bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reconstructing Solvation Structure by Steric Hindrance‐Coordination Push‐Pull of Dipolymer‐H2O‐Zn2+ toward Long‐life Aqueous Zinc‐Metal Batteries
Authors: Luo Die , Ma Xinyu , Du Pan , Chen Zuo , Lin Qiurui , Liu Yuhan , Niu Ben , He Xianru , Wang Xin
Published: May 2024

Aqueous zinc‐metal batteries are prospective energy storge devices due to their intrinsically high safety and cost effectiveness. Yet, uneven deposition of zinc ions in electrochemical reduction and side reactions at the anode interface significantly hinder their development and application. Here, we propose a solvation‐interface attenuation strategy enabled by a frustrated tertiary amine amphiphilic dipolymer electrolyte additive. The configuration of superhydrophilic segments with covalently bonded lipophilic spacers enables coupled steric hindrance/coordination, which establishes a balanced push‐pull dynamic of dipolymer‐H2O‐Zn2+. Such interplay reconstructs the solvation structure of Zn2+ and allows the formation of a stable dipolymer‐inorganic hybrid solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer. This SEI layer effectively shields the zinc‐metal anode from water and anions, significantly reducing side reactions. In addition, the dipolymer adsorbed at the zinc‐metal anode interface regulates the interfacial electrochemical reduction kinetics and ensures uniform zinc deposition. As a result, the Zn−Zn symmetric cells with dipolymer‐containing electrolyte exhibit remarkable cycling stability exceeding 5800 h (242 days). The Zn‐NVO batteries and Zn‐AC hybrid ion supercapacitors also deliver stable cycling for up to 1440 h (60 days) with high‐capacity retention over 80 %. This research demonstrates the potential to facilitate the development and commercialization of zinc‐based energy storage devices.
Reaction, Recognition, Relay: Anhydride Hydrolysis Reported by Conformationally Responsive Fluorinated Foldamers in Micelles
Authors: Doerner Benedicte , della Sala Flavio , Wang Siyuan , Webb Simon J.
Published: May 2024

Natural membrane receptors are proteins that can report on changes in the concentration of external chemical messengers. Messenger binding to a receptor produces conformational changes that are relayed through the membrane into the cell; this information allows cells to adapt to changes in their environment. Artificial membrane receptors (R)‐1 and (S)‐1 are helical α‐aminoisobutyric acid (Aib) foldamers that replicate key parts of this information relay. Solution‐phase 19F NMR spectroscopy of zinc(II)‐capped receptor 1, either in organic solvent or in membrane‐mimetic micelles, showed messenger binding produced an enrichment of either left‐ or right‐handed screw‐sense; the chirality of the bound messenger was relayed to the other receptor terminus. Furthermore, in situ production of a chemical messenger in the external aqueous environment could be detected in real‐time by a racemic mixture of receptor 1 in micelles. The hydrolysis of insoluble anhydrides produced carboxylate in the aqueous phase, which bound to the receptors and gave a distinct 19F NMR output from inside the hydrophobic region of the micelles.
Gas‐Phase Formation of Sulfurous Acid (H2SO3) in the Atmosphere
Authors: Berndt Torsten , Hoffmann Erik H. , Tilgner Andreas , Herrmann Hartmut
Published: May 2024

Sulfurous acid (H2SO3) is known to be thermodynamically instable decomposing into SO2 and H2O. All attempts to detect this elusive acid in solution failed up to now. Reported H2SO3 formation from an experiment carried out in a mass spectrometer as well as results from theoretical calculations, however, indicated a possible kinetic stability in the gas phase. Here, it is shown experimentally that H2SO3 is formed in the OH radical‐initiated gas‐phase oxidation of methanesulfinic acid (CH3S(O)OH) at 295±0.5 K and 1 bar of air with a molar yield of
 %. Further main products are SO2, SO3 and methanesulfonic acid. CH3S(O)OH represents an important intermediate product of dimethyl sulfide oxidation in the atmosphere. Global modeling predicts an annual H2SO3 production of ∼8 million metric tons from the OH+CH3S(O)OH reaction. The investigated H2SO3 depletion in the presence of water vapor results in k(H2O+H2SO3) <3×10−18 cm3 molecule−1 s−1, which indicates a lifetime of at least one second for atmospheric humidity. This work provides experimental evidence that H2SO3, once formed in the gas phase, is kinetically stable enough to allow its characterization and subsequent reactions.
Anti‐fouling capacity enhancement of thin‐film composite polyamide membrane by chitosan graft polymerization methods
Authors: Duong Quan Xuan , Lai Huong Thi Mai , Ngo Thu Hong Anh
Published: May 2024

This study aimed to improve the anti‐fouling properties of a thin‐film composite polyamide membrane by modifying it with chitosan and acrylic acid using UV‐induced and Redox‐initiated graft polymerization methods. The modified membrane's separation performance was evaluated by measuring the flux and retention of sodium ions in water during filtration. The anti‐fouling capacities of the modified membranes were determined by measuring the maintained flux ratios and irreversible fouling factors during the 8‐h filtration of aqueous solutions of sodium chloride at different concentrations (1000 and 10,000 ppm). In addition, by evaluating the membrane's surface properties using various methods, including field emission scanning electron microscopy, attenuated total reflection – Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and water contact angle measurements, we have demonstrated the validity of the experimental results. Our results showed that the grafted membranes under UV irradiation or redox initiators had enhanced anti‐fouling properties while maintaining salt retention. The modified membranes fabricated by UV‐induced or Redox‐initiated technique had superior anti‐fouling capabilities, with irreversible fouling factors and maintained flux ratios of around 8% and 43%, respectively, after 8 h of filtration, compared to only 12% and 36% for the unmodified membrane. These findings suggest that the modified membranes have the potential for use in filtration systems to prevent the fouling phenomenon.
Sulfo ethyl cellulose/Nafion composite for high‐temperature proton exchange membrane
Authors: Charradi Khaled , Landolsi Zoubaida , Heinze Thomas , Brahmia Ameni , Chtourou Radhouane , Keshk Sherif M. A. S.
Published: May 2024

