bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Duration in Immigration Detention and Health Harms
Authors: Saadi Altaf , Patler Caitlin , Langer Paola
Published: January 2025

Importance

Length of custody is a mechanism by which carceral systems can worsen health. However, there are fewer studies examining US immigration detention, in large part because US immigration detention is largely privately operated and opaque by design.

Objectives

To examine the association between duration spent in US immigration detention with subsequent health outcomes.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cross-sectional study used a referral sample of recently detained immigrants who were released from Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under a series of court orders in 2020 and 2021. Data were analyzed from June 2023 to October 2024.

Exposure

Detention duration less than 6 months vs 6 months or longer.

Main Outcomes and Measures

We used multivariable regression analysis to assess the association of detention duration and several variables: (1) self-rated health, (2) mental illness (Kessler 6-item psychological distress scale), and (3) posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Primary Care-PTSD-5 Screen). We then calculated the likelihood of experiencing each outcome, controlling for covariates. As a robustness check, we conducted sensitivity analyses with detention duration as a continuous measure.

Results

The study included 200 respondents (mean [SD] age, 40.3 [10.1] years; 175 male [87.5%]; 149 Hispanic or Latino ethnicity [74.5%]). Results revealed a high prevalence of poor self-rated health, mental illness, and PTSD for all respondents, but especially among those who had been detained for 6 months or longer, who had significantly higher likelihood of poor or fair self-rated health (49.1% [95% CI, 40.5%-57.6%] vs 30.4% [95% CI, 21.8%-39.1%]; P < .001), mental illness (37.0% [95% CI, 28.2%-45.8%] vs 20.7% [95% CI, 12.6%-28.7%]; P < .001), and PTSD (59.3% [95% CI, 50.3%-68.3%] vs 34.8% [95% CI, 25.3%-44.3%]; P < .001). Sensitivity analysis confirmed the general robustness of these findings, with longer detention duration significantly associated with mental illness (OR, 1.11 [95% CI, 1.02-1.20]; P = .01) and PTSD (OR, 1.11 [95% CI, 1.03-1.20]; P = .005) in our adjusted models.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cross-sectional study, detained immigrants experienced a high prevalence of poor health, mental illness, and PTSD, with detention periods of 6 months or more associated with higher rates compared with those detained less than 6 months. Duration of custody is one mechanism by which immigration detention might be a catalyst for worsening health.
City-Level Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Taxes and Changes in Adult Body Mass Index
Authors: Liu Emily F. , Young Deborah R. , Sidell Margo A. , Lee Catherine , Cohen Deborah A. , Barton Lee J. , Falbe Jennifer , Inzhakova Galina , Sridhar Sneha , Voorhees Allison C. , Han Bing , Hedderson Monique M.
Published: January 2025

Importance

Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) excise taxes are popular policy interventions aimed at decreasing SSB purchasing and consumption to improve cardiometabolic health and generate revenue for public health initiatives. There is limited evidence that these taxes in the US are associated with weight-related outcomes in adults, a primary contributor to cardiometabolic health.

Objective

To determine the association between SSB excise taxes and adult body mass index (BMI) and proportion of adults with overweight or obesity among California cities and assess whether associations vary by demographic characteristics.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cohort study compared California cities with SSB taxes (Albany, Berkeley, Oakland, and San Francisco) and demographically matched cities without SSB excise taxes from 6 years before the tax and 4 to 6 years after the tax from January 2009 through December 2020 using electronic health record data. Participants were Kaiser Permanente (KP) members aged 20 to 65 years at cohort entry with at least 1 pretax and 1 posttax BMI measurement. Data were analyzed from January 2021 to May 2023.

Exposure

Implementation of city-level SSB excise taxes.

Main outcomes and measures

Mean BMI and proportion of adults with overweight or obesity. Analysis used the differences-in-differences (DID) method.

Results

The cohort had a total of 1 044 272 members (178 931 participants in 4 cities with excise taxes; mean [SD] age, 39.7 [11.2] years; 99 501 [55.6%] female; 865 343 participants in 40 control cities without excise taxes; mean [SD] age, 39.9 [11.6] years; 480 155 [55.5%] female). DID estimates for mean BMI showed a modest decrease among adults aged 20 to 39 years (20-25 years: −0.30; 95% CI, −0.51 to −0.08; 26-39 years: −0.19; 95% CI, −0.37 to −0.20), female participants (−0.19; 95% CI, −0.26 to −0.11), and White participants (−0.19; 95% CI, −0.35 to −0.04) living in cities with SSB excise taxes. There was a statistically significant reduction in mean BMI in Berkeley (−0.16; 95% CI, −0.27 to −0.04). There were no overall differences in BMI or proportion with overweight or obesity.

Conclusions and relevance

In this cohort study, SSB excise taxes were associated with reduced mean BMI among adults in demographic subgroups, including in young adults who consumed the most SSBs, and in Berkeley. Future research should examine the mechanisms of these associations to inform how SSB taxes could be more equitable for weight-related outcomes.
Young, female and scientist: exploring barriers, challenges and opportunities
Authors: Derosiers Nohelly , Bernaerts Eline , Braun Jessica L. , Pozo Garcia Victoria , Gencheva Radosveta , Paredes Garcia Ana , Tsagakis Ioannis
Published: January 2025

