bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analytical Alternatives for the Analysis of Marine Biotoxins
Authors: Martins J. M. Leão , Martínez A. Gago
Published: March 2024

The impact of marine biotoxins on human and animal health represents an important concern for health authorities worldwide, and big efforts have been developed over the past few years by the scientific community working in this field not only to evaluate their toxicological impact but also to develop sensitive and efficient analytical methods to carry out their control. In addition, the occurrence of these toxins in seafood, mainly in bivalve mollusks, also induces dramatic economic damage to shellfish farming. Three main groups of toxins are included in the
European Union
(
EU
) legislation nowadays: these toxins have been categorized according to their toxicology or their chemical properties,
amnesic shellfish poisoning
(
ASP
), paralytic shellfish poisoning (PST), and
lipophilic toxin
s (
LPT
s) being the three groups for which regulatory limits have been established.

Ciguatoxin
s (
CTX
s),
tetrodotoxin
s (
TTX
s), and others are considered emerging toxins. In the past decades they have been reported in waters where their appearance has never been reported before. Their appearance is related to climate changes, with the globalization of markets and the export of marine products from different areas of world production.

This review is focused on providing an updated overview of the different analytical approaches for the detection and quantitation of the marine biotoxins currently regulated in the EU and emerging toxins. The replacement of the
mouse bioassay
(
MBA
) as reference method in the EU Legislation by
liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry
(
LC–MS/MS
) marked a new era in the analysis of marine biotoxins. The search of analytical alternatives for routine monitoring and the production of standards and reference materials are nowadays considered the main priorities in the field, along with the validation and implementation of the official methods.
Applications of Supercontinuum Sources for Trace Gas Sensing
Authors: Jahromi Khalil E. , Khodabakhsh Amir , Cristescu Simona M. , Harren Frans J.M.
Published: March 2024

Optical absorption spectroscopy is a widely used method for gas detection, with many different applications in physics, chemistry, biology, environmental science, etc. Recent developments in mid‐infrared supercontinuum sources have opened up new possibilities for trace gas detection in these research fields. Supercontinuum sources have a wide spectral range (spectral coverage of a lamp), a high light intensity, and a high spatial coherence (directionality of a laser). The wide coverage enables to detect gases in complex gas mixtures, while the directionality allows a long path length through the gas sample, thereby improving the sensitivity for specific gases. After a short historical overview and background on the generation of supercontinuum light, attention is focused on the combination of supercontinuum sources, gas cells, and spectroscopic detection systems, to achieve an optimal detection limit and selectivity for gasses. The main methods for improving thesignal‐to‐noise ratio(SNR) and detection sensitivity of gases are discussed. Applications are described with examples of the detection of gaseous pollutants in the atmosphere, postharvest physiology, and plasmas analysis.
Application of Low‐ and High‐resolution Liquid Chromatography‐Mass Spectrometry for the Determination of Contaminants in Food Matrices
Authors: Boti Vasiliki I. , Koloka Ourania L. , Konstantinou Ioannis K.
Published: March 2024

Food quality and safety are becoming a top priority to consumers, food suppliers, food manufacturers, and regulators as markets become more and more globalized. The use of
liquid chromatography combined with mass spectrometry
(
LC‐MS
) has proven to be incomparable in several ways in food analysis. Most of the effective LC‐MS methods currently used involve different MS analyzers, such as
triple‐quadrupole
(
QqQ
),
ion‐trap
(
IT
),
time‐of‐flight
(
TOF
), or orbitrap technology for the identification and quantification of contaminants in food commodities. The analysis of food matrices for the presence of contaminants belongs to the main application areas of these technologies and requires a thorough evaluation of their strength and limitations in order to secure scientific progress in this particular area of analysis. This article focuses on gathering the knowledge and comparing LC‐MS methodologies, applying both low‐ and high‐resolution mass analyzers, for the determination of contaminants in food matrices, with a particular focus on pesticides, veterinary drugs, and
per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances
(
PFAS
).
Bespoke Metal Nanoparticle Synthesis at Room Temperature and Discovery of Chemical Knowledge on Nanoparticle Growth via Autonomous Experimentations
Authors: Yoo Hyuk Jun , Kim Nayeon , Lee Heeseung , Kim Daeho , Ow Leslie Tiong Ching , Nam Hyobin , Kim Chansoo , Lee Seung Yong , Lee Kwan‐Young , Kim Donghun , Han Sang Soo
Published: March 2024

The optimization of nanomaterial synthesis using numerous synthetic variables is considered to be an extremely laborious task because conventional combinatorial explorations are prohibitively expensive. In this work, an autonomous experimentation platform developed for the bespoke design of metal nanoparticles (NPs) with targeted optical properties is reported. This platform operates in a closed‐loop manner between the batch synthesis module of metal NPs and the UV–vis spectroscopy module, based on the feedback of the AI optimization modeling. With silver (Ag) NPs as a representative example, it is demonstrated that the Bayesian optimizer implemented with the early stopping criterion can efficiently produce Ag NPs at room temperature precisely possessing the desired absorption spectra within only 200 iterations (when optimizing among five aqueous synthetic reagents). In addition to the outstanding material developmental efficiency, the analysis of synthetic variables further reveals a novel chemistry involving the quantitative effects of citrate in Ag NP synthesis. The amount of citrate is key to controlling the competition between spherical and plate‐shaped NPs and, as a result, affects the shapes of the absorption spectra as well. This study highlights both capabilities of the platform to enhance search efficiencies and to provide novel chemical knowledge by analyzing datasets accumulated from autonomous experimentations.
A Multifunctional Additive Capable of Electrolyte Stabilization and Structure/Interphases Regulation of High‐Energy Li‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Li Yuchen , Qu Qunting , Lv Linze , Shao Jie , Zheng Honghe
Published: March 2024

