bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rescuing ACE2‐Deficiency‐Mediated Nucleus Pulposus Senescence and Intervertebral Disc Degeneration by a Nanotopology‐Enhanced RNAi System
Authors: Sun Kaiqiang , Kang Zijian , Yan Chen , Yu Yan , Han Linhui , Shi Yangyang , Chen Liang , Shi Jiangang , Chen Yu , Sun Jingchuan
Published: January 2025

Nucleus pulposus cell (NPC) senescence contributes to intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD). However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study, it is demonstrated that angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) counteracted the aging of NPCs and IVDD at the cellular and physiological levels. The expression of ACE2 correlates negatively with the degree of NPC senescence and IVDD. Using both loss‐ and gain‐of‐function mouse models, it is revealed that ACE2 deficiency increased the senescence of NPCs and exacerbated injury‐ or instability‐induced IVDD, whereas ACE2 overexpression counteracted these detrimental effects. Mechanistically, integrated analysis of single‐cell and bulk transcriptomics shows that ACE2 deficiency results in the activation of TGFβ2/Smads signaling pathway and the transcription of Serpine1, ultimately triggering NPC senescence and IVDD. A nanomedical delivery system (virus‐like nanovectors, VNs) composed of nanovectors with a virus‐like surface topology and small interfering RNA targeting Serpine1 (VN‐siSer) is developed. With nanotopology‐enhanced transfection efficiency, RNA‐interfering treatment by VN‐siSer effectively alleviated NPC senescence and IVDD at both the cellular and animal levels. Overall, the data reveal the underlying mechanisms of ACE2 in NPC senescence and IVDD pathogenesis and propose a distinct paradigm of precise nanomedical senescence‐blockade RNAi for IVDD treatment.
Superior Multimodal Luminescence in a Stable Single‐Host Nanomaterial with Large‐Scale Synthesis for High‐Level Anti‐Counterfeiting and Encryption
Authors: Kong Bingyin , Pan Gencai , Wang Mengke , Tang Hongye , Lv Zhipeng , Sun Shiyu , Luo Yuxin , You Wenwu , Xu Wen , Mao Yanli
Published: January 2025

Multimode luminescent materials exhibit tunable photon emissions under different excitation or stimuli channels, endowing them high encoding capacity and confidentiality for anti‐counterfeiting and encryption. Achieving multimode luminescence into a stable single material presents a promising but remains a challenge. Here, the downshifting/upconversion emissions, color‐tuning persistent luminescence (PersL), temperature‐dependent multi‐color emissions, and hydrochromism are integrated into Er3+ ions doped Cs2NaYbCl6 nanocrystals (NCs) by leveraging shallow defect levels and directed energy migration. The resulting NCs display strong static and dynamic colorful luminescence in response to ultraviolet, 980‐nm laser, and X‐ray. Additionally, the NCs exhibit distinct luminescent colors as the temperature increases from 330 to 430 K. Surprisingly, it also demonstrates the ability of the reversible emission modal and color in response to water. Theoretical calculations and experimental characterizations reveal that self‐trapped exciton state (STEs), chlorine vacancy defects, and ladderlike 4f energy levels of Er3+ ions contribute to multimodal luminescence. More importantly, it has extremely remarkable environmental stability, which can be stored in the air for more than 18 months, showing promising commercial prospects. This work not only gives new insights into lanthanide‐based metal halide NCs but also provides a new route for developing multimodal luminescent nanomaterials for anti‐counterfeiting and encryption.
A High Throughput Platform to Minimize Voltage and Fill Factor Losses
Authors: Haffner‐Schirmer Julian Matthias , Le Corre Vincent Marc , Forberich Karen , Egelhaaf Hans Joachim , Osterrieder Tobias , Wortmann Jonas , Liu Chao , Weitz Paul , Heumüller Thomas , Bornschlegl Andreas Josef , Wachsmuth Josua , Distler Andreas , Wagner Michael , Peng Zijian , Lüer Larry , Brabec Christoph Joseph
Published: January 2025

Organic photovoltaics (OPV) now can exceed 20% power conversion efficiency in single junction solar cells. To close the remaining gap to competing technologies, both fill factor and open‐circuit voltage must be optimized. The Langevin reduction factor is a well‐known concept that measures the degree to which charge extraction is favored over charge recombination. It is therefore ideally suited as an optimization target in high‐throughput workflows; however, its evaluation so far requires expert interaction. Here, an integrated high‐throughput workflow is presented, able to obtain the Langevin reduction factor within a few seconds with high accuracy without human intervention and thus suited for autonomous experiments. This is achieved by combining evidence from UV–vis spectra, current–voltage curves, and a novel implementation of microsecond transient absorption kinetics allowing, for the first time, the intrinsic determination of charge absorption cross‐sections, which is crucial to reporting stationary charge densities. The method is demonstrated by varying the donor:acceptor ratio of the high performance OPV blend PM6:Y12. The high reproducibility of the method allows to find a strictly exponential relationship between the PM6 exciton energy and the Langevin reduction factor.
Natural Dextran as an Efficient Interfacial Passivator for ZnO‐Based Electron‐Transport Layers in Inverted Organic Solar Cells
Authors: Zhang Bin , Pan Zhenshen , Li Wenming , Zhao Yushou , Qin Xiaolan , Li Aiqin , Lv Menglan , Qin Xiaofeng , Guo Weile , He Zhicai , Wang Ergang
Published: January 2025

