bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genital Mutilation of Girls
Authors: Almroth Lars , Elmusharaf Susan
Published: July 2007

Female genital mutilation is a traditional practice affecting girls when their genitals are cut for social, cultural or other non-medical reasons. It is estimated that 3 million girls undergo the procedure every year, mainly in areas in Africa and Asia where it is traditionally practised, but owing to migration patterns, girls living in other parts of the world are also at risk. This article describes the practice of female genital mutilation in a changing world and outlines some aspects in relation to female genital mutilation in girls and women that health staff, teachers, social workers and others should pay attention to. Knowledge regarding complications is important for healthcare, but when complications have been used as arguments against the practice this has had limited effect. Information regarding health risks has to be integrated into culturally sensitive approaches based on human rights and improving the situation for girls and women in order to reach a point where genital mutilation of girls will be generally abandoned.
Traditional Postpartum Practices and Rituals: A Qualitative Systematic Review
Authors: Dennis Cindy-Lee , Fung Kenneth , Grigoriadis Sophie , Robinson Gail Erlick , Romans Sarah , Ross Lori
Published: July 2007

Many cultures around the world observe specific postpartum rituals to avoid ill health in later years. This qualitative systematic review examined the literature describing traditional postpartum practices from 51 studies in over 20 different countries. Commonalities were identified in practices across cultures. Specifically, the themes included organized support for the mother, periods of rest, prescribed food to be eaten or prohibited, hygiene practices and those related to infant care and breastfeeding, among others. These rituals allow the mother to be ‘mothered’ for a period of time after the birth. They may have beneficial health effects as well as facilitate the transition to motherhood. In today's society, with modernization, migration and globalization, individuals may be unable to carry out the rituals or, conversely, feel pressured to carry out activities in which they no longer believe. The understanding of traditional postpartum practices can inform the provision of culturally competent perinatal services.
Quantitative analysis of the thermal distortions in a 100 W CW Nd:YAG ceramic slab laser
Authors: Lapucci A. , Ciofini M. , Favilla E. , Sani E. , De Rosa M. , Mincuzzi G. , Rocco A.
Published: July 2007

Making use of an interferometric diagnostic system, we analyze the thermo-mechanical distortions taking place in the slab shaped ceramic Nd:YAG active medium of a 100 W class laser. These distortions are collected in different pumping regimes, both in static situations and during transient warm-up, and compared to the results of computer simulations. This procedure enables us to determine the relevance of different stress causes and thus to increase the specific power extraction of the active slab module.
Tumour immunogenicity goes with the (mitochondrial electron) flow
Authors: Ahmed Asma , Tait Stephen W. G.
Published: March 2024

Mitochondrial metabolism and electron transport chain (ETC) function are essential for tumour proliferation and metastasis. However, the impact of ETC function on cancer immunogenicity is not well understood. In a recent study, Mangalhara et al. found that inhibition of complex II leads to enhanced tumour immunogenicity, T‐cell‐mediated cytotoxicity and inhibition of tumour growth. Surprisingly, this antitumour effect is mediated by succinate accumulation affecting histone methylation. Histone methylation promotes the transcriptional upregulation of major histocompatibility complex–antigen processing and presentation (MHC‐APP) genes in a manner independent of interferon signalling. Modulating mitochondrial electron flow to enhance tumour immunogenicity provides an exciting new therapeutic avenue and may be particularly attractive for tumours with reduced expression of MHC‐APP genes or dampened interferon signalling.
Reducing drinking will reduce cancer deaths: CDC study
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: March 2024

If adults who drink too much (more than one drink a day for women, more than two for men) reduce their consumption, about 16,800 cancer deaths could be eliminated a year, researchers from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported in a study last week.
Exploring How the Arms Can Help the Legs in Facilitating Gait Rehabilitation
Authors: Arellano Christopher J. , Vega Daisey
Published: March 2024

Inspired by the ideas from the fields of gait rehabilitation, neuroscience, and locomotion biomechanics and energetics, a body of work is reviewed that has led to propose a conceptual framework for novel “self‐assistive” walking devices that could further promote walking recovery from incomplete spinal cord injuries. The underlying rationale is based on a neural coupling mechanism that governs the coordinated movements of the arms and legs during walking, and that the excitability of these neural pathways can be exploited by actively engaging the arms during locomotor training. Self‐assistive treadmill walking rehabilitation devices are envisioned as an approach that would allow an individual to actively use their arms to help the legs during walking. It is hoped that the conceptual framework inspires the design and use of self‐assistive walking devices that are tailored to assist individuals with an incomplete spinal cord injury to regain their functional walking ability.
Thermal‐Accelerated Urease‐Driven Bowl‐Like Polydopamine Nanorobot for Targeted Photothermal/Photodynamic Antibiotic‐Free Antibacterial Therapy
Authors: Liu Yu , Zhang Li , Ouyang Feng , Xue Chenglong , Zhao Xiaoyu , Wang Tao , Pei Zhichao , Shuai Qi
Published: March 2024

