bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Naphthalene Diimide‐Based Polycyclic Conjugated Molecule Composite CoFe2O4 Nanohybrids for Photoacoustic Imaging‐Mediated Photo‐/Sonic Therapy
Authors: Chen Gongning , Yang Fu , Wu Danping , Yang Jun , Hu Xiaojuan , Liu Longcai , Kang Yehui , Fan Weijiao , Mou Xiaozhou , Cai Yu , Hou Chunjie
Published: July 2024

The complex and harsh tumor microenvironment imped the efficacy of single‐modality tumor therapy. With the advantages of biosafety, organic/inorganic nanohybrids have attracted more and more interest of researchers, and it is critical to investigate the development of highly efficient nanohybrids for multimodality combination therapy of cancers. Herein, a naphthalene diimide‐based polycyclic conjugated molecule (NDI‐S) is designed and synthesized, which has broader light absorption in the near infrared (NIR) region, outstanding photothermal conversion ability, and excellent photostability. Inorganic CoFe2O4 is synthesized via a solvothermal technique, which can produce much more reactive oxygen species (ROS) as a sonosensitizer when activated by ultrasonic (US). NDI‐S and CoFe2O4 are then nanoprecipitated to create the organic/inorganic nanohybrids, NDI‐S@CoFe2O4. According to the results of in vitro and in vivo experiments, NDI‐S@CoFe2O4 can serve as a multifunctional nanoplatform for multimodal treatment of tumors in combination with photothermal/photodynamic/sonodynamic‐ therapy under the guidance of photoacoustic imaging, which provides a new vision of the development of organic/inorganic nanohybrids for cancer theranostics.
Innovative Substrate Design with Basement Membrane Components for Enhanced Endothelial Cell Function and Endothelization
Authors: Snyder Yuriy , Jana Soumen
Published: July 2024

Enhancing endothelial cell growth on small‐diameter vascular grafts produced from decellularized tissues or synthetic substrates is pivotal for preventing thrombosis. While optimized decellularization protocols can preserve the structure and many components of the extracellular matrix (ECM), the process can still lead to the loss of crucial basement membrane proteins, such as laminin, collagen IV, and perlecan, which are pivotal for endothelial cell adherence and functional growth. This loss can result in poor endothelialization and endothelial cell activation causing thrombosis and intimal hyperplasia. To address this, the basement membrane's ECM is emulated on fiber substrates, providing a more physiological environment for endothelial cells. Thus, fibroblasts are cultured on fiber substrates to produce an ECM membrane substrate (EMMS) with basement membrane proteins. The EMMS then underwent antigen removal (AR) treatment to eliminate antigens from the membrane while preserving essential proteins and producing an AR‐treated membrane substrate (AMS). Subsequently, human endothelial cells cultured on the AMS exhibited superior proliferation, nitric oxide production, and increased expression of endothelial markers of quiescence/homeostasis, along with autophagy and antithrombotic factors, compared to those on the decellularized aortic tissue. This strategy showed the potential of pre‐endowing fiber substrates with a basement membrane to enable better endothelization.
Edge‐Passivated Monolayer WSe2 Nanoribbon Transistors
Authors: Chen Sihan , Zhang Yue , King William P. , Bashir Rashid , van der Zande Arend M.
Published: July 2024

The ongoing reduction in transistor sizes drives advancements in information technology. However, as transistors shrink to the nanometer scale, surface and edge states begin to constrain their performance. 2D semiconductors like transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have dangling‐bond‐free surfaces, hence achieving minimal surface states. Nonetheless, edge state disorder still limits the performance of width‐scaled 2D transistors. This work demonstrates a facile edge passivation method to enhance the electrical properties of monolayer WSe2 nanoribbons, by combining scanning transmission electron microscopy, optical spectroscopy, and field‐effect transistor (FET) transport measurements. Monolayer WSe2 nanoribbons are passivated with amorphous WOxSey at the edges, which is achieved using nanolithography and a controlled remote O2 plasma process. The same nanoribbons, with and without edge passivation are sequentially fabricated and measured. The passivated‐edge nanoribbon FETs exhibit 10 ± 6 times higher field‐effect mobility than the open‐edge nanoribbon FETs, which are characterized with dangling bonds at the edges. WOxSey edge passivation minimizes edge disorder and enhances the material quality of WSe2 nanoribbons. Owing to its simplicity and effectiveness, oxidation‐based edge passivation could become a turnkey manufacturing solution for TMD nanoribbons in beyond‐silicon electronics and optoelectronics.
Dual‐Vacancy‐Engineered ZnIn2S4 Nanosheets for Harnessing Low‐Frequency Vibration Induced Piezoelectric Polarization Coupled with Static Dipole Field to Enhance Photocatalytic H2 Evolution
Authors: Zhong Wen‐Jia , Hung Ming‐Yuan , Kuo Yen‐Ting , Tian Hong‐Kang , Tsai Chih‐Ning , Wu Chien‐Jung , Lin Yi‐Dong , Yu Hsiang‐Chun , Lin Yan‐Gu , Wu Jih‐Jen
Published: July 2024

