bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinician-Level Knowledge and Barriers to Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance
Authors: Wong Robert J. , Jones Patricia D. , Niu Bolin , Therapondos George , Thamer Mae , Kshirsagar Onkar , Zhang Yi , Pinheiro Paulo , Kyalwazi Beverly , Fass Ronnie , Khalili Mandana , Singal Amit G.
Published: May 2024

Importance

Surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with cirrhosis is underused. Identifying potentially modifiable factors to address barriers in HCC surveillance is critical to improve patient outcomes.

Objective

To evaluate clinician-level factors contributing to underuse of HCC surveillance in patients with cirrhosis.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This survey study included primary care clinicians (PCCs) and gastroenterology and hepatology clinicians at 5 safety-net health systems in the US. Clinicians were surveyed from March 15 to September 15, 2023, to assess knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, perceived barriers, and COVID-19–related disruptions in HCC surveillance in patients with cirrhosis. Data were analyzed from October to November 2023.

Main Outcome and Measures

HCC surveillance knowledge was assessed with 6 questions querying the respondent’s ability to correctly identify appropriate use of HCC surveillance. Attitudes, perceived barriers, and beliefs regarding HCC surveillance and perceived impact of the COVID-19 pandemic–related disruptions with HCC surveillance were assessed with a series of statements using a 4-point Likert scale and compared PCCs and gastroenterology and hepatology clinicians.

Results

Overall, 347 of 1362 clinicians responded to the survey (25.5% response rate), among whom 142 of 237 (59.9%) were PCCs, 48 of 237 (20.3%) gastroenterology and hepatology, 190 of 236 (80.5%) were doctors of medicine and doctors of osteopathic medicine, and 46 of 236 (19.5%) were advanced practice clinicians. On HCC knowledge assessment, 144 of 270 (53.3%) scored 5 or more of 6 questions correctly, 37 of 48 (77.1%) among gastroenterology and hepatology vs 65 of 142 (45.8%) among PCCs (P < .001). Those with higher HCC knowledge scores were less likely to report barriers to HCC surveillance. PCCs were more likely to report inadequate time to discuss HCC surveillance (37 of 139 [26.6%] vs 2 of 48 [4.2%]; P = .001), difficulty identifying patients with cirrhosis (82 of 141 [58.2%] vs 5 of 48 [10.4%]; P < .001), and were not up-to-date with HCC surveillance guidelines (87 of 139 [62.6%] vs 5 of 48 [10.4%]; P < .001) compared with gastroenterology and hepatology clinicians. While most acknowledged delays during the COVID-19 pandemic, 62 of 136 PCCs (45.6%) and 27 of 45 gastroenterology and hepatology clinicians (60.0%) reported that patients with cirrhosis could currently complete HCC surveillance without delays.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this survey study, important gaps in knowledge and perceived barriers to HCC surveillance were identified. Effective delivery of HCC education to PCCs and health system–level interventions must be pursued in parallel to address the complex barriers affecting suboptimal HCC surveillance in patients with cirrhosis.
Eye-Tracking Biomarkers and Autism Diagnosis in Primary Care
Authors: Keehn Brandon , Monahan Patrick , Enneking Brett , Ryan Tybytha , Swigonski Nancy , McNally Keehn Rebecca
Published: May 2024

Importance

Finding effective and scalable solutions to address diagnostic delays and disparities in autism is a public health imperative. Approaches that integrate eye-tracking biomarkers into tiered community-based models of autism evaluation hold promise for addressing this problem.

Objective

To determine whether a battery of eye-tracking biomarkers can reliably differentiate young children with and without autism in a community-referred sample collected during clinical evaluation in the primary care setting and to evaluate whether combining eye-tracking biomarkers with primary care practitioner (PCP) diagnosis and diagnostic certainty is associated with diagnostic outcome.

Design, Setting, and Participants

Early Autism Evaluation (EAE) Hub system PCPs referred a consecutive sample of children to this prospective diagnostic study for blinded eye-tracking index test and follow-up expert evaluation from June 7, 2019, to September 23, 2022. Participants included 146 children (aged 14-48 months) consecutively referred by 7 EAE Hubs. Of 154 children enrolled, 146 provided usable data for at least 1 eye-tracking measure.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcomes were sensitivity and specificity of a composite eye-tracking (ie, index) test, which was a consolidated measure based on significant eye-tracking indices, compared with reference standard expert clinical autism diagnosis. Secondary outcome measures were sensitivity and specificity of an integrated approach using an index test and PCP diagnosis and certainty.

Results

Among 146 children (mean [SD] age, 2.6 [0.6] years; 104 [71%] male; 21 [14%] Hispanic or Latine and 96 [66%] non-Latine White; 102 [70%] with a reference standard autism diagnosis), 113 (77%) had concordant autism outcomes between the index (composite biomarker) and reference outcomes, with 77.5% sensitivity (95% CI, 68.4%-84.5%) and 77.3% specificity (95% CI, 63.0%-87.2%). When index diagnosis was based on the combination of a composite biomarker, PCP diagnosis, and diagnostic certainty, outcomes were concordant with reference standard for 114 of 127 cases (90%) with a sensitivity of 90.7% (95% CI, 83.3%-95.0%) and a specificity of 86.7% (95% CI, 70.3%-94.7%).

