bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In Situ 4D Printing of Polyelectrolyte/Magnetic Composites for Sutureless Gastric Perforation Sealing
Authors: Shi Yunsong , Tang Sihan , Yuan Xi , Li Zhuofan , Wen Shifeng , Li Zhongwei , Su Bin , Yan Chunze , Chen Lili
Published: December 2023

In situ bioprinting has emerged as one of the most promising techniques for the sutureless tissue sealing of internal organs. However, most existing in situ bioprinting methods are limited by the complex and confined printing space inside the organs, harsh curing conditions for printable bioinks, and poor ability to suturelessly seal injured parts. The combination of in situ bioprinting and 4D printing is a promising technique for tissue repair. Herein, the in situ 4D printing of polyelectrolyte/magnetic composites by gastroscopy for sutureless internal tissue sealing is reported. Using gastric perforation as an example, a gelatin/sodium alginate/magnetic bioink is developed, which can be precisely located by a gastroscope with the assistance of an external magnetic field, solidified in gastric fluid, and firmly adhered to tissue surfaces. The solidified bioink along the defect can be attracted by an external magnetic field, resulting in sutureless sealing. A demonstration using a porcine stomach with an artificial perforation confirms the feasibility of sutureless sealing using 4D printing. Moreover, an in vivo investigation on gastric perforation in a rat model identifies the biocompatibility by H&E and CD68+ staining. This study provides a new orientation and concept for functionality‐modified in situ 4D bioprinting.
Cu‐In Dual Sites with Sulfur Defects toward Superior Ethanol Electrosynthesis from CO2 Electrolysis
Authors: Wen Guobin , Ren Bohua , Zhang Xiaowen , Liu Shuxuan , Li Xu , Lu Han , Xu Yuanmei , Akinoglu Eser Metin , Tao Li , Luo Dan , Ma Qianyi , Wang Xin , Feng Renfei , Wang Shuangyin , Yu Aiping , Chen Zhongwei
Published: December 2023

The electrosynthesis of multi‐carbon chemicals from excess carbon dioxide (CO2) is an area of great interest for research and commercial applications. However, improving both the yield of CO2‐to‐ethanol conversion and the stability of the catalyst at the same time is proving to be a challenging issue. Here it is proposed to stabilize active Cu(I) and In dual sites with sulfur defects through an electro‐driven intercalation strategy, which leads to the delocalization of electron density that enhances orbital hybridizations between the Cu‐C and In‐H bonds. Hence, the energy barrier for the rate‐limiting *CHO formation step is reduced toward the key *OCHCHO* formation during ethanol production, which is also facilitated by the combined Cu site enabling C‐C coupling and In site with a higher oxygen affinity based on both thermodynamic and kinetic calculations. Accordingly, such dual‐site catalyst achieves a high partial current density toward ethanol of 409 ± 15 mA cm⁻2 for over 120 h. Furthermore, a scaled‐up flow cell is assembled with an industrial‐relevant current of 5.7 A for over 36 h, in which the carbon loss is less than 2.5% and single‐pass carbon efficiency is ≈19%.
Enhancing Piezoelectricity of Silk Fibroin Through In Situ Growth of Metal‐Free Perovskite for Organic and Eco‐friendly Wearable Bioelectronics
Authors: Veronica Asmita , Liu Shiyuan , Yang Zhengbao , Nyein Hnin Y. Y. , Hsing I‐Ming
Published: December 2023

The biosafety and sustainability of inorganic perovskites or organic piezopolymers is a major concern in the field of wearable piezoelectric sensors. Naturally occurring, silk fibroin (SF), is a promising alternative for the realization of organic piezoelectric devices due to its excellent biocompatibility and tunable material properties. Nevertheless, its scope for practical sensing applications is limited by the weak innate piezoelectricity of 1 pC N−1. This research aims to improve the piezoelectricity of pristine SF by intrinsically growing non‐toxic metal‐free perovskite (MFP) to achieve organic and bendable silk fibroin‐metal free perovskite (SF‐MFP) composite films. The increase in MFP loading has an influence on the resulting morphology and crystallinity of SF‐MFP films. In comparison to pristine SF, the films with the highest perovskite loading exhibit an enhanced normal piezoelectric response of 4.6 pm V−1. The poled SF‐MFP sensors display an appreciable sensitivity of 0.61 ± 0.05 V N−1 with a fast response time and outstanding stability arising from a synergistic combination of mechanically robust SF and piezoelectric MFP. Furthermore, these sensors can detect various joint bending and muscle movements in human subjects, proving their suitability for wearable bioelectronics. This research demonstrates the potential of biomaterials and organic perovskites for the development of biocompatible and sustainable wearable piezoelectric solutions.
Difluoroboron β‐Diketonate Systems: Large Transformation of Photophysical Mechanism Induced by Tiny Structural Modification or Isomerization
Authors: Chen Xuefeng , Wang Guangming , Li Junbo , Chen Xiuzheng , Zhao Xiaoya , Zeng Ying , Su Yuming , Zhang Kaka
Published: December 2023

Living system involves a plenty of delicate processes where a tiny structural variation of biological substance may lead to drastic change of the fate of the living system. Inspired by this, in artificial photofunctional systems, if tiny structural variation changes the fate of excited states, a new class of advanced material would emerge for optical analysis, sensing, and next‐generation display is reasoned. However, such delicate processes remain rarely explored in photofunctional systems, especially in room temperature organic afterglow systems. Here the attachment/detachment of methoxy group can switch off/on twisted intramolecular charge transfer property in difluoroboron β‐diketonate systems is reported. In addition, structural isomerization triggers afterglow transformation from room temperature phosphorescence to thermally activated delayed fluorescence. These observations are helpful for better photophysical understanding on luminescence systems and advanced material design.
Achieving Ohmic Contacts in NbS2/MoSe2 van der Waals Heterostructure: A First‐Principles Study
Authors: Khang Nguyen D. , Nguyen Cuong Q. , Nguyen Chuong V.
Published: December 2023