Compared to conventional organic solar cells (OSCs) with acidic PEDOT:PSS as the hole transport layer (HTL), inverted OSCs (i‐OSCs) with zinc oxide (ZnO) as the electron transport layer (ETL) display significant advantages in terms of high stability. However, an obvious limitation in i‐OSCs is that the sol‐gel processed ZnO layers possess detrimental defects at the interface, which hinders the improvement of its photovoltaic performance. To address this problem, a natural, and green dextran (Dex) is used as an efficient interfacial passivator to modify the ZnO layer, thereby achieving enhanced device performance in i‐OSCs. The introduction of the Dex passivator efficiently suppresses the interfacial recombination loss, resulting in higher power conversion efficiencies (PCEs). Interestingly, Dex‐passivated ZnO exhibits broad applications as an ETL for different types of i‐OSCs, including fullerene, non‐fullerene, and all‐polymer OSCs, in which the D18:Y6 system gives the highest PCE of 18.32%. This is one of the highest values reported for binary i‐OSCs. Moreover, the application of Dex significantly improves the device stability, and the T80 lifetimes based on PM6:Y6, D18:Y6, and PM6:PY‐IT exceed 1500 h. These results imply that Dex is an excellent interfacial passivator for ZnO‐based ETL for high‐efficiency and stable i‐OSCs.
Sub‐Nano Confinement Engineering Toward Anion‐Reinforced Solvation Structure to Achieve Highly Reversible Anode‐Free Lithium Metal Batteries
Authors: Xu Jipeng , Gu Haoyuan , Wu Yingjie , Lin Yiting , Zhu Minghui , Liu Honglai , Lian Cheng , Su Haiping , Li Jingkun
Published: January 2025

The practical application of anode‐free lithium metal batteries (AFLMBs) is impeded by poor cycling performance due to sluggish Li+ transport kinetics, unfavorable side reactions, and dendrite Li growth. To address these issues, ≈200 nm zeolitic imidazolate framework‐8 (ZIF‐8) interphase layer is introduced to enable highly reversible Li plating/stripping by electrosynthesis method. ZIF‐8 interphase layer with sub‐nano windows accelerates Li+ desolvation kinetics and thus suppresses unfavorable side reactions. Further, the internal cavities of ZIF‐8 serve as an anion reservoir to modulate anion‐reinforced solvation structure of Li+, facilitating the formation of LiF‐ and Li3N‐riched solid–electrolyte interphase. Thus, the Li/Cu@ZIF‐8 asymmetric cell exhibits remarkable Aurbach coulombic efficiency of 99.84%, and Cu@ZIF‐8/LiFePO4 AFLMB delivers impressive capacity retention (57.8%) over 400 cycles. This work highlights the effectiveness of ZIF‐8 to enable highly reversible AFLMBs and inspires the potential application of porous materials with sub‐nano windows and interval cavities in anode‐free batteries.
A Novel Methodology for the Accelerated Desalination of Seawater Utilizing Up‐ and Down‐Conversion Phosphors
Authors: Valadez‐Renteria Ernesto , Oliva Jorge , Desirena Haggeo , Gomez‐Solis Christian , Rodriguez‐Gonzalez Vicente
Published: January 2025

Solar evaporators are fabricated by coating coconut/agave fibers with graphene. Those ones are utilized to desalinate seawater brought from Vallarta beach, Mexico. The graphene‐based evaporators exposed to sunlight produce a maximum evaporation rate/efficiency of 2.13 kg m−2 h−1/83%. The addition of Fe2O3 particles to the evaporators enhances the evaporation rate/efficiency up to 2.36 kg m−2 h−1/88.5%. The higher presence of oxygen vacancies defects in the evaporators made with Fe2O3 improves the absorption of light in the UV‐Vis range, which in turn, accelerates the desalination of seawater. Moreover, the performance of the solar evaporators is evaluated in absence of solar light. In this case, upconversion (UC) and downconversion (DC) phosphors are attached to the evaporators and such phosphors are excited with near‐infrared (980 nm) or ultraviolet (360 nm) light. Consequently, green light is produced by DC/UC, which is absorbed by the evaporators to be heated and the seawater evaporation is induced. The maximum evaporation rate/efficiency produced by the evaporators is 0.738 kg m−2 h−1/84.9%. In general, this research offers a novel strategy to continue the desalination of seawater in absence of solar light or in cloudy days. This can be useful to design new types of desalination plants without using complex/expensive filtration systems.
Root decomposition and nutrient dynamics in multifunctional forage‐biomass buffer‐strip systems
Authors: Amorim Helen C. S. , Ashworth Amanda J. , Adams Taylor C. , Savin Mary C. , Moore Philip A.
Published: January 2025

Perennial crops are thought as a solution for enhancing food security and providing ecosystem services under a changing climate, including forage‐biomass production, reduced erosion and nutrient leaching, and soil C accumulation. However, the drivers of root decomposition and C allocation in perennial multifunctional forage‐biomass buffer‐strips as affected by fertility management are poorly elucidated. Thus, study objectives were to assess root decomposition and soil CO2 efflux on switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides L.), silphium (Silphium integrifolium Michx.), and intermediate wheatgrass Kernza (Thinopyrum intermedium [Host] Barkworth & D.R. Dewey) treated with poultry litter (PL) relative to the unfertilized control. Root mass loss was greatest for silphium, owing to low neutral and acid detergent fibers and lignin contents (6%) relative to the other species (16%–25%). Root‐C loss was the greatest for intermediate wheatgrass (IW), mostly driven by hemicellulose degradation. Low root mass, surface area, and volume likely enhanced root decomposition for silphium and IW. Root mass loss and C, N, and P mineralization for novel perennial buffer‐strip species were greater in PL plots. Soil organic C stocks were mostly similar across forage‐biomass species × amendment combinations. Silphium‐PL had 27%–50% greater SOC stocks after 4 years, owing to higher root sloughing and C inputs to soil. Root decomposition rates were primarily affected by root chemical composition and morphology, while soil CO2 efflux was driven by soil moisture and temperature. Greater root sloughing, C inputs, and nutrient cycling showcase the potential for C storage and multiple purposes of novel perennial buffer‐strips.
Potential of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria for enhancement of tomato growth
Authors: Mekonnen Habtamu , Kibret Mulugeta , Assefa Fassil , Kabtimer Negash
Published: January 2025