This study investigated the potential enhancement of proton conductivity in Nafion membranes through the incorporation of sulfo ethyl cellulose (SEC) at varying weight ratios (5 and 10 wt.%). Results indicated that increasing the weight ratio of SEC led to improvements in water absorption, activation energy, and proton conductivity within the composite membranes. Specifically, the composite membrane exhibited a significant increase in proton conductivity, reaching up to 170 mS cm−1, in contrast to the pristine Nafion membrane which recorded 40.08 mS cm−1, particularly at temperatures exceeding 120°C. At the sub‐molecular level, Fourier transfer inferred spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis of Nafion/SEC membranes unveiled cross‐linking interactions occurring between the sulfo acid groups of Nafion chains and the hydroxyls within the SEC matrix. Moreover, X‐ray diffraction (XRD) findings of the composite membranes were instrumental in identifying crystalline phases, orientation, and structural features. The results indicated variations in atomic radius and alterations in lattice parameters at the nanoscale, induced by heightened surface forces resulting from the inclusion of SEC in the Nafion matrix. This phenomenon leads to a reduction in crystallite size, accompanied by an increase in peak broadening and surface area within the composite membranes. Such changes signify a clear interaction between SEC and Nafion, as confirmed by both scanning electron microscopy and thermal gravimetry analyses. Taken together, these findings strongly indicate that the cross‐linked composite membranes utilizing SEC‐Nafion hold significant promise as proton exchange membranes.
Utilizing poly(4‐hydroxybutyrate) as a reinforcing additive to produce high‐performance and biodegradable PBAT blends tailored for foaming applications
Authors: Cui Jinyun , Wang Huaping , Chen Xinyi , Kan Ze , Li Zhibo
Published: May 2024

Poly(butylene‐adipate‐co‐terephthalate) (PBAT) is recognized for its advantages as a biodegradable thermoplastic polyester. However, its application is often limited due to low strength and poor processability. In contrast, poly(4‐hydroxybutyrate) (P4HB) emerges as a fully biodegradable polyester characterized by high strength, excellent toughness, and facile processing. In this study, P4HB was employed to reinforce PBAT, and glycidyl methacrylate grafted onto poly(4‐hydroxybutyrate) (P4HB‐g‐GMA) was introduced as an effective compatibilizer to address their inherent incompatibility. The study explored the influence of P4HB‐g‐GMA content on the mechanical, thermal, morphological, and rheological properties of the blends. The findings revealed that P4HB‐g‐GMA significantly enhanced the compatibility, mechanical properties, and melt strength of PBAT/P4HB blends. Furthermore, various PBAT/P4HB foams were prepared through a batch foaming process, employing supercritical CO2 as a physical foaming agent. The volume expansion ratio and cell size of PBAT/P4HB foams increased with higher levels of the compatibilizer.
High Capacity and Fast Kinetics Enabled by Metal‐Doping in Prussian Blue Analogue Cathodes for Sodium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Yimtrakarn Trakarn , Lo Yi‐An , Kongcharoenkitkul Jakkraphat , Lee Jui‐Chin , Kaveevivitchai Watchareeya
Published: May 2024

Prussian blue analogues (PBAs) have gained tremendous attention as promising low‐cost electrochemically‐tunable electrode materials, which can accommodate large Na+ ions with attractive specific capacity and charge‐discharge kinetics. However, poor cycling stability caused by lattice strain and volume change remains to be improved. Herein, metal‐doping strategy has been demonstrated in FeNiHCF, Na1.40Fe0.90Ni0.10[Fe(CN)6]0.85 ⋅ 1.3H2O, delivering a capacity as high as 148 mAh g−1 at 10 mA g−1. At an exceptionally high rate of 25.6 A g−1, a reversible capacity of ~55 mAh g−1 still can be obtained with a very small capacity decay rate of 0.02 % per cycle for 1000 cycles, considered one of the best among all metal‐doped PBAs. This exhibits the stabilizing effect of Ni doping which enhances structural stability and long‐term cyclability. In situ synchrotron X‐ray diffraction reveals an extremely small (~1 %) change in unit cell parameters. The Ni substitution is found to increase the electronic conductivity and redox activity, especially at the low‐spin (LS) Fe center due to inductive effect. This larger capacity contribution from LS Fe2+C6/Fe3+C6 redox couple is responsible for stable high‐rate capability of FeNiHCF. The insight gained in this work may pave the way for the design of other high‐performance electrode materials for sustainable sodium‐ion batteries.
Mechanisms of interstellar synthesis of glycine, alanine, and serine from aminonitriles, OH, and H2O
Authors: Choe Joong Chul
Published: May 2024

