bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Efficient Counter Electrode of MoS2‐GO/PEDOT:PSS for Platinum‐free, High Performance Dye Sensitized Solar Cells
Authors: Chamatam Kasi Reddy Arimakula , Neeraja Velpula , Meenakshamma Ambapuram , Gurulakshmi Maddala , Gurubhasker Mangala , Raghavender Mitty , Pedda Venkata Subbaiah Yearva 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe aim of this work is to fabricate the efficient platinum‐free counter electrodes for the development of advanced and high performance dye sensitized solar cells. MoS2‐GO/ PEDOT:PSS counter electrode has served as low‐cost, simple preparation and high efficient counter electrode for a DSSC. The Cyclic‐Voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and Tafel curve analysis indicate that the MoS2‐GO/PEDOT:PSS counter electrode possesses low charge transfer resistance on the electrolyte–electrode interface, high electrocatalytic activity and fast reaction kinetics for the reduction of tri‐iodide to iodide at the counter electrode. The DSSCs made with MoS2‐GO/PEDOT:PSS counter electrode achieve high power conversion efficiency of 7.73 % under standard light illumination of 100 mW/cm2, is higher than the platinum based counter electrode DSSC (5.53 %). The results witnessed the developed counter electrode is efficient and potential for platinum‐free dye sensitized solar cell applications.
Improved Alcohol Oxidation through Combined Effects of Tensile Lattice Strain and Twin Defects in Core–Shell Electrocatalysts
Authors: Singha Tukai , Tomar Shalini , Chakraborty Sudip , Das Shuvankar , Satpati Biswarup 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe direct alcohol fuel cells (DAFCs) rely on alcohol oxidation reactions (AORs) to produce electricity, which require catalysts with optimized electronic structure to accelerate the sluggish AORs. Herein, an epitaxial growth of Pd layer onto the pentatwinned Au@Ag core–shell nanorods (NRs) is reported to synthesize highly strained Au@AgPd core–shell NRs. The tensile strain in the AgPd shell of the Au@AgPd nanorods (NRs) arises not only from the core–shell lattice mismatch but also from twinning and lattice distortion occurring at the five twinned boundaries present in the structure. Theoretical simulations prove that the presence of tensile strains in the AgPd layer leads to a significant upward shift of the d‐band center of the Pd site toward the Fermi level which remarkably changes the adsorption energy of alcohols on the surface. Highly strained Au@AgPd NRs show exceptional mass activities in electrochemical oxidation of biomass‐derived alcohols (ethylene glycol, ethanol, and glycerol) reaching up to 18.66, 15.6, and 7.90 A mgpd−1, respectively. These values are 23.3, 23.6, and 23.2 times higher than commercial Pd/C catalysts. This strain engineering strategy set the platform for the design and synthesis of highly efficient and versatile catalysts for the construction of high‐performance DAFCs.
Atomic‐Level Catalyst Coupled with Metal Oxide Heterostructure for Promoting Kinetics of Lithium‐Sulfur Batteries
Authors: Zhang Xinyu , Yang Tingzhou , Liu Jiabing , Hu Chenchen , Gao Shihui , Shi Zhenjia , Wu Qiong , Li Haipeng , Zhang Yongguang , Chen Zhongwei 
Published: March 2024

AbstractDespite the low competitive cost and high theoretical capacity of lithium‐sulfur (Li‐S) batteries, their practical application is severely hindered by the lithium polysulfide (LiPS) shuttling and low conversion efficiency. Herein, the electronic structure of hollow Titanium dioxide nanospheres is tunned by single Iron atom dopants that can cooperatively enhance LiPS absorption and facilitate desired redox reaction in practical Li‐S batteries, further suppressing the notorious shuttle effect, which is consistent with theoretical calculations and in situ UV/vis investigation. The obtained electrode with massive active sites and lower energy barrier for sulfur conversions exhibits exceptional cycling stability after 500 cycles and high capacity under the sulfur loading of 10.53 mg cm−2. In particular, an Ah‐level Li‐S pouch cell is fabricated, further demonstrating that the synthetic strategy based on atomic‐level design offers a promising route toward practical high‐energy‐density Li‐S batteries.
In Situ Plasma Polymerization of Self‐Stabilized Polythiophene Enables Dendrite‐Free Lithium Metal Anodes with Ultra‐Long Cycle Life
Authors: Cao Shengling , Ning Jing , He Xin , Wang Tianqi , Xu Cheng , Chen Manlin , Wang Kangli , Zhou Min , Jiang Kai 
Published: March 2024

