Extended line list for the B2Σ+-X2Σ+ band system of CaF for use in laser-induced plasma studies.

Calcium monofluoride (CaF) is an important species for the sensitive detection of fluorine with laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). A line list for the B2Σ+-X2Σ+ transition system of CaF was calculated and extended from v ≤ 20 to v = 35 using empirical potential functions obtained through a direct-potential fit approach with observed transition frequencies. The line strengths were predicted using the scaled transition dipole moments calculated ab initio.

Synthesis of Mesoporous Alumina with High Specific Surface Area via Reverse Precipitation Method for Enhanced Adsorption and Regeneration of Congo Red.

Various forms of alumina have attracted considerable attention for their ability to remove anionic dyes from wastewater, attributed to their high specific surface area, and environmental safety. In this study, a series of modified alumina materials were synthesized for the first time using the reverse precipitation method with dual aluminum sources and without template agent to explore their applicability in various scenarios, including adsorption processes and regeneration cycles. The results revealed that non-modified alumina exhibited superior adsorption properties, while silicon-modified alumina demonstrated exceptional thermal stability during high temperature calcination.

Direct Cyclization of 1,3-Diketones with Malonate-Based Iodonium Ylides to Generate Dihydrofurans.

While iodonium ylides are important reactants in a wide range of reactions, the exploration of electron-transfer property of iodonium ylides remains an underdeveloped topic. Herein, we describe a direct cyclization of 1,3-diketones with malonate-based iodonium ylides to give a diverse array of dihydrofurans in moderate yields. The control experiments suggest that the electron transfer between enol and iodonium ylide gives reactive species, thus enabling a cyclization cascade process to take place to give dihydrofurans.

Nano-seeding catalysts for high-density arrays of horizontally aligned carbon nanotubes with wafer-scale uniformity.

In the realm of modern materials science, horizontally aligned carbon nanotube arrays stand as promising materials for the development of next-generation integrated circuits. However, their large-scale integration has been impeded by the constraints of current fabrication techniques, which struggle to achieve the necessary uniformity, density, and size control of carbon nanotube arrays. Overcoming this challenge necessitates a significant shift in fabrication approaches.

Electrochemical Nickel-Catalyzed Cross-Electrophile Coupling of Alkenyl Triflates with α-Chloroamides.

Cross-electrophile coupling reactions of different electrophiles have been extensively studied but mainly limited to bromides and iodides. Here, we report an electrochemically induced nickel-catalyzed cross-electrophile coupling strategy between alkenyl triflates and α-chloroamides in an undivided cell under mild reaction conditions, affording the α-functionalized amide derivatives in good to excellent yields with broad substrate scopes and good functional group tolerance. The control experiments were conducted, and a plausible mechanism was proposed.

Weak Interaction Activates Esters: Reconciling Catalytic Activity and Turnover Contradiction by Tailored Chalcogen Bonding.

The activation of esters by strong Lewis acids via the formation of covalent adducts is a classic strategy to give reactivity; however, this approach frequently incurs limited turnover due to the low efficiency in the dissociation of catalyst from a stable catalyst-product complex. While the use of some weak interaction catalysts that can easily dissociate from any bonding complexes in the reaction system would solve this catalyst turnover problem, the poor catalytic activity in the ester activation that can be provided by these noncovalent forces in turn sets up a formidable challenge. Herein, we describe the activation and catalytic transformation of esters by weak interactions, which provides a promising platform to reconcile the catalytic activity and turnover problems.

Multi-source information fusion-driven corn yield prediction using the Random Forest from the perspective of Agricultural and Forestry Economic Management.

The objective of this study is to promptly and accurately allocate resources, scientifically guide grain distribution, and enhance the precision of crop yield prediction (CYP), particularly for corn, along with ensuring application stability. The digital camera is selected to capture the digital image of a 60 m × 10 m experimental cornfield. Subsequently, the obtained data on corn yield and statistical growth serve as inputs for the multi-source information fusion (MSIF).

PVDF Nanofiber Modified with ZnO Nanowires/Polydopamine for the Treatment of Sewage Containing Heavy Metals, Organic Dyes, and Bacteria.

In various countries worldwide, the issue of wastewater contamination poses a significant threat due to its intricate composition of heavy metals, organic dyes, and microorganisms, thereby complicating the purification process. Consequently, researchers have expressed considerable interest in materials capable of eliminating organic, heavy metal, and microbial pollutants. This study focuses on the fabrication of a water purification membrane (PDA/ZnO-NWs/PVDF) with a hierarchical structure and the ability to remove multiple pollutants.

