bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Self‐Reinforced Inductive Effect of Symmetric Bipolar Organic Molecule for High‐Performance Rechargeable Batteries
Authors: Son Giyeong , Ri Vitalii , Shin Donghan , Jung YounJoon , Park Chan Beum , Kim Chunjoong
Published: September 2023

Herein, the self‐reinforced inductive effect derived from coexistence of both p‐ and n‐type redox‐active motifs in a single organic molecule is presented. Molecular orbital energy levels of each motif are dramatically tuned, which leads to the higher oxidation and the lower reduction potentials. The self‐reinforced inductive effect of the symmetric bipolar organic molecule, N,N’‐dimethylquinacridone (DMQA), is corroborated, by both experimental and theoretical methods. Furthermore, its redox mechanism and reaction pathway in the Li+‐battery system are scrutinized. DMQA shows excellent capacity retention at the operating voltage of 3.85 and 2.09 V (vs Li+/Li) when used as the cathode and anode, respectively. Successful operation of DMQA electrodes in a symmetric all‐organic battery is also demonstrated. The comprehensive insight into the energy storage capability of the symmetric bipolar organic molecule and its self‐reinforced inductive effect is provided. Thus, a new class of organic electrode materials for symmetric all‐organic batteries as well as conventional rechargeable batteries can be conceived.
Creating Polyploid Escherichia Coli and Its Application in Efficient L‐Threonine Production
Authors: Wang Sumeng , Chen Xuanmu , Jin Xin , Gu Fei , Jiang Wei , Qi Qingsheng , Liang Quanfeng
Published: September 2023

Prokaryotic genomes are generally organized in haploid. In synthetic biological research, efficient chassis cells must be constructed to produce bio‐based products. Here, the essential division of the ftsZ gene to create functional polyploid E. coli is regulated. The artificial polyploid E. coli containing 2–4 chromosomes is confirmed through PCR amplification, terminator localization, and flow cytometry. The polyploid E. coli exhibits a larger cell size, and its low pH tolerance and acetate resistance are stronger than those of haploid E. coli. Transcriptome analysis shows that the genes of the cell's main functional pathways are significantly upregulated in the polyploid E. coli. These advantages of the polyploid E. coli results in the highest reported L‐threonine yield (160.3 g L−1) in fed‐batch fermentation to date. In summary, an easy and convenient method for constructing polyploid E. coli and demonstrated its application in L‐threonine production is developed. This work provides a new approach for creating an excellent host strain for biochemical production and studying the evolution of prokaryotes and their chromosome functions.
Btg2 Promotes Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis via Smad3‐Dependent Podocyte‐Mesenchymal Transition
Authors: Dan Hu Qiong‐ , Wang Hong‐Lian , Liu Jian , He Tao , Tan Rui‐Zhi , Zhang Qiong , Su Hong‐Wei , Kantawong Fahsai , Lan Hui‐Yao , Wang Li
Published: September 2023

Podocyte injury plays a critical role in the progression of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). Here, it is reported that B‐cell translocation gene 2 (Btg2) promotes Adriamycin (ADR)‐induced FSGS via Smad3‐dependent podocyte‐mesenchymal transition. It is found that in FSGS patients and animal models, Btg2 is markedly upregulated by podocytes and correlated with progressive renal injury. Podocyte‐specific deletion of Btg2 protected against the onset of proteinuria and glomerulosclerosis in ADR‐treated mice along with inhibition of EMT markers such as α‐SMA and vimentin while restoring epithelial marker E‐cadherin. In cultured MPC5 podocytes, overexpression of Btg2 largely promoted ADR and TGF‐β1‐induced EMT and fibrosis, which is further enhanced by overexpressing Btg2 but blocked by disrupting Btg2. Mechanistically, Btg2 is rapidly induced by TGF‐β1 and then bound Smad3 but not Smad2 to promote Smad3 signaling and podocyte EMT, which is again exacerbated by overexpressing Btg2 but blocked by deleting Btg2 in MPC5 podocytes. Interestingly, blockade of Smad3 signaling with a Smad3 inhibitor SIS3 is also capable of inhibiting Btg2 expression and Btg2‐mediated podocyte EMT, revealing a TGF‐β/Smad3‐Btg2 circuit mechanism in Btg2‐mediated podocyte injury in FSGS. In conclusion, Btg2 is pathogenic in FSGS and promotes podocyte injury via a Smad3‐dependent EMT pathway.
Benzotriazole‐Based D–π–A‐Type Photovoltaic Polymers Break Through 17% Efficiency
Authors: Du Mengzhen , Tang Ailing , Yu Jiagui , Geng Yanfang , Wang Zongtao , Guo Qiang , Zhong Yufei , Lu Shirong , Zhou Erjun
Published: September 2023