Plant growth‐promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) associated with roots produce several biomolecules that stimulate plant growth. The study aimed to assess the potential of PGPR for tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) growth enhancement. Three PGPR isolates (Pseudomonas isolates PIA2 and PIA3, and Bacillus isolate BIA1) were evaluated for growth promotion under greenhouse conditions. The experiment was conducted in three replications using Maya and Melkesalsa tomato varieties in a completely randomized design. Treatment with BIA1 resulted in the highest fresh weights of shoots (29.05 g) and roots (3.72 g) for the Maya variety (TC1) and 28.69 and 2.76 g for the Melkesalsa variety (TC2), respectively. Treatment with PIA2 showed maximum fresh weights of the shoots (25.05 g) and roots (3.26 g) for the TC2. Tomato plants treated with BIA1 and PIA2 exhibited significant increases in height, by 40.1% and 22.6% in the TC1 and 45.2% and 27.6% in the TC2, respectively. Besides, treatments with BIA1 and PIA2 in the TC1 increased the dry weight of shoots by 46.6% and 30.2% and that of roots by 73.3% and 68.7%, respectively. For the TC2, BIA1 and PIA2 isolates increased the dry weight of roots by 54.9% and 34.4% and that of roots by 68.1% and 48.9%, respectively. The results generally showed that BIA1 and PIA2 could be used to foster plant growth. Further study under field the conditions of BIA1 and PIA2 are highly recommended.
Effects of Climate Shocks on the Dynamism of Agricultural Production in Burkina Faso
Authors: Akouwerabou Dénis B. , Bako Parfait , Goh Brigitte W. M. , Kaboré Patrick J. P.‐W.
Published: January 2025

Floods constitute climate shocks that cause both tangible and intangible damage to the agricultural sector. An immediate effect of flooding on the farming sector is production loss. We analyze the effects of flooding on the dynamism of the production of Burkina Faso farmers. To this end, we apply the difference‐in‐differences method to balanced panel data covering the agricultural seasons from 2008 to 2012. Our case study involves farming areas that flooded in 2009. The results indicate that the effects of flooding persist for several agricultural seasons.
Modulating Perovskite Surface Energetics Through Tuneable Ferrocene Interlayers for High‐Performance Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Vanin Francesco , Tremlett William D. J. , Gao Danpeng , Liu Qi , Li Bo , Li Shuai , Gong Jianqiu , Wu Xin , Li Zhen , Brown Ryan K. , Qian Liangchen , Zhang Chunlei , Sun Xianglang , Li Xintong , Zeng Xiao Cheng , Zhu Zonglong , Long Nicholas J.
Published: January 2025

Achieving rational control over chemical and energetic properties at the perovskite/electron transport layer (ETL) interface is crucial for realizing highly efficient and stable next‐generation inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs). To address this, we developed multifunctional ferrocene (Fc)‐based interlayers engineered to exhibit adjustable passivating and electrochemical characteristics. These interlayers are designed to reduce non‐radiative recombination, and to modulate the work function (WF) and uniformity of the perovskite surface, thereby enhancing device performance. The key role played by the highest occupied molecular orbital energies (EHOMO) of the Fc compounds relative to the perovskite valance band maximum (EVBM) is revealed. This relationship is pivotal in controlling band bending and optimizing charge extraction. Notably, the conformationally flexible and more easily oxidized ferrocenyl‐bis‐furyl‐2‐carboxylate (2) is found to more effectively bind with undercoordinated Pb2+ surface sites and modulate interfacial energetics, resulting in inverted PSCs achieving champion efficiencies of 25.16 %. These cells also displayed excellent stability, retaining >92 % of the initial efficiency after 1,000 h of maximum power point operation at 65 °C. By correlating the broadly tunable Fc‐EHOMO with a decreased and homogenized perovskite surface WF, our work advances our understanding of Fc‐based interlayers and opens new pathways for their application in high‐efficiency solar technologies.
A Gate‐Opening Control Strategy via Nitrate–Chloride Anion Exchange for Enhanced Hydrogen Isotope Separation in Metal–Organic Frameworks
Authors: Kim Hyunlim , Seo Younggyu , Park Jaewoo , Lee Eunsung , Oh Hyunchul
Published: January 2025

Efficient separation of hydrogen isotopes, especially deuterium (D2), is pivotal for advancing industries such as nuclear fusion, semiconductor processing, and metabolic imaging. Current technologies, including cryogenic distillation and Girdler sulfide processes, suffer from significant limitations in selectivity and cost‐effectiveness. Herein, we introduce a novel approach utilizing an imidazolium‐based Metal–Organic Framework (MOF), JCM‐1, designed to enhance D2/H2 separation through temperature‐dependent gate‐opening controlled by ion exchange. By substituting NO3− ions in JCM‐1(NO3−) with Cl− ions to form JCM‐1(Cl−), we precisely modulate the gate‐opening threshold, achieving a significant enhancement in isotope selectivity. JCM‐1(NO3−) exhibited a D2/H2 selectivity (SD2/H2) of 14.4 at 30 K and 1 bar, while JCM‐1(Cl−) achieved an exceptional selectivity of 27.7 at 50 K and 1 mbar. This heightened performance is attributed to the reduced pore aperture and higher gate‐opening temperature resulting from the Cl− exchange, which optimizes the selective adsorption of D2. Our findings reveal that JCM‐1 frameworks, with their finely tunable gate‐opening properties, offer a highly efficient and adaptable platform for hydrogen isotope separation. This work not only advances the understanding of ion‐exchanged MOFs but also opens new pathways for targeted applications in isotope separation and other gas separation processes.
Construction of Renewable Porous Nanofiltration Membrane by Amino Cyclodextrin for the Treatment of High Salinity Textile Wastewater
Authors: Zhou Jianping , Cui Jingtao , Han Shangsong , Liu Shenghui , Zhang Jintuan , Chen Biqin , Li Yuxia
Published: January 2025

