bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mechanical Response of Gradient Lattice Structures Based on Topology Optimization
Authors: Cheng Feiteng , Zhao Qinghai , Mao Zibin , Wang Fajie
Published: March 2024

Lattice structure has the characteristics of lightweight, crashworthiness, and better energy absorption capabilities. With the advancement of additive manufacturing technologies, preparing complex lattice structures has become possible. In this study, some novel lattice structures are designed by topology optimization based on the inspiration of the triply periodic minimum surface lattice structures. The different volume fraction lattice structures are combined into four gradient lattice structures (GLSs): unidirectional GLS, bidirectional increasing GLS, bidirectional decreasing GLS, and none GLS (NOGLS). Subsequently, selective laser melting is employed to manufacture the designed lattice structures. Experiments and finite‐element simulation analysis are utilized to evaluate the mechanical performance and collapse patterns of lattice structures. In the results, it is shown that NOGLS has a higher modulus of elasticity and greater load‐bearing capacity for the same relative density. Furthermore, the energy‐absorbing properties of the dot‐matrix structure are significantly improved by a rational density design strategy. This work is valuable for improving the energy absorption performance of structures.
Thermal Conductivity Analysis of Polymer‐Derived Nanocomposite via Image‐Based Structure Reconstruction, Computational Homogenization, and Machine Learning
Authors: Fathidoost Mozhdeh , Yang Yangyiwei , Thor Nathalie , Bernauer Jan , Pundt Astrid , Riedel Ralf , Xu Bai‐Xiang
Published: March 2024

Macroscopic thermal properties of engineered or inherent composites depend substantially on the composite structure and the interface characteristics. While it is acknowledged that unveiling such dependency relation is essential for materials design, the complexity involved in, e.g., microstructure representation and limited data impedes the research progress. Herein, this issue is tackled by machine learning techniques on image‐based microstructure and property data predicted from physics simulations, along with experimental validation. The methodology is demonstrated for the model system ultrahigh‐temperature ceramic nanocomposite. The structure is reconstructed from scanning electron microscope images, and is resolved by a diffuse‐interface representation, which is advantageous in handling complicated structure and interface properties. Subsequently, hierarchical finite element homogenization is carried out to evaluate the effective thermal conductivity. A thorough comparison between the computed results and experimentally measured data, conducted across diverse temperatures and varying interface thermal resistances, reveals a high level of agreement. The observed agreement allows for the inverse estimation of the interface thermal resistance, a parameter typically challenging to ascertain directly through experimental means. Utilizing comprehensive data, a machine learning surrogate model has been meticulously trained to accurately predict the effective thermal conductivity of composite structures with exceptional performance.
VaporLIFT: On‐Chip Chemical Synthesis of Glycan Microarrays
Authors: Tsouka Alexandra , Mende Marco , Heidepriem Jasmin , Dallabernardina Pietro , Garcia Ricardo Manuel , Schmidt Tobias , Bienert Klaus , Seeberger Peter H. , Loeffler Felix F.
Published: March 2024

Laser‐induced forward transfer (LIFT) of polymers is a versatile printing method for parallel in situ synthesis of peptides on microarrays. Chemical building blocks embedded in a polymer matrix are transferred and coupled in a desired pattern to a surface, generating peptides on microarrays by repetitive in situ solid‐phase synthesis steps. To date, the approach is limited to simple, heat induced chemical reactions. The VaporLIFT method, disclosed here, combines LIFT with chemical vapor glycosylation to rapidly generate glycans on microarray surfaces while maintaining inert, low temperature conditions required for glycosylations. Process design and parameter optimization enables the synthesis of a collection of glycans at defined positions on a glass surface. The synthetic structures are detected by mass spectrometry, fluorescently labeled glycan‐binding proteins, and covalent staining with fluorescent dyes. VaporLIFT is ideal for parallel screening of other chemical reactions, that require inert and well‐defined reaction conditions.
Enabling High Performance Bismuth Trifluoride Cathode by Engineering the Cathode/Electrolyte Interface in Sulfide‐Based All Solid State Batteries
Authors: Xiong Bin , Zhang Xuedong , Ou Xiangze , Ren Xiaolei , Chen Junyu , Rao Yaling , Wang Yi , Huang Jianyu , Huang Qiao
Published: March 2024

Metal fluorides are conversion‐type cathodes that have the potential to boost the energy densities of next generation lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). However, the study of non‐transitional metal fluorides (NTMFs) such as bismuth trifluoride (BiF3) is limited due to the challenges on the construction of a stable electrochemical reaction interfaces with liquid electrolyte, although it shows advantages on high electrochemical potential, moderately high theoretical capacity and low voltage hysteresis. Moreover, the performance of BiF3 in all solid state batteries (ASSBs) has not been explored. In this contribution, the micro‐sized commercial BiF3 is successfully coated with a cyclic polyacrylonitrile (cPAN) and refined its size to nanoscale. The refined nano‐sized BiF3@cPAN uniformly disperses in the solid electrode and delivers an initial discharge capacity of 330 and 200 mAh g−1 after 250 cycles in sulfide electrolyte based ASSBs. Furthermore, the voltage hysteresis of the ASSBs reaches a record low value of 180 mV. Postmortem analysis shows that the elastic coating hindered the undesirable interface side reaction and rendered the BiF3 with excellent cycle reversibility. This work demonstrates the crucial role of stable interfaces for BiF3 in preventing electrolyte decomposition, which promotes the practical adoption of BiF3 cathode with higher specific energy for LIBs.
Aligned Bamboo Fiber‐Induced Crystallinity Mitigation of Lightweight Polymer Composite Enables Ultrahigh Strength and Unprecedented Toughness
Authors: Hou Jingkun , Wu Xianzhang , Li Zhihan , Li Xingchi , Liao Yu , Li Lei , Luo Sha , Wu Yiqiang , Qing Yan
Published: March 2024