Benzo[d][1,2,3]triazole (BTA) unit is one of the most classic electron‐accepting units (A) to construct donor (D)‐π‐A‐type photovoltaic polymers. However, the highest power conversion efficiency (PCE) of organic photovoltaics (OPVs) based on BTA‐containing polymers is restricted to 15–16%, lagging other promising polymers. Thus, investigating the structure‐performance relationship and breaking the efficiency bottleneck of BTA‐based polymers is challenging but critical. Herein, the effects of fusing two thiophene rings at D (PE52), π (PE4), and A (PE39) units of a classic D–π–A‐type BTA‐containing polymer J52‐Cl, respectively, on the backbone conformation, crystallinity, molecular stacking, and photovoltaic performance are systematically investigated. When blended with a BTA‐containing non‐fullerene acceptor (NFA), Y18, all three polymers with extending conjugated backbones can decrease the energy loss of photovoltaic devices. Notably, PE4, with a linear backbone conformation, realizes the champion PCE of 17.08%, with a short‐circuit current density (JSC) of 26.83 mA cm−2, a large breakthrough for BTA‐based photovoltaic polymers. What's more, the photovoltaic device based on PE4:Y18 combination fabricated by a non‐halogenated solvent of o‐xylene also displays an excellent PCE of 16.87%. The results indicate that fusing thiophene rings to BTA‐polymers, especially at π‐bridge, is a simple and effective method to improve the photovoltaic performance via modulating the molecular conformation and crystallinity.
Bio‐ecological studies on two cichlids in the Brimsu reservoir of Ghana
Authors: Agyekumwaa Elizabeth , Debrah Sefah Joseph , Mireku Kwadwo Kesse
Published: September 2023

Although small‐scale fisheries and aquaculture provide opportunities to increase fish yield to supplement rural food and income, they remain undeveloped in Ghana. To contribute towards the development of the sectors, this study sought to assess the biology and ecology of Oreochromis niloticus and Sarotherodon melanotheron in the Brimsu reservoir to provide the requisite information for their management. From the results, mean temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH and transparency of the reservoir were 30.03 ± 0.27°C, 3.78 ± 0.38 mg/L, 8.30 ± 0.21 and 69.79 ± 1.76 cm, respectively. S. melanotheron had a sex ratio of 1:1.36; with mean condition factors of 2.177 ± 0.089 and 2.06 ± 0.029 (p = 0.08) for males and females, respectively. The sex ratio of O. niloticus was 1.45: 1; with mean condition factors of 2.208 ± 0.012 and 2.257 ± 0.014 (p = 0.07) for males and females, respectively. Both species exhibited positive allometric growth with no significant differences between the condition factors for males and females. In addition, there was no significant difference between the sex ratios for S. melanotheron but the number of males of O. niloticus was significantly higher than the females (p ˂ 0.05). Size at sexual maturity (Lm), form factor (a3.0), growth coefficient (K), asymptotic length (L∞) and natural mortality (M) of S. melanotheron were 18.00 cm, 0.020, 0.42 year−1, 30.32 cm and 0.64 year−1, respectively. For O. niloticus Lm, a3.0, K, L∞ and M were 18.57 cm, 0.0223, 0.26 year−1, 38.42 cm and 0.41 year−1, respectively. However, the catch per unit effort for O. niloticus was higher than that of S. melanotheron throughout the study period. The conditions of the reservoir were favourable for the growth of these cichlids. It is recommended that measures should be put in place for the sustainable management and exploitation of fish stocks.
Liquid water discharge capability enhancement of hierarchical pore structure in metal foam flow field of proton exchange membrane fuel cell
Authors: Lin Yixiong , Sun Yun , Yang Chen , Zhang Wei , Wang Qinglian , Wan Zhongmin , Ye Changshen , Qiu Ting
Published: September 2023

Metal foam flow field shows great potential for next‐generation proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell of high power density due to its well‐connected pore structure, high thermal and electrical conductivity. However, the complicated pore structure makes it a challenge for water management. To tackle this issue, a novel design of metal foam flow field with hierarchical pore structure was proposed. Based on lattice Boltzmann method (LBM), the structure‐performance relationship between hierarchical pore structure and water discharge capability of flow field was explored by using breakthrough time. Furthermore, an optimal hierarchical pore structure for metal foam flow field that shows superior water discharge capability was obtained. Compared with metal foam with uniform coarse pore structure, breakthrough time can be reduced roughly by 17.6% in the one with optimal hierarchical pore structures. This finding provides a theoretical foundation and technical guidance for developing metal foam flow field.
A recurrent KCNK4 variant in a dominant pedigree with hypertrichosis and gingival fibromatosis syndrome: Variable phenotypic expressivity and insights on patients' dental management
Authors: Elhossini Rasha M. , Sayed Inas M. , Hellal Usama Saad , Mahmoud Sarah A. M. , Aglan Mona S. , Hassib Nehal F. , Abdel‐Hamid Mohamed S.
Published: September 2023

Abnormal hyperpolarization of the KCNK4 gene, expressed in the nervous system, brain, and periodontal ligament fibroblasts, leads to impaired neurotransmitter sensitivity, cardiac arrhythmias, and endocrine dysfunction, as well as, progressive cell proliferation. De novo gain of function variants in the KCNK4 gene were reported to cause a recognizable syndrome characterized by facial dysmorphism, hypertrichosis, epilepsy, intellectual/developmental delay, and gingival overgrowth (FHEIG, OMIM# 618381). FHEIG is extremely rare with only three reported cases in the literature. Herein, we describe the first inherited KCNK4 variant (c.730G>C, p.Ala244Pro) in an Egyptian boy and his mother. Variable phenotypic expressivity was noted as the patient presented with the full‐blown picture of the syndrome while the mother presented only with hypertrichosis and gingival overgrowth without any neurological manifestations. The c.730G>C (p.Ala244Pro) variant was described before in a single patient and when comparing the phenotype with our patient, a phenotype–genotype correlation seems likely. Atrial fibrillation and joint laxity are new associated findings noted in our patient extending the clinical phenotype of the syndrome. Dental management was offered to the affected boy and a dramatic improvement was noted as the patient regained his smile, restored the mastication function, and resumed his psychological stability.
Biogenetic Chiral Deep Eutectic Solvents that Produce Self‐Assembled Chiroptical Materials
Authors: Wang Lin , Cheng Qiuhong , Hao Aiyou , Xing Pengyao
Published: September 2023