Ni‐rich cathodes are regarded as the most suitable candidates for high‐energy‐density Li‐ion batteries (LIBs). However, the structural degradation of Ni‐rich cathodes and high reactivity of electrolytes at the high‐potential cathodes greatly affect the cycling stability. One of the prime reasons is that HF produced by the thermal decomposition and hydrolysis of the electrolyte salt LiPF6 can cause corrosion at the electrode/electrolyte interface, promote the transition‐metal dissolution from cathode, and aggravate the decomposition of the electrolyte. This work develops a multifunctional and promising silane‐based electrolyte additive, vinyltrimethylsilane (VTMS), which is generally applicable to Ni‐rich cathode‐based LIBs. Theoretical calculations and practical experiments reveal that VTMS is capable of eliminating HF, stabilizing PF5, and suppressing the hydrolysis of LiPF6. Besides, the additive VTMS undergoes redox reactions prior to other electrolyte components, mitigates the electrolyte decomposition, and constructs superior interphases at both cathode and anode. The electrochemical performance of LIBs is significantly improved at both room temperature (25 °C) and low temperature (0 °C), demonstrating that VTMS has broad application prospects in LIBs. The development of such a multifunctional additive is of great importance for simplifying the electrolyte composition.
Critical Criteria Depicting the Rational Design of Zn Anode Current Collector
Authors: Weng Gao , Dong Zixing , Xiang Pan , Zhu Yelin , Wu Chao , Yang Xianzhong , Liu Huakun , Dou Shixue
Published: March 2024

By virtue of the intrinsic safety and cost‐effectiveness, aqueous Zn‐ion batteries (AZIBs) have gained increasing attention in the realm of energy storage. In spite of the promise of Zn anode, challenges like dendrite growth and side reactions persist as hurdles to be overcome. Addressing this, the rational design of Zn anode current collectors (ZACCs) is an effective solution. Recent years have witnessed the significant strides in the construction of ZACCs, yet the precise pathways for ZACC development remain unclear, lacking a set of specific criteria to guide progress. In this comprehensive review, acknowledging the concerns surrounding Zn anodes, six criteria—electrical conductivity, zincophilicity, orientational deposition inducibility, chemical stability, mechanical durability, and scalability—are innovatively put forward as pivotal benchmarks for the design of ZACCs. Each criterion is accompanied by tailored optimization strategies and corresponding challenges. Furthermore, future trend in ZACCs development is envisaged, along with potential application scenarios for AZIBs. This review will expedite the advancement of ZACCs and contribute to the flourishing landscape of AZIBs.
Chiral Magnetic Quasiparticles with Zero Topological Charge in 2D Lattice
Authors: Du Wenhui , He Zhonglin , Dou Kaiying , Li Xinru , Dai Ying , Huang Baibiao , Ma Yandong
Published: March 2024

Chiral quasiparticles, such as magnetic skyrmions, are fundamental phenomena in the field of condensed‐matter physics. So far, several chiral quasiparticles with nontrivial topology have been theoretically predicted and experimentally confirmed, most characterized by carrying a nonzero topological charge. Here, through model analysis, a mechanism of realizing chiral magnetic quasiparticles with zero topological charge in the 2D lattice is proposed. The physics is related to the marriage of layer‐dependent staggered Dzyaloshinskii‐Moriya interaction and interlayer exchange interaction, and the nontrivial topology is protected indirectly. By means of first‐principles calculations and atomic spin model simulations, this mechanism in a real material of bilayer Tl2NO2 is further demonstrated. The realized chiral quasiparticles with zero topological charge can be considered as the superposition of vortex and anti‐vortex. Even though the topological charge is zero, their topologies are nontrivial, indirectly protected by the correlated magnetic bimerons. The finding opens up a new direction for the research on topological spin structures in 2D lattice.
Highly Sensitive and Fast Responding Flexible Force Sensors Using ZnO/ZnMgO Coaxial Nanotubes on Graphene Layers for Breath Sensing
Authors: Ali Asad , Lee Jamin , Kim Kyoungho , Oh Hongseok , Yi Gyu‐Chul
Published: March 2024

The authors report the fabrication of highly sensitive, rapidly responding flexible force sensors using ZnO/ZnMgO coaxial nanotubes grown on graphene layers and their applications in sleep apnea monitoring. Flexible force sensors are fabricated by forming Schottky contacts to the nanotube array, followed by the mechanical release of the entire structure from the host substrate. The electrical characteristics of ZnO and ZnO/ZnMgO nanotube‐based sensors are thoroughly investigated and compared. Importantly, in force sensor applications, the ZnO/ZnMgO coaxial structure results in significantly higher sensitivity and a faster response time when compared to the bare ZnO nanotube. The origin of the improved performance is thoroughly discussed. Furthermore, wireless breath sensing is demonstrated using the ZnO/ZnMgO pressure sensors with custom electronics, demonstrating the feasibility of the sensor technology for health monitoring and the potential diagnosis of sleep apnea.
Materials and Strategies to Enhance Melt Electrowriting Potential
Authors: Saiz Paula G. , Reizabal Ander , Vilas‐Vilela Jose Luis , Dalton Paul D. , Lanceros‐Mendez Senentxu
Published: March 2024

