bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nerve pathology of microangiopathy and thromboinflammation in hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis
Authors: Yeh Shin‐Joe , Yeh Ti‐Yen , Wang Yi‐Shiang , Chao Chi‐Chao , Tzeng Shiou‐Ru , Tang Tsz‐Yi , Hsieh Jung‐Hsien , Kan Yu‐Yu , Yang Wei‐Kang , Hsieh Sung‐Tsang
Published: October 2023

Objective

Despite amyloid deposition as a hallmark of hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTRv) with polyneuropathy, this pathology could not completely account for nerve degeneration. ATTRv patients frequently have vasomotor symptoms, but microangiopathy hypothesis in ATTRv was not systemically clarified.

Methods

This study examined the vascular pathology of sural nerves in ATTRv patients with transthyretin (TTR) mutation of p.Ala117Ser (TTR‐A97S), focusing on morphometry and patterns of molecular expression in relation to nerve degeneration. We further applied human microvascular endothelial cell (HMEC‐1) culture to examine the direct effect of TTR‐A97S protein on endothelial cells.

Results

In ATTRv nerves, there was characteristic microangiopathy compared to controls: increased vessel wall thickness and decreased luminal area; both were correlated with the reduction of myelinated fiber density. Among the components of vascular wall, the area of collagen IV in ATTRv nerves was larger than that of controls. This finding was validated in a cell model of HMEC‐1 culture in which the expression of collagen IV was upregulated after exposure to TTR‐A97S. Apoptosis contributed to the endothelial cell degeneration of microvasculatures in ATTRv endoneurium. ATTRv showed prothrombotic status with intravascular fibrin deposition, which was correlated with (1) increased tissue factor and coagulation factor XIIIA and (2) reduced tissue plasminogen activator. This cascade led to intravascular thrombin deposition, which was colocalized with upregulated p‐selectin and thrombomodulin, accompanied by complement deposition and macrophages infiltration, indicating thromboinflammation in ATTRv.

Interpretation

Microangiopathy with thromboinflammation is characteristic of advanced‐stage ATTRv nerves, which provides an add‐on mechanism and therapeutic target for nerve degeneration.
Enzyme‐Engineered Metal‐Organic Frameworks for the Construction of Organophosphorus Pesticide Biosensor
Authors: Li Hongxia , Lu Qi , Shi Junxiao , Zhang Xiaoguang , Sun Peng , Yan Xu , Lu Geyu
Published: October 2023

Rational immobilization of fragile enzymes on a scaffold is an efficient protocol to achieve robust biocatalyst, yet the construction remains challenging due to the trade‐off between enzyme activity and framework environment. Herein, an enzyme‐engineered assembly strategy enabling the in situ fusion of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) into Zn‐based metal‐organic frameworks (Zn‐MOF‐74) during the rapid nucleation and crystal defect growth process, is demonstrated. The Zn‐MOF‐74 composites can offer a hydrophilic framework microenvironment for maintaining the biological state of AChE, with flower‐like porous structure that allows for boosting the mass transfer process of substrates and products. Impressively, the apparent activity of AChE can be well maintained 90% after encapsulation, and the AChE@Zn‐MOF‐74 composites produced excellent stability in inhospitable environments. Given the structural integration, a robust AChE@Zn‐MOF‐74‐based biosensor is constructed for the sensitive detection of chlorpyrifos (organophosphorus pesticides) with a detection limit of 1.0 ng mL−1, enabling the monitoring of pesticide degradation extent in the water body. This study is anticipated to offer valuable insight into understanding the structure‐activity relationship of enzyme@MOF to encourage applications in the construction of robust biosensors for precision agriculture.
Lignin‐Based Encapsulation of Liquid Metal Particles for Flexible and High‐Efficiently Recyclable Electronics
Authors: Zheng Yong , Liu Hai , Yan Li , Yang Haiyue , Dai Lin , Si Chuanling
Published: October 2023

Room‐temperature liquid metals (RTLMs) have excellent shape reconfiguration capabilities, which make them ideal for flexible electrodes, sensors, and energy devices. However, due to the high surface tension and weak adhesion of RTLM, the types of printing substrates, patterning, and recovery processes are limited. It is essential to develop advanced encapsulation techniques for the patterning of RTLMs. Lignin has great potential for promotion as nanodispersants and nanocarriers because of its abundant hydroxyl groups and good self‐assembly properties. In this work, a green and facile encapsulation method using industrial lignin is reported for stable, uniform, and reproducible patterning of eutectic gallium–indium (EGaIn). Lignin‐encapsulated EGaIn particles exhibit good stability and can be patterned on the surface of various substrates with a simple ballpoint pen. The electrical resistance of the conductive tracks shows little change under bending and twisting (720°) conditions. More importantly, the lignin‐encapsulated system can be easily dissolved and regenerated, which is also supported by molecular dynamics simulations and density functional theory calculations. 96.9% of the EGaIn can be recovered from the system. These characteristics make it very environmentally friendly throughout the preparation process and find applications in flexible sensors, transient circuits, and many other areas.
Oxygen‐Generating Hydrogels as Oxygenation Therapy for Accelerated Chronic Wound Healing
Authors: Yang Zhixuan , Ren Kaixuan , Chen Yehao , Quanji Xinyan , Cai Chengfeng , Yin Jingbo
Published: October 2023

