bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring the Polarization Photocatalysis of ZnIn2S4 Material toward Hydrogen Evolution by Integrating Cascade Electric Fields with Hole Transfer Vehicle
Authors: Wan Jun , Liu Lin , Wu Yan , Song Jiarui , Liu Jiaqing , Song Ru , Low Jingxiang , Chen Xiaoli , Wang Jijiang , Fu Feng , Xiong Yujie
Published: June 2022

Sluggish charge kinetics in photocatalysts and slow hole transfer in oxidation half‐reaction severely limit the photocatalytic activity of hydrogen evolution. ZnIn2S4 with an asymmetrical layered structure of [S–In]–[S–In–S]–[Zn–S] unit cell is a promising material offering asymmetrical crystal polarization to overcome the limitation; however, the polarization‐induced internal electric field by this material remains largely unexplored. Herein, the polarization‐induced internal electric field of ZnIn2S4 by engineering the polarity intensity in microscopic units is demonstrated for the first time. Specifically, ultrathin ZnIn2S4 nanosheets are employed to establish a Ni12P5/ZnIn2S4‐O (NP/ZIS‐O) system with powerful bulk and interface cascade electric field by the oxygen doping and ohmic junction. Enabled by such a design, the photogenerated electrons can rapidly migrate to NP active sites, suppressing the photogenerated electron‐hole pair recombination on ZIS‐O. To further overcome the inefficient hole transfer in oxidation half‐reaction, the preferential dehydrogenation of the α‐CH bond in benzyl alcohol is utilized as a vehicle to facilitate hole transfer. As a result, a remarkably enhanced H2 generation of 15.79 mmol g–1 h–1 is achieved on NP/ZIS‐O, which is 8.16‐fold higher than that of pristine ZnIn2S4. Meanwhile, as a value‐added oxidation product, benzaldehyde can be produced at the rate of 17.63 mmol g–1 h–1. This work presents a collaborative strategy for engineering charge behavior in photocatalysts with polarization features, and provides insights into materials design toward photocatalytic hydrogen production and organic synthesis from the angle of charge kinetics.
Light Management through Organic Bulk Heterojunction and Carrier Interfacial Engineering for Perovskite Solar Cells with 23.5% Efficiency
Authors: Shi Zhichong , Zhou Donglei , Zhuang Xinmeng , Liu Shuainan , Sun Rui , Xu Wen , Liu Le , Song Hongwei
Published: June 2022

Light management through organic bulk heterojunction (BHJ) has been widely reported to push up the performance of lead‐based perovskite solar cells (PSCs) by extending the spectral response. However, the development of integrated perovskite/organic bulk heterojunction solar cells (IPSCs) encounters a bottleneck problem that the poor carrier extraction capability of perovskite and BHJ leads to the severe loss of open‐voltage (Voc) and fill factor (FF). Herein, the strategy of introducing black phosphorous quantum dots (BPQDs) and cuprous oxide (CuOx) into IPSCs is adopted, which not only successfully extends the single‐component PSCs light response to 930 nm, but also significantly reduces the Voc and FF loss of IPSCs. BPQDs with bipolar charge transport and high mobility characteristics improves the electron/hole transport behaviors of perovskite and BHJ films. CuOx with matching energy levels is introduced between BHJ and Spiro‐OMeTAD as a buffer layer, which provides good driving force for the transportation of holes. The champion device achieves a power conversion efficiency of 23.52%. The IPSCs devices also display an excellent long‐term and humidity stability. This work demonstrates an approach to solve the carrier extraction key issues that limits the performance of IPSCs, which achieves an instructive result in the development of PSCs light management.
Aggregation‐Induced Emission (AIE) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Characteristics for Targeted and Image‐Guided siRNA Therapy of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Hou Yu‐chen , Zhang Chao , Zhang Zi‐jie , Xia Lei , Rao Ke‐qiang , Gu Li‐hong , Wu Yi‐chi , Lv Zi‐cheng , Wu Hao‐xiang , Zuo Xiao‐lei , Li Fan , Feng Hao , Xia Qiang
Published: June 2022

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of primary liver cancer and remains a global health challenge. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) is a promising therapeutic modality that blocks multiple disease‐causing genes without impairing cell structures. However, siRNA therapeutics still have off‐target proportion and lack effective quantitative analysis method in vivo. Thus, a novel theragnostic nanoparticle with dual‐mode imaging is synthesized for targeted and image‐guided siRNA therapy of HCC. Survivin siRNA is carried by Poly‐ethylenimine (PEI) and interacted with T7‐AIE/Gd NPs, which are self‐assembled of DSPE‐PEG‐DTPA(Gd), DSPE‐PEG‐Mal, DSPE‐PEG‐PEI, and TPE. The resulting theragnostic nanoparticles exhibit lower toxicity and high therapeutic effect, and excellent T1‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) imaging performance. Moreover, in vivo MRI and AIE imaging indicate that this kind of theragnostic nanoparticles rapidly accumulates in the tumor due to active targeting and enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effects. Sur@T7‐AIE‐Gd suppresses HCC tumor growth by inducing autophagy and destabilizes DNA integrity in tumor cells. The results suggest that T7‐AIE‐Gd nanoparticles carrying Survivin siRNA with dual‐mode imaging characteristics are promising for targeted and image‐guided siRNA therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma.
Textile‐Integrated Liquid Metal Electrodes for Electrophysiological Monitoring
Authors: Li Braden M. , Reese Brandon L. , Ingram Katherine , Huddleston Mary E. , Jenkins Meghan , Zaets Allison , Reuter Matthew , Grogg Matthew W. , Nelson M. Tyler , Zhou Ying , Ju Beomjun , Sennik Busra , Farrell Zachary J. , Jur Jesse S. , Tabor Christopher E.
Published: June 2022

