bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hydrocarbon‐Based Ionomer/PTFE‐Reinforced Composite Membrane Through Multibar Coating Technique for Durable Fuel Cells
Authors: Lee Sanghyeok , Sul Taejun , Kim Unsoo , Kim Sohee , Chae Ji Eon , Kim Junsoo , Kim Sang Moon , Jang Segeun
Published: September 2024

For cost reduction and environmental‐friendly manufacturing, it is highly demanded to replace the current perfluorinated sulfonic acid‐based membrane in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) with inexpensive and readily available hydrocarbon‐based (HC) membranes. However, HC membranes suffer from profound dimensional changes caused by swelling and shrinking during operation, especially in automotive applications. These changes lead to severe mechanical degradation and shorten the service life of PEMFC. Herein, a multibar coating system is developed to manufacture HC/polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) composite membrane. This system facilitates capillary‐rise infiltration with the aid of an optimal amount of residual alcohol solvent on the PTFE. To address compatibility issues between PTFE and HC‐ionomer solutions, the effects of residual alcohol solvent on tuning the PTFE surface are investigated by controlling systemic parameters and performing diverse mechanical, optical, and electrochemical measurements. Based on its enhanced mechanical toughness (≈30.04%) and superior impregnation properties, the constructed HC/PTFE composite membrane exhibited more than seven‐fold improvement in mechanical durability under repeated accelerated wet–dry conditions compared with an unsupported pristine HC membrane while also mitigating performance loss (≈5.84%).
Synthesis of Aza‐S(VI) Fluorides and Primary Sulfonimidamides from Sulfinylamines
Authors: Andresini Michael , Marraffa Laura , Şerbetçi Defne , Natho Philipp , Colella Marco , Degennaro Leonardo , Luisi Renzo
Published: September 2024

Aza‐S(VI) fluorides are crucial compounds in the synthesis of various S(VI) derivatives, which find broad applications in drug discovery. However, the synthesis of sulfonimidoyl and sulfondiimidoyl fluorides have been relatively underexplored, often requiring lengthy reaction sequences and/or the use of hazardous gaseous reagents. In this study, we present a rapid one‐pot method for producing sulfonimidoyl fluorides from sulfinylamines via a nucleophilic addition/electrophilic fluorination sequence. Similarly, sulfondiimidoyl fluorides can be synthesized using the same sequence, preceded by the formation of unsymmetrical sulfurdiimides readily generated in situ from sulfinylamines. Whereas isolation of sulfondiimidoyl fluorides was not feasible, they could be efficiently converted into primary sulfonimidamides by base hydrolysis in a one‐pot process. Furthermore, we explored the reactivity of aza‐S(VI) fluorides with various nucleophiles, demonstrating a versatile synthetic platform for the synthesis of aza‐S(VI) compounds.
Integrated Ultrasound‐Enrichment and Machine Learning in Colorimetric Lateral Flow Assay for Accurate and Sensitive Clinical Alzheimer's Biomarker Diagnosis
Authors: Wang Shuqing , Zhu Yan , Zhou Zhongzeng , Luo Yong , Huang Yan , Liu Yibiao , Xu Tailin
Published: September 2024

The colloidal gold nanoparticle (AuNP)‐based colorimetric lateral flow assay (LFA) is one of the most promising analytical tools for point‐of‐care disease diagnosis. However, the low sensitivity and insufficient accuracy still limit its clinical application. In this work, a machine learning (ML)‐optimized colorimetric LFA with ultrasound enrichment is developed to achieve the sensitive and accurate detection of tau proteins for early screening of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The LFA device is integrated with a portable ultrasonic actuator to rapidly enrich microparticles using ultrasound, which is essential for sample pre‐enrichment to improve the sensitivity, followed by ML algorithms to classify and predict the enhanced colorimetric signals. The results of the undiluted serum sample testing show that the protocol enables efficient classification and accurate quantification of the AD biomarker tau protein concentration with an average classification accuracy of 98.11% and an average prediction accuracy of 99.99%, achieving a limit of detection (LOD) as sensitive as 10.30 pg mL−1. Further point‐of‐care testing (POCT) of human plasma samples demonstrates the potential use of LFA in clinical trials. Such a reliable lateral flow immunosensor with high precision and superb sensing performance is expected to put LFA in perspective as an AD clinical diagnostic platform.
Functional Zwitterionic Polyurethanes as Gate Dielectrics for Organic Field‐Effect Transistors
Authors: Sun Qian , Hu Jinkang , Chen Chi , Wan Xiaobo , Mu Youbing
Published: September 2024

The development of polymeric dielectrics with a high dielectric constant is of great significance for flexible low‐voltage organic field‐effect transistors (OFETs). Herein, functional polyurethanes (PUs) with nitro and sulfobetaine zwitterionic groups are synthesized, and their electrical properties, mechanical properties, and the performances of OFET devices using these zwitterionic PUs as gate dielectrics are studied. Compared with sulfobetaine zwitterion‐containing PUs, nitro‐containing PUs (NO2‐PUs) show higher dielectric constant up to 6.5. Both zwitterionic PUs enhance the OFET performances, while the effect of NO2‐PU is more significant. Devices using NO2‐PU‐15 that contains 15 moL% nitro groups as the dielectric layer show the best performance and a threshold voltage (Vth) of as low as −0.02 V together with two orders’ increase of the mobility is observed, compared with the devices using PU without nitro groups. This study provides a new method to improve the dielectric constant of polymeric dielectrics, which is valuable for flexible/stretchable and wearable electronic devices.
A machine learning‐based exploration of resilience and food security
Authors: Villacis Alexis H. , Badruddoza Syed , Mishra Ashok K.
Published: September 2024

