bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rate-Adaptive Atrial Pacing for Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction
Authors: Reddy Yogesh N. V. , Koepp Katlyn E. , Carter Rickey , Win Sithu , Jain Christopher Charles , Olson Thomas P. , Johnson Bruce D. , Rea Robert , Redfield Margaret M. , Borlaug Barry A.
Published: March 2023

Importance

Reduced heart rate during exercise is common and associated with impaired aerobic capacity in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), but it remains unknown if restoring exertional heart rate through atrial pacing would be beneficial.

Objective

To determine if implanting and programming a pacemaker for rate-adaptive atrial pacing would improve exercise performance in patients with HFpEF and chronotropic incompetence.

Design, Setting, and Participants

Single-center, double-blind, randomized, crossover trial testing the effects of rate-adaptive atrial pacing in patients with symptomatic HFpEF and chronotropic incompetence at a tertiary referral center (Mayo Clinic) in Rochester, Minnesota. Patients were recruited between 2014 and 2022 with 16-week follow-up (last date of follow-up, May 9, 2022). Cardiac output during exercise was measured by the acetylene rebreathe technique.

Interventions

A total of 32 patients were recruited; of these, 29 underwent pacemaker implantation and were randomized to atrial rate responsive pacing or no pacing first for 4 weeks, followed by a 4-week washout period and then crossover for an additional 4 weeks.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary end point was oxygen consumption (V̇o2) at anaerobic threshold (V̇o2,AT); secondary end points were peak V̇o2, ventilatory efficiency (V̇e/V̇co2 slope), patient-reported health status by the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire Overall Summary Score (KCCQ-OSS), and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels.

Results

Of the 29 patients randomized, the mean age was 66 years (SD, 9.7) and 13 (45%) were women. In the absence of pacing, peak V̇o2 and V̇o2 at anaerobic threshold (V̇o2,AT) were both correlated with peak exercise heart rate (r = 0.46-0.51, P < .02 for both). Pacing increased heart rate during low-level and peak exercise (16/min [95% CI, 10 to 23], P < .001; 14/min [95% CI, 7 to 21], P < .001), but there was no significant change in V̇o2,AT (pacing off, 10.4 [SD, 2.9] mL/kg/min; pacing on, 10.7 [SD, 2.6] mL/kg/min; absolute difference, 0.3 [95% CI, −0.5 to 1.0] mL/kg/min; P = .46), peak V̇o2, minute ventilation (V̇e)/carbon dioxide production (V̇co2) slope, KCCQ-OSS, or NT-proBNP level. Despite the increase in heart rate, atrial pacing had no significant effect on cardiac output with exercise, owing to a decrease in stroke volume (−24 mL [95% CI, −43 to −5 mL]; P = .02). Adverse events judged to be related to the pacemaker device were observed in 6 of 29 participants (21%).

Conclusions and Relevance

In patients with HFpEF and chronotropic incompetence, implantation of a pacemaker to enhance exercise heart rate did not result in an improvement in exercise capacity and was associated with increased adverse events.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02145351
The landscape of human p53‐regulated long non‐coding RNAs reveals critical host gene co‐regulation
Authors: Fischer Martin , Riege Konstantin , Hoffmann Steve
Published: March 2023

The role of long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in p53‐mediated tumor suppression has become increasingly appreciated in the past decade. Thus, the identification of p53‐regulated lncRNAs can be a promising starting point to select and prioritize lncRNAs for functional analyses. By integrating transcriptome and transcription factor‐binding data, we identified 379 lncRNAs that are recurrently differentially regulated by p53. Dissecting the mechanisms by which p53 regulates many of them, we identified sets of lncRNAs regulated either directly by p53 or indirectly through the p53‐RFX7 and p53‐p21‐DREAM/RB:E2F pathways. Importantly, we identified multiple p53‐responsive lncRNAs that are co‐regulated with their protein‐coding host genes, revealing an important mechanism by which p53 may regulate lncRNAs. Further analysis of transcriptome data and clinical data from cancer patients showed that recurrently p53‐regulated lncRNAs are associated with patient survival. Together, the integrative analysis of the landscape of p53‐regulated lncRNAs provides a powerful resource facilitating the identification of lncRNA function and displays the mechanisms of p53‐dependent regulation that could be exploited for developing anticancer approaches.
Inhibition of adaptive therapy tolerance in cancer: is triplet mitochondrial targeting the key?
Authors: Westermarck Jukka
Published: March 2023

Targeted therapies have become a mainstay in the treatment of cancer, but their long‐term efficacy is compromised by acquired drug resistance. Acquired therapy resistance develops via two phases—first through adaptive development of nongenetic drug tolerance, which is followed by stable resistance through the acquisition of genetic mutations. Drug tolerance has been described in practically all clinical cancer treatment contexts, and detectable drug‐tolerant tumors are highly associated with treatment relapse and poor survival. Thereby, novel therapeutic strategies are needed to overcome cancer therapy tolerance. Recent studies have identified a critical role of mitochondrial mechanisms in defining cancer cell sensitivity to targeted therapies and the surprising effects of established cancer therapies on mitochondria. Here, these recent studies are reviewed emphasizing an emerging concept of triplet therapies including three compounds targeting different cancer cell vulnerabilities but including at least one compound that targets the mitochondria. These mitochondria‐targeting triplet therapies have very promising preclinical effects in overcoming cancer therapy tolerance. Potential strategies of how to overcome challenges in the clinical translation of mitochondria‐targeting triplet therapies are also discussed.
Dynamic changes in circulating tumor DNA assessed by shallow whole‐genome sequencing associate with clinical efficacy of checkpoint inhibitors in NSCLC
Authors: Carbonell Caterina , Frigola Joan , Pardo Nuria , Callejo Ana , Iranzo Patricia , Valdivia Augusto , Priano Ilaria , Cedrés Susana , Martinez‐Marti Alex , Navarro Alejandro , Lenza Laura , Soleda Mireia , Gonzalo‐Ruiz Javier , Vivancos Ana , Sansó Miriam , Carcereny Enric , Morán Teresa , Amat Ramon , Felip Enriqueta
Published: March 2023