The functionality of electronic and optoelectronic devices relying on two‐dimensional (2D) materials can be substantially influenced by the characteristics of their electrical contacts. Herein, a metal–semiconductor electrical contact between metallic NbS2 and semiconducting MoSe2 monolayer is constructed using first‐principles calculations. The electronic properties and contact characteristics of the NbS2/MoSe2 heterostructure as well as the effects of electric fields and in‐plane strains are also explored. These results indicate that the NbS2/MoSe2 heterostructure exhibits the ‐type Schottky contact (ShC) with low Schottky barriers and possesses low contact resistance of the tunneling barrier. Furthermore, the electronic properties and contact characteristics of the NbS2/MoSe2 heterostructure can be fine‐tuned through the application of in‐plane strains and electric fields. The electric fields give rise to the transformation from ‐type to ‐type ShC as well as the conversion from ShC to Ohmic contact (OhC) in the NbS2/MoSe2 heterostructure. Similarly, in‐plane strains play a role in direct‐to‐indirect band gap transitions and further contribute to the conversion from ShC to OhC in the NbS2/MoSe2 heterostructure. These findings offer valuable theoretical insights that can guide the practical utilization of the NbS2/MoSe2 vdW‐MSH in the development of next‐generation electronic and optoelectronic devices.
Bioinspired Structural Composite Flexible Material with High Cushion Performance
Authors: Zhuang Zhiqiang , Qian Zhihui , Wang Xu , Xu Xiaolin , Chen Boya , Song Guangsheng , Liu Xiangyu , Ren Lei , Ren Luquan
Published: December 2023

Impacts occur everywhere, and they pose a serious threat to human health and production safety. Flexible materials with efficient cushioning and energy absorption are ideal candidates to provide protection from impacts. Despite the high demand, the cushioning capacity of protective materials is still limited. In this study, an integrated bionic strategy is proposed, and a bioinspired structural composite material with highly cushioning performance is developed on the basis of this strategy. The results demonstrated that the integrated bionic material, an S‐spider web‐foam, has excellent energy storage and dissipation as well as cushioning performance. Under impact loading, S‐spider web‐foam can reduce peak impact forces by a factor of 3.5 times better than silicone foam, achieving unprecedented cushioning performance. The results of this study deepen the understanding of flexible cushioning materials and may provide new strategies and inspiration for the preparation of high‐performance flexible cushioning materials.
Dual‐Fuel Propelled Nanomotors with Two‐Stage Permeation for Deep Bacterial Infection in the Treatment of Pulpitis
Authors: Wang Heping , Chen Xi , Zhang Lulu , Han Ziwei , Zheng Jinxin , Qi Yilin , Zhao Weitao , Xu Xihan , Li Tianqi , Zhou Yutong , Bao Pingping , Xue Xue
Published: December 2023

Bacterial infection‐induced inflammatory response could cause irreversible death of pulp tissue in the absence of timely and effective therapy. Given that, the narrow structure of root canal limits the therapeutic effects of passive diffusion‐drugs, considerable attention has been drawn to the development of nanomotors, which have high tissue penetration abilities but generally face the problem of insufficient fuel concentration. To address this drawback, dual‐fuel propelled nanomotors (DPNMs) by encapsulating L‐arginine (L‐Arg), calcium peroxide (CaO2) in metal‐organic framework is developed. Under pathological environment, L‐Arg could release nitric oxide (NO) by reacting with reactive oxygen species (ROS) to provide the driving force for movement. Remarkably, the depleted ROS could be supplemented through the reaction between CaO2 with acids abundant in the inflammatory microenvironment. Owing to high diffusivity, NO achieves further tissue penetration based on the first‐stage propulsion of nanomotors, thereby removing deep‐seated bacterial infection. Results indicate that the nanomotors effectively eliminate bacterial infection based on antibacterial activity of NO, thereby blocking inflammatory response and oxidative damage, forming reparative dentine layer to avoid further exposure and infection. Thus, this work provides a propagable strategy to overcome fuel shortage and facilitates the therapy of deep lesions.
Unveiling the sp2─sp3 C─C Polar Bond Induced Electromagnetic Responding Behaviors by a 2D N‐doped Carbon Nanosheet Absorber
Authors: Zhang Can , Jiang Jian‐Tang , Guan Zhenjie , Zhang Yuanyuan , Li Yining , Song Bo , Shao Wenzhu , Zhen Liang
Published: December 2023