Leveraging advancements in remote data collection and using the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) as a proxy measure of resilience, we show that machine learning models (such as Gradient Boosting Classifier, eXtreme Gradient Boosting, and Artificial Neural Networks), can predict resilience with relatively high accuracy (up to 81%). Key household‐level predictors include access to financial institutions, asset ownership, the adoption of agricultural mechanization as evidenced by the use of tractors, the number of crops cultivated, and ownership of nonfarm enterprises. Our analysis offers insights to researchers and policymakers interested in the development of targeted interventions to bolster household resilience.
Synthesis and Electrochemical Performance of High‐Entropy Spinel‐Type Oxides Derived from Multimetallic Polymeric Precursors
Authors: Yang Haotian , Chen Ge , Ni Jiaqi , Praetz Sebastian , Kober Delf , Cuello Gabriel , Dal Molin Emiliano , Gili Albert , Schlesiger Christopher , Bekheet Maged F. , Hanaor Dorian A. H. , Gurlo Aleksander
Published: September 2024

High‐entropy spinel‐type oxides are synthesized by a modified Pechini process, wet chemistry approach, and solid‐state synthesis method and characterized as anode materials for Li‐ion batteries. The Pechini process that involves chelation and polyesterification reactions facilitates the formation of high‐entropy spinel‐type oxides without compositional segregation at ≈600 °C as confirmed by in situ and ex situ XRD. XAFS analysis and the Rietveld refinement of room‐temperature neutron diffraction data suggest the composition (Mn0.05Fe0.48Co0.47, tetrahedral)(Cr0.61Mn0.52Fe0.11Co0.09Ni0.68, octahedral)O4 for phase‐pure specimens. Compared to high‐entropy spinel‐type oxides synthesized by the solid‐state method, the precursor‐derived materials demonstrate higher specific capacity as anodes, in which the materials without citric acid addition exhibit low capacity fading at high current densities and maintained a capacity of ≈200 mAh g−1 after 1000 cycles. The generation of a rock‐salt‐type phase during cycling is confirmed for the first time by in situ charging–discharging XRD. The charging–discharging of this anode material is achieved mainly through the embedding–disembedding of lithium ions in the lattice of the generated rock‐salt‐type phase.
Sulfonated Hydroxyaryl‐Tetrazines with Increased pKa for Accelerated Bioorthogonal Click‐to‐Release Reactions in Cells
Authors: Rahm Michal , Keppel Patrick , Šlachtová Veronika , Dzijak Rastislav , Dračínský Martin , Bellová Simona , Reyes‐Gutiérrez Paul E. , Štěpánová Sille , Raffler Jakob , Tloušťová Eva , Mertlíková‐Kaiserová Helena , Mikula Hannes , Vrabel Milan
Published: September 2024

Bioorthogonal reactions that enable switching molecular functions by breaking chemical bonds have gained prominence, with the tetrazine‐mediated cleavage of trans‐cyclooctene caged compounds (click‐to‐release) being particularly noteworthy for its high versatility, biocompatibility, and fast reaction rates. Despite several recent advances, the development of highly reactive tetrazines enabling quantitative elimination from trans‐cyclooctene linkers remains challenging. In this study, we present the synthesis and application of sulfo‐tetrazines, a class of derivatives featuring phenolic hydroxyl groups with increased acidity constants (pKa). This unique property leads to accelerated elimination and complete release of the caged molecules within minutes. Moreover, the inclusion of sulfonate groups provides a valuable synthetic handle, enabling further derivatization into sulfonamides, modified with diverse substituents. Significantly, we demonstrate the utility of sulfo‐tetrazines in efficiently activating fluorogenic compounds and prodrugs in living cells, offering exciting prospects for their application in bioorthogonal chemistry.
Magnetic Excitations in Ferromagnetically Coupled Spin‐1 Nanographenes
Authors: Turco Elia , Wu Fupeng , Catarina Gonçalo , Krane Nils , Ma Ji , Fasel Roman , Feng Xinliang , Ruffieux Pascal
Published: September 2024

In the pursuit of high‐spin building blocks for the formation of covalently bonded 1D or 2D materials with controlled magnetic interactions,
‐electron magnetism offers an ideal framework to engineer ferromagnetic interactions between nanographenes. As a first step in this direction, we explore the spin properties of ferromagnetically coupled triangulenes—triangular nanographenes with spin
. By combining in‐solution synthesis of rationally designed molecular precursors with on‐surface synthesis, we successfully achieve covalently bonded
triangulene dimers and
trimers on Au(111). Starting with the triangulene dimer, we meticulously characterize its low‐energy magnetic excitations using inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy (IETS). IETS reveals conductance steps corresponding to a quintet‐to‐triplet excitation, and a zero‐bias peak resulting from higher‐order spin‐spin scattering of the five‐fold degenerate ferromagnetic ground state. The Heisenberg model captures the key parameters of inter‐triangulene ferromagnetic exchange, and its successful extension to the larger
system validates the model's accuracy. We anticipate that incorporating ferromagnetically coupled building blocks into the repertoire of magnetic nanographenes will unlock new possibilities for designing carbon nanomaterials with complex magnetic ground states.
Stepwise One‐Shot Borylation Reactions for Intersecting DABNA Substructures Exhibiting Bright Yellow‐Green Electroluminescence with EQE Beyond 40 % and Mild Roll‐Off
Authors: Xiong Xin , Chen Ting‐Feng , Walia Rajat , Fan Xiao‐Chun , Cheng Ying‐Chun , Wang Hui , Wu Hao , Chen Xian‐Kai , Yu Jia , Wang Kai , Zhang Xiao‐Hong
Published: September 2024

