bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Origin of kerolite and associated Mg clays in palustrine-lacustrine environments. The Esquivias deposit (Neogene Madrid Basin, Spain)
Authors: Pozo M. , Casas J.
Published: July 2002

The composition, texture and genetic evolution of kerolite and related Mg clays belonging to the Intermediate Unit of the Miocene from the Madrid Basin have been studied. About 400 samples from the Esquivias deposit were analysed by several mineralogical and/or chemical techniques. Two genetic pathways for the development of Mg clays during early diagenesis have been observed: (1) mudflat environment: Al-smectite (beidellite) → Mg-smectite (saponite); and (2) palustrine environment: Si-Mg gel → kerolite → kerolite-stevensite → stevensite.

In the mudflat deposit the transformation processes predominate, whilst in the palustrine environment, kerolite is neoformed, probably from a gel-like medium. Stevensite seems to have originated from the transformation of mixed-layer kerolite-Mg-smectite, but also through neoformation at a later stage.

The textural features, isotopic data and sedimentary evolution within each lithofacies are indicative of shallowing-upward sequences with development of palaeosols. A post-sedimentary origin for sepiolite, calcite, authigenic quartz, zeolites and baryte is inferred.
Structure and ionic transport in disordered silicates
Authors: Greaves G. N.
Published: July 2002

A brief review is given of the ways in which the local structure in glass can influence the microstructure that supports ionic transport. This in turn contributes to the co-operative nature of ion dynamics and ways in which this underpins the ‘mixed alkali effect’ are discussed. Glass microstructure too is expected to affect glass fracture as well as the chemistry of glass surfaces. In melts, though, these restrictions appear to vanish as the rigidity of intermediate range order is lost.
Partitioning of elements in sector-zoned clinopyroxenes
Authors: Jensen B. B.
Published: July 2002

Detailed chemical analyses of different portions of laboratory-grown sector-zoned clinopyroxene been provided by Skulski et al. (1994). These data have been plotted here in PC-IR diagrams results indicate equilibrium crystallization and protosite control of element selection.
Accelerated telomere shortening in hematological lineages is limited to the first year following stem cell transplantation
Authors: Rufer Nathalie , Brümmendorf Tim H. , Chapuis Bernard , Helg Claudine , Lansdorp Peter M. , Roosnek Eddy
Published: July 2002

Using quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridization and flow cytometry, the telomere length of telomere repeat sequences after stem cell transplantation (SCT) were measured. The study included the telomeres of peripheral blood monocytes that should reflect the length of telomeres in stem cells and the telomeres of T lymphocytes that could shorten as a result of peripheral expansion. The loss of telomeres in monocytes and in memory T cells, although accelerated initially, became comparable to the loss of telomeres in healthy controls from the second year after transplantation. In addition, the telomere length in the naive T cells that were produced by the thymus was comparable to the telomere length in the naive T cells of the donor. Compared to the total length of telomeres available, the loss of telomere repeats in leukocytes after SCT resembles the accelerated shortening seen in early childhood and remains, therefore, relatively insignificant.
Synergistic induction of apoptosis in human leukemia cells (U937) exposed to bryostatin 1 and the proteasome inhibitor lactacystin involves dysregulation of the PKC/MAPK cascade
Authors: Vrana Julie A. , Grant Steven
Published: July 2002

Cotreatment with a minimally toxic concentration of the protein kinase C (PKC) activator (and down-regulator) bryostatin 1 (BRY) induced a marked increase in mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis in U937 monocytic leukemia cells exposed to the proteasome inhibitor lactacystin (LC). This effect was blocked by cycloheximide, but not by α-amanitin or actinomycin D. Qualitatively similar interactions were observed with other PKC activators (eg, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and mezerein), but not phospholipase C, which does not down-regulate the enzyme. These events were examined in relationship to functional alterations in stress (eg, SAPK, JNK) and survival (eg, MAPK, ERK) signaling pathways. The observations that LC/BRY treatment failed to trigger JNK activation and that cell death was unaffected by a dominant-interfering form of c-JUN (TAM67) or by pretreatment with either curcumin or the p38/RK inhibitor, SB203580, suggested that the SAPK pathway was not involved in potentiation of apoptosis. In marked contrast, perturbations in the PKC/Raf/MAPK pathway played an integral role in LC/BRY-mediated cell death based on evidence that pretreatment of cells with bisindolylmaleimide I, a selective PKC inhibitor, or geldanamycin, a benzoquinone ansamycin, which destabilizes and depletes Raf-1, markedly suppressed apoptosis. Furthermore, ERK phosphorylation was substantially prolonged in LC/BRY-treated cells compared to those exposed to BRY alone, and pretreatment with the highly specific MEK inhibitors, PD98059, U0126, and SL327, opposed ERK activation while protecting cells from LC/BRY-induced lethality. Together, these findings suggest a role for activation and/or dysregulation of the PKC/MAPK cascade in modulation of leukemic cell apoptosis following exposure to the proteasome inhibitor LC.
Analysis of BCL-6 mutations in classic Hodgkin disease of the B- and T-cell type
Authors: Seitz Volkhard , Hummel Michael , Anagnostopoulos Ioannis , Stein Harald
Published: July 2002