Different societal, systemic and personal barriers exist at various stages along a female researcher's career that can potentially undermine their success. The equation for women to reach higher positions in STEM is a multivariable one, and while there has been considerable progress towards addressing some of these compared with the past, current solutions are inadequate and do not address all facets. Here, we asked female winners of the FEBS Open Bio poster prize about their experiences regarding barriers they have faced at the predoctoral and postdoctoral stages, their opinions on how these can be addressed and their advice to new students entering a PhD degree.
Crystalline Hydrogen Enhanced Dual‐Acid Quasi‐Solid‐State Proton Battery
Authors: Meng Fanhao , Dong Xiaoyu , Wu Haiyang , Wu Zhiyuan , Dou Hui , Zhang Xiaogang
Published: January 2025

Proton batteries are considered promising due to their high‐power output, cost‐effectiveness, and safety. However, they also face challenges such as low voltage, limited capacity, and poor cycle stability. To address these challenges, a dual‐acid quasi‐solid‐state electrolyte (SSAE) is developed by combining H2SiO3 with H2SO4. This electrolyte has the decomposition voltage of 2.15 V and ultra‐high conductivity of 95 mS cm⁻¹ (1.5 mS cm⁻¹ at −70 °C). Leveraging this high decomposition voltage, the specific capacity of MoO3 is successfully enhanced to 1.74 times than its original value at a current density of 5 A g−1 by harnessing the hydrogen evolution/oxidation reaction (HER/HOR) of lattice hydrogen (H·ad,s) in MoO3 at low potentials, which is typically regarded as a significant factor to suppress the gas evolution. Notably, the voltage achieved a record‐breaking 1.8 V in the Prussian Blue Analog //MoO3 system at room temperature. The full cell consisting of HVFe‐PBA (pre‐protonated vanadium hexacyanoferrate)//SSAE//MoO3 exhibited outstanding electrochemical performance at both room temperature and low temperatures. As a proof‐of‐concept, a pouch cell is assembled with an energy density of 72.3 Wh kg−1, and even it maintained an energy density of 40.7 Wh kg−1at −60 °C.
Ischemic Myocardium Targeting Peptide‐Guided Nanobubbles for Multimodal Imaging and Treatment of Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction
Authors: Yu Bo , Pang Ziwei , Zhao Jing , Xue Jingyi , Lo Hsuan , Gu Tiancheng , Zhang Ping , Tian Jiawei , Du Guo‐Qing
Published: January 2025

Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) refers to clinical symptoms caused by structural and functional damage to coronary microcirculation. The timely and precise diagnosis of CMD‐related myocardial ischemia is essential for improving patient prognosis. This study describes a method for the multimodal (fluorescence, ultrasonic, and photoacoustic) noninvasive imaging and treatment of CMD based on ischemic myocardium‐targeting peptide (IMTP)‐guided nanobubbles functionalized with indocyanine green (IMTP/ICG NBs) and characterizes their basic characteristics and in vitro imaging and targeting abilities. The IMTP/ICG NBs enable the accurate location of myocardial ischemia via photoacoustic imaging, and when loaded with tannic acid (TA), can be used to effectively treat myocardial ischemia and fibrosis in CMD mice, achieving an effect superior to that of free TA. The origin of this high therapeutic efficiency is revealed by transcriptomic and proteomic analyses. This investigation lays the groundwork for visual monitoring and the drug‐targeted treatment of CMD.
TPMS‐Gyroid Scaffold‐Mediated Up‐Regulation of ITGB1 for Enhanced Cell Adhesion and Immune‐Modulatory Osteogenesis
Authors: Wang Jing , Huang Zenan , Han Zhenzhong , Luan Jing , Li Zihan , Guo Xutong , Yang Dongxu , Cui Yazhou , Han Jinxiang , Xu Duo
Published: January 2025

The porous structure is crucial in bone tissue engineering for promoting osseointegration. Among various structures, triply periodic minimal surfaces (TPMS) ‐Gyroid has been extensively studied due to its superior mechanical and biological properties. However, previous studies have given limited attention to the impact of unit cell size on the biological performance of scaffolds. In this research, four TPMS‐Gyroid titanium scaffolds with different unit cell sizes (TG15, TG20, TG25, and TG30) are fabricated using Selective Laser Melting (SLM) to explore their effects on osseointegration. Mechanical tests revealed that TG15 and TG20 exhibited superior compressive strength. In vitro experiments demonstrated that TG20 facilitated better cell adhesion through robust integrin protein expression initially, which subsequently enhanced cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation. Furthermore, macrophages on TG20 showed higher Integrin β1 (ITGB1) expression, promoting their polarization to the M2 phenotype, which suppressed inflammation, fostered bone integration, and angiogenesis. In vivo studies confirmed TG20's effectiveness in promoting bone ingrowth by reducing inflammation. This study highlights TG20's structural advantages, making it a promising bone scaffold with exceptional osteogenic and angiogenic properties through osteoimmune microenvironment modulation. Therefore, TG20 holds significant potential for applications in bone tissue engineering.
UV‐Solar Photocatalysis for the Simultaneous Removal of Arsenic and Mercury in Washing Solutions from Polluted Marine Sediments
Authors: Muscetta Marica , Race Marco , D'Agostino Fabio , Sprovieri Mario , Clarizia Laura
Published: January 2025

