bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trophic diversity and evolution in Enantiornithes: a synthesis including new insights from Bohaiornithidae
Authors: Miller Case Vincent , Pittman Michael , Wang Xiaoli , Zheng Xiaoting , Bright Jen A.
Published: September 2023

The “opposite birds” Enantiornithines were the dominant birds of the Mesozoic, but our understanding of their ecology is still tenuous. In particular, diets of enantiornithine species have remained speculative until recently. While this new work has been effective at determining diet within groups of enantiornithines, diet data thus far has been too sparse to comment on larger trends in the diversity and evolution of enantiornithine ecology. We introduce new data on the enantiornithine family Bohaiornithidae, famous for their large size and strong teeth and claws. In tandem with previously-published data on the earlier-diverging pengornithids and later-diverging longipterygids, we comment on the breadth of enantiornithine ecology and potential patterns in which it evolved.Body mass, jaw mechanical advantage, finite element analysis of the jaw, and traditional morphometrics of the claws and skull are compared between bohaiornithids and living birds. The sample size for living bird body mass is over ten times larger than previous studies on longipterygid and pengornithid diet, with implications in interpreting their results. We find bohaiornithids to be ecologically diverse:
Bohaiornis
and
Parabohaiornis
are similar to living plant-eating birds;
Longusunguis
resembles raptorial carnivores;
Zhouornis
is similar to both fruit-eating birds and generalist feeders; and
Shenqiornis
and
Sulcavis
plausibly ate fish, plants, or a mix of both. This ecological diversity is wider than any other enantiornithine family studied previously, which may be driven by strengthening of the jaw relative to other early birds. This strong jaw would allow bohaiornithids to eat harder foods than other birds at the time, but their jaws were weaker than most “strong-jawed” living birds.With these reconstructions of diet in Bohaiornithidae, there is quantitative support for enantiornithines inhabiting nearly every trophic level. By combining these reconstructions with past dietary predictions for Longipterygidae and Pengornithidae, we predict the ancestral enantiornithine bird to have been a generalist which ate a wide variety of foods. This would suggest that the ecological diversity of enantiornithine birds represents specialisation in taking foods their ancestors were already eating, rather than many dramatic changes in diet. However, more quantitative data from across the enantiornithine tree is needed to refine this prediction. By the Early Cretaceous, enantiornithine birds had diversified into a variety of ecological niches in a similar way to crown birds after the K-Pg extinction, adding to the body of evidence that traits unique to crown birds (e.g. a toothless beak or cranial kinesis) cannot completely explain their ecological success.
Asymmetric distribution of color-opponent response types across mouse visual cortex supports superior color vision in the sky
Authors: Franke Katrin , Cai Chenchen , Ponder Kayla , Fu Jiakun , Sokoloski Sacha , Berens Philipp , Tolias Andreas S.
Published: September 2023

Color is an important visual feature that informs behavior, and the retinal basis for color vision has been studied across various vertebrate species. While we know how color information is processed in visual brain areas of primates, we have limited understanding of how it is organized beyond the retina in other species, including most dichromatic mammals. In this study, we systematically characterized how color is represented in the primary visual cortex (V1) of mice. Using large-scale neuronal recordings and a luminance and color noise stimulus, we found that more than a third of neurons in mouse V1 are color-opponent in their receptive field center, while the receptive field surround predominantly captures luminance contrast. Furthermore, we found that color-opponency is especially pronounced in posterior V1 that encodes the sky, matching the statistics of mouse natural scenes. Using unsupervised clustering, we demonstrate that the asymmetry in color representations across cortex can be explained by an uneven distribution of green-On/UV-Off color-opponent response types that are represented in the upper visual field. This type of coloropponency in the receptive field center was not present at the level of the retinal output and, therefore, is likely computed in the cortex by integrating upstream visual signals. Finally, a simple model with natural scene-inspired parametric stimuli shows that green-On/UV-Off color-opponent response types may enhance the detection of “predatory”-like dark UV-objects in noisy daylight scenes. The results from this study highlight the relevance of color processing in the mouse visual system and contribute to our understanding of how color information is organized in the visual hierarchy across species. More broadly, they support the hypothesis that visual cortex combines upstream information towards computing neuronal selectivity to behaviorally-relevant sensory features.
Robust optogenetic inhibition with red-light-sensitive anion-conducting channelrhodopsins
Authors: Oppermann Johannes , Rozenberg Andrey , Fabrin Thomaz , González-Cabrera Cristian , Parker Rafael , Béjà Oded , Prigge Matthias , Hegemann Peter
Published: September 2023

Channelrhodopsins (ChRs) are light-gated ion channels widely used to optically activate or silence selected electrogenic cells, such as individual brain neurons. Here, we describe identifying and characterizing a set of anion-conducting ChRs (ACRs) from diverse taxa and representing various branches of the ChR phylogenetic tree. The Mantoniella squamata ACR (MsACR1) showed high sensitivity to yellow-green light (λmax at 555 nm) and was further engineered for optogenetic applications. A single amino-acid substitution that mimicked red-light-sensitive rhodopsins like Chrimson shifted the photosensitivity 20 nm toward red light and accelerated photocurrent kinetics. Hence, it was named red and accelerated ACR, raACR. Both wild-type and mutant are capable optical silencers at low light intensities in mouse neurons in vitro and in vivo, while raACR offers a higher temporal resolution.
Atypical Biological Motion Perception in Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Dissociating the Roles of Local Motion and Global Configuration Processing
Authors: Tian Junbin , Yang Fang , Wang Ying , Wang Li , Wang Ning , Jiang Yi , Yang Li
Published: September 2023

