bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Multifunctional lightweight PANI/Ti3C2Tx‐PVDF composite foam for efficient microwave absorption
Authors: He Zimo , Shi Yiyuan , Yang Wentong , Qian Chen , Zhu Yaofeng 
Published: April 2023

AbstractThe development of multifunctional and efficient microwave‐absorbing materials for various environments is essential to safeguard human health and combat interference in the operation of precision electronic apparatus. Specifically, Ti3C2Tx is attractive for microwave absorption (MA) due to its ultra‐low thickness, high conductivity, and high polarizability. However, the MA performance of Ti3C2Tx is limited by its mismatched impedance. To meet the high requirement in MA performance, a lightweight PANI/Ti3C2Tx‐PVDF composite foam was fabricated by a NaCl‐template method and dipping absorption in this study. The MA performance of the PANI/Ti3C2Tx‐PVDF composite foam can be regulated by both the composition and the loading content of PANI/Ti3C2Tx in composite foam. After loading with 25 wt.% PANI/Ti3C2Tx, the 2.33 mm‐thick PANI/Ti3C2Tx‐PVDF composite foam reached the optimal minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of −65.21 dB at 9.23 GHz and effective bandwidth of 2.61 GHz in the range of 8.20–10.81 GHz. The favorable MA performance of the composite foam was mainly ascribed to the great impedance matching and strong dielectric loss, which originated from the modulated conductivity and porous structure. Moreover, the PANI/Ti3C2Tx‐PVDF composite foam integrated MA performance, thermal insulation function, and organic solvent absorption capacity to show multifunctionality for various applications. In summary, this study may pave the way for the facile fabrication of next‐generation multifunctional high‐efficient MA materials.
Registration of ‘Empire’ big bluestem
Authors: Casler Michael D. , Lee DoKyoung 
Published: April 2023

Abstract‘Empire’ (Reg. no. CV‐18, PI 700112) big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman) is a 54‐clone synthetic selected for high biomass yield. Empire is broadly adapted to USDA hardiness zones 3–7, ranging from the Great Plains to the eastern United States. Although Empire was developed as a high‐biomass cultivar for use in establishing perennial biomass production for conversion to bioenergy, it has a heading date similar to many other big bluestem cultivars, suggesting that it could be used as a forage crop as well for either hay or pasture production. Under an optimal single‐harvest biomass production management, Empire ranked 1st in biomass yield for 8 of 12 locations in multiple‐year trials averaged over a total of 40 environments (location‐trial‐years). Biomass yield of Empire, averaged over 12 locations, was 30% higher than ‘Goldmine’, 46% higher than ‘Champ’, and 52% higher than ‘Bonanza’. Ground cover of Empire was slightly higher than for most check cultivars, averaging 80% across all 12 locations. Empire is broadly adapted to USDA hardiness zones 3–6, extending from the Great Plains to the eastern United States and was released to the public by the USDA Agricultural Research Service in 2021.
Do “Newly Born” orphan proteins resemble “Never Born” proteins? A study using three deep learning algorithms
Authors: Liu Jing , Yuan Rongqing , Shao Wei , Wang Jitong , Silman Israel , Sussman Joel L. 
Published: April 2023