Lightweight polymer composites promise incredible applications in aerospace, seaprobes, and medical apparatus. However, their performance is generally limited by a trade‐off between mechanical strength and toughness. Herein, a crystallinity mitigating strategy driven by highly aligned bamboo macrofibers embedded in a polycaprolactone polyol (PCL) matrix for producing ultrastrong and tough lightweight polymer composites is proposed. The embedded bamboo macrofibers have oxygen‐containing functional groups on the fiber surface, that can interact with functional groups (ester and hydroxyl groups) in the molecular chains of the PCL in the form of hydrogen bonds, thus preventing the aggregation of molecular chains and the crystallization of PCL, which ultimately leads to unprecedented toughness. Meanwhile, the bamboo macrofibres with intrinsically aligned microstructure, can enable effective stress transfer and dissipation, providing remarkable ultrahigh strength. As a result, the obtained lightweight polymer composite achieves ultrahigh mechanical strength (31.5 MPa) and superior toughness (21.7 MJ m−3) at an unprecedented low density (1.07 g cm−3), representing the state‐of‐the‐art in reported lightweight polymers. Such lightweight polymer composite has the potential to greatly expedite the practical realization of artificial medical materials, including orthopedic instruments and joint prostheses.
BCM‐Inspired Synapses Constructed with Barrier‐Modulated Coupling Junctions for Enhancing Speech Recognition
Authors: Cai Dan , Liu Yunbo , Wang Jinyong , Zhao Tianchen , Shen Miao , Zhang Fangjie , Jiang Yadong , Gu Deen
Published: March 2024

Bio‐inspired synaptic devices have garnered considerable interest in neuromorphic computing. The Bienenstock‐Cooper‐Munro (BCM) learning rule stands out as one of the most accurate synaptic models, featuring non‐monotonic behavior and threshold sliding effect, crucial for stable learning processes. The direct device strategy for completely mimicking the BCM rule is a tough issue since the current devices lack two competitive working modes within one device. In this work, a dual‐junction synaptic device with opposite built‐in electric fields using a W/WO2/WO3‐x/Au structure is demonstrated. The devices directly mimic two fundamental features of the BCM rule via a delicately‐designed bandgap engineering strategy. Furthermore, the working mechanisms are investigated and the promising potential of dual‐junction synaptic devices is demonstrated for enhancing speech recognition through Convolutional Neural Network (CNN)‐based digital speech recognition with a remarkable accuracy of 98% through a synaptic array. Even for speech recognition with 13% Gaussian noise, the accuracy remained at 83%. These findings provide a promising strategy for developing BCM‐based synaptic devices for neuromorphic computing applications.
Enhancement of Luminescence from Lanthanide Metal–Organic Frameworks by Ytterbium and Calcium Doping: Application to Photonic Barcodes and Fingerprint Detection
Authors: Chen Jiabo , Li Musen , Sun Renrui , Xie Yao , Reimers Jeffrey R. , Sun Lining
Published: March 2024

Emission from metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) made from Eu3+ and 1,3,5‐benzenetricarboxylic acid (BTC) is enhanced eightfold by doping with Y3+ and Ca2+ ions. The Ca2+ ions are shown to substitute into the MOFs, and the MOFs structure is shown to be retained at high Y3+ doping levels. The emission enhancement is shown to be associated with variations in the local electric field at the Eu3+ centers in the MOFs. Calculations indicate that the HOMO and LUMO levels vary considerably with both Y3+ doping and with low‐level Ca2+ doping. These then modulates Eu3+ concentration quenching, ligand‐metal energy transfer processes, and the local electric field at the Eu3+ centers, qualitatively accounting for the primary observed features. For UV excitation (250, 295, and 393 nm, respectively), the greatest emission enhancement comes from the doped MOFs with 10% Eu3+, 89% Y3+, and 1% Ca2+. In a photonic barcode application, the doped MOFs are shown to facilitate increased information storage density, and in a fingerprinting application, they are displayed to lead to higher photostability and reduced materials demand.
Efficient Sn–Pb Mixed Perovskite Solar Cells Via Minimizing Solvent Oxidation
Authors: Ge Ciyu , Jiang Borui , Zhu Jiaxing , Zhang Peiyan , Ma Ruiqi , Yan Shuyu , Liu Zhiqiang , Shaker Ahmed , Salem Marwa S. , Luo Jiajun , Xu Ling , Yang JiaKuan , Li Zhaoyang , Song Haisheng , Chen Chao , Tang Jiang
Published: March 2024