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) show particular properties compared to ionic liquids and other traditional organic solvents. Controlled synthesis of chiral materials in DESs is unprecedented due to the complex interplays between DESs and solutes. In this work, all bio‐derived chiral DESs were prepared using choline chloride or cyclodextrin as hydrogen bonding acceptors and natural chiral acids as donors, which performed as chiral matrices for the rational synthesis of chiroptical materials by taking advantage of the efficient chirality transfer between the DESs and solutes. In a very selective manner, building units with molecular pockets could facilitate strong binding affinity towards chiral acid components of DESs disregarding the presence of competitive hydrogen bonding acceptors. Chirality transfer from DESs to nanoassemblies leads to chirality amplification in the presence of minimal amounts of entrapped chiral acids, thanks to the spontaneous symmetry breaking of solutes during aggregation. This work utilizes chiral DESs to control supramolecular chirality, and illustrates the structural basis for the fabrication of DES‐based chiral materials.
Improvement in the toughness and adhesive properties of cyanate ester resin by incorporation of fluorinated poly(aryl ether nitrile)
Authors: Liu Caizhao , Sun Mingming , He Yuhong , Zhang Xugang , Zhang Bin , Li Jianhui , Xue Gang , Yuan Zhigang , Bai Xuefeng , Liu Wenbin
Published: September 2023

Cyanate ester (CE) resins possess excellent thermal and mechanical characteristics, yet their brittleness and high cross‐link density limit their practical application. To overcome this limitation, the modification of CE with thermoplastic resins has been employed as an effective strategy to enhance their toughness and mechanical properties. In this study, a novel fluorinated poly(aryl ether nitrile) (PFPEN) with excellent solubility and thermal properties was synthesized through a nucleophilic substitution reaction. The effect of the addition of PFPEN on a blend composed of bisphenol A cyanate ester (ACE) and a mixed catalyst was investigated. Differential scanning calorimetry results showed that the addition of PFPEN facilitated the curing reaction of ACE, resulting in a lower exothermic peak temperature. Compared to the pure ACE, the addition of PFPEN at 20 phr significantly improved the tensile and impact strengths of the resin, as well as enhanced the lap shear strength at room temperature by 36% and the peel strength by 320%, respectively. The scanning electron microscope results showed a ductile fracture mechanism. However, it should be noted that the decrease in crosslinking density resulting from the addition of PFPEN may affect the lap shear strength at 300°C and the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the material.
Terahertz spectroscopy research on motion‐limited molecular chain of random polymethacrylate
Authors: Huang Yaqiong , Yang Xiaojie , Li Jianxi
Published: September 2023

In this study, an innovative method was used to examine the impact of gamma‐ray irradiation on three specific monomers: methyl methacrylate (MMA), hexyl methacrylate (HMA), and lauryl methacrylate (LMA). The primary objective was to produce corresponding polymers—polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyhexyl methacrylate (PHMA), and poly(lauryl methacrylate) (PLMA). The significance of the research was determined by conducting a thorough analysis of the thermal properties and structural characteristics of these polymers using advanced techniques, including thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry (TGA‐DSC), as well as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results indicated that irradiation at a 30 kGy dose caused distinct decomposition of ester groups within the polymer matrices. Additionally, a clear trend was observed in the maximum exothermic temperature among the three polymers, with PMMA exhibiting the lowest temperature, followed by PLMA, and PHMA with the highest temperature. Surprisingly, when the radiation dose exceeded 30 kGy, PHMA's thermal stability peaked, demonstrating remarkable resistance to further changes. This highlights the crucial role of radiation dosage in adjusting polymer thermal properties. Furthermore, analysis of infrared characteristic peaks identified a critical radiation dose range between 15 and 30 kGy, where polymerization was efficiently promoted without generating extra by‐products, showcasing experimental ingenuity. Lastly, optical properties of the synthesized polymers were explored using THz time‐domain spectroscopy. Results showed intriguing changes in refractive indices following 30 kGy dose irradiation. Specifically, MMA and HMA exhibited moderate refractive index increases, while LMA displayed a significant decrease. Notably, PHMA demonstrated substantial absorption reduction beyond 15 kGy doses, with minimal further changes, highlighting the potential to customize polymer optical properties through controlled irradiation.
Tribological properties of differently shaped zinc‐based metal‐organic framework particles reinforced epoxy resin composites
Authors: Zhou Yuxuan , Pan Bingli , Wang Mengdan , Feng Yuanyuan , Nie Peipei , He Xuejian
Published: September 2023