AbstractConstructing a flexible and chemically stable multifunctional layer for the lithium (Li) metal anodes is a highly effective approach to improve the uneven deposition of Li+ and suppress the dendrite growth. Herein, an organic protecting layer of polythiophene is in situ polymerized on the Li metal via plasma polymerization. Compared with the chemically polymerized thiophene (C‐PTh), the plasma polymerized thiophene layer (P‐PTh), with a higher Young's modulus of 8.1 GPa, shows strong structural stability due to the chemical binding of the polythiophene and Li. Moreover, the nucleophilic C─S bond of polythiophene facilitates the decomposition of Li salts in the electrolytes, promoting the formation of LiF‐rich solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layers. The synergetic effect of the rigid LiF as well as the flexible PTh‐Li can effectively regulate the uniform Li deposition and suppress the growth of Li dendrites during the repeated stripping‐plating, enabling the Li anodes with long‐cycling lifespan over 8000 h (1 mA cm−2, 1 mAh cm−2) and 2500 h (10 mA cm−2, 10 mAh cm−2). Since the plasma polymerization is facile (5–20 min) and environmentally friendly (solvent‐free), this work offers a novel and promising strategy for the construction of the forthcoming generation of high‐energy‐density batteries.
Strain Self‐Adaptive Iron Selenides Toward Stable Na+‐Ion Batteries with Impressive Initial Coulombic Efficiency
Authors: Xiao Ying , Miao Yue , Gong Fenglian , Zhang Tonghui , Zhou Luoyuan , Yu Qingtao , Hu Shilin , Chen Shimou 
Published: March 2024