This study investigates the impact of In‐ and S‐vacancy concentrations on the photocatalytic activity of non‐centrosymmetric zinc indium sulfide (ZIS) nanosheets for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). A positive correlation between the concentrations of dual In and S vacancies and the photocatalytic HER rate over ZIS nanosheets is observed. The piezoelectric polarization, stimulated by low‐frequency vortex vibration to ensure the well‐dispersion of ZIS nanosheets in solution, plays a crucial role in enhancing photocatalytic HER over the dual‐vacancy engineered ZIS nanosheets. The piezoelectric characteristic of the defective ZIS nanosheets is confirmed through the piezopotential response measured using piezoelectric force microscopy. Piezophotocatalytic H2 evolution over the ZIS nanosheets is boosted under accelerated vortex vibrations. The research explores how vacancies alter ZIS's dipole moment and piezoelectric properties, thereby increasing electric potential gradient and improving charge‐separation efficiency, through multi‐scale simulations, including Density Functional Theory and Finite Element Analysis, and a machine‐learning interatomic potential for defect identification. Increased In and S vacancies lead to higher electric potential gradients in ZIS along [100] and [010] directions, attributing to dipole moment and the piezoelectric effect. This research provides a comprehensive exploration of vacancy engineering in ZIS nanosheets, leveraging the piezopotential and dipole field to enhance photocatalytic performances.
The TDP‐43/TP63 Positive Feedback Circuit Promotes Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Progression
Authors: Li Wenwen , Yang Yanting , Huang Linying , Yu Xinyuan , Wang Teng , Zhang Nasha , Yang Ming
Published: July 2024

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most prevalent malignancies with a 5‐year survival rate of only 15% in patients with advanced diseases. Tumor protein 63 (TP63), a master transcription factor (TF) in ESCC, cooperates with other TFs to regulate enhancers and/or promoters of target oncogenes, which in turn promotes tumorigenesis. TAR‐DNA‐binding protein‐43 (TDP‐43) is an RNA/DNA binding protein with elevated expression in several neoplasms. However, it remains unclear how TDP‐43 contributes to ESCC progression. In this study, TDP‐43 is identified as a novel oncogene with markedly upregulated expression in ESCC tissues through profiling expression levels of one hundred and fifty canonical RNA binding protein (RBP) genes in multiple ESCC patient cohorts. Importantly, TDP‐43 boosted TP63 expression via post‐transcriptionally stabilizing TP63 mRNAs as a RBP and promoting TP63 transcription as a TF binding to the TP63 promoter in ESCC cells. In contrast, the master TF TP63 also bound to the TDP‐43 promoter, accelerated TDP‐43 transcription, and caused a noticeable increase in TDP‐43 expression in ESCC cells. The findings highlight TDP‐43 as a viable therapeutic target for ESCC and uncover a hitherto unrecognized TDP‐43/TP63 circuit in cancer.
Honeysuckle flower stage identification based on improved YOLOv5s
Authors: Liu Yan , Wang Guanping , Sun Wei , Yang Sen , Feng Bin , Jia Shangyun , Wu Chenguang
Published: July 2024

The medicinal constituents of Chinese herbal medicine honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica Thunb) vary at different flower stages. In order to ensure that the medicinal value is maximized, it is necessary to identify its flower stage before harvesting. However, at present, this study can only be accomplished by manual visual recognition, which is inefficient and costly. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop an automatic detection technique with high maturity, fast detection speed, and strong model deployment capability. In order to adapt to the problems of different flower size and color texture similarity and complex background, this study chooses YOLOv5s algorithm for adaptive modification. First, a small detection layer is added to the network to enhance feature extraction and improve the accuracy of identifying small honeysuckle. Second, attention mechanism is incorporated into the backbone network to suppress background interference and improve identification accuracy. Finally, the original IoU‐NMS is replaced by the DIoU‐NMS algorithm, which improves the bounding box regression rate while reducing the leakage rate when overlapping or occluded. The test results showed that the P was increased from 80.0% to 92.7%, the R was increased from 78.6% to 80.2%, and the mean average precision was increased from 86.2% to 90.6%. Furthermore, the model was verified at both long range and short range, and the tests data indicate that the identification accuracy was no less than 90% in 3 m without serious occlusion. This study laid a solid foundation for accurate honeysuckle flower stage identification and provided technical support for real‐time machine picking honeysuckle.
Genome‐wide meta‐analysis identifies ancestry‐specific loci for Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Ge Yi‐Jun , Chen Shi‐Dong , Wu Bang‐Sheng , Zhang Ya‐Ru , Wang Jun , He Xiao‐Yu , Liu Wei‐Shi , Chen Yi‐Lin , Ou Ya‐Nan , Shen Xue‐Ning , Huang Yu‐Yuan , Gan Yi‐Han , Yang Liu , Ma Ling‐Zhi , Ma Ya‐Hui , Chen Ke‐Liang , Chen Shu‐Fen , Cui Mei , Tan Lan , Dong Qiang , Zhao Qian‐Hua , Wang Yan‐Jiang , Jia Jian‐Ping , Yu Jin‐Tai
Published: July 2024

INTRODUCTION

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a devastating neurological disease with complex genetic etiology. Yet most known loci have only identified from the late‐onset type AD in populations of European ancestry.

METHODS

We performed a two‐stage genome‐wide association study (GWAS) of AD totaling 6878 Chinese and 63,926 European individuals.

RESULTS

In addition to the apolipoprotein E (APOE) locus, our GWAS of two independent Chinese samples uncovered three novel AD susceptibility loci (KIAA2013, SLC52A3, and TCN2) and a novel ancestry‐specific variant within EGFR (rs1815157). More replicated variants were observed in the Chinese (31%) than in the European samples (15%). In combining genome‐wide associations and functional annotations, EGFR and TCN2 were prioritized as two of the most biologically significant genes. Phenome‐wide Mendelian randomization suggests that high mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration might protect against AD.

DISCUSSION

The current study reveals novel AD susceptibility loci, emphasizes the importance of diverse populations in AD genetic research, and advances our understanding of disease etiology.