Supramolecular catalysis with ethers enabled by dual chalcogen bonding activation.

The activation of ethers by weak interactions is a long-standing objective in supramolecular catalysis, but yet it remains an underdeveloped topic. The obstacles towards solving this problem are prominent since it is difficult for a weak interaction to cleave a relatively strong C-O σ-bond and moreover, the ionic intermediate composing of an alkoxide ion and an electrophilic carbocation would deactivate weak interaction donors. Herein, we describe a distinctive activation mode, dual Se···π and Se···O bonding, that could activate benzylic as well as allylic ether C-O σ-bonds to achieve cyclization, coupling and elimination reactions.

Photocatalytic C-C Bond Cleavage and Fluorosulfonylation of Strained Cycloalkanols for Carbonyl-Containing Aliphatic Sulfonyl Fluorides.

In this report, we present a photocatalytic ring-opening fluorosulfonylation of strained cycloalkanols with sulfur dioxide and NFSI under mild conditions for the synthesis of carbonyl-containing aliphatic sulfonyl fluorides. The synthetic potential of the carbonyl-containing aliphatic sulfonyl fluoride products has been examined by diverse transformations, including SuFEx reactions and Baeyer-Villiger oxidation reactions. Mechanistic studies demonstrate that the reaction operates through a radical C-C bond cleavage/SO insertion/fluorination cascade process.

Transferring From Textual Entailment to Biomedical Named Entity Recognition.

Biomedical Named Entity Recognition (BioNER) aims at identifying biomedical entities such as genes, proteins, diseases, and chemical compounds in the given textual data. However, due to the issues of ethics, privacy, and high specialization of biomedical data, BioNER suffers from the more severe problem of lacking in quality labeled data than the general domain especially for the token-level. Facing the extremely limited labeled biomedical data, this work studies the problem of gazetteer-based BioNER, which aims at building a BioNER system from scratch.

Mussel-Inspired Multifunctional Hydrogels with Adhesive, Self-Healing, Antioxidative, and Antibacterial Activity for Wound Healing.

Antibacterial hydrogel wound dressings with adhesive and antioxidant activity are desirable for treating skin injuries in clinical care. Hereby, a series of multifunctional hydrogel wound dressings with high adhesive, self-healing, antioxidant, and antibacterial activity were designed and fabricated using dopamine (DA) and quercetin (QT). The multifunctional hydrogels were constructed by the interpenetrated quaternized chitosan chain segments and polyacrylamide network.

A tribenzocoronene-based 2D conductive metal-organic framework for efficient energy storage.

We have developed a new 2D -MOF (Cu-TBC) coordination polymerization of a highly conjugated tribenzocoronene-type organic ligand (6OH-TBC) and Cu, which exhibits excellent stability and performance as the electrode for a supercapacitor.

Quarternized chitosan/quercetin/polyacrylamide semi-interpenetrating network hydrogel with recoverability, toughness and antibacterial properties for wound healing.

Antibiotic abuse has posed enormous burdens on patients and healthcare systems. Hence, the design and development of non-antibiotic wound dressings to meet clinical demand are urgently desired. However, there remains one of the impediments to hydrogel wound dressings that integrated with good recoverability, toughness, and excellent antibacterial properties.

Electrochemical Corrosion Behavior of MIG-Welded 7N01-T4 Aluminum Alloy by ER5356 and ER5087 Welding Wires.

7N01-T4 aluminum alloy plates were welded by the metal inert gas (MIG) welding method, with ER5087 and ER5356 welding wires, respectively. The electrochemical corrosion behavior of the weld zones in the two kinds of welded joints using 3.5 wt.

Microstructure, Mechanical and Tribological Properties of SiN/Mo-Laminated Composites.

(1) Background: the applications of ceramic materials in a friction pair and a moving pair are limited, just because of their poor toughness and unsatisfactory tribological characteristics. In view of this, Mo as a soft metal layer was added into a SiN matrix to improve its toughness and tribological characteristics. (2) Methods: The microstructure and metal/ceramic transition layer were examined using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, electron dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and Vickers hardness.

Nonplanar Rhombus and Kagome 2D Covalent Organic Frameworks from Distorted Aromatics for Electrical Conduction.