Conclusions and Relevance

In this prospective diagnostic study, a composite eye-tracking biomarker was associated with a best-estimate clinical diagnosis of autism, and an integrated diagnostic model including PCP diagnosis and diagnostic certainty demonstrated improved sensitivity and specificity. These findings suggest that equipping PCPs with a multimethod diagnostic approach has the potential to substantially improve access to timely, accurate diagnosis in local communities.
Progression mechanism of urban food desert and categorization of high‐risk blocks through the analysis of changes in food intake demand—A case study of Azabu and Takanawa districts of Minato‐ku, Tokyo, where the prices of grocery stores is rising due to redevelopment
Authors: Nakamura Emi , Asami Yasushi
Published: May 2024

We analyzed the mechanism of urban food desert expansion based on data at the block level. According to the food demand curve, elasticity was high, and the nutritional food dietary decreased as store prices increased. The store prices within 500 m of the redevelopment site would tend to increase because luxury supermarkets would dominate, while over 500 m they would often tend to decrease because new non‐luxury supermarkets would compete for opening. There are two types of blocks with a high risk of food desert: A block surrounded by multiple redevelopments or a block whose store price has gone up considerably.
CellMag‐CARWash: A High Throughput Droplet Microfluidic Device for Live Cell Isolation and Single Cell Applications
Authors: Rupp Brittany T. , Cook Claire D. , Purcell Emma A. , Pop Matei , Radomski Abigail E. , Mesyngier Nicolas , Bailey Ryan C. , Nagrath Sunitha
Published: May 2024

The recent push toward understanding an individual cell's behavior and identifying cellular heterogeneity has created an unmet need for technologies that can probe live cells at the single‐cell level. Cells within a population are known to exhibit heterogeneous responses to environmental cues. These differences can lead to varied cellular states, behavior, and responses to therapeutics. Techniques are needed that are not only capable of processing and analyzing cellular populations at the single cell level, but also have the ability to isolate specific cell populations from a complex sample at high throughputs. The new CellMag‐Coalesce‐Attract‐Resegment Wash (CellMag‐CARWash) system combines positive magnetic selection with droplet microfluidic devices to isolate cells of interest from a mixture with >93% purity and incorporate treatments within individual droplets to observe single cell biological responses. This workflow is shown to be capable of probing the single cell extracellular vesicle (EV) secretion of MCF7 GFP cells. This article reports the first measurement of β‐Estradiol's effect on EV secretion from MCF7 cells at the single cell level. Single cell processing revealed that MCF7 GFP cells possess a heterogeneous response to β‐Estradiol stimulation with a 1.8‐fold increase relative to the control.
Spin‐Coating Deposited SnS2 Thin Film‐Based Memristor for Emulating Synapses
Authors: Feng Jiang , Fan Jiaming , Zhang Zijian , Gao Yu , Xue Song , Cai Gangri , Zhao Jin Shi
Published: May 2024

2D materials have garnered significant attention owing to their substantial potential across various applications, including thin‐film electronics, optoelectronics, and sensor devices, particularly, the synthesis and deposition methods of the 2D materials are crucial. In this study, thin films of tin disulfide (SnS2), a layer‐structured metal dichalcogenide, are deposited on an indium tin oxide (ITO) glass substrate through a spin‐coating process to prepare a sandwich‐structured resistive switching (RS) device (ITO/SnS2/ITO) by following magnetron sputtering of ITO as top electrode. Notably, the solution‐phased spin‐coating deposition method provides an efficient approach to enhance device performance through ion doping. By incorporating calcium ions (Ca2+), the devices exhibit the potential to achieve outstanding resistive switching performance and synapse functionality. With a DC sweep, an on/off resistance ratio exceeding 100 can be sustained without degradation for up to 5000 cycles. Furthermore, the devices exhibit diverse synaptic functions, including short‐term and long‐term plasticity (STP, LTP) in both potentiation and depression processes, spike‐timing‐dependent plasticity (STDP), and paired‐pulse facilitation (PPF). The transition in electrical resistance and synaptic function can be attributed to the migration of doped Ca2+ along the grain boundary and interlayer space of layer‐structured SnS2 films.
Multi‐Mode/Signal Biosensors: Electrochemical Integrated Sensing Techniques
Authors: Han Qingzhi , Wang Haimei , Wang John
Published: May 2024

Electrochemical (EC) analysis has emerged as a high‐sensitivity, reliable, cost‐effective, and rapidly evolving technique that has garnered significant attention across diverse domains. Furthermore, EC‐based techniques hold great potential for miniaturization and integration. The integration of EC techniques with diverse mode/signal (such as light, magnetic, and thermal signals, etc.) provides unique opportunities for biosensors to acquire more information through a single sensing platform. By coupling multiple signals or processing them logically, the detection accuracy can be further improved, and the probability of false positives or negatives can be minimized. In this review, a thorough analysis of multi‐ mode/signal sensors in the field of EC sensing is conducted, along with their integration with various sensing techniques (e.g., fluorescence, photothermal, colorimetry, microfluidic, etc.). The aim is to delve into the latest advances, potential applications, as well as challenges in multi‐mode/signal biosensors, where the utilization of multiple sensing modalities helps enhance accuracy, sensitivity, and selectivity. This review provides new insight into the synergistic effects of integrating EC sensing with other techniques, aiming to shed light on the near‐future developments in EC‐integrated multi‐mode/signal biosensors.
Water‐Assisted Reprocessing and Shape Programming of Epoxy Vitrimer
Authors: Xu Weiming , Zhou Xiaozhuang , Fang Yuanlai , Xue Juan , Liu Qianwei , Chen Zhidi , Xiong Xinhong , Cui Jiaxi
Published: May 2024