Highlights

Loci KIAA2013, SLC52A3, and TCN2 were associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) in Chinese populations.

rs1815157 within the EGFR locus was associated with AD in Chinese populations.

The genetic architecture of AD varied between Chinese and European populations.

EGFR and TCN2 were prioritized as two of the most biologically significant genes.

High mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentrations might have protective effects against AD.
Photoabbaubare Hydrogele auf Cumarin‐Basis ermöglichen die Zwei‐Photonen kontrollierte subtraktive Biofabrikation bei 300 mm s−1
Authors: Qiu Wanwan , Gehre Christian , Nepomuceno Jaime Pietrantuono , Bao Yinyin , Li Zhiquan , Müller Ralph , Qin Xiao‐Hua
Published: July 2024

Der Raum‐Zeit kontrollierte Zwei‐Photonen‐Abbau von Hydrogelen findet zunehmend Beachtung für hochaufgelöstes subtraktives tissue engineering. Übliche photolabile Hydrogele weisen jedoch unter Zwei‐Photonen‐Anregung mit Licht im nahen Infrarot‐Bereich nur eine geringe Effizienz auf und benötigen daher eine sehr hohe Laserleistungen, die die Zellaktivität beeinträchtigen können. Folglich stellt der schnelle Zwei‐Photonen‐Abbau von Hydrogelen in Gegenwart von Zellen immer noch eine grosse Herausforderung dar. In dieser Arbeit wird ein neues Konzept und die Synthese von effizient photoabbaubaren auf Cumarin basierenden Hydrogelen vorgestellt, um diese Einschränkung zu überwinden. Es wurde eine Reihe von photolabilen, Cumarin‐funktionalisierten Glycol‐Linker über eine Passerini‐Multikomponenten‐Reaktion hergestellt. Nach Zugabe von Thiol‐substituierter Hyaluronsäure zu diesen Linkern wurden in situ über eine Michael‐Reaktion halb‐synthetische, photoabbaubare Hydrogele erhalten. Die Effizienz des Photoabbaus dieser Hydrogele unter Zwei‐Photonen‐Bestrahlung eines 780 nm Lasers ist deutlich höher als diejenige der bisher bekannten, mit Nitrobenzyl‐Gruppen substituierten analogen Hydrogelen. Dies ermöglicht es, ein komplexes mikrofluidisches Netzwerk, das die Mikroarchitektur von Knochen nachahmt, mit hohen Geschwindigkeiten von bis zu 300 mm s−1 und einer geringen Laserleistung bis zu nur 10 mW herzustellen. Schliesslich konnte gezeigt werden, dass das schnelle Zwei‐Photonen‐Drucken von hohlen Mikrokanälen im Hydrogel zur räumlich‐zeitlichen Kontrolle der Zellmigration in dreidimensionalen Systemen genutzt werden kann Diese Hydrogele ermöglichen daher neue Wege zum schnellen, Laser‐gesteuerten Gewebe‐Engineering mit hoher räumlicher Auflösung.
Biosynthese der nichtkanonischen C17‐Sesquiterpenoide Chlororaphen A und B aus Pseudomonas chlororaphis
Authors: Xu Houchao , Li Heng , Goldfuss Bernd , Schnakenburg Gregor , Dickschat Jeroen S.
Published: July 2024

Die Chlororaphene A und B sind strukturell einzigartige nichtkanonische C17‐Sesquiterpenoide aus Pseudomonas chlororaphis, die von zwei SAM‐abhängigen Methyltransferasen und einer Typ‐I‐Terpensynthase hergestellt werden. Diese Studie befasst sich in Isotopenmarkierungsexperimenten und DFT‐Berechnungen mit dem Mechanismus ihrer Entstehung. Die Ergebnisse zeigen eine erstaunliche Komplexität der Verteilung der Markierungen innerhalb eines Cyclopentan‐Kerns, der mit zwei acyclischen Fragmenten in Chlororaphen A und B in umgekehrter Weise verbunden ist. Darüber hinaus wurde die Aufnahme von bis zu 14 Deuteriumatomen aus D2O beobachtet. Diese Ergebnisse lassen sich durch eine wiederholte mehrstufige Umlagerungssequenz im Spätstadium erklären. Die absoluten Konfigurationen der Chlororaphene und ihrer biosynthetischen Zwischenprodukte wurden in stereoselektiven Markierungsexperimenten aufgeklärt.
Coumarin‐Based Photodegradable Hydrogels Enable Two‐Photon Subtractive Biofabrication at 300 mm s−1
Authors: Qiu Wanwan , Gehre Christian , Nepomuceno Jaime Pietrantuono , Bao Yinyin , Li Zhiquan , Müller Ralph , Qin Xiao‐Hua
Published: July 2024

Spatiotemporally controlled two‐photon photodegradation of hydrogels has gained increasing attention for high‐precision subtractive tissue engineering. However, conventional photolabile hydrogels often have poor efficiency upon two‐photon excitation in the near‐infrared (NIR) region and thus require high laser dosage that may compromise cell activity. As a result, high‐speed two‐photon hydrogel erosion in the presence of cells remains challenging. Here we introduce the design and synthesis of efficient coumarin‐based photodegradable hydrogels to overcome these limitations. A set of photolabile coumarin‐functionalized polyethylene glycol linkers are synthesized through a Passerini multicomponent reaction. After mixing these linkers with thiolated hyaluronic acid, semi‐synthetic photodegradable hydrogels are formed in situ via Michael addition crosslinking. The efficiency of photodegradation in these hydrogels is significantly higher than that in nitrobenzyl counterparts upon two‐photon irradiation at 780 nm. A complex microfluidic network mimicking the bone microarchitecture is successfully fabricated in preformed coumarin hydrogels at high speeds of up to 300 mm s−1 and low laser dosage down to 10 mW. Further, we demonstrate fast two‐photon printing of hollow microchannels inside a hydrogel to spatiotemporally direct cell migration in 3D. Collectively, these hydrogels may open new avenues for fast laser‐guided tissue fabrication at high spatial resolution.
Poly‐vinyl‐pyrrolidone capped luminescent zinc oxide nanocomposites as excellent tools for germicidal and photo‐catalytic performances
Authors: Praseetha Prabhakaran Kala , Vijayakumar Subramaniyan , Vidhya Elavarasan , Wadaan Mohammad Ahmad , Mythili Raja , Prathipkumar Subramaniyan
Published: July 2024

