bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A 2-hydroxybutyrate-mediated feedback loop regulates muscular fatigue
Authors: Wadsworth Brennan J , Leiwe Marina , Minogue Eleanor A , Cunha Pedro P , Engman Viktor , Brombach Carolin , Asvestis Christos , Sah-Teli Shiv K , Marklund Emilia , Koivunen Peppi , Ruas Jorge L , Rundqvist Helene , Lanner Johanna T , Johnson Randall S
Published: November 2023

Several metabolites have been shown to have independent and at times unexpected biological effects outside of their metabolic pathways. These include succinate, lactate, fumarate, and 2-hydroxyglutarate. 2-Hydroxybutyrate (2HB) is a byproduct of endogenous cysteine synthesis, produced during periods of cellular stress. 2HB rises acutely after exercise; it also rises during infection and is also chronically increased in a number of metabolic disorders. We show here that 2HB inhibits branched-chain aminotransferase enzymes, which in turn triggers a SIRT4-dependent shift in the compartmental abundance of protein ADP-ribosylation. The 2HB-induced decrease in nuclear protein ADP-ribosylation leads to a C/EBPβ-mediated transcriptional response in the branched-chain amino acid degradation pathway. This response to 2HB exposure leads to an improved oxidative capacity in vitro. We found that repeated injection with 2HB can replicate the improvement to oxidative capacity that occurs following exercise training. Together, we show that 2-HB regulates fundamental aspects of skeletal muscle metabolism.
Archaeal origin translation proofreader imparts multialdehyde stress tolerance to land plants
Authors: Kumar Pradeep , Roy Ankit , Mukul Shivapura Jagadeesha , Singh Avinash Kumar , Singh Dipesh Kumar , Nalli Aswan , Banerjee Pujaita , Babu Kandhalu Sagadevan Dinesh , Raman Bakthisaran , Kruparani Shobha P. , Siddiqi Imran , Sankaranarayanan Rajan
Published: November 2023

Land plants have developed intricate metabolic pathways which involve production of reactive aldehydes and its detoxification to survive harsh terrestrial environments. Aldehydes, being an integral part of carbon metabolism, energy generation and signalling pathways, are ingrained in plant physiology. Here, we show that physiologically abundantly produced aldehydes i.e., formaldehyde and methylglyoxal in addition to acetaldehyde, generate adducts with aminoacyl-tRNAs, a substrate for protein synthesis. Plants are unique in possessing two distinct chiral proofreading systems, D-aminoacyl-tRNA deacylase1 (DTD1) and DTD2, of bacterial and archaeal origins, respectively. Extensive biochemical analysis revealed that only archaeal DTD2 can remove the stable D-aminoacyl adducts on tRNA thereby shielding archaea and plants from these system-generated aldehydes. Using
Arabidopsis
as a model system, we have shown that the loss of DTD2 gene renders plants susceptible to these toxic aldehydes as they generate stable alkyl modification on D-aminoacyl-tRNAs, which are recycled only by DTD2. Bioinformatic analysis identifies the expansion of aldehyde metabolising repertoire in land plant ancestors which strongly correlates with the recruitment of archaeal DTD2. Finally, we demonstrate that the overexpression of DTD2 offers better protection against aldehydes than in wild-type
Arabidopsis
highlighting its role as a multi-aldehyde detoxifier that can be used as a transgenic crop development strategy.
Environmental dissemination of respiratory viruses: dynamic interdependencies of respiratory droplets, aerosols, aerial particulates, environmental surfaces, and contribution of viral re-aerosolization
Authors: Ijaz M. Khalid , Sattar Syed A. , Nims Raymond W. , Boone Stephanie A. , McKinney Julie , Gerba Charles P.
Published: November 2023

During the recent pandemic of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2), influential public health agencies such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have favored the view that SARS CoV-2 spreads predominantly via droplets. Many experts in aerobiology have openly opposed that stance, forcing a vigorous debate on the topic. In this review, we discuss the various proposed modes of viral transmission, stressing the interdependencies between droplet, aerosol, and fomite spread. Relative humidity and temperature prevailing determine the rates at which respiratory aerosols and droplets emitted from an expiratory event (sneezing, coughing, etc.) evaporate to form smaller droplets or aerosols, or experience hygroscopic growth. Gravitational settling of droplets may result in contamination of environmental surfaces (fomites). Depending upon human, animal and mechanical activities in the occupied space indoors, viruses deposited on environmental surfaces may be re-aerosolized (re-suspended) to contribute to aerosols, and can be conveyed on aerial particulate matter such as dust and allergens. The transmission of respiratory viruses may then best be viewed as resulting from dynamic virus spread from infected individuals to susceptible individuals by various physical states of active respiratory emissions, instead of the current paradigm that emphasizes separate dissemination by respiratory droplets, aerosols or by contaminated fomites. To achieve the optimum outcome in terms of risk mitigation and infection prevention and control (IPAC) during seasonal infection peaks, outbreaks, and pandemics, this holistic view emphasizes the importance of dealing with all interdependent transmission modalities, rather than focusing on one modality.
Assessment of genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationship of local coffee populations in southwestern Saudi Arabia using DNA barcoding
Authors: Khemira Habib , Mahdhi Mosbah , Afzal Muhammad , Oteef Mohammed D.Y. , Tounekti Taieb , AL-Faifi Zarraq , Alsolami Wail
Published: November 2023

