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Solvent competition for London dispersion attenuates its energetic significance in molecular recognition processes. By varying both the stacked contact area and the solvent, here we experimentally deconvolute solvent attenuation using molecular balances. Experimental stacking energies (phenyl to pyrene) correlated strongly with calculations only when dispersion was considered. Such calculations favoured stacking by up to −27 kJ mol−1 in the gas phase, but it was weakly disfavoured in our solution‐phase experiments (+0.5 to +4.6 kJ mol−1). Nonetheless, the propensity for stacking increased with contact area and in solvents with lower bulk polarisabilities that compete less for dispersion. Experimental stacking energies per unit change in solvent accessible area ranged from −0.02 kJ mol−1 Å−2 in CS2, to −0.05 kJ mol−1 Å−2 in CD2Cl2, but were dwarfed by the calculated gas‐phase energy of −0.6 kJ mol−1 Å−2. The results underscore the challenge facing the exploitation of dispersion in solution. Solvent competition strongly but imperfectly cancels dispersion at molecular recognition interfaces, making the energetic benefits difficult to realise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Shewhart control chart is a prominent tool for identifying the changes in process parameters that are of large magnitude, however, it has reduced ability to identify the process changes of small magnitudes. On the other hand, an exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) control chart is superior to the Shewhart chart in identifying process changes of small magnitudes but it is less proficient than the later chart in identifying changes of large magnitudes. This paper suggests nonparametric combined Shewhart‐EWMA (CSE) charts based on the sign statistic for the process location and process dispersion. The statistical performance measures of these charts are obtained using a Markov chain approach. The numerical comparisons revealed that the performance of a CSE chart lies within the range of the Shewhart sign and EWMA sign charts for identifying a process change of any magnitude. A real‐data example is provided to illustrate the mechanism of the chart. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bifunctional catalysts are widely used in the hydroisomerization of long‐chain n‐alkanes, which are of great significance in the production of high value‐added chemicals. Herein, the Ni/ZSM‐23‐W and Ni/ZSM‐23‐EG catalysts were prepared using water and ethylene glycol, respectively. The catalysts were characterized using XRD, SEM, TEM, NH3‐TPD, Py–IR, H2‐TPR, H2‐TPD, ICP–OES, and XPS, and their catalytic performance was evaluated by conducting the hydroisomerization of n‐hexadecane as a model reaction. It was revealed that the polarity of the impregnating solvent has a significant impact on the dispersion of Ni nanoparticles. When employing ethylene glycol as a solvent, a strong interaction occurred between NiOx and ZSM‐23 in the Ni/ZSM‐23‐EG catalyst, which facilitated the formation of small‐sized and well‐dispersed Ni nanoparticles. Consequently, the Ni/ZSM‐23‐EG catalyst demonstrated a strong hydrogenation capacity, yielding an impressive 72.9% of iso‐hexadecanes yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A weak formulation is devised for the K(m,n)$K(m,n)$ equation, which is a nonlinearly dispersive generalization of the gKdV equation  having compacton solutions. With this formulation, explicit weak compacton solutions are derived, including ones that do not exist as classical (strong) solutions. Similar results are obtained for a nonlinearly dispersive generalization of the gKP equation in two dimensions, which possesses line compacton solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surfactant‐assisted co‐precipitation for catalyst preparation is an excellent potential preparation method for enhanced metal‐support interactions and abundant oxygen vacancy. Cu/SiO2 catalysts were prepared containing either glycolic acid ethoxylate lauryl ether (BRIJ35, B5), polyethylene oxide‐polypropylene oxide‐polyethylene oxide (P123 P3), or no surfactant. After further treatment with surfactants, the 1,6‐hexanediol selectivity was significantly increased, especially for P123 surfactant. The Cu/SiO2‐P3 catalyst showed good performance, which may be related to more surface basic amount, the larger dispersion of the Cu and abundant oxygen vacancy. Abundant Ovac may facilitate the hydrogenation of DMA by weakening the C=O bond. After the Cu/SiO2 catalyst was treated with surfactant, the micropores disappeared and SBET of the catalyst increased. Among them, Cu/SiO2‐P3 had the largest specific surface area (312.6 m2 g−1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ionogels, as a novel class of environmentally friendly electronic materials, have received extensive attention. This study successfully prepared P(AM‐co‐AA) ionogel with optical transparency and flexibility via chemical polymerization. Experimental outcomes reveal that the dispersion of anions and cations within the ionogel is effectively controlled by the polymer network, resulting in distinct dispersive dielectric property, which is suitable for applications in electromagnetic metamaterials. Leveraging these properties, two distinct electromagnetic metamaterial devices are developed: An Ionogel‐based Broadband Absorber achieves over 90% absorption across 10.9–25.36 GHz, and An Ionogel‐based Frequency Selective Rasorber (FSR) transmits within 4.62–5.86 GHz, exhibiting minimal insertion loss −1.45 dB and achieves greater than 90% absorption from 13 to 17.8 GHz. High agreement between experimental results and simulations validates the feasibility of utilizing ionogel in electromagnetic metamaterial applications and introduces a novel paradigm and methodology for designing and fabricating flexible electromagnetic metamaterial devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Milvexian is an oral, small‐molecule factor XIa inhibitor being developed to prevent thromboembolic events. This study assessed the absolute bioavailability (F) of milvexian following single doses of milvexian spray‐dried dispersion (SDD) formulation under fed and fasted conditions, and milvexian solution, in healthy adult participants using an intravenous microtracer approach. This was a phase I, open‐label, partially randomized, 4‐sequence, 5‐period crossover study. After fasting for ≥10 h, participants received milvexian 200‐mg oral solution with a 100‐μg 14C milvexian intravenous microtracer at the time of maximum observed plasma concentration. Following a 3‐day washout, participants were randomized to 1 of 4 milvexian SDD treatment sequences in a crossover fashion: 25 mg fasted, 25 mg fed, 200 mg fasted, or 200 mg fed. Pharmacokinetic data were collected up to 72 h postdose. Seventeen participants were dosed, and 14 completed treatment. Under fasted conditions, milvexian F was ~100%, 58.2%, and 54.2% following administration of the oral solution, 25 mg SDD, and 200 mg SDD, respectively. Under fed conditions, milvexian F following 25 mg and 200 mg SDD was 44.3% and 75.6%, respectively. The milvexian SDD formulation at 25 mg and 200 mg resulted in similar F in a fasted state; under fed conditions, milvexian F decreased at 25 mg and increased at 200 mg. These findings clarify pharmacokinetic‐related gaps observed in previous studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The step stress accelerated degradation test (SSADT) is an effective tool for assessing the reliability of highly reliable products. However, conducting an SSADT is expensive and time consuming, and the obtained SSADT data has an impact on the accuracy of the subsequent product reliability index estimations. Consequently, devising a cost‐constrained SSADT plan that yields high‐precision reliability estimates poses a significant challenge. This paper focuses on the optimal design of SSADT for the Tweedie exponential dispersion process with random effect (TEDR), a general degradation model capable of describing product heterogeneity. Under given budget and boundary constraints, the optimal sample size, observation frequency and observation times at each stress level are obtained by minimizing the asymptotic variance of the estimated quantile life at normal operating