BCL-6 is essential for germinal center formation and thus for affinity maturation of immunoglobulin (Ig) genes by somatic mutations. The 5′-noncoding region of the BCL-6gene is even a target for the mutation machinery. Translocations of theBCL-6 gene to heterologous promoters and mutations of its 5′-noncoding regulatory region were reported to be potential mechanisms for deregulating BCL-6 expression and for playing a role in the genesis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In line with this hypothesis is the observation that B-cell lymphoma with somatic mutations, such as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and follicular lymphoma, also carryBCL-6 mutations, some of which are recurrently detectable. Classic Hodgkin disease (cHD) is also derived from B cells with high loads of somatic mutations and thus a further candidate forBCL-6 mutations. To determine the presence and potential role of BCL-6 mutations in cHD, the 5′-noncodingBCL-6 proportion of single Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg (HRS) cells from 6 cases of cHD and 6 cases of HD-derived cell lines was analyzed. All B-cell–derived HD cases and cell lines harboredBCL-6 mutations. In contrast, both T-cell–derived HD cases and cell lines were devoid of BCL-6 mutations. With only one exception, there were no lymphoma-specific recurrentBCL-6 mutations detected, and BCL-6 protein was absent from the HRS cells of most cases. In conclusion, (1) somaticBCL-6 mutations are restricted to cHD cases of B-cell origin, and (2) the BCL-6 mutations represent mostly irrelevant somatic base substitutions without consequences for BCL-6 protein expression and the pathogenesis of cHD.
Temporal differences in membrane loss lead to distinct reticulocyte features in hereditary spherocytosis and in immune hemolytic anemia
Authors: Da Costa Lydie , Mohandas Narla , Sorette Martin , Grange Marie-José , Tchernia Gil , Cynober Thérèse
Published: July 2002

Spherocytic red cells with reduced membrane surface area are a feature of hereditary spherocytosis (HS) and some forms of autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA). It is generally assumed that membrane loss in spherocytic red cells occurs during their sojourn in circulation. The structural basis for membrane loss in HS is improper assembly of membrane proteins, whereas in AIHA it is due to partial phagocytosis of circulating red cells by macrophages. A hypothesis was formed that these different mechanisms should lead to temporal differences in surface area loss during red cell genesis and during sojourn in circulation in these 2 spherocytic syndromes. It was proposed that cell surface loss could begin at the reticulocyte stage in HS, whereas surface area loss in AIHA involves only circulating mature red cells. The validity of this hypothesis was established by documenting differences in cellular features of reticulocytes in HS and AIHA. Using a novel technique to quantitate cell surface area, the decreased membrane surface area of both reticulocytes and mature red cells in HS compared with normal cells was documented. In contrast, in AIHA only mature red cells but not reticulocytes exhibited decreased membrane surface area. These data imply that surface area loss in HS, but not in AIHA, is already present at the circulating reticulocyte stage. These findings imply that loss of cell surface area is an early event during genesis of HS red cells and challenge the existing concepts that surface area loss in HS occurs predominantly during the sojourn of mature red cells in circulation.
Distinctive features of “nurselike” cells that differentiate in the context of chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Authors: Tsukada Nobuhiro , Burger Jan A. , Zvaifler Nathan J. , Kipps Thomas J.
Published: July 2002

A subset of blood mononuclear cells from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) can differentiate in vitro into “nurselike” cells (NLCs) that can protect CLL cells from apoptosis. NLCs express cytoplasmic vimentin and stromal-derived factor 1 (SDF-1). NLCs also express CD14, as well as CD11b, CD33, CD40, CD45RO, CD68, CD80, CD86, HLA-DQ, and HLA-DR, but not CD1a, CD2, CD3, CD11c, CD19, CD45RA, CD83, CD106, or CD154. Consistent with this phenotype, NLCs failed to differentiate from blood mononuclear cells that were depleted of CD14+ cells or from isolated CD19+cells. CD14+ blood cells of healthy donors could differentiate into cells with the morphology and phenotype of NLCs when cultured in direct contact with CLL B cells, but not with normal B cells. Despite expressing antigens in common with blood monocytes, monocyte-derived dendritic cells, and macrophages, NLCs expressed significantly higher levels of CD68 than these other cell types. Consistent with the notion that NLCs are present in vivo, CD14+ splenocytes from CLL patients have NLC morphology and express significantly higher levels of CD68 than CD14+splenocytes from persons without known B-cell malignancy. These findings indicate that although NLCs may differentiate from blood monocytes, they probably represent a distinctive hematopoietic cell type that exists in vivo, differentiates from hematopoietic CD14+ cells in the context of CLL, and in turn protect CLL cells from apoptosis via a mechanism that is independent of CD106 (vascular cell adhesion molecule-1). The interaction between CLL cells and NLCs may represent a novel target for therapy of patients with this disease.
Substantial Improvement in Mechanical Properties and Anti‐corrosion Properties of Rolled Zn–Mg–Sr Alloys as an Orthopedic Implant
Authors: Zhang HaoNan , Liu GuiYing , Feng Jing , Liang BiRu , Wu SongSong
Published: August 2024

