bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Advances and Future Prospects of Micro‐Silicon Anodes for High‐Energy‐Density Lithium‐Ion Batteries: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Sun Lin , Liu Yang , Wang Lijun , Jin Zhong
Published: April 2024

Silicon (Si), stands out for its abundant resources, eco‐friendliness, affordability, high capacity, and low operating potential, making it a prime candidate for high‐energy‐density lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). Notably, the breakthrough use of nanostructured Si (nSi) has paved the way for the commercialization of Si anodes. Despite this, challenges like high processing costs, severe side reactions, and low volumetric energy density have impeded widespread industrial adoption. Micron‐scale Si (µSi) has always faced setbacks compared to nSi due to its greater volume expansion. However, recent years have witnessed a resurgence of interest in µSi‐based anodes. Capitalizing on its inherent advantages, including low cost and high tap density, µSi has once again captured the attention of both academic and industrial communities. This review begins by contrasting the strengths and weaknesses of µSi and nSi, then outline potential solutions to enhance µSi performance, covering aspects like structural regulation, composite anodes, binder design, and electrolyte exploration. Additionally, this work explores the application of machine learning‐assisted high‐throughput screening. Concluding the review, this work provides insights into the future prospects of µSi in LIBs, outlining challenges and proposing integrated coping strategies. This review anticipates that it will provide valuable perspectives for the commercial application of high‐energy‐density Si‐based anodes.
Phase‐Centric MOCVD Enabled Synthetic Approaches for Wafer‐Scale 2D Tin Selenides
Authors: Kim Sungyeon , Lee Wookhee , Ko Kyungmin , Cho Hanbin , Cho Hoyeon , Jeon Seonhwa , Jeong Changwook , Kim Sungkyu , Ding Feng , Suh Joonki
Published: April 2024

Following an initial nucleation stage at the flake level, atomically thin film growth of a van der Waals material is promoted by ultrafast lateral growth and prohibited vertical growth. To produce these highly anisotropic films, synthetic or post‐synthetic modifications are required, or even a combination of both, to ensure large‐area, pure‐phase, and low‐temperature deposition. A set of synthetic strategies is hereby presented to selectively produce wafer‐scale tin selenides, SnSex (both x = 1 and 2), in the 2D forms. The 2D‐SnSe2 films with tuneable thicknesses are directly grown via metal–organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) at 200 °C, and they exhibit outstanding crystallinities and phase homogeneities and consistent film thickness across the entire wafer. This is enabled by excellent control of the volatile metal–organic precursors and decoupled dual‐temperature regimes for high‐temperature ligand cracking and low‐temperature growth. In contrast, SnSe, which intrinsically inhibited from 2D growth, is indirectly prepared by a thermally driven phase transition of an as‐grown 2D‐SnSe2 film with all the benefits of the MOCVD technique. It is accompanied by the electronic n‐type to p‐type crossover at the wafer scale. These tailor‐made synthetic routes will accelerate the low‐thermal‐budget production of multiphase 2D materials in a reliable and scalable fashion.
Co‐Interlayer Engineering for Homogenous Phase Quasi‐2‐D Perovskite and High‐Performance Deep‐Blue Light‐Emitting Diodes
Authors: Zhou Ning , Na Guangren , Li Dongyu , Jiang Zhengyan , Xiao Xiangtian , Lin Hong , Zhang Zhijun , Choy Wallace C.H
Published: April 2024

Organic and inorganic hybrid perovskites are a class of solution‐processable semiconductors that hold significant promise for light‐emitting diode applications. However, the development of efficient blue perovskite light‐emitting diodes (PeLEDs) has remained a critical challenge. Although significant advancements have been achieved in the development of sky‐blue PeLEDs, the performance of pure‐blue and deep‐blue PeLEDs still lags. In this manuscript, by incorporating 1‐cyclohexene‐1‐ethanamine cation (CEA+) into the host 1‐phenylbutylamine cation (PBA+) spacer and fabricating mixed‐cations quasi‐2D perovskites, a homogeneous phase distribution in quasi‐2D perovskite films is achieved through precise tuning of the phase formation energy. The resulting PeLEDs exhibit remarkable performance with an external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 5.8% at 467 nm, which is one of the highest EQEs among the deep‐blue light quasi‐2D PeLED devices with emission wavelengths below 470 nm, Additionally, the device demonstrates a half‐lifetime of ≈ 25 min. Furthermore, the PeLEDs utilizing mixed‐cation perovskite exhibit a stable electroluminescence (EL) spectrum under varying voltage biases, even when the chlorine content in the halogen sites reaches as high as 30%. Overall, this work offers a novel and promising avenue to achieve both high EQE and a stable EL spectrum in blue‐light quasi‐2D PeLEDs.
Narrow Band Organic Emitter for Pure Green Solution‐Processed Electroluminescent Devices with CIE Coordinate y of 0.77
Authors: Zhuang Xuming , Liang Baoyan , Jiang Chao , Wang Shipan , Bi Hai , Wang Yue
Published: April 2024

