bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unexpected Polymerization‐Induced Luminescence in Deep Eutectic Solvent (DES)‐Based Polymer
Authors: Qi Ping , Yuan Shideng , Liu Yihan , Dong Renhao , Song Aixin , Hao Jingcheng
Published: August 2023

Here, a polymerizable type‐IV deep eutectic solvent (DES) is synthesized via the coordination reaction between acrylamide and SbCl3, and for the first time it is demonstrated that the resultant type‐IV DES‐based polymers can exhibit luminescence after polymerization due to the efficient Sb‐ligand and ligand–ligand charge transfer. Notably, the quantum yield of Sb‐ligand charge transfer emission can be tuned with the controllable reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (raft) polymerization of acrylamide, reaching up to 15.32%. As a proof‐of‐concept application, the polymerizable DES is utilized as fluorescent anti‐counterfeit ink, successfully realizing the fluorescence encryption.
Liquid‐solid‐Interpenetration Surface Reconstruction of Monodisperse Water Stabilized CsPbBr3/CsPb2Br5 Core/Shell Perovskite Nanocrystals
Authors: Zhu Qiliang , Ye Fan , Yan Wei , Zhu Jingrun , Shen Jianhua , Xue Kan‐Hao , Zhu Yihua , Li Chunzhong
Published: August 2023

All‐inorganic lead halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) have shown great potential in various optoelectronic device applications due to their excellent optoelectronic properties, but their poor stability remains a key obstacle to widespread application. The preparation of core/shell NCs is developed to improve their stability, but most of the coating for single NCs is incomplete, and the crystal orientation and interface binding of core/shell structures are still unclear. Here, a surface reconstruction strategy to synthesize CsPbBr3/CsPb2Br5 core/shell NCs with uniform coating structure is reported. The concentration of [PbBr8]6− monomer in the system is regulated by creating local low H2O concentration conditions to balance the erosion of perovskite by water and the overall heterogeneous nucleation reaction system, resulting in single encapsulated and well‐edged perovskite core/shell NCs. More importantly, advanced characterization tools are used to reveal the core/shell structural features of CsPbBr3/CsPb2Br5 core/shell NCs at the atomic scale, which has not been reported before, and the interface matching of the two‐phase binding is simulated by density functional theory calculations, which confirm that the CsPb2Br5 (116) facet can bind to the CsPbBr3 (100) facet with the lowest binding energy. The prepared core/shell perovskite NCs can still retain photoluminescence emission after >30 days in water.
Electrochemical Three‐Component Reaction to ConstructN‐(α‐alkoxyalkyl)benzotriazoles
Authors: Liu Han‐Fu , Li Yang , Wang Guo‐Ao , Chen Kai‐Wei , Tang Hai‐Tao , Pan Ying‐Ming , He Mu‐Xue , Yang Ke‐Di , Huang Yong‐Lin
Published: August 2023

N‐(α‐alkoxyalkyl)benzotriazoles are of great importance for biochemical and antitumor activity. A feasible protocol has been developed for the synthesis ofN‐(α‐alkoxyalkyl)benzotriazoles using azoles, aldehydes and alcohols as substrates under electrochemical conditions. The reaction is carried out under acid catalyst‐ and oxidant‐free conditions, so that a variety of synthetically useful nitrogen heterocyclic derivatives can be obtained. More meaningfully, a gram‐scale synthetic approach was employed to demonstrate the scale‐up applicability of this transformation.
A Competitive High‐Throughput Screening Platform for Designing Polylactic Acid‐Specific Binding Peptides
Authors: Lu Yi , Hintzen Kai‐Wolfgang , Kurkina Tetiana , Ji Yu , Schwaneberg Ulrich
Published: August 2023

Among biobased polymers, polylactic acid (PLA) is recognized as one of the most promising bioplastics to replace petrochemical‐based polymers. PLA is typically blended with other polymers such as polypropylene (PP) for improved melt processability, thermal stability, and stiffness. A technical challenge in recycling of PLA/PP blends is the sorting/separation of PLA from PP. Material binding peptides (MBPs) can bind to various materials. Engineered MBPs that can bind in a material‐specific manner have a high potential for material‐specific detection or enhanced degradation of PLA in mixed PLA/PP plastics. To obtain a material‐specific MBP for PLA binding (termed PLAbodies), protein engineering of MBP Cg‐Def for improved PLA binding specificity is reported in this work. In detail, a 96‐well microtiter plate based high‐throughput screening system for PLA specific binding (PLABS) was developed and validated in a protein engineering (KnowVolution) campaign. Finally, the Cg‐Def variant V2 (Cg‐Def S19K/K10L/N13H) with a 2.3‐fold improved PLA binding specificity compared to PP was obtained. Contact angle and surface plasmon resonance measurements confirmed improved material‐specific binding of V2 to PLA (1.30‐fold improved PLA surface coverage). The established PLABS screening platform represents a general methodology for designing PLAbodies for applications in detection, sorting, and material‐specific degradation of PLA in mixed plastics.
N‐Type Doping and Passivation of Black Phosphorus Using Pentacene for Infrared Polarization‐Sensitive Photodetection and Imaging
Authors: Li Guangliang , Kong Lingxian , Su Qi , Tan Xianhua , Zhang Xuning , Liu Zhiyong , Shi Tielin , Liao Guanglan , Sun Bo
Published: August 2023