Vitrimers are reprocessing and recycling thermosetting plastics. They possess reconfigurable polymer networks that allow for unlimited transformation in shape in principle. However, current strategies to reshape the vitrimers typically involve heat or light, which often induces undesirable oxidation and decomposition. To address this issue, here a water‐assisted approach is proposed for programming epoxy vitrimers’ shapes. In this design, water molecules are utilized to reversibly dissociate the hydrogen bonds in epoxy vitrimers to enable the polymer segments to move flexibly. The hydrated epoxy vitrimers can then be reprogrammed and retained into different temporary shapes by removing the water. Such samples would be recovered to their original shapes by rehydration, exhibiting water‐induced shape memory property. More than temporary deformation, the permanent figures of the hydrated vitrimers can also be permanently changed at room temperature (rt) or elevated temperatures in the presence of transesterification catalysts. Combing the shape memory and high temperature plasticity or utilizing rt plasticity, sophisticated shapes such as spiral shapes are demonstrated. It is envisioned that this water‐assisted methodology can be useful in programming cross‐linked polymers into diverse 3D structures, which has wide practical applications in soft robots, deployable devices, aerospace materials, etc.
Emerging Role of p‐Block Element in Catalyzing Electrochemical NOx Reduction to Ammonia: A Theoretical Perspective
Authors: Yin Hanqing , Du Aijun
Published: May 2024

Fixing earth‐abundant nitrogen elements into essential compounds is one of the ultimate issues for mankind. Electrochemical nitrogen fixation is regarded as promising to replace the Haber‐Bosch (HB) process at current stage. However, direct fixation of N2 is found skeptical recently due to the stable chemical properties of N2 molecule. In this regard, the more reactive nitrogen oxides (NOx) species came to light as an alternative of nitrogen sources. Since NOx species is one of the most prevalent pollutants in wastewater, it is also desired that NOx reduction can transform these detrimental ingredients into value‐added products such as ammonia. Like other chemical reactions, the performance of electrochemical NOx reduction to ammonia (eNOxRA) has a strong relation with the performance of catalysts. Previously, catalyst design of eNOxRA is dominantly based on transition metals. The role of p‐block elements in eNOxRA is not fully realized until very recent years. In this perspective, the up‐to‐date advances of p‐block‐contained catalysts in eNOxRA are concluded, with the role of p‐block elements specifically classified and discussed. Several strategies are also introduced to delicately investigate the interaction between p‐block elements and NOx species. At the end, some dilemmas and potential opportunities are proposed to achieve a more comprehensive understanding toward developing high‐efficient p‐block electrocatalyst for NOxRA.
Bias‐Switchable Dual‐Mode Organic Photodiodes Enabled by Manipulation of Interface Layers
Authors: Xiao Jianhua , Wu Jiaao , Zhu Fangchen , Ke Jiehao , Liu Qingxia , Wang Yang , Yuan Liu , Tai Huiling , Jiang Yadong
Published: May 2024

Bias‐switchable dual‐mode organic photodiodes (OPDs) that integrate photovoltaic and photomultiplication modes are recently developed and shown prospects in complex light‐intensity applications. Yet, the device physics that focuses on carrier dynamics is still a challenge and needs to be further explored. Herein, dual‐mode OPDs are developed through interface layer manipulation, that is, introducing cathode interface layers (typically, ZnxO:D149) with deep energy levels and abundant bulk defects and an anode interface layer of thermally‐evaporated ZnO (e‐ZnO) with a wide bandgap. Under reverse bias, ZnxO:D149 forms a barrier wall to effectively block external holes and maintain the photovoltaic mode of the OPDs. Under forward bias, the capturing effect of ZnxO:D149 and blocking effect of e‐ZnO help to reduce the dark current; when under illumination, defect traps capture photo‐generated holes, eliminating the barrier traps and promoting unobstructed injection of external carriers to achieve photomultiplication effect. The typical device delivers high specific detectivity (>1012 Jones) and fast response (<40 µs), and exhibits disparate external quantum efficiency in two operating modes, showing promise for simultaneously detecting faint and strong light. This general strategy for preparing dual‐mode OPDs is compatible with CMOS processing technology and meets the miniaturization and integration requirements of next‐generation detection systems.
Phase‐Controlled Synthesis of Large‐Area Trigonal 2D Cr2S3 Thin Films via Ultralow Gas‐Flow Governed Dynamic Transport
Authors: Fan Xiulian , Chen Zhihui , Xu Defeng , Zou Luwei , Ouyang Fangping , Deng Shibin , Wang Xiao , Zhao Jiong , Zhou Yu
Published: May 2024

As for nonlayered 2D polymorphic materials, especially for Cr‐based chalcogenides, large‐area thin film growth with phase control is considered the most important synthesis challenge for magnetic, electronic, and optoelectronic devices. However, the synthesis methods of large continuous thin films for nonlayered 2D materials are still limited and rarely reported, also for the phase control growth, which is inhibited by isotropic 3D growth and similar Gibbs free energy for different phases. Herein, enhanced mass transport chemical vapor deposition is established to achieve the control synthesis of trigonal Cr2S3 thin films, in which the stable boundary layer supplies the continuous reaction species and tunes the reaction kinetics. The trigonal phase formation is confirmed by atomic structure characterization, optical absorption and piezoelectric measurements, demonstrating unique physical properties different from rhombohedral phase. The trigonal Cr2S3 thin films show obvious layer independent and dissimilar angle‐resolved harmonic generation, indicating the surface broken symmetry that can be understood by the combination of negligible piezoelectric response for bulk. The work presents the large‐area synthesized strategy by the modification of mass transport for nonlayered 2D materials with new phase formation and establishes the surface symmetry breaking dominated SHG mechanism for future nonlinear optical materials.
Ion and Molecular Sieving With Ultrathin Polydopamine Nanomembranes
Authors: Yu Jiyao , Marchesi D'Alvise Tommaso , Harley Iain , Krysztofik Adam , Lieberwirth Ingo , Pula Przemyslaw , Majewski Pawel W. , Graczykowski Bartlomiej , Hunger Johannes , Landfester Katharina , Kuan Seah Ling , Shi Rachel , Synatschke Christopher V. , Weil Tanja
Published: May 2024

