bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Preparation of water swellable rubber from epoxidized natural rubber and sodium acrylate by in‐situ polymerization: Effect of vulcanization system, epoxide, and dicumyl peroxide, and sodium acrylate content
Authors: Srichan Sansanee , Prasertsri Sarawut , Phansroy Nichanan , Chutinantakul Phongsathon , Charoenrach Wattapon , Sri‐ang Ambhol , Tongsuphun Mak , Janthaduang Romrun , Boonyod Saowaluk , Katuengngnan Kavichat , Saengsuwan Sayant , Khawdas Wichean , Vudjung Chaiwute
Published: November 2023

Water swellable rubber (WSR) was prepared from epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) and sodium acrylate (NaAA) by in‐situ polymerization using sulfur and dicumyl peroxide (DCP) as a vulcanizing agent and an initiator, respectively. The ENR, NaAA, and other additives were mixed in an internal mixer and a two‐roll mill. The effect of the vulcanization system, epoxide, and DCP, and NaAA content on the vulcanization, physical, and mechanical properties of WSR were investigated in this research. As the results, the scorch and curing time of WSR compounded with ENR 25 and vulcanized with a mixture of sulfur‐peroxided or mixed vulcanization system were less than other systems. Furthermore, the scorch and curing time decreased with the increase in DCP content. The WSR with ENR 50 vulcanized with DCP (1.5 phr) in the mixing system provided the highest tensile strength. However, the volume change of WSR with the mixing system (WSR/M) was lower than the WSR cured with peroxide (WSR/P). For WSR/P, the tensile strength, hardness, and volume change in water increased with increasing DCP, and NaAA content, while the elongation at break decreased. These results suggest that WSR has the potential for diverse applications, including waterproofing and sealing solutions in civil construction projects.

Highlights

Water swellable rubber (WSR) was prepared from epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) and sodium acrylate (NaAA) by in‐situ polymerization using sulfur and dicumyl peroxide (DCP) as a vulcanizing agent and an initiator.

The scorch and curing time of WSR compounded with ENR 25 and vulcanized with a mixed vulcanization system were less than those of other systems.

During the vulcanization process, ENR 50 can be generated by the ring‐opening of the adjacent epoxide groups more than ENR 25, and the self‐crosslink of ENR 50 was higher than ENR 25.

Water swelling and volume change of WSR tended to decrease with increasing epoxide, and DCP content, whereas those properties increased with increasing NaAA content.

Tensile strength, elongation at break, and hardness of WSR with the mixing system (WSR/M) were higher than those of WSR with the peroxide system (WSR/P).

Swelling and volume change of WSR/P were higher than those of WSR/M.
Preparation of fluorinated poly(aryl ether) with high dimensional stability and high temperature resistance by photo‐thermal dual crosslinking reaction
Authors: Wang Zhaoyang , Yang Huawei , Zhang Wenqing , Wang Baotieliang , Qi Yonggang , Zou Jiawei
Published: November 2023

Improving the dimensional stability is significant for fluorinated poly(aryl ether) (FPAE). In this work, zirconium tungstate (ZrW2O8) with negative thermal expansion (NTE) modified by thiol groups is successfully obtained by surface modification with 3‐(trimethoxysilyl)‐1‐propanethiol. Then, the dispersion of ZrW2O8 is improved and a certain crosslinked structure is formed by click reaction between thiols on the surface of ZrW2O8 and allyl groups on the backbone of FPAE. On this basis, the residual allyl groups on the FPAE can undergo addition reaction under heating conditions to further form crosslinked structure. Due to the introduction of photo‐thermal dual crosslinked structure, the dimensional stability of FPAE is significantly improved, and the coefficient of thermal expansion decreased by 64.3% compared to the unoptimized samples. Meanwhile, the dielectric properties are characterized with dielectric constant and dissipation factor of 3.70 and 0.008 at 1 kHz. Finally, the prepared film is used to assemble triboelectric nanogenerators, where the short‐circuit current, open‐circuit voltage and transferred charge is 3 μA, 30 V, and 10 nC, respectively. Crosslinked FPAE with high dimensional stability and high temperature resistance are successfully gained by avoiding the complexity of monomer synthesis and realizing higher performance with the same inorganic filler loading.

Highlights

Dual crosslinked structure is built by photo‐thermal dual crosslinking reaction.

ZrW2O8 gains homogeneous dispersion in polymer matrix by photo‐crosslinking reaction.

Introducing ZrW2O8 and dual crosslinked structure raises dimensional stability of film.
Precursor deconvolution error estimation: The missing puzzle piece in false discovery rate in top‐down proteomics
Authors: Jeong Kyowon , Kaulich Philipp T. , Jung Wonhyeuk , Kim Jihyung , Tholey Andreas , Kohlbacher Oliver
Published: November 2023