The problem of antibiotic resistance seriously affects the treatment of bacterial infections, so there is an urgent need to develop novel antibiotic‐independent antimicrobial strategies. Herein, a urease‐driven bowl‐like mesoporous polydopamine nanorobot (MPDA@ICG@Ur@Man) based on single‐wavelength near‐infrared (NIR) remote photothermal acceleration to achieve antibiotic‐free phototherapy(photothermal therapy, PTT, plus photodynamic therapy, PDT) is first reported. The smart nanorobots can perform active movement by decomposing urea to produce carbon dioxide and ammonia. Particularly, the elevated local temperature during PTT can increase urease activity to enhance the autonomous movement and thus increase the contact between the antimicrobial substance and bacteria. Compared with a nanomotor propelled by urea only, the diffusion coefficient (De) of photothermal‐accelerated nanorobots is increased from 1.10 to 1.26 µm2 s−1. More importantly, urease‐driven bowl‐like nanorobots with photothermal enhancement can specifically identify Escherichia coli (E. coli) and achieve simultaneous PTT/PDT at a single wavelength with 99% antibactericidal activity in vitro. In a word, the urease‐driven bowl‐like nanorobots guided by photothermal‐accelerated strategy could provide a novel perspective for increasing PTT/PDT antibacterial therapeutic efficacy and be promising for various antibiotic‐free sterilization applications.
The M2 Macrophages Derived Migrasomes From the Surface of Titania Nanotubes Array as a New Concept for Enhancing Osteogenesis
Authors: Li Guangwen , Zhao Yuqi , Wang Haochen , Zhang Yan , Cai Dongxuan , Zhang Yumei , Song Wen
Published: March 2024

As newly discovered substrate anchored extracellular vesicles, migrasomes (Migs) may bring a new opportunity for manipulating target cells bioactivities. In this study, the M2 macrophages derived Migs are obtained by titania nanotubes surface (NTs). Due to the benefits of nanostructuring, the NTs surface is not only able to induce RAW264.7 for M2 polarization but also to generate more Migs formation, which can be internalized by following seeded mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Then, the NTs surface induced Migs are collected by density‐gradient centrifugation for MSCs treatment. As indicated by immunofluorescence staining, alkaline phosphatase activity, and alizarin red staining, the osteogenic differentiation capacity of MSCs is significantly enhanced by Migs treatment, in line with the dosage. By RNA‐sequence analysis, the enhancement of osteogenic differentiation is correlated with PI3K‐AKT pathway activation that may originate from the M2 polarization state of donor cells. Finally, the Migs are coated onto Ti surface for therapeutic application. Both the in vitro and in vivo analysis reveal that the Migs coated Ti implant shows significant enhancement of osteogenesis. In conclusion, this study suggests that the nanosurface may be a favorable platform for Migs production, which may bring a new concept for tissue regeneration.
Macromers for Encapsulating Perovskite Photovoltaics and Achieving High Stability
Authors: Tang Xiaohua , Zhang Tianjiao , Chen Weijie , Chen Haiyang , Zhang Zhichao , Chen Xining , Gu Hao , Kang Shuaiqing , Han Chuanshuai , Xu Tingting , Cao Jianlei , Zheng Jialei , Ou Xuemei , Li Yaowen , Li Yongfang
Published: March 2024

Perovskite solar cells (pero‐SCs) are highly unstable even under trace water. Although the blanket encapsulation (BE) strategy applied in the industry can effectively block moisture invasion, the commercial UV‐curable adhesives (UVCAs) for BE still trigger power conversion efficiency deterioration, and the degradation mechanism remains unknown. For the first time, the functions of commercial UVCAs are revealed in BE‐processed pero‐SCs, where the small‐sized monomer easily permeates to the perovskite surface, forming an insulating barrier to block charge extraction, while the high‐polarity moiety can destroy perovskite lattice. To solve these problems, a macromer, named PIBA is carefully designed, by grafting two acrylate terminal groups on the highly gastight polyisobutylene and realizes an increased molecular diameter as well as avoided high‐polarity groups. The PIBA macromer can stabilize on pero‐SCs and then sufficiently crosslink, forming a compact and stable network under UV light without sacrificing device performance during the BE process. The resultant BE devices show negligible efficiency loss after storage at 85% relative humidity for 2000 h. More importantly, these devices can even reach ISO 20653:2013 Degrees of protection IPX7 standard when immersed in one‐meter‐deep water. This BE strategy shows good universality in enhancing the moisture stability of pero‐SCs, irrespective of the perovskite composition or device structure.
The Potential Regulation of Working Anode for Long‐Term Zero‐Volt Storage at 37 °C in Li‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Wang Hanchen , Liu Yingtian , Jiang Mingze , Yao Yu‐Xing , Hu Chunhua , Yan Chong , Zhang Qiang , Li Luming
Published: March 2024

The advanced lithium‐ion batteries that can tolerate zero‐volt storage (ZVS) are in high demand for implantable medical devices and spacecraft. However, ZVS can raise the anode potential, leading to Cu current collector dissolution and solid‐electrolyte interphase (SEI) degradation, especially at 37 °C. In this contribution, by quantitatively regulating the dosage of Li6CoO4 cathode additives, controllable potential of the working anode under abusive‐discharge conditions is demonstrated. The addition of Li6CoO4 keeps zero‐crossing potential (ZCP) and the potential of ZVS below 2.0 V (vs Li/Li+) for LiCoO2|mesocarbon microbead cells at 37 °C. The capacity retention ratio (CRR) increases from 69.1% and 35.9% to 98.6% and 90.8% after 10 and 20 days of ZVS, respectively. The Cu dissolution and SEI degradation are effectively suppressed, while the over‐lithiated cathode exhibits high reversible capacity after ZVS. The limiting conditions of long‐term ZVS are further explored and a corresponding guide map is designed. When quantitatively regulating ZCP and the potential in ZVS, Cu dissolution, SEI degradation, and irreversible conversion of the cathode constitute the limiting conditions. This contribution designs the most reasonable potential range for ZVS protection at 37 °C, and realizes the best CRR record through precise potential regulation for the first time.
Quasi van der Waals Epitaxy of Single Crystalline GaN on Amorphous SiO2/Si(100) for Monolithic Optoelectronic Integration
Authors: Liang Dongdong , Jiang Bei , Liu Zhetong , Chen Zhaolong , Gao Yaqi , Yang Shenyuan , He Rui , Wang Lulu , Ran Junxue , Wang Junxi , Gao Peng , Li Jinmin , Liu Zhongfan , Sun Jingyu , Wei Tongbo
Published: March 2024