Alternate antibiotics developed through the involvement of nanomaterials are gaining interest due to their economical and lower toxicity concerns. A newly developed biopolymer‐based polyvinylpyrrolidone/zinc oxide (PVP/ZnO) nanocomposite (NCs) was efficiently synthesized by an environment‐friendly approach, utilizing onion and garlic peel extract as a bio‐surfactant, zinc acetate as the source, PVP as the stabilizing agent, and sodium hydroxide as the precipitant. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) investigations verified the crystalline properties of ZnO, PVP, and PVP/ZnO‐based NCs. The structure of the biopolymer‐linked ZnO particles interpolated inside the PVP array was seen to have a layered and flaky structure, as validated by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM) analysis, which revealed its occurrence in the nanometer range. The XRD examination verified that the surface topographical image of PVP/ZnO NCs had an average thickness of 21 nm. The PVP/ZnO nanocrystals demonstrated exceptional photocatalytic efficacy, with a breakdown rate of 88% and almost 92% for the methylene blue dye. Therefore, the PVP/ZnO matrix exhibits superior antibacterial activity compared to other extracts, resulting in greater microbial suppression. The results above indicate that the ZnO‐intercalated PVP array has a stronger reinforcing effect than other components. Hence, PVP/ZnO nanocrystals exhibit enormous potential as a favorable substance for environmental and biomedical intentions.
Potential correlations between abnormal homogeneity of default mode network and personality or lipid level in major depressive disorder
Authors: Zhang Chunguo , Ruan Feichao , Yan Haohao , Liang Jiaquan , Li Xiaoling , Liang Wenting , Ou Yangpan , Xu Caixia , Xie Guojun , Guo Wenbin
Published: July 2024

Background

Default mode network (DMN) is one of the most recognized resting‐state networks in major depressive disorder (MDD). However, the homogeneity of this network in MDD remains incompletely explored. Therefore, this study aims to determine whether there is abnormal network homogeneity (NH) of the DMN in MDD patients. At the same time, correlations between clinical variables and brain functional connectivity are examined.

Methods

We enrolled 42 patients diagnosed with MDD and 42 HCs. A variety of clinical variables were collected, and data analysis was conducted using the NH and independent component analysis methods.

Results

The study shows that MDD patients have higher NH values in the left superior medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) and left posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) compared to HCs. Additionally, there is a positive correlation between NH values of the left superior MPFC and Eysenck Personality Questionnaire values. NH values of the left PCC are positively linked to CHOL levels, LDL levels, and utilization scores. However, these correlations lose significance after the Bonferroni correction.

Conclusion

Our findings indicate the presence of abnormal DMN homogeneity in MDD, underscoring the significance of DMN in the pathophysiology of MDD. Simultaneously, the study provides preliminary evidence for the correlation between clinical variables and brain functional connectivity.
Cytomorphologic and molecular characterization of spindle cell carcinoid tumors of the lung
Authors: Mendoza Rachelle P. , Symes Emily , Wang Peng , Miller Cole , Thompson Stephanie C. , Antic Tatjana , Biernacka Anna
Published: July 2024

Background

Spindle cell carcinoid tumor (SCCT) is a rare variant of lung carcinoid tumor consisting predominantly or exclusively of spindle cells. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to date investigating the molecular characteristics of SCCTs.

Methods

Eighty‐five carcinoid tumors initially diagnosed by fine‐needle aspiration over a period of 10 years were reviewed. The final diagnostic classification was based on resection specimens. Six SCCTs were identified and characterized based on cytomorphology, and immunohistochemical and molecular features.

Results

Most patients with SCCT were Caucasian (100.0%), women (83.3%), asymptomatic (66.7%), and nonsmokers (83.3%). The median age at diagnosis was 78.0 years (range, 58.2–80.3 years). A higher proportion of patients who had SCCT were diagnosed with distant metastasis. The smears were cellular and demonstrated clean backgrounds without necrosis or mitotic activity. SCCTs comprised of bipolar‐to‐elongated cells with finely granular chromatin, inconspicuous nucleoli, scant cytoplasm, and minimal atypia or pleomorphism. The tumor cells sometimes appeared boomerang‐shaped and might mimic granulomas or blood vessels. SCCTs showed strong expression for pan‐cytokeratin, synaptophysin, chromogranin, and CD56, with weak TTF‐1 and a very low Ki‐67 proliferation index. All SCCTs had low tumor mutational burden and were microsatellite‐stable. One case showed multiple whole‐gene losses in chromosome 11, whereas another harbored duplication in ARID1A. Two cases demonstrated gains in chromosomes 17, one of which also showed gains in chromosome 18. None had a single nucleotide mutation.