This study investigates a Zn–Mg alloy, enhanced for biodegradability and biocompatibility, by introducing trace amounts of Sr and subjecting it to hot‐rolling. The resulting Zn–Mg–Sr alloy shows a reduced average grain size to 3.35 μm and a transformed Mg2Zn11 phase from lamellar to finely dispersed particles, while maintaining a uniform SrZn13 phase distribution. The as‐rolled alloy exhibits significantly improved mechanical properties, with a tensile strength of 340 MPa and 40% of elongation, attributed to grain‐boundary strengthening, reinforcement by second‐phase particles, and the presence of intragranular dislocations and nanoscale precipitates. This microstructural refinement enhances the elongation by hindering crack propagation. Corrosion resistance tests reveal the superior performance of the as‐rolled alloy, owing to the finely distributed eutectic particles, which mitigated localized corrosion and altered the corrosion morphology from localized to finer corrosion pits. In vitro biocompatibility assessments show over 80% cell viability in C3H10 cultures with 50% Zn–Mg–Sr alloy extract, indicating low cytotoxicity. Furthermore, the alloy exhibits promising bone‐promoting properties, highlighting its potential for biomedical applications.
Functional Living Materials for Virus Disinfection Based on Engineered Bacillus subtilis Biofilm by Displaying Viral Affinity Peptides and Expressing Protease
Authors: Zhu Xiaojuan , Chen Jianshu , Luo Jian , Liu Xue , Xu Yan , Chen Lin , Dong Hao , Zhang Lingfan , Yang Lin , Jiang Nin , Huang Xumeng , Mohsin Ali , Yi Xiaoping , Wang Yonghong , Zhuang Yingping , Zhang Xuehong , Zhang Ke , Zhang Lixin , Zhong Chao , Huang Jiaofang
Published: August 2024

Global pandemics caused by pathogenic viruses have highlighted the need to develop effective and sustainable materials to defend against these viruses. However, most commercial viral disinfection materials rely on precious metals, which are toxic. In this study, an engineered living material based on Bacillus subtilis biofilms is presented that can effectively remove Influenza A virus and SARS‐CoV‐2 from water. First, B. subtilis biofilm is used to display the H1N1 and H5N1 specific binding peptide C40 and SARS‐CoV‐2 specific binding peptide SBP1; thus, the biofilm materials has outstanding efficacy against H1N1, H5N1, and SARS‐CoV‐2 pseudovirus from water. In addition to capturing the virus, these biofilm materials can also inactivate the virus by secreting alkaline protease AprE, which effectively degrades the viral proteins at temperatures of 4, 16, 25, and 37 °C. Furthermore, to constrain bacterial growth and prevent the leakage of genetically modified organisms, a suicide genetic circuit using the quorum‐sensing system ComQXPA to control Lytc expression is constructed, leading to bacterial lysis. Overall, this study demonstrates a novel, effective, and sustainably engineered living material for preventing viral transmission. This material provides a safeguard for public health and promotes environmentally friendly governance.
Aggregate‐Dominated Dilute Electrolytes with Low‐Temperature‐Resistant Ion‐Conducting Channels for Highly Reversible Na Plating/Stripping
Authors: Ge Bingcheng , Deng Jiaojiao , Wang Zhijie , Liang Qinghua , Hu Liang , Ren Xiuyun , Li Runmin , Lin Yuxiao , Li Yunsong , Wang Qingrong , Han Bin , Deng Yonghong , Fan Xiulin , Li Baohua , Chen Guohua , Yu Xiaoliang
Published: August 2024

Developing rechargeable batteries with high power delivery at low temperatures (LT) below 0 °C is significant for cold‐climate applications. Initial anode‐free sodium metal batteries (AFSMBs) promise high LT performances because of the low de‐solvation energy and smaller Stokes radius of Na+, nondiffusion‐limited plating/stripping electrochemistry, and maximized energy density. However, the severe reduction in electrolyte ionic conductivity and formation of unstable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) hinder their practical applications at LT. In this study, a 2‐methyltetrahydrofuran‐based dilute electrolyte is designed to concurrently achieve an anion‐coordinated solvation structure and impressive ionic conductivity of 3.58 mS cm−1 at −40 °C. The dominant aggregate solvates enable the formation of highly efficient and LT‐resistant Na+ hopping channels in the electrolyte. Moreover, the methyl‐regulated electronic structure in 2‐methyltetrahydrofuran induces gradient decomposition toward an inorganic‐organic bilayer SEI with high Na+ mobility, composition homogeneity, and mechanical robustness. As such, a record‐high Coulombic efficiency beyond 99.9% is achieved even at −40 °C. The as‐constructed AFSMBs sustain 300 cycles with 80% capacity maintained, and a 0.5‐Ah level pouch cell delivers 85% capacity over 180 cycles at −25 °C. This study affords new insights into electrolyte formulation for fast ionic conduction and superior Na reversibility at ultralow temperatures.
Metal‐Free Carbon Co‐Catalysts for Up‐Conversion Photo‐Induced Catalytic Cancer Therapy
Authors: Wang Xichu , Sun Bing , Dai Quanbin , Zhu Lin , Gu Zi , Dai Liming
Published: August 2024

Near‐infrared (NIR)‐responsive metal‐free carbon co‐catalysts that convert glucose into H2O2 to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) are developed from phosphorus‐doped carbon nitride (P‐C3N4) and graphene quantum dots (GQD) composites, for enhanced photocatalytic cancer therapy by light exposure in the targeted tumor microenvironment. Upon irradiation, the NIR light is converted by GQD with up‐conversion function into visible light to excite P‐C3N4 for photocatalytic conversion of glucose into H2O2, which subsequently decomposes into ROS. ROS thus generated exhibits an excellent anticancer efficacy for efficient cancer therapy with minimal side effects, as evidenced by both in vitro and in vivo studies. This study demonstrates, for the first time, a cancer therapeutic of GQD/P‐C3N4 composite that utilizes a two‐step cascade effect using initially NIR‐triggered GQD nanoparticles to activate P‐C3N4 to photocatalytically generate ROS for effective and targeted cancer therapy.
Liquid Metal Hydrothermal Rheological Modification Method for High Performance Gallium‐Coated Carbon Microparticle Composites
Authors: Zhou Xiao‐Ping , Luo Zheng , Yang Dong‐Xu
Published: August 2024

