bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anodic Commodity Polymer Recycling: The Merger of Iron‐Electrocatalysis with Scalable Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Hourtoule Maxime , Trienes Sven , Ackermann Lutz
Published: September 2024

Plastics are omnipresent in our everyday life, and accumulation of post‐consumer plastic waste in our environment represents a major societal challenge. Hence, methods for plastic waste recycling are in high demand for a future circular economy. Specifically, the degradation of post‐consumer polymers towards value‐added small molecules constitutes a sustainable strategy for a carbon circular economy. Despite of recent advances, chemical polymer degradation continues to be largely limited to chemical redox agents or low energy efficiency in photochemical processes. We herein report a powerful iron‐catalyzed degradation of high molecular weight polystyrenes through electrochemistry to efficiently deliver monomeric benzoyl products. The robustness of the ferraelectrocatalysis was mirrored by the degradation of various real‐life post‐consumer plastics, also on gram scale. The cathodic half reaction was largely represented by the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The scalable electro‐polymer degradation could be solely fueled by solar energy through a commercially available solar panel, indicating an outstanding potential for a decentralized green hydrogen economy.
D‐Band‐Center‐Engineered Platinum‐Based Nanozyme for Personalized Pharmacovigilance
Authors: Yu Zhichao , Xu Zhenjin , Zeng Ruijin , Xu Man , Zheng Haisu , Huang Da , Weng Zuquan , Tang Dianping
Published: September 2024

A high‐efficiency PtZnCd nanozyme was screened with density functional theory (DFT) and unique d‐orbital coupling features for sensitive enrichment and real‐time analysis of CO‐releasing molecule‐3 (CORM‐3). Multicatalytic sites in the nanozyme showed a high reactivity of up to 72.89 min−1 for peroxidase (POD)‐like reaction, which was 2.2, 4.07, and 14.67 times higher than that of PtZn (32.67 min−1), PtCd (17.89 min−1), and Pt (4.97 min−1), respectively. Normalization of the catalytic sites showed that the catalytic capacity of the active site in PtZnCd was 2.962 U μmol−1, which was four times higher than that of a pure Pt site (0.733 U μmol−1). DFT calculations showed that improved d‐orbital coupling between different metals reduces the position of the center of the shifted whole d‐band relative to the Fermi energy level, thereby increasing the contribution of the sites to the electron transfer from the active center, accompanied by enhanced substrate adsorption and intermediate conversion in the catalytic process. The potential adsorption principle and color development mechanism of CORM‐3 on PtZnCd were determined, and its practical application in drug metabolism was validated in vitro and in zebrafish and mice models, demonstrating that transition‐metal doping effectively engineers high‐performance nanozymes and optimizes artificial enzymes.
On the suitability of the α‐relaxation as novel trigger for a shape memory polymer
Authors: Maricanov Michail , Becker Roman , Jerusalem Robert David Ludwig , Tiller Joerg Christian , Katzenberg Frank
Published: September 2024

Shape memory polymers typically utilize the glass transition or melting temperature to switch from one shape to another. The goal of this work is to check if the α‐relaxation, which is attributed to the migration of chains through lamellar crystals, can be utilized as novel switch for any crosslinkable semi‐crystalline thermoplastic. Using cross‐linked low‐density polyethylene (x‐LDPE) as an example, it is shown that the α‐relaxation is indeed suitable as switch, when the polymer is crystallized under strain to an intermediate shape. It is demonstrated that post‐stretching at a temperature between the α‐relaxation and the melting temperature, followed by subsequent cooling to room‐temperature switches x‐LDPE from the intermediate to a temporary shape and that reheating to this temperature initiates the retraction back to the intermediate shape. Switching between intermediate and temporary shapes is shown to be accompanied by a reversible change in morphology.
Sex heterogeneity of dynamic brain activity and functional connectivity in autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Lu Huibin , Dong Qi , Gao Le , Xue Zaifa , Niu Xiaoxia , Zhou Rongjuan , Guo Xiaonan
Published: September 2024

Sex heterogeneity has been frequently reported in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and has been linked to static differences in brain function. However, given the complexity of ASD and diagnosis‐by‐sex interactions, dynamic characteristics of brain activity and functional connectivity may provide important information for distinguishing ASD phenotypes between females and males. The aim of this study was to explore sex heterogeneity of functional networks in the ASD brain from a dynamic perspective. Resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging data from the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange database were analyzed in 128 ASD subjects (64 males/64 females) and 128 typically developing control (TC) subjects (64 males/64 females). A sliding‐window approach was adopted for the estimation of dynamic amplitude of low‐frequency fluctuation (dALFF) and dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) to characterize time‐varying brain activity and functional connectivity respectively. We then examined the sex‐related changes in ASD using two‐way analysis of variance. Significant diagnosis‐by‐sex interaction effects were identified in the left anterior cingulate cortex/medial prefrontal cortex (ACC/mPFC) and left precuneus in the dALFF analysis. Furthermore, there were significant diagnosis‐by‐sex interaction effects of dFC variance between the left ACC/mPFC and right ACC, left postcentral gyrus, left precuneus, right middle temporal gyrus and left inferior frontal gyrus, triangular part. These findings reveal the sex heterogeneity in brain activity and functional connectivity in ASD from a dynamic perspective, and provide new evidence for further exploring sex heterogeneity in ASD.
Trace‐Amount of Water as An Electrolyte Additive for Sodium Metal Electrode
Authors: Trinh Long Toan , Vo Thuan Ngoc , Kim Il Tae
Published: September 2024