While the development of solution‐processed organic light‐emitting diodes (sOLEDs) utilizing multiple resonance‐induced thermally activated delayed fluorescence (MR‐TADF) is highly significant, it is restricted by the limited solubility and film‐forming property resulting from the rigid conjugate and planarity of MR‐TADF materials. Herein, an effective strategy is presented to obtain solution‐processed narrowband emitters by introducing an inert steric bulky hindrance group into the multiple resonance skeleton, thereby mitigating issues arising from intermolecular packing‐induced poor solution processing ability and quenching effects. The resulting target emitter, designed as 3CzSF‐BN, exhibits pure‐green emission with a peak at 520 nm and a small full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 30 nm (0.14) eV. Remarkably, it achieves an exceptional photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of 100% and notable advancements in solution processing attributes. The optimized bottom‐emitting sOLED (BE‐sOLED) device achieves an external quantum efficiency (EQE) over 20% with Commission Internationale de I’Éclairage (CIE) coordinates of (0.214, 0.716). Notably, the top‐emitting sOLED (TE‐sOLED) device exhibits an ultra‐pure green color with FWHM of 22 nm and CIE coordinates of (0.138, 0.771), thereby highlighting the effectiveness of this strategy in designing high‐performance solution‐processed MR‐TADF materials.
High Efficiency Triplet‐Triplet Fusion Blue Fluorescence OLEDs by introducing a “Hot Exciton” Efficiency Enhancement Layer
Authors: Xie Dian , Wang Zhiming , Chen Yichao , Qiao Xianfeng , Yang Dezhi , Sun Qian , Dai Yanfeng , Ma Yuguang , Ma Dongge
Published: April 2024

Triplet‐triplet fusion (TTF) can effectively transfer triplet excitons to singlet energy level and exhibit good stability, making it widely used in blue fluorescence organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) for practical application. However, the efficiency of the resulting blue fluorescence OLEDs is still fundamentally limited. Herein, this work introduces a hot exciton efficiency enhancement layer (EEL) between TTF emissive layer and electron‐transporting layer for the first time. It can be found that the triplet excitons are greatly utilized by the efficient hot exciton EEL. As a result, a high efficiency blue fluorescence OLED is successfully developed, exhibiting a maximum external quantum efficiency of 15.2% at the luminance of 4068.0 cd m−2, achieving a breakthrough in the efficiency of blue TTF‐OLEDs. Transient electroluminescence (TrEL) measurements and detailed theoretical calculations confirm the key role of the effective hot exciton process from the high‐lying triplet energy level (Tn, n ≥ 2) to S1 via a reverse intersystem crossing (hRISC). Furthermore, the device lifetime is also greatly improved owing to the fast and efficient hRISC in the introduced hot exciton EEL. This work has important guiding significance for constructing high efficiency blue fluorescence OLEDs by introducing hot exciton molecules.
Current Induced Field‐Free Switching in a Magnetic Insulator with Enhanced Spin‐Orbit Torque
Authors: Bai He , Li Jialiang , Ke Jintao , Guo Qixun , Zhu Zhaozhao , Guo Yaqin , Deng Xiao , Liu Dan , Cai Jianwang , Zhu Tao
Published: April 2024

The energy‐efficient spin‐orbit torque (SOT) based devices are essential for future memory and logic technologies. To realize a deterministic switching, an external in‐plane magnetic field is usually needed to break the symmetry, which becomes an obstacle for device applications. Here, a field‐free switching in a perpendicularly magnetized yttrium iron garnet covered with an oblique deposited Pt with nitrogen incorporation is demonstrated. The spin‐orbit torque efficiency is enhanced with the increasing incorporation ratio of nitrogen in Pt. The maximum effective spin Hall angle of Pt(N) can reach 0.113, which is almost two times larger than that of pure Pt in Pt/YIG. Meanwhile, the switching current density is reduced with the incorporation of nitrogen. These findings open a route toward high‐efficiency SOT driven spintronic devices based on magnetic insulators.
Unlocking Electrode Performance of Disordered Rocksalt Oxides Through Structural Defect Engineering and Surface Stabilization with Concentrated Electrolyte
Authors: Zhang Yanjia , Ugata Yosuke , Campéon BenoîtDenis Louis , Yabuuchi Naoaki
Published: April 2024

Li‐excess cation‐disordered rocksalt oxides can boost the energy density of rechargeable batteries by using anionic redox, but the inferior reversibility of anionic redox hinders its use for practical applications. Herein, a binary system of Li3NbO4–LiMnO2 is targeted and the systematic study on factors affecting electrode reversibility, i.e., percolation probability, electronic conductivity, defect concentrations, and electrolyte solutions, is conducted. A Mn‐rich sample, Li1.1Nb0.1Mn0.8O2, delivers a smaller reversible capacity compared with a Li‐rich sample, Li1.3Nb0.3Mn0.4O2, because of the limitation of ionic migration associated with insufficient percolation probability for disordered oxides. Nevertheless, a larger reversible capacity of Li1.3Nb0.3Mn0.4O2 originates from excessive activation of anionic redox, leading to the degradation of electrode reversibility. The superior performance of Li1.1Nb0.1Mn0.8O2, including Li ion migration kinetics and electronic transport properties, is unlocked by the enrichment of structural defects for nanosized oxides. Moreover, electrode reversibility is further improved by using a highly concentrated electrolyte solution with LiN(SO2F)2 through the surface stabilization on high‐voltage exposure. Superior capacity retention, >100 cycles, is achieved for nanosized Li1.1Nb0.1Mn0.8O2. The electrolyte decomposition and surface stabilization mechanisms are also carefully examined, and it is revealed that the use of highly concentrated electrolyte solution can effectively prevent lattice oxygen being further oxidized and transition metal ion dissolution.
Homogenic Boundary Effect Boosted Oxygen Evolution Reaction in α/β‐NiMoO4 for Rechargeable Aqueous Zn‐Air Battery
Authors: Zhu Jinli , Zhou Qianyang , Wang Linchuan , Zhou Wanhai , Chen Minghua , Liu Xin , Gao Daqiang , Chao Dongliang
Published: April 2024