Tin (Sn)–lead (Pb) mixed perovskite solar cells (PSCs) stand out as the optimal choice for the bottom subcell of the all‐perovskite tandem solar cells. One of the major challenges impeding the further enhancement of Sn–Pb mixed PSCs power conversion efficiency (PCE) is the easy oxidation of Sn2+ to Sn4+ and a large number of Sn vacancies in the perovskite films. In this work, the sources of Sn2+ oxidation in the perovskite precursor solution are systematically investigated, focusing on the oxidation state of raw materials, solvent‐dissolved oxygen, and solvent oxidizing ability. It is discovered that compared to the commonly used dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solvent, N, N'‐Dimethylpropyleneurea (DMPU) exhibits a weaker oxidizing ability while forming excellent coordination with the perovskite precursor. Using a mixed solvent of N, N‐Dimethylformamide (DMF), and DMPU as the precursor solvent not only obviates the need for additional antioxidants but also demonstrates reduced oxidation susceptibility toward Sn–Pb mixed perovskite. Utilizing a gas‐assisted technique without anti‐solvents, high‐efficiency Sn–Pb mixed PSCs are fabricated. These findings not only deepen the understanding of the oxidation phenomena in Sn–Pb perovskite precursor solutions but also provide essential guidance for the scalable production of Sn–Pb mixed PSCs and tandem solar cells.
Exosome Isolation Using Chitosan Oligosaccharide Lactate‐1‐Pyrenecarboxylic Acid‐Based Self‐Assembled Magnetic Nanoclusters
Authors: Kim Minse , Song Chi‐Yeon , Lee Jin Sil , Ahn Yu‐Rim , Choi Jaewon , Lee Sang Hoon , Shin SoJin , Na Hee Jun , Kim Hyun‐Ouk
Published: March 2024

Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles that play a crucial role in intercellular communication and offer significant potential for a wide range of biomedical applications. However, conventional methods for exosome isolation have limitations in terms of purity, scalability, and preservation of exosome structural integrity. To address these challenges, an exosome isolation platform using chitosan oligosaccharide lactate conjugated 1‐pyrenecarboxylic acid (COL‐Py) based self‐assembled magnetic nanoclusters (CMNCs), is presented. CMNCs are characterized to optimize their size, stability, and interaction dynamics with exosomes. The efficiency of CMNCs in isolating exosomes is systematically evaluated using various analytical methods to demonstrate their ability to capture exosomes based on amphiphilic lipid bilayers. CMNC‐based exosome isolation consistently yields exosomes with structural integrity and purity similar to those obtained using traditional methods. The reusability of CMNCs over multiple exosome isolation cycles underscores their scalability and offers an efficient solution for biomedical applications. These results are supported by western blot analysis, which demonstrated the superiority of CMNC‐based isolation in terms of purity compared to conventional methods. By providing a scalable and efficient exosome isolation process that preserves both structural integrity and purity, CMNCs can constitute a new platform that can contribute to the field of exosome studies.
An AIE Controlled “Off‐On” Cu2+‐Sensitive Probe for Early Detection of Renal Fibrosis
Authors: Zhou Jie , Luo Fusui , Dong Xiaomeng , Ma Huili , Guan Min , Zhang Jin , Sun Yiwen , Feng Junfen
Published: March 2024

Early detection of renal fibrosis (RF) is very important given that it is irreversible when it progresses to the terminal stage. A key marker of RF pathogenesis is activation of myomyofibroblasts, and its targeted imaging may be a promising approach for early detection of RF, but no study has directly imaged activation of renal myomyofibroblasts. Cu2+ plays a major role in the fibrotic activity of myofibroblasts. Herein, inspired by that Cu2+ can complex with bovine serum albumin (BSA), BSA‐Ag2S quantum dots (QDs) with aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) property are synthesized. Then BSA‐Ag2S QDs are modified by chitosan (CS) with renal targeting and hyaluronic acid (HA) with myofibroblast targeting to obtain the AIE assay system (QDs@CS@HA). The system is simple to synthesize, and produces a rapid NIR fluorescence signal turn‐on response and a low detection limit of 75 × 10−9 m to Cu2+. In addition, cellular and animal experiments have shown that QDs@CS@HA has good biosafety and cell‐targeted imaging capability for RF. Based on the successful application of QDs@CS@HA and the mechanism of RF progression in early RF detection, it is expected that QDs@CS@HA may detect RF before the appearance of clinical symptoms.
Minimally Invasive Delivery of Percutaneous Ablation Agent via Magnetic Colloidal Hydrogel Injection for Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Wu Wen‐Shu , Yan Xu , Chen Sheng , Du Yaxin , Hu Jinlong , Song Yonghong , Zha Zhengbao , Xu Yun‐Jun , Cao Baoqiang , Xuan Shou‐Hu , Liu Xingyu , Chen Bing , Dong Liang , Lu Yang , Yu Shu‐Hong
Published: March 2024

Percutaneous thermotherapy, a minimally invasive operational procedure, is employed in the ablation of deep tumor lesions by means of target‐delivering heat. Conventional thermal ablation methods, such as radiofrequency or microwave ablation, to a certain extent, are subjected to extended ablation time as well as biosafety risks of unwanted overheating. Given its effectiveness and safety, percutaneous thermotherapy gains a fresh perspective, thanks to magnetic hyperthermia. In this respect, an injectable‐ and magnetic‐hydrogel‐construct‐based thermal ablation agent is likely to be a candidate for the aforementioned clinical translation. Adopting a simple and environment‐friendly strategy, a magnetic colloidal hydrogel injection is introduced by a binary system comprising super‐paramagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles and gelatin nanoparticles. The colloidal hydrogel constructs, unlike conventional bulk hydrogel, can be easily extruded through a percutaneous needle and then self‐heal in a reversible manner owing to the unique electrostatic cross‐linking. The introduction of magnetic building blocks is exhibited with a rapid magnetothermal response to an alternating magnetic field. Such hydrogel injection is capable of generating heat without limitation of deep penetration. The materials achieve outstanding therapeutic results in mouse and rabbit models. These findings constitute a new class of locoregional interventional thermal therapies with minimal collateral damages.
Moiré Pattern Controlled Phonon Polarizer Based on Twisted Graphene
Authors: Qin Zihao , Dai Lingyun , Li Man , Li Suixuan , Wu Huan , White Katherine E. , Gani Gilad , Weiss Paul S. , Hu Yongjie
Published: March 2024