The realization of high quality (0001) GaN on Si(100) is paramount importance for the monolithic integration of Si‐based integrated circuits and GaN‐enabled optoelectronic devices. Nevertheless, thorny issues including large thermal mismatch and distinct crystal symmetries typically bring about uncontrollable polycrystalline GaN formation with considerable surface roughness on standard Si(100). Here a breakthrough of high‐quality single‐crystalline GaN film on polycrystalline SiO2/Si(100) is presented by quasi van der Waals epitaxy and fabricate the monolithically integrated photonic chips. The in‐plane orientation of epilayer is aligned throughout a slip and rotation of high density AlN nuclei due to weak interfacial forces, while the out‐of‐plane orientation of GaN can be guided by multi‐step growth on transfer‐free graphene. For the first time, the monolithic integration of light‐emitting diode (LED) and photodetector (PD) devices are accomplished on CMOS‐compatible SiO2/Si(100). Remarkably, the self‐powered PD affords a rapid response below 250 µs under adjacent LED radiation, demonstrating the responsivity and detectivity of 2.01 × 105 A/W and 4.64 × 1013 Jones, respectively. This work breaks a bottleneck of synthesizing large area single‐crystal GaN on Si(100), which is anticipated to motivate the disruptive developments in Si‐integrated optoelectronic devices.
Nanosystem Delivers Senescence Activators and Immunomodulators to Combat Liver Cancer
Authors: Gong Ke , Jiao Juyang , Wu Zhihua , Wang Quan , Liao Jinghan , Duan Yi , Lin Jiangtao , Yu Jian , Sun Ying , Zhang Yong , Duan Yourong
Published: March 2024

CD47 blockade has emerged as a promising immunotherapy against liver cancer. However, the optimization of its antitumor effectiveness using efficient drug delivery systems or combinations of therapeutic agents remains largely incomplete. Here, patients with liver cancer co‐expressing CD47 and CDC7 (cell division cycle 7, a negative senescence‐related gene) are found to have the worst prognosis. Moreover, CD47 is highly expressed, and senescence is inhibited after the development of chemoresistance, suggesting that combination therapy targeting CD47 and CDC7 to inhibit CD47 and induce senescence may be a promising strategy for liver cancer. The efficacy of intravenously administered CDC7 and CD47 inhibitors is limited by low uptake and short circulation times. Here, inhibitors are coloaded into a dual‐targeted nanosystem. The sequential release of the inhibitors from the nanosystem under acidic conditions first induces cellular senescence and then promotes immune responses. In an in situ liver cancer mouse model and a chemotherapy‐resistant mouse model, the nanosystem effectively inhibited tumor growth by 90.33% and 85.15%, respectively. Overall, the nanosystem in this work achieved the sequential release of CDC7 and CD47 inhibitors in situ to trigger senescence and induce immunotherapy, effectively combating liver cancer and overcoming chemoresistance.
Efficient Biosynthetic Fabrication of Spidroins with High Spinning Performance
Authors: Lin Baoyang , Xie Jingjun , Gao Bingbing , He Bingfang
Published: March 2024

The unique 3D structure of spider silk protein (spidroin) determines the excellent mechanical properties of spidroin fiber, but the difficulty of heterologous expression and poor spinning performance of recombinant spider silk protein limit its application. A high‐yield low‐molecular‐weight biomimetic spidroin (Amy‐6rep) is obtained by sequence modification, and its excellent spinning performance is verified by electrospinning it for use as a nanogenerator. Amy‐6rep increases the highly fibrogenic microcrystalline region in the core repeat region of natural spidroin with limited sequence length and replaces the polyalanine sequence with an amyloid polypeptide through structural similarity. Due to sequence modification, the expression of Amy‐6rep increased by ≈200%, and the self‐assembly performance of Amy‐6rep significantly increased. After electrospinning with Amy‐6rep, the nanofibers exhibit good tribopower generation capacity. In this paper, a biomimetic spidroin sequence design with high yield and good spinning performance is reported, and a strategy for electrospinning to produce an artificial nanogenerator is explored.
In Situ Construction of Interface with Photothermal and Mutual Catalytic Effect for Efficient Solar‐Driven Reversible Hydrogen Storage of MgH2
Authors: Hu Xuechun , Chen Xiaowei , Zhang Xiaoyue , Meng Yang , Xia Guanglin , Yu Xuebin , Sun Dalin , Fang Fang
Published: March 2024