Hypoxia in chronic wounds impairs the activities of reparative cells, resulting in tissue necrosis, bacterial infections, decreased angiogenesis, and delayed wound healing. To achieve effective oxygenation therapy and restore oxygen homeostasis, oxygen‐generating hydrogels based on different oxygen sources have been developed to release dissolved oxygen in the wound bed, which not only alleviate hypoxia, but also accelerate chronic wound healing. This review first discusses the vital role of oxygen and hypoxia in the wound healing process. The advancements in oxygen‐generating hydrogels, which produce oxygen through the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, metal peroxides, glucose‐activated cascade reactions, and photosynthesis of algae microorganisms for chronic wound healing, are discussed and summarized. The therapeutic effects and challenges of using oxygen‐generating hydrogels for the clinical treatment of chronic wounds are concluded and prospected.
Advanced Synthetic Scaffolds Based on 1D Inorganic Micro‐/Nanomaterials for Bone Regeneration
Authors: Zhang Yonggang , Zhu Yingjie , Habibovic Pamela , Wang Huanan
Published: October 2023

Inorganic nanoparticulate biomaterials, such as calcium phosphate and bioglass particles, with chemical compositions similar to that of the inorganic component of natural bone, and hence having excellent biocompatibility and bioactivity, are widely used for the fabrication of synthetic bone graft substitutes. Growing evidence suggests that structurally anisotropic, or 1D inorganic micro‐/nanobiomaterials are superior to inorganic nanoparticulate biomaterials in the context of mechanical reinforcement and construction of self‐supporting 3D network structures. Therefore, in the past decades, efforts have been devoted to developing advanced synthetic scaffolds for bone regeneration using 1D micro‐/nanobiomaterials as building blocks. These scaffolds feature extraordinary physical and biological properties, such as enhanced mechanical properties, super elasticity, multiscale hierarchical architecture, extracellular matrix‐like fibrous microstructure, and desirable biocompatibility and bioactivity, etc. In this review, an overview of recent progress in the development of advanced scaffolds for bone regeneration is provided based on 1D inorganic micro‐/nanobiomaterials with a focus on their structural design, mechanical properties, and bioactivity. The promising perspectives for future research directions are also highlighted.
Air‐Working Electrochromic Artificial Muscles
Authors: Ling Yong , Li Linpeng , Liu Junhao , Li Kerui , Hou Chengyi , Zhang Qinghong , Li Yaogang , Wang Hongzhi
Published: October 2023

Artificial muscles are indispensable components for next‐generation robotics to mimic the sophisticated movements of living systems and provide higher output energies when compared with real muscles. However, artificial muscles actuated by electrochemical ion injection have problems with single actuation properties and difficulties in stable operation in air. Here, air‐working electrochromic artificial muscles (EAMs) with both color‐changing and actuation functions are reported, which are constructed based on vanadium pentoxide nanowires and carbon tube yarn. Each EAM can generate a contractile stroke of ≈12% during stable operation in the air with multiple color changes (yellow‐green‐gray) under ±4 V actuation voltages. The reflectance contrast is as high as 51%, demonstrating the excellent versatility of the EAMs. In addition, a torroidal EAM arrangement with fast response and high resilience is constructed. The EAM's contractile stroke can be displayed through visual color changes, which provides new ideas for future artificial muscle applications in soft robots and artificial limbs.
Polarization and Spectrum Multi‐Dimensional Sensitive Perovskite Photodetectors
Authors: Guo Linqi , Sun Haoxuan , Wang Meng , Min Liangliang , Zhou Yicheng , Cao Fengren , Li Liang
Published: October 2023

Without optical and mechanical components, resolving information from composite light is challenging even from two dimensions. 3D (intensity, spectrum, and polarization state) reconstruction is extremely rare and only explored in the infrared region. Herein, the first polarization‐ and spectrum‐sensitive photodetector in the visible region is constructed, which relies on orientations of perovskite nanowire arrays and in situ voltage modulation. This detector can realize real‐time detection of spectral information and Stokes vector simultaneously. Such a design successfully obtains the information from three dimensions, and the multi‐dimensional imaging capability has also been demonstrated. This work provides a valid instance of multi‐dimensional photodetection and shows a development direction of extracting target features from miscellaneous information.
BHE‐YOLO: Effective Small Target Detector for Aluminum Surface Defect Detection
Authors: Xu Jianjun , Hu Xiangtao , Zhang Yongle , Li Ziyi
Published: October 2023

Aluminum surface defect detection is a critical task to make location and classification predictions about defects in the industrial production process. However, defects complexity and the requirement of rapid production have led to a great challenge for existing detection algorithms. In this work, an effective small target detector named BHE‐YOLO is proposed for aluminum surface defect detection. First, the BiFPN is modified and integrated with YOLOv5s to achieve effective weighted feature fusion and cross‐scale connection. Second, the Hard Swish activation function is applied to better extract defect feature information. Third, the Equalized Focal Loss function is introduced to replace the cross‐entropy formula of the negative sample confidence part of the loss function. Finally, the experiments are carried out on the aluminum profile defect dataset of the Aliyun Tianchi Competition. The results demonstrate that BHE‐YOLO has excellent performance in terms of Precision, Recall, F1 score, and mAP, and its superiority over the typical detection algorithms, especially for small target defects of aluminum surface.
Microneedle‐Mediated Cell Therapy
Authors: Gao Ziqi , Sheng Tao , Zhang Wentao , Feng Huiheng , Yu Jicheng , Gu Zhen , Zhang Yuqi
Published: October 2023