conditions. The sensitivity and stability of the SSADT plan are also studied, and the results indicate the robustness of the optimal plan against slight parameters fluctuations. We use the expectation maximization (EM) algorithm to estimate TEDR parameters and reliability indicators under SSADT, providing a systematic method for obtaining the optimal SSADT plan under budget constraints. The proposed framework is illustrated using the case of LED chips data, showcasing its potential for practical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous MXene dispersion suffers from a bottleneck issue of oxidation, leading to its gradual deterioration and ultimately compromised physicochemical characteristics. Herein, Tris‐HCl buffer is employed to stabilize the diluted Ti3C2Tx‐MXene dispersion (0.05 mg mL−1) through the synergy of its potent pH‐regulation capability and capping effect toward oxidation‐susceptible defects/edges. Tris‐HCl functionalized Ti3C2Tx maintained its original morphology, structure, and favorable dispersity even after 150 days of aging under naturally aerated conditions. The pH‐regulation nature of Tris‐HCl is elucidated through solution monitoring of Ti3C2Tx dispersion, while the adsorption of Tris‐HCl onto defects/edges is revealed by spectral analysis and multi‐scale simulations. Tris‐HCl at the neutral pH can bind to the negatively charged basal plane of Ti3C2Tx via +HTris moiety, while the other moiety (Tris) interacts with the exposed edge‐based Ti atoms and/or intrinsic defects, forming a Ti─N bond that prevents MXene from attack by H2O and O2. Besides, Tris‐HCl stabilized Ti3C2Tx exhibited nearly identical capacitive characteristics to its freshly‐etched counterpart, indicating the minimal impact of Tris‐HCl on electrochemical performance of Ti3C2Tx during long‐term storage. This study provides practical guidance for stabilizing MXene in their native aqueous dispersion without compromising the inherent properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A multi‐technique analysis was used to investigate how the orientation of single‐crystal Si wafer surfaces affects the size, shape and orientation of NiSi2 nanocrystals grown within the wafers through the thermal diffusion of Ni atoms from a nickel‐doped thin film deposited on the surface. Nickel‐doped thin films were prepared on silicon wafers with three distinct crystallographic orientations, [001], [110] and [111]. Three sets of samples were then annealed at 500, 600 and 700°C for 2 h. Regardless of crystallographic orientation or annealing temperature, NiSi2 nanoplates with a nearly hexagonal shape grew close to the external surface of the wafers, aligning their larger surfaces parallel to one of the planes of the Si{111} crystallographic form. The crystallographic orientation and annealing temperature in the 500–700°C range did not significantly affect the final values of the average diameter and thickness of the nanoplates. However, significant differences were noted in the number of nanoplates formed in Si wafers with different crystallographic orientations. The results indicate that these observed differences are correlated with the number of pre‐existing defects in the wafers that influence the heterogeneous nucleation process. In addition, the average size and size dispersion were determined for pores at the surface of the Si wafers formed due to the etching process used for native oxide removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium carbide (Ti3C2Tx) MXene has attracted significant attention due to its exceptional properties and versatile solution processibility. However, MXene dispersions are prone to various degradation processes, leading to the formation of byproducts that negatively affect its morphological, electrical, and mechanical properties. Through the years, several methods have been developed to mitigate MXene degradation; however, divergent viewpoints on the understanding of degradation mechanisms are prevalent, hindering the development of versatile strategies in producing environmentally stable MXene dispersions. This review provides a chronological analysis of the research efforts aimed at unraveling the underlying mechanisms of MXene degradation and highlights strategies for circumventing this process. This review discusses apparent inconsistencies in experimental findings and theoretical models. These discrepancies prompt further investigation for a clearer understanding of the degradation process in MXene. This narrative allows readers to follow the evolution of dominant theories and disputes and to ultimately stimulate further investigation, aiming for a better understanding of this process. It is anticipated that identifying the fundamental factors affecting the oxidation of MXene dispersions will enable their full‐scale processing into higher‐order structures and practical devices with greater longevity and long‐term performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The neuronal tricarboxylic acid and glutamate/glutamine (Glu/Gln) cycles play important roles in brain function. These processes can be measured in vivo using dynamic 1H–[13C] MRS during administration of 13C‐labeled glucose. Proton‐observed carbon‐edited (POCE) MRS enhances the signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) compared with direct 13C‐MRS. Ultra‐high field further boosts the SNR and increases spectral dispersion; however, even at 7 T, Glu and Gln 1H‐resonances may overlap. Further gain can be obtained with selective POCE (selPOCE). Our aim was to create a setup for indirect dynamic 1H–[13C] MRS in the human brain at 7 T. A home‐built non‐shielded transmit–receive 13C‐birdcage head coil with eight transmit–receive 1H‐dipole antennas was used together with a 32‐channel 1H‐receive array. Electromagnetic simulations were carried out to ensure that acquisitions remained within local and global head SAR limits. POCE‐MRS was performed using slice‐selective excitation with semi‐localization by adiabatic selective refocusing (sLASER) and stimulated echo acquisition mode (STEAM) localization, and selPOCE‐MRS using STEAM. Sequences were tested in a phantom containing non‐enriched Glu and Gln, and in three healthy volunteers during uniformly labeled 13C‐glucose infusions. In one subject the voxel position was alternated between bi‐frontal and bi‐occipital placement within one session. [4‐13C]Glu‐H4 and [4‐13C]Gln‐H4 signals could be separately detected using both STEAM‐POCE and STEAM‐selPOCE in the phantom. In vivo, [4,5‐13C]Glx could be detected using both sLASER‐POCE and STEAM‐POCE, with similar sensitivities, but [4,5‐13C]Glu and [4,5‐13C]Gln signals could not be completely resolved. STEAM‐POCE was alternately performed bi‐frontal and bi‐occipital within a single session without repositioning of the subject, yielding similar results. With STEAM‐selPOCE, [4,5‐13C]Glu and [4,5‐13C]Gln could be clearly separated. We have shown that with our setup indirect dynamic 1H–[13C] MRS at 7 T is feasible in different locations in the brain within one session, and by using STEAM‐selPOCE it is possible to separate Glu from Gln in vivo while obtaining high quality spectra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many in‐lab studies have demonstrated that the distribution of word learning moments affects the strength and quality of word representations. How are words distributed in speech to children in their daily lives, and how is distribution related to other input characteristics? The present study analyzes transcripts of language input to English‐learning infants from three longitudinal, naturalistic corpora captured between 6 and 39 months of age. To describe how word frequency varies across time, we calculated dispersion scores for all word types for each child. Dispersion quantifies the deviation of observed frequencies in each recording session from expected (uniform across sessions) word frequency, providing a measure of how evenly word utterances were spread across sessions. Dispersion is strongly correlated with frequency and moderately correlated with concreteness across all corpora, such that high frequency and low concreteness words are more evenly dispersed. Correlations with measures of age of acquisition (AoA) varied across corpora, and dispersion did not reliably predict AoA above and beyond frequency and concreteness. The