Few‐layer black phosphorus (FL‐BP) shows great potential in infrared polarization‐sensitive photodetection due to its narrow bandgap and strong in‐plane anisotropy. However, FL‐BP is easy to be oxidized and degraded, which severely restricts its applications. Herein, a simple and scalable in situ interfacial passivation method based on pentacene film is reported to enhance the ambient stability of FL‐BP as well as achieve n‐type doping for improved polarization‐sensitive photoimaging. High crystal quality FL‐BP flakes with intrinsic anisotropy are prepared by electrochemical exfoliation. The morphology and Raman spectra of FL‐BP/pentacene exhibit excellent stability 28 days after passivation. In addition, the hole mobility is significantly enhanced and dark current is substantially suppressed due to the interfacial passivation and n‐type doping effect. The FL‐BP/Pentacene based photodetector shows a broadband response from visible to near‐infrared with good stability. The photoresponsivity under 915 nm illumination is calculated as 2.2 mA W−1 with an anisotropy ratio of 1.29. Furthermore, the polarization imaging under the irradiation at zigzag and armchair directions directly reveals the strong infrared polarization‐sensitive imaging capability of FL‐BP/pentacene. This work also opens up new avenues to enhance the photoresponse and stability of various optoelectronics based on similarly unstable 2D materials.
Competitive Adsorption Mechanism of Defect‐Induced d‐Orbital Single Electrons in SrRuO3 for Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Pan Shencheng , Yang Xiaolong , Sun Jingwen , Wang Xin , Zhu Junwu , Fu Yongsheng
Published: August 2023

In the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), the dissociation energy barrier of water, and the easy adsorption of OH on the catalyst are key factors that limit the catalytic activity. This work proposes a novel competing adsorption mechanism driven by dz2 electrons in the context of the alkaline HER. The high concentration of oxygen vacancies in Co doped SrRuO3 (V‐SRCO) results in the electron filling in the Ru 4dz2 orbital. Under alkaline conditions, the V‐SRCO exhibits a low overpotential of only 57.8 mV with a Tafel slope of 35 mV dec−1. Moreover, it exhibits sustained high activity for 60 h. The high HER activity of V‐SRCO can be attributed to the presence of a single electron in the dz2 orbital, which reduces the energy barrier for water dissociation. More importantly, the active electrons in the dz2 orbital can inject into the antibonding orbitals of OH, creating an unfavorable environment for OH adsorption on the catalyst. This work provides favorable conditions for efficient HER.
In Situ Pore Formation in Graphite Through Solvent Co‐Intercalation: A New Model for The Formation of Ternary Graphite Intercalation Compounds Bridging Batteries and Supercapacitors
Authors: Åvall Gustav , A. Ferrero Guillermo , Janßen Knut Arne , Exner Moritz , Son Youhyun , Adelhelm Philipp
Published: August 2023

For Li‐ion and Na‐ion batteries, the intercalation behavior of graphite anodes is quite different. While Li‐ions intercalate, Na‐ions only co‐intercalate with solvent molecules from the electrolyte solution leading to ternary graphite intercalation compound (t‐GIC) formation along with an expansion of the graphite interlayer spacing to 1.2 nm. This large interlayer spacing represents a micropore with parallel slit geometry. Little is known about t‐GIC formation, but it is commonly believed that throughout the reaction the ion is accompanied by either a full or partial solvation shell. Here, it is elucidated for the first time, using two independent methods – mass measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy – supplemented by operando microscopy, entropymetry and simulations, that the storage mechanism is far more complex. A new model for the electrochemical solvent co‐intercalation process is proposed: As soon as solvated ions enter, the graphite structure is flooded with free solvents, which are subsequently replaced by solvated ions. Close to full sodiation, few free solvents remain and structural rearrangement take place to reach the full storage capacity. Thus, t‐GICs represent a unique case of switchable microporous systems and hence appear as a bridge between ion storage in the bulk phase and in micropores, i.e., between batteries and supercapacitors.
Realizing efficient emission and triple‐mode photoluminescence switching in air‐stable tin(IV)‐based metal halides via antimony doping and rational structural modulation
Authors: He Xuefei , Peng Hui , Wei Qilin , Zhou Zhijie , Zhang Guolun , Du Zhentao , Zhao Jialong , Zou Bingsuo
Published: August 2023

Recently, many lead‐free metal halides with diverse structures and highly efficient emission have been reported. However, their poor stability and single‐mode emission color severely limit their applications. Herein, three homologous Sb3+‐doped zero‐dimensional (0D) air‐stable Sn(IV)‐based metal halides with different crystal structures were developed by inserting a single organic ligand into SnCl4 lattice, which brings different optical properties. Under photoexcitation, (C25H22P)SnCl5@Sb·CH4O (Sb3+−1) does not emit light, (C25H22P)2SnCl6@Sb‐α (Sb3+−2α) shines bright yellow emission with a photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of 92%, and (C25H22P)2SnCl6@Sb‐β (Sb3+−2β) exhibits intense red emission with a PLQY of 78%. The above three compounds show quite different optical properties should be due to their different crystal structures and the lattice distortions. Particularly, Sb3+−1 can be successfully converted into Sb3+−2α under the treatment of C25H22PCl solution, accompanied by a transition from nonemission to efficient yellow emission, serving as a “turn‐on” photoluminescence (PL) switching. Parallelly, a reversible structure conversion between Sb3+−2α and Sb3+−2β was witnessed after dichloromethane or volatilization treatment, accompanied by yellow and red emission switching. Thereby, a triple‐mode tunable PL switching of off–onI–onII can be constructed in Sb3+‐doped Sn(IV)‐based compounds. Finally, we demonstrated the as‐synthesized compounds in fluorescent anticounterfeiting, information encryption, and optical logic gates.
A 3‐year follow‐up study after nasal reconstruction surgery in patients with empty nose syndrome
Authors: Huang Chien‐Chia , Wu Pei‐Wen , Huang Chi‐Che , Chang Po‐Hung , Fu Chia‐Hsiang , Lee Ta‐Jen
Published: August 2023

Key Points

Empty nose syndrome (ENS) is characterized by a patent nasal airway and a sense of nasal obstruction.

