bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Inorganic Fertilizer and Spacing on the Plant Growth of Dragon Fruit (Hylocereus costaricencis) under Tamil Nadu Agro-Climatic Conditions
Authors: Samant V. A. , Rani C. Indu , Shanmugasundaram K. A. , Janaki P. , Djanaguiraman M. , Neelavathi R. , S. G. Patil
Published: August 2023

The dragon fruit (Hylocereus costaricencis) is a new emerging fruit crop, there is very less information available on the spacing and fertilizer dose requirements of this crop so the present study was carried out to find the effect of fertilizer doses, spacings, and interaction effect of both on plant growth of dragon fruit (Hylocereus costaricencis) at the Orchard, Horticultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. during the year 2022. The design of the experiment was a split plot with four main plots viz. M1 = 3.5 x 2.0 m2, M2 = 3.0 x 3.0 m2, M3 = 3.0 x 2.5 m2, M4 = 2.5 x 2.5 m2 and six sub plots viz. S1 = N540 P420 K360, S2 = N495 P385 K330, S3 = N450 P350 K300, S4 = N340 P260 K225, S5 = N225 P175 K150, S6 = N0 P0 K0 g per pillar was applied and replicate four times. A significant difference was observed in terms of vine length (m), cladode girth (cm), cladode length (cm), and cladode number when different doses of fertilizers were applied. The highest vine length (2.96), cladode girth (24.52), cladode length (67.21), and number of cladodes (67.48) were observed in S3 (N450 P350 K300). Similarly, the highest vine length (2.503) and cladode girth (19.78) were observed in M4 (2.5 x 2.5 m2). The highest cladode length (67.47) was observed in treatment combination M2S3. Hence, the application of fertilizer dose S3 (N450 P350 K300) and adoption of spacing M4 (2.5 x 2.5 m2) is good to enhance the vegetative growth characters of dragon fruit under Tamil Nadu conditions.
Effect of Enriched TSP Polymer Seed Coating on Germination Physiology of Greengram Var. CO8
Authors: K. Pravina , Renganayaki P. R. , Sritharan N.
Published: August 2023

During 2023, the research was carried out under laboratory condition at the Department of Seed Science and Technology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, to find out the effect of TSP polymer seed coating on germination physiology of green gram. The seeds were coated with TSP polymer, TSP polymer with preservatives, TSP polymer with PGRs and TSP polymer with preservatives and PGRs @ 6 g/ kg of seeds. Among the various constituents of polymer, TSP polymer with preservative (0.1% Sodium sorbate) and PGR (1.5 ppm BRs) performed better with good speed of germination and seedling vigour.
Prediction Model for Early-Stage Pancreatic Cancer Using Routinely Measured Blood Biomarkers
Authors: Boyd Lenka N. C. , Ali Mahsoem , Comandatore Annalisa , Garajova Ingrid , Kam Laura , Puik Jisce R. , Fraga Rodrigues Stephanie M. , Meijer Laura L. , Le Large Tessa Y. S. , Besselink Marc G. , Morelli Luca , Frampton Adam , van Laarhoven Hanneke W. M. , Giovannetti Elisa , Kazemier Geert
Published: August 2023

Importance

Accurate risk prediction models using routinely measured biomarkers—eg, carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) and bilirubin serum levels—for pancreatic cancer could facilitate early detection of pancreatic cancer and prevent potentially unnecessary diagnostic tests for patients at low risk. An externally validated model using CA19-9 and bilirubin serum levels in a larger cohort of patients with pancreatic cancer or benign periampullary diseases is needed.

Objective

To assess the discrimination, calibration, and clinical utility of a prediction model using readily available blood biomarkers (carbohydrate antigen 19-9 [CA19-9] and bilirubin) to distinguish early-stage pancreatic cancer from benign periampullary diseases.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This diagnostic study used data from 4 academic hospitals in Italy, the Netherlands, and the UK on adult patients with pancreatic cancer or benign periampullary disease treated from 2014 to 2022. Analyses were conducted from September 2022 to February 2023.

Exposures

Serum levels of CA19-9 and bilirubin from samples collected at diagnosis and before start of any medical intervention.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Discrimination (measured by the area under the curve [AUC]), calibration, and clinical utility of the prediction model and the biomarkers, separately.

Results

The study sample comprised 249 patients in the development cohort (mean [SD] age at diagnosis, 67 [11] years; 112 [45%] female individuals), and 296 patients in the validation cohort (mean [SD] age at diagnosis, 68 [12] years; 157 [53%] female individuals). At external validation, the prediction model showed an AUC of 0.89 (95% CI, 0.84-0.93) for early-stage pancreatic cancer vs benign periampullary diseases, and outperformed CA19-9 (difference in AUC [ΔAUC], 0.10; 95% CI, 0.06-0.14; P < .001) and bilirubin (∆AUC, 0.07; 95% CI, 0.02-0.12; P = .004). In the subset of patients without elevated tumor marker levels (CA19-9 <37 U/mL), the model showed an AUC of 0.84 (95% CI, 0.77-0.92). At a risk threshold of 30%, decision curve analysis indicated that performing biopsies based on the prediction model was equivalent to reducing the biopsy procedure rate by 6% (95% CI, 1%-11%), without missing early-stage pancreatic cancer in patients.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this diagnostic study of patients with pancreatic cancer or benign periampullary diseases, an easily applicable risk score showed high accuracy for distinguishing early-stage pancreatic cancer from benign periampullary diseases. This model could be used to assess the added diagnostic and clinical value of novel biomarkers and prevent potentially unnecessary invasive diagnostic procedures for patients at low risk.
Quality of Layperson CPR Instructions From Artificial Intelligence Voice Assistants
Authors: Murk William , Goralnick Eric , Brownstein John S. , Landman Adam B.
Published: August 2023