In contrast to biological cell membranes, it is still a major challenge for synthetic membranes to efficiently separate ions and small molecules due to their similar sizes in the sub‐nanometer range. Inspired by biological ion channels with their unique channel wall chemistry that facilitates ion sieving by ion‐channel interactions, the first free‐standing, ultrathin (10–17 nm) nanomembranes composed entirely of polydopamine (PDA) are reported here as ion and molecular sieves. These nanomembranes are obtained via an easily scalable electropolymerization strategy and provide nanochannels with various amine and phenolic hydroxyl groups that offer a favorable chemical environment for ion‐channel electrostatic and hydrogen bond interactions. They exhibit remarkable selectivity for monovalent ions over multivalent ions and larger species with K+/Mg2+ of ≈4.2, K+/[Fe(CN)6]3− of ≈10.3, and K+/Rhodamine B of ≈273.0 in a pressure‐driven process, as well as cyclic reversible pH‐responsive gating properties. Infrared spectra reveal hydrogen bond formation between hydrated multivalent ions and PDA, which prevents the transport of multivalent ions and facilitates high selectivity. Chemically rich, free‐standing, and pH‐responsive PDA nanomembranes with specific interaction sites are proposed as customizable high‐performance sieves for a wide range of challenging separation requirements.
Dual‐Mode Hydrogels with Structural and Fluorescent Colors toward Multistage Secure Information Encryption
Authors: Sun Yu , Le Xiaoxia , Shang Hui , Shen Ying , Wu Yue , Liu Qingquan , Théato Partick , Chen Tao
Published: May 2024

Constructing an anti‐counterfeiting material with non‐interference dual optical modes is an effective way to improve information security. However, it remains challenging to achieve multistage secure information encryption due to the limited stimulus responsiveness and color tunability of the current dual‐mode materials. Herein, a dual‐mode hydrogel with both independently tunable structural and fluorescent colors toward multistage information encryption, is reported. In this hydrogel system, the rigid lamellar structure of poly(dodecylglyceryl itaconate) (pDGI) formed by shear flow‐induced self‐assembly provides the restricted domains wherein monomers undergo polymerization to form a hydrogel network, producing structural color. The introduction of fluorescent monomer 6‐acrylamidopicolinate (6APA) as a complexation site provides the possibility of fluorescent color formation. The hydrogel's angle‐dependent structural color can be controlled by adjusting the crosslinking density and water content. Additionally, the fluorescence color can be modulated by adjusting the ratio of lanthanide ions. Information of dual‐mode can be displayed separately in different channels and synergistically overlayed to read the ultimate message. Thus, a multistage information encryption system based on this hydrogel is devised through the programed decryption process. This strategy holds tremendous potential as a platform for encrypting and safeguarding valuable and authentic information in the field of anti‐counterfeiting.
The Defects Genome of Janus Transition Metal Dichalcogenides
Authors: Sayyad Mohammed , Kopaczek Jan , Gilardoni Carmem M. , Chen Weiru , Xiong Yihuang , Yang Shize , Watanabe Kenji , Taniguchi Takashi , Kudrawiec Robert , Hautier Geoffroy , Atatüre Mete , Tongay Seth Ariel
Published: May 2024

2D Janus Transition Metal Dichalcogenides (TMDs) have attracted much interest due to their exciting quantum properties arising from their unique two‐faced structure, broken‐mirror symmetry, and consequent colossal polarization field within the monolayer. While efforts are made to achieve high‐quality Janus monolayers, the existing methods rely on highly energetic processes that introduce unwanted grain‐boundary and point defects with still unexplored effects on the material's structural and excitonic properties Through high‐resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy (HRSTEM), density functional theory (DFT), and optical spectroscopy measurements; this work introduces the most encountered and energetically stable point defects. It establishes their impact on the material's optical properties. HRSTEM studies show that the most energetically stable point defects are single (VS and VSe) and double chalcogen vacancy (VS −VSe), interstitial defects (Mi), and metal impurities (MW) and establish their structural characteristics. DFT further establishes their formation energies and related localized bands within the forbidden band. Cryogenic excitonic studies on h‐BN‐encapsulated Janus monolayers offer a clear correlation between these structural defects and observed emission features, which closely align with the results of the theory. The overall results introduce the defect genome of Janus TMDs as an essential guideline for assessing their structural quality and device properties.
Photocatalyzed Aerobic Dearomatization of Naphthylamines under Visible‐Light Irradiation
Authors: Voronov Aleksandr , Casnati Alessandra , Hoch Matteo , Pancrazzi Francesco , Pio Mazzeo Paolo , Merli Daniele , Maestri Giovanni , Pál Fehér Péter , Stirling András , Capaldo Luca , Della Ca' Nicola
Published: May 2024