Next generation textile‐based wearable sensing systems will require flexibility and strength to maintain capabilities over a wide range of deformations. However, current material sets used for textile‐based skin contacting electrodes lack these key properties, which hinder applications such as electrophysiological sensing. In this work, a facile spray coating approach to integrate liquid metal nanoparticle systems into textile form factors for conformal, flexible, and robust electrodes is presented. The liquid metal system employs functionalized liquid metal nanoparticles that provide a simple “peel‐off to activate” means of imparting conductivity. The spray coating approach combined with the functionalized liquid metal system enables the creation of long‐term reusable textile‐integrated liquid metal electrodes (TILEs). Although the TILEs are dry electrodes by nature, they show equal skin‐electrode impedances and sensing capabilities with improved wearability compared to commercial wet electrodes. Biocompatibility of TILEs in an in vivo skin environment is demonstrated, while providing improved sensing performance compared to previously reported textile‐based dry electrodes. The “spray on dry—behave like wet” characteristics of TILEs opens opportunities for textile‐based wearable health monitoring, haptics, and augmented/virtual reality applications that require the use of flexible and conformable dry electrodes.
Mesenchymal Stem Cell Exosomes Encapsulated Oral Microcapsules for Acute Colitis Treatment
Authors: Gan Jingjing , Sun Lingyu , Chen Guopu , Ma Wenjuan , Zhao Yuanjin , Sun Lingyun
Published: June 2022

Mesenchymal stem cells derived exosomes (MSC‐exos) exhibit an intrinsic and directed efficiency for multiple diseases, while their versatile and effective delivery to the target site is still a challenge. Herein, inspired by the acids and enzymes resistant property of sealing gelatin capsules, novel MSC‐exo‐encapsulated oral microcapsules are presented for colitis treatment. Based on a microfluidic electrospray technique, MSC‐exos are first encapsulated in sodium alginate (SA) hydrogel microspheres with sustainable bioactivity. The resultant SA microspheres are then coated with a middle gelatin layer to protect MSC‐exos from degradation. Especially, with an enteric coating‐Eudragit FS30D on the outer layer, the resistance of the microcapsules in gastric juice is further enhanced. The prepared microcapsules maintain the stability and bioactivity of the MSC‐exos during storage, protect them from the harsh conditions in the gastrointestinal tract, and enable the release of actives in the suitable sites for exerting their biological functions. In addition, these MSC‐exos encapsulated microcapsules reduce the proinflammatory cytokines levels of inflammatory macrophages and impaired colonic epithelial cells, which exhibit superior damage repair ability in injured colon sites. Thus, it is believed that the proposed oral MSC‐exos encapsulated microcapsules are valuable for many practically clinical treatments.
Zwitterion‐Functionalized SnO2 Substrate Induced Sequential Deposition of Black‐Phase FAPbI3 with Rearranged PbI2 Residue
Authors: Qin Zhixiao , Chen Yuetian , Wang Xingtao , Wei Ning , Liu Xiaomin , Chen Haoran , Miao Yanfeng , Zhao Yixin
Published: June 2022

Black‐phase formamidinium lead iodide (FAPbI3) with narrow bandgap and high thermal stability has emerged as the most promising candidate for highly efficient and stable perovskite photovoltaics. In order to overcome the intrinsic difficulty of black‐phase crystallization and to eliminate the lead iodide (PbI2) residue, most sequential deposition methods of FAPbI3‐based perovskite will introduce external ions like methylammonium (MA+), cesium (Cs+), and bromide (Br–) ions to the perovskite structure. Here a zwitterion‐functionalized tin(IV) oxide (SnO2) is introduced as the electron‐transport layer (ETL) to induce the crystallization of high‐quality black‐phase FAPbI3. The SnO2 ETL treated with the zwitterion of formamidine sulfinic acid (FSA) can help rearrange the stack direction, orientation, and distribution of residual PbI2 in the perovskite layer, which reduces the side effect of the residual PbI2. Besides, the FSA functionalization also modifies SnO2 ETL to suppress deep‐level defects at the perovskite/SnO2 interface. As a result, the FSA–FAPbI3‐based perovskite solar cells (PSCs) exhibit an excellent power conversion efficiency of up to 24.1% with 1000 h long‐term operational stability. These findings provide a new interface engineering strategy on the sequential fabrication of black‐phase FAPbI3 PSCs with improved optoelectronic performance.
Functionalized BODIPYs as Tailor‐Made and Universal Interlayers for Efficient and Stable Organic and Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Soultati Anastasia , Nunzi Francesca , Fakharuddin Azhar , Verykios Apostolis , Armadorou Konstantina K. , Tountas Marinos , Panagiotakis Stylianos , Polydorou Ermioni , Charisiadis Asterios , Nikolaou Vasilis , Papadakis Michael , Charalambidis Georgios , Nikoloudakis Emmanouil , Yannakopoulou Konstantina , Bao Xichang , Yang Chunming , Dunbar Alan D. F. , Kymakis Emmanuel , Palilis Leonidas C. , Mohd Yusoff Abd Rashid Bin , Argitis Panagiotis , Coutsolelos Athanassios G. , De Angelis Filippo , Nazeeruddin Mohammad Khaja , Vasilopoulou Maria
Published: June 2022