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) targeting the PD‐1/PD‐L1 axis are the main therapeutic option for patients with advanced non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) without a druggable oncogenic alteration. Nevertheless, only a portion of patients benefit from this type of treatment. Here, we assessed the value of shallow whole‐genome sequencing (sWGS) on plasma samples to monitor ICI benefit. We applied sWGS on cell‐free DNA (cfDNA) extracted from plasma samples of 45 patients with metastatic NSCLC treated with ICIs. Over 150 samples were obtained before ICI treatment initiation and at several time points throughout treatment. From sWGS data, we computed the tumor fraction (TFx) and somatic copy number alteration (SCNA) burden and associated them with ICI benefit and clinical features. TFx at baseline correlated with metastatic lesions at the bone and the liver, and high TFx (≥ 10%) associated with ICI benefit. Moreover, its assessment in on‐treatment samples was able to better predict clinical efficacy, regardless of the TFx levels at baseline. Finally, for a subset of patients for whom SCNA burden could be computed, increased burden correlated with diminished benefit following ICI treatment. Thus, our data indicate that the analysis of cfDNA by sWGS enables the monitoring of two potential biomarkers—TFx and SCNA burden—of ICI benefit in a cost‐effective manner, facilitating multiple serial‐sample analyses. Larger cohorts will be needed to establish its clinical potential.
HORMAD1 overexpression predicts response to anthracycline–cyclophosphamide and survival in triple‐negative breast cancers
Authors: El‐Botty Rania , Vacher Sophie , Mainguené Juliette , Briaux Adrien , Ibadioune Sabrina , Dahmani Ahmed , Montaudon Elodie , Nemati Fariba , Huguet Léa , Sourd Laura , Morriset Ludivine , Château‐Joubert Sophie , Dubois Thierry , Maire Virginie , Lidereau Rosette , Rapinat Audrey , Gentien David , Coussy Florence , Bièche Ivan , Marangoni Elisabetta
Published: March 2023

Triple negative breast cancers (TNBCs) represent 15–20% of all breast cancers and are associated with higher recurrence and distant metastasis rate. Standard of care for early stage TNBC is anthracyclines combined with cyclophosphamide (AC) followed by taxanes, in the neo‐adjuvant or adjuvant setting. This work aimed to identify predictive biomarkers of AC response in patient‐derived xenograft (PDX) models of TNBC and to validate them in the clinical setting. By gene and protein expression analysis of 39 PDX with different responses to AC, we found that high expression of HORMAD1 was associated with better response to AC. Both gene and protein expression were associated with promoter hypomethylation. In a cohort of 526 breast cancer patients, HORMAD1 was overexpressed in 71% of TNBC. In a second cohort of 186 TNBC patients treated with AC, HORMAD1 expression was associated with longer metastasis‐free survival (MFS). In summary, HORMAD1 overexpression was predictive of an improved response to AC in PDX and is an independent prognostic factor in TNBC patients treated with AC.
Reproducibility and stability of spirometer‐guided deep inspiration breath‐hold in left‐breast treatments using an optical surface monitoring system
Authors: Cilla Savino , Romano Carmela , Craus Maurizio , Viola Pietro , Macchia Gabriella , Boccardi Mariangela , De Vivo Livia P. , Buwenge Milly , Morganti Alessio G. , Deodato Francesco
Published: March 2023

The aim of this study was to evaluate the reproducibility and stability of left breast positioning during spirometer‐guided deep‐inspiration breath‐hold (DIBH) radiotherapy using an optical surface imaging system (AlignRT). The AlignRT optical tracking system was used to monitor five left‐sided breast cancer patients treated using the Active Breathing Coordinator spirometer with DIBH technique. Treatment plans were created using an automated hybrid‐VMAT technique on DIBH CTs. A prescribed dose of 60 Gy to the tumor bed and 50 Gy to the breast in 25 fractions was planned. During each treatment session, the antero‐posterior (VRT), superior‐inferior (LNG), and lateral (LAT) motion of patients was continuously recorded by AlignRT. The intra‐breath‐hold stability and the intra‐ and inter‐fraction reproducibility were analyzed for all breath‐holds and treatment fractions. The dosimetric impact of the residual motion during DIBH was evaluated from the isocenter shifts amplitudes obtained from the 50%, 90%, and 100% cumulative distribution functions of intra‐fractional reproducibility. The positional variations of 590 breath‐holds as measured by AlignRT were evaluated. The mean intra‐breath‐hold stability during DIBH was 1.0 ± 0.4 mm, 2.1 ± 1.9 mm, and 0.7 ± 0.5 mm in the VRT, LNG, and LAT directions, with a maximal value of 8.8 mm in LNG direction. Similarly, the mean intra‐breath‐hold reproducibility was 1.4 ± 0.8 mm, 1.7 ± 1.0 mm, and 0.8 ± 0.5 mm in the VRT, LNG, and LAT directions, with a maximal value of 4.1 mm in LNG direction. Inter‐fractional reproducibility showed better reliability, with difference in breathing levels in all fractions of 0.3 mm on average. Based on tolerance limits corresponding to the 90% cumulative distribution level, gating window widths of 1 mm, 2 mm, and 5 mm in the LAT, VRT, and LNG directions were considered an appropriate choice. In conclusion, despite the use of a dedicated spirometer at constant tidal volume, a non‐negligible variability of the breast surface position has been reported during breath‐holds. The real‐time monitoring of breast surface using surface‐guided optical technology is strongly recommended.
Enhancing Care Partnerships Using a Rheumatology Dashboard: Bringing Together What Matters Most to Both Patients and Clinicians
Authors: Van Citters Aricca D. , Taxter Alysha J. , Mathew Stephanie D. , Lawson Erica , Eseddi Joad , Del Gaizo Vincent , Ahmad Jabeen , Bajaj Puneet , Courtnay Stacy , Davila Lesley , Donaldson Brittany , Kimura Yukiko , Lee Tzielan , Mecchella John N. , Nelson Eugene C. , Pompa Scott , Tabussi Doreen , Johnson Lisa C.
Published: March 2023

