bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Regulation of Ca‐sensitive inactivation of a l‐type Ca2+ channel by specific domains of β subunits
Authors: Cens Thierry , Restituito Sophie , Charnet Pierre
Published: July 2002

Ca2+ channel auxiliary β subunits have been shown to modulate voltage‐dependent inactivation of various types of Ca2+ channels. The β1 and β2 subunits, that are differentially expressed with the L‐type α1 Ca2+ channel subunit in heart, muscle and brain, can specifically modulate the Ca2+‐dependent inactivation kinetics. Their expression in Xenopus oocytes with the α1C subunit leads, in both cases, to biphasic Ca2+ current decays, the second phase being markedly slowed by expression of the β2 subunit. Using a series of β subunit deletion mutants and chimeric constructs of β1 and β2 subunits, we show that the inhibitory site located on the amino‐terminal region of the β2a subunit is the major element of this regulation. These results thus suggest that different splice variants of the β2 subunit can modulate, in a specific way, the Ca2+ entry through L‐type Ca2+ channels in different brain or heart regions.
The cDNA cloning of human placental ecto‐ATP diphosphohydrolases I and II1
Authors: Matsumoto Masanori , Sakurai Yoshihiko , Kokubo Tetsuro , Yagi Hideo , Makita Kaori , Matsui Taei , Titani Koiti , Fujimura Yoshihiro , Narita Nobuhiro
Published: July 2002

The cDNA clones of two isoforms (enzymes I and II) of human placental ecto‐ATP diphosphohydrolases have been isolated based on the N‐terminal amino acid (aa) sequence of the immunopurified 82 kDa protein and characterized. The cDNA clone encoding enzyme I consists of 2081 nucleotides and the predicted enzyme I consists of 517 aa residues. Enzyme I has a 5′‐UTR and an N‐terminal 11 aa sequence that differ from CD39, but the rest of the sequence is the same as CD39. The hydropathy plot indicated that enzyme I has two hydrophobic regions near the N‐ and C‐termini of the molecule. In contrast, enzyme II consists of 1814 nucleotides and the predicted protein consists of 306 aa residues. The sequence of 1–1018 nucleotides of enzyme II is identical to that of enzyme I, but the 1019–1814 nucleotide sequence is different from both enzyme I and CD39. The hydropathy plot indicated that enzyme II has one hydrophobic region near the N‐terminus, suggesting that enzyme II is also anchored to the cell membrane. It is, however, likely that some of enzyme II exists as a soluble form in plasma, possibly after proteolytic processing.
A 22 kDa polyanion inhibits carnitine‐dependent fatty acid oxidation in rat liver mitochondria
Authors: Turkaly Peter , Kerner Janos , Hoppel Charles
Published: July 2002

The transport of activated fatty acids across the mitochondrial outer membrane has not been fully addressed. A polyanion (M
n=22 kDa) inhibited the ADP‐stimulated carnitine‐dependent oxidation of both palmitoyl‐CoA and palmitate plus CoA as well as mitochondrial hexokinase binding. In contrast, the oxidation of palmitoylcarnitine plus malate, as well as glutamate oxidation, was essentially unaffected. Mitochondrial carnitine palmitoyltransferase‐1 was not inhibited by the polyanion. The data suggest an additional component in carnitine‐dependent mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation, possibly porin.
A Synechococcus leopoliensis SAUG 1402‐1 operon harboring the 1‐deoxyxylulose 5‐phosphate synthase gene and two additional open reading frames is functionally involved in the dimethylallyl diphosphate synthesis
Authors: Miller Barbara , Heuser Thomas , Zimmer Wolfgang
Published: July 2002

Experiments have been performed to prove the existence and the functionality of the novel mevalonate independent 1‐deoxyxylulose 5‐phosphate isoprenoid biosynthesis pathway in cyanobacteria. For this purpose, a segment of the 1‐deoxyxylulose 5‐phosphate synthase gene (dxs) was amplified from Synechococcus leopoliensis SAUG 1402‐1 DNA via PCR using oligonucleotides for conserved regions of dxs. Subsequent hybridization screening of a genomic cosmid library of S. leopoliensis with this segment has led to the identification of an 18.7 kbp segment of the S. leopoliensis genome on which a dxs homologous gene and two adjacent open reading frames organized in one operon could be localized by DNA sequencing. The three genes of the operon were separately expressed in Escherichia coli, proving that the identified cyanobacterial dxs is functionally involved in the formation of dimethylallyl diphosphate, one basic intermediate of isoprenoid biosynthesis.
The humanization of birth
Authors: Page L
Published: July 2002

The humanization of birth conference drew more than 2000 people from 26 countries. This article summarizes the conference. In much of the world women have learned to fear birth; this fear is represented by the increase in cesarean section rates seen in many countries. The humanization of birth may reduce this fear. Yet humanization is difficult to achieve in technocratic societies. It is important to recognize that safety and self‐fulfilling experiences are not contradictions, and that humanized birth is the safest approach.
Association of organizational factors with knowledge of effectiveness indicators and participation in corporate health and productivity management programs
Authors: Takahashi Hirosuke , Nagata Masako , Nagata Tomohisa , Mori Koji
Published: February 2021

Objectives

The working-age population is rapidly declining in Japan, so the government has adopted “health and productivity management” (HPM). This policy initiative aims to encourage corporations to view health promotion activities as an investment in their employees’ health. The objective of this study was to examine the association between organizational factors and knowledge of the organization’s effectiveness and program participation levels, and to understand the factors that affect effectiveness of corporations’ activities.