Two-dimensional (2D) covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are an emerging class of promising 2D materials with high crystallinity and tunable structures. However, the low electrical conductivity impedes their applications in electronics and optoelectronics. Integrating large π-conjugated building blocks into 2D lattices to enhance efficient π-stacking and chemical doping is an effective way to improve the conductivity of 2D COFs.

Track-Etch Membranes as Tools for Template Synthesis of Highly Sensitive Pressure Sensors.

Flexible pressure sensors with high sensitivity are highly desired in wearable electronics and human-machine interaction. Introducing the surface microstructures to the capacitive-type sensors can improve sensitivity and reduce response time. However, conventional techniques for the fabrication of highly sensitive and large-area pressure sensors still remain challenging.

Topology modulation of 2D covalent organic frameworks a "two-in-one" strategy.

Topology modulation of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) still remains barely explored, probably due to the lack of appropriate building blocks. A "two-in-one" strategy applies bifunctional monomers to endow ideal stoichiometry and has recently demonstrated great potential in the facile preparation of highly crystalline two-dimensional (2D) COFs with different topologies. Herein, we employ this approach to modulate the topology of 2D COFs by varying the solvents or the monomer concentrations.

Effect of Sacubitril/Valsartan vs Standard Medical Therapies on Plasma NT-proBNP Concentration and Submaximal Exercise Capacity in Patients With Heart Failure and Preserved Ejection Fraction: The PARALLAX Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: There is limited evidence on the benefits of sacubitril/valsartan vs broader renin angiotensin system inhibitor background therapy on surrogate outcome markers, 6-minute walk distance, and quality of life in patients with heart failure and mildly reduced or preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF >40%).

Objective: To evaluate the effect of sacubitril/valsartan on N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels, 6-minute walk distance, and quality of life vs background medication-based individualized comparators in patients with chronic heart failure and LVEF of more than 40%.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A 24-week, randomized, double-blind, parallel group clinical trial (August 2017-October 2019).

Enhancing the light extraction efficiency for AlGaN-based DUV LEDs with a laterally over-etched p-GaN layer at the top of truncated cones.

It is known that light extraction efficiency (LEE) for AlGaN-based deep ultraviolet light-emitting didoes (DUV LEDs) can be enhanced by using truncated cone arrays with inclined sidewalls. In this work, the air-cavity-shaped inclined sidewall is applied and the p-GaN layer at the top of the truncated cone is laterally over-etched so that more light escape paths are generated for AlGaN-based DUV LEDs. The experimental results manifest that when compared with DUV LEDs only having the air-cavity-shaped inclined sidewall, the optical power for the DUV LEDs with laterally over-etched p-GaN at the top of the truncated cone is enhanced by 30% without sacrificing the forward bias.

Copper-Catalyzed Aminosulfonylation of -Homoallyl Benzimidates with Sodium Sulfinates to Access Sulfonylated 1,3-Oxazines.

A facile copper-catalyzed aminosulfonylation of homoallyl benzimidates with sodium sulfinates in the presence of -butyl peroxybenzoate (TBPB) and XPhos ligand has been developed. By using this protocol, a variety of potentially bioactive 1,3-oxazines were directly synthesized. This method has the merits of a cheap catalyst, easily available and stable sulfone reagents, and simple operation.

Baseline characteristics of patients in the PARALLAX trial: insights into quality of life and exercise capacity in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Aims: We sought to describe the baseline characteristics of PARALLAX [a randomized controlled trial of sacubitril/valsartan vs. individualized medical therapy in heart failure (HF) with mildly reduced and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF)]; compare PARALLAX to recent HFpEF trials; and examine the clinical characteristics associated with quality of life (QOL) and 6-min walk test distance (6MWD).

Methods And Results: A total of 2566 patients with HF and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) >40% were randomized, of whom 96% had an LVEF ≥45%.

[Biodegradation of Polystyrene by ].

Biodegradation is the most sustainable treatment method for waste polystyrene (PS). Thermophiles possess highly efficient biotransformation capabilities that could enhance the biodegradation efficiency of organic solid wastes. However, detailed research on the degradation of PS plastics by thermophile is scarce.

Donor-Acceptor Type Covalent Organic Frameworks.

Intermolecular charge transfer (ICT) effect has been widely studied in both small molecules and linear polymers. Covalently-bonded donor-acceptor pairs with tunable bandgaps and photoelectric properties endow these materials with potential applications in optoelectronics, fluorescent bioimaging, and sensors, etc. However, owing to the lack of charge transfer pathway or effective separation of charge carriers, unfavorable charge recombination gives rise to inevitable energy loss.