Gallium‐based liquid metal (LM) is widely used in flexible electronics, optics, and green synthesis due to its excellent conductivity, flexibility, and self‐healing capabilities. However, LM's inherent fluidity and high surface tension greatly limit their practical applications. Therefore, there is a strong demand for developing LM composites that are easy to control and exhibit outstanding performance when used flexibly. In this work, the LM hydrothermal rheological modification method is proposed to synthesize Ga‐coated carbon microparticles, and the highly miscible rheological modification of LM is realized by mixing LM and Ga‐coated carbon microparticles. Including carbon microparticles in the LM improves the mechanical strength of the composite, thereby overcoming the limitation of the LM that has a low mechanical strength. By controlling the volume fraction of carbon microparticles in LM, electrical conductivity is increased by 30% and thermal conductivity by more than 2.0 times that of pure LM. In addition, the fundamental interfacial wetting behavior is demonstrated at the interface of LM and Ga2O3, and the rheological modification mechanism of LM is explained by carbon particles. This work presents a novel method for preparing high‐performance polymer materials and discusses their broad potential applications in thermal interface materials, wireless energy transfer, and flexible electronics.
Cation‐Doped Cs2BIBIIIX6 Double Perovskites: Electronic Structures, Optical Properties, and Optoelectronic Applications
Authors: Jiang Jialiang , Du Zhentao , Fu Hui , Li Wenjing , Zhang Hao , Xie Hui , Zheng Jinju , Yang Weiyou
Published: August 2024

Recently, all‐inorganic halide double perovskites (DPs) with a chemical formula of Cs2BIBIIIX6 have been emerging as a shinning star to be used in modern optoelectronic devices, due to their unique advantages such as environmentally friendly, high absorption coefficient, low trap densities, tunable bandgap, variable constituent elements and valences states through BI or BIII sites engineering. In this review, first, the impact of BI and BIII cation doping on the electronic structure and optical properties of Cs2BIBIIIX6 DPs are systematically overviewed, which cover several key issues including the interconversion between direct and indirect band gaps, the enhancement of light absorption, promotion of exciton localization, elucidation of energy transfer mechanisms, regulation of defect density and improvement in both stability and luminescence efficiency. Subsequently, state‐of‐the‐art research activities regarding their interesting optoelectronic device applications are systematically discussed, such as light‐emitting diodes, anticounterfeiting encryption, X‐ray scintillators, and optical thermometry. Finally, the existing difficulties, prospects, and research directions in this field are proposed.
Irreversible Electroporation has More Synergistic Effect with Anti‐PD‐1 Immunotherapy than Thermal Ablation or Cryoablation, in a Colorectal Cancer Model
Authors: Jiang Minhan , Shao Qi , Slaughter Joseph , Bischof John
Published: August 2024

Boosting the response rate of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy to improve treatment efficacy is a primary goal in cancer immunotherapy. One of the promising approaches involves focal tumor ablation to reduce tumor burden and trigger the in situ vaccination. Even though this combination strategy has demonstrated enhanced therapeutic outcomes in both preclinical research and clinical trials, limited research has comparatively investigated diverse ablation techniques. The optimal choice among focal therapy techniques remains largely unknown. In a murine colorectal cancer model (MC‐38), the therapeutic efficacy of anti‐PD‐1 in combination with thermal ablation, cryoablation, and irreversible electroporation (IRE) is evaluated, utilizing well‐characterized miniature probes. In this model, ICB monotherapy has limited effect in controlling tumor growth. IRE exhibits the most favorable synergistic effect with anti‐PD‐1 immunotherapy than thermal ablation or cryoablation, leading to the greatest primary tumor growth delay, longest tumor‐free survival, and highest protection against secondary tumor challenge. Furthermore, the co‐administration of IRE and anti‐PD‐1 significantly fosters the infiltration of CD8+ T cells into the tumor coupled with a remarkable stem‐like progenitor phenotype. The findings demonstrate that IRE stands as a promising modality that can potentiate the antitumor efficacy when the tumor is poorly responding to ICB monotherapy.
Mitochondria Transplantation to Bone Marrow Stromal Cells Promotes Angiogenesis During Bone Repair
Authors: Wang Yifan , Li Wenjing , Guo Yusi , Huang Ying , Guo Yaru , Song Jia , Mei Feng , Liao Peiwen , Gong Zijian , Chi Xiaopei , Deng Xuliang
Published: August 2024

Angiogenesis is crucial for successful bone defect repair. Co‐transplanting Bone Marrow Stromal Cells (BMSCs) and Endothelial Cells (ECs) has shown promise for vascular augmentation, but it face challenges in hostile tissue microenvironments, including poor cell survival and limited efficacy. In this study, the mitochondria of human BMSCs are isolated and transplanted to BMSCs from the same batch and passage number (BMSCsmito). The transplanted mitochondria significantly boosted the ability of BMSCsmito‐ECs to promote angiogenesis, as assessed by in vitro tube formation and spheroid sprouting assays, as well as in vivo transplantation experiments in balb/c mouse and SD rat models. The Dll4‐Notch1 signaling pathway is found to play a key role in BMSCsmito‐induced endothelial tube formation. Co‐transplanting BMSCsmito with ECs in a rat cranial bone defect significantly improves functional vascular network formation, and improve bone repair outcomes. These findings thus highlight that mitochondrial transplantation, by acting through the DLL4‐Notch1 signaling pathway, represents a promising therapeutic strategy for enhancing angiogenesis and improving bone repair. Hence, mitochondrial transplantation to BMSCS as a therapeutic approach for promoting angiogenesis offers valuable insights and holds much promise for innovative regenerative medicine therapies.
Piezoelectric Bilayer Nickel‐Iron Layered Double Hydroxide Nanosheets with Tumor Microenvironment Responsiveness for Intensive Piezocatalytic Therapy
Authors: Liu Shaohua , Bao Jianchun , Tian Boshi , Li Shuyao , Yang Meiqi , Yang Dan , Lu Xuyun , Liu Xueliang , Gai Shili , Yang Piaoping
Published: August 2024