Top‐down proteomics (TDP) directly analyzes intact proteins and thus provides more comprehensive qualitative and quantitative proteoform‐level information than conventional bottom‐up proteomics (BUP) that relies on digested peptides and protein inference. While significant advancements have been made in TDP in sample preparation, separation, instrumentation, and data analysis, reliable and reproducible data analysis still remains one of the major bottlenecks in TDP. A key step for robust data analysis is the establishment of an objective estimation of proteoform‐level false discovery rate (FDR) in proteoform identification. The most widely used FDR estimation scheme is based on the target‐decoy approach (TDA), which has primarily been established for BUP. We present evidence that the TDA‐based FDR estimation may not work at the proteoform‐level due to an overlooked factor, namely the erroneous deconvolution of precursor masses, which leads to incorrect FDR estimation. We argue that the conventional TDA‐based FDR in proteoform identification is in fact protein‐level FDR rather than proteoform‐level FDR unless precursor deconvolution error rate is taken into account. To address this issue, we propose a formula to correct for proteoform‐level FDR bias by combining TDA‐based FDR and precursor deconvolution error rate.
Self‐healing polymers for soft actuators and robots
Authors: Qiu Xiaoyan , Zhang Xinxing
Published: November 2023

Advances in artificial intelligence technology bring a rising demand on stimuli responsive actuating materials and soft actuators. By the virtue of easy deformation and mechanical resilience, polymers with unique properties like shape‐memory, electro/magneto‐active, and thermal/humidity/chemical‐responsiveness have emerged as promising candidates for soft robotics. Damage tolerance or a degree of self‐healing ability improves soft robots endowed with such materials longevity, and provides safeguards for the function and potentially reduce costs. The combination of stimuli‐responsive actuation and self‐healing function involves elaborate supramolecular chemical and physical structure designs, being a challenging topic within the field of soft robotics and thus intriguing wide research interests. This review aims to discuss some highlights in convenient combination of stimuli‐responsive micro‐nanostructures and dynamic bonds chemistry within last 5 years, that further give the actuators recovery of mechanic and function, and improved comprehensive properties. Through a review of the most remarkable paradigms, the order organization of dynamic bonds with liquid crystal mesogenic units, functional micro‐nanofillers, hierarchical gradient interfaces, etc. are outlined. Finally, the perspectives and main challenges of self‐healable actuators are summarized. It is anticipated that this review will provide scientists with insights and guidance for the future innovative research in this field.
Biotin protein ligase as you like it: Either extraordinarily specific or promiscuous protein biotinylation
Authors: Cronan John E.
Published: November 2023

Biotin (vitamin H or B7) is a coenzyme essential for all forms of life. Biotin has biological activity only when covalently attached to a few key metabolic enzyme proteins. Most organisms have only one attachment enzyme, biotin protein ligase (BPL), which attaches biotin to all target proteins. The sequences of these proteins and their substrate proteins are strongly conserved throughout biology. Structures of both the biotin ligase‐ and biotin‐acceptor domains of mammals, plants, several bacterial species, and archaea have been determined. These, together with mutational analyses of ligases and their protein substrates, illustrate the exceptional specificity of this protein modification. For example, the Escherichia coli BPL biotinylates only one of the >4000 cellular proteins. Several bifunctional bacterial biotin ligases transcriptionally regulate biotin synthesis and/or transport in concert with biotinylation. The human BPL has been demonstrated to play an important role in that mutations in the BPL encoding gene cause one form of the disease, biotin‐responsive multiple carboxylase deficiency. Promiscuous mutant versions of several BPL enzymes release biotinoyl‐AMP, the active intermediate of the ligase reaction, to solvent. The released biotinoyl‐AMP acts as a chemical biotinylation reagent that modifies lysine residues of neighboring proteins in vivo. This proximity‐dependent biotinylation (called BioID) approach has been heavily utilized in cell biology.
CASP15 cryo‐EM protein and RNA targets: Refinement and analysis using experimental maps
Authors: Mulvaney Thomas , Kretsch Rachael C. , Elliott Luc , Beton Joseph G. , Kryshtafovych Andriy , Rigden Daniel J. , Das Rhiju , Topf Maya
Published: November 2023

CASP assessments primarily rely on comparing predicted coordinates with experimental reference structures. However, experimental structures by their nature are only models themselves—their construction involves a certain degree of subjectivity in interpreting density maps and translating them to atomic coordinates. Here, we directly utilized density maps to evaluate the predictions by employing a method for ranking the quality of protein chain predictions based on their fit into the experimental density. The fit‐based ranking was found to correlate well with the CASP assessment scores. Overall, the evaluation against the density map indicated that the models are of high accuracy, and occasionally even better than the reference structure in some regions of the model. Local assessment of predicted side chains in a 1.52 Å resolution map showed that side‐chains are sometimes poorly positioned. Additionally, the top 118 predictions associated with 9 protein target reference structures were selected for automated refinement, in addition to the top 40 predictions for 11 RNA targets. For both proteins and RNA, the refinement of CASP15 predictions resulted in structures that are close to the reference target structure. This refinement was successful despite large conformational changes often being required, showing that predictions from CASP‐assessed methods could serve as a good starting point for building atomic models in cryo‐EM maps for both proteins and RNA. Loop modeling continued to pose a challenge for predictors, and together with the lack of consensus amongst models in these regions suggests that modeling, in combination with model‐fit to the density, holds the potential for identifying more flexible regions within the structure.
Robust multivariate quality control charts for enhanced variability monitoring
Authors: Ali Taha Hussein , Sedeeq Bekhal Samad , Saleh Dlshad Mahmood , Rahim Alan Ghafur
Published: November 2023