The discharge of textile wastewater containing pollutants could cause serious environmental pollution. The use of loose nanofiltration membranes to separate dyes and salts from textile wastewater had great significance. This study used β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD‐AAm) as a novel porous aqueous monomer for IP reaction, and prepared a novel membrane for filtering textile wastewater. Due to the porous structure of β‐CD‐AAm, it could separate dyes and salts, increase water flux and mechanical property. Additionally, azobenzene was added to the bowl‐like structure of β‐CD‐AAm to endow the nanofiltration membrane with renewable functions. The permeability increased from 27 to 75 L/m2·h, and increased by 177.8%. It also increased the retention rate of methyl blue from 95.9% to 98.9%, and decreased the rejection rate of Na2SO4 from 22.3% to 10.1%; the separation selectivity a of dye and salts increased from 35.2 to 82.7. The effects of porous aqueous phase monomer β‐CD‐AAm on diffusion speed of aqueous phase were demonstrated via ultraviolet light test and mean square displacement, demonstrating the influence of β‐CD‐AAm on the polyamide layer structure and property of the membrane. This provides a new approach for using new aqueous monomers to produce porous nanofiltration membranes for the treatment of textile wastewater.
Manipulation of Printing Direction and Temperature on the Mechanical Properties and Shape Recovery of Thermoplastic Polyurethane 4D‐Printed Polymer‐Textile Composites
Authors: Cheung Tin Chun , Choi Sun Young , Jiang Shouxiang
Published: January 2025

In recent years, textile practitioners have utilized polyurethane (PU) SMPs to develop 4D printed polymer‐textile composites (4DP PTCs) which have distinct mechanical properties. However, little attention has been paid to combining the effects of extrusion direction and temperature of individual polymer layers on the mechanical properties and shape performance of 4DP PTCs. Hence this study explores the effects of such conditions through the development of thermo‐responsive 4DP PTCs composed of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) with a Shore hardness of 70A and 82A, respectively, PU SMP, and a nylon substrate. This study finds that the mechanical and shape performance of 4DP PTCs can be manipulated via varying the extrusion temperature and direction. Weft direction specimens showed greater stiffness (0.19 GPa) and shape fixity (up to 99.56%) whilst warp showed higher flexibility (0.10 GPa) and better shape recovery (up to 96.58%). Hence, 4DP PTCs can be selectively stiffened for applications that is, pressure suits and soft robotics that require enhanced stiffness in specific direction of movement, enabling further development of shape shifting textiles with complex surfaces and structures.
Smart Fertilizer With Temperature‐Responsive Behavior Coated Using a Naturally Derived Material
Authors: Zhao Jianrong , Li Xinlin , Liu Fuxin , Zhao Wenying , Chen Songling
Published: January 2025

The development of temperature‐responsive coated urea from sustainable, environmentally friendly bio‐coatings has garnered increasing research attention owing to concerns regarding global food security and environmental sustainability. In this study, naturally derived coated urea with temperature‐responsive behavior (SNCU) was fabricated using castor oil/polycaprolactone (PCL2000) blends and isocyanate, nano‐SiO2 and siloxane were employed to enhance its hydrophobicity. Nutrient (N)‐release experiments were conducted at various temperatures to explore the temperature‐responsive behavior of the coated urea. The temperature‐response mechanism and composition of the coated urea were investigated using x‐ray diffraction (XRD), x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), simultaneous thermal analysis (DSC), and Fourier‐transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy. Results indicated that PCL2000 incorporation could produce a block polymer with a two‐phase structure consisting of a crystalline and an amorphous phase, and the SNCU exhibited a significant temperature switch at 32.5°C. Moreover, the N‐release SNCU longevity increased to 70 days. Therefore, the findings from this work highlight that temperature‐responsive SNCU, with its higher N availability, could be suitable for agricultural applications in sustainable, green agricultural development.
Induction of Type I Interferon–Dependent Activation and Migration of Inflammatory Dendritic Cells to Local Lymph Nodes by UV Light Exposure
Authors: Sun Xizhang , Chao Jaime L. , Gerner Michael , Elkon Keith B.
Published: January 2025

Objective

Photosensitivity occurs in ~75% of patients with lupus. Although UV light radiation (UVR) stimulates type I interferon (IFN‐I) in the skin, how UVR‐induced skin inflammation leads to downstream effects is poorly understood. Tissue inflammation causes dendritic cells (DCs) to migrate from organs to draining lymph nodes (dLN), including a recently identified inflammatory conventional DC subset (inf cDC2) that are potent antigen‐presenting cells. To explore links between UVR and the early immune response, we examined DC and lymphocyte subset migration to dLN in normal and lupus‐prone mouse strains as well as the role of IFN‐I.