A new potential energy surface for forming glycine in the gas phase, starting from association of aminoacetonitrile (NH2CH2CN) with OH followed by subsequent hydrolysis, was determined using CBS‐QB3 calculation. The overall activation energy was 90 kJ mol−1 or 0 without or with catalytic H2O, respectively. Alanine or serine was formed from 2‐aminopropionitrile (CH3CH(NH2)CN) or 2‐amino‐3‐hydrxypropionitrile (HOCH2CH(NH2)CN) instead of aminoacetonitrile with the overall activation energies of 89 or 49 kJ mol−1, respectively. When an additional H2O was involved in each reaction as a catalyst, barrierless reaction pathways were obtained. These results suggest that it is possible for investigated reactions to occur in interstellar ices along the proposed pathways, taking kinetic aspects into account.
Theta and alpha oscillations may underlie improved attention and working memory in musically trained children
Authors: Kausel Leonie , Zamorano F. , Billeke P. , Sutherland M. E. , Alliende M. I. , Larrain‐Valenzuela J. , Soto‐Icaza P. , Aboitiz F.
Published: May 2024

Introduction: Attention and working memory are key cognitive functions that allow us to select and maintain information in our mind for a short time, being essential for our daily life and, in particular, for learning and academic performance. It has been shown that musical training can improve working memory performance, but it is still unclear if and how the neural mechanisms of working memory and particularly attention are implicated in this process. In this work, we aimed to identify the oscillatory signature of bimodal attention and working memory that contributes to improved working memory in musically trained children.

Materials and methods: We recruited children with and without musical training and asked them to complete a bimodal (auditory/visual) attention and working memory task, whereas their brain activity was measured using electroencephalography. Behavioral, time–frequency, and source reconstruction analyses were made.

Results: Results showed that, overall, musically trained children performed better on the task than children without musical training. When comparing musically trained children with children without musical training, we found modulations in the alpha band pre‐stimuli onset and the beginning of stimuli onset in the frontal and parietal regions. These correlated with correct responses to the attended modality. Moreover, during the end phase of stimuli presentation, we found modulations correlating with correct responses independent of attention condition in the theta and alpha bands, in the left frontal and right parietal regions.

Conclusions: These results suggest that musically trained children have improved neuronal mechanisms for both attention allocation and memory encoding. Our results can be important for developing interventions for people with attention and working memory difficulties.
Impaired sequence manipulation in non‐demented patients with progressive supranuclear palsy
Authors: Zhang Guanyu , Ma Jinghong , Chan Piu , Ye Zheng
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Sequential working memory is the ability to maintain and manipulate sequential information at a second time scale. Patients with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) or Parkinson's disease (PD) perform poorly in tests that require the flexible arrangement of thoughts or actions. This study investigated whether sequential working memory is differently impaired in patients with PSP versus PD.

Method

Twenty‐nine patients with PSP Richardson's syndrome (PSP‐RS), 36 patients with PD, and 36 healthy controls (HC) completed 3 well‐established neuropsychological tests, including digit span forward (DST‐F), digit span backward (DST‐B), and adaptive digit ordering tests (DOT‐A). The DST‐F required maintaining digit sequences, and the DST‐B and DOT‐A required maintaining and manipulating digit sequences.

Finding

The PSP‐RS group scored lower than the PD and HC groups in the DST‐B and DOT‐A but not in the DST‐F, indicating that the ability to manipulate sequences was impaired, but the maintenance ability was preserved in PSP‐RS patients. Moreover, in PSP‐RS, the DST‐B score negatively correlated with the severity of motor symptoms. The actual levodopa dose positively correlated with the DST‐B ordering cost (DST‐F score vs. DST‐B score). The PSP patients who took a greater dose of levodopa tended to have higher DST‐B ordering cost. There was no effect of levodopa on DST‐B or DOT‐A in PD.

Conclusion

These results suggested that the ability to manipulate sequence was already reduced in patients with PSP‐RS and was worse than in patients with PD.
Multiple extreme overdose of antipsychotics with minimal side effects: A case report
Authors: Yang Min , Cao Yudong , Wu Haishan , Zhang Li
Published: May 2024

Key Clinical Message

Antipsychotic drug treatment is a commonly used therapeutic strategy in the field of psychiatry. Rational and standardized use of antipsychotics is crucial in clinical practice, and excessive use of antipsychotics may lead to severe toxic reactions. Thus, attention should be given to the monitoring of drug concentration and examination of organ function.

Excessive use of antipsychotics can cause a variety of adverse effects, including dysfunction of the liver and other organs. Liver cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes play an important role in the metabolism of antipsychotics, and metabolizer types of CYP450 enzymes may influence the therapeutic effects. In this case report, we introduced a 52‐year‐old woman with a 23‐year history of schizophrenia who took excessive doses of multiple antipsychotics and other herbal preparations for nearly 2 years, with poor response to treatment and minor side reactions to the antipsychotics. Pharmacogenomic examination showed that this patient was a CYP1A2 ultra‐rapid metabolizer. The examination and treatment of this patient may provide a reference for the management of similar cases with poor response to an alarming tolerance for antipsychotics.
Epoxy Resins With Controllable “Thermally Conductive‐Self‐Healing” Synergies: a New Material to Meet the Needs of Flexible Electronic Devices
Authors: Chen Jifeng , Xu Hui , Mao Zhu , Nie Kaixuan , Ning Yi , Li Zhongyu , Tian Bo , Sun Zhibo , Zhu Pengli , Sun Rong
Published: May 2024