Solar cells based on metal halide perovskite and polymer donor:nonfullerene acceptor blend absorbers have recently witnessed a significant rise in their photovoltaic performance. However, they still suffer from some instability issues originating from the inferior interface quality and poor nanomorphology of the absorber layer. In this work, a series of functionalized boron‐dipyrromethene, BODIPY, molecules are introduced as ultrathin interlayers at the absorber/electron transport layer interface. This study indicates that BODIPY compounds with a high molecular dipole moment can enhance the device performance mainly due to better interface energy level alignment. They also induce passivation of defect traps and improvement in the charge transport properties of the absorber layer coated on top of them. Among the various compounds used, amino‐functionalized BODIPY, owing to the synergetic effect of the abovementioned factors, enables the highest power conversion efficiency in organic (15.69%) as well as in perovskite solar cells (20.12%). Amino‐functionalized BODIPY also demonstrates an enhanced stability under continuous illumination (in nitrogen) without and with heating (at 65 °C) for 1000 h. These results pave the way for the implementation of molecules with tailor‐made functionalities in high efficiency and stable solution‐based photovoltaic devices of the future.
A Smart Way to Prepare Solution‐Processed and Annealing‐free PCBM Electron Transporting Layer for Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Wu Fei , Lu Shuaicheng , Hu Chen , Lu Huiqiang , Chen Chao , Tang Jiang , Yang Shihe , Zhu Linna
Published: June 2022

As a state‐of‐the‐art n‐type material, PC61BM ((6,6)‐phenyl C61 butyric‐ methylester) has been largely used as the top electron transporting layer (ETL) in inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Whereas so far, there have been few reports on using pristine PC61BM as the bottom ETL in conventional (n‐i‐p‐type) PSCs, because it will be partially dissolved by the perovskite precursor solution (such as N,N‐Dimethylformamide and Dimethyl sulfoxide). In this work, the successful application of pristine PC61BM as an annealing‐free ETL is reported for conventional PSCs, by ingeniously utilizing the “saturated solution” strategy. Specifically, the perovskite precursor solution is presaturated with PC61BM before deposition, in this way, not only the underlying PC61BM layer can be “reserved”, the added PC61BM in perovskite is also able to passivate defects in perovskite grain boundaries, thus facilitating charge transporting and reducing charge recombination. Encouragingly, the PC61BM ETL can avoid high‐temperature calcination or thermal annealing, thus greatly simplifying the manufacturing processes and reducing production costs. The CH3NH3PbI3–xClx‐based champion device shows the highest efficiency of 20.85% with high reproducibility. The strategy is simple, straightforward, and cost‐effective, when compared to most of the present reported ways for depositing ETLs.
Program evaluation: An educator's portal into academic scholarship
Authors: Hosseini Shera , Yilmaz Yusuf , Shah Kaushal , Gottlieb Michael , Stehman Christine R. , Hall Andrew K. , Chan Teresa M.
Published: June 2022

Program evaluation is an “essential responsibility” but is often not seen as a scholarly pursuit. While Boyer expanded what qualifies as educational scholarship, many still need to engage in processes that are rigorous and of a requisite academic standard to be labelled as scholarly. Many medical educators may feel that scholarly program evaluation is a daunting task due to the competing interests of curricular change, remediation, and clinical care. This paper explores how educators can take their questions around outcomes and efficacy of our programs and efficiently engage in education scholarship. The authors outline how educators can examine whether training programs have a desired impact and outcomes, and then how they might leverage this process into education scholarship.
Why Client Expectations of Legal Procedures Must Be Managed to Achieve Settlement Satisfaction
Authors: Shestowsky Donna
Published: June 2022

In today's legal landscape, some state court litigants get to choose which procedures they use to resolve their cases, and others do not. For example, some courts provide litigants with a choice between mediation and nonbinding arbitration whereas others require parties to use particular procedures.
Locating History and Finding Materials For Better Arbitration Instruction
Authors: Samuel Adam
Published: June 2022

It is that time of year. Law schools around the world have finished and are reviewing their courses: how their students and teachers did and what they managed to teach each other.
The Case for Mediation in Title IX Regulations
Authors: Cole Sarah R.
Published: June 2022

In Part 1 last month, author Sarah Cole discussed the backdrop of regulations for Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Title IX is a comprehensive federal law that removed many barriers that once prevented people, on the basis of sex, from participating in educational opportunities and careers of their choice. Part 1 focused on the 2020 Regulations, and the anticipation of new Biden Administration rulemaking in the area. The new regulations, expected in April, reportedly were moved to late spring but still had not been released as this issue went to press. June 23 was the law's 50th anniversary. This month's concluding Part 2 urges increased use of mediation to resolve the difficult issues that arise for students and campus administrators under the law.
The Impact of Boron Hybridisation on Photocatalytic Processes
Authors: Marotta Alessandro , Adams Callum E. , Molloy John J.
Published: June 2022