The ability to perceive biological motion (BM) is crucial for human survival and social interaction. Plentiful studies have found impaired BM perception in autism spectrum disorder characterized by deficits in social interaction. Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often exhibit similar deficits in social interaction, but few studies have investigated BM perception in ADHD. Here, we compared the differences in abilities to process local kinematic and global configurational cues, two fundamental abilities of BM perception, between typically developing (TD) and ADHD children. Then, we further investigated the relationship between BM perception and social interaction skills measured by the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) and examined the contributions of potential factors (e.g., gender, age, attention and intelligence) to BM perception. Results revealed that children with ADHD exhibited atypical BM perception with a clear dissociation between local and global BM information processing. Local BM processing ability was largely related to social interaction skills, whereas global BM processing ability would significantly improve with age. Critically, general BM perception (i.e., both local and global BM cues) was affected by sustained attention ability in ADHD. This relationship was mainly mediated by Reasoning Intelligence. These findings elucidate the atypical biological motion perception in ADHD and the potential factors related to BM perception. Moreover, this study provides new evidence for local BM perception as a hallmark of social cognition and advances the comprehensive understanding of the distinct roles of local and global processing in BM perception and social cognitive disorders.
Heterogeneous presynaptic receptive fields contribute to directional tuning in starburst amacrine cells
Authors: Gaynes John A , Budoff Samuel A , Grybko Michael J , Poleg-Polsky Alon
Published: September 2023

The processing of visual information by retinal starburst amacrine cells (SACs) involves transforming excitatory input from bipolar cells (BCs) into directional calcium output. While previous studies have suggested that an asymmetry in the kinetic properties of BCs along the soma-dendritic axes of the postsynaptic cell could enhance directional tuning at the level of individual branches, it remains unclear whether biologically relevant presynaptic kinetics contribute to direction selectivity (DS) when visual stimulation engages the entire dendritic tree. To address this question, we built multicompartmental models of the bipolar–SAC circuit and trained them to boost directional tuning. We report that despite significant dendritic crosstalk and dissimilar directional preferences along the dendrites that occur during whole-cell stimulation, the rules that guide BC kinetics leading to optimal DS are similar to the single-dendrite condition. To correlate model predictions to empirical findings, we utilized two-photon glutamate imaging to study the dynamics of bipolar release onto ON- and OFF-starburst dendrites in the murine retina. We reveal diverse presynaptic dynamics in response to motion in both BC populations; algorithms trained on the experimental data suggested that the differences in the temporal release kinetics are likely to correspond to heterogeneous receptive field properties among the different BC types, including the spatial extent of the center and surround components. In addition, we demonstrate that circuit architecture composed of presynaptic units with experimentally recorded dynamics could enhance directional drive but not to levels that replicate empirical findings, suggesting other DS mechanisms are required to explain SAC function. Our study provides new insights into the complex mechanisms underlying DS in retinal processing and highlights the potential contribution of presynaptic kinetics to the computation of visual information by SACs.
Heterogeneous presynaptic receptive fields contribute to directional tuning in starburst amacrine cells
Authors: Gaynes John A. , Budoff Samuel A. , Grybko Michael J. , Poleg-Polsky Alon
Published: September 2023

The processing of visual information by retinal starburst amacrine cells (SACs) involves transforming excitatory input from bipolar cells (BCs) into directional calcium output. While previous studies have suggested that an asymmetry in the kinetic properties of bipolar cells along the soma-dendritic axes of the postsynaptic cell could enhance directional tuning at the level of individual branches, it remains unclear whether biologically relevant presynaptic kinetics contribute to direction selectivity when visual stimulation engages the entire dendritic tree. To address this question, we built multicompartmental models of the bipolar–SAC circuit and trained them to boost directional tuning. We report that despite significant dendritic crosstalk and dissimilar directional preferences along the dendrites that occur during whole-cell stimulation, the rules that guide BC kinetics leading to optimal directional selectivity are similar to the single-dendrite condition. To correlate model predictions to empirical findings, we utilized two-photon glutamate imaging to study the dynamics of bipolar release onto ON- and OFF-starburst dendrites in the murine retina. We reveal diverse presynaptic dynamics in response to motion in both BC populations; algorithms trained on the experimental data suggested that the differences in the temporal release kinetics are likely to correspond to heterogeneous receptive field (RF) properties among the different BC types, including the spatial extent of the center and surround components. In addition, we demonstrate that circuit architecture composed of presynaptic units with experimentally recorded dynamics could enhance directional drive but not to levels that replicate empirical findings, suggesting other DS mechanisms are required to explain SAC function. Our study provides new insights into the complex mechanisms underlying direction selectivity in retinal processing and highlights the potential contribution of presynaptic kinetics to the computation of visual information by starburst amacrine cells.
Stratification of enterochromaffin cells by single-cell expression analysis
Authors: Song Yan , Fothergill Linda J. , Lee Kari S. , Liu Brandon Y. , Koo Ada , Perelis Mark , Diwakarla Shanti , Callaghan Brid , Huang Jie , Wykosky Jill , Furness John B. , Yeo Gene W.
Published: September 2023

