bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Moisture‐Insensitive, Phase‐Stable Indium‐Based Metal Halides and Their Light‐Emitting Applications
Authors: Tang Zhe , Meng Xuan , Zhao Hongyuan , Ji Sujun , Wang Qiujie , Bai Tianxin , Zhang Ruiling , Jiang Junke , Katan Claudine , Even Jacky , Liu Feng
Published: October 2023

Ternary indium (In)‐based metal halides are gaining increased attention as promising lead (Pb)‐free alternatives for light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) owing to their broadband emission and high photoluminescence quantum yields (PLQYs). However, most of the pure In‐based compositions suffer from instability against moisture and thermal stress, leading to a rapid degradation of material and hence their optical properties. Herein, a new kind of organic–inorganic hybrid In‐based metal halide BA6InCl9 (BA+ = C4H11N+) is presented, which exhibits stable crystal structure and material composition at both ambient (over 5 months) and heating conditions (up to 200 °C). Besides, the Huang‐Rhys factor of ≈4.94 determined for BA6InCl9 is considerably smaller than most Pb‐free perovskites, which suggests a relatively weak exciton‐phonon coupling in these crystals. By trace amounts of antimony (III) (Sb3+) doping, the PLQY of the BA6InCl9 single crystals can be markedly improved from ≈25% to 95%, and the ensuing down‐conversion LEDs exhibit bright orange‐red emission with an external quantum efficiency of 0.12%, which retains ≈50% of the initial luminance after 380 min of continuous operation in ambient air. It is forseen that the study will prompt future research on In‐based metal halides and their use in stable light‐emitting applications.
Emissivity and Optical Properties of Thin‐Film Metallic Glass in the Thermal Infrared Region
Authors: Lai Chia‐Chien , Hsiao Tzu‐Chieh , Wang Wei‐Han , Chang Sih‐Wei , Chen Hsuen‐Li
Published: October 2023

This study displays the emissivities and optical properties of thin‐film metallic glasses in the thermal infrared (IR) region. It is found that the amorphous structure of the metallic glass hinders the movement of electrons, leading to unique optical properties in the thermal IR region. Measurements of the optical constants of NiNb thin‐film metallic glasses reveal that a high processing pressure and sputtering power yield high optical conductivity and a low damping constant. Adjusting the parameters of the sputtering processes allows the fabrication of thin‐film metallic glasses with a range of damping constants and also the change in the reflectance and emissivity. Applying optical thin film theory, the emissivity of thin‐film metallic glass in the thermal IR region can be modulated. The measured emissivity of the thin‐film metallic glass (45.35%) is significantly enhanced when compared with that of a Si substrate or metal film. Furthermore, the cooling ability of the optimal metallic glass is much higher than that of Si and metal films. These findings reveal that metallic glass films can display thermal radiative properties superior to those of metals and semiconductors, making them promising materials for use in electronic devices with excellent mechanical characteristics and heat dissipation properties.
Phage Display Identified Peptide with Selectivity for Human Osteoarthritic Chondrocytes
Authors: Martins Ivone M. , Canadas Raphaël F. , Pereira Hélder , Azeredo Joana , Reis Rui L. , Oliveira Joaquim M. , Azevedo Helena S.
Published: October 2023

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common joint disorders in western populations, affecting millions of people worldwide and with a rising incidence as life expectancy continues to increase. Current therapies for OA management fail to halt the progressive degradation of articular cartilage, urging the need for more effective therapies to improve cartilage function and enhance patient's quality of life. Through phage display technology, biopanning on a population of heterogenous chondrocyte cells isolated from six different OA donors, and using a random 12‐amino acid peptide phage library, a peptide selective for human OA chondrocytes (GFQMISNNVYMR) is identified. A twofold increase in fluorescence intensity is observed for OA chondrocytes, compared to normal chondrocytes, when cells are incubated with the identified peptide conjugated to a fluorescent label, being selectively internalized by OA cells. The identified peptide can be further modified and exploited for developing early diagnostic of OA and/or improve drug delivery to target cells through peptide‐drug conjugates.
Progress in Simulating The Effect of Stress on The Performance of Lithium/Sodium‐Based Batteries
Authors: Wang Cong , Wang Xueyu , Guo Daying , Wu Lianhui , Wu Chuanhuang , Chen Xi'an , Wang Shun
Published: October 2023

Lithium/sodium‐based batteries have attracted widespread attention because of their high specific capacity and excellent energy density, and have become one of the hottest research directions in energy storage devices. However, the stress accumulated during the continuous electrochemical cycle will cause the inevitable electrode failure, which inhibits the further improvement of battery performance. In order to eliminate/relieve the internal stress problem, a variety of battery material structures have been designed. In the design of battery material structure, the simulation technology is used to conduct battery modeling to predict the experimental results, which effectively reduces the range of parameters. For this reason, this paper first introduces the parameters that need to be considered by establishing stress model. Then, the utilization of simulation technology in the structural design of diverse battery materials is examined in this study. Finally, the future application of simulation technology in the field of energy storage is prospected. This is aimed to encourage the widespread utilization of simulation technology in the energy storage battery industry, with the goal of reducing design‐related energy consumption, enhancing experimental design feasibility, and minimizing experimentation costs.
Early Progression of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm is Decelerated by Improved Endothelial Barrier Function via ALDH2‐LIN28B‐ELK3 Signaling
Authors: Yang Kehui , Cui Sumei , Wang Jingwen , Xu Tonghui , Du Han , Yue Hongwei , Ye Huaqing , Guo Jialin , Zhang Jian , Li Pengpai , Guo Yunyun , Pan Chang , Pang Jiaojiao , Wang Jiali , Yu Xiao , Zhang Cheng , Liu Zhiping , Chen Yuguo , Xu Feng
Published: October 2023