Recently the fruitful merger of organoboron chemistry and photocatalysis has come to the forefront of organic synthesis, resulting in the development of new technologies to access complex (non)borylated frameworks. Central to the success of this combination is control of boron hybridisation. Contingent on the photoactivation mode, boron as its neutral planar form or tetrahedral boronate can be used to regulate reactivity. This Minireview highlights the current state of the art in photocatalytic processes utilising organoboron compounds, paying particular attention to the role of boron hybridisation for the target transformation.
Dinitrogen Binding at a Trititanium Chloride Complex and Its Conversion to Ammonia under Ambient Conditions
Authors: del Horno Estefanía , Jover Jesús , Mena Miguel , Pérez‐Redondo Adrián , Yélamos Carlos
Published: June 2022

Reaction of [TiCp*Cl3] (Cp*=η5‐C5Me5) with one equivalent of magnesium in tetrahydrofuran at room temperature affords the paramagnetic trinuclear complex [{TiCp*(μ‐Cl)}3(μ3‐Cl)], which reacts with dinitrogen under ambient conditions to give the diamagnetic derivative [{TiCp*(μ‐Cl)}3(μ3‐η1 : η2 : η2‐N2)] and the titanium(III) dimer [{TiCp*Cl(μ‐Cl)}2]. The structure of the trinuclear mixed‐valence complexes has been studied by experimental and theoretical methods and the latter compound represents the first well‐defined example of the μ3‐η1 : η2 : η2 coordination mode of the dinitrogen molecule. The reaction of [{TiCp*(μ‐Cl)}3(μ3‐η1 : η2 : η2‐N2)] with excess HCl in tetrahydrofuran results in clean NH4Cl formation with regeneration of the starting material [TiCp*Cl3]. Therefore, a cyclic ammonia synthesis under ambient conditions can be envisioned by alternating N2/HCl atmospheres in a [TiCp*Cl3]/Mg(excess) reaction mixture in tetrahydrofuran.
Explaining Regiodivergent Vinylations with Vinylbenziodoxolones**
Authors: Di Tommaso Ester M. , Norrby Per‐Ola , Olofsson Berit
Published: June 2022

Vinylbenziodoxolones have recently been identified as efficient hypervalent iodine(III) reagents for electrophilic vinylations under transition metal‐free conditions. Their unique reactivity allows synthesis of either internal or terminal alkenes, depending on the nucleophile class. This paper constitutes the first mechanistic investigation of VBX vinylations, and makes use of NMR studies, deuterium labelling and computations to rationalize the observed regio‐ and stereochemical outcome. Internal alkene formation in S‐vinylation was found to proceed through the ligand coupling mechanism typical of diaryliodonium salts, whereas terminal alkene formation in P‐vinylations took place via a phosphinous acid‐coordinated VBX complex, which underwent concerted deprotonation and Michael‐type addition. Subsequent base‐assisted protonation and E2 elimination delivered the terminal alkene. The findings can be used to predict the regioselectivity in vinylations of other nucleophile classes.
The role of atmospheric fronts in austral winter precipitation changes across Australia
Authors: Lawrence Lindsay , Parfitt Rhys , Ummenhofer Caroline C.
Published: June 2022

Over the past few decades, Southeast Australia has experienced severe regional climatic events and some of the most extreme droughts on record, linked in part to influences from both the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD). In this article, the extent to which austral winter rainfall anomalies, in years leading into co‐occurring ENSO and IOD events, are communicated specifically through variations in atmospheric fronts is quantified. The most extreme wet (dry) conditions occur in winters characterized by sea surface temperature anomaly patterns exhibiting features of La Niña‐Negative IOD (El Niño‐Positive IOD). It is found that most of these precipitation anomalies are related to changes in the precipitation associated with the passing of atmospheric fronts specifically. Although there is some suggestion that there are accompanying changes in the frequency of atmospheric fronts, the response appears to be dominated by changes in the amount of precipitation per individual atmospheric front. In addition, the distribution in the dynamic strength of individual atmospheric fronts remains relatively unchanged.
Simulation of febuxostat pharmacokinetics in healthy subjects and patients with impaired kidney function using physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling
Authors: Xu Yichao , Chen Jinliang , Ruan Zourong , Jiang Bo , Yang Dandan , Hu Yin , Lou Honggang
Published: June 2022

Febuxostat is recommended by the American College of Rheumatology Gout Management Guidelines as a first‐line therapy for lowering the level of urate in patients with gout. At present, this drug is being prescribed mainly based on the clinical experience of doctors. The potential effects of clinical and demographic variables on the bioavailability and therapeutic effectiveness of febuxostat are not being considered. In this study a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model of febuxostat was developed, thereby providing a theoretical basis for the individualized dosing of this drug in gout patients. The plasma concentration–time profiles corresponding to healthy subjects and gout patients with normal kidney function were simulated and validated; then, the model was used to predict the pharmacokinetic (PK) data of the drug in gout patients suffering from varying degrees of impaired kidney function. The error values (the predicted value/observed value) were used to validate the simulated PK parameters predicted by the PBPK model, including the area under the plasma concentration–time curve, the maximum plasma concentration, and time to maximum plasma concentration. Considering that to all error fold changes were smaller than 2, the PBPK model was. In subjects suffering from mild kidney impairment, moderate kidney impairment, severe kidney impairment, and endstage kidney disease (ESRD), the predicted AUC0‐24h values increased by 1.62, 1.74, 2.27, and 2.65‐fold, respectively, compared to gout patients with normal kidney function. Overall, the results showed that the PBPK model constructed in this study predict the pharmacokinetic changes in gout patients suffering from varying degrees of impaired kidney function.
Hypersensitive C‐reactive protein‐albumin ratio is associated with stroke‐associated pneumonia and early clinical outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke
Authors: Huang Lingling , Zhang Rong , Ji Jiahui , Long Fengdan , Wang Yadong , Lu Juan , Xu Ge , Sun Yaming
Published: June 2022