Dynamic interactions between gut mucosal cells and the external environment are essential to maintain gut homeostasis. Enterochromaffin (EC) cells transduce both chemical and mechanical signals and produce 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) to mediate disparate physiological responses. However, the molecular and cellular basis for functional diversity of ECs remains to be adequately defined. Here, we integrated single-cell transcriptomics with spatial image analysis to identify fourteen EC clusters that are topographically organized along the gut. Subtypes predicted to be sensitive to the chemical environment and mechanical forces were identified that express distinct transcription factors and hormones. A

Piezo2
+

population in the distal colon was endowed with a distinctive neuronal signature. Using a combination of genetic, chemogenetic and pharmacological approaches, we demonstrated

Piezo2
+

ECs are required for normal colon motility. Our study constructs a molecular map for ECs and offers a framework for deconvoluting EC cells with pleiotropic functions.
Neurofeedback training can modulate task-relevant memory replay rate in rats
Authors: Gillespie Anna K , Astudillo Maya Daniela , Denovellis Eric L , Desse Sachi , Frank Loren M
Published: September 2023

Hippocampal replay – the time-compressed, sequential reactivation of ensembles of neurons related to past experience – is a key neural mechanism of memory consolidation. Replay typically coincides with a characteristic pattern of local field potential activity, the sharp-wave ripple (SWR). Reduced SWR rates are associated with cognitive impairment in multiple models of neurodegenerative disease, suggesting that a clinically viable intervention to promote SWRs and replay would prove beneficial. We therefore developed a neurofeedback paradigm for rat subjects in which SWR detection triggered rapid positive feedback in the context of a memory-dependent task. This training protocol increased the prevalence of task-relevant replay during the targeted neurofeedback period by changing the temporal dynamics of SWR occurrence. This increase was also associated with neural and behavioral forms of compensation after the targeted period. These findings reveal short-timescale regulation of SWR generation and demonstrate that neurofeedback is an effective strategy for modulating hippocampal replay.
Assessment of Arterial Stiffness in Patients Recovered from Mild COVID-19 Disease using Pulse Wave Velocity: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Dashoundhi Vishalkumar , Khodnapur Gireesh P , Poddar Amrit , Patil Sumangala M , Khodnapur yoti P
Published: September 2023

Introduction: Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) may manifest with different grades, such as mild, moderate, or severe. COVID-19 has many post-viral implications on different organ systems, including the vascular system. As the pandemic load increases, it is vital to identify any post-recovery complications and functional impairments of the arteries in patients who have recovered from mild COVID-19 disease. Aim: Present study aimed to evaluate the functional impairment of the arteries, specifically arterial stiffness, in patients recovered from mild COVID-19 disease by assessing Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV). Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted at Shri BM Patil Medical College and Research Centre, BLDE (Deemed to be University), Vijayapura, Karnataka, India, from April 2021 to June 2021. A total of 18 patients who had recovered from mild COVID-19 disease (Group 1: n=18) and age- and sex-matched healthy participants (Group 2: n=18) accessing health services at the hospital were included in the study. Data were collected for physiological parameters such as height, weight, Body Mass Index (BMI), Pulse Rate (PR), Blood Pressure (BP), and arterial stiffness parameters like PWV. The data were statistically analysed using the Mann-Whitney U test and Spearman’s correlation. Results: The study included 36 participants aged between 18 and 65 years. In the present study, patients recovered from mild COVID-19 disease showed a statistically significant increase in brachial-ankle Pulse Wave Velocity (b-a PWV) (p=0.001) and carotid-femoral Pulse Wave Velocity (c-f PWV) (p<0.01) compared to the controls and positively correlated with Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP). Conclusion: The present study concluded that even a mild degree of COVID-19 enhanced PWV, reflecting an increase in arterial stiffness. This study may assist clinicians in follow-up visits and rehabilitation to reduce the burden of the disease.
Satisfação do Consumidor: Um Estudo Comparativo entre Usuários de Uber e Táxi
Authors: Santos Luís Fernando Irgang dos , Miranda Ronaldo Leão de , Tambosi Silvana Silva Vieira , Tontini Gérson
Published: September 2023

Num ambiente cada vez mais competitiva, a satisfação do consumidor se tornado um dos principais objetivos das associações que desejam criar e manter vantagem competitiva. Nesse cenário, para conquistar a satisfação e a lealdade do consumidor, é necessário avaliar sua percepção em relação a qualidade dos serviços ofertados. Assim sendo, este estudo objetiva avaliar a satisfação dos usuários de Uber e táxi no Brasil a partir da percepção de qualidade dos serviços. Um questionário online foi desenvolvido com base na escala Servquale contou com a participação de 442 respondentes. Os resultados da pesquisa indicam que os usuários, tanto do Uber quanto de táxi, considera-se informa com a qualidade dos serviços oferecidos; sendo que para os usuários de Uber os atributos mais importantes estão relacionados à “Usabilidade”, enquanto que para os usuários de táxi os aspectos mais relevantes para uma satisfação específica-se a dimensão dos “Tangíveis”.
Identity and values of street runners: a study based on the means-end chain theory
Authors: Alcântara Valderí De Castro , Silva Alexandra Rezende , Vilas Boas Luiz Henrique De Barros , Campos Alyce Cardoso
Published: September 2023

