Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Recent Trends and Developments in Conducting Polymer Nanocomposites for Multifunctional Applications

Electrically-conducting polymers (CPs) were first developed as a revolutionary class of organic compounds that possess optical and electrical properties comparable to that of metals as well as inorganic semiconductors and display the commendable properties correlated with traditional polymers, like the ease of manufacture along with resilience in processing. Polymer nanocomposites are designed and manufactured to ensure excellent promising properties for anti-static (electrically conducting), anti-corrosion, actuators, sensors, shape memory alloys, biomedical, flexible electronics, solar cells, fuel cells, supercapacitors, LEDs, and adhesive applications with desired-appealing and cost-effective, functional surface coatings. The distinctive properties of nanocomposite materials involve significantly improved mechanical characteristics, barrier-properties, weight-reduction, and increased, long-lasting performance in terms of heat, wear, and scratch-resistant. Constraint in availability of power due to continuous depletion in the reservoirs of fossil fuels has affected the performance and functioning of electronic and energy storage appliances. For such reasons, efforts to modify the performance of such appliances are under way through blending design engineering with organic electronics. Unlike conventional inorganic semiconductors, organic electronic materials are developed from conducting polymers (CPs), dyes and charge transfer complexes. However, the conductive polymers are perhaps more bio-compatible rather than conventional metals or semi-conductive materials. Such characteristics make it more fascinating for bio-engineering investigators to conduct research on polymers possessing antistatic properties for various applications. An extensive overview of different techniques of synthesis and the applications of polymer bio-nanocomposites in various fields of sensors, actuators, shape memory polymers, flexible electronics, optical limiting, electrical properties (batteries, solar cells, fuel cells, supercapacitors, LEDs), corrosion-protection and biomedical application are well-summarized from the findings all across the world in more than 150 references, exclusively from the past four years. This paper also presents recent advancements in composites of rare-earth oxides based on conducting polymer composites. Across a variety of biological and medical applications, the fact that numerous tissues were receptive to electric fields and stimuli made CPs more enticing.
The Effect of an Accelerator on Cement Paste Capillary Pores: NMR Relaxometry Investigations

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) relaxometry is a valuable tool for investigating cement-based materials. It allows monitoring of pore evolution and water consumption even during the hydration process. The approach relies on the proportionality between the relaxation time and the pore size. Note, however, that this approach inherently assumes that the pores are saturated with water during the hydration process. In the present work, this assumption is eliminated, and the pore evolution is discussed on a more general basis. The new approach is implemented here to extract information on surface evolution of capillary pores in a simple cement paste and a cement paste containing calcium nitrate as accelerator. The experiments revealed an increase of the pore surface even during the dormant stage for both samples with a faster evolution in the presence of the accelerator. Moreover, water consumption arises from the beginning of the hydration process for the sample containing the accelerator while no water is consumed during dormant stage in the case of simple cement paste. It was also observed that the pore volume fractal dimension is higher in the case of cement paste containing the accelerator.
分子印迹聚合物功能化二氧化硅纳米颗粒的合成及其分离识别马兜铃酸