Rechargeable Zn‐air batteries (ZAB) represent a promising avenue for sustainable energy storage, boasting high energy density, cost‐effectiveness, scalability, and environmental friendliness. However, the sluggish redox kinetics and limited cycle life of bifunctional oxygen evolution/reduction (OER/ORR) electrocatalysts impede the further practical development of ZABs. In this study, homogenic boundary effect within α/β‐NiMoO4 is introduced as a superior electrocatalyst for ZAB. Through in situ poikilothermic X‐ray diffraction, X‐ray absorption spectroscopy, and theoretical investigations, the active Ni atoms exhibit more effective electron transfer at α/β‐NiMoO4 due to the homogenic boundary effect is unveiled. Furthermore, the presence of oxygen vacancies and lattice distortions at these boundaries significantly reduces the thermodynamic barrier of OER to a mere 0.46 V. Consequently, α/β‐NiMoO4 demonstrates a remarkably low overpotential of 270 mV at 10 mA cm−2 for the bottlenecked OER, along with prolonged durability (150 h) and a high specific capacity (745 mAh g−1 at 5 mA cm−2) for ZAB. This study underscores the efficacy of homogenic boundary effects in enhancing electrocatalytic activities, offering great promise for the advancement of sustainable energy systems.
Constructing Kosmotropic Salt‐Compatible PVA Hydrogels for Stable Zinc Anodes via Strong Hydrogen Bonds Preshielding Effect
Authors: He Qiong , Zhong Yue , Li Jianwen , Chai Simin , Yang Yuqing , Liang Shuquan , Chang Zhi , Fang Guozhao , Pan Anqiang
Published: April 2024

Physical hydrogels crosslinked by noncovalent interactions are promising in flexible zinc–metal batteries for their component controllability and environmental friendliness. However, the compatibility of PVA‐based electrolyte and kosmotropic salt remains a challenge, which shows an unclear mechanism. Here, a “good‐to‐poor” solvent substitution strategy is adopted to develop a PVA hydrogel electrolyte with good compatibility with kosmotropic salt (ZnSO4). Stretching the polymer conformation by preshielding the strong intrachain hydrogen bonds with good solvents and activating the polymer interchain interaction in situ with poor solvents will induce the formation of a homogeneous polymer network and the release of hydrated hydroxyl groups for fast ion transport. This multiscale microstructure improves the ionic conductivity and liquid retention of PVA hydrogels with kosmotropic salt. Additionally, this strong hydrogen bonds preshielded hydrogel electrolyte offers great battery performance, with 1300 h of stable cycling at 1 mA cm−2 with low voltage hysteresis; and an extended cycle life of 220 h at 68.4% zinc utilization. Importantly, the Zn//MnO2 pouch cell maintains 98.4% capacity after 100 cycles at 0.2 A g−1 and features strong environmental reliability. These concepts address the inherent barriers of kosmotropic salt‐based hydrogel electrolytes and advance their development in soft electronics.
Pomegranate‐Inspired Cathodes Mitigate the Mismatch Between Carrier Transport and High Loading for Aqueous Zinc‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Bie Zhe , Jiao Zhaoyang , Cai Xinxin , Wang Ziting , Zhang Xueying , Li Yiran , Song Weixing
Published: April 2024

The development of high‐energy‐density aqueous zinc‐ion batteries requires the preparation of cathodes with a thick layer of active material. However, the insulating nature and dissolution of vanadium‐based oxides lead to low areal capacity (0.1,1 mA h cm−2) during the charge/discharge cycle. Herein, V2O5 nanospheres are generated by anchoring onto the laser‐induced graphene (LIG) conductive network through defect‐induced adsorption, resulting in the formation of pomegranate‐like V2O5@LIG composites. The unique and abundant defect structure in the honeycomb LIG can trigger the formation of uniform V2O5 nanospheres with high specific surface area and interact electronically with V2O5 to enhance the electrical conductivity of the cathode materials up to four orders of magnitude. In contrast to conventional carbon materials that can cause steric hindrance for ion transport, the micropores within LIG shorten the ion transport path through the cathode. Concurrently, the pomegranate‐like encapsulated structure effectively prevents cathode material corrosion. Under a high‐loading mass of 17.1 mg cm−2, the full cell is stably cycled for 200 cycles, possessing a 92.5% capacity retention, and achieving a high areal capacity of 6.05 mA h cm−2.
Investigations of an individual with a Marfanoid habitus, mild intellectual disability, and severe social anxiety identifies PCDHGA5 as a candidate neurodevelopmental disorder gene
Authors: Margot Henri , Pizano Adrien , Amestoy Anouck , Lacombe Didier , Berges Camille , Beneteau Claire , Innes A. Micheil
Published: April 2024