AbstractHigh tap density electrodes play a vital role in developing rechargeable batteries with high volumetric capacities, however, developing advanced electrodes with satisfied capacity, excellent structural stability, and achieving the resulted batteries with a high initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE) and good rate capability with long lifespan simultaneously, are still an intractable challenge. Herein, an ultrahigh ICE of 94.1% and stable cycling of carbon‐free iron selenides anode is enabled with a high tap density of 2.57 g cm−3 up to 4000 cycles at 5 A g−1 through strain‐modulating by constructing a homologous heterostructure. Systematical characterization and theoretical calculation show that the self‐adaptive homologous heterointerface alleviates the stress of the iron selenide anodes during cycling processes and subsequently improves the stability of the assembled batteries. Additionally, the well‐formed homologous heterostructure also contributes to the rapid Na+ diffusion kinetic, increased charge transfer, and good reversibility of the transformation reactions, endowing the appealing rate capability of carbon‐free iron selenides. The proposed design strategy provides new insight and inspiration to aid in the ongoing quest for advanced electrode materials with high tap densities and excellent stability.
Synthesis and Characterization of Functionalized Starch by Grafting Pyridine for Use in Antimicrobial Applications
Authors: Kanth Shreya , Puttaiahgowda Yashoda Malgar , Kulal Ananda 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe urgent need for new, efficient solutions to antibiotic resistance is a serious worldwide healthcare concern. Recently, new classes of antimicrobials known as antimicrobial polymers have played a significant role in tackling multidrug‐resistant bacteria. To achieve this purpose, antimicrobial biodegradable materials made from affordable renewable resources, including polysaccharides, are extensively applied. Here, this study presents a simple one‐pot method for generating powerful antimicrobial polymer using soluble starch and an easily accessible chemical pyridine. The quaternary pyridine‐grafted starch (St‐QP) is prepared and characterized using structural and thermal techniques. To assess the antimicrobial capabilities of the St‐QP for textile application, antimicrobial activities of the St‐QP, antimicrobial activity of the St‐QP‐coated fabric, cytotoxicity, durability of the St‐QP coated fabric, surface morphology of St‐QP coated fabric and antimicrobial activity after washing cycles are also examined. According to the findings, St‐QP and its modified materials have shown good antimicrobial activity against three bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Mycobacterium smegmatis, and the fungus Candida albicans. The St‐QP displays low toxicity to human fibroblasts, and after being coated on fabrics, it shows good durability and antimicrobial activity. The St‐QP coated fabric material shows 80% inhibition for all four microorganisms even after 25 washing cycles.
Bisphenol A promotes cell death in healthy respiratory system cells through inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of G2/M cell cycle arrest
Authors: Aysin Ferhunde 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBisphenol A (BPA) is a substance that can harm the environment and human health by interfering with the normal functioning of the body's hormonal system. It is commonly found in various plastic‐based products such as cosmetics, canned foods, beverage containers, and medical equipment and as well as it can also be absorbed by inhalation. There have been limited studies on the effects of BPA on lung fibroblasts, and it is still unclear how high levels of BPA can impact respiratory system cells, particularly the lungs and trachea. In this research, we aimed to investigate the cell cycle disruption potential of BPA on respiratory system cells by examining healthy trachea and lung cells together for the first time. The findings indicated that BPA exposure can alter the healthy cells' morphology, leading to reduced cellular viability that has been assessed by MTT and SRB assays. BPA treatment was able to activate caspase3 as expected, which could cause apoptosis in treated cells. Although the highest dose of BPA did not increase the apoptotic rate of rat trachea cells, it remarkably caused them to become necrotic (52.12%). In addition to quantifying the induction of apoptosis and necrosis by BPA, cell cycle profiles were also determined using flow cytometry. Thereby, BPA treatment unexpectedly inhibited the cell cycle's progression by causing G2/M cell cycle arrest in both lung and tracheal cells, which hindered cell proliferation. The findings of the study suggested that exposure to BPA could lead to serious respiratory problems, even respiratory tract cancers via alterations in the cell cycle.
Warped conformal symmetries of the accelerating Kerr black hole
Authors: Xu Jianfei 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Recent studies on the holographic descriptions of Kerr black holes indicate that the conformal or the warped conformal symmetries are responsible for the Kerr black hole physics at both background and perturbation levels. In the present paper, we extend the validity of these studies to the case of accelerating Kerr black hole. By invoking a set of non-trivial diffeomorphisms near the horizon bifurcation surface of the accelerating Kerr black hole, the Dirac brackets among charges of the diffeomorphisms form the symmetry algebra of a warped CFT which consists of one Virasoro and one Kac-Moody algebra with central extensions. This provides the evidence for warped CFTs being possible holographic dual to accelerating Kerr black holes. The thermal entropy formula of the warped CFT fixed by modular parameters and vacuum charges reproduces the entropy of the rotating black hole with acceleration.
UV and IR effects in axion quality control
Authors: Burgess C. P. , Choi Gongjun , Quevedo F. 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Motivated by recent discussions and the absence of exact global symmetries in UV completions of gravity we re-examine the axion quality problem (and naturalness issues more generally) using antisymmetric Kalb-Ramond (KR) fields rather than their pseudoscalar duals, as suggested by string and higher dimensional theories. Two types of axions can be identified: a model independent S-type axion dual to a two form Bμν in 4D and a T-type axion coming directly as 4D scalar Kaluza-Klein (KK) components of higher-dimensional tensor fields. For T-type axions our conclusions largely agree with earlier workers for the axion quality problem, but we also reconcile why T-type axions can couple to matter localized on 3-branes with Planck suppressed strength even when the axion decay constants are of order the KK scale. For S-type axions, we review the duality between form fields and massive scalars and show how duality impacts naturalness arguments about the UV sensitivity of the scalar potential. In particular UV contributions on the KR side suppress contributions on the scalar side by powers of m/M with m the axion mass and M the UV scale. We re-examine how the axion quality problem is formulated on the dual side and compare to recent treatments. We study how axion quality is affected by the ubiquity of p-form gauge potentials (for both p = 2 and p = 3) in string vacua and identify two criteria that can potentially lead to a problem. We also show why most fields do not satisfy these criteria, but when they do the existence of multiple fields also provides mechanisms for resolving it. We conclude that the quality problem is easily evaded.
Bootstrapping smooth conformal defects in Chern-Simons-matter theories
Authors: Gabai Barak , Sever Amit , Zhong De-liang 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
The expectation value of a smooth conformal line defect in a CFT is a conformal invariant functional of its path in space-time. For example, in large N holographic theories, these fundamental observables are dual to the open-string partition function in AdS. In this paper, we develop a bootstrap method for studying them and apply it to conformal line defects in Chern-Simons matter theories. In these cases, the line bootstrap is based on three minimal assumptions — conformal invariance of the line defect, large N factorization, and the spectrum of the two lowest-lying operators at the end of the line. On the basis of these assumptions, we solve the one-dimensional CFT on the line and systematically compute the defect expectation value in an expansion around the straight line. We find that the conformal symmetry of a straight defect is insufficient to fix the answer. Instead, imposing the conformal symmetry of the defect along an arbitrary curved line leads to a functional bootstrap constraint. The solution to this constraint is found to be unique.
Reaction norm for genomic prediction of plant growth: modeling drought stress response in soybean
Authors: Toda Yusuke , Sasaki Goshi , Ohmori Yoshihiro , Yamasaki Yuji , Takahashi Hirokazu , Takanashi Hideki , Tsuda Mai , Kajiya-Kanegae Hiromi , Tsujimoto Hisashi , Kaga Akito , Hirai Masami , Nakazono Mikio , Fujiwara Toru , Iwata Hiroyoshi 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Key message
We proposed models to predict the effects of genomic and environmental factors on daily soybean growth and applied them to soybean growth data obtained with unmanned aerial vehicles.