ENS and psychological symptoms improved after surgery and remained stable for up to three years.

Identifying residual disease is necessary for enhancing therapeutic outcomes in ENS patients.
Primary retinal tauopathy: A tauopathy with a distinct molecular pattern
Authors: Walkiewicz Grzegorz , Ronisz Alicja , Van Ginderdeuren Rita , Lemmens Sophie , Bouwman Femke H. , Hoozemans Jeroen J. M. , Morrema Tjado H. J. , Rozemuller Annemieke J. , Hart de Ruyter Frederique J. , De Groef Lies , Stalmans Ingeborg , Thal Dietmar Rudolf
Published: August 2023

BACKGROUND

Phosphorylated tau (p‐tau) accumulation, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD), can also be found in the retina. However, it is uncertain whether it is linked to AD or another tauopathy.

METHODS

Retinas from 164 individuals, with and without AD, were analyzed for p‐tau accumulation and its relationship with age, dementia, and vision impairment.

RESULTS

Retinal p‐tau pathology showed a consistent pattern with four stages and a molecular composition distinct from that of cerebral tauopathies. The stage of retinal p‐tau pathology correlated with age (r = 0.176, P = 0.024) and was associated with AD (odds ratio [OR] 3.193; P = 0.001), and inflammation (OR = 2.605; P = 0.001). Vision impairment was associated with underlying eye diseases (β = 0.292; P = 0.001) and the stage of retinal p‐tau pathology (β = 0.192; P = 0.030) in a linear regression model.

CONCLUSIONS

The results show the presence of a primary retinal tauopathy that is distinct from cerebral tauopathies.
Animal models for anti‐neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody‐associated vasculitis: Are current models good enough?
Authors: Huang Fei , Lv Yongman , Liu Siyang , Wu Hao , Liu Qingquan
Published: August 2023

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)‐associated vasculitis (AAV) is a rare and severe systemic autoimmune disease characterized by pauci‐immune necrotizing inflammation of small blood vessels. AAV involves multiple organ systems throughout the body. Our knowledge of the pathogenesis of AAV has increased considerably in recent years, involving cellular, molecular and genetic factors. Because of the controlled environment with no other confounding factors, animal models are beneficial for studying the mechanistic details of disease development and for providing novel therapeutic targets with fewer toxic side effects. However, the complexity and heterogeneity of AAV make it very difficult to establish a single animal model that can fully represent the entire clinical spectrum found in patients. The aim of this review is to overview the current status of animal models for AAV, outline the pros and cons of methods, and propose potential directions for future research.
MXene‐based Membranes for Drinking Water Production
Authors: Huang Lingzhi , Ding Li , Caro Jürgen , Wang Haihui
Published: August 2023

The soaring development of industry exacerbates the shortage of fresh water, making drinking water production an urgent demand. Membrane techniques feature the merits of high efficiency, low energy consumption, and easy operation, deemed as the most potential technology to purify water. Recently, a new type of two‐dimensional materials, MXenes as the transition metal carbides or nitrides in the shape of nanosheets, have attracted enormous interest in water purification due to their extraordinary properties such as adjustable hydrophilicity, easy processibility, antifouling resistance, mechanical strength, and light‐to‐heat transformation capability. In pioneering studies, MXene‐based membranes have been evaluated in the past decade for drinking water production including the separation of bacteria, dyes, salts, and heavy metals. This review focuses on the recent advancement of MXene‐based membranes for drinking water production. A brief introduction of MXenes is given first, followed by descriptions of their unique properties. Then, the preparation methods of MXene membranes are summarized. The various applications of MXene membranes in water treatment and the corresponding separation mechanisms are discussed in detail. Finally, the challenges and prospects of MXene membranes are presented with the hope to provide insightful guidance on the future design and fabrication of high‐performance MXene membranes.
Bio‐Inspired Polyanionic Electrolytes for Highly Stable Zinc‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Dong Haobo , Hu Xueying , Liu Ruirui , Ouyang Mengzheng , He Hongzhen , Wang Tianlei , Gao Xuan , Dai Yuhang , Zhang Wei , Liu Yiyang , Zhou Yongquan , Brett Dan J. L. , Parkin Ivan P. , Shearing Paul R. , He Guanjie
Published: August 2023

For zinc‐ion batteries (ZIBs), the non‐uniform Zn plating/stripping results in a high polarization and low Coulombic efficiency (CE), hindering the large‐scale application of ZIBs. Here, inspired by biomass seaweed plants, an anionic polyelectrolyte alginate acid (SA) was used to initiate the in situ formation of the high‐performance solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer on the Zn anode. Attribute to the anionic groups of −COO−, the affinity of Zn2+ ions to alginate acid induces a well‐aligned accelerating channel for uniform plating. This SEI regulates the desolvation structure of Zn2+ and facilitates the formation of compact Zn (002) crystal planes. Even under high depth of discharge conditions (DOD), the SA‐coated Zn anode still maintains a stable Zn stripping/plating behavior with a low potential difference (0.114 V). According to the classical nucleation theory, the nucleation energy for SA‐coated Zn is 97 % less than that of bare Zn, resulting in a faster nucleation rate. The Zn||Cu cell assembled with the SA‐coated electrode exhibits an outstanding average CE of 99.8 % over 1,400 cycles. The design is successfully demonstrated in pouch cells, where the SA‐coated Zn exhibits capacity retention of 96.9 % compared to 59.1 % for bare Zn anode, even under the high cathode mass loading (>10 mg/cm2).
High peel strength and excellent solder heat‐resistance epoxy adhesive for flexible copper clad laminate
Authors: Li Anqin , He Hui , Shen Yue , Li Qunyang
Published: August 2023