An environmentally sustainable strategy has been developed for simultaneously removing arsenic and mercury from wastewater, potentially coming from washing of polluted marine sediments. Citric acid (CA), a biodegradable chelating agent, forms stable complexes with both metals, which can be extracted from contaminated sediments through ex situ sediment washing. A solar photocatalytic method has been developed to separate toxic metals from wastewater and degrade CA. Increasing the TiO2 photocatalyst load enhances arsenic adsorption under dark conditions. Total arsenic removal is achieved during photocatalytic decontamination using 1000 ppm of TiO2. Fe(III)–hydroxides formed in the presence of Fe(III) further adsorb arsenic. Nearly total arsenic removal is achieved even under seawater conditions and visible light irradiation only. The removal of arsenic in different oxidation states has been successfully demonstrated. The UV–vis/TiO2/CA photocatalytic system has also proven highly effective for mercury removal from wastewater. Although seawater conditions slightly slow the removal process, complete mercury removal is achieved even under visible light irradiation. Finally, a combined photocatalytic approach has been developed for the removal of both arsenic and mercury, achieving 100% removal within few minutes of light irradiation. The reaction mechanism has been depicted based on intermediates and reaction products detected during the photocatalytic process.
Turning Waste into Treasure: Functionalized Biomass‐Derived Carbon Dots for Superselective Visualization and Eradication of Gram‐Positive Bacteria
Authors: Xu Ke‐Fei , Wang Zihao , Cui Macheng , Jiang Yuhan , Li Chengcheng , Wang Zi‐Xi , Li Ling‐Yi , Jia Chenyang , Zhang Lijie , Wu Fu‐Gen
Published: January 2025

Gram‐positive bacteria pose significant threats to human health, necessitating the development of targeted bacterial detection and eradication strategies. Nevertheless, current approaches often suffer from poor targeting specificity. Herein, the study utilizes purple rice lixivium to synthesize biomass carbon dots (termed BCDs) with wheat germ agglutinin‐like residues for precisely targeting Gram‐positive bacteria. Subsequently, fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) molecules are grafted onto BCDs to yield FITC‐labeled BCDs (termed CDFs), which can selectively and rapidly (≤5 min) stain bacterial cell wall and particularly target the peptidoglycan component. Strikingly, CDFs achieve superselective visualization of Gram‐positive bacteria even in the presence of mammalian cells and Gram‐negative bacteria. Furthermore, protoporphyrin (PpIX) molecules are conjugated onto BCDs to yield PpIX‐modified BCDs (termed CDPs), which can induce bacterial aggregation and in situ generate singlet oxygen for realizing enhanced antibacterial photodynamic therapy (PDT). At the minimum bactericidal concentration of CDPs (PpIX: 5 µg mL−1), CDP‐mediated PDT disrupts bacterial structure and metabolism pathways, thereby affecting bacterial interactions to eradicate biofilms. Importantly, CDP‐mediated PDT efficiently modulates antiinflammatory responses to promote wound healing in the bacteria‐infected mice. This study underscores the significance of harnessing renewable and cost‐effective biomass resources for preparing Gram‐positive bacteria‐targeting theranostic agents, which may find potential clinical applications in the future.
3‐HKA Promotes Vascular Remodeling After Stroke by Modulating the Activation of A1/A2 Reactive Astrocytes
Authors: Chen Jun‐Min , Shi Guang , Yu Lu‐Lu , Shan Wei , Sun Jing‐Yu , Guo An‐Chen , Wu Jian‐Ping , Tang Tie‐Shan , Zhang Xiang‐Jian , Wang Qun
Published: January 2025

Ischemic stroke is the most common cerebrovascular disease and the leading cause of permanent disability worldwide. Recent studies have shown that stroke development and prognosis are closely related to abnormal tryptophan metabolism. Here, significant downregulation of 3‐hydroxy‐kynurenamine (3‐HKA) in stroke patients and animal models is identified. Supplementation with 3‐HKA improved long‐term neurological recovery, reduced infarct volume, and increased ipsilateral cerebral blood flow after distal middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). 3‐HKA promoted angiogenesis, functional blood vessel formation, and blood‐brain barrier (BBB) repair. Moreover, 3‐HKA inhibited A1‐like (neurotoxic) astrocyte activation but promoted A2‐like (neuroprotective) astrocyte polarization. Proteomic analysis revealed that 3‐HKA inhibited AIM2 inflammasome activation after stroke, and co‐labeling studies indicated that AIM2 expression typically increased in astrocytes at 7 and 14 days after stroke. Consistently, in co‐cultures of primary mouse brain microvascular endothelial cells and astrocytes, 3‐HKA promoted angiogenesis after oxygen‐glucose deprivation (OGD). AIM2 overexpression in astrocytes abrogated 3‐HKA‐driven vascular remodeling in vitro and in vivo, suggesting that 3‐HKA may regulate astrocyte‐mediated vascular remodeling by impeding AIM2 inflammasome activation. In conclusion, 3‐HKA may promote post‐stroke vascular remodeling by regulating A1/A2 astrocyte activation, thereby improving long‐term neurological recovery, suggesting that supplementation with 3‐HKA may be an efficient therapy for stroke.
Boosting the Activity and Stability of 3‐Hydroxyphenothiazine Derivatives for Aqueous Organic Flow Batteries
Authors: Zhang Mengqi , Mu Chenkai , Li Tianyu , Zhang Changkun , Li Xianfeng
Published: January 2025