This case series study evaluates responses from 4 artificial intelligence voice assistance on CPR questions from laypersons.
Trends in Suicide Rates Among Post-9/11 US Military Veterans With and Without Traumatic Brain Injury From 2006-2020
Authors: Howard Jeffrey T. , Stewart Ian J. , Amuan Megan E. , Janak Jud C. , Howard Krista J. , Pugh Mary Jo
Published: August 2023

This cohort study examines trends in suicide rates for veterans with and without traumatic brain injury compared with the US adult population.
Learning objectives: an epiphany
Authors: Soulié Priscilla , Cosson Pierre
Published: August 2023

A new Bachelor–Master curriculum in Biomedical Sciences was created at the University of Geneva in 2017. As we organized the new curriculum, we discovered the usefulness of learning objectives. This goal‐oriented approach of teaching proved essential to determine the overall structure of the teaching program, as well as the content of specific courses, and the nature of the examinations. It led us to include innovative elements in the program, preparing students for real‐life situations. Finally, it convinced us to change our role as teachers, in order to engage students in a more active learning relationship.
Chimaeridae
: Sensory Structures
Authors: Ferrando Sara , Gallus Lorenzo , Aicardi Stefano , Amaroli Andrea , Vacchi Marino
Published: August 2023

The peripheral olfactory organ of Chimaeridae is a lamellar organ. The sensory epithelium is a pseudostratified epithelium with ciliated supporting cells. The olfactory neurons have a rod‐shaped appendage or microvilli at their dendritic pole, and they can be highlighted by using, as a marker, an antibody against the heterotrimeric G protein o‐type. The sensory epithelium lacks proper mucous cells and all the supporting cells show mucous granule in their apical part.

The canals of the lateral line are open grooves, with supporting C‐shaped rings of cartilgae, and they can be narrow or wide. The wide grooves present expanded dilations and they are autapomorphic character of the family. In the grooves, there are elongated neuromasts.
Zero‐Shot Learning
Authors: Kenett Ron S.
Published: August 2023

Zero hot Learning is a machine learning technique that allows a model to classify objects from previously unseen classes, without any specific training for those classes. It generalizes a predictive analytic model to unseen classes without any additional training.
Chondroitin Sulfate Improves Mechanical Properties of Gelatin Hydrogel for Cartilage Regeneration in Rats
Authors: Lei Tao , Tong Zhicheng , Zhai Xinrang , Zhao Yushuang , Zhu Huangrong , Wang Lu , Wen Zhengfa , Song Binghua
Published: August 2023

Cartilage injury is a common disease in daily life. Especially in aging populations, the incidence of osteoarthritis is increasing. However, due to the poor regeneration ability of cartilage, most cartilage injuries cannot be effectively repaired. Even cartilage tissue engineering still faces many problems such as complex composition and poor integration of scaffolds and host tissues. In this study, chondroitin sulfate, one of the main components of extracellular matrix (ECM), is chosen as the main natural component of the material, which can protect cartilage in a variety of ways. Moreover, the results show that the addition of chondroitin sulfate improves the mechanical properties of gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) hydrogel, making it able to effectively bear mechanical loads in vivo. Further, chondroitin sulfate is modified to obtain the oxidized chondroitin sulfate (OCS) containing aldehyde groups via sodium periodate. This special group improves the interface integration and adhesion ability of the hydrogel to host cartilage tissue through schiff base reactions. In summary, GelMA/OCS hydrogel is a promising candidate for cartilage regeneration with good biocompatibility, mechanical properties, tissue integration ability, and excellent cartilage repair ability.
Intelligent Sonocatalytic Nanoagents for Energy Conversion‐Based Therapies
Authors: Feng Ziyan , Xiang Xi , Huang Jianbo , Wang Liyun , Zhu Bihui , Zhou Hongju , Pang Houqing , Cheng Chong , Ma Lang , Qiu Li
Published: August 2023

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) utilizes ultrasound‐irradiating sonosensitizers to convert ultrasonic vibrations into chemical energy and produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) that cause cell apoptosis or necrosis. SDT demonstrates significant potential in the treatment of deep tumors without normal tissue damage. Rapid advances in the efficacy of SDT have enabled the rational design and construction of novel intelligent sonocatalytic nanoagents (SCNs) with various functions for versatile biomedical applications. Herein, the most recent critical advancements in intelligent SCNs for energy conversion‐based therapies are discussed. Typical SCNs including organic molecules, organic micro‐/nanoparticles, inorganic micro‐/nanoparticles, organic/inorganic hybrids, and piezoelectric materials are introduced and summarized in detail. Furthermore, these intelligent SCNs are designed for different energy conversion‐based therapies such as SDT, SDT‐assisted chemotherapy, SDT‐assisted photodynamic therapy, SDT‐assisted photothermal therapy, SDT‐assisted gas therapy, SDT‐assisted sonoporation from the cell membrane to the blood brain barrier, and high‐intensity focused ultrasound‐based sonothermal therapy. It is believed that this review will provide an overview of the application of intelligent SCNs in sonodynamic therapies to better understand the limitations and challenges of these SCNs and further promote their advancements for a broad range of biomedical applications.
The Impact of Digitalized Data Management on Materials Systems Workflows
Authors: Tristram Frank , Jung Nicole , Hodapp Patrick , Schröder Rasmus R. , Wöll Christof , Bräse Stefan
Published: August 2023