Conclusions

SCCT is a rare subset of lung carcinoid tumors. These tumors harbor unique cytologic, prognostic, and molecular features that may have significant diagnostic and clinical implications.
Expanded Antigen‐Specific Elimination Assay to Measure Human CD8+ T Cell Cytolytic Potential
Authors: Collins David R. , Olatotse Mpho J. , Racenet Zachary J. , Arshad Umar , Çakan Elif , Gaiha Gaurav D. , Clayton Kiera L. , Walker Bruce D.
Published: July 2024

Durable cellular immunity against pathogens is dependent upon a coordinated recall response to antigen by memory CD8+ T cells, involving their proliferation and the generation of secondary cytotoxic effector cells. Conventional assays measuring ex vivo cytotoxicity fail to capture this secondary cytolytic potential, especially in settings where cells have not been recently exposed to their cognate antigen in vivo. Here we describe the expanded antigen‐specific elimination assay (EASEA), a flow cytometric endpoint assay to measure the capacity of human CD8+ T cells to expand in vitro upon antigen re‐exposure and generate secondary effector cells capable of selectively eliminating autologous antigen‐pulsed target cells across a range of effector‐to‐target ratios. Unlike alternative assays, EASEA avoids the hazards of radioactive labeling and viral infection and can be used to study responses to individual or pooled antigens of interest. © 2024 The Author(s). Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Basic Protocol: Expanded antigen‐specific elimination assay
Ligand Effect of PdRu on Pt‐Enriched Surface for Glucose Complete Electro‐Oxidation to Carbon Dioxide and Abiotic Direct Glucose Fuel Cells
Authors: Guan Yichi , Su Dezhi , Zhang Yan , Zhang Bowen , Liu Yanyi , Liu Pengcheng , Ban Lishou , Qin Tao , Wang Kaili , Chu Ganghui , Liu Xijun , He Jia
Published: July 2024

The development of advanced electrocatalysts for the abiotic direct glucose fuel cells (ADGFCs) is critical in the implantable devices in living organisms. The ligand effect in the Pt shell‐alloy core nanocatalysts is known to influence the electrocatalytic reaction in interfacial structure. Herein, we reported the synthesis of ternary Pt@PdRu nanoalloy aerogels with ligand effect of PdRu on Pt‐enriched surface through electrochemical cycling. Pt@PdRu aerogels with optimized Pt surface electronic structure exhibited high mass activity and specific activity of Pt@PdRu about 450 mA mgPt−1 and 1.09 mA cm−2, which were 1.4 and 1.6 times than that of commercial Pt/C. Meanwhile, Pt@PdRu aerogels have higher electrochemical stability comparable to commercial Pt/C. In‐situ FTIR spectra results proved that the glucose oxidation reaction on Pt@PdRu aerogels followed the CO‐free direct pathway reaction mechanism and part of the products are CO2 by completed oxidation. Furthermore, the ADGFC with Pt@PdRu ultrathin anode catalyst layer showed a much higher power density of 6.2 mW cm−2 than commercial Pt/C (3.8 Mw cm−2). To simulate the blood fuel cell, the Pt@PdRu integrated membrane electrode assembly was exposed to glucose solution and a steady‐state open circuit of approximately 0.6 V was achieved by optimizing the glucose concentration in cell system.
A novel multimode constant magnetizing current battery equalizer with few sensors in electric vehicles
Authors: Zou Runmin , Zhou Wenqi , Wang Ji
Published: July 2024

The conventional automatic battery equalizer is characterized by its low cost in batter management system. However, its effectiveness is limited by the absence of signal feedback, leading to inadequate self‐regulation and protection of the topology. In this paper, an equalizer with constant magnetizing current is proposed. By adjusting the duty cycle of the MOSFETs, the magnetizing current can be flexibly controlled, which greatly improves the equalization rate and safety. The topology has multiple modes such as cell to cell (C2C), cell to string (C2S), and string to string (S2S). A creative signal sampling method is designed to obtain the cell voltage and magnetizing current with few sensors. And a novel balancing strategy is proposed, which can achieve wonderful accuracy of equalization at any initial voltage distribution.
Electrochemical C3‐Fluoroalkoxylation of Quinoxalin‐2(1H)‐ones with Fluoroalkyl Alcohols for the Synthesis of 3‐Fluoroalkoxylated Quinoxalin‐2(1H)‐ones
Authors: Liu Yuan‐Yuan , Chen Lu , Wang Ting , Wang Guoqin , Zhang Minmin , Jing Linhai , Han Pan , Zhang Zheng‐Bing
Published: July 2024

Herein, we report the first electricity‐driven and metal‐free C(3)−H fluoroalkoxylation of quinoxalin‐2(1H)‐ones with both α‐monosubstituted and α,α‐disubstituted fluoroalkyl alcohols. This strategy features the advantages of convenience, mildness, effEctiveness and broad substrate practicality for synthesizing a new type of 3‐fluoroalkoxylated quinoxalin‐2(1H)‐ones.
Wildfire, extreme precipitation and debris flows, oh my! Channel response to compounding disturbances in a mountain stream in the Upper Colorado Basin, USA
Authors: Ridgway Paxton , Lane Belize , Canham Haley , Murphy Brendan P. , Belmont Patrick , Rengers Francis K.
Published: July 2024