With the popularization of 5G technology and artificial intelligence, thermally conductive epoxies with self‐healing ability will be widely used in flexible electronic materials. Although many compounds containing both performances have been synthesized, there is little systematic theory to explain the coordination mechanism. In this paper, alkyl chains of different lengths were introduced to epoxies to discuss the thermally conductive, the self‐healing performance, and the synergistic effect. A series of electronic‐grade biphenyl epoxies (4,4′‐bis(oxiran‐2‐ylmethoxy)‐1,1′‐biphenyl (1), 4,4′‐bis(2‐(oxiran‐2‐yl)ethoxy)‐1,1′‐biphenyl (2), 4,4′‐bis(3‐(oxiran‐2‐yl)propoxy)‐1,1′‐biphenyl (3), and 4,4′‐bis(4‐(oxiran‐2‐yl)butoxy)‐1,1′‐biphenyl (4) were synthesized and characterized. Furthermore, they were cured with decanedioic acid to produce polymers. Results showed that alkyl chains can both affect the two properties, and the epoxies suitable for specific application scenarios can be prepared by adjusting the length of alkyl chains. In terms of thermal conductivity, compound 1 was a most promising material. However, compound 4 was expected to be utilized in flexible electronic devices because of its acceptable thermal conductivity, self‐healing ability, transparency, and flexibility.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Cytotoxicity Evaluation of Novel Water‐Soluble Cationic Platinum(II) Organometallic Complexes with Phenanthroline and Imidazolic Ligands
Authors: Ali Asjad , Stefàno Erika , De Castro Federica , Ciccarella Giuseppe , Rovito Gianluca , Marsigliante Santo , Muscella Antonella , Benedetti Michele , Fanizzi Francesco Paolo
Published: May 2024

Platinum‐based chemotherapeutic agents are widely used in the treatment of cancer. However, their effectiveness is limited by severe adverse reactions, drug resistance, and poor water solubility. This study focuses on the synthesis and characterization of new water‐soluble cationic monofunctional platinum(II) complexes starting from the [PtCl(η1‐C2H4OEt)(phen)] (1, phen=1,10‐phenanthroline) precursor, specifically [Pt(NH3)(η1‐C2H4OEt)(phen)]Cl (2), [Pt(1‐hexyl‐1H‐imidazole)(η1‐C2H4OEt)(phen)]Cl (3), and [Pt(1‐hexyl‐1H‐benzo[d]imidazole)(η1‐C2H4OEt)(phen)]Cl (4), which deviate from traditional requirements for antitumor activity. These complexes were evaluated for their cytotoxic effects in comparison to cisplatin, using immortalized cervical adenocarcinoma cells (HeLa), human renal carcinoma cells (Caki‐1), and normal human renal cells (HK‐2). While complex 2 showed minimal effects on the cell lines, complexes 3 and 4 demonstrated higher cytotoxicity than cisplatin. Notably, complex 4 displayed the highest cytotoxicity in both cancer and normal cell lines. However, complex 3 exhibited the highest selectivity for renal tumor cells (Caki‐1) among the tested complexes, compared to healthy cells (HK‐2). This resulted in a significantly higher selectivity than that of cisplatin and complex 4. Therefore, complex 3 shows potential as a leading candidate for the development of a new generation of platinum‐based anticancer drugs, utilizing biocompatible imidazole ligands while demonstrating promising anticancer properties.
Sauerstoffempfindlichkeit der RAFT‐Polymerisation – Eine Modellierungsstudie
Authors: Pashayev Emil , Kandelhard Felix , Georgopanos Prokopios
Published: May 2024

Die reversible Additions‐Fragmentierungs‐Kettenübertragungspolymerisation, kurz RAFT (reversible addition‐fragmentation chain‐transfer polymerization) genannt, ist eine Methode zur kontrollierten Synthese von Blockcopolymeren und stellt eine Alternative zu lebenden ionischen Polymerisationen dar. Obwohl sie im Vergleich zu diesen weniger anfällig für Verunreinigungen ist, führt Sauerstoff zur Inhibierung der Polymerisation. In einer vorhergehenden Studie wurde ein Modell zur Beschreibung der Inhibierungskinetik der RAFT‐Polymerisation von Styrol entwickelt. Basierend auf diesem Modell wird eine ausführliche Sensitivitätsanalyse bezüglich der kinetischen Koeffizienten durchgeführt. Während die Bildung der Polyperoxide durch Sauerstoffaddition hohe Reaktionsgeschwindigkeiten aufweist, konnten deren weiteren Reaktionen (Wachstum und Terminierung) als geschwindigkeitsbestimmende Schritte identifiziert werden. Außerdem zeigte sich eine proportionale Abhängigkeit der Dauer der Inhibierung mit der Sauerstoffkonzentration. Auf Basis der gewonnen Erkenntnisse wurde einer neue Initiierungsstrategie unter Verwendung verschiedener thermischer Initiatoren zur Optimierung der Polymerisation anhand von Simulationen erfolgreich getestet.
Onset and resolution of ovarian toxicity with nirogacestat treatment in females with desmoid tumors: Updated safety analyses from the DeFi phase 3 study
Authors: Loggers Elizabeth T. , Chugh Rashmi , Federman Noah , Hartner Lee , Riedel Richard F. , Cho Sunny , Hyslop David , Lim Allison , Oton Ana B. , Oktay Kutluk H.
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Nirogacestat is a targeted gamma secretase inhibitor approved in the United States for adults with progressing desmoid tumors. In the phase 3 DeFi study (NCT03785964) of nirogacestat, ovarian toxicity (OT) was identified as a safety signal among females of reproductive potential (FORP). This analysis further describes the incidence, presentation, and resolution of OT.