Twisted van der Waals materials featuring Moiré patterns present new design possibilities and demonstrate unconventional behaviors in electrical, optical, spintronic, and superconducting properties. However, experimental exploration of thermal transport across Moiré patterns has not been as extensive, despite its critical role in nanoelectronics, thermal management, and energy technologies. Here, the first experimental study is conducted on thermal transport across twisted graphene, demonstrating a phonon polarizer concept from the rotational misalignment between stacked layers. The direct thermal and acoustic measurements, structural characterizations, and atomistic modeling, reveal a modulation up to 631% in thermal conductance with various Moiré angles, while maintaining a high acoustic transmission. By comparing experiments with density functional theory and molecular dynamics simulations, mode‐dependent phonon transmissions are quantified based on the angle alignment of graphene band structures and attributed to the coupling among flexural phonon modes. The agreement confirms the dominant tuning mechanisms in adjusting phonon transmission from high‐frequency thermal modes while having negligible effects on low‐frequency acoustic modes near Brillouin zone center. This study offers crucial insights into the fundamental thermal transport in Moiré structures, opening avenues for the invention of quantum thermal devices and new design methodologies based on manipulations of vibrational band structures and phonon spectra.
Unveiling Electric Field Induced Ultrafast Charge Transfer Dynamics and Photoresponse Enhancement in Gold‐Interlayered Bi2Se3
Authors: Saini Saurabh K. , Sharma Prince , Gautam Sudhanshu , Verma Sahil , Kumar Kapil , Gupta Arshi , Tawale J. S. , Husale Sudhir , Kushvaha Sunil Singh , Walia Sumeet , Singh Rajiv Kr. , Bano Sahiba , Mori Takao , Kumar Mahesh
Published: March 2024

In the realm of optoelectronic applications, the incorporation of a metal interlayer between layers of a topological material holds significant potential. The interlayer introduces benefits such as improved charge transfer efficiency, tunable band alignment, plasmonics effect, and enhanced light‐matter interactions, paving the way for more efficient and versatile optoelectronic devices. This work explores the incorporation of gold between Bi2Se3, resulting in an enhancement in the response time of photoresponse of interlayered systems (Bi2Se3‐Au‐Bi2Se3). The introduction of a gold interlayer between Bi2Se3 significantly influences the overlayer structure, crystallinity, crystallite size, and even phonon behavior. Moreover, the responsivity of the interlayered device at a bias (2 V) is found to have high responsivity with fast response and decay time (τr = 0.1 ms, and τd = 24 ms of interlayered systems) as compared to intrinsic Bi2Se3(τr = 0.6 ms, and τd = 28 ms). This change is attributed to the bandgap alteration of the Bi2Se3/Au interface, which is monitored through transient spectroscopy performed at different electric biases. This study suggests that incorporating a gold interlayer holds potential benefits for various optoelectronic applications.
Metamaterial Engineering for Superior HgTe cQD Photodetector Performance
Authors: Schwanninger Raphael , Nashashibi Shadi , Yarema Olesya , Koepfli Stefan M. , Fedoryshyn Yuriy , Wood Vanessa , Leuthold Juerg
Published: March 2024

Highly responsive, low noise, and inexpensive photodetectors that operate in the mid‐infrared (MIR) wavelength regime are in high demand for applications ranging from fundamental science to large scale industries. However, simultaneously achieving all this in one device architecture is very challenging. In this work, mercury telluride (HgTe) colloidal quantum dot (cQD) based photodetectors are systematically improved by the introduction of new metamaterial designs. The new designs are found by utilizing simulations. Thereby the structures are optimized to increase the responsivity and simultaneously decrease the noise spectral current density. This is achieved by focusing on improving the photogenerated charge carrier collection efficiency while reducing the active material volume without altering the near unity absorption. A standard metamaterial perfect absorber architecture based on disc resonators is used as a starting point for the optimization process. By optimizing the carrier extraction through contact engineering, resulting in a narrow slot metamaterial, an overall ≈13‐fold responsivity and ≈345‐fold detectivity increase is achieved. The final metamaterial design reaches a responsivity of 16.2 A W−1 and detectivity of 6×108 Jones at a wavelength of 2710 nm. The analysis therefore provides a route to improve the responsivity and noise characteristics of mid‐infrared photodetectors based on cost‐efficient colloidal quantum dots.
Gold‐Catalyzed Tandem Oxidation‐Migration of 3‐Propargyl Indoles: Synthesis of α‐Indol‐3‐yl α,β‐Unsaturated Carbonyls
Authors: Renedo Lorena , Álvarez Estela , Solas Marta , Suárez‐Pantiga Samuel , Fernández‐Rodríguez Manuel A. , Sanz Roberto
Published: March 2024

α‐Indol‐3‐yl α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl compounds are synthesized from 3‐propargyl indoles, obtained by direct propargylation of indoles, via a gold‐catalyzed tandem oxidation‐1,2‐indole migration reaction in the presence of pyridine N‐oxides. Fine‐tuning of the catalyst and oxidant enables the reaction of 3‐propargyl indoles bearing different substituents. The order of oxidation and indole migration is determined by the terminal or internal nature of the alkyne moiety. In addition, the process can be coupled with additional reactions, allowing an increase in molecular complexity or the design of more elaborated tandem reactions. In this sense, indole derivatives bearing an alkenyl substituent at the alkyne position evolve through a gold‐catalyzed tandem oxidation‐1,2‐indole migration‐Nazarov cyclization producing α‐indolyl cyclopentenones.
Preparation of Hetero‐π‐Conjugated Compounds by Double Nucleophilic Addition to Haloalkynes and C−H Cyclization
Authors: Hata Takeshi , Tatsumi Yuta , Kanai Yuki , Takahashi Naoto , Shigeta Masayuki , Urabe Hirokazu
Published: March 2024