Aqueous organic flow batteries (AOFBs) represent one of the most promising technologies for stationary energy storage due to their features of abundant resources and high tunability. Phenothiazines have stable conjugated structures and are considered one of the most potential catholytes for AOFBs. However, the highly conjugated structure of phenothiazines is always hydrophobic and reduces the molecular polarity, which makes it challenging to achieve high capacity and energy efficiency. Herein, a new class of 3‐hydroxyphenothiazine derivatives with a high solubility of 1.8 m and fast redox kinetics by introducing the hydrophilic tertiary ammonium groups. The designed 7‐bromo‐2,4‐dimethylaminemethylene‐3‐hydroxyphenothiazine (BDAHP) based cell not only exhibited an ultra‐stable cycling capacity (over 10 000 cycles with a capacity fade rate of 0.00048% per cycle for the symmetric cell) but also achieved a high energy efficiency of 82.3% (80 mA cm−2 at 0.5 m). Furthermore, the cell also displayed a highly reversible catholyte capacity of 82 Ah L−1 at a high concentration of 1.7 m and wide temperature adaptability (−15–60 °C). Combining the high volumetric capacity, fast redox reaction, and stability, the hydroxyl‐substituted PTZ demonstrates great potential for large‐scale energy storage.
Advancing Humidity‐Resistant Triboelectric Nanogenerators Through MoS₂‐Encapsulated SiO₂ Nanoparticles for Self‐Powered Gas Sensing Applications
Authors: Kim Do‐Heon , Park Ji Young , Choi Han Sol , Cho Jeonghoon , Kim Hyun Soo , Mo Jeong Eun , Kim Jin‐Kyeom , Yoon Tae Kyoung , Hur Sung Hun , Kim Jae Joon , Park Hye Sung , Song Hyun Cheol , Baik Jeong Min
Published: January 2025

In this study, the humidity‐resistant triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) utilizing MoS₂‐encapsulated SiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs), aimed at enhancing self‐powered gas sensing applications, are reported. The core‐shell structure, featuring a thin MoS₂ layer uniformly grown on SiO₂, addresses common humidity‐induced performance degradation. The growth mechanism involves the decomposition and sulfidation of molybdenum species, with MoS₂ selectively nucleating on SiO₂ to form a stable, hydrophobic shell. This MoS₂ layer effectively shields the SiO₂ interface from water molecule penetration, thus stabilizing charge density and significantly reducing charge decay, even under high humidity conditions. TENGs constructed with these core‐shell NPs exhibit high triboelectric charge density and exceptional durability, retaining more than 70% output over 25 h at 99% relative humidity (RH). Furthermore, the fabricated TENG reliably powers a gas sensor array, enabling accurate gas detection in extreme humidity. This work demonstrates the potential of MoS₂‐encapsulated SiO₂ TENGs as robust, self‐powered energy solutions for environmental monitoring and wearable devices in challenging humidity conditions.
A Review on Synthesis of Polyketide Natural Products and Polyketide Building Blocks Based on Hydroxy‐Directed Nitrile Oxide Cycloaddition Reaction
Authors: Kumari Megha , Dey Ashutosh , Khatravath Mahender
Published: January 2025

Hydroxy‐directed nitrile oxide cycloaddition represents an underexplored strategy, though it is offering the regio, enantio and diastereo selective methods for the formation of isoxazolidines as latent aldol products. This approach offering unique regio‐ and stereoselectivity in constructing complex polyketide frameworks, leveraging hydroxy groups as directing agents, has the potential to expand synthetic methodologies for diverse applications in organic and medicinal chemistry. This review article covers the synthetic reports of polyketide building blocks/ natural products involving Hydroxy‐directed nitrile oxide cycloaddition as the key reaction. We believe that summarizing these methods would grab the attention of chemists who are aware and can explore this unique methodology for the synthesis of complex known polyketide natural products.
Educational attainment, Aβ, tau, and structural brain reserve in Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Cai Yue , Fang Lili , Li Anqi , Yang Jie , Zhou Xin , He Zhengbo , Sun Pan , Wang Qingyong , Guo Tengfei ,   Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: January 2025

INTRODUCTION

Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients with higher educational attainment (EA) often exhibit better cognitive function. However, the relationship among EA status, AD pathology, structural brain reserve, and cognitive decline requires further investigation.

METHODS

We compared cognitive performance across different amyloid beta (Aβ) positron emission tomography (A ±) statuses and EA levels (High EA/Low EA). We examined the effects of Aβ plaques, tau tangles, and gray matter volume (GMV) on the relationship between EA and domain‐specific cognitive decline.

RESULTS

A+/High‐EA individuals exhibited slower cognitive decline in global cognition and language domains than A+/Low‐EA individuals. This cognitive benefit was independently and synergistically explained by reduced AD pathology, including lower Aβ and tau burdens, as well as preserved GMV. Additionally, High‐EA individuals experienced a median delay of 1.9 years in the onset of significant brain atrophy among A+ individuals.

DISCUSSION

These findings highlight the independent and synergistic contributions of EA‐associated AD pathology and GMV alterations to longitudinal cognitive decline.

Highlights

Alzheimer's disease (AD) individuals with high educational attainment (EA) show slower declines in global cognition and language.

EA‐related slower cognitive decline is linked to reduced tau and greater gray matter volume in AD.

