bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A target containing phantom for accuracy assessment of cone‐beam CT‐guided histotripsy
Authors: Kutlu Ayca Z. , Minesinger Grace M. , Laeseke Paul F. , Speidel Michael , Wagner Martin G. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractPurposeHistotripsy is a nonionizing, noninvasive, and nonthermal focal tumor therapy. Cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT) guidance was developed for targeting tumors not visible on ultrasound. This approach assumes cavitation is formed at the geometrical focal point of the therapy transducer. In practice, the exact location might vary slightly between transducers. In this study, we present a phantom with an embedded target to evaluate CBCT‐guided histotripsy accuracy and assess the completeness of treatments.MethodsSpherical (2.8 cm) targets with alternating layers of agar and radiopaque barium were embedded in larger phantoms with similar layers. The layer geometry was designed so that targets were visible on pre‐treatment CBCT scans. The actual histotripsy treatment zone was visualized via the mixing of adjacent barium and agar layers in post‐treatment CBCT images. CBCT‐guided histotripsy treatments of the targets were performed in six phantoms. Offsets between planned and actual treatment zones were measured and used for calibration refinement. To measure targeting accuracy after calibration refinement, six additional phantoms were treated. In a separate investigation, two groups (N = 3) of phantoms were treated to assess visualization of incomplete treatments (“undertreatment” group: 2 cm treatment within 2.8 cm tumor, “mistarget” group: 2.8 cm treatment intentionally shifted laterally). Treatment zones were segmented (3D Slicer 5.0.3), and the centroid distance between the prescribed target and actual treatment zones was quantified.ResultsIn the calibration refinement group, a 2 mm offset in the direction of ultrasound propagation (Z) was measured. After calibration refinement, the centroid‐to‐centroid distance between prescribed and actual treatment volumes was 0.5 ± 0.2 mm. Average difference between the prescribed and measured treatment sizes in the incomplete treatment groups was 0.5 ± 0.7 mm. In the mistarget group, the distance between prescribed and measured shifts was 0.2 ± 0.1 mm.ConclusionThe proposed prototype phantom allowed for accurate measurement of treatment size and location, and the CBCT visible target provided a simple way to detect misalignments for preliminary quality assurance of CBCT‐guided histotripsy.
The α‐1 Adrenergic Receptor Antagonist Doxazosin Attenuates Liver Fibrosis by Alleviating Sinusoidal Capillarization and Liver Angiogenesis
Authors: Xiu Ai‐Yuan , Ding Qian , Zhu Chang‐Peng , Zhang Chun‐Qing 
Published: March 2024

AbstractLiver fibrosis and cirrhosis, which are caused by chronic liver injury, represent common and intractable clinical challenges of global importance. However, effective therapeutics are lacking. Therefore, the study examines the effect of doxazosin on liver fibrosis. Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is injected into mice to establish a liver fibrosis model. Doxazosin (5 and 10 mg/kg) is administered daily by gavage. HE staining, Masson staining, Sirius Red staining, scanning electron microscopy, western blotting, real‐time PCR, and immunofluorescence analysis are performed to estimate liver fibrosis and sinusoidal capillarization in mice. Cell Counting Kit‐8 assays, western blotting, immunofluorescence analysis, tube formation, and transwell migration assays are performed on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and human hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells (HHSECs) to elucidate the potential mechanism of doxazosin. Doxazosin alleviates liver fibrosis and sinusoidal capillarization in CCl4‐induced mice. Angiogenesis is attenuated by doxazosin in HUVECs and HHSECs. This study demonstrates that doxazosin attenuated liver fibrosis by alleviating sinusoidal capillarization and liver angiogenesis.
Infrared Gradient Refractive INdex (GRIN) Materials Through Fast Solid‐Solid Na+/Ag+ Ionic Exchange in Chalco‐Halide Glasses
Authors: Fourmentin Claire , Guichard Jean , Druart Guillaume , Barrière Florence De La , Zhang Xiang‐Hua , Roze Mathieu , Charpentier Frédéric , Proux Raphaël , Guimond Yann , Calvez Laurent 
Published: March 2024