The high reactivity of water toward Na metal has raised a concern about keeping the electrolytes extra‐dried. In this work, changes in water concentration in electrolytes (with and without fluoroethylene carbonate) show changes in overpotential and the surface chemistry of Na electrodes. In a symmetric cell test, the cell with pristine electrolyte (1 M NaClO4 in ethylene carbonate:propylene carbonate) sustained only 22 cycles before reaching the safety limit (5 V) at 1 mA cm−2. Meanwhile, controlling the water content (40 ppm) extended the cell's life by 3.5 times. In fluoroethylene‐carbonate‐containing electrolytes, the optimized water concentration (40 ppm) gave the minimum overpotential (12 mV) after 170 cycles. Ex situ X‐ray photoemission spectroscopy showed that water hydrolyzed fluoroethylene carbonate, which changed the Na electrode's surface chemistry. The appropriate amount of product (NaF) stabilized the electrodes’ surfaces. Electrical impedance spectroscopy showed that the controlled traces amount of water (40 ppm) always gave the minimum values for resistances. For the pristine electrolytes, the resistances attributed to the charge‐transfer process and the solid‐electrolyte interface layer increased 51 times (from 45 Ω–2290 Ω) after cycling. Meanwhile, for the optimized sample, the resistances remarkably decreased by 93 % (from 264 Ω–19 Ω) after cycling.
SIL‐IS LC–ESI–MS/MS method for simultaneous quick detection of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid in human plasma: Development, validation and its application to a pharmacokinetics study
Authors: Wu Jianbang , Wang Changmao , Zhang Rong , Du Pengfei , Wang Yaqin , Wu Ping , Chen Xinyan , Huang Yunzhe , Jia Yuanwei , Shen Jie
Published: September 2024

A liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry method with amoxicillin‐d4 as the stable isotope‐labeled internal standard for simultaneous quick detection of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid in human plasma was developed and validated. Chromatographic separations were performed on a Hedera ODS‐2 column (2.1 × 150 mm, 5 μm). The mobile phases for gradient elution were aqueous solution containing 0.2% acetic acid (AA) (mobile phase A) together with organic phase solution (acetonitrile and methanol mixed solution, mobile phase B). Mass spectrometry was performed using negative electrospray ionization in multiple reaction monitoring mode. The target fragment ion pairs of amoxicillin, clavulanic acid and amoxicillin‐d4 were m/z 364.1 → 223.1, 198.1 → 135.9 and 368.1 → 227.1, respectively. The linear ranges of this method were 40–5,000 ng/ml for amoxicillin and 30–2,500 ng/ml for clavulanic acid, with coefficient of determination > 0.9900. This method validation included selectivity, standard curve, lower limit of quantitation, accuracy, precision, recovery, matrix effect (hemolytic matrix and hyperlipidemic matrix), carryover, stability, dilution reliability and incurred sample reanalysis study. A successful application of this method was realized in a pharmacokinetic study after administration of amoxicillin–clavulanic acid potassium granules.
Influence of Essential Oil Composition on Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities of Three Cultivars of Cymbopogon Flexuosus: In Vitro and In Silico Study
Authors: Raghuvanshi Nikita , Gupta Bhanushree , Joshi Veenu , Bisht Surendra Singh , Manikpuri Madhu , Shukla Kamlesh , Khokhar Dharmendra , Singh Namrata , Ghosh Kallol Kumar
Published: September 2024

The present study investigates and compares the chemical composition, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties of lemongrass essential oils (LEOs) extracted from fresh leaves of three cultivars of C. flexuosus: Krishna (CF‐KA), Cauvery (CF‐CA), and Nima (CF‐NI), grown in Chhattisgarh plains. Analysis through gas chromatography techniques revealed that citral content was highest in CF‐NI (79.82±1.00 %), followed by CF‐KA (69.75±2.70 %) and CF‐CA (54.75±1.22 %). In vitro antioxidant experiments demonstrated that CF‐CA had better scavenging capacity in DPPH (SC50=164.55±9.35 μg/mL) and ABTS (SC50=4.76±0.57 GEAC/g) free radical scavenging assays. The in vitro antibacterial experiments against Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC3160) and Escherichia coli (MTCC1687) demonstrated CF‐NI's enhanced antibacterial efficacy with significant inhibition zones and low MIC values. In silico molecular docking results revealed that LEO compounds like caryophyllene oxide, humulene epoxide, β‐caryophyllene etc. have better binding affinities towards targeted protein molecules responsible for bacterial cell mechanisms and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) compared to their native ligands. Variations in biological activities among cultivars were potentially linked to the proportion of phytoconstituents in their chemical composition.
Biomedical Perspectives of Citronellal: Biological Activities, Toxicological Profile and Molecular Mechanisms
Authors: Rokonuzzman Md. , Bhuia Md. Shimul , Al‐Qaaneh Ayman M. , El‐Nashar Heba A. S. , Islam Tawhida , Chowdhury Raihan , Hasan Shanto Hasibul , Al Hasan Md. Sakib , El‐Shazly Mohamed , Torequl Islam Muhammad
Published: September 2024