In this research, it was proposed to create three new robust multivariate charts corresponding to the |S|‐ chart, which are robust to outliers, using three methods, an algorithm, namely the Rousseuw and Leroy algorithm, Maronna and Zamar, and the family of ‘concentration algorithms’ by Olive and Hawkins. Then the comparison between the proposed and classical method of the researcher Shewhart depends on the total variance (trace variance matrix), the general variance (determinant of the variance matrix), and the difference between the upper and lower control limits to obtain the most efficient charts against outliers through simulation and real data and using a program in the MATLAB language designed for this purpose. The study concluded that the proposed charts dealt with the problem of the influence of outliers and were more efficient than the classical method, in addition, the proposed robust chart (Orthogonalized Gnanadesikan‐Kettenring) was more efficient than the rest of the proposed charts.
Non‐periodic inspection and replacement policy of system subject to non‐homogeneous gamma degradation process
Authors: Yao Fengming , Hu Jiawen , Li Bo , Liu Hengchang , Gong Feng
Published: November 2023

The non‐homogeneous gamma process can exhibit a convex average trend with a non‐linear shape parameter, providing significant flexibility in fitting an accelerated degradation process. However, few studies have been conducted on the maintenance modeling of systems undergoing a non‐homogeneous gamma degradation process despite its versatility. Meanwhile, most maintenance studies adopt a periodic inspection policy to reveal the degradation level. However, it is reasonable to inspect less frequently when the degradation level of the system is low and to perform inspections more frequently when the degradation level increases. Therefore, we conduct a study on the inspection/replacement policy of systems undergoing a non‐homogeneous gamma degradation process, where three non‐periodic inspection policies are investigated. We formulate the problem as a SMDP framework and present a value iteration algorithm to obtain the optimal action at each decision epoch that minimizes the long‐term average cost. A comprehensive numerical study is provided to illustrate the effectiveness of our proposed model.
Comparative ONIOM modeling of 1,3‐butadiene polymerization using Nd(III) and Gd(III) Ziegler–Natta catalyst systems
Authors: Masliy Alexey N. , Akhmetov Ildar G. , Kuznetsov Andrey M. , Davletbaeva Ilsiya M.
Published: November 2023

On the base of structural and thermodynamic data using modern methods of quantum chemistry, a comparative theoretical study of the elementary acts of initiation and growth of a polymer chain during the polymerization of 1,3‐butadiene was carried out. Ziegler–Natta catalysts based on Nd(III) and Gd(III) were used as polymerization initiators. It was shown that the higher stereospecificity of the action of gadolinium catalytic complexes in comparison with neodymium complexes is due to the increased stability of the anti‐form of the π‐allylic terminal structure of the growing polymer chain, and the reduced activity is due to the higher activation energy of the processes of initiation and chain growth.
Attention mechanism‐based multisensor data fusion neural network for fault diagnosis of autonomous underwater vehicles
Authors: Shi Huaitao , Song Zelong , Bai Xiaotian , Zhang Ke
Published: November 2023

The autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) frequently operates in harsh underwater environments, and timely fault diagnosis of the AUV can prevent mission failure and equipment loss. Data‐driven methods based on a single data source have been widely utilized for fault diagnosis of the AUV because they do not require the construction of complex mechanism models and have high fault diagnosis accuracy. However, these methods face challenges in accomplishing complex fault diagnosis tasks because the single data source provides very restricted fault features. To address this issue, an attention mechanism‐based multisensor data fusion neural network (MDFNN) for AUV fault diagnosis is proposed in this work. First, a feature extraction layer based on the two‐dimensional (2D) convolutional method with a 1D kernel is introduced to extract features from each sensor data separately, significantly optimizing the model architecture. Second, an efficient channel attention mechanism‐based feature fusion layer is proposed to reassign weights to the features of each sensor data, enabling the model to focus more on crucial features. Finally, the fused features are input to the fully connected layers and softmax layer to realize the fault diagnosis of multisensor data. In the end, the diagnostic performance of the proposed MDFNN is evaluated utilizing real AUV experimental data. The experiment shows that the proposed MDFNN has a very fast convergence speed and 98.37% fault diagnosis accuracy, demonstrating its excellent fault diagnosis performance. The proposed MDFNN provides a generalized and simply structured fault diagnosis framework for the AUV with multiple types of sensor data, providing significant engineering value.
A host‐derived chimeric peptide protects citrus against Huanglongbing without threatening the native microbial community of the phyllosphere
Authors: Choi Jeongyun , Basu Supratim , Thompson Abigail , Otto Kristen , Sineva Elena V. , Kunta Madhurababu , Gupta Goutam , Trivedi Pankaj
Published: November 2023

Introduction

The application of host‐derived antibacterial peptides has been highlighted as a potential efficacious and safe tool for the treatment of Huanglongbing (HLB), the most devastating disease of citrus. However, pathogenic bacteria such as HLB‐causing Candidatus liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) often develop resistance against the host antibacterial peptides. We showed that chimeras containing two different host antibacterial peptides not only retain antibacterial activity but also overcome bacterial resistance and enhance plant defence responses. Also, chimeric peptides can have an off‐target impact on the structure and function of plant‐associated microbiomes. However, there is a lack of understanding of the impact of the chimeric peptide therapy on the microbial structure in the citrus phyllosphere while reducing the CLas titre. Here, we aim to evaluate the efficacy of a chimeric peptide (UGK17) to reduce CLas titre, inducing plant defence response and impacting the microbiome associated with the citrus phyllosphere.