Melt electrowriting (MEW) is an emerging additive manufacturing (AM) technology that enables the precise deposition of continuous polymeric microfibers, allowing for the creation of high‐resolution constructs. In recent years, MEW has undergone a revolution, with the introduction of active properties or additional functionalities through novel polymer processing strategies, the incorporation of functional fillers, postprocessing, or the combination with other techniques. While extensively explored in biomedical applications, MEW's potential in other fields remains untapped. Thus, this review explores MEW's characteristics from a materials science perspective, emphasizing the diverse range of materials and composites processed by this technique and their current and potential applications. Additionally, the prospects offered by postprinting processing techniques are explored, together with the synergy achieved by combining melt electrowriting with other manufacturing methods. By highlighting the untapped potentials of MEW, this review aims to inspire research groups across various fields to leverage this technology for innovative endeavors.
Fracture‐Resistant Stretchable Materials: An Overview from Methodology to Applications
Authors: Guo Xiwei , Dong Yue , Qin Jianliang , Zhang Qi , Zhu He , Zhu Shiping
Published: March 2024

Stretchable materials, such as gels and elastomers, are attractive materials in diverse applications. Their versatile fabrication platforms enable the creation of materials with various physiochemical properties and geometries. However, the mechanical performance of traditional stretchable materials is often hindered by the deficiencies in their energy dissipation system, leading to lower fracture resistance and impeding their broader range of applications. Therefore, the synthesis of fracture‐resistant stretchable materials has attracted great interest. This review comprehensively summarizes key design considerations for constructing fracture‐resistant stretchable materials, examines their synthesis strategies to achieve elevated fracture energy, and highlights recent advancements in their potential applications.
Tailoring Single‐Mode Random Lasing of Tin Halide Perovskites Integrated in a Vertical Cavity
Authors: Adl Hamid Pashaei , Sánchez‐Díaz Jesús , Vescio Giovanni , Cirera Albert , Garrido Blas , Pacheco Felipe Andres Vinocour , Żuraw Wiktor , Przypis Łukasz , Öz Senol , Mora‐Seró Iván , Martínez‐Pastor Juan P. , Suárez Isaac
Published: March 2024

The development of random lasing (RL) with predictable and controlled properties is an important step to make these cheap optical sources stable and reliable. However, the design of tailored RL characteristics (emission energy, threshold, number of modes) is only obtained with complex photonic structures, while the simplest optical configurations able to tune the RL are still a challenge. This work demonstrates the tuning of the RL characteristics in spin‐coated and inkjet‐printed tin‐based perovskites integrated into a vertical cavity with low quality factor. When the cavity mode is resonant with the photoluminescence (PL) peak energy, standard vertical lasing is observed. More importantly, single mode RL operation with the lowest threshold and a quality factor as high as 1 000 (twenty times the quality factor of the resonator) is obtained if the cavity mode lies above the PL peak energy due to higher gain. These results can have important technological implications toward the development of low‐cost RL sources without chaotic behavior.
Electrolyte Design for High‐Voltage Lithium‐Metal Batteries with Synthetic Sulfonamide‐Based Solvent and Electrochemically Active Additives
Authors: Kim Saehun , Jeon Ji Hwan , Park Kyobin , Kweon Seong Hyeon , Hyun Jae‐Hwan , Song Chaeeun , Lee Donghyun , Song Gawon , Yu Seung‐Ho , Lee Tae Kyung , Kwak Sang Kyu , Lee Kyu Tae , Hong Sung You , Choi Nam‐Soon
Published: March 2024

Considering practical viability, Li‐metal battery electrolytes should be formulated by tuning solvent composition similar to electrolyte systems for Li‐ion batteries to enable the facile salt‐dissociation, ion‐conduction, and introduction of sacrificial additives for building stable electrode–electrolyte interfaces. Although 1,2‐dimethoxyethane with a high‐donor number enables the implementation of ionic compounds as effective interface modifiers, its ubiquitous usage is limited by its low‐oxidation durability and high‐volatility. Regulation of the solvation structure and construction of well‐structured interfacial layers ensure the potential strength of electrolytes in both Li‐metal and LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (NCM811). This study reports the build‐up of multilayer solid‐electrolyte interphase by utilizing different electron‐accepting tendencies of lithium difluoro(bisoxalato) phosphate (LiDFBP), lithium nitrate, and synthetic 1‐((trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl)piperidine. Furthermore, a well‐structured cathode–electrolyte interface from LiDFBP effectively addresses the issues with NCM811. The developed electrolyte based on a framework of highly‐ and weakly‐solvating solvents with interface modifiers enables the operation of Li|NCM811 cells with a high areal capacity cathode (4.3 mAh cm−2) at 4.4 V versus Li/Li+.
Intelligent In situ Printing of Multimaterial Bioinks for First‐Aid Wound Care Guided by Eye‐In‐Hand Robot Technology
Authors: Jeong Seol‐Ha , Kim Jihyun , Thibault Brendan Craig , Soto Javier Alejandro Lozano , Tourk Fatima , Steakelum Joshua , Azuela Diego , Carvalho Violeta , Quiroga‐Ocaña Guillermo , Zhuang Weida , Cham‐Pérez Mei Li L. , Huang Lucia L. , Li Zhuqing , Valsami Eleftheria‐Angeliki , Wang Enya , Rodrigues Nelson , Teixeira Senhorinha F.C.F. , Lee Yuhan , Seo Jungmok , Veves Aristidis , Hassan Shabir , Theocharidis Georgios , Fiondella Lance , Shin Su Ryon
Published: March 2024