The basic modules for materials research are systems for the design, synthesis, preparation, analysis, and application of materials and materials systems. To be efficient and produce findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR) data, state‐of‐the‐art materials research needs to consider the integration of research data management (RDM) workflows and, in the end, the implementation of process automation concepts for all parts of the main modules. Here, the state‐of‐the‐art methods of RDM in academia are described and a perspective on the future of digitalized molecular material systems workflows is given. The different elements of an integrated research data management strategy are described, and examples of automated processes are depicted. As such, the use of electronic lab notebooks for comprehensive documentation, the use of data‐integration and data‐conversion strategies, and the establishment of two platforms that enable the automated synthesis of chemical components for materials and the analysis of materials by electron microscopy, are highlighted. Two examples of beneficial effects of successful RDM strategies are presented, showing a sophisticated tool for data prediction based on machine learning and options for creating community‐driven databases by extracting and re‐using data from different scientific projects.
On the Interplay between Size and Disorder in Suppressing Intercalation‐Induced Phase Transitions in Pseudocapacitive Nanostructured MoS2
Authors: Yao Yiyi , Cumberbatch Helen , Robertson Daniel D. , Chin Matthew A. , Lamkin Ryan , Tolbert Sarah H.
Published: August 2023

Pseudocapacitors are an emerging class of energy storage materials that offer an attractive compromise between the energy density of batteries and power density of electric double‐layer capacitors. Decreasing particle size and increasing surface area of battery materials is a common approach for introducing pseudocapacitive behavior and increasing power density. However, in many cases, as the crystal size is reduced, lattice disorder of unknown extent is also introduced, making it difficult to characterize the relative contribution of size and disorder to fast‐charging performance. In this work, a series of nanostructured MoS2 materials are synthesized with different crystallite sizes and degrees of crystallinity to decouple the effects of size and disorder on charge/discharge kinetics. The extent and type of disorder in each material is quantified by total X‐ray scattering experiments and pair distribution function analyses. Electrochemical characterization, including galvanostatic rate capability, cyclic voltammetry, and various kinetic analyses, are used to demonstrate that both decreasing particle size and introducing lattice disorder are effective strategies for increasing charge storage kinetics, and that the effects are additive. Finally, operando X‐ray diffraction measurements show that both size and disorder can be used suppress first‐order Li+ intercalation‐induced phase transitions, a key feature for enabling pseudocapacitive charge storage.
Microenvironment‐Responsive Hydrogels with Detachable Skin Adhesion and Mild‐Temperature Photothermal Property for Chronic Wound Healing
Authors: Geng Huimin , Zheng Xiaoyue , Zhang Yulin , Cui Xiaomiao , Li Zhiwei , Zhang Xunhui , Cui Jiwei , Meng Fangang , Sun Lei , Ni Shilei
Published: August 2023

Chronic wounds have emerged as a global healthcare burden that have inability to heal within an expected time frame owing to the complex pathophysiological microenvironment, bacterial infection, multidrug resistance, and fragile skin tissue. Tailored to the features of chronic wounds, a multifunctional hydrogel (GA) composed of ethylenediamine‐modified gelatin (Gela‐amino) and oxidized sodium alginate (Alg─CHO) is reported. The thermosensitivity of gelatin and Schiff base bonds endow GA hydrogels with physiological temperature‐enhanced nonirritating tissue adhesion and low‐temperature‐triggered nondestructive separation, beneficial for the management of vulnerable and sensitive wounds. In addition, GA hydrogels exhibit pH‐responsive degradation that adapt to the acidic wound microenvironment. Under near‐infrared (NIR) irradiation, DNase I enzyme and indocyanine green‐loaded GA hydrogels (DI@GA) efficiently eradicate drug‐resistant bacteria biofilm and subsequently exert an antibacterial effect attributed to the bioactity of GA hydrogels and mild‐temperature photothermal therapy (≈45 °C). Remarkably, DI@GA/NIR hydrogels accelerate diabetic wound recovery and skin regeneration by dispersing biofilm, killing bacteria, inhibiting inflammation, promoting collagen deposition, and improving angiogenesis. The advanced hydrogels without the addition of antibiotics are promising to act as skin‐friendly wound dressings for rescuing infectious and stalled chronic wounds.
Decellularized Scaffolds with Double‐Layer Aligned Microchannels Induce the Oriented Growth of Bladder Smooth Muscle Cells: Toward Urethral and Ureteral Reconstruction
Authors: Cheng Quhan , Zhang Linli , Zhang Jingai , Zhou Xin , Wu Boyu , Wang Dezheng , Wei Tingting , Shafiq Muhammad , Li Shengbin , Zhi Dengke , Guan Yong , Wang Kai , Kong Deling
Published: August 2023

There is a great clinical need for regenerating urinary tissue. Native urethras and ureters have bidirectional aligned smooth muscle cells (SMCs) layers, which plays a pivotal role in micturition and transporting urine and inhibiting reflux. Thus far, urinary scaffolds have not been designed to induce the native‐mimicking aligned arrangement of SMCs. In this study, a tubular decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) with an intact internal layer and bidirectional aligned microchannels in the tubular wall, which is realized by the subcutaneous implantation of a template, followed by the removal of the template, and decellularization, is engineered. The dense and intact internal layer effectively increases the leakage pressure of the tubular dECM scaffolds. Rat‐derived dECM scaffolds with three different sizes of microchannels are fabricated by tailoring the fiber diameter of the templates. The rat‐derived dECM scaffolds exhibiting microchannels of ≈65 µm show suitable mechanical properties, good ability to induce the bidirectional alignment and growth of human bladder SMCs, and elevated higher functional protein expression in vitro. These data indicate that rat‐derived tubular dECM scaffolds manifesting double‐layer aligned microchannels may be promising candidates to induce the native‐mimicking regeneration of SMCs in urethra and ureter reconstruction.
Unraveling Synergistic Effect of Defects and Piezoelectric Field in Breakthrough Piezo‐Photocatalytic N2 Reduction
Authors: Yuan Jie , Feng Wenhui , Zhang Yongfan , Xiao Jianyu , Zhang Xiaoyan , Wu Yinting , Ni Wenkang , Huang Hongwei , Dai Wenxin
Published: August 2023