Microneedles have emerged as a promising platform for transdermal drug delivery with prominent advantages, such as enhanced permeability, mitigated pain, and improved patient adherence. While microneedles have primarily been employed for delivering small molecules, nucleic acids, peptides, and proteins, recent researches have demonstrated their prospect in combination with cell therapy. Cell therapy involving administration or transplantation of living cells (e.g. T cells, stem cells, and pancreatic cells) has gained significant attention in preclinical and clinical applications for various disease treatments. However, the effectiveness of systemic cell delivery may be restricted in localized conditions like solid tumors and skin disorders due to limited penetration and accumulation into the lesions. In this perspective, an overview of recent advances in microneedle‐assisted cell delivery for immunotherapy, tissue regeneration, and hormone modulation, with respect to their mechanical property, cell loading capacity, as well as viability and bioactivity of the loaded cells is provided. Potential challenges and future perspectives with microneedle‐mediated cell therapy are also discussed.
Progress and Perspective of Controlling Li Dendrites Growth in All‐Solid‐State Li Metal Batteries via External Physical Fields
Authors: Yao Jianhua , Zhu Guoxi , Dong Kang , Osenberg Markus , Hilger André , Markötter Henning , Ju Jiangwei , Sun Fu , Manke Ingo , Cui Guanglei
Published: October 2023

Li dendrites penetration through solid electrolytes (SEs) challenges the development of solid‐state Li batteries (SSLBs). To date, significant efforts are devoted to understand the mechanistic dynamics of Li dendrites nucleation, growth, and propagation in SEs, and various strategies that aim to alleviate and even inhibit Li dendrite formation have been proposed. Nevertheless, most of these conventional strategies require either additional material processing steps or new materials/layers that eventually increase battery cost and complexity. In contrast, using external fields, such as mechanical force, temperature physical field, electric field, pulse current, and even magnetic field to regulate Li dendrites penetration through SEs, seems to be one of the most cost‐effective strategies. This review focuses on the current research progress of utilizing external physical fields in regulating Li dendrites growth in SSLBs. For this purpose, the mechanical properties of Li and SEs, as well as the experimental results that visually track Li penetration dynamics, are reviewed. Finally, the review ends with remaining open questions in future studies of Li dendrites growth and penetration in SEs. It is hoped this review can shed some light on understanding the complex Li dendrite issues in SSLBs and potentially guide their rational design for further development.
Cellular and molecular characteristics of the premetastatic niches
Authors: Liu Hongfei , Zhang Guoxin , Gao Ran
Published: October 2023

The premetastatic niches (PMN) formed by primary tumor‐derived molecules regulate distant organs and tissues to further favor tumor colonization. Targeted PMN therapy may prevent tumor metastasis in the early stages, which is becoming increasingly important. At present, there is a lack of in‐depth understanding of the cellular and molecular characteristics of the PMN. Here, we summarize current research advances on the cellular and molecular characteristics of the PMN. We emphasize that PMN intervention is a potential therapeutic strategy for early prevention of tumor metastasis, which provides a promising basis for future research and clinical application.
Construction of double cross‐linked networks in calcium alginate/poly‐N‐isopropylacrylamide hydrogel with photothermal responsiveness for absorbing heavy metal ions
Authors: Wang Jinheng , Zhao Zhonghua , Wang Jikui , Guo Weihong
Published: October 2023

Hydrogels have been widely used for adsorbing heavy metal ions in wastewater treatment. Herein, a calcium alginate/poly‐N‐isopropylacrylamide double‐network hydrogel with photothermal responsiveness was prepared for adsorbing heavy metal ions in aqueous solution. The chemical composition, micromorphology, swelling properties, photothermal responsiveness, adsorption properties, and adsorption mechanism of gel microspheres were studied, respectively. The gel microspheres had an interpenetrating three‐dimensional porous structure, and their high porosity morphology and high specific surface area could ensure the adequate exposure of active adsorption sites. The gel microspheres showed excellent selective adsorption of Cr(III), and the theoretical maximum adsorption capacity of 146.16 mg/g was calculated according to the Langmuir model. Besides, its excellent photothermal conversion ability enhanced the resistance to external interference after the adsorption. Our work has provided an innovative approach to solar water purification while optimizing the preparation process.
Microwave absorption performance of nitrile butadiene rubber/ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber filled with multiwalled carbon nanotubes
Authors: Kang Le , Qu Jinlei , Liu Yilin , Zhang Baogang , Qu Yongtao
Published: October 2023