INSIGHT (INtelligent in situ printing Guided by Eye‐in‐Hand robot Technology), an innovative computer vision‐enabled system that combines a depth camera with a 6‐degree of freedom robot arm, empowering it to identify arbitrary areas at various angles through real time adjustments and to enable volumetric printing performed by dynamic image recognition based on color and contour differences is presented. Continuous targeting of multiple wounds at different locations is achieved. The optimized pneumatic valve synchronized with the INSIGHT can print multiple inks with diverse rheological properties to fabricate scaffolds and bandages with the capacity to treat various types of wounds. The design of dual printed modes, such as extrusion and spray, can significantly decrease printing time for large‐scale wounds on an ex vivo porcine model. INSIGHT demonstrates its ability to treat diabetic wounds, using a microgel‐based ink possessing an inherent porous microstructure to facilitate cell infiltration. In vivo verification highlights its adaptability to enable customized care for rapid emergency treatment of trauma patients.
Sensitivity Enhancement in Photoconductive Light Field Sampling
Authors: Altwaijry Najd , Qasim Muhammad , Zimin Dmitry , Karpowicz Nicholas , Kling Matthias F.
Published: March 2024

The emerging field of lightwave electronics is driving optoelectronic information processing beyond current classical limitations and has the potential to eventually reach petahertz frequencies. One of the major obstacles in reaching not only higher switching frequencies but also higher repetition rates with low‐power light sources is the efficiency of related devices. A device is presented based on a multilayered material that shows a 13‐fold enhancement in terms of converting light to electric current compared to bulk solids. Furthermore, the device exhibits an almost flat intensity response within its working range. The outstanding properties of engineered multilayered devices promise to push technology for lightwave electronics applications.
Spectral Multiplexing of Rare‐Earth Emitters in a Co‐Doped Crystalline Membrane
Authors: Ulanowski Alexander , Früh Johannes , Salamon Fabian , Holzäpfel Adrian , Reiserer Andreas
Published: March 2024

The spectral addressing of many individual rare‐earth dopants in optical resonators offers great potential for realizing distributed quantum information processors. To this end, it is required to understand and control the spectral properties of the emitters in micron‐scale devices. Here, erbium emitters are investigated in a Fabry–Perot resonator that contains a 10 µm thin membrane of crystalline yttrium orthosilicate that is co‐doped with europium. The co‐doping allows for tailoring the inhomogeneous distribution of the emitter frequency. With this approach, more than 360 spectrally resolved emitters are observed with Purcell factors exceeding 35, each of which constitutes an individually addressable qubit within the micron‐scale resonator. In addition to this spectral multiplexing, the optical coherence is preserved up to 0.62(3) ms under dynamical decoupling. Without decoupling, the coherence still reaches the lifetime limit for the emitters with the strongest Purcell enhancement that leads up to a 110‐fold lifetime reduction, down to 0.104(9) ms. Future work may combine this with long‐lived nuclear spin memories, which makes the investigated co‐doped membranes a promising platform for quantum repeaters and distributed quantum computers.
Magnetically Reconfigurable Toroidal Metasurfaces
Authors: Acharyya Nityananda , Mallick Soumyajyoti , Rane Shreeya , Upadhyay Kahaly Mousumi , Roy Chowdhury Dibakar
Published: March 2024

Harnessing electron spin within limited dimensions under applied magnetic fields can lead to spin‐assisted tunable light‐matter interactions, which form a crucial step in developing frequency‐agile opto‐spintronic structures toward next generation photonic devices. For this purpose, spin‐dependent magneto transport phenomena derived from ferromagnetic (FM)/nonmagnetic (NM) multilayer structures have recently emerged as a useful tool for dynamically tailoring electromagnetic waves. With this pretext, five layers of aluminum (Al)/nickel (Ni) based multilayer thin films in sub skin depth regime are studied in terahertz domain under low‐intensity (0 to 30 mT) magnetic fields while systematically varying the NM spacer layer (sandwiched between the FM layers) from 8 to 18 nm. Such thin multi‐layer films demonstrate conductivity variations up to ≈40% for 30 mT of applied field. Utilizing the same multilayer configurations, magnetic field induced tunability in a metasurface design is investigated that simultaneously manifests toroidal, dipolar, and other higher‐order modes. Further, multipolar analysis reveals that the nonradiative toroidal and radiative dipole modes can be enhanced by almost 56% and 183%, respectively, under 0–30 mT magnetic fields. Such magnetic field‐induced simultaneous control over radiative and non‐radiative resonances can be pivotal for next generation terahertz magnetophotonic devices.
Enantioselective Synthesis of Five to Eight‐Membered P‐Stereogenic Benzo‐Fused Heterocycles via Copper‐Catalyzed Dynamic Kinetic Resolution
Authors: Wang Xue , Liu Baixue , Ge Lei , Hou Shanbo , Liu Min , Yang Wenqiang
Published: March 2024

P‐stereogenic benzo‐fused heterocycles is a privileged skeleton due to their outstanding catalytic properties and bioactivities. However, their enantioselective synthesis is still underdeveloped. Here we demonstrate the use of easily accessible racemic H−P(O) compounds as starting materials and commercial chiral N1, N2‐dimethyl‐1,2‐diphenylethane‐1,2‐diamine ligand in combination with Cu(I) catalysts to enable an attractive dynamic kinetic C(sp2)−P cross‐coupling reaction. This protocol not only exhibits a broad substrate scope but also provides general access to a diverse range of useful P‐stereogenic five‐, six‐, seven‐ and eight‐membered benzo‐fused O, P‐ containing heterocycles with good to high yields and enantioselectivities.
pH‐Activatable Pre‐Nanozyme Mediated H2S Delivery for Endo‐Exogenous Regulation of Oxidative Stress in Acute Kidney Injury
Authors: Jiang Wei , Hou Xinyue , Qi Yuanbo , Wang Zhigang , Liu Ying , Gao Xuejiao J. , Wu Tingting , Guo Jiancheng , Fan Kelong , Shang Wenjun
Published: March 2024