Methods

Patients were randomized to twice‐daily oral nirogacestat (150 mg) or placebo, taken in continuous 28‐day cycles. Investigator‐identified OT in FORP was based on abnormal reproductive hormone values or perimenopausal symptoms (or both). Adverse event follow‐up was conducted to assess OT resolution. Post hoc analyses included return of menstruation and return of follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH) to within normal limits (WNL) (≤20.4 mIU/mL).

Results

Of 92 randomized females, 73 in the safety population were FORP (n = 36 nirogacestat, n = 37 placebo). OT was identified in 75% (27 of 36) receiving nirogacestat and 0% (0 of 37) receiving placebo. As of October 24, 2022, investigators reported OT resolution in 78% (21 of 27) of patients, with median OT duration of 19.1 weeks. Off‐treatment resolution was reported in all 11 patients (100%) who stopped nirogacestat treatment; of these, all nine with available menstruation information experienced return of menstruation and eight had FSH WNL at last reported assessment. Resolution was reported in 10 of 14 (71%) while on nirogacestat; of these, all 10 experienced return of menstruation and seven had FSH WNL. Two patients were lost to follow‐up.

Conclusion

Most FORP treated with nirogacestat experienced OT, with the majority resolving, including all who stopped treatment, suggesting that OT is transient.
The safety of trastuzumab deruxtecan (DS‐8201) with a focus on interstitial lung disease and/or pneumonitis: A systematic review and single‐arm meta‐analysis
Authors: Li Ruijuan , Hua Manqi , Li Jiulong , Chen Weihong , Xu Ling , Meng Huan , Zhang Zhuo , Liu Qianxin , Cui Yimin , Xiang Qian
Published: May 2024

Background

Previous studies involving risk–benefit analysis of trastuzumab deruxtecan (DS‐8201) have indicated the benefit of this treatment, although it may increase the risk of interstitial lung disease (ILD) and/or pneumonitis in certain patients. This study aimed to assess the safety of DS‐8201.

Methods

A search was done for relevant articles in four electronic databases: PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov. All reports published up until November 2, 2022, were included, and study types were restricted to clinical trials; the last search was then updated to January 10, 2023. We also assessed the quality of the literature with the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions and the Methodological Index for Non‐Randomized Studies tool, and then performed a meta‐analysis with R version 4.2.1.

Results

A total of 1428 patients reported in 13 articles were included in this study. The analysis revealed that the most common all‐grade treatment‐emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were nausea and fatigue. The most common TEAE of grade 3 or above (grade ≥3) was neutropenia. The incidences of ILD and/or pneumonitis for all‐grade and grade ≥3 TEAEs were 12.5% and 2.2%, respectively.

Conclusions

This comprehensive summary of the incidence of TEAEs associated with DS‐8201 in clinical trials provides an important guide for clinicians. The most common TEAEs were gastrointestinal reactions and fatigue; meanwhile, the most common grade ≥3 TEAE was hematological toxicity. ILD and/or pneumonitis were specific adverse drug reactions associated with DS‐8201, of which physicians should be particularly aware for their higher morbidity and rates of grade ≥3 TEAEs.
Human circular RNA hsa_circ_0000231 clinical diagnostic effectiveness as a new tumor marker in gastric cancer
Authors: Fang Ronghua , Yuan Wentao , Mao Chunyan , Cao Jing , Chen Hongmei , Shi Xiuying , Cong Hui
Published: May 2024

Background

Owing to the subtlety of initial symptoms associated with gastric cancer (GC), the majority of patients are diagnosed at later stages. Given the absence of reliable diagnostic markers, it is imperative to identify novel markers that exhibit high sensitivity and specificity. Circular RNA, a non‐coding RNA, plays an important role in tumorigenesis and development and is well expressed in body fluids.

Aims

In this study, we aimed to identify hsa_circ_0000231 as a new biomarker for the diagnosis of GC and to assess its clinical diagnostic value in serum.

Methods and Results

The stability and correctness of hsa_circ_0000231 was determined by agarose gel electrophoresis, Rnase R assay and Sanger sequencing. Real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) was designed to discover the expression level of hsa_circ_0000231 and whether it has dynamic serum monitoring capability. The correlation between hsa_circ_0000231 and clinicopathological parameters was analyzed by collecting clinical and pathological data from GC patients. In addition, diagnostic efficacy was assessed by constructing receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC). Hsa_circ_0000231 exhibits a stable and consistently expressed structure. In GC serum, cells, and tissues, it demonstrates reduced expression levels. Elevated expression levels observed postoperatively suggest its potential for dynamic monitoring. Additionally its expression level correlates with TNM staging and neuro/vascular differentiation. The area under ROC curve (AUC) for hsa_circ_0000231 is 0.781, indicating its superior diagnostic value compared to CEA, CA19‐9, and CA72‐4. The combination of these four indicators enhances diagnostic accuracy, with an AUC of 0.833.