Hydrogen storage in MgH2 is an ideal solution for realizing the safe storage of hydrogen. High operating temperature, however, is required for hydrogen storage of MgH2 induced by high thermodynamic stability and kinetic barrier. Herein, flower‐like microspheres uniformly constructed by N‐doped TiO2 nanosheets coated with TiN nanoparticles are fabricated to integrate the light absorber and thermo‐chemical catalysts at a nanometer scale for driving hydrogen storage of MgH2 using solar energy. N‐doped TiO2 is in situ transformed into TiNxOy and Ti/TiH2 uniformly distributed inside of TiN matrix during cycling, in which TiN and Ti/TiHx pairs serve as light absorbers that exhibit strong localized surface plasmon resonance effect with full‐spectrum light absorbance capability. On the other hand, it is theoretically and experimentally demonstrated that the intimate interface between TiH2 and MgH2 can not only thermodynamically and kinetically promote H2 desorption from MgH2 but also simultaneously weaken Ti─H bonds and hence in turn improve H2 desorption from the combination of weakened Ti─H and Ti─H bonds. The uniform integration of photothermal and catalytic effect leads to the direct action of localized heat generated from TiN on initiating the catalytic effect in realizing hydrogen storage of MgH2 with a capacity of 6.1 wt.% under 27 sun.
Mitochondria‐Modulating Liposomes Reverse Radio‐Resistance for Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Li Junmei , Wang Yuhong , Shen Wenhao , Zhang Ziyu , Su Zhiyue , Guo Xia , Pei Pei , Hu Lin , Liu Teng , Yang Kai , Guo Lingchuan
Published: March 2024

Complete remission of colorectal cancer (CRC) is still unachievable in the majority of patients by common fractionated radiotherapy, leaving risks of tumor metastasis and recurrence. Herein, clinical CRC samples demonstrated a difference in the phosphorylation of translation initiation factor eIF2α (p‐eIF2α) and the activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), whose increased expression by initial X‐ray irradiation led to the resistance to subsequent radiotherapy. The underlying mechanism is studied in radio‐resistant CT26 cells, revealing that the incomplete mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (iMOMP) triggered by X‐ray irradiation is key for the elevated expression of p‐eIF2α and ATF4, and therefore radio‐resistance. This finding guided to discover that metformin and 2‐DG are synergistic in reversing radio resistance by inhibiting p‐eIF2α and ATF4. Liposomes loaded with metformin and 2‐DG (M/D‐Lipo) are thus prepared for enhancing fractionated radiotherapy of CRC, which achieved satisfactory therapeutic efficacy in both local and metastatic CRC tumors by reversing radio‐resistance and preventing T lymphocyte exhaustion.
Highly Efficient Room‐Temperature Spin‐Orbit‐Torque Switching in a Van der Waals Heterostructure of Topological Insulator and Ferromagnet
Authors: Choi Gyu Seung , Park Sungyu , An Eun‐Su , Bae Juhong , Shin Inseob , Kang Beom Tak , Won Choong Jae , Cheong Sang‐Wook , Lee Hyun‐Woo , Lee Gil‐Ho , Cho Won Joon , Kim Jun Sung
Published: March 2024

All‐Van der Waals (vdW)‐material‐based heterostructures with atomically sharp interfaces offer a versatile platform for high‐performing spintronic functionalities at room temperature. One of the key components is vdW topological insulators (TIs), which can produce a strong spin‐orbit‐torque (SOT) through the spin‐momentum locking of their topological surface state (TSS). However, the relatively low conductance of the TSS introduces a current leakage problem through the bulk states of the TI or the adjacent ferromagnetic metal layers, reducing the interfacial charge‐to‐spin conversion efficiency (qICS). Here, a vdW heterostructure is used consisting of atomically‐thin layers of a bulk‐insulating TI Sn‐doped Bi1.1Sb0.9Te2S1 and a room‐temperature ferromagnet Fe3GaTe2, to enhance the relative current ratio on the TSS up to ≈20%. The resulting qICS reaches ≈1.65 nm−1 and the critical current density Jc ≈0.9 × 106 Acm−2 at 300 K, surpassing the performance of TI‐based and heavy‐metal‐based SOT devices. These findings demonstrate that an all‐vdW heterostructure with thickness optimization offers a promising platform for efficient current‐controlled magnetization switching at room temperature.
A Self‐Oscillated Organic Synapse for In‐Memory Two‐Factor Authentication
Authors: Liu Shuzhi , Zhong Xiaolong , Li Yuxuan , Guo Bingjie , He Zhilong , Wu Zhixin , Liu Sixian , Guo Yanbo , Shi Xiaoling , Chen Weilin , Duan Hongxiao , Zeng Jianmin , Liu Gang
Published: March 2024

Entering the era of AI 2.0, bio‐inspired target recognition facilitates life. However, target recognition may suffer from some risks when the target is hijacked. Therefore, it is significantly important to provide an encryption process prior to neuromorphic computing. In this work, enlightened from time‐varied synaptic rule, an in‐memory asymmetric encryption as pre‐authentication is utilized with subsequent convolutional neural network (ConvNet) for target recognition, achieving in‐memory two‐factor authentication (IM‐2FA). The unipolar self‐oscillated synaptic behavior is adopted to function as in‐memory asymmetric encryption, which can greatly decrease the complexity of the peripheral circuit compared to bipolar stimulation. Results show that without passing the encryption process with suitable weights at the correct time, the ConvNet for target recognition will not work properly with an extremely low accuracy lower than 0.86%, thus effectively blocking out the potential risks of involuntary access. When a set of correct weights is evolved at a suitable time, a recognition rate as high as 99.82% can be implemented for target recognition, which verifies the effectiveness of the IM‐2FA strategy.
Lakeshore areas of conservation interest: Characteristics of nursery areas of the threatened lake‐dwelling grayling, Thymallus thymallus
Authors: Lehtonen Topi K. , Hirvonen Esa , Kolari Irma , Ropponen Janne , Nyholm Kristiina , Keskinen Tapio , Vehanen Teppo
Published: March 2024