The involvement of endothelial barrier function in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and its upstream regulators remains unknown. Single‐cell RNA sequencing shows that disrupted endothelial focal junction is an early (3 days) and persistent (28 days) event during Angiotensin II (Ang II)‐induced AAA progression. Consistently, mRNA sequencing on human aortic dissection tissues confirmed downregulated expression of endothelial barrier‐related genes. Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2), a negative regulator of AAA, is found to be upregulated in the intimal media of AAA samples, leading to testing its role in early‐stage AAA. ALDH2 knockdown/knockout specifically in endothelial cells (ECs) significantly increases expression of EC barrier markers related to focal adhesion and tight junction, restores endothelial barrier integrity, and suppresses early aortic dilation of AAA (7 and 14 days post‐Ang II). Mechanically, ELK3 acts as an ALDH2 downstream regulator for endothelial barrier function preservation. At the molecular level, ALDH2 directly binds to LIN28B, a regulator of ELK3 mRNA stability, hindering LIN28B binding to ELK3 mRNA, thereby depressing ELK3 expression and impairing endothelial barrier function. Therefore, preserving vascular endothelial barrier integrity via ALDH2‐specific knockdown in ECs holds therapeutic potential in the early management of AAAs.
Fluorinated‐Squaramide Covalent Organic Frameworks for High‐Performance and Interference‐Free Extraction of Synthetic Cannabinoids
Authors: Shi Yueru , Xu Ruolun , Wang Shaohan , Zheng Juan , Zhu Fang , Hu Qingkun , Huang Junlong , Ouyang Gangfeng
Published: October 2023

Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs), one of the largest groups of new psychoactive substances (NPSs), have emerged as a significant public health threat in different regions worldwide. Analyzing SCs in water samples is critical to estimate their consumption and control. However, due to their low background concentration and the coexistence of complex matrix, the selective and effective enrichment of SCs is still challenging. In this study, a series of fluorinated‐squaramide‐based covalent organic frameworks (COF: FSQ‐2, FSQ‐3, and FSQ‐4) are synthesized, and the as‐prepared FSQ‐4 exhibits strong affinity to different SCs. The proper pore size (1.4 nm) and pre‐located functional groups (hydrogen‐bond donors, hydrogen‐bond acceptors, and fluorophilic segments) work synergistically for efficient SCs capture. Remarkably, when coupled FSQ‐4 with solid‐phase microextraction (SPME), trace‐level (part per trillion, 10−9) determination of 13 SCs can be easily achieved, representing one of the best results among NPS analyses, and the excellent extraction performance can be maintained under various interfering conditions.
Subnano Te Cluster in Glass for Efficient Full‐Spectrum Conversion
Authors: Dong Quan , Zhang Ke , Huang Yupeng , Feng Xu , Yu Tao , Li Xueliang , Qiu Jianrong , Zhou Shifeng
Published: October 2023

Broadband near‐infrared (NIR) photonic materials have wide applications. Although extensive studies on rare‐earth, transition‐metal, and even semiconductor‐activated materials have enabled the development of a rich NIR material pool, developing broadband and efficient photonic candidates covering the NIR I and II regions from 750 to 1500 nm has been met with limited success. Here, it is reported that a subnano Te cluster with a characteristic configuration different from that of the ion state may fill the aforementioned gap. Further, a strategy is proposed for the in situ generation and stabilization of Te clusters by tuning the cluster evolution in glass. A novel active photonic glass embedded with a Te cluster is fabricated; it exhibits intense and broadband short‐wave NIR luminescence with a central wavelength at 1030 nm and a bandwidth exceeding 330 nm. Interestingly, the glass exhibited a full visible‐spectrum conversion ability from 300 to 800 nm. The application of this unique broadband excitation feature for night vision and tissue penetration is demonstrated using a smartphone as the excitation source. These findings demonstrate a fundamental principle of cluster design in glass for creating new properties and provide a new direction for developing novel cluster‐derived functional composite materials.
Hybrid LNP Prime Dendritic Cells for Nucleotide Delivery
Authors: Das Riddha , Halabi Elias A. , Fredrich Ina R. , Oh Juhyun , Peterson Hannah M. , Ge Xinying , Scott Ella , Kohler Rainer H. , Garris Christopher S. , Weissleder Ralph
Published: October 2023