Boron/nitrogen (B/N)‐doped polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with the multiple resonance (MR) effect are promising for organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) because of their narrowband emission and thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) characteristics. Nevertheless, exploring the variety of such emitters is challenging because of the tricky and limited synthetic protocols. Herein, we designed a novel B/N‐doped PAH, L–DABNA‐1, whose backbone (L–DABNA) could not be achieved via conventional routes (e.g., one‐pot borylation or one‐shot borylation). We successfully synthesized it through stepwise one‐shot borylations with precisely introducing decorations. The unique MR backbone with intersecting DABNA substructures sharing an aniline group, avoiding any para‐N‐π‐B motif, allows L–DABNA‐1 to maintain narrowband TADF emission while significantly redshifting to the yellow‐green region with a reverse intersystem crossing rate (kRISC) of 1.28×105 s−1. An L–DABNA‐1‐based OLED device achieved a maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE) of over 40 % and maintained a high EQE of 36.3 % at 1000 cd m−2, with a current efficiency reaching ~170 cd A−1. This work not only demonstrated the great potential of stepwise borylations in synthesizing B/N‐doped PAH backbones, expanding their chemical space, but also provided a promising pathway for exploring MR‐TADF emitters at longer wavelengths.
Luminescent Terbium Probe for Time‐Resolved FRET and NSET Binding Assays with Quantum Dots and Gold Nanoparticles
Authors: Iyanu Diriwari P. , Connor Payne N. , Mazitschek Ralph , Gallavardin Thibault , Hildebrandt Niko
Published: September 2024

Time‐gated or time‐resolved FRET (TR‐FRET) assays are important tools in biosensing, bioimaging, drug screening, and molecular diagnostics. Efficient TR‐FRET assays require stable lanthanide complexes with high absorption cross sections, high quantum yields, and long photoluminescence lifetimes. Owing to their challenging synthesis, such complexes are relatively rare and new components are of potential interest when developing TR‐FRET probes. Here, we evaluate the recently developed Tb complex CoraFluor‐1 concerning its analytical performance in terbium‐to‐quantum dot FRET and terbium‐to‐gold nanoparticle NSET assays using the prototypical biological recognition system of streptavidin and biotin. Biological binding was quantifiable at sub‐picomolar concentrations in small sample volumes, with broad applicability demonstrated across three commercial fluorescence plate readers used for time‐resolved, spectrally‐resolved, and clinical bioanalysis. Overall, CoraFluor‐1 provided excellent analytical performance as both FRET and NSET donor, validating its potential for developing new TR‐FRET probes for biosensing and bioimaging.
A high‐temperature resistant benzimidazole‐based porous polymer for efficient adsorption of trinitrotoluene in aqueous solution
Authors: Yang Chunyan , Mo Shijie , Chen Xirui , Yuan Qianqian , Zhu Jiali , Wang Ting , Zheng Min , Zhou Mingru , Chang Guanjun , Xu Yewei
Published: September 2024

A novel benzimidazole‐based porous polymer, denoted as PTBI, was synthesized utilizing self‐synthesized 1,3,5‐tris(1H‐benzo[d]imidazol‐2‐yl)benzene (TBI) and 4,4′‐difluorobenzophenone as primary materials via a CN coupling reaction, followed by a freeze‐drying process. PTBI displayed commendable thermal stability, as evidenced by a temperature of 475°C at which a 5% weight loss occurred and a char yield of up to 65% at 800°C. Trinitrotoluene (TNT) was effectively adsorbed by PTBI in aqueous solutions, thanks to the combined effects of three π–π interactions and one dipole–π interaction. At 25°C, PTBI achieved a maximum adsorption capacity as high as 280.8 mg/g, with approximately 60% of this capacity attained within just 1 h. Furthermore, a thermodynamic analysis showed that the adsorption of TNT by PTBI was a spontaneous, exothermic process that was followed by a decrease in entropy. It is noteworthy that following five adsorption and desorption cycles, the adsorption efficiency held steady at a relatively high level using acetone as the eluent. These promising results underscore PTBI's significant potential in the realm of TNT wastewater treatment, positioning it as a compelling candidate for further research and application under extreme condition in this field.
Preparation and study on electrical/thermal properties of epoxy/polyacrylate rubber composite dielectric
Authors: Zhang Wenchao , Wen Ming , Chen Qingguo , Yue Dong , Feng Yu
Published: September 2024