Citronellal, known as rhodinal, is a naturally occurring monoterpenoid aldehyde distinctly found in the distilled oils of Cymbopogon species including C. marginatus, C. citratus, C. validus and C. winterianus family Gramineae. It is also obtained from eucalyptus, mentha, melissa, cinnamomum and allium. It is traditionally used in air freshener, cleaner, floor polishing, deodorants, moisturizing hand/body lotion, perfumes, and adhesives due to its lemon characteristic fragrance and therapeutic benefits. This study aimed to summarize the pharmacological activities and underlying mechanisms of citronellal against different diseases, as well as its toxicological profile. The data was collected from various reliable and authentic literatures by searching different academic search engines, including PubMed, Springer Link, Scopus, Wiley Online, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. The findings imply that citronellal demonstrated several pharmacological effects in various preclinical and pharmacological experimental systems. The results indicated that citronellal demonstrated antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, anthelminthic, and anticancer effects with beneficial effects in neurological and cardiovascular diseases. Our findings also indicated the toxic level of the phytochemical. In conclusion, it has been proposed that citronellal has the capability to serve as a hopeful therapeutic agent, so further extensive clinical research is necessary to develop it as a reliable drug.
Lactate‐mitochondrial crosstalk: A new direction in the treatment of sepsis‐induced acute kidney injury
Authors: Wu Zhixiong , Liu Wei Qing , Tang Liang , Yuan Qiong , Li Yaling , Hu Hongyu , Luo Xin , Ouyang Fan
Published: September 2024

Independent risk factors for sepsis‐associated acute kidney injury (S‐AKI) patients include elevated lactate levels, but the specific mechanism remains unclear. Recently, An et al. discovered that excessive acetylation and inactivation of PDHA1 lead to overproduction of lactate, resulting in mitochondrial fragmentation, ATP depletion, excessive mtROS production, and mitochondrial apoptosis, thereby exacerbating AKI in sepsis. Therefore, understanding the pathophysiological processes of mitochondrial function and lactate generation in SAKI is essential and can aid in the development of novel therapeutic strategies. This review elucidates the pathological mechanisms of mitochondrial autophagy and dynamics in AKI. We also discuss the sources of lactate in SAKI and some consequences of lactonization, which may provide new strategies for improving renal injury and delaying the progression of these diseases.
Corn Husk Derived Activated Carbon/Siloxene Composite Electrodes based Symmetric Supercapacitor with High Energy Density and Wide Temperature Tolerance
Authors: Reddygunta Kiran Kumar Reddy , Šiller Lidija , Ivaturi Aruna
Published: September 2024

In the present work, novel composite material comprising of corn husk derived activated carbon and siloxene nanosheets have been explored as new class of multicomponent electrode material for fabricating high energy density supercapacitors with wide temperature tolerance. The activated carbon obtained from corn husk (ACH–900) with high surface area and pore volume acts as an ideal framework for hosting siloxene nanosheets (S) that allows the overall siloxene–corn husk derived activated carbon (ACH–900/S) composite to deliver excellent electrochemical performance. The as‐prepared ACH–900/S composite electrode exhibited a high specific capacitance of 415 F g−1 at 0.25 A g−1 and retained 73.4 % of its initial capacitance even at a high current density of 30 A g−1 in 1 M Na2SO4 electrolyte. In addition, the symmetric supercapacitor assembled with “acetonitrile/water‐in‐salt (AWIS)” electrolyte exhibited an energy density of 57.2 W h kg−1 at 338 W kg−1 with a cyclic stability of 92.8 % after 10000 cycles at 5 A g−1 current density. Besides, the fabricated ACH–900/S supercapacitor can operate over wide temperature range from 0 to 100 °C. This work opens up new frontiers to develop low‐cost safe supercapacitors with wide temperature tolerance and excellent electrochemical performance.
Examining the relationship between intellectual capital and solvency risk: The moderating effect of the board of directors
Authors: Lee Chen‐Ying
Published: September 2024

This study explores the impact of intellectual capital (IC) on solvency risk and examines the moderating effect of the board of directors. This study used fixed‐effect analysis and hierarchical regression models to test the research hypotheses. The results reveal that IC composition significantly impacts insurers' solvency risk. Additionally, independent directors of life insurers have a positive impact on solvency, and non‐life insurers' board size has a positive impact on solvency. Moreover, we find that the board of directors has a moderating effect on IC and solvency risks in life insurance. Fundamentally, the results provide valuable implications for insurers in improving their solvency and supervision bases for the competent authorities.
Effect of pre‐aging intermediate layers on the performance of multi‐layer organic photovoltaic devices
Authors: Su Emma , Tetreault Adam R. , Zheng Lili , Riahinezhad Marzieh , Lopez‐Carreon Itzel , Esmizadeh Elnaz , Collins Peter , Bender Timothy P.
Published: September 2024