The infertile electromagnetic (EM) attenuating behavior of carbon material makes the improvement of its performance remain a significant challenge. Herein, a facile and low‐cost strategy radically distinct from the prevalent approaches by constructing polar covalent bonds between sp2‐hybridized and sp3‐hybridized carbon atoms to introduce strong dipolar polarization is proposed. Through customizing and selectively engineering the N moieties conjugated with carbon rings, the microstructure of the as‐synthesized 2D nanosheet is gradually converted with the partial transition from sp3 carbons to sp2 carbons, where the electric dipoles between them are also tuned. Supported by the DFT calculations, a progressively enhanced sp2─sp3 C─C dipolar polarization is caused by this controllable structure evolution, which is demonstrated to contribute dominantly to the total dielectric loss. By virtue of this unduplicated loss behavior, a remarkable effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) beyond ‐10 dB of 8.28 GHz (2.33 mm) and an ultrawide EAB beyond ‐5 dB of 13.72 GHz (4.93 mm) are delivered, which upgrade the EM performance of carbon material to a higher level. This study not only demonstrates the huge perspective of sp2─sp3‐hybridized carbon in EM elimination but also gives pioneering insights into the carbon–carbon polarization mechanism for guiding the development of advanced EM absorption materials.
Amine Gas‐Induced Reversible Optical Bleaching of Bismuth‐Based Lead‐Free Perovskite Thin Films
Authors: Ji Fuxiang , Zhang Bin , Chen Weimin M , Buyanova Irina A , Wang Feng , Boschloo Gerrit
Published: December 2023

Reversible optical property changes in lead‐free perovskites have recently received great interest due to their potential applications in smart windows, sensors, data encryption, and various on‐demand devices. However, it is challenging to achieve remarkable color changes in their thin films. Here, methylamine gas (CH3NH2, MA0) induced switchable optical bleaching of bismuth (Bi)‐based perovskite films is demonstrated for the first time. By exposure to an MA0 atmosphere, the color of Cs2AgBiBr6 (CABB) films changes from yellow to transparent, and the color of Cs3Bi2I9 (CBI) films changes from dark red to transparent. More interestingly, the underlying reason is found to be the interactions between MA0 and Bi3+ with the formation of an amorphous liquefied transparent intermediate phase, which is different from that of lead‐based perovskite systems. Moreover, the generality of this approach is demonstrated with other amine gases, including ethylamine (C2H5NH2, EA0) and butylamine (CH3(CH2)3NH2, BA0), and another compound, Cs3Sb2I9, by observing a similar reversible optical bleaching phenomenon. The potential for the application of CABB and CBI films in switchable smart windows is investigated. This study provides valuable insights into the interactions between amine gases and lead‐free perovskites, opening up new possibilities for high‐efficiency optoelectronic and stimuli‐responsive applications of these emerging Bi‐based materials.
Unraveling the Structure of Meclizine Dihydrochloride with MicroED
Authors: Lin Jieye , Unge Johan , Gonen Tamir
Published: December 2023

Meclizine (Antivert, Bonine) is a first‐generation H1 antihistamine used in the treatment of motion sickness and vertigo. Despite its wide medical use for over 70 years, its crystal structure and the details of protein‐drug interactions remained unknown. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction (SC‐XRD) is previously unsuccessful for meclizine. Today, microcrystal electron diffraction (MicroED) enables the analysis of nano‐ or micro‐sized crystals that are merely a billionth the size needed for SC‐XRD directly from seemingly amorphous powder. In this study, MicroED to determine the 3D crystal structure of meclizine dihydrochloride is used. Two racemic enantiomers (R/S) are found in the unit cell, which is packed as repetitive double layers in the crystal lattice. The packing is made of multiple strong N‐H‐Cl− hydrogen bonding interactions and weak interactions like C‐H‐Cl− and pi‐stacking. Molecular docking reveals the binding mechanism of meclizine to the histamine H1 receptor. A comparison of the docking complexes between histamine H1 receptor and meclizine or levocetirizine (a second‐generation antihistamine) shows the conserved binding sites. This research illustrates the combined use of MicroED and molecular docking in unraveling elusive drug structures and protein‐drug interactions for precision drug design and optimization.
Surface Reconstruction Facilitated by Fluorine Migration and Bimetallic Center in NiCo Bimetallic Fluoride Toward Oxygen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Xu Zhenhang , Zuo Wei , Yu Yueying , Liu Jinyan , Cheng Gongzhen , Zhao Pingping
Published: December 2023

Oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a critical anodic reaction of electrochemical water splitting, developing a high‐efficiency electrocatalyst is essential. Transition metal‐based catalysts are much more cost‐effective if comparable activities can be achieved. Among them, fluorides are rarely reported due to their low aqueous stability of coordination and low electric conductivity. Herein, a NiCo bimetallic fluoride with good crystallinity is designed and constructed, and significantly enhanced catalytic activity and conductivity are observed. The inevitable oxidation of transition metal ions at high potential and the dissociation of F− are attributed to the low aqueous stability of coordination. The theoretical researches predicte that transition metal fluorides should have a strong tendency to electrochemical reconstruction. Therefore, based on the observations on their electrochemical behavior, high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and bode plots, it is further demonstrated that surface reconstruction occurred during the electrochemical process, meanwhile a significant increase of electrochemically active area, which is created by F migration, are also directly observed. Additionally, DFT calculation results show that the electronic structure of the catalysts is modulated by the bimetallic centers, and this reconstruction helps optimizing the adsorption energy of oxygen‐containing species and improves OER activity.
Genuine Dirac Half‐Metals in Two‐Dimensions
Authors: Gong Jialin , Ding Guangqian , Xie Chengwu , Wang Wenhong , Liu Ying , Zhang Gang , Wang Xiaotian
Published: December 2023