Objectives

We aimed to explore the association between the baseline hypersensitive C‐reactive protein‐albumin ratio (CAR) and stroke‐associated pneumonia (SAP) during hospitalization and the short‐term prognosis in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS).

Methods

We enrolled 766 patients with AIS and collected their admission baseline characteristics, including their National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, CAR, age, atrial fibrillation, dysphagia, sex, stroke severity (A2DS2) score, and other information. The occurrence of SAP within 7 days after stroke, length of hospital stay, and physical condition at discharge were also recorded. The patients’ Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores and mortality 3 months after AIS were further evaluated at follow‐up. All patients were divided into four groups based on the quartiles of the admission CAR (Q1 <1.3, Q2 1.3–3.7, Q3 3.7–9.3, Q4 ≥9.3).

Results

During hospitalization, 92 (11.9%) patients were diagnosed with SAP. The patients with SAP had a higher CAR than the non‐SAP patients (p < .001). In the multivariate‐adjusted model, the patients in the Q3 and Q4 groups had a higher SAP risk (aOR was 5.21 and 17.72, p‐trend < .001) than those in the lowest quartile. The area under the curve for the CAR's ability to predict SAP was 0.810 in the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and had a similar predictive efficacy as the A2DS2 score (p <.05). The length of stay in the SAP group was almost the same as that in the non‐SAP group, but the clinical outcomes were worse at discharge and at the 3‐month follow‐up in the SAP group. In addition, the patients in the higher CAR quartiles at admission were more likely to have poorer clinical outcomes.

Conclusions

Patients with AIS with a high CAR at admission are more likely to develop SAP during hospitalization and have poor short‐term clinical outcomes. These findings might help to timely identify patients at high risk of SAP and provide a basis for further research on prophylactic antibiotic therapy.
From car use reduction to ride‐sharing: The relevance of moral and environmental identity
Authors: Culiberg Barbara , Cho Hichang , Kos Koklic Mateja , Zabkar Vesna
Published: June 2022

Car use contributes significantly to environmental pollution, leading people to rethink their transport habits. Previous studies on car use reduction relied on established theories related to values and self‐regulation to examine this decision. In this paper, we offer an alternative approach and examine the intention to reduce car use through the prism of identity theory, and propose environmental and moral identities, together with environmental concern, as the main antecedents to the importance of car use reduction and intention to reduce car use. Further, we consider ride‐sharing intention as an outcome of the decision to reduce car use. The proposed conceptual model is tested on a sample of consumers from the United Kingdom using an online consumer panel. The results offer partial support for the influence of moral identity, environmental identity, and environmental concern on the importance to reduce car use and intention. The links among the importance of and intention to reduce car use, along with ride‐sharing intentions, are supported. Finally, managerial implications are discussed, and future research directions are suggested.
Nickel‐Catalysed Cross‐Electrophile Coupling of Benzyl Bromides and Sulfonium Salts towards the Synthesis of Dihydrostilbenes
Authors: del Río‐Rodríguez Roberto , Blanco Laura , Collado Alba , Fernández‐Salas Jose A. , Alemán José
Published: June 2022

A nickel‐catalysed reductive cross‐coupling reaction between benzyl sulfonium salts and benzyl bromides is reported. Simple, stable and readily available sulfonium salts have shown their ability as leaving groups in cross‐electrophile coupling, allowing the formation of challenging sp3–sp3 carbon‐carbon bonds, towards the synthesis of interesting dihydrostilbene derivatives. In addition, benzyl tosyl derivatives have been demonstrated to be suitable substrates for reductive cross‐coupling by in‐situ formation of the corresponding sulfonium salt.
A novel quality‐related process monitoring method for multi‐unit industrial processes under incomplete data conditions
Authors: Zhang Chuanfang , Dong Jie , Peng Kaixiang , Zhang Xueyi
Published: June 2022

Modern industrial processes usually consist of multiple local units. With the wide application of distributed control systems, a large amount of industrial data is collected. During data acquisition and transmission, outliers and missing data commonly exist in different local units. Under such incomplete data conditions, the detection performance of traditional quality‐related process monitoring methods may be seriously degraded. This study develops a novel quality‐related process monitoring method for multi‐unit industrial processes. Considering the existence of outliers and missing data, incomplete data preprocessing is first performed on raw process data and quality data. Then, process variables are divided into several blocks according to the process knowledge. Afterwards, the quality‐related features extracted by variational information bottleneck (VIB) are used to train deep support vector data description (DSVDD). Finally, a quality‐related process monitoring strategy is designed at both block and global levels. Experimental results on the revised Tennessee Eastman process demonstrate that the proposed method has better monitoring performance under incomplete data conditions than other state‐of‐the‐art methods.
Extremum‐seeking control for unknown static maps with mixed actuator nonlinearity
Authors: Guay Martin
Published: June 2022