Material and Method

Leaf samples were collected from orange and grapefruit trees in Texas and identified as old and young leaves according to their maturity. We collected three different types of leaves based on their infection and symptoms: healthy, symptomatic (infected with typical symptoms), and asymptomatic (infected without symptoms). In planta assay was performed by dipping the leaves in the 0, 5 and 25 μM of UGK17 solutions for 48 h. The quantifications of CLas titre and pathogenesis‐related (PR) gene expression were done by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and reverse transcription‐qPCR, respectively. Amplicon sequencing was done to evaluate the impact of UGK17 on individual bacterial community structures. In addition, we performed an ex planta assay to assess the effect of UGK17 on the growth of bacterial isolates including Liberibacter crescens instead of unculturable CLas predominant in the phyllosphere.

Result

The UGK17 treatment reduced the CLas titre in both asymptomatic and symptomatic citrus leaves, regardless of the age of the leaves. The UGK17 application augmented the PR gene expression. In ex planta assay, the growth of L. crescens along with four other strains belonging to the family Rhizobiaceae, was significantly inhibited by the UGK17 while the growth of 74 strains were unaffected. Additionally, there was no statistically significant changes in the microbial community structure with UGK17 treatment.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that the chimeric peptide therapy is a promising solution to combat HLB by targeting mainly Gram‐negative pathogens and enhancing the plant immune responses without impairing the indigenous microbial community in the citrus phyllosphere.
Sustainable development goals: Sustainability reporting challenges in the United Arab Emirates context
Authors: Elrazaz Tariq , Shaker Samaan Ahmed , Elmassri Moataz
Published: November 2023

Drawing on legitimacy theory, this study examines the extent of corporate engagement with the sustainable development goals (SDGs) through assessing the corporate disclosure quality of SDG‐related information in a mandated setting environment, focusing on the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Based on corporate sustainability reports for 132 UAE publicly listed companies in years 2020 and 20,221, we use a scoring methodology incorporating the GRI standards related to the economic, environmental and social impacts of corporate operations. Results of the study reveal that UAE companies use mandatory sustainability reports as a legitimacy tool through a symbolic action superficially integrating SDGs targets into their corporate operations and activities. However, in year 2021 the results show that some companies act substantively by adopting substantive organizational structural changes to integrate SDGs in their business operations and reporting behavior. Unlike previous studies, the paper contributes to the literature and practice by examining the corporate disclosure quality of SDGs in a mandated setting environment. This mandatory context offers an opportunity for a comprehensive analysis of company endeavors regarding their symbolic execution aimed at projecting a surface display of commitment to SDGs, versus their substantive implementation, which leads to significant enhancements in corporate sustainability reports. The findings of this study offer valuable practical implications for regulators and policymakers regarding the implementation of mandatory sustainability reporting. While such reporting may not necessarily result in significant changes in terms of integrating SDGs targets into business strategies and operations, it could potentially lead to the adoption of “SDG‐washing” practices by companies.
Investigation on the Synthesis, Biomineralization, Mechanical Strength and Biocompatibility of Rankinite Bioceramics Derived from Eggshell and Rice Husk Waste for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Vijayakumar Naveensubramaniam , Swamiappan Sasikumar
Published: November 2023

Silicate bioceramics has an integrative advantage over metallic and polymeric biomaterials that have been widely employed for the reclamation of recreating the injured bone tissues. This advantage allows silicate bioceramics to replace damaged bone tissues in a natural way. The current study attempts the development of rankinite from eggshell and rice husk wastes. CaO and SiO2 extracted from the biowaste were combined in the stoichiometric ratio, resulted in the formation of highly crystalline single phasic rankinite upon calcination at 1300 °C. Further the formation of rankinite was confirmed with the analytical techniques such as XRD, FT‐IR, SEM and HRTEM respectively. In‐vitro bioactivity studies of rankinite publicized that the complete coverage of the surface with HAp layer was observed within 9 days of immersion in the SBF medium. The scaffolds when subjected to the compressive strength analysis after 9 days of immersion in SBF, rankinite showed the mechanical strength of about 179 MPa which falls under the human cortical bone level. The cytotoxicity results of rankinite showed high percentage cell viability at lower concentration (6.25 μg/mL) against MG63 cell lines. The results conferred that rankinite derived from biowaste showed excellent apatite nucleation and compatible mechanical strength for bone tissue engineering applications.
Thiourea Adsorbent for Efficient Removal of Mercury (II)
Authors: El Khoueiry Claudine , Giusti Fabrice , Lelong Evan , Arrachart Guilhem , Nsouli Bilal , Karame Iyad , Pellet‐Rostaing Stéphane
Published: November 2023