AD individuals with high EA show a median 1.9 year delayed onset of brain atrophy.
Tuning the Acid Hardness Nature of Cu Catalyst for Selective Nitrate‐to‐Ammonia Electroreduction
Authors: Wang Ruhan , Jia Shunhan , Wu Limin , Zhang Libing , Song Xinning , Tan Xingxing , Zheng Chaofeng , Li Weixiang , Ma Xiaodong , Qian Qingli , Kang Xinchen , Zhu Qinggong , Sun Xiaofu , Han Buxing
Published: January 2025

Electrocatalytic nitrate reduction reaction (NO3RR) in alkaline electrolyte presents a sustainable pathway for energy storage and green ammonia (NH3) synthesis. However, it remains challenging to obtain high activity and selectivity due to the limited protonation and/or desorption processes of key intermediates. Herein, we propose a strategy to regulate the acid hardness nature of Cu catalyst by introducing appropriate modifier. Using density functional theory calculations, we firstly identified that the BaO‐modified Cu showed optimal Gibbs free energies for key NO3RR steps, including the protonation of *NO and the desorption of *NH3. Experimentally, the BaO‐modified Cu catalyst exhibited 97.3 % Faradaic efficiency (FE) for NH3 with a yield rate of 356.9 mmol h−1 gcat−1. It could also maintain high activity across a wide range of applied potentials and nitrate substrate concentrations. Detailed experimental and theoretical studies revealed that the Ba species could modulate the local electronic states of Cu, enhance the electron transfer rate, and optimize the adsorption/protonation/desorption processes of the N‐containing intermediates, leading to the excellent catalytic performance for NO3−‐to‐NH3.
Electrochemical Cyclopropanation of Unactivated Alkenes with Methylene Compounds
Authors: Liu Min , Wang Yanwei , Gao Chao , Jia Jingpei , Zhu Zile , Qiu Youai
Published: January 2025

Cyclopropanes are prevalent in natural products, pharmaceuticals, and bioactive compounds, functioning as a significant structural motif. Although a series of methods have been developed for the construction of the cyclopropane skeleton, the development of a direct and efficient strategy for the rapid synthesis of cyclopropanes from bench‐stable starting materials with a broad substrate scope and functional group tolerance remains challenging and highly desirable. Herein, we present an electrochemical method for the direct cyclopropanation of unactivated alkenes using active methylene compounds. The strategy shows a broad substrate scope with a high level of functional group compatibility, as well as potential application as demonstrated by late‐stage cyclopropanation of complex molecules and drug derivatives. Further mechanistic investigations suggest that Cp2Fe (Fc) plays an essential role as an oxidative mediator in generating radicals from active methylene compounds.
Thermostable phospholipase C: A key to efficient and sustainable enzymatic oil degumming processes
Authors: Val Diego S. , Nardo Luisina Di , Marchisio Fiorela , Lacava Franco , Aguirre Andrés , Peiru Salvador , Castelli María Eugenia , Espariz Martín , Abriata Luciano A. , Menzella Hugo G. , Rasia Rodolfo M.
Published: January 2025

Phospholipase C (PLC) enzymes play a pivotal role in the degumming process of edible oils, which is essential for producing high‐quality refined oils. The enzymatic degumming process, compared with conventional chemical methods, offers significant advantages including improved oil yield, reduced environmental impact, and lower operational costs. However, the industrial application of PLC enzymes is often hindered by their limited stability under harsh processing conditions. This has driven extensive research efforts toward engineering thermostable PLC variants that can withstand the high temperatures and harsh environments typical of oil refining processes. In this review, we explore the latest advancements in the application, design and optimization of thermostable PLC enzymes. We discuss the fundamental economic and ecological interest behind the goal of obtaining thermostable enzymes, and two approaches to the problem, namely the search for enzymes in thermophilic organisms and the design of new sequences with improved stability and activity parameters.
Facile Extraction and Salinization of Biotransferred 1,5‐Pentanediamine to Produce Purified Nylon 56 Salt
Authors: Huang Wanshu , Zhang Xiaoyue , Liu Shuo , Shen Bowen , You Shengping , Su Rongxin , Qi Wei , Wang Mengfan
Published: January 2025

In this study, an extraction and salinization method was developed to treat the biotransferred 1,5‐pentanediamine (PDA) to achieve the purification of PDA as well as the production of high‐purity Nylon 56 salt. Further analysis showed that the Nylon 56 salt product with 99.6% purity and 95.11 g/L yield could be obtained by mixing 0.4 M n‐butanol solution of self‐produced PDA and n‐butanol solution of commercial adipic acid in an equimolar ratio and reacting for 2 h at 323.15 K, 250 rpm. By comparison, the physical properties, structure, and thermal stability of the Nylon 56 salts produced by this process were basically the same as those of the Nylon 56 salt prepared with commercial technical grade PDA. The Nylon 56 salts were all in the form of short rod‐shaped powder with initial polymerization and decomposition temperatures of 458.95 and 487.85 K, respectively. Therefore, this biotransferred PDA extraction–salinization coupling process omitted the distillation and dissolution steps of PDA, and the high‐quality Nylon 56 monomer was produced by crystallization in the solution. The process achieves efficient high‐purity production of Nylon 56 salt and provides a new idea for solving the problem of preparation and storage and transport safety of high‐purity PDA.
Crystallisation Based Deracemisation and Chiral Resolution of Small Molecules
Authors: Saseendran Abhay S. K. , Jayaraj Haritha , Kartha Kalathil Krishnan , Sarala Anjana Suseelan
Published: January 2025

Enantiomeric separation of chiral molecules is pivotal for exploring fundamental questions about life‘s origin and various other scientific domains. Crystallisation is an important platform for the separation of chiral molecules, elegantly applied to many systems, for instance, the formation of conglomerates, where the enantiomers crystallise as separate phases. Many approaches have been proposed to explore crystallisation‐driven enantiomeric separation with fewer insights into the complex pathways associated with the separation processes. Controlling derecemisation or chiral resolution through crystallisation by applying mechanical forces, magnetic substrates, and seeds have attracted significant attention due to better outcomes. Despite these advancements, the mechanisms behind the separation of enantiomers using crystallisation as a tool, especially the delicate balance between kinetically and thermodynamically controlled pathways, are unclear, particularly for small organic molecules critical to pharmaceutical applications. This review aims to address many of these challenges, providing synthetic chemists with a deeper understanding of the role of crystallisation for innovative enantiomeric separation strategies.
Unveiling the Broad‐Spectrum Efficacy of Volatile Terpenes to Fight Against SARS‐COV‐2‐Associated Mucormycosis
Authors: Zahran Eman Maher , Elfoly Ethar , Elhamadany Eyad Y. , Hemied Muhammad S. , Elsayed Tarek A. , Hisham Mohamed , Abdelmohsen Usama Ramadan
Published: January 2025