In recent times, there is an increasing need for effective control of electromagnetic pollution, which can avoid excessive radiation effects on the human body. Microwave absorption materials are attracting wide research interests to reduce electromagnetic pollution due to the rapid development of electronic equipment. In this study, Nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR)/ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber (EPDM) were mixed with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) to prepare microwave absorbing materials. The distribution of fillers, AC conductivity, complex permittivity, and microwave absorption performance of the composites were systematically investigated. It found that the AC conductivity, both real and imaginary parts of the permittivity were significantly improved in the composite with the increasing ratio of MWCNT contents. The NBR/EPDM/MWCNT composites with eight parts per hundred concerning with rubber (phr) MWCNT had a minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of −48.1 dB at the optimum thickness of 2.07 mm. Importantly, the adding sequence of MWCNT and plasticizer dioctyl phthalate (DOP) to the rubber matrix is found to play an important role in determining the distribution of fillers and the structure of polymer blends. The composite with plasticizer added before MWCNT exhibited a better impedance matching and as a result, achieved a good microwave absorption performance.
Implications of Inflammatory Processes on a Developing Central Nervous System in Childhood‐Onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: van der Heijden Hanne , Rameh Vanessa , Golden Emma , Ronen Itamar , Sundel Robert P. , Knight Andrea , Chang Joyce C. , Upadhyay Jaymin
Published: October 2023

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that is increasingly affecting pediatric and adult populations. Neuropsychiatric manifestations (ie, cognitive dysfunction and mood disorders) appear to occur with greater severity and poorer prognosis in childhood‐onset SLE (cSLE) versus adult‐onset SLE, negatively impacting school function, self‐management, and psychosocial health, as well as lifelong health‐related quality of life. In this review, we describe pathogenic mechanisms active in cSLE, such as maladaptive inflammatory processes and ischemia, which are hypothesized to underpin central phenotypes in patients with cSLE, and the role of alterations in protective central nervous system (CNS) barriers (ie, the blood–brain barrier) are also discussed. Recent findings derived from novel neuroimaging approaches are highlighted because the methods employed in these studies hold potential for identifying CNS abnormalities that would otherwise remain undetected with conventional multiple resonance imaging studies (eg, T2‐weighted or fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery sequences). Furthermore, we propose that a more robust presentation of neuropsychiatric symptoms in cSLE is in part due to the harmful impact of a chronic inflammatory insult on a developing CNS. Although the immature status of the CNS may leave patients with cSLE more vulnerable to harboring neuropsychiatric manifestations, the same property may represent a greater urgency to reverse the maladaptive effects associated with a proneuroinflammatory state, provided that effective diagnostic tools and treatment strategies are available. Finally, considering the crosstalk among the CNS and other organ systems affected in cSLE, we postulate that a finer understanding of this interconnectivity and its role in the clinical presentation in cSLE is warranted.

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A good name is rather to be chosen: The impact of CEO reputation incentives on corporate green innovation
Authors: Sun Xiaonan , Cifuentes‐Faura Javier , Xiao Yao , Liu Xiaoqian
Published: October 2023

In contrast to studies examining the effects of government incentives such as environmental regulation on corporate green innovation, this paper investigates the influence of CEO reputation, a market‐based incentive mechanism, on companies' green innovation behavior. Utilizing green patent data from Chinese A‐share listed companies from 2007 to 2020, we construct a CEO reputation index through principal component analysis and examine its impact on corporate green innovation behavior and underlying mechanisms. Our findings indicate that CEO reputation positively affects companies' green innovation behavior. This effect is primarily driven by reducing financing constraints, CEOs' risk perception, and rising environmental awareness. Further heterogeneity analysis reveals the positive relationship between CEO reputation and green innovation behavior is more pronounced in companies with strong executive compensation incentives, political connections, and effective internal control.
Phenolic Derivatives with Anti‐Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitory Activities fromGaleola nudifoliain Vietnam
Authors: Do Kiep Minh , Nakashima Yu , Kodama Takeshi , Lee Yuan‐E , Nguyen Hien Minh , Ikumi Naotaka , Morita Hiroyuki
Published: October 2023

A new phenolic derivative, galeomalate A (1), together with five known structurally related compounds (2‐6), was isolated from the ethyl acetate extract ofGaleola nudifoliacollected in Vietnam. The structures were elucidated by various spectroscopic methods, including 1D and 2D NMR, HR‐ESI‐TOF‐MS, and CD data, and chemical conversion of the sugar moiety. All isolated compounds possessed acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activities in a dose‐dependent manner. Among them, compounds2and3exhibited the first and second highest inhibitory activity on AChE with IC50values of 122.13 and 125.49 μM, respectively. Compounds1and4–6inhibited the AChE activity by mixed modes of action comprising competitive and non‐competitive modes, whereas2and3exerted their inhibitory activities in a competitive manner. Molecular docking analyses suggested that the phenyl‐β‐D‐glucopyranoside unit of2and3bound to the active site of AChE for the competitive inhibitory activities, while the mixed inhibitory activity of4was due to the two binding patterns in the active‐site and the active‐site entrance of AChE. Furthermore, the docking studies indicated that1,5, and6would inhibit AChE in a mixed inhibitory manner by adopting three distinct binding patterns of the additional phenyl‐β‐D‐glucopyranoside unit at the active‐site entrance.
Supporting school‐aged children with executive dysfunction
Authors: Burke Heather
Published: October 2023