When spin‐orbit coupling (SOC) is absent, all proposed half‐metals with twofold degenerate nodal points at the K (or K′) point in 2D materials are classified as “Dirac half‐metals” owing to the way graphene is utilized in the earliest studies. Actually, each band crossing point at the K or K′ point is described by a 2D Weyl Hamiltonian with definite chirality; hence, it should be a Weyl point. To the best of its knowledge, there have not yet been any reports of a genuine (i.e., fourfold degenerate) 2D Dirac point half‐metal. In this work, using first‐principles calculations, it proposes for the first time that the 2D d0‐type ferromagnet Mg4N4 is a genuine 2D Dirac half‐metal candidate with a fourfold degenerate Dirac point at the S high‐symmetry point, intrinsic magnetism, a high Curie temperature, 100% spin polarization, topology robust under the SOC and uniaxial and biaxial strains, and spin‐polarized edge states. This work can serve as a starting point for future predictions of intrinsically magnetic materials with genuine 2D Dirac points, which will aid the frontier of topo‐spintronics research in 2D systems.
Self‐Aligned Contact Doping for Performance Enhancement of Low‐Leakage Carbon Nanotube Field Effect Transistors
Authors: Chiu Hsin‐Yuan , Chao Tzu‐Ang , Safron Nathaniel S. , Su Sheng‐Kai , Liew San‐Lin , Yun Wei‐Sheng , Mao Po‐Sen , Lin Yu‐Tung , Hou Vincent Duen‐Huei , Lee Tung‐Ying , Chang Wen‐Hao , Passlack Matthias , Wong Hon‐Sum Philip , Radu Iuliana P. , Wang Han , Pitner Gregory , Chien Chao‐Hsin
Published: December 2023

Carbon nanotube (CNT) field effect transistors (CNFETs) show promise for the next generation VLSI systems due to their excellent scalability, energy efficiency, and speed. However, high leakage current is a drawback of large diameter CNTs (diameter (DCNT) ≥ 1.4 nm) due to the small electronic band gap (EG) ≤ 0.6 eV and effective mass. This work investigates the on‐current and off‐current tradeoff for two populations of semiconducting‐enriched CNT with DCNT ≈ 1.0 nm displaying a simultaneous 50x improvement in minimun current (IMIN) with 2.5x degradation in contact resistance compared to DCNT ≈ 1.4 nm using a Pd side‐bonded contact. A method to enhance the performance of low‐leakage CNFETs is demonstrated using sub‐monolayer self‐aligned contact doping with 0.8 nm of MoOX, which delivers a 57% reduction in contact resistance to DCNT ≈ 1.0 nm. Robustness is verified after annealing at 200 °C for 30 min and monitoring stability across 6 months post‐fabrication with no change in electrical behaviors.
Boosting the Catalytic Activity of Nitrogen Sites by Spin Polarization Engineering for Oxygen Reduction and Wide‐Temperature Ranged Quasi‐Solid Zn–Air Batteries
Authors: Wei Yifan , Xia Huicong , Lan Haihui , Xue Dongping , Zhao Bin , Yu Yue , Hu Yongfeng , Zhang Jia‐Nan
Published: December 2023

The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is a crucial cathode reaction for developing quasi‐solid zinc–air batteries (QZABs) with high energy density. However, the activity and stability of catalysts under extreme conditions have not been fully explore. Herein, a series of systematic experiments and theoretical calculations have been conducted to investigate the potential of introducing FexCoy into nitrogen (N)‐doped porous carbon (NPC) via one‐step pyrolysis to form a core–shell structure that can effectively enhance the activity of the catalysts, particularly at low temperatures. Due to the difference in the work function of 5.12, 5.11, and 5.06 eV, the spin‐polarized charge is transferred to the pyridinic‐N site on the surface under the charge transfer. Consequently, the pyridinic‐N site on the surface exhibits varying degrees of magnetic moment 0.024 µB, which is crucial for forming OOH* and enhances ORR activity. The Fe5Co5@NPC catalyst is evaluated for QZABs at −40 °C and achieved a power density of up to 117.6 mW cm−2, which is only 18.7% lower than normal temperature, and a cycle life of up to 300 h. This study provides a means to realize the design of QZABs catalysts in extreme environments and explore their application potential.
It Takes Two to Tango: Controlling Human Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Response via Substrate Stiffness and Surface Topography
Authors: Ribeiro Sofia , Watigny Alexandre , Bayon Yves , Biggs Manus , Zeugolis Dimitrios I.
Published: December 2023

Cells sense extracellular matrix‐induced biophysical signals, which are transduced into intracellular signaling cascades, and trigger a series of cell responses, including adhesion, migration, and lineage commitment. Traditionally, in in vitro context, monofactorial approaches are employed to control cell fate, despite the fact that in vivo cells are exposed simultaneously to a diverse range of signals. Herein, an overview of key mechanotransduction pathways is first provided. Conventional single‐factor and contemporary multifactorial methodologies, based on substrate rigidity and surface topography, are then reviewed to recapitulate in vitro the in vivo niche, in an attempt to elucidate the underlying mechanisms involved in human mesenchymal stromal cell‐material interactions.
Synthesis and evaluation of hybrid sulfonamide‐chalcones with potential antileishmanial activity
Authors: de Oliveira Nathalia S. , de Souza Luana G. , de Almeida Vitor M. , Barreto Arielly R. R. , Carvalho‐Gondim Felipe , Schaeffer Edgar , Santos‐Filho Osvaldo A. , Rossi‐Bergmann Bartira , da Silva Alcides J. M.
Published: December 2023