contradiction between the current results and results from in‐lab experiments is discussed. This study provides a foundation to explore how word learning unfolds across time and contexts in the real world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On‐chip integrated meta‐optics hold tremendous potential for optical imaging and display applications compatible with integrated photonic devices. Despite recent endeavors in multi‐dimensional image display, it remains a challenge to realize dynamic holography applications with on‐chip integration scheme and facile accessible tuning approach. Herein, an on‐chip hydrogel‐waveguiding platform with single‐step fabrication is demonstrated for dynamic colorful holography. By exploiting the optical tunable property of the waveguiding hydrogel, the on‐chip hydrogel metasurface enables optical concealment ON/OFF and dynamic dual‐channel holographic switch within 310 ms through a simple exhalation process. Furthermore, utilizing the waveguiding hydrogel dispersion and the correlation between extraction efficiency and relative humidity, a color‐mixed holographic image is encrypted and successfully exhibited at specific humidity condition. Beyond the conventional static on‐chip monochromatic holography, such a dynamic on‐chip hydrogel platform enjoys satisfactory humidity‐responsivity, high integration capability, full‐color potential, and zero‐order diffraction interference‐free, which suggests potential applications in active optical information concealment/encryption, full‐color holography, and next‐generation wearable AR devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer‐based radiation shielding materials are receiving more and more interests due to their desirable advantages in lightweight and maneuverability. Herein, we employ polypropylene (PP) as the matrix to construct γ‐ray shielding composites through the embedment of PbO particles with a wet reaction melt blending method. From the changes in dynamic rheological behaviors and fracture surface of PP/PbO composite, it can be found that the gradient addition of PbO particles facilitates the formation of heterogeneous network structure with, and high PbO content may make the composites undergo a “liquid–solid” transition. Rheological temperature and time scanning show that both PbO content and heterogeneous network structure greatly contribute to the storage modulus (G') and thermal stability. The γ‐ray (137Cs) shielding tests manifest that BPP/PbO‐4 has the best shielding performance, whose thicknesses of half value layer (HVL) and tenth value layer (TVL) are 0.32 and 1.05 cm, respectively, obviously smaller than those shielding materials ever reported. The analyses on effective atomic number (Zeff) and effective electron density (NE) reveal that the good shielding performance of BPP/PbO‐4 benefits from its proper content and dispersion of PbO particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of crystal phase of TiO2 on the catalytic performance of transfer hydrogenation using formic acid (HCOOH) over Pd/TiO2 catalyst has not been clarified before. In this study, Pd/TiO2 catalysts with four typical TiO2 crystal phases, that is, rutile, anatase, brookite, and TiO2(B), were synthesized and analyzed. The catalytic results showed that the TiO2 crystal phase could vary the transfer hydrogenation performance of the Pd/TiO2 catalysts by several to tens of times, which was in the following tendency: Pd/rutile > Pd/anatase > Pd/brookite > Pd/TiO2(B). Detailed comparison manifests the Pd dispersion state is obviously different on various TiO2 surfaces, which the relatively small particle size and more metallic are observed on Pd/rutile and Pd/anatase catalysts, contributing to the high catalytic performance. The reaction mechanism study further indicates that HCOOH on Pd/rutile is more liable to be dehydrogenated than that on other Pd/TiO2 catalysts, especially for the transformation of bidentate to monodentate formate. Pd/brookite shows the relatively highest selectivity of HCOOH dehydration. However, it is difficult for the HCOOH dehydrogenation to occur on Pd/TiO2(B). This work elucidates the roles of TiO2 crystal phase in Pd/TiO2 catalysts for the transfer hydrogenation reaction, which is expected to facilitate the development of efficient catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colloidal polymers, and in particular aqueous polymer dispersions, are widely used in commercial applications such as coatings and adhesives. Historically, the solvent resistance and mechanical properties of these systems have been improved by covalently crosslinking the polymer chains after drying. More recently, work has been directed toward replacing this covalent crosslinking, which typically involves highly reactive functional groups, by physical crosslinking through the use of supramolecular interactions. While conceptually similar to the use of covalent crosslinking, physical crosslinking has a unique influence on the rheology of the polymer, which leads to substantial differences in the development of mechanical strength during drying, as well as the mechanical properties of the final polymer film. In this perspective, the advantages and challenges of this approach are outlined, and an outlook for future research in this direction is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The two‐dimensional (2D) inorganic fillers could significantly improve the properties of polyolefin, thereby satisfying a wider range of applications. Herein, in this research, high‐performance polyethylene (PE)/siloxene nanocomposites were prepared through an in‐situ polymerization with layered siloxene‐supported Ti‐based catalyst. The catalytic ethylene polymerization activity of the siloxene‐supported Ziegler‐Natta catalyst was almost twice that of the MgCl2/TiCl4 catalyst when equal weights of catalysts were used. During the in‐situ polymerization, the layered siloxene fillers exhibited uniform dispersion within the PE matrix. The incorporation of a minimal amount of siloxene filler resulted in a notable enhancement in the thermal stability and mechanical properties of PE. The breaking strength, modulus, elongation at break, and Td5% of PE/siloxene nanocomposites with only 0.71 wt% siloxene were increased by 115.7%, 45.6%, 50.6%, and 58.2°C, respectively. Therefore, this research presents a straightforward method for manufacturing PE with outstanding performance. Highlights: PE/siloxene nanocomposites were prepared through in‐situ polymerization.Siloxene is uniformly scattered in the PE matrix.The siloxene and matrix exhibit excellent interfacial adhesion.PE/siloxene nanocomposites with excellent properties were obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sotorasib is approved to be taken as 960 mg orally once daily (8 × 120‐mg tablets) for the treatment of KRAS G12C‐mutated nonsmall cell lung cancer. Dispersion of tablets in water could be an alternative method for patients who require a liquid formulation due to dysphagia and enteral administration. A clinical study was conducted to assess the pharmacokinetics of 960 mg of sotorasib administered as tablets and as tablets dispersed in water in healthy volunteers. Each subject received 960 mg of sotorasib by mouth, as tablets and as tablets dispersed in water on Days 1 and 4. Sotorasib median time to maximum observed plasma concentration was similar when administered as tablets and as tablets predispersed in water. The geometric least squares mean ratios (water dispersion/tablets) for area under the concentration‐time curve from time 0 extrapolated to infinity and maximum observed plasma concentration were 1.049 and 1.080, respectively. Sotorasib 960 mg was well tolerated. Administration of 960 mg of sotorasib as tablets predispersed in water achieved similar systemic exposures to that of sotorasib administered as oral tablets. In vitro evaluations were performed to assess the feasibility of administering sotorasib through an enteral feeding tube. Approximately 98% of sotorasib was recovered, with no new impurities, from enteral feeding tubes. Collectively, these results support that sotorasib can be administered by mouth and via enteral feeding tubes as tablets predispersed in water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Widely used methods to assess population genetic