In this work, two zinc‐based metal–organic frameworks (Zn‐MOFs) with different morphologies were successfully produced by the surfactant‐mediated synthesis method. They were grown on the Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)/polydopamine (PDA) to prepare PTFE/PDA/Zn‐MOFs fiber fabrics. Then the epoxy resin (EP) matrix was poured onto fabrics to prepare EP/PTFE/PDA/Zn‐MOF. PTFE was modified by introducing a PDA adhesion layer, which can provide absorption sites for Zn‐MOFs growth and improve the bonding strength with EP. The microscopic morphologies and structures of the PTFE and modified PTFE were studied. Compared with pure EP, the friction coefficient and specific wear rate of the EP/PTFE/PDA/ZnMOF2 composite were reduced by 67% and 91%, and the EP/PTFE/PDA/ZnMOF1 composite were reduced by 55% and 88%, respectively, which were due to the loading of ZnMOF2 onto the PTFE surface, improving the interfacial bonding between the PTFE and EP matrix and can prevent the PTFE fabric from coming out of the EP matrix. ZnMOF2 also presents its structural advantage: the unique thin layer structure plays a vital role in friction and wear reduction.
Recent Advances in Polyoxometalate Based Nanoplatforms Mediated Reactive Oxygen Species Cancer Therapy
Authors: Yue Zhengya , Wang Runjie , Li Jialun , Tang Minglu , Yang Li , Gu Hao , Wang Xijin , Sun Tiedong
Published: September 2023

The potential of reactive oxygen species (ROS) cancer therapy in tumor treatment has been greatly enhanced by the introduction of catalytically superior polyoxometalate (POM)‐based nanoplatforms, mainly composed of atomic clusters consisting of pre‐transition metals and oxygen. These nanoplatforms have unique advantages, such as Fenton activity at neutral pH, induction of cellular ferroptosis instead of just apoptosis, and sensitivity to external field stimulation. However, there are also inevitable challenges such as neutralization of ROS by the antioxidant system of the tumor microenvironment (TME), hypoxia, and limited hydrogen peroxide concentrations. This review article aims to provide an overview of recent research advancements in POM‐based nanoplatforms for ROS therapy from the perspective of chemical reactions and biological processes, addressing endogenous and exogenous factors that affect the antitumor efficacy. Endogenous factors include the mechanism of ROS generation by POM, the impact of pH and antioxidant systems on POM, and the various manners of tumor cell death. Exogenous stimuli mainly include light, heat, X‐rays, and electricity. The article analyzes the specific mechanisms of action of each influencing factor in the first two sections, concluding with the limitations of the present study and some possible directions for future research.
The Selective Social Attention task in children with autism spectrum disorder: Results from the Autism Biomarkers Consortium for Clinical Trials (ABC‐CT) feasibility study
Authors: Shic Frederick , Barney Erin C. , Naples Adam J. , Dommer Kelsey J. , Chang Shou An , Li Beibin , McAllister Takumi , Atyabi Adham , Wang Quan , Bernier Raphael , Dawson Geraldine , Dziura James , Faja Susan , Jeste Shafali Spurling , Murias Michael , Johnson Scott P. , Sabatos‐DeVito Maura , Helleman Gerhard , Senturk Damla , Sugar Catherine A. , Webb Sara Jane , McPartland James C. , Chawarska Katarzyna ,   The Autism Biomarkers Consortium for Clinical Trials
Published: September 2023

The Selective Social Attention (SSA) task is a brief eye‐tracking task involving experimental conditions varying along socio‐communicative axes. Traditionally the SSA has been used to probe socially‐specific attentional patterns in infants and toddlers who develop autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This current work extends these findings to preschool and school‐age children. Children 4‐ to 12‐years‐old with ASD (N = 23) and a typically‐developing comparison group (TD; N = 25) completed the SSA task as well as standardized clinical assessments. Linear mixed models examined group and condition effects on two outcome variables: percent of time spent looking at the scene relative to scene presentation time (%Valid), and percent of time looking at the face relative to time spent looking at the scene (%Face). Age and IQ were included as covariates. Outcome variables' relationships to clinical data were assessed via correlation analysis. The ASD group, compared to the TD group, looked less at the scene and focused less on the actress' face during the most socially‐engaging experimental conditions. Additionally, within the ASD group, %Face negatively correlated with SRS total T‐scores with a particularly strong negative correlation with the Autistic Mannerism subscale T‐score. These results highlight the extensibility of the SSA to older children with ASD, including replication of between‐group differences previously seen in infants and toddlers, as well as its ability to capture meaningful clinical variation within the autism spectrum across a wide developmental span inclusive of preschool and school‐aged children. The properties suggest that the SSA may have broad potential as a biomarker for ASD.
Towards Understanding the Variation of Electrode Design Parameters on the Electrochemical Performance of Aluminum Graphite Batteries: An Experimental and Simulation Study
Authors: Appiah Williams Agyei , Stockham Mark P. , Garcia Lastra Juan Maria
Published: September 2023