Marfanoid habitus and intellectual disability (MHID) co‐occur in multiple neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD). Among those, Lujan‐Fryns, an X‐linked genetic disorder associated with variants in MED12 was the first such syndrome identified. Accurate molecular diagnosis for these MHID syndromes remains a challenge due to significant clinical and genetic heterogeneity. We present a case report of a 20‐year‐old male patient with MHID and severe social anxiety. A comprehensive clinical evaluation, including morphotype assessment, cognitive, and psychometric and genetic testing, was conducted to provide a detailed understanding of the patient's complex clinical presentation. Psychometric assessments revealed severe social anxiety and various cognitive and emotional challenges. Despite some autism‐like symptoms, the patient's clinical presentation was more aligned with mild intellectual disability. Exome sequencing was inconclusive but identified a heterozygous de novo missense variant in the PCDHGA5 gene. This gene is not known in human pathology yet, but we also report a second patient with a syndromic neurodevelopmental disorder and a rare de novo variant which leads us to propose this as a candidate gene. Our findings emphasize the importance of multidisciplinary approach in the diagnosis and management of MHID. This case report underscores the need for objective clinical evaluations and standardized tools to better understand the complex clinical profiles of patients with NDDs. The identification of novel PCDHGA5 gene variants adds this gene's candidacy to the genetic landscape of MHID‐NDD, warranting further investigation to determine its potential contribution.
Photocatalytic (V2O5/TiO2) Blue LED Mediated Selective Oxidation of Alcohols, Styrene to Aldehydes, and Oxygenation of Alkyl‐Benzene to Ketones
Authors: Kumar Shashi , Bhardwaj Avantika , Kumar Dinesh , Maurya Sushil K.
Published: April 2024

The development of a low‐cost, reusable, and sustainable approach is a difficult and emerging demand in the coming arena. Here, we demonstrate the selective oxidation of primary alcohol, styrene to aldehyde, and alkyl benzene to appropriate ketone, under Blue LED irradiation. The developed approaches employ reusable catalysts (V2O5/TIO2) and green solvents (ACN, H2O) at room temperature. The substrate scope is widely investigated for various compounds of different functionalities. Organic transformations are supported by reaction mechanistic studies. The gram scale reaction and catalytic recyclability were also carried out to maximize the protocol's synthetic utility.
Effect of long‐chain branching structures on supercritical CO2 foaming behavior of iPB‐1 with different crystalline form ratios
Authors: Gong Zheng , Li Weijie , Chen Yichong , Zhao Ling , Hu Dongdong
Published: April 2024

To solve the poor cellular morphology of linear iPB‐1 during supercritical CO2 foaming, the modification and the special crystalline transition behavior of iPB‐1 were used to improve its foaming performance. Based on free radical polymerization, long‐chain branching iPB‐1 is achieved. Long‐chain branching structures not only reduce crystallinity of iPB‐1, but also increase the crystallization temperature. Long‐chain branching structures can accelerate the crystalline transformation rate of iPB‐1. After annealing at room temperature for 24 h, the crystalline transformation of the raw iPB‐1 material is completed by 14%, while long‐chain branching iPB‐1 reaches 33%. The crystalline transformation of the modified iPB‐1 is completed by 85% after annealing for 48 h. Compared with the raw iPB‐1 material with crystalline form I, the introduction of long‐chain branching structures is favorable for broadening the foaming temperature interval from 10 to 20°C, while the foaming temperature interval of the long‐chain branching iPB‐1 with crystalline form II increases to 25°C. The iPB‐1 with high content of crystalline form I and long‐chain branching structures are conductive to the formation of uniform cells. This will broaden the application of iPB‐1 foam in automotive interiors, packaging, and transportation fields.
A GITRL‐mTORC1‐GM‐CSF Positive Loop Promotes Pathogenic Th17 Response in Primary Sjögren Syndrome
Authors: Gan Yuzhou , Zhou Haotian , Guo Yixue , Huang Bo , Liu Hongjiang , Wang Ziye , Li Zijun , Zhao Xiaozhen , Zhu Huaqun , Han Qimao , Ye Hua , He Jing , Wang Qingwen , Li Zhanguo , Sun Xiaolin
Published: April 2024

Objective

Glucocorticoid‐induced tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily–related protein (GITR), with its ligand (GITRL), plays an important role in CD4+ T cell–mediated autoimmunity. This study aimed to investigate the underlying mechanisms of GITRL in primary Sjögren syndrome (pSS).

Methods

Patients with pSS and healthy controls were recruited. Serum GITRL and Th17‐related cytokines were determined. RNA sequencing was performed to decipher key signal pathways. Nonobese diabetes (NOD) mice were adopted as experimental Sjögren models and recombinant adeno‐associated virus (rAAV) transduction was conducted to verify the therapeutic potentials of targeting GITRL in vivo.

Results

Serum GITRL was significantly higher in patients with pSS and showed a positive correlation with leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, autoantibodies, lung involvement, and disease activity. Serum GITRL was correlated with Th17‐related cytokines. GITRL promoted the expansion of Th17 and Th17.1 cells. Expansion of granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor positive (GM‐CSF+) CD4+ T cells induced by GITRL could be inhibited by blockade of GITRL. Moreover, GM‐CSF could stimulate GITRL expression on monocytes. RNA sequencing revealed mammalian target of rapamycin complexes 1 (mTORC1) might be the key modulator. The increased phosphorylation of S6 and STAT3 and the expansion of Th17 and Th17.1 cells induced by GITRL were effectively inhibited by rapamycin, suggesting a GITRL–mTORC1–GM‐CSF positive loop in pathogenic Th17 response in pSS. Administration of an rAAV vector expressing short hairpin RNA targeting GITRL alleviated disease progression in NOD mice.