The dearomatization of aromatic substrates via photocatalytic methodologies has gained escalating prominence to access molecular complexity. Although much focus has been put on non‐active arenes, naphthols and N‐based heteroaromatics, arylamines have so far remained in the background. Herein, we report a photocatalytic strategy for the aerobic, dearomative hydroxylation of naphthylamines under visible‐light irradiation. Our investigation highlights singlet oxygen generation as a viable mechanism for aromaticity disruption, mitigating selectivity issues deriving from the direct oxidation of targeted arylamines. Finally, we showcased the synthetic value of the obtained dearomatized products in a late‐stage diversification campaign.
Gut Microbiota‐Derived 3‐Hydroxybutyrate Blocks GPR43‐Mediated IL6 Signaling to Ameliorate Radiation Proctopathy
Authors: Ge Zhenhuang , Chen Chun , Chen Junyi , Jiang Zhou , Chen Lingming , Wei Yingqi , Chen Haiyang , He Lei , Zou Yi , Long Xiaoxuan , Zhan Hongyu , Wang Huaiming , Wang Hui , Lu Yongjun
Published: May 2024

Radiation proctopathy (RP) is a common complication of radiotherapy for pelvic malignancies with high incidence. RP accompanies by microbial dysbiosis. However, how the gut microbiota affects the disease remains unclear. Here, metabolomics reveals that the fecal and serous concentrations of microbiota‐derived 3‐hydroxybutyrate (3HB) are significantly reduced in RP mice and radiotherapeutic patients. Moreover, the concentration of 3HB is negatively associated with the expression of proinflammatory IL6 that is increased along with the severity of radiation damage. 3HB treatment significantly downregulates IL6 expression and alleviates IL6‐mediated radiation damage. Irradiated cell‐fecal microbiota co‐culture experiments and in vivo assays show that such a radioprotection of 3HB is mediated by GPR43. Microbiome analysis reveals that radiation leads to a distinct bacterial community compared to untreated controls, in which Akkermansia muciniphila is significantly reduced in RP mice and radiotherapeutic patients and is associated with lower 3HB concentration. Gavage of A. muciniphila significantly increases 3HB concentration, downregulates GPR43 and IL6 expression, and ameliorates radiation damage. Collectively, these results demonstrate that the gut microbiota, including A. muciniphila, induce higher concentrations of 3HB to block GPR43‐mediated IL6 signaling, thereby conferring radioprotection. The findings reveal a novel implication of the gut‐immune axis in radiation pathophysiology, with potential therapeutic applications.
Earthworm‐Inspired Ultra‐Durable Sliding Triboelectric Nanogenerator with Bionic Self‐Replenishing Lubricating Property for Wind Energy Harvesting and Self‐Powered Intelligent Sports Monitoring
Authors: Liu Mengjiao , Zhang Xin , Xin Yue , Guo Dongxu , Hu Guangkai , Ma Yifei , Yu Bin , Huang Tao , Ji Chengchang , Zhu Meifang , Yu Hao
Published: May 2024

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs), a promising strategy for harvesting distributed low‐quality power sources, face inevitable bottlenecks regarding long‐term abrasion and poor durability. Herein, both issues are addressed by selecting an earthworm‐inspired self‐replenishing bionic film (ERB) as the tribo‐material of sliding‐freestanding TENGs (SF‐TENGs), it consists of an interconnected 3D porous network structure capable of storing and releasing lubricant under cyclic mechanical stimuli. Thanks to the superiority of self‐replenishing property, there is no need for periodic replenishment and accurate content control of lubricant over the interfacial‐lubricating SF‐TENGs based on dense tribo‐layers. Additionally, an SF‐TENG based on ERB film (ERB‐TENG) demonstrates remarkable output stability with only a slight attenuation of 1% after continuous operation for 100 000 cycles. Moreover, the ERB‐TENG displays a distinguished anti‐wear property, exhibiting no distinct abrasion with an ultra‐low coefficient of friction (0.077) and maintaining output stability over a prolonged period of 35 days. Furthermore, integration with an energy management circuit enables the ERB‐TENG to achieve a 39‐fold boost in charging speed. This work proposes a creative approach to enhance the durability and extend the lifespan of TENG devices, which is also successfully applied to wind energy harvesting and intelligent sports monitoring.
Enhanced Gas Sensing Characteristics of a Polythiophene Gas Sensor Blended with UiO‐66 via Ligand Functionalization
Authors: Hong Ming , Jo Wooseong , Jo Sang‐A , Jin Haedam , Kim Min , Lee Chang Yeon , Park Yeong Don
Published: May 2024

Conjugated polymers exhibit significant potential for use in gas sensors owing to their flexibility and straightforward preparation. However, the performance of organic gas sensors based on such materials is currently suboptimal owing to their poor charge‐transport properties and limited selectivity. To address this limitation, a novel strategy that involves blending a chemically modified metal–organic framework (MOF) material, UiO‐66, with a conjugated polymer is developed. The MOF porous material is chemically modified with polar nitrogen‐containing functional groups (amino and nitro groups) to create gas molecule adsorption sites. To evaluate the impact of these modifications on the sensing performance, experiments that combined the sensing performance with a density functional theory simulation are conducted. The findings reveal that gas sensors fabricated using an amine‐functionalized MOF blended with conjugated polymers exhibit significantly higher sensitivity than home polymer devices, the sensing performance of the UiO‐66‐NH2/P3HT blend film improved by a factor of two with a sensitivity of ≈2%/ppm and an LOD of 0.001 ppt. Additionally, these devices exhibit exclusive NO2‐sensing performance for other gases such as CO2 and SO2.
High Frequency Response of Volatile Memristors
Authors: Messaris Ioannis , Ascoli Alon , Demirkol Ahmet S. , Ntinas Vasileios , Prousalis Dimitrios , Tetzlaff Ronald
Published: May 2024

