bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Photocatalytic [2+2+m] Cyclization of 2‐Cyanoaryl Acrylamides with 2‐Bromocarbonyls Involving C(sp3)−H Functionalization
Authors: Liu Chuan , Yan Guangpeng , Wu Zonglang , Yang Youzhe , Yang Lin , Wang Jun , Wan Zibei , Wei Jun , Lu Ji , Wei Siping , Yi Dong
Published: October 2023

An oxidant‐free photocatalytic [2+2+m] cyclization of 2‐cyanoaryl acrylamides with 2‐bromocarbonyls is reported, enabling the assembly of biologically important N‐heterocycle‐fused quinolinones including benzo[1,6]naphthyridinones and pyrrolo[3,2‐c]‐quinolines. This photocatalytic protocol proceeds through a radical relay pathway including alkene difunctionalization along with an intramolecular cyano insertion and subsequent site‐specific functionalization of inert C(sp3)−H bond enabled by cyano‐derived iminyl radical‐mediated 1,n‐hydrogen atom transfer. Notably, this transformation selectively formed two distinct C−C bonds, one C−N bond, and one quaternary carbon center in a one‐pot procedure.
Recent Progress and Future Prospects of Anions O‐site Doped Perovskite Oxides in Electrocatalysis for Various Electrochemical Systems
Authors: Yang Caichen , Tian Yunfeng , Yang Chenghao , Kim Guntae , Pu Jian , Chi Bo
Published: October 2023

With the rapid development of novel energy conversion and storage technologies, there is a growing demand for enhanced performance in a wide range of electrocatalysts. Perovskite oxides (ABO3) have caused widespread concerns due to their excellent electrocatalytic properties, low cost, stable and reliable performance. In recent years, the research on anion O‐site doping of perovskite oxides has been a cynosure, which is considered as a promising route for enhancing performance. However, a systematic review summarizing the research progress of anion‐doped perovskite oxides is still lacking. Therefore, this review mainly introduces the elements and strategies of various common anions doped at O‐site of perovskite oxides, analyzes their influence on the physical and chemical properties of perovskites, and separately concludes their applications in electrocatalysis. This review will provide ideas and prospects for the development of subsequent anion doping strategies for high performance perovskite oxides.
Preparation of graphene oxide/carboxymethyl chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol composite nanofiber membranes by electrospinning for heavy metal adsorption
Authors: Zheng Yiming , Ma Huihuang , Wang Jie , Fan Chuanjie
Published: October 2023

In this paper, a graphene‐oxide/carboxymethyl‐chitosan/polyvinyl‐alcohol (GO/CMC/PVA) composite nanofiber membrane was prepared by electrospinning and cross‐linking with glutaraldehyde (GA) to improve the water resistance. The composite nanofiber membrane can be used in the field of heavy metal adsorption. The membrane was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X‐ray diffraction. The effects of GO concentration, adsorption time, and initial concentration of heavy‐metal ion (Ni2+, Cu2+, Ag+, and Pb2+) solution on the adsorption performance of the fiber membranes were investigated. The results showed that the addition of GO can reduce the diameter of nanofibers. GO, CMC, and PVA exhibited good compatibility, and the intermolecular hydrogen bonding improved. The addition of GO also improved the crystalline properties of the composite fiber membrane. In the optimal cross‐linking condition, GA was saturated by steam cross‐linking for 6 h. The introduction of GO improved the adsorption capacity of the membrane for heavy metals in water. The utmost adsorption capacities for Ni2+, Cu2+, Ag+, and Pb2+ were 262.1, 237.9, 319.3, and 413.6 mg/g when using the cross‐linked composite fiber membranes, respectively. The results of adsorption kinetics and thermodynamics showed that the adsorption process accorded with the pseudo‐second‐order kinetic model and Langmuir–Freundlich isotherm model.
Homology modeling, virtual screening, molecular docking, and ADME approaches to identify a potent agent targeting NK2R protein
Authors: Soltani Arash , Hashemy Seyed Isaac
Published: October 2023

Neurokinin/tachykinin receptors are classified as the G‐protein coupled receptor superfamily. The neurokinin 2 receptor (NK2R) is widely expressed in different tissues. NK2R is associated with a range of biological events, such as inflammation, smooth muscle contraction, intestinal motor functions, and asthma. Despite these diverse activities, no approved drugs targeting NK2R have been developed yet. Our study focuses on finding potential inhibitors for NK2R using virtual screening, molecular docking, and ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) approaches. We used a homology modeling approach and AlphaFold DB to obtain the three‐dimensional structure of mouse and human NK2R proteins, respectively. The homology model of NK2R was predicted using MODELLER v10.3 and further refined and validated using the 3Drefine tool and RAMPAGE server, respectively. Molecular docking was performed using a library of 910 structurally similar molecules to four NK1R antagonists: aprepitant, casopitant, fosaprepitant, and rolapitant. Molecular docking revealed six small molecules that displayed high Chemscore fitness scores, and binding energies with desirable ligand–NK2R interactions. The evaluation of the in silico ADME profile, solubility, and permeability of the ligand molecules has revealed that the small molecules are potentially nontoxic and have the chance of exhibiting biological activity after oral administration. Further experimental studies (in vitro and in vivo assays) are required to evaluate the effectiveness of these inhibitors as therapeutic targets.
Promoting effects of cannabidiol on neurite growth and neuronal development in neuron‐astrocyte sandwich coculture
Authors: Kim Jungnam , Choi Hyunwoo , Yang Seoin , Choi Insung S.
Published: October 2023