Oxidative stress induced by excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a primary pathogenic cause of acute kidney injury (AKI). Development of an effective antioxidation system to mitigate oxidative stress for alleviating AKI remains to be investigated. This study presents the synthesis of an ultra‐small Platinum (Pt) sulfur cluster (Pt5.65S), which functions as a pH‐activatable prefabricated nanozyme (pre‐nanozyme). This pre‐nanozyme releases hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and transforms into a nanozyme (Ptzyme) that mimics various antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase and catalase, within the inflammatory microenvironment. Notably, the Pt5.65S pre‐nanozyme exhibits an endo‐exogenous synergy‐enhanced antioxidant therapeutic mechanism. The Ptzyme reduces oxidative damage and inflammation, while the released H2S gas promotes proneurogenesis by activating Nrf2 and upregulating the expression of antioxidant molecules and enzymes. Consequently, the Pt5.65S pre‐nanozyme shows cytoprotective effects against ROS/reactive nitrogen species (RNS)‐mediated damage at remarkably low doses, significantly improving treatment efficacy in mouse models of kidney ischemia‐reperfusion injury and cisplatin‐induced AKI. Based on these findings, the H2S‐generating pre‐nanozyme may represent a promising therapeutic strategy for mitigating inflammatory diseases such as AKI and others.
Intelligence Sparse Sensor Network for Automatic Early Evaluation of General Movements in Infants
Authors: Bao Benkun , Zhang Senhao , Li Honghua , Cui Weidong , Guo Kai , Zhang Yingying , Yang Kerong , Liu Shuai , Tong Yao , Zhu Jia , Lin Yuan , Xu Huanlan , Yang Hongbo , Cheng Xiankai , Cheng Huanyu
Published: March 2024

General movements (GMs) have been widely used for the early clinical evaluation of infant brain development, allowing immediate evaluation of potential development disorders and timely rehabilitation. The infants’ general movements can be captured digitally, but the lack of quantitative assessment and well‐trained clinical pediatricians presents an obstacle for many years to achieve wider deployment, especially in low‐resource settings. There is a high potential to explore wearable sensors for movement analysis due to outstanding privacy, low cost, and easy‐to‐use features. This work presents a sparse sensor network with soft wireless IMU devices (SWDs) for automatic early evaluation of general movements in infants. The sparse network consisting of only five sensor nodes (SWDs) with robust mechanical properties and excellent biocompatibility continuously and stably captures full‐body motion data. The proof‐of‐the‐concept clinical testing with 23 infants showcases outstanding performance in recognizing neonatal activities, confirming the reliability of the system. Taken together with a tiny machine learning algorithm, the system can automatically identify risky infants based on the GMs, with an accuracy of up to 100% (99.9%). The wearable sparse sensor network with an artificial intelligence‐based algorithm facilitates intelligent evaluation of infant brain development and early diagnosis of development disorders.
Magnetic‐Assisted Control of Eggs and Embryos via Zona Pellucida‐Linked Nanoparticles
Authors: García‐Vázquez Francisco Alberto , Garrappa Gabriela , Luongo Chiara , Hamze Julieta Gabriela , Caballero María , Marco‐Jiménez Francisco , Vicente Antón José Salvador , Molina‐Cuberos Gregorio J. , Jiménez‐Movilla María
Published: March 2024

Eggs and embryo manipulation is an important biotechnological challenge to enable positioning, entrapment, and selection of reproductive cells to advance into a new era of nature‐like assisted reproductive technologies. Oviductin (OVGP1) is an abundant protein in the oviduct that binds reversibly to the zona pellucida, an extracellular matrix that surrounds eggs and embryos. Here, the study reports a new method coupling OVGP1 to magnetic nanoparticles (NP) forming a complex (NPOv). NPOv specifically surrounds eggs and embryos in a reversible manner. Eggs/embryos bound to NPOv can be moved or retained when subjected to a magnetic force, and interestingly only mature‐competent eggs are attracted. This procedure is compatible with normal development following gametes function, in vitro fertilization, embryo development and resulting in the birth of healthy offspring. The results provide in vitro proof‐of‐concept that eggs and embryos can be precisely guided in the absence of physical contact by the use of magnets.
A Multifunctional Metal–Phenolic Nanocoating on Bone Implants for Enhanced Osseointegration via Early Immunomodulation
Authors: Liu Jin , Shi Yilin , Zhao Yajun , Liu Yue , Yang Xiaoru , Li Kai , Zhao Weiwei , Han Jianmin , Li Jianhua , Ge Shaohua
Published: March 2024

Surface modification is an important approach to improve osseointegration of the endosseous implants, however it is still desirable to develop a facile yet efficient coating strategy. Herein, a metal–phenolic network (MPN) is proposed as a multifunctional nanocoating on titanium (Ti) implants for enhanced osseointegration through early immunomodulation. With tannic acid (TA) and Sr2+ self‐assembled on Ti substrates, the MPN coatings provided a bioactive interface, which can facilitate the initial adhesion and recruitment of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and polarize macrophage toward M2 phenotype. Furthermore, the TA‐Sr coatings accelerated the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. In vivo evaluations further confirmed the enhanced osseointegration of TA‐Sr modified implants via generating a favorable osteoimmune microenvironment. In general, these results suggest that TA‐Sr MPN nanocoating is a promising strategy for achieving better and faster osseointegration of bone implants, which can be easily utilized in future clinical applications.
ACE mRNA (Additional Chimeric Element incorporated IVT mRNA) for Enhancing Protein Expression by Modulating Immunogenicity
Authors: Son Sora , Park Minsa , Kim Jin , Lee Kyuri
Published: March 2024