Flexible copper clad laminate (FCCL), commonly composed of copper foil, epoxy adhesive, and polyimide (PI) film, is widely used as the substrate material of flexible printed circuit boards. Carboxyl‐terminated acrylonitrile butadiene (CTBN) and four curing agents were used to prepare the modified epoxy adhesive. FCCL's peel strength was improved by treating PI with plasma. The results showed that when the epoxy adhesive was toughened by adding 30 phr CTBN and PI film was treated with nitrogen plasma, the comprehensive performance of the modified epoxy adhesive and FCCL was the best. The impact strength of the modified epoxy adhesive was 39.32 kJ m−2 (149.7% higher than that of the unmodified), and the gelation time was 330 s at 160°C. The peel strength of FCCL was 1.29 kgf cm−1, which was higher than required. It can pass the lead‐free solder heat‐resistance test at 320°C 10 s−1 as well. A new way is provided to expand the application of FCCL in areas requiring higher peel strength.
Integrating digital literacies and scientific communication in a multimedia anatomy group assignment to advance contextual learning
Authors: Xiao Junhua
Published: August 2023

Anatomists are facing a new generation of learners who will study and work in a technology‐rich environment. Indeed, digital technologies are tremendously changing how information and knowledge are communicated and retrieved. However, it remains unclear whether an anatomy assessment can be designed to promote contextual learning through integrating a digital communication strategy. To investigate this, assessment methods were diversified in the first‐year neuroanatomy and third‐year regional anatomy curricula through implementing a multimedia human anatomy group assignment integrating digital literacies and scientific communication. Through completing this multimedia assignment, students demonstrated their anatomy knowledge transfer using a range of approaches. The main mode of presentations chosen in the two anatomy units were non‐animated video presentations (~50%), animated video presentations (~30%), storyboards (~10%), podcasts (~3%), and filmed videos (~3%). A 5‐point Likert scale learning and teaching survey was conducted for a total of 195 undergraduate health science students to evaluate students' perception of this group assignment. The majority of students (70–80%) strongly agreed or agreed that the multimedia group assignment helped their teamwork skills. Students who produced animated videos significantly outperformed those who adopted the non‐animated presentations during the end‐of‐semester theory examination (p < 0.05). This study demonstrates that an anatomy group assignment integrating digital literacy and scientific communication is an effective assessment strategy associated with a positive learning experience and outcome. This inquiry‐based assignment promotes learning through assessment, allowing students to not only consolidate and extend anatomy knowledge but also developing effective digital communication skills, providing new insights into non‐didactic anatomy assessments.
Predictability of the East Africa long rains through Congo zonal winds
Authors: Ward Neil , Walker Dean P. , Keane Richard J. , Marsham John H. , Scaife Adam A. , Birch Cathryn E. , Maybee Ben
Published: August 2023

East Africa is highly vulnerable to extreme weather events, such as droughts and floods. Skillful seasonal forecasts exist for the October–November–December short rains, enabling informed decisions, whereas seasonal forecasts for the March–April–May (MAM) long rains have historically had low skill, limiting preparation capacity. Therefore, improved long rains prediction is a high priority and would contribute to climate change resilience in the region. Recent work has highlighted how lower‐troposphere Congo zonal winds in MAM strongly impact regional moisture fluxes and the long rains total precipitation. We therefore approach long rains predictability through the predictability of the Congo winds. We analyze a set of hindcasts from a dynamical prediction system that is able to reproduce the long rains—Congo winds relationship in its individual ensemble members. Encouragingly, in observations, the strength of MAM Congo zonal winds and East Africa rainfall show substantial correlation with the MAM Atlantic (including North Atlantic Oscillation, NAO) and Indo‐Pacific variability, suggestive of ocean influence and potential predictability. However, these features are replaced by different teleconnections in the hindcast ensemble mean fields. This is also true for NAO linkage to Congo winds, despite correct representation in individual members, and good skill in hindcasting the NAO itself. The net effect is strongly negative skill for the Congo winds. We explore statistical correction methods, including using the Congo zonal wind as an anchor index in a signal‐to‐noise calibration for the long rains. This is considered a demonstration of concept, for subsequent implementation using models with better Congo zonal wind skill. Indeed, the clear signals found in the Atlantic (including Mediterranean) and Indo‐Pacific, studied here both in observations and a dynamical prediction system, motivate evaluation of these features across other prediction systems, and offer the prospect of improved physically‐informed long rains dynamical predictions.
Influence of biosynthesized magnesium oxide nanoparticles on growth and physiological aspects of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) plant, cowpea beetle, and cytotoxicity
Authors: Abdelfattah Nilly A. H. , Yousef Manar Ali , Badawy Ali A. , Salem Salem S.
Published: August 2023