When a mixture containing 1‐halo‐1‐alkyne, a dinucleophilic agent, and a base (Cs2CO3 or K3PO4) was heated in DMF, regio‐ and stereo‐selective nucleophilic addition of the dinucleophilic agent to the acetylenes occurred. This reaction yielded (Z,Z)‐bis(haloalkene), which subsequently underwent Pd‐catalyzed cyclization through C−H bond activation, resulting in the formation of two‐oxygen‐ or ‐nitrogen‐containing hetero‐π‐conjugated compounds. N‐(5‐Hydroxynaphthalen‐1‐yl)methanesulfonamide was treated with 2‐phenyl‐1‐chloroethyne followed by 1‐chloro‐1‐hexadecyne. After these reactions, Pd‐catalyzed double C−H cyclization was employed to produce 1H‐2‐phenyl‐7‐tetradecylbenzofuro[7,6‐g]indole. Notably, this compound transformed into a fan‐shaped structure at 86 °C and transitioned into a smectic A phase characterized by a layered structure.
Ruppert‐Prakash Reagent (TMSCF3)‐Catalyzed Chemoselective Esterification of Weinreb Amides
Authors: Miele Margherita , Castoldi Laura , Beccalli Egle , Pace Vittorio
Published: March 2024

A straightforward TMSCF3‐catalyzed conversion of Weinreb amides into esters through the treatment with sodium alkoxides is reported. The procedure documents a genuine selectivity for the esterification of primary alcohols with Weinreb amides featuring diverse substitution pattern. The constitutive N‐methoxy fragment of these acylating agents is responsible for the unique reactivity they display, thus enabling to explore alkoxides as competent nucleophilic elements. The protocol is compatible with the fully transfer of stereochemical information embodied in the starting material, as well as, guarantees the preparation of pharmaceuticals. Mechanistic investigations revealed that under the adopted reaction conditions (NaOR, R primary) TMSCF3 does not release the trifluoromethyl (CF3−) anion – as occurs with tertiary alkoxides – but rather it catalytically activates the amidic bond.
An Efficient Low‐Cost Device for Sampling Exhaled Breath Condensate EBC
Authors: Khorshid Mehran , Bakhshi Sichani Soroush , Barbosa Estrada Dimna L. , Neefs Werner , Clement Alexander , Pohlmann Gerhard , Epaud Ralph , Lanone Sophie , Wagner Patrick
Published: March 2024

While exhaled breath condensate EBC is not yet used in routine clinical diagnostics and disease monitoring, recent publications indicate that exhaled air and EBC contain a wide range of molecular biomarkers that are characteristic of various medical conditions. This includes evidently lung disorders such as asthma, COPD, and cystic fibrosis, but also diabetes and several types of cancer go along with specific biomarkers exhaled from the airways. In addition, EBC samples can be collected in a non‐invasive way and, due to their small volume, they can be easily stored frozen between collection and analysis. Several home‐made EBC‐collection systems for research purposes are documented in literature while there are also a few systems from commercial suppliers that are not yet certified as medical products. In this work, a novel collection device is presented in which the EBC is condensed and frozen inside stainless steel tubes, tightly surrounded by an aluminum cylinder that is precooled in a kitchen freezer. The device is low cost, easy to use by patients at home or in a clinic, and its collection efficiency of up to 500 µL min−1of respiration is on the high side.
Effect of the Substrate Materials in the Fabrication of an Electrode Based on Mixed Nickel‐Iron Oxide Electrocatalyst
Authors: Tsuji Yuuri , Fiorani Andrea , Einaga Yasuaki
Published: March 2024

The effect of different substrate materials in the fabrication of an electrode intended for use in the water oxidation reaction is investigated. The electrocatalyst is nickel‐iron oxide (NiFeOx) which is deposited by chronoamperometry on nickel, iron, titanium, and stainless steel substrates. The process of electrodeposition is optimized to achieve the lowest overpotential for the water oxidation reaction. The four electrodes are characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and glow‐discharge optical emission spectroscopy (GDOES) to describe the effect of the substrate on the nature of the electrocatalyst layer. Electrochemical tests in 1 m NaOH are applied on the four electrodes to assess the stability and the retention of the electrocatalytic properties of the whole electrode. All electrodes show similar overpotential of ≈0.3 V at 10 mA cm−2 implying that the substrate do not affect the electrocatalytic activity of the NiFeOx. After use, the overpotential increases in a range of 30–50 mV for nickel, iron, and titanium substrates, while stainless steel retains the lowest overpotential with an increase of 10 mV. This limited variation can be the effect of smaller NiFeOx nanoparticles compared to other substrates. XPS analysis reveals that after galvanostatic electrolysis, the oxidation state of Fe shifts slightly from Fe(II) to Fe(III), likely Fe3O4 and Fe2O3, while NiO/Ni2O3 change partially to Ni(OH)2.
Remodeling of the Intra‐Conduit Inflammatory Microenvironment to Improve Peripheral Nerve Regeneration with a Neuromechanical Matching Protein‐Based Conduit
Authors: Wang Jia‐Yi , Yuan Ya , Zhang Shu‐Yan , Lu Shun‐Yi , Han Guan‐Jie , Bian Meng‐Xuan , huang Lei , Meng De‐Hua , Su Di‐Han , Xiao Lan , Xiao Yin , Zhang Jian , Gong Ning‐Ji , Jiang Li‐Bo
Published: March 2024

Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) remains a challenging area in regenerative medicine. Nerve guide conduit (NGC) transplantation is a common treatment for PNI, but the prognosis of NGC treatment is unsatisfactory due to 1) neuromechanical unmatching and 2) the intra‐conduit inflammatory microenvironment (IME) resulting from Schwann cell pyroptosis and inflammatory‐polarized macrophages. A neuromechanically matched NGC composed of regenerated silk fibroin (RSF) loaded with poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrene sulfonate) (P:P) and dimethyl fumarate (DMF) are designed, which exhibits a matched elastic modulus (25.1 ± 3.5 MPa) for the peripheral nerve and the highest 80% elongation at break, better than most protein‐based conduits. Moreover, the NGC can gradually regulate the intra‐conduit IME by releasing DMF and monitoring sciatic nerve movements via piezoresistive sensing. The combination of NGC and electrical stimulation modulates the IME to support PNI regeneration by synergistically inhibiting Schwann cell pyroptosis and reducing inflammatory factor release, shifting macrophage polarization from the inflammatory M1 phenotype to the tissue regenerative M2 phenotype and resulting in functional recovery of neurons. In a rat sciatic nerve crush model, NGC promoted remyelination and functional and structural regeneration. Generally, the DMF/RSF/P:P conduit provides a new potential therapeutic approach to promote nerve repair in future clinical treatments.
PEDOT/CNT Flexible MEAs Reveal New Insights into the Clock Gene's Role in Dopamine Dynamics
Authors: Wu Bingchen , Castagnola Elisa , McClung Colleen A. , Cui Xinyan Tracy
Published: March 2024

Substantial evidence has shown that the Circadian Locomotor Output Cycles Kaput (Clock) gene is a core transcription factor of circadian rhythms that regulates dopamine (DA) synthesis. To shed light on the mechanism of this interaction, flexible multielectrode arrays (MEAs) are developed that can measure both DA concentrations and electrophysiology chronically. The dual functionality is enabled by conducting polymer PEDOT doped with acid‐functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNT). The PEDOT/CNT microelectrode coating maintained stable electrochemical impedance and DA detection by square wave voltammetry for 4 weeks in vitro. When implanted in wild‐type (WT) and Clock mutation (MU) mice, MEAs measured tonic DA concentration and extracellular neural activity with high spatial and temporal resolution for 4 weeks. A diurnal change of DA concentration in WT is observed, but not in MU, and a higher basal DA concentration and stronger cocaine‐induced DA increase in MU. Meanwhile, striatal neuronal firing rate is found to be positively correlated with DA concentration in both animal groups. These findings offer new insights into DA dynamics in the context of circadian rhythm regulation, and the chronically reliable performance and dual measurement capability of this technology hold great potential for a broad range of neuroscience research.
Systemic Administration of Cowpea Mosaic Virus Demonstrates Broad Protection Against Metastatic Cancers
Authors: Chung Young Hun , Zhao Zhongchao , Jung Eunkyeong , Omole Anthony O. , Wang Hanyang , Sutorus Lucas , Steinmetz Nicole F.
Published: March 2024

The key challenge in cancer treatment is prevention of metastatic disease which is therapeutically resistant and carries poor prognoses necessitating efficacious prophylactic approaches that prevent metastasis and recurrence. It is previously demonstrated that cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV) induces durable antitumor responses when used in situ, i.e., intratumoral injection. As a new direction, it is showed that CPMV demonstrates widespread effectiveness as an immunoprophylactic agent – potent efficacy is demonstrated in four metastatic models of colon, ovarian, melanoma, and breast cancer. Systemic administration of CPMV stimulates the innate immune system, enabling attack of cancer cells; processing of the cancer cells and associated antigens leads to systemic, durable, and adaptive antitumor immunity. Overall, CPMV demonstrated broad efficacy as an immunoprophylactic agent in the rejection of metastatic cancer.
Ionic Solvent Shell Drives Electroactuation in Organic Mixed Ionic‐Electronic Conductors
Authors: Bonafè Filippo , Decataldo Francesco , Cramer Tobias , Fraboni Beatrice
Published: March 2024

The conversion of electrochemical processes into mechanical deformation in organic mixed ionic‐electronic conductors (OMIECs) enables artificial muscle‐like actuators but is also critical for degradation processes affecting OMIEC‐based devices. To provide a microscopic understanding of electroactuation, the modulated electrochemical atomic force microscopy (mEC‐AFM) is introduced here as a novel in‐operando characterization method for electroactive materials. The technique enables multidimensional spectroscopic investigations of local electroactuation and charge uptake giving access to the electroactuation transfer function. For poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) based microelectrodes, the spectroscopic measurements are combined with multichannel mEC‐AFM imaging, providing maps of local electroactuation amplitude and phase as well as surface morphology. The results demonstrate that the amplitude and timescales of electroactuation are governed by the drift motion of hydrated ions. Accordingly, slower water diffusion processes are not limiting, and the results illustrate how OMIEC microactuators can operate at sub‐millisecond timescales.
Urolithin A Hijacks ERK1/2‐ULK1 Cascade to Improve CD8+ T Cell Fitness for Antitumor Immunity
Authors: Ma Shuaiya , Wu Qi , Wu Wenxian , Tian Ye , Zhang Jie , Chen Chaojia , Sheng Xue , Zhao Fangcheng , Ding Lu , Wang Taixia , Zhao Laixi , Xie Yuying , Wang Yongxiang , Yue Xuetian , Wu Zhuanchang , Wei Jian , Zhang Kun , Liang Xiaohong , Gao Lifen , Wang Hongyan , Wang Guihua , Li Chunyang , Ma Chunhong
Published: March 2024