Abstract“Newly Born” proteins, devoid of detectable homology to any other proteins, known as orphan proteins, occur in a single species or within a taxonomically restricted gene family. They are generated by the expression of novel open reading frames, and appear throughout evolution. We were curious if three recently developed programs for predicting protein structures, namely, AlphaFold2, RoseTTAFold, and ESMFold, might be of value for comparison of such “Newly Born” proteins to random polypeptides with amino acid content similar to that of native proteins, which have been called “Never Born” proteins. The programs were used to compare the structures of two sets of “Never Born” proteins that had been expressed—Group 1, which had been shown experimentally to possess substantial secondary structure, and Group 3, which had been shown to be intrinsically disordered. Overall, although the models generated were scored as being of low quality, they nevertheless revealed some general principles. Specifically, all four members of Group 1 were predicted to be compact by all three algorithms, in agreement with the experimental data, whereas the members of Group 3 were predicted to be very extended, as would be expected for intrinsically disordered proteins, again consistent with the experimental data. These predicted differences were shown to be statistically significant by comparing their accessible surface areas. The three programs were then used to predict the structures of three orphan proteins whose crystal structures had been solved, two of which display novel folds. Surprisingly, only for the protein which did not have a novel fold, and was taxonomically restricted, rather than being a true orphan, did all three algorithms predict very similar, high‐quality structures, closely resembling the crystal structure. Finally, they were used to predict the structures of seven orphan proteins with well‐identified biological functions, whose 3D structures are not known. Two proteins, which were predicted to be disordered based on their sequences, are predicted by all three structure algorithms to be extended structures. The other five were predicted to be compact structures with only two exceptions in the case of AlphaFold2. All three prediction algorithms make remarkably similar and high‐quality predictions for one large protein, HCO_11565, from a nematode. It is conjectured that this is due to many homologs in the taxonomically restricted family of which it is a member, and to the fact that the Dali server revealed several nonrelated proteins with similar folds. An animated Interactive 3D Complement (I3DC) is available in Proteopedia at http://proteopedia.org/w/Journal:Proteins:3
Hydrogen hazards and gas detection—Electrolyzer case study
Authors: Marszal Edward M. , Smith Beth 
Published: April 2023

AbstractHydrogen is a strong candidate for fueling the green energy transition. Hydrogen, like all stores of potential energy, can be dangerous if not handled properly. The most common, and rapidly growing, source of green hydrogen is electrolysis of water. Electrolyzers split the water molecule into hydrogen and oxygen molecules. Hydrogen is flammable while oxygen is an oxidizer. If hydrogen escapes, a hazardous condition can be generated, which may have significant safety consequences. As a result, a commonly employed safeguard is a gas detection system with automatic shutdowns. This paper presents an overview of the hazards of hydrogen generation through electrolysis, and then presents a case study of the design of a gas detection system for an electrolyzer facility. The design of the gas detection system included using gas detection mapping approaches recommended by ISA TR 84.00.07 for placement of the required detectors along with recommendations by IEC 61511 for the design of the associated automatic shutdown of the electrolyzer and return to a safe state.
Echinocystic acid prevents obesity and fatty liver via interacting withFABP1
Authors: Xiao Lianggui , Li Mingming , Xiao Yang , Yu Lin , Li Yu , Zhang Zhiwang , Zhang Guo , Li Yixing , Zhou Lei , Liang Yunxiao 
Published: April 2023

AbstractLong‐term high‐fat diet (HFD) will lead to obesity and their complications. Echinocystic acid (EA), a triterpene, shows anti‐inflammatory and antioxidant effects. We predict that EA supplementation can prevent obesity, diabetes, and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. To test our hypothesis, we investigated the effects of EA supplementation on mice with HFD‐induced obesity in vivo and in vitro by adding EA to the diet of mice and the medium of HepG2 cells, the protein target of EA was analyzed by molecular docking. The results showed that EA ameliorated obesity and inhibited blood triglyceride and liver triglyceride concentrations than those in the HFD groups. The data on molecular docking indicated that FABP1 was a potential target of EA. Further experimental results confirmed that EA affected the triglyceride level by regulating the function of FABP1. This study may provide a new potential inhibitor for FABP1 and a new strategy for the treatment of obesity.
Allocation in platform trials to maintain comparability across time and eligibility
Authors: Viele Kert 
Published: April 2023

SummaryPlatform trials, with arms entering and leaving the trial over time, are complex. In addition to trial changes over time, certain arms in a platform may come with patient restrictions. Both of these issues (time and eligibility) can create biases in comparing active arms to control. The largest of these biases, using non‐concurrent controls or including control patients that were ineligible for an active arm, have been extensively discussed in the literature. Here we show that even restricting to concurrent, eligible controls can induce biases if proper allocation ratios are not maintained throughout the platform. We also build on results in Ventz et al. Biostat., 19:199–215, 2018 to describe an algorithm that guarantees comparability between active and control groups in arm analyses in both time and eligibility, and allows for both re‐randomization of patients and two‐stage randomization procedures. The resulting method is both flexible and easily implemented, allowing robust comparisons when assumptions that underlie alternative randomization methods are in doubt.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Catalytic Reactivities of Novel Dinuclear Cu(II) Complexes : Efficient Ring Opening Reaction of Epoxide
Authors: Ahn Hye Mi , Lee Jiyoung , Lee Minji , Kim Yong Sung , Yun Jin Yeong , Lee Jae Jun , Kim Sung‐Jin , Kim Youngmee , Kim Cheal 
Published: April 2023