马兜铃酸是马兜铃科植物中含有硝基菲羧酸基团的一类物质,被广泛应用于各种疾病的治疗,研究表明含有马兜铃酸的植物或植物衍生产品对人体有害,需要监测药物中马兜铃酸的存在。 分子印迹聚合物对目标物的高亲和力使其特别适合作为吸附剂从混合物中去除和识别目标物。 以SiO2胶体纳米颗粒为基底,利用表面分子印迹的方法合成了核-壳结构SiO2表面印迹纳米颗粒(SiO2@MIP NPs)。 采用紫外可见光谱研究了模板分子马兜铃酸Ⅰ和功能单体丙烯酸、甲基丙烯酸、2-乙烯基吡啶、丙烯酰胺及甲基丙烯酰胺的作用,发现2-乙烯基吡啶与马兜铃酸Ⅰ的作用最强,被选为制备印迹聚合物的单体。 采用傅立叶变换红外光谱仪(FT-IR)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)、热重分析仪、氮气吸附比表面分析仪对分子印迹聚合物进行了表征。 TEM显示印迹纳米颗粒的粒径在270 nm左右,分子印迹层的厚度为35 nm,有利于模板分子的传输。 TEM、FT-IR和热重分析仪的结果均证明实验成功合成了分子印迹聚合物。 实验进一步研究了印迹聚合物SiO2@MIP NPs和非印迹聚合物SiO2@NIP NPs的吸附性能,并结合SiO2@MIP NPs和SiO2@NIP NPs的比表面积和孔径测定数据,发现SiO2@MIP NPs表面的印迹位点是导致二者吸附差异的主要原因。 SiO2@MIP NPs和SiO2@NIP NPs的动力学吸附表明SiO2@MIP NPs具有快的吸附平衡时间(120 s),而且SiO2@MIP NPs的吸附行为符合Langmuir单分子层吸附。 SiO2@MIP NPs的选择性通过印迹因子(IF)和选择性系数(SC)来评价。 实验结果表明,SiO2@MIP NPs具有高的印迹因子(4.9),对模板结构类似物有较好的选择性,选择系数为2. 3~6.6。 最后将制备的SiO2@MIP NPs作为吸附剂用于加标中药样品川木通的预处理,用HPLC进行分析测定,方法的回收率为73%~83%,实验结果显示SiO2@MIP NPs可作为高选择性材料用于中药中马兜铃酸的选择性分离分析。
In Search of Monocot Phosphodiesterases: Identification of a Calmodulin Stimulated Phosphodiesterase from Brachypodium distachyon

In plants, rapid and reversible biological responses to environmental cues may require complex cellular reprograming. This is enabled by signaling molecules such as the cyclic nucleotide monophosphates (cNMPs) cAMP and cGMP, as well as Ca2+. While the roles and synthesis of cAMP and cGMP in plants are increasingly well-characterized, the “off signal” afforded by cNMP-degrading enzymes, the phosphodiesterases (PDEs), is, however, poorly understood, particularly so in monocots. Here, we identified a candidate PDE from the monocot Brachypodium distachyon (BDPDE1) and showed that it can hydrolyze cNMPs to 5′NMPs but with a preference for cAMP over cGMP in vitro. Notably, the PDE activity was significantly enhanced by Ca2+ only in the presence of calmodulin (CaM), which interacts with BDPDE1, most likely at a predicted CaM-binding site. Finally, based on our biochemical, mutagenesis and structural analyses, we constructed a comprehensive amino acid consensus sequence extracted from the catalytic centers of annotated and/or experimentally validated PDEs across species to enable a broad application of this search motif for the identification of similar active sites in eukaryotes and prokaryotes.
Morbidity and Mortality in Patients over 90 Years of Age Following Posterior Stabilization for Acute Traumatic Odontoid Type II Fractures: A Retrospective Study with a Mean Follow-Up of Three Years

Odontoid type II fractures represent the most common cervical spine injuries in the elderly. The decision for surgical treatment in very elderly patients is still controversial. The aim of this study was to assess morbidity and mortality in patients over 90 years of age undergoing CT-guided posterior stabilization for unstable odontoid type II fractures. A total of 15 patients with an acute traumatic odontoid type II fracture who received surgical treatment for unstable odontoid type II fractures were retrospectively analyzed. Complications, morbidity, and mortality as well as length of ICU and hospital stay were determined. Clinical follow-up evaluation was based on outpatient presentation and information from family members and general practitioners. Finally, we conducted a comparison of complications rates between patients over 90 years of age and patients between 65 and 89 years old with a type II odontoid fracture after CT-guided posterior stabilization in our institution. The mean age was 91.4 years. Patients were predominately female (87%). In-hospital deaths did not occur. The average length of the hospital stay was 13.4 days and 1.9 days for the ICU. Blood transfusion was necessary in two patients (13%). Two patients (13%) developed urinary tract infection, one patient (7%) a delirium, and another epistaxis (7%). One patient (7%) developed pneumonic sepsis and fully recovered within several weeks. The mean follow-up was 36 months (range 9–72 months). Implant-related complications developed in one patient (7%). Five patients died during the follow-up period, with an average time to death of 26.6 months. Postoperative bracing was not needed in any of the patients. Posterior stabilization of unstable odontoid fractures type II using CT-guided navigation in patients over 90 years of age is a safe and effective procedure with low complications and mortality rates.
The Adaptation of a Youth Diabetes Prevention Program for Aboriginal Children in Central Australia: Community Perspectives