The removal of heavy toxic metals from industrial effluents is extremely important, especially for mercury (Hg), which is classified as a highly toxic even at low concentrations. For this purpose, novel thiourea chelating resins were synthesized as sorbent for Hg (II). Six different polymers of formo‐phenolic types were characterized and evaluated for their chelating properties with respect to Hg (II) extraction. Batch adsorption studies of mercury (II) as a function of pH, initial metal ion concentration, temperature, and time showed that thiourea formo‐phenolic polymers have a good affinity for Hg removal and a high adsorption capacity. Adsorption isotherms (Langmuir and Freundlich) and kinetic models (pseudo‐first and pseudo‐second order) were used to interpret the sorption behavior of the materials. The Langmuir model yielded the best fit with a maximum adsorption capacity of 300 mg/g. Desorption studies were performed with aqueous thiourea solution and showed that the adsorbent is indeed regenerable and can be effectively used for up to three adsorption‐desorption cycles with negligible loss of performance. This study confirmed the potential of thiol‐modified formo‐phenolic resins in sorbent engineering with promising applications in the remediation of mercury‐contaminated water.
Advancements in Enhancing Antibacterial Properties of Cotton Fabric through Chitosan and Nanoparticles
Authors: Verma Amisha , Ahuja Simran , Arora Sanjiv
Published: November 2023

Over recent years, the garment industry has been actively seeking innovative solutions to address critical challenges in clothing production. One significant issue has been the susceptibility of hydrophilic cotton fabrics, commonly used in healthcare and sportswear, to bacterial growth, posing hygiene concerns. To deal with this, it becomes crucial for us to make durable cotton fabrics that can fight bacteria. This study explores the development of durable antibacterial cotton textiles by utilizing a range of antibacterial agents and mechanisms. Chitosan's properties, such as its ability to inhibit fungal growth, compatibility, non‐toxicity, bioactivity, and antimicrobial potential make it a promising candidate for the textile industry. Additionally, the incorporation of metal nanoparticles along with chitosan offers interesting potential, such as UV absorption, self‐cleaning capabilities, and antimicrobial activity. Therefore, research aimed at enhancing cotton fabric by harnessing the potential of chitosan and metal nanoparticles continues to attract significant attention in today's textile world. Cotton fabric modified by combining chitosan and nanoparticles exhibits high antimicrobial activity compared to fabric modified with either nanoparticles or chitosan alone. The implications of this study are far‐reaching with improvement in hygiene, comfort, and durability in a wide range of clothing applications, thus making a substantial contribution to the evolution of the textile industry.
The relationships between self‐esteem, self‐efficacy, and test anxiety: A cross‐lagged study
Authors: Liu Aobo , Guo Mingchun , Liao Ruyan , Wang Xinyi
Published: November 2023

The aim of the present study was to illuminate the causal relationships between self‐esteem and test anxiety, as well as between general self‐efficacy and test anxiety using two‐wave longitudinal research design with a sample of 252 Chinese college students. After controlling for gender, grade and autoregressive effects, the results revealed that (1) self‐esteem at T1 did not significantly predict test anxiety at T2; (2) general self‐efficacy at T1 did not significantly predict test anxiety at T2; (3) test anxiety at T1 significantly and negatively predicted self‐esteem at T2; and (4) test anxiety at T1 marginally significantly and negatively predicted general self‐efficacy at T2. These results suggest that test anxiety is more likely to affect self‐esteem and general self‐efficacy rather than vice versa, and that the causal relationship between self‐esteem and test anxiety are clearer than the causal relationship between general self‐efficacy and test anxiety. However, given the limitation of the longitudinal research using cross‐lagged analysis for revealing causality, these results should be viewed with caution.
Design and Advanced Manufacturing of NU‐1000 Metal–Organic Frameworks with Future Perspectives for Environmental and Renewable Energy Applications
Authors: Abazari Reza , Sanati Soheila , Bajaber Majed A. , Javed Muhammad Sufyan , Junk Peter C. , Nanjundan Ashok Kumar , Qian Jinjie , Dubal Deepak P.
Published: November 2023

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) represent a relatively new family of materials that attract lots of attention thanks to their unique features such as hierarchical porosity, active metal centers, versatility of linkers/metal nodes, and large surface area. Among the extended list of MOFs, Zr‐based‐MOFs demonstrate comparably superior chemical and thermal stabilities, making them ideal candidates for energy and environmental applications. As a Zr‐MOF, NU‐1000 is first synthesized at Northwestern University. A comprehensive review of various approaches to the synthesis of NU‐1000 MOFs for obtaining unique surface properties (e.g., diverse surface morphologies, large surface area, and particular pore size distribution) and their applications in the catalysis (electro‐, and photo‐catalysis), CO2 reduction, batteries, hydrogen storage, gas storage/separation, and other environmental fields are presented. The review further outlines the current challenges in the development of NU‐1000 MOFs and their derivatives in practical applications, revealing areas for future investigation.
A Single‐Step Process to Produce Carbon Nanotube‐Zinc Compound Hybrid Materials
Authors: McGlynn Ruairi , Brunet Paul , Chakrabarti Supriya , Ganguly Abhijit , Moghaieb Hussein , Bo Zheng , Maguire Paul , Mariotti Davide
Published: November 2023

