bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
10.3% Efficient Green Cd‐Free Cu2ZnSnS4 Solar Cells Enabled by Liquid‐Phase Promoted Grain Growth
Authors: Yuan Xiaojie , Li Jianjun , Huang Jialiang , Yan Chang , Cui Xin , Sun Kaiwen , Cong Jialin , He Mingrui , Wang Ao , He Guojun , Mahboubi Soufiani Arman , Jiang Junjie , Zhou Shujie , Stride John A. , Hoex Bram , Green Martin , Hao Xiaojing 
Published: November 2022

AbstractSmall grain size and near‐horizontal grain boundaries are known to be detrimental to the carrier collection efficiency and device performance of pure‐sulfide Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) solar cells. However, forming large grains spanning the absorber layer while maintaining high electronic quality is challenging particularly for pure sulfide CZTS. Herein, a liquid‐phase‐assisted grain growth (LGG) model that enables the formation of large grains spanning across the CZTS absorber without compromising the electronic quality is demonstrated. By introducing a Ge‐alloyed CZTS nanoparticle layer at the bottom of the sputtered precursor, a Cu‐rich and Sn‐rich liquid phase forms at the high temperature sulfurization stage, which can effectively remove the detrimental near‐horizontal grain boundaries and promote grain growth, thus greatly improving the carrier collection efficiency and reducing nonradiative recombination. The remaining liquid phase layer at the rear interface shows a high work function, acting as an effective hole transport layer. The modified morphology greatly increases the short‐circuit current density and fill factor, enabling 10.3% efficient green Cd‐free CZTS devices. This work unlocks a grain growth mechanism, advancing the morphology control of sulfide‐based kesterite solar cells.
Coupling Cobalt Phthalocyanine Molecules on 3D Nitrogen‐Doped Vertical Graphene Arrays for Highly Efficient and Robust CO2 Electroreduction
Authors: Kong Xin , Liu Guiyang , Tian Suan , Bu Shuyu , Gao Qili , Liu Bin , Lee Chun‐Sing , Wang Pengfei , Zhang Wenjun 
Published: November 2022

AbstractMetallic phthalocyanines (MePcs) have shown their potential as catalysts for CO2 reduction reactions (CO2RR). However, their low conductivity, easy agglomeration, and poor stability enslave the further progress of their CO2RR applications. Herein, an integrated heterogeneous molecular catalyst through anchoring CoPc molecules on 3D nitrogen‐doped vertical graphene arrays (NVG) on carbon cloth (CC) is reported. The CoPc‐NVG/CC electrodes exhibit superior performance for reducing CO2 to CO with a Faradic efficiency of above 97.5% over a wide potential range (99% at an optimal potential), a very high turnover frequency of 35800 h−1, and decent stability. It is revealed that NVG interacts with CoPc to form highly efficient channels for electron transfer from NVG to CoPc, facilitating the Co(II)/Co(I) redox of CO2 reduction. The strong coupling effect between NVG and CoPc molecules not only endows CoPc with high intrinsic activity for CO2RR, but also enhances the stability of electrocatalysts under high potentials. This work paves an efficient approach for developing high‐performance heterogeneous catalysts by using rationally designed 3D integrated graphene arrays to host molecular metallic phthalocyanines so as to ameliorate their electronic structures and engineer stable active sites.
Advanced Material Engineering to Tailor Nucleation and Growth towards Uniform Deposition for Anode‐Less Lithium Metal Batteries
Authors: Qian Lanting , Zheng Yun , Or Tyler , Park Hey Woong , Gao Rui , Park Moon , Ma Qianyi , Luo Dan , Yu Aiping , Chen Zhongwei 
Published: November 2022