(–)‐Cannabidiol (CBD), a nonpsychoactive compound isolated from the Cannabis genus, has recently emerged as a promising research subject in neuroscience due to its potential therapeutic benefits against neurological disorders. However, there has been limited fundamental understanding of how CBD affects neuronal development, such as neurite outgrowth and axonal branching, at the cell level. This work investigates the effects of CBD on the early development of primary hippocampal neurons in a noncontact neuron‐astrocyte coculture system. The immunocytochemical and quantitative analyses indicate that CBD of 10 μM promotes neurite growth, including neurite elongation and arborization, and accelerates the process of axon specification. The CBD treatment to the coculture system leads to noticeable increases in the longest‐neurite length, primary‐neurite number, and branch‐point number, as well as the population of axon‐determined neurons. The results provide informative insights into the therapeutic potential of CBD in neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease.
The efficacy of molecular targeted therapy and nivolumab therapy for metastatic non‐clear cell renal cell carcinoma: A retrospective analysis using the Michinoku Japan urological cancer study group database
Authors: Koguchi Tomoyuki , Naito Sei , Hatakeyama Shingo , Numakura Kazuyuki , Muto Yumina , Kato Renpei , Kojima Takahiro , Kawasaki Yoshihide , Morozumi Kento , Kandori Shuya , Kawamura Sadafumi , Nishiyama Hiroyuki , Ito Akihiro , Habuchi Tomonori , Obara Wataru , Ohyama Chikara , Tsuchiya Norihiko , Kojima Yoshiyuki
Published: October 2023

Objectives

To investigate the efficacy of pharmacotherapy for metastatic non‐clear cell renal cell carcinoma (nccRCC) in Japanese population.

Methods

In this retrospective analysis, we compared the time to treatment failure (TTF) for molecular‐targeted agents as first‐line therapy, or nivolumab therapy as sequential therapy between ccRCC and nccRCC using the data of Japanese metastatic RCC patients registered in the Michinoku Japan Urological Cancer Study Group database.

Results

In total, 511 cases of ccRCC and 77 cases of nccRCC were treated with pharmacotherapy. After excluding the patients who received cytokine therapy, chemotherapy, or others, there were 391 ccRCC patients and 60 nccRCC patients who were treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), and 7 ccRCC patients and 7 nccRCC patients who were treated with mammalian‐target of rapamycin inhibitors (mTORIs). In addition, 132 ccRCC patients and 16 nccRCC patients received nivolumab. There was no significant difference in IMDC risk classification before first‐line therapy between ccRCC and nccRCC groups, or in each subgroup within the nccRCC group. TTF for TKIs (161 days, 95% CI: 75‐212 days) and mTORIs (21 days, 95% CI: 9‐31 days) didn’t differ significantly between nccRCC and ccRCC groups (205 days, 95% CI: 174‐243 days and 33 days, 95% CI: 8‐113 days, respectively). TTF for TKIs was significantly longer than that for mTORIs in nccRCC group (p<0.01). There was no significant difference in TTF between the different TKIs in nccRCC group. In addition, no significant difference in TTF for nivolumab was seen between ccRCC and nccRCC groups.

Conclusions

The results showed that the efficacy of molecular‐targeted agents as first‐line therapy was similar oncological outcomes between metastatic nccRCC and ccRCC in Japanese patients. TKIs may be more effective than mTORIs in metastatic nccRCC patients. Nivolumab administration might also be as effective in nccRCC patients as in ccRCC patients in Japanese population.
A constructive replication of client change during psychodynamic treatment in an outpatient setting
Authors: Jankowski Peter J. , Sandage Steven J. , Crabtree Sarah A. , Owen Jesse , Stavros George
Published: October 2023

We responded to the need for replication in psychotherapy research by extending a prior naturalistic study documenting the effectiveness of long‐term psychodynamic treatment. We employed three novel analytic strategies and evaluated their influence on substantive interpretations offered in the prior study. The sample consisted of clients (N = 387; Mage = 31.61; SD = 11.13; 58.9% female; 79.1% Caucasian/White) receiving outpatient treatment at a psychodynamic training clinic. Results replicated the original two‐class solutions for social functioning, depression and life satisfaction. Novel to the replication analyses, each trajectory for social functioning and depression exhibited nonlinear change and results advanced research on a theorised mechanism of effective psychodynamic treatment. Results showed that change in experiential avoidance was a possible mechanism between early‐treatment change in social functioning and later‐treatment changes in depression symptoms and life satisfaction. Clinical implications focus on the influence that initial levels of symptoms and well‐being may have on early and later phases of treatment, monitoring progress throughout treatment, and how to promote symptom and well‐being improvement.
Novel Metallomacrocyclic Carboxamide Mn(II) Complexes as Efficient Catalysts for the Transfer Hydrogenation of Ketones
Authors: Kumah Robert T. , Migwi Francis K. , Schmitz Markus , Thiel Werner R. , Ojwach Stephen O.
Published: October 2023