The genetic diversity of local coffee populations is crucial to breed new varieties better adapted to the increasingly stressful environment due to climate change and evolving consumer preferences. Unfortunately, local coffee germplasm conservation and genetic assessment have not received much attention. Molecular tools offer substantial benefits in identifying and selecting new cultivars or clones suitable for sustainable commercial utilization. New annotation methods, such as chloroplast barcoding, are necessary to produce accurate and high-quality phylogenetic analyses. This study used DNA barcoding techniques to examine the genetic relationships among fifty-six accessions collected from the southwestern part of Saudi Arabia. PCR amplification and sequence characterization were used to investigate the effectiveness of four barcoding loci: atpB-rbcl, trnL-trnF, trnT-trnL, and trnL. The maximum nucleotide sites, nucleotide diversity, and an average number of nucleotide differences were recorded for atpB-rbcl, while trnT-trnL had the highest variable polymorphic sites, segregating sites, and haploid diversity. Among the four barcode loci, trnT-trnL recorded the highest singleton variable sites, while trnL recorded the highest parsimony information sites. Furthermore, the phylogenetic analysis clustered the Coffea arabica genotypes into four different groups, with three genotypes (KSA31, KSA38, and KSA46) found to be the most divergent genotypes standing alone in the cluster and remained apart during the analysis. The study demonstrates the presence of considerable diversity among coffee populations in Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, it also shows that DNA barcoding is an effective technique for identifying local coffee genotypes, with potential applications in coffee conservation and breeding efforts.
Knowledge of Farmers on Integrated Soil Fertility Management in Selected Areas of Mymensingh Sadar Upazila, Mymensingh District, Bangladesh
Authors: Akter Sharmin , Rahman Saifur , Sojib Md. Rayhan , Sheheli Shonia
Published: November 2023

A major global concern is the decline in soil fertility and the resulting reduction in crop yields in developing nations due to improper soil fertility management practices. Furthermore, to improve food security and environmental sustainability in farming systems, both the national and international communities acknowledge that an integrated approach to managing soil fertility is necessary. Considering the importance of soil fertility, the study aimed to assess farmers’ knowledge on farmers’ knowledge on integrated soil fertility management as well as identify the influential factors that may affect their knowledge along with figuring out the problems faced by the farmers in practicing integrated soil fertility management. Data were collected from three villages of Mymensingh sadar upazila (sub-district) under Mymensingh district purposively and analyzed using Multiple Linear Regression Models. Findings indicated that the majority (66.66%) of the non-FFS farmers were found to have a low level of knowledge on integrated soil fertility management whereas 60% of the FFS farmers had a higher level of integrated soil fertility and nutrient management knowledge. There are several factors that influence the knowledge of farmers on integrated soil fertility management. For the Non-FFS famers farm size, annual family income, and training; and for FFS farmers, exposure to extension media and training significantly influence the knowledge level of the farmers on integrated soil fertility management. Analysis shows that these factors explained 91% variation (for Non-FFS) and 89% variation (for FFS) in the farmers’ knowledge on integrated soil fertility management. There were notable differences between FFS and non-FFS farmers in terms of the problems they experienced while practicing integrated soil fertility management. In order to address the difficulties that non-FFS farmers face, a number of governmental and non-governmental organizations can actively work to raise farmers' awareness of and knowledge about integrated soil fertility management by putting appropriate policies in place. These include providing technical education, training, and group-based extension activities like Farmer Field School.
Non-Shannon Perspective on Channel Capacity for Binary Source Codes Using Weighted Conditional Entropy
Authors: Verma Rohit Kumar , Kumari Som
Published: November 2023

Discrete memory-free channels with a very low capacity are known as noisy channels. Our recent study has yielded some new insights into the channel capacity of noisy channels, which could prove useful in the development of mathematical models for these channels and other contexts.
Studies on Genetic Variability and Associations of Fruit and Shoot Borer Infestation for Yield Attributing Traits in Transgressive Segregating Populations of Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.)
Authors: Vinutha Patil S.  , Gangaprasad, S.  , Dushyantha Kumar B. M.
Published: November 2023

In the F2 generation of eggplants, resulting from the crosses between Bilichandubadane and Mullubadane in the F1 generation, a considerable level of variability was observed. These eggplant varieties, cultivated in an augmented design at ZARS Shimogga during the Kharif season of 2017, display numerous significant plant breeding characteristics and hold great potential for further improvement under varying growing conditions. The F2 investigation unveiled substantial diversity in nine quantitative traits. The strong correlation between the Genetic Coefficient of Variation (GCV) and Phenotypic Coefficient of Variation (PCV) values suggests that environmental factors have a relatively minor influence on the expression of these studied traits. Importantly, characteristics such as the number of fruits per plant, the number of primary branches, and the number of flowers per plant exhibited a substantial genetic contribution, as indicated by their high GCV and PCV values, in addition to significant broad sense heritability and genetic advancement. This implies that these traits are mainly governed by additive genes and can be effectively enhanced through selection without necessitating progeny testing. Furthermore, the high heritability values observed for most traits indicate considerable potential for improving yield and its components through selective breeding. Differences in mean values among the parent plants in various characteristics suggest the involvement of diverse parent plants in the crosses studied. Additionally, the F2 plants displayed superior performance in most traits compared to either of the parent plants, which can be attributed to the phenomenon of transgressive segregation.
Ranking of the Constraints Faced by the Khoya Producers in Production and Marketing of Khoya, in Almora District of Uttarakhand, India
Authors: Goswami Bhumika Giri , Singh H. N.
Published: November 2023