Mucormycosis, a life‐threatening fungal infection caused by Mucorales, affects immunocompromised patients, especially SARS‐CoV‐2 ones. Existing antifungal therapies, like amphotericin B, have serious health risks. The current study reviews the literature regarding an overview of SARS‐CoV‐2‐associated mucormycosis, along with different terpenes from diverse edible sources, such as basil, ginger, and clove, which are detected till June 2024. The antifungal potential of collected terpenes, their classifications, mechanisms of action, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values, and future perspectives are discussed here. The search identified 89 fungicidal volatile terpenes, belonging to about 26 families, from which 45 were selected for further in silico analysis. The results highlighted oryzalexin B (60), oryzalexin D (62), carvacrol (4), mansorin B (66), muzigadial (86), and lubimin (80) as potential antifungal agents against lanosterol 14α‐demethylase, CotH3, and mucoricin as potential targets in Mucorales. CotH3 is crucial for activating GRP‐78, a host co‐receptor for ACE2, which is essential for SARS‐CoV‐2 pathogenesis. Additionally, carvacrol was in vitro investigated against Mucor racemosus via the agar diffusion method, giving an MIC value of 1 mg/mL, compared to 0.1 mg/mL of ketoconazole. This study suggests promising potential for volatile terpenes in combating SARS‐CoV‐2‐associated mucormycosis, with the need for further refined in vitro and in vivo studies to establish clinical efficacy.
Chemical Composition and Anti‐sickling Activity of the Essential Oil From the Leaves of Lantana Montevidensis (Spreng.) Briq (Verbenaceae) Growing Wild in the Western Region of Democratic Republic of Congo
Authors: Philippe Babady‐Bila , Dorothée Tshilanda‐Dinangayi , Damien Tshibangu Sha‐Tshibey , David Masengi Makondo , Giresse Kiasama N'kal , Carlos Kabengele Nkongolo , Jean‐Paul Ngbolua Koto te Nyiwa , Pius Mpiana Tshimankinda
Published: January 2025

Lantana montevidensis (Spreng.) Briq. is a shrub native to South American countries. In Congolese traditional medicine, its leaves are used as herbal tea or in steam inhalation therapy for the treatment of respiratory disorders. The goal of this study was to determine the chemical composition and the anti‐sickling activity of the essential oil obtained from the leaves of this species growing wild in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Previous studies on the chemical composition of this species essential oil showed that it is mainly rich in sesquiterpene hydrocarbons such as (E)‐caryophyllene, germacrene‐D, (Z)‐caryophyllene, valencene, bicyclogermacrene, (E)‐nerolidol, β‐selinene, sabinene, γ‐terpinene, and β‐elemene in different ratios. The gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry analysis of our oil revealed that it is rather rich in monoterpenes, with geranial (24.13%), neral (17.73%), limonene (8.27%), γ‐terpinene (2.81%), p‐cymene (2.36%), geraniol (2.33%), nerol (1.52%), citronellol (1.37%), linalool (1.24), and carvone (1.20%) as major constituents. Germacrene D (4.21%), α‐elemol (3.53%), and β‐caryophyllene (1.08%) were the only main sesquiterpenes detected, besides 6‐methyl‐5‐hepten‐2‐one (3.51%). The Emmel test performed on this essential oil displayed a strong anti‐sickling activity at the concentration of 625 µg/mL.
Alternative and Sustainable Route to Explore a New Class of Amidines by Photochemical Synergistic Effect of Copper/Nitroxyl Radical Catalysis via Halogen‐Atom Transfer
Authors: Sivaraj Chandrasekaran , Gandhi Thirumanavelan
Published: January 2025

Amidines are a vital class of bioactive compounds and often necessitate multiple components for their synthesis. Therefore, exploring efficient and sustainable methodologies for their synthesis is indispensable. Herein, we disclose an alternative and greener method for synthesizing an unexplored new class of amidines through the photochemical synergistic effect of copper/nitroxyl radical catalysis. This approach facilitates site‐selective radical amination of unactivated imine C(sp2)−H bond in C,N,N‐cyclic imines over favored selectivity via halogen‐atom transfer (XAT). This greener method ticks 11 out of 12 green chemistry metrics (GCM), effectively sidestepping the need for oxidants, bases, ligands, multistep processes, and harsh conditions, distinguishing it from conventional methods described in previous studies. Kinetic, spectroscopic, and computational tools have been employed to elucidate the synergistic effect of Cu/nitroxyl radical, the role of light, XAT, the influence of substituents, and the order of the reaction in the catalytic cycle.
Patient‐reported outcomes in Chinese patients with chronic myeloid leukemia receiving olverembatinib: Quality of life matters!
Authors: Eşkazan Ahmet Emre
Published: January 2025