Compounding changes in climate and human activities stand to increase sediment input to rivers in many landscapes, including via discrete perturbations such as post‐fire debris flows. Because sediment supply is a dominant control on river morphology, understanding mountain river responses to sediment regime perturbations is critical to predicting and addressing downstream effects to infrastructure, water security and aquatic habitat. A growing body of literature explores the causes, likelihood, size and composition of post‐fire debris flows, but the channel response to these disturbances remains poorly studied. This study used repeat field surveys, time‐lapse photographs and pre‐ and post‐disturbance remote sensing datasets to document and analyse space‐ and time‐varying channel response to post‐fire debris flows along a steep mountain stream in the Upper Colorado River Basin, USA. Specifically, we evaluated channel morphology and bed composition changes, correlations between channel changes and valley and channel attributes, and the relative importance of spring snowmelt versus summer monsoon events. Several cross‐sectional channel change types were observed from lidar a month after post‐fire debris‐flow events, including channelized and braided incision into deposits, incision into the pre‐fire channel bed, bank erosion and no change. Channel changes were most correlated with pre‐fire channel width, valley width and unit stream power, and these relationships could be tested in other burned locations to evaluate their transferability. Repeat channel surveys before and after snowmelt indicate rapid recovery and channel narrowing following major sediment disturbances, although sediment deposits remained in the channel margins. Together, these results highlight the importance of field and remote sensing‐based channel surveys to improve understanding of, and potential to predict, mountain channel response to compounding climate disturbances.
Impact of silymarin‐supplemented cookies on liver enzyme and inflammatory markers in non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease patients
Authors: Jaffar Hafiza Madiha , Bader ul Ain Huma , Tufail Tabussam , Hanif Asif , Malik Tabarak
Published: July 2024

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a growing public health concern characterized by fat accumulation and severe disorders like nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which are influenced by obesity, inflammatory processes, and metabolic pathways. This research investigates the potential of silymarin‐supplemented cookies in managing NAFLD by evaluating their impact on liver enzyme activity, inflammatory markers, and lipid profiles. A clinical trial in Lahore, Pakistan, involved 64 NAFLD patients. Participants were divided into placebo and three treatment groups, with the latter receiving silymarin‐supplemented cookies for 3 months. The study assessed liver enzyme levels and inflammatory markers, at baseline and after the intervention, utilizing statistical analyses to evaluate differences. The lipid profile and renal function test (RFT) were also measured at baseline and after 3 months in each group for safety assessment. After 3 months, the treatment groups indicated more significant decreases in liver enzymes compared to the placebo group (p ≤ .05). Treatment 3 showed significant reductions in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (64.39–49.38 U/L) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (61.53–45.38 U/L). Treatment 3 also showed improvements in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels and the AST/ALT ratio. Additionally, the treatment group demonstrated a significant reduction in inflammatory markers. Treatment 3 showed a significant decrease in C‐reactive protein (CRP) (6.32–3.39 mg/L) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (38.72–23.86 mm/h), indicating that individuals with NAFLD may benefit from the intervention's potential benefits in lowering inflammation. The study revealed that an intervention significantly improved the inflammatory markers, liver enzymes, and lipid profiles of NAFLD participants, suggesting potential benefits for liver health.
Innovative hemostasis technique for cesarean section in placenta previa: A retrospective study
Authors: Kawakami Kosuke , Kurokawa Yusuke , Urago Kohei , Maruyama Yumika , Fujikawa Rie , Ishibashi Hiroki , Kitagawa Marie , Shimizu Takahiro , Tokuda Tsugumichi , Kawagoe Hidehiro , Muta Mitsuru , Yoshizato Toshiyuki , Okura Naofumi
Published: July 2024

Objective

To evaluate hemostatic efficacy, complications, and subsequent pregnancy outcomes in women with placenta previa who underwent combined vertical compression sutures in the lower uterine segment and intrauterine balloon tamponade (Hot‐Dog method) to achieve hemostasis after cesarean section.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed data for 117 women with singleton pregnancy diagnosed with placenta previa who underwent cesarean section between 29 and 38 weeks' gestation. Treatments were as follows: (1) conventional—intravenous oxytocin administration after placental detachment and suturing of bleeding points at the detachment site as needed (conventional group) (n = 47). (2) Intrauterine balloon tamponade alone (balloon group) (n = 41). (3) Vertical compression sutures + intrauterine balloon tamponade (Hot‐Dog group) (n = 29).

Results

The placenta accreta spectrum prevalence was significantly higher in the balloon and Hot‐Dog groups versus the conventional group. The prevalence of anteriorly located placenta was significantly higher in the Hot‐Dog versus balloon groups. Intraoperative and total blood loss were significantly higher in the Hot‐Dog versus conventional groups. Postoperative blood loss was significantly lower in the Hot‐Dog versus balloon groups. Fewer additional procedures for managing postoperative hemorrhage were required in the Hot‐Dog versus conventional and balloon groups. The number of subsequent pregnancies in the conventional, balloon, and Hot‐Dog groups was 11 (23.4%), 8 (19.5%), and 4 (13.8%), respectively; all resulted in live births at term without serious obstetric complications.

Conclusion

The Hot‐Dog method is a straightforward and safe hemostasis technique for placenta previa that preserves fertility and controls severe bleeding.
Oxidative balance scores in Korean adults are associated with periodontitis
Authors: Seon Jeong‐Hwa , Kim Na‐Yeong , Kim Ji‐Eun , Choi Choong‐Ho , Chung Ki‐Ho
Published: July 2024

Background

The Oxidative Balance Score (OBS) is a comprehensive metric that assesses the state of a person's oxidative balance. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the oxidative balance score and moderate and severe periodontitis in a representative sample of Korean adults.

Methods

Healthcare big data from the 7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016–2018) was used, and 16,489 adults aged ≥19 years were included. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the effect of sex‐specific oxidative balance scores on periodontitis.