The Almora district in Uttarakhand is renowned for its roasted khoya, a processed milk product. Khoya is sourced from the rural areas surrounding Almora, and its production and marketing play a vital role in supporting the local economy. In light of this, a comprehensive study was conducted to assess and rank the challenges faced by khoya producers throughout the production and marketing processes.To conduct this study, various constraints were identified, and a sample of 200 khoya producers supplying their products to nearby markets was selected through a multistage sampling approach. These producers were personally interviewed to gather insights into their challenges. The study employed the Garrett ranking technique to determine the relative importance of these constraints in the khoya production and marketing context. The findings of the study revealed that in the production stage, the most significant challenges were a lack of knowledge concerning cattle disease symptoms with mean score of 58.16, high cost of feed for dairy animals, with mean score of 54.33. In the marketing stage, the primary constraints along with their mean scores included post-preparation losses (70.78), low prices obtained for khoya, (60.47) delayed payment (51.78), and ongoing storage issues (27.00). In light of these results, it is evident that there is an urgent need to improve veterinary services to address the issue of cattle disease symptoms, as well as to establish fair pricing mechanisms in the rural belts under consideration. These measures are essential to support and sustain the khoya industry and the livelihoods of the local producers.
Biochar, Vermicompost and Microorganisms an Organic Soil Amendment to Build the Soil Health and Enhance the Cotton Yield in Yavatmal and Amravati Districts of Maharashtra, India
Authors: Jadhav Sagar , Kote Raosaheb , Bedare Ganesh , Chetule Sachin
Published: November 2023

Cotton has been cultivated for over 6,000 years for various purposes, including food, fiber, and fuel. It is not only used in clothing, sheets, and towels, but also in the production of rope, paper, cooking oil, animal feed, packaging, and biofuels. Biochar has been identified as a potential tool for improving soil fertility, mitigating climate change, and serving as a long-term sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide. The application of biochar to soil indirectly improves soil health. Cotton is a significant cash crop grown extensively in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. A field experiment was conducted in the Yavatmal and Amravati districts of Maharashtra to assess the impact of biochar and vermicompost, along with biofertilizers on soil properties and cotton yield. The experiment consisted of two treatments: T1, which involved the recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF), and T2, which involved biochar @ 2.5 t ha-1 + vermicompost @ 2.5 t ha-1 + Azotobacter @ 5 L ha-1 along with RDF. Both treatments received the recommended dose of fertilizers for cotton (100:50:50 NPK Kg ha-1). The field experiment was conducted using a paired t-test and was replicated with 20 farmers, with each treatment applied to an area of 0.2 ha on each farmer's land.

The results indicated that the application of biochar @ 2.5 t ha-1 + vermicompost 2.5 t ha-1 + Azotobacter @ 5 L ha-1 along with the recommended dose of fertilizers @ 100:50:50 NPK Kg ha-1, significantly enhances the soil's water holding capacity, cation exchange capacity, organic carbon, available nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium content compared to the RDF treatment. Additionally, this treatment slightly decreases the soil's bulk density and increases its pH and electrical conductivity, although these effects were not statistically significant. Moreover, the application of biochar @ 2.5 t ha-1 + vermicompost 2.5 t ha-1 + Azotobacter @ 5 L ha-1 along with the recommended dose of fertilizers @ 100:50:50 NPK Kg ha-1 significantly boosts the yield of cotton. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that the combined application of biochar, vermicompost, and biofertilizers to cotton crops is crucial during the Kharif season to enhance soil health and maximize yield compared to the RDF treatment.
Assessment of the Post-Marketing “Drug Ineffective” Reports Received by the Saudi Vigilance System
Authors: Khabbaz Hana J. Al , Alsoaiby Talal A. , Alolayet Rayan I.
Published: November 2023

Aim: Drug Ineffective (DI) reports are Adverse Drug Events (ADE) important for post-marketing surveillance (PMS).  Currently drug safety information from the DI reports received by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) via the Saudi Vigilance System (SVS) is undetermined. The study aims to describe the DI reports received by the SVS from different stakeholders.

Methods: DI reports received by the SVS between January 2020 to December 2021 were retrieved and characterized based on patients’ demographics, reporter type and suspected drug type and group in comparison to non-DI reports. Potential determinants of the DI reports were screened to estimate odds ratios (OR) and the 95% confidence intervals (CI) for these reports.

Results: The total number of DI reports was 1885.  Adults constituted the major age group (67.6 %), and male gender dominated most DI reports (80.2%) compared to equal percentages of males and females in non-DI reports. Most of the DI reports were reported by pharmacists (68.9%), and the most frequently reported drugs associated with DI and non-DI reports were Metformin (16.3%) and Atorvastatin (5.30%) respectively. Adjustment of potential confounding variables showed that gender (AOR = 2.285, 95% CI = 1.921–2.719) and age (AOR = 1.005, 95% CI = 1.002– 1.007) were significantly associated with the DI reports.