In this theoretical study, the high‐frequency response of the electrothermal NbO2‐Mott threshold switch is focused, a real‐world electronic device, which has been proved to be relevant in several applications and is classified as a volatile memristor. Memristors of this kind, have been shown to exhibit distinctive non‐linear behaviors crucial for cutting‐edge neuromorphic circuits. In accordance with well‐established models for these devices, their resistances depend on their body temperatures, which evolve over time following Newton's Law of Cooling. Here, it is demonstrated that HP's NbO2‐Mott memristor can manifest up to three distinct steady‐state oscillatory behaviors under a suitable high‐frequency periodic voltage input, showcasing increased versatility despite its volatile nature. Additionally, when subjected to a high‐frequency periodic voltage signal, the device body temperature oscillates with a negligible peak‐to‐peak amplitude. Since the temperature remains almost constant over an input cycle, the devices under study behave as linear resistors during each input cycle. Based on these insights, this paper presents analytical equations characterizing the response of the NbO2‐Mott memristor to high‐frequency voltage inputs, demarcating regions in the state space where distinct initial conditions lead to various asymptotic oscillatory behaviors. Importantly, the mathematical methods introduced in this manuscript are applicable to any volatile electrothermal resistive switch. Additionally, this work presents analytical equations that accurately reproduce the temperature time‐waveform of the studied device during both its transient and steady‐state phases when subjected to a zero‐mean sinusoidal voltage input oscillating in the high‐frequency limit. This analytical approach not only increases the comprehension of volatile electrothermal memristors but also provides a theoretical framework to harness the enhanced dynamical capabilities of real‐world volatile memristors in practical applications.
Elucidate the Thermal Degradation Mechanism of Y6‐Based Organic Solar Cells by Establishing Structure‐Property Correlation
Authors: Xin Jingming , Zhao Chao , Geng Ziqi , Xue Wenyue , Chen Zhenyu , Song Chunpeng , Yan Han , Liang Qiuju , Miao Zongcheng , Ma Wei , Liu Jiangang
Published: May 2024

Organic solar cells (OSCs) achieved performance booming benefiting from the emerging of non‐fullerene acceptors, while inadequate device stability hampers their further application. At present, the prevalent belief attributes the inevitable thermal degradation of OSC device to morphological instability caused by excessive phase separation and crystallization in the active layer during device operation. However, it is inapplicable for state‐of‐art Y6‐based devices which strongly degrade before large‐scale morphology change. Herein, an alternative degradation mechanism is elucidated wherein molecular orientation change and demixing induced performance degradation in Y6‐based devices. Distinct from IT‐4F‐based counterpart, Y6‐based devices suffer severe thermal degradation dominated by open‐circuit voltage (VOC) and fill factor (FF) losses. The VOC loss is attributed to molecular orientation transition of polymer donors from edge‐on to face‐on, leading to a strong built‐in potential reduction and increase in non‐radiative loss due to energy level shifting. As for FF decay, discontinuous acceptor phases result in electron mobility decrease by over orders of magnitude, originating from the increased molecular stacking and phase separation. This work reveals the thermal degradation mechanism for Y6‐based devices and correlates the photoelectric properties with morphology instability, which will offer guidance for improving the stability of high‐performance OSCs.
Genetic progress for floral morphology under different nitrogen of rice cultivars in Japan
Authors: Shimono Hiroyuki , Sato Reo , Abe Akira , Nishio Haruki , Kudoh Hiroshi
Published: May 2024

Reproductive development of rice (Oryza sativa L.) is critical for obtaining high yield by promoting fertilization at the flowering stage. However, limited information is available about historical changes in anther and stigma morphology during breeding programs; these characteristics contribute strongly to a cultivar's abiotic stress resistance. We tested the hypothesis that genetic progress for culm length during breeding has affected the floral morphology of rice cultivars released in Japan. We used field trials in 2 years in northern Japan to quantify anther and stigma morphology and culm length for rice from 147 cultivars (2020) and 284 cultivars (2021) that had been released from 1902 to 2011 (109 years) in Japan under two nitrogen (N) regimes (no‐N and high‐N). Culm length significantly decreased over time at a rate of 1.9–3.1 cm per 10 years at low N. However, anther length, anther width, and stigma length showed no consistent trend during the period. High N significantly increased culm length of most cultivars by an average of 21%–26% but tended to shorten anther length by 2%–3% and anther width by 1%–2% on average and increased stigma length by only 1%, with large variation among cultivars. Our results suggested no evidence on positive breeding efforts targeting on floral morphology to improve abiotic stress tolerance and yield in contract with culm length.
Multiple‐resonance thermally activated delayed emitters through multiple peripheral modulation to enable efficient blue OLEDs at high doping levels
Authors: Wang Yuyuan , Ma Zhiwei , Pu Junrong , Guo Danman , Li Gaoyu , Chen Zhu , Su Shi‐Jian , Deng Huangjun , Zhao Juan , Chi Zhenguo
Published: May 2024

Organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) based on multiple resonance‐thermally activated delayed fluorescence (MR‐TADF) have the advantages of high exciton utilization and excellent color purity. However, the large conjugated planarity of general MR‐TADF emitters makes them easily aggregate in the form of π–π stacking, resulting in aggregation‐caused quenching (ACQ) and the formation of excimers, which reduce exciton utilization efficiency and color purity. To address these issues, large shielding units can be incorporated to prevent interchromophore interactions, whereas the majority of reported molecules are limited to blue‐green light emissions. This work proposes a strategy of incorporating steric hindrance groups at different sites of the B/N core to suppress interactions between chromophore, contributing to blue MR‐TADF emitters with high photo‐luminance quantum yields (PLQYs ≥ 95%) and narrow full width at half maximum (FWHM), and importantly, great suppression of the ACQ effect. Therefore, blue OLEDs achieve high external quantum efficiencies up to 34.3% and high color purity with FWHM of about 27 nm and CIE around (0.12, 0.15), even at a high doping concentration of 20 wt%.
Impact of busulfan versus treosulfan dose intensity in myelofibrosis undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation
Authors: Gagelmann Nico , Schuh Claudia , Flossdorf Sarah , Kunadt Desiree , Stelljes Matthias , Blau Igor W. , Brecht Arne , Bethge Wolfgang , Schroeder Thomas , Wulf Gerald , Sala Elisa , Bug Gesine , Fleischhauer Katharina , Kröger Nicolaus ,   the German Registry for Stem Cell Transplantation, DRST
Published: May 2024