Research‐based knowledge is essential for effective conservation and restoration of threatened aquatic species and habitats. Here, our aim was to gather this knowledge on the lake‐dwelling grayling (Thymallus thymallus), typically a riverine fish. Such atypical populations are particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic impacts, including fishing pressure, climate change, eutrophication and waterway construction, some of which affect especially the early life stages. However, there is little information available to guide management and conservation of grayling in lakes. Accordingly, we assessed characteristics of the nursery areas in the threatened grayling population of Lake Puruvesi (eastern Finland). In particular, we used beach seines in two consecutive years to sample lakeshore sites (including islands) that were a priori presumed suitable for grayling. We assessed the occurrence of grayling fry (larvae and post‐larvae <40 mm in length) regarding depth, year, the site's exposure (fetch), bottom shear stress, substrate coarseness and shoreline's north–south orientation. Overall, we found grayling fry in low numbers at every fourth site, with the sites’ exposure and dominant substrate coarseness being most relevant variables. In particular, more exposed sites (i.e. with higher fetch values) and fine‐grained substrates dominated by sand or gravel had more grayling fry. Average depth, bottom shear stress or shoreline orientation along the north–south axis did not have a significant effect. Together, the results suggest that the most important nursery areas for lake‐dwelling grayling are lakeshore zones that are barren and exposed. Hence, the sites share characteristics with those used for reproduction by the more common riverine grayling. We hope that these findings will facilitate lake‐dwelling grayling's management and conservation efforts.
Electrochemiluminescence of a First‐Row d6 Transition Metal Complex
Authors: Doeven Egan H. , Connell Timothy U. , Sinha Narayan , Wenger Oliver S. , Francis Paul S.
Published: March 2024

We report the electrochemiluminescence (ECL) of a 3d6 Cr(0) complex ([Cr(LMes)3]; λem=735 nm) with comparable photophysical properties to those of ECL‐active complexes of 4d6 or 5d6 precious metal ions. The electrochemical potentials of [Cr(LMes)3] are more negative than those of [Ir(ppy)3] and render the [Cr(LMes)3]* excited state inaccessible through conventional co‐reactant ECL with tri‐n‐propylamine or oxalate. ECL can be obtained, however, through the annihilation route in which potentials sufficient to oxidise and reduce the luminophore are alternately applied. When combined with [Ir(ppy)3] (λem=520 nm), the annihilation ECL of [Cr(LMes)3] was greatly enhanced whereas that of [Ir(ppy)3] was diminished. Under appropriate conditions, the relative intensities of the two spectrally distinct emissions can be controlled through the applied potentials. From this starting point for ECL with 3d6 metal complexes, we discuss some directions for future development.
Easy Synthetic Access to High‐Melting Sulfurated Copolymers and their Self‐Assembling Diblock Copolymers from Phenylisothiocyanate and Oxetane
Authors: Stephan Jenny , Olmedo‐Martínez Jorge L. , Fornacon‐Wood Christoph , Stühler Merlin R. , Dimde Mathias , Braatz Daniel , Langer Robert , Müller Alejandro J. , Schmalz Holger , Plajer Alex J.
Published: March 2024

Although sulfurated polymers promise unique properties, their controlled synthesis, particularly when it comes to complex and functional architectures, remains challenging. Here, we show that the copolymerization of oxetane and phenyl isothiocyanate selectively yields polythioimidocarbonates as a new class of sulfur containing polymers, with narrow molecular weight distributions (Mn=5–80 kg/mol with Đ≤1.2; Mn,max=124 kg/mol) and high melting points of up to 181 °C. The method tolerates different substituent patterns on both the oxetane and the isothiocyanate. Self‐nucleation experiments reveal that π‐stacking of phenyl substituents, the presence of unsubstituted polymer backbones, and the kinetically controlled linkage selectivity are key factors in maximising melting points. The increased tolerance to macro‐chain transfer agents and the controlled propagation allows the synthesis of double crystalline and amphiphilic diblock copolymers, which can be assembled into micellar‐ and worm‐like structures with amorphous cores in water. In contrast, crystallization driven self‐assembly in ethanol gives cylindrical micelles or platelets.
In‐Situ Spontaneous Electropolymerization Enables Robust Hydrogel Electrolyte Interfaces in Aqueous Batteries
Authors: Chen Liangyuan , Xiao Tuo , Yang Jin‐Lin , Liu Yipu , Xian Jinglin , Liu Kang , Zhao Yan , Fan Hong Jin , Yang Peihua
Published: March 2024