With the development of power systems and electronic devices, epoxy resin (EP) is facing increasingly severe operating environments, and its performance may not meet expectations. In order to broaden the application of EP, the DE/EP composite films were prepared with EP as matrix, polyacrylic rubber dielectric elastomer (DE) as reinforcement materials. The structure of DE/EP composite films was characterized by XRD, SEM, and other methods, and the electrical and thermal properties of the materials were tested and studied. The study found that with appropriate dissolution and stirring treatment, DE can be evenly dispersed in the EP matrix, and the introduction of DE does not significantly affect the structure of the EP molecular chain, also found the introduction of DE improve the electrical and thermal properties of EP. The breakdown strength of the 4% DE/EP composite film surpasses that of the pure EP film by 15.58%. Additionally, the thermal conductivity of the 8% DE/EP composite film is elevated by 41.6% compared to the pure EP film, while its dielectric constant is also enhanced by 8.2%. This work may provide a theoretical basis for studying the application of EP modified system in electrical engineering, integrated circuit packaging and other fields.
Dorsal venous complex ligation‐free and parietal endopelvic fascia preserving in laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: A prospective study of single centre
Authors: Yang Zhong‐Hua , Wang Yong‐Zhi , Liu Tao , Zheng Hang , Wang Xing‐Huan
Published: September 2024

Objectives

This study aims to describe a novel dorsal venous complex (DVC) ligation‐free and parietal endopelvic fascia preserving technique for laparoscopic radical prostatectomy and to evaluate its post‐operative outcomes.

Methods

From April 2020 to May 2021, a total of 125 patients with localized prostate cancer received laparoscopic radical prostatectomy by a single surgeon. In the procedure, a novel technique of DVC ligation‐free and parietal endopelvic fascia preserving was used. Preoperative characteristics of patients and perioperative results were recorded. In this study, continence was defined as zero to one pad per day. Oncological outcomes were evaluated based on positive surgical margin.

Results

Five patients required a blood transfusion. Mean post‐operative hospital stay was 3.9 days (2–5), and the catheter could be removed on post‐operative day 7 to 9. Final pathologic evaluations were 87 stage pT2, 22 stage pT3a, and 7 pT3b, 9 stage pT4, respectively. The positive surgical margin rate was 10.4% in total. Ninety‐three patients (74.4%) returned to urinary continence 2 months post‐operatively, and 11 patients (11/125) developed biochemical recurrence 6 months post‐operatively.

Conclusions

The DVC ligation‐free and parietal endopelvic fascia preserving technique provides early recovery from incontinence without adversely affecting the oncological outcome.
Overexpression of SLC2A1, ALDOC, and PFKFB4 in the glycolysis pathway drives strong drug resistance in 3D HeLa tumor cell spheroids
Authors: Wang Tong , Wang Xueting , Zheng Xuli , Guo Zhongfang , Mohsin Ali , Zhuang Yingping , Wang Guan
Published: September 2024

The 3D multicellular tumor spheroid (MTS) model exhibits enhanced fidelity in replicating the tumor microenvironment and demonstrates exceptional resistance to clinical drugs compared to the 2D monolayer model. In this study, we used multiomics (transcriptome, proteomics, and metabolomics) tools to explore the molecular mechanisms and metabolic differences of the two culture models. Analysis of Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment pathways revealed that the differentially expressed genes between the two culture models were mainly enriched in cellular components and biological processes associated with extracellular matrix, extracellular structural organization, and mitochondrial function. An integrated analysis of three omics data revealed 11 possible drug resistance targets. Among these targets, seven genes, AKR1B1, ALDOC, GFPT2, GYS1, LAMB2, PFKFB4, and SLC2A1, exhibited significant upregulation. Conversely, four genes, COA7, DLD, IFNGR1, and QRSL1, were significantly downregulated. Clinical prognostic analysis using the TCGA survival database indicated that high‐expression groups of SLC2A1, ALDOC, and PFKFB4 exhibited a significant negative correlation with patient survival. We further validated their involvement in chemotherapy drug resistance, indicating their potential significance in improving prognosis and chemotherapy outcomes. These results provide valuable insights into potential therapeutic targets that can potentially enhance treatment efficacy and patient outcomes.
Enhancing the expression of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferases by N‐terminal truncation
Authors: Li An‐Na , Shi Kun , Zeng Bu‐Bing , Xu Jian‐He , Yu Hui‐Lei
Published: September 2024

Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT), a unique DNA polymerase that catalyzes the template‐free incorporation of nucleotides into single‐stranded DNA, has facilitated the development of various oligonucleotide‐based tools and methods, especially in the field of template‐free enzymatic DNA synthesis. However, expressing vertebrate‐derived TdTs in Escherichia coli complicates purification and increases production costs. In this study, N‐terminal truncation of TdTs was performed to improve their expression and stability. The results revealed that N‐terminal truncation could enhance the expression level of six TdTs. Among the truncated mutants, N‐140‐ZaTdT and N‐140‐CpTdT, with 140 amino acids removed, exhibited an increase in protein expression, which was 9.5‐ and 23‐fold higher than their wild‐types, respectively. Importantly, the truncation preserves the catalytic function of TdT. Additionally, the Tm values of N‐140‐ZaTdT increased by 4.9°C. The improved expression of the truncated mutants makes them more suitable for reducing production costs and advancing enzyme engineering.
Physiological Metabolic Analysis of VB12 Accumulation in Ensifer adhaerens Casida A Enhanced by Oxygen Limitation
Authors: Li Bo , Chen Xinyi , Zhao Dujuan , Liu Zebo , Li Junming , Siddique Muhammad Safwan , Wu Jiequn , Zhuang Yingping , Wang Zejian
Published: September 2024