Leishmaniasis is an emerging tropical infectious disease caused by a protozoan parasite of the genus Leishmania. In this work, the molecular hybridization between a trimethoxy chalcone and a sulfonamide group was used to generate a series of sulfonamide‐chalcones. A series of eight sulfonamide‐chalcone hybrids were made with good yields (up to 95%). These sulfonamide‐chalcones were tested against promastigotes of Leishmania amazonensis and cytotoxicity against mouse macrophages, which showed good antileishmanial activity with IC50 = 1.72–3.19 µM. Three of them (10c, 10g, and 10h) were also highly active against intracellular amastigotes and had a good selectivity index (SI > 9). Thus, those three compounds were docked in the cytosolic tryparedoxin peroxidase (cTXNPx) enzyme of the parasite, and molecular dynamics simulations were carried out. This enzyme was selected as a target protein for the sulfonamide‐chalcones due to the fact of the anterior report, which identified a strong and stable interaction between the chalcone NAT22 (6) and the cTXNPx. In addition, a prediction of the drug‐likeness, and the pharmacokinetic profile of all compounds were made, demonstrating a good profile of those chalcones.
A highly sensitive micelle‐enhanced synchronous spectrofluorimetric determination of the recently approved co‐formulated drugs, bilastine and montelukast in pharmaceuticals and human plasma at nanogram levels
Authors: Magdy Galal , El Hamd Mohamed A. , El‐Maghrabey Mahmoud , Zainy Faten M. , Mahdi Wael A. , Alshehri Sultan , Alsaggaf Wejdan T. , Radwan Aya Saad
Published: December 2023

In this study, the simultaneous determination of bilastine and montelukast, two recently approved co‐formulated antihistaminic medications, was accomplished using a quick, sensitive, environmentally friendly, and reasonably priced synchronous fluorescence spectroscopic approach for the first time. Enhancement of the method's sensitivity down to nanogram levels was achieved by the addition of sodium dodecyl sulfate (1.0% w/v) as a micellar system. According to the results, bilastine and montelukast's fluorescence was measured at 255.3 and 355.3 nm, respectively, using Δλ of 40.0 nm and distilled water as a green diluting solvent. With respect to the concentration ranges of bilastine (5.0–300.0 ng/ml) and montelukast (50.0–1000.0 ng/ml), the method showed excellent linearity (r ≥ 0.9998). The results showed that the suggested method is highly sensitive, with detection limits of 1.42 and 13.74 ng/ml for bilastine and montelukast, respectively. Within‐run precisions (intra‐ and interday) per cent relative standard deviations (RSD) for both analytes were <0.59%. With high percentage recoveries and low percentage RSD values, the designed approach was successfully applied for the simultaneous estimation of the cited medications in their dosage form and human plasma samples. To evaluate the green profile of the suggested method, an analytical GREENNESS metric approach (AGREE) and green analytical procedure index (GAPI) metric tools were used. These two methods for evaluating greenness confirmed that the developed method met the highest number of green requirements, recommending its use as a green substitute for the routine analysis of the studied drugs. The proposed approach was validated according to ICHQ2 (R1) guidelines.
An overview of malingering and deception in neuropsychiatric cases
Authors: Rogers Richard , Bender Scott D. , Hartigan Sara E.
Published: December 2023

Forensic practitioners must shoulder special responsibilities when evaluating over‐stated pathology (e.g., malingering) as well as simulated adjustment. Such determinations may modify or even override other clinical findings. As a result, practitioners must be alert to their own misassumptions that may unintentionally bias their conclusions about response styles. Detection strategies for malingering—based on unlikely or markedly amplified presentations—are highlighted in this article. Given page constraints, assessment methods for feigning are succinctly presented with their applications to administrative, civil, and criminal referrals.
High‐Density Immobilization of TCEP on Silica Beads for Efficient Disulfide Reduction and Thiol Alkylation in Peptides
Authors: Schüttel Mischa , Heinis Christian
Published: December 2023

Tris‐(2‐carboxyethyl)phosphine (TCEP) linked to agarose beads is widely used for reducing disulfide bridges in proteins and peptides. The immobilization of TCEP on beads allows efficient removal after reduction to prevent its reaction with alkylating reagents and thus interference with conjugation reactions. However, a limitation of agarose TCEP is its relatively low reduction capacity per milliliter of wet beads (about 15 μmol/ml), making it unsuitable for the reduction of disulfides from molecules at millimolar concentrations. In this work, we tested the immobilization of TCEP to a range of different solid supports and found that conjugation to silica gel offers TCEP beads with about 8‐fold higher reduction capacity (129±16 μmol/ml wet beads). We show that it allows reducing disulfide‐cyclized peptides at millimolar concentrations for subsequent cyclization by bis‐electrophile linker reagents. Given the substantially higher reduction capacity, the robust performance in different solvents, the low cost of the silica gel, and the ease of functionalization with TCEP, the silica gel‐TCEP is suited for reducing disulfide bridges in essentially any peptide and is particularly useful for reducing peptides at higher concentrations.
Industrially Relevant Conditions in Lab‐Scale Analysis for Alkaline Water Electrolysis
Authors: Thissen Niklas , Hoffmann Julia , Tigges Sebastian , Vogel Dominik A. M. , Thoede Jil J. , Khan Stefanie , Schmitt Nicolai , Heumann Saskia , Etzold Bastian J. M. , Mechler Anna K.
Published: December 2023

Alkaline water electrolysis remains one of the most promising technologies for the large‐scale production of green hydrogen. However, further increases in efficiency remain elusive, as new electrode materials that are highly efficient in the laboratory cannot maintain their performance under industrial conditions. Within this work, we present a beaker cell setup, in which the industrial relevance of research materials can already be investigated in the laboratory by applying industrial conditions. Thus, the setup allows for testing at 80 °C in 30 wt. % KOH for more than 300 hours. Electrodes are contacted with an in‐house designed Ni tuck‐in holder and two types of reference electrodes are recommended. In addition, a protocol to unify catalyst research is introduced.
Mechanistic Avenues in the Chan‐Lam‐Based Etherification Reaction: A Computational Exploration
Authors: Pooventhiran Thangaiyan , Khilari Nripen , Koley Debasis
Published: December 2023