This study proposes an extremum‐seeking controller design for unknown static maps subject to a combination of saturated and discrete actuators with unknown characteristics but with measurable final control elements. The proposed design techniques incorporate a filter for each uncertain actuator that enables the design of a constrained extremum‐seeking control that operates at a slow time‐scale. The stability analysis demonstrates that the closed‐loop system has a practically asymptotically stable equilibrium at the unknown constrained optimum of the optimization problem. A simulation is presented that demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed technique.
Stage‐based approach to predict left ventricular reverse remodeling after mitral repair
Authors: Hibino Makoto , Dhingra Nitish K. , Chan Vincent , Mazer C. David , Teoh Hwee , Quan Adrian , Verma Raj , Leong‐Poi Howard , Bisleri Gianluigi , Connelly Kim A. , Verma Subodh
Published: June 2022

Background

Although predictors of reverse left ventricular (LV) remodeling postmitral valve repair are critical for guiding perioperative decision‐making, there remains a paucity of randomized, prospective data to support the criteria that potential predictor variables must meet.

Methods and Results

The CAMRA CardioLink‐2 randomized trial allocated 104 patients to either leaflet resection or preservation strategies for mitral repair. The correlation of indexed left ventricular end‐systolic volume (LVESVI), indexed left ventricular end‐diastolic volume (LVEDVI), and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were tested with univariate analysis and subsequently with multivariate analysis to determine independent predictors of reverse remodeling at discharge and at 12 months postoperatively. At discharge, both LVESVI and LVEDVI were independently associated with their preoperative values (p < .001 for both) and LVEF by preoperative LVESVI (p < .001). Mitral ring size was favorably associated with the change in LVESVI (p < .05) and LVEF (p < .01) from predischarge to 12 months, while the mean mitral valve gradient after repair was adversely associated with the change in LVESVI (p < .05) and LVEDVI (p < .05). No significant associations were found between reverse remodeling and coaptation height nor mitral repair technique.

Conclusions

Beyond confirming the lack of impact of mitral repair technique on reverse remodeling, this investigation suggests that recommending surgery before significant LV dilatation or dysfunction, as well as higher postoperative mitral valve hemodynamic performance, may enhance remodeling capacity following mitral repair.
Lipid metabolism–related lncRNA SLC25A21‐AS1 promotes the progression of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma by regulating the NPM1/c‐Myc axis and SLC25A21 expression
Authors: Liu Yu , Li Chunxiang , Fang Lingling , Wang Liyu , Liu Hengchang , Tian He , zheng Yujia , Fan Tao , He Jie
Published: June 2022

Background

Obesity alters metabolic microenvironment and is thus associated with several tumours. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role, molecular mechanism of action, and potential clinical value of lipid metabolism–related long non‐coding RNA (lncRNA) SLC25A21‐AS1 in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Methods

A high‐fat diets (HFDs)‐induced obesity nude mouse model was established, and targeted metabolomics analysis was used to identify critical medium‐long chain fatty acids influencing the growth of ESCC cells. Transcriptomic analysis of public dataset GSE53625 confirmed that lncRNA SLC25A21‐AS1 was a lipid metabolism–related lncRNA. The biological function of lncRNA SLC25A21‐AS1 in ESCC was investigated both in vivo and in vitro. Chromatin immunoprecipitation(ChIP)assay, RNA‐pull down, mass spectrometry, co‐IP, and RNA IP(RIP) were performed to explore the molecular mechanism. Finally, an ESCC cDNA microarray was used to determine the clinical prognostic value of SLC25A21‐AS1 by RT‐qPCR.

Results

Palmitic acid (PA) is an important fatty acid component of HFD and had an inhibitory effect on ESCC cell lines. LncRNA SLC25A21‐AS1 expression was downregulated by PA and associated with the proliferation and migration of ESCC cells in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, SLC25A21‐AS1 interacted with nucleophosmin‐1 (NPM1) protein to promote the downstream gene transcription of the c‐Myc in the nucleus. In the cytoplasm, SLC25A21‐AS1 maintained the stability of SLC25A21 mRNA and reduced the intracellular NAD+/NADH ratio by influencing tryptophan catabolism. Finally, we demonstrated that high expression of SLC25A21‐AS1 promoted resistance to cisplatin‐induced apoptosis and was correlated with poor tumour grade and overall survival.

Conclusions

HFD/PA has an inhibitory effect on ESCC cells and SLC25A21‐AS1 expression. SLC25A21‐AS1 promotes the proliferation and migration of ESCC cells by regulating the NPM1/c‐Myc axis and SLC25A21 expression. In addition, lncRNA SLC25A21‐AS1 may serve as a favourable prognostic biomarker and a potential therapeutic target for ESCC.
Integrated microbiome, metabolome, and proteome analysis identifies a novel interplay among commensal bacteria, metabolites and candidate targets in non‐small cell lung cancer
Authors: Qian Xiang , Zhang Hong‐Yan , Li Qing‐Lin , Ma Guan‐Jun , Chen Zhuo , Ji Xu‐Ming , Li Chang‐Yu , Zhang Ai‐qin
Published: June 2022

Background

Accumulation of evidence suggests that the gut microbiome, its specific metabolites, and differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) are related to non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) pathogenesis. We now report the influences of the gut microbiota, metabolites, and DEPs on the mediation of NSCLC's chronic inflammation and immune dysregulation.