structure and differentiation rely on independence of marker loci. Following the assumption, the common metrics, for example FST, evaluate genetic structure by averaging across loci. Common metrics do not use information in the associations among loci at the individual level and are often criticized for failing to measure true differentiation even when loci segregate independently. We introduce a new concept to measure β‐variation (Effective Number of Different Populations, ENDP). It requires the following steps: (a) calculation of a proper dissimilarity between genetic profiles of all individuals; (b) calculation of suitable pairwise distances between the samples based on the dissimilarities between individuals; (c) calculation of diversity (in terms of Hill numbers) and dispersion of samples based on the pairwise distances between samples; (d) ENDP is then estimated by combining the diversity and dispersion. ENDP estimates β‐variation independently of estimates of within‐sample α‐variation, although β‐ and α‐estimates could statistically correlate to some extent. This new concept differs from the existing standard where β‐diversity is estimated based on the "partition of variation" scheme (beta=gamma−alpha$$ \mathrm{beta}=\mathrm{gamma}-\mathrm{alpha} $$ or beta=gamma/alpha$$ \mathrm{beta}=\mathrm{gamma}/\mathrm{alpha} $$), so that estimates of β‐diversity directly depend on the corresponding values of α‐diversity. ENDP estimates are obtained by evaluating information in the available genetic profiles of individuals including association of loci. Therefore, ENDP can be used even in an absence of panmixia. We illustrate the use of this concept by analyzing the population genetic structure of a sexual species (a trematode parasite) occupying connected populations across a broad geographic area. The analysis is complicated by geographically coexisting cryptic species and the potential mixed‐mating system of this hermaphroditic parasite. Analyses with subsampled data demonstrated that ENDP estimates are robust. Number of loci used for genotyping has much stronger effect on variation of point ENDP estimates than sample size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The split‐and‐delay unit (SDU) at FLASH2 will be upgraded to enable the simultaneous operation of two temporally, spatially and spectrally separated probe beams when the free‐electron laser undulators are operated in a two‐color scheme. By means of suitable thin filters and an optical grating beam path a wide range of combinations of photon energies in the spectral range from 150 eV to 780 eV can be chosen. In this paper, simulations of the spectral transmission and performance parameters of the filter technique are discussed, along with a monochromator with dispersion compensation presently under construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Partial Fourier encoding is popular in single‐shot (ss) diffusion‐weighted (DW) echo planar imaging (EPI) because it enables a shorter echo time (TE) and, hence, improves the signal‐to‐noise‐ratio. Motion during diffusion encoding causes k‐space shifting and dispersion, which compromises the quality of the homodyne reconstruction. This work provides a comprehensive understanding of the artifacts in homodyne reconstruction of partial Fourier ss‐DW‐EPI data in the presence of motion‐induced phase and proposes the motion‐induced phase‐corrected homodyne (mpc‐hdyne) reconstruction method to ameliorate these artifacts. Simulations with different types of motion‐induced phase were performed to provide an understanding of the potential artifacts that occur in the homodyne reconstruction of partial Fourier ss‐DW‐EPI data. To correct for the artifacts, the mpc‐hdyne reconstruction is proposed. The algorithm recenters k‐space, updates the partial Fourier factor according to detected global k‐space shifts, and removes low‐resolution nonlinear phase before the conventional homodyne reconstruction. The mpc‐hdyne reconstruction is tested on both simulation and in vivo data. Motion‐induced phase can cause signal overestimation, worm artifacts, and signal loss in partial Fourier ss‐DW‐EPI data with the conventional homodyne reconstruction. Simulation and in vivo data showed that the proposed mpc‐hdyne reconstruction ameliorated artifacts, yielding higher quality DW images compared with conventional homodyne reconstruction. Based on the understanding of the artifacts in homodyne reconstruction of partial Fourier ss‐DW‐EPI data, the mpc‐hdyne reconstruction was proposed and showed superior performance compared with the conventional homodyne reconstruction on both simulation and in vivo data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This work aims to unravel the intricacies of adiabatic rotating frame relaxometry in biological tissues. Theory and Methods: The classical formalisms of dipolar relaxation R1ρ$$ {R}_{1\rho } $$ and R2ρ$$ {R}_{2\rho } $$ were systematically analyzed for water molecules reorienting on "fast" and "slow" timescales. These two timescales are, respectively, responsible for the absence and presence of R1ρ$$ {R}_{1\rho } $$ dispersion. A time‐averaged R1ρ$$ {R}_{1\rho } $$ or R2ρ$$ {R}_{2\rho } $$ over an adiabatic pulse duration was recast into a sum of R1$$ {R}_1 $$ and R2$$ {R}_2 $$, but with different weightings. These weightings depend on the specific modulations of adiabatic pulse waveforms. In this context, stretched hyperbolic secant (HSn$$ HSn $$) pulses were characterized. Previously published HS1$$ HS1 $$R1ρ$$ {R}_{1\rho } $$, continuous‐wave (CW) R1ρ$$ {R}_{1\rho } $$, and R1$$ {R}_1 $$ measures from 12 agarose phantoms were used to validate the theoretical predictions. A similar validation was also performed on previously published HSn$$ HSn $$R1ρ$$ {R}_{1\rho } $$ (n$$ n $$=1, 4, 8) and HS1$$ HS1 $$R2ρ$$ {R}_{2\rho } $$ from bovine cartilage specimens. Results: Longitudinal relaxation weighting decreases for HSn$$ HSn $$ pulses as n$$ n $$ increases. Predicted CW R1ρcal$$ {R}_{1\rho}^{cal} $$ values from agarose phantoms align well with the measured CW R1ρexp$$ {R}_{1\rho}^{exp} $$ values, as indicated by a linear regression function: R1ρcal=1.04*R1ρexp−1.96$$ {R}_{1\rho}^{cal}={1.04}^{\ast }{R}_{1\rho}^{exp}-1.96 $$. The predicted adiabatic R1ρ$$ {R}_{1\rho } $$ and R2ρ$$ {R}_{2\rho } $$ from cartilage specimens are consistent with those previously measured, as quantified by: R1ρ,2ρcal=1.10*R1ρ,2ρexp−0.41$$ {R}_{1\rho, 2\rho}^{cal}={1.10}^{\ast }{R}_{1\rho, 2\rho}^{exp}-0.41 $$. Conclusion: This work has theoretically and experimentally demonstrated that adiabatic R1ρ$$ {R}_{1\rho } $$ and R2ρ$$ {R}_{2\rho } $$ can be recast into a sum of R1$$ {R}_1 $$ and R2$$ {R}_2 $$, with varying weightings. Therefore, any suggestions that adiabatic rotating frame relaxometry in biological tissues could provide more information than the standard R1$$ {R}_1 $$ and R2$$ {R}_2 $$ warrant closer scrutiny. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving chemical accuracy in describing reactions involving both main‐group elements and transition metals poses a substantial challenge for density functional approximations (DFAs), primarily due to the significantly different behaviors for electrons moving in the s,p‐orbitals or in the d,f‐orbitals. MOR41, a representative dataset of transition metal chemistry, has highlighted the PWPB95‐D3(BJ) functional, a B2PLYP‐type doubly hybrid (bDH) approximation equipped with an empirical dispersion correction, as the leading functional thus far (Dohm et al., J Chem Theory Comput 2018;14: 2596–2608). However, this functional is not among the top bDH methods for main‐group chemistry (Goerigk et al., Phys Chem Chem Phys. 2017;19: 32184). Conversely, bDH methods such as DSD‐BLYP‐D3, proficient in main‐group chemistry, often falter for transition metal chemistry. Herein, taking advantage of the home‐made Rust‐based Electronic‐Structure Toolkits, we examine a suite of XYG3‐type doubly hybrid (xDH) methods. We confirm that the trade‐off in descriptive accuracy between main‐group and transition metal systems persists within the realm of perturbation theory (PT2)‐based xDH methods. Notably, however, our study ushers in a pivotal advance with the recently proposed renormalized xDH method, R‐xDH7‐SCC15. This method not only distinguishes itself among the elite methods for main‐group