Methods

We used data from all corporations that completed the HPM Survey Sheets in 2018 (n = 1800). The explanatory variables were organizational factors: written company-wide policy, agenda item at management-level meetings, regular education for managers, and full-time occupational health staff. The outcome variables were knowledge of the corporation’s status on the effectiveness indicators (employees’ exercise habits, risk for high blood pressure, visiting hospital after a health examination, and long-term sickness absences) and rates of participation in four areas (health education, exercise program, dietary program, and influenza vaccination). The associations between organizational factors and knowledge on effectiveness indicators and rates of program participation were analyzed using multiple logistic regression analysis.

Results

All the organizational factors were related to knowledge of effectiveness indicators, but only some were associated with the program participation indicators in the model, including all explanatory variables.

Conclusion

Enhancing organizational factors may lead to improvement of HPM programs and higher program participation among employees in corporations.
Epigenetic and transcriptional analysis reveals a core transcriptional program conserved in clonal prostate cancer metastases
Authors: Severson Tesa M. , Zhu Yanyun , De Marzo Angelo M. , Jones Tracy , Simons Jonathan W. , Nelson William G. , Yegnasubramanian Srinivasan , Freedman Matthew L. , Wessels Lodewyk , Bergman Andries M. , Haffner Michael C. , Zwart Wilbert
Published: February 2021

The epigenomic regulation of transcriptional programs in metastatic prostate cancer is poorly understood. We studied the epigenomic landscape of prostate cancer drivers using transcriptional profiling and ChIP‐seq in four clonal metastatic tumors derived from a single prostate cancer patient. Our epigenomic analyses focused on androgen receptor (AR), which is a key oncogenic driver in prostate cancer, the AR pioneer factor FOXA1, chromatin insulator CCCTC‐Binding Factor, as well as for modified histones H3K27ac and H3K27me3. The vast majority of AR binding sites were shared among healthy prostate, primary prostate cancer, and metastatic tumor samples, signifying core AR‐driven transcriptional regulation within the prostate cell lineage. Genes associated with core AR‐binding events were significantly enriched for essential genes in prostate cancer cell proliferation. Remarkably, the metastasis‐specific active AR binding sites showed no differential transcriptional output, indicating a robust transcriptional program across metastatic samples. Combined, our data reveal a core transcriptional program in clonal metastatic prostate cancer, despite epigenomic differences in the AR cistrome.
An open chat with…Beáta Vertessy
Authors: Tsagakis Ioannis , Vertessy Beáta , Wright Duncan
Published: February 2021

As FEBS Open Bio approaches its 10th anniversary, we have decided it is an ideal time to give the members of our prestigious Editorial Board an opportunity to discuss their research, publishing, and the activities of FEBS in the virtual pages of the journal. This new interview series is being helmed by Professor Beata Vertessy, who has been on the FEBS Open Bio Editorial Board since 2013 and has recently been promoted to Senior Editor. As the organizer, she has agreed to give the inaugural interview.
Imhoffiella
Authors: Pinnaka Anil Kumar , Tanuku Naga Radha Srinivas
Published: February 2021

Im.hoff.i.el'la. N.L. fem. dim. n. Imhoffiella genus in honor of a German microbiologist,
Johannes
F. Imhoff, who has made a noteworthy contribution to our understanding of anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria.

Proteobacteria / Gammaproteobacteria / Chromatiales / Chromatiaceae / Imhoffiella

The genus
Imhoffiella
accommodates obligately anaerobic, phototrophic bacteria and does not grow in chemotrophic and fermentative modes. Cells of these phototrophs are Gram‐negative, anaerobic, motile, coccoid, which divide by binary fission, and they present singly or in diplococci. Cells have a single flagellum and vesicular‐type internal membranes. Possess bacteriochlorophyll
a
and carotenoids as photosynthetic pigments. Utilize reduced sulfur sources as electron donors during growth and deposit elemental sulfur intracellularly as small bright globules. Cells can photoassimilate organic substrates such as acetate, butyrate, lactate, succinate, glucose, glycerol, pyruvate, glycolate, casamino acids, and valerate in the presence of sulfide and bicarbonate. Growth factors are not required. They are mesophilic and halotolerant. The major fatty acids comprise C
16:0
, C
16:1
ω7
c
and/or iso‐C
15:0
2OH (summed feature 3), and C
18:1
ω7
c
. Known habitats are beach tidal water and marine aquaculture pond water.

DNA G + C content (mol%)
: 63.1–65.5 (
T
m
).

Type species
:
Imhoffiella purpurea
Nupur et al. 2017
VP
.
Thaumasiovibrio
Authors: Sawabe Tomoo , Amin A.K.M. Rohul , Mino Sayaka
Published: February 2021

Thau.ma.si.o.vi'bri.o. Gr. masc. adj.
thaumasios
, unusual, unique; N.L. masc. n.
vibrio
, a motile bacterium; N.L. masc. n.
Thaumasiovibrio
, an unusual bacterium.