The efficient activation of professional antigen‐presenting cells—such as dendritic cells (DC)—in tumors and lymph nodes is critical for the design of next‐generation cancer vaccines and may be able to provide anti‐tumor effects by itself through immune stimulation. The challenge is to stimulate these cells without causing excessive toxicity. It is hypothesized that a multi‐pronged combinatorial approach to DC stimulation would allow dose reductions of innate immune receptor‐stimulating TLR3 agonists while enhancing drug efficacy. Here, a hybrid lipid nanoparticle (LNP) platform is developed and tested for double‐stranded RNA (polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid for TLR3 agonism) and immune modulator (L‐CANDI) delivery. This study shows that the ≈120 nm hybrid nanoparticles‐in‐nanoparticles effectively eradicate tumors by themselves and generate long‐lasting, durable anti‐tumor immunity in mouse models.
Superconductivity Above 100 K Predicted in Carbon‐Cage Network
Authors: Hai Yu‐Long , Jiang Meng‐Jing , Tian Hui‐Li , Zhong Guo‐Hua , Li Wen‐Jie , Yang Chun‐Lei , Chen Xiao‐Jia , Lin Hai‐Qing
Published: October 2023

To explore carbide superconductors with higher transition temperature, two novel carbon structures of cage‐network are designed and their superconductivity is studied by doping metals. MC6 and MC10 are respectively identified as C24 and C32 cage‐network structures. This study finds that both carbon structures drive strong electron–phonon interaction and can exhibit superconductivity above liquid nitrogen temperature. Importantly, the superconducting transition temperatures above 100 K are predicted to be achieved in C24‐cage‐network systems doped by Na, Mg, Al, In, and Tl at ambient pressure, which is far higher than those in graphite, fullerene, and other carbides. Meanwhile, the superconductivity of cage‐network carbides is also found to be sensitive to the electronegativity and concentration of dopant M. The result indicates that the higher transition temperatures can be obtained by optimizing the carbon‐cage‐network structures and the doping conditions. The study suggests that the carbon‐cage‐network structure is a direction to explore high‐temperature superconducting carbides.
Hydrocarbon Ionomeric Binders for Fuel Cells and Electrolyzers
Authors: Kim Yu Seung
Published: October 2023

Ionomeric binders in catalyst layers, abbreviated as ionomers, play an essential role in the performance of polymer–electrolyte membrane fuel cells and electrolyzers. Due to environmental issues associated with perfluoroalkyl substances, alternative hydrocarbon ionomers have drawn substantial attention over the past few years. This review surveys literature to discuss ionomer requirements for the electrodes of fuel cells and electrolyzers, highlighting design principles of hydrocarbon ionomers to guide the development of advanced hydrocarbon ionomers.
Influence of an Organic Salt‐Based Stabilizing Additive on Charge Carrier Dynamics in Triple Cation Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Dörflinger Patrick , Ding Yong , Schmid Valentin , Armer Melina , Turnell‐Ritson Roland C. , Ding Bin , Dyson Paul J. , Nazeeruddin Mohammad Khaja , Dyakonov Vladimir
Published: October 2023

Besides further improvement in the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of perovskite solar cells (PSC), their long‐term stability must also be ensured. Additives such as organic cations with halide counter anions are considered promising candidates to address this challenge, conferring both higher performance and increased stability to perovskite‐based devices. Here, a stabilizing additive (N,N‐dimethylmethyleneiminium chloride, [Dmmim]Cl) is identified, and its effect on charge carrier mobility and lifetime under thermal stress in triple cation perovskite (Cs0.05MA0.05FA0.90PbI3) thin films is investigated. To explore the fundamental mechanisms limiting charge carrier mobility, temperature‐dependent microwave conductivity measurements are performed. Different mobility behaviors across two temperature regions are revealed, following the power law Tm, indicating two different dominant scattering mechanisms. The low‐temperature region is assigned to charge carrier scattering with polar optical phonons, while a strong decrease in mobility at high temperatures is due to dynamic disorder. The results obtained rationalize the improved stability of the [Dmmim]Cl‐doped films and devices compared to the undoped reference samples, by limiting temperature‐activated mobile ions and retarding degradation of the perovskite film.
m6A‐Modified circTET2 Interacting with HNRNPC Regulates Fatty Acid Oxidation to Promote the Proliferation of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Authors: Wu Zijuan , Zuo Xiaoling , Zhang Wei , Li Yongle , Gui Renfu , Leng Jiayan , Shen Haorui , Pan Bihui , Fan Lei , Li Jianyong , Jin Hui
Published: October 2023

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a hematological malignancy with high metabolic heterogeneity. N6‐methyladenosine (m6A) modification plays an important role in metabolism through regulating circular RNAs (circRNAs). However, the underlying mechanism is not yet fully understood in CLL. Herein, an m6A scoring system and an m6A‐related circRNA prognostic signature are established, and circTET2 as a potential prognostic biomarker for CLL is identified. The level of m6A modification is found to affect the transport of circTET2 out of the nucleus. By interacting with the RNA‐binding protein (RBP) heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein C (HNRNPC), circTET2 regulates the stability of CPT1A and participates in the lipid metabolism and proliferation of CLL cells through mTORC1 signaling pathway. The mTOR inhibitor dactolisib and FAO inhibitor perhexiline exert a synergistic effect on CLL cells. In addition, the biogenesis of circTET2 can be affected by the splicing process and the RBPs RBMX and YTHDC1. CP028, a splicing inhibitor, modulates the expression of circTET2 and shows pronounced inhibitory effects. In summary, circTET2 plays an important role in the modulation of lipid metabolism and cell proliferation in CLL. This study demonstrates the clinical value of circTET2 as a prognostic indicator as well as provides novel insights in targeting treatment for CLL.
Direct In Situ Determination of the Surface Area and Structure of Deposited Metallic Lithium within Lithium Metal Batteries Using Ultra Small and Small Angle Neutron Scattering
Authors: Didier Christophe , Gilbert Elliot P. , Mata Jitendra , Peterson Vanessa K.
Published: October 2023