Hydrogels hold great promise as electrolytes for emerging aqueous batteries, for which establishing a robust electrode‐hydrogel interface is crucial for mitigating side reactions. Conventional hydrogel electrolytes fabricated by ex situ polymerization through either thermal stimulation or photo exposure cannot ensure complete interfacial contact with electrodes. Herein, we introduce an in situ electropolymerization approach for constructing hydrogel electrolytes. The hydrogel is spontaneously generated during the initial cycling of the battery, eliminating the need of additional initiators for polymerization. The involvement of electrodes during the hydrogel synthesis yields well‐bonded and deep infiltrated electrode‐electrolyte interfaces. As a case study, we attest that, the in situ‐formed polyanionic hydrogel in Zn‐MnO2 battery substantially improves the stability and kinetics of both Zn anode and porous MnO2 cathode owing to the robust interfaces. This research provides insight to the function of hydrogel electrolyte interfaces and constitutes a critical advancement in designing highly durable aqueous batteries.
Preparation and performance evaluation of modified soy protein isolate polymeric dust suppressant using graft copolymerization
Authors: Yu Yanbin , Yang Xihui , Cheng Weimin , Wang Chujun , Liu Yalin , Li Sai
Published: March 2024

To effectively control mine dust pollution, a polymeric dust suppressant with wetting, bonding and moisture absorption, and retention properties was prepared by graft copolymerization of soy protein isolate (SPI) with polyacrylamide (PAM) and glycerol (Gl) through chemical modification. The relevant properties of the polymeric dust suppressant were determined through microscopic and macroscopic experiments. The results indicated that the contact angle of the polymeric dust suppressant dropped to 28.34° after 15 s, with a rate of change of 2.56°/s. The viscosity of the polymeric dust suppressant was 17.5 mPa s, which meets the requirements for the viscosity of dust suppressants for spraying (5–30 mPa s). After 24 h of spraying, a nonliquid consolidated monolayer shaped on the coal sample surface, with a hardness of 86.3 HA. In a muggy environment, the moisture absorption rate of the polymeric dust suppressant was 31.6%, and the moisture retention rate remained 28.5%, far exceeding that of the coal sample sprayed with water. When the wind speed increased from 6 to 21 m/s, the wind erosion resistance rate of the polymeric dust suppressant decreased from 99.78% to 96.55%, and the average mass loss increased from 0.11 to 1.73 g/(m2·min), while still maintaining a high dust suppression efficiency.
Elastomeric thermal interface materials with high through‐plane thermal conductivity by 3D printing
Authors: Fan Yong , Wang Yongbin , Qiu Jun
Published: March 2024

Creating directional heat pathways within polymer‐based elastomeric thermal interface materials (TIMs) using oriented thermally conductive fillers is an effective strategy for developing highly thermally conductive materials. In this work, we report the fabrication of oriented carbon fibers/alumina/silicone gel composites through a three‐dimensional printing method. Because of the high orientation degree of carbon fiber (CF) in the vertical direction, the resulting material demonstrates a through‐plane thermal conductivity of up to 27.77 Wm−1 K−1 with a composition of 21.75 wt% CF and 65.25 wt% spherical alumina, which is over 10 times higher than that of a parallel structure, surpassing the characters in most works of literature. In addition, the TIMs not only show outstanding flexibility (stress 62.27 psi at 30% strain) but also exhibit excellent resilience performance. These findings hold great potential for various scalable thermal and mechanical applications.
Prospective comparative study on enhancing geometrical mental representation and anatomical learning in medical students through modeling clay as an assessment tool
Authors: Yachou Yassine , Samson Olivier , Lasvergnas Olivier
Published: March 2024

While traditional anatomy education often emphasizes passive learning and rote memorization, it seldom employs constructivist theories that focus on active, hands‐on experiences for effective learning. This study tests the hypothesis that tactile experiences with modeling clay enhance geometric mental representation more effectively than verbal descriptions. We examine the potential of clay modeling to reflect and evaluate students' mental representation of anatomical structures. Utilizing a prospective randomized, open, blind endpoint (PROBE) design, we engaged 36 participants divided into three groups: blind, visually impaired, and a control group. The primary outcome measure was the difference between post‐touch score and pre‐touch score, which gauged the efficacy of tactile intervention in enhancing the participants' capacity to mentally reconstruct a well‐designed anatomical fiction structure. Scoring was executed using a double‐blind double‐evaluation methodology, positioning clay model reconstruction as both an objective reliable assessment and a pedagogical tool. The analysis demonstrated a pronounced improvement in mental representation of anatomical structures, particularly in spatial comprehension and detailed textural discernment, with the mean score soaring from 47.81 pre‐touch to 85.09 post‐touch. Distinct cognitive processing adaptations were evident across groups, with the blind group excelling in tactile acuity and the visually impaired group showing the most significant gains in spatial understanding post‐intervention (Cohen's d = 2.74). The application of modeling clay as a tactile intervention tool can significantly improve the learning of anatomy among medical students. The study underscores the value of active, multisensory engagement and customized teaching strategies for effective anatomy education among this demographic.
Indicaxanthin prevents eryptosis induced by cigarette smoke extract by interfering with active Fas‐mediated signaling
Authors: Restivo Ignazio , Giardina Ilenia Concetta , Barone Rosario , Cilla Antonio , Burgio Stefano , Allegra Mario , Tesoriere Luisa , Attanzio Alessandro
Published: March 2024