This study reports on integrating community perspectives to adapt a family-focused, culturally appropriate behavioural intervention program to prevent diabetes among Aboriginal children (6–11 years) in Central Australia. A participatory action research approach was used to engage a range of service providers, cultural advisors, and family groups. Appropriateness, acceptability, content, and delivery of a prevention program within the Central Australian context were discussed through a series of workshops with twenty-five service providers and seven family groups separately. The data obtained were deductively coded for thematic analysis. Main findings included: (i) the strong need for a diabetes prevention program that is community owned, (ii) a flexible and culturally appropriate program delivered by upskilling community members as program facilitators, and (iii) consideration of social and environmental factors when implementing the program. It is recommended that a trial of the adapted prevention program for effectiveness and implementation is led by an Aboriginal community-controlled health service.
Mammalian and Invertebrate Models as Complementary Tools for Gaining Mechanistic Insight on Muscle Responses to Spaceflight

Bioinformatics approaches have proven useful in understanding biological responses to spaceflight. Spaceflight experiments remain resource intensive and rare. One outstanding issue is how to maximize scientific output from a limited number of omics datasets from traditional animal models including nematodes, fruitfly, and rodents. The utility of omics data from invertebrate models in anticipating mammalian responses to spaceflight has not been fully explored. Hence, we performed comparative analyses of transcriptomes of soleus and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) in mice that underwent 37 days of spaceflight. Results indicate shared stress responses and altered circadian rhythm. EDL showed more robust growth signals and Pde2a downregulation, possibly underlying its resistance to atrophy versus soleus. Spaceflight and hindlimb unloading mice shared differential regulation of proliferation, circadian, and neuronal signaling. Shared gene regulation in muscles of humans on bedrest and space flown rodents suggest targets for mitigating muscle atrophy in space and on Earth. Spaceflight responses of C. elegans were more similar to EDL. Discrete life stages of D. melanogaster have distinct utility in anticipating EDL and soleus responses. In summary, spaceflight leads to shared and discrete molecular responses between muscle types and invertebrate models may augment mechanistic knowledge gained from rodent spaceflight and ground-based studies.
Possible Link between Higher Transmissibility of Alpha, Kappa and Delta Variants of SARS-CoV-2 and Increased Structural Stability of Its Spike Protein and hACE2 Affinity

The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak in December 2019 has caused a global pandemic. The rapid mutation rate in the virus has created alarming situations worldwide and is being attributed to the false negativity in RT-PCR tests. It has also increased the chances of reinfection and immune escape. Recently various lineages namely, B.1. 1.7 (Alpha), B.1. 617.1 (Kappa), B.1. 617.2 (Delta) and B.1. 617.3 have caused rapid infection around the globe. To understand the biophysical perspective, we have performed molecular dynamic simulations of four different spikes (receptor binding domain)-hACE2 complexes, namely wildtype (WT), Alpha variant (N501Y spike mutant), Kappa (L452R, E484Q) and Delta (L452R, T478K), and compared their dynamics, binding energy and molecular interactions. Our results show that mutation has caused significant increase in the binding energy between the spike and hACE2 in Alpha and Kappa variants. In the case of Kappa and Delta variants, the mutations at L452R, T478K and E484Q increased the stability and intra-chain interactions in the spike protein, which may change the interaction ability of neutralizing antibodies to these spike variants. Further, we found that the Alpha variant had increased hydrogen interaction with Lys353 of hACE2 and more binding affinity in comparison to WT. The current study provides the biophysical basis for understanding the molecular mechanism and rationale behind the increase in the transmissivity and infectivity of the mutants compared to wild-type SARS-CoV-2.
18F-BMS986192 PET Imaging of PD-L1 in Metastatic Melanoma Patients with Brain Metastases Treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Pilot Study