Despite being the major cause of safety and performance issues in lithium metal batteries, experimental difficulties in quantifying directly the morphology of lithium deposited at electrode surfaces have meant that the mechanism of metallic lithium growth within batteries remains elusive. This study demonstrates that quantitative detail about the morphology of metallic lithium within batteries can be derived non‐destructively and directly using in situ ultra‐small and small‐angle neutron scattering. This information is obtained over a large electrode area in cells where lithium deposition processes are typical of real‐world applications. Complex variations of surface area and interfacial distances 1–10 µm and 100–300 nm are revealed in size that are influenced by current density and cell cycling history, providing valuable insight into the growth of metallic lithium features detrimental to battery performance. Such quantitative insight into the process of lithium growth is required for the development of safer high‐performance lithium metal batteries.
Elucidation of the Mechanism of K‐Ion Storage of Hard Carbon and Soft Carbon Anodes in Ether‐ and Ester‐Based Electrolytes
Authors: Jian Wenbin , Qiu Xueqing , Lai Yuyan , Yin Panchao , Lin Jinxin , Zhang Wenli
Published: October 2023

Graphite anodes experience co‐intercalation of K+ ions and solvent in ether‐based electrolytes, which enables ultrafast kinetics of potassium‐ion storage. The potassium‐ion storage mechanisms of amorphous soft carbon (SC) and hard carbon (HC) anodes in ether‐based electrolytes are ambiguous. Herein, the co‐intercalation mechanisms of SC and HC in ether‐based electrolytes are elucidated. The solvated K+ intercalates with a solvation structure, which avoids the sluggish desolvation process. Thus, HC and SC anodes display excellent rate capabilities. Moreover, the SC anode forms ternary K‐graphite intercalation compounds during the potassiation process. It is also demonstrated that solvated K+ is not only stored in the spacing between graphene nanodomains but can also be stored in the closed pores of HC, enabling higher capacities than pure K+ intercalation in ester‐based electrolytes. Nevertheless, the co‐intercalation causes the large volume expansion of SC and HC, giving rise to irreversible structural damage and capacity decay of SC and HC. The strong interaction between K+ ions and ether molecules is the main reason for the co‐intercalation. A thick and organic‐rich solid electrolyte interphase film formed in ester‐based electrolytes can hinder the co‐intercalation in ether‐based electrolytes.
Black Phosphorus Modulated Ru Electrocatalyst for Highly Efficient and Durable Seawater Splitting
Authors: Yang Huanhuan , Wang Xin , Xia Shini , Zhang Shumeng , Zhang Rong , Li Xinxin , Yu Xue‐Feng , Zhang Xue , Bai Licheng
Published: October 2023

Electrochemical water splitting presents a potential method for generating clean and renewable hydrogen energy. The extensive utilization of such energy depends on the availability of abundant and easily accessible sources of water. However, despite the significant development prospects, direct seawater decomposition is hindered by the presence of impurities, intricate pretreatment, and reaction process, etc, which hinders the efficient implementation of seawater electrolysis as a means of hydrogen production. Herein, a strategy is described to modulate the Ru surface electronic structure through rapid formation of Ru─P bonds between Ru and black phosphorus (BP), thereby optimizing the electrochemical activity in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). By adjusting the amount of BP, the HER price activity of BPed‐Ru‐Gr exhibits a remarkable increase of 3.8‐fold and 10.4‐fold compared with the original Ru‐Gr and the benchmark of commercial Pt/C in 1.0 m KOH. Furthermore, BPed‐Ru‐Gr also demonstrates high HER stability and activity in alkaline seawater. The price activity of BPed‐Ru‐Gr exceeds that of the state‐of‐the art Pt/C by a factor of 13.0 after 1000 cycles. The research reveales the marine corrosion resistance of BP on Ru and Pt metal catalysts in the HER, demonstrating its ability to resist the corrosion of Cl ions in alkaline seawater.
Association between traits related to fruit quality in papaya (Carica papaya L.) hybrids and their implications for selection
Authors: Pereira Miranda Daniel , Ramos Helaine Christine Cancela , Santa‐Catarina Renato , Vettorazzi Julio Cesar Fiorio , Grasiela Silva Santana Josefa , Poltronieri Tathianne Pastana de Sousa , Pirovani Adriana Azevedo Vimercati , Duarte Rafaela Pereira , Rodrigues Alex Souza , Bohry Dieimes , Santos Juliana Saltires , Azevedo Alinne Oliveira Nunes , Pereira Messias Gonzaga
Published: October 2023