Proteobacteria / Gammaproteobacteria / Vibrionales / Vibrionaceae / Thaumasiovibrio

The genus
Thaumasiovibrio
is consists of Gram‐negative, facultatively anaerobic, and motile rods. Currently two species,
Thaumasiovibrio occultus
and
Thaumasiovibrio subtropicus
, belong to the genus. Sodium ions are essential for growth. No endospores are formed. A single polar flagellum is observed when cultivated on solidified and/or liquid media. No swarming is observed. Green colonies are observed on TCBS. Growth is in 1–3% NaCl broth. Tests negative for lysine decarboxylase, arginine dihydrolase, and ornithine decarboxylase. Catalase, acetoin, and indole productions are negative. Susceptible to the vibriostatic agent O/129 (150 μg/disc). The phenotypic characterization is not so different from the typical
Vibrionaceae
strains, but all aspects of phylogenetic (16S rRNA phylogeny and MLSA) and genetic (ANI,
in silico
DDH, AAI, and the number of core genes) cohesions between the two identified species were high enough to propose them as members of a new genus within the family
Vibrionaceae
. They were isolated from the seawater of Ishigaki and Iriomote coral reefs. The DNA G + C content is 47.2–49.4%. These genomes consist of two chromosomes, and a plasmidlike assembly is completed in
T. subtropicus
. The estimated genome sizes based on these complete genome sequences are 4,502,138 and 5,557,717 bp for
T. occultus
and
T. subtropicus
, respectively.

DNA G + C content (%)
: 47.2–49.4 (genome).

Type species
:
Thaumasiovibrio occultus
Amin et al. 2017, VL181.
Nutritional supplementation in the treatment of violent and aggressive behavior: A systematic review
Authors: Qureshi Fahad M. , Kunaratnam Nirsan , Kolla Nathan J. , Konkolÿ Thege Barna
Published: February 2021

Aggression in correctional and psychiatric settings is relatively common and has a negative effect on physical and mental health both among inmates/clients and staff, as well as organizational‐level functioning. The aim of the present study was to critically review the evidence on the effectiveness of nutritional supplements in reducing aggression and violence to contribute to a better understanding of options available for managing aggressive behaviors in adults. The EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, and PubMed databases were searched for effectiveness studies published in English anytime up until March 2020. Study quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Altogether, 14 studies met inclusion criteria; 2 investigated micronutrients, 10 examined macronutrients, while further 2 examined a combination of micro and macronutrients. Out of the 14 studies, 5 reported a beneficial effect of nutritional supplementation (omega‐3 fatty acids, vitamins/minerals, S‐adenosyl‐l‐methionine, or tryptophan). Five studies did not report a significant beneficial effect of nutritional supplementation (omega‐3 fatty acids, folic acid, tryptophan, broad range supplement containing vitamins and fatty acids, and fatty acids in augmentation with valproic acid), while four studies reported mixed effects (on l‐tryptophan, broad‐range micronutrient formula, folic acid, and omega‐3 fatty acids). The results overall indicated that research in this area is in its infancy: very few studies examined the same composition of nutritional supplementation and when they did so the results were contradictory. The methodological shortcoming of existing studies and directions for future research are discussed to facilitate high‐quality research in this evolving area of nutritional psychiatry.
Mitochondrial morphology and MAVS‐IFN1 signaling pathway in muscles of anti‐MDA5 dermatomyositis
Authors: Jiang Yanyan , Liu Yilin , Zhao Yawen , Zheng Yiming , Yu Meng , Deng Jianwen , Hao Hongjun , Zhang Wei , Wang Zhaoxia , Yuan Yun
Published: February 2021

Objective

This study aimed to investigate mitochondrial changes and the mitochondrial antiviral‐signaling protein (MAVS)‐type I interferon (IFN1) signaling pathway in the muscles of anti‐melanoma differentiation gene 5(MDA5) dermatomyositis (DM) patients.

Methods

Eleven anti‐MDA5 DM and ten antibody‐negative DM patients were included. Muscle biopsies were performed in all patients. Muscle pathology and mitochondrial morphology in particular were compared between two groups. The expression of MDA5, MAVS, interferon (IFN) regulatory factor 7, and IFN‐stimulated gene 15, which are components of the MAVS‐IFN1 signaling pathway, was measured in muscle specimen. The correlation between MAVS expression in muscles and disease phenotypes and muscle pathology were analyzed.

Results

Anti‐MDA5 DM showed a significantly lower incidence of the characteristic DM pathology (P < 0.05) than antibody‐negative DM, including perifascicular fiber atrophy, inflammation, and vasculopathy. Mitochondrial abnormalities in anti‐MDA5 patients revealed a high incidence of (8/11,72.7%) and different pattern from that in antibody‐negative DM. MDA5, MAVS, IFN regulatory factor 7, and IFN stimulated gene 15 expression levels in the muscles of anti‐MDA5 DM patients were higher than those of the controls (P < 0.05) but lower than those of antibody‐negative DM patients (P < 0.05). The MAVS levels negatively correlated with manual muscle test 8 scores (r = 0.701, P = 0.016).

Conclusions

Compared to antibody‐negative DM, we presented a different distribution of the mitochondrial pathology and less severe morphology in anti‐MDA5 DM. We also revealed the enhanced but less intensive MAVS‐IFN1 signaling pathway activity in muscles of anti‐MDA5 DM. Such disparity suggested the potentially different mechanism of muscle injury in two DM groups.
Isotemporal Substitution of Time Between Sleep and Physical Activity: Associations With Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Hörnberg Kristina , Pomeroy Jeremy , Sandberg Camilla , Ångström Lars , Södergren Anna , Sundström Björn
Published: February 2021

Objective

We aimed to determine relationships between objectively measured nightly sleep, sedentary behavior (SB), light physical activity (LPA), and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) with risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Furthermore, we aimed to estimate consequences for these risk factors of theoretical displacements of 30 minutes per day in one behavior with the same duration of time in another.

Methods

This cross‐sectional study included 78 patients with early RA. Nightly sleep, SB, LPA, and MVPA were assessed by a combined heart rate and accelerometer monitor. Associations with risk factors for CVD were analyzed using linear regression models and consequences of reallocating time between the behaviors by isotemporal substitution modeling.