Piezo‐photocatalysis is a frontier technology for converting mechanical and solar energies into crucial chemical substances and has emerged as a promising and sustainable strategy for N2 fixation. Here, for the first time, defects and piezoelectric field are synergized to achieve unprecedented piezo‐photocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) activity and their collaborative catalytic mechanism is unraveled over BaTiO3 with tunable oxygen vacancies (OVs). The introduced OVs change the local dipole state to strengthen the piezoelectric polarization of BaTiO3, resulting in a more efficient separation of photogenerated carrier. Ti3+ sites adjacent to OVs promote N2 chemisorption and activation through d–π back‐donation with the help of the unpaired d‐orbital electron. Furthermore, a piezoelectric polarization field could modulate the electronic structure of Ti3+ to facilitate the activation and dissociation of N2, thereby substantially reducing the reaction barrier of the rate‐limiting step. Benefitting from the synergistic reinforcement mechanism and optimized surface dynamics processes, an exceptional piezo‐photocatalytic NH3 evolution rate of 106.7 µmol g−1 h−1 is delivered by BaTiO3 with moderate OVs, far surpassing that of previously reported piezocatalysts/piezo‐photocatalysts. New perspectives are provided here for the rational design of an efficient piezo‐photocatalytic system for the NRR.
Intervertebral Disc‐on‐a‐ChipMF: A New Model for Mouse Disc Culture via Integrating Mechanical Loading and Dynamic Media Flow
Authors: Xie Wanqing , Xing Yuan , Xiao Li , Zhang Pu , Oh Richard , Zhang Yangpu , Yu Xiaoyu , He Yi , Oh Eunha G , Cao Ruofan , Ramasubramanian Melur K , Wang Yong , Jin Li , Oberhozler Jose , Li Xudong
Published: August 2023

This study aims to develop an ex vivo organ‐on‐a‐chip model, intervertebral Disc‐on‐a‐ChipMF, to investigate integrated effects of mechanical loading and nutrition on disc health. The system consists of a detachable multilayer microfluidic chip, a Computer‐Arduino‐based control system, and a mechanical loading unit, which are optimized for accurate axial force measurement and the maintenance of a 21‐day ex vivo disc culture. To ensure accuracy of axial force, the axial mechanical loading regimen is optimized, using the Computer‐Arduino‐based system and low‐profile force sensors (LPFS) to control the mechanical loading unit, and the force distribution on the disc surface is modeled by computational simulation. A 21‐day ex vivo disc culture is demonstrated using the Disc‐on‐a‐ChipMF system, with optimized mechanical loading (0.02 MPa at 1Hz, 1.5 hr day−1) and flow rate (1 µL min−1). The structural integrity, collagen breakdown, catabolic enzyme activities, and disc cell and collagen alignment reveal that the on‐chip cultured discs exhibit a preferred disc health similar to that of native discs for up to 21 days, while discs in a static culture show degenerative changes. The mouse Disc‐on‐a‐ChipMF system mimics in vivo disc microenvironment and provides a valuable platform for studying the effects of various factors on disc health and degeneration and testing new therapies.
The Deubiquitinase OTUD1 Suppresses Secretory Neutrophil Polarization And Ameliorates Immunopathology of Periodontitis
Authors: Song Jia , Zhang Yuning , Bai Yunyang , Sun Xiaowen , Lu Yanhui , Guo Yusi , He Ying , Gao Min , Chi Xiaopei , Heng Boon Chin , Zhang Xin , Li Wenjing , Xu Mingming , Wei Yan , You Fuping , Zhang Xuehui , Lu Dan , Deng Xuliang
Published: August 2023

Tissue‐infiltrating neutrophils (TINs) secrete various signaling molecules to establish paracrine communication within the inflammatory milieu. It is imperative to identify molecular mediators that control this secretory phenotype of TINs. The present study uncovers a secretory neutrophil subset that exhibits increased pro‐inflammatory cytokine production and enhanced migratory capacity which is highly related with periodontal pathogenesis. Further analysis identifies the OTU domain‐containing protein 1 (OTUD1) plays a regulatory role in this secretory neutrophil polarization. In human and mouse periodontitis, the waning of inflammation is correlated with OTUD1 upregulation, whereas severe periodontitis is induced when neutrophil‐intrinsic OTUD1 is depleted. Mechanistically, OTUD1 interacts with SEC23B, a component of the coat protein II complex (COPII). By removing the K63‐linked polyubiquitin chains on SEC23B Lysine 81, the deubiquitinase OTUD1 negatively regulates the COPII secretory machinery and limits protein ER‐to‐Golgi trafficking, thus restricting the surface expression of integrin‐regulated proteins, CD9 and CD47. Accordingly, blockade of protein transport by Brefeldin A (BFA) curbs recruitment of Otud1‐deficient TINs and attenuates inflammation‐induced alveolar bone destruction. The results thus identify OTUD1 signaling as a negative feedback loop that limits the polarization of neutrophils with secretory phenotype and highlight the potential application of BFA in the treatment of periodontal inflammation.
Rainbow‐Colored Carbon Nanotubes via Rational Surface Engineering for Smart Visualized Sensors
Authors: Zhang Jing , Tang Xueqing , Wei Jie , Cong Shan , Zhu Siqi , Li Yaowu , Yao Jian , Lyu Weibang , Jin Hehua , Zhao Meng , Zhao Zhigang , Li Qingwen
Published: August 2023