Objective

Dashboards can support person‐centered care by helping people partner with their clinicians to coproduce care based on preferences, shared decision‐making, and evidence‐based treatments. We engaged caregivers of children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), adults with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and clinicians in a pilot study to assess their experiences and the utility and impact of an electronic previsit questionnaire and point‐of‐care dashboard to support coproduction of rheumatology care.

Methods

We employed a mixed‐methods design to assess users’ perceptions of a customized electronic health record rheumatology module at four pediatric rheumatology practices and two adult rheumatology practices. We surveyed a convenience sample of caregivers of children with JIA (n = 113), adults with RA (n = 116), and clinicians (n = 12). We conducted semistructured interviews with 13 caregivers and patients and six care teams. Experiences were evaluated using descriptive statistics and thematic analyses.

Results

Caregivers of children with JIA and adults with RA reported the dashboards were useful during discussions (88%) and helped them talk about what mattered most (82%), make health care decisions (83%), and create a treatment plan (77%). Clinicians provided similar feedback. Two‐thirds (67%) of caregivers and adults and 55% of clinicians would recommend the dashboard to peers. System usability scores (77.1 ± 15.6) were above average. Dashboards helped users make sense of health information, communicate more effectively, and make decisions. Improvements to the dashboards and workflows could enhance patient self‐management and clinician efficiency.

Conclusion

Visual point‐of‐care dashboards can support caregivers, patients, and clinicians to coproduce rheumatology care. Findings demonstrate a need to spread and scale for broader benefit and impact.
3D‐Printed Carrageenan‐Based Nanocomposites for Force‐Sensing Applications
Authors: Macedo Vera M. , Pereira Nelson , Tubio Carmen R. , Martins Pedro , Costa Carlos M. , Lanceros-Mendez Senentxu
Published: March 2023

Technological development is leading to an exponential growth in the implementation of sensors and actuators where the concern about environmental problems is also focusing on electronic waste (e‐waste), which is composed of hazardous materials, corresponding to a large part of urban waste, and has a strong environmental impact. Therefore, more environmentally friendly electronic components are required, natural polymers being a suitable approach to solve or attenuate those problems. This work reports on a bio‐based polymer, carrageenan, embedded with dielectric barium titanate (BTO) nanoparticles to tailor the electrical response. The inclusion of the filler induces slight modifications in the thermal characteristics and on the physicochemical properties of the polymer matrix. On the other hand, the mechanical and dielectric properties improve with the addition of BTO and a high dielectric constant ofε′ ≈13 000 is obtained for the composite with 20 wt% BTO content. The increase of the dielectric constant is accompanied by a high AC electrical conductivity, leading to a high‐ε′–high‐loss material. The 20 wt% BTO composite is used to produce a force measuring sensor, due to the highest dielectric response. The functional response of the sensing system shows good stability over cycling.
N‐Containing Carbons Derived from Microporous Coordination Polymers for Use in Post‐Combustion Flue Gas Capture
Authors: Karve Vikram Vinayak , Espín Jordi , Asgari Mehrdad , Van Gele Samuel , Oveisi Emad , Queen Wendy Lee
Published: March 2023

Herein, novel carbons that, owing to a high density of micropores (up to 79%) and N‐content (up to 14.9%), offering exciting potential for post‐combustion CO2 capture are reported. Given that little is known about how starting materials impact the structure and performance of carbons, three different microporous materials are pyrolyzed. These include a Co‐(metal‐organic framework) (MOF), a Co‐MOF‐polymer composite, and a coordination polymer derived from the same monomer and cobalt ions. Notably, the cobalt, which is required to drive the polymerization, is subsequently leached from the carbons via acid for its reuse in MOF synthesis. Next, various metrics including CO2 capacity, selectivity, isosteric heat of adsorption, breakthrough time and cyclability are assessed. The acid treated carbons adsorb 0.21, 0.99, and 1.11 mmol CO2 g−1, respectively, (313 K, 0.15 bar) with CO2/N2 selectivity ranging from 37 to 52. Due to superior capacity, the polymer‐derived carbons also reveal impressive breakthrough times in simulated flue gas mixtures (15% CO2/85% N2, 80% RH, 313 K) ranging from 33 to 40 min g−1. Similar performance is also observed under dry conditions and after pre‐saturation with water for 1.5 h. Remarkably, no loss in working capacity is observed after 100 CO2 TSA cycles (313 K/393 K).
Lantern‐Inspired On‐Skin Helical Interconnects for Epidermal Electronic Sensors
Authors: Li Ding , Cui Tianrui , Jian Jinming , Yan Jianlan , Xu Jiandong , Li Xin , Li Zhen , Yan Anzi , Chen Zhikang , Shao Wancheng , Tang Zeyi , Xu Zigan , Wu Guohua , Liu Houfang , Yang Yi , Ren Tian‐Ling
Published: March 2023