The knowledge of the associations between the variables and the cause–effect discrimination allows the breeders to make efficient of new cultivars development with traits that meet the demands of producers and consumers. Therefore, the present work aimed to study the associations among the quality variables of papaya (Carica papaya L.) fruits and the effects on selection process. Eight variables related to fruit quality were evaluated in 62 topcross hybrids. The phenotypic and genotypic correlations and path analyses were performed to verify the associations between the variables and the effects on pulp volume. Canonical correlation analysis between primary and secondary quality variables was also carried out. Fruit firmness and soluble solids content showed a positive and significant genotypic correlation, providing evidence for selecting fruits with high averages for both variables. Fruit weight and pulp thickness (PT) were the variables that most contributed to the reduction and increased pulp volume percentage (PV%), respectively. The canonical correlation analysis showed an increase in PT associated with an increase in the fruit length and PV%variables. The physical–chemical variables showed a low association with others, which will make the selection process more laborious to obtain satisfactory gains between the groups of variables.
Cutting schedule and species composition to improve energy‐to‐protein ratios in alfalfa‐based mixtures
Authors: Bélanger Gilles , Tremblay Gaëtan F. , Thivierge Marie‐Noëlle , Thériault Mireille , Seguin Philippe , Lajeunesse Julie , Claessens Annie
Published: October 2023

Energy‐to‐protein ratios have been suggested as a potential forage attribute related to nitrogen (N) use efficiency in dairy cows but how these ratios vary with the cutting management of alfalfa‐based mixtures is poorly known. Our objective was to determine the effect of cutting schedules of alfalfa‐based mixtures and their species composition on two forage energy‐to‐protein ratios from a large number of samples from four field experiments with previously published results on forage dry matter yield and nutritive value. The two energy‐to‐protein ratios were (1) nonfiber carbohydrates (NFC) to crude protein (CP), NFC/CP, and (2) NFC to the sum of nonprotein N (NPN) and rapidly degradable protein fraction (PB1), NFC/(NPN + PB1). Cutting alfalfa‐based mixtures at the early bloom stage rather than at the early bud stage of alfalfa and taking a fall harvest increased mostly the NFC/CP ratio. Including at least one grass species with alfalfa had variable effects on the two ratios. Although several grass species were tested, we cannot conclude on the best grass species to use. Observed increases in the energy‐to‐protein ratios, however, were relatively small (<8%) and not always consistent in different experiments. Because the relative changes in the energy (NFC) and protein (CP or NPN + PB1) components of the ratios often varied in the same direction when induced by cutting schedules or the presence of grasses with alfalfa, opportunities to improve energy‐to‐protein ratios with those practices remain limited.
Hybridization of covalent organic frameworks and photosensitive metal‐organic rings: A new strategy for constructing supramolecular Z‐scheme heterostructures for ultrahigh photocatalytic hydrogen evolution
Authors: Li Xin‐Ao , Liang Zi‐Zhan , Zhou Ye‐Cheng , Huang Jian‐Feng , Wang Xiao‐Lin , Xiao Li‐Min , Liu Jun‐Min
Published: October 2023

The rational design of Z‐scheme heterojunction photosystems based on covalent organic frameworks (COFs) is a promising strategy for harnessing solar energy for hydrogen conversion. Herein, a direct Z‐scheme single‐atom photocatalyst based on COF and metal‐organic ring has been constructed through the supramolecular interactions of coral‐like COF (S‐COF) and photosensitized Pd2L2 type metal‐organic ring (MAC‐FA1). The MAC‐FA1/S‐COF heterojunction exhibits good light absorption, efficient charge separation and transfer, slow electron‐hole recombination, and highly dispersed Pd active sites, enabling an efficient and stable H2 evolution reaction. The optimized 4% MAC‐FA1/S‐COF achieves an H2 evolution rate of 100 mmol g−1 h−1 within 5 h and obtains a total accumulated turn‐over number relative to Pd (TONPd) of 437,685 within 20 h, far superior to S‐COF, MAC‐FA1, M‐5/S‐COF, Pd/S‐COF, and M‐5/Pd/S‐COF, which is one of the highest records among COF‐based photocatalysts for solar‐driven H2 evolution. This is the first work to incorporate photosensitized metal‐organic rings/cages into porous crystalline COFs to form a supramolecular Z‐scheme heterojunction, which has significant potential as a high‐performance photocatalyst for solar‐driven H2 production.
Ce6 nanoassemblies: Molecular mechanism and strategies for combinational anticancer therapy
Authors: Liu Yuwei , Xu Shuting , Lyu Qingyang , Huang Yi , Wang Weiping
Published: October 2023

Nowadays, cancer has become the leading cause of death worldwide, driving the need for effective therapeutics to improve patient prognosis. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been widely applied as an antitumor modality, owing to its minimal invasiveness, localized tumor damage, and high safety profile. However, its efficacy is limited by poor stability of photosensitizers, inadequate tumor accumulation, and a complex tumor microenvironment. To overcome these challenges, extensive endeavors have been made to explore the co‐assembly of the widely used photosensitizer chlorin e6 (Ce6) with various functional small molecules to enhance pharmacodynamic activity. This review provides a comprehensive overview of current studies on Ce6‐based nanoparticles for effective PDT and precise delivery of functional molecules. The self‐assembly mechanism will be discussed in detail, with a focus on potential strategies for combinational therapy with PDT.
Machine Learning and Bioinformatics Analysis for Laboratory Data in Pan‐Cancers Detection
Authors: Jia Yin , Liu Zixin , Guo Jie , He Chengwen , Zhou Xinru , Xue Miao , Nie Tian , Sun Tingting , Kang Jinsong , Lu Qiong , Jiang Lei , Liu Shanrong
Published: October 2023