Surface engineering is effective for developing materials with novel properties, multifunctionality, and smart features that can enable their use in emerging applications. However, surface engineering of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to add color properties and functionalities has not been well established. Herein, a new surface engineering strategy is developed to achieve rainbow‐colored CNTs with high chroma, high brightness, and strong color travel for visual hydrogen sensing. This approach involved constructing a bilayer structure of W and WO3 on CNTs (CNT/W/WO3) and a trilayer structure of W, WO3, and Pd on CNTs (CNT/W/WO3/Pd) with tunable thicknesses. The resulting CNT/W/WO3 composite film exhibits a wide range of visible colors, including yellow, orange, magenta, violet, blue, cyan, and green, owing to strong thin‐film interference. This coloring method outperforms other structural coloring methods in both brightness and chroma. The smart CNT/W/WO3/Pd films with porous characteristics quickly and precisely detect the hydrogen leakage site. Furthermore, the smart CNT/W/WO3/Pd films allow a concentration as low as 0.6% H2/air to be detected by the naked eye in 58 s, offering a very practical and safe approach for the detection and localization of leaks in onboard hydrogen tanks.
Odd and Even Numbered Ferric Wheels
Authors: Cutler Daniel J. , Canaj Angelos B. , Singh Mukesh K. , Nichol Gary S. , Gracia David , Nojiri Hiroyuki , Evangelisti Marco , Schnack Jürgen , Brechin Euan K.
Published: August 2023

The structurally related odd and even numbered wheels [FeIII11ZnII4(tea)10(teaH)1(OMe)Cl8] (1) and [FeIII12ZnII4(tea)12Cl8] (2) can be synthesized under ambient conditions by reacting FeIII and ZnII salts with triethanolamine (teaH3), the change in nuclearity being dictated by the solvents employed. An antiferromagnetic exchange between nearest neighbors, J = ‐10.0 cm−1 for 1 and J = −12.0 cm−1 for 2, leads to a frustrated S = 1/2 ground state in the former and an S = 0 ground state in the latter.
Strain‐Induced Toroidal Polar States in Wrinkled Ferroelectric Polymer by Phase‐Field Simulations
Authors: Guo Changqing , Dong Shouzhe , Wang Jing , Wang Xueyun , Huang Houbing
Published: August 2023

Wrinkled ferroelectric polymer films with out‐of‐plane deformation exhibit exotic strain fields that differ from those of conventional epitaxial film systems, offering a new path toward manipulating electrical and mechanical behaviors in ferroelectrics. However, the direct observation of the domain structure evolution in ferroelectric polymer films during continuous deformation is challenging with current experimental approaches. In this study, the strain‐induced evolution of toroidal domain structures in organic poly(vinylidene fluoride‐ran‐trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF‐TrFE)) films with concentric toroidal wrinkle patterns is comprehensively investigated using phase‐field simulations. The results reveal morphology‐ and thickness‐dependent toroidal polar topology in wrinkled P(VDF‐TrFE) films. External strain loading can modulate this ferroelectric domain, which exhibits robust coupling behavior with a mixed strain field of periodic tensile and compressive strains. It is demonstrated that toroidal wrinkled ferroelectric films provide an effective and unique flexible platform for continuously controllable strain engineering in ferroelectrics and a theoretical framework with potential applications in flexible electronic devices.
Designing Soft Solid‐like Viscoelastic Zinc Powder Anode toward High‐Performance Aqueous Zinc‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Cao Chuheng , Zhou Keqin , Du Wencheng , Li Cheng Chao , Ye Minghui , Zhang Yufei , Tang Yongchao , Liu Xiaoqing
Published: August 2023

Zn powder is considered as a potential Zn metal anode for aqueous Zn‐ion batteries. However, restricted ion/electron transfer and volume effect‐caused electrical contact failure in conventional polymer binder composited Zn powder anodes deteriorate their electrochemical performance. Here, a high‐performance soft solid‐like viscoelastic Zn powder composite anode is proposed based on an oligomer gluing strategy. Benefiting from the viscoelastic properties, the soft‐solid Zn powder composite (ss‐ZnP) anode has significantly enhanced charge transfer, alleviated volume effect, and homogenized interfacial electric field, leading to fast plating/stripping kinetics and dendrite‐free deposition morphology. Furthermore, the assembled NH4V4O10‖ss‐ZnP full cell delivers higher capacity (510 mAh g−1 at 0.1A g−1, 300 mAh g−1 at 1A g−1) and longer lifespan up to 500 cycles at 1 A g−1, superior to conventional polymer binder composited Zn powder anode and other reported rheological Zn powder‐based anodes. Apart from the electrochemical merits, this soft matter‐based design also endows the ss‐ZnP electrode with free‐standing and malleable properties which greatly expand its practical application.
Materializing Autonomy in Soft Robots across Scales
Authors: Berrueta Thomas A. , Murphey Todd D. , Truby Ryan L.
Published: August 2023