Invited for the cover of this issue is the group of Koley and co‐workers at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Kolkata. The image depicts the industrial generation of the product from the available starting materials in a catalytic cycle. Read the full text of the article at 10.1002/chem.202302983.
The efficacy and safety of oral microecological agents as add‐on therapy for atopic dermatitis: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized clinical trials
Authors: Xue Peiwen , Qin Haiyan , Qin Di , Liu Huilin , Li Juan , Jin Rongjiang , Xiao Xianjun
Published: December 2023

Background

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common skin disease that is hard to completely cure in a short time. Guidelines recommend the use of topical corticosteroids (TCS) as first‐line anti‐inflammatory therapy for AD, but long‐term use has significant side effects. Microecological agents (MA), including probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics, have been widely reported as a potential adjunctive therapy of AD, but whether MA can contribute to AD treatment is currently controversial. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis to investigate whether MA as an add‐on therapy for AD has synergistic and attenuated effects and to further understand the role of MA in clinical interventions for AD.

Methods

We systematically searched Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and PsycINFO databases up to Apr 11, 2023, and bibliographies were also manually searched, for potentially relevant studies regarding MA as additional therapy of AD. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool for assessing risk of bias was used to assess the quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Two reviewers screened studies, extracted data, and evaluated the risk of bias independently. The primary outcomes (SCORAD scores and the number of adverse events) and the secondary outcomes (pruritus scores, the quality of life and the frequency of TCS) were extracted from each article. The data were combined and analyzed to quantify the safety and efficacy of the treatment. R (V4.4.3) software was used for data synthesis. The certainty of the evidence was evaluated with the Grade of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system. We also performed a trial sequential analysis to assess the reliability of the evidence.

Results

A total of 21 studies, including 1230 individuals, were identified, 20 of which met the eligibility criteria for the meta‐analysis. Our pooled meta‐analyses showed that compared with controls, oral MA as an add‐on therapy was associated with significantly lower SCORAD scores (MD = −5.30, 95% CI −8.50, −1.55, p < 0.01, I2 = 81%). However, adverse events, pruritus scores, quality of life, and frequency of TCS use showed no significant difference in this meta‐analysis study (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

This meta‐analysis showed that MA plus TCS could be an effective and safe treatment for patients with AD to relieve relevant symptoms, which might be used as an add‐on therapy in the treatment of AD. However, due to the limited number of studies, results should be interpreted with caution. Further studies with a larger sample size are needed to explore the optimal protocol of MA plus TCS.
Risk of chronic health conditions in lesbian, gay, and bisexual survivors of adolescent and young adult cancers
Authors: Berkman Amy M. , Choi Eunju , Cheung Christabel K. , Salsman John M. , Peterson Susan K. , Andersen Clark R. , Lu Qian , Livingston J. Andrew , Hildebrandt Michelle A. T. , Parsons Susan K. , Roth Michael E.
Published: December 2023

Background

In the general population, individuals with minoritized sexual orientation and gender identity have a higher burden of chronic health conditions than heterosexual individuals. However, the extent to which sexual orientation is associated with excess burden of chronic conditions in adolescent and young adult cancer survivors (AYACS) is unknown.

Methods

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) AYACSs, LGB individuals without a history of cancer, and heterosexual AYACSs were identified by self‐reported data from the cross‐sectional National Health Interview Survey (2013–2020). Socioeconomic factors and the prevalence of chronic health conditions were compared between groups using χ2 tests. Logistic regression methods were used to determine the odds of chronic conditions by socioeconomic factors within and between survivor and comparison groups.

Results

One hundred seventy LGB cancer survivors, 1700 LGB individuals without a history of cancer, and 1700 heterosexual cancer survivors were included. Compared with heterosexual survivors, LGB survivors were less likely to be married (p = .001) and more likely to have never been married (p < .001). LGB survivors were more likely to have incomes between 100% and 200% of the federal poverty level than LGB individuals without a history of cancer (p = .012) and heterosexual survivors (p = .021) and were less likely to report incomes >200% the federal poverty level. LGB survivors had higher odds of chronic health conditions than LGB individuals without a history of cancer (odds ratio, 2.45; p < .001) and heterosexual survivors (odds ratio, 2.16; p = .003).

Conclusions

LGB AYACSs are at increased risk of having chronic health conditions compared with both LGB individuals without a history of cancer and heterosexual AYACSs.
A possible underground roadway for transportation facilities in Kathmandu Valley: A racking deformation of underground rectangular structures
Authors: Sahani Kameshwar , Khadka Shyam Sundar , Sahani Suresh Kumar , Pandey Binay Kumar , Pandey Digvijay
Published: December 2023