Results

Median (Q1‐Q3) nightly sleep duration was 4.6 (3.6‐5.8) hours. Adjusted for monitor wear time, age, and sex, 30‐minutes‐longer sleep duration was associated with favorable changes in the values β (95% confidence interval [CI]) for waist circumference by −2.2 (−3.5, −0.9) cm, body mass index (BMI) by −0.9 (−1.4, −0.4) kg/m2, body fat by −1.5 (−2.3, −0.8)%, fat‐free mass by 1.6 (0.8, 2.3)%, sleeping heart rate by −0.8 (−1.5, −0.1) beats per minute, and systolic blood pressure by −2.5 (−4.0, −1.0) mm Hg. Thirty‐minute decreases in SB, LPA, or MVPA replaced with increased sleep was associated with decreased android fat and lower systolic blood pressure levels. Replacement of SB or LPA with MVPA yielded lower BMIs.

Conclusion

Shorter sleep during the night is common among patients with early RA and is associated with adverse risk factors for CVD.
Postapproval Comparative Safety Study of Tofacitinib and Biological Disease‐Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs: 5‐Year Results from a United States–Based Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry
Authors: Kremer Joel M. , Bingham Clifton O. , Cappelli Laura C. , Greenberg Jeffrey D. , Madsen Ann M. , Geier Jamie , Rivas Jose L. , Onofrei Alina M. , Barr Christine J. , Pappas Dimitrios A. , Litman Heather J. , Dandreo Kimberly J. , Shapiro Andrea B. , Connell Carol A. , Kavanaugh Arthur
Published: February 2021

Objective

Tofacitinib is an oral Janus kinase inhibitor for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We compared 5‐year adverse event (AE) incidence rates (IRs) between patients initiating tofacitinib and those initiating new biological disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) within the United States (US) Corrona RA registry.

Methods

IRs (number of first events/100 patient‐years) of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), serious infection events (SIEs), herpes zoster (HZ), malignancies, and death were estimated among tofacitinib and bDMARD initiators, regardless of dose/schedule, between November 6, 2012 (US Food and Drug Administration tofacitinib approval), and July 31, 2018 (follow‐up through January 31, 2019). Propensity score (PS) methods were used to control for nonrandom prescribing practices. Hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated to compare rates using multivariable‐adjusted Cox regression. Different risk windows were used for acute (MACE, SIEs, HZ, and venous thromboembolic events [VTEs]) and long‐term (malignancy and death) events. VTEs were assessed descriptively.

Results

For MACE, SIEs, and HZ, 1999 (3152.1 patient‐years) and 8358 (12 869.4 years) tofacitinib and bDMARD initiators were included, respectively; for malignancy/death, 1999 (4505.6 patient‐years) and 6354 (16 670.8 patient‐years) initiators were included, respectively. AE rates were similar across cohorts, except for HZ, which was significantly higher with tofacitinib versus bDMARDs (PS‐trimmed adjusted HR 2.32; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.43‐3.75). There were 45 (zero serious) and 88 (five serious) HZ events with tofacitinib and bDMARDs, respectively. Sensitivity analyses demonstrated similar results. VTE IRs (95% CI) were 0.29 (0.13‐0.54) and 0.33 (0.24‐0.45) for tofacitinib and bDMARDs, respectively.

Conclusion

In this registry analysis, both cohorts had similar MACE, SIE, malignancy, death, and VTE rates; HZ rates were higher for tofacitinib initaitors than for bDMARD initiators.
Coupled Effect of Electronic Medical Record Modifications and Lean Six Sigma Methodology on Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease Activity Measurement and Treat‐to‐Target Outcomes
Authors: Bajaj Puneet , Kollipara Usha , Koganti Rama , Wang Dan (Claire) , Chennu Navreet , Bhat Deepa , Mutz Jacqueline , Willett Duwayne , Fish Jason , Karp David
Published: February 2021

Objective

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease activity assessment is critical for treatment decisions and treat to target (T2T) outcomes. Utilization of the electronic medical record (EMR) and techniques to improve the routine capture of disease activity measures in clinical practice are not well described. We leveraged a Lean Six Sigma (LSS) approach, a data‐driven five‐step process improvement and problem‐solving methodology, coupled with EMR modifications to evaluate improvement in disease activity documentation and patient outcomes.

Methods

A RA registry was established, and structured fields for Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data (RAPID3) and Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) were built in the EMR, along with a dashboard to display provider performance rates. An initial rapid‐cycle improvement intervention was launched, and subsequent LSS improvement cycles helped in standardization of clinic workflow, modifying provider behaviors, and motivating better documentation practices. Trends related to CDAI score categories were compared over time using run charts.

Results

Our project included 1322 patients with RA and 10 241 encounters between April 2016 and December 2019. Initially, RAPID3 completion rates increased from 16% to 50%, and CDAI from 15% to 44% from the RCI intervention. Post LSS intervention, the RAPID3 rate increased to more than 90% (sustained at 85%), and CDAI rate increased to more than 80% (sustained at 72%). The patients in the low disease/remission category increased from 54% to 66% (p < 0.001), and those in the high disease category decreased from 15% to 7% (p < 0.001), demonstrating improved T2T outcomes.