AbstractAnode‐less lithium metal batteries (ALMBs), whether employing liquid or solid electrolytes, have significant advantages such as lowered costs and increased energy density over lithium metal batteries (LMBs). Among many issues, dendrite growth and non‐uniform plating which results in poor coulombic efficiency are the key issues that viciously decrease the longevity of the ALMBs. As a result, lowering the nucleation barrier and facilitating lithium growth towards uniform plating is even more critical in ALMBs. While extensive reviews have focused to describe strategies to achieve high performance in LMBs and ALMBs, this review focuses on strategies designed to directly facilitate nucleation and growth of dendrite‐free ALMBs. The review begins with a discussion of the primary components of ALMBs, followed by a brief theoretical analysis of the nucleation and growth mechanism for ALMBs. The review then emphasizes key examples for each strategy in order to highlight the mechanisms and rationale that facilitate lithium plating. By comparing the structure and mechanisms of key materials, the review discusses their benefits and drawbacks. Finally, major trends and key findings are summarized, as well as an outlook on the scientific and economic gaps in ALMBs.
A Mutual Boosting Self‐Excitation Hybrid Cell for Harvesting High Entropy Energy at 32% Efficiency
Authors: Wu Jun , Liu Wenlin , Zeng Qixuan , Zhang Ying , Guo Hengyu , Zhang Xiaofang , He Wencong , Luo Yanlin , Wang Xue , Wang Zhong Lin 
Published: November 2022

AbstractTriboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) and dielectric elastomer generators (DEGs) are potentially promising energy conversion technologies, but they still have limitations due to their own intrinsic characteristics, including the low energy output of TENGs caused by the air breakdown effect, and external polarization voltage requirement for DEGs, which severely limit their practical applications. Herein, coupling TENG with DEG is proposed to build a mutual beneficial self‐excitation hybrid generator (named TDHG) for harvesting distributed and low‐quality mechanical energy (high entropy energy). Experimental results demonstrate that the output charges of this TDHG are enhanced by fivefold of that of the conventional charge‐excitation TENG, and continuous operation of DEG is also realized by simple mechanical triggering. More importantly, owing to the high peak power contributed by TENG and the long output pulse duration guaranteed by DEG, the TDHG realizes a much higher energy conversion efficiency of 32% in comparison to either the TENG (3.6%) or DEG (13.2%). This work proposes a new design concept for hybridized energy harvester toward highly efficient mechanical energy harvesting.
Membrane Assemblies with Soft Protective Layers: Dense and Gel‐Type Polybenzimidazole Membranes and Their Use in Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries
Authors: Do Xuan Huy , Abbas Saleem , Ikhsan Muhammad Mara , Choi Seung‐Young , Ha Heung Yong , Azizi Kobra , Hjuler Hans Aage , Henkensmeier Dirk 
Published: November 2022

AbstractPolybenzimidazole (PBI) membranes show excellent chemical stability and low vanadium crossover in vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs), but their high resistance is challenging. This work introduces a concept, membrane assemblies of a highly selective 2 µm thin PBI membrane between two 60 µm thick highly conductive PBI gel membranes, which act as soft protective layers against external mechanical forces and astray carbon fibers from the electrode. The soft layers are produced by casting phosphoric acid solutions of commercial PBI powder into membranes and exchanging the absorbed acid into sulfuric acid. A conductivity of 565 mS cm−1 is achieved. A stability test indicates that gel mPBI and dense PBI‐OO have higher stability than dense mPBI and dense py‐PBI, and gel/PBI‐OO/gel is successfully tested for 1070 cycles (ca. 1000 h) at 100 mA cm−2 in the VRFB. The initial energy efficiency (EE) for the first 50 cycles is 90.5 ± 0.2%, and after a power outage stabilized at 86.3 ± 0.5% for the following 500 cycles. The initial EE is one of the highest published so far, and the materials cost for a membrane assembly is 12.35 U.S. dollars at a production volume of 5000 m2, which makes these membranes very attractive for commercialization.
DeepPlayer: An open‐source SignalPlant plugin for deep learning inference
Authors: Plesinger Filip , Nejedly Petr , Koscova Zuzana , Rohr Maurice , Viscor Ivo , Smisek Radovan , Ivora Adam , Leinveber Pavel , Curila Karol , Hoog Antink Christoph 
Published: November 2022