Conclusion

Our results identified the pathogenic role of GITRL in exacerbating disease activity and promoting pathogenic Th17 response in pSS through a GITRL–mTORC1–GM‐CSF loop. These findings suggest GITRL might be a promising therapeutic target in the treatment of pSS.

image
Looking across the gap: Understanding the evolution of eyes and vision among insects
Authors: Kittelmann Maike , McGregor Alistair P.
Published: April 2024

The compound eyes of insects exhibit stunning variation in size, structure, and function, which has allowed these animals to use their vision to adapt to a huge range of different environments and lifestyles, and evolve complex behaviors. Much of our knowledge of eye development has been learned from Drosophila, while visual adaptations and behaviors are often more striking and better understood from studies of other insects. However, recent studies in Drosophila and other insects, including bees, beetles, and butterflies, have begun to address this gap by revealing the genetic and developmental bases of differences in eye morphology and key new aspects of compound eye structure and function. Furthermore, technical advances have facilitated the generation of high‐resolution connectomic data from different insect species that enhances our understanding of visual information processing, and the impact of changes in these processes on the evolution of vision and behavior. Here, we review these recent breakthroughs and propose that future integrated research from the development to function of visual systems within and among insect species represents a great opportunity to understand the remarkable diversification of insect eyes and vision.
Characterizing the Conformational Dynamics of Human SUMO2: Insights into its Interaction with Metal Ions and SIMs
Authors: Kaur Anupreet , Singh Harpreet , Kumar Dinesh , Gahlay Gagandeep Kaur , Mithu Venus Singh
Published: April 2024

SUMO (Small Ubiquitin‐like Modifiers) proteins are involved in a crucial post‐translational modification commonly termed as SUMOylation. In this work, we have investigated the native‐state conformational flexibility of human SUMO2 and its interaction with Cu2+ and Zn2+ ions using 15N‐1H based 2D NMR spectroscopy. After SUMO1, SUMO2 is the most studied SUMO isoform in humans which shares 45 % and ~80 % similarity with SUMO1 in terms of sequence and structure, respectively. In this manuscript, we demonstrate that compared to SUMO1, several amino acids around the α1‐helix region of SUMO2 access energetically similar near‐native conformations. These conformations could play a crucial role in SUMO2’s non‐covalent interactions with SUMO interaction motifs (SIMs) on other proteins. The C‐terminal of SUMO2 was found to bind strongly with Cu2+ ions resulting in a trimeric structure as observed by gel electrophoresis. This interaction seems to interfere in its non‐covalent interaction with a V/I‐x‐V/I‐V/I based SIM in Daxx protein.
Process Cascade for the Production of Green Polymers from CO2 and Electric Energy
Authors: Fabarius Jonathan Thomas , Pietzka Carsten , Pangotra Dhananjai , Wriedt Benjamin , Vieira Luciana , Sagstetter Carina , Speck Melanie , Ziogas Athanassios , Baumgarten Nils , Kost Hans‐Joachim , Löb Patrick , Patzsch Katja , Bernau Catherine , Boeringer Sarah , Pico Davide , Lieske Antje , Vater Marcus , Wendler Ulrich , Roth Arne
Published: April 2024

Production processes based on CO2 as raw material offer high scalability and sustainability. Here, a novel process cascade is introduced, combining the advantages of electrochemical CO2 conversion with the synthetic potential of industrial biotechnology: CO2 is electrocatalytically reduced to formic acid as substrate for the metabolically engineered bacterium Methylorubrum extorquens that produces l‐lysine as precursor of the polymer building block 1,5‐diaminopentane (cadaverine). Cadaverine is purified through targeted downstream processing and finally used in a polycondensation process to produce polyamide materials.
Identifying Drug–Drug Interactions in Spontaneous Reports Utilizing Signal Detection and Biological Plausibility Aspects
Authors: Kontsioti Elpida , Maskell Simon , Anderson Isobel , Pirmohamed Munir
Published: April 2024

Translational approaches can benefit post‐marketing drug safety surveillance through the growing availability of systems pharmacology data. Here, we propose a novel Bayesian framework for identifying drug–drug interaction (DDI) signals and differentiating between individual drug and drug combination signals. This framework is coupled with a systems pharmacology approach for automated biological plausibility assessment. Integrating statistical and biological evidence, our method achieves a 16.5% improvement (AUC: from 0.620 to 0.722) with drug‐target‐adverse event associations, 16.0% (AUC: from 0.580 to 0.673) with drug enzyme, and 15.0% (AUC: from 0.568 to 0.653) with drug transporter information. Applying this approach to detect potential DDI signals of QT prolongation and rhabdomyolysis within the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), we emphasize the significance of systems pharmacology in enhancing statistical signal detection in pharmacovigilance. Our study showcases the promise of data‐driven biological plausibility assessment in the context of challenging post‐marketing DDI surveillance.
The effect of forced even pacing and an opponent on end‐spurt behaviour in freestyle pool swimming
Authors: Neuloh Joshua E. , Venhorst Andreas , Skorski Sabrina , Meyer Tim
Published: April 2024