Cobalamin (VB12) is in enormous demand across the fields of medicine, food, and feed additives. However, the oxygen supply plays a critical role in VB12 biosynthesis by Ensifer adhaerens Casida A and has been identified as a bottleneck for economical substrate consumption. This study elucidates the relationship between oxygen limitation and VB12 accumulation with transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses. Under oxygen limitation, E. adhaerens enhances oxygen transport and storage by increasing expression of flavin hemoglobin (Hmp), which was up‐regulated 6‐fold at 24 h of oxygen restriction compared to the oxygen restriction of 4 h (p < 0.01). Because of the cofactor of Hmp is heme, the demand for heme increases, leading to the upregulation of genes in the heme biosynthesis pathway. Similarly, genes involved in biosynthesis of its precursor, 5‐ALA, were upregulated as well. 5‐ALA is also a direct precursor of VB12, further leading to the upregulation of genes in the VB12 biosynthesis pathway. This process initiates biosynthesis and accumulation of VB12. As VB12 and heme biosynthesis progresses, genes associated with the biosynthesis and transportation pathways of compounds related to their biosynthesis were likewise upregulated, including genes involved in S‐adenosyl methionine (SAM) biosynthesis, and the transport of Fe2+ and Co2+. Additionally, amino acids and organic acids associated with biosynthesis were also extensively consumed, such as methionine, which is used for synthesizing SAM, decreased by 310% after 24 h of oxygen limitation compared to 20% dissolved oxygen (p < 0.05). At the same time, genes related to growth‐associated metabolic pathways, such as pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), were significantly downregulated. Therefore, the potential mechanism by which E. adhaerens accumulates VB12 under oxygen‐limited conditions by enhancing Hmp expression, which facilitates the porphyrin metabolic pathway and promotes VB12 biosynthesis. This research provides valuable insights for increasing VB12 production through metabolic engineering and process optimization.
Comparison of Lung Tissue‐Derived Extracellular Vesicles Using Multiple Dissociation Methods for Profiling Protein Biomarkers
Authors: Han Yue , Ye Meng , Ye Sheng , Liu Bowen
Published: September 2024

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) operate as chemical messengers that facilitate intercellular communication. Emerging evidence has demonstrated that lung tissue‐derived EVs play pivotal roles in pulmonary physiological processes and have potential as biomarkers and therapeutics for lung diseases. Multiple methods have been proposed for the isolation of lung tissue‐derived EVs. However, the effects of different tissue pre‐treatments on lung EV isolation and subsequent disease biomarker discovery have not yet been comprehensively investigated. In this study, we compared the physical characteristics, recovery yields, and protein compositions of EVs isolated from lung tissues using three methods based on different tissue dissociation principles. Methodologically, the beneficial roles of blood perfusion and gentle meshing were emphasized based on their impact on EV yield and purity. These results demonstrate that different methods enrich distinct subpopulations of EVs that exhibit significant differences in their protein cargo and surface properties. These disparities directly affect the diagnostic detection of marker proteins related to lung diseases, including lung tumors, asthma, and pulmonary fibrosis. Collectively, these findings highlight the variations in EV characteristics resulting from the applied approaches and offer compelling suggestions for guiding researchers in selecting a suitable isolation method based on downstream functional studies and clinical applications.
Optimizing Conditions of Polyethylene Glycol Precipitation for Exosomes Isolation From MSCs Culture Media for Regenerative Treatment
Authors: Yu Junjun , Huang Daqiang , Liu Hanwen , Cai Haibo
Published: September 2024

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)‐derived exosomes, as a cell‐free alternative to MSCs, offer enhanced safety and significant potential in regenerative medicine. However, isolating these exosomes poses a challenge, complicating their broader application. Commonly used methods like ultracentrifugation (UC) and tangential flow filtration are often impractical due to the requirement for costly instruments and ultrafiltration membranes. Additionally, the high cost of commercial kits limits their use in processing large sample volumes. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation offers a more convenient and cost‐effective alternative, but there is a critical need for optimized and standardized isolation protocols using PEG precipitation across different cell types and fluids to ensure consistent quality and yield. In this work, we optimized the PEG precipitation method for exosomes isolation and compared its effectiveness to two commonly used methods: UC and commercial exosome isolation kits (ExoQuick). The recovery rate of the optimized PEG method (about 61.74%) was comparable to that of the commercial ExoQuick kit (about 62.19%), which was significantly higher than UC (about 45.80%). Exosome cargo analysis validated no significant differences in miRNA and protein profiles associated with the proliferation and migration of exosomes isolated by UC and PEG precipitation, which was confirmed by gap closure and CCK8 assays. These findings suggest that PEG‐based exosomes isolation could be a highly efficient and high‐quality method and may facilitate the development of exosome‐based therapies for regenerative medicine.
Principles of lipid nanoparticle design for mRNA delivery
Authors: Zhang Yiran , Zhang Xinyue , Gao Yongsheng , Liu Shuai
Published: September 2024

mRNA therapeutics have significantly evolved within the life sciences, particularly in applications such as vaccines, tumor immunotherapy, protein replacement, gene editing, and monoclonal antibody therapy. To fully realize the potential of mRNA drugs and mitigate the adverse effects, substantial vector materials have been developed for delivery of these pharmaceutical agents. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) represent the most clinically advanced mRNA carriers, recognized by U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved mRNA vaccines and numerous clinical trials. Diverse therapeutic applications necessitate tailored design of LNPs. Herein, we outline the principles of LNP design for mRNA delivery, focusing specifically on their effectiveness, targeting capabilities, safety profiles, and nanoparticle stability. Additionally, we present the latest advancements in mRNA‐LNP technology. This review aims to elucidate the benefits and design principles of LNP delivery systems for mRNA therapeutics, providing insights into breakthroughs and innovative ideas for further enhancing these advantages. These summaries are dedicated to promoting the broader applications of LNP‐mRNA drugs, aiming to advance the treatment of serious diseases in an effective and safe manner.
Color and brightness at work: Shedding some light on mind wandering
Authors: Soltanzadeh Soodabeh , Chitsaz Shaghayegh , Kazemi Reza
Published: September 2024