Early diagnosis of cancer is crucial to improving the long‐term survival rate of patients. However, commonly used tumor markers lack sensitivity and specificity for screening purposes. Herein, 10 diagnostic models for 10 common types of cancer are developed by extreme gradient boosting, incorporating 66 laboratory parameters. The datasets consist of a retrospective cohort of 737 503 training and 184 012 validation cases, and a prospective cohort of 174 894 cases for model testing. The areas under the curve of the 10 diagnostic models range from 0.763 to 0.993. Notably, the different models have varying numbers of identical parameters among the 66 test features. Additionally, SHapley Additive exPlanation analysis reveals that 54 nontumor markers contributed significantly to the models. Cosine similarity analysis and clustering analysis demonstrate that some of the 10 cancers share common pathophysiological characteristics. Feature‐based inference graph models are thus performed and infer relationships between nontumor index parameters and cancers with strong correlations. In conclusion, a machine learning‐based pan‐cancer early warning system has been established in this study, which can guide doctors in selecting more accurate testing indicators and assessing the risk of 10 types of cancer with greater precision.
Modeling of 3D NAND Characteristics for Cross‐Temperature by Using Graph Neural Network and Its Application
Authors: Cho Kyeongrae , Lee Jeong-Sik , Park Chanyang , Yun Hyeok , Jang Hyundong , Eom Seungjoon , Park Min Sang , Choi Hyun-Chul , Baek Rock-Hyun
Published: October 2023

Herein, the impact of cross‐temperature on 3D NAND flash memory is modeled by considering adjacent cells using machine learning. The cells comprising NAND flash memory exhibit diverse states and connectivity patterns. To effectively capture this complexity, the 3D NAND flash is converted to graph structure and the graph neural network (GNN) is leveraged, known for its exceptional performance in handling graph data. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first attempt to model 3D NAND flash memory using GNN. This method has good generalization performance across various retention times and temperatures, achieving a remarkable overlap of 95.28% between ground truth and predicted distributions. Moreover, two applications of this method are introduced that contribute to the NAND flash memory improvement. One is a GNN‐assist program, which leverages well‐trained GNN to suppress the degradation affected by cross‐temperature, resulting in reduced shift and narrower distribution width. The other is the sensitivity decomposition to identify parameters influencing the cell at cross‐temperature. It is found that cross‐temperature impact extends beyond physically connected cells to adjacent cells at close distances. Overall, this work provides valuable insights into modeling 3D NAND flash memory using GNNs and offers practical methods for enhancing NAND flash memory reliability.
Causes of death in individuals with trisomy 18 after the first year of life
Authors: Mehl Justin M. , Gelfond Jonathan , Carey John C. , Cody Jannine D.
Published: October 2023

Mortality in individuals with trisomy 18 has significantly decreased over the past 20 years, but there is scant literature addressing the prognosis and cause of death in individuals with trisomy 18 and survival past the first year of life (YOL). This study analyzed factors associated with mortality and cause of death in a retrospective cohort of 174 individuals with trisomy 18 and survival past the first YOL, the largest such series to date. Data were collected via retrospective survey of parents of affected individuals. Prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 18; postnatal respiratory distress; maternal age > 35 years; birthweight <2000 g; brain and spinal cord defect(s); atrial and/or ventricular septal defect(s); inability to feed orally without medical assistance; and failure to meet sitting and rolling milestones were associated with mortality in this sample. Cause of death was compared between our cohort of individuals with trisomy 18 and existing literature on those with mortality before the first YOL. Individuals with trisomy 18 with mortality after the first YOL demonstrated a predominance of infectious (n = 10/22) and postoperative (n = 6/22) contributing causes of death, in contrast to the existing literature, which shows a predominance of cardiopulmonary causes of death (e.g., cardiopulmonary arrest, pulmonary hypertension). These findings demonstrate that individuals with trisomy 18 and survival past the first YOL have unique medical needs, but further research is needed to develop clinical guidelines for this growing population.
Psychiatrists' perceptions of and reactions to a simulated psychiatric genetic counseling session
Authors: Cardiff Katharine , Ecker Lindsey Alico , Austin Jehannine
Published: October 2023

Psychiatric genetic counseling (pGC) has been demonstrated to have meaningful positive outcomes for people with psychiatric conditions and their families. However, it is not widely accessed, and clinical genetics services tend to receive few referrals for these indications. Little research has evaluated psychiatrists' perceptions of and experience with interfacing with pGC. Therefore, we invited Ontario‐based psychiatrists to participate in a study in which they first watched a simulated pGC session (representative of typical practice: the patient had depression with no exceptionally dense family history of psychiatric conditions, no genetic testing is provided, and no family‐based risk assessment is performed), then completed zoom‐based qualitative semi‐structured interviews. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and checked for accuracy. Using interpretive description to analyze interviews with 12 psychiatrists (data collection was stopped at this point, as theoretical sufficiency was achieved), we generated two theoretical models: the first described the decision‐making pathway psychiatrists currently follow when determining whether and how to address genetics with a patient; the second described psychiatrists' ideas for integrating pGC into care models for the future. Our data shed light on how to facilitate the delivery of pGC for people with psychiatric conditions and their families.
Radical‐Induced C−H Direct Activation of Quinoxaline via Visible Light Photoredox‐Catalyzed
Authors: Tan Meixia , Wu Bin , Kang Jianjun , Wang Jin , Chen Yan , Lin Chen , Ke Fang
Published: October 2023