One key aspect of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is pretransplant conditioning, balancing risk for relapse versus non‐relapse mortality. Conditioning regimens with different alkylators at different doses can influence outcome, but data are missing for myelofibrosis, a challenging cohort of patients usually presenting at older age and with comorbidities. We evaluated in a multicenter retrospective study the comparative efficacy and safety of busulfan versus treosulfan in combination with fludarabine for myelofibrosis patients undergoing HCT. This study included 1115 patients (busulfan, n = 902; treosulfan, n = 213) receiving first HCT between 2005 and 2021. Patients were generally balanced for key patient characteristics. Overall survival at 4 years was 62% for the busulfan group versus 58% for the treosulfan group (p = .22). Impact on outcome was dose‐dependent. Overall survival was 65% (95% CI, 61%–69%) for reduced intensity busulfan versus 69% (95% CI, 54%–84%) for reduced intensity treosulfan, 53% (95% CI, 44%–63%) for higher intensity busulfan, and 55% (95% CI, 46%–63%) for higher intensity treosulfan. Incidence of relapse was similar across intensity groups. In multivariable analysis, the hazard for death (with reduced intensity busulfan as reference) was 0.88 (95% CI, 0.39–2.01) for reduced intensity treosulfan (p = .77), 1.42 (95% CI, 0.96–2.10) for higher intensity busulfan (0.08), and 1.61 (95% CI, 1.14–2.26) for higher intensity treosulfan (p = .006). In terms of non‐relapse mortality, comparison was not significantly different, while the hazard ratio for higher intensity treosulfan was 1.48 (95% CI, 0.98–2.23; p = .06). Here, we showed comparable outcomes and improved survival in myelofibrosis undergoing HCT with reduced intensity busulfan or treosulfan.
Age‐related changes in behavior profile in male offspring of rats treated with poly I:C‐induced maternal immune activation in early gestation
Authors: Chen Tengfei , Meng Huadan , Fang Ni , Shi Peiling , Chen Mengxue , Liu Qing , Lv Luxian , Li Wenqiang
Published: May 2024

Background

Autism and schizophrenia are environmental risk factors associated with prenatal viral infection during pregnancy. It is still unclear whether behavior phenotypes change at different developmental stages in offspring following the activation of the maternal immune system.

Methods

Sprague–Dawley rats received a single caudal vein injection of 10 mg/kg polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly I:C) on gestational day 9 and the offspring were comprehensively tested for behaviors in adolescence and adulthood.

Results

Maternal serum levels of interleukin (IL)‐6, IL‐1β and tumor necrosis factor‐α were elevated in poly I:C‐treated dams. The offspring of maternal poly I:C‐induced rats showed increased anxiety, impaired social approach, and progressive impaired cognitive and sensorimotor gating function.

Conclusion

Maternal immune activation led to developmental specificity behavioral impairment in offspring.
3D‐Printed Carbon Nanoneedle Electrodes for Dopamine Detection in Drosophila
Authors: Shao Zijun , Zhao He , Dunham Kelly E. , Cao Qun , Lavrik Nickolay V. , Venton B. Jill
Published: May 2024

In vivo electrochemistry in small brain regions or synapses requires nanoelectrodes with long straight tips for submicron scale measurements. Nanoelectrodes can be fabricated using a Nanoscribe two‐photon printer, but annealed tips curl if they are long and thin. We propose a new pulling‐force strategy to fabricate a straight carbon nanoneedle structure. A micron‐width bridge is printed between two blocks. The annealed structure shrinks during pyrolysis, and the blocks create a pulling force to form a long, thin, and straight carbon bridge. Parameterization study and COMSOL modeling indicate changes in the block size, bridge size and length affect the pulling force and bridge shrinkage. Electrodes were printed on niobium wires, insulated with aluminum oxide, and the bridge cut with focused ion beam (FIB) to expose the nanoneedle tip. Annealed needle diameters ranged from 400 nm to 5.25 μm and length varied from 50.5 μm to 146 μm. The electrochemical properties are similar to glassy carbon, with good performance for dopamine detection with fast‐scan cyclic voltammetry. Nanoelectrodes enable biological applications, such as dopamine detection in a specific Drosophila brain region. Long and thin nanoneedles are generally useful for other applications such as cellular sensing, drug delivery, or gas sensing.
Acyl Phosphates as Chemically Fueled Building Blocks for Self‐Sustaining Protocells
Authors: Zozulia Oleksii , Kriebisch Christine M. E. , Kriebisch Brigitte A. K. , Soria‐Carrera Héctor , Ryadi Kingu Rici , Steck Juliana , Boekhoven Job
Published: May 2024