This study emphasizes the contributions of the means-end chain theory to understanding the relationship between attributes-consequences-values (A-C-V) and the identities of individuals participating in street running, a sporting practice that has been gaining followers in Brazil. The objective is to understand how the choice of street running rather than other sporting activities influences the identity reconstruction of its practitioners through A-C-V relationships. The study is qualitative and was conducted in accordance with the guidelines of the means-end chain theory, with data collected on 22 street runners analysed using the laddering technique. The results indicate that by identifying with street running, the runners mainly seek the values of pleasure and achievement. Street running is also marked by the attribute of collective (but also individual) practice. This flexibility of choice is reflected in how the runners relate attributes, consequences, and values in street-running consumption practices.
ℤ‐Classified Topological Phases and Bound States in the Continuum Induced by Multiple Orbitals
Authors: Li Shi‐Feng , Yang Wen‐Jie , Zhou Cui‐Yu‐Yang , Zhu Yi‐Fan , Zou Xin‐Ye , Cheng Jian‐Chun , Assouar Badreddine
Published: January 2025

ℤ‐classified higher‐order topological insulators (HOTIs) with chiral‐symmetric higher‐order topological phases protected by multipole chiral numbers (MCNs) have attracted extensive interest recently. However, how to design artificial ℤ‐classified HOTIs with multiple topological phases remains an unresolved issue. Here, multiorbital degrees of freedom are introduced to acoustic crystals and the various methods of topological phase transitions are achieved for the orbital ℤ‐classified HOTIs. Experimental results demonstrate the realization the coexistence of corner modes with distinct mechanisms within one single model. This provides a pathway for finding ℤ‐classified with large MCNs independent of long‐range coupling. Additionally, a universal approach is introduced here to fabricate topological bound states in the continuum derived from the discrepant onsite energy of degenerate p‐orbitals. These findings provide new insights into the study of topological wave physics using orbital degrees of freedom and may pave the way for designing innovative orbital topological devices for sensing and computing.
Carbon Flow in Acidic CO2 Electroreduction
Authors: Zhou Xiao‐Shuang , Bai Yi‐Yang , Cao Bo , Yang Lin‐Feng , Li Fu‐Zhi , Qin Hai‐Gang , Chen Li‐Na , Chen Long , Gu Jun
Published: January 2025

Electrochemical CO2 reduction in acidic media attracts extensive research attention due to its potential in increasing carbon efficiency. In most reports, alkali cations are introduced to suppress hydrogen evolution and to promote CO2 reduction. However, the mass transport of alkali cations through cation exchange membrane induces the change of electrolyte compositions. Herein, the variation of electrolyte compositions and the flow of carbon during CO2 reduction are analyzed quantitatively by simulation and experiments. If the initial amount of alkali cations in the anolyte is higher than the initial amount of H+ in the catholyte, the pH of the catholyte increases remarkably in long‐term CO2 reduction electrolysis, resulting in the decrease of carbon efficiency. Bicarbonate salt precipitation on the cathode with alkali cation‐containing catholyte is another origin of the decrease of CO2 reduction Faradaic efficiency and carbon efficiency. To maintain high carbon efficiency, the electrolyte should contain low concentration of alkali cations or even be free of alkali cations. Decorating the catalyst of cathode with ionomer with high density of cation sites enables CO2 reduction in pure acid solution, achieving 30‐h stable carbon efficiency.
A Fully Printable Strain Sensor Enabling Highly‐Sensitive Wireless Near‐Field Interrogation
Authors: Mahmoud Hassan A. , Nesser Hussein , Mostafa Tarek M. , Ahmed Shehab , Lubineau G.
Published: January 2025

Wireless, passive, and flexible strain sensors can transform structural health monitoring across various applications by eliminating the need for wired connections and active power sources. Such sensors offer the dual benefits of operational simplicity and high‐function adaptability. Herein, a novel wireless sensor is fabricated using radio frequency (RF) technology for passive, wireless measurement of mechanical strains. Previously introduced concept of coupling piezoresistive electrodes is utilized with capacitive sensors to ensure high‐sensitivity capacitive sensing. For the first time, it is implemented and demonstrated here as a fully printable, inexpensive, and ready‐to‐use device utilizing the recent advances in piezoresistive inks and screen‐printing technologies. The near‐field communication (NFC) tag features an inductor ‐ capacitor (LC) resonant circuit with a distinct resonant frequency. The sensor exhibits high sensitivity and detects substantial variations in capacitance, with a gauge factor (GF) of ≈16 at 20 MHz for strain levels below 5%. Within the wireless framework, the sensor achieves a significant shift in resonance frequency (GF of ≈2.2). It also exhibited excellent performance in wirelessly monitoring the strain in a glass fiber‐reinforced polymer (GFRP) specimen during the bending test. The results confirm the potential applicability of the sensor as an embedded sensor for monitoring various types of composite structures. This confirms the potential of the sensor for use in composite structures as an embedded sensor.
MicroRNA Gets a Mighty Award
Authors: Li Yu , Chen Sijie , Rao Hai , Cui Shengjin , Chen Guoan
Published: January 2025

Recent advancements in microRNAs (miRNAs) research have revealed their key roles in both normal physiological processes and pathological conditions, leading to potential applications in diagnostics and therapeutics. However, the path forward is fraught with several scientific and technical challenges. This review article briefly explores the milestones of the discovery, biogenesis, functions, and application for clinical diagnostic and therapeutic strategies of miRNAs. The potential challenges and future directions are also discussed to fully harness their capabilities.
A Friendlier “Kinda” Social System: Male Kinda Baboons Invest in Long‐Term Social Bonds With Females
Authors: Weyher Anna H. , Katinta Marley , Mubemba Benjamin , Petersdorf Megan , Kamilar Jason M. , Schneider‐Crease India A. , Chiou Kenneth L.
Published: January 2025