Results

In comparison with participants with a lower oxidative balance score, those with a higher oxidative balance score had a lower incidence of moderate and severe periodontitis (p < 0.05). After adjusting for covariates, the oxidative balance score was negatively associated with moderate (odds ratio [OR] = 0.952; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.934–0.971) and severe (OR = 0.958; 95% CI: 0.931–0.986) periodontitis; however, the result was not significant for severe periodontitis in women's (OR = 0.975; 95% CI: 0.934–1.018). Our study showed a statistically significant association between OBS and moderate and severe periodontitis, the small effect size should be interpreted with caution.

Conclusions

The oxidative balance score was associated with moderate and severe periodontitis in Korean adults. Therefore, managing this score may help reduce the risk of periodontitis.
Exploring the diagnostic potential of immunoglobulin A‐microbiota interplay in liver cirrhosis and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis
Authors: Zhang Liang‐Jie , Huang Wen‐Qi , Zhang Yuan , Zhou You‐Lian , Xu Hao‐Ming , Zhao Chong , Nie Yu‐Qiang
Published: July 2024

The human gut microbiota significantly impacts health, including liver conditions like liver cirrhosis (LC) and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP). Immunoglobulin A (IgA) plays a central role in maintaining gut microbial balance. Understanding IgA's interplay with gut microbiota and liver health is crucial. This study explores the relationship between fecal IgA levels, gut microbiota, and liver injury severity. A total of 69 LC patients and 30 healthy controls were studied. Fecal IgA levels were measured using ELISA, and IgA‐coated bacteria were quantified via flow cytometry. Microbiota diversity and composition were assessed through 16S rRNA sequencing. Liver injury severity was graded using the Child–Pugh score. Statistical analyses determined correlations. LC patients had higher fecal IgA levels than controls, correlating positively with liver injury severity. Microbiota diversity decreased with severity, accompanied by shifts in composition favoring pro‐inflammatory species. Ralstonia abundance positively correlated with liver injury, whereas Faecalibacterium showed a negative correlation. Specific microbial markers for SBP were identified. Functional profiling revealed altered microbial functionalities in LC and SBP. Elevated fecal IgA levels, coupled with microbiota alterations, correlate with liver injury severity in LC patients. Modulating gut microbiota could be a promising strategy for managing liver‐related conditions. Further research is needed to understand underlying mechanisms and translate findings into clinical practice, potentially improving patient outcomes.
N6‐methyladenosine‐mediated LINC01087 promotes lung adenocarcinoma progression by regulating miR‐514a‐3p to upregulate centrosome protein 55
Authors: Zhang Xin , Wang Dong‐Jie , Jia Li , Zhang Wei
Published: July 2024

Long noncoding RNAs are key players in the development of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). The present study elucidated the role of LINC01087 in LUAD development. Cell vitality and apoptosis were assessed by the CCK‐8 assay and flow cytometry, respectively. The transwell assay was adopted to evaluate cell migration and invasion. Levels of m6A modification of LINC01087 were determined using the methylated RNA binding protein immunoprecipitation assay. The interactions among LINC01087, miR‐514a‐3p, and centrosome protein 55 (CEP55) were evaluated using dual‐luciferase reporter, RNA immunoprecipitation, and RNA–RNA pull‐down assays. LINC01087 was highly expressed in LUAD, and its downregulation restrained cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition in vitro as well as tumor growth in a xenograft tumor model. Overexpression of miR‐514a‐3p inhibited malignant phenotypes in LUAD cells by inactivating RhoA/ROCK1 signaling via the suppression of CEP55 expression. Mechanistically, RBM15 increased the expression and mRNA stability of LINC01087 by mediating its m6A modification and LINC01087 induced CEP55 expression by sponging miR‐514a‐3p. RBM15‐induced LINC01087 upregulation accelerated LUAD progression by regulating the miR‐514a‐3p/CEP55/RhoA/ROCK1 axis, illustrating the potential of LINC01087 as a novel target for LUAD therapy.
Archaeology and ethnobiology of Late Holocene bird remains from the northern Oregon coast
Authors: Wellman Hannah P. , Spitzer Megan D. , Rick Torben C.
Published: July 2024

Archaeological bird remains from the Oregon coast provide important insight into local environments and the interactions between birds and people on the North American Pacific Coast. We contribute to this discussion with an analysis of bird remains from the Late Holocene Par‐Tee site (35CLT20) in Seaside, Oregon. We sampled the Par‐Tee avifaunal assemblage to near‐redundancy, generating the largest sample from a single site on the Oregon Coast to date (N = 7204). The Par‐Tee assemblage is dominated by nearshore or estuarine birds including scoters (Melanitta spp.) and Common Murres (Uria aalge), as well as pelagic Sooty Shearwaters (Ardenna grisea). Because of the large size of the sample, we identified unique species such as the California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus), which are currently endangered and face conservation challenges. Although the Par‐Tee avifaunal assemblage is diverse, site residents appear to have focused on acquiring the most accessible species in the nearshore habitat complemented by opportunistic pelagic hunting and/or scavenging of beached birds. Most birds appear to have been processed for dietary consumption, with possible preferential use of larger‐winged birds for tool manufacture. These findings underscore the value and challenges of using legacy collections for evaluating past human–environmental interactions in coastal and other aquatic regions.
Silver nanoparticles incorporated polydimethylsiloxane nanocomposite film as hydrophobic infrared filters
Authors: Calolsa Roshbe S. , Sumangala T. P. , Kalpathy Sreeram K. , Thomas Tiju , Kahaly Mousumi Upadhyay , Rahaman Ariful
Published: July 2024