Recently, agricultural management innovation has incorporated engineered nanoparticles. The current investigation was carried out to produce magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgONPs) for the first time applying S. cerevisiae extract. FTIR, XRD, HRTEM, and zeta potential analysis were used to characterize the MgONPs. The FTIR data show that the bioactive substances reduce and cap the synthesized MgONPs. The crystalline metallic MgONPs had four significant peaks in the XRD pattern. The size and form of MgONPs were validated by TEM, which exhibited spherical structures with an average size of 27 nm. The effect of various dosages of MgONPs administered to the cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) plant on all in vitro parameters was shown to be significant in the study. The concentration 200 ppm was the most significant treatment which increased shoot length, shoot dry‐weight and root dry‐weight by 27.35%, 45.09%, and 31.91% when compared with the untreated cowpea plants. MgONPs significantly increased photosynthetic pigments, with 150 ppm treatment significantly increasing soluble proteins and carbohydrates. MgONPs effectively treated cowpea C. maculatus, with dose and time‐dependent insecticidal activity. MgONPs death rates varied by 82.66% and 100% on fifth day. Biochemical and histopathological studies of rats were investigated. Rats treated with MgONPs showed higher GOT, GPT, Urea levels, but lower creatinine, indicating significant differences. MgONPs‐treated rats' liver showed mild to moderate histopathologic changes, including portal blood vessel congestion, lymphocytic cholangitis, and degenerative changes. MgONPs has the potential to improve cowpea development outcomes and suppress grain insects (C. maculatus).
A Homochiral Diphenylalanine Analog Based Mechanoresponsive Hydrogel: An Insight Towards Its Wound Healing Efficacy
Authors: Tiwari Priyanka , Shivhare Vaibhav , Ahuja Rishabh , Khan Ms. Naureen , Shukla Durgesh Nandan , Mishra Ankit K. , Basu Anindya , Dutt Konar Anita
Published: August 2023

Deciphering the most promising strategy for the evolution of potential wound‐healing therapeutics is one of the greatest challenging affairs to date. The development of peptide‐based smart scaffolds with innate antimicrobial, anti‐inflammatory, and antioxidant properties is an appealing way out. Aligned to the goal a set of Hydrogelators I–IV were developed utilizing the concept of chiral orchestration in diphenylalanine fragment, such that the most potent construct with all the bench marks namely mechanoresponsiveness, biocompatibility, consistent antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, could be fished out from the design. Interestingly, our in vitro Antifungal and Lipid peroxidation analysis identified the homochiral isomer Boc‐δ‐Ava‐L‐Phe‐L‐Phe‐OH (Hydrogelator I), as an ideal candidate for the wound healing experiment, so we proceeded for the in vivo histopathological and antioxidant measurements in Wister rats. Indeed the wound images obtained from the different sets of animals on the 14th day of treatment demonstrated that with increased recovery time, hydrogelator I displayed a significant reduction in the lesion diameter compared to the marketed drug, and negative control. Even the histopathological measurements using H & E staining demonstrated diminished tissue destruction, neutrophil infiltration necrosis, and lymphatic proliferation in the hydrogelators, in comparison to others, backed by in vivo lipid peroxidation data. Overall our investigation certifies hydrogelator I as an effective therapeutic for managing the wound healing complication.
A Novel Polysaccharide Separated from Panax Notoginseng Residue Ameliorates Restraint Stress‐ and Lipopolysaccharide‐induced Enteritis in Mice
Authors: Luo Bi , Yang Fan , Chen Peng , Zuo Hao‐Yu , Liang Yun‐Fei , Xian Ming‐Hua , Tang Nan , Wang Guo‐En
Published: August 2023

Polysaccharides are rich in Panax notoginseng residue after extraction. This study aims to explore the structural characteristics of PNP‐20, which is a homogeneous polysaccharide, separated from P. notoginseng residue by fractional precipitation and evaluate the anti‐enteritis effect of PNP‐20. The structure of PNP‐20 was determined by spectroscopic analyses. A mouse model with enteritis induced by restraint stress (RS) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to evaluate the pharmacological effect of PNP‐20. The results indicated that PNP‐20 consisted of glucose (Glc), galactose (Gal), Mannose (Man) and Rhamnose (Rha). PNP‐20 was composed of Glcp‐(1→, →4)‐α‐Glcp‐(1→, →4)‐α‐Galp‐(1→, →4,6)‐α‐Glcp‐(1→, →4)‐Manp‐(1→ and →3)‐Rhap‐(1→, and contained two backbone fragments of →4)‐α‐Glcp‐(1→4)‐ α‐Glcp‐(1→ and →4)‐α‐Galp‐(1→4)‐α‐Glcp‐(1→. PNP‐20 reduced intestinal injury and inflammatory cell infiltration in RS‐ and LPS‐induced enteritis in mice. PNP‐20 decreased the expression of intestinal tumor necrosis factor‐α, NOD‐like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3, and nuclear factor‐κB and increased the expression of intestinal superoxide dismutase 2. In conclusion, PNP‐20 may be a promising material basis of P. Notoginseng for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.
Current State‐of‐the‐Art Toward Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of Polyketide Natural Products
Authors: Paulsel Thaddeus Q. , Williams Gavin J.
Published: August 2023

Polyketide natural products have significant promise as pharmaceutical targets for human health and as molecular tools to probe disease and complex biological systems. While the biosynthetic logic of polyketide synthases (PKS) is well‐understood, biosynthesis of designer polyketides remains challenging due to several bottlenecks, including substrate specificity constraints, disrupted protein‐protein interactions, and protein solubility and folding issues. Focusing on substrate specificity, PKSs are typically interrogated using synthetic thioesters. PKS assembly lines and their products offer a wealth of information when studied in a chemoenzymatic fashion. This review provides an overview of the past two decades of polyketide chemoenzymatic synthesis and their contributions to the field of chemical biology. These synthetic strategies have successfully yielded natural product derivatives while providing critical insights into enzymatic promiscuity and mechanistic activity.
Solvent Acts as the Referee in a Match‐Up Between Charged and Preorganized Receptors
Authors: Bhattacharjee Nabarupa , Gao Xinfeng , Nathani Akash , Dobscha James R. , Pink Maren , Ito Takashi , Flood Amar H.
Published: August 2023