Since the 1940s, scientists have been interested in how we maintain attention, balance multiple tasks, and carry out instructions. From this, the term executive function (EF) was born. Although its definition has changed over the years, it can be simply described as the processes of our brain that allow us to focus on what we find important. Alternatively, executive dysfunction is the inability to focus on what we find important. In the age of cell phone notifications, doom scrolling, and a general feeling of information overload, many of us can relate to wanting to stay on‐task. At the time of writing this article, TikTok videos with the hashtag “executive dysfunction” have accumulated over 168 million views, reflecting a growing interest in what makes up executive function, and alternatively, what can be done when our focus feels impaired. As families inevitably bring their questions about EF to the clinic, how do we discuss it? What recommendations can we make for children with executive dysfunction?
Early life adversity and clinical outcomes: Does the type of adversity matter?
Authors: Hogan Christina M. , Parent Justin
Published: October 2023

When the term “adversity” is used in a clinical context, it refers to a range of negative experiences such as abuse, neglect, poverty, bullying, or parental psychopathology. It is well‐studied how adversity experienced early in childhood is associated with negative outcomes in adulthood; researchers have demonstrated connections between childhood adversity and poorer immune health, dysfunction in neural systems, worsened global physical health, and even accelerated aging (e.g., Baumeister et al., 2016; Dahmen et al., 2017). However, when researchers examine adversity, they often combine this broad range of experiences into a single construct and assess if the child has experienced adversity or not. This approach of measuring abuse with neglect, for example, fails to capture the unique differences in risk that are associated with each of those experiences. In fact, this approach has been criticized by adversity researchers due to the lack of specificity those studies can provide. Therefore, this problem is also directly applicable to clinicians; a child who experienced early life abuse and a child who experienced early life neglect could be at risk for entirely different sets of symptoms and may need different approaches to assessment and intervention accordingly.
Recent Advances in Monofluorinated Carbenes, Carbenoids, Ylides, and Related Species
Authors: Sperga Arturs , Veliks Janis
Published: October 2023

The synthesis of monofluorinated compounds is of great interest because of the vast applications of organofluorine compounds. Recently, the introduction of monofluorocarbene synthons has emerged as an important strategy for the synthesis of fluorine‐containing products. In contrast to direct fluorination, in which C−F bonds are formed, the use of monofluorinated carbenes and related reactive species involves C−C or C−X bond formation while delivering valuable fluorine atoms into the target structure. Owing to increased knowledge on carbon‐carbon and carbon‐heteroatom bond formations, monofluorinated carbenes have enormous potential for the synthesis of organofluorine compounds, which, in our opinion, has not yet been fully exploited. This review summarizes the recent advances in the synthetic applications of monofluorinated carbenes, carbenoids, ylides, and related species.
Altering the Localization of an Unpaired Spin in a Formal Ni(V) Species
Authors: Awasthi Ayushi , Mallojjala Sharath Chandra , Kumar Rakesh , Eerlapally Raju , Hirschi Jennifer S. , Draksharapu Apparao
Published: October 2023

The participation of both ligand and the metal center in the redox events has been recognized as one of the ways to attain the formal high valent complexes for the late 3d metals, such as Ni and Cu. Such an approach has been employed successfully to stabilize a Ni(III) bisphenoxyl diradical species in which there exist an equilibrium between the ligand and the Ni localized resultant spin. The present work, however, broadens the scope of the previously reported three oxidized equivalent species by conveying the approaches that tend to affect the reported equilibrium in CH3CN at 233 K. Various spectroscopic characterization revealed that employing exogenous N‐donor ligands like 1‐methyl imidazole and pyridine favors the formation of the Ni centered localized spin though axial binding. In contrast, due to its steric hinderance, quinoline favors an exclusive ligand localized radical species. DFT studies shed light on the novel intermediates′ complex electronic structure. Further, the three oxidized equivalent species with the Ni centered spin was examined for its hydrogen atom abstraction ability stressing their key role in alike reactions.
Revealing the Origin of Fast Delayed Fluorescence in a Donor Functionalized Bisterpyridine
Authors: Goll Felix D. , Schelhorn Andreas , Litvinas Džiugas , Tenopala‐Carmona Francisco , Kazak Lev , Jelezko Fedor , Lambert Christoph , Gather Malte C. , Kuehne Alexander J. C. , Ziener Ulrich
Published: October 2023

A new carbazole‐substituted bisterpyridine with pronounced delayed fluorescence is presented. While the molecular donor‐acceptor‐donor design suggests the origin of this to be thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF), results from various photophysical characterizations, OLED characteristics, temperature‐dependent NMR spectroscopy, and DFT calculations all point against the involvement of triplet states. The molecule exhibits blue emission at about 440 nm with two or more fast decay channels in the lower nanosecond range in both solution and thin films. The delayed emission is proposed to be caused by rotational vibrational modes. We suggest that these results are generally applicable, especially for more complex molecules, and should be considered as alternative or competitive emissive relaxation pathways in the field of organic light emitting materials.
The imperative of collaboration: Lived experience perspectives on team approaches in outpatient eating disorder treatment
Authors: Bray Megan , Heruc Gabriella , Evans Lacey , Wright Olivia R. L.
Published: October 2023

Background

Across healthcare broadly, team treatment approaches range from siloed multidisciplinary treatment to synergistic Interprofessional Collaborative Practice (IPCP), with IPCP increasingly favored. In eating disorders, clinical practice guidelines endorse team outpatient treatment, and these approaches are widely used in clinical practice. However, there is limited evidence to describe attitudes toward and experiences of team approaches, including IPCP, among individuals with a lived experience.