Conclusion: DI reports were frequently associated with adult male patients, and were more frequently reported by pharmacists. Most of the DI reports did not indicate the seriousness criteria, and the most frequently reported drug associated with DI reports was Metformin.
DC Resistance Measurements in Multi‐Layer Additively Manufactured Yttrium Barium Copper Oxide Components
Authors: Coveney Arthur , Morrison Kelly , Engstrøm Daniel
Published: November 2023

Additive manufacturing can offer new methods to shape materials that are difficult or too brittle in nature to process traditionally. In this work the optimization of a linseed oil and ICP solvent based solution with 90 wt% solid loading of the high temperature superconducting material yttrium barium copper oxide (YBCO) for additive manufacturing is demonstrated. The post sintered, printed components are analysed using a combination of X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), magnetometry, and DC transport measurements. It is shown for the first time, for multilayer additively manufactured YBCO, direct DC transport measurements that indicate a current carrying percolative path with an upper transition temperature of 86.5 K.
Coordination Environment‐Mediated Different Heteroatomic Configuration from Doping Strategy for Enhancing Microwave Absorption
Authors: Tian Shaoyao , Sun Zhihao , Ding Han , Guo Zihao , Wang Peng , Qiu Yu , Du Benli , Bi Jingyu , Li Guangshen , Qian Lei
Published: November 2023

Heteroatom doping strategy, as a method to construct complex coordinated configurations, can effectively improve the microwave absorption (MA) performance. However, the correlation between coordination environment/configurations and MA remains ambiguous until now. Herein, S‐doped CoxP@C (S‐CoP@SC and S‐Co2P@SC) composites with 6 and 9 coordination environment are prepared by unsaturated S‐doping process. Alteration of the coordination environment resulted in a variety of S coordination configurations, which is used to regulate their proportions. Density functional theory indicated that multiple coordination configurations in S‐CoP@SC effectively improved charge transport characteristics and changed charge distribution, which enhanced the conductive and polarization loss. However, for the S‐Co2P@SC these coordination configurations reduced the Co2P metallicity, hindering the improvement of conductive loss. As a result, the minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of S‐CoP@SC reached −66.0 dB with effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 5.0 GHz, compared with the RLmin of CoP@C of −25.7 dB with EAB of 2.1 GHz. In contrast, S‐Co2P@SC only improved its RLmin from −30.3 dB (Co2P@C) to ‐56.6 dB with the low EAB of 2.8 GHz. This work revealed the relationship between coordination environments/configurations and MA performance and provided a novel perspective for the design of absorbers in the MA field at the atomic scale.
Alkoxythiophene‐Directed Fibrillization of Polymer Donor for Efficient Organic Solar Cells
Authors: Liu Chenhao , Fu Yiwei , Zhou Jinpeng , Wang Liang , Guo Chuanhang , Cheng Jingchao , Sun Wei , Chen Chen , Zhou Jing , Liu Dan , Li Wei , Wang Tao
Published: November 2023

Realizing fibrillar molecular framework is highly encouraged in organic solar cells (OSCs) due to the merit of efficient charge carrier transport. This is however mainly achieved via the chemical structural design of photovoltaic semiconductors. In this work, through the utilization of three alkoxythiophene additives, T‐2OMe, T‐OEH, and T‐2OEH, the intermolecular interactions among a series of BDT‐type polymer donors, i.e., PM6, D18, PBDB‐T, and PTB7‐Th, are tuned to self‐assemble into nanofibrils during solution casting. X‐ray technique and molecular dynamics simulation reveal that the alkoxythiophene with (2‐ethylhexyl)oxy (─OEH) chains can attach on the 2‐ethylhexyl (EH) chains of these polymer donors and promote their self‐assembly into 1D nanofibrils, in their neat films as well as photovoltaic blends with L8‐BO. By adapting these fibrillar polymer donors to construct pseudo‐bulk heterojunction (P‐BHJ) OSCs via layer‐by‐layer deposition, generally improved device performance is seen, with power conversion efficiencies enhanced from 18.2% to 19.2% (certified 18.96%) and from 17.9% to 18.7% for the PM6/L8‐BO and D18/L8‐BO devices, respectively. This work provides a physical approach to promote the fibrillar charge transport channels for efficient photovoltaics.
Non‐Polaritonic Effects in Cavity‐Modified Photochemistry
Authors: Thomas Philip A. , Tan Wai Jue , Kravets Vasyl G. , Grigorenko Alexander N. , Barnes William L.
Published: November 2023

Strong coupling of molecules to vacuum fields is widely reported to lead to modified chemical properties such as reaction rates. However, some recent attempts to reproduce infrared strong coupling results have not been successful, suggesting that factors other than strong coupling may sometimes be involved. In the first vacuum‐modified chemistry experiment, changes to a molecular photoisomerization process in the ultraviolet‐visible spectral range are attributed to strong coupling of the molecules to visible light. Here, this process is re‐examined, finding significant variations in photoisomerization rates consistent with the original work. However, there is no evidence that these changes need to be attributed to strong coupling. Instead, it is suggested that the photoisomerization rates involved are most strongly influenced by the absorption of ultraviolet radiation in the cavity. These results indicate that care must be taken to rule out non‐polaritonic effects before invoking strong coupling to explain any changes of properties arising in cavity‐based experiments.
The Synergetic Ionic and Electronic Features of MAPbI3 Perovskite Films Revealed by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy
Authors: Jha Sauraj , Haroldson Ross , Zakhidov Anvar A. , Slinker Jason D.
Published: November 2023