According to the latest evidence, the microbial metabolite Urolithin A (UA), known for its role in promoting cellular health, modulates CD8+ T cell‐mediated antitumor activity. However, the direct target protein of UA and its underlying mechanism remains unclear. Here, this research identifies ERK1/2 as the specific target crucial for UA‐mediated CD8+ T cell activation. Even at low doses, UA markedly enhances the persistence and effector functions of primary CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and human chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, UA interacts directly with ERK1/2 kinases, enhancing their activation and subsequently facilitating T cell activation by engaging ULK1. The UA‐ERK1/2‐ULK1 axis promotes autophagic flux in CD8+ CTLs, enhancing cellular metabolism and maintaining reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, as evidenced by increased oxygen consumption and extracellular acidification rates. UA‐treated CD8+ CTLs also display elevated ATP levels and enhanced spare respiratory capacity. Overall, UA activates ERK1/2, inducing autophagy and metabolic adaptation, showcasing its potential in tumor immunotherapy and interventions for diseases involving ERKs.
Multiscale Porosity Microfluidics to Study Bacterial Transport in Heterogeneous Chemical Landscapes
Authors: Salek M. Mehdi , Carrara Francesco , Zhou Jiande , Stocker Roman , Jimenez‐Martinez Joaquin
Published: March 2024

Microfluidic models are proving to be powerful systems to study fundamental processes in porous media, due to their ability to replicate topologically complex environments while allowing detailed, quantitative observations at the pore scale. Yet, while porous media such as living tissues, geological substrates, or industrial systems typically display a porosity that spans multiple scales, most microfluidic models to date are limited to a single porosity or a small range of pore sizes. Here, a novel microfluidic system with multiscale porosity is presented. By embedding polyacrylamide (PAAm) hydrogel structures through in‐situ photopolymerization in a landscape of microfabricated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) pillars with varying spacing, micromodels with porosity spanning several orders of magnitude, from nanometers to millimeters are created. Experiments conducted at different porosity patterns demonstrate the potential of this approach to characterize fundamental and ubiquitous biological and geochemical transport processes in porous media. Accounting for multiscale porosity allows studies of the resulting heterogeneous fluid flow and concentration fields of transported chemicals, as well as the biological behaviors associated with this heterogeneity, such as bacterial chemotaxis. This approach brings laboratory studies of transport in porous media a step closer to their natural counterparts in the environment, industry, and medicine.
Real‐world evidence: Long‐term safety of deferiprone in a large cohort of patients with sickle cell disease enrolled in a registry for up to 10 years
Authors: Kwiatkowski Janet L. , Thompson Alexis A. , Tricta Fernando , Temin Noemi Toiber , Rozova Anna , Fradette Caroline , Badawy Sherif M.
Published: March 2024

Patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) and other anemias who receive blood transfusions are at risk of organ damage due to transfusional iron overload. Deferiprone is an iron chelator with a well‐established safety and efficacy profile that is indicated for the treatment of transfusional iron overload. Here, we report safety data from the large‐scale, retrospective Ferriprox® Total Care Registry, which involved all patients with SCD taking deferiprone following the 2011 approval of deferiprone in the United States through August 2020. A total of 634 patients who had initiated deferiprone treatment were included. The mean (SD) duration of deferiprone exposure in the registry was 1.6 (1.6) years (range 0 to 9.7 years). In the overall patient population (N = 634), 64.7% (n = 410) of patients reported a total of 1885 adverse events (AEs). In subgroup analyses, 54.6% (n = 71) of pediatric patients and 67.3% (n = 339) of adult patients reported AEs. The most common AEs reported in patients receiving deferiprone were sickle cell crisis (22.7%), nausea (12.1%), vomiting (8.7%), abdominal discomfort (5.4%), and fatigue (5.4%). Neutropenia was reported in four (0.6%) patients and severe neutropenia/agranulocytosis (defined as absolute neutrophil count <0.5 × 109/L) was reported in two (0.3%) patients. Of patients with evaluable data, all cases of neutropenia and severe neutropenia/agranulocytosis resolved with deferiprone discontinuation. Results from the nearly 10 years of real‐world data collected in the Ferriprox® Total Care Registry demonstrate that deferiprone is safe and well tolerated in patients with SCD or other anemias who have transfusional iron overload.
Quantifying hominin morphological diversity at the end of the middle Pleistocene: Implications for the origin of Homo sapiens
Authors: Hautavoine Hugo , Arnaud Julie , Balzeau Antoine , Mounier Aurélien
Published: March 2024

Objectives

The Middle Pleistocene (MP) saw the emergence of new species of hominins: Homo sapiens in Africa, H. neanderthalensis, and possibly Denisovans in Eurasia, whose most recent common ancestor is thought to have lived in Africa around 600 ka ago. However, hominin remains from this period present a wide range of morphological variation making it difficult to securely determine their taxonomic attribution and their phylogenetic position within the Homo genus. This study proposes to reconsider the phenetic relationships between MP hominin fossils in order to clarify evolutionary trends and contacts between the populations they represent.