The impressive capabilities of living organisms arise from the way autonomy is materialized by their bodies. Across scales, living beings couple computational or cognitive intelligence with physical intelligence through body morphology, material multifunctionality, and mechanical compliance. While soft robotics has advanced the design and fabrication of physically intelligent bodies, the integration of information‐processing capabilities for computational intelligence remains a challenge. Consequently, perception and control limitations have constrained how soft robots are built today. Progress toward untethered autonomy will require deliberate convergence in how the field codevelops new materials, fabrication methods, and control strategies for soft robots. Here, a new perspective is put forward: that researchers should use tasks alone to impose material and information constraints on soft robot design. A conceptual framework is proposed for a task‐first design paradigm that sidesteps limitations imposed by control strategies. This framework allows emergent synergies between material and information processing properties of soft matter to be readily exploited for task‐capable agents. Particular attention is paid to the scale dependence of solutions. Finally, an outlook is presented on emerging research opportunities for achieving autonomy in future soft robots as large as elephant trunks and as small as paramecia.
Enhancing Robustness of Memristor Crossbar‐Based Spiking Neural Networks against Nonidealities: A Hybrid Approach for Neuromorphic Computing in Noisy Environments
Authors: Zhang Yafeng , Sun Hao , Xie Mande , Feng Zhe , Wu Zuheng
Published: August 2023

Memristor crossbar‐based spiking neural networks (SNNs) face challenges caused by nonidealities associated with their hardware‐based neurons and synapses. The key nonidealities include electric‐field noise, conductance noise, and conductance drift. This study investigates the robustness of fully connected, convolutional, residual, and spike‐timing‐dependent plasticity‐based SNNs against hardware nonidealities using the MNIST, Fashion MNIST, and CIFAR10 datasets. In response to these challenges, a novel hybrid residual SNN (HRSNN) is proposed that incorporates a new neuron circuit and a weight‐dependent loss function. The HRSNN in a high‐intensity noise environment is evaluated using the neuromorphic DVS128 Gesture dataset. The achieved accuracy rate of 92.71% is only 2.15% lower than that of the noise‐free environment. These results demonstrate the robustness of the proposed HRSNN under high‐intensity noise conditions and present new possibilities for the advancement of neuromorphic computing in noisy environments.
Plasma phosphorylated tau‐217 exhibits sex‐specific prognostication of cognitive decline and brain atrophy in cognitively unimpaired adults
Authors: Saloner Rowan , VandeVrede Lawren , Asken Breton M. , Paolillo Emily W. , Gontrum Eva Q. , Wolf Amy , Lario‐Lago Argentina , Milà‐Alomà Marta , Triana‐Baltzer Gallen , Kolb Hartmuth C. , Dubal Dena B. , Rabinovici Gil D. , Miller Bruce L. , Boxer Adam L. , Casaletto Kaitlin B. , Kramer Joel H.
Published: August 2023

INTRODUCTION

Accumulating evidence indicates disproportionate tau burden and tau‐related clinical progression in females. However, sex differences in plasma phosphorylated tau (p‐tau)217 prediction of subclinical cognitive and brain changes are unknown.

METHODS

We measured baseline plasma p‐tau217, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and neurofilament light (NfL) in 163 participants (85 cognitively unimpaired [CU], 78 mild cognitive impairment [MCI]). In CU, linear mixed effects models examined sex differences in plasma biomarker prediction of longitudinal domain‐specific cognitive decline and brain atrophy. Cognitive models were repeated in MCI.

RESULTS

In CU females, baseline plasma p‐tau217 predicted verbal memory and medial temporal lobe trajectories such that trajectories significantly declined once p‐tau217 concentrations surpassed 0.053 pg/ml, a threshold that corresponded to early levels of cortical amyloid aggregation in secondary amyloid positron emission tomography analyses. CU males exhibited similar rates of cognitive decline and brain atrophy, but these trajectories were not dependent on plasma p‐tau217. Plasma GFAP and NfL exhibited similar female‐specific prediction of medial temporal lobe atrophy in CU. Plasma p‐tau217 exhibited comparable prediction of cognitive decline across sex in MCI.

DISCUSSION

Plasma p‐tau217 may capture earlier Alzheimer's disease (AD)‐related cognitive and brain atrophy hallmarks in females compared to males, possibly reflective of increased susceptibility to AD pathophysiology.
Enhanced Electrocatalytic Water Oxidation by Interfacial Phase Transition and Photothermal Effect in Multiply Heterostructured Co9S8/Co3S4/Cu2S Nanohybrids
Authors: Chang Yanan , Ma Zhangyu , Lu Xuyun , Wang Shasha , Bao Jianchun , Liu Ying , Ma Chao
Published: August 2023

The rational design of advanced nanohybrids (NHs) with optimized interface electronic environment and rapid reaction kinetics is pivotal to electrocatalytic schedule. Herein, we developed a multiple heterogeneous Co9S8/Co3S4/Cu2S nanoparticle in which Co3S4 germinates between Co9S8 and Cu2S. Using high‐angle annular‐dark‐field imaging and theoretical calculation, it was found that the integration of Co9S8 and Cu2S tends to trigger the interface phase transition of Co9S8, leading to Co3S4 interlayer due to the low formation energy of Co3S4/Cu2S (−7.61 eV) than Co9S8/Cu2S (−5.86 eV). Such phase transition not only lowers the energy barrier of oxygen evolution reaction (OER, from 0.335 eV to 0.297 eV), but also increases charge carrier density (from 7.76×1014 to 2.09×1015 cm−3), and creates more active sites. Compared to Co9S8 and Cu2S, the Co9S8/Co3S4/Cu2S NHs also demonstrate notable photothermal effect that can heat the catalyst locally, offset the endothermic enthalpy change of OER, and promote carrier migrate, reaction intermediates adsorption/deprotonation to improve reaction kinetics. Profiting from these favorable factors, the Co9S8/Co3S4/Cu2S catalyst only requires an OER overpotential of 181 mV and overall water splitting cell voltage of 1.43 V to driven 10 mA cm−2 under the irradiation of near‐infrared light, outperforming those without light irradiation and many reported Co‐based catalysts.
Repurposing Iron‐ and 2‐Oxoglutarate‐Dependent Oxygenases to Catalyze Olefin Hydration
Authors: Wang Bingnan , Lu Yong , Cha Lide , Chen Tzu‐Yu , Palacios Philip M. , Li Liping , Guo Yisong , Chang Wei‐chen , Chen Chuo
Published: August 2023