AbstractBackground and ObjectiveMachine learning has become a powerful tool in several computation domains. The most progressive way of machine learning, deep learning, has already surpassed several algorithms designed by human experts. It also applies to the field of biomedical signal processing. However, while many experts produce deep learning models, there is no software platform for signal processing, allowing the convenient use of pre‐trained deep learning models and evaluating them using any inspected signal. This may also hinder understanding, interpretation, and explanation of results. For these reasons, we designed DeepPlayer. It is a plugin for the free signal processing software SignalPlant. The plugin allows loading deep learning models saved in the Open Neural Network Exchange (ONNX) file format and evaluating them on any given signal.MethodsThe DeepPlayer plugin and its graphical user interface were designed in C# programming language and the .NET framework. We used the inference library OnnxRuntime, which supports graphics card acceleration. The inference is executed in asynchronous tasks for a live preview and evaluation of the signals. Model outputs can be exported back to SignalPlant for further processing, such as peak detection or thresholding.ResultsWe developed the DeepPlayer plugin to evaluate deep learning models in SignalPlant. The plugin keeps with SignalPlant's interactive work with signals, such as live preview or easy selection of associated signals. The plugin can load classification or regression models and allows standard pre‐processing and post‐processing methods. We prepared several deep learning models to test the plugin. Additionally, we provide a tutorial training script that outputs an ONNX format model with correctly set metadata information. These, and the source code of the DeepPlayer plugin, are publicly accessible via GitHub and Google Colab service.ConclusionThe DeepPlayer plugin allows running deep learning models easily and interactively. Therefore, experts and non‐AI experts alike can explore and apply deep learning models for (biomedical) signal processing. Its ease of use and interactivity might also contribute to a better understanding and acceptance of AI methods in biomedicine.
Cross‐sectional and confining system unification on peak compressive strength of FRP confined concrete
Authors: Shayanfar Javad , Barros Joaquim A. O. , Rezazadeh Mohammadali 
Published: November 2022

AbstractDespite the many axial confinement models already proposed for the determination of the peak compressive strength of fiber‐reinforced polymer (FRP) confined concrete columns, they are, in general, applicable only to concrete columns of circular or square cross‐section, with full or partial confinement arrangements. In this study, by proposing a cross‐sectional and confining system unification approach, a new model is developed and calibrated based on a large test database. For the generalization of the cross‐section and FRP‐based confinement arrangement, the concept of confinement efficiency factor with a unified mathematical framework is adopted. By simulating experimental tests and comparing to the predictions of existing confinement models, the developed one demonstrates a very high reliability and suitable for design purposes by balancing the simplicity of the usage and accuracy.
Instant messaging and the facilitation of collaborative, student‐led learning and teacher‐support: the NZCEL EAP scenario
Authors: Fester Anthea , Horvath George 
Published: November 2022

AbstractIn the last couple of decades, the increased use of technology in the education sector has led to smartphone use becoming more prevalent in supporting students' learning. Apart from applications (apps) specifically designed for language educational purposes, such as Duolingo, there are also instant messaging apps that are not specifically designed for education purposes, but that can be useful in supporting learners. These include instant messaging apps such as, WhatsApp and WeChat. Instead of relegating phone app use to merely a source of entertainment and distraction, teachers increasingly use them as a vital form of communication to enhance education, including language learning. Apps have thus shifted from a tangential position to the forefront of the learning space. For the purposes of this research project, WeChat was used as the messaging app. This article focuses on the initial findings of a pilot study and concentrates on the perceived purposes for the participants' posts as they relate to the use of the app as a tool for collaboration, peer‐support, and knowledge sharing. Data was gathered through an online survey, semi‐structured interviews, and an analysis of the WeChat posts. Analysis of the posts and comments made by students during the interviews suggest that the tool formed a vital link between them, their classmates and teachers, and, at times, served as a social platform underlying the key educational purposes of the programme.
Astragaloside IV protects against oxidized low‐density lipoprotein‐induced injury in human umbilical vein endothelial cells via the histone deacetylase 9 (HDAC9)/NF‐κB axis
Authors: Chen Decai , Du Yan , Ye Shouwan , Yu Jinsong 
Published: November 2022