Lipids spontaneously assemble into vesicle‐forming membranes. Such vesicles serve as compartments for even the simplest living systems. Vesicles have been extensively studied for constructing synthetic cells or as models for protocells—the cells hypothesized to have existed before life. These compartments exist almost always close to equilibrium. Life, however, exists out of equilibrium. In this work, we studied vesicle‐based compartments regulated by a non‐equilibrium chemical reaction network that converts activating agents. In this way, the compartments require a constant or periodic supply of activating agents to sustain themselves. Specifically, we use activating agents to condense carboxylates and phosphate esters into acyl phosphate‐based lipids that form vesicles. These vesicles can only be sustained when condensing agents are present; without them, they decay. We demonstrate that the chemical reaction network can operate on prebiotic activating agents, opening the door to prebiotically plausible, self‐sustainable protocells that compete for resources. In future work, such protocells should be endowed with a genotype, e.g., self‐replicating RNA structures, to alter the protocell's behavior. Such protocells could enable Darwinian evolution in a prebiotically plausible chemical system.
Ein‐Topf‐Synthese von 1,3‐Cyclohexadienen durch Birch‐Reduktion in Gegenwart von Carbonylverbindungen
Authors: Krüger‐Braunert Tobias , Linker Torsten
Published: May 2024

Birch‐Reduktionen sind wohlbekannte Transformationen von Arenen, die für die Synthese von 1,4‐Cyclohexadienen in großem Maßstab angewandt werden. Wir beschreiben hier erste Reaktionen von Benzoesäuren in Gegenwart von Carbonylverbindungen, die Aldolprodukte in mäßigen bis guten Ausbeuten liefern. Mit Alkylaldehyden entstehen die erwarteten nichtkonjugierten Diene durch Reaktion in der α‐Position. Interessanterweise greifen die intermediär gebildeten Enolate Ketone und Arylaldehyde aus ihrer γ‐Position an, was sich durch sterische Hinderung erklären lässt. Dies ebnet den Weg für die Ein‐Topf‐Synthese von 1,3‐Cyclohexadienen, die durch klassische Birch‐Reduktionen nicht zugänglich sind. Unsere Methode ist auf Benzoe‐ sowie m‐ and p‐Toluylsäuren und verschiedene Carbonylverbindungen anwendbar, und mehr als 25 neue Produkte wurden in bis zu 93 % Ausbeute isoliert. Prochirale Arylaldehyde liefern Diastereomerengemische im Verhältnis von etwa 4 : 1, im Cyclohexadienring entstehen hingegen nur trans‐Isomere mit hoher Selektivität. Zudem sind die gebildeten 1,3‐Cyclohexadiene nützliche Vorläufer für weitere Umsetzungen, was wir anhand erster Beispiele zeigen konnten. So liefert die Aromatisierung Produkte einer formalen meta‐selektiven Friedel–Crafts‐Alkylierung, und vier neue Stereozentren werden hochselektiv durch Cycloaddition von Singulett‐Sauerstoff erzeugt.
An Automatized Rebalancing System to Address Faradaic Imbalance and Prolong Cycle Life in Alkaline Ferrocyanide – Anthraquinone Redox Flow Batteries
Authors: Cantera Miguel , Lubián Lara , Cavusoglu Koray , Rubio‐Presa Rubén , Sanz Roberto , Ruiz Virginia , Cámara Jose María , Ventosa Edgar
Published: May 2024

Aqueous Organic Redox Flow Batteries are a family of promising energy storage systems. However, they face various challenges related to their lifetime, such as the Faradaic imbalance due to the occurrence of parasitic reaction leading to the fading of its energy storage capacity. Herein, automatization of a rebalancing system to reverse the detrimental effects of Faradaic imbalance due to the unavoidable presence of small quantities of oxygen in the negative reservoir or hydrogen evolution reaction is developed and implemented in an alkaline flow battery. A membrane‐free rebalancing cell is proposed to promote the oxygen evolution reaction and reverse the accumulated charge in the catholyte showing a 100 % coulombic efficiency. The programmable logic controller monitors the open circuit voltage to calculate the charge stored in each charge/discharge step and closes a circuit so a fixed voltage is applied to the rebalancing cell when the battery needs to be rebalanced. The system is tested using an alkaline flow battery consisting of ferrocyanide and 2,6‐dihydroxyanthraquinone, improving the energy capacity retention from 0.27 % cycle‐1 and 0.47 % h‐1 without rebalancing system to 100 % retention after >850 cycles and >24 days (without Ar‐filled glovebox), demonstrating the feasibility of this proposed system to address the Faradaic imbalance.
Protein tyrosine phosphatases: emerging role in cancer therapy resistance
Authors: Zhao Min , Shuai Wen , Su Zehao , Xu Ping , Wang Aoxue , Sun Qiu , Wang Guan
Published: May 2024

Background

Tyrosine phosphorylation of intracellular proteins is a post‐translational modification that plays a regulatory role in signal transduction during cellular events. Dephosphorylation of signal transduction proteins caused by protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) contributed their role as a convergent node to mediate cross‐talk between signaling pathways. In the context of cancer, PTP‐mediated pathways have been identified as signaling hubs that enabled cancer cells to mitigate stress induced by clinical therapy. This is achieved by the promotion of constitutive activation of growth‐stimulatory signaling pathways or modulation of the immune‐suppressive tumor microenvironment. Preclinical evidences suggested that anticancer drugs will release their greatest therapeutic potency when combined with PTP inhibitors, reversing drug resistance that was responsible for clinical failures during cancer therapy.

Areas covered

This review aimed to elaborate recent insights that supported the involvement of PTP‐mediated pathways in the development of resistance to targeted therapy and immune‐checkpoint therapy.

Expert opinion

This review proposed the notion of PTP inhibition in anticancer combination therapy as a potential strategy in clinic to achieve long‐term tumor regression. Ongoing clinical trials are currently underway to assess the safety and efficacy of combination therapy in advanced‐stage tumors.