chemistry, but also achieves an unprecedented accuracy for the MOR41 dataset, outperforming all other reported DFAs. The efficacy of R‐xDH7‐SCC15 stems from the successful integration of a renormalized PT2 correlation model (rPT2) and a machine‐learning strong‐correlation correction (SCC15), marking a significant step forward in the realm of computational chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new partially fluorinated dehydrobenzannulenes have been prepared by inter‐ and intramolecular oxidative homocoupling of diyne precursors. These systems contain fluorinated and nonfluorinated arene rings in a desymmetrized non‐alternant arrangement. Both macrocycles are roughly planar and organize into extended columns in the solid state. The assembly of these columns is mediated by the combination of dispersion interactions, slipped [π⋅⋅⋅π] stacking interactions of the perfluorinated rings with each other, and their association with the nonfluorinated rings in the molecules of the neighboring macrocycles. These results suggest that partial fluorination of dehydrobenzannulenes can serve as a versatile motif for their assembly into columnar superstructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a γ‐boehmite (γ‐AlOOH) – PEG/polyethylene (PE) lithium‐ion battery separator was fabricated using a dip‐coating method, with γ‐AlOOH nanowhiskers being synthesized directly through a hydrothermal process,and polyethylene glycol 10000 (PEG‐10000) was chosen for the first time as a dispersant for the γ‐AlOOH nanowhiskers in the PE coating slurry{Lee, 2014 #7}. Simultaneously, the membrane's performance was characterized, confirming the significant dispersion effect of PEG‐10000, resulting in a porosity as high as 64 % in the AlOOH‐PEG/PE, a substantial increase compared to the PE separator (40 %). The AlOOH‐PEG/PE separator maintains its structural integrity even after a 0.5 h test at 200 °C, showcasing outstanding stability and significantly improved safety. Besides, the LIB half cells assembled with the PE/AlOOH‐PEG separator exhibited remarkable performance, with a capacity of 73.9 % in power capability (at 5 C rate) and a 97.1 % discharge capacity retention rates in cycle performance (after 400 cycles, at 2 C rate). Furthermore, lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries utilizing the AlOOH‐PEG/PE separator demonstrated significantly enhanced cycling stability and rate capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dispersion of single atoms (SAs) in the host is important for optimizing catalytic activity. Herein, we propose a novel strategy to tune oxygen vacancies in CeO2−X directionally anchoring the single atom platinum (PtSA), which is uniformly dispersed on the rGO. The catalyst's performance for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) can be enhanced by controlling different densities of CeO2‐X in rGO. The PtSA performs best optimally densified and loaded on homogeneous and moderately densified CeO2‐X/rGO (PtSA−M−CeO2−X/rGO). It exhibited higher activity in HER with an overpotential of 25 mV at 0.5 M H2SO4 and 33 mV at 1 KOH than that of almost reported electrocatalysts. Furthermore, it exhibited stability for 90 hours at −100 mA cm−2 in 1 KOH and −150 mA cm−2 in 0.5 M H2SO4 conditions, respectively. Through comprehensive experiments and theoretical calculations, the suitable dispersion density of PtSA on the defects of CeO2−X with more active sites gives the potential for practical applications. This research paves the way for developing single‐atom catalysts with exceptional catalytic activity and stability, holding promise in advanced green energy conversion through defects engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In present work, using the double layer ONIOM methodology, we simulated the stages of initiation and growth of the polymer chain during the polymerization of butadiene on a neodymium‐based Ziegler–Natta catalyst. The DFT methods B3LYP and PBE0 in combination with the Def2‐TZVP atomic basis set were used as high‐level methods in ONIOM. Grimme's semi‐empirical XTB1 method was used as a low‐level method. In our previous work, the mechanism of butadiene polymerization on a neodymium‐containing Ziegler–Natta catalyst was studied in detail. The polymerization activation energy of 61 kJ/mol was found to be slightly higher than the experimentally determined values of this parameter. In the present work, the influence of a high‐level method and a model of taking into account dispersion interactions on the quality of calculation of activation parameters of the polymerization reaction was studied. Experimental activation energy for the polymerization of dienes in the presence of Ziegler–Natta catalysts is in the range of 30–60 kJ/mol, but neodymium‐based catalysts have an activation energy somewhat closer to the lower limit of this range. For comparison, semi‐empirical Grimme models D3 and D4 were used. It has been established that the both models reveal within the B3LYP method the activation energy practically the same, while within the PBE0 method it decreases to 41 kJ/mol. Thus, using the PBE0 as a high‐level method within the ONIOM methodology and taking into account dispersion interactions within the D4 model leads to results in much better agreement with experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seismic wave forward modelling is a crucial method for studying the propagation characteristics of seismic waves in subsurface media and is a key component of full waveform inversion. Compared to time‐domain forward modelling, frequency‐domain forward modelling offers advantages such as not being constrained by stability limits and reducing the dimension of the solution space. However, forward algorithms based on the rotation coordinate system in the frequency domain cannot adapt to situations with unequal spatial sampling intervals. To enhance the adaptability of the forward modelling algorithm in the frequency domain, we derived a 21‐point finite‐difference scheme based on the average derivative method and calculated the difference coefficients and dispersion conditions. Additionally, to address the significant computational cost in frequency domain forward modelling, we developed an improved 25‐point finite‐difference scheme. The improved 25‐point format is more accurate than the conventional 25‐point format. Building on this foundation, we applied the two derived differential schemes to full waveform inversion to synthesize the shot records of the inversion data. Additionally, we introduced a frequency compensation factor into the gradient processing, which effectively compensates for the deep layer while suppressing noise in the shallow gradient field. Finally, we demonstrated the effectiveness of our approach through a full waveform inversion application on the Marmousi model showcasing its capability in invertig fine subsurface structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In symmetry‐adapted perturbation theory (SAPT), accurate calculations on non‐covalent interaction (NCI) for large complexes with more than 50 atoms are time‐consuming using large basis sets. More efficient ones with smaller basis sets usually result in poor prediction in terms of dispersion and overall energies. In this study, we propose two composite methods with baseline calculated at SAPT2/aug‐cc‐pVDZ and SAPT2/aug‐cc‐pVTZ with dispersion term corrected at SAPT2+ level using bond functions and smaller basis set with δMP2 corrections respectively. Benchmark results on representative NCI data sets, such as S22, S66, and so forth, show significant improvements on the accuracy compared to the original SAPT Silver standard and comparable to SAPT Gold standard in some cases with much less computational cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the existence of normalized solutions for the Chern–Simons–Schrödinger system with mixed dispersion and critical exponential growth. These solutions correspond to critical points of the underlying energy functional under the L2$$ {L}^2 $$‐norm constraint, namely, ∫ℝ2u2dx=c>0$$ {\int}_{{\mathrm{\mathbb{R}}}^2}{u}^2\mathrm{d}x=c>0 $$. Under certain mild assumptions, we establish the existence of nontrivial solutions by developing new mathematical strategies and analytical techniques for the given system. These results extend