Due to their high power density and availability, aluminum batteries consisting of graphite positive electrode and ionic liquid electrolytes are promising candidates for post‐lithium‐ion batteries. However, the effect of the various electrode design parameters on their electrochemical performance is not well understood. Herein, a high‐fidelity physics‐based model validated with experimental data obtained from a Swagelok cell consisting of an aluminum metal negative electrode, imidazolium ionic liquid electrolyte, and graphite positive electrode is used to study the effects of various electrode design parameters on the discharge capacity. The model is used to optimize the design of the electrodes by generating several Ragone plots, estimating the optimum current density for a given cell design, and explaining the limitations of the cells based on the transport of the electroactive species. An optimum graphite thickness of 50 μm is obtained for all the discharge times considered in this study. Determining the ideal electrode configuration for Al‐graphite batteries using different ionic liquid electrolytes and considering various discharge durations could provide a reference point for evaluating the suitability of a specific ionic liquid electrolyte in a particular use case.
Mehraxiales Tragverhalten von hochfestem Feinbeton für die Carbonbetonanwendung
Authors: Betz Peter , Speck Kerstin , Marx Steffen , Curbach Manfred
Published: September 2023

Für den Einsatz im Carbonbetonbau wurden hochfeste Feinbetone entwickelt, deren einaxiales Tragverhalten bereits umfassend untersucht wurde. Im Gegensatz dazu liegen über das Materialverhalten bei mehraxialer Beanspruchung bisher kaum Erkenntnisse vor. In diesem Beitrag wird für einen dieser Feinbetone die biaxiale Tragfähigkeit bei unterschiedlichen Lastverhältnissen untersucht und ein Vergleich mit dem Verhalten anderer biaxial beanspruchter hochfester Betone vorgenommen. Weiterhin wird der Einfluss der Probengeometrie diskutiert, wofür sowohl Versuche an kubischen als auch an scheibenförmigen Betonproben durchgeführt wurden. Abschließend wird der Einfluss des Herstellungsverfahrens, insbesondere des für die Carbonbetonbauweise typischen Laminierverfahrens, näher betrachtet. Diese Untersuchungen dienen als Grundlage für zukünftige Untersuchungen zur biaxialen Druckfestigkeit von Carbonbeton.
Comparison of several HPLC methods for the analysis of vitamin C
Authors: Moldoveanu Serban C.
Published: September 2023

Ascorbic acid is a water‐soluble vitamin common in food and dietary supplements. A usual problem with ascorbic acid analysis is the lack of stability of its samples and standard solutions owing to oxidation. A procedure to protect ascorbic acid from oxidation using mercaptoethanol is described in this study in connection with the comparison of three HPLC measuring methods. Two reversed‐phase columns were evaluated for the separation. One technique uses UV detection, and two others use MS/MS detection. The methods were calibrated for quantitation on different ranges of concentrations. The LC–UV method covers the range 3.9 μg/ml to 500 μg/ml, one LC–MS/MS the range 80 ng/ml to 20 μg/ml, and the other 0.1 ng/ml to 20 μg/ml. As a proof of functionality all three methods were utilized for measuring vitamin C in energy drinks and chews (gummies). The sensitivity of LC–MS/MS methods was not necessary for the analysis of those samples, but the high sensitivity can be beneficial for other types of sample such as environmental or biological, where the levels of ascorbic acid are very low. The study showed that the formation of 2,3‐diketogulonic acid is not a likely path for ascorbic acid oxidation following hydrolysis as reported in some studies.
Development and validation of an LC–MS/MS method for the determination of ARN14988, an acid ceramidase inhibitor, and its application to a pharmacokinetic study in a mouse model
Authors: Rajaratnam Vilashini , Islam Mohammad Mohiminul , Kub Ethan F. , Rajaratnam Shaarwin , Kim Kyu Bum , Rahman Md Toufiqur , Rashid Farjana , Benko Anna M. , Cook James M. , Arnold Leggy A. , Mirza Shama P.
Published: September 2023

Despite aggressive treatment approaches, the overall survival of glioblastoma (GBM) patients remained poor with a strong need for more effective chemotherapeutic agents. A previous study has shown that ARN14988 is more cytotoxic to GBM cells compared to US Food and Drug Administration‐approved temozolomide. This finding makes ARN14988 a desirable candidate for further pharmacological assessment. Therefore, an efficient analytical method is needed to quantify ARN14988. Herein, we have developed and validated sample preparation and LC–MS/MS triple quadrupole (QQQ) method for quantification of ARN14988 in mouse plasma. In this method, the liquid–liquid extraction of ARN14988 from mouse plasma was performed using 5% ethyl acetate in hexane. The chromatographic separation was achieved using a C18‐column with mobile phases of 10 mm ammonium acetate (pH 5) and 0.1% formic acid in methanol, within a runtime of 10 min. The monitored transitions were m/z 391.20 → m/z 147.00 for ARN14988, and m/z 455.30 → m/z 165.00 for verapamil (internal standard) in positive electrospray ionization. The developed method for ARN14988 showed linearity over the range of 10–5,000 ng/ml (r2 > 0.99). The selectivity, sensitivity, matrix effect, recovery, stability, inter‐day and intraday accuracy and precision were determined using four quality control samples. This validated method was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of ARN14988 in mice.
Barriers to counselling experienced by British South Asian women: A thematic analysis exploration
Authors: Moller Naomi , Burgess Victoria , Jogiyat Zainab
Published: September 2023

Aim

The objective of this study was to explore the attitudes and beliefs that second‐generation South Asian women living in Britain hold about counselling, with a particular focus on how these beliefs may impact on the process of help‐seeking for psychological distress.