The prevalence of anion‐cation contacts in biomolecular recognition under aqueous conditions suggests that ionic interactions should dominate the binding of anions in solvents across both high and low polarities. Investigations of this idea using titrations in low polarity solvents are impaired by interferences from ion pairing that prevent a clear picture of binding. To address this limitation and test the impact of ion‐ion interactions across multiple solvents, we quantified chloride binding to a cationic receptor after accounting for ion pairing. In these studies, we created a chelate receptor using aryl‐triazole CH donors and a quinolinium unit that directs its cationic methyl inside the binding pocket. In low‐polarity dichloromethane, the 1 : 1 complex (log K1 : 1 ~ 7.3) is more stable than neutral chelates, but fortuitously comparable to a preorganized macrocycle (log K1 : 1 ~ 6.9). Polar acetonitrile and DMSO diminish stabilities of the charged receptor (log K1 : 1 ~ 3.7 and 1.9) but surprisingly 100‐fold more than the macrocycle. While both receptors lose stability by dielectric screening of electrostatic stability, the cationic receptor also pays additional costs of organization. Thus even though the charged receptor has stronger binding in apolar solvents, the uncharged receptor has more anion affinity in polar solvents.
Amphiphilic Molecules Exhibiting Zwitterionic Excited‐State Intramolecular Proton Transfer and Near‐Infrared Emission for the Detection of Amyloid β Aggregates in Alzheimer's Disease**
Authors: Yu Zhengxin , Moshood Yusuff , Wozniak Marcin K. , Patel Shrey , Terpstra Karna , Llano Daniel A. , Dobrucki Lawrence W. , Mirica Liviu M.
Published: August 2023

Chromophores with zwitterionic excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) have been shown to have larger Stock shifts and red‐shifted emission wavelengths compared to the conventional π‐delocalized ESIPT molecules. However, there is still a dearth of design strategies to expand the current library of zwitterionic ESIPT compounds. Herein, a novel zwitterionic excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer system is reported, enabled by addition of 1,4,7‐triazacyclononane (TACN) fragments on a dicyanomethylene‐4H‐pyran (DCM) scaffold. The solvent‐dependent steady‐state photophysical studies, pKa measurements, and computational analysis strongly support that the ESIPT process is more efficient with two TACN groups attached to the DCM scaffold and not affected by polar protic solvents. Impressively, compound DCM‐OH‐2‐DT exhibits a near‐infrared (NIR) emission at 740 nm along with an uncommonly large Stokes shift. Moreover, DCM‐OH‐2‐DT shows high affinity towards soluble amyloid β (Aβ) oligomers in vitro and in 5xFAD mouse brain sections, and we have successfully applied DCM‐OH‐2‐DT for the in vivo imaging of Aβ aggregates and demonstrated its potential use as an early diagnostic agent for AD. Overall, this study can provide a general molecular design strategy for developing new zwitterionic ESIPT compounds with NIR emission in vivo imaging applications.
Controlling the Crystallisation and Hydration State of Crystalline Porous Organic Salts
Authors: O'Shaughnessy Megan , Padgham Alex C. , Clowes Rob , Little Marc A. , Brand Michael C. , Qu Hang , Slater Anna G. , Cooper Andrew I.
Published: August 2023

Crystalline porous organic salts (CPOS) are a subclass of molecular crystals. The low solubility of CPOS and their building blocks limits the choice of crystallisation solvents to water or polar alcohols, hindering the isolation, scale‐up, and scope of the porous material. In this work, high throughput screening was used to expand the solvent scope, resulting in the identification of a new porous salt, CPOS‐7, formed from tetrakis(4‐sulfophenyl)methane (TSPM) and tetrakis(4‐aminophenyl)methane (TAPM). CPOS‐7 does not form with standard solvents for CPOS, rather a hydrated phase (Hydrate2920) previously reported is isolated. Initial attempts to translate the crystallisation to batch led to challenges with loss of crystallinity and Hydrate2920 forming favorably in the presence of excess water. Using acetic acid as a dehydrating agent hindered formation of Hydrate2920 and furthermore allowed for direct conversion to CPOS‐7. To allow for direct formation of CPOS‐7 in high crystallinity flow chemistry was used for the first time to circumvent the issues found in batch. CPOS‐7 and Hydrate2920 were shown to have promise for water and CO2 capture, with CPOS‐7 having a CO2 uptake of 4.3 mmol/g at 195 K, making it one of the most porous CPOS reported to date.
Mussel‐Inspired Adhesive Hydrogels: Chemistry and Biomedical Applications†
Authors: Chen Jingsi , Han Linbo , Liu Jifang , Zeng Hongbo
Published: August 2023