Herein, we present the first metallomacrocyclic Mn(II) complexes as efficient catalysts for the transfer hydrogenation of ketones. The dinuclear Mn(II) complexes [Mn2(L1–L4)2Cl2] (Mn1–Mn4), were synthesised in good yields by reacting MnCl2 ⋅ 4H2O with the ligands N,N′‐(1,4‐phenylene)dipicolinamide (L1), N,N′‐(1,2‐phenylene)dipicolinamide (L2), N,N′‐(4‐methoxy‐1,2‐phenylene)dipicolinamide (L3) and N,N′‐(4,5‐dimethyl‐1,2‐phenylene)dipicolinamide (L4). Structural characterization of the resulting Mn(II) complexes was achieved using FT‐IR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, magnetic moment measurements, elemental analysis, and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction for Mn2. The solid‐state structure of complex Mn2 reveals a dinuclear Mn(II) core, in which the metal coordination sphere consists of two bidentate, K2(N−O) bridging L2 units and two chlorido ligands to give a distorted octahedral geometry. The Mn(II) complexes (Mn1–Mn4) were quite active catalysts for the transfer hydrogenation of ketones displaying turnover numbers (TON) of up to 2633, which is comparable to those of well‐established Mn(I) catalysts. The new Mn(II) complexes also efficiently hydrogenated a number of aromatic, heterocyclic, functionalized and aliphatic ketones. More significantly, cheaper, and readily available hydrogen sources like ethanol also gave decent catalytic activities in the transfer hydrogenation reactions.
Seasonal Variations in the Composition of Sewage Sludge in the Observation of a Sewage Treatment Plant
Authors: Thumeyer Lucas , Fröhlich Peter , Dohrn Matthias , Wallus Sarah , Neuroth Manuela , Bertau Martin
Published: October 2023

Durch die Auswertung von Klärschlammanalysedaten einer großen deutschen Kläranlage (>1 Mio. Einwohnerwerte) konnten jahreszeitliche Schwankungen in der Zusammensetzung des Klärschlamms identifiziert werden. Diese Schwankungen beinhalten eine periodische Abnahme des Kohlenstoffgehaltes sowie eine Zunahme des Aschegehaltes in der Jahresmitte. Als Ursachen für diesen Trend konnten verschiedene Verfahren der Abwasser‐ und Schlammbehandlung sowie klimatische Einflüsse identifiziert werden. Die Untersuchung der Gehalte verschiedener Schwermetalle und Spurenelemente im Klärschlamm zeigte darüber hinaus ebenfalls zum Teil starke Schwankungen im Jahresverlauf, die Einfluss auf die Verwertungsmöglichkeiten des Klärschlamms haben können.
Radiographic bone level and soft tissue dimensional changes following explantation of implants affected by peri‐implantitis: A retrospective exploratory evaluation
Authors: Serino Giovanni , Wada Masahiro , Mameno Tomoaki , Stavropoulos Andreas
Published: October 2023

Background

While the dimensional alteration of alveolar bone following tooth extraction have been extensively descripted in the literature, no information is available regarding potential hard and soft tissues changes following implant explantation.

Aim

To evaluate the radiographic bone healing and the horizontal and vertical soft tissue dimensional alterations at implant extraction alveoli, 6 months following implant explantation.

Material and Methods

Data from 31 patients scheduled for extraction of one implant with persisting peri‐implantitis despite treatment were analysed. Bone crest level changes and the extent of bone healing at the apical aspect of the implant socket were assessed on the radiographs prior and 6 months following explantation. Regression analyses assessed the impact of various predictors (e.g., bone crest level, presence/absence of buccal bone) on bone level changes. Fisher's exact probability test was applied to assess the difference in probability to have mucosa recession of ≥2 mm in the presence or absence of alveolar buccal bone.

Results

A vertical bone loss of 0.8 mm (standard deviation [SD] = 1.3) of the peri‐implant bone crest and a gain of 0.8 mm (SD = 1.1) from the bottom of the peri‐implant defect were recorded. Complete healing was noted in the intact implant extraction socket (i.e., the part of the implant not affected by peri‐implantitis). A reduction of 0.4 mm (SD = 0.7) of the alveolar mucosa height was recorded in concomitant with a decrease of 0.7 mm (SD = 0.8) of the mucosa width. These alterations were more pronounced in the absence of the alveolar buccal bone.

Conclusion

The results of the present explorative study indicated a decrease in the height and width of the alveolar soft and hard tissues following explantation of peri‐implantitis affected implants, and these changes were more pronounced in the absence of the buccal bone wall. Nevertheless, the apical portion of the implant alveolus (the intact implant socket) tend to heal with no further bone loss.
Tropical infectious diseases and the skin: Diagnostic and treatment updates since the WHO's integrated campaign against neglected tropical skin diseases
Authors: Kim Juliana H. , Burningham Kevin , Tyring Stephen K.
Published: October 2023

Introduction

The World Health Organization (WHO) initiated a unified effort to address skin‐related neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in 2017. This effort increased attention and resources allocated toward decreasing the burden of tropical skin diseases. It emphasized an “integrated approach” to detect and treat multiple co‐existing NTDs at once. This article will outline new diagnostic tests, treatment options, and vaccine development for neglected tropical skin diseases since the initiative began.

Data Sources

A PubMed search of clinical trials, randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and meta‐analyses published since 2017 was performed.