Perovskites have emerged as a forerunner of electronics research due to their vast potential for optoelectronic applications. The numerous combinations of constituent ions and the potential for doping of perovskites lead to a high demand to track the underlying electronic properties. Solution‐based electrochemistry is particularly promising for detailed and facile assessment of perovskites. Here, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) of methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3) thin films is performed and model them with an equivalent circuit that accounts for solvent, ionic, and thin film effects. A dielectric constant consistent with prior AC studies and a diffusion constant harmonious with cation motion in MAPbI3 are extracted. An electrical double layer thickness in the perovskite film of 54 nm is obtained, consistent with lithium doping in perovskite films. Comparing the EIS and equivalent circuit model of perovskite films to control ITO‐only data enabled the assignment of the ions at each interface. This comparison implied a double layer of primarily lithium ions inside the perovskite film at the solution interface with significant recombination of ions on the solution side of the interface. This demonstrates EIS as a powerful tool for studying the fundamental charge accumulation and transport processes in perovskite thin films.
Spiro[Acridine‐Indoloacridine] Donor Based TADF Emitter with Near‐Unity PLQY and Horizontal Dipole Orientation toward High‐Efficiency OLEDs with Low Efficiency Roll‐Off
Authors: Wu Yaxun , Li Nengquan , Ni Fan , Ning Weimin , Ying Ao , Zhang He , Gao Xiang , Gong Shaolong , Yang Chuluo
Published: November 2023

Designing thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitters with excellent photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY), preferential horizontal emitting dipole orientation (𝛩//), and fascinating ability to rapidly utilize both singlet and triplet excitons for radiation is crucial for high‐performance organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) with both high efficiency and relieved efficiency roll‐off. Integrating these advantages into a single TADF emitter is a formidable challenge. In this work, a spiro[acridine‐indoloacridine]‐based rigid donor, named AIA, is designed to establish a cooperatively long‐axis extended and conjugation expanded donor–acceptor type TADF emitter (AIA‐TRZ). The proof‐of‐the‐concept emitter simultaneously achieves an excellent PLQY of 99%, a near‐unity 𝛩// of 99%, and balanced excited state dynamic parameters. OLEDs based on AIA‐TRZ realize remarkable performance with an emission peak at around 480 nm, including doping concentration insensitivity, a maximum external quantum efficiency (EQEmax) of 37.3%, extremely low efficiency roll‐off, and over 20% EQE even at 14000 cd m−2.
Extremely Thin Perfect Absorber by Generalized Multipole Bianisotropic Effect
Authors: Ma Hao , Evlyukhin Andrey B. , Miroshnichenko Andrey E. , Zhu Fengjie , Duan Siyu , Wu Jingbo , Zhang Caihong , Chen Jian , Jin Biaobing , Padilla Willie J. , Fan Kebin
Published: November 2023

Symmetry breaking plays a crucial role in understanding the fundamental physics underlying numerous physical phenomena, including the electromagnetic response in resonators, giving rise to intriguing effects such as directional light scattering, supercavity lasing, and topologically protected states. This work demonstrates that adding a small fraction of lossy metal (as low as 1 × 10−6 in volume) to a lossless dielectric resonator breaks inversion symmetry (IS), thereby lifting its degeneracy, leading to a strong bianisotropic response. In the case of the metasurface composed of such resonators, this effect leads to unidirectional perfect absorption while maintaining nearly perfect reflection from the opposite direction. It has developed more general Onsager‐Casimir relations for the polarizabilities of particle arrays, taking into account the contributions of quadrupoles, which shows that bianisotropy is not solely due to dipoles, but also involves high‐order multipoles. The experimental validation demonstrates an extremely thin terahertz‐perfect absorber with a wavelength‐to‐thickness ratio of up to 25,000, where the material thickness is only 2% of the theoretical minimum thickness dictated by the fundamental limit. The findings can pave a new route to design devices for applications involving optical‐to‐heat conversion processes.
Metal‐Free Electrochemical [3+2] Cycloaddition between α‐Amino Carbonyls and Tosylmethyl Isocyanide en route to Substituted Imidazoles
Authors: Mallick Samrat , Baidya Mrinmay , De Sarkar Suman
Published: November 2023

The established strategy unveils a metal and mediator‐free electrochemical [3+2] cycloaddition approach among α‐amino carbonyls and tosylmethyl isocyanide (TosMIC) fabricating substituted imidazole scaffolds. Implementation of electro‐redox conditions on this cycloaddition approach eliminates the essential requirement of transition metal catalysts and chemical oxidants. A wide variety of different functionalities are well tolerated under this reaction condition, contributing to the substrate scope and applicability. Several control experiments and cyclic voltammetry studies suggest an electro‐oxidation triggered successive C−C and C−N bond formations followed by rapid aromatization for constructing the five‐membered core structure.
Recent Advances in Synthetic Methods for 2H‐Pyrroles
Authors: Choi Seoung‐Mi , Kim Ju Hyun
Published: November 2023

The compound, 2H‐pyrrole, is a key scaffold contained in natural products, bioactive compounds, pharmaceuticals, and organic functional materials. However, the development of efficient synthetic strategies for 2H‐pyrroles is challenging. This is because 2H‐pyrroles, owing to their nonaromatic nature, are easily converted into the thermodynamically more stable 1H‐pyrroles. Recently, efficient and straightforward synthetic strategies for 2H‐pyrroles have been developed, including the dearomatization of 1H‐pyrrole, oxidation of pyrrolines or pyrrolidines, ring construction via catalytic cycloaddition, and rearrangement of 3H‐pyrroles. In this review, we summarize the progress in the research on 2H‐pyrrole synthesis since 2000 and briefly discuss the synthesis reaction mechanisms.
Recent Advances in the 3 d‐Transition‐Metal‐Catalyzed Synthesis of Isoquinolines and its Derivatives
Authors: Maikhuri Vipin K. , Rawat Manish , Rawat Diwan S.
Published: November 2023