Methods

Mice received a single dose of UV (500 mJ/cm2) on the dorsal skin. Brachial and inguinal dLN were harvested at one or two days post‐UVR. Flow cytometry using the Symphony A3 cytometer and 15‐color staining identified myeloid and lymphoid subsets. Statistical significance was determined by Student's t‐test.

Results

Higher numbers of CD64+ myeloid cells as well as inf cDC2 were detected in the dLN after UVR in B6 mice, but not in IFN receptor knockout (IFNAR KO) mice. In contrast, Trex1 mutant mice had an exaggerated IFN‐I response in the skin and a higher proportion of inf cDC2 in the dLN.

Conclusion

These findings reveal a previously unknown relationship between skin UVR and the migration of the inf cDC2 population to dLN. They highlight the role of IFN‐I in this process, and the differences between Trex1 mutant and normal mice suggest that this may be of relevance to lupus.

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A Non‐Benzenoid Route to Thio‐Oxybenzone Analogs: Superior UV Protection with Reduced Cytotoxicity
Authors: Keerthana S. , Indora Aman , Kumari Shivani , Singh Nongmaithem Sadananda , Goreti Rajendar
Published: January 2025

A one‐pot methodology for the tandem acylation and oxidative aromatization of vinylogous thioesters to 2‐acyl‐5‐(alkyl/arylthio)phenols is presented. Initially, cyclohexane‐1,3‐diones were converted to vinylogous thioesters through FeCl3‐mediated thioenolization. This was followed by LiTMP‐mediated acylation and DDQ‐mediated aromatization, which resulted in the synthesis of sulphur derived oxybenzone analogs. Notably, replacing the methoxy group of oxybenzone with alkylthioxy or arylthioxy groups significantly enhanced UV absorption properties. The newly synthesized oxybenzone analogs exhibited superior UV absorption, effectively covering the entire UVA and UVB regions spanning from 240 to 440 nm. Furthermore, toxicity studies conducted on HEK293T cells demonstrated that many of the thio‐analogs exhibit lower toxicity compared to parent oxybenzone, suggests potential for safer and more effective UV protection formulas.
Engineering Gene and Protein Switches for Regulation of Lineage‐Specifying Transcription Factors
Authors: Teixeira Ana P. , Franko Nik , Fussenegger Martin
Published: January 2025

Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) can be differentiated in vitro to an increasing number of mature cell types, presenting significant promise for addressing a wide range of diseases and studying human development. One approach to further enhance stem cell differentiation methods would be to coordinate multiple inducible gene or protein switches to operate simultaneously within the same cell, with minimal cross‐interference, to precisely regulate a network of lineage‐specifying transcription factors (TFs) to guide cell fate decisions. Therefore, in this study, we designed and tested various mammalian gene and protein switches responsive to clinically safe small‐molecule inhibitors of viral proteases. First, we leveraged hepatitis C virus and human rhinovirus proteases to control the activity of chimeric transcription factors, enabling gene expression activation exclusively in the presence of protease inhibitors and achieving high fold‐inductions in hPSC lines. Second, we built single‐chain protein switches regulating the activity of three differentiation‐related pancreatic TFs, MafA, Pdx1, and Ngn3, each engineered with a protease cleavage site within its structure and having the corresponding protease fused at one terminus. While variants lacking the protease retained most of the unmodified TF activity, the attachment of the protease significantly decreased the activity, which could be rescued upon addition of the corresponding protease inhibitor. We confirmed the functionality of these protein switches for simultaneously controlling the activity of three TFs with a common input molecule, as well as the orthogonality of each protease‐based system to independently regulate two TFs. Finally, we validated these very compact systems for precisely controlling TF activity in hPSCs. Our results suggest that they will be valuable tools for research in both developmental biology and regenerative medicine.
Brief Report: Emotion Regulation in Autism Is Improved in a Single‐N Pilot Intervention Study Combining Child‐Centered Play Therapy and Rhythmic Relating
Authors: Daniel Stuart , Blacher Jan , Eisenhower Abbey , Berkovits Lauren
Published: January 2025

Background

Rhythmic Relating is an approach to supporting social timing in therapeutic play with autistic children (Daniel, Laurie and Delafield‐Butt, 2024) and can be used as a stand‐alone approach or to augment child‐centered therapies.

Aims

A combination of Child‐Centered Play Therapy and Rhythmic Relating is evaluated in its therapeutic potential to enhance Emotion Regulation outcomes (over 10 months; 32 weekly sessions), in a case study of a 5‐year‐old autistic girl.

Materials and Methods

Mean Start and Finish scores were recorded for the parent‐rated Emotion Regulation Checklist (Shields and Cicchetti, 1997). For all subscales, we calculate percentage‐change‐over‐time values and, using percentiles, these values are compared and statistically ranked with respect to two different comparison groups:

1. “Autistic children without concurrent cognitive impairment, not receiving psychological or behavioral therapies” (n = 77).

2. “Autistic girls without concurrent cognitive impairment, not receiving psychological or behavioral therapies” (n = 9).

Results

As compared to both Comparison Groups 1 and 2, our participant's overall Emotion Regulation improvements (over 10 months) are statistically highly likely to be due to her participation in therapy (p < 0.01).

Discussion

Practical implications for therapeutic practice with autistic children are discussed, including the emphasis on good‐enough self‐regulation as outcome priority, the emphasis on social timing for co‐regulation as route to good‐enough self‐regulation, and the emphasis on Emotion Regulation as outcome measure in accordance with outcome priority. Possibilities for future larger‐scale intervention studies addressing scalability and generalizability issues are discussed, including current modality‐combination studies (i.e., Rhythmic Relating and Child‐Centered Play Therapy) ‐ multi‐site/practitioner, multiple baseline single case design, or considerably larger N intervention groups compared with the current ERC comparison groups, or generating new comparison groups ‐ and/or studying the efficacy of other potential modality combinations (Rhythmic Relating combined with Music Therapy, Dance Movement Therapy, DIRFloortime etc.).