Results

The WHO's initiative has already seen success, increasing the surveillance of leprosy and the distribution of treatment for yaws. It has encouraged the development of new point‐of‐care tests and better‐tolerated treatment options. It has also brought new challenges, with the rise of resistant organisms. Development of point‐of‐care DNA‐RNA‐based testing may improve drug resistance monitoring. New vaccines are needed for long‐term control of skin NTDs in areas with high transmission rates.
Integrated analysis of miRNA profiles and gut bacterial changes in Altica viridicyanea following antibiotic treatment
Authors: Ren Yipeng , Wang Yuan , Chen Juhong , Fu Siying , Bu Wenjun , Xue Huaijun
Published: October 2023

The gut bacteria involves in insect homeostasis by playing essential roles in host physiology, metabolism, innate immunity, and so forth. microRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous small noncoding RNAs that posttranscriptionally regulate gene expression to affect immune or metabolic processes in insects. For several non‐model insects, the available knowledge on the relationship between changes in the gut bacteria and miRNA profiles is limited. In this study, we investigated the gut bacterial diversity, composition, and function from Altica viridicyanea feeding on normal‐ and antibiotic‐treated host plants using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing; antibiotics have been shown to affect the body weight and development time in A. viridicyanea, suggesting that the gut bacteria of the normal sample were more diverse and abundant than those of the antibiotic‐fed group, and most of them were involved in various physical functions by enrichment analysis. Furthermore, we executed small RNA transcriptome sequencing using the two experimental groups to obtain numerous sRNAs, such as piRNAs, siRNAs, and known and novel miRNAs, by data mapping and quality control, and furthermore, a total of 224 miRNAs were identified as significantly differentially expressed miRNAs, of which some DEMs and their target genes participated in immune‐ and metabolism‐related pathways based on GO and KEGG annotation. Besides, regarding the regulatory roles of miRNA and target genes, a interaction network of DEM‐target gene pairs from eight immune‐ or metabolism‐related signaling pathways were constructed. Finally, we discovered that DEMs from above pathways were significantly positively or negatively correlated with gut bacterial alterations following antibiotic treatment. Collectively, the observations of this study expand our understanding of how the disturbance of gut bacteria affects miRNA profiles in A. viridicyanea and provide new valuable resources from extreme ranges for future studies on the adaptive evolution in insects.
Accelerating ray tracing engine of BLENDER on the new Sunway architecture
Authors: Sun Zhaoqi , Wang Zhen , Hua Mengyuan , Xiong Puyu , Wan Wubing , Gao Ping , Zhao Wenlai , Huang Zhenchun , Han Lin
Published: October 2023

With the increasing popularity of high‐resolution displays, there is a growing demand for more realistic rendered images. Ray tracing has become the most effective algorithm for image rendering, but its complexity and large amount of computing data require sophisticated HPC solutions. In this article, we present our efforts to port the ray tracing engine CYCLES of Blender to the new generation of Sunway supercomputers. We propose optimizations that are tailored to the new hardware architecture, including a multi‐level parallel scheme that efficiently maps and scales Blender onto the novel Sunway architecture, strategies to address memory bottlenecks, a revised task dispatching method that achieves excellent load balancing, and a pipeline approach that maximizes computation and communication overlap. By combining all these optimizations, we achieve a significant reduction in rendering time for a single‐frame image, from 2260 s using the single‐core serial version to 71 s using 48 processes, which is a speedup of about 128×. Accelerating the ray tracing engine CYCLES of Blender in the new generation of Sunway supercomputers.
Corrosion and hardness properties of retrogression‐formed and warm‐formed AA7075 sheet
Authors: Ogunsanya Ibrahim G.
Published: October 2023

To achieve combined formability and strength in high‐strength precipitation‐hardened aluminum automotive sheets, different forming path used with fast and slow forming technology has been proposed. This study reports hardness and corrosion properties from two elevated‐temperature forming techniques, retrogression forming (RF) and warm forming (WF), employed on AA7075 alloy sheets. Parameters such as optimal pre‐aging, re‐aging, WF, and RF temperature and time were determined. In the retrogression‐formed (R‐F) sheets, initial retrogression treatment of peak‐aged (i.e., T6) temper resulted in significant loss of properties, but final re‐aging step recovered most. When traditional peak‐aging treatment was used to re‐age R‐F sheets, their T6 hardness and corrosion properties were restored to 95%–97% and 86%, respectively, while re‐aging R‐F sheets using industrial post‐forming paint‐bake treatment restored their T6 hardness and corrosion properties to 87%–92% and 78%–79%. In the warm‐formed (W‐F) sheets, increasing pre‐aging temperature and time resulted in increasing properties, and properties of the best W‐F samples matched the R‐F samples. In addition, shorter‐time forming did not significantly reduce properties of formed part, encouraging the use fast‐forming technology. Overall, these findings show that sheets subjected to RF and WF techniques can possess T6 properties in formed parts.
Characterization of phenolic components of black teas of different origins and the effect of brewing duration on quality properties
Authors: Aydemir Mehmet Emin , Takım Kasım , Yılmaz Mustafa Abdullah
Published: October 2023