The preservation of scarce rare earth metals, such as palladium, rhodium, iridium, and others, poses a significant challenge for humanity due to their limited availability. These rare earth metals might be replaced by earth‐abundant 3d‐transition metals such as cobalt, manganese, iron, nickel, copper, etc. Isoquinolines have acquired an important position in synthetic organic chemistry as well as medicinal chemistry. They manifest in a diverse range of natural and synthetic molecules, serving as pivotal synthons for the synthesis of numerous bioactive compounds with notable medicinal significance. Numerous reports on the synthesis of isoquinoline derivatives via transition metal catalysis have been published worldwide. In this review, we summarize recent approaches for synthesizing various isoquinoline derivatives using 3d‐transition‐metal catalysts since 2020. The review has been divided into different 3d‐transition‐metal‐based catalysis. We expect that this review will bring a better overview of the present status of the significant progress made in the 3d‐transition‐metal‐based synthesis of isoquinolines and persuade more advancements and research in this area in the near future.
Cover crops, farm economics, and policy
Authors: Schnitkey Gary D. , Sellars Sarah C. , Gentry Laura F.
Published: November 2023

Cover crops have many environmental benefits, including nutrient sequestering, soil health improvements, carbon dioxide removal, and biodiversity increases. Yet, farmers often do not receive enough benefits to warrant planting cover crops, particularly when they have no prior experience with managing cover crops. Therefore, public policies supporting cover crop use may be justified because of the positive externalities of cover crops are greater than the social cost of cover crop programs. Current Federal programs do not provide enough funding to elicit large cover crop use. We present a Federal program designed to increase cover crop use.
Robust and Bifunctional Electrodeposited NiCoCr Ternary Alloy for Alkaline Water Electrolysis
Authors: Tourneur Jeoffrey , Lagrost Corinne , Fabre Bruno
Published: November 2023

Electrodeposited NiCoCr ternary alloy is explored as a cost‐effective and Earth‐abundant alternative electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline conditions. Different metal salt concentrations (between 10 and 100 mM) and cathodic current densities (between 75 and 225 mA cm−2) are tested to prepare an optimized material exhibiting both the best electrocatalytic efficiency and robustness for water splitting. Combining electrochemistry with complementary physicochemical characterizations (scanning electron microscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy analysis, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy) has enabled to gain a deep knowledge of the composition, morphology, and catalytic activity before and after long‐term electrolytic tests. Compared with the related NiCo and NiCr binary alloys, NiCoCr shows catalytic performance for HER similar to NiCr and higher than that of NiCo. In contrast, its catalytic activity for OER is quite comparable to that of NiCo and higher than that of NiCr. Importantly, the presence of Cr is found to be beneficial to increase the oxidation resistance of the ternary alloy. This work provides a scalable way to produce bifunctional and robust electrode materials.
Rapid and Low‐Carbon Emission Synthesis of Stable LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 Cathode for Li‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Wang Xijue , Pham Hong Duc , Padwal Chinmayee , Wang Tony , Fernando Joseph F. S. , Ostrikov Kostya (Ken) , Golberg Dmitri , Dubal Deepak
Published: November 2023

The surging adoption of lithium‐ion batteries, driven by diverse applications including electric vehicles, renewable energy storage, and portable electronics, has intensified the demand for high‐energy cathode materials. The existing methods to produce cathode materials typically include high‐temperature (>800 °C) sintering for a long period of time (>15 h), which are not only energy‐intensive but also significantly contribute to CO2 emissions. This investigation presents the ultrafast microwave solid‐state process to produce battery cathode materials by synthesizing high‐voltage LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 (LNMO). Benefiting from rapid direct heating with an ultrahigh heating rate (>50 °C), high‐purity and well‐defined LNMO crystals are produced in a much shorter time (2 h) as compared to the conventional heating methods (>15 h). It is revealed that microwave irradiations substantially accelerate the reaction kinetics and enhance the homogeneity of LNMO. The as‐synthesized LNMO cathode delivers an excellent discharge capacity of 137.96 mAh g−1 (at 0.05 C), and outstanding cycling stability (≈63% retention over 280 cycles). The in situ characterizations elucidate the charge kinetics, suggesting high structural stability of the LNMO cathode during the reversible intercalation of Li‐ions. These encouraging results pave the way toward the manufacturing of other oxide materials for energy storage and other applications using the rapid microwave method.
Copper‐Catalyzed Aminoazidation of Alkenes with NFC: One‐step Vicinal Functionalization for CuAAC and SuFEx Reactions
Authors: Kimura Hiroto , Aikawa Kohsuke , Hashimoto Takuya
Published: November 2023