Understanding the degradation behaviour of organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices is an essential part to improve their stability prior to massive production. Accelerated aging can help to assess their stability and study the underlying degradation mechanisms of OPVs. Most studies focus on individual layers or a full device, and little is known about the role a pre‐aged layer stack plays in the performance of a device. Herein, we report the investigation of the effects of pre‐aging of multiple layers on the performance of OPVs. Instead of aging a single layer or an entire stack (sequential layers: ITO/PEDOT:PSS/MoOx/F‐BsubPc/C60/BCP/Ag), our process involved aging the intermediate layer stack for 24 h after depositing a specific layer before continuing with the subsequent depositions to fully fabricate/manufacture OPVs. Aging was conducted under four controlled conditions considering parameters including moisture, gas type, and temperature in the absence of light according to the International Summit on Organic Photovoltaic Stability (ISOS) protocols. Short of PEDOT:PSS we found that multiple layers, being subjected to the parameters, resulted in a decline in OPV device performance after being fully manufactured. Device performance is evaluated based on short‐circuit current density (Jsc), power conversion efficiency (PCE), and open‐circuit voltage (Voc). Our analysis provides insight into the degradation mechanisms of layered/planar OPV structures and offers strategic guidance for optimizing fabrication processes, particularly during the layer deposition transitions. We recommend that during OPV vacuum deposited fabrication, intermediate layers should be protected from moisture, O2, high temperature, and even inert gases, preferably in a low‐vacuum environment.
All that can still be done: Communicating with precision and patient‐centeredness when recommending hospice initiation for cancer patients
Authors: Epstein Andrew S.
Published: September 2024

Through careful word choice and never‐ending presence, oncology teams can provide ongoing, and even amplified support and care for hospice‐eligible patients and caregivers. Voicing nonabandonment, eliciting patient priorities and concerns, and making clear the myriad benefits of hospice care resources can all help oncology clinicians deliver high quality end‐of‐life cancer care.
Biomechanical design of a new proximal humerus fracture plate using alternative materials
Authors: Islam Sabrina , Dembowski Mitchell , Schemitsch Emil H. , Bougherara Habiba , Bagheri Z. Shaghayegh , Zdero Radovan
Published: September 2024

Comminuted proximal humerus fractures are often repaired by metal plates, but potentially still experience bone refracture, bone “stress shielding,” screw perforation, delayed healing, and so forth. This “proof of principle” investigation is the initial step towards the design of a new plate using alternative materials to address some of these problems. Finite element modeling was used to create design graphs for bone stress, plate stress, screw stress, and interfragmentary motion via three different fixations (no, 1, or 2 “kickstand” [KS] screws across the fracture) using a wide range of plate elastic moduli (EP = 5–200 GPa). Well‐known design optimization criteria were used that could minimize bone, plate, and screw failure (i.e., peak stress < ultimate tensile strength), reduce bone “stress shielding” (i.e., bone stress under the new plate ≥ bone stress for an intact humerus, titanium plate, and/or steel plate “control”), and encourage callus growth leading to early healing (i.e., 0.2 mm ≤ axial interfragmentary motion ≤ 1 mm; shear/axial interfragmentary motion ratio <1.6). The findings suggest that a potentially optimal configuration involves the new plate being manufactured from a material with an EP of 5–41.5 GPa with 1 KS screw; but, using no KS screws would cause immediate bone fracture and 2 KS screws would almost certainly lead to delayed healing. A prototype plate might be fabricated using alternative materials suggested for orthopedics and other industries, like fiber‐metal laminates, fiber‐reinforced polymers, metal foams, pure polymers, shape memory alloys, or 3D‐printed porous metals.
Rifampicin‐Loaded Nano‐in‐Microparticles (Trojan Particles) as a Pulmonary Delivery System for Tuberculosis Treatment
Authors: Pham Dinh‐Duy , Luong Van‐Thin , Huynh Truc Thanh Ngoc , Huynh Duyen Thi My , Pham Duy Toan
Published: September 2024

The oral rifampicin (RIF) dosage forms possess various side effects and limited efficacy for tuberculosis treatment. Thus, this work developed the nano‐in‐microparticles containing RIF (trojan nRIF) as a novel pulmonary delivery system. The RIF‐loaded nanoparticles (nRIF) were prepared by self‐assembly polyelectrolyte complexation between lecithin and chitosan, whereas the trojan nRIF were formulated by spray‐drying method of nRIF and mannitol/maltodextrin. The nRIF had a spherical shape with sizes of 86–126 nm, zeta potentials of 24–39 mV, entrapment efficiencies of 44–80 %, and drug loading capacities of 13–42 %. The RIF release from nRIF occurred in two stages, the initially rapid release stage and the controlled release stage upto 96 h, followed the Higuchi model. The trojan nRIF possessed the mass median aerodynamic diameter of 3.7–4.6 μm, fine particle fraction of 34–40 %, and alveolar fraction of 17–21 %. Compared to mannitol, maltodextrin was a superior carrier for nRIF, which yielded better aerodynamic properties and RIF was mainly stayed in the amorphous form. Moreover, using the scanning electron microscopy, the nano‐in‐microparticles were clearly observed with hollow structure. Finally, the trojan nRIF could preserve the physical properties of the encapsulated nRIF. In summary, the trojan nRIF could become a potential inhalation anti‐tuberculosis product.
Fabrication of Ripple Structured Silicon Carbide (SiC) Films for Nano‐Grating and Solar Cell Applications
Authors: Gupta Divya , Chhoker Kalpana , Rani Usha , Salim Amena , Singhal Rahul , Sharma Vishal , Aggarwal Sanjeev
Published: September 2024