Conclusion

The current study was designed to retest and build on the hypothesis, method and knowledge base of a previous intervention study (Daniel et al, 2023). Together, these two sets of results show early positive potential for this combination of therapeutic modalities to support the regulatory well‐being needs of young autistic children, unconventional communicators, and autistic people who have additional learning needs.
Improved Malignancy of Colon Cancer Cells at Gene Expression Level With Constitutive Activation of the Eukaryotic Elongation Factor 2 Under Nutrition‐Deficient Conditions
Authors: Deniz Aslı Hızlı , Aydemir Esra , Ekimci Gürcan Nur , Dabo Jakir Abdulahi , Faruk Bayrak Ömer , Şahin Fikrettin , Ayaz Furkan
Published: January 2025

Regulation of protein production in response to physiological signals is achieved through precise control of eukaryotic Elongation Factor 2 (eEF2), whose distinct translocase function is crucial for cell survival. Phosphorylation of eEF2 at its Thr56 (T56) residue inactivates this function in translation. Using a genetically modified paralogue of a colon cancer cell line, HCT116 which carries a point mutation at Ser595‐to‐Alanine in the eEF2 gene we were able to create a constitutively active form of eEF2. Then, we compared these cells with their wild‐type counterparts under complete growth and nutrient deprivation conditions. The mutant forms were created by using the CRISPR/Cas9‐mediated gene cassette knock‐in (KI) strategy. The samples were analyzed by a microarray‐based approach. Carrying out a WikiPath analysis, we identified distinct signaling pathways and gene expression patterns that are differentially regulated in the mutant cells (HCT116KI), but not in wild‐type HCT116 (HCT116WT) cells, particularly under nutrient‐deprived conditions. Our results suggest that the constitutive activation of eEF2 enables an increase in the malignant gene expression in colon cancer cells compared to the wild‐type counterparts under nutrient‐deprived conditions.
Weakly Coordinating Anionic Microporous Polymer Networks as Scaffold for Molecular Gas Phase Hydrogenation Catalysis
Authors: Okhassova Yasmin , Sroka Robert , Chaoui Nicolas , Trunk Matthias , Schmidt Johannes , Fischer‐Lang Sabrina , Teichert Johannes F. , Thomas Arne
Published: January 2025

Anionic microporous polymer networks were synthesised via Yamamoto polymerization of a fluorinated tetraarylborate monomer. The network charge density can be controlled by varying the incorporation ratio of a neutral tetraphenylmethane comonomer. The resulting polymer networks demonstrated exceptional stability under ambient conditions and achieved specific surface areas of up to 1500 m2 g−1. The anionic nature of the networks simplifies postsynthetic ion exchange, enabling the incorporation of catalytically active cationic species. As a proof of concept, the molecular cationic Crabtree's catalyst was immobilised within the network, yielding a solid‐state material that efficiently catalyzed the gas‐phase hydrogenation of ethylene to ethane under mild conditions.
Interfacial Metal Oxides Stabilize Cu Oxidation States for Electrocatalytical CO2 Reduction
Authors: Zhao Yajie , Wang Haoyuan , Liu Chunxiao , Ji Yuan , Li Xu , Jiang Qiu , Zheng Tingting , Xia Chuan
Published: January 2025

Modulating the oxidation state of copper (Cu) is crucial for enhancing the electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR), particularly for facilitating deep reductions to produce methane (CH4) or multi‐carbon (C2+) products. However, Cuδ+ sites are thermodynamically unstable, fluctuating their oxidation states under reaction conditions, which complicates their functionality. Incorporating interfacial metal oxides has emerged as an effective strategy for stabilizing these oxidation states. This review provides an in‐depth examination of the reaction mechanisms occurring at oxide‐modified Cuδ+ sites, offering a comprehensive understanding of their behavior. We explore how Cu/metal oxide interfaces stabilize Cu oxidation states, showing that oxides‐modified Cu catalysts often enhance selectivity for C2+ or CH4 products by stabilizing Cu+ or Cu2+ sites. In addition, we discuss innovative strategies for the rational design of efficient Cu catalytic sites tailored for specific deep CO2RR products. The review concludes with an outlook on current challenges and future directions, offering new insights into the rational design of selective and efficient CO2RR catalysts.
The Use of Omics in Untangling the Effect of Lifestyle Factors in Pregnancy and Gestational Diabetes: A Systematic Review
Authors: Liu Kai , Clarke Georgia S. , Grieger Jessica A.
Published: January 2025

Aim

To synthesise the evidence from clinical trials and observational studies using omics techniques to investigate the impact of diet and lifestyle factors on metabolite profile in pregnancy, and in the prevention and management of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Materials and Methods

A systematic literature search was performed using PubMed, Ovid, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases in October 2023 and updated in September 2024. Inclusion criteria were randomised controlled trials (RCT) or non‐RCTs in pregnant women with or without GDM, that measured diet and lifestyle factors, and which applied post‐transcriptional omics approaches. Risk of bias was assessed using the ROBINS‐I for non‐RCTs and ROB‐2 tool for RCTs. The results of all studies are narratively synthesised.

Results

Of 6293 studies identified, eight observational studies and three RCTs comprising 2639 pregnant women were included. Three studies reported on changes in diet‐related metabolic phenotypes during pregnancy; however, the impact of certain foods on the metabolome and risk for GDM was less clear. Compared with women without GDM, women with GDM had a worse deterioration in metabolites, including saturated fatty acids, branched chain amino acids and purine degradation metabolites. There is limited evidence that conventional dietary treatment for GDM may modify the metabolome in women with GDM.