Objectives

Certain group‐living mammals—including many primates—exhibit affiliative relationships between sexes that persist past copulation. Relationships between females and males in baboons (Papio sp.) are particularly well‐characterized. These relationships tend to revolve around the female reproductive cycle and are generally female‐initiated and female‐maintained. Kinda baboons (P. kindae) appear to diverge phylogenetically and behaviorally from other baboons. Here, we assess how Kinda baboons differ socially by characterizing female–male relationships using 9 years of data on a population in Kasanka National Park, Zambia.

Methods

We used generalized linear mixed models to assess grooming rates and directionality for individuals and among female/male dyads, patterns of between‐sex proximity, and rates of agonistic behavior. We examined these patterns across female reproductive states and evaluated the degree to which dyadic affiliations persisted over time.

Results

We find that female–male relationships in Kinda baboons are characterized by a high degree of male investment with low aggression that persists across female reproductive states and years. We find that females have strong affiliations with a single male while males have strong affiliations with multiple females at a time. Males are largely responsible for initiation, grooming, and proximity in affiliative relationships with females, and dyads often persist across years.

Discussion

Our results suggest that Kinda baboons represent a mosaic of baboon social features and, paired with recent genomic evidence about their population history, may resemble the ancestral baboon phenotype. This expands our understanding of the “baboon model” for comparative socioecology and emphasizes the high variability and evolvability of social phenotypes.
Dehydration‐enhanced Ion Recognition of Triazine Covalent Organic Frameworks for High‐resolution Li+/Mg2+ Separation
Authors: Meng Wentong , Chen Sifan , Wu Ming , Gao Feng , Hou Yang , Zhan Xiaoli , Hu Wei , Liang Lijun , Zhang Qinghua
Published: January 2025

The precise and rapid extraction of lithium from salt‐lake brines is critical to meeting the global demand for lithium resources. However, it remains a major challenge to design ion‐transport membranes with accurate recognition and fast transport path for the target ion. Here, we report a triazine covalent organic framework (COF) membrane with high resolution for Li+ and Mg2+ that enables fast Li+ transport while almost completely inhibiting Mg2+ permeation. The remarkably high rejection of Mg2+ by the COF membrane is achieved via imposed ion dehydration and the construction of the energy well. The proper hydrophilic environment of the COF channel promotes the dissociation of Li+ from the negatively charged functional groups, allowing Li+ for hopping transport supported by the sulfonate side‐chains to shorten the diffusion path of Li+. Under high‐salinity electrodialysis conditions, the COF membrane demonstrates robust Li+/Mg2+ separation performance (No Mg2+ were detected in the collected solution), achieving efficient lithium recovery and high product purity (Li2CO3: 99.3 %). This membrane design strategy enables high energy efficiency and powerful lithium extraction in the electrodialysis lithium extraction process, and can be generalized to other energy and separation related membranes.
Two‐Dimensional Layered Germanium Iodide Perovskite Ferroelectric Semiconductors
Authors: Li Xiaoqi , Bie Jie , Wang Qianxi , Li Kai , Lv Yicong , Lin Xiantan , Chen Shuang , Sun Zhihua , Liu Xitao , Luo Junhua
Published: January 2025

The discovery of ferroelectricity in two‐dimensional (2D) semiconductors has opened a new and exciting chapter in next‐generation electronics and spintronics due to their lattice‐dimensionality‐induced unique behaviors and fascinating functionalities brought by spontaneous polarization. The emerging layered halide perovskites with 2D lattices provide a great platform for generating reduced symmetry and low‐dimensional ferroelectricity. Herein, inspired by the approach of reduced lattice dimensionality, a series of 2D layered germanium iodide perovskite ferroelectric semiconductors A2CsGe2I7 [where A=PA (propylammonium), BA (butylammonium) and AA (amylammonium)] was firstly developed, which demonstrates remarkable semiconducting features including narrow direct band gap (~1.8 eV) and high conductivity over 32.23 nS/cm. Emphatically, these layered germanium iodide perovskites manifest large in‐plane ferroelectric polarization over ~10.0 μC/cm2, mainly attributed to the large off‐centering ion displacement induced by stereo‐active lone‐pairs of Ge2+. More specifically, in contrast to three‐dimensional ferroelectric CsGeI3, the representative 2D layered BA2CsGe2I7 manifests a superior polarization‐sensitive bulk photovoltaic effect with a polarization ratio of 1.68 and high short circuit current density up to 81.25 μA/cm2, which is superior to those of reported layered halide perovskite ferroelectrics. This work provides an exciting pathway for the development of 2D ferroelectric semiconductors as well as sheds light on their further applications in photoelectronic fields.
Precise Tailoring of Unprecedent Layered Perovskite‐Type Heterostructure Ferroelectric via Chemical Molecular Scissor
Authors: Ma Yu , Li Wenjing , Liu Yi , Guo Wuqian , Xu Haojie , Tang Liwei , Fan Qingshun , Rong Hao , Luo Junhua , Sun Zhihua
Published: January 2025