Methodology

Eighty‐two second‐generation British South Asian women aged 18–40 (M = 24), the majority of whom (92%) had no experience of counselling, responded to a qualitative survey. The data were analysed with thematic analysis.

Findings

An over‐arching theme of ‘Stereotyping’ was identified from the analysis; this theme emerged from the data under four main categories which were best summarised by the following open‐ended statements: ‘White counsellors are…’, ‘Asian counsellors are…’, ‘Counselling is…’ and ‘People with psychological problems are…’. Participants identified attitudes and beliefs about counselling, counsellors and psychological distress which revealed widespread generalisations and stereotypes. Some of these views were culturally specific whilst others reflected stereotypes commonly held by the population as a whole, but they all had the potential to act as barriers to help‐seeking.

Implications

Implications from the study findings are that services should consider how to address stereotypes which may make it harder for South Asian women to seek help from counselling services if they are experiencing psychological distress. This might involve initiatives to address beliefs, attitudes and behaviours that may act as a barrier to help‐seeking. In addition, practitioners should understand that their ethnicity and religious identity may have significant meaning for this population.
Facilitating change in a client's dysfunctional behavioural pattern with horse‐aided psychotherapy. A case study
Authors: Johansen Siv G. , Arfwedson Wang Catharina E. , Binder Per‐Einar
Published: September 2023

Aim

The aim of the study was to describe how therapeutic interaction with a horse has the potential to provide opportunities to work with relational issues for a client with a background of parental substance misuse and severe trauma in childhood.

Background

Psychotherapy facilitated by horses uses the client/horse relationship as an aid for breaking dysfunctional behavioural patterns. The key therapeutic element is to use the horse's high sensitivity and responsiveness to human body language as an aid to improve awareness of emotions, bodily responses and communication.

Methodology

A single case study with in‐depth interviews was conducted using Interpersonal Process Recall to reveal subjective configurations of events in therapy and their corresponding reflections. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the material.

Findings

Four themes were found in the analysis. The client displayed dysfunctional behavioural patterns in the relationship with the horse. The negative reactions and uncooperativeness the client got from the horse aided the client in changing to more constructive behaviour.

Implications

This study may give increased awareness of the benefits of psychotherapy facilitated by horses.
Multi‐temporal scale aggregation refinement graph convolutional network for skeleton‐based action recognition
Authors: Li Xuanfeng , Lu Jian , Zhou Jian , Liu Wei , Zhang Kaibing
Published: September 2023

Skeleton‐based human action recognition is gaining significant attention and finding widespread application in various fields, such as virtual reality and human‐computer interaction systems. Recent studies have highlighted the effectiveness of graph convolutional network (GCN) based methods in this task, leading to a remarkable improvement in prediction accuracy. However, most GCN‐based methods overlook the varying contributions of self, centripetal and centrifugal subsets. Besides, only a single‐scale temporal feature is adopted, and the multi‐temporal scale information is ignored. To this end, firstly, in order to differentiate the importance of different skeleton subsets, we develop a refinement graph convolution, which can adaptively learn a weight for each subset feature. Secondly, a multi‐temporal scale aggregation module is proposed to extract more discriminative temporal dynamic information. Furthermore, a multi‐temporal scale aggregation refinement graph convolutional network (MTSA‐RGCN) is proposed, and four‐stream structure is also adopted in this paper, which can comprehensively model complementary features and eventually achieves a significant performance boost. In the empirical experiments, the performance of our approach has been greatly improved on both NTU‐RGB+D 60 and NTU‐RGB+D 120 datasets, compared to other state‐of‐the‐art methods.
Double Stranded DNA Binding Stapled Peptides: An Emerging Tool for Transcriptional Regulation
Authors: Paquette André R. , Boddy Christopher N.
Published: September 2023

Stapled peptides have rapidly established themselves as a powerful technique to mimic α‐helical interactions with a short peptide sequence. There are many examples of stapled peptides that successfully disrupt α‐helix‐mediated protein‐protein interactions, with an example currently in clinical trials. DNA‐protein interactions are also often mediated by α‐helices and are involved in all transcriptional regulation processes. Unlike DNA‐binding small molecules, which typically lack DNA sequence selectivity, DNA‐binding proteins bind with high affinity and high selectivity. These are ideal candidates for the design DNA‐binding stapled peptides. Despite the parallel to protein‐protein interaction disrupting stapled peptides and the need for sequence specific DNA binders, there are very few DNA‐binding stapled peptides. In this review we examine all the known DNA‐binding stapled peptides. Their design concepts are compared to stapled peptides that disrupt protein‐protein interactions and based on the few examples in the literature, DNA‐binding stapled peptide trends are discussed.
Linear Polymer Comprising Dual Functionalities with Hierarchical Pores for Lithium Ion Batteries
Authors: Aher Jagadish D. , Palani Sathishkumar , Krishnamoorthy Kothandam
Published: September 2023