AbstractIn this work, a new two‐step process is developed by exchanging Na+ and Ag+ to create a radial GRIN infrared lens. The first step consists in introducing a high amount of silver by solid‐state ion exchange in the surrounding of the glass sample when the second one allows for controllable diffusion of Ag+ within the center of the sample by single heat treatment. Evolution of the refractive index and ∆n between the two extreme compositions of the GRIN are determined as function of the wavelength, predicting a ∆n of 1.42 × 10−1 at 10 µm. Qualitative characterization of the sample reveals the formation of a GRIN chalcogenide glass transparent in the MWIR and LWIR, presenting no detrimental crystallization of residual metallic silver on the edge of the sample. Wavefront measurement allows to quantitatively characterize the 10 mm diameter IR GRIN as a polynomial profile with a ∆n of 1.8 × 10−1 at 10.6 µm.
Sustainable, Low‐Cost Sorbents Based on Calcium Chloride‐Loaded Polyacrylamide Hydrogels
Authors: Hoogendoorn Levi , Huertas Mauricio , Nitz Phillip , Qi Naiyu , Baller Johannes , Prinz Carsten , Graeber Gustav 
Published: March 2024

AbstractSorbents are promising materials for applications in atmospheric water harvesting, thermal energy storage, and passive cooling, thereby addressing central challenges related to water scarcity and the global energy transition. Recently, hygroscopic hydrogel composites have emerged as high‐performance sorbents. However, many of these systems are fabricated with unsustainable and costly sorbent materials, which hinders their wide deployment. Here, the synthesis of high‐performance, cost‐efficient polyacrylamide hydrogels loaded with unprecedented amounts of calcium chloride is demonstrated. To this end, the swelling procedure of polyacrylamide hydrogels in aqueous calcium chloride solutions is optimized. The achievable salt loading in the hydrogel is characterized as a function of temperature, calcium chloride concentration in the swelling solution, and the hydrogel preparation conditions. The obtained hydrogel‐salt composites are shown to be stable under repeated sorption‐desorption cycling and enable water uptakes of 0.92 and 2.38 grams of water per gram of dry materials at 30% and 70% relative humidity, respectively. The resulting cost‐performance ratio substantially exceeds lithium chloride‐based systems. Further, the mechanistic insights on hydrogel salt interactions can guide the design of sustainable and low‐cost sorbent materials for future applications in water and energy.
Extracellular Vesicles Functional “Brick‐Cement” Bio‐Integrated System for Annulus Fibrosus Repair
Authors: Shen Yifan , Pang Libin , Jiang Chao , Jin Jiale , Zhang Yijian , Xing Hongyuan , Li Jiafeng , Wu Honghao , Chen Jingyao , Guan Ming , Zhu Tonghe , Gao Zhongyang , Cui Wenguo , Wang Yue 
Published: March 2024

AbstractDue to the deficiency of mechanical supporting after discectomy and weak proliferative capacity of annulus fibrosus (AF) cells, the AF defect repair remains a clinical challenge. Herein, a myofibroblasts derived extracellular vesicles (M‐EVs) functional “brick‐cement” bio‐integrated system (M‐EVs@PGBgel) is developed to repair AF defect. The modified Poly(glycerol‐sebacate) (PGBS), “bio‐brick” layer, exhibited excellent support features on account of its elastomeric mechanical properties. The loaded M‐EVs in the “bio‐cement” layer activated ITGA6/PI3K/AKT pathway, regulated M2 macrophage polarization, thus synergistically promoting AF cell proliferation and migration. The “bio‐cement” layer integrated PGBS and remnant tissue at the defect through the Schiff base reaction and aided M‐EVs’ sustained release. This study demonstrated that M‐EVs@PGBgel significantly improved the disc's biological and mechanical properties in the AF defect microenvironments and promoted AF regeneration in vivo. The M‐EVs@PGBgel shows promise as an effective strategy to simultaneously address the mechanical imbalance and biological disruptions resulting from AF defect.
Stability of 2D Crystals from Tessellation
Authors: Huang Haojie , Zhang Ting , Ren Zebin , Ma Yandong , Guo Yunlong , Dong Jichen , Liu Yunqi 
Published: March 2024