Precise stacking of distinct two‐dimensional (2D) rigid slabs to build heterostructures has renewed the portfolio of 2D materials, e.g., magic‐angle graphene, due to the emergence of exotic physical properties. Recently, single‐crystal heterostructures of layered perovskites have emerged as an exciting branch, while it remains scarce to achieve strong ferroelectricity in this new heterostructure family. Here, we present the first ferroelectric of 2D perovskite heterostructures as single crystal, (EA3Pb2Br7)EA4Pb3Br10 (1, EA=ethylamine), by precisely tailoring inorganic sheets via a chemical molecular scissor. It has notable ferroelectricity of large spontaneous polarization (Ps~5.0 μC/cm2) and high Curie temperature (Tc~375 K). Structurally, its inorganic framework adopts a unique 2D heterostructure that contains two different rigid slabs of {EA3Pb2Br7}n and {EA4Pb3Br10}n. This motif is self‐assembled by layer‐by‐layer clipping of rigid prototype sheets, using extra neopentylamine as a molecular chemical scissor. Unlike epitaxial growth, such a molecule‐level stacking facilitates the growth of heterostructure single crystals. Combining its strong ferroelectricity and inherent anisotropy, crystal‐based device of 1 exhibits an ultrahigh polarized‐light sensitivity up to ~37 in self‐powered mode, being the highest level of 2D perovskite ferroelectric family. Our work will facilitate the further development of ferroelectric materials for optoelectronic device applications.
Amine‐Functionalized Triazolate‐Based Metal–Organic Frameworks for Enhanced Diluted CO2 Capture Performance
Authors: Klemenčič Klara , Krajnc Andraž , Puškarić Andreas , Huš Matej , Marinič Dana , Likozar Blaž , Logar Nataša Zabukovec , Mazaj Matjaž
Published: January 2025

Efficient CO2 capture at concentrations between 400–2000 ppm is essential for maintaining air quality in a habitable environment and advancing carbon capture technologies. This study introduces NICS‐24 (National Institute of Chemistry Structures No. 24), a Zn‐oxalate 3,5‐diamino‐1,2,4‐triazolate framework with two distinct square‐shaped channels, designed to enhance CO2 capture at indoor‐relevant concentrations. NICS‐24 exhibits a CO2 uptake of 0.7 mmol/g at 2 mbar and 25 °C, significantly outperforming the compositionally related Zn‐oxalate 1,2,4‐triazolate – CALF‐20 (0.17 mmol/g). Improved performance is attributed to amino‐functions that enhance CO2 binding and enable superior selectivity over N2 and O2, achieving 8‐fold and 30‐fold improvements, respectively, in simulated CO2/N2 and CO2/O2 atmospheric ratios. In humid environments, NICS‐24 retained structural integrity but exhibited an 85 % reduction in CO2 capacity due to competitive water adsorption. Breakthrough sorption experiments, atomistic NMR analysis, and DFT calculations revealed that water preferentially adsorbs over CO2 due to strong hydrogen‐bonding interactions within the framework. Gained understanding of the interaction between CO2 and H2O within the MOF framework could guide the modification via rational design with improved performance under real‐world conditions.
Iridium(III) Blue Phosphors with Heteroleptic Carbene Cyclometalates: Isomerization, Emission Tuning, and OLED Fabrications
Authors: Wu Yixin , Huang Manli , Cheng Lin , Zhang Junyao , Pan Yi , Yiu Shek‐Man , Chung Lau Kai , Yan Jie , Yang Chuluo , Chi Yun
Published: January 2025

Ir(III) complexes are particularly noted for their excellent photophysical properties in giving blue OLED phosphors. In this study, two distinctive carbene pro‐chelates LAH2+ and LBH2+ (or LCH2+) were employed in preparation of heteroleptic Ir(III) complexes, to which LAH2+ bears a cyano substituted benzoimidazolium along with N‐mesityl appendage, while LBH2+ (or LCH2+) carries the symmetrical benzoimidazolium entity. Notably, the reversible equilibration at high temperature was observed for m, f‐ct14 and m, f‐ct15 with a single LA chelate. In contrast, only the mer‐substituted m‐ct16 was obtained upon employing two LA chelates. All Ir(III) complexes exhibited blue photoluminescence (ΦPL
78 %) with short radiative lifetimes (τrad
1.05 μs) in solution. The Ph OLED device with m‐ct16 afforded an external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 22.8 % at 5000 cd ⋅ m−2. Moreover, the hyper‐OLED based on m‐ct16 and v‐DABNA exhibited EQE1000 of 32.1 % (EQE recorded at 1000 cd ⋅ m−2) and J90 of 15.0 mA cm−2 (current density at 90 % of max. EQE). Its suppressed efficiency roll‐off (EQE of 32.1 % and 27.7 % at 1000 cd ⋅ m−2 and 10000 cd ⋅ m−2) demonstrated a milestone in fabrication of blue OLED devices.
The Thermal Stability of PVDF‐HFP/rGO Composite Membrane Evaluated by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy
Authors: Yu Hua , Wang Xuan , Fan Peng , Zhao Chun , Wu Qirui , Yang Lijun , Chen Qingsong
Published: January 2025