To investigate the effect of forced even pacing through virtual pacing assistance and an opponent in a competitive setting on end‐spurt behaviour in freestyle swimmers, including related physiological underpinnings. Twenty‐seven competitive swimmers and triathletes were recruited. There were four 1500 m freestyle trials: (i) familiarisation time trial, (ii) self‐paced time trial (STT), (iii) head‐to‐head competition time trial (CTT) and (iv) forced even pacing through virtual pacing assistance time trial (FET). Eventually, 12 swimmers met the criteria for the CTT and FET to be included in the analysis. Changes in end‐spurt behaviour, finishing time and physiological parameters (lactate, cortisol, noradrenaline and heart rate) were analysed using a linear mixed model with fixed effects for trials and a random effect for swimmer identity. A separate linear model was computed for competition outcome. The end‐spurt for each race was determined by means of an end‐spurt indicator (ESI; ESI > 0 greater end‐spurt). Swimmers demonstrated a significantly greater ESI in FET (+2.6; p < 0.001) and CTT (+1.4; p = 0.022) compared to STT. Blood lactate concentration in FET (+1.0 mmol L−1; p < 0.001) and CTT (+1.6 mmol L−1; p < 0.001) was significantly higher than in STT. Winners had a significantly greater ESI than losers in CTT (+1.6 and p = 0.005). Swimmers utilised a greater end‐spurt through metabolically optimal forced even pacing by virtual pacing assistance and in a head‐to‐head competition due a larger mobilisation of anaerobic reserves as indicated by greater blood lactate concentrations. Winners had a significantly greater end‐spurt than losers despite similar metabolic disturbances.
Integrated Model for Comprehensive Performance Investigation of Solar Concentrated Photovoltaic‐Thermal System Embedded with Microchannel Heat Sinks
Authors: Chaurasia Harsh , Reddy Kalvala Srinivas
Published: April 2024

Concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) is a well‐established renewable energy technology. A significant challenge in CPV systems is their low efficiency, majorly due to localized heating yielded from concentration, often requiring the use of cooling systems. The accurate performance analysis and cooling system design for CPV systems require a multiphysics model. Herein, an integrated optical–thermal–electrical model is proposed for the performance evaluation of CPV systems incorporated with different configurations of microchannel heat sinks. The heat sink configuration includes 116 parallel and counter microchannels (Configuration A and B), a single wide microchannel (Configuration C), and single wide minichannel (Configuration D) heat sinks. This study involves 3D Monte‐Carlo ray tracing, finite volume method, and cell‐based electrical modeling. The results indicate that the flux profile over the absorber is highly nonuniform in nature. Furthermore, the CPV system with a Configuration C heat sink achieves a better uniformity in temperature, providing an optimized thermal performance of 64.63%. Moreover, the integrated model considers the impact of PV cell current mismatch that becomes prominent at increasing incidence angles. A maximum deviation of 6.9% in electrical power is obtained while comparing predicted numerical results against experimental results available in literature.
Sex, gender diversity, and brain structure in early adolescence
Authors: Torgerson Carinna , Ahmadi Hedyeh , Choupan Jeiran , Fan Chun Chieh , Blosnich John R. , Herting Megan M.
Published: April 2024

There remains little consensus about the relationship between sex and brain structure, particularly in early adolescence. Moreover, few pediatric neuroimaging studies have analyzed both sex and gender as variables of interest—many of which included small sample sizes and relied on binary definitions of gender. The current study examined gender diversity with a continuous felt‐gender score and categorized sex based on X and Y allele frequency in a large sample of children ages 9–11 years old (N = 7195). Then, a statistical model‐building approach was employed to determine whether gender diversity and sex independently or jointly relate to brain morphology, including subcortical volume, cortical thickness, gyrification, and white matter microstructure. Additional sensitivity analyses found that male versus female differences in gyrification and white matter were largely accounted for by total brain volume, rather than sex per se. The model with sex, but not gender diversity, was the best‐fitting model in 60.1% of gray matter regions and 61.9% of white matter regions after adjusting for brain volume. The proportion of variance accounted for by sex was negligible to small in all cases. While models including felt‐gender explained a greater amount of variance in a few regions, the felt‐gender score alone was not a significant predictor on its own for any white or gray matter regions examined. Overall, these findings demonstrate that at ages 9–11 years old, sex accounts for a small proportion of variance in brain structure, while gender diversity is not directly associated with neurostructural diversity.
Analysis of local, regional, and distant recurrence of disease in mucoepidermoid tumors of larynx: A systematic review
Authors: Chiari Francesco , Di Martino Giuseppe , Caporale Claudio Donadio , Molteni Gabriele , Presutti Livio , Guarino Pierre
Published: April 2024

The aim of this systematic review is to analyze epidemiology, clinical presentation, histopathological features, treatment and oncological outcomes in laryngeal mucoepidermoid cancer (MEC) in order to improve the knowledge on the management of such a rare malignant neoplasm. Specifically, authors highlight patients' and tumors' features about local, regional, and distant recurrence of disease. PRISMA 2020 guidelines were applied in this systematic literature review. A computerized search was performed using the Embase/Pubmed, Scopus, and Cochrane databases, for articles published from 1971 to December 2023. A descriptive and univariate analysis including selected papers with low or intermediate risk of bias was performed. Twenty‐seven papers (11 case series and 16 case reports) were included in this review. Fifty‐six patients were included in the analyses, with a mean age of 56.7 years; 84% of them were males. Most patients (86%) underwent a primary surgical approach. Clinical stage was reported as follows: early stage (26 patients) and locally advance and advanced stage (19 patients). Overall survival (OS) and disease‐free survival (DFS) at 2 years was 80% and 78%, respectively. The mean time to local recurrence was 18.7 months (range 8–36 months). The survival after recurrence is about 85% and 70% at 5 years, respectively. The mean time of lymph node recurrence was 14.7 months (range 7–19 months). Finally, the mean time of distant recurrence was 15 months (range 7–36 months) with a poor prognosis: all patients died due to the disease in a range of 0–7 months after metastasis evidence. Laryngeal MEC is a rare neoplasm of minor salivary glands in the larynx. No guidelines or indications about the management of this neoplasm are reported in the literature. The lower incidence of regional recurrence of the disease and the better OS and DFS underline how the prognosis of MEC is more favorable respect to other malignant histotypes.
Activation of heme oxygenase‐1 by laminar shear stress ameliorates high glucose‐induced endothelial cell and smooth muscle cell dysfunction
Authors: Chien Hung‐Che , Wang Yu‐Lin , Tu Yun‐Chin , Tsui Pi‐Fen , Tsai Min‐Chien
Published: April 2024