and improve the results in the existing literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Travelling waves in circuit chains are studied to measure continuous dispersion. A lock‐in frequency meter (LIF) is suitable for precisely determining k for each set ω$\omega $ of waves in finite alternate LC chains, where LIF has been proven to be more accurate than the fast Fourier transform. In addition to the ω$\omega $–k measurement, the wave impedance spectrum of the travelling wave can be measured simultaneously, for investigating the dispersion and splitting of pulse propagation. The measured dispersion is validated to be consistent with the derived theoretical equations. The result provides an independent way to precisely obtain dynamical system properties for chains composed of non‐ideal components, such as resistors for researching non‐Hermitian behaviour under dissipation. Systematical mapping of relative deviation dependence of wave dispersion measurement with LIF on different chain length and component variation is studied, indicating boundaries of 1%, 0.1%, and 0.01% precision for guidance of experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluorine‐silicone heterogeneous rubbers have been developed to address the issue of poor low‐temperature resistance in fluorine rubber. Bi‐functionalized SiO2 nanoparticles have been prepared as a nano‐compatibilizer to enhance the cooperation of fluorine‐silicon heterogeneous rubbers and improve their compatibility. Research has demonstrated that the nano‐compatibilizer can reduce the interfacial energy between the two phases and facilitate void‐free dispersion of the phases. Fluorine‐silicone heterogeneous rubbers with varying ratios have been synthesized to achieve a broad low‐temperature range, from −34 to −58°C. Additionally, the use of the nano‐compatibilizer enhances the thermal stability and mechanical properties of the rubbers. This study presents a novel approach utilizing bi‐functionalized SiO2 nanoparticles to promote the cooperation of fluorine‐silicone heterogeneous rubbers, resulting in customizable low‐temperature resistance for applications in sealing and hose materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi‐channel analysis of surface waves is a seismic method employed to obtain useful information about shear‐wave velocities in the near surface. A fundamental step in this methodology is the extraction of dispersion curves from dispersion spectra, with the latter usually obtained by applying specific processing algorithms onto the recorded shot gathers. Although the extraction process can be automated to some extent, it usually requires extensive quality control, which can be arduous for large datasets. We present a novel approach that leverages deep learning to identify a direct mapping between seismic shot gathers and their associated dispersion curves (both fundamental and first higher order modes), therefore by‐passing the need to compute dispersion spectra. Given a site of interest, a set of 1D compressional and shear velocities and density models are created using prior knowledge of the local geology; pairs of seismic shot gathers and Rayleigh‐wave phase dispersion curves are then numerically modelled and used to train a simplified residual network. The proposed approach is shown to achieve high‐quality predictions of dispersion curves on a synthetic test dataset and is, ultimately, successfully deployed on a field dataset. Various uncertainty quantification and convolutional neural network visualization techniques are also presented to assess the quality of the inference process and better understand the underlying learning process of the network. The predicted dispersion curves are inverted for both the synthetic and field data; in the latter case, the resulting shear‐wave velocity model is plausible and consistent with prior geological knowledge of the area. Finally, a comparison between the manually picked fundamental modes with the predictions from our model allows for a benchmark of the performance of the proposed workflow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid metamaterials (HMs) have attracted significant research interests owing to their unique optical properties and their ability to manipulate light‐matter interaction in a novel and controlled fashion beyond what any single material offers. Especially 3D HMs are of great interest due to their potential to provide advanced and precise control of such light‐matter interaction in nanoscale. In this study, a set of 3D HM nanocomposite films are designed by integrating three phases, i.e., vertically aligned CoFe2 nanosheets within the matrix of TiN/TaN multilayers. By increasing the number of TiN/TaN multilayers from 2 to 19, a high degree of tunability in optical property has been demonstrated, including well‐tailored optical permittivity, and tunable hyperbolic dispersion from Type‐II to Type‐I. Ferromagnetic CoFe2 nanosheets introduces novel magnetic responses, such as magnetic anisotropy and enhanced coercivity. Furthermore, in situ heating X‐ray diffraction (XRD) suggests good thermal stability of the 3D nanocomposite films up to the measured temperature of 600 °C. This three‐phase 3D nanocomposite design offers more flexibility in HM designs, multifunctionalities, and phase stability, compared with the typical two‐phase HMs toward future metamaterials by design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MXenes, a burgeoning family of 2D materials with high conductivity and large specific surface area, are ideal electromagnetic absorbing materials. However, the ample polar functional groups lead to poor dispersion in the non‐polar matrix, limiting its application in non‐polar‐polymer‐based composites. With the help of the shear rheological properties of SiO2, the conflict is resolved here by directly dispersing MXene aqueous dispersion into the non‐polar resin. Water is locked dynamically through SiO2 nanoparticles among the MXene@SiO2 nanosheets, suppressing MXene's self‐restacking and aggregation in the resin matrix. Therefore, the fabrication of uniform MXene/non‐polar polymer composites is achieved. Meanwhile, this method allows different nanoparticles (Fe3O4, etc.) to be evenly dispersed among the MXene nanosheets to further improve the composites' electromagnetic parameters. The as‐prepared composites achieve remarkable absorbing performance with a low MXene concentration (≤5 wt.‰). The SMEP‐h achieves the maximum reflection loss value of over 60 dB at 12 GHz (at the thickness of 2.15 mm), and the SMEP‐F possesses a broad effective absorbing bandwidth of over 6.18 GHz (at the thickness of 1.75 mm). The shear‐rheological‐assisted MXene dispersion method in the non‐polar matrix paves an avenue for the design of outstanding MXene‐based electromagnetic absorbing composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: Reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT)‐mediated polymerization‐induced self‐assembly (PISA) of star block copolymer and linear block copolymer using a binary mixture of a star‐like macro‐RAFT agent and a linear macro‐RAFT agent is reported. With this formulation, star block copolymer and diblock copolymer were formed simultaneously to generate colloidally stable star/linear block copolymer assemblies. Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) analysis confirmed the presence of two types of polymers in the final samples. The molar ratio of the star‐like macro‐RAFT agent and the linear macro‐RAFT agent has a significant impact on the morphology of polymer assemblies. It was found that increasing the amount of star‐like macro‐RAFT agent facilitated the formation of higher‐order morphologies. Additionally, effects of other reaction parameters including the length/number of the arm of the star‐like macro‐RAFT agent, degree of polymer (DP), monomer concentration on the morphology of star/linear block copolymer assemblies were also investigated. We expect that this work will offer new possibilities for the scalable preparation of polymer assemblies with unique structures and functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the ever‐increasing need for energy storage devices with high energy density, lithium (Li) metal anodes have been revisited. Due to the high reactivity of Li metal and the safety issues associated with liquid electrolytes, solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) have gain attention. Polyethylene oxide (PEO) with the highest ionic conductivity (σ) among the polymers faces serious problems. The inability to meet the practical limit of σ due to its high crystallinity, and its low thermomechanical stability above its melting temperature, have limited its large‐scale application. In this research, anionic polyurethane dispersion (PUD) based on poly (ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) was synthesized and different PUD:PEO compositions was prepared using water as a solvent. Halloysite nanotube (HNT) was also used to improve the ionic conductivity by providing a new pathway for conducting lithium ions in the composition. The results corroborated that the presence of PUD stabilized the storage modulus of the host polymer above Tm of PEO. The ionic nature of the selected PUDs resulted in a transference number of 0.59 and the presence of HNT increased this value to 0.72. The presence of HNTs also led to a significant increase in σ by about three times compared to the control sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving the interfacial interaction between silica and rubber is always a key issue to be solved for silica‐filled rubbers. In this paper, composites are prepared by an in‐situ modification method using 1‐ethylpyridinium bromide ([EPy]Br) as the raw material, and the effect of its dosage on the interfacial interactions and macroscopic properties of silica‐filled natural rubber (NR) composites is investigated. The effect of [EPy]Br on silica dispersion and interfacial interaction between silica and NR is verified through rheological tests and calculations of glass layers. Compared with the original samples, composite performance is optimized when the usage amount is at 1phr which increases tensile strength by 5 MPa, enhances abrasion resistance by 24%, and shortens optimum curing time in half. This study is expected to provide a new strategy for improving the processability of silica‐containing composites while reducing energy consumption. Highlights: [EPy]Br enhances the interaction between rubber and filler while modifying the surface of silica.Increasing the dosage of [EPy]Br leads to a reduction in the Payne effect.The addition of [EPy]Br enhances the dispersion of silica in natural rubber.[EPy]Br significantly reduces the duration of the induction period for vulcanization.The dosage of [EPy]Br allows for controlling the mechanical properties of NR/SiO2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The poor electrocatalytic stability and rapid deactivation of metal electrocatalysts are always present in the electrocatalytic conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) due to the harsh reduction condition. Herein, we demonstrate the controllable dispersion of ultrafine bismuth nanoparticles among the hollow carbon shell (Bi@C‐700‐4) simply by a thermal‐driven diffusion process. The confinement effect of nitrogen‐doped carbon matrix is able to low the surface energy of bismuth nanoparticles against the easy aggregation commonly observed for the thermal treatment. On the basis of the synergistic effect and confinement effect between bismuth nanoparticles and carbon matrix, the highly dispersed active sites render the obviously improved electrocatalytic activity and stability for CO2 reduction into formate. The in situ experimental observations on the reduction process and theoretical calculations reveal that the incorporation of bismuth nanoparticles with nitrogen‐doped carbon matrix would promote the activation of CO2 and the easy formation of key intermediate (*OCHO), thus leading the enhanced electrocatalytic activity, with a Faradaic Efficiency (FE) of formate about 94.8 % and the long‐time stability. Furthermore, the coupling of an anode for 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural oxidation reaction (HMFOR) in solar‐driven system renders the high 2,5‐furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) yield of 81.2 %, presenting the impressive solar‐to‐fuel conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid flexible separators having adequate ion conductivity at ambient temperature along with good thermal and voltage stability are potential candidates for separators in all solid-state ion batteries. In the present work, zirconium and niobium-doped Li1.3Al0.3Ti1.7 (PO4)3 ceramic particles have been incorporated into a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based blend that served as a flexible matrix to create a flexible polymer–ceramic framework and have been examined for conductivity, dielectric properties, voltage stability, thermal stability, and electrochemical performance. The flexible polymer–ceramic framework shows high thermal stability, improved conductivity, and a high-voltage window. Optimized dc conductivity of 9.8 × 10−5 S cm−1 has been observed among all investigated samples, with an improved voltage stability of 4.94 V. Further, the Trukhan model has been used to understand the effect of filler loading on ion migration properties. The optimized solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) shows improved ion mobility (μ) of 5.13 × 10−2 cm2 V−1 s, number density (n) = 2.39 × 1015 cm³, and diffusion coefficient (D) of 2.09 × 10−3 cm² s−1. It also shows a very high specific capacitance of ~10−4 Fg−1, excellent cycling stability, and 93.75% capacity retention after 100 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terahertz (THz) radiation sources based on two‐color femtosecond plasmas in air are becoming a mature technology for coherent spectroscopy and strong‐field physics across the extended THz range to several tens of THz. The field‐resolved detection of such THz transients relies on the third‐order nonlinearity of the detection medium. Here, a comparative measurement is demonstrated with air‐biased coherent detection (ABCD) and solid‐state biased detection (SSBCD) as a novel method to measure the dispersion of the magnitude and phase of the relevant third‐order nonlinearity χ(3)(2ω±Ω;ω,ω,±Ω)$\chi ^{(3)}(2\omega \pm \Omega;\omega,\omega,\pm \Omega)$ for fused silica (SiO2${\rm SiO}_2$) and silicon nitride (SiN). Based on the development of the ultrabroadband SSBCD device with a detection bandwidth exceeding 30 THz, χ(3)$\chi ^{(3)}$ measurements are obtained across the 1–28 THz frequency range, hence covering the THz and far‐infrared. It is shown that the vibrational modes in SiO2${\rm SiO}_2$ and SiN in the THz range lead to strong resonant enhancement and dispersion of the nonlinearity. The SSBCD devices operate down to nanojoule (nJ) probe energy, and their is demonstrated by measuring the dielectric function of the Lorentzian line profile of transverse‐optical (TO) phonon mode at 9 THz in single‐crystal gallium arsenide (GaAs) and observing the weak phonon combination bands near the TO phonon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A model for the refractive index dispersion of garnets was developed by extension of a model for garnet refractive indices at 589 nm wavelength. The cation and anion polarizabilities in garnets were determined as a function of wavelength from dispersion data, and fit to Sellmeier relations. Dispersion predictions were compared to measurements of refractive index between 400 and 5500 nm for 35 garnet compositions. The median prediction error was 0.5% with a maximum error < 4.4%. Sources of error and applications of the predictive method are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodegradable films are considered an alternative to petroleum‐based plastics to solve environmental problems. In this study, potato flour films are prepared with dispersions at pH 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11. The film‐forming dispersion at pH 7 shows the highest apparent viscosity. Dispersions at alkaline conditions show a reduction in particle size, resulting in a smooth film surface. Films at alkaline conditions present a yellow appearance and have the lower transmittance. The film at pH 5 has the highest retrogradation enthalpy and glass transition temperature, while its moisture content and solubility are the lowest. The water contact angle increases from 33.33° to 93.67° with the increase in pH. However, pH has no significant