Materials and Methods

We used a Geometric Morphometrics approach to quantify the morphological variation of the calvarium of controversial MP specimens from Africa and Eurasia by using a comparative sample that can be divided into 5 groups: H. ergaster, H. erectus, H. neanderthalensis, and H. sapiens, as well as individuals from current modern human populations. We performed a Generalized Procrustes Analysis, a Principal Component Analysis, and Multinomial Principal Component Logistic Regressions to determine the phenetic affinities of the controversial Middle Pleistocene specimens with the other groups.

Results

MP African and Eurasian specimens represent several populations, some of which show strong affinities with H. neanderthalensis in Europe or H. sapiens in Africa, others presenting multiple affinities.

Discussion

These MP populations might have contributed to the emergence of these two species in different proportions. This study proposes a new framework for the human evolutionary history during the MP.
Cutting‐Edge Achievements of Inner Ear Drug Delivery Systems
Authors: Zhang Hui , Xu Dongyu , Wang Huan , Chai Renjie , Zhao Yuanjin
Published: March 2024

The intricate physiological structure of the inner ear presents challenges for traditional medication treatment strategies, including systemic adverse responses, trouble penetrating the blood–labyrinth barrier, and low local cochlear concentration, resulting in poor therapeutic outcomes. An intriguing tactic that is extensively developed over decades is utilizing drug delivery systems to transport medication molecules to the inner ear. Herein, the challenges associated with inner ear delivery are discussed, cutting‐edge achievements in inner ear drug delivery systems are emphasized, including nano‐, micro‐, and macrocarriers, and finally opportunities to leverage advanced technologies to improve existing drug delivery strategies are highlighted.
Through‐Space Charge‐Transfer Organogold(III) Complexes Enable High‐Performance X‐ray Scintillation and Imaging
Authors: Chen Tianhao , Xu Yalun , Ying Ao , Yang Chuluo , Lin Qianqian , Gong Shaolong
Published: March 2024

Organic scintillators have recently attracted growing attention for X‐ray detection in industrial and medical applications. However, these materials still face critical obstacles of low attenuation efficiency and/or inefficient triplet exciton utilization. Here we developed a new category of organogold(III) complexes, Tp‐Au‐1 and Tp‐Au‐2, through adopting a through‐space interaction motif to realize high X‐ray attenuation efficiency and efficient harvesting of triplet excitons for emission. Thanks to the efficient through‐space charge transfer process, this panel of complexes achieved higher photoluminescence quantum yield and shorter radiative lifetimes compared with the through‐bond reference complexes. Inspiringly, these organogold(III) complexes exhibited polarity‐dependent emission origins: thermally activated delayed fluorescence and/or phosphorescence. Under X‐ray irradiation, Tp‐Au‐2 manifested intense radioluminescence together with a record‐high scintillation light yield of 77,600 photons MeV−1 for organic scintillators. The resulting scintillator screens demonstrated high‐quality X‐ray imaging with >16.0 line pairs mm−1 spatial resolution, outstripping most organic and inorganic scintillators. This finding provides a feasible strategy for the design of superior organic X‐ray scintillators.
Investigating the effect of simultaneous incorporation of Al2O3 and B4C nanofillers in enhancing the wear performance of UHMWPE
Authors: Soares Igor Tenório , Maru Marcia Marie , Almeida Clara Muniz , Marques Fernanda Davi , Vieira Marques Maria de Fátima
Published: March 2024

During the past years, great effort has been made to improve the tribological performance of ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), considered a key polymeric material in applications requiring elevated mechanical and corrosion resistance and bioinertness. This work aimed to investigate the role of adding ceramic nanofillers of aluminum oxide (Al2O3) and boron carbide (B4C) in the UHMWPE matrix in order to modify the triboperformance of the polymer. The results obtained through dry reciprocating sliding tests up to 6 h (21,600 cycles) revealed that the presence of nanoparticles has led to a 33% higher coefficient of friction on average when compared with the matrix polymer without nanofillers. This behavior results from the increased resistance to plowing caused by the nanofillers, which contributes to the frictional force. Conversely, the simultaneous utilization of both nanofillers, each one at a concentration of 1.5% by mass, significantly enhances the wear resistance of UHMWPE, achieving a reduction in wear of over 35%.
Experimental investigation of regenerated cellulose microdialysis probe sterilization
Authors: Bhaduri Swayamdipta , Lee Tse‐Ang , Peng Jessie , Qureshi Maarig , Gonzales Rueben A. , Hutter Tanya
Published: March 2024

Sterilization of devices is important in hospitals, operating theaters, and emergency rooms. Microdialysis allows in vivo sampling of small molecules and is used for clinical studies. Microdialysis probes are made of soft, flexible, and porous polymeric membranes. They have been traditionally disinfected using either ethanol (which fails to eliminate all microbes and does not satisfy regulatory requirements) or ethylene oxide gas and gamma irradiation (that are expensive and resource‐intensive). In this work, three methods for microdialysis probe‐sterilization were studied—autoclave and two chemicals (commercially available sterilization solutions): Sporox II and MetriCide. Following sterilization, the regenerated cellulose membranes were characterized under scanning electron microscopy and by measuring the changes in pore characteristics using nitrogen sorption. To determine the effect of sterilization on analyte diffusion through the membrane, microdialysis probes were fabricated, sterilized, and tested with two analytes; ethanol and dopamine. The autoclaved membranes suffered thermomechanical damage and were deemed unfit for further testing. Probes sterilized with the chemical solutions were subsequently characterized by in vitro microdialysis experiments performed under regulated mass flux conditions. It is concluded that autoclaving is not a suitable sterilization technique for the cellulose membranes, while both of the chemical sterilizers were found to be good candidates for sterilization.