AbstractBackgroundAtherosclerosis is a main cause of multiple cardiovascular diseases, and cell damage of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was reported to participate in the development of atherosclerosis. In this study, we aimed to study the action of Astragaloside IV (ASV) on AS development using in vitro AS cell model.MethodsMTT assay, EdU staining assay, and flow cytometry were utilized for detection of cell proliferation and apoptosis, respectively. The protein expression of histone deacetylase 9 (HDAC9), Bax, Bcl‐2, p‐P65, P65, p‐IκBα, and IκBα was gaged using western blot. The angiogenesis was evaluated by tube formation assay. The inflammatory response was evaluated by ELISA kits. SOD activity and MDA level were detected using the matched commercial kits. RT‐qPCR was used for HDAC9 mRNA expression measurement.ResultsOxidized low‐density lipoprotein (ox‐LDL) significantly repressed cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and enhanced apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress in HUVECs. ASV addition could alleviate ox‐LDL‐caused cell damage in HUVECs. Moreover, HDAC9 was overexpressed in AS patients and AS cell model. Functionally, HDAC9 knockdown also exhibited the protective role in ox‐LDL‐treated HUVECs. In addition, ASV treatment protected against ox‐LDL‐induced damage in HUVECs via targeting HDAC9. ASV could inactivate the NF‐κB pathway via regulating HDAC9 in AS cell model.ConclusionASV exerted the protective effects on ox‐LDL‐induced damage in HUVECs through the HDAC9/NF‐κB axis.
Evaluation of impacts of vaginal implant transmitter use in moose
Authors: McDonough Thomas J. , Thompson Daniel P. , Crouse John A. , Dale Bruce W. , Badajos Oriana H. 
Published: November 2022

AbstractVaginal implant transmitters (VITs) are a popular tool in ungulate parturition studies and have been used in moose (Alces alces), but their potential impact on animal performance has not been thoroughly assessed. We looked at potential short‐term impacts of VIT use on maternal condition through assessments of neonate calf mass, early calf survival, and parturition date. We also assessed long‐term impacts of VIT use on future reproduction and the inflammatory response after prolonged VIT retention through qualifying discharge at VIT removal and measures of acute phase proteins haptoglobin and ceruloplasmin. We captured 54 neonates and assessed over 900 potential parturition events of 278 adult moose over multiple years and we did not detect any evidence of a negative impact of VIT use on neonate calf mass, parturition date, or future reproduction. We did find elevated haptoglobin and ceruloplasmin levels in non‐pregnant individuals that had unintentional VIT retention past parturition, but this was not universal across all cases. We found a potential negative impact of VIT use on early calf survival which was likely driven by biased sampling. A bias can exist (i.e., left truncation) if sampling is mixed between cows that had a VIT (and, therefore, a known parturition time) and those without a VIT that were sampled opportunistically. Future evaluations need to overcome this bias when assessing early calf survival. With that caveat, we did not detect clear negative impacts of VIT use on moose and recommend late winter to early spring VIT insertion in pregnant females to minimize retention time.
Experimental determination of the gadolinium L subshells fluorescence yields and Coster‐Kronig transition probabilities
Authors: Kayser Yves , Hönicke Philipp , Wansleben Malte , Wählisch André , Beckhoff Burkhard 
Published: November 2022

AbstractThe L subshell Coster‐Kronig (CK) transition factors of Gd have been experimentally determined by means of two different experimental approaches and compared to available literature data. On the one hand, reference‐free X‐ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis using an energy‐dispersive detector was applied. This method permitted in addition to determine the L subshell fluorescence yields since the absolute incident and emitted X‐ray photon flux can be determined. On the other hand, a wavelength‐dispersive spectrometer based on a modified von Hamos geometry using a full cylinder highly annealed pyrolithic graphite crystal was used for an experimental validation of the CK transition factors in an independent experiment. The use of this high energy resolution spectrometer allowed thanks to the capability to better discriminate the different X‐ray emission lines to validate the reference‐free XRF results. For both experiments, the use of calibrated instrumentation enabled the provision of a reliable uncertainty budget on the results obtained.
Preparation, Structure and Spectroscopic Properties of NH4[Ln(S2CNH2)4] ⋅ H2O (Ln=La, Eu)
Authors: Teske Christoph L. , Teotonio Ercules E. S. , Terraschke Huayna , Mangelsen Sebastian , Bensch Wolfgang 
Published: November 2022