Organic materials with carbonyl, azo, nitrile and imine moieties are widely used in lithium batteries. The solubility of these materials in battery electrolytes is an issue. Aggregation of the organic molecules can suppress the solubility, but the accessibility of lithium‐ion is hindered. Therefore, insoluble porous organic materials are desired. Herein, we synthesized a linear polymer with carbonyl and azo functionalities. Due to the presence of easily isomerizable azo moiety, a porous polymer was obtained. The polymer showed nano and micropores. The battery with the porous polymer showed an impressive specific capacity of 400 mA h/g at 0.2 A/g. If the battery is pre‐conditioned, the specific capacity increased to 615 mA h/g at the same current density. The post‐mortem analysis of the battery confirmed that the polymer didn't dissolve in the battery electrolyte. The control material is a small molecule with carbonyl and azo moieties that showed a poor specific capacity of 40 mA h/g indicating the necessity to have a hierarchically porous dual‐functional polymer.
Entrainment effects on combustion and emission characteristics of turbulent non‐premixed ammonia/air and methane/air swirl flames through a developed perforated burner
Authors: Sahin Murat , Ilbas Mustafa , Arslan Busra
Published: September 2023

A fuel/oxidizer mixture can be burned using a colourless distributed combustion (CDC) process to obtain low emissions and homogeneous combustion. As an alternative way, a perforated burner can be designed to achieve homogeneous combustion and low emissions without changing the combustion performance by having entrainment effects on the combustion chamber. In this study, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) 3D modelling was performed in a perforated burner for ammonia/methane fuels in order to obtain the distributed regime and focus on the entrainment effects. In numerical analysis, the eddy break‐up was used as combustion model, k‐Ɛ as turbulence model, and P‐1 as radiation model. In this study, 10% and 20% entrainment rates were provided from the flame holder wall of the perforated burner. The effects of entrainment rates on temperature, velocity, and NOX emission values were examined. According to the results, when the entrainment rate was increased from 10% to 20%, the overall temperature values of ammonia and methane combustion slightly increased by approximately 1.0%, while on the other hand the maximum temperature levels in the near burner zone decreased by about 5.0%. The findings demonstrated that temperature and velocity distributions got more uniform and the flame zones became thinner. This provided a more colourless and invisible flame appearance. In this way, an improvement in the thermal field has been achieved. In conclusion, when the effect of the distributed regime on NOX emission levels was examined, it has been noted that entrainment effects enable the achievement of low emission levels (approximately 9.0%).
Selective N‐Methylation of N‐Methylaniline with CO2 and H2 over Cu/In2O3 Catalyst†
Authors: Zheng Huan , Qian Bo , He Lin
Published: September 2023

Comprehensive Summary

N‐Methylation of amines with CO2 and H2 is a potential approach for CO2 utilization because N‐methylated amines can be used as solvents and organic intermediates. In2O3‐supported Cu (Cu/In2O3) acts as an effective heterogeneous catalyst for N‐methylation reaction of N‐methylaniline (MA) with CO2 and H2, showing higher N,N‐dimethylaniline (DMA) selectivity than other supported Cu catalysts. On one hand, the dispersion of Cu can be improved by the defective In2O3 support. On the other hand, In2O3 support is active in the dissociative adsorption of CO2 through C—O bond breaking. In addition, the H2 dissociation ability of In2O3 can also be enhanced by Cu. The combination of Cu and In2O3 is effective in the activation of CO2, the adsorption of intermediate N‐methylformanilide (MFA), the hydrogenation of MFA to DMA and the prohibition of C—N bond cleavage side reactions, thereby enhancing the reaction rate of MA conversion and the selectivity to DMA.
Stabilizing Pseudouridimycin: Synthesis, RNA Polymerase Inhibitory Activity, and Antibacterial Activity of Dipeptide‐Modified Analogues
Authors: Anwar Avraz F. , Cain Christopher F. , Garza Michael J. , Degen David , Ebright Richard H. , Del Valle Juan R.
Published: September 2023

Pseudouridimycin (PUM) is a microbially produced C‐nucleoside dipeptide that selectively targets the nucleotide addition site of bacterial RNA polymerase (RNAP) and that has a lower rate of spontaneous resistance emergence relative to current drugs that target RNAP. Despite its promising biological profile, PUM undergoes relatively rapid decomposition in buffered aqueous solutions. Here, we describe the synthesis, RNAP‐inhibitory activity, and antibacterial activity of chemically stabilized analogues of PUM. These analogues feature targeted modifications that mitigate guanidine‐mediated hydroxamate bond scission. A subset of analogues in which the central hydroxamate is replaced with amide or hydrazide isosteres retain the antibacterial activity of the natural product.
Adherence to hormonal therapy after surgery among older women with ductal carcinoma in situ: Implications for breast cancer–related adverse health events
Authors: Mitchell Jean M. , DeLeire Thomas , Isaacs Claudine
Published: September 2023

Background

Evidence from randomized clinical trials (RCTs) shows that receipt of hormonal therapy after surgery for estrogen receptor–positive ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) reduces the risk of DCIS and contralateral invasive breast cancer (IBC) but not death from breast cancer. RCTs examined homogeneous samples, and therefore whether this evidence can be generalized to diverse populations is unclear.