This research aims to identify the phytochemical constituents of 79 different samples of black tea, including varieties from India, Iran (IrT), Turkey (TT), and Sri Lanka. In addition, this study investigates the effect of varying brewing times on the quality characteristics of tea. Therefore, we analyzed the phytochemical content of tea using a novel LC–MS/MS method that we developed, which identifies 53 different phenolic compounds. Furthermore, objective evaluations were conducted on the total phenolic compound, total flavonoid compound, antioxidant activity, and color values at 15, 30, and 60‐min brewing intervals. The prevailing phenolic compounds discovered in the corresponding tea classifications were quantitatively analyzed to be quinic acid, epicatechin gallate, epigallocatechin gallate, epicatechin, epigallocatechin, gallic acid, nicotiflorine, and isoquercitrin. The study found that the TT and IrT groups had the richest phytochemical content and the highest antioxidant activity. The Turkish tea group had the highest measurement for the desired red color, which is considered a sensory property. Infusion color, antioxidant activity, and total phenolic and flavonoid contents showed significant increases with prolonged brewing time. It was important to note that the chemical composition of tea varies according to its origin and brewing conditions. Extending the brewing time improved the quality of the tea. It should be noted, however, that longer brewing times result in a more intense release of flavonoids, and this increase may have a pro‐oxidant effect.
Navigating access to golden lands: Gender roles and constraints of women in artisanal and small‐scale mining operations in north‐western Ghana
Authors: Baddianaah Issah
Published: October 2023

The daily lives of female artisanal and small‐scale miners revolve around an array of complex and labour‐driven activities. The complexities and labour demands vary depending on the type of artisanal and small‐scale mining involved, the underground pit (ghetto) or surface mining. Few studies have explored how gender roles manifest in the two major mining types to inform policy on the creation of a gendered mining environment for women. This paper fills the lacuna in the literature by investigating gender roles and the consequential effects on female artisanal miners' daily lives and practices along the underground pit and surface mining. The liberal feminist theoretical lens is employed as a framework. Data were sourced through field observations and in‐depth interviews with 13 lead miners (men) and 67 female miners in the Upper West Region of Ghana. Findings show that sociocultural marginalisation of women is predominant in underground pit/ghetto mining. Women are content to work in surface mining operations and can form gangs to operate independently; nevertheless, sociocultural framings have limited women's space and access to mineralised concessions. The study argues that steps towards promoting gender equality in artisanal and small‐scale mining should explore a gendered mineralised concessions distribution; thus, the distribution of mining concessions under the community mining project by the government of Ghana should be gender‐sensitive.
Wnt5a/Ror2 promotes Nrf2‐mediated tissue protective function of astrocytes after brain injury
Authors: Endo Mitsuharu , Tanaka Yuki , Fukuoka Mayo , Suzuki Hayata , Minami Yasuhiro
Published: October 2023

Astrocytes, a type of glial cells, play critical roles in promoting the protection and repair of damaged tissues after brain injury. Inflammatory cytokines and growth factors can affect gene expression in astrocytes in injured brains, but signaling pathways and transcriptional mechanisms that regulate tissue protective functions of astrocytes are still poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms regulating the function of reactive astrocytes induced in mouse models of stab wound (SW) brain injury and collagenase‐induced intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). We show that basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), whose expression is up‐regulated in mouse brains after SW injury and ICH, acts synergistically with inflammatory cytokines to activate E2F1‐mediated transcription of a gene encoding the Ror‐family protein Ror2, a receptor for Wnt5a, in cultured astrocytes. We also found that subsequent activation of Wnt5a/Ror2 signaling in astrocytes results in nuclear accumulation of antioxidative transcription factor Nrf2 at least partly by increased expression of p62/Sqstm1, leading to promoted expression of several Nrf2 target genes, including heme oxygenase 1. Finally, we provide evidence demonstrating that enhanced activation of Wnt5a/Ror2 signaling in astrocytes reduces cellular damage caused by hemin, a degradation product of hemoglobin, and promotes repair of the damaged blood brain barrier after brain hemorrhage.
Fluorinated boron nitride nanosheet enhanced ultrathin and conductive polymer electrolyte for high‐rate solid‐state lithium metal batteries
Authors: Wang Linjun , Shi Haodong , Xie Yingpeng , Wu Zhong‐Shuai
Published: October 2023

Polyethylene oxide (PEO)‐based polymer solid electrolytes (PSE) have been pursued for the next‐generation extremely safe and high‐energy‐density lithium metal batteries due to their exceptional flexibility, manufacturability, and lightweight nature. However, the practical application of PEO‐PSE has been hindered by low ionic conductivity, limited lithium‐ion transfer number (tLi+), and inferior stability with lithium metal. Herein, an ultrathin composite solid‐state electrolyte (CSSE) film with a thickness of 20 μm, incorporating uniformly dispersed two‐dimensional fluorinated boron nitride (F‐BN) nanosheet fillers (F‐BN CSSE) is fabricated via a solution‐casting process. The integration of F‐BN effectively reduces the crystallinity of the PEO polymer matrix, creating additional channels that facilitate lithium‐ion transport. Moreover, the presence of F‐BN promotes an inorganic phase‐dominated electrolyte interface film dominated by LiF, Li2O, and Li3N on the lithium anode surface, greatly enhancing the stability of the electrode‐electrolyte interface. Consequently, the F‐BN CSSE exhibits a high ionic conductivity of 0.11 mS cm−1 at 30°C, high tLi+ of 0.56, and large electrochemical window of 4.78 V, and demonstrates stable lithium plating/striping behavior with a voltage of 20 mV for 640 h, effectively mitigating the formation of lithium dendrites. When coupled with LiFePO4, the as‐assembled LiFePO4|F‐BN CSSE|Li solid‐state battery achieves a high capacity of 142 mAh g−1 with an impressive retention rate of 82.4% after 500 cycles at 5 C. Furthermore, even at an ultrahigh rate of 50 C, a capacity of 37 mAh g−1 is achieved. This study provides a novel and reliable strategy for the design of advanced solid‐state electrolytes for high‐rate and long‐life lithium metal batteries.
Let‐7a‐5p abrogates progression of papillary thyroid carcinoma cells by decreasing nuclear receptor subfamily 6 group a member 1‐mediated lipogenesis
Authors: Zhao Tao , Sun Jinghui , Lu Xiangdong , Liu Lingling , Chen Lin , Zhao Wei , Zhou Bin
Published: October 2023