Conclusion

Combining EMR modifications with systems redesign utilizing LSS approach led to impressive and sustained improvement in disease activity documentation and T2T outcomes.
Medicaid Reentry Act will help get MAT to people leaving jail
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: February 2021

Last week, the Medicaid Reentry Act (H.R. 955/S. 285) was introduced in Congress The act would permit Medicaid to support essential health care for incarcerated individuals 30 days prior to release and upon reentry, providing for more coordinated care, which is especially important during the COVID‐19 pandemic.
Nanoscale 3D Electroforming by Template Pyrolysis
Authors: Gunderson Christopher , Rohbeck Nadia , Tranchant Maxime , Michler Johann , Philippe Laetitia
Published: February 2021

A novel approach is demonstrated that extends the resolution of 3D electroforming. Photoresist templates with complex 3D geometries are generated using two‐photon lithography are shrunken by a factor of ≈5 through pyrolysis. A key discovery is that pyrolysis at 500 °C, instead of the higher temperatures normally used for pyrolysis, still shrinks the template by a significant amount but keeps the template nonconductive. This shrunken template is used for electroforming, or template‐assisted electrodeposition, and then etched away to reveal complex 3D structures of pure metal (>99 at%) with linewidths below 200 nm. The versatility of the technique is demonstrated by fabricating octet truss nanolattices from either nanocrystalline gold or microcrystalline copper. In situ micromechanical tests are used as an analytical technique to reveal that these lattices have yield strengths of 325 and 190 MPa for the gold and copper, therefore verifying the fidelity of the architecture.
Low‐Cost Regulating Lithium Deposition Behaviors by Transition Metal Oxide Coating on Separator
Authors: Yan Jun , Liu Feng‐Quan , Gao Jian , Zhou Weidong , Huo Hong , Zhou Jian‐Jun , Li Lin
Published: February 2021

The application of lithium metal anode, despite being of the highest capacity, is hindered by low Coulombic efficiency (CE) and serious lithium dendrites formation. A strategy of transition metal oxides (TMOs) particles coated porous polypropylene (PP) separator is developed to regulate lithium deposition behaviors through in situ forming artificial solid electrolyte interface (SEI) passivating layers. By virtue of quite low solubilities of TMOs in the electrolyte, the concentration of TMOs in the electrolyte can be maintained at a constant and the dissolved TMOs can be reduced to produce Li2O and Mn particles, which not only function as lithium nucleating seeds but are also involved in the formation of the SEI layer. The sustainably existed trace of TMOs ensures the artificial SEI layer can be re‐healed once damaged by the volume expansion of lithium. With the help of one typical TMO of MnO coating on PP, an interesting dendrite‐free dual layer Li deposition is observed, which significantly improves the CE of Li||Cu cells and cycling life of Li||Li cells. Using MnO coated PP, ultra‐thin lithium films are deposited on copper foils with an in situ constructed SEI passivating layer, which exhibits a much improved cycling performance in liquid ether electrolyte and even better performance in gel polymer electrolyte.
Highly Boosted Reaction Kinetics in Carbon Dioxide Electroreduction by Surface‐Introduced Electronegative Dopants
Authors: Zheng Wanzhen , Wang Yu , Shuai Ling , Wang Xinyue , He Feng , Lei Chaojun , Li Zhongjian , Yang Bin , Lei Lecheng , Yuan Chris , Qiu Ming , Hou Yang , Feng Xinliang
Published: February 2021

Effectively improving the selectivity while reducing the overpotential over the electroreduction of CO2 (CO2ER) has been challenging. Herein, electronegative N atoms and coordinatively unsaturated NiN3 moieties co‐anchored carbon nanofiber (NiN3NCNFs) catalyst via an integrated electrospinning and carbonization strategy are reported. The catalyst exhibits a maximum CO Faradaic efficiency (F.E.) of 96.6%, an onset potential of −0.3 V, and a low Tafel slope of 71 mV dec−1 along with high stability over 100 h. Aberration corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray absorption spectroscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy identify the atomically dispersed NiN3 sites with Ni atom bonded by three pyridinic N atoms. The existence of abundant electronegative N dopants adjoin the NiN3 centers in NiN3NCNFs. Theoretical calculations reveal that both, the undercoordinated NiN3 centers and their first neighboring C atoms modified by extra N dopants, display the positive effect on boosting CO2 adsorption and water dissociation processes, thus accelerating the CO2ER kinetics process. Furthermore, a designed ZnCO2 battery with the cathode of NiN3NCNFs delivers a maximum power density of 1.05 mW cm−2 and CO F.E. of 96% during the discharge process, thus providing a promising approach to electric energy output and chemical conversion.
Haptic Perception, Mechanics, and Material Technologies for Virtual Reality
Authors: Biswas Shantonu , Visell Yon
Published: February 2021

Emerging virtual and augmented reality technologies can transform human activities in myriad domains, lending tangible, embodied form to digital data, services, and information. Haptic technologies will play a critical role in enabling human to touch and interact with the contents of these virtual environments. The immense variety of skilled manual tasks that humans perform in real environments are only possible through the coordination of touch sensation, perception, and movement that together comprise the haptic modality. Consequently, many research groups are vigorously investigating haptic technologies for virtual reality. A longstanding research goal in this area has been to create haptic interfaces that allow their users to touch and feel plausibly realistic virtual objects. In this progress report, the perspective on this unresolved research challenge is shared, guided by the observation that no technologies can even approximately match the capabilities of the human sense of touch. Factors that have it challenging to engineer haptic technologies for virtual reality, including the extraordinary spatial and temporal tactile acuity of the skin, and the complex interplay between continuum mechanics, haptic perception, and interaction are identified. The perspective on how these challenges may be overcome through convergent research on haptic perception, mechanics, electronics, and material technologies is presented.
Pulse Dynamics of Flexural Waves in Transformed Plates
Authors: Tang Kun , Xu Chenni , Guenneau Sébastien , Sebbah Patrick
Published: February 2021