Piezocatalytic therapy (PCT) based on 2D layered materials has emerged as a promising non‐invasive tumor treatment modality, offering superior advantages. However, a systematic investigation of PCT, particularly the mechanisms underlying the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation by 2D nanomaterials, is still in its infancy. Here, for the first time, biodegradable piezoelectric 2D bilayer nickel‐iron layered double hydroxide (NiFe‐LDH) nanosheets (thickness of ≈1.86 nm) are reported for enhanced PCT and ferroptosis. Under ultrasound irradiation, the piezoelectric semiconducting NiFe‐LDH exhibits a remarkable ability to generate superoxide anion radicals, due to the formation of a built‐in electric field that facilitates the separation of electrons and holes. Notably, the significant excitonic effect in the ultrathin NiFe‐LDH system enables long‐lived excited triplet excitons (lifetime of ≈5.04 µs) to effectively convert triplet O2 molecules into singlet oxygen. Moreover, NiFe‐LDH exhibited tumor microenvironment (TME)‐responsive peroxidase (POD)‐like and glutathione (GSH)‐depleting capabilities, further enhancing oxidative stress in tumor cells and inducing ferroptosis. To the best of knowledge, this is the first report on piezoelectric semiconducting sonosensitizers based on LDHs for PCT and ferroptosis, providing a comprehensive understanding of the piezocatalysis mechanism and valuable references for the application of LDHs and other 2D materials in cancer therapy.
Bacterial Iron Siderophore Drives Tumor Survival and Ferroptosis Resistance in a Biofilm‐Tumor Spheroid Coculture Model
Authors: Yeung Yoyo Wing Suet , Ma Yeping , Deng Yanlin , Khoo Bee Luan , Chua Song Lin
Published: August 2024

Interactions between tumoral cells and tumor‐associated bacteria within the tumor microenvironment play a significant role in tumor survival and progression, potentially impacting cancer treatment outcomes. In lung cancer patients, the Gram‐negative pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa raises questions about its role in tumor survival. Here, a microfluidic‐based 3D‐human lung tumor spheroid‐P. aeruginosa model is developed to study the bacteria's impact on tumor survival. P. aeruginosa forms a tumor‐associated biofilm by producing Psl exopolysaccharide and secreting iron‐scavenging pyoverdine, which is critical for establishing a bacterial community in tumors. Consequently, pyoverdine promotes cancer progression by reducing susceptibility to iron‐induced death (ferroptosis), enhancing cell viability, and facilitating several cancer hallmarks, including epithelial–mesenchymal transition and metastasis. A promising combinatorial therapy approach using antimicrobial tobramycin, ferroptosis‐inducing thiostrepton, and anti‐cancer doxorubicin could eradicate biofilms and tumors. This work unveils a novel phenomenon of cross‐kingdom cooperation, where bacteria protect tumors from death, and it paves the way for future research in developing antibiofilm cancer therapies. Understanding these interactions offers potential new strategies for combatting cancer and enhancing treatment efficacy.
Berberine Protects against Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression by Regulating Intrahepatic T Cell Heterogeneity
Authors: Hu Jiaxiang , Shi Qingmiao , Xue Chen , Wang Qingqing
Published: August 2024

Accumulating evidence suggests that berberine (BBR) exhibits anti‐cancer effects in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the mechanisms by which BBR regulates the immunological microenvironment in HCC has not been fully elucidated. In this study, a mouse model of orthotopic HCC is established and treated with varying doses of BBR. BBR showed effectiveness in reducing tumor burden in mice with HCC. Cytometry by time‐of‐flight depicted the alterations in the tumor immune landscape following BBR treatment, revealing the enhancement in the T lymphocytes effector function. In particular, BBR decreased the proportion of TCRbhiPD‐1hiCD69+CD27+ effector CD8+ T lymphocytes and increased the proportion of Ly6ChiTCRb+CD69+CD27+CD62L+ central memory CD8+ T lymphocytes. Single‐cell RNA sequencing further elucidates the effects of BBR on transcriptional profiles of liver immune cells and confirms the phenotypical heterogeneity of T lymphocytes in HCC immune microenvironment. Additionally, it is found that BBR potentially regulated the antitumor immunity in HCC by modulating the receptor‐ligand interaction among immune cells mediated by cytokines. In summary, the findings improve the understanding of BBR's impact on protecting against HCC, emphasizing BBR's role in regulating intrahepatic T cell heterogeneity. BBR has the potential to be a promising therapeutic strategy to hinder the advancement of HCC.
Low‐entropy‐penalty synthesis of giant macrocycles for good self‐assembly and emission enhancement
Authors: Sun Xiao‐Na , Liu Ao , Xu Kaidi , Zheng Zhe , Xu Kai , Dong Ming , Ding Bo , Li Jian , Zhang Zhi‐Yuan , Li Chunju
Published: August 2024