Visual Abstract Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) targeting programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1)/programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) frequently induces tumor response in metastatic melanoma patients. However, tumor response often takes months and may be heterogeneous. Consequently, additional local treatment for nonresponsive metastases may be needed, especially in the case of brain metastases. Noninvasive imaging may allow the characterization of (brain) metastases to predict response. This pilot study uses 18F-BMS986192 PET for PD-L1 expression to explore the variability in metastatic tracer uptake and its relation to tumor response, with a special focus on brain metastases. Methods: Metastatic melanoma patients underwent whole-body 18F-BMS986192 PET/CT scanning before and 6 wk after starting ICI therapy. 18F-BMS986192 uptake was measured in healthy tissues, organs, and tumor lesions. Tumor response was evaluated at 12 wk using CT of the thorax/abdomen and MRI of the brain. RECIST, version 1.1, was used to define therapy response per patient. Response per lesion was measured by the percentage change in lesion diameter. Toxicity was assessed according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 4.0. Results: Baseline 18F-BMS986192 PET/CT was performed in 8 patients, with follow-up scans in 4 patients. The highest tracer uptake was observed in the spleen, bone marrow, kidneys, and liver. Tracer uptake in tumor lesions was heterogeneous. In total, 42 tumor lesions were identified at baseline, with most lesions in the lungs (n = 21) and brain (n = 14). Tracer uptake was similar between tumor locations. 18F-BMS986192 uptake in lesions at baseline, corrected for blood-pool activity, was negatively correlated with the change lesion diameter at response evaluation (r = −0.49, P = 0.005), both in intra- and extracerebral lesions. Receiver-operating-characteristic analysis demonstrated that 18F-BMS986192 uptake can discriminate between responding and nonresponding lesions with an area under the curve of 0.82. At the follow-up scan, an increased 18F-BMS986192 uptake compared with baseline scan was correlated with an increased lesion diameter at response evaluation. In the follow-up 18F-BMS986192 PET scan of 2 patients, ICI-related toxicity (thyroiditis and colitis) was detected. Conclusion: In this pilot study, 18F-BMS986192 PET showed heterogeneous uptake in intra- and extracerebral metastatic lesions in melanoma patients. Baseline 18F-BMS986192 uptake was able to predict an ICI treatment–induced reduction in lesion volume, whereas the follow-up PET scan allowed the detection of treatment-induced toxicity.
Investigation on Microstructure and Properties of Duplex Stainless Steel Welds by Underwater Laser Welding with Different Shielding Gas

Taking S32101 duplex stainless steel as the research object, underwater laser wire filling welding technology was used for U-groove filling welding. The influence of different shielding gas compositions on the ferrite content, microstructure, mechanical properties and pitting corrosion resistance was studied by simulating a water depth of 15 m in the hyperbaric chamber. The results show that, under the same process parameters, the size and proportion of austenite in the weld when using pure nitrogen as the shielding gas are larger than those protected by other shielding gases. In a mixed shielding gas, the increase in nitrogen content has little effect on the strength and toughness of the weld. Regardless of the shielding gas used, the base metal was the weakest part of the weld. At the same time, intermetallic inclusions have an adverse effect on the impact toughness of the weld. The pitting corrosion resistance of the welds depends on the Cr2N content in the heat-affected zone. The precipitation and enrichment of Cr2N causes local chromium deficiency, which is the main factor for the weak pitting corrosion ability of the heat-affected zone. Pure nitrogen protection has a better corrosion resistance than other gas protection.
The Copper-microRNA Pathway Is Integrated with Developmental and Environmental Stress Responses in Arabidopsis thaliana

As an essential nutrient, copper (Cu) scarcity causes a decrease in agricultural production. Cu deficiency responses include the induction of several microRNAs, known as Cu-miRNAs, which are responsible for degrading mRNAs from abundant and dispensable cuproproteins to economize copper when scarce. Cu-miRNAs, such as miR398 and miR408 are conserved, as well as the signal transduction pathway to induce them under Cu deficiency. The Arabidopsis thaliana SQUAMOSA-PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE (SPL) family member SPL7 binds to the cis-regulatory motifs present in the promoter regions of genes expressed under Cu deficiency, including Cu-miRNAs. The expression of several other SPL transcription factor family members is regulated by miR156. This regulatory miR156-SPL module plays a crucial role in developmental phase transitions while integrating internal and external cues. Here, we show that Cu deficiency also affects miR156 expression and that SPL3 overexpressing plants, resistant to miR156 regulation, show a severe decrease in SPL7-mediated Cu deficiency responses. These include the expression of Cu-miRNAs and their targets and is probably due to competition between SPL7 and miR156-regulated SPL3 in binding to cis-regulatory elements in Cu-miRNA promoters. Thus, the conserved SPL7-mediated Cu-miRNA pathway could generally be affected by the miR156-SPL module, thereby underscoring the integration of the Cu-miRNA pathway with developmental and environmental stress responses in Arabidopsis thaliana.
Tissue-Specific Regulation of HNK-1 Biosynthesis by Bisecting GlcNAc