Increasing evidence shows that microRNAs (miRNAs) contribute vital roles in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) carcinogenesis, proliferation, invasion, and so on. As the most common endocrine malignancy, there still have largely unknown molecular events. First, our analysis and open access database information indicates that the downregulation of let‐7a‐5p accelerates PTC progression. Next, lentivirus mediates the overexpression of let‐7a‐5p PTC cells, and found let‐7a‐5p suppressed cancer cells proliferation and invasion. Interestingly, bioinformatics analysis hints NR6A1 is the potential target gene of let‐7a‐5p. The regulation was validated by luciferase and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) in PTC tissue and the clinic tumors. Moreover, let‐7a‐5p regulated NR6A1 involved in PTC cells lipogensis in vitro and in vivo. Finally, let‐7a‐5p abrogates PCT xenograft tumors growth, NR6A1 expression and lipogenesis. Taken together, our data indicates that let‐7a‐5p suppresses PCT progression through decreased lipogenesis, the related let‐7a‐5p/NR6A1axis might be promising candidate targets for PTC treatment.
Rapid analysis of amphetamine‐type substances using Agilent's QuickProbe gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer technology
Authors: Black Chrissy , Russell Matthew , Mayo Erina , Aitcheson Craig
Published: October 2023

The Agilent QuickProbe gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (QP‐GCMS) is a rapid analytical instrument requiring minimal sample preparation. The instrument was considered for the screening of samples for potential implementation at New Zealand's border screening laboratory. One of the project's primary aims was to validate the method for the analysis of border seizures, including drug concealments, novel psychoactive substances (NPS), low‐dose drugs and unknown substances. For the application to be useful beyond the capabilities of current handheld point‐of‐contact (POC) devices, the initial evaluation has included the analysis of a large variety of compounds in a large variety of matrices. These data will be reported separately. However, during the evaluation, several chromatographical challenges were encountered during the analysis of amphetamine‐type substances (ATS). As such, the QP‐GCMS required some troubleshooting and method development to improve resolution for this class of compounds.
Clustering and assessment of precipitation climates using satellite precipitation products and improved machine learning precipitation models
Authors: Nosratpour Reza , Rahimzadegan Majid
Published: October 2023

A deep understanding of the different features of various rainfall regimes is essential for water resources management and meteorological studies. Due to the extensive spatial coverage, satellite precipitation products have afforded researchers an excellent opportunity to investigate various precipitation climates. This study employs cutting‐edge satellite precipitation data and improved modelling techniques to innovatively investigate Iran's diverse precipitation climates. By harnessing the power of machine learning (ML), precipitation models were developed that significantly improved the accuracy of satellite‐based precipitation estimates. The complexities of Iran's precipitation climates were investigated by combining satellite data and ML models with the K‐means++ algorithm. Furthermore, the Mann–Kendall test was employed to scrutinize potential trends in precipitation frequency across varying months and climates to enrich the current body of knowledge further. In addition, a range of probability distribution functions was fitted to the ML precipitation estimates, evaluating the outcomes with the Akaike information criterion (AIC). The results show that both artificial neural network (ANN) and random forest (RF) models improved satellite product correlation results, increasing them from 0.84 to an outstanding 0.93. Moreover, the Mann–Kendall test reveals a positive trend in the frequency of precipitation associated with convective rainfalls during May, as indicated by satellite data, ML models and synoptic precipitation observations. Ultimately, this research holds significant value for water resource management and the ongoing pursuit of refining satellite rainfall products in the context of diverse rainfall regimes.
Reef‐wide and long‐term skeletal growth records of the mountainous star coral (Orbicella faveolata) from Belize barrier and atoll reefs (Central America)
Authors: Zoppe Simon Felix , Gischler Eberhard
Published: October 2023