AbstractReticular chemistry has been a cornerstone in the design of novel 2D materials. Despite numerous possibilities for topological arrangements, only a few with high symmetry can form stable networks. Here, starting from 2D carbons, four types of highly stable tessellations are discovered, which consist of chains of non‐hexagonal rings separated by hexagonal ribbons. A modified Read–Shockley model is established to perfectly describe the stability of these highly stable frameworks, which is based on the interaction between non‐hexagonal rings. Moreover, these four types of tessellations and the modified Read–Shockley model are found to be of general validity in designing highly stable 2D materials, which is verified by the calculations on polymorphs of boron nitride and molybdenum disulfide. Besides, among the studied 2D carbon allotropes, two semi‐metallic structures with highly anisotropic Dirac cones and one semimetal with a Dirac nodal line at the Fermi level are discovered, as protected by their D2h symmetry. Spin‐orbital coupling is further found to open small bandgaps for these three Dirac structures, making them nontrivial topological insulators. The in‐depth understanding of the stability of 2D crystals in this study provides a new way for rational design of 2D crystals that may show peculiar electronic structures.
Rational Design of Bio‐Inspired Peptide Electronic Materials toward Bionanotechnology: Strategies and Applications
Authors: Zhao Jingwen , Liu Qingxi , Tong Xiaoyu , Wang Yuehui , Cai Kaiyong , Ji Wei 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBiologically inspired peptide‐based materials, as novel charge transport materials, have gained increasing interest in bioelectronics due to their remarkable electrical properties and inherent biocompatibility. Extensive studies have shown that peptides can self‐assemble into a variety of hierarchical nanostructures with unique physical properties through supramolecular interactions. Therefore, peptide‐based materials hold great promise for applications in emerging electronic fields such as sensing, energy harvesting, energy storage, and electronic transmission. Herein, this work proposes a review article to summarize the rational design and research progress of peptide‐based materials and devices in bioelectronics. This work first introduces the design strategies and assembly mechanism for constructing high‐performance peptide‐based electronic materials and devices. In the following part, the applications of peptide‐based electronic materials and devices are systematically classified and discussed, including sensors, piezoelectric nanogenerators, electrodes, and semiconductors. Finally, the remaining challenges and future perspectives of peptide‐based bioelectronic materials and devices are presented. This work believes that this review will provide inspiration and guidance for the design and development of innovative peptide‐based smart materials in the field of bioelectronics.
Adjacent‐Confined Pyrolysis for High‐Density Phase Boundaries in Mo2C Nanosheets to Boost Oxygen Evolution
Authors: Cong Wenhua , Dong Weikang , Yan Yuanyuan , Cao Xun , Xu Yike , Liu Zhenyu , Liu Jijian , Yang Jin , Liu Xuguang , Yang Yang , Fu Longyi , Wang Meiling , Zhang Tianyuan , Zhou Jiadong 
Published: March 2024

AbstractHeterostructure or doping engineering on Mo2C by coupling with transition metal nanoparticles/atoms can optimize catalytic activities for oxygen evolution reaction (OER). However, the intrinsic catalytic activity of Mo2C is not fully stimulated at the atomic level, which is challenging. Herein, an adjacent‐confined pyrolysis strategy to manipulate the intrinsic electronic structure of Mo2C directly is reported. During the nucleation and growth of Mo2C, the replacement of Mo atoms by adjacent Ni atoms induces the generation of high‐density phase boundaries (PBs) with alternating face‐centered cubic (fcc) and hexagonal close‐packed (hcp) hetero‐phase. The lattice deformity in PBs affords an ultrahigh density of active sites, endowing Mo2C nanosheets with excellent OER activity and superior stability. Theoretical calculations reveal that introduced Ni atoms activate the adjacent Mo sites and optimize the thermodynamic reaction energetics for enhanced OER activity. The work offers a general adjacent‐confined pyrolysis strategy to achieve PBs‐controlling in Mo2C nanosheets for catalytic application and beyond.
Rotational Vortex Metasurface Arrays Enabling Tunable Perfect Petal‐Shaped Beam Emissions
Authors: Chen Meng‐Hsin , Wei Ting‐Yu , Chiang Chia‐Hung , Su Vin‐Cent 
Published: March 2024