The photocatalytic C(sp2)−H functionalization of quinoxaline derivatives using potassium iodide as photoredox‐mediators has been described. The lower price of potassium iodide compared to standard photocatalysts, readily available substrates, and environmental solvent constitute make this method cost‐effective and interesting. A catalytic amount of KI is applied to the direct activation of C−H bonds for the construction of heterocyclic compound. This system has simple operation, the characteristics of easy to obtain raw materials, high yield and excellent substrate adaptability provide a new method for the synthesis of C2 substituent quinoxalines.
Climate change effects on the distribution of yellow‐breasted capuchin monkey (Sapajus xanthosternos (Wied‐Neuwied, 1826))
Authors: de Oliveira Jéssica Vargas , Vasquez Vagner Lacerda , Beltrão‐Mendes Raone , Pinto Míriam Plaza
Published: October 2023

The magnitude of recent climatic changes has no historical precedent and impacts biodiversity. Climatic changes may displace suitable habitats (areas with suitable climates), leading to global biodiversity decline. Primates are among the most affected groups. Most primates depend on forests and contribute to their maintenance. We evaluated the potential effects of climatic change on the distribution of Sapajus xanthosternos, a critically endangered primate whose geographical range encompasses three Brazilian biomes. We evaluated changes between baseline (1970–2000) and future (2081–2100) climates using multivariate analysis. Then, we compared current and future (2100) climatic suitability projections for the species. The climatic changes predicted throughout the S. xanthosternos range differed mostly longitudinally, with higher temperature increases in the west and higher precipitation reductions in the east. Climatic suitability for S. xanthosternos is predicted to decline in the future. Areas with highest current climatic suitability occur as a narrow strip in the eastern part of the geographic range throughout the latitudinal range. In the future, areas with highest values are projected to be located as an even narrower strip in the eastern part of the geographical range. A small portion of forest remnants larger than 150 ha located in the east has larger current and future suitability values. At this large scale, the spatial heterogeneity of the climate effects reinforce the importance of maintenance of current populations in different areas of the range. The possibility that phenotypic plasticity helps primates cope with reduced climatic suitability may be mediated by habitat availability, quality, and connectivity.
“It's Self‐Determination. Blackfullas Making Right Decisions for Blackfullas”: Why Indigenous‐owned businesses create better Indigenous employment outcomes
Authors: Eva Christian , Harris Jessica , Bodle Kerry , Foley Dennis , Hunter Boyd , Nichols Nina
Published: October 2023

Previous research demonstrates that businesses that are Indigenous‐owned are far more likely to employ Indigenous people than non‐Indigenous‐owned businesses (Hunter, 2015). The majority of the literature on Indigenous employment uses a deficit discourse, describing factors that prevent or exclude Indigenous people from non‐Indigenous‐owned organisations. There is markedly less literature using a strength‐based approach, detailing how Indigenous‐owned businesses create workplaces without barriers to Indigenous employment. Through 32 semistructured interviews with Indigenous business owners, managers, and Indigenous employees of Indigenous‐owned businesses, this paper provides insights into how participants' businesses create workplaces that are more supportive of, and conducive to, Indigenous employment. This paper finds that Indigenous approaches to governance inform an organisational level of cultural competence, which creates tailored and specific practices that support better Indigenous employment outcomes. This resonates with the concept of Indigenous ways of “knowing, being, and doing,” and how this framework encompasses participants' approaches to business operations. In the light of increasing public and private policy commitments to improve Indigenous employment outcomes, it is imperative that the Indigenous business sector's best practice inform said policies, given its successes. However, inherent in these findings are broader discussions into more systemic and societal issues that go beyond workplace policy.
Fabrication of cellulose acetate microfluidic devices using injection molding and CO2 laser ablation
Authors: Chai Menghao , Xu Linlong , Gao Chuhan , Zhang Yajun , Fan Yiqiang
Published: October 2023

Cellulose acetate (CA) is a bio‐based polymer derived from natural resources and has unique physical and chemical properties, such as high transparency, chemical and mechanical stability, hydrophilicity, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. This study proposed an approach for the fabrication of CA‐based microfluidic devices with injection molded CA sheet and CO2 laser‐ablated microchannel. This study also provided a detailed study of the width and depth of the laser‐ablated microchannels with various scan speeds and laser energy settings. A droplet generator and a diffusion mixer were also fabricated and tested for the demonstration of the proposed fabrication technique. Biocompatibility test, biodegradability test, and spontaneous flow experiments were also conducted with the fabricated CA‐based microfluidic devices. The proposed fabrication method for CA‐based microfluidic devices has great application prospects in analytical chemistry, biological, and medical fields for the formation of environmentally friendly microfluidics devices.
Spatial Manipulation of Fluorescent Colloidal Nanodiamonds for Applications in Quantum Sensing
Authors: Vashist Eklavy , Ghosh Souvik , Ghosh Ambarish
Published: October 2023

Nitrogen vacancy (NV) centers in diamonds are of current interest as quantum sensors, single photon sources, and biological nanomaterials due to their unique optical and spin properties, biocompatibility, and robust structure. Though NV center in diamonds demonstrates longer coherence time and has been used for more sensing and quantum operations compared to nanodiamonds (NDs), the prospect of selecting NDs with single, few, or multiple NV centers and moving the NDs to the location of interest makes NDs suitable for various applications, due to which there is a significant boost in the last decade to manipulate and position the NDs on the surface or to achieve dynamic control in the fluidic environment. This work covers some of the basics of the materials and optical properties of nanodiamonds and discusses the capabilities and challenges for practical applications, followed by a detailed review of the various static and dynamic manipulation methods of nanodiamonds in microfluidic environments (colloidal NDs).
Towards time and cost‐efficient habitat assessment: Challenges and opportunities for benthic ecology and management
Authors: Schenone Stefano , Azhar Mihailo , Delmas Patrice , Thrush Simon F.
Published: October 2023

To the untrained eye, soft‐sediment habitats are often viewed as vast expanses of featureless sand and mud. With new technology, it is finally possible to begin to map the ecological heterogeneity of these ecosystems to reveal their importance for ecosystem service provision and open up new opportunities to manage their use and protect them.