High glucose (HG)‐induced endothelial cell (EC) and smooth muscle cell (SMC) dysfunction is critical in diabetes‐associated atherosclerosis. However, the roles of heme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1), a stress‐response protein, in hemodynamic force‐generated shear stress and HG‐induced metabolic stress remain unclear. This investigation examined the cellular effects and mechanisms of HO‐1 under physiologically high shear stress (HSS) in HG‐treated ECs and adjacent SMCs. We found that exposure of human aortic ECs to HSS significantly increased HO‐1 expression; however, this upregulation appeared to be independent of adenosine monophosphate‐activated protein kinase, a regulator of HO‐1. Furthermore, HSS inhibited the expression of HG‐induced intercellular adhesion molecule‐1, vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in ECs. In an EC/SMC co‐culture, compared with static conditions, subjecting ECs close to SMCs to HSS and HG significantly suppressed SMC proliferation while increasing the expression of physiological contractile phenotype markers, such as α‐smooth muscle actin and serum response factor. Moreover, HSS and HG decreased the expression of vimentin, an atherogenic synthetic phenotypic marker, in SMCs. Transfecting ECs with HO‐1‐specific small interfering (si)RNA reversed HSS inhibition on HG‐induced inflammation and ROS production in ECs. Similarly, reversed HSS inhibition on HG‐induced proliferation and synthetic phenotype formation were observed in co‐cultured SMCs. Our findings provide insights into the mechanisms underlying EC‐SMC interplay during HG‐induced metabolic stress. Strategies to promote HSS in the vessel wall, such as continuous exercise, or the development of HO‐1 analogs and mimics of the HSS effect, could provide an effective approach for preventing and treating diabetes‐related atherosclerotic vascular complications.
Advancing unanchored simulated treatment comparisons: A novel implementation and simulation study
Authors: Ren Shijie , Ren Sa , Welton Nicky J. , Strong Mark
Published: April 2024

Population‐adjusted indirect comparisons, developed in the 2010s, enable comparisons between two treatments in different studies by balancing patient characteristics in the case where individual patient‐level data (IPD) are available for only one study. Health technology assessment (HTA) bodies increasingly rely on these methods to inform funding decisions, typically using unanchored indirect comparisons (i.e., without a common comparator), due to the need to evaluate comparative efficacy and safety for single‐arm trials. Unanchored matching‐adjusted indirect comparison (MAIC) and unanchored simulated treatment comparison (STC) are currently the only two approaches available for population‐adjusted indirect comparisons based on single‐arm trials. However, there is a notable underutilisation of unanchored STC in HTA, largely due to a lack of understanding of its implementation. We therefore develop a novel way to implement unanchored STC by incorporating standardisation/marginalisation and the NORmal To Anything (NORTA) algorithm for sampling covariates. This methodology aims to derive a suitable marginal treatment effect without aggregation bias for HTA evaluations. We use a non‐parametric bootstrap and propose separately calculating the standard error for the IPD study and the comparator study to ensure the appropriate quantification of the uncertainty associated with the estimated treatment effect. The performance of our proposed unanchored STC approach is evaluated through a comprehensive simulation study focused on binary outcomes. Our findings demonstrate that the proposed approach is asymptotically unbiased. We argue that unanchored STC should be considered when conducting unanchored indirect comparisons with single‐arm studies, presenting a robust approach for HTA decision‐making.
Hepatoid Adenocarcinoma of the Esophagus with Thyroid Metastasis: A Case Report
Authors: Huang Xin , Tan Haoyue , Zhou Jieyu , Wang Zhentao
Published: April 2024

Rare hepatoid adenocarcinomas are highly heterogeneous. In this case, hepatoid adenocarcinoma occurred in both the esophagus and thyroid, and the combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy may be a promising therapeutic tool for rare tumors. Laryngoscope, 134:3673–3676, 2024
Azimuthal Scanning Excitation Surface Plasmon Resonance Holographic Microscopy
Authors: Zhang Jiwei , Wang Shuqi , Li Wenrui , Luo Xiangyuan , Wang Lingke , Mi Jingyu , Dou Jiazhen , Dai Siqing , Lu Fanfan , Li Peng , Zhao Jianlin
Published: April 2024

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) holographic microscopy exploits surface plasmon wave as illumination and acquires both SPR intensity and phase images. It detects extremely tiny variations of weakly interacting objects owing to high sensitivity and has been applied in cell biology, material science, surface chemistry, etc. However, it is very challenging to solve the problem of poor spatial resolution due to the transverse propagation of surface plasmon wave. In this paper, an azimuthal scanning excitation method is proposed in SPR holographic microscopy to improve the spatial resolution by engineering the Fourier spectra of SPR images from dual‐arc to circular shape. The study modulates the light field with spatial position, wavevector, and polarization to realize azimuthal scanning excitation of SPR. Systematic experiments of dielectric spheres, nanowires, two‐dimension materials, and complex nanostructure are conducted to show the resolution improvement with one order of magnitude, the higher detection sensitivity of SPR phase than that of SPR intensity, and the necessities of both of high‐resolution SPR intensity and phase images to retrieve sample information in certain scenarios. Benefiting from the high detection sensitivity and spatial resolution, the proposed microscopy will find wide applications in nanoparticle analysis, low‐dimensional material characterization, and imaging extremely thin or transparent samples.
Moisture‐Resistant Orange Emitters with Near‐Unity Quantum Yield from Mn2+ Alloyed Vacancy‐Ordered Quadruple Perovskites
Authors: Dang Peipei , Gu Qianqian , Zhang Guodong , Lian Hongzhou , Li Guogang , Lin Jun
Published: April 2024