Coral reefs are vulnerable marine ecosystems and reef‐building corals are especially sensitive to the impacts of environmental change. Skeletal growth records of corals (Scleractinia) can be used as archives of ecological and climatological change. This study focusses on massive Orbicella faveolata coral skeletons from the Belize barrier and atoll reefs. In total, 11 drill cores from 10 coral colonies were studied. Their skeletal growth records range from 17 to 186 years and span time windows from the early 19th century to the beginning of the 21st century. Based on these records, master chronologies have been compiled for the entire 20th century. The data indicate uniform skeletal growth across the various reef environments of offshore Belize. Skeletal density is increasing reef‐wide, whereas linear extension is declining, accompanied by a slightly declining calcification rate. Apparently, a more densely packed coral skeleton does not compensate for the reduced linear growth and calcification sufficiently in O. faveolata populations across the Belize reefs. The longest analysed coral sample contains >186 years of skeletal growth, which exhibits periodicities of 40–80 years. Such cycle lengths likely reflect the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation, lending further support to coral skeletal records being valuable archives for long‐term oceanographic change.
The emerging role of exosomes in communication between the periphery and the central nervous system
Authors: Han Wenxiu , Zhang Hailiang , Feng Lei , Dang Ruili , Wang Jing , Cui Changmeng , Jiang Pei
Published: October 2023

Exosomes, membrane‐enclosed vesicles, are secreted by all types of cells. Exosomes can transport various molecules, including proteins, lipids, functional mRNAs, and microRNAs, and can be circulated to various recipient cells, leading to the production of local paracrine or distal systemic effects. Numerous studies have proved that exosomes can pass through the blood—brain barrier, thus, enabling the transfer of peripheral substances into the central nervous system (CNS). Consequently, exosomes may be a vital factor in the exchange of information between the periphery and CNS. This review will discuss the structure, biogenesis, and functional characterization of exosomes and summarize the role of peripheral exosomes deriving from tissues like the lung, gut, skeletal muscle, and various stem cell types in communicating with the CNS and influencing the brain's function. Then, we further discuss the potential therapeutic effects of exosomes in brain diseases and the clinical opportunities and challenges. Gaining a clearer insight into the communication between the CNS and the external areas of the body will help us to ascertain the role of the peripheral elements in the maintenance of brain health and illness and will facilitate the design of minimally invasive techniques for diagnosing and treating brain diseases.
An efficient wavelet‐based approximation method for solving nonlinear fractional‐time long wave equations: An operational matrix approach
Authors: Balaji S. , Hariharan G.
Published: October 2023

This research paper develops an efficient Gegenbauer wavelet‐based approximation method to solve nonlinear fractional‐time regularized long wave (RLW) equations arising in ocean engineering. The operational matrices of derivatives, as well as the fractional order integration, are engaged in the proposed method. Using the operational matrix method and collocation point, the nonlinear RLW equations are converted into a system of algebraic equations, and these equations are further solved. Some results regarding the error‐bound estimation of this method have been developed. The method's accuracy and efficiency are confirmed by error estimation. The obtained results are compared with other available results and exact solutions. Moreover, the use of Gegenbauer wavelets is found to be a simple, straightforward forward and efficient tool for solving nonlinear PDEs arising in ocean engineering.
Wassermanagement: Gut gerüstet für Glyphosat
Authors: Naghdi Shaghayegh , Eder Dominik
Published: October 2023

Filter, die Glyphosat aus Wasser und Abwasser adsorbieren, reduzieren Umweltverschmutzung und Gesundheitsrisiken. Grundlage sind metallorganische Gerüstverbindungen.
Forschungstransfer: Elektrochemische CO2‐Reduktion
Authors: Siegmund Daniel , Andronescu Corina , Schulz Christof , Hoster Harry , Segets Doris , Apfel Ulf‐Peter
Published: October 2023

Akademische Forschung und industrielle Anwendung – wie die Zusammenarbeit zwischen Industrie und Akademia zu optimieren ist, zeigt ein Blick aus der technischen Elektrochemie auf deren Anwendung in der Industrie. Wichtig ist dabei eine klare Kommunikation auf beiden Seiten.
Investigating Reynolds number effects in turbulent concentric coaxial pipe flow using stochastic one‐dimensional turbulence modeling
Authors: Tsai Pei‐Yun , Schmidt Heiko , Klein Marten
Published: October 2023

The present study numerically investigates turbulent momentum transfer in concentric coaxial (annular) pipe flow with small radius ratios . To model the flow, a stochastic one‐dimensional turbulence (ODT) model formulated for cylindrical geometry is used that provides full‐scale resolution along a representative radial coordinate. The present investigation extends the model validation by Tsai et al. (PAMM, 22:e202200272, 2023), to radius ratios smaller than 0.1 and addresses boundary layers with strong spanwise curvature effects. The focus is on the assessment and analysis of statistical flow features in the vicinity of the inner cylinder wall, particularly in cases with small radius ratios. Following Boersma & Breugem (Flow Turbul. Combust., 86:113–127, 2011), classical boundary‐layer and mixing‐length theory is utilized to analyze the model predictions. The results demonstrate that the ODT model captures leading‐order curvature and mixing‐length effects by its physics‐compatible construction. Utilizing the model for extrapolation to high Reynolds numbers inaccessible to conventional high‐fidelity numerical approaches shows that curvature effects persist and nonlocally affect the entire boundary layer. The model results provide support for a spanwise‐curvature‐modified wall function.
COVID‐19 risk perception and negative emotional symptoms: Mediating role of self‐control and moderating role of life history strategy
Authors: Peng Huini , Ju Qianqian , Nie Shu , Gan Yiqun
Published: October 2023