effect on the water vapor permeability. The tensile strength and elongation at break increase slightly with the increase in pH. Overall, pH modifies the properties of potato flour films. Film with appropriate performance can be selected based on actual needs, such as the use of packaging materials for food preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clustering is one of the most widely used unsupervised learning techniques. However, it is well‐known that outliers can have a significantly adverse impact on commonly applied clustering methods. On the other hand, clustered outliers can be particularly detrimental to (even robust) statistical procedures. Therefore, it makes sense to combine concepts from Robust Statistics and Cluster Analysis to deal with both clusters and outliers simultaneously through robust clustering approaches. Among the existing robust clustering techniques, we focus on those that rely on (impartial) trimming. Trimming offers the user an easy interpretation, as standard well‐known clustering methods are applied after a fraction of the potentially most outlying observations is removed. This trimming approach, when combined with appropriate constraints on the clusters' dispersion parameters, has shown a good performance and can be implemented efficiently thorough available algorithms. This article is categorized under:Statistical Learning and Exploratory Methods of the Data Sciences > Clustering and ClassificationStatistical and Graphical Methods of Data Analysis > Robust Methods [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding electron quantum transport and their coupling interactions in 2D matrix is crucial for manipulating and designing more efficient energy conversion devices, especially in the context of spin transport. Here, we systematically calculate the electronic dispersion properties which the synergistic interaction of the three‐band accounted for the topological transport of edge correlated electrons. The helical state protected by the topology appears at the boundary, accompanied by the upward movement (∼0.2 eV) of the helical point caused by the excitation and the loop channel, which the weak braiding effect reveal local strongly correlated interactions between the boundary electrons. In addition, we also introduce spin Hall conductance and Z2 topological invariants to describe the election dispersion of the topological transport. This provides more possibilities for the realization of topological quantum computing application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blastoids underwent a revolution in respiration in the Devonian. Emsian blastoid faunas were dominated by fissiculates such as Pentremitidea, giving rise to a transitional spiraculate, Conuloblastus. Hyperoblastus and a mosaic of spiraculates followed; they featured a more advanced respiratory system and were dominant until the Permian. This diversification occurred just prior to or during the Stony Point and Kačák Events, major ecological disruptions of marine ecosystems. Most new spiraculate blastoids were endemic and short lived, but Hyperoblastus survived the major extinction events, lasting into the Famennian. Material from Germany, Spain and North America enables us to trace the diversification of the spiraculates during the Devonian. We erect the new family Conuloblastidae, including Hreggoblastus differentialis gen. et sp. nov.; also Altusoblastus (type species Pentatrematites eifeliensis) with new species A. eremitus, A. palliolatus, A. sp. 1 and A. sp. 2 in the Hyperoblastidae. Pentremitidea roemeri and Hyperoblastus schultzei are assigned to Altusoblastus. Hyperoblastus batheri is declared the type species of Absensoblastus gen. nov.; H. ludwigi sp. nov. is assigned to Hyperoblastus. Pentahedronoblastus gen. nov. (type species P. giesdorfensis sp. nov.) is described. The fissiculate nymphaeoblastid genus Pentremitella (including P. osoleae and ?P. sp. 1) is redescibed. We recognize the eleutherozoic Freisoblastus gen. nov. (type species F. hemisphaericus sp. nov.), Dissimiloblastus gen. nov. (type species D. inequalis sp. nov.) and non‐eleutherozoic Lotusoblastus gen. nov. (type species Pentremitidea medusa) (order and family incertae sedis). We recognize 13 American species of Hyperoblastus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we describe the long‐time behavior of the non‐cutoff Boltzmann equation with soft potentials near a global Maxwellian background on the whole space in the weakly collisional limit (that is, infinite Knudsen number 1/ν→∞$1/\nu \rightarrow \infty$). Specifically, we prove that for initial data sufficiently small (independent of the Knudsen number), the solution displays several dynamics caused by the phase mixing/dispersive effects of the transport operator v·∇x$v \cdot \nabla _x$ and its interplay with the singular collision operator. For x$x$‐wavenumbers k$k$ with |k|≫ν$|k|\gg \nu$, one sees an enhanced dissipation effect wherein the characteristic decay time‐scale is accelerated to O(1/ν11+2s|k|2s1+2s)$O(1/\nu ^{\frac{1}{1+2s}} |k|^{\frac{2s}{1+2s}})$, where s∈(0,1]$s \in (0,1]$ is the singularity of the kernel (s=1$s=1$ being the Landau collision operator, which is also included in our analysis); for |k|≪ν$|k|\ll \nu$, one sees Taylor dispersion, wherein the decay time‐scale is accelerated to O(ν/|k|2)$O(\nu /|k|^2)$. Additionally, we prove almost uniform phase mixing estimates. For macroscopic quantities such as the density ρ$\rho$, these bounds imply almost uniform‐in‐ν$\nu$ decay of (t∇x)βρ$(t\nabla _x)^\beta \rho$ in Lx∞$L^\infty _x$ due to phase mixing and dispersive decay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a straightforward one‐pot hydrothermal method for the synthesis of zirconia nanodispersions, leading to the formation of stable sols. By simply varying the nature of the stabilizer used, one can obtain a large variety of objects with different sizes, shapes and crystallinities. Our results demonstrate the crucial role played by aliphatic amino acids both during the formation of the objects and after, since their interaction with the surface of the inorganic crystals influences strongly the optical properties and colloidal stability of the latter. Importantly, the versatility of this method allows for the introduction of different dopants, increasing substantially the scope of applications that can be achieved with such nanoscale oxides. The high transparencies and the easy dispersibility of nanoparticles in different liquid matrixes ensure the formation of zirconia‐based nanocomposites and ceramics with outstanding optical features for the orthopedic, dental, photonics and chemical sectors. This method can be easily scaled up, being already available for the production of high‐quality zirconia nanodispersions at the industrial level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cavitation process of high‐performance HDPE/UHMWPE blends with a uniform dispersion of UHMWPE during cold stretching was investigated. It was observed that incorporating a small amount of UHMWPE into the HDPE matrix resin can serve as a nucleating agent, increasing the number of contact sites and accelerating the crystallization rate. This leads to the formation of thicker lamellar crystals and tethered molecules, ultimately enhancing the mechanical properties of the HDPE matrix. Furthermore, the relationship between the natural tensile ratio and strain‐hardening modulus was confirmed. Microstructural changes within the blends were also explored. As the drawing tangles in the middle, the cavities subsequently evolve by collapsing and merging to align parallel to the tensile direction, culminating in tensile damage forming a large crack in the final macroscopic form. As a result, the presence of more tethered molecules in the later stages of stretching inhibits further cavity growth. Highlights: The HDPE/UHMWPE blends were prepared by solution blending and ultrasound‐assisted twin‐screw extrusion.The mechanisms underlying the formation and evolution of cavities in HDPE/UHMWPE blends, which lead to stress whitening during tensile damage, were examined by using DSC and SAXS/WAXD.The relationship between microstructure and mechanical properties was analyzed by cold‐drawing the molded blended sheets at room temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]