Introduction

Occupational hazards are partly caused by the physical factors of the work environment, among which are ambient color and brightness, which can interfere with cognitive performance. Especially in modern work environments, performance relies heavily on cognitive functions such as attention, and an important factor in disrupting sustained attention is mind wandering (MW). This study aimed to investigate the effects of white and blue colors with two brightness levels on sustained attention and brain electrophysiology.

Methods

A total of 20 participants were exposed to 4 different conditions (white and blue as color and 300 and 800 lx as the brightness level) in separate blocks in a virtual reality environment in which a continuous performance test (CPT) was performed.

Results

The high brightness blue condition induced significant changes in sustained attention. MW network analysis showed a significant decrease in delta frequency band in the blue color condition with high brightness and beta decrease in the blue color condition with low brightness, whereas the activity of MW network increased when exposed to the white color condition.

Conclusion

High‐brightness blue light resulted in better sustained attention and decreased activity of MW‐related neural regions. It is thus recommended that these results be taken into consideration in the interior design of educational settings and cars among other environments that require a high level and maintenance of cognitive functions, especially sustained attention.
Influences of quality of maternal care and environmental enrichment on associative memory function in rats with early life lead exposure
Authors: Schneider Jay S. , Williams Courtney , Zafar Shamaila , Joo Jaehyun , Himes Blanca. E.
Published: September 2024

Introduction

Children in low socioeconomic status (SES) communities are at higher risk of exposure to lead (Pb) and potentially more severe adverse outcomes from Pb exposures. While the factors encompassing SES are complex, low SES households often have less enriching home environments and parent–child interactions. This study investigated the extent to which environmental/behavioral factors (quality of maternal care and richness of the postnatal environment) may modify adverse effects from Pb exposure.

Methods

Long‐Evans female rats were randomly assigned to Control (no Pb), Early Postnatal (EPN: birth through weaning), or Perinatal (PERI: 14 days pre‐mating through weaning) Pb exposure groups. From postnatal days (PNDs) 2–9, maternal care behaviors were observed, and dams were classified as low or high maternal care based on amounts of licking/grooming and arched back nursing. At weaning, pups were randomly assigned to enriched or non‐enriched environments. At PND 55, animals began trace fear conditioning and associative memory was tested on days 1, 2, and 10 postconditioning.

Results

Control offspring showed no significant effects of maternal care or enrichment on task performance. Females with EPN‐Pb exposure and males with PERI‐Pb exposure living in the non‐enriched environment and having an LMC mother had significant memory impairments at days 2 and 10 that were not observed in comparably housed animals with HMC mothers. Enriched animals had no deficits, regardless of maternal care status.

Conclusion

These results show the potential for modulatory influences of maternal care and housing environment on protecting against or reversing at least one aspect of Pb‐induced cognitive/behavioral dysfunction.
Transcriptome analysis of rats with chronic unpredictable mild stress treated with electroacupuncture
Authors: Chang Xiaoli , Wang Ying , Hou Yi , Cheng Weilu , Chen Shaozong
Published: September 2024

Background

Depression remains one of the most prevalent psychiatric disorders, with many patients not responding adequately to available treatments. Electroacupuncture (EA), a nonpharmacologic therapy, holds great promise for alleviating depressive symptoms. In this study, RNA sequencing (RNA‐Seq) was used to identify genome‐wide alterations in the hippocampus of rats after chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) and EA treatments to further elucidate the mechanism by which EA ameliorates depression to provide a basis for the clinical application of EA in stress‐related diseases.

Methods

The sucrose preference test (SPT), open field test (OFT), and forced swimming test (FST) were used to investigate the ability of EA atBaihui(GV20) andTaichongacupoints (LR3) to improve depression‐like behavior in rats subjected to CUMS. Subsequently, RNA‐Seq analysis revealed transcriptomic profiles of the hippocampus of rats subjected to CUMS in which EA ameliorated depressive behavior. Finally, the expression profiles of major differentially expressed genes were tested by real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) to determine the accuracy of the RNA‐Seq results.

Results

Rats subjected to CUMS exhibited depressive‐like behaviors, such as decreased sucrose consumption in the SPT (p < .001), decreased time in the central area of the OFT (p < .001), and increased immobility in the FST (p < .01). Importantly, rats subjected to CUMS and treated with EA showed increased sucrose consumption (p < .001), increased time spent in the central area of the OFT (p < .001) and decreased immobility in the FST (p < .01). Sixty‐three genes that were differentially expressed following CUMS were altered by EA; most of these were associated with immune pathways. Compared with those in the control group, the expression levels of Colla2 (p < .001), Col3a1 (p < .001), Psmb9 (p < .01), and Tap1 (p < .01) in the hippocampus of rats subjected to CUMS were lower. The changes in the expression of these genes were reversed by EA treatment.