A physiological mechanism of programmed cell death called eryptosis occurs in aged or damaged red blood cells (RBCs). Dysregulated eryptosis contributes to abnormal microcirculation and prothrombotic risk. Cigarette smoke extract (CSE) induces a p38 MAPK‐initiated, Fas‐mediated eryptosis, activating the death‐inducing signaling complex (DISC). Indicaxanthin (Ind) from cactus pear fruits, is a bioavailable dietary phytochemical in humans and it is able to incorporate into RBCs enhancing their defense against numerous stimuli. This in vitro work shows that Ind, at concentrations that mimic plasma concentrations after a fruit meal, protects erythrocytes from CSE‐induced eryptosis. CSE from commercial cigarettes was prepared in aqueous solution using an impinger air sampler and nicotine content was determined. RBCs were treated with CSE for 3 h in the absence or presence of increasing concentrations of Ind (from 1 to 5 μM). Cytofluorimetric measurements indicated that Ind reduced CSE‐induced phosphatidylserine externalization and ceramide formation in a concentration‐dependent manner. Confocal microscopy visualization and coimmunoprecipitation experiments revealed that Ind prevented both CSE‐triggered Fas aggregation and FasL/FADD/caspase 8 recruitment in the membrane, indicating inhibition of DISC assembly. Ind inhibited the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, caspase‐8/caspase‐3 cleavage, and caspase‐3 activity induced by CSE. Finally, Ind reduced CSE‐induced ATP depletion and restored aminophospholipid translocase activity impaired by CSE treatment. In conclusion, Ind concentrations comparable to nutritionally relevant plasma concentrations, can prevent Fas‐mediated RBC death signaling induced by CSE, which suggests that dietary intake of cactus pear fruits may limit the deleterious effects of cigarette smoking.
Physical function patient‐reported outcomes among adolescent and young adult cancer survivors: A systematic review
Authors: Tanner Sarah , Engstrom Teyl , Forbes Cheryl , Patel Dhaval , Lee Wen Ray , Walker Rick , Bradford Natalie , Pole Jason D.
Published: March 2024

Background

The physical challenges faced by adolescents and young adults (AYA) after a cancer diagnosis may be different from those experienced by paediatric and older adult cancer patients. Patient‐reported outcome measures (PROMs) are valuable tools that can be useful in exploring the experiences of AYAs and identifying important issues, recurrent themes and areas to potentially improve quality of life.

Objective

We compared patient‐reported physical function outcomes between AYAs diagnosed with cancer and non‐cancer controls.

Method

This paper builds on a scoping review published in early 2023 and focuses on PROMs related to physical function.

Results

This systematic review includes 16 studies that measured and reported on physical function PROMs in AYA cancer survivors compared with their cancer‐free peers. Of these studies, 14 found that physical function in AYA survivors was significantly worse. This paper also includes a meta‐analysis conducted on 5 studies using the EORTC‐QLQ‐C30 to measure physical function, which found that physical function score was an average of 7.03 (95% CI: −10.21, −3.86) points lower in the AYA cancer group, compared to their cancer free‐peers, a difference that is clinically meaningful.

Conclusions

The results overwhelmingly demonstrate that AYAs post a cancer diagnosis have worse health‐related quality of life from a physical function perspective than their cancer‐free peers, providing a compelling argument for the need to address this issue. All but one of the studies were cross‐sectional, which highlights the need for further assessment of this group longitudinally throughout their cancer journey.
Synthesis of Cycloartan‐16β‐ol from 16β 24R‐Epoxy‐Cycloartane and Their Cytotoxicity Evaluation Against Human Cancer Cell Lines
Authors: Hernández‐Flandes Atzin , Hernández‐Ortega Simón , Ramírez‐Apan Teresa , Rocha‐Zavaleta Leticia , Silva‐Jimenez Noemi , Martínez‐Vázquez Mariano
Published: March 2024

It was found that Argentatins A and B triterpenoids make up approximately 20–30 % of the waste resin produced from the industrial processes to isolate rubber from P. argentatum. We have developed an efficient protocol for synthesizing cycloartane‐16β‐ol derivatives by opening the oxepane ring of argentatin B acetate (2) with BF3‐OEt2. Although three new cycloartenol derivatives showed high cytotoxicity against PC‐3 and HCT‐15 cancer cell lines, nevertheless, the best results were obtained for (16β,24R) ‐(16,24‐epoxy‐cycloartan‐2(1H)‐ylidene) acetate (14), compound with intact oxepane ring. These results indicate that the substituents in the argentatin nucleus and a side chain account for the cytotoxic activity. However, according to the selectivity index (SI), 14 did not show selectivity activity to cancer cell lines over the HaCat noncancerous cell line. The compound 3β,16β‐Dihydroxy‐cycloartan‐24‐one (5), synthesized by oxepane opening, demonstrated high cytotoxic activity to cancer cell lines and showed a remarkable selectivity to cancer cell lines over the noncancerous ones. These results suggest that 5 could lead to the development of new anticancer compounds.
Push‐Pull Bis‐Norbornadienes for Solar Thermal Energy Storage
Authors: Weber Roza R. , Stindt Charlotte N. , van der Harten A M. J. , Feringa Ben L.
Published: March 2024

The norbornadiene/quadricyclane (NBD/QC) photoswitch pair represents a promising system for application in molecular solar thermal energy storage (MOST). Often, the NBD derivatives have very limited overlap with the solar spectrum, and substitution to redshift the absorption leads to a decrease in the gravimetric energy density. Dimeric systems mitigate this factor because two switches can ‘share’ a substituent. Here, we present five new NBD dimers with red‐shifted absorption spectra. One dimer features the most red‐shifted absorption onset (539 nm) and a significantly red‐shifted absorption maximum (404 nm) for NBD systems reported so far, without compromising thermal half‐life. Promising properties for high‐performance MOST applications are demonstrated, such as high absorption onsets reaching 539 nm, and energy densities of 379 kJ/kg, while still maintaining long half‐lives of the metastable isomer, up to 23 hours at 25 °C.
Benefits and challenges of reconstituting the actin cortex
Authors: Waechtler Brooke E. , Jayasankar Rajan , Morin Emma P. , Robinson Douglas N.
Published: March 2024