Coordinate‐transformation‐inspired optical devices have been mostly examined in the continuous‐wave regime: the performance of an invisibility cloak, which has been demonstrated for monochromatic excitation, is likely to deteriorate for short pulses. Here, pulse dynamics of flexural waves propagating in transformed plates is investigated. A practical realization of a waveshifter and a rotator for flexural waves based on the coordinate transformation method is proposed. Time‐resolved measurements reveal how the waveshifter deviates a short pulse from its initial trajectory, with no reflection at the bend and no spatial and temporal distortion of the pulse. Extending the strategy to cylindrical coordinates, a wave rotator is designed. It is demonstrated experimentally how a pulsed plane wave is twisted inside the rotator, while its wavefront is recovered behind the rotator and the pulse shape is preserved, with no extra time delay. The realization of the dynamical mirage effect is proposed, where an obstacle appears oriented in a deceptive direction.
3D Printing and Nanotechnology: A Multiscale Alliance in Personalized Medicine
Authors: dos Santos Juliana , de Oliveira Rafaela S. , de Oliveira Thayse V. , Velho Maiara C. , Konrad Martina V. , da Silva Guilherme S. , Deon Monique , Beck Ruy C. R.
Published: February 2021

3D printing and nanotechnology have been two important tools in the development of therapeutic approaches for personalized medicine. More recently, their alliance has been improved in an effort to build innovative, versatile, multifunctional, and/or smart medical and pharmaceutical products. Therefore, an extensive review about scientific studies that ally 3D printing and nanomaterials in the development of new approaches for pharmaceutical and medical applications for the treatment and prevention of diseases is presented here. The articles are classified into five categories according to their main application: Cell growth and tissue engineering, antimicrobial, drug delivery, stimulus‐response, and theranostics. Semisolid extrusion, inorganic nanoparticles, and cell growth and tissue engineering are the most reported 3D printing technique, type of nanomaterial, and application, respectively. The increase in papers dedicated to these areas is also notable, especially in the 2019 and 2020, when semisolid extrusion became the most used technique, overcoming fused deposition modelling. In fact, this review highlights that the possibility of an alliance between 3D printing and nanotechnology for the production of multiscale materials is undoubtedly a great opportunity for knowledge and innovation in the pharmaceutical and medical area.
Flexible High‐Performance and Solution‐Processed Organic Photovoltaics with Robust Mechanical Stability
Authors: Sun Yanna , Meng Lingxian , Wan Xiangjian , Guo Ziqi , Ke Xin , Sun Zhenhe , Zhao Kai , Zhang Hongtao , Li Chenxi , Chen Yongsheng
Published: February 2021

Among the various advantages of organic photovoltaics (OPVs), the key one is their ability to be a highly flexible renewable energy source. However, the power conversion efficiencies for flexible OPV devices still lag behind those of their rigid counterparts, and their mechanical stability cannot meet the requirements for practical applications at present. These, in particular, depend on flexible transparent electrodes (FTEs). Here, a high‐quality FTE (called FlexAgNE), with the simultaneously combined excellent characteristics, has been tested with a series of efficient active materials for flexible OPV devices, and high performance comparable with rigid counterparts has been achieved. In addition, due to the synergistic effect of FlexAgNE and the upper ZnO transport layer, including strong binding between the polyethylene terephthalate substrate and a hydrophilic polyelectrolyte (the key component of FlexAgNE), together with the capillary force effect of crossed silver nanowires and tight filling of ZnO, the flexible devices demonstrate robust mechanical stability even under extreme bending or folding conditions.
Metal Halide Perovskites for Laser Applications
Authors: Lei Lei , Dong Qi , Gundogdu Kenan , So Franky
Published: February 2021

Metal halide perovskites have drawn tremendous attention in optoelectronic applications owing to the rapid development in photovoltaic and light‐emitting diode devices. More recently, these materials are demonstrated as excellent gain media for laser applications due to their large absorption coefficient, low defect density, high charge carrier mobility, long carrier diffusion length, high photoluminescence quantum yield, and low Auger recombination rate. Despite the great progress in laser applications, the development of perovskite lasers is still in its infancy and the realization of electrically pumped lasers has not yet been demonstrated. To accelerate the development of perovskite‐based lasers, it is important to understand the fundamental photophysical characteristics of perovskite gain materials. Here, the structure and gain behavior in various perovskite materials are discussed. Then, the effects of charge carrier dynamics and electron–phonon interaction on population inversion in different types of perovskite materials are analyzed. Further, recent advances in perovskite‐based lasers are also highlighted. Finally, a perspective on perovskite material design is presented and the remaining challenges of perovskite lasers are discussed.
Graphene Enabled Low‐Noise Surface Chemistry for Multiplexed Sepsis Biomarker Detection in Whole Blood
Authors: Zupančič Uroš , Jolly Pawan , Estrela Pedro , Moschou Despina , Ingber Donald E.
Published: February 2021