Method

Twenty‐seven participants (aged 20–51 years) with a formal eating disorder diagnosis were recruited. Each had received outpatient eating disorder treatment from a team or teams comprising a mental health professional, dietitian, and general practitioner (GP) in the past 2 years. Qualitative data were collected via semi‐structured interviews and analyzed using Braun and Clarke's reflexive thematic analysis.

Results

Four themes were derived from the qualitative analysis. Themes included: (1) working together is better; (2) the linchpin of teamwork is communication; (3) teams should foster autonomy with limit‐setting; and (4) systemic failures negatively affect team treatment. Participants favored highly collaborative treatment from a team including a mental health professional, dietitian, and GP at a minimum, where the team engaged in high‐quality communication and fostered autonomy with limit‐setting. Systemic failures negatively affecting team treatment were reported across the care continuum.

Discussion

Findings endorse the application of IPCP to outpatient eating disorder treatment as a strategy to improve treatment satisfaction, engagement, and outcomes. Given the paucity of evidence exploring IPCP in this field, however, the development and evaluation of interprofessional education and treatment models is a foundational necessity.

Public Significance

Team eating disorder treatment is widely used in clinical practice, although there is limited evidence to guide interventions. This study explores attitudes toward and experiences of team outpatient eating disorder treatment among individuals with a lived experience. Understanding preferred team treatment characteristics delivers important information to improve treatment satisfaction, engagement, and outcomes for individuals receiving outpatient eating disorder treatment.
Selenium and vitamin B2 cosupplementation alleviates high‐fat‐diet‐induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in rats by regulating hepatic lipid metabolism
Authors: Zhang Dalong , Zhou Dianming , Wang Xiaojun , Li Min , Zhang Jing , He Ning , Zhou Xiaoli , Li Zhenshu , Huang Guowei , Li Wen , Qian Zhiyong
Published: October 2023

Selenium (Se) and vitamin B2 (VitB2) all play essential roles in participating in hepatic lipid metabolism regulation. In this study, we aimed to identify whether Se combined with VitB2 could meliorate nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) caused by high‐fat (HF) diet in rats. To this end, 50 SD male rats were randomly allotted into five groups equally after receiving a HF diet for 2 weeks. Rats were fed high‐fat diets and gavaged daily with 0.83 or 8.33 µg kg–1 Se combined with 0.70 or 3.50 mg kg–1 VitB2 for 8 weeks. Another 10 rats were given a conventional diet as a control group. The result showed that Se combined with VitB2 decreased NAFLD activity score and liver lipid's levels, relieved hepatic steatosis and lipid deposition and promoted the balance of ApoA1/ApoB ratio. The hepatic 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methyl glutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGR) level was declined, and the serum HL level was increased in NAFLD rats through the combined intervention. In addition, Se and VitB2 regulated hepatic metabolism factor's (FAS, ACC, ACAT1, PPARγ, and SREBP‐1c) expression level. Taken together, the combined intervention of Se and VitB2 can alleviate HF‐diet‐induced NAFLD in rats. The molecular mechanism may be related to affecting the activities of lipid metabolic enzymes such as FAS, ACC, HMGR, ACAT1, and HL by inhibiting the expression of PPARγ and SREBP‐1c.

Practical Applications: The present study showed that a combination of Se and VitB2 can effectively reduce hepatic lipid accumulations, exert hepatoprotective effects and regulate hepatic lipid metabolism in NAFLD rats caused by a high‐fat diet. The possible molecular mechanism may be related to affecting the activities of lipid metabolic enzymes such as FAS, ACC, HMGR, ACAT1, and HL, and inhibiting the expression of PPARγ and SREBP‐1c. Se and VitB2 cosupplementation may be a potential therapeutic strategy in overcoming hepatic lipid disorders' adverse effects beyond pharmacological interventions to ameliorate NAFLD.
A comparison of the exposure system of glycidol‐related chemicals on the formation of glycidol‐hemoglobin adducts
Authors: Shimamura Yuko , Wada Yuri , Tashiro Moeka , Honda Hiroshi , Masuda Shuichi
Published: October 2023

