated with tumor‐related features (larger tumor size and advanced grade) and subsequent shorter DFS and OS in patients with nonfunctioning pNETs. These results indicated that the SII could serve as an efficient prognostic biomarker for nonfunctioning pNETs.
Added value of whole‐exome and RNA sequencing in advanced and refractory cancer patients with no molecular‐based treatment recommendation based on a 90‐gene panel
Authors: Dufresne Armelle , Attignon Valéry , Ferrari Anthony , Tonon Laurie , Boyault Sandrine , Tabone‐Eglinger Séverine , Cassier Philippe , Trédan Olivier , Corradini Nadège , Vinceneux Armelle , Swalduz Aurélie , Viari Alain , Chabaud Sylvie , Pérol David , Blay Jean Yves , Saintigny Pierre 
Published: March 2024

AbstractIntroductionThe objective was to determine the added value of comprehensive molecular profile by whole‐exome and RNA sequencing (WES/RNA‐Seq) in advanced and refractory cancer patients who had no molecular‐based treatment recommendation (MBTR) based on a more limited targeted gene panel (TGP) plus array‐based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH).Materials and MethodsIn this retrospective analysis, we selected 50 patients previously included in the PROFILER trial (NCT01774409) for which no MBT could be recommended based on a targeted 90‐gene panel and aCGH. For each patient, the frozen tumor sample mirroring the FFPE sample used for TGP/aCGH analysis were processed for WES and RNA‐Seq. Data from TGP/aCGH were reanalyzed, and together with WES/RNA‐Seq, findings were simultaneously discussed at a new molecular tumor board (MTB).ResultsAfter exclusion of variants of unknown significance, a total of 167 somatic molecular alterations were identified in 50 patients (median: 3 [1–10]). Out of these 167 relevant molecular alterations, 51 (31%) were common to both TGP/aCGH and WES/RNA‐Seq, 19 (11%) were identified by the TGP/aCGH only and 97 (58%) were identified by WES/RNA‐Seq only, including two fusion transcripts in two patients. A MBTR was provided in 4/50 (8%) patients using the information from TGP/aCGH versus 9/50 (18%) patients using WES/RNA‐Seq findings. Three patients had similar recommendations based on TGP/aCGH and WES/RNA‐Seq.ConclusionsIn advanced and refractory cancer patients in whom no MBTR was recommended from TGP/aCGH, WES/RNA‐Seq allowed to identify more alterations which may in turn, in a limited fraction of patients, lead to new MBTR.
Percutaneous aspiration of aortic valve vegetation in a patient with aortic valve endocarditis
Authors: Cioci Anthony Louis , Hutton Anneka , Yi Slee , Khoriaty George , Gottlieb Gary , Cartledge Richard , Rubenstein Mark 
Published: March 2024

Key Clinical MessagePercutaneous aspiration for debulking of vegetations in right‐sided infective endocarditis has been well‐described, however, this technique can be employed successfully for left‐sided vegetations in select high‐risk patients.AbstractWe report a case of percutaneous aspiration of an aortic valve vegetation in a patient with prosthetic valve endocarditis. This novel approach was selected after patient declined surgical intervention for an enlarging vegetation despite antibiotic therapy. The procedure was successful, resulting in the complete removal of solid vegetation without complications.