Comprehensive Summary

Adhesive hydrogels are an emerging class of hydrogels that combine three‐dimensional hydrated networks with adhesive properties. These properties facilitate intimate tissue‐material contact in diverse biomedical applications, enhancing tissue joining, drug transport, and signal transmission. Inspired by the universal adhesiveness of mussel foot proteins, 3,4‐dihydroxyphenyl‐L‐alanine (DOPA) and its analogs have been extensively exploited for the fabrication of adhesive hydrogels, within which the DOPA moieties can not only serve as cross‐linking mediators but also participate in various intermolecular and surface interactions to mediate wet adhesion. This mini‐review highlights recent achievements in the development of mussel‐inspired adhesive hydrogels, focusing on: (1) elucidating DOPA‐mediated adhesion mechanisms through nanomechanical characterizations, (2) designing injectable adhesive hydrogels toward applications in drug delivery, hemostasis, and wound closure, which includes in situ gelling liquids and shear‐thinning preformed hydrogels, and (3) fabricating tough adhesive hydrogels with enhanced mechanical properties for use in tissue regeneration, biosensing, and bioimaging, with typical examples of nanocomposite and double‐network hydrogels. The challenges and prospects in this rapidly developing field are also discussed.
Design of Support Effect in the Catalytic Application of Ligand‐Protect Gold Clusters
Authors: Li Shuohao , Fu Shenguang , Gong Yuqing , Wu Nuojie , Wang Lei , Wang Liang
Published: August 2023

Comprehensive Summary

Ligand‐protected gold (Aun) clusters sometimes need the removal of organic ligands to expose more active sites and reduce steric hindrance in catalytic reactions, and large amount of organic and inorganic materials usually need to be employed as supports to anchor Aun clusters through different interaction mechanisms. Whereas, less comprehensive summaries have been provided about the crucial contribution of various supports to the catalytic performance of the supported Aun clusters. Herein, this review firstly summarizes synthesis methods (e.g., impregnation and encapsulation processes) for the supported Aun cluster catalysts, and then mainly points out specific contributions of support effect in a great diversity of catalytic reactions, as well as deep interaction mechanisms. Besides, opportunities and challenging issues will be stated towards supported Aun clusters, in terms of improving catalytic performance and structural stability of Aun clusters in the demand of catalysis.
Modeling isovolumetric phases in cardiac flows by an Augmented Resistive Immersed Implicit Surface method
Authors: Zingaro Alberto , Bucelli Michele , Fumagalli Ivan , Dede' Luca , Quarteroni Alfio
Published: August 2023

A major challenge in the computational fluid dynamics modeling of the heart function is the simulation of isovolumetric phases when the hemodynamics problem is driven by a prescribed boundary displacement. During such phases, both atrioventricular and semilunar valves are closed: consequently, the ventricular pressure may not be uniquely defined, and spurious oscillations may arise in numerical simulations. These oscillations can strongly affect valve dynamics models driven by the blood flow, making unlikely to recovering physiological dynamics. Hence, prescribed opening and closing times are usually employed, or the isovolumetric phases are neglected altogether. In this article, we propose a suitable modification of the Resistive Immersed Implicit Surface (RIIS) method (Fedele et al., Biomech Model Mechanobiol 2017, 16, 1779–1803) by introducing a reaction term to correctly capture the pressure transients during isovolumetric phases. The method, that we call Augmented RIIS (ARIIS) method, extends the previously proposed ARIS method (This et al., Int J Numer Methods Biomed Eng 2020, 36, e3223) to the case of a mesh which is not body‐fitted to the valves. We test the proposed method on two different benchmark problems, including a new simplified problem that retains all the characteristics of a heart cycle. We apply the ARIIS method to a fluid dynamics simulation of a realistic left heart geometry, and we show that ARIIS allows to correctly simulate isovolumetric phases, differently from standard RIIS method. Finally, we demonstrate that by the new method the cardiac valves can open and close without prescribing any opening/closing times.
FD‐DBN: Flow directed deep belief network for accurate anomaly detection in cloud computing
Authors: Rajarao Banavathu , Sreenivasulu Meruva
Published: August 2023

Security becomes the key concern in a cloud environment, as the servers are distributed throughout the globe and involve the circulation of highly sensitive data. Intrusions in the cloud are common because of the huge network traffic that paves the way for intruders to breach traditional security systems with sophisticated software. To avoid such problems, intrusion detection systems (IDSs) have been introduced by various researchers. Each IDS was developed to achieve a particular objective, that is, providing security by detecting intrusions. Most of the available IDS are inefficient and are unable to provide accurate classification. Also, some of them are computationally expensive to be implemented in practical scenarios. This article proposes a new and efficient IDS framework that can accurately classify the intrusion type through effective training to address the existing drawbacks. The proposed framework, named flow directed deep belief network (FD‐DBN), involves three main phases: pre‐processing, clustering, and classification. In pre‐processing, certain data mining operations are carried out to clean the data. The clustering phase is carried out using the game‐based k‐means (GBKM) clustering algorithm. The clustered data is then provided as input to the FD‐DBN classification framework, where the training process is carried out. The deep belief network (DBN) training is performed with dataset features, and the flow direction algorithm is adopted for tuning the weight parameters of DBN. Through tuning, the model yielded accurate classification outcomes. The simulations are done in Python 3.6, and the results proved that the proposed framework is much more effective than the existing IDS frameworks.
Self‐care and self‐awareness — two keys to leading well
Authors: Freebairn‐Smith Laura
Published: August 2023

In this month's column, I am writing about self‐care and self‐awareness, two of the most important habits of good leaders. I’ll also discuss the Buddhist concepts of monkey mind and comparative mind, and how managing these will dramatically improve your sense of peace and your ability to lead.
What qualities do lifelong friends and good leaders have in common?
Authors: Hodges Dawn Z.
Published: August 2023