The development of in vitro transcribed mRNA (IVT mRNA)‐based therapeutics/vaccines depends on the management of IVT mRNA immunogenicity. IVT mRNA, which is used for intracellular protein translation, often triggers unwanted immune responses, interfering with protein expression and leading to reduced therapeutic efficacy. Currently, the predominant approach for mitigating immune responses involves the incorporation of costly chemically modified nucleotides like pseudouridine (Ψ) or N1‐methylpseudouridine (m1Ψ) into IVT mRNA, raising concerns about expense and the potential misincorporation of amino acids into chemically modified codon sequences. Here, an Additional Chimeric Element incorporated mRNA (ACE mRNA), a novel approach incorporating two segments within a single IVT mRNA structure, is introduced. The first segment retains conventional IVT mRNA components prepared with unmodified nucleotides, while the second, comprised of RNA/DNA chimeric elements, aims to modulate immunogenicity. Notably, ACE mRNA demonstrates a noteworthy reduction in immunogenicity of unmodified IVT mRNA, concurrently demonstrating enhanced protein expression efficiency. The reduced immune responses are based on the ability of RNA/DNA chimeric elements to restrict retinoic acid‐inducible gene I (RIG‐I) and stimulator of interferon genes (STING)‐mediated immune activation. The developed ACE mRNA shows great potential in modulating the immunogenicity of IVT mRNA without the need for chemically modified nucleotides, thereby advancing the safety and efficacy of mRNA‐based therapeutics/vaccines.
Structural Relationships to Efficacy for Prazole‐Derived Antivirals
Authors: Nyenhuis David A. , Watanabe Susan , Bernstein Rebecca , Swenson Rolf E. , Raju Natarajan , Sabbasani Venkata R. , Mushti Chandrasekhar , Lee Duck‐Yeon , Carter Carol , Tjandra Nico
Published: March 2024

Here, an in vitro characterization of a family of prazole derivatives that covalently bind to the C73 site on Tsg101 and assay their ability to inhibit viral particle production is presented. Structurally, increased steric bulk on the 4‐pyridyl of the prazole expands the prazole site on the UEV domain toward the β‐hairpin in the Ub‐binding site and is coupled to increased inhibition of virus‐like particle production in HIV‐1. Increased bulk also increased toxicity, which is alleviated by increasing flexibility. Further, the formation of a novel secondary Tsg101 adduct for several of the tested compounds and the commercial drug lansoprazole. The secondary adduct involved the loss of the 4‐pyridyl substituent to form an irreversible species, with implications for increasing the half‐life of the active species or its specificity toward Tsg101 UEV. It is also determined that sulfide derivatives display effective viral inhibition, presumably through cellular sulfoxidation, allowing for delayed conversion within the cellular environment, and identify SARS‐COV‐2 as a target of prazole inhibition. These results open multiple avenues for the design of prazole derivatives for antiviral applications.
Interplay Between Intracellular Transport Dynamics and Liquid‒Liquid Phase Separation
Authors: Zhang Ming‐Li , Zhang Ziheng , Niu Xue‐Zhi , Ti Hui‐Ying , Zhou Yu‐Xuan , Gao Bo , Li Yiwei , Liu Ji‐Long , Chen Xiaosong , Li Hui
Published: March 2024

Liquid‒liquid phase separation (LLPS) is a ubiquitous process in which proteins, RNA, and biomolecules assemble into membrane‐less compartments, playing important roles in many biological functions and diseases. The current knowledge on the biophysical and biochemical principles of LLPS is largely from in vitro studies; however, the physiological environment in living cells is complex and not at equilibrium. The characteristics of intracellular dynamics and their roles in physiological LLPS remain to be resolved. Here, by using single‐particle tracking of quantum dots and dynamic monitoring of the formation of stress granules (SGs) in single cells, the spatiotemporal dynamics of intracellular transport in cells undergoing LLPS are quantified. It is shown that intracellular diffusion and active transport are both reduced. Furthermore, the formation of SG droplets contributes to increased spatial heterogeneity within the cell. More importantly, the study demonstrated that the LLPS of SGs can be regulated by intracellular dynamics in two stages: the reduced intracellular diffusion promotes SG assembly and the microtubule‐associated transport facilitates SG coalescences. The work on intracellular dynamics not only improves the understanding of the mechanism of physiology phase separations occurring in nonequilibrium environments but also reveals an interplay between intracellular dynamics and LLPS.
Direct‐Contact Seebeck‐Driven Transverse Magneto‐Thermoelectric Generation in Magnetic/Thermoelectric Bilayers
Authors: Zhou Weinan , Sasaki Taisuke , Uchida Ken‐ichi , Sakuraba Yuya
Published: March 2024