Conclusions

The stable expression of hsa_circ_0000231 in the serum of gastric cancer patients holds promise as a novel biomarker for both the diagnosis and dynamic monitoring of GC.
Pharmacokinetics and Safety of Atogepant Co‐administered with Quinidine Gluconate in Healthy Participants: A Phase 1, Open‐Label, Drug‐Drug Interaction Study
Authors: Boinpally Ramesh , Borbridge Lisa , Wangsadipura Veronica
Published: May 2024

Atogepant, an oral calcitonin gene‐related peptide receptor antagonist, is approved for the preventive treatment of migraine. Atogepant is a substrate of P‐glycoprotein (P‐gp), breast cancer resistance protein, organic anion transporting polypeptide transporters, and cytochrome P450 (CYP)3A4 and 2D6. Quinidine is a strong P‐gp and CYP2D6 inhibitor. A phase 1 open‐label study evaluated the effect of P‐gp and CYP2D6 inhibition by quinidine on the pharmacokinetics of atogepant, and the safety and tolerability of atogepant and quinidine gluconate (QG) when co‐administered and when given alone in 33 healthy adults. There was no significant change in the atogepant maximum plasma concentration with QG co‐administration. The overall systemic exposure, the area under the plasma concentration‐time curve (from time 0 to time t or to infinity), of atogepant increased by 25% when co‐administered with QG. However, such an increase was not considered clinically relevant. Atogepant did not alter the mean plasma concentration of quinidine at steady state. The incidence of treatment‐emergent adverse events (TEAEs) was highest when QG was administered alone (42.4%), which was primarily due to QT prolongation. Most TEAEs reported were mild in severity and resolved within 1‐2 days. Co‐administration of atogepant with QG did not result in any unexpected tolerability findings in this phase 1 study in healthy participants. The increase in atogepant exposure during QG co‐administration could be due to inhibition of CYP2D6 (a minor contributor to atogepant clearance) as well as inhibition of P‐gp.
Fabrication of Efficient and Simple‐Structured Perovskite Solar Cells Using a Multifunctional Biocolina Surface Treatment
Authors: Huang Shuai , Guan Baolu , Li Jing
Published: May 2024

The electron transport layer (ETL)‐free perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have gained significant interest by simplifying the manufacture process and reducing the time/energy required for the fabrication of ETLs. Unfortunately, the performance of these ETL‐free PSCs still lags behind those of the conventional counterparts due to the slow electron extraction and undesired interfacial charge recombination loss at the buried interface. In this work, a facile and multifunctional biocolina thin layer is incorporated on the bottom electrodes to regulate the interface energy level alignment by forming an interface dipole layer, resulting in a suppressed nonradiative recombination and an improved charge extraction. Furthermore, the biocolina thin layer possess the capability to passivate the surface defects within the perovskite films while simultaneously facilitate the formation of perovskite crystals. Consequently, a remarkable enhancement in photovoltaic performance is observed in the biocolina‐based ETL‐free PSCs with an increase from 15.96 % to an outstanding 20.01 %. Additionally, the biocolina extends the stability and relieves the hysteresis effect through the interface defect passivation and inhibition of interface charge accumulation. This research contributes to the development of cost‐effective, simplified designs for highly efficient ETL‐free PSCs by modifying the bottom electrodes.
Generation of New Synthons for Synthesis Through Activation of Nitromethane
Authors: Wang Wenxuan , Zhao Lixing , Zhang Yuexia
Published: May 2024

Nitromethane is used as a common solvent, stabilizer, and fuel additive. Nitromethane has also been used as a sustainable building block and convenient reagent in chemical synthesis. In this Minireview, we summarize the recent advances in activation of nitromethane, using nitromethane as the source of cyano group, nitrogen, methylamine, formyl group, C1, nitroso, and oxime.
Synthesis and Optical Property Modulation of Substituted [2.2]Paracylophanes through Through‐Space Conjugation
Authors: Lambud Sushil , Bhadke Anil , Siddiqui Zahir Ali , Chaudhari Vaishali , Sekar Nagaiyan , Bhosale Rajesh , More Sandeep
Published: May 2024

4,16‐para‐substituted [2.2]paracylophanes with naphthalene (PCP‐NAP), anthracene (PCP‐ANTH), and tetraphenylethylene (PCP‐TPE), as new through‐space conjugated dimers, were prepared by the Suzuki‐Miyaura cross‐coupling reaction of 4,16‐diboryl[2.2]paracyclophane and the corresponding bromo derivative using Pd(PPh3)4 as a catalyst and KOH as a base. The synthesized compounds were fully characterized by NMR and HR‐MS, and their photophysical and electrochemical properties were studied. The photoluminescence quantum yield of PCP‐NAP, PCP‐ANTH were determined to be 0.21, 0.50, and for PCP‐TPE in aggregated state 0.31, respectively. PCP‐TPE exhibited aggregation‐induced emission characteristics when the water fraction was greater than 50 % in THF/water mixtures. PCP‐ANTH and PCP‐TPE were also characterized by X‐ray crystallography, PCP‐ANTH crystallizes in centrosymmetric monoclinic space group C2/c and PCP‐TPE crystallizes in the centrosymmetric triclinic space group P‐1 with one molecule residing at the inversion center. The observed properties of these π‐stacked dimers were compared with respect to through‐space conjugation and conjugation length in the structure.
Physical activity should be the primary intervention for individuals living with chronic pain A position paper from the European Pain Federation (EFIC) ‘On the Move’ Task Force
Authors: Vaegter Henrik Bjarke , Kinnunen Marja , Verbrugghe Jonas , Cunningham Caitriona , Meeus Mira , Armijo‐Olivo Susan , Bandholm Thomas , Fullen Brona M. , Wittink Harriet , Morlion Bart , Reneman Michiel F.
Published: May 2024

Background

There is clear evidence demonstrating the benefits of physical activity (PA) on pain and overall health, however, PA is challenging for many individuals living with chronic pain. Even non‐exercise specialists can (cost) effectively promote PA, but many health professionals report a number of barriers in providing guidance on PA, suggesting that it is not consistently promoted. This expert position paper summarizes the evidence and provides five recommendations for health professionals to assess, advise and support individuals living with any chronic pain condition with a long life expectancy in adopting and sustaining physically active lifestyles.