Earlier this summer I traveled to Lake Athens, Texas, just outside Dallas, for another gathering of five high school friends. We graduated high school together and set about earning college degrees, building careers, marrying, and raising children. We kept up with each other here and there, but for the most part, we lived separate lives. With the advent of Facebook, we all reconnected. In 2015, with careers firmly established and children raised and gone, we decided to have our own little high school reunion at a lake house belonging to one of the friends. We’ve met up six times since then. We also did weekly Zoom calls during the pandemic and set up a group text. We communicate with each other often.
Improving coral cover using an integrated pest management framework
Authors: Rogers Jacob G. D. , Plagányi Éva E. , Babcock Russell C. , Fletcher Cameron S. , Westcott David A.
Published: August 2023

Integrated pest management (IPM) leverages our understanding of ecological interactions to mitigate the impact of pest species on economically and/or ecologically important assets. It has primarily been applied in terrestrial settings (e.g., agriculture), but has rarely been attempted for marine ecosystems. The crown‐of‐thorns starfish (CoTS), Acanthaster spp., is a voracious coral predator throughout the Indo‐Pacific where it undergoes large population increases (irruptions), termed outbreaks. During outbreaks CoTS act as a pest species and can result in substantial coral loss. Contemporary management of CoTS on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) adopts facets of the IPM paradigm to manage these outbreaks through strategic use of direct manual control (culling) of individuals in response to ecologically based target thresholds. There has, however, been limited quantitative analysis of how to optimize the implementation of such thresholds. Here we use a multispecies modeling approach to assess the performance of alternative CoTS management scenarios for improving coral cover trajectories. The scenarios examined varied in terms of their ecological threshold target, the sensitivity of the threshold, and the level of management resourcing. Our approach illustrates how to quantify multidimensional trade‐offs in resourcing constraints, concurrent CoTS and coral population dynamics, the stringency of target thresholds, and the geographical scale of management outcomes (number of sites). We found strategies with low target density thresholds for CoTS (≤0.03 CoTS min−1) could act as “Effort Sinks” and limit the number of sites that could be effectively controlled, particularly under CoTS population outbreaks. This was because a handful of sites took longer to control, which meant other sites were not controlled. Higher density thresholds (e.g., 0.04–0.08 CoTS min−1), tuned to levels of coral cover, diluted resources among sites but were more robust to resourcing constraints and pest population dynamics. Our study highlights trade‐off decisions when using an IPM framework and informs the implementation of threshold‐based strategies on the GBR.
Object judgment with an event‐driven MEMS‐LSI integrated tactile sensor array system
Authors: Muroyama Masanori , Tanaka Shuji
Published: August 2023

We have developed tactile sensor systems for next‐generation robots. To install a large number of tactile sensors, we have proposed micro electro mechanical systems‐large‐scale integration (MEMS‐LSI) integrated tactile sensors. The integrated device has the following features: capacitive type three‐axis force sensing, embedded diode‐based temperature sensing, signal processing for sensing data digitalization, and event‐driven response for efficient serial bus communication. This paper demonstrates a sensor array system as up‐to 40 integrated tactile sensors which are connected on one bus line. After acquiring the sensing data from the sensor array system, we applied a machine learning technique for target object judgment. The objective of the judgment is to classify the targets into normal object and abnormal object. With the sensor array system, data preprocessing and tuned Recurrent Neural network (RNN)/Long Short‐Term Memory (LSTM) neural network models, we achieved high‐accuracy, high‐precision, and high‐recall scores for the experiment of the judgment.
Antinociceptive effects of nefopam activating descending serotonergic modulation via 5‐HT2 receptors in the nucleus raphe magnus
Authors: Li Yaqun , Kim Woong Mo , Lee Yu Jun , Kang Dong Ho , Lee Hyung Gon , Choi Jeong Il , Yoon Myung Ha
Published: August 2023

Background

Nefopam is a centrally acting antinociceptive drug; however, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. This study investigated the supraspinal mechanisms of nefopam.

Methods

The effects of intraperitoneally administered nefopam were assessed in rats using the formalin test, and the mechanisms were investigated by intrathecal or intra‐nucleus raphe magnus (NRM) pre‐treatment with the serotonin (5‐HT) receptor antagonist or 5‐HT2 receptor antagonist. The change in extracellular 5‐HT levels was measured by spinal cord microdialysis.

Results

Intraperitoneally administered nefopam showed antinociceptive effects in the rat formalin test, which were reversed by intrathecal pre‐treatment with 5‐HT receptor antagonist dihydroergocristine. Microdialysis study revealed that systemic nefopam significantly increased 5‐HT level in the spinal dorsal horn. Pretreatment of cinanserin, a 5‐HT2 receptor antagonist, into the NRM blocked the antinociceptive effects of intraperitoneally delivered nefopam. Direct injection of nefopam into the NRM mimicked the effects of systemic nefopam, and this effect was reversed by intra‐NRM cinanserin pre‐treatment. The increase in spinal level of 5‐HT by systemic nefopam was attenuated by intra‐NRM cinanserin pre‐treatment.

Conclusion

The antinociceptive effects of systemically administered nefopam are mediated by 5‐HT2 receptors in the NRM, which recruit the descending serotonergic fibres to increase the release of 5‐HT into the spinal dorsal horn.

Significance

This study revealed supraspinal mechanisms of nefopam‐produced analgesia mediated by 5‐HT2 receptors in the NRM recruiting the descending serotonergic fibres to increase the release of 5‐HT into the spinal dorsal horn. These observations support a potential role for nefopam in multimodal analgesia based on its distinct mechanisms of action that are not shared by the other analgesics.