AbstractNovel tridentate N2O‐type ligands L1–L4 (((((X‐benzyl)pyridine‐2‐yl)methylamino)methyl)phenol); L1 for X=4‐CH3, L2 for X=H, L3 for X=2‐F, L4 for X=4‐CF3) and their dinuclear copper(II) complexes C1–C4 (C1 for [(L1)2Cu2(NO3)2], C2 for [(L2)2Cu2(NO3)2], C3 for [(L3)2Cu2(NO3)2] and C4 for [(L4)2Cu2(NO3)2]) was synthesized and verified by 1H NMR, IR, and ESI‐Mass. The structural forms of the copper complexes were determined by X‐ray crystallography. The dinuclear copper complexes C1–C4 showed efficient ring‐opening properties of epoxides with methanol under mild conditions. In particular, the copper complex C1 having electron‐donating group in the ligand showed the most efficient reactivity in the ring opening of epoxides. The sole attack at the benzylic carbon of styrene oxide and the less steric preference in 1,2‐epoxyhexane demonstrated that the regiochemistry of the ring opening catalyzed by dinuclear copper complexes might be dependent on the electronic feature of epoxide.
Gamma‐Irradiation‐Assisted Synthesis and Characterization of Xanthan Gum/Agar/Gelatin/ZnO Nanocomposite Hydrogels and their Antimicrobial Activity
Authors: Mohamed Mai M. , Sayed Asmaa , Mahmoud Ghada A. 
Published: April 2023

AbstractNanocomposite biohydrogels comprised of Xanthan gum, Agar, and Gelatin including different weight ratios of Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO−NPs) have been prepared via gamma irradiation technique in presence of methylene bis acrylamide (MBAm) as a crosslinking agent to be employed as antibacterial environmentally benign formulations. The prepared hydrogels were characterized by several techniques: Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy for confirming the chemical structure, X‐ray diffraction for crystallographic features and thermal gravimetric analysis for thermal properties. The AFM and SEM were used for investigating the surface features and morphology of the biohydrogels. The results showed that both Gamma irradiation and incorporation of ZnO−NPs improve the gel (wt %) of the prepared biohydrogel nanocomposite from 42.8±1.5 wt% for the unirradiated composite to 81.2±0.9 wt% after exposed to 20 kGy and reaches to 92±0.68 wt% in addition of 0.5×10−2 g of ZnO−NPs. Also, the effect of ZnO−NPs on the antimicrobial activity of the biohydrogel was verified. It was found that the prepared nanocomposite biohydrogels possess good thermal stability and remarkable antimicrobial activity towards different pathogens, thus they can be used in possible biological applications.
Sub‐Picosecond Carrier Dynamics Explored using Automated High‐Throughput Studies of Doping Inhomogeneity within a Bayesian Framework
Authors: Al‐Abri Ruqaiya , Al Amairi Nawal , Church Stephen , Byrne Conor , Sivakumar Sudhakar , Walton Alex , Magnusson Martin H. , Parkinson Patrick 
Published: April 2023

AbstractBottom–up production of semiconductor nanomaterials is often accompanied by inhomogeneity resulting in a spread in electronic properties which may be influenced by the nanoparticle geometry, crystal quality, stoichiometry, or doping. Using photoluminescence spectroscopy of a population of more than 11 000 individual zinc‐doped gallium arsenide nanowires, inhomogeneity is revealed in, and correlation between doping and nanowire diameter by use of a Bayesian statistical approach. Recombination of hot‐carriers is shown to be responsible for the photoluminescence lineshape; by exploiting lifetime variation across the population, hot‐carrier dynamics is revealed at the sub‐picosecond timescale showing interband electronic dynamics. High‐throughput spectroscopy together with a Bayesian approach are shown to provide unique insight in an inhomogeneous nanomaterial population, and can reveal electronic dynamics otherwise requiring complex pump‐probe experiments in highly non‐equilibrium conditions.
Regulation of Electrocatalytic Behavior by Axial Oxygen Enhances the Catalytic Activity of CoN4 Sites for CO2 Reduction
Authors: Wang Zhaodi , Han Ye , Li Bo , Peng Peng , Zang Shuang‐Quan 
Published: April 2023