CuAAC and SuFEx reactions are two major tools to connect molecules in click chemistry. An azide plays the pivotal role in the former, and a fluorosulfonyl group is the key functionality in the latter. While there are various synthetic methods to attach one of these two functionalities, the simultaneous attachment of both an azide and a fluorosulfonyl group to one molecule remains unexplored. We report the copper‐catalyzed aminoazidation of alkenes using neopentyl N‐fluoro‐N‐(fluorosulfonyl)carbamate (NFC), which incorporates an azide and a (fluorosulfonyl)amino group to an alkene in one step. Derivatization of a product via consecutive CuAAC and SuFEx reactions is also demonstrated, enabling rapid diversification of molecular structure.
In Situ Scattering Studies of Superconducting Vacancy‐Ordered Monoclinic TiO Thin Films
Authors: Baksi Merve , Hong Hawoong , Kumah Divine P.
Published: November 2023

The structural and transport properties of vacancy‐ordered monoclinic superconducting titanium oxide (TiO) thin films grown by molecular beam epitaxy are investigated. The evolution of the crystal structure during growth is monitored by in situ synchrotron X‐ray diffraction. Long‐range ordering of Ti and O vacancies in the disordered cubic phase stabilizes the vacancy‐ordered monoclinic TiO phase. The reduced structural disorder arising from vacancy‐ordering is correlated with a superconductor‐metal transition (SMT) in contrast to the superconductor‐insulator transition (SIT) observed in cubic TiO, orthorhombic Ti2O3, and the Magneli γ − Ti3O5 and γ − Ti4O7 phase. Magnetoresistance measurements for the SIT phases indicate superconducting fluctuations persisting in the normal phase. These results confirm the role of disorder related to Ti and O vacancies and structural inhomogeneity in determining the electronic properties of the normal state of titanium oxide‐based superconductors.
Quinoline‐based thiazolyl‐hydrazones target cancer cells through autophagy inhibition
Authors: Ćurčić Vladimir , Olszewski Mateusz , Maciejewska Natalia , Višnjevac Aleksandar , Srdić‐Rajić Tatjana , Dobričić Vladimir , García‐Sosa Alfonso T. , Kokanov Sanja B. , Araškov Jovana B. , Silvestri Romano , Schüle Roland , Jung Manfred , Nikolić Milan , Filipović Nenad R.
Published: November 2023

Heterocyclic pharmacophores such as thiazole and quinoline rings have a significant role in medicinal chemistry. They are considered privileged structures since they constitute several Food and Drug Administration (FDA)‐approved drugs for cancer treatment. Herein, we report the synthesis, in silico evaluation of the ADMET profiles, and in vitro investigation of the anticancer activity of a series of novel thiazolyl‐hydrazones based on the 8‐quinoline (1a–c), 2‐quinoline (2a–c), and 8‐hydroxy‐2‐quinolyl moiety (3a–c). The panel of several human cancer cell lines and the nontumorigenic human embryonic kidney cell line HEK‐293 were used to evaluate the compound‐mediated in vitro anticancer activities, leading to [2‐(2‐(quinolyl‐8‐ol‐2‐ylmethylene)hydrazinyl)]‐4‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)‐1,3‐thiazole (3c) as the most promising compound. The study revealed that 3c blocks the cell‐cycle progression of a human colon cancer cell line (HCT‐116) in the S phase and induces DNA double‐strand breaks. Also, our findings demonstrate that 3c accumulates in lysosomes, ultimately leading to the cell death of the hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (Hep‐G2) and HCT‐116 cells, by the mechanism of autophagy inhibition.
Programmed Death Ligand 1–Expressing Macrophages and Their Protective Role in the Joint During Arthritis
Authors: Wood Megan Kay , Daoud Abdel , Talor Monica Vladut , Kalinoski Hannah Maryam , Hughes David Matthew , Jaime Camille Marie , Hooper Jody Elizabeth , Won Taejoon , Čiháková Daniela
Published: November 2023

Objective

Arthritis associated with immune checkpoint inhibitor therapies highlights the importance of immune checkpoint expression for joint homeostasis. We investigated the role of programmed death ligand (PD‐L) 1 in the synovium using a collagen‐induced arthritis (CIA) mouse model.

Methods

We blocked PD‐L1 using blocking antibodies during CIA and assessed the arthritis severity by clinical and histologic scoring. PD‐L1 expression and the origin of synovial macrophages were investigated using flow cytometry and parabiosis. We used Cre‐Lox mice to ascertain the protective role of PD‐L1–expressing macrophages in arthritis. The immune profile of human and murine synovial PD‐L1+ macrophages was determined by reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction, flow cytometry, and single‐cell RNA sequencing.

Results

Anti–PD‐L1 antibody treatment during CIA worsened arthritis with increased immune cell infiltration compared with isotype control, supporting the regulatory role of PD‐L1 in the joint. The main cells expressing PD‐L1 in the synovium were macrophages. Using parabiosis, we showed that synovial PD‐L1+ macrophages were both locally proliferating and partially replaced by the circulation. PD‐L1+ macrophages had increased levels of MER proto‐oncogene tyrosine kinase (MerTK) and interleukin (IL)‐10 expression during acute CIA. Genetic depletion of PD‐L1 on macrophages in LyzcrePD‐L1fl/fl mice resulted in worsened CIA compared with controls. We found that human PD‐L1+ macrophages in the synovium of healthy individuals and patients with rheumatoid arthritis express MerTK and IL‐10.