Transverse thermoelectric generation converts temperature gradient in one direction into an electric field perpendicular to that direction and is expected to be a promising alternative in creating simple‐structured thermoelectric modules that can avoid the challenging problems facing traditional Seebeck‐effect‐based modules. Recently, large transverse thermopower has been observed in closed circuits consisting of magnetic and thermoelectric materials, called the Seebeck‐driven transverse magneto‐thermoelectric generation (STTG). However, the closed‐circuit structure complicates its broad applications. Here, STTG is realized in the simplest way to combine magnetic and thermoelectric materials, namely, by stacking a magnetic layer and a thermoelectric layer together to form a bilayer. The transverse thermopower is predicted to vary with changing layer thicknesses and peaks at a much larger value under an optimal thickness ratio. This behavior is verified in the experiment, through a series of samples prepared by depositing Fe–Ga alloy thin films of various thicknesses onto n‐type Si substrates. The measured transverse thermopower reaches 15.2 ± 0.4 µV K−1, which is a fivefold increase from that of Fe–Ga alloy and much larger than the current room temperature record observed in Weyl semimetal Co2MnGa. The findings highlight the potential of combining magnetic and thermoelectric materials for transverse thermoelectric applications.
Electrophilicity Modulation for Sub‐ppm Visualization and Discrimination of EDA
Authors: Zhao Hao , Liu Yuan , Li Gaosheng , Lei Da , Du Yuwan , Li Yudong , Tang Hui , Dou Xincun
Published: March 2024

Precise and timely recognition of hazardous chemical substances is of great significance for safeguarding human health, ecological environment, public security, etc., especially crucial for adopting appropriate disposition measures. Up to now, there remains a practical challenge to sensitively detect and differentiate organic amines with similar chemical structures with intuitive analysis outcomes. Here, a unique optical probe with two electrophilic recognition sites for rapid and ultra‐sensitive ratiometric fluorescence detection of ethylenediamine (EDA) is presented, while producing distinct fluorescence signals to its structural analog. The probe exhibits ppb/nmol level sensitivity to liquidous and gaseous EDA, specific recognition toward EDA without disturbance to up to 28 potential interferents, as well as rapid fluorescence response within 0.2 s. By further combining the portable sensing chip with the convolutional algorithm endowed with image processing, this work cracked the problem of precisely discriminating the target and non‐targets at extremely low concentrations.
Spacing of subsurface poultry litter bands: Influence on maize performance and nitrogen use efficiency
Authors: Simmons Jason R. , Ritchey Edwin L. , Sistani Karamat R. , Way Thomas R. , Coyne Mark S. , Matocha Christopher J.
Published: March 2024

Poultry litter (PL) is traditionally surface broadcast to no‐till maize (Zea mays L.). PL is nutrient‐dense, and surface‐applied PL nitrogen (N) is vulnerable to losses to the atmosphere and water systems. An application method was developed by USDA‐ARS scientists for shallow subsurface banding PL to reduce ammonia (NH3) volatilization and surface runoff. There is limited information on how this application method will affect conservation and nutrient accessibility in no‐till maize. The objectives were to determine if adjusting PL lateral subsurface band placement in relation to maize rows affects nutrient use and maize yields. Treatments were a nontreated control (NTC), urea ammonium nitrate surface banded (Fert), poultry litter surface broadcast (PLBr), and three subsurface banded PL treatments. The subsurface PL treatments were one (PLSub1), two (PLSub2), or three (PLSub3) bands between maize rows. Treatments receiving N were applied at 180 kg total N ha−1. Nitrogen concentration in V4 aboveground dry matter was higher in PLSub1 than PLSub2. Aboveground dry matter yields for all PLSub treatments were greater than PLBr and comparable to Fert. The PLSub1 and PLSub2 treatments resulted in maize grain yields equivalent to Fert and greater than PLBr and NTC when averaged across years. Few differences were observed in postharvest soil sample nutrient concentrations between PLSub treatments. These results suggest that subsurface banding PL can conserve N and increase no‐till maize yield over traditional surface broadcast PL; however, increasing the frequency of subsurface PL bands did not clearly affect nutrient conservation or accessibility to the maize.
Helical Nanographenes Bearing Pentagon‐Heptagon Pairs by Stepwise Dehydrocyclization
Authors: Ju Yang‐Yang , Luo Huan , Li Ze‐Jia , Zheng Bing‐Hui , Xing Jiang‐Feng , Chen Xuan‐Wen , Huang Ling‐Xi , Nie Guo‐Hui , Zhang Bin , Liu Junzhi , Tan Yuan‐Zhi
Published: March 2024

The incorporation of pentagon‐heptagon pairs into helical nanographenes lacks a facile synthetic route, and the impact of these pairs on chiroptical properties remains unclear. In this study, a method for the stepwise construction of pentagon‐heptagon pairs in helical nanographenes by the dehydrogenation of [6]helicene units was developed. Three helical nanographenes containing pentagon‐heptagon pairs were synthesized and characterized using this approach. A wide variation in the molecular geometries and photophysical properties of these helical nanographenes was observed, with changes in the helical length of these structures and the introduction of the pentagon‐heptagon pairs. The embedded pentagon‐heptagon pairs reduced the oxidation potential of the synthesized helical nanographenes. The high isomerization energy barriers enabled the chiral resolution of the helicene enantiomers. Chiroptical investigations revealed remarkably enhanced circularly polarized luminescence and luminescence dissymmetry factors with an increasing number of the pentagon‐heptagon pairs.
Tailoring Second Coordination Sphere for Tunable Solid–Liquid Interfacial Charge Transfer toward Enhanced Photoelectrochemical H2 Production
Authors: Hu Yangguang , Zhou Wu , Gong Wanbing , Gao Chao , Shen Shaohua , Kong Tingting , Xiong Yujie
Published: March 2024