Affinity‐based electrochemical (EC) sensors offer a potentially valuable approach for point‐of‐care (POC) diagnostics applications, and for the detection of diseases, such as sepsis, that require simultaneous detection of multiple biomarkers, but their development has been hampered due to biological fouling and EC noise. Here, an EC sensor platform that enables detection of multiple sepsis biomarkers simultaneously by incorporating a nanocomposite coating composed of crosslinked bovine serum albumin containing a network of reduced graphene oxide nanoparticles that prevents biofouling while maintaining electroconductivity is described. Using nanocomposite coated planar gold electrodes, a sensitive procalcitonin (PCT) sensor is constructed and validated in undiluted serum, which produced an excellent correlation with a conventional ELISA (adjusted r2 = 0.95) using clinical samples. A single multiplexed platform containing sensors for three different sepsis biomarkers—PCT, C‐reactive protein, and pathogen‐associated molecular patterns—is also developed, which exhibits specific responses within the clinically significant range without any cross‐reactivity. This platform enables sensitive simultaneous EC detection of multiple analytes in human whole blood, and it can be applied to detect any target analyte with an appropriate antibody pair. Thus, this nanocomposite‐enabled EC sensor platform may offer a potentially valuable tool for development of a wide range of clinical POC diagnostics.
Emerging Opportunities for 2D Semiconductor/Ferroelectric Transistor‐Structure Devices
Authors: Luo Zheng‐Dong , Yang Ming‐Min , Liu Yang , Alexe Marin
Published: February 2021

Semiconductor technology, which is rapidly evolving, is poised to enter a new era for which revolutionary innovations are needed to address fundamental limitations on material and working principle level. 2D semiconductors inherently holding novel properties at the atomic limit show great promise to tackle challenges imposed by traditional bulk semiconductor materials. Synergistic combination of 2D semiconductors with functional ferroelectrics further offers new working principles, and is expected to deliver massively enhanced device performance for existing complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) technologies and add unprecedented applications for next‐generation electronics. Herein, recent demonstrations of novel device concepts based on 2D semiconductor/ferroelectric heterostructures are critically reviewed covering their working mechanisms, device construction, applications, and challenges. In particular, emerging opportunities of CMOS‐process‐compatible 2D semiconductor/ferroelectric transistor structure devices for the development of a rich variety of applications are discussed, including beyond‐Boltzmann transistors, nonvolatile memories, neuromorphic devices, and reconfigurable nanodevices such as p–n homojunctions and self‐powered photodetectors. It is concluded that 2D semiconductor/ferroelectric heterostructures, as an emergent heterogeneous platform, could drive many more exciting innovations for modern electronics, beyond the capability of ubiquitous silicon systems.
A Mechanically Robust and Versatile Liquid‐Free Ionic Conductive Elastomer
Authors: Yiming Burebi , Han Ying , Han Zilong , Zhang Xinning , Li Yang , Lian Weizhen , Zhang Mingqi , Yin Jun , Sun Taolin , Wu Ziliang , Li Tiefeng , Fu Jianzhong , Jia Zheng , Qu Shaoxing
Published: February 2021

Soft ionic conductors, such as hydrogels and ionogels, have enabled stretchable and transparent ionotronics, but they suffer from key limitations inherent to the liquid components, which may leak and evaporate. Here, novel liquid‐free ionic conductive elastomers (ICE) that are copolymer networks hosting lithium cations and associated anions via lithium bonds and hydrogen bonds are demonstrated, such that they are intrinsically immune from leakage and evaporation. The ICEs show extraordinary mechanical versatility including excellent stretchability, high strength and toughness, self‐healing, quick self‐recovery, and 3D‐printability. More intriguingly, the ICEs can defeat the conflict of strength versus toughness—a compromise well recognized in mechanics and material science—and simultaneously overcome the conflict between ionic conductivity and mechanical properties, which is common for ionogels. Several liquid‐free ionotronics based on the ICE are further developed, including resistive force sensors, multifunctional ionic skins, and triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs), which are not subject to limitations of previous gel‐based devices, such as leakage, evaporation, and weak hydrogel–elastomer interfaces. Also, the 3D printability of the ICEs is demonstrated by printing a series of structures with fine features. The findings offer promise for a variety of ionotronics requiring environmental stability and durability.
Operando Magnetometry Probing the Charge Storage Mechanism of CoO Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Li Hongsen , Hu Zhengqiang , Xia Qingtao , Zhang Hao , Li Zhaohui , Wang Huaizhi , Li Xiangkun , Zuo Fengkai , Zhang Fengling , Wang Xiaoxiong , Ye Wanneng , Li Qinghao , Long Yunze , Li Qiang , Yan Shishen , Liu Xiaosong , Zhang Xiaogang , Yu Guihua , Miao Guo‐Xing
Published: February 2021

Cobalt oxide (CoO) is a promising electrode for high‐energy‐density Li‐ion batteries (LIBs), where the charge storage is believed to take place solely during the electrochemical oxidation/reduction processes. However, this simple picture has been increasingly challenged by reported anomalously large storage capacities, indicating the existence of undiscovered extra charge reservoirs inside the system. Here, an advanced operando magnetometry technology is employed to monitor the magnetization variation of the CoO LIBs in real time and, in this particular system, it is clearly demonstrated that the anomalous capacity is associated with both the reversible formation of a spin capacitor and the growth of a polymeric film at low voltages. Furthermore, operando magnetometry provides direct evidence of the catalytic role of metallic Co in assisting the polymeric film formation. These critical findings help pave the way for better understanding of the charge storage mechanisms of transition‐metal oxides and further utilizing them to design novel electrode materials.
Electrolyte Design for In Situ Construction of Highly Zn2+‐Conductive Solid Electrolyte Interphase to Enable High‐Performance Aqueous Zn‐Ion Batteries under Practical Conditions
Authors: Zeng Xiaohui , Mao Jianfeng , Hao Junnan , Liu Jiatu , Liu Sailin , Wang Zhijie , Wang Yanyan , Zhang Shilin , Zheng Tian , Liu Jianwen , Rao Pinhua , Guo Zaiping
Published: February 2021