Abstract
Advances in high-throughput phenotyping technology have made it possible to obtain time-series plant growth data in field trials, enabling genotype-by-environment interaction (G × E) modeling of plant growth. Although the reaction norm is an effective method for quantitatively evaluating G × E and has been implemented in genomic prediction models, no reaction norm models have been applied to plant growth data. Here, we propose a novel reaction norm model for plant growth using spline and random forest models, in which daily growth is explained by environmental factors one day prior. The proposed model was applied to soybean canopy area and height to evaluate the influence of drought stress levels. Changes in the canopy area and height of 198 cultivars were measured by remote sensing using unmanned aerial vehicles. Multiple drought stress levels were set as treatments, and their time-series soil moisture was measured. The models were evaluated using three cross-validation schemes. Although accuracy of the proposed models did not surpass that of single-trait genomic prediction, the results suggest that our model can capture G × E, especially the latter growth period for the random forest model. Also, significant variations in the G × E of the canopy height during the early growth period were visualized using the spline model. This result indicates the effectiveness of the proposed models on plant growth data and the possibility of revealing G × E in various growth stages in plant breeding by applying statistical or machine learning models to time-series phenotype data.
Mapping the landscape of product models in embodiment design
Authors: Paehler Lukas , Matthiesen Sven 
Published: March 2024

AbstractDuring an engineering design process, designers create sequences of product models by switching between product models with different purposes. To enable an efficient use of these product models, researchers are required to anticipate the compatibility of the models in application by designers. This is necessary as the information in an existing product model may not be usable for a subsequent product model. However, the corresponding information on compatibility was not accessible to researchers as it was scattered across various publications. Hence, the objective of this contribution was to develop a structured overview, a landscape of linkable and non-linkable product models in embodiment design to merge the information. For this purpose, a literature review containing a grounded theory-based analysis was conducted and the results were visualized using the network visualization software Gephi. The key learnings of the visualized landscape of 52 product models can be summarized as follows: (1) some models are already closely linked to each other by compatible inputs and outputs; (2) other product models are noticeable with mostly unknown linking possibilities due to incompatible inputs and outputs or insufficient descriptions in the literature. 14 product models offer two linking possibilities or less. In these cases, it is unclear how they interact with other product models in an engineering design process. In conclusion, the product model landscape provides insight into the compatibility of product models to support the development of existing and new product models for sequential use by designers.
Circular RNA MKLN1 promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition in pulmonary fibrosis by regulating the miR-26a/b-5p/CDK8 axis in human alveolar epithelial cells and mice models
Authors: Zhu Yong , Meng Xiaoxiao , Zhu Xian , Zhang Jiaxiang , lv Hui , Wang Feiyao , Wang Jinfeng , Chen Cheng , Chen Mengting , Wang Dapeng , Jin Wei , Tian Rui , Wang Ruilan 
Published: March 2024