Conclusion

EA at GV20 and LR3 attenuated CUMS‐induced depression‐like behaviors by regulating the expression of specific genes such as Colla2, Col3a1, Psmb9, and Tap1.
Highly Efficient Detection of Pd2+ in Aqueous Medium by an Elusive Mn(II) Coordination Polymer
Authors: Shit Manik , Mahapatra Manas , Sepay Nayim , Sinha Chittaranjan , Dutta Basudeb , Hedayetullah Mir Mohammad
Published: September 2024

Herein, we report the synthesis of a Mn(II)‐based coordination polymer (CP); and its structure, phase consistency and thermal stability have been established by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction (SCXRD), powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD) and thermalgravimetric analysis (TGA) respectively. This is the first example of paramgnetic Mn(II)‐based CP that acts as pH‐dependent emitting material [λem=525 nm (pH=2.0–4.0) and 450 nm (pH=5.0–12.0)]. Its emission is quenched by Pd2+ in aqueous medium in presence of other thirteen cations with reasonably low pH‐dependent limits of detection (LODs) [21.178 ppb (pH=3), 15.005 ppb (pH=7.0) and 59.940 ppb (pH=10.0)] as described by well‐established mechanism. Therefore, urgency of such stable sensor remains high in regard to the environmental pollution.
Tuning the Stability and Kinetics of Dioxazaborocanes
Authors: Barthelmes Kevin , Yaginuma Keiichiro , Matsumoto Akira
Published: September 2024

We investigated the equilibrium reaction of boronic acid (BA), diethanolamines (DEA), and 1,3,6,2‐dioxazaborocanes (DOAB) in aqueous solutions, both theoretically and experimentally. Our findings show that the association constant can be adjusted by substituting BA and DEA derivatives, ranging from 100 to 103 M−1, exhibiting a bell‐shaped pH dependency. The highest stability was achieved when the pKa values of DEA and BA were closely matched. This approach enabled the preparation of a highly stable DOAB under physiological conditions. Furthermore, the hydrolysis kinetics of DOABs were controllable over a range of five orders of magnitude based on the substituent's steric effect. In the slowest case, this resulted in quasi‐static stability with only 1 % cleavage in the first hour, followed by a week‐long cleavage period to reach equilibrium. These insights could establish a unique chemistry platform for designing scheduled cleavability on a day‐to‐week timescale, relevant to protein engineering, immunotherapy, and other smart drug delivery applications.
Effect of electromagnetic middle‐ear implant simulating sites on the stapes spatial motion: A finite element analysis
Authors: Zhang Yixiang , Liu Houguang , Zhou Lei , Yang Jianhua , Liu Wen , Yang Shanguo , Huang Xinsheng
Published: September 2024

The electromagnetic middle‐ear implant (MEI) is a new type of hearing device for addressing sensorineural and mixed hearing loss. The hearing compensation effect of the MEI varies depending on the transducer stimulation sites. This paper investigates the impact of transducer stimulation sites on MEI performance by analyzing stapes spatial motion. Firstly, we constructed a human‐ear finite element model based on micro‐CT scanning and inverse molding techniques. This model was validated by comparing its predictions of stapes spatial motion and cochlear response with experimental data. Then, stimulation force was applied at four common sites: umbo, incus body, incus long process and stapes to simulate the electromagnetic transducer. Results show that at low and middle frequencies, stapes‐stimulating and incus‐long‐process‐stimulating produce similar spatial motion to normal hearing; at high frequencies, incus‐body‐stimulating produces similar results to normal hearing. The equivalent sound pressure level generated by the stapes piston motion is less sensitive to the stimulation direction than that deduced by the stapes rocking motion.
Characterization of Elastic Constants of Langatate Single Crystals with 32 Symmetry Using Ultrasonic Pulse‐Echo Technique
Authors: Chen Chuanwen , Qin Lei , Su Maoxin , Xiang Yang , Tang Liguo , Xiong Kainan , Wu Kechen , Tu Xiaoniu , Luo Wenyu
Published: September 2024

In this study, the propagation of plane waves in the lanthanum gallium tantalate (langatate, LGT) single crystals is investigated. Moreover, the flight time of different waves in the LGT rectangular parallelepiped sample is measured using the ultrasonic pulse‐echo (UPE) technique, and the elastic constants of the LGT sample are determined. The experimental results clearly show echoes corresponding to the longitudinal and transverse waves along the x‐axis. The waves along the z‐axis have a similar property. However, the waves along the y‐axis are more complex than those along the x‐ and z‐axes. The echoes corresponding to the quasi‐longitudinal waves along the y‐axis are clear, but those corresponding to the transverse and quasi‐transverse waves along the y‐axis are not. The elastic constant can be accurately determined if the wave echoes corresponding to this constant propagate without distinct distortion and are clear; otherwise, it may be impossible to accurately determine the constant using UPE. All elastic constants except of the LGT single crystals can be determined using UPE from one sample. This study uses UPE to provide a reference for the characterization of elastic constants of piezoelectric crystals with 32 symmetry from one sample.
Enhanced Production of Furfural via Methanolysis of Wood Biomass with HCl Gas
Authors: Topias Kilpinen A. , Yousefi Neptun , Kontturi Eero
Published: September 2024