An atmospheric‐pressure plasma system is developed and is used to treat carbon nanotube assemblies, producing a hybrid carbon‐zinc structure. This system is integrated into a floating‐catalyst chemical vapor deposition furnace used for the synthesis of macroscopic assemblies of carbon nanotubes to allow for the in‐line, continuous, and single‐step production of nano‐composite materials. Material is deposited from a sacrificial zinc wire in the form of nanoparticles and can coat the surface of the individual carbon nanotubes as they form. Additionally, it is found that the deposited materials penetrate further into the carbon nanotube matrix than a comparable post‐synthesis deposition, improving the uniformity of the material through the thickness. Thus, a single‐step metal‐based coating and carbon nanotube synthesis process which can form the basis of production scale manufacturing of metal‐carbon nanotube composite materials with an atmospheric‐pressure plasma system are demonstrated.
A Nano‐Electroporation‐DNA Tensioner Platform Enhances Intracellular Delivery and Mechanical Analysis Toward Rapid Drug Assessment
Authors: Hang Xinxin , Huang Zhaocun , He Shiqi , Wang Zhiying , Dong Zaizai , Chang Lingqian
Published: November 2023

In vitro, drug assessment holds tremendous potential to success in novel drug development and precision medicine. Traditional techniques for drug assessment, however, face remarkable challenges to achieve high speed, as limited by incubation‐based drug delivery (>several hours) and cell viability measurements (>1 d), which significantly compromise the efficacy in clinical trials. In this work, a nano‐electroporation‐DNA tensioner platform is reported that shortens the time of drug delivery to less than 3 s, and that of cellular mechanical force analysis to 30 min. The platform adopts a nanochannel structure to localize a safe electric field for cell perforation, while enhancing delivery speed by 103 times for intracellular delivery, as compared to molecular diffusion in coculture methods. The platform is further equipped with a DNA tensioner to detect cellular mechanical force for quantifying cell viability after drug treatment. Systematic head‐to‐head comparison, by analyzing FDA (food and drug administration)‐approved drugs (paclitaxel, doxorubicin), demonstrated the platform with high speed, efficiency, and safety, showing a simple yet powerful tool for clinical drug screening and development.
Photocurable and Temperature‐Sensitive Bioadhesive Hydrogels for Sutureless Sealing of Full‐Thickness Corneal Wounds
Authors: Wang Qian , Zhao Xuan , Yu Fei , Fang Po‐Han , Liu Liu , Du Xinyue , Li Weihua , He Dalian , Bai Ying , Li Saiqun , Yuan Jin
Published: November 2023

Penetrating corneal wounds can cause severe vision impairment and require prompt intervention to restore globe integrity and minimize the risk of infection. Tissue adhesives have emerged as a promising alternative to suturing for mitigating postoperative complications. However, conventional water‐soluble adhesives suffer formidable challenges in sealing penetrating corneal wounds due to dilution or loss in a moist environment. Inspired by the robust adhesion of mussels in aquatic conditions, an injectable photocurable bioadhesive hydrogel (referred to as F20HD5) composed of polyether F127 diacrylate and dopamine‐modified hyaluronic acid methacrylate is developed for sutureless closure of corneal full‐thickness wounds. F20HD5 exhibits high transparency, wound‐sealing ability, proper viscosity, biodegradability, and excellent biocompatibility. It allows in situ cross‐linking via visible light, thereby providing sufficient mechanical strength and adhesiveness. In vivo, the adhesive hydrogel effectively closed penetrating linear corneal incisions and corneal injuries with minimal tissue loss in rabbits. During the 56‐day follow‐up, the hydrogel facilitates the repair of the injured corneas, resulting in more symmetrical curvatures and less scarring in distinction to the untreated control. Thus, bioinspired hydrogel holds promise as an effective adhesive for sealing full‐thickness corneal wounds.
Hybrid Organic–Inorganic Additive for Robust Al Anode in Alkaline Aluminum–Air Battery
Authors: Miao Di , Li Shiliang , Jin Dongxiao , Long Jiangtao , Qu Jie , Wang Yun , Wu Zhenzhen
Published: November 2023

Aluminum–air batteries (AABs), known for their high energy density, environmental friendliness, and cost‐effectiveness, show immense promise in the realm of energy conversion applications. Nonetheless, their commercialization has encountered inherent challenges of Al anode corrosion and material degradation. In this study, economical hybrid electrolyte additives to inhibit the Al corrosion are developed, safeguarding the integrity of the Al anode. Due to the synergistic interplay between the organic compound dithiothreitol, and inorganic compounds zinc chloride, a robust zinc film is formed on the Al surface This Zn film plays a pivotal role in quelling parasitic hydrogen evolution reactions that typically can plague the Al electrode. Consequently, the as‐prepared hybrid additive culminates in a remarkable enhancement to AABs, delivering exceptional discharge capacity of 1793.37 mAh g−1, high energy density of 2047 Wh kg−1, and excellent battery longevity (over 20 h in on/off cycling tests). This study, therefore, introduces a novel approach in utilizing hybrid electrolyte additives to effectively counteract corrosion‐related challenges and boost the stability and performance of AABs.
Tunable Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework‐8 Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Wang Dongdong , Wu Qiong , Ren Xiangling , Niu Meng , Ren Jun , Meng Xianwei
Published: November 2023

Zeolite imidazole framework‐8 (ZIF‐8) is the most prestigious one among zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF) with tunable dimensions and unique morphological features. Utilizing its synthetic adjustability and structural regularity, ZIF‐8 exhibits enhanced flexibility, allowing for a wide range of functionalities, such as loading of nanoparticle components while preserving biomolecules activity. Extensive efforts are made from investigating synthesis techniques to develop novel applications over decades. In this review, the development and recent progress of various synthesis approaches are briefly summarized. In addition, its interesting properties such as adjustable porosity, excellent thermal, and chemical stabilities are introduced. Further, five representative biomedical applications are highlighted based on above physicochemical properties. Finally, the remaining challenges and offered insights into the future outlook are also discussed. This review aims to understand the co‐relationships between structures and biomedical functionalities, offering the opportunity to construct attractive
materials with promising characteristics.
Does studying economics make you selfish?
Authors: Girardi Daniele , Mamunuru Sai Madhurika , Halliday Simon D. , Bowles Samuel
Published: November 2023