Methods

Population‐based data from four state cancer registries (California, New Jersey, New York, and Texas) were analyzed on women aged 65 years and older newly diagnosed with DCIS who underwent surgery with or without radiation during the years 2006–2013. Registry records were merged with Medicare enrollment in Parts A and/or B and D (prescription drugs) and associated claims. Whether adherence to hormonal therapy was associated with adverse breast cancer–related health events was analyzed.

Results

Achieving excellent adherence did not affect death from breast cancer. In contrast, the risk of developing a subsequent breast tumor was 6.24 percentage points (breast‐conserving surgery [BCS] with radiation therapy [RT]) and 10.54 percentage points (BCS alone) lower for women with excellent versus low adherence (p < .00001). For excellent versus good adherence, the reduced risk among women who had BCS with and without RT was approximately 3 and 5 percentage points, respectively. A similar pattern emerged for the risk of IBC among women who achieved excellent versus good or low adherence, whereas good versus low adherence comparisons were not significant.

Conclusions

This analysis of a diverse population‐based cohort of women with DCIS demonstrates that achieving excellent adherence to hormonal therapy is critical to minimizing the occurrence of developing subsequent breast tumors.

Plain Language Summary

Our analysis of a diverse population‐based cohort of women with ductal carcinoma in situ demonstrates that achieving excellent adherence to hormonal therapy is critical to minimizing the occurrence of developing subsequent breast tumors.
Characterization of the US Food and Drug Administration Post‐Marketing Commitments and Requirements for Pregnancy and Lactation
Authors: Avachat Charul , Younis Islam R. , Birnbaum Angela K.
Published: September 2023

Enactment of the US Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act (FDAAA) in 2007 and the Pregnancy and Lactation Labeling Rule (PLLR) in 2015 are important milestones giving the FDA the authority to request studies in pregnant and lactating women. Our objective was to characterize trends of pregnancy and lactation‐related postmarketing commitments (PMCs) and postmarketing requirements (PMRs) for new molecular entities approved by the FDA between 2000 and 2022. Approval letters of original New Drug Applications (NDAs, N = 488) for new molecular entities were obtained from the FDA website. NDAs with pregnancy and lactation‐based PMCs/PMRs were identified, and data extracted. Data included: PMC/PMR timelines and attributes of requested study(ies) (type, design elements, and outcomes) when available. Fifty‐nine NDAs included 92 PMCs/PMRs related to pregnancy and lactation. Forty‐one NDAs had pregnancy‐related PMRs/PMCs, 4 had lactation‐related PMRs, and 14 had both. Most PMRs/PMCs were for nervous system medications (N = 33). Forty‐seven NDAs specified safety data collection in infants in at least the first year of life. All pregnancy‐related PMRs were issued after 2008, most PMCs (N = 8) were issued before 2008. Only one PMC requested a pharmacokinetic study in pregnant women. All lactation‐related PMRs (N = 18) requested measurement of drug concentrations in breast milk with one also requiring measurement of maternal blood concentrations. Eighty‐nine percent of lactation‐related PMRs were requested after 2015. There was a steady increase in pregnancy and lactation‐related PMRs following enactment of FDAAA and PLLR. Additions involved information collection pertaining to safety of the medication in pregnant and lactating women and children exposed to medications during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Fluorescent Molecular Photoswitches for the Generation of All‐Optical Encryption Keys
Authors: Benitez‐Martin Carlos , Rouillon Jean , Grøtli Morten , Andréasson Joakim
Published: September 2023

Herein, we report a tri‐component photochromic molecular cocktail that can be used to encrypt and decrypt information. The time‐dependent fluorescent response of this cocktail is highly non‐linear with respect to the set of inputs used (concentrations of the three photochromic components, excitation‐ and emission wavelengths), a property required for the generation of so‐called encryption keys. The all‐optical system can generate more than 80 million unique fluorescence responses by applying different input combinations and is operated using a conventional fluorimeter.
Modulated model predictive current control technique for single phase nine‐level T‐type packed U‐cell inverter topology
Authors: Bhanuchandar Aratipamula , Murthy Bhagwan K.
Published: September 2023

This paper proposes a new floor function single carrier‐based modulated model predictive current control technique (FF‐SC‐M2PC2T) by considering conventional nine‐level T‐type packed U‐cell (9L‐TPUC) inverter topology. To get desired peak value of load current with low harmonic distortion, the finite control set‐based model predictive control technique (FCS‐MPCT) has been reported in the literature considering load dynamics and minimization of the cost function. However, inherently it suffers from variable switching frequency (VSF) of operation. To diminish this issue, an M2PC2T has been implemented and it provides a constant switching frequency (CSF) of operation. Especially coming to the modulation stage, most authors generally use level‐shifted pulse width modulation (PWM) techniques which inherently require more carriers, if‐else conditions, and additional logical gate blocks to generate particular level output. Hence, the control complexity increases as going to higher‐level inverter topologies. In this manuscript, a new simple floor function single carrier‐based pulse width modulation (FF‐SC‐PWM) technique has been proposed which applies to any single‐phase switched capacitor type multilevel inverter topology and it can be easily integrated with a predictive control algorithm to regulate the inverter output current (IOC). Finally, to check the effectiveness of the proposed control technique (PCT) in a closed loop, a laboratory prototype has been employed on 9L‐TPUC inverter topology with different static and dynamic case studies considering RL‐Load.