In order to develop novel separator for lithium batteries, a series of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)/polyvinylidene fluoride‐co‐hexafluoropropylene (PVDF‐HFP)/rGO composite membranes were prepared via phase inversion method. The microstructure, thermal, and mechanical performance of composite membranes was thoroughly examined. The differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis results indicated that the composite membrane with 2% rGO exhibits the best thermal stability, and it could be accepted as a separator in battery. These results suggest that incorporation of nanosheets could induce more regular arrangement of chain segments, leading to better thermal stability. The ion permeation through the membrane was evaluated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, indicating that the whole structure in composite membrane with 2% demonstrated the most stability across various test temperatures. Additionally, increasing the concentration of electrolyte allows one to observe the information of impedance spectrum at very low frequencies that is not visible at low concentrations. This method can overcome the limitations of frequency range of electrochemical workstation. By developing PVDF‐HFP composite membranes incorporated with rGO, this study addresses the challenges regarding the thermal stability and mechanical properties of lithium battery diaphragms, offering a potential high‐performance material solution for the advancement of high‐safety and high‐performance lithium batteries.
ZnT35C Maintains Zinc Homeostasis to Regulate Spermatogenesis in Drosophila Testis
Authors: He Jiayu , Fang Yang , Zhao Long , Su Ying
Published: January 2025

Zinc homeostasis contributes significantly to numerous physiological processes. Drosophila ZnT35C protein, a zinc transporter encoded by CG3994, is chiefly located on the cell membrane and facilitates the transport of zinc from the cytoplasm to the extracellular space to sustain zinc homeostasis within the organism. Previous studies about ZnT35C have involved diverse structures such as the Malpighian tubules, adult brain, and sensory nervous system. Nonetheless, the role of ZnT35C in Drosophila spermatogenesis remained unclear. In our study, we discovered that ZnT35C plays a pivotal role in Drosophila spermatogenesis. Its knockdown resulted in sperm loss and male infertility. When ZnT35C was knocked down in cyst cells, zinc was concentrated within cyst cells, inhibiting the proper development of germ cells and thereby causing the incapacity of flies to generate mature sperms. Zinc supplementation can effectively rescue this failure of spermatogenesis. Our research outcomes suggest that ZnT35C, through modulating the zinc environment within the testes, impacts the male fertility of Drosophila, occupying a crucial position in the spermatogenesis process.
Stimulation of IRES‐Dependent Translation by Rocaglamide A Increases the Replication and Virulence of Cricket Paralysis Virus in Lepidopteran Insect Cells
Authors: Santos Dulce , Christopoulou Vasiliki‐Maria , Taning Clauvis Nji Tizi , Avgeris Socratis , Papadopoulou Adamantia , Kletsas Dimitris , Voutsinas Gerassimos E. , Labropoulou Vasiliki , Swevers Luc
Published: January 2025

The discovery that infections of viruses are pervasive among insects has considerable potential for future applications, such as new strategies for pest control through the manipulation of virus‐host interactions. However, few studies can be found that aim to minimize (for beneficial insects) or maximize (for pests) virus impact or virulence. Viruses generally employ molecular mechanisms that deviate from the cells’ to increase their replication efficiency and to avoid the immune response. In this research, a screening system is presented for the detection of molecules that interfere with the internal ribosomal entry site (IRES) of Cricket paralysis virus (Dicistroviridae) which has been well characterized in previous research. Over‐expression and RNAi experiments identified the importance of eIF4A, a component of the cap‐dependent translation initiation complex, to modify the activity of IRES‐mediated translation. Application of Rocaglamide A (RocA), a natural product from Aglaia plants and inhibitor of eIF4A, resulted in strong stimulation of IRES‐mediated translation in reporter assays as well as increased CrPV genome replication and virion production in lepidopteran Hi5 cells. At 100 nM of RocA, dsRNA molecules accumulated in infected cells, corresponding to full‐length genome (9.5 kb) and a smaller fragment (0.8 kb) with unknown function. Treatment of silkworm larvae with RocA by injection or topically was highly toxic while no strong stimulation of CrPV infection could be observed. The prospect of the use of rocaglamates as insecticides and enhancers of CrPV infection is discussed together with its potential impact on mammalian cells.
Synthesis of new dihydropyrimidine derivatives and investigation of their antimicrobial and DNA gyrase inhibitory activities
Authors: Evren Asaf Evrim , Nuha Demokrat , Dawbaa Sam , Kayış Uğur , Gül Ülküye Dudu , Yurttaş Leyla
Published: January 2025

Quinolone antibiotics are known for their antibacterial activity by inhibiting the enzyme DNA gyrase. Inspired by their mechanism, new compounds combining 1,4‐dihydropyrimidine, a quinolone isostere, with pyridine/pyrimidine rings were synthesized. These derivatives showed antibacterial effects, likely through DNA gyrase inhibition, as supported by molecular docking and dynamics simulations. The synthesized compounds, 2‐[(5‐cyano‐6‐oxo‐6‐(pyridin‐4‐yl)‐1,6‐dihydropyrimidin‐2‐yl]‐N‐(benzothiazol‐2‐yl)‐acetamide (5a–5g) and 2‐[(5‐cyano‐6‐oxo‐6‐(pyridin‐4‐yl)‐1,6‐dihydropyrimidin‐2‐yl)thio]‐N‐(thiazol‐2‐yl)acetamide (6a–6f), were evaluated for antibacterial activity. Compounds 5a, 6b, and 6c demonstrated significant bactericidal effects. Against Escherichia coli, compounds 6b and 6c exhibited minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 1.95 and 0.97 µg/mL, respectively, comparable to the standard drug. Compound 5a also showed strong activity against Escherichia faecalis. DNA gyrase inhibition studies confirmed that 5a, 6b, and 6c inhibit the enzyme, as no supercoiled DNA band was observed. These findings highlight the potential of these compounds as antibacterial agents. Future development could focus on optimizing these structures for enhanced activity, similar to quinolone antibiotics.
Efficient Capture of ReO4− from Water by Imidazolium‐Based Cationic Polymeric Nanotraps
Authors: Li Xiaorui , Liu Wenping , Wang Haiying , He Yingjie , Liu Wei , Li Huan , Jin Linfeng , Su Changqing , Li Yiming , AlShahrani Thamraa , Ma Shengqian
Published: January 2025