Human natural killer—1 (HNK-1) is a sulfated glyco-epitope regulating cell adhesion and synaptic functions. HNK-1 and its non-sulfated forms, which are specifically expressed in the brain and the kidney, respectively, are distinctly biosynthesized by two homologous glycosyltransferases: GlcAT-P in the brain and GlcAT-S in the kidney. However, it is largely unclear how the activity of these isozymes is regulated in vivo. We recently found that bisecting GlcNAc, a branching sugar in N-glycan, suppresses both GlcAT-P activity and HNK-1 expression in the brain. Here, we observed that the expression of non-sulfated HNK-1 in the kidney is unexpectedly unaltered in mutant mice lacking bisecting GlcNAc. This suggests that the biosynthesis of HNK-1 in the brain and the kidney are differentially regulated by bisecting GlcNAc. Mechanistically, in vitro activity assays demonstrated that bisecting GlcNAc inhibits the activity of GlcAT-P but not that of GlcAT-S. Furthermore, molecular dynamics simulation showed that GlcAT-P binds poorly to bisected N-glycan substrates, whereas GlcAT-S binds similarly to bisected and non-bisected N-glycans. These findings revealed the difference of the highly homologous isozymes for HNK-1 synthesis, highlighting the novel mechanism of the tissue-specific regulation of HNK-1 synthesis by bisecting GlcNAc.
TRIM28 Selective Nanobody Reduces Glioblastoma Stem Cell Invasion

Glioblastoma (GB), is the most common and aggressive malignant primary brain tumour in adults. Intra- and inter-tumour heterogeneity, infiltrative GB cell invasion and presence of therapy-resistant GB stem cells (GSCs) represent major obstacles to favourable prognosis and poor therapy response. Identifying the biomarkers of the most aggressive tumour cells and their more efficient targeting strategies are; therefore, crucial. Recently, transcription factor TRIM28 has been identified as a GB biomarker and, in this study, we have shown high expression of TRIM28 in GB and in low grade gliomas as well as higher expression in GSCs vs. differentiated GB cells, although in both cases not significant. We demonstrated significant in vitro inhibition of GB cells and GSCs invasiveness and spread in zebrafish brains in vivo by anti-TRIM28 selective nanobody NB237. TRIM28 was also enriched in GB (tumour) core and associated with the expression of stem cell genes, but was not prognostic for overall survival. However, based on the above results, we conclude that TRIM28 nanobody NB237 offers a new opportunity as a GB therapeutic tool.
De Novo Missense Mutations in TNNC1 and TNNI3 Causing Severe Infantile Cardiomyopathy Affect Myofilament Structure and Function and Are Modulated by Troponin Targeting Agents

Rare pediatric non-compaction and restrictive cardiomyopathy are usually associated with a rapid and severe disease progression. While the non-compaction phenotype is characterized by structural defects and is correlated with systolic dysfunction, the restrictive phenotype exhibits diastolic dysfunction. The molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. Target genes encode among others, the cardiac troponin subunits forming the main regulatory protein complex of the thin filament for muscle contraction. Here, we compare the molecular effects of two infantile de novo point mutations in TNNC1 (p.cTnC-G34S) and TNNI3 (p.cTnI-D127Y) leading to severe non-compaction and restrictive phenotypes, respectively. We used skinned cardiomyocytes, skinned fibers, and reconstituted thin filaments to measure the impact of the mutations on contractile function. We investigated the interaction of these troponin variants with actin and their inter-subunit interactions, as well as the structural integrity of reconstituted thin filaments. Both mutations exhibited similar functional and structural impairments, though the patients developed different phenotypes. Furthermore, the protein quality control system was affected, as shown for TnC-G34S using patient’s myocardial tissue samples. The two troponin targeting agents levosimendan and green tea extract (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCg) stabilized the structural integrity of reconstituted thin filaments and ameliorated contractile function in vitro in some, but not all, aspects to a similar degree for both mutations.