Conclusion

PD‐L1+ macrophages with efferocytotic and anti‐inflammatory characteristics protect the synovium from severe arthritis in the CIA mouse model. Tissue‐protective, PD‐L1–expressing macrophages are also present in the human synovium at homeostasis and during rheumatoid arthritis.
Neuroanatomy in virtual reality: Development and pedagogical evaluation of photogrammetry‐based 3D brain models
Authors: Aridan Nadav , Bernstein‐Eliav Michal , Gamzo Dana , Schmeidler Maya , Tik Niv , Tavor Ido
Published: November 2023

Anatomy studies are an essential part of medical training. The study of neuroanatomy in particular presents students with a unique challenge of three‐dimensional spatial understanding. Virtual Reality (VR) has been suggested to address this challenge, yet the majority of previous reports have implemented computer‐generated or imaging‐based models rather than models of real brain specimens. Using photogrammetry of real human bodies and advanced editing software, we developed 3D models of a real human brain at different stages of dissection. Models were placed in a custom‐built virtual laboratory, where students can walk around freely, explore, and manipulate (i.e., lift the models, rotate them for different viewpoints, etc.). Sixty participants were randomly assigned to one of three learning groups: VR, 3D printed models or read‐only, and given 1 h to study the white matter tracts of the cerebrum, followed by theoretical and practical exams and a learning experience questionnaire. We show that following self‐guided learning in virtual reality, students demonstrate a gain in spatial understanding and an increased satisfaction with the learning experience, compared with traditional learning approaches. We conclude that the models and virtual lab described in this work may enhance learning experience and improve learning outcomes.
Lithium‐Sulfur Batteries with Triethylsulfonium Bis(trifluoromethane sulfonyl)imide Ionic Liquid During First Charge‐Discharge Cycling: EIS & DFT Study
Authors: Pushpa Selvi M. , Nimma Elizabeth R. , Sinthika S. , Arockia Shyamala Paniyarasi S. , Padmaja S. , Susanna Victoria Backiyaleela S.
Published: November 2023

With high theoretical capacity and energy density, lithium‐sulfur batteries (Li−S) have the potential to meet future energy demands including electric vehicles. Various strategies have been developed to address the challenges of Li−S batteries such as polysulfide shuttling, capacity fading, and lithium dendrite formation. By using suitable electrolyte additives, it is possible to enhance the interfacial properties of Li−S batteries and mitigate polysulfide shuttling. In the present work, an aprotic ionic liquid Triethylsulfonium bis(trifluoromethane sulfonyl)imide ([S222][TFSI]) has been used as an electrolyte additive, and the physico‐electrochemical and interfacial properties are investigated. The Li||Li cell with hybrid electrolyte shows stable interfacial resistance and the EIS study during the first discharge and charge of Li−S cell demonstrates stable charge transfer and bulk resistances which indicate the enhanced interfacial properties and the inhibition of polysulfide shuttling. The first‐principles calculations were conducted to investigate the nature of the interaction between the lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) and the [S222][TFSI] molecule. Long chain LiPSs (Li2Sx, 4<x<8) interact with [S222][TFSI] molecule via Li‐bond and hyperconjugation effect. [S222][TFSI] shows the ability to dissolve Li2S and Li2S2 precipitation at the cathode surface which can result in increased utilization of active sulfur and reduced capacity fading.
Immobilizing white‐rot fungi laccase: Toward bio‐derived supports as a circular economy approach in organochlorine removal
Authors: Serbent Maria Pilar , Magario Ivana , Saux Clara
Published: November 2023

Despite their high persistence in the environment, organochlorines (OC) are widely used in the pharmaceutical industry, in plastics, and in the manufacture of pesticides, among other applications. These compounds and the byproducts of their decomposition deserve attention and efficient proposals for their treatment. Among sustainable alternatives, the use of ligninolytic enzymes (LEs) from fungi stands out, as these molecules can catalyze the transformation of a wide range of pollutants. Among LEs, laccases (Lac) are known for their efficiency as biocatalysts in the conversion of organic pollutants. Their application in biotechnological processes is possible, but the enzymes are often unstable and difficult to recover after use, driving up costs. Immobilization of enzymes on a matrix (support or solid carrier) allows recovery and stabilization of this catalytic capacity. Agricultural residual biomass is a passive environmental asset. Although underestimated and still treated as an undesirable component, residual biomass can be used as a low‐cost adsorbent and as a support for the immobilization of enzymes. In this review, the adsorption capacity and immobilization of fungal Lac on supports made from residual biomass, including compounds such as biochar, for the removal of OC compounds are analyzed and compared with the use of synthetic supports. A qualitative and quantitative comparison of the reported results was made. In this context, the use of peanut shells is highlighted in view of the increasing peanut production worldwide. The linkage of methods with circular economy approaches that can be applied in practice is discussed.
Exploring how attorneys address grooming in criminal trials of child sexual abuse
Authors: Denne Emily , Stolzenberg Stacia N.
Published: November 2023

Grooming is a common tactic among perpetrators of child sexual abuse (CSA). It is important that grooming is addressed in court to explain the unintuitive ways a child may act when they have been victims of abuse. The present study draws upon 134 transcripts of CSA criminal trials to establish how attorneys talk about grooming in court. Only 1.8% of attorney's questions addressed grooming behaviors. The majority of these focusing on exposure to pornography (27%) or boundary pushing (19%). Invitations elicited the most productive reports of grooming from children. There was a statistically significant difference in the proportion with which defense and prosecuting attorney's raised grooming issues, with prosecutors raising grooming issues more often than defense attorneys. We suggest that attorneys consider devoting proportionally more time to addressing grooming in court, to help jurors demystify common myths surrounding CSA.