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) has emerged as a significant public health crisis, posing threats to physical health and mental well‐being. This study, grounded in the Risk‐Resilience Model, sought to elucidate how COVID‐19 risk perception impacts negative emotional symptoms. Specifically, we examined the mediating role of self‐control and the moderating role of life history strategies. We conducted a two‐wave longitudinal survey in October 2020 (N = 334) and November 2020 (N = 249), targeting residents across 14 provinces (24 cities) in China. After controlling for sex and age, the results supported the moderated mediation model, illustrating that (1) self‐control mediated the relationship between COVID‐19 risk perception and negative emotional symptoms, (2) life history strategy moderated the first segment of the mediation process, and (3) life history strategies also moderated the mediating effect of self‐control on the link between COVID‐19 risk perception and negative emotional symptoms. Furthermore, compared to a fast life history strategy, a slow life history strategy mitigated the effect of COVID‐19 risk perception on self‐control, thereby reducing negative emotional symptoms. This study sheds light on how COVID‐19 risk perception affects negative emotional symptoms and identifies potential targets (i.e., self‐control and life history strategy) for addressing emotional distress during pandemics.
Beta oscillation is an indicator for two patterns of sensorimotor synchronization
Authors: Liu Yuelin , Zhao Chen , Sander‐Thömmes Tillman , Yang Taoxi , Bao Yan
Published: October 2023

Previous study indicates that there are two distinct behavioral patterns in the sensory‐motor synchronization task with short stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA; 2–3 s) or long SOA (beyond 4 s). However, the underlying neural indicators and mechanisms have not been elucidated. The present study applied magnetoencephalography (MEG) technology to examine the functional role of several oscillations (beta, gamma, and mu) in sensorimotor synchronization with different SOAs to identify a reliable neural indicator. During MEG recording, participants underwent a listening task without motor response, a sound‐motor synchronization task, and a motor‐only continuation task. These tasks were used to explore whether and how the activity of oscillations changes across different behavioral patterns with different tempos. Results showed that during both the listening and the synchronization task, the beta oscillation changes with the tempo. Moreover, the event‐related synchronization of beta oscillations was significantly correlated with motor timing during synchronization. In contrast, mu activity only changes with the tempo in the synchronization task, while the gamma activity remains unchanged. In summary, the current study indicates that beta oscillation could be an indicator of behavioral patterns between fast tempo and slow tempo in sensorimotor synchronization. Also, it is likely to be the potential mechanism of maintaining rhythmic continuous movements with short SOA, which is embedded within the 3 s time window.
Time represented in space: Bar better than ring while waiting
Authors: Zhao Chen , Wong Yee Lok , Xu Yi , Wang Sijia , Bao Yan
Published: October 2023

The use of visual representations of time is common in both research and daily life, with progress icons, such as bars and rings, being popular examples. Despite some studies investigating the advantage of different shapes, there has been no consistent result from questionnaires. This study aims to investigate this topic by using an objective temporal reproduction task to compare the potential difference between short and long waiting times, as evidence indicates that the temporal machinery could be different within and beyond 2–3 s. The study also explores the role of the percentage of progress icons. Two groups of participants first experienced a short (3 s) or long (15 s) duration with a dynamic progress icon, which varied by shape (bar vs. ring) and progress percentage (20% vs. 80%). Then they reproduced the duration with a button, seeing a neutral grey square on the screen. The results revealed that the reproduced durations of bars were significantly shorter than those of rings, but only for the long duration condition (15 s). Additionally, a larger progress percentage led to longer reproductions for both 3 s and 15 s. These findings suggest that the spatial configuration is significant when the waiting time is relatively long, supporting the hierarchical model of temporal perception. Overall, this study contributes to both industrial design and our understanding of the cognitive mechanism of temporal perception.
Countering online terrorist content: A social regulation approach
Authors: Watkin Amy‐Louise
Published: October 2023

After a period of self‐regulation, countries around the world began to implement regulations for the removal of terrorist content from tech platforms. However, much of this regulation has been criticised for a variety of reasons, most prominently for concerns of infringing free speech and creating unfair burdens for smaller platforms. In addition to this, regulation is heavily centred around content moderation, however, fails to consider or address the psychosocial risks it poses to human content moderators. This paper argues that where regulation has been heavily criticised yet continues to inspire similar regulation a new regulatory approach is required. The aim of this paper is to undertake an introductory examination of the use of a social regulation approach in three other industries (environmental protection, consumer protection and occupational health and safety) to learn and investigate new regulatory avenues that could be applied to the development of new regulation that seeks to counter terrorist content on tech platforms and is concerned with the safety of content moderators.
Molecular brushes based on poly(amino acid)s: synthesis, structures, and applications
Authors: Feng Yilin , Wei Cong , Zhao Tianyu
Published: October 2023

Polymer science is witnessing rapid advancements in the precision construction of synthetic macromolecules. Beyond the impressive advances in molecular brush, the integration of poly(amino acid)s into bottlebrush architectures leads to a novel class of materials known as molecular brushes based on poly(amino acid)s (MBPAs). These materials not only possess biorelated functions but also enable the incorporation of the diverse secondary structures found in poly(amino acid)s into the bulk polymers. Here we present a comprehensive and critical summary of three synthetic strategies and three different constructions for MBPAs. Furthermore, we highlight their potential in the development of advanced materials for a broad range of applications, encompassing antimicrobial activity, pharmaceutical delivery, and bioimaging.