In the present study, we aim to investigate the self‐organization of unexplored silicon carbide (SiC) film surfaces under 30 keV oblique Ar+ ions irradiation and hence unprecedented tailoring of optical and electrical characteristics with view of their uses in solar cells, gratings and nano‐ to micro‐scale devices. The surface morphology mainly consisted of triangular shaped nanoparticles which evolves into nanoscale ripple structures with an alignment parallel to the projection of ion beam direction. For the first time, we have demonstrated the fabrication of highly‐ordered ripple patterns with wavelength in visible region over SiC films and applicable as nano‐gratings. The underlying mechanism relies on the structural rearrangement due to transition of film microstructure from amorphous to mixed phase (crystalline, nano‐crystalline and amorphous) and lowering of C=C and C−C vibration modes by the heavier Si atoms. These nanostructured silicon carbide film shows unparalleled optical (energy gap decreases from 4.60±0.4 eV to 3.16±0.2 eV) & electrical characteristics (conductivity increases from 6.6×10−11 to 1.12×10−3 S/m with linear I−V behavior). Thus, we propose that ripple structured SiC films with wide band gap, high refractive index and high electrical conductivity with ohmic behaviour are promising candidates for application as window layer in solar cells and opto‐electronics.
Harmonizing Visible‐Light in Green Synthesis: Unrevealing the Brilliance of Metal‐Free Cross‐Coupling of Unsaturated Hydrocarbons for C−C Bonds Formation
Authors: Patel Vishwa K. , Patel Divyani P. , Kumar Singh Satish
Published: September 2024

Visible‐light induced, photoredox catalysis has opened a wide range in the transformation of organic compounds in recent times. In synthetic organic chemistry HAT (hydrogen atom transfer) and SET (single electron transfer) mechanisms are a very noteworthy routes that has opened a window in favor of C−C single bond formations. Usually, a major role of unsaturated hydrocarbons is to participate in carbon‐carbon bond formation as they carry reactive π‐bond. Under visible‐light, metal‐free cross‐coupling reactions are particularly favorable because of their atom economy, increased efficiency, and environmentally friendly procedures that result in the construction of C−C bonds. The review emphasizes the latest advancements of visible‐light mediated, cross‐coupling reactions of unsaturated hydrocarbons in metal‐free conditions for constructing carbon‐carbon single bonds.
RNA splicing factor RBFOX2 is a key factor in the progression of cancer and cardiomyopathy
Authors: Shen Jinze , Shentu Jianqiao , Zhong Chenming , Huang Qiankai , Duan Shiwei
Published: September 2024

Background

Alternative splicing of pre‐mRNA is a fundamental regulatory process in multicellular eukaryotes, significantly contributing to the diversification of the human proteome. RNA‐binding fox‐1 homologue 2 (RBFOX2), a member of the evolutionarily conserved RBFOX family, has emerged as a critical splicing regulator, playing a pivotal role in the alternative splicing of pre‐mRNA. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of RBFOX2, elucidating its splicing activity through direct and indirect binding mechanisms. RBFOX2 exerts substantial influence over the alternative splicing of numerous transcripts, thereby shaping essential cellular processes such as differentiation and development.

Main body of the abstract

Dysregulation of RBFOX2‐mediated alternative splicing has been closely linked to a spectrum of cardiovascular diseases and malignant tumours, underscoring its potential as a therapeutic target. Despite significant progress, current research faces notable challenges. The complete structural characterisation of RBFOX2 remains elusive, limiting in‐depth exploration beyond its RNA‐recognition motif. Furthermore, the scarcity of studies focusing on RBFOX2‐targeting drugs poses a hindrance to translating research findings into clinical applications.

Conclusion

This review critically assesses the existing body of knowledge on RBFOX2, highlighting research gaps and limitations. By delineating these areas, this analysis not only serves as a foundational reference for future studies but also provides strategic insights for bridging these gaps. Addressing these challenges will be instrumental in unlocking the full therapeutic potential of RBFOX2, paving the way for innovative and effective treatments in various diseases.
Preservation of groove mark striae formed by armoured mud clasts: The role of armour sediment size and bed yield stress
Authors: Lock Carys , Reid Miranda , Baas Jaco H. , Peakall Jeff
Published: September 2024

Striated grooves in tool marks are common at the base of sandstones, especially in deep‐marine successions, but their use in physical‐process and environmental reconstruction is underdeveloped. To fill this gap in knowledge, striations in the central groove of chevron marks and in chevron‐less groove marks were formed in the laboratory by dragging tools armoured with silt, sand or gravel across muddy substrates. These experiments simulated the formation of striated grooves by armoured mud clasts carried at the base of quasi‐laminar and fully laminar debris flows, aiming to: (1) delineate the bed shear strengths for the formation of striated grooves at different armour sediment sizes; (2) examine how the preservation potential of striated grooves depends on clay bed rheology and size of armour sediment and (3) discuss how the pre‐lithification clay bed consolidation state and size of armour sediment can be reconstructed from striated grooves in the geological record. The experimental results revealed that tools with small‐diameter silt and sand armours dragged along soft beds lack striations or, at best, leave poorly defined striations, whereas firm beds and gravel armours exhibit well‐defined striations. The spacing of striations formed by gravel clasts corresponds well with the clast diameter, implying that striation spacing is a good proxy for the diameter of armoured gravel under natural conditions. In contrast, the spacing of striae formed by sand armours is greater than the grain diameter, suggesting that the spacing of fine striations can only be used to predict a maximum armour sand size. A comparison of different processes of formation of armoured mud clasts demonstrated that the armouring of mud clasts most probably happens after incorporation of the clasts by erosion into the head of the debris flow and subsequent movement across a loose sandy or gravelly bed surface.
Emerging biological functions of Twist1 in cell differentiation
Authors: Tu Mengjie , Ge Bingqian , Li Jiali , Pan Yanbing , Zhao Binbin , Han Jiayang , Wu Jialin , Zhang Kaifeng , Liu Guangchao , Hou Mengwen , Yue Man , Han Xu , Sun Tiantian , An Yang
Published: September 2024