AbstractActively tunable petal‐shaped pattern emissions have been successfully demonstrated by the cascade of two innovative rotational vortex metasurface arrays (RVMAs). To ensure accurate cascade, each RVMA comprises a central unit with the capability to converge light, surrounded by six units designed for emitting converging vortex beams (VBs) and converging perfect vortex beams (PVBs) with topological numbers (TCs) of 3, 6, and 9, respectively. Notably, although the number of spiral branches and the diameters of the VB and PVB are determined in accordance with specific design TCs, the diameters and the number of petals for the petal‐shaped beam emissions are actively adjusted through the rotation of the RVMAs. Interestingly, the superimposition of these VBs, PVBs, or both, consistently generates petal‐shaped beams with various petal numbers and diameters, highlighting the remarkable versatility of the approach. To demonstrate the proposed concept across wavelengths, indicating its broadband operation capability, RVMA performance in the visible spectrum is thoroughly investigated, ranging from 450 to 600 nm. The tunability of the cascade of RVMAs for petal‐shaped emissions featuring diverse diameters and petal numbers has been validated at visible wavelengths, affirming the broad capabilities of the concept presented in this study.
Tailoring a MOF‐based adsorbent with partitioned aliphatic pore spaces for efficient CH4 purification from natural gas
Authors: Wang Kang , Jiang Yao , Xu Mingming , Zheng Dongdong , Jia Shaojun , Cui Peng 
Published: March 2024

AbstractSeparation of CH4 from natural gas is an essential but extremely challenging process in the petrochemical industry. Here, we tailored a MOF‐based adsorbent with partitioned aliphatic pore spaces through the simultaneous incorporation of the aliphatic sites and the symmetrically matched partition agent. The resulting adsorbent demonstrates exceptional adsorption capacity for C3H8 and C2H6 compared to CH4, along with remarkably competitive adsorption selectivities for C3H8/CH4 and C2H6/CH4. Breakthrough experiments further support the excellent dynamic separation efficiency of the adsorbent for the purification of CH4 from natural gas. Moreover, detailed density functional theory calculations and molecular simulations elucidate the synergistic interactions between the aliphatic sites and the partitioned pore spaces within the adsorbent, which promote the stronger binding affinities for C3H8 and C2H6 over CH4.
Metabolic‐Glycoengineering‐Enabled Molecularly Specific Acoustic Tweezing Cytometry for Targeted Mechanical Stimulation of Cell Surface Sialoglycans
Authors: Li Weiping , Guo Jiatong , Hobson Eric C. , Xue Xufeng , Li Qingjiang , Fu Jianping , Deng Cheri X. , Guo Zhongwu 
Published: March 2024

AbstractIn this study, we developed a novel type of dibenzocyclooctyne (DBCO)‐functionalized microbubbles (MBs) and validated their attachment to azide‐labelled sialoglycans on human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) generated by metabolic glycoengineering (MGE). This enabled the application of mechanical forces to sialoglycans on hPSCs through molecularly specific acoustic tweezing cytometry (mATC), that is, displacing sialoglycan‐anchored MBs using ultrasound (US). It was shown that subjected to the acoustic radiation forces of US pulses, sialoglycan‐anchored MBs exhibited significantly larger displacements and faster, more complete recovery after each pulse than integrin‐anchored MBs, indicating that sialoglycans are more stretchable and elastic than integrins on hPSCs in response to mechanical force. Furthermore, stimulating sialoglycans on hPSCs using mATC reduced stage‐specific embryonic antigen‐3 (SSEA‐3) and GD3 expression but not OCT4 and SOX2 nuclear localization. Conversely, stimulating integrins decreased OCT4 nuclear localization but not SSEA‐3 and GD3 expression, suggesting that mechanically stimulating sialoglycans and integrins initiated distinctive mechanoresponses during the early stages of hPSC differentiation. Taken together, these results demonstrated that MGE‐enabled mATC uncovered not only different mechanical properties of sialoglycans on hPSCs and integrins but also their different mechanoregulatory impacts on hPSC differentiation, validating MGE‐based mATC as a new, powerful tool for investigating the roles of glycans and other cell surface biomolecules in mechanotransduction.
Stabilizing Lattice Oxygen through Mn Doping in NiCo2O4‐δ Spinel Electrocatalysts for Efficient and Durable Acid Oxygen Evolution
Authors: Zhao Hongyu , Zhu Liu , Yin Jie , Jin Jing , Du Xin , Tan Lei , Peng Yong , Xi Pinxian , Yan Chun‐Hua 
Published: March 2024