Conclusions

Metabolome profiles in pregnancy may be altered by certain dietary choices; however, it is inconclusive whether improved diet related metabolite profiles have a beneficial impact in the prevention or management of GDM. High quality studies with larger sample sizes are needed to better understand the role that maternal nutrition plays in modulating the maternal metabolome, not only for a healthy pregnancy but also for the prevention and management of GDM.
Developmental plasticity does not improve performance during a species interaction: Implications for species turnover
Authors: Mauro Alexander A. , Zeller Kyndall R. , Torres‐Dowdall Julián , Ghalambor Cameron K.
Published: January 2025

Species interactions can contribute to species turnover when the outcomes of the interactions are context dependent (e.g., change along environmental gradients). Plasticity may change this dynamic by altering the environmental tolerances of the species interacting. Here, we explored how the competitive interaction between two euryhaline fish, Poecilia reticulata and Poecilia picta, is influenced by acute and developmental responses to salinity. In Trinidad, P. reticulata is confined to freshwater despite being tolerant of brackish water. P. reticulata may fail to occupy brackish water because of reduced tolerance to salinity or because P. picta competitively excludes them, and developing in brackish water could alter the dynamics of either scenario. To test this, we compared the salinity tolerances of both species in the absence of competition, reared P. reticulata individuals in freshwater or brackish water, and tested the consequences of developmental plasticity in experiments in which P. reticulata competed against conspecifics or P. picta during acute exposure to freshwater or brackish water. We found that (1) P. reticulata has a weaker salinity tolerance than P. picta; (2) P. reticulata that developed in freshwater perform best when competing against P. picta in freshwater but perform poorly when competing against P. picta in brackish water, suggesting the species interaction is context dependent; and (3) developing in brackish water did not benefit P. reticulata in brackish water. Our results suggest that P. reticulata's freshwater range limit is in part a product of a lower salinity tolerance leading to a decrease in competitive performance in brackish water. Adaptive plasticity has been suggested to be a crucial part of the colonization process, yet nonadaptive plastic responses as found here can limit range expansion and reinforce range limits.
Clinical evaluation and outcome in heart failure patients receiving chemotherapy with different anti‐cancer agents
Authors: Sunaga Tomiko , Okada Takahiro , Iso Yoshitaka , Ebato Mio , Toshida Tsutomu , Nawata Shuichi , Suzuki Hiroshi , Kogo Mari
Published: January 2025

Background

The optimal strategy for modern chemotherapy should be based on a comprehensive approach for cancer patients with cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, cardio‐oncology has received increasing attention owing to the cardiotoxic effects of anti‐cancer therapies.

Objectives

We aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with heart failure (HF) who received chemotherapy compared with those of a matched cohort with HF who did not receive chemotherapy, using real‐world HF data.

Methods

This study was based on the Diagnosis Procedure Combination (DPC) database of the Japanese Registry of All Cardiac and Vascular Diseases (JROAD). We identified 1 328 113 patients who were hospitalized for HF between April 2012 and March 2021. The propensity score (PS) was estimated using a logistic regression model, with chemotherapy as the dependent variable, and a clinically score‐matched analysis of 11 532 patients with HF with or without chemotherapy. The primary endpoint was readmission.

Results

Colon, lung, breast and prostate cancers accounted for >60% of all cancer types. After PS matching, readmission was significantly more frequently observed in patients with chemotherapy than those without [odds ratio (OR), 1.26; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.17–1.36, P < 0.01]. In particular, treatment with epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR‐TKIs) (OR, 1.69; 95% CI 1.39–2.07), taxane (OR, 2.95; 95% CI 2.11–4.12), anthracyclines (OR, 1.86; 95% CI 1.19–2.90) and fluorouracil agents (OR, 1.65; 95% CI 1.18–2.30) caused a higher risk of readmission.

Conclusions

Medical providers need to monitor and follow‐up patients with HF, depending on the characteristics of the anti‐cancer agents and types of cancer.
NORSE secondary to anti‐GAD65 antibody‐positive encephalitis treated with novel adjunctive rapid titration VNS protocol
Authors: Li Mingyu , Yalcin Nilufer , Weiss Danielle L. , Hill Leila A. T. , Shah Manan , Garcia Klepper Alfredo , Vale Diaz Fernando L. , Rueda Carrillo Luis G. , Smith Hunter , Moore‐Hill Debra T.
Published: January 2025

New Onset Refractory Status Epilepticus (NORSE) is a rare and severe condition characterized by refractory seizures in individuals without a prior history of epilepsy. This case report describes a 37‐year‐old woman diagnosed with anti‐glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 (anti‐GAD65) antibody‐positive encephalitis‐related NORSE. Her seizures were refractory to multiple interventions, including anti‐seizure medications, anesthetics, immunotherapies, a ketogenic diet, and electroconvulsive therapy. Seizures recurred twice during the tapering of anesthetic medications. However, after 32 days of treatment, the seizures were successfully controlled. To maintain seizure control and facilitate the weaning of anesthetics, a Vagus Nerve Stimulator (VNS) was implanted using a novel rapid titration protocol. This allowed for the successful tapering of anesthetics by day 50, with no recurrence of seizures. At her 9‐month follow‐up, the patient remained seizure‐free and had an improved quality of life. This case highlights that early initiation of immunosuppressive treatment may lead to a favorable prognosis. The novel application of VNS therapy assisted seizure control in NORSE, thus encouraging further research investigating the potential role of VNS in this condition.