Macrocycles are key tools for molecular recognition and self‐assembly. However, traditionally prevalent macrocyclic compounds exhibit specific cavities with diameters usually less than 1 nm, limiting their range of applications in supramolecular chemistry. The efficient synthesis of giant macrocycles remains a significant challenge because an increase in the monomer number results in cyclization‐entropy loss. In this study, we developed a low‐entropy‐penalty synthesis strategy for producing giant macrocycles in high yields. In this process, long and rigid monomers possessing two reaction modules were condensed with paraformaldehyde via Friedel–Crafts reaction. A series of giant macrocycles with cavities of sizes ranging from 2.0 to 4.7 nm were successfully synthesized with cyclization yields of up to 72%. Experimental results and theoretical calculations revealed that extending the monomer length rather than increasing the monomer numbers could notably reduce the cyclization‐entropy penalty and avoid configuration twists, thereby favoring the formation of giant macrocycles with large cavities. Significantly, the excellent self‐assembly capacity of these giant macrocycles promoted their assembly into organogels. The xerogels exhibited enhanced photoluminescence quantum efficiencies of up to 83.1%. Mechanism investigation revealed the excellent assembly capacity originated from the abundant π–π interactions sites of the giant macrocycles. The outstanding emission enhancement resulted from the restricted nonradiative decay processes of rotation/vibration and improved radiative decay process of fluorescence. This study provides an effective and general method for achieving giant macrocycles, thereby expanding the supramolecular toolbox for host–guest chemistry and assembly applications. Moreover, the intriguing assembly and photophysical properties demonstrate the feasibility of developing novel and unique properties by expanding the macrocycle size.
Gender differences in the proportion of Japanese parents meeting 24‐h movement guidelines and associations with weight status
Authors: Tanaka Chiaki , Tremblay Mark S. , Tanaka Shigeho
Published: August 2024

Objectives

Parents' healthy behaviors are important for both their health and role models for their children. The purpose of this study was to evaluate adherence to the three recommendations associated with health in the Canadian 24‐h movement or Japanese physical activity (PA) guidelines and their relationship with weight status (underweight or obesity) in Japanese parents.

Methods

This cross‐sectional study included 425 mothers and 237 fathers. Meeting the 24‐h movement guidelines was defined as: ≥150 min/week of moderate‐to‐vigorous PA (MVPA) (Canada) or at least 60 min/day of MVPA (Japan), ≤8 h/day of sedentary time which includes ≤3 h of recreational screen time, and 7 to 9 h/night of sleep. MVPA and sedentary time were accelerometer‐determined while screen time and sleep duration were self‐reported.

Results

The prevalence of mothers meeting all three recommendations was 30.6% using Canadian PA guidelines and 20.7% using Japanese PA guidelines, while that of fathers was 10.6% and 8.0%, respectively. Mothers not meeting the sedentary behavior recommendation had a lower odds ratio and those not meeting Japanese PA recommendations had a higher odds ratio for underweight compared to mothers meeting the recommendations, adjusted for age and area socioeconomic status.

Conclusions

The screen time recommendation and Japanese PA recommendation were associated with underweight in mothers. None of the recommendations was associated with weight status in fathers. Further research is needed to understand the relationships among movement behaviors and weight status, particularly among Japanese women, whose routine behaviors, such as household activities, may be misclassified by a questionnaire.
Heterozygous loss of function variants in IFT140 are associated with polycystic kidney disease
Authors: Clark Dinah , Burns Robert , Bloom Michelle S. , Lim Karen Phaik Har , Li Lili , Vincent Lisa M. , Xie Jing , Xue Yuan , Punj Sumit
Published: August 2024

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) affects 1 in 1000 adults. Most cases result from causative PKD1 or PKD2 variants. HNF1B, GANAB and ALG9 variants are also associated with ADPKD. Recent evidence indicates that monoallelic loss‐of‐function (LoF) IFT140 variants are a cause for non‐syndromic ADPKD. We describe 368 patients with IFT140 LoF variants and a spectrum of phenotypic findings that support the association of IFT140 with PKD. We reviewed patients with an unknown cause for their cystic disease and those with heterozygous LoF IFT140 variants classified as pathogenic or likely pathogenic from a cohort that received genetic testing using a panel of 385 renal disease‐associated genes. IFT140 LoF variants were significantly enriched in patients with cystic disease when compared with those without cystic disease. A cystic phenotype was reported in 223 of the 368 (60.6%) individuals harboring an IFT140 LoF variant, 98% of which had no other identified cause for their cystic disease. Of 122 unique LoF IFT140 variants identified, 56 (46%) were frameshift, 38 (31%) nonsense, 22 (18%) splice site and 6 (5%) exon‐level deletions. Only six IFT140 individuals were reported with end‐stage kidney disease, consistent with observed milder clinical presentations in IFT140‐related PKD. This study offers further evidence for the involvement of LoF IFT140 variants in PKD, particularly when no additional molecular etiology has been identified.
Implementing the HEALing Matters program in residential out‐of‐home care: Evaluation of carers' commitment to promoting healthy lifestyle behaviours
Authors: Cox (nee Green) Rachael , Hatzikiriakidis Kostas , Tate Ruby , Bruce Lauren , Smales Madelaine , Crawford‐Tagliaferro Addison , Patitsas Luke , Galvin Emma , Skouteris Helen
Published: August 2024