Mononuclear nonheme iron(II) and 2‐oxoglutarate (Fe/2OG)‐dependent oxygenases and halogenases are known to catalyze a diverse set of oxidative reactions, including hydroxylation, halogenation, epoxidation, and desaturation in primary metabolism and natural product maturation. However, their use in abiotic transformations has mainly been limited to C−H oxidation. Herein, we show that various enzymes of this family, when reconstituted with Fe(II) or Fe(III), can catalyze Mukaiyama hydration—a redox neutral transformation. Distinct from the native reactions of the Fe/2OG enzymes, wherein oxygen atom transfer (OAT) catalyzed by an iron‐oxo species is involved, this nonnative transformation proceeds through a hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) pathway in a 2OG‐independent manner. Additionally, in contrast to conventional inorganic catalysts, wherein a dinuclear iron species is responsible for HAT, the Fe/2OG enzymes exploit a mononuclear iron center to support this reaction. Collectively, our work demonstrates that Fe/2OG enzymes have utility in catalysis beyond the current scope of catalytic oxidation.
Putting the Dark Emu debate into context
Authors: Denham Tim , Donohue Mark
Published: August 2023

In this review of the Dark Emu debate we start out by summarising Bruce Pascoe's original work and Peter Sutton and Keryn Walshe's critique. However, the majority of this contribution is to place this Australian‐focussed debate into broader conceptual, methodological and evidential contexts generally associated with the investigation of early agriculture in other parts of the world. If we are to apply the term “agriculture” to Aboriginal plant management practices, then this requires a global, rather than a continental‐centric comparative perspective. We argue debates regarding the character of plant exploitation practices on the Australian mainland, including whether they included forms of agriculture or experimental horticulture, have been hindered by a lack of terminological clarity, the absence of a methodological framework to assess empirically verifiable evidence, and – even more problematically – a lack of relevant data on the putative plants and practices involved. Here, terminology is clarified and a bottom‐up, practice‐based method is advocated for the assessment of recent (using oral, visual and written histories) and ancient (using archaeological, archaeobotanical and palaeoecological evidence) forms of food plant exploitation in Australia. The terminology and methodological framework are heuristically applied to three scenarios: (1) ethnographic and historical records for the exploitation of underground storage organs (USOs) on the Australian mainland; (2) historical documentation regarding the botany, potential human roles in dispersal, and Aboriginal exploitation of banana (Musa spp.), taro (Colocasia esculenta) and greater yam (Dioscorea alata) in northern Australia and (3) archaeobotanical evidence for the exploitation of USOs and other plants from The Top End.
Association between COVID‐19 and myasthenia gravis (MG): A genetic correlation and Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Sun Dongren , Tu Liangdan , Wang Xiaofei , Du Qin , Wang Rui , Shi Ziyan , Chen Hongxi , Zhou Hongyu
Published: August 2023

Background:

Observational studies have suggested an association between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) and myasthenia gravis (MG). Here, we aimed to estimate the genetic correlation and causal relationship between COVID‐19 susceptibility, hospitalization, severity, and MG phenotypes using linkage disequilibrium score regression (LDSC) and Mendelian randomization (MR) approach.

Methods

Summary statistics of COVID‐19 susceptibility, hospitalization, and severity were used as instrumental variables for exposure traits. Large‐scale genome‐wide association study (GWAS) data for MG were used as outcome traits. The inverse variance weighted approach was used for the main MR analysis, complemented by MR‐Egger, weighted median, simple mode, and weighted mode methods. Sensitivity analysis was implemented using Cochran's Q test, MR‐PRESSO method, and MR‐Egger intercept test.

Results

LDSC analysis did not reveal any genetic correlation among COVID‐19 susceptibility, hospitalization, severity, and MG phenotypes, including MG, early‐onset MG, and late‐onset MG (p > .05). Our MR analysis did not provide evidence supporting a causal effect of COVID‐19 susceptibility, hospitalization, or severity on MG phenotypes (p > .05). Extensive sensitivity analysis strengthened the robustness and consistency of the MR estimates.