Plain Language Summary

New Onset Refractory Status Epilepticus (NORSE) is a rare and severe condition characterized by relentless seizures in individuals without a prior epilepsy history. This report shares the case of a 37‐year‐old woman with NORSE, associated with a high anti‐glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 antibody titer. Her seizures were super‐refractory, requiring multiple anti‐seizure medications, anesthetics, immunotherapies, a ketogenic diet, and electroconvulsive therapy. Seizures recurred twice during the tapering of anesthetic medications. However, by hospital day 32, the seizures were successfully controlled with these interventions. To further stabilize seizure control and enable the successful discontinuation of anesthetics, a Vagus Nerve Stimulator (VNS) was implanted. The patient had no further seizures and gradually recovered back to her pre‐disease baseline. This case suggests that a novel rapid VNS titration protocol could be a promising treatment option for NORSE, warranting further investigation.
Application of an Off‐Policy Reinforcement Learning Algorithm for H∞${{H}_\infty }$ Control Design of Nonlinear Structural Systems With Completely Unknown Dynamics
Authors: Amirmojahedi M. , Mojoodi A. , Shojaee Saeed , Hamzehei‐Javaran Saleh
Published: January 2025

This paper proposes a model‐free and online off‐policy algorithm based on reinforcement learning (RL) for vibration attenuation of earthquake‐excited structures, through designing an optimal controller. This design relies on solving a two‐player zero‐sum game theory with a Hamilton–Jacobi–Isaacs (HJI) equation, which is extremely difficult, or often impossible, to be solved for the value function and the related optimal controller. The proposed strategy uses an actor‐critic‐disturbance structure to learn the solution of the HJI equation online and forward in time, without requiring any knowledge of the system dynamics. In addition, the control and disturbance policies and value function are approximated by the actor, the disturbance, and the critic neural networks (NNs), respectively.

Implementing the policy iteration technique, the NNs’ weights of the proposed model are calculated using the least square (LS) method in each iteration. In the present study, the convergence of the proposed algorithm is investigated through two distinct examples. Furthermore, the performance of this off‐policy RL strategy is studied in reducing the response of a seismically excited nonlinear structure with an active mass damper (AMD) for two cases of state feedback. The simulation results prove the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm in application to civil engineering structures.
Source Rock Characteristics and Petroleum‐Geological Significance of Paleogene Niubao Formation in the Nima Basin, Central Tibet, China
Authors: Wang Rui , Wu Xinhe , Zhang Guoqiang , Hou Dujie
Published: January 2025

Nima Basin, as a typical Tethys area, is a Cenozoic oil‐bearing basin in the middle of Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau, which is expected to become an important target for petroleum exploration. The main controlling factors and models of organic matter enrichment are not yet clear. To identify the organic geochemical characteristics of high‐quality source rocks and the main controlling factors of their formation, this study analyzes the paleoclimate and paleo‐salinity indexes based on the analysis of the major and trace elements through systematic sampling of the muddy sediments of Niubao Formation in Well Shuangdi 1, Cebuco Depression. The results show that the organic matter of the E1‐2n source rocks in Nima Basin is differentially enriched, which shows that the organic matter of the middle E1‐2n source rocks is more enriched than that of the upper E1‐2n source rocks. Hydrocarbon source rocks of the middle E1‐2n are mainly of type I organic matter, while those of the upper E1‐2n are mainly of type Ⅱ1 organic matter, both of which are in the mature stage. Organic matter enrichment is primarily governed by a combination of climate and redox conditions, with humid climate and reducing environments emerging as the dominant factors, whereas salinity exerts a lesser influence. On the one hand, this study can supplement the accumulation mechanism of organic matter in the Tethys domain in Asia; on the other hand, it will fill the gap in the geological research of Nima Basin, contributing to the prediction and exploration of oil and gas resources in the Nima Basin.
Role of Seed Therapy on Estrous and Non‐Estrous Cycle in Healthy Female Rats
Authors: Majeed Iqra , Nisa Mahr Un , Rahim Muhammad Abdul , Ramadan Mohamed Fawzy , Al‐Asmari Fahad , Alissa Mohammed , Zongo Eliasse
Published: January 2025

Seed cycling therapy (SCT) involves the consumption of specific seeds during the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle to help balance reproductive hormones. This study aimed to investigate the effects of SCT on healthy female Wistar albino rats to prevent hormonal imbalances. For SCT, a seed mixture (SM1) consisting of flax, pumpkin, and soybeans (estrogenic seeds) was administered at doses of 5.4, 4, 8, and 12 g per 100 g of diet during the non‐estrous phase. Another seed mixture (SM2) comprising sunflower, sesame, and chickpeas (also estrogenic) was given at doses of 3.12, 8, and 8 g per 100 g during the estrous phase. A total of 36 female Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups, each containing nine rats: Basal diet, seed cycling 1, seed cycling 2, and seed cycling 3 (SC3). All diets were isocaloric and iso‐nitrogenous. The results showed that body weight, feed intake, and water consumption were significantly decreased in the SC3 group (p < 0.05), with increased nutrient digestibility. The tested diets led to significant positive changes in levels of follicle‐stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, high‐density lipoproteins (HDL‐c), low‐density lipoproteins (LDL‐c), LDL‐c/HDL‐c ratio, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase across both phases of the cycle. There was also a notable increase in estrogen, testosterone, prolactin, and insulin levels (p < 0.05). Ovarian histology results showed normal morphology in the SC3 group, suggesting that this dosage was the most effective. The findings indicate that further studies are warranted to explore the genetic mechanisms underlying phytoestrogen action during reproductive stages.