AbstractRecent studies have found that the existence of oxygen around the active sites may be essential for efficient electrochemical CO2‐to‐CO conversion. Hence, this work proposes the modulation of oxygen coordination and investigates the as‐induced catalytic behavior in CO2RR. It designs and synthesizes conjugated phthalocyanine frameworks catalysts (CPF‐Co) with abundant CoN4 centers as an active source, and subsequently modifies the electronic structure of CPF‐Co by introducing graphene oxide (GO) with oxygen‐rich functional groups. A systematic study reveals that the axial coordination between oxygen and the catalytic sites could form an optimized O‐CoN4 structure to break the electron distribution symmetry of Co, thus reducing the energy barrier to the activation of CO2 to COOH*. Meanwhile, by adjusting the content of oxygen, the proper supports can also facilitate the charge transfer efficiency between the matrix layer and the catalytic sites. The optimized CPF‐Co@LGO exhibits a high TOF value (2.81 s−1), CO selectivity (97.6%) as well as stability (24 h) at 21 mA cm−2 current density. This work reveals the modulation of oxygen during CO2RR and provides a novel strategy for the design of efficient electrocatalysts, which may inspire new exploration and principles for CO2RR.
The feasibility of climate action: Bridging the inside and the outside view through feasibility spaces
Authors: Jewell Jessica , Cherp Aleh 
Published: April 2023

AbstractThe feasibility of different options to reduce the risks of climate change has engaged scholars for decades. Yet there is no agreement on how to define and assess feasibility. We define feasible as “do‐able under realistic assumptions.” A sound feasibility assessment is based on causal reasoning; enables comparison of feasibility across climate options, contexts, and implementation levels; and reflexively considers the agency of its audience. Global climate scenarios are a good starting point for assessing the feasibility of climate options since they represent causal pathways, quantify implementation levels, and consider policy choices. Yet, scenario developers face difficulties to represent all relevant causalities, assess the realism of assumptions, assign likelihood to potential outcomes, and evaluate the agency of their users, which calls for external feasibility assessments. Existing approaches to feasibility assessment mirror the “inside” and the “outside” view coined by Kahneman and co‐authors. The inside view considers climate change as a unique challenge and seeks to identify barriers that should be overcome by political choice, commitment, and skill. The outside view assesses feasibility through examining historical analogies (reference cases) to the given climate option. Recent studies seek to bridge the inside and the outside views through “feasibility spaces,” by identifying reference cases for a climate option, measuring their outcomes and relevant characteristics, and mapping them together with the expected outcomes and characteristics of the climate option. Feasibility spaces are a promising method to prioritize climate options, realistically assess the achievability of climate goals, and construct scenarios with empirically‐grounded assumptions.This article is categorized under:
Climate, History, Society, Culture > Disciplinary Perspectives
Assessing Impacts of Climate Change > Representing Uncertainty
The Carbon Economy and Climate Mitigation > Decarbonizing Energy and/or Reducing Demand
Influence of the storage procedure on the trace element content measured in the aquatic moss Fontinalis antipyretica Hedw
Authors: Villares Rubén , Vázquez María Dolores , Real Carlos 
Published: April 2023