Rhenium represents an irreplaceable metal resource, which finds extensive applications in diverse fields, particularly in the aerospace and petrochemical industry. However, its remarkably low natural abundance and the lack of independent ore deposits pose significant challenges to its extraction and recovery processes. In this study, we present the highly efficient adsorption of perrhenate by a cationic polymeric nanotrap material, namely CPN‐3VIm. The maximum adsorption capacity of CPN‐3VIm‐Cl for ReO4− attains an impressive value of 1220 mg ⋅ g−1. Notably, even in the low‐concentration ReO4− solution of 8.5 ppm, the removal rate could still exceed 99 %. The recycling performance of CPN‐3VIm‐Cl also shows exceptional results, with both ReO4− removal and recovery rates surpassing 90 % throughout five adsorption‐desorption cycles. Furthermore, CPN‐3VIm‐Cl exhibits nearly 100 % extraction efficiency for ReO4− within a broad pH range of 4–10 and demonstrates remarkable structural stability under extreme conditions, such as 3 M sulfuric acid or 3 M nitric acid. Additionally, a comprehensive investigation into the interaction mechanism between CPN‐3VIm‐Cl and perrhenate was carried out using SEM‐EDS mapping, Raman, FT‐IR, and XPS analysis.
Investigation of Er3+‐Doped BaF2 Single Crystals for Infrared Emission and Photovoltaic Efficiency Enhancement
Authors: Bitam A. , Fartas R. , Diaf M. , Boubekri H. , Cheddadi A. , Martin I. R.
Published: January 2025

Er3+‐doped BaF2 single crystals were investigated with two primary aims: first, to probe the infrared emissions from the 4I11/2 level (around 1.0 μm) under 1500‐nm excitation and, second, to use the crystal to enhance the efficiency of silicon‐based solar cells through upconversion mechanism. Upon excitation at 1500 nm, the upconversion emission spectrum of the Er3+‐doped BaF2 single crystals, recorded in the range of 480–1080 nm, exhibited two well‐structured visible bands at 538 and 650 nm, along with a strong near infrared emission at 971 nm. This strong 971‐nm emission has an emission cross‐section of approximately 0.23 × 10−20 cm2. As with any phenomenon inherent to energy transfer by upconversion, the 4I11/2 fluorescence decay exhibits a rise time followed by a long decay of approximately 15 ms and a positive optical gain from the low values of the population inversion coefficient, which could potentially give rise to laser emission from this level. When we place our crystal on a photovoltaic device illuminated by 1500‐nm wavelength radiation, we record a photocurrent of 300 μA at an illumination power of 85 mW. This indicates that the Er3+‐doped BaF2 crystal is highly suitable for significantly enhancing the efficiency of silicon‐based solar cells.
Clock system disruption in male Fischer 344 rats fed cafeteria diet and administered sweet treats at different times: The zeitgeber role of grape seed flavanols
Authors: Soliz‐Rueda Jorge R. , López‐Fernández‐Sobrino Raúl , Schellekens Harriët , Bravo Francisca Isabel , Suárez Manuel , Mulero Miquel , Muguerza Begoña
Published: January 2025

Current lifestyles include calorie‐dense diets and late‐night food intake, which can lead to circadian misalignment. Our group recently demonstrated that sweet treats before bedtime alter the clock system in healthy rats, increasing metabolic risk factors. Therefore, we aimed to assess the impact of the sweet treat consumption time on the clock system in rats fed a cafeteria diet (CAF). Moreover, since flavanols have demonstrated beneficial effects in metabolic disorders and clock gene modulation, we also investigated whether these phenolic compounds can restore the circadian disruption caused by these altered dietary patterns. For this, 64 Fisher rats were fed CAF for 9 weeks. In the last 4 weeks, animals were daily administered a low dose of sugar (160 mg/kg) as a sweet treat at 8 a.m. (ZT0) or 8 p.m. (ZT12). Two other groups received 25 mg/kg of grape seed flavanols in addition to sweet treats. Finally, the animals were sacrificed at different time points (9 a.m., 3 p.m., 9 p.m., and 3 a.m.). The results showed that metabolic and circadian disturbances by CAF may be influenced by the time of sugar administration, slightly reinforcing the alterations in diurnal rhythmicity of serum biochemical parameters, hormones, and hypothalamic genes with bedtime snacking. Flavanols improved metabolic health and restored the oscillation of biochemical parameters, hormones, and clock and appetite‐signaling genes, showing greater effects at ZT12. These results highlight the importance of meal timing in influencing physiological and metabolic outcomes, even under calorie‐dense diets. Moreover, they also suggest the zeitgeber role of flavanols, modulating the clock system and contributing to an improved metabolic profile under different feeding pattern conditions.