Epidermal electronics have been attracting considerable attention due to their various potential applications in human‐computer interaction and health monitoring. However, because of the lack of a self‐adhesive and stable interconnect method between epidermal electronic sensors and rigid circuit boards, there remain difficulties in detecting body signals accurately by epidermal electronic sensors in daily life. Here, a 3D helical on‐skin interconnect is first introduced for epidermal electronics sensors. Inspired by the structure of the accordion lantern, the interconnect is composed of two electrospinning polyurethane (PU) fiber films and a helical metal fiber. The helical metal fiber acts as a stable conductor with stretchability, and the PU fiber film with polydimethylsiloxane provides a self‐adhesive substrate. Mechanical simulations and tests prove that the proposed interconnect can laminate conformally and unobtrusively onto human skin with excellent electrical stability (less than 0.5% electrical resistance change upon 100% elongation). Furthermore, based on the proposed interconnect, an all‐in‐one sensor‐interconnect design is presented, which endows the epidermal electronic systems with anti‐motion interference capability. A gesture identification wristband system realized by a single all‐in‐one strain sensor is demonstrated. Besides, a wireless on‐skin system that accurately monitors dynamic 12‐lead electrocardiographic is successfully built using all‐in‐one electrodes.
Achieving Swollen yet Strengthened Hydrogels by Reorganizing Multiphase Network Structure
Authors: Huang Yiwan , Qian Sanyu , Zhou Ju , Chen Wenjun , Liu Tao , Yang Sheng , Long Shijun , Li Xuefeng
Published: March 2023

Many living tissues, such as muscle, become mechanically stronger with growth. Yet, synthetic hydrogels usually exhibit an opposite size‐mechanical property relation, that is, swelling‐weakening behavior. Herein, a series of swollen yet strengthened polyampholyte (PA) hydrogels are developed via a simple metal‐ion solution soaking strategy. In this strategy, a dynamic PA hydrogel (with ionic bonds) is dialyzed in ZrOCl2 solutions (Step‐I) and deionized water (Step‐II) successively to obtain equilibrated hydrogels. Due to the specific Zr4+ ions and PA network structure, Step‐I takes several months with sample size and mechanical performance increasing continuously, while Step‐II only needs several days. Through this strategy, the resultant hydrogel networks are reorganized and eventually constructed by ionic and metalligand bonds, enabling the swelling yet strengthening behavior. A systematic study confirms that dialysis time in Step‐I and corresponding ZrOCl2 concentration can significantly affect the multiphase microstructures of the hydrogels, resulting in different mechanical enhancements. The optimized hydrogel possesses 39.2 MPa of Young's modulus and 3.7 MPa of tensile strength, which are 302 and 5.5 times these of the original PA gel, respectively. Despite distinct swelling, these hydrogels still mechanically surpass many existing high‐performance hydrogels. This study opens a novel pathway for fabricating swollen yet strengthened hydrogels.
Antimicrobial Hybrid Amphiphile via Dynamic Covalent Bonds Enables Bacterial Biofilm Dispersal and Bacteria Eradication
Authors: Zhan Yizhou , Hu Xiaowen , Li Yuanfeng , Wang Yaran , Chen Hua , Omolo Calvin Andeve , Govender Thirumala , Li Huaping , Huang Fan , Shi Linqi , Hu Xiaoli , Liu Yong
Published: March 2023

To tackle the problems caused by bacterial biofilms, herein, this study reports an antimicrobial hybrid amphiphile (aHA) via dynamic covalent bonds for eradicating staphylococcal biofilms. aHA is synthesized via iminoboronate ester formation between DETA NONOate (nitric oxide donor), 3 4‐dihydroxybenaldehyde, and phenylboronic acid‐modified ciprofloxacin (Cip). aHA can self‐assemble in aqueous solution with an ultra‐small critical aggregation concentration of 3.80 × 10–5 mm and high drug loading content of 73.8%. The iminoboronate ester is sensitive to the acidic and oxidative biofilm microenvironment, liberating nitric oxide and Cip that can synergistically eradicate bacterial biofilms. To this end, aHA assemblies efficiently eradicate staphylococcal infections and ameliorate inflammation in the murine peritoneal and subcutaneous infection models without any notable side effects on normal tissues. Collectively, the aHA assemblies may provide a facile and efficient alternative to the current development of anti‐biofilm therapies.
Nanoscaling and Heterojunction for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution by Bimetallic Metal‐Organic Frameworks
Authors: Tang Liangming , Lin Qia‐Chun , Jiang Zhixin , Hu Jieying , Liu Zhiqing , Liao Wei‐Ming , Zhou Hua‐Qun , Chung Lai‐Hon , Xu Zhengtao , Yu Lin , He Jun
Published: March 2023

Using sunlight to manufacture hydrogen offers promising access to renewable clean energy. For this, low‐cost photocatalyst with effective light absorption and charge transfer are crucial, as current top‐performing systems often involve precious metals like Pd and Pt. An integrated organic–inorganic photocatalyst based on the cheap metals of iron and nickel are reported, wherein the metal ions form strong metal‐sulfur bonds with the organic linker molecules (2,5‐dimercapto‐1,4‐benzenedicarboxylic acid, H4DMBD) to generate 2D coordination sheets for promoting light absorption and charge transport. The 2D sheets are further modified through ionic metal‐carboxylate moieties to allow for functional flexibility. Thus, high‐surface‐area thin nanosheets of this 2D material, with an optimized Fe/Ni ratio (0.25:1.75), and in heterojunction with CdS nanosheet, achieve a stable photocatalytic hydrogen evolution rate of 12.15 µmol mg−1 h−1. This work synergizes coordination network design and nano‐assembly as a versatile platform for catalyzing hydrogen production and other sustainable processes.
Grafted MXenes Based Electrolytes for 5V‐Class Solid‐State Batteries
Authors: Chen Ze , Ma Xinyao , Hou Yue , Cui Huilin , Li Xinliang , Yang Qi , Huang Zhaodong , Wang Donghong , Dong Binbin , Fan Jun , Zhi Chunyi
Published: March 2023

Polymer blends based solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs), combining the advantages of multiple polymers, are promising for the utilization of 5 V‐class cathodes (e.g., LiCoMnO4 (LCMO)) with enhanced safety. However, severe macro‐phase separation with defects and voids in polymer blends restrict the electrochemical stability and ionic migration of SPEs. Herein, inorganic compatibilizer polyacrylonitrile grafted MXene (MXene‐g‐PAN) is exploited to improve the miscibility of the poly(vinylidene fluoride‐co‐hexafluoropropylene) (PVHF)/PAN blends and suppress the consolidation of phase particles. The resulting SPE exhibits a high anodic stability with an ionic conductivity of 2.17 × 10−4 S cm−1, enabling a stable and reversible Li platting/stripping (over 2500 h). The fabricated solid Li‖LCMO cell delivers a 5.1 V discharge voltage with a decent capacity (131 mAh g−1) and cycling performance. Subsequently, the solid all‐in‐one graphite‖LCMO battery is also constructed to extend the application of MXene based SPEs in flexible batteries. Benefiting from the interface‐less design, outstanding mechanical flexibility and stability is achieved in the battery, which can endure various deformations with a low‐capacity loss (< ≈10%). This study signifies a significant development on solid flexible lithium ion batteries with enhanced performance, stability, and reliability by investigating the miscibility of polymer blends, benefiting for the design of high‐performance SPEs.
A Structure Self‐Healing Li‐Rich Cathode Achieved by Lithium Supplement of Li‐Rich LLZO Coating
Authors: Wei Youri , Cheng Jun , Li Deping , Li Yuanyuan , Zeng Zhen , Liu Hongbin , Zhang Hongqiang , Ji Fengjun , Geng Ximing , Lu Jingyu , Ci Lijie
Published: March 2023

Lithium‐rich manganese‐based cathode materials (LLMO) are considered as the promising candidates for realizing high energy density lithium‐ion batteries. However, the severe structure deterioration and capacity fading hinder their large‐scale application. Herein, an innovative electrochemical lithium supplement strategy is put forward to inhibit the structure collapse and enhance the cycling stability of Lithium‐rich manganese‐based cathodes. Besides, combining with the superior Li‐ion conductor Li6.25La3Zr2Al0.25O12 (LLZAO), remarkable rate capability is achieved. As a result, a capacity retention of 95.7% after 300 cycles at 1.0 C (1.0 C = 200 mA g−1), as well as a stable cycling at 5.0 C with discharge capacity of 136.9 mAh g−1, are harvested. Moreover, the excess lithium ions in LLZAO mitigate the spinel‐like phase transformation via inserting into the lithium layer and stabilizing the cathode structure. In addition, the lithium ions migration behavior in the elaborated cathode is thoroughly expounded and the correlation between diffusion kinetics and LLZAO is revealed. These findings boost the updating of LLMO and pave a new pathway for stabilizing LLMO structures.
Tunable Fluorescent Artificial Receptor Biosensor Based on Programmable Lanthanide Metal‐Organic Framework for Highly Selective Neurotransmitter Detection
Authors: Yu Long , Feng Lixiang , Wei Zhongyu , Wang Shuo , Feng Yumin , Shen Yongjin , Cai Junlong , Wu Jianyuan , Xiao Yuxiu
Published: March 2023

The design and fabrication of artificial receptors suitable for highly selective and sensitive sensing of neurotransmitters in aqueous media remains a challenge, especially for the significant biomarker dopamine (DA) for neurological diseases. Herein, a novel modular fluorescent artificial receptor design strategy based on multiple parameters programming engineering is proposed. The optimal artificial receptor DA biosensor based on fluorescent lanthanide metal‐organic frameworks (Ln‐MOFs) is coded by adjusting the modular design parameters such as preparation solvents and ligands. It is prepared by Eu ion and ligand 1,2,4,5‐benzenetetracarboxylic acid (BTEC) in DMF/water, which can selectively recognize DA even in complex biological fluids, without the interference of other structurally similar neurotransmitters such as levodopa, serotonin and noradrenaline, and the limit of detection for DA is as low as 10 nm. Ln‐MOFs are believed to uniquely utilize their tunable host‐guest interactions (specific recognition) and confinement catalysis capabilities to achieve highly selective and dual‐response DA detection, similar to lock‐and‐key theory, which is supported by experiments and density functional theory calculations. Fluorescent artificial receptors based on Ln‐MOFs are proved to have broad potential for label‐free detection, imaging and diagnosis. They can overcome the long‐standing limitations of complex synthetic biosensors, and bringing new solutions to personalized medicine.
Polymer‐Encapsulated Halide Perovskite Color Converters to Overcome Blue Overshoot and Cyan Gap of White Light‐Emitting Diodes
Authors: Peng Min , Sun Shibin , Xu Bin , Deng Zhengtao
Published: March 2023

Currently, the most popular way to manufacture white light‐emitting diodes (WLEDs) is based on blue‐emitting InGaN LED chips (440–460 nm) and yellow‐emitting phosphor coating (520–700 nm) to produce white light lighting. However, because conventional white WLEDs lack the uniformly distributed continuous emission spectrum compared to natural sunlight: “blue overshoot” (extra 440–460 nm blue‐light can cause damage to the retina) and “cyan gap” (470–520 nm wavelength range). Here, a novel strategy to “kill two birds with one stone” is reported: using the stable and bright polymer encapsulated perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) composite films as the cyan color converters that efficiently absorb the “blue overshoot” and effectively emit the cyan light to fill the “cyan gap”. A series of polymer‐encapsulated PNC films is achieved that can reach very high photoluminescence quantum yield (PL QY) of 90–95% under 450 nm blue‐light excitation. Importantly, both 370 nm UV‐excited WLED and 455 nm blue‐excited WLED devices are constructed that exhibit smoothly and evenly distributed white light without blue overshoot and cyan gap, which was not achieved before for blue‐excited cyan‐emissive materials. This study paves the way toward the application of PNC color converters in the next generation full‐visible‐spectrum WLED lighting that mimic the natural daylight.
Experimental Study on Repairing Peripheral Nerve Defects with Novel Bionic Tissue Engineering
Authors: Qi Tong , Zhang Xu , Gu Xiaosong , Cui Shusen
Published: March 2023

Peripheral nerve defects are a worldwide problem, and autologous nerve transplantation is currently the gold‐standard treatment for them. Tissue‐engineered nerve (TEN) grafts are widely considered promising methods for the same, and have attracted much attention. To improve repair, the incorporation of bionics into TEN grafts has become a focus of research. In this study, a novel bionic TEN graft with a biomimetic structure and composition is designed. For this purpose, a chitin helical scaffold is fabricated by means of mold casting and acetylation using chitosan as the raw material, following which a fibrous membrane is electrospun on the outer layer of the chitin scaffold. The lumen of the structure is filled with human bone mesenchymal stem cell‐derived extracellular matrix and fibers to provide nutrition and topographic guidance, respectively. The prepared TEN graft is then transplanted to bridge 10 mm sciatic nerve defects in rats. Morphological and functional examination shows that the repair effects of the TEN grafts and autografts are similar. The bionic TEN graft described in this study shows great potential for application and offers a new way to repair clinical peripheral nerve defects.
Microtopography‐Guided Double‐Layer Cross Structure for a Terahertz Multiband Amplitude Modulator
Authors: Li Tong , Chen Hang , Zhang Jia , Wang Zhenlong
Published: March 2023

Terahertz (THz) modulator can be used to modulate the amplitude and frequency of THz wave. A THz multiband amplitude modulator based on temperature control is proposed in this study. The metamaterial structure of proposed modulator is a double‐layer cross structure which attached on a silicon substrate, and the cross‐distribution of different materials in top and middle layer is Cu @ SiO2 and SiO2 @ VO2, respectively. To prepare the modulator, a microtopographic substrate‐guided method with low‐cost and high accuracy capacities is proposed. Finally, the proposed modulator exhibits above 70% transmittance in 1.31–1.36 THz, 1.55–1.60 THz, and 1.76–1.79 THz, respectively, at 35 °C After temperature rises to 70 °C, transmittance decreases below 0.1 in 1–2 THz. The similarity of the experimental and simulated transmission is up to 85.67%, and the mean modulation depth (MD) is 0.73. The performance can fulfill the applications in THz amplitude modulator, and due to the large modulation depth of transmission, the proposed modulator can be used as a filter switch. It also indicates the proposed method can be effectively applied in other multilayer composite materials preparation.
Plasma‐Based Synthesis of Freestanding Graphene from a Natural Resource for Sensing Application
Authors: Zafar M. Adeel , Liu Yang , Hernandez Francisco C. Robles , Varghese Oomman K. , Jacob Mohan V
Published: March 2023

Atmospheric pressure microwave plasma has the lead in synthesizing freestanding and scalable graphene within seconds without the need for high vacuum and temperature. However, the process is limited in utilizing chemical sources for synthesis, such as methane and ethanol. Herein, the usage of an extract of a sustainable precursor, that is, Melaleuca alternifolia, commonly known as tea tree, is for the first time reported to synthesize graphene nanosheets in atmospheric pressure microwave plasma. The synthesis is carried out in a single step at a remarkably low microwave power of 200 W. The morphology, structure, and electrochemical properties of graphene are studied using state‐of‐the‐art characterization techniques such as Raman spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The TEM images reveal the presence of a combination of nanostructures such as nano‐horns, nano‐rods, or nano‐onions consisting of multi‐layer graphitic architectures. An excellent sensing capability of as‐synthesized graphene is demonstrated through the detection of diuron herbicide. A commendable linear range of 20 µm to 1 mm and a limit of detection of 5 µm of diuron is recorded.
Plasmonic Metasurface Integrated Black Phosphorus‐Based Mid‐Infrared Photodetector with High Responsivity and Speed
Authors: Yadav Shyam Narayan Singh , Chen Po‐Liang , Liu Chang Hua , Yen Ta‐Jen
Published: March 2023

Black Phosphorus (BP), a van der Waals (vdW) semiconducting material, is studied intensively due to its unique structural and anisotropic optical properties. BP exhibits optical anisotropy with thickness tunable direct bandgap from 0.3–2.0 eV. Many BP‐based photodetectors operating in the mid‐infrared (MIR) band are proposed, but their performance is still limited due to the small optical absorption cross section at room temperature. In this work, a plasmonic metasurface that has localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) at 3.7 µm is designed, matching well with the band edge of a BP flake and field confinement around the edge of Au‐disk as confirmed by finite difference time domain simulation and Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy measurement results. In addition, a BP flake is integrated on the plasmonic metasurface and a significant quenching (twelve‐fold) is observed in the photoluminescence owing to the Förster resonance energy transfer effect induced by dipole–dipole coupling. Following that, a BP‐based MIR photodetector is fabricated on the plasmonic metasurface. Here, the demonstrated BP/plasmonic metasurface‐based photodetector achieves the peak responsivity of 495.85 mAW−1 and ultrahigh operation speed (>10 MHz) at the power of 8.55 µW under 3.7 µm incident wavelength. This demonstrated photodetector opens a new opportunity for optoelectronic applications in the MIR region.
Light Reconfigurable Topological Optical Phase Structure Enabled by a Photoresponsive Chiral System
Authors: Wang Xiao‐Qian , Tam Alwin Ming‐Wai , Yang Wei‐Qiang , Kiselev Alexei D. , Shen Dong , Chigrinov Vladimir , Kwok Hoi‐Sing , Li Quan
Published: March 2023

The ability to establish significant phase modulation at low applied field provides a promising route toward polarization control and wavefront shaping for liquid‐crystal‐based devices. Owing to the polarization‐selective reflectivity of chiral liquid crystals (CLCs), reflective wavefront shaping via geometric phase is demonstrated when a circularly polarized light is Bragg reflected by a spatially orientated chiral layer. Nowadays, photoresponsive CLCs have attracted extensive attention due to their exotic feature that endows the CLC devices with the capability of electric‐free remote control. Despite the mature photoresponsive CLC materials and the sophisticated reflective geometric phase devices, a light‐induced topological optical phase modulation for a transmissive wave exiting a CLC cell remains elusive. Here, with the employment of a photosensitive chiral dopant, a hybrid aligned photoresponsive CLC system, demonstrating the simultaneous light modulation of topological geometric phase and dynamic phase via helical pitch manipulation is established. The continuous dual‐phase modulation engenders a smooth optically controllable diffraction efficiency (i.e., from <5% to >90%) of the proposed light‐reconfigurable CLC geometric phase optical element prototypes with multistable diffractive behavior, thus launching a paradigm shift for the application of novel liquid‐crystal photonic devices in the field of all‐optical polarization and spin processing.
Electrohydrodynamically Printed High‐resolution Arrays Based on Stabilized CsPbBr3 Quantum Dot Inks
Authors: Yang Xiao , Yan Zi‐Jun , Zhong Chen‐Ming , Jia Hui , Chen Guo‐Long , Fan Xiao‐Tong , Wang Shu‐Li , Wu Ting‐Zhu , Lin Yue , Chen Zhong
Published: March 2023

High‐resolution perovskite quantum dots (PeQDs) arrays printed by electrohydrodynamic (EHD) inkjet printing show great application prospects in fields of micro‐display. Commonly, EHD inkjet requires a polar system for printing but it easily quenches the PeQDs. Meanwhile, the mismatch of solvent parameters causes uneven surface morphology and printing instability. In this work, a morphology uniformization strategy of a nonpolar binary solvent system of 1,3,5‐triethylbenzene and n‐tetradecane is proposed to prepare the didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB)/PbBr2 passivated PeQDs inks. When the solvent volume ratio is 5:5, the photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of the ink reaches 94.06%. Benefiting from the match of boiling point, surface tension, and dielectric constant of ink, after the EHD inkjet printing, the line width of continuous smooth line arrays is as narrow as 2.0 µm and the coffee effect of dot arrays is well inhibited. Meanwhile, derived from the strong electrostatic interaction between the π‐electron structure of 1,3,5‐triethylbenzene and DDA+, the ink exhibits high stability. Moreover, the high‐resolution logo and miniature quick responsecode by EHD inkjet printing reach 22 718 dpi, far higher than that of the reported micro‐LED. This work paves the way for high‐resolution pixel arrays of micro‐display.
Self‐Healing Stress Sensors: Coupling Stress‐Sensing Performance with Dynamic Chemistry
Authors: Wang Yuyan , Zhang Xinxing
Published: March 2023

Flexible stress sensors that can convert different forces into electrical signals show great potential for applications in wearable electronics and electronic skin. The integration of self‐healing capacity into stress‐sensing materials can boost their reliability, stability, and long‐term performance. There have been many reviews describing the progress of research on self‐healing stress sensors. However, most have typically investigated the self‐healing design separately from the sensing mechanism. The review focuses on how the latest advances in coupling stress‐sensing performance with dynamic chemistry balance self‐healing and sensing performance. Then, based on sensing structures and self‐healing dynamic bonds, the design strategies, and preparation methods of self‐healing sensors and their advantages and disadvantages in recent years are summarized in detail. It is anticipated that this work will provide insights and guidance for the future development of sensors with synergistically enhanced self‐healing and sensing properties and their application designs.
Broadband Solar Metamaterial Absorbers Empowered by Transformer‐Based Deep Learning
Authors: Chen Wei , Gao Yuan , Li Yuyang , Yan Yiming , Ou Jun‐Yu , Ma Wenzhuang , Zhu Jinfeng
Published: March 2023

The research of metamaterial shows great potential in the field of solar energy harvesting. In the past decade, the design of broadband solar metamaterial absorber (SMA) has attracted a surge of interest. The conventional design typically requires brute‐force optimizations with a huge sampling space of structure parameters. Very recently, deep learning (DL) has provided a promising way in metamaterial design, but its application on SMA development is barely reported due to the complicated features of broadband spectrum. Here, this work develops the DL model based on metamaterial spectrum transformer (MST) for the powerful design of high‐performance SMAs. The MST divides the optical spectrum of metamaterial into N patches, which overcomes the severe problem of overfitting in traditional DL and boosts the learning capability significantly. A flexible design tool based on free customer definition is developed to facilitate the real‐time on‐demand design of metamaterials with various optical functions. The scheme is applied to the design and fabrication of SMAs with graded‐refractive‐index nanostructures. They demonstrate the high average absorptance of 94% in a broad solar spectrum and exhibit exceptional advantages over many state‐of‐the‐art counterparts. The outdoor testing implies the high‐efficiency energy collection of about 1061 kW h m−2 from solar radiation annually. This work paves a way for the rapid smart design of SMA, and will also provide a real‐time developing tool for many other metamaterials and metadevices.
Thermally Drawn Elastomer Nanocomposites for Soft Mechanical Sensors
Authors: Leber Andreas , Laperrousaz Stella , Qu Yunpeng , Dong Chaoqun , Richard Inès , Sorin Fabien
Published: March 2023