Mn2+‐doped metal halide perovskites present remarkable optical properties in optoelectronic applications, although the realization of high efficiency and stability is still a challenge. In this work, a series of highly efficient and stable orange‐emitting Mn2+ alloyed Cs4Cd1‐xMnxBi2Cl12 single crystals are successfully synthesized via a hydrothermal reaction. Combined with the crystal structure and spectral characterization at 7 K, the site occupation of Mn2+ and defect emission are systematically discussed. Benefiting from the effective [BiCl6]3−→[MnCl6]4− energy transfer and lattice distortion, these single crystals exhibit a maximum internal and external quantum yield of ≈97% and ≈65% at 35% heavy doping level. Interestingly, these Mn2+‐alloyed single crystals exhibit remarkably waterproof stability, no decrease in emission intensity is observed after immersion in deionized water for 4 h. After soaking in deionized water for 100 days, the internal quantum yield can still maintain 44%, implying good chemical stability and moisture resistance due to the formation of protective BiOCl layer. This work provides new insights into the optimization mechanism for Mn2+ luminescence and overcoming the downside of their waterproofing in humid conditions.
PVDF‐Based Electrospun Nanofibers for Oil/Water Separation: A Review
Authors: Matabola Kgabo P. , Mokhena Teboho C. , Bambo Mokae F. , Mokhothu Thabang H. , Modise Joe S. , Mochane Mokgaotsa J.
Published: April 2024

The rising widespread oil‐impacted wastewater warrants an urgent call for innovative approaches to the handling of oily wastewater. A variety of techniques has been investigated to treat oil‐impacted water, and they are found to be inefficient. Electrospun nanofibers emerge as the viable technique to treat oily wastewater precisely owing to their high specific surface areas and interconnected nanoscale pore structures. In this review, a brief background on the study is provided followed by the environmental pollution by the oily wastewater. Subsequent to that, the polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) modification methods are also presented followed by the physicochemical properties of both the electrospun PVDF blends and the PVDF‐based composites. Furthermore, the performances of the PVDF‐based composites in oil/water separation are described. It is concluded with the future prospects for using PVDF‐based composites for oil/water separation.
Controllable Blue Shift and Enhancement Emission during the Gradually Increasing Molecular Weight of Polyacrylamide
Authors: Zhou Qing , Xu Haiyan , Chen Wang , Jin Feng , Lei Xiaoping , Zhang Yuanchao , Yang Lei
Published: April 2024

Nonconventional luminescent polymers have become research hotspots due to their advantages such as persistent room temperature phosphorescence (p‐RTP) emission and strong film‐forming properties. It is proven that the molecular weight (MW) of such luminescent polymers has a significant impact on their emission over a large range, generally with a red shift as the MW increases. Herein, four controllable MW polyacrylamides are prepared via reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer polymerization (RAFT), and their photoluminescence quantum yield and p‐RTP lifetimes gradually increase with the increasing MW. The emission of p‐RTP gradually shifts blue with increasing MW, which is likely due to the gradually changing interactions between the electron‐rich portion in RAFT reagent and the increasing acrylamide (AM) units in the molecular chain. These can be reasonably explained through small angle X‐ray scattering, the clustering‐triggered emission (CTE) mechanism, and supported by theoretical calculations. Powder with controllable p‐RTP capability has the potential for strategic anti‐counterfeiting encryption. The above results not only promote the development of the CTE mechanism toward more precise explanations but also provide new ideas for the preparation of nonconventional luminescent polymers with controllable p‐RTP emission performance.
Biosynthetic potential of the sediment microbial subcommunities of an unexplored karst ecosystem and its ecological implications
Authors: Suárez‐Moo Pablo , Prieto‐Davó Alejandra
Published: April 2024

Microbial communities from various environments have been studied in the quest for new natural products with a broad range of applications in medicine and biotechnology. We employed an enrichment method and genome mining tools to examine the biosynthetic potential of microbial communities in the sediments of a coastal sinkhole within the karst ecosystem of the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico. Our investigation led to the detection of 203 biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) and 55 secondary metabolites (SMs) within 35 high‐quality metagenome‐assembled genomes (MAGs) derived from these subcommunities. The most abundant types of BGCs were Terpene, Nonribosomal peptide‐synthetase, and Type III polyketide synthase. Some of the in silico identified BGCs and SMs have been previously reported to exhibit biological activities against pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Others could play significant roles in the sinkhole ecosystem, such as iron solubilization and osmotic stress protection. Interestingly, 75% of the BGCs showed no sequence homology with bacterial BGCs previously reported in the MiBIG database. This suggests that the microbial communities in this environment could be an untapped source of genes encoding novel specialized compounds. The majority of the BGCs were identified in pathways found in the genus Virgibacillus, followed by Sporosarcina, Siminovitchia, Rhodococcus, and Halomonas. The latter, along with Paraclostridium and Lysinibacillus, had the highest number of identified BGC types. This study offers fresh insights into the potential ecological role of SMs from sediment microbial communities in an unexplored environment, underscoring their value as a source of novel natural products.