Glycidol fatty acid esters that are present in foods are degraded in vivo to the animal carcinogen glycidol, which binds to the N‐terminal valine of hemoglobin (Hb) to form N‐(2,3‐dihydroxypropyl)valine (diHOPrVal) adducts. The existence of other chemicals that are converted to glycidol is unknown. To determine the effect of different exposure conditions on the formation of diHOPrVal adducts, several glycidol‐related chemicals (3‐monochloropropane‐1,2‐diol; 3‐MCPD, epichlorohydrin, glyceraldehyde, acrylic acid, and 1,2‐propanediol) were evaluated using in vitro and in vivo (single/repeated dose) methods. In vitro, the reaction of 3‐MCPD or epichlorohydrin with human Hb produced 17% and 0.7% of diHOPrVal, as compared to equimolar glycidol, respectively. Following a single administration of glycidol‐related compounds to ICR mice, diHOPrVal formation was observed only in the epichlorohydrin‐treated group after day 5 of exposure. After 14 days of repeated dosing, the amounts of diHOPrVal produced by epichlorohydrin and 3‐MCPD in vivo were <1% of diHOPrVal produced by an equal molar concentration of glycidol. Furthermore, glyceraldehyde group produced 0.2% of diHOPrVal at the same molar concentration of glycidol equivalents, in which diHOPrVal formation could not be confirmed by the in vitro assay. The results indicate the usefulness of diHOPrVal as an exposure marker for glycidol; however, the contribution of its formation in vivo by exposure to various chemicals will be necessary to validate and interpret the results.
From heart to gut: Exploring the gut microbiome in congenital heart disease
Authors: Liu Yuze , Huang Yuan , He Qiyu , Dou Zheng , Zeng Min , Wang Xu , Li Shoujun
Published: October 2023

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a prevalent birth defect and a significant contributor to childhood mortality. The major characteristics of CHD include cardiovascular malformations and hemodynamical disorders. However, the impact of CHD extends beyond the circulatory system. Evidence has identified dysbiosis of the gut microbiome in patients with CHD. Chronic hypoxia and inflammation associated with CHD affect the gut microbiome, leading to alterations in its number, abundance, and composition. The gut microbiome, aside from providing essential nutrients, engages in direct interactions with the host immune system and indirect interactions via metabolites. The abnormal gut microbiome or its products can translocate into the bloodstream through an impaired gut barrier, leading to an inflammatory state. Metabolites of the gut microbiome, such as short‐chain fatty acids and trimethylamine N‐oxide, also play important roles in the development, treatment, and prognosis of CHD. This review discusses the role of the gut microbiome in immunity, gut barrier, neurodevelopment, and perioperative period in CHD. By fostering a better understanding of the cross‐talk between CHD and the gut microbiome, this review aims to contribute to improve clinical management and outcomes for CHD patients.
Invading nonnative frogs use different microhabitats and change physiology along an elevation gradient
Authors: Marchetti Jack R. , French Susannah S. , Virgin Emily E. , Lewis Erin L. , Ki Kwanho C. , Sermersheim Layne O. , Brusch George A. , Beard Karen H.
Published: October 2023

The coqui frog (Eleutherodactylus coqui) was introduced to the island of Hawai'i in the 1980s, and has spread across much of the island. There is concern they will invade higher elevation areas where negative impacts on native species are expected. It is not known if coqui change behavior and baseline physiology in ways that allow them to invade higher elevations. We investigated where coqui are found across the island and whether that includes recent invasion into higher elevations. We also investigated whether elevation is related to coqui's microhabitat use, including substrate use and height off the forest floor, and physiological metrics, including plasma osmolality, oxidative status, glucose, free glycerol, and triglycerides, that might be associated with invading higher elevations. We found coqui have increased the area they occupy along roads from 31% to 50% and have moved into more high‐elevation locations (16% vs. 1%) compared to where they were found 14 years ago. We also found frogs at high elevation on different substrates and closer to the forest floor than frogs at lower elevations—perhaps in response to air temperatures which tended to be warmer close to the forest floor. We observed that blood glucose and triglycerides increase in frogs with elevation. An increase in glucose is likely an acclimation response to cold temperatures while triglycerides may also help frogs cope with the energetic demands of suboptimal temperatures. Finally, we found that female coqui have higher plasma osmolality, reactive oxygen metabolites (dROMs), free glycerol, and triglycerides than males. Our study suggests coqui behavior and physiology in Hawai'i may be influenced by elevation in ways that allow them to cope with lower temperatures and invade higher elevations.
Development of Super‐Paramagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticle‐Coated Melt Electrowritten Scaffolds for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Unalan Irem , Occhipinti Ilenia , Miola Marta , Vernè Enrica , Boccaccini Aldo R.
Published: October 2023

Polycaprolactone (PCL) is usually the material chosen for melt electrowriting (MEW) due to its biocompatibility, mechanical strength, and melt processability. This work first investigates the effect of different processing parameters to obtain optimum PCL‐MEW scaffolds. Secondly, to increase PCL`s hydrophilicity and cell affinity, and to enable coating with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) and silica‐coated‐SPIONs (Si‐SPIONs), the scaffolds are modified with alkaline surface treatment. Finally, SPIONs and Si‐SPIONs are successfully coated on MEW scaffolds. Results show that reproducible scaffolds are fabricated. Additionally, the alkaline treatment does not change the three‐dimensional morphology of scaffolds while reducing fiber diameter. Furthermore, SEM images and ATR‐FTIR results confirmed that SPIONs and Si‐SPIONs‐were coated on scaffolds. A cytocompatibility assay showed a non‐toxic effect on MG‐63 osteoblast‐like cells in all scaffolds. Additionally, higher MC3T3‐E1 pre‐osteoblastic cell adhesion efficiency and proliferation are achieved for the alkaline‐treated scaffolds and SPIONs/Si‐SPIONs‐coated scaffolds. All samples demonstrated the ability to generate heat, useful for hyperthermia‐treatment, when subjected to an alternating magnetic field. Overall, the findings suggest that the strategy of coating PCL‐MEW scaffolds with SPIONs/Si‐SPIONs has the potential to improve scaffold performance for biomedical applications, especially for producing magnetically responsive MEW scaffolds.
Optimizing early weaning protocols for Burbot larvae
Authors: Matuha Moureen , Oliver Luke P. , Bruce Timothy J. , Cain Kenneth D.
Published: October 2023