Methods

We conducted 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing for the gut microbiome in healthy volunteers and NSCLC patients. Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) analysis was employed to explore differences between metabolites and DEPs in serum samples. Additionally, LC–MS‐based metabolomic analysis was conducted in 40 NSCLC tissues and 40 adjacent tissues. The omics data were separately analysed and integrated by using Spearman's correlation coefficient. Then, faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) assay was used to assess the effects of the gut microbiome and specific metabolites in mice.

Results

Faecal microbiome analysis revealed gut microflora dysbiosis in NSCLC patients with Prevotella, Gemmiger, and Roseburia significantly upregulated at the genus level. Then, we identified that nervonic acid/all‐trans‐retinoic acid level was negatively related to Prevotella. Additionally, a total of core 8 DEPs were selected in the proteome analysis, which mainly participated in the production of IL‐8 and NF‐κB pathways. CRP, LBP, and CD14 were identified as potential biomarkers for NSCLC. Transplantation of faecal microbiota from patients with NSCLC or Prevotella copri‐colonized recipient in mice resulted in inflammation and immune dysregulation. In turn, nervonic acid/all‐trans‐retinoic acid treatment improved the phenotype of C57BL/6 mice bearing P. copri‐treated Lewis lung cancer (LLC).

Conclusions

Overall, these results pointed out that P. copri‐nervonic acid/all‐trans‐retinoic acid axis may contribute to the pathogenesis of NSCLC.
Attachment insecurity predicts worse outcome in patients with eating disorders treated with enhanced cognitive behavior therapy: A one‐year follow‐up study
Authors: Rossi Eleonora , Cassioli Emanuele , Martelli Michela , Melani Giulia , Hazzard Vivienne M. , Crosby Ross D. , Wonderlich Stephen A. , Ricca Valdo , Castellini Giovanni
Published: June 2022

Objective

This study aimed to explore the role of attachment insecurity in predicting a worse longitudinal trend of eating disorder (ED) psychopathology and body uneasiness in patients with Anorexia Nervosa (AN) or Bulimia Nervosa (BN) treated with Enhanced Cognitive Behavior Therapy, considering the longitudinal interplay between these dimensions.

Method

In total, 185 patients with AN or BN performed the baseline assessment, and 123 were re‐evaluated after 1 year of treatment. Participants completed questionnaires evaluating ED psychopathology (Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire) and body uneasiness (body uneasiness test). For the assessment of adult attachment, the Experiences in Close Relationships‐Revised was administered at baseline. Bivariate latent change score analysis within the structural equation modeling framework was performed to investigate the evolution of ED psychopathology and body uneasiness, their longitudinal interplay, and the role of attachment style as an outcome predictor.

Results

After treatment, all psychopathological features showed an overall improvement. Higher baseline levels of body uneasiness predicted a worse course of ED psychopathology. The change in body uneasiness over time depended on changes over time in ED psychopathology, but not vice versa. Insecure attachment predicted a worse longitudinal trend of ED psychopathology, and, through this impairment, it indirectly maintained higher levels of body uneasiness, as confirmed by mediation analyses.

Discussion

The role of attachment insecurity as a predictor of treatment outcome suggests the need for an integration of the cognitive‐behavioral conceptualization of EDs with a developmental perspective that considers attachment‐related issues.

Public significance statement

Considering the burden of EDs in terms of public health and the unsatisfactory response to standard treatments, the identification of outcome predictors is of considerable clinical interest. This study demonstrated that attachment insecurity was associated with worse longitudinal trends of ED psychopathology and body uneasiness in patients with AN and BN treated with CBT‐E, highlighting the importance of personalizing treatment programs taking into account a developmental perspective on these disorders.
Characterization of microRNA and gene expression in the cochlea of an echolocating bat (Rhinolophus affinis)
Authors: Li Qianqian , Chen Wenli , Mao Xiuguang
Published: June 2022

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important post‐transcriptional regulators of gene expression and play key roles in many biological processes, such as development and response to multiple stresses. However, little is known about their roles in generating novel phenotypes and phenotypic variation during the course of animal evolution. Here, we, for the first time, characterized the miRNAs of the cochlea in an echolocating bat (Rhinolophus affinis). We sampled eight individuals from two R. affinis subspecies with significant echolocation call frequency differences. We identified 365 miRNAs and 121 of them were novel. By searching sequences of these miRNAs precursors in multiple high‐quality mammal genomes, we found one specific miRNA shared by all echolocating bats but not present in all other nonecholocating mammals. The targeted genes of this miRNA included several known hearing genes (e.g., KCNQ4 and GJB6). Together with the matched mRNA‐seq data, we identified 1766 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the two subspecies and 555 of them were negatively regulated by differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs). We found that almost half of known hearing genes in the list of all DEGs were regulated negatively by DEMs, suggesting an important role of miRNAs in call frequency variation of the two subspecies. These targeted DEGs included several important hearing genes (e.g., Piezo1, Piezo2, and CDH23) that have been shown to be important in ultrasonic hearing of echolocating mammals.
Retrogressive thaw slumps in the Alaskan Low Arctic may influence tundra shrub growth more strongly than climate
Authors: Huebner Diane C. , Buchwal Agata , Bret‐Harte M. Syndonia
Published: June 2022