This study explores the production of furfural, xylose and methylxylosides through the methanolysis of wood flour using anhydrous HCl gas. The process involves methanolysis of wood flour with HCl gas under pressure to generate methylxylosides, which are subsequently converted to xylose and furfural via autohydrolysis in a Parr batch reactor system. The methanolysis was conducted in temperature‐controlled HCl gas reactor employing 24 h reaction time and 50 % methanol content in wood flour. During the methanolysis step with HCl gas, 65 % of the available xylan in wood flour was converted to water‐soluble methylxylosides, xylose, xylooligosaccharides (XO) and water‐soluble methyl xylooligosaccharides (MXO). Methanolysis filtrates were then autohydrolyzed with Parr 50 mL batch reactor system to xylose and furfural in two different pH values at 180 °C. The highest furfural yield of 91 % from methanolysis filtrate was achieved with pH 1.2 and 25 min reaction time.
Facile Synthesis of a Layered Bismuth‐Based MOF With Superhydrophobic–Oleophilic Property and High Oil–Water Separation Performance
Authors: Zhang Caiyun , Song Jia , Lin Lingtong , Zhang Honggang , Liu Yuanyuan , Wang Zeyan , Wang Peng , Zheng Zhaoke , Cheng Hefeng , Dai Ying , Huang Baibiao
Published: September 2024

Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are a class of potential superhydrophobic–oleophilic materials. The organic ligands in superhydrophobic MOFs usually contain long alkyl chains, fluorine groups or aromatic rings with large π conjugation, the preparation of which suffers from high cost, complex operation and so on. In addition, the topological structure of MOFs plays an important role in the hydrophobicity, which may be ignored previously. Here we report a superhydrophobic–oleophilic MOF (BiPPA2) obtained by a facile and fast method, which not only displays a large water contact angle of up to 163° and a small sliding angle of nearly equal to 0°, but also exhibits high sorption capacity for multiple oils and organic solvents, well reusability and high oil retention. In addition, BiPPA2 is stable in a wide pH range (0.5–11.0). Finally, the single crystal structure of BiPPA2 is resolved to reveal the intrinsic reason for the super‐hydrophobicity. This work may inspire the further design of pristine superhydrophobic MOFs based on a simple method, which enriches the family of superhydrophobic MOFs and has great significance for practical applications.
Iron and Nickel Substituted Perovskite Cobaltites for Sustainable Oxygen Evolving Anodes in Alkaline Environment
Authors: Petlund Henrik , Faid Alaa , Zhu Junjie , Pokle Anuj , Norby Truls , Sunde Svein , Chatzitakis Athanasios
Published: September 2024

Perovskite oxides have great flexibility in their elemental composition, which is accompanied by large adjustability in their electronic properties. Herein, we synthesized twelve perovskite oxide‐based catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline media. The catalysts are based on the parent oxide perovskite Ba0.5Gd0.8La0.7Co2O6‐δ (BGLC587) and are synthesized through the sol‐gel citrate synthesis route. To reduce the demand on cobalt (Co), but also increase the intrinsic catalytic activity of BGLC587 for the OER, we substitute Co on the B‐site with certain amounts of Fe and Ni, synthesizing catalysts of the general formula Ba0.5Gd0.8La0.7Co2‐x‐yFexNiyO6‐δ. A plethora of physicochemical and electrochemical methods suggest that an Fe content between 30 % and 70 % increases the intrinsic catalytic activity of BGLC587, while Tafel slopes in combination with in‐situ Raman spectroscopy suggest the rate determining step is likely a proton‐exchange reaction, progressing possibly through the lattice oxygen mechanism (LOM). We apply one of the optimized, Co‐substituted perovskites in a monolithic, photovoltaic (PV)‐driven electrolysis cell and we achieve an initial solar‐to‐hydrogen (STH) conversion efficiency of 10.5 % under one sun solar simulated illumination.
CD38, CD39, and BCL2 differentiate disseminated forms of high‐grade B‐cell lymphomas in biological fluids from Burkitt lymphoma and diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma
Authors: Marianini Pauline , Lacheretz‐Szablewski Vanessa , Almeras Marion , Moreaux Jérôme , Bret Caroline
Published: September 2024

High‐grade B‐cell lymphomas (HGBCL) represent a heterogeneous group of very rare mature B‐cell lymphomas. The 4th revised edition of the WHO Classification of Tumors of Hematopoietic and Lymphoid Tissues (WHO‐HAEM) previously defined two categories of HGBCL: the so‐called double‐hit (DHL) and triple‐hit (THL) lymphomas, which were related to forms harboring MYC and BCL2 and/or BCL6 rearrangements, and HGBCL, NOS (not otherwise specified), corresponding to entities with intermediate characteristics between diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and Burkitt lymphoma (BL), without rearrangement of the MYC and BCL2, and/or BCL6 genes. In the 5th edition of the WHO‐HAEM, DHL with MYC and BCL2 rearrangements or THL were reassigned as DLBCL/HGBCL with MYC and BCL2 rearrangements (DLBCL/HGBL‐MYC/BCL2), whereas the category HGBCL, NOS remains unchanged. Characterized by an aggressive clinical presentation and a poor prognosis, HGBCL is often diagnosed at an advanced, widespread stage, leading to potential disseminated forms with a leukemic presentation, or spreading to the bone marrow (BM) or other biological fluids. Flow cytometric immunophenotypic study of these disseminated cells can provide a rapