bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dimethylacridine Based Emitters for Non‐Doped Organic Light‐Emitting Diodes with Improved Efficiency
Authors: Zhang Min , Zhang Xingye , Yang Ning , Wu Yibing , Ouyang Xinhua
Published: January 2025

Organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) has been attracting much extensive interest owing to their advantages of high‐definition and flexible displays. Many advances have been focused on boosting the efficiency and stability. Two innovative dimethylacridine‐based emitters, 1,1,2,2‐tetrakis(4‐ (2,7‐di‐tert‐butyl‐9,9‐dimethylacridin‐10(9H)‐yl)phenyl ethene (AcTPE), and bis(4‐(2,7‐di‐tert‐butyl‐9,9‐dimethylacridin‐10(9H)‐yl)phenyl)methanone (Ac2BP) were designed and synthesized, in which TPE‐baesed AcTPE presents AIE properties, and with the phenyl as spacer between the DMAC and carbony, aryl‐ketone‐based Ac2BP doesn't show AIE properties due to the absence of restriction of intramolecular rotations. As the electron‐withdrawing ability of carbonyl, well‐matched energy levels of the Ac2BP improve carriers transfer and hole injecting process in devices, resulting an efficient green emission with a maximum PE of of 5.64 lm W−1, a EQE of 10.56 % and a maximum CE of 18.27 cd A−1. They are much higher than that of AcTPE‐based devices (3.45 cd A−1, 1.18 lm W−1, and 1.46 %). This study provides a promising design strategy for efficient OLED emitters of aryl‐ketone‐architecture.
The Impact of Silver Codoping on Tb3+ Luminescence in Lithium Tetraborate Glasses
Authors: Kindrat I. I. , Padlyak B. V. , Drzewiecki A. , Teslyuk I. M. , Adamiv V. T.
Published: January 2025

Spectroscopic properties of Tb‐doped and Tb‐Ag codoped lithium tetraborate (LTB) glasses with Li2B4O7 (or Li2O–2B2O3) composition are investigated and analysed using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), optical absorption, photoluminescence (PL) and photoluminescence excitation (PLE) spectra, PL decay kinetics and absolute quantum yield (QY) measurements. PL spectra of the investigated glasses show numerous narrow emission bands corresponding to the 5D4 → 7FJ (J = 6–0) and 5D3 → 7FJ (J = 5–3) transitions of Tb3+ (4f8) ions. The most intense PL band of Tb3+ ions at 541 nm (5D4 → 7F5 transition) is characterised by a lifetime slightly exceeding 2.6 ms. PL spectra of the Ag‐containing glass show two broad weakly resolved emission bands in the violet‐green spectral range attributed to Ag+ ions and nonplasmonic Ag nanoclusters. Decay kinetics of these bands are nonmonoexponential, characterised by an average lifetime in the microsecond range. A significant enhancement of the PL intensity and PL QY of Tb3+ ions was observed in Tb‐Ag codoped LTB glass in comparison with Tb‐doped LTB glass. The excitation energy transfer (EET) mechanisms from Ag+ ions and Ag nanoclusters to Tb3+ ions were explored.
Exploring vimentin's role in breast cancer via PICK1 alternative polyadenylation and the miR‐615‐3p‐PICK1 interaction
Authors: Jia Xinyan , Shao Lujing , Quan Hong , Zhong Zhixian , Dong Chunyan
Published: January 2025

Breast cancer continues to be a major health issue for women worldwide, with vimentin (VIM) identified as a crucial factor in its progression due to its role in cell migration and the epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EMT). This study focuses on elucidating VIM's regulatory mechanisms on the miR‐615‐3p/PICK1 axis. Utilizing the 4T1 breast cancer cell model, we first used RNA‐seq and proteomics to investigate the changes in the APA of PICK1 following VIM knockout (KO). These high‐throughput analyses aimed to uncover the underlying transcriptional and proteomic alterations associated with VIM's influence on breast cancer cells. RNA‐seq and proteomic profiling revealed significant APA in PICK1 following VIM KO, suggesting a novel mechanism by which VIM regulates breast cancer progression. Validation experiments confirmed that VIM KO affects the miR‐615‐3p‐PICK1 axis, with miR‐615‐3p's regulation of PICK1 being contingent upon the APA of PICK1. These findings highlight the complex interplay between VIM, miR‐615‐3p, and PICK1 in the regulation of breast cancer cell behavior. This study reveals that vimentin affects the miR‐615‐3p‐PICK1 axis through APA, revealing the key role of VIM in cancer progression. Opened up new avenues for targeted cancer therapy, with a focus on regulating the interaction between APA and miR‐615‐3p‐PICK1.
Echinacoside promotes collagen synthesis and survival via activation of IGF‐1 signaling to alleviate UVB‐induced dermal fibroblast photoaging
Authors: Wen Su‐Ying , Ng Shang‐Chuan , Noriega Lloyd , Chen Tzu‐Jung , Chen Chih‐Jung , Lee Shin‐Da , Huang Chih‐Yang , Kuo Wei‐Wen
Published: January 2025

Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation is a major factor contributing to skin photoaging, including the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), collagen breakdown, and overall skin damage. Insulin‐like growth factor‐I (IGF‐1) is a polypeptide hormone that regulates dermal survival and collagen synthesis. Echinacoside (Ech), a natural phenylethanoid glycoside, is the most abundant active compound in Cistanches. However, its potential benefits for the skin and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. The objective of this research is to investigate the protective effect of Ech on human dermal fibroblast cells (HDFs) against UVB‐induced skin photodamage. In this study, we demonstrated that Ech promotes IGF‐1/IGF‐1R/ERK‐mediated collagen synthesis and IGF‐1/IGF‐1R/PI3K‐mediated survival pathways, as well as induces IGF‐1 secretion to counteract UVB‐induced aging in HDFs. Furthermore, UVB‐induced accumulation of SA‐β‐gal‐positive cells, ROS, and impaired collagen synthesis were attenuated following Ech treatment. However, the protective effects of Ech were significantly diminished when IGF‐1 and IGF‐1R expression was silenced using small interfering RNA, indicating that Ech exerts its antiaging effects primarily by activating the IGF‐1/IGF‐1R signaling pathway. Our findings provide evidence of the antiaging effects of Ech on UVB‐induced skin photodamage and suggest its potential development as a supplement in cosmetic dermal protective products.
FAM49B drives colorectal cancer progression by stabilizing c‐Myc through NEK9 phosphorylation
Authors: Lu Chen , Liu Tianyu , Yimin E. , Miao Lin , Yu Chunzhao , Zhang Jianping , Luo Xiagang
Published: January 2025

Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks as the third most prevalent cancer globally and is the second leading cause of cancer mortality. FAM49B, a member of the FAM49 gene family, is a recently identified, evolutionarily conserved gene. Emerging studies indicate that FAM49B plays a role in various cancers, though its specific mechanism in CRC remains largely unexplored. In this study, we observed that FAM49B was abnormally expressed in CRC tissues and cell lines, with elevated expression correlating with poor patient prognosis. FAM49B knockdown markedly suppressed CRC cell proliferation by arresting the cell cycle and reducing cell migration and invasion. Single‐cell RNA‐seq (ScRNA‐seq) analysis revealed that high FAM49B expression in malignant epithelial cell clusters was strongly linked to c‐Myc oncogene activation. Further, FAM49B knockdown significantly reduced c‐Myc expression by enhancing its K48 ubiquitination. We identified NEK9 as a direct interacting partner of FAM49B, with FAM49B knockdown inhibiting NEK9‐Thr210 phosphorylation. Similarly, high NEK9 expression was linked to unfavorable prognosis in CRC. In FAM49B‐overexpressing CRC cells, NEK9 knockdown significantly suppressed c‐Myc expression, c‐Myc‐ser62 phosphorylation, and reduced cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Thus, directly targeting the FAM49B/NEK9/c‐Myc pathway presents a promising therapeutic approach for c‐Myc positive CRC patients.
Considerations for the 2025 Annual Meeting Season
Authors: Moote Killian
Published: January 2025

Kilian Moote is a managing director within the ESG advisory practice at Georgeson, a provider of strategic shareholder engagement, proxy solicitation, and governance consulting services. In this article, he discusses trends for the coming year relating to environmental, social, and governance‐related proposals and other issues facing corporate boards.
Effects of Mental Workload Manipulation on Electroencephalography Spectrum Oscillation and Microstates in Multitasking Environments
Authors: Li Wenbin , Cheng Shan , Dai Jing , Chang Yaoming
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Multitasking during flights leads to a high mental workload, which is detrimental for maintaining task performance. Electroencephalography (EEG) power spectral analysis based on frequency‐band oscillations and microstate analysis based on global brain network activation can be used to evaluate mental workload. This study explored the effects of a high mental workload during simulated flight multitasking on EEG frequency‐band power and microstate parameters.

Methods

Thirty‐six participants performed multitasking with low and high mental workloads after 4 consecutive days of training. Two levels of mental workload were set by varying the number of subtasks. EEG signals were acquired during the task. Power spectral and microstate analyses were performed on the EEG. The indices of four frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha, and beta) and four microstate classes (A–D) were calculated, changes in the frequency‐band power and microstate parameters under different mental workloads were compared, and the relationships between the two types of EEG indices were analyzed.

Results

The theta‐, alpha‐, and beta‐band powers were higher under the high than under the low mental workload condition. Compared with the low mental workload condition, the high mental workload condition had a lower global explained variance and time parameters of microstate B but higher time parameters of microstate D. Less frequent transitions between microstates A and B and more frequent transitions between microstates C and D were observed during high mental workload conditions. The time parameters of microstate B were positively correlated with the delta‐, theta‐, and beta‐band powers, whereas the duration of microstate C was negatively correlated with the beta‐band power.

Conclusion

EEG frequency‐band power and microstate parameters can be used to detect a high mental workload. Power spectral analyses based on frequency‐band oscillations and microstate analyses based on global brain network activation were not completely isolated during multitasking.
Decreased Choroidal Vascular Index in Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension
Authors: Wang Hang , Wang Rui , Cao Le , Kwapong William Robert , Liu Ruishan , Hu Fayun , Wu Bo
Published: January 2025

Introduction

We aimed to explore the difference in choroidal vascular parameters using swept‐source optical coherence tomography (SS‐OCT) in patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) compared to controls. We also explored the ability of the choroidal parameters to reflect elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) in patients with IIH.

Methods

This observational study recruited patients diagnosed with IIH and healthy controls. A lumbar puncture was performed for ICP measurement. All the participants underwent OCT examinations. The choroid was automatically segmented and imaged by the OCT tool. The parafoveal choroidal vascular volume (CVV) and choroidal vascular index (CVI) were calculated in 3 mm annulus and 6 mm annulus.

Results

A total of 80 patients with IIH (34.67 ± 11.00 years; 37.50% males) and 92 controls (34.50 ± 12.08 years; 36.96% males) were included in the final analysis. Patients with IIH had higher BMI (< 0.001) and poor visual acuity (< 0.001) compared with controls. Patients with IIH demonstrated significantly lower parafovea CVI in both annuluses (p = 0.003 for 3 mm annulus, p = 0.001 for 6 mm annulus) compared to controls. Mean parafovea CVI in both annuluses was significantly correlated with ICP level (p = 0.014 for 3 mm annulus, p = 0.015 for 6 mm annulus). The combination of CVV and CVI in a 6 mm annulus demonstrated the highest diagnostic value with a mean AUC of 0.818.

Conclusion

CVI may serve as a potential marker for identifying IIH and reflecting ICP changes.
Lesion Topography and Clinical Features Associated With Respiratory Failure in Patients With Medullary Infarction
Authors: Zhao Na , Liu Ran , Zhang Yajing , Ling Ling , Zhang Chao , Zhang Ting , Yue Wei
Published: January 2025

Background

Respirator failure (RF) is a severe malignant complication in both lateral medullary infarction (LMI) and medial medullary infarction (MMI) patients. However, the differences in clinical and radiological manifestations associated with RF between patients with LMI and MMI have not been fully elucidated.

Methods

A total of 435 consecutive patients with MI within 7 days of onset in our institute were retrospectively enrolled from January 2017 to January 2024. Lesions were categorized both rostral‐caudally and horizontally, and clinical characteristics were collected to evaluate the correlation between them and RF that occurred within 10 days of stroke onset.

Results

Among the 435 patients, 33 patients developed RF, with 19 exhibiting LMI and 12 exhibiting MMI. Multisegment involvement was more common among LMI patients experiencing RF compared to those without (52.6% vs. 23.9%, p = 0.012). However, this difference was not observed among MMI patients. Large (n = 12, 63.2%, p = 0.014) and typical (n = 6, 31.6%, p = 0.016) lesions were more common among LMI patients with RF. In MMI patients with RF, nine (75.0%) patients had long lesions extending from the ventral to the dorsal medulla, with six of these cases involving bilateral lesions, as V‐shape or heart‐shape on MRI. Univariate analysis of clinical symptoms revealed that bulbar symptoms, urinary retention, and pulmonary infection were significantly more common in both the LMI and MMI groups with RF.

Conclusions

Specific lesion patterns, such as large and typical infarctions in LMI patients or long lesions, particularly those with bilateral infarctions, as V‐shape or heart‐shape on MRI in MMI patients, appear to correlate with a higher incidence of RF, while clinical symptoms associated with RF are similar in LMI and MMI.
Pretreatment Fatigue in Breast Cancer Patients: Comparison With Healthy Controls and Associations With Biopsychosocial Variables
Authors: Blickle Patricia , Schmidt Martina E. , Steindorf Karen
Published: January 2025

Objective

Cancer‐related fatigue is one of the most common burdens of cancer patients. To date, most studies focused on fatigue during or after treatment. However, investigation of pretreatment fatigue is crucial to identify causal or risk factors other than cancer therapy and to enable timely fatigue management.

Methods

Two hundred and thirty‐two breast cancer patients (mean age = 55.6) and 41 healthy participants (mean age = 49.3) were recruited via the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg. Patient‐reported outcomes were assessed with the EORTC QLQ‐FA12 for fatigue, the EORTC QLQ‐C30 for functioning, the STAI for anxiety, the CESD‐R for depression and the PSQI for sleep disturbance. Descriptive analyses and logistic regression models were performed using baseline data before start of cancer treatment. The thresholds of clinical importance (TCI) were applied to test for clinically relevant fatigue.

Results

Compared to the healthy participants, patients scored significantly higher in physical, emotional, and total fatigue, in depression, in global health status and in all functioning scales except cognitive function (all p < 0.01). 48.7% of all patients reported clinically relevant fatigue. Being younger, being obese, having low education, or low social support was associated with a higher likelihood of clinically relevant fatigue before treatment. Higher depression and anxiety scores, poorer sleep quality and global health status, and impaired functioning seemed to get along with an increased likelihood of scoring above the TCI of fatigue (all p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Our study results suggest that fatigue screening, patient‐centered fatigue education and psychosocial support may be needed already from the time of cancer diagnosis.
Does the School Environment and School Engagement in Early High School Predict Trajectories of Anti‐Social Behaviour? A National Longitudinal Study of Australian Youth From 12 to 19 years
Authors: Halls Olivia , Edwards Ben
Published: January 2025

Background

Schools are widely considered important agents of social control for young people. Consequently, school engagement, disengagement and the school environment are key to understanding behavioural outcomes during adolescence. This study addresses an empirical gap in longitudinal research by examining new types of school engagement, as well as school‐level environmental factors.

Aims

To understand the role that school engagement and the school environment play in shaping trajectories of antisocial behaviour.

Methods

Using longitudinal survey of Australian children (LSAC), this study employed trajectory analysis to identify trajectories of ASB over 4 waves. We tested the influence that early high school engagement and the school environment had on ASB trajectories through a series of multinomial logistic regressions.

Results

Of the 2983 Australian school students included in the study, three trajectory groups were identified: no ASB (n = 1599), low‐level ASB (n = 1158) and moderate‐level ASB (n = 88). The influence of truancy, suspension/expulsion and school avoidance were all particularly strong, and student–teacher relationships were found to both directly and indirectly influence levels of ASB.

Conclusions

This longitudinal study provides a comprehensive overview of trajectories of antisocial behaviour during adolescence and how they are influenced by experiences at school. It confirms the strong influence of behavioural disengagement and offers new insights into the role of affective school engagement and the school environment.
Comparative Outcomes of Supera Interwoven Nitinol Versus Eluvia Fluoropolymer‐Based Drug‐Eluting Stents for the Treatment of Severely Calcified Femoropopliteal Artery Lesions: Results of the ELDORADO Study
Authors: Yanagiuchi Takashi , Tokuda Takahiro , Yoshioka Naoki , Kojima Shunsuke , Tanaka Akiko , Takei Tatsuro , Ogata Kenji , Yamaguchi Kohei , Nakama Tatsuya , Yokoi Hirokazu ,   LEADers PAD investigators
Published: January 2025

Background

Supera interwoven nitinol stents (IWNS) and Eluvia fluoropolymer‐based drug‐eluting stents (DES) were designed to improve the patency of the femoropopliteal (FP) artery; however, which type of stent yields superior outcomes in calcified FP lesions remains unclear.

Aims

To compare the safety and efficacy of Supera IWNS and Eluvia DES in severely calcified FP lesions.

Methods

This study retrospectively analyzed 257 consecutive patients who underwent endovascular therapy using either IWNS (n = 123) or DES (n = 134) for FP lesions with peripheral arterial calcium scoring system (PACSS) grade 3 or 4 severe calcification between April 2018 and December 2021 at eight cardiovascular centers in Japan.

Results

Propensity score (PS) matching extracted 138 matched patients with no remarkable intergroup difference in patient and lesion characteristics. The 1‐year primary patency rates in the matched population were not significantly different between the IWNS and DES groups (85.4% vs. 89.8%, p = 0.320). A significant interaction between the stents used and the number of below‐the‐knee (BTK) runoff vessels was observed (interaction p = 0.048). The hazard ratio for restenosis was 2.68 (95% confidence interval, 0.51–14.2) in the group with no BTK runoff, favoring DES.

Conclusion

In PS‐matched patients with severely calcified FP lesions, 1‐year primary patency was not significantly different between treatments using Supera IWNS and Eluvia DES.
Methane to Methanol Transformation on Cu2+/H‐ZSM‐5 Zeolite. Characterization of Copper State and Mechanism of the Reaction
Authors: Gabrienko Anton A. , Kolganov Alexander A. , Yashnik Svetlana A. , Kriventsov Vladimir V. , Stepanov Alexander G.
Published: January 2025

Cu‐modified zeolites provide methane conversion to methanol with high selectivity under mild conditions. The activity of different Cu‐sites for methane transformation is still under discussion. Herein, ZSM‐5 zeolite has been loaded with Cu2+ cations (1.4 wt % Cu) as characterized by UV‐vis DRS, EPR, EXAFS, and 1H MAS NMR. It is inferred that Cu2+ cations, attached to the cation‐exchange Al−O−−Si sites of the zeolite framework, can exist in the form of either isolated or paired Cu2+ sites. The transformation of methane to methanol on Cu2+/H‐ZSM‐5 has been verified by the observation of the methoxy species formation with 13C MAS NMR and FTIR spectroscopy. The related mechanisms have been analyzed by DFT calculations. The calculations show that the paired Cu2+ sites enable heterolytic C−H bond dissociation via the “alkyl” pathway resulting in methylcopper species, which however are not detected experimentally due to further rapid transformation to surface methoxy species through methyl radical formation and recombination with Si−O−Al site. Based on the obtained data, it has been concluded that methane transformation to methanol on paired Cu2+ sites, having no extra‐framework oxygen ligand, is possible in Cu‐modified zeolites. The pathways of Cu2+ cations regeneration with O2 and H2O have been experimentally explored.
Solvent‐Dependent C(sp3)−CF3 Reductive Elimination from Neutral Four‐Coordinate Cu(III) Complexes
Authors: Weng Yuecheng , Pan Deng , Wu Jian , Leng Xuebing , Xue Xiao‐Song , Shen Qilong
Published: January 2025

A solvent dependent C(sp3)−CF3 bond‐forming reductive elimination from neutral four‐coordinate Cu(III) complexes [(L)CuIII(CF3)2(CH2CO2tBu)] (L=pyridine or its derivatives) is described. Reactions in less polar solvent ClCH2CH2Cl proceed via a concerted bond breaking/bond forming process along with the reorientation of the ligand, while reaction in polar solvent DMF occurs via a rate limiting ligand‐dissociation, followed by C(sp3)−CF3 reductive elimination from the resulting three‐coordinate intermediate. These mechanistic proposals are supported by kinetic studies that included ligand and temperature effects, as well as DFT calculations.
One‐dimensional Branched PdAg Nanoalloy Rich in Defects for Boosting Glycerol and Ethanol Oxidation
Authors: Tan De‐Xin , Wang Yan‐li , Ning Xiao‐Mei , Luo Xiao‐Li , Chen Chun‐Ru , Xiao Qiao , Chen Jian‐Hong
Published: January 2025

The development of Pd‐based bimetallic nanoalloys (NAs) with abundant active sites for achieving highly efficient electrocatalysis in alcohol oxidation deserves continuous attention. Herein, we utilized a facile visible‐light‐assisted liquid‐phase method involving adjusting reaction time to generate active sites, successfully synthesizing one‐dimensional (1D) PdAg NAs rich in defects. The optimized 1D PdAg NA exhibits remarkable electrochemical activity, stability, and antipoisonous properties in glycerol oxidation reaction (GOR) and ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR), far exceeding pure Pd and commercial Pd/C catalysts. Notably, compared to glycerol oxidation (1496 mA mg−1Pd and 4.13 mA cm−2), the optimized PdAg NA demonstrated higher mass activity (2990 mA mg−1Pd) and specific activity (7.86 mA cm−2) in ethanol oxidation. In summary, this work may provide a strategy for designing low‐cost electrocatalysts enriched with defects, thereby promoting the development of high‐performance alcohol oxidation reactions.
Doubly Linked Azulene Dimer: A Novel Non‐benzenoid Isomer of Perylene
Authors: Hatakenaka Ryoji , Urabe Kazuma , Ueno So , Yamauchi Mitsuaki , Mizuhata Yoshiyuki , Yamada Hiroko , Mikata Yuji , Kamijo Shin , Tani Fumito , Murafuji Toshihiro
Published: January 2025

We report herein the synthesis of an unprecedented isomer of perylene, dicyclohepta[cd,fg]‐as‐indacene bearing two phenyl groups (1‐Ph) by the nickel‐mediated intramolecular homocoupling of a 4,4’‐biazulene derivative (2). The X‐ray crystallographic analysis and theoretical calculations revealed that 1‐Ph adopts a unique helically twisted geometry although the local aromaticity of azulene moieties was preserved. The double covalent linkage of the two azulene skeletons imparts significant orbital interaction, which affords near‐infrared (NIR) absorption (up to 1720 nm) and remarkable redox behaviors despite its closed‐shell electronic structure. The optical band gap of 1‐Ph is calculated to be 0.72 eV from its absorption onset, which is one of the narrowest values among the hitherto reported air‐stable non‐benzenoid PAHs. Furthermore, the thin‐film of 1‐Ph serves as a p‐type semiconductor. Our study offers fundamental insights into not only the aromaticity with the nonalternant topologies of 1‐Ph but also its potential application in novel organic electronics.
New Hydrazone Derivatives Based on Pyrazolopyridothiazine Core as Cytotoxic Agents to Colon Cancers: Design, Synthesis, Biological Evaluation, and Molecular Modeling
Authors: Glomb Teresa , Środa‐Pomianek Kamila , Palko‐Łabuz Anna , Wesołowska Olga , Wikiera Agnieszka , Wojtkowiak Kamil , Jezierska Aneta , Kochel Andrzej , Lesyk Roman , Świątek Piotr
Published: January 2025

In this research, a series of novel hydrazone derivatives based on pyrazolopyridothiazinylacetohydrazide were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic potency on several human colon cancer cells (HTC116, HT‐29, and LoVo). After MTT and SRB assays four of the most active derivatives: hydrazide GH and hydrazones GH7, GH8, and GH11, were chosen for further investigation. Hydrazone GH11 had the highest cytotoxic activity (IC50 values of c.a. 0.5 μM). Additionally, the impact of novel derivatives on the oxidative stress level, apoptosis induction, and modulation of inflammation in colon cancer cells was examined. In all studies, the activity of the derivatives increased in order GH < GH7 < GH8 < GH11. At the same time, most of the research was conducted on compounds combined with apple pectin (PC). The most interesting observation was that all the studied derivatives applied together with PC showed significantly higher activity than observed in the case of using PC, hydrazide, or hydrazones separately. Finally, computational chemistry methods (molecular modeling and Density Functional Theory – DFT) were used to complement the experimental studies.
Beyond the Horizon: Exploration of Perovskite Solar Cells in Extreme Environments
Authors: Li Fengyuan , Yang Yang , Kadyrma Dilnaz , Dosmukhambetova Anar , Liu Zhe , Kalkozova Zhanar , Chen Ruihao , Wang Hongqiang
Published: January 2025

Current research on perovskite solar cells (PSCs) predominantly targets terrestrial applications, with limited studies in extreme environments. Deploying PSCs in space and underwater necessitates meeting stringent performance and stability criteria. For space, PSCs must withstand high radiation and temperature extremes, while underwater, light intensity attenuation, spectrum changes, and varying water quality can degrade PSCs performance. Inspiringly, PSCs offer several advantages, including being lightweight, cost‐effective, easy to manufacture, and having adjustable bandgaps. These features make them more promising for applications in extreme conditions versus other photovoltaic (PV) devices. To further advance research on PSCs in extreme environments, this concept briefly describes the background of PSC applications in extreme conditions, summarizes the environmental characteristics and their impacts on the devices in both space and underwater settings, and comprehensively reviews the latest advancements in these fields. Finally, potential strategies for ensuring the long‐term stable operation of PSCs under extreme stressors are proposed.
Plains Zebras Prioritize Foraging Without Sacrificing Social Bonds During a Severe Drought
Authors: Hex Severine B. S. W. , Isbilen Erin S. , Rubenstein Daniel I.
Published: January 2025

Anthropogenically induced climate change has significantly increased the frequency of acute weather events, such as drought. As human activities amplify environmental stresses, animals may be forced to prioritize survival over behaviors less crucial to immediate fitness, such as socializing. Yet, social bonds may also enable individuals to weather the deleterious effects of environmental conditions. We investigated how the highly social plains zebra (Equus quagga) modify their activity budgets, social networks, and multimodal communication during a drought. Although animals prioritized feeding and the number of social interactions dramatically decreased in the late drought period, social associations remained robust. We observed age/sex class‐specific changes in social behavior, reflecting the nutritional needs and social niche of each individual. Stallions devoted more time to greeting behaviors, which could mitigate harassment by bachelor males and facilitate grazing time for the females of the harem. Juveniles significantly increased time spent active socializing, despite mothers showing the greatest decrease in the number of social interactions. Instead, unrelated, nonlactating females served as social partners, accommodating both juveniles' social needs and lactating mothers' nutritive requirements. Using a network‐based representation of multimodal communication, we observed a decrease in the number of signals used during the drought. Individuals used less diverse multimodal combinations, particularly in the costly context of aggression. These findings illustrate how social roles and differential responses to acute environmental stress within stable social groups may contribute to species resilience, and how communication flexibly responds to facilitate both survival and sociality under harsh environmental conditions.
Seasonal Variation in Home Range Sizes and Daily Distance to Ephemeral Surface Water for African Savannah Elephant (Loxodonta africana) in Eastern Okavango Panhandle, Northern Botswana
Authors: Makati Anastacia A. , Songhurst Anna , Bennitt Emily , Masunga Gaseitsiwe S. , McCulloch Graham , Stronza Amanda , Matsika Tiroyaone A. , Eckardt Frank D.
Published: January 2025

African elephants (Loxodonta africana) are megaherbivores of the African savannas requiring extensive ranges that can provide critical resources for their survival and reproduction at different spatiotemporal scales. We studied seasonal differences in home range sizes and daily distance to the nearest surface water sources by five male and 10 female African elephants in the eastern Okavango Panhandle in northern Botswana between 2014 and 2017. We hypothesized that (i) elephant home ranges would be larger in the wet than in the dry season (because critical resources tend to be less localized in the wet than in the dry season), (ii) the daily distance of the elephants to the nearest ephemeral surface water sources would be larger in the dry than in the wet season because many of the ephemeral water sources would be dry in the dry season and elephants would start moving towards permanent water sources such as rivers, and lastly (iii) that the differences in elephant home ranges and daily distance to water would differ between sexes. Our results showed that elephant home ranges were larger in the wet than in the dry season, and that they differed between sexes with female elephants having smaller home ranges in the late wet season. The mean daily distance to the nearest ephemeral surface water sources was larger in the dry than in the wet season. There was an inverse relationship between elephants' daily distance to permanent surface water and to ephemeral water sources. The findings indicate the need for large conservation areas and functional connectivity between landscapes to enable the highly mobile savanna elephants to access critical seasonal resources such as water and forage in semi‐arid savannas. Such landscapes are critical, especially in the face of climate change, when high air temperatures and droughts may exacerbate forage and water shortage and intensify human–elephant interactions in surrounding agroecosystems.
Phenotypic Sorting of Pink Salmon Hatchery Strays May Alleviate Adverse Impacts of Reduced Variation in Fitness‐Associated Traits
Authors: McMahon Julia , May Samuel A. , Rand Peter S. , Gorman Kristen B. , McPhee Megan V. , Westley Peter A. H.
Published: January 2025

Maladapted immigrants may reduce wild population productivity and resilience, depending on the degree of fitness mismatch between dispersers and locals. Thus, domesticated individuals escaping into wild populations is a key conservation concern. In Prince William Sound, Alaska, over 700 million pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) are released annually from hatcheries, providing a natural experiment to characterize the mechanisms underlying impacts to wild populations. Using a dataset of > 200,000 pink salmon sampled from 30 populations over 8 years, we detected significant body size and phenological differences between hatchery‐ and wild‐origin spawners, likely driven by competitive differences during maturation and broodstock selection practices. Variation in traits was reduced in hatchery fish, raising biodiversity concerns. However, phenotypic traits of immigrants and locals were positively correlated. We discuss possible mechanisms that may explain this pattern and how it may reduce adverse impacts associated with reduced trait variation. This study suggests that domestication impacts are likely widespread, but local adaptation may be maintained by phenotypic sorting.
Permethylated cyclodextrins with thiol groups as stabilizing agents for catalytic water‐soluble platinum nanoparticles
Authors: Marchenko Nataliia , Jung Sebastian , Pham Adeline , Creste Geordie , Aygün Mucahit , Esvan Jérôme , Coppel Yannick , van Leeuwen Piet W. N. M. , Armspach Dominique , Tricard Simon
Published: January 2025

In this study, water‐soluble colloidal platinum nanoparticles (Pt NPs) have been stabilized with novel thiolated cyclodextrins (CD‐SH) and their catalytic performance has been investigated. We varied the size of the CD cycle (α‐CD/β‐CD), the degree of thiolation (one or two thiol groups per CD), and the CD/Pt molar ratio (0.5; 0.2; 0.1; 0.05) to find the best performing water‐soluble, air‐stable hydrogenation catalyst. An organometallic approach for the Pt NP synthesis resulted in the formation of small well‐dispersed NPs of 1–2 nm in size, as shown by TEM. XPS analysis confirmed the formation of a Pt−S interaction, rationalizing the strong NP stabilization by a small quantity of CD‐SH, while preserving the NP catalytic properties. Only 0.1 equivalent of CD‐SH was enough to obtain a promising hydrogenation activity with preserved stability of the colloidal dispersion. Performing catalysis in biphasic conditions allowed simple separation of the products and reuse of the catalyst five times without deactivation.
Are Stabilisation Exercises Effective After Epidural Steroid Injection in Patients With Cervical Radiculopathy? A Prospective Randomised Controlled Trial
Authors: Tayboga Umut Islam , Olgun Yucel , Gunduz Osman Hakan , Sencan Savas
Published: January 2025

Background

Cervical radiculopathy is caused by dysfunction of nerve roots in the cervical spine. While many studies have assessed the effectiveness of interlaminar epidural steroid injection (ILESI) and stabilisation exercises separately for this condition, our study aims to evaluate the impact of different stabilisation exercise programmes following ILESI on treatment outcomes in radiculopathy patients.

Methods

Sixty‐two patients with cervical radiculopathy were randomised into three groups: cervical ILESI‐only (CO), neck stabilisation group (NSG) and scapular stabilisation group (SSG). The CO group received only ILESI, while NSG and SSG underwent stabilisation exercises following ILESI. Outcomes were assessed using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) for neck and arm pain, the Neck Disability Index (NDI) for functionality and the Short Form‐12 (SF‐12) for quality of life at baseline, 1 and 3 months posttreatment.

Results

When NRS, NDI and SF‐12 parameters were analysed in all groups, a statistically significant improvement was observed in the 1st and 3rd months compared to the pretreatment period. While the improvement in SF‐12 physical parameters was significant in SSG and NSG in the 1st month compared to the pretreatment period, no significant difference was found in the CO group in the posttreatment periods. When the 1st and 3rd month results were analysed in NSG, a greater improvement was observed in terms of NRSNECK parameter in both evaluations compared to the other groups.

Conclusions

Stabilisation exercise programme, especially neck stabilisation, should be included after ILESI treatment due to positive effects on treatment outcomes.

Significance

To the best of our knowledge, our study is the first to investigate the effect of a stabilisation exercise programme after ILESI on treatment outcomes in patients with radiculopathy due to cervical disc herniation. It is a valuable study in terms of its prospective design, its specific and homogeneous patient population and its results. Our study will help clinicians when prescribing exercise programmes for these patients.

Trial Registration

NCT05307211
Causal Relationship Between Circulating Metabolites and Sarcopenia‐Related Traits: A Mendelian Randomization and Experimental Study
Authors: Qi Weihui , Mao Xinning , Mei Zhenglin , Zhu Li , Shao Yinyan , Ge Guofen , Jia Gaoyong , Pan Hao , Wang Dong
Published: January 2025

Sarcopenia (SP), an age‐associated condition marked by muscle weakness and loss has been strongly connected with metabolic factors according to substantial evidence. Nevertheless, the causal correlation between SP and serum metabolites, and the biological signaling pathways involved, is still not well understood. We performed a bidirectional two‐sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to examine the causal relationships between 1091 levels and 309 ratios of metabolites with SP traits, alongside investigating the relevant biological signaling pathways. Additionally, we explored the differential expression of plasma metabolites and potential biological signaling pathways in an animal model of SP. When SP was utilized as the outcome, we identified 11 robust causal associations between seven metabolite levels/ratios and SP‐related traits using Bonferroni's correction (threshold: p < 0.05). We verified the stable causal association of glycine levels and SP in the validation. As for the reverse MR analysis, there were 11 strong causal relationships with 11 plasma metabolite levels/ratios remaining after multiple contrast correction. Additionally, biological signaling pathway analysis showed that glycine metabolism, insulin resistance, and cAMP signaling pathways may contribute to the connection between metabolites and SP. Mendelian validation of various datasets and observations in animal serum metabolomics suggests a strong association between glycine metabolism and SP. Our results indicate that the identified metabolites and biosignaling pathways could serve as important circulatory metabolic biomarkers for the screening and prevention of SP in clinical settings. Additionally, they represent potential molecules for future exploration of mechanisms and selection of drug targets.
Deformation Mechanism of Large‐Scale Ancient Reservoir Landslides Driven by the Monitoring Data and Numerical Simulation
Authors: Deng Huiwen , Zhang Wengang , Wang Luqi , Kang Yanfei , Wang Yucheng , Wang Lin , Zou Yulin
Published: January 2025

Globally, the reactivation of ancient landslides in reservoir areas poses severe threats to the safety of human society and the natural environment, attracting widespread attention in the fields of science and engineering. The periodic reservoir water level fluctuations and precipitation are the main reasons for the reactivation of ancient landslides, and the complexity of landslide disaster prevention and control is expected to increase due to the combined effects of both factors. In this study, a comprehensive method of on‐site investigation, displacement monitoring, and numerical simulation has been proposed to analyse the seepage field, stability, and deformation field of the landslide by considering the ancient Qingshi landslide in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area (TGRA) as an example. The numerical simulation method is used to simulate the dynamic evolution process of the Qingshi landslide, and the measured data validates the accuracy of the method. The results indicate that the fluctuations in the reservoir water level and rainfall significantly affect the stability of the Qingshi landslide. The increase in landslide activity is dominated by reservoir water level fluctuations, rather than rainfall. In addition, this study also identifies the potential sliding surface of the landslide and predicts the possible mode of instability. This research can provide technical support and decision‐making reference for the early warning and control of landslide disasters in reservoir areas.
Characterizing Microglial Signaling Dynamics During Inflammation Using Single‐Cell Mass Cytometry
Authors: Kumar Sushanth , Kahle August D. , Keeler Austin B. , Zunder Eli R. , Deppmann Christopher D.
Published: January 2025

Microglia play a critical role in maintaining central nervous system (CNS) homeostasis and display remarkable plasticity in their response to inflammatory stimuli. However, the specific signaling profiles that microglia adopt during such challenges remain incompletely understood. Traditional transcriptomic approaches provide valuable insights, but fail to capture dynamic post‐translational changes. In this study, we utilized time‐resolved single‐cell mass cytometry (CyTOF) to measure distinct signaling pathways activated in microglia upon exposure to bacterial and viral mimetics—lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and polyinosinic‐polycytidylic acid (Poly(I:C)), respectively. Furthermore, we evaluated the immunomodulatory role of astrocytes on microglial signaling in mixed cultures. Microglia or mixed cultures derived from neonatal mice were treated with LPS or Poly(I:C) for 48 h. Cultures were stained with a panel of 33 metal‐conjugated antibodies targeting signaling and identity markers. High‐dimensional clustering analysis was used to identify emergent signaling modules. We found that LPS treatment led to more robust early activation of pp38, pERK, pRSK, and pCREB compared to Poly(I:C). Despite these differences, both LPS and Poly(I:C) upregulated the classical reactivity markers CD40 and CD86 at later time points. Strikingly, the presence of astrocytes significantly blunted microglial responses to both stimuli, particularly dampening CD40 upregulation. Our studies demonstrate that single‐cell mass cytometry effectively captures the dynamic signaling landscape of microglia under pro‐inflammatory conditions. This approach may pave the way for targeted therapeutic investigations of various neuroinflammatory disorders. Moreover, our findings underscore the necessity of considering cellular context, such as astrocyte presence, in interpreting microglial behavior during inflammation.
Connectome‐Based Predictive Modeling of Trait Mindfulness
Authors: Treves Isaac N. , Kucyi Aaron , Park Madelynn , Kral Tammi R. A. , Goldberg Simon B. , Davidson Richard J. , Rosenkranz Melissa , Whitfield‐Gabrieli Susan , Gabrieli John D. E.
Published: January 2025

Trait mindfulness refers to one's disposition or tendency to pay attention to their experiences in the present moment, in a non‐judgmental and accepting way. Trait mindfulness has been robustly associated with positive mental health outcomes, but its neural underpinnings are poorly understood. Prior resting‐state fMRI studies have associated trait mindfulness with within‐ and between‐network connectivity of the default‐mode (DMN), fronto‐parietal (FPN), and salience networks. However, it is unclear how generalizable the findings are, how they relate to different components of trait mindfulness, and how other networks and brain areas may be involved. To address these gaps, we conducted the largest resting‐state fMRI study of trait mindfulness to‐date, consisting of a pre‐registered connectome‐based predictive modeling analysis in 367 meditation‐naïve adults across three samples collected at different sites. In the model‐training dataset, we did not find connections that predicted overall trait mindfulness, but we identified neural models of two mindfulness subscales, Acting with Awareness and Non‐judging. Models included both positive networks (sets of pairwise connections that positively predicted mindfulness with increasing connectivity) and negative networks, which showed the inverse relationship. The Acting with Awareness and Non‐judging positive network models showed distinct network representations involving FPN and DMN, respectively. The negative network models, which overlapped significantly across subscales, involved connections across the whole brain with prominent involvement of somatomotor, visual and DMN networks. Only the negative networks generalized to predict subscale scores out‐of‐sample, and not across both test datasets. Predictions from both models were also negatively correlated with predictions from a well‐established mind‐wandering connectome model. We present preliminary neural evidence for a generalizable connectivity models of trait mindfulness based on specific affective and cognitive facets. However, the incomplete generalization of the models across all sites and scanners, limited stability of the models, as well as the substantial overlap between the models, underscores the difficulty of finding robust brain markers of mindfulness facets.
Analysis of Distribution Patterns and Competitiveness of the Ethnic Medicine and Healthcare Industry Using Multi‐Source Data
Authors: Wang Jintao , Li Zhengliang , Tan Wenhong , Tan Hui , Li Xiaofei , Zhou Xuhong
Published: January 2025

The healthcare industry is widely regarded as a key driver of economic growth and social development in the 21st century. This study employed multi‐source data alongside hybrid analytical techniques, including Principal Component Analysis (PCA), hotspot analysis, and clustering analysis, to explore the development factors and spatial patterns of the ethnic medicine and healthcare industry (EMH) in Yunnan Province, China. The results indicate that the first five principal components account for 79.80% of the total variance, providing significant insights into the industry's competitive drivers. Using the Porter Diamond Model (PDM), spatial clustering of the EMH sector across Yunnan reveals a distinct pattern of ‘one ring, two points, three areas, and multiple clusters.’ The analysis further shows that industrial competitiveness is highly correlated with to the spatial distribution of regional factors, suggesting the need for a targeted development strategy: ‘central innovation, western optimization, eastern enhancement, northern strengthening, and southern expansion.’ These findings provide valuable recommendations for policymakers aiming to enhance the traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM) sector's contribution to regional economic development and healthcare modernisation in many parts of the world.