AbstractThe title compounds were prepared under mild ambient conditions by a facile co‐precipitation route. NH4[Eu(S2CNH2)4] ⋅ H2O (a) and NH4[La(S2CNH2)4] ⋅ H2O (b) crystallize isotypically in the monoclinic space group P21/c with a=8.4461(3), b=13.6367(3), c=16.2945(5) Å, β=103.759(2)° (for (a)), and a=8.50484(9), b=13.84476(16), c=16.20816(17) Å, β=103.7644(11)° for (b), respectively. The spectroscopic data reveal the presence of a ligand‐to‐metal charge transfer (LMCT) process of low energy in a and in the solid solutions NH4[La1−xEux(S2CNH2)4] ⋅ H2O (x=0.016 and 0.05). Despite of the consequent efficient luminescent quenching, it was possible to recorded excitation and emission spectra at room temperature. These spectra are characterized by narrow bands due to intraconfigurational‐4f transitions of the Eu3+ ion. However, broad bands associated to the LMCT state were also observed, mainly for the solid solutions NH4[La1−xEux(S2CNH2)4] ⋅ H2O (x=0.016 and 0.05). Consequently, an intramolecular energy transfer mechanism is proposed, taking into account the role of the LMCT on the spectroscopic properties of dithiocarbamate complexes.
Social structure and habitat design affect the impact of a novel feeding enrichment for alligators
Authors: Spain Marisa , Pearson Cayle , Rosenblatt Adam E. 
Published: November 2022

AbstractProviding enrichment that expands the range of behavioral opportunities associated with food acquisition and environmental exploration is an important contributing factor to the well‐being of zoo animals. These behaviors can be difficult to promote in carnivores, given their foraging strategies and the logistical, ethical, and financial challenges of providing live prey. In this study, we introduced a novel feeding enrichment to Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens’ five adult American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) in an attempt to simulate a live prey organism within the exhibit and promote natural hunting behaviors like chasing and lunging, as well as increase daily activity levels. The enrichment promoted some behavioral goals for two of the alligators, but it did not promote behavioral goals for the other three alligators. This could have been due to a variety of factors including an existing dominance hierarchy amongst the group's females and the resulting spatial distribution of individuals across a habitat with only one water feature. Our results suggest that female alligators may carve out territories and avoid overlapping space usage with other females during the warmest months of the year. Given the outcomes and limitations of this enrichment strategy, we provide recommendations for this group specifically as well as future enrichment efforts in the general captive crocodilian population.
Rural-Urban Migrants in Mzuzu’s Informal Food Trading System
Authors: Zuze Lovemore Itai 
Published: November 2022

AbstractRural-urban migrants across Africa are seeking better economic opportunities in secondary cities, often because of the prohibitive cost of living and deteriorating living standards in primary economic and political centers. The migration of the rural poor and its implications for the food system in secondary cities are under-explored. In Malawi, Mzuzu is a secondary city with important rural-urban social economic linkages. Over the years, Mzuzu has increasingly provided refuge for both rural migrants and urban migrants from primate cities. This chapter presents the results of a city-wide food retailer study conducted in Mzuzu which sheds light on the interaction between migration and food system transformation. The majority of the 485 informal food retailers had relocated to Mzuzu from surrounding rural areas. These retailers largely procure food products from formal enterprises within the city rather than the rural areas, creating low capital third-party food retailing enterprises with small profit margins.
Secondary Cities and Urban Agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Tevera Daniel 
Published: November 2022

AbstractUrban transformations in secondary cities in sub-Saharan Africa have sparked renewed interest in local food. This chapter is based on a desktop study to explore the urban agriculture (UA) experiences of three very different secondary urban centres (Ndola, Nakuru, and Karoi). In the three urban centres while poverty is the driving force for some low-income urban farmers, other households have engaged in the activity for entrepreneurial purposes. UA in the open spaces in these three secondary urban centres is creating tension between urban developers and both resource-rich and resource-poor households. Also, rapid secondary urbanization is presenting food insecurity challenges through the displacement of urban food producers on one hand and the disruption of urban food production systems on the other hand. Urban planners in African secondary cities should find ways to understand and address these tensions in locally responsive ways that can optimize the benefits to poor households and improve the sustainability of their urban food systems.