Conclusion

Our study did not find evidence of a genetic correlation or causal relationship among COVID‐19 susceptibility, hospitalization, severity, and MG. Future studies with more GWAS data are needed to evaluate the association between COVID‐19 phenotypes and MG and its subgroups.
Computation‐Based Design of Salt Bridges in PETase for Enhanced Thermostability and Performance for PET Degradation
Authors: Qu Zhi , Chen Kun , Zhang Lin , Sun Yan
Published: August 2023

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is one of the most widely used plastics, and the accumulation of PET poses a great threat to the environment. IsPETase can degrade PET rapidly at moderate temperatures, but its application is greatly limited by the low stability. Herein, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations combined with a sequence alignment strategy were adopted to introduce salt bridges into the flexible region of IsPETase to improve its thermal stability. In the designed variants, the Tm values of IsPETaseI168R/S188D and IsPETaseI168R/S188E were 7.4 and 8.7 °C higher than that of the wild type, respectively. The release of products degraded by IsPETaseI168R/S188E was 4.3 times that of the wild type. Tertiary structure characterization demonstrated that the structure of the variants IsPETaseI168R/S188D and IsPETaseI168R/S188E became more compact. Extensive MD simulations verified that a stable salt bridge was formed between the residue R168 and D186 in IsPETaseI168R/S188D, while in IsPETaseI168R/S188E an R168‐D186‐E188 salt bridge network was observed. These results confirmed that the proposed computation‐based salt bridge design strategy could efficiently generate variants with enhanced thermal stability for the long‐term degradation of PET, which would be helpful for the design of enzymes with improved stability.
Deposition of layered double hydroxide on non‐pretreated carbon cloth using lactate salts as raw materials
Authors: Machida Shingo , Hasegawa Kaishi , Katsumata Ken‐Ichi , Yasumori Atsuo
Published: August 2023

This study presented the successful deposition of layered double hydroxide (LDH) onto non‐pretreated carbon cloth (CC) using lactate salts as raw materials. Specifically, under the hydrothermal condition using urea hydrolysis and lactate salts as the source of Mg and Al, MgAl‐LDH was deposited onto the CC surface, which is typically treated with organic solvents and acids to enhance its hydrophilicity prior to LDH deposition. X‐ray diffraction patterns, field‐emission electron microscope images, and elemental analyses revealed the deposition and coating of hexagonal platy particles of a carbonate‐type MgAl‐LDH with pseudo hexagonal phase and Mg/Al molar ratio of 1 onto CC. This LDH coating was not achieved when using chlorides and nitrates, which commonly used Mg and Al sources. These results demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed method for facile LDH deposition on hydrophobic surfaces.
Exploring Hydrogen Storage Capacity in Metal‐Organic Frameworks: A Bayesian Optimization Approach
Authors: Ghude Sumedh , Chowdhury Chandra
Published: August 2023

Metal‐organic Frameworks (MOFs) can be employed for gas storage, capture, and sensing. Finding the MOF with the best adsorption property from a large database is usual for adsorption calculations. In high‐throughput computational research, the expense of computing thermodynamic quantities limits the finding of MOFs for separations and storage. In this work, we demonstrate the usefulness of Bayesian optimization (BO) for estimating theH2uptake capability of MOFs by using an existing dataset containing 98000 real and hypothetical MOFs. We demonstrate that in order to recover the best candidate MOFs, less than 0.027 % of the database needs to be screened using the BO method. This allows future adsorption experiments on a small sample of MOFs to be undertaken with minimal experimental effort by effectively screening MOF databases. In addition, the presented BO can provide comprehensible material design insights, and the framework will be transferable to optimizing other target properties. We also suggest using Particle Swarm Optimisation (PSO), a swarm intelligence technique in artificial intelligence, to estimate MOFs’H2uptake potential to achieve results comparable to BO. In addition, we implement a novel modification of PSO called Evolutionary‐PSO (EPSO) to compare and find interesting outcomes.
Post‐Synthetic Nucleobase Modification of Oligodeoxynucleotides by Sonogashira Coupling and Influence of Alkynyl Modifications on the Duplex‐Forming Ability
Authors: Mikami Atsushi , Mori Shohei , Osawa Takashi , Obika Satoshi
Published: August 2023

Recently, it was reported that the alkynyl modification of nucleobases mitigates the toxicity of antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) while maintaining the efficacy. However, the general effect of alkynyl modifications on the duplex‐forming ability of oligonucleotides (ONs) is unclear. In this study, post‐synthetic nucleobase modification by Sonogashira coupling in aqueous medium was carried out to efficiently evaluate the physiological properties of various ONs with alkynyl‐modified nucleobases. Although several undesired reactions, including nucleobase cyclization, were observed, various types of alkynyl‐modified ONs were successfully obtained via Sonogashira coupling of ONs containing iodinated nucleobases. Evaluation of the stability of the duplex formed by the synthesized alkynyl‐modified ONs showed that the alkynyl modification of pyrimidine was less tolerated than that of purine, although both the modifications occurred in the major groove of the duplex. These results can be attributed to the bond angle of the alkyne on the pyrimidine and the close proximity of the alkynyl substituents to the phosphodiester backbone. The synthetic method developed in this study may contribute to the screening of the optimal chemical modification of ASO because various alkynyl‐modified ONs that are effective in reducing the toxicity of ASO can be easily synthesized by this method.
Chemistry of Gold(III) with a Pyridine‐Oxaziridine Ligand: Competition between C−O and N−O bond Activation
Authors: Nasser Nasser , Puddephatt Richard J.
Published: August 2023

The oxaziridine derivative 2‐t‐butyl‐3‐(2‐pyridinyl)oxaziridine reacted with Na[AuCl4].2H2O to give, after recrystallization from a solvent mixture containing methanol, a mixture of gold(III) complexes which were characterized crystallographically as the amide complex [AuCl2{κ2‐N,N’‐2‐C5H4NC(=O)N(t‐Bu)] and the aldolate complex [AuCl2{κ2‐N,O‐2‐C5H4NCH(OMe)O)]. It is suggested that these products arise after initial O−N or C−N bond cleavage respectively of the strained oxaziridine ring, after coordination to the gold(III) center. Monitoring of reactions by NMR spectroscopy showed that O−N bond cleavage of the oxaziridine ring was favoured in the presence of a protic solvent.