The increasing number of private cars, public transportation vehicles, and pedestrians, as well as the absence of adequate space for these ground amenities, are one of the primary causes of traffic congestion and accidents in the Kathmandu Valley. Investigations have indicated that the Kathmandu Valley has the greatest traffic accidents despite the heavy presence of the government and its agencies there. Most teens and young adults suffer injuries while using motor vehicles. The study's primary objective is to foresee and prevent such complications by planning for sufficient subsurface infrastructure (a cut‐and‐cover rectangular tunnel) for the Kathmandu Valley's transportation network. The overlying pressure, lateral earth pressure, live load, uplift pressure, and live surcharge are some of the forces acting on the tunnel, creating unique stress and moment zones. The tunnel meets the following geometric requirements: (a) Each of the tunnel's two cells has a clear span of 10 m and a clear height of 5.5 m. The side walls, inner walls, top slab, and bottom slab are all 700 mm thick. Soil has built up to a height of 4 m over the tunnel's roof. The analytical method is used in the tunnel segment's analysis. Furthermore, the designed tunnel has been evaluated for stability, considering the deflection and shear resistance. The analysis indicates that the tunnel meets the stability requirements. This implies that the structure is capable of withstanding the applied forces without excessive deflection. Non‐linear dynamic time history analyses of the El Centro earthquake and the Gorkha earthquake were computed. From the El Centro earthquake, the maximum displacement was 23.63 mm at 10.59 s, and from the Gorkha earthquake, the maximum displacement was 16 mm at 0.19 s for the modeled structures.
Signal propagation from portable active seismic source (PASS) to km‐scale borehole DAS for continuous monitoring of CO2 storage site
Authors: Tsuji Takeshi , Arakawa Eiichi , Tsukahara Hitoshi , Murakami Fumitoshi , Aoki Naoshi , Abe Susumu , Miura Takuya
Published: December 2023

We have developed a portable active seismic source (PASS) to monitor CO2 storage reservoirs at a depth of approximately 1 km. Despite its small size, stacking the signals generated by the PASS improves the signal‐to‐noise ratio of the seismometer data far from the source. The smaller size and lower cost of the PASS enables its permanent deployment in many locations to continuously monitor CO2 storage reservoirs. To achieve continuous monitoring, distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) is also a vital technology. Based on DAS, we can continuously record the signal from the PASS in an extensive area, including within boreholes and offshore fields. Here we report application of the PASS for the borehole DAS system. We confirmed the PASS signal propagation to a depth of ∼1 km when we used a PASS with 630N at 50 Hz close to the wellhead and recorded the signal by the borehole fiber optic cable. The ability of the system to propagate the PASS signal to a depth of ∼1 km enables continuous monitoring of most CO2 storage reservoirs with high temporal resolution. Furthermore, deploying multiple PASS systems could improve the spatial resolution of monitoring results. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bicontinuous donor and acceptor fibril networks enable 19.2% efficiency pseudo‐bulk heterojunction organic solar cells
Authors: Zhou Jing , Li Donghui , Wang Liang , Zhang Xinying , Deng Nan , Guo Chuanhang , Chen Chen , Gan Zirui , Liu Chenhao , Sun Wei , Liu Dan , Li Wei , Li Zhe , Wang Kai , Wang Tao
Published: December 2023

Realizing bicontinuous fibrillar charge transport networks in the photoactive layer has been considered a promising method to achieve high‐efficiency organic solar cells (OSCs); however, this has been rarely achieved due to the interference of molecular organization of donor and acceptor components during solution casting. In this contribution, the fibrillization of polymer donor PM6 and small molecular nonfullerene acceptor L8‐BO is realized with the assistance of conjugated polymer D18‐Cl. Atomic force microscopy and photo‐induced force microscopy reveal that PM6 and D18‐Cl co‐assemble into long and slender fibrils within wide blending ratios due to their high compatibility; in contrast, the fibrillization of L8‐BO can be encouraged with the incorporation of 1% D18‐Cl. By utilizing a pseudo‐bulk heterojunction (p‐BHJ) active layer fabricated by layer‐by‐layer deposition, the optimized PM6+20% D18‐Cl/L8‐BO+1% D18‐Cl OSCs obtain bicontinuous fibril networks, leading to enhanced exciton dissociation and charge transport processes and superior power conversion efficiency of 19.2% (certified 18.91%) compared to 18.8% of the PM6:D18‐Cl:L8‐BO ternary BHJ OSCs.
Mechanistic study on ursolic acid inhibiting the growth of colorectal cancer cells through the downregulation of TGF‐β3 by miR‐140‐5p
Authors: Zhang Tao , Xiang Fenfen , Li Xiaoxiao , Chen Zixi , Wang Jun , Guo Jiahui , Zhu Shanshan , Zhou Jun , Kang Xiangdong , Wu Rong
Published: December 2023

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common digestive tract tumor with a high incidence and a poor prognosis. Traditional chemotherapy drugs are usually accompanied by unpleasant side effects, highlighting the importance of exploring new adjunctive drugs. In this study, we aimed to explore the role of ursolic acid (UA) in CRC cells. Specifically, HT‐29 cells were treated with UA at different concentrations (10, 20, 30, and 40 μM), and the expression of miR‐140‐5p, tumor growth factor‐β3 (TGF‐β3), β‐catenin, and cyclin D1 was determined by real‐time quantitative PCR. The cell cycle and apoptosis were checked by flow cytometry, and cell proliferation was detected by Cell Counting Kit‐8 assay. The HT‐29 cell model was established through overexpression (miR‐140‐5p mimics) and interference (miR‐140‐5p inhibitor) of miR‐140‐5p. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of TGF‐β3. We found that UA could inhibit the proliferation of HT‐29 cells, block cells in the G1 phase, and promote cell apoptosis. After UA treatment, the expression of miR‐140‐5p increased and TGF‐β3 decreased. Notably, miR‐140‐5p downregulated the expression of TGF‐β3, while the overexpression of miR‐140‐5p exerted a similar function to UA in HT‐29 cells. Additionally, the messenger RNA expression of TGF‐β3, β‐catenin, and cyclin D1 was decreased in HT‐29 cells after UA treatment. In conclusion, UA inhibited CRC cell proliferation and cell cycle and promoted apoptosis by regulating the miR‐140‐5p/TGF‐β3 axis, which may be related to the inhibition of Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway.
Remission of hypersensitivity by simple weight load stimuli in a complex regional pain syndrome mouse model
Authors: Kiyomoto Kenta , Emori Makoto , Hanaka Megumi , Teramoto Atsushi , Hayakawa Hikaru , Takashima Kenichi , Yamashita Toshihiko , Iba Kousuke
Published: December 2023