Rechargeable aqueous Zn‐ion batteries promise high capacity, low cost, high safety, and sustainability for large‐scale energy storage. The Zn metal anode, however, suffers from the dendrite growth and side reactions that are mainly due to the absence of an appropriate solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer. Herein, the in situ formation of a dense, stable, and highly Zn2+‐conductive SEI layer (hopeite) in aqueous Zn chemistry is demonstrated, by introducing Zn(H2PO4)2 salt into the electrolyte. The hopeite SEI (≈140 nm thickness) enables uniform and rapid Zn‐ion transport kinetics for dendrite‐free Zn deposition, and restrains the side reactions via isolating active Zn from the bulk electrolyte. Under practical testing conditions with an ultrathin Zn anode (10 µm), a low negative/positive capacity ratio (≈2.3), and a lean electrolyte (9 µL mAh−1), the Zn/V2O5 full cell retains 94.4% of its original capacity after 500 cycles. This work provides a simple yet practical solution to high‐performance aqueous battery technology via building in situ SEI layers.
In Vivo Three‐Photon Imaging of Lipids using Ultrabright Fluorogens with Aggregation‐Induced Emission
Authors: Wang Shaowei , Li Xueqi , Chong Suet Yen , Wang Xiaoyuan , Chen Huan , Chen Chengjian , Ng Lai Guan , Wang Jiong‐Wei , Liu Bin
Published: February 2021

Fluorescent probes capable of in vivo lipids labeling are highly desirable for studying lipid‐accumulation‐related metabolic diseases, such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, type‐2 diabetes, and atherosclerosis. However, most of the current lipid‐specific fluorophores cannot be used for in vivo labeling due to their strong hydrophobicity. Herein, organic dots from bright luminogens with aggregation‐induced emission (AIEgen) are developed for in vivo labeling and three‐photon fluorescence imaging of lipid‐rich tissues, such as fatty liver, atherosclerotic plaques in brain vasculatures, and carotid arteries. The organic dots show excellent stability in an aqueous medium with high targeting specificity to lipids and strong three‐photon fluorescence in the far‐red/near‐infrared (NIR) region under NIR‐II laser excitation, which enables efficient in vivo labeling and imaging of lipids in deep tissues. The study will inspire the development of lipid‐targeting fluorophores for in vivo applications.
Hydrogen Control of Double Exchange Interaction in La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 for Ionic–Electric–Magnetic Coupled Applications
Authors: Lee Jaehyun , Ha Youngkyoung , Lee Shinbuhm
Published: February 2021

The dynamic tuning of ion concentrations has attracted significant attention for creating versatile functionalities of materials, which are impossible to reach using classical control knobs. Despite these merits, the following fundamental questions remain: how do ions affect the electronic bandstructure, and how do ions simultaneously change the electrical and magnetic properties? Here, by annealing platinum‐dotted La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 films in hydrogen and argon at a lower temperature of 200 °C for several minutes, a reversible change in resistivity is achieved by three orders of magnitude with tailored ferromagnetic magnetization. The transition occurs through the tuning of the double exchange interaction, ascribed to an electron‐doping‐induced and/or a lattice‐expansion‐induced modulation, along with an increase in the hydrogen concentration. High reproducibility, long‐term stability, and multilevel linearity are appealing for ionic–electric–magnetic coupled applications.
Aryldiazonium Salts in Photoredox Catalysis – Recent Trends
Authors: Babu Sakamuri Sarath , Muthuraja P. , Yadav Pooja , Gopinath Purushothaman
Published: February 2021

Aryl diazonium salts are an important class of organic compounds that are now widely used as arylating agents in photoredox catalysis owing to their lower redox potential, broad substrate scope, and atom economy. They have successfully been used in many interesting organic transformations to introduce an aryl group. They serve as good alternatives for aryl halides and other aryl organometallic reagents primarily used as aryl group surrogates. New reactions using aryl diazonium salts are continually emerging, and in this review, we have highlighted some recent developments in photoredox arylations and their applications.

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Solution to Multiscale and Multiphysics Problems: A Phase‐Field Study of Fully Coupled Thermal‐Solute‐Convection Dendrite Growth
Authors: Zhang Ang , Jiang Bin , Guo Zhipeng , Du Jinglian , Wang Qigui , Pan Fusheng , Xiong Shoumei
Published: February 2021

Solidification process is a complex phase transition problem involving multiscale and multiphysical characteristics. To investigate the complex interaction, a high‐performance numerical scheme is developed to explore the thermal‐solute‐convection interaction during solidification. Al–Cu dendrite growth with the Lewis number ≈104 and Prandtl number ≈10−2 (or Schmidt number ≈102) is simulated and discussed. By constructing a multilevel data structure, this numerical scheme allows the time step magnified by 2–3 orders of magnitude in comparison with that for explicit methods. With the capacity of the acceleration strategy including parallel computing and adaptive mesh refinement, the computing efficiency can be further improved by 2–3 orders of magnitude. The combination of multilevel structure and acceleration strategy makes a problem of up to 109 uniform meshes much easier to handle. The coupled governing equations involving the multiscale and multiphysical characteristics are solved with high efficiency and high numerical stability, even when the solid fraction approaches 100%. Both single and multi‐dendrite growths are discussed to reveal the effect of the thermal‐solute‐convection interaction on the large‐scale 2D and 3D microstructure evolution. The presence of the liquid flow changes the distribution of both domain temperature and solute component, which changes dendrite morphology and growth dynamics.