The recombination of photogenerated charge carriers severely limits the performance of photoelectrochemical (PEC) H2 production. Here, we demonstrate that this limitation can be overcome by optimizing the charge transfer dynamics at the solid–liquid interface via molecular catalyst design. Specifically, the surface of a p‐Si photocathode is modulated using molecular catalysts with different metal atoms and organic ligands to improve H2 production performance. Co(pda‐SO3H)2 is identified as an efficient and durable catalyst for H2 production through the rational design of metal centers and first/second coordination spheres. The modulation with Co(pda‐SO3H)2, which contains an electron‐withdrawing −SO3H group in the second coordination sphere, elevates the flat‐band potential of the polished p‐Si photocathode and nanoporous p‐Si photocathode by 81 mV and 124 mV, respectively, leading to the maximized energy band bending and the minimized interfacial carrier transport resistance. Consequently, both the two photocathodes achieve the Faradaic efficiency of more than 95 % for H2 production, which is well maintained during 18 h and 21 h reaction, respectively. This work highlights that the band‐edge engineering by molecular catalysts could be an important design consideration for semiconductor–catalyst hybrids toward PEC H2 production.
Dynamic Entwined Topology in Helical Covalent Polymers Dictated by Competing Supramolecular Interactions
Authors: Wayment Lacey J. , Teat Simon J. , Huang Shaofeng , Chen Hongxuan , Zhang Wei
Published: March 2024

Naturally occurring polymeric structures often consist of 1D polymer chains intricately folded and entwined through non‐covalent bonds, adopting precise topologies crucial for their functionality. The exploration of crystalline 1D polymers through dynamic covalent chemistry (DCvC) and supramolecular interactions represents a novel approach for developing crystalline polymers. This study shows that sub‐angstrom differences in the counter‐ion size can lead to various helical covalent polymer (HCP) topologies, including a novel metal‐coordination HCP (m‐HCP) motif. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction (SCXRD) analysis of HCP−Na revealed that double helical pairs are formed by sodium ions coordinating to spiroborate linkages to form rectangular pores. The double helices are interpenetrated by the unreacted diols coordinating sodium ions. The reticulation of the m‐HCP structure was demonstrated by the successful synthesis of HCP−K. Finally, ion‐exchange studies were conducted to show the interconversion between HCP structures. This research illustrates how seemingly simple modifications, such as changes in counter‐ion size, can significantly influence the polymer topology and determine which supramolecular interactions dominate the crystal lattice.
Organic Fluorophores with Large Stokes Shift for the Visualization of Rapid Protein and Nucleic Acid Assays
Authors: Yang Jingkai , Xu Ziyi , Yu Le , Wang Bingyun , Hu Ruibin , Tang Jiahu , Lv Jiahui , Xiao Hongjun , Tan Xuan , Wang Guanghui , Li Jia‐Xin , Liu Ying , Shao Pan‐Lin , Zhang Bo
Published: March 2024

Organic small‐molecule fluorophores, characterized by flexible chemical structure and adjustable optical performance, have shown tremendous potential in biosensing. However, classical organic fluorophore motifs feature large overlap between excitation and emission spectra, leading to the requirement of advanced optical set up to filter desired signal, which limits their application in scenarios with simple settings. Here, a series of wavelength‐tunable small‐molecule fluorescent dyes (PTs) bearing simple organic moieties have been developed, which exhibit Stokes shift up to 262 nm, molar extinction coefficients ranged 30,000–100,000 M−1 cm−1, with quantum yields up to 54.8 %. Furthermore, these dyes were formulated into fluorescent nanoparticles (PT‐NPs), and applied in lateral flow assay (LFA). Consequently, limit of detection for SARS‐CoV‐2 nucleocapsid protein reached 20 fM with naked eye, a 100‐fold improvement in sensitivity compared to the pM detection level for colloidal gold‐based LFA. Besides, combined with loop‐mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), the LFA system achieved the visualization of single copy level nucleic acid detection for monkeypox (Mpox).
Functionalized Phenanthrene Imide‐Based Polymers for n‐Type Organic Thin‐Film Transistors
Authors: Yang Jie , Li Jianfeng , Zhang Xiage , Yang Wanli , Jeong Sang Young , Huang Enmin , Liu Bin , Woo Han Young , Chen Zhicai , Guo Xugang
Published: March 2024

High‐performing n‐type polymers are crucial for the advance of organic electronics field, however strong electron‐deficient building blocks with optimized physicochemical properties for constructing them are still limited. The imide‐functionalized polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with extended π‐conjugated framework, high electron deficiency and good solubility serve as promising candidates for developing high‐performance n‐type polymers. Among the PAHs, phenanthrene (PhA) features a well‐delocalized aromatic π‐system with multiple modifiable active sites . However, the PhA‐based imides are seldom studied, mainly attributed to the synthetic challenge. Herein, we report two functionalized PhAs, CPOI and CPCNI, by simultaneously incorporating imide with carbonyl or dicyanomethylene onto PhA. Notably, the dicyanomethylene‐modified CPCNI exhibits a well stabilized LUMO energy level (−3.84 eV), attributed to the synergetic inductive effect from imide and cyano groups. Subsequently, based on CPOI and CPCNI, two polymers PCPOI‐Tz and PCPCNI‐Tz were developed. Applied to organic thin‐film transistors, owing to the strong electron‐deficiency of CPCNI, polymer PCPCNI‐Tz shows an improved electron mobility and largely decreased threshold voltage compared with PCPOI‐Tz. This work affords two structurally novel electron‐deficient building blocks and highlights the effectiveness of dual functionalization of PhAs with strong electron‐withdrawing groups for devising n‐type polymers.