Painful sensitivity of the hand or foot are the most common and debilitating symptoms of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Physical therapy is standard treatment for CRPS, but evidence supporting its efficacy is minimal and it can be essentially impossible for CRPS patients to actively exercise the painful limb. Using the well‐characterized distal tibial fracture CRPS mouse model, we compared the therapeutic effects of several weeks of daily hindlimb loading versus rotarod walking exercise. The effects of loading and exercise were evaluated by weekly testing of hind‐paw withdrawal thresholds to von Frey fibers and radiant heat, as well as measurements of paw and ankle edema. At 6 weeks after fracture, the mice were killed and the ipsilateral femur, spinal cord and L4/5 dorsal root ganglia, and hind‐paw skin collected for PCR assays and paw skin Immunohistochemistry evaluation. Hindlimb loading reduced hind‐paw von Frey allodynia and heat hyperalgesia and edema within a week and these effects persisted for at least a week after discontinuing treatment. These therapeutic effects of loading exceeded the beneficial effects observed with rotarod walking exercise in fracture mice. Levels of nerve growth factor and transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) immunostaining in the hind‐paw skin were increased at 6 weeks after fracture, and both loading and exercise treatment reduced increases. Collectively, these results suggest that loading may be an effective and possibly curative treatment in CRPS patients with sensitivity in the affected limb.
Lower extremity joint contact force symmetry during walking and running, 2–7 years post‐ACL reconstruction
Authors: Padhye Ankur Anand , Meardon Stacey A. , Kulas Anthony , Willson John
Published: December 2023

Premature osteoarthritis after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is common among athletes. Reduced knee contact forces after ACLR likely contribute to the multifactorial etiology of the disease. Whether this reduction is accompanied by compensatory increases in joint contact forces (JCF) at adjacent or contralateral joints is unclear. It is also unclear if compensatory effects depend on the task demands. Thus, we compared hip, knee, and ankle JCF symmetry between individuals with reconstruction and a matched control group during walking and running. Thirty participants (19 females), 2–7 years post‐unilateral ACLR (mean = 47.8 months), and 30 controls matched on sex, mass, and activity level were recruited. Limb symmetry indices of peak contact forces and force impulses were calculated for each joint during walking and running, and analyzed using two‐factor (group, activity) analysis of variances. Lower ACLR group peak knee JCF (p = 0.009) and knee JCF impulse (p = 0.034) during walking and running were observed. An interaction of group and activity was observed for peak hip JCF, with ACLR participants demonstrating greater involved limb peak hip JCF during running (p = 0.012). Ankle JCF and ground reaction force symmetry indices were not different between groups or across tasks. Decreased knee and increased ipsilateral peak hip JCF during running suggests that proximal adaptations exist at 2–7 years after ACLR, particularly during activities with increased task demand. Clinical significance: Knee and hip JCF asymmetry at 2–7 years after ACLR may underscore a need for clinical strategies and follow‐up assessments to identify and target such outcomes.
Lipolysis products from triglyceride‐rich lipoproteins induce stress protein ATF3 in osteoblasts
Authors: Rutkowsky Jennifer M. , Wong Alice , Toupadakis Chrisoula A. , Rutledge John C. , Yellowley Clare E.
Published: December 2023

High fat diets overwhelm the physiological mechanisms for absorption, storage, and utilization of triglycerides (TG); consequently TG, TG‐rich lipoproteins (TGRL), and TGRL remnants accumulate, circulate systemically, producing dyslipidemia. This associates with, or is causative for increased atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk, ischemic stroke, fatty liver disease, and pancreatitis. TGRL hydrolysis by endothelial surface‐bound lipoprotein lipase (LPL) generates metabolites like free fatty acids which have proinflammatory properties. While osteoblasts utilize fatty acids as an energy source, dyslipidemia is associated with negative effects on the skeleton. In this study we investigated the effects of TGRL lipolysis products (TGRL‐LP) on expression of a stress responsive transcription factor, termed activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3), reactive oxygen species (ROS), ATF3 target genes, and angiopoietin‐like 4 (Angptl4) in osteoblasts. As ATF3 negatively associates with osteoblast differentiation, we also investigated the skeletal effects of global ATF3 deletion in mice. TGRL‐LP increased expression of Atf3, proinflammatory proteins Ptgs2 and IL‐6, and induced ROS in MC3T3‐E1 osteoblastic cells. Angptl4 is an endogenous inhibitor of LPL which was transcriptionally induced by TGRL‐LP, while recombinant Angptl4 prevented TG‐driven Atf3 induction. Atf3 global knockout male mice demonstrated increased trabecular and cortical microarchitectural parameters. In summary, we find that TGRL‐LP induce osteoblastic cell stress as evidenced by expression of ATF3, which may contribute to the negative impact of dyslipidemia in the skeleton. Further, concomitant induction of Angptl4 in osteoblasts might play a protective role by reducing local lipolysis.