Thermokarst disturbance in permafrost landscapes is likely to increase across the tundra biome with climate warming, resulting in changes to topography, vegetation, and biogeochemical cycling. Tundra shrubs grow on permafrost, but shrub–thermokarst relationships are rarely studied in detail. Since the 1980s, Alaska's North Slope has experienced increased thermokarst activity, including retrogressive thaw slumps (RTSs) on hillslopes. Within decades, RTSs near Toolik Lake, Alaska, were colonized by tall (≥0.5 m) deciduous shrubs. We used dendrochronology methods on 66 shrubs (182 stem cross sections) representing dominant deciduous species: willows (Salix pulchra and S. glauca) and dwarf birch (Betula nana) at two RTS chronosequences on Alaska's North Slope comprising seven sites, to quantify thermokarst and climate effects (25 years of temperature and precipitation records) on shrub secondary growth (i.e., annual rings) in RTS‐disturbed and undisturbed moist acidic tussock (MAT) tundra. Across species, average growth ring widths were two times wider for shrubs in RTSs than in MAT, and ring widths decreased with RTS age. A 1°C June temperature increase was associated with 2% wider rings across species and sites, but shrubs showed marginal growth in warmer summers, supporting tundra‐wide shrub climate sensitivity studies. A 4.5% average ring width increase per 1 mm of previous year's September precipitation was seen in shrubs in mid‐successional RTSs, suggesting protective effects of early snowfall in RTSs versus open tundra. Retrogressive thaw slump age category explained 47% and 30% of average ring width variance of willows and dwarf birch, respectively, in linear mixed‐effects models. Climate variables explained 2% average ring width variance across species. Our results suggest that RTS exerts strong successional effects on tundra shrub growth. Climate effects appear to show weaker synoptic patterns across the study area. Retrogressive thaw slumps will likely contribute to tundra greening where RTS activity is increasing.
Graphene‐based Disposable Electrochemical Sensor for Chlorhexidine Determination
Authors: Magdy Nancy , Sobaih Ahmed E. , Hussein Lobna A. , Mahmoud Amr M.
Published: June 2022

In this work, simple, reliable, eco‐friendly, and quantitative electrochemical sensors were developed to detect chlorhexidine Digluconate (CHX) in a variety of dosage forms, including mouthwashes and intimate douches, as well as chlorhexidine in spiked human saliva. Without any sample pre‐treatment or extraction processes, CHX was measured in colored aqueous formulations. Based on carbon screen‐printed electrodes, two potentiometric sensors (sensors I and II), utilizing graphene nanocomposites (Gr‐NC), were designed (SPEs). An ionophore, 2‐hydroxypropyl‐β‐cyclodextrin, was doped into the Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) polymeric membrane to improve sensor selectivity.
An efficient ancestry informative SNPs panel for further discriminating East Asian populations
Authors: Cao Yueyan , Zhu Qiang , Huang Yuguo , Li Xi , Wei Yifan , Wang Haoyu , Zhang Ji
Published: June 2022

In forensic genetics, the use of ancestry informative single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (AISNPs) panels can narrow the direction of the investigation by estimating an individual's biogeographic ancestry. However, distinguishing subgroups within continental regions requires more specific panels. In this study, we screened 19 AISNPs from the 1000 Genomes Project (1KG) based on their FST values to distinguish target populations in East Asia and obtained genotypes through SNaPshot. The 19 AISNPs could divide the global population of the 1KG into five clusters and could further divide the East Asian population into four clusters: Japanese, Han Chinese, Dai Chinese, and Kinh in Ho Chi Minh City of Vietnam. In summary, the 19‐AISNP panel may serve as a useful and cost‐effective tool for forensic ancestry inference in East Asian populations at a finer scale.
Advanced tools for guiding data‐led research processes of Upper‐Atmospheric phenomena
Authors: Tanaka Yoshimasa , Umemura Norio , Abe Shuji , Shinbori Atsuki , UeNo Satoru
Published: June 2022

This paper presents tools that help researchers implement the processes of data‐led studies of upper‐atmospheric phenomena. These tools were developed as a part of the activities of the Inter‐university Upper atmosphere Global Observation NETwork (IUGONET) of Japan, which is a project to develop infrastructure for upper‐atmospheric research data. This paper focuses on the data service named IUGONET Type‐A, which was launched in October 2016 and has since evolved. In addition to being a conventional metadata catalogue, it has many other useful functions: an easy cross‐searching system, a quick‐look data‐plotting procedure, an interactive data visualization system named UDAS web, and strong linkage with analysis software. Users can pick up relevant data from a huge number of data sets using either lists categorized by instruments/projects, observed regions and special campaigns or a world map of observatories. Users can quickly find the time, location and nature of phenomena that occurred by comparing the quick‐look plots of various data displayed by the browser. UDAS web allows researchers to interactively create stacked plots of various data types that can facilitate the understanding of the relationships among phenomena observed in different regions. Furthermore, it presents a command list for software dedicated to data analysis that can smoothly lead users to perform detailed analyses. IUGONET Type‐A provides a one‐stop data service that can assist users in searching, examining and comprehending data for advanced analysis. It is also capable of handling old data, including analogue data and written paper documents. Thus, it will provide useful support for innovative interdisciplinary scientific research on solar–terrestrial phenomena.