The cell's ability to change shape is a central feature in many cellular processes, including cytokinesis, motility, migration, and tissue formation. The cell constructs a network of contractile proteins underneath the cell membrane to form the cortex, and the reorganization of these components directly contributes to cellular shape changes. The desire to mimic these cell shape changes to aid in the creation of a synthetic cell has been increasing. Therefore, membrane‐based reconstitution experiments have flourished, furthering our understanding of the minimal components the cell uses throughout these processes. Although biochemical approaches increased our understanding of actin, myosin II, and actin‐associated proteins, using membrane‐based reconstituted systems has further expanded our understanding of actin structures and functions because membrane–cortex interactions can be analyzed. In this review, we highlight the recent developments in membrane‐based reconstitution techniques. We examine the current findings on the minimal components needed to recapitulate distinct actin structures and functions and how they relate to the cortex's impact on cellular mechanical properties. We also explore how co‐processing of computational models with wet‐lab experiments enhances our understanding of these properties. Finally, we emphasize the benefits and challenges inherent to membrane‐based, reconstitution assays, ranging from the advantage of precise control over the system to the difficulty of integrating these findings into the complex cellular environment.
Considerations for Industry—Preparing for the FDA Model‐Informed Drug Development (MIDD) Paired Meeting Program
Authors: Galluppi Gerald R. , Ahamadi Malidi , Bhattacharya Souvik , Budha Nageshwar , Gheyas Ferdous , Li Chi‐Chung , Chen Yuan , Dosne Anne‐Gaëlle , Kristensen Niels Rode , Magee Mindy , Samtani Mahesh N. , Sinha Vikram , Taskar Kunal , Upreti Vijay V. , Yang Jianning , Cook Jack
Published: March 2024

A recent industry perspective published in this journal describes the benefits received by drug companies from participation in the MIDD Pilot Program. Along with the primary objectives of supporting good decision‐making in drug development, there were substantial savings in time and development costs. Furthermore, many sponsors reported qualitative benefits such as new learnings and clarity on MIDD strategies and methodology that could be applied to other development programs. Based on the success of the Pilot Program, the FDA recently announced the continuation of the MIDD Paired Meeting Program as part of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA VII). In this report, we describe the collective experiences of industry participants in the MIDD Program to date, including all aspects of the process from meeting request submission to follow‐up actions. The purpose is to provide future participants with information to optimize the value of the MIDD Program.
The event‐driven social responsibility in small and medium‐sized enterprises
Authors: Reisinger Adrienn , Szabó Roland Z.
Published: March 2024

Since the survival and growth of small firms depend largely on their ability to acquire legitimacy within the institutional environment, social responsibility plays an important role in their lives. The aim of this study was to investigate how a disruption in the normal course of business can lead to an evolution and change in the social responsibility activities of small and medium‐sized enterprises. Such disruptions, called critical incidents, interrupt the normal functioning of the business. The case‐based exploratory study found that such critical events can have a positive impact. In particular, they can initiate the integration of socially responsible business practices. This is a journey from philanthropic donations to fully integrated socially responsible practices, often driven by internal triggering events such as organisational growth, unanticipated changes in management, or generational change, which allow new values to be brought on board. When such an internal event is followed by a highly critical but external event, such as the COVID‐19 pandemic, the transformation gains momentum. The findings also suggest that social responsibility can be a new source of competitive advantage.
Systematic web monitoring of drug test subversion strategies in the United States
Authors: Grabenauer Megan , Vikingsson Svante , Olson Richard A. , Lyons Faith E. , Davis Lisa S. , Hayes Eugene D. , Flegel Ronald R.
Published: March 2024

As negative drug tests are frequently a condition for employment, some people who use drugs will try to subvert the testing. In this study, systematic web monitoring was used to investigate how drug test subversion is discussed online. Posts pertaining to drug test subversion were obtained from public websites and the dark web (n = 634, July–December 2021). Most information from public websites came from Twitter (65%), and 94% of dark web posts were from Reddit. The posts were manually coded to extract quantitative and qualitative information about drug test subversion tactics. Most posts discussed urine drug tests (85%), followed by hair (11%) and oral fluid (2%), and the most discussed drugs were marijuana (72%) and cocaine (7.3%). Urine drug test subversion mainly pertained to specimen substitution, with synthetic urine or urine from another person. Another strategy was to mask diluted urine by ingesting creatine. Urine adulteration was rarely discussed. Hair test subversion involved harsh treatments with products such as bleach, baking soda, and/or detergent. Hair removal was also discussed. Oral fluid test subversion focused on removing drugs from the oral cavity through vigorous brushing of teeth and tongue as well as the use of mouthwash, hydrogen peroxide, gum, and commercial detox products. This study highlights subversion strategies used by donors. Although little evidence was provided as to the effectiveness of these strategies, this information may help guide future studies and development of specimen validity testing to minimize the impact of drug test subversion attempts.