Objective

This study aimed to minimize live prey usage and duration in Burbot Lota lota larval culture. Specifically, two trials were conducted to assess the viability of EZ Artemia (liquid Artemia replacement) and Gemma microparticulate diets as alternatives to traditional live feeds, investigating their impact on larval Burbot's growth and survival.

Methods

In trial 1, five treatments were evaluated: the control group received rotifers (Brachionus plicatilis) and Artemia spp. from 11 to 50 days posthatch (dph). Treatment (Trt) 1 had live feeds from 11 to 78 dph; Trt 2 received only microparticulate diets; Trt 3 was fed rotifers at 11–22 dph and Gemma microparticulate diets at 21–50 dph; and Trt 4 received rotifers at 11–20 dph, then co-feeding of Artemia spp. and EZ Artemia at 21–32 dph, followed by EZ Artemia at 33–40 dph. In trial 2, five feeding treatments were assessed: the control group was the same as in trial 1; Trt 1 received rotifers at 11–25 dph and EZ Artemia at 20–50 dph; Trt 2 had Artemia spp. from 11 to 30 dph and EZ Artemia at 25–50 dph; Trt 3 received only EZ Artemia; Trt 4 had Artemia spp. at 11–21 dph, followed by co-feeding of Artemia spp. and Gemma Wean at 22–32 dph and exclusive feeding of Gemma Wean from 33 to 78 dph.

Result

In trial 1, it was found that the utilization of EZ Artemia reduced the live feeding period by 17 days; however, both survival and growth were notably lower compared to the control. In trial 2, survival rates varied from 0% to 30.94%, with Trt 1, Trt 2, and Trt 4 demonstrating a reduction in the live feeding period by 17–24 days. Survival rates for the Trt 1 and Trt 2 groups did not exhibit a significant difference from the control group.

Conclusion

These studies collectively show that eliminating rotifers or Artemia spp. during Burbot larval culture can be accomplished with minimal adverse effects on both survival and growth.
Investigation on the Mist Intensity to Deposit Gallium Oxide Thin Films by Mist Chemical Vapor Deposition
Authors: Ganguly Swapnodoot , Nama Manjunatha Krishna , Paul Shashi
Published: October 2023

In this study, a novel, simple, and robust mist chemical vapor deposition is demonstrated, compatible with existing industrial practices to deposit gallium oxide thin films and influence of mist intensity on the properties of gallium oxide. The intensity of the mist generation is optimized to obtain smooth and uniform thin films. The thin film deposited in this work is mixed phase polycrystalline gallium oxide. Ultraviolet–visible–near‐infrared spectroscopy and photo response of thin film unveil that gallium oxide thin film is responsive to ultraviolet wavelengths including deep ultraviolet‐C and ultraviolet‐B bands and the mist‐generation intensity has negligible influence on the bandgap of the thin film. Thickness of thin film can be altered by varying the mist intensity. It is observed that there is no appreciable impact on refractive index of varying mist intensity. Morphological studies prove the formation of ultrasmooth thin film with root mean square value of 0.628 nm; which is closer and/or better than conventional semiconductor thin‐film deposition processes used for depositing Ga2O3.
Effect of thermal fluctuations on the electronic excitation energies of linear polyenes: A combined molecular dynamics and TD‐DFT study
Authors: Helal Wissam
Published: October 2023

In the present study, thermally averaged electronic excitation energies (the so‐called dynamic approach) are quantitatively assessed for a model molecular system composed of a series of increasingly longer chains of simple linear polyenes. The molecular dynamics trajectories are calculated using the semi‐empirical “Geometry, Frequency, Noncovalent, eXtended Tight Binding” (GFN2‐xTB) method, while TD‐DFT vertical excitation energies of selected snapshots are obtained with the spin‐component‐scaled double hybrid density functional SCS‐wPBEPP86. Boltzmann weighted average excitation energies were then calculated in order to take into account the contribution of thermal motions. Excitation energies via the dynamic approach are compared with that of the static approach in which thermal fluctuations are not considered. The differences between the dynamic and the static approaches were found to be around the range to eV for polyenes up to 44 carbon atoms. This range of errors is relatively small in comparison with typical errors produced by using different density functionals and/or basis sets. Therefore, the electronic excited states of small to medium lengths of linear polyenes (less than 50 carbon atoms) can be safely modeled via the static approach. However, extrapolation of the results to longer polyenes indicates that the difference between both approaches is estimated to be 0.05 eV for polyenes containing 100 carbon atoms, which suggests that considering thermal motions in the calculations of excitation energies is recommended for such long conjugated molecular systems.