When compared with terrestrial or marine vegetated habitats, the characterization of unvegetated soft sediments still lacks rapid and cost‐effective practices that allow the direct collection of ecological data at multiple spatial and temporal scales facilitating direct relevance to conservation and management. New technologies that allow for the building of maps that incorporate multiple scales of heterogeneity also provide new ways of upscaling necessarily detailed and small‐scale process studies.

The study of the relationship between benthic structure, biodiversity and ecosystem functioning can benefit from a range of established and novel techniques and creates new opportunities to empirically test generalities and predictions based on theory or small‐scale experimental studies. The capacity to map ecological changes rapidly and at scale and to link small‐scale experiments to landscapes uncovers new insights for seafloor conservation including rapid response to disturbance events, broad‐scale ecologically meaningful mapping and assessments of biodiversity–ecosystem function and biodiversity–ecosystem services relationships.

As technology advances and becomes more accessible to all, it offers promising new avenues of research to expand our current capabilities, and the adoption of nested approaches, with a synergy of different samplings simultaneously covering several scales and resolutions, is likely to have the most benefit, supporting decision‐making with ecologically insightful data, as well as the timely assessment of the outcomes of conservation actions.
Is the demand for fish swim bladders driving the extinction of globally endangered marine wildlife?
Authors: Smith Brian D. , Mansur Elisabeth Fahrni , Shamsuddoha Mohammad , Billah G. M. Masum
Published: October 2023

International trade in croaker swim bladders or maws and incidental catches in fisheries targeting croakers for their maws pose a global problem that needs addressing to protect target croakers and globally threatened small cetaceans, sharks, rays and marine turtles.

The lesson of the likely imminent extinction of the vaquita porpoise (Phocoena sinus) in the Gulf of California, Mexico, owing to entanglement in gillnets targeting the totoaba croaker for its maw, is that the underlying threats to marine species must be addressed well before precipitous declines make their extinction inevitable.

Opportunistic interviews with fishers and fish traders in Bangladesh indicate that the increasing demand for fish maws, selling for as much as 5,000 USD per kg, may be intensifying small‐scale coastal fisheries and bycatches of globally threatened marine wildlife, especially due to the potential for a windfall profit.

In 137 croaker catches made in gillnets, sharks were bycaught in 22%, marine turtles in 8% and rays in 3% of catches. Of particular concern were six bycatches of 125 Critically Endangered scalloped hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini), 11 bycatches of 20 Vulnerable (VU) olive ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) and two bycatches of 13 VU longtail butterfly rays (Gymnura poecilura).

A recent IUCN Motion for ‘Controlling and monitoring trade in croaker swim bladders to protect target croakers and reduce incidental catches of threatened marine megafauna’ recommends conducting an analysis on the impacts of the demand for and trade in fish maws on croaker species and threatened marine megafauna, regulating trade in fish maws through national laws and developing a potential proposal to list croaker species in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

To prevent species extinctions, additional measures focusing on fishery management will be needed.
Structural modification of naturally occurring phenolics as a strategy for developing cytotoxic molecules towards cancer cells
Authors: Olim Pedro , Pereira Renato B. , Fernandes Maria José G. , Natal Carolina M. , Coelho José R. A. , Fortes A. Gil , Gonçalves M. Sameiro T. , Pereira David M.
Published: October 2023

Natural products belonging to different chemical classes have been established as a promising source of novel anticancer drugs. Several low‐molecular‐weight compounds from the classes of monoterpenes, phenylpropanoids, and flavonoids were shown to possess anticancer activities in previous studies. In this work, over 20 semisynthetic derivatives of molecules belonging to these classes, namely thymol, eugenol, and 6‐hydroxyflavanone were synthesized and tested for their cytotoxicity against two human cancer cell lines, namely AGS cells (gastric adenocarcinoma) and A549 cells (human lung carcinoma). An initial screening based on viability assessment was performed to identify the most cytotoxic compounds at 100 μM. The results evidenced that two 6‐hydroxyflavanone derivatives were the most cytotoxic among the compounds tested, being selected for further studies. These derivatives displayed enhanced toxicity when compared with their natural counterparts. Moreover, the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay showed that the loss of cell viability was not accompanied by a loss of membrane integrity, thus ruling out a necrotic process. Morphological studies with AGS cells demonstrated chromatin condensation compatible with apoptosis, confirmed by the activation of caspase 3/7. Furthermore, a viability assay on a noncancer human embryonic lung fibroblast cell line (MRC‐5) confirmed that these two derivatives possess selective anticancer activity.