Stretchable and conductive nanocomposites are emerging as important constituents of soft mechanical sensors for health monitoring, human–machine interactions, and soft robotics. However, tuning the materials’ properties and sensor structures to the targeted mode and range of mechanical stimulation is limited by current fabrication approaches, particularly in scalable polymer melt techniques. Here, thermoplastic elastomer‐based nanocomposites are engineered and novel rheological requirements are proposed for their compatibility with fiber processing technologies, yielding meters‐long, soft, and highly versatile stretchable fiber devices. Based on microstructural changes in the nanofiller arrangement, the resistivity of the nanocomposite is tailored in its final device architecture across an entire order of magnitude as well as its sensitivity to strain via tuning thermal drawing processing parameters alone. Moreover, the prescribed electrical properties are coupled with suitable device designs and several fiber‐based sensors are proposed aimed at specific types of deformations: i) a robotic fiber with an integrated bending mechanism where changes as small as 5° are monitored by piezoresistive nanocomposite elements, ii) a pressure‐sensing fiber based on a geometrically controlled resistive signal that responds with a sub‐newton resolution to changes in pressing forces, and iii) a strain‐sensing fiber that tracks changes in capacitance up to 100% elongation.
The Tumorigenic Effect of lncRNA AFAP1‐AS1 is Mediated by Translated Peptide ATMLP Under the Control of m6A Methylation
Authors: Pei Hailong , Dai Yingchu , Yu Yongduo , Tang Jiaxin , Cao Zhifei , Zhang Yongsheng , Li Bingyan , Nie Jing , Hei Tom K. , Zhou Guangming
Published: March 2023

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in eukaryotic transcripts have long been believed to regulate various aspects of cellular processes, including carcinogenesis. Herein, it is found that lncRNA AFAP1‐AS1 encodes a conserved 90‐amino acid peptide located on mitochondria, named lncRNA AFAP1‐AS1 translated mitochondrial‐localized peptide (ATMLP), and it is not the lncRNA but the peptide that promotes the malignancy of nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). As the tumor progresses, the serum level of ATMLP increases. NSCLC patients with high levels of ATMLP display poorer prognosis. Translation of ATMLP is controlled by m6A methylation at the 1313 adenine locus of AFAP1‐AS1. Mechanistically, ATMLP binds to the 4‐nitrophenylphosphatase domain and non‐neuronal SNAP25‐like protein homolog 1 (NIPSNAP1) and inhibits its transport from the inner to the outer mitochondrial membrane, which antagonizes the NIPSNAP1‐mediated regulation of cell autolysosome formation. The findings uncover a complex regulatory mechanism of NSCLC malignancy orchestrated by a peptide encoded by a lncRNA. A comprehensive judgment of the application prospects of ATMLP as an early diagnostic biomarker for NSCLC is also made.
Complementary Inverter Based on n‐Type and p‐Type OFETs with the Same Ambipolar Organic Semiconductor and ITO S/D Electrodes
Authors: Han Jiangli , Rong Xin , Xu Chenhui , Deng Yunfeng , Geng Yanhou , Dong Guifang , Duan Lian
Published: March 2023

Bottom‐gate and bottom‐contact n‐type and p‐type organic field‐effect transistors (OFETs) are simultaneously obtained by combining the ambipolar semiconductor film of diketopyrrolopyrrole‐based conjugated polymer (P4FTVT‐C32) with indium tin oxide (ITO) source/drain (S/D) electrodes. P4FTVT‐C32 thin film exhibits n‐type unipolar property with the low work functional (WF) ITO S/D electrodes modified by polyethylenimine ethoxylated (PEIE) and it exhibits p‐type unipolar property with the high WF ITO S/D electrodes modified by HCl:InCl3. Hence, complementary inverters with transition voltages near VDD/2 and the maximum gain of 138 converting “1” state input into “0” state output are achieved by two different modifications via screen printing on ITO electrodes and then, only one‐time bar coating of P4FTVT‐C32. To further improve the performance and the uniformity of the OFET devices, the modification of octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) is also introduced. This work provides an easy‐handling method for the fabrication of low‐cost, high performance organic electronic devices and integrated circuits.
Synthesis and Characteristics of Transferrable Single‐Crystalline AlN Nanomembranes
Authors: Gong Jiarui , Zhou Jie , Wang Ping , Kim Tae‐Hyeon , Lu Kuangye , Min Seunghwan , Singh Ranveer , Sheikhi Moheb , Abbasi Haris Naeem , Vincent Daniel , Wang Ding , Campbell Neil , Grotjohn Timothy , Rzchowski Mark , Kim Jeehwan , Yu Edward T. , Mi Zetian , Ma Zhenqiang
Published: March 2023

Single‐crystalline inorganic semiconductor nanomembranes (NMs) have attracted great attention over the last decade, which poses great advantages to complex device integration. Applications in heterogeneous electronics and flexible electronics have been demonstrated with various semiconductor nanomembranes. Single‐crystalline aluminum nitride (AlN), as an ultrawide‐bandgap semiconductor with great potential in applications such as high‐power electronics has not been demonstrated in its NM forms. This very first report demonstrates the creation, transfer‐printing, and characteristics of the high‐quality single‐crystalline AlN NMs. This work successfully transfers the AlN NMs onto various foreign substrates. The crystalline quality of the NMs has been characterized by a broad range of techniques before and after the transfer‐printing and no degradation in crystal quality has been observed. Interestingly, a partial relaxation of the tensile stress has been observed when comparing the original as‐grown AlN epi and the transferred AlN NMs. In addition, the transferred AlN NMs exhibits the presence of piezoelectricity at the nanoscale, as confirmed by piezoelectric force microscopy. This work also comments on the advantages and the challenges of the approach. Potentially, the novel approach opens a viable path for the development of the AlN‐based heterogeneous integration and future novel electronics and optoelectronics.