It is widely held that studying economics makes you more selfish and politically conservative. We use a difference‐in‐differences strategy to disentangle the causal impact of economics education from selection effects. We estimate the effect of four different intermediate microeconomics courses on students' experimentally elicited social preferences and beliefs about others, and policy opinions. We find no discernible effect of studying economics (whatever the course content) on self‐interest or beliefs about others' self‐interest. Results on policy preferences also point to little effect, except that economics may make students somewhat less opposed to highly restrictive immigration policies.
Secure data access using blockchain technology through IoT cloud and fabric environment
Authors: Gupta Sangeeta , Chithaluru Premkumar , El Barachi May , Kumar Manoj
Published: November 2023

In the current landscape, staying abreast of the latest technological advancements is a formidable challenge, especially given the deluge of data inundating the internet. The realization has dawned that effectively managing the surge in emerging data necessitates the integration of multiple technologies. In pursuit of this objective, the Internet of Things (IoT), renowned for its sensor‐based data capture capabilities, is frequently coupled with blockchain technology to ensure secure data storage and access. This amalgamation, in turn, leverages the cloud environment when data volume surpasses a machine's processing capacity, thus mitigating infrastructure and maintenance costs. This study endeavors to optimize data storage within the blocks of the blockchain (BCT) by storing an index that points to the actual data. This innovative approach not only conserves storage space but also enhances operational efficiency. Furthermore, it simplifies the task of identifying malicious or faulty nodes deployed at different locations for data capture within the prescribed time frame. To exemplify this implementation, a case study is presented, focusing on securing user votes through the creation of contracts. The results showcased underscore the preference for a permissioned blockchain, such as Fabric, over a permissionless one, like Ethereum, particularly in the context of security considerations. The findings reveal that as the number of operations (in this case, votes cast) increases, Ethereum's performance deteriorates, while Fabric exhibits exceptional robustness. Additionally, the study analyzes sensor data simulated via IoT nodes before and after the application of security algorithms to underscore the significance of the proposed Secure Cloud‐Based Blockchain (SCB2) model. The analysis encompasses various facets, including the creation, validation, and computation times of transactions and blocks within a node, and positions the model favorably in comparison to existing literature.
Numerical investigation on the behavior of eccentrically loaded lightweight reinforced concrete columns at elevated temperature
Authors: Al‐Thairy Haitham , Al‐Naqeeb Faaiza
Published: November 2023

In this paper, a numerical model is presented to simulate the behavior and failure of lightweight reinforced concrete (LWRC) columns subjected to eccentric compressive load at elevated temperature using the finite element code ABAQUS. Validation of the numerical model was ensured throughout comparison numerical results with the available published experimental tests results. The validated numerical model was implemented in conducting extensive parametric study to understand the effects of important parameters on the response of eccentrically compressed LWRC column at elevated temperature. These parameters include the effect of concrete cover, the effect of exposure time, the effect of the exposed temperature, the effect of temperature distribution around column section, the effect of temperature distribution along column length, and the effect of eccentricity ratio. The numerical results indicated that increasing the concrete cover of the column section results a considerable increasing of the ultimate load capacity. In addition, there is an increase in the ultimate load capacity when the temperature exposure time is reduced to the half of the original exposure time. Whereas, if the exposure period is increased to twice and three times the original exposure time, the ultimate load shows a slight decrease. Moreover, the ultimate load capacity of the LWRC column decreases when temperature is increased. Finally, the ultimate load capacity increased of the LWRC column when the temperature is distributed over larger distance of the column length.
Finite element simulation of expansion and damage in RC elements affected by alkali‐aggregate reactions
Authors: Teymouri Amir Reza , Yousefpour Hossein , Navayi Neya Bahram
Published: November 2023

Alkali‐aggregate reaction (AAR) is a detrimental reaction between alkalis originating from cement and aggregates that contain reactive minerals. This reaction produces an expansive gel in hardened concrete that may cause internal stresses and cracking, after which it would be critical to evaluate the safety of the AAR‐affected structure. This paper presents a calculation framework primarily using the finite element method to simulate the structural behavior of reinforced concrete members affected by AAR. Numerical subroutines are used to calculate the anisotropic distribution of AAR‐induced expansions at each integration point, considering the stress field at each time step, whereas changes in the properties of concrete due to the progression of AAR are also considered. The modeling approach is successfully validated based on experimental data from several studies on AAR‐affected members that were reinforced in 1, 2, and 3 orthogonal directions in terms of load–deflection behavior and damage patterns. The mechanical properties of concrete were found to negligibly affect the distribution of AAR expansions. A better correlation was observed with experimental data if compressive and tensile strengths of concrete are assumed unchanged and only the modulus of elasticity of concrete is reduced as a function of AAR‐induced expansion.
ASIC1a contributes to the epithelial–mesenchymal transformation of breast cancer by activating the Ca2+/β‐catenin pathway
Authors: Wang Jiawei , Yang Chao , Yu Ruihua , Zhuang Ming , Jiang Feng
Published: November 2023