Methods

This position paper was prepared by the ‘On The Move’ Task Force of the European Pain Federation EFIC. Final recommendations were endorsed by the European Pain Forum, Pain Alliance Europe and the Executive Board of EFIC.

Results

We recommend that all health professionals (1) Take a history of the persons' PA levels, and put PA on the agenda, (2) Advise that PA is important and safe for individuals living with chronic pain, (3) Deliver a brief PA intervention and support individuals living with chronic pain in becoming physically active, (4) Discuss acceptable levels of PA‐related soreness and pain and (5) Provide ongoing support in staying physically active.

Significance

Physical activity is safe and offers several advantages, including general health benefits, low risk of side effects, low cost and not requiring access to healthcare. Adoption of these recommendations can improve the quality of care and life of individuals living with chronic pain and reduce their overall health risks.
A Synergistic Effect among Multiple Functional Groups of 4‐PyAO Additive for Performance Enhancement of Tin‐Based Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Xu Fangxian , Pan Xiao , Zhang Jing , Guo Huafei , Fang Bijun , Zhang Shuai , Yuan Ningyi , Ding Jianning
Published: May 2024

Tin‐based perovskite is a competitive analog with lead halide perovskite, but there are significant gaps in power conversion efficiency (PCE) and stability between tin‐ and lead‐based perovskite solar cells. The characteristics of the easy oxidizability of Sn2+ and the rapid crystal growth for tin‐based perovskite are two major issues remained to be overcome. Herein, an additive (4‐pyridylamidoxime (4‐PyAO)) with multiple functional groups is introduced in the perovskite precursor solution. The oxidation of Sn2+ and the crystallization rate of perovskite are both retarded by 4‐PyAO addition. The prepared perovskite film is of high quality with fewer trap states and carrier recombination, and carrier extraction and transfer between the perovskite film and the adjacent carrier transport layer also become more efficient. As a result, the corresponding devices deliver the highest PCE of 9.02%, accompanied by short‐circuit current density, open‐circuit voltage, and fill factor of 19.90 mA cm−2, 0.63 V, and 72.48%, respectively. More importantly, the best device without encapsulation maintains 92% of its initial PCE after 2500 h aging test in nitrogen atmosphere, which may be attributed to a synergic effect among the different functional groups.
Working fluid selection and performance analysis for multistage ship waste heat recovery based on thermal power generation‐organic Rankine cycle combined cycle
Authors: Li Huaan , Liu Changxin , Shi Feixiong , Zhao Zhenzhen , Xu Zhenhong , Feng Xing
Published: May 2024

The energy utilization rate of ships is low, and waste heat accounts for most of the energy loss of the main engine. In this work, a new method called the thermal power generation‐organic Rankine cycle cascaded cycle is suggested to recover ships waste heat in a cascade utilization way. When comparing the performances of R245fa and R1234ze as working fluids, factors such as performance simulation, environmental protection, and safety were taken into account. Based on these simulation, the organic working fluid chosen is R245fa. On the basis of the cascaded cycle, the influence of working fluid flow rates on essential performance parameters, such as power‐production cost, power output, thermal efficiency, and waste heat utilization of main engine flue gas is explored. The experimental system performs at its best for all metrics when the working fluid flow rates is 0.0403 kg/s, including power output of 483.25 W, thermal efficiency of 8.34%, power‐production cost of 0.3464 $/kWh, and waste heat utilization of main engine flue gas of 69.05%.
Characterization of tau propagation pattern and cascading hypometabolism from functional connectivity in Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Wang Min , Lu Jiaying , Zhang Ying , Zhang Qi , Wang Luyao , Wu Ping , Brendel Matthias , Rominger Axel , Shi Kuangyu , Zhao Qianhua , Jiang Jiehui , Zuo Chuantao
Published: May 2024

Tau pathology and its spatial propagation in Alzheimer's disease (AD) play crucial roles in the neurodegenerative cascade leading to dementia. However, the underlying mechanisms linking tau spreading to glucose metabolism remain elusive. To address this, we aimed to examine the association between pathologic tau aggregation, functional connectivity, and cascading glucose metabolism and further explore the underlying interplay mechanisms. In this prospective cohort study, we enrolled 79 participants with 18F‐Florzolotau positron emission tomography (PET), 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose PET, resting‐state functional, and anatomical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images in the hospital‐based Shanghai Memory Study. We employed generalized linear regression and correlation analyses to assess the associations between Florzolotau accumulation, functional connectivity, and glucose metabolism in whole‐brain and network‐specific manners. Causal mediation analysis was used to evaluate whether functional connectivity mediates the association between pathologic tau and cascading glucose metabolism. We examined 22 normal controls and 57 patients with AD. In the AD group, functional connectivity was associated with Florzolotau covariance (β = .837, r = 0.472, p < .001) and glucose covariance (β = 1.01, r = 0.499, p < .001). Brain regions with higher tau accumulation tend to be connected to other regions with high tau accumulation through functional connectivity or metabolic connectivity. Mediation analyses further suggest that functional connectivity partially modulates the influence of tau accumulation on downstream glucose metabolism (mediation proportion: 49.9%). Pathologic tau may affect functionally connected neurons directly, triggering downstream glucose metabolism changes. This study sheds light on the intricate relationship between tau pathology, functional connectivity, and downstream glucose metabolism, providing critical insights into AD pathophysiology and potential therapeutic targets.
The effect of retirement eligibility on mental health in the United Kingdom: Heterogeneous effects by occupation
Authors: Spearing Joe
Published: May 2024