Because patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase live longer in the era of tyrosine kinase inhibitors, evaluating health‐related quality of life, especially by patient‐reported outcome measures, plays an important role in the management of their disease. Although more comparative data are still needed, this study demonstrated that olverembatinib therapy improved health‐related quality of life significantly over time in heavily treated patients with chronic myeloid leukemia.
α/β Conflicting Aromaticity Under the Microscope: Study of Pro‐Aromatic Radicals
Authors: Lago‐Saavedra Raúl , Pérez‐Juste Ignacio , Mandado Marcos
Published: January 2025

The aromaticity of a representative sample of pro‐aromatic radicals and its nitro, amino, hydroxyl and imine substituted derivatives has been analysed by means of multicenter delocalization indices (MCI) and nuclear‐independent chemical shifts (NICS). Because of their radical character, these compounds may exhibit conflicting α/β aromaticity, so that the contribution of α and β electrons to the MCI and NICS has been analysed separately and their values qualitatively interpreted in terms of the 2n+1/2n rule. All the monocyclic radicals investigated show conflicting α/β aromaticity. Thus, significant MCI values have been found for one of the spin components, whereas negligible values, even slightly negative, have been obtained for the other spin component. NICS indices confirm the aromatic character reflected by the MCIs and clearly show the antiaromatic or non‐aromatic character of the other spin components. The same has been found for the donor rings of the bicyclic pro‐aromatic radicals investigated, whereas all the fused benzene rings of these radicals show a clear aromatic character in both spin components. Substitutions at the donor carbon position by strong deactivating groups provoke a small increase of the aromatic character in the aromatic spin components and a significant decrease of the antiaromatic character in the antiaromatic spin components whereas activating groups have little effect.
Revealing the Surface Reconstruction on the High OER Catalytic Activity of Ni3S2
Authors: Ou Wen , Liu Donghua , Ye Xin , Cui Ningyi , Zhou Yecheng
Published: January 2025

Sluggish oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a crucial part of water splitting and solar fuel generation, which limits their utilization. Ni3S2 is a promising OER catalyst, in which surface reconstruction is an important step to improve performance. In this study, DFT calculations were employed to investigate the effect of surface reconstruction on (001), (110), and (101) surfaces of Ni3S2 in alkaline OER. According to the Pourbaix diagram and surface free energy landscape, Ni3S2 is prone to transform into Ni oxides and (oxy) hydroxides under alkaline OER conditions. This process induces exposed S atoms to leach and O from the electrolyte to incorporate S sites, thereby lowering the Bader charge of *O and increasing
, and then decrease
, the free energy penalty of the potential determining step. In general, the surface reconstruction enhances the OER activity through S leaching and adjusting the coordination environment. We believe this work not only provides insights into the clarification of surface reconstruction, but also provides a valuable guideline for the further discovery of efficient TM‐based sulfides.
Low Latency Multikernel Polar Codes Using Approximate Processing Element
Authors: Nandini Jali , Muralidhar Pullakandam , Sreehari Rao Patri
Published: January 2025

Polar codes have become increasingly popular over the last few years and are currently adopted for the control channels in 5G wireless communication systems. However, the traditional polar codes use a (2  2) binary kernel, which limits codeword lengths to powers of 2. Multikernel polar codes were proposed to provide flexibility in terms of codeword lengths and are decoded using a successive cancellation (SC) decoder. This work presents the architecture of a low‐latency SC decoder based on an approximate technique, decoding 3 bits in a single clock cycle at the final stage. The processing elements of the decoder are synthesized using the Synopsys design compiler in CMOS 32‐nm technology. The processing element shows an average reduction of 53% in the area and 66.5% power savings. The proposed decoder's architecture is validated by FPGA implementation for a codeword length (768,384) and a code rate of 0.5. The proposed architecture demonstrates an effective hardware reduction technique with a significant decrease in the average latency of 51% and a minimal degradation in error performance, making it suitable for video broadcasting applications in 5G communications.
Peroral endoscopic myotomy for complex achalasia and the POEM difficulty score: An update
Authors: Ching Hui Yee Carmen , Youssef Michael , Woo Matthew , Bechara Robert
Published: January 2025

Objectives

We present an update on the (peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) difficulty score [PDS] by introducing a novel knife with waterjet functionality.

Methods

This is a retrospective review of patients who underwent POEM between May 2018 and July 2023 at the Kingston Health Sciences Center. Demographic and procedural variables were compared using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results

One hundred thirty‐nine consecutive POEMs were included in the study. Seventy‐four (56.7% male; aged 56.7 ± 16.5 years) complex achalasia (CA) and 65 (55.4% female; aged 47.3 ± 20.2 years) non‐CA POEM procedures were performed. PDS correlates moderately with procedural efficiency with a correlation coefficient of 0.595 (Spearman's p < 0.001). The mean efficiency for non‐CA was 3.3 ± 1.2 min/cm compared to CA as follows: type III 3.3 ± 1.3 min/cm; prior myotomy 5.3 ± 2.3 min/cm; ≧4 prior procedures 4.0 ± 1.7 min/cm; sigmoid type 5.2 ± 2.4 min/cm. The median PDS for non‐CA was 1 (1–5). In comparison, the median PDS for CA is as follows: type III 3 (2–4); prior myotomy 4 (3–5); ≧4 prior procedures 3 (1.25–4); sigmoid type 3 (2–4). PDS excluding the presence of spastic contractions correlated better with procedural velocity, with a correlation coefficient of 0.645 (Spearman's p < 0.001).