HEALing Matters is an online professional development training program being implemented across the Victorian out‐of‐home care sector. HEALing Matters uses a trauma‐informed philosophy to guide carers' understanding of the link between young people's healthy lifestyle behaviours and improved physical and psychosocial outcomes. This article reports the findings of a qualitative evaluation, which sought to understand whether participation in HEALing Matters fostered a sense of commitment, dedication and/or the introduction of new practices to create a healthy “home.” Semistructured interviews were conducted with 27 residential carers who completed the training and transcripts underwent thematic analysis. Four major themes evidencing healthy lifestyle behaviours were developed: (1) promotion of a healthy eating environment, (2) making physical activity a habit, (3) building connection through food and physical activity and (4) improved predictability and consistency. Implementation of HEALing Matters facilitated positive changes in health behaviours, supported carers to use food and activity to provide responsive caregiving and created a sense of safety and security through the introduction of household routines. The findings emphasise the importance of upskilling carers in preventative health practices and approaches to best support the health and well‐being of young people in care.
Omics‐derived biological modules reflect metabolic brain changes in Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Povala Guilherme , De Bastiani Marco Antônio , Bellaver Bruna , Ferreira Pamela C. L. , Ferrari‐Souza João Pedro , Lussier Firoza Z. , Souza Diogo O. , Rosa‐Neto Pedro , Pascoal Tharick A. , Zatt Bruno , Zimmer Eduardo R. ,   for the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: August 2024

INTRODUCTION

Brain glucose hypometabolism, indexed by the fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography ([18F]FDG‐PET) imaging, is a metabolic signature of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the underlying biological pathways involved in these metabolic changes remain elusive.

METHODS

Here, we integrated [18F]FDG‐PET images with blood and hippocampal transcriptomic data from cognitively unimpaired (CU, n = 445) and cognitively impaired (CI, n = 749) individuals using modular dimension reduction techniques and voxel‐wise linear regression analysis.

RESULTS

Our results showed that multiple transcriptomic modules are associated with brain [18F]FDG‐PET metabolism, with the top hits being a protein serine/threonine kinase activity gene cluster (peak‐t(223) = 4.86, P value < 0.001) and zinc‐finger–related regulatory units (peak‐t(223) = 3.90, P value < 0.001).

DISCUSSION

By integrating transcriptomics with PET imaging data, we identified that serine/threonine kinase activity–associated genes and zinc‐finger–related regulatory units are highly associated with brain metabolic changes in AD.

Highlights

We conducted an integrated analysis of system‐based transcriptomics and fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography ([18F]FDG‐PET) at the voxel level in Alzheimer's disease (AD).

The biological process of serine/threonine kinase activity was the most associated with [18F]FDG‐PET in the AD brain.

Serine/threonine kinase activity alterations are associated with brain vulnerable regions in AD [18F]FDG‐PET.

Zinc‐finger transcription factor targets were associated with AD brain [18F]FDG‐PET metabolism.
The informatics of ADNI
Authors: Toga Arthur W. , Neu Scott , Sheehan Sidney Taiko , Crawford Karen ,   for the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: August 2024

The Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) has revolutionized the landscape of Alzheimer's research through its Informatics Core, which has facilitated unprecedented data standardization and sharing. Over 20 years, ADNI established a robust informatics framework, enabling the validation of biomarkers and supporting global research efforts. The Informatics Core, centered at the Laboratory of Neuro Imaging (LONI), provides a comprehensive data hub that ensures data quality, accessibility, and security, fostering over 5600 publications and significant scientific advancements. By embracing open data sharing principles, ADNI set a gold standard in data transparency, allowing over 26,000 investigators from 169 countries to access and download a wealth of multimodal data. This collaborative approach not only accelerated biomarker discovery and drug development and advanced our understanding of Alzheimer's disease but also has served as a model for other research initiatives, demonstrating the transformative potential of carefully designed informatics models and shared data in driving global scientific progress.

Highlights

Accelerating biomarker discovery and drug development for Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative's (ADNI's) open data sharing drives scientific progress.

Data exploration and coupled analytics to data archives.
Standardized statistical framework for comparison of biomarkers: Techniques from ADNI
Authors: Harvey Danielle J. , Tosun Duygu , Jack Clifford R. , Weiner Michael , Beckett Laurel A. ,   for the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: August 2024

INTRODUCTION

Well‐chosen biomarkers have the potential to increase the efficiency of clinical trials and drug discovery and should show good precision as well as clinical validity.

METHODS

We suggest measures that operationalize these criteria and describe a general approach that can be used for inference‐based comparisons of biomarker performance. The methods are applied to measures obtained from structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) from individuals with mild dementia (n = 70) or mild cognitive impairment (MCI; n = 303) enrolled in the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative.

RESULTS

Ventricular volume and hippocampal volume showed the best precision in detecting change over time in both individuals with MCI and with dementia. Differences in clinical validity varied by group.

DISCUSSION

The methodology presented provides a standardized framework for comparison of biomarkers across modalities and across different methods used to generate similar measures and will help in the search for the most promising biomarkers.

Highlights

A framework for comparison of biomarkers on pre‐defined criteria is presented.

Criteria for comparison include precision in capturing change and clinical validity.

Ventricular volume has high precision in change for both dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) trials.