I investigate heterogeneity across occupational characteristics in the effect of retirement eligibility on mental health in the United Kingdom. I use K‐means clustering to define three occupational clusters, differing across multiple dimensions. I estimate the effect of retirement eligibility using a Regression Discontinuity Design, allowing the effect to differ by cluster. The effects of retirement eligibility are beneficial, and greater in two clusters: one comprised of white‐collar jobs in an office setting and another of blue‐collar jobs with high physical demands and hazards. The cluster with smaller benefits mixes blue‐ and white‐collar uncompetitive jobs with high levels of customer interaction. The results have implications for the distributional effect of raising the retirement age.
Identification of rheumatoid arthritis using bone image features with radial basis function neural networks
Authors: Bose Anandh Sam Chandra , Srinivasan C. , Surenderanath S.
Published: May 2024

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) leads to the destruction, deformation, and loss of function and causes joint damages to 85% of patients. The detection of bone mineral density from traditional x‐ray images consumes more time and it is observer dependent which decreases the evaluation performance when RA is in its early stage. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an observer‐independent computer‐aided automatic analysis system for evaluating JS narrowing. An efficient RA detection system based on feed‐forward neural network is proposed in this article. Initially the dataset is preprocessed to remove blur, redundant data and nonlinearities in RA images using wiener filter in less computation time. The edge boundaries are detected using nonlinear partial differential equation as the texture features of bones has great impact on the system accuracy. The detection strategy is implemented by optimized gray‐level co‐occurrence matrix based on bone image features. The selected features are optimized by genetic algorithm to improve the classification performance. The images are then classified as inflamed and noninflamed by radial basis function neural network. The effectiveness of the proposed classification approach is verified in terms of accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity and compared with the conventional convolutional neural network, artificial neural network, and support vector machine classifiers. Among the several existing techniques, our method found to be much effective with a maximum accuracy of 98.5% as some novel approaches are proposed and also tends to possess more compatible than the present system. Our computerized rheumatoid arteries detection approach will give more precise and flawless consistency rate.
MAUNet: Polyp segmentation network based on multiscale feature fusion of attention U‐shaped network structure
Authors: Long Jianwu , Lin Jian , Liu Jiayin
Published: May 2024

Colorectal cancer is a prevalent malignant tumor affecting the digestive tract. Although colonoscopy remains the most effective method for colon examination, it may occasionally fail to detect polyps. In an effort to enhance the detection rate of intestinal polyps during colonoscopy, we propose MAUNet, a polyp segmentation network based on a multi‐scale feature fusion of an Attention U‐shaped network structure. Our model incorporates advanced components, including the Receptive Field Block, Reverse Attention Block, and Residual Refinement Module, mirroring the analytical process performed by medical imaging professionals. We evaluated the performance of MAUNet on five challenging datasets and conducted a comparative analysis against five state‐of‐the‐art models using six evaluation metrics. The experimental results demonstrate that MAUNet achieves varying levels of performance improvement across the five datasets. Particularly on the Kvasir dataset, the Mean Dice and Mean IOU metrics reached 91.6% and 84.3%, respectively, confirming the model's outstanding performance in polyp segmentation.
A multistep approach and executive summary assessing and addressing workforce satisfaction and retention of the oncology pharmacy workforce
Authors: Gulbis Alison M. , Mahmoudjafari Zahra , Rao Kamakshi
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Hematology/oncology pharmacists work in various roles in healthcare systems and represent a highly skilled and valuable resource. There remains a significant challenge in the recruitment and retention of these well‐trained pharmacists. We sought to identify key factors and propose solutions to impact the ability to recruit, promote, and retain pharmacists.

Methods

An initial survey in 2021 assessed the status of the oncology pharmacist workforce with regard to job satisfaction and attrition risk. Based on the top 5 factors identified in the Initial Survey, a Follow‐Up Survey was conducted in 2022 to further understand top dissatisfiers in the workplace. To address these factors, an in‐person collaborative workshop was conducted in 2023 with a focus on creating action plans around the practice model, professional development, well‐being, and metrics.

Results

A total of 392 individuals participated in the Follow‐Up Survey. Most were 31–40 years of age (56%), female (70%), Caucasian (78%), and from academic medical centers (68%). Of the 367 individuals who responded to factors contributing to dissatisfaction at work, 51 of the respondents selected all five factors. The most common factor was the practice model (77%), followed by burnout/well‐being (74%), leadership (62%), professional development (56%), and metrics (32%). At the workshop, teams worked collaboratively to review detailed data, evaluate root causes, define a goal future state, and build recommendations for incremental steps to pursue progress in each of these areas.

Discussion

Utilizing key information learned from both the Initial and Follow‐Up Survey, the Oncology Pharmacy Workforce Collaborative demonstrated that the key themes are interconnected and institutional support is essential in modernizing practice models, revamping professional development, creating better measures of direct and indirect patient care activities, and ensuring effective support for well‐being.