AbstractPulmonary fibrosis involves destruction of the lung parenchyma and extracellular matrix deposition. Effective treatments for pulmonary fibrosis are lacking and its pathogenesis is still unclear. Studies have found that epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of alveolar epithelial cells (AECs) plays an important role in progression of pulmonary fibrosis. Thus, an in-depth exploration of its mechanism might identify new therapeutic targets. In this study, we revealed that a novel circular RNA, MKLN1 (circMKLN1), was significantly elevated in two pulmonary fibrosis models (intraperitoneally with PQ, 50 mg/kg for 7 days, and intratracheally with BLM, 5 mg/kg for 28 days). Additionally, circMKLN1 was positively correlated with the severity of pulmonary fibrosis. Inhibition of circMKLN1 expression significantly reduced collagen deposition and inhibited EMT in AECs. EMT was aggravated after circMKLN1 overexpression in AECs. MiR-26a-5p/miR-26b-5p (miR-26a/b), the targets of circMKLN1, were confirmed by luciferase reporter assays. CircMKLN1 inhibition elevated miR-26a/b expression. Significantly decreased expression of CDK8 (one of the miR-26a/b targets) was observed after inhibition of circMKLN1. EMT was exacerbated again, and CDK8 expression was significantly increased after circMKLN1 inhibition and cotransfection of miR-26a/b inhibitors in AECs. Our research indicated that circMKLN1 promoted CDK8 expression through sponge adsorption of miR-26a/b, which regulates EMT and pulmonary fibrosis. This study provides a theoretical basis for finding new targets or biomarkers in pulmonary fibrosis.
The role of mGluR5 on the therapeutic effects of ketamine in Wistar rats
Authors: Gokalp Dilan , Unal Gunes 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Rationale
Ketamine produces dissociative, psychomimetic, anxiolytic, antidepressant, and anesthetic effects in a dose dependent manner. It has a complex mechanism of action that involve alterations in other glutamate receptors. The metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) has been investigated in relation to the psychotic and anesthetic properties of ketamine, while its role in mediating the therapeutic effects of ketamine remains unknown.

Objectives
We investigated the role of mGluR5 on the antidepressant, anxiolytic and fear memory-related effects of ketamine in adult male Wistar rats.

Methods
Two sets of experiments were conducted. We first utilized the positive allosteric modulator CDPPB to investigate how acute mGluR5 activation regulates the therapeutic effects of ketamine (10 mg/kg). We then tested the synergistic antidepressant effect of mGluR5 antagonism and ketamine by combining MTEP with a sub-effective dose of ketamine (1 mg/kg). Behavioral despair, locomotor activity, anxiety-like behavior, and fear memory were respectively assessed in the forced swim test (FST), open field test (OFT), elevated plus maze (EPM), and auditory fear conditioning.

Results
Enhancing mGluR5 activity via CDPPB occluded the antidepressant effect of ketamine without changing locomotor activity. Furthermore, concomitant administration of MTEP and ketamine exhibited a robust synergistic antidepressant effect. The MTEP + ketamine treatment, however, blocked the anxiolytic effect observed by sole administration of MTEP or the low dose ketamine.

Conclusions
These findings suggest that suppressed mGluR5 activity is required for the antidepressant effects of ketamine. Consequently, the antagonism of mGluR5 enhances the antidepressant effectiveness of low dose ketamine, but eliminates its anxiolytic effects.