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the world, with metastasis being one of the leading causes of death among patients. The acidic environment of breast cancer tissue promotes tumor cell invasion and migration by inducing epithelial–mesenchymal transformation (EMT) in tumor cells, but the exact mechanisms are not yet fully understood. This study investigated the expression of acid‐sensitive ion channel 1a (ASIC1a) in breast cancer tissue samples and explored the mechanisms by which ASIC1a mediates the promotion of EMT in breast cancer cells in an acidic microenvironment through in vivo and in vitro experiments. The results showed that first, the expression of ASIC1a was significantly upregulated in breast cancer tissue and was correlated with the TNM (tumor node metastasis) staging of breast cancer. Furthermore, ASIC1a expression was higher in tumors with lymph node metastasis than in those without. Second, the acidic microenvironment promoted [Ca2+]i influx via ASIC1a activation and regulated the expression of β‐catenin, Vimentin, and E‐cadherin, thus promoting EMT in breast cancer cells. Inhibition of ASIC1a activation with PcTx‐1 could suppress EMT in breast cancer cells. Finally, in vivo studies also showed that inhibition of ASIC1a could reduce breast cancer metastasis, invasion, and EMT. This study suggests that ASIC1a expression is associated with breast cancer staging and metastasis. Therefore, ASIC1a may become a new breast cancer biomarker, and the elucidation of the mechanism by which ASIC1a promotes EMT in breast cancer under acidic microenvironments provides evidence for the use of ASIC1a as a molecular target for breast cancer treatment.
Melatonin ameliorates PM2.5‐induced spermatogenesis disorder by preserving H3K9 methylation and SIRT3
Authors: Liu Jianhui , Zhao Moxuan , Dong Xiaomin , Zhang Yue , Xue Jinglong , Duan Junchao , Sun Zhiwei , Zhou Xianqing
Published: November 2023

There was a link between exposure to PM2.5 and male infertility. Melatonin has beneficial effects on the male reproductive processes. How PM2.5 caused spermatogenesis disturbance and whether melatonin could prevent PM2.5‐induced reproductive toxicity have remained unclear. The results showed that PM2.5 could inhibit the Nrf2‐mediated antioxidant pathway and distinctly increase the cell apoptosis in testes. Moreover, PM2.5 also perturbed the process of meiosis by modulating meiosis‐associated proteins such as γ‐H2AX and Stra8. Mechanistically, PM2.5 inhibited G9a‐dependent H3K9 methylation and SIRT3‐mediated p53 deacetylation, which consistent with decreased sperm count and motility rate in ApoE−/− mice. Further investigation revealed melatonin effectively alleviated PM2.5‐induced meiosis inhibition by preserving H3K9 methylation. Melatonin also alleviated PM2.5‐induced apoptosis by regulating SIRT3‐mediated p53 deacetylation. Overall, our study revealed PM2.5 resulted in spermatogenesis disorder by perturbing meiosis via G9a‐dependent H3K9 di‐methylation and causing cell apoptosis via SIRT3/p53 deacetylation pathway and provided promising insights into the protective role of melatonin in air pollution associated with male infertility.
Matrine suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma tumorigenesis by modulating circ_0055976/miR‐1179/lactate dehydrogenase A axis
Authors: Chang Xinfeng , Li Hongwei , Huang Zhengchun , Song Chunhua , Zhang Zhihua , Pan Wen
Published: November 2023

Background

Matrine has been identified to have anticancer activity in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Circ_0055976 was highly expressed in HCC. Here, we investigated the function and relationship of Matrine and circ_0055976 in HCC tumorigenesis.

Methods

Cell proliferation and invasion were detected using Cell Counting Kit‐8, 5‐Ethynyl‐2′‐deoxyuridine (EdU), colony formation and transwell assays, respectively. Cell aerobic glycolysis was evaluated by detecting glucose consumption, lactate production, and the ratios of ATP/ADP. Levels of genes and proteins were detected by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. The target relationship between miR‐1179 and circ_0055976 or lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) was analyzed by dual‐luciferase reporter assay. The mouse xenograft model was established to conduct the in vivo assay.

Results

Matrine suppressed HCC cell proliferation, invasion and anaerobic glycolysis in vitro. Circ_0055976 was highly expressed in HCC tissues and cells, and was reduced by Matrine treatment. Moreover, overexpression of circ_0055976 reversed the anticancer effects of Matrine in HCC cells. Mechanistically, circ_0055976/miR‐1179/LDHA formed an axis. Circ_0055976 knockdown or miR‐1179 overexpression impaired HCC cell proliferation, invasion, and anaerobic glycolysis, which were reversed by miR‐1179 inhibition or LDHA overexpression. Meanwhile, forced expression of LDHA abolished the regulatory effects of Matrine on HCC cells. In the clinic, Matrine impeded HCC tumor growth in vivo, and this effect was boosted after circ_0055976 silencing.

Conclusion

Matrine suppressed HCC cell proliferation, invasion, and anaerobic glycolysis via circ_0055976/miR‐1179/LDHA axis, providing a new insight into the clinical application of Matrine in HCC treatment.