Infrared (IR) filters and screens find application in energy‐efficient buildings, windows, and solar panels. Such filters benefit solar cells by preventing efficiency losses caused by heating. Polymer‐nanocomposite films are good candidates for developing IR screens. Compared to prior research on IR filters, we show how the addition of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) can improve the material's IR reflective nature while retaining high transmittance in the visible region. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) film with AgNPs (~100 μm thick) is made using the doctor blade technique. We observe no transparency loss over the 0.005–0.02 vol% loading of AgNPs in PDMS, indicating the promising application of this transparent film. Furthermore, the distribution of AgNPs is found to be uniform, ensuring consistency, and preventing agglomeration. A contact angle of ~1120 is observed for these films, which is comparable to pristine PDMS film. Using a UV–Vis–NIR spectrophotometer, greater than 7.66% weighted average reflectance is observed in the near‐infrared (NIR) region and above 91.5% transmittance in the visible region. The precise role and influence of the functional group's presence were revealed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The thermal analysis (TGA) of the films revealed thermal stability of up to 400°C, which is comparable to pristine PDMS. Overall, the synergistic combination of AgNPs and PDMS produces a hydrophobic IR filter with enhanced optical characteristics and thermal stability.
Structural characterization and screening of chemical markers of alkaloids in Aconiti lateralis radix Praeparata and its processed products by UHPLC/Q‐TOF‐MS/MS and GNPS combining multivariate statistical methods based on the clinic
Authors: Xiang Jun , Zhang Qi , Fan Qian , Zhang Zekun , Huang Haibo , Wu Aizhi , Rong Li , Wang Yumei , Zhang Cuixian
Published: July 2024

Rational

Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata (AC) is a traditional Chinese medicine with a long history of use. However, the current research on the material basis of AC and its processed products is still not comprehensive, especially the changes in lipo‐diterpenoid alkaloids (LDAs) that can be hydrolyzed into diester‐diterpenoid alkaloids in AC before and after processing. This study aimed to provide material basis guidance for the clinical use of AC and its processed products by comprehensively analyzing the changes in substances between AC and its processed products.

Methods

An ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC/Q‐TOF‐MS/MS) approach was optimized to chemical profiling. The MS data were processed using molecular networking combined with the in‐house library database to fast characterize the compounds. Multivariate statistical methods were adopted to determine the dissimilarities of components in AC and its processed products.

Results

A total of 310 compounds were tentatively identified from AC, including 109 potential new alkaloids, of which 98 were potential novel LPAs. A metabolomics approach was applied to find the characteristic marker components. As a result, 52 potential chemical markers were selected to distinguish the AC samples of different extraction methods and 42 potential chemical markers for differentiating between AC and its processed products were selected.

Conclusion

The results indicate that UHPLC/Q‐TOF‐MS/MS and Global Natural Products Social Molecular Networking coupled with multivariate analysis strategies was a powerful tool to rapidly identify and screen the chemical markers of alkaloids between the AC samples and its processed products. These results also indicate that the toxicity of water extracts of AC and its processed products were decreased. This research not only guides the clinical safe use of AC and its processed products, but also extends the application of the molecular networking strategy in traditional herbal medicine.
Can sustainability orientation make firms more resilient? Exploring the role of digital business model innovation, digital orientation, and environmental dynamism
Authors: Xie Yi , Xia Qinghua , Song Jianmin , Hu Shuchuan
Published: July 2024

Resilience refers to a firm's capacity to foresee, prevent, and adapt to disruptive events and environmental changes. Previous research has explored the antecedents of resilience from perspective of resources and capabilities, but there has been limited attention paid to strategic orientation, particularly sustainability orientation (SO). In light of the growing importance of sustainability in response to various social issues, this study investigates how SO in digital context can enhance firm resilience by driving digital business model innovation (DBMI). The study also examines the moderating effects of digital orientation (DO) and environmental dynamism (ED) on the relationship between SO and DBMI based on contingency theory. We tested our hypothesis using survey data from 155 Chinese SMEs. The results show that: (i) SO can improve firm resilience, (ii) DBMI plays a mediating role between SO and resilience, and (iii) the interplay of SO and DO can create stronger DBMI, but the synergy between them will be weakened in more dynamic environment.
Spatial Organization of Lipid Nanoparticle siRNA Delivery Systems Revealed by an Integrated Magnetic Resonance Approach
Authors: Porat‐Dahlerbruch Gal , Sergeyev Ivan V. , Quinn Caitlin M. , Struppe Jochem , Banks Daniel , Dahlheim Charles , Johnson Donald , Murphy Denette , Ilott Andrew , Abraham Anuji , Polenova Tatyana
Published: July 2024

Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are increasingly finding applications in targeted drug delivery, including for subcutaneous, intravenous, inhalation, and vaccine administration. While a variety of microscopy techniques are widely used for LNP characterization, their resolution does not allow for characterization of the spatial organization of different components, such as the excipients, targeting agents, or even the active ingredient. Herein, an approach is presented to probe the spatial organization of individual constituent groups of LNPs used for siRNA‐based drug delivery, currently in clinical trials, by multinuclear solid‐state magic‐angle‐spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS NMR) spectroscopy. Dynamic nuclear polarization is exploited (DNP) for sensitivity enhancement, together with judicious 2H labeing, to detect functionally important LNP constituents, the siRNA and the targeting agent (<1–2 w/v%), respectively, and achieve a structural model of the LNP locating the siRNA in the core, the targeting agent below the surface, and the sugars above the lipid bilayer at the surface. The integrated approach presented here is applicable for structural analysis of LNPs and can be extended more generally to other multi‐component biological formulations.