Twist1 is required for embryonic development and expresses after birth in mesenchymal stem cells derived from mesoderm, where it governs mesenchymal cell development. As a well‐known regulator of epithelial–mesenchymal transition or embryonic organogenesis, Twist1 is important in a variety of developmental systems, including mesoderm formation, neurogenesis, myogenesis, cranial neural crest cell migration, and differentiation. In this review, we first highlight the physiological significance of Twist1 in cell differentiation, including osteogenic, chondrogenic, and myogenic differentiation, and then detail its probable molecular processes and signaling pathways. On this premise, we summarize the significance of Twist1 in distinct developmental disorders and diseases to provide a reference for studies on cell differentiation/development‐related diseases.
Comparison of mouse models of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction
Authors: Sayour Nabil V. , Gergely Tamás G. , Váradi Barnabás , Tóth Viktória É. , Ágg Bence , Kovács Tamás , Kucsera Dániel , Kovácsházi Csenger , Brenner Gábor B. , Giricz Zoltán , Ferdinandy Péter , Varga Zoltán V.
Published: September 2024

Aims

Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is a leading cause of death worldwide; thus, therapeutic improvements are needed. In vivo preclinical models are essential to identify molecular drug targets for future therapies. Transverse aortic constriction (TAC) is a well‐established model of HFrEF; however, highly experienced personnel are needed for the surgery, and several weeks of follow‐up are necessary to develop HFrEF. To this end, we aimed (i) to develop an easy‐to‐perform mouse model of HFrEF by treating Balb/c mice with angiotensin‐II (Ang‐II) for 2 weeks by minipump and (ii) to compare its cardiac phenotype and transcriptome to the well‐established TAC model of HFrEF in C57BL/6J mice.

Methods

Mortality and gross pathological data, cardiac structural and functional characteristics assessed by echocardiography and immunohistochemistry and differential gene expression obtained by RNA‐sequencing and gene‐ontology analyses were used to characterize and compare the two models. To achieve statistical comparability between the two models, changes in treatment groups related to the corresponding control were compared (ΔTAC vs. ΔAng‐II).

Results

Compared with the well‐established TAC model, chronic Ang‐II treatment of Balb/c mice shares similarities in cardiac systolic functional decline (left ventricular ejection fraction: −57.25 ± 7.17% vs. −43.68 ± 5.31% in ΔTAC vs. ΔAng‐II; P = 0.1794) but shows a lesser degree of left ventricular dilation (left ventricular end‐systolic volume: 190.81 ± 44.13 vs. 57.37 ± 10.18 mL in ΔTAC vs. ΔAng‐II; P = 0.0252) and hypertrophy (cell surface area: 58.44 ± 6.1 vs. 10.24 ± 2.87 μm2 in ΔTAC vs. ΔAng‐II; P < 0.001); nevertheless, transcriptomic changes in the two HFrEF models show strong correlation (Spearman's r = 0.727; P < 0.001). In return, Ang‐II treatment in Balb/c mice needs significantly less procedural time [38 min, interquartile range (IQR): 31–46 min in TAC vs. 6 min, IQR: 6–7 min in Ang‐II; P < 0.001] and surgical expertise, is less of an object for peri‐procedural mortality (15.8% in TAC vs. 0% in Ang‐II; P = 0.105) and needs significantly shorter follow‐up for developing HFrEF.

Conclusions

Here, we demonstrate for the first time that chronic Ang‐II treatment of Balb/c mice is also a relevant, reliable but significantly easier‐to‐perform preclinical model to identify novel pathomechanisms and targets in future HFrEF research.
C−X (X=C, O, S, N, B, P) Bond Deuteration and Late‐Stage Applications
Authors: Xu Hui , Zhang Yun‐Qian , Dai Hui‐Xiong
Published: September 2024

Precise deuterium labeling has gained significant attentions owing to the wide applications in organic synthesis, medicinal chemistry, and organic materials. C−C and C‐heteroatom bonds constitute the skeleton of organic molecules. This review summarizes the advancements on C−C and C‐heteroatom bond deuterations as well as their applications in late‐stage deuterations of natural products and pharmaceutically relevant molecules.
Equivalent Circuit Model for Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy of Commercial 18650 Lithium‐Ion Cell Under Over‐Discharge and Overcharge Conditions
Authors: Erol Salim
Published: September 2024

This study endeavors to assess the impedance responses exhibited by 18650 Graphite||LiCoO2 (C6||LCO) cells under conditions of over‐discharge and overcharge. The impedance measurements are conducted at a potential of 4.20 V, followed by subjecting the cells to over‐discharge and overcharge scenarios. It is observed that the impedance magnitude experiences augmentation in both instances. Upon reaching a potential of 2.70 V, the electrochemical attributes of the cells revert to their normal state post over‐discharge. However, the impedance characteristics persist even upon exceeding a potential of 4.70 V. These observations imply that overcharge induces enduring alterations in impedance behavior, while over‐discharge is a reversible phenomenon. To delve deeper into the underlying mechanisms, an equivalent circuit process model is constructed. This model elucidates that over‐discharge of Li‐ion batteries is reversible, indicating the potential for restoration of original impedance behavior upon recharge. Conversely, overcharge precipitates permanent alterations in impedance behavior, engendering irreversible changes in battery characteristics. In summation, this study underscores the criticality of meticulously managing the charging and discharging processes of Li‐ion batteries to avert irreversible impairment to impedance behavior, thereby safeguarding battery performance and longevity.
RF‐GCN: Residual fused‐graph convolutional network using multimodalities for facial emotion recognition
Authors: Sakthi D. Vishnu , Ezhumalai P.
Published: September 2024

Background

The emotional state of individuals is difficult to identify and it is developing now a days because of vast interest in recognition. Many technologies have been developed to identify this emotional expression based on facial expressions, vocal expressions, physiological signals, and body expressions. Among these, facial emotion is very expressive for recognition using multimodalities. Understanding facial emotions has applications in mental well‐being, decision‐making, and even social change, as emotions play a crucial role in our lives. This recognition is complicated by the high dimensionality of data and non‐linear interactions across modalities. Moreover, the way emotion is expressed by people varies and these feature identification remains challenging, where these limitations are overcome by Deep learning models.

Methods

This research work aims at facial emotion recognition through the utilization of a deep learning model, named the proposed Residual Fused‐Graph Convolution Network (RF‐GCN). Here, multimodal data included is video as well as an Electroencephalogram (EEG) signal. Also, the Non‐Local Means (NLM) filter is used for pre‐processing input video frames. Here, the feature selection process is carried out using chi‐square, after feature extraction, which is done in both pre‐processed video frames and input EEG signals. Finally, facial emotion recognition and its types are determined by RF‐GCN, which is a combination of both the Deep Residual Network (DRN) and Graph Convolutional Network (GCN).

Results

Further, RF‐GCN is evaluated for performance by metrics such as accuracy, recall, and precision, with superior values of 91.6%, 96.5%, and 94.7%.

Conclusions

RF‐GCN captures the nuanced relationships between different emotional states and improves recognition accuracy. The model is trained and evaluated on the dataset and reflects real‐world conditions.
Quality by Design Perspectives for Designing Delivery System for Flavour and Fragrance: Current State‐of‐the‐Art and for Future Exploration
Authors: Sumant  , Naman Subh , Sharma Sanyam , Baldi Ashish
Published: September 2024

Quality by design (QbD) is a systematic method for the development of product and process design to ensure quality and efficacy. In the fragrance and flavour industry, the design of delivery systems plays a crucial role in the overall product quality and consumer acceptance. This article analyses the current state‐of‐the‐art and future explorations from QbD perspective for designing appropriate delivery systems for flavour and fragrance applications. The QbD approach for delivery system design involves classifying critical quality attributes of the product and process, defining the critical process parameters and developing a design space to ensure product quality within the specified range. In addition, risk assessment and mitigation strategies are also a component of the QbD techniques, which ensure the robustness of the delivery system. Various delivery systems such as microencapsulation, nanoencapsulation, solid lipid nanoparticles and liposomes have been explored in the flavour and fragrance industry. These delivery systems provide controlled release, protection, and enhanced stability of the active ingredients. However, challenges such as scale‐up, reproducibility, and cost‐effectiveness need to be addressed to ensure their commercial viability. In conclusion, the QbD outlook provides a comprehensive framework for the design of carrier system for fragrance and flavour applications. The incorporation of risk assessment and mitigation strategies ensures the robustness of the delivery system, and the future exploration of advanced technologies may further enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the QbD approach.
Frequent Trading and Investment Performance: Evidence From the KOSPI 200 Futures Market
Authors: Ryu Doojin , Webb Robert I. , Yu Jinyoung
Published: September 2024

This study explores whether frequent trading is profitable to investors in an emerging stock index futures market. Our analyses, based on long‐term data from 2010 to 2023, indicate that the effect of trading frequency differs across investor types and market conditions. Only some domestic institutions gain additional profits from more frequent trading, and such a tendency is apparent when the futures price falls and when the futures market volatility is low. Foreign investors experience losses as they trade more when the market is bearish and are frequently net long. The performance of domestic individuals does not depend on their trading frequency in general; however, they lose more from trading when the market is bearish and when the market is less volatile.
The European Space Agency MBSE Methodology
Authors: Gonzalez Fernandez Alberto , Maleki Elaheh , Fischer Nils , Honoré‐Livermore Evelyn , Christofi Nikolena , Verhoef Marcel
Published: September 2024

The European Space Agency (ESA) has been developing an MBSE Methodology to address the increased digitalization of systems engineering and facilitate the complex system development in ESA projects and other European space projects. The methodology is based on the European Cooperation for Space Standardization (ECSS) standards for Systems Engineering, and feedback from projects using the methodology. By using the ECSS standards as the starting point, the processes, terminology and expected outputs are familiar to the engineers, lowering the usage barrier within the Agency. This paper describes the background of and effort for establishing the MBSE methodology and a description of the methodology. The paper also reports on the current efforts at ESA for deploying MBSE and the way forward regarding the methodology.
Enhanced pharmacological activities of AKR1C3‐activated prodrug AST‐3424 in cancer cells with defective DNA repair
Authors: Meng Fanying , Qi Tianyang , Liu Xing , Wang Yizhi , Yu Jibing , Lu Zhaoqiang , Cai Xiaohong , Li Anrong , Jung Don , Duan Jianxin
Published: September 2024

AST‐3424 is a novel and highly tumor‐selective prodrug. AST‐3424 is activated by AKR1C3 to release a toxic bis‐alkylating moiety, AST 2660. In this study, we have investigated the essential role of DNA repair in AST‐3424 mediated pharmacological activities in vitro and in vivo. We show here that AST‐3424 is effective as a single therapeutic agent against cancer cells to induce cytotoxicity, DNA damage, apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at G2 phase in a dose‐ and AKR1C3‐dependent manner in both p53‐proficient H460 (RRID:CVCL_0459) and p53‐deficient HT‐29 cells (RRID:CVCL_0320). The combination of abrogators of G2 checkpoint with AST‐3424 was only synergistic in HT‐29 but not in H460 cells. The enhanced activity of AST‐3424 in HT‐29 cells was due to impaired DNA repair ability via the attenuation of cell cycle G2 arrest and reduced RAD51 expression. Furthermore, we utilized a BRCA2 deficient cell line and two PDX models with BRCA deleterious mutations to study the increased activity of AST‐3424. The results showed that AST‐3424 exhibited enhanced in vitro cytotoxicity and superior and durable in vivo anti‐tumor effects in cells deficient of DNA repair protein BRCA2. In summary, we report here that when DNA repair capacity is reduced, the in vitro and in vivo activity of AST‐3424 can be further enhanced, thus providing supporting evidence for the further evaluation of AST‐3424 in the clinic.
A Dynamic Multi‐Output Convolutional Neural Network for Skin Lesion Classification
Authors: Zhou Yingyue , Guo Junfei , Yao Hanmin , Zhao Jiaqi , Li Xiaoxia , Qin Jiamin , Liu Shuangli
Published: September 2024

Skin cancer is a pressing global health issue, with high incidence and mortality rates. Convolutional neural network (CNN) models have been proven to be effective in improving performance in skin lesion image classification and reducing the medical burden. However, the inherent class imbalance in training data caused by the difficulty of collecting dermoscopy images leads to categorical overfitting, which still limits the effectiveness of these data‐driven models in recognizing few‐shot categories. To address this challenge, we propose a dynamic multi‐output convolutional neural network (DMO‐CNN) model that incorporates exit nodes into the standard CNN structure and includes feature refinement layers (FRLs) and an adaptive output scheduling (AOS) module. This model improves feature representation ability through multi‐scale sub‐feature maps and reduces the inter‐layer dependencies during backpropagation. The FRLs ensure efficient and low‐loss down‐sampling, while the AOS module utilizes a trainable layer selection mechanism to refocus the model's attention on few‐shot lesion categories. Additionally, a novel correction factor loss is introduced to supervise and promote AOS convergence. Our evaluation of the DMO‐CNN model on the HAM10000 dataset demonstrates its effectiveness in multi‐class skin lesion classification and its superior performance in recognizing few‐shot categories. Despite utilizing a very simple VGG structure as the sole backbone structure, DMO‐CNN achieved impressive performance of 0.885 in BACC and 0.983 in weighted AUC. These results are comparable to those of the ensemble model that won the ISIC 2018 challenge, highlighting the strong potential of DMO‐CNN in dealing with few‐shot skin lesion data.
Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis YLGB‐1496—Toxicological evaluation
Authors: Zhao Jian , Guo Yueyi , Jiang Qiuyue , Lan Hanglian , Hung Wei‐Lian , Lynch Barry
Published: September 2024

Bifidobacterium infantis YLGB‐1496, originally isolated from breast milk from a Taiwanese mother, is under study for use as a probiotic. As part of safety assessment, an Ames, in vivo mouse micronucleus, and in vivo mouse spermatocyte chromosome aberration assay were conducted along with a 13‐week oral rat toxicity study. B. infantis YLGB‐1496 had no activity in any of the genotoxicity assays. Administration of the bacteria to Sprague–Dawley rats at doses ranging from 0 to 1.5 g/kg bw/day had no treatment‐related effects on any of the endpoints measured. There appear to be no concerns for translocation or pathogenicity of B. infantis YLGB‐1496 based on extensive experience with the species in general. The results of the current investigations support potential use of B. infantis YLGB‐1496 as a probiotic in infant formula.
Pyrolytic conversion of glucose into hydroxymethylfurfural and furfural: Benchmark quantum‐chemical calculations
Authors: López Roberto , Suárez Dimas
Published: September 2024

Quantum chemical methods have been intensively applied to study the pyrolytic conversion of glucose into hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and furfural (FF). Herein, we collect the most relevant mechanistic proposals from the recent literature and organize them into a single reaction network. All the transition structures (TSs) and intermediates are characterized using highly accurate ab initio methods and the possible reaction pathways are assessed in terms of the Gibbs energies of the TSs and intermediates with respect to β‐glucopyranose, selecting a 2D ideal‐gas standard state at 773 K to represent the pyrolysis conditions. Several pathways can lead to the formation of both HMF and FF passing through rate‐determining TSs that have ΔG‡ values of ~49–50 kcal/mol. Both water‐assisted mechanisms and nonspecific environmental effects have a minor impact on the Gibbs energy profiles. We find that the HMF → FF + CH2O fragmentation has a small ΔrxnG value and an accessible ΔG‡ barrier. Our computational results, which are in consonance with the kinetic parameters derived from lumped models, the results of isotopic labeling experiments and the reported HMF/FF molecular ratios, could be useful for modeling studies including on nonequilibrium kinetic effects that may render more information about product yields and the relevance of the various pathways.