AbstractDesign the electrocatalysts without noble metal is still a challenge for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in acid media. Herein, we reported the manganese (Mn) doping method to decrease the concentration of oxygen vacancy (VO) and form the Mn−O structure adjacent octahedral sites in spinel NiCo2O4‐δ (NiMn1.5Co3O4‐δ), which highly enhanced the activity and stability of spinel NiCo2O4‐δ with a low overpotential (η) of 280 mV at j=10 mA cm−2 and long‐term stability of 80 h in acid media. The isotopic labelling experiment based on differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS) clearly demonstrated the lattice oxygen in NiMn1.5Co3O4‐δ is more stable due to strong Mn−O bond and shows synergetic adsorbate evolution mechanism (SAEM) for acid OER. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal highly increased oxygen vacancy formation energy (EVO) of NiCo2O4‐δ after Mn doping. More importantly, the highly hydrogen bonding between Mn−O and *OOH adsorbed on adjacent Co octahedral sites promote the formation of *OO from *OOH due to the greatly enhanced charge density of O in Mn substituted sites.
Manipulation of the Self‐Assembly Morphology by Side‐Chain Engineering of Quinoxaline‐Substituted Organic Photothermal Molecules for Highly Efficient Solar‐Thermal Conversion and Applications
Authors: Li Jing , Wang Luoqing , Zhang Chenyang , Wang Han , Pan Yuyu , Li Shizhang , Chen Xian‐Kai , Jia Tao , Wang Kai 
Published: March 2024

AbstractOrganic photothermal materials have attracted increasing attention because of their structural diversity, flexibility, and compatibility. However, their energy conversion efficiency is limited owing to the narrow absorption spectrum, strong reflection/transmittance, and insufficient nonradiative decay. In this study, two quinoxaline‐based D–A‐D–A‐D‐type molecules with ethyl (BQE) or carboxylate (BQC) substituents were synthesized. Strong intramolecular charge transfer provided both molecules with a broad absorption range of 350–1000 nm. In addition, the high reorganization energy and weak molecular packing of BQE resulted in efficient nonradiative decay. More importantly, the self‐assembly of BQE leads to a textured surface and enhances the light‐trapping efficiency with significantly reduced light reflection/transmittance. Consequently, BQE achieved an impressive solar‐thermal conversion efficiency of 18.16 % under 1.0 kW m−2 irradiation with good photobleaching resistance. Based on this knowledge, the water evaporation rate of 1.2 kg m−2 h−1 was attained for the BQE‐based interfacial evaporation device with an efficiency of 83 % under 1.0 kW m−2 simulated sunlight. Finally, the synergetic integration of solar‐steam and thermoelectric co‐generation devices based on BQE was realized without significantly sacrificing solar‐steam efficiency. This underscores the practical applications of BQE‐based technology in effectively harnessing photothermal energy. This study provides new insights into the molecular design for enhancing light‐trapping management by molecular self‐assembly, paving the way for photothermal‐driven applications of organic photothermal materials.
Aligning monitoring of virus barriers in potable reuse with unit process treatment mechanisms and time scales: A critical review and research needs
Authors: Adelman Michael J. , Oberoi Pooja , Oppenheimer Joan , Furatian Laith , Arabi Sara , Glover Caitlin M. , Jacangelo Joseph G. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractInterest is growing in potable reuse in response to water scarcity and the desire for sustainable supplies. While potable reuse systems must control a variety of physical, chemical, and microbiological contaminants, human enteric viruses are particularly concerning and drive process performance objectives due to their often‐high occurrence in source waters, small size, potential resistance to treatment, and laborious methods to determine infectivity. This paper reviews the alignment of online monitoring practices with the mechanisms and time scales of the various barriers for enteric viruses. While there are numerous studies and reviews of individual barriers, no other review has been identified that covers operational monitoring of the entire potable reuse system. This paper also provides a critical assessment of the efficacy of current practices for operational and verification monitoring of the integrity of barriers to enteric viruses in potable reuse systems. The prevalence of human enteric viruses in wastewater and associated challenges of quantifying them through treatment are discussed within the risk management frameworks currently in use or under development for potable reuse systems. Monitoring approaches are then reviewed throughout the potable reuse water cycle. Current monitoring practices are compared with treatment process mechanisms and time scales, for the treatment barriers of biological wastewater treatment, membrane bioreactors, microfiltration/ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis, ultraviolet irradiation/advanced oxidation, ozonation, granular media/biologically active filtration, and chlorination. Monitoring and pathogen removal mechanisms are also reviewed for both environmental and engineered buffers. Implications are then discussed for future areas of research in potable reuse.