Conclusions

PDS continues to moderately correlate with procedural efficiency using the novel knife. The presence of spastic contractions correlated poorly with procedural efficiency. Thus, it may be omitted in further studies.
Caregiver–Youth Agreement on the Nine‐Item Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder Survey
Authors: Carmody Julia , Milliren Carly E. , Richmond Tracy K. , Crowley McGreggor , Eldredge Olivia , Jhe Grace B. , Freizinger Melissa , Bern Elana M.
Published: January 2025

Background

Patient and caregiver perspectives are critical in the evaluation of avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID); however, little is understood about how caregiver and youth perceptions may differ. This study compared caregiver and youth reports among pediatric patients from an outpatient ARFID program.

Methods

Patients (217 individuals with ARFID, aged 8–17) and their caregivers completed the Nine‐Item ARFID Screen (NIAS), a screening tool with parallel youth and caregiver report forms. The NIAS measures ARFID symptomatology across three presentations: sensory‐based selectivity (Picky Eating), low appetite/lack of interest in eating (Appetite), and fear of aversive consequences (Fear). Patient and caregiver NIAS scores were compared using t tests, and agreement was assessed via Pearson correlations. We examined the unadjusted bivariate association between patient age and caregiver–patient agreement.

Results

Patient mean age was 12.9 (SD = 2.5) and the majority were male (57.1%) and White, non‐Hispanic (68.2%) and with private insurance (88.0%). Caregivers reported higher ARFID symptomatology than patients themselves. Using caregiver scores compared to patients, a larger percentage was classified as all three presentations (23.5% vs. 11.5%) or combined selectivity and appetite (46.0% vs. 31.8%). Caregiver scores were higher on average regardless of patient age.

Discussion

Results support obtaining both patient and caregiver reports whenever possible. Each perspective, as well as areas of discordance, may inform additional evaluation and treatment planning.
Biogeographic Insights Into the Late Miocene Diversification of the Giant Deep‐Ocean Amphipod Eurythenes
Authors: González Carolina E. , Weston Johanna N. J. , Rivera Reinaldo , Oliva Marcelo , Escribano Rubén , Ulloa Osvaldo
Published: January 2025

Mechanisms driving the spatial and temporal patterns of species distribution in the Earth's largest habitat, the deep ocean, remain largely enigmatic. The late Miocene to the Pliocene (~23–2.58 Ma) is a period that was marked by significant geological, climatic, and oceanographic changes. This transitional period spurred widespread species diversification, particularly among widely distributed benthic scavengers, such as amphipods. Here, we take step toward understanding the long‐term evolutionary processes of amphipod colonization and diversification in the deep ocean by focusing on the model genus Eurythenes S. I. Smith in Scudder, 1882. These large‐bodied scavengers play key roles in benthic communities. We constructed a time‐calibrated phylogeny using two mitochondrial DNA genes by analyzing publicly available data on 14 species of Eurythenes across a global depth range from 839 to 8081 m. The resulting phylogenetic tree reveals a diverse clade, with a common ancestor originating around 11.81 Ma. A gradual increase in the effective population size of Eurythenes was observed, particularly during the Pliocene (~4 Ma). The net diversification rate remained almost constant, with slight increases between the Miocene and Pliocene (~8–4 Ma), and most new species appeared during the latter period. Additionally, reconstruction of the ancestral area suggested that the common ancestor of Eurythenes had a global distribution. A combination of dispersal and sympatric processes, along with environmental factors, such as changes in ocean temperature and sea level, contributed to the present biogeographic distribution of these species. Our findings highlight the importance of historical events, such as plate tectonics and changes in deep‐water circulation, in driving the rapid speciation of Eurythenes and underscore their essential role in shaping deep‐ocean biodiversity.
Maximizing Identification Precision of Hymenoptera and Brachycera (Diptera) With a Non‐Destructive DNA Metabarcoding Approach
Authors: Kilian Isabel C. , Kirse Ameli , Peters Ralph S. , Bourlat Sarah J. , Fonseca Vera G. , Wägele Wolfgang J. , Hamm Andrée , Mengual Ximo
Published: January 2025

In recent years, DNA metabarcoding has been used for a more efficient assessment of bulk samples. However, there remains a paucity of studies examining potential disparities in species identification methodologies. Here, we explore the outcomes of diverse clustering and filtering techniques on data from a non‐destructive metabarcoding approach, compared to species‐level morphological identification of Brachycera (Diptera) and Hymenoptera of two bulk samples collected with Malaise traps. The study evaluated four distinct approaches, namely clustering to Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs) or ASVs clustered to Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) coupled with subsequent filtering using the LULU algorithm at 84% and 96% minimum match. In total, 114 species of Brachycera (35 families) and 85 species of Hymenoptera (27 families) were identified morphologically. Depending on the selected approach, DNA metabarcoding results strongly varied in terms of detected molecular units blasted to brachyceran and hymenopteran species. For Brachycera, ASVs clustered into OTUs followed by LULU using a 96% minimum match (OTU96) inferred the number of molecular units closest to the number of morphologically identified species. Using Syrphidae as an exemplary family, we found an overlap ranging from 9% to 81% between the morphological identification and the different clustering and filtering approaches, OTU96 being also here the closest one. For Hymenoptera, while OTU96 also yielded the highest number of molecular units, it was still considerably low compared to the number of morphologically identified species. Our results show that metabarcoding methodology needs to be significantly improved to be applied to Hymenoptera. Conversely, for Brachycera, we acknowledge the promise of employing a non‐destructive metabarcoding approach, incorporating ASV clustering into OTUs and filtering with LULU, to derive dependable species lists. Such lists hold significant potential for applications in biomonitoring, conservation efforts, and other related fields.