Imaging measures’ performance in clinical validity varies more for dementia than for MCI.
Gaze cueing improves pattern recognition of histology learners
Authors: Bellstedt Michelle , Holtrup Adrian , Otto Nils , Berndt Markus , Scherff Aline Doreen , Papan Cihan , Robitzsch Anita , Missler Markus , Darici Dogus
Published: August 2024

Experts perceive and evaluate domain‐specific visual information with high accuracy. In doing so, they exhibit eye movements referred to as “expert gaze” to rapidly focus on task‐relevant areas. Using eye tracking, it is possible to record these implicit gaze patterns and present them to histology novice learners during training. This article presents a comprehensive evaluation of such expert gaze cueing on pattern recognition of medical students in histology. For this purpose, 53 students were randomized into two groups over eight histology sessions. The control group was presented with an instructional histology video featuring voice commentary. The gaze cueing group was presented the same video, but with an additional overlay of a live recording of the expert's eye movements. Afterward, students' pattern recognition was assessed through 20 image‐based tasks (5 retention, 15 transfer) and their cognitive load with the Paas scale. Results showed that gaze cueing significantly outperformed the control group (p = 0.007; d = 0.40). This effect was evident for both, retention (p = 0.003) and transfer tasks (p = 0.046), and generalized across different histological contexts. The cognitive load was similar in both groups. In conclusion, gaze cueing helps histology novice learners to develop their pattern recognition skills, offering a promising method for histology education. Histology educators could benefit from this instructional strategy to provide new forms of attentional guidance to learners in visually complex learning environments.
TICT, and Deep‐Blue Electroluminescence from Acceptor‐Donor‐Acceptor Molecules
Authors: Linet Amrutham , Nair Aparna G. , Achankunju Simi , Rajeev Kavya , Unni Narayanan , Neogi Ishita
Published: August 2024

Donor‐acceptor (D‐A) materials based on butterfly‐shaped molecules could inhibit exciton‐migration‐induced quenching due to molecular twist. To explore this attribute towards beneficial photophysical properties, three novel bipolar acceptor‐donor‐acceptor (A‐D‐A) molecules with triphenyl triazine end capping along with substitution ortho to the Tröger's base (TB) scaffold varying from H, Me, and F were explored. The installation of H/Me/F imparted an electron push‐pull effect with concomitant maneuvering of photophysical properties. On increasing solvent polarity, a remarkable bathochromic shift with a significant decrease in emission efficiency was observed due to the twisted intramolecular charge transfer state (TICT). Emission enhancement in the ethylene glycol‐water mixture and diminution in the THF‐water mixture further confirmed the existence of TICT states in these TBs. The torsional dynamics in the excited state were also evidenced by the time‐dependent density‐functional theory (TD‐DFT) calculations. Owing to the butterfly architecture of the TB that suppressed TICT, TB‐Trzs exhibited a significant blue shift, accompanied by a favorable quantum yield in the solid state. Among the three compounds, Me‐TB‐Trz exhibited deep‐blue photoluminescence and was explored as a dopant in organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) to obtain deep‐blue electroluminescence of brightness 4128 cdm−2 and CIE coordinates of (0.16, 0.09).
Enhanced Hydrogen Production via Photothermal‐Coupled Ultrasound Pyrolysis of Waste Bio‐Oil
Authors: Li Xiaoxiao , Wang Yuebing , Liu Chunxue , Wei Huimin , Xu Jinshan , Lu Chunhua , Kou Jiahui , Sun Lin‐Bing
Published: August 2024

The creation of hydrogen using the lower‐cost feedstock, waste organics (WOs), e. g. kitchen waste bio‐oil, is a win‐win solution, because it can both solve energy problems and reduce environmental pollution. Ultrasound has received considerable interest in organic decomposition; however, the application of ultrasound alone is not a good choice for the hydrogen production from WOs, because of the energy consumption and efficiency. To boost the hydrogen production based on ultrasonic cavitation cracking of bio‐oil, photothermal materials are introduced into the hydrogen production system to form localized hot spots. Materials carbon black (CB), carbon nanotubes (CNT), and silicon dioxide (SiO2) all exhibit significant enhancing effects on the hydrogen production from bio‐oil, and the CB exhibits the most significant strengthening effect among these materials. When the dosage of CB is 5 mg, hydrogen production rate is 180.1 μmol h−1, representing a notable 1.7‐fold increase compared to the production rate without CB. In the presence of light and ultrasound, the hydrogen production rate can be increased by 66.7‐fold compared to the situation where only light is present without ultrasound.
Stability analysis of polynomials with an approach of differential topology
Authors: López‐Flores Eleazar , Aguirre‐Hernández Baltazar , Frías‐Armenta Martín Eduardo
Published: August 2024

In this paper, we study the Hurwitz stability of polynomials. By considering that a
degree Hurwitz polynomial has its corresponding Markov parameters, we define the set
in Section 3, we also define
. Based on properties of the Hankel matrices and the stability test, as well as by using ideas of differential topology, we show that
is a fiber bundle with a
base. This result allows us to obtain an interesting application: Given a Hurwitz polynomial, we can generate two families of positive definite Hankel matrices.
Relationships between autistic traits, self‐efficacy, and internalizing symptoms in a nonclinical sample of Indian early adolescents
Authors: Cherewick Megan , Cruz Christina M. , Giri Priscilla , Matergia Michael , Rai Roshan P.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Having more “autistic traits” is associated with an increased risk of mental health conditions. However, few studies have examined autistic traits in nonclinical samples. This study aims to analyze the relationship between autistic traits and internalizing symptoms among early adolescents and to examine the moderating effect of self‐efficacy.

Methods

Survey data were collected from early adolescents ages 10–14 living in Darjeeling, India (n = 274) to assess autistic traits, self‐efficacy, and internalizing symptoms.

Results

Higher internalizing symptoms were significantly associated with a higher report of autistic traits. Academic, social, and emotional dimensions of self‐efficacy moderated the relationship between autistic traits and internalizing symptoms.

Conclusion

The moderation effects between social and emotional self‐efficacy among youth with high versus low autism trait scores suggest the need for social‐emotional learning interventions designed for and with neurodivergent youth. Such interventions aim to reduce internalizing symptoms during early adolescence and improve future mental health trajectories.