AbstractAquatic bryophytes have been used as pollution biomonitors for decades. Despite this, sample collection and preparation methods have not been standardized, which makes it difficult to compare the results of different studies. Most times, the samples have to be stored before processing, for example, when many of them are collected in a short time, as occurs in extensive pollution studies. Storage must be done in a way that does not change the pollutant concentrations in the samples. We studied whether the concentrations of Al, As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn in the aquatic moss Fontinalis antipyretica were affected by three storage procedures: dry at room temperature, fresh (in refrigerator at 6°C), and frozen at −20°C. In addition, we evaluated whether the subsequent washing of the samples affected the concentrations of these elements differently depending on the storage method. Our results showed that the three methods were, in general, adequate since the concentrations did not change, and we did not observe differences between washed and unwashed samples either. Since the simplest method is refrigeration, we concluded that this is the best of them. However, the concentrations of Hg increased steadily over time in the fresh material, probably because of redistribution after volatilization from the basal parts of the mosses. We believe that the respiration of the plants lowered the concentrations of oxygen inside the hermetically sealed bags containing the samples, thus promoting the reduction of the Hg and its posterior volatilization and redistribution. We did not observe interactions between the storage method and the posterior washing of the samples.Practitioner Points
We studied the influence of storage procedure on element content in aquatic mosses.
The procedures were as follows: dried at room temperature, stored in refrigerator, and frozen.
The procedures did not change the element contents, except for Hg in refrigerator.
All the procedures seemed suitable, but refrigeration was the simplest one.
Breeding season behaviors of captive tawny frogmouth (Podargus strigoides) pairs
Authors: Hoekzema Han , Baskir Eli , Kozlowski Corinne , Elden Marija , Powell David M. 
Published: April 2023

AbstractWhile courtship and breeding in birds is a topic of much study, behaviors of nocturnal species are difficult to observe. This study provides an ethogram and comparative analysis of relevant breeding and nonbreeding behaviors of three captive tawny frogmouth (Podargus strigoides) pairs at the Saint Louis Zoo. Infrared cameras were used to record nighttime activity, and 30 h of footage per pair were analyzed. Notable behaviors included a significant increase in nest‐building activity in a pair 9–13 days before egg‐laying, and a difference in the use of copulation signals between the two breeding females, with one accepting copulation attempts more readily than the other. Bill gaping behavior was determined to not be directly related to courtship. These results provide a preliminary description of tawny frogmouth behaviors during the breeding season and provide a basis on which further studies of both captive and wild tawny frogmouths can build.
The Admission of Foreign Workers to Italy: Closing the “Gap” with Northern Europe
Authors: Devitt Camilla 
Published: April 2023

AbstractA common perspective in migration studies is that of a North-South divide in European labour migration governance, with Southern European countries exhibiting a distinct – and generally less efficient – approach to the admission of migrants. Southern European states are known for their use of quotas, regularisations and the lack of emphasis on attracting highly skilled labour immigrants from outside of the European Union (EU). This chapter explores Italian labour immigration policy to assess whether its admission policy and practice has traditionally diverged from the Northern European approach and, if this has been the case, whether it has remained dissimilar since the disruption of the international financial crisis of 2008. I find similarities and differences between the Italian regime and labour immigration regimes in Northern Europe between the late 1990s and 2008. While the regulatory instruments (apart from general numerical limits on labour immigration) were like those used in Northern Europe, the Italian system was more open to permanent low and medium skilled labour immigration from outside the EU and had a more significant gap between itsfaçade(laws) and practice than its neighbours in the North. The similarities with Northern European regimes have increased since 2008, as the system has become more selective, emphasising seasonal and occupational/sectoral permits, along with a stronger reliance on free movement and non-economic forms of immigration.
The Greek Asylum Regime: From Latecomer on Reception to Inspirational Model on Asylum Procedures
Authors: Dimitriadi Angeliki 
Published: April 2023

AbstractFrom asylum processing to reception, Greece since 2015 has undergone a gradual transformation that re-enforces its role as the external border of the European Union. The European refugee “crisis” of 2015, the closure of the Western Balkan route and particularly the EU-Turkey Statement of 2016, triggered a series of emergency measures that resulted in a new asylum regime. On the one hand, the “crisis” resulted in a newly formed reception system, with non-state actors taking an unprecedented role in offering reception services. Here, Greece maintains the role of the “student”, seeking to offer similar reception as most of its European partners. On the other hand, a differentiated asylum system emerged between land and sea borders, making Greece the only country with two parallel asylum processes. The chapter explores the different elements of the asylum regime in the country in the period 2015–2019, and argues that some of the practices on the maritime border, from the hotspots to the fast track border procedure, have found their way to the New Pact on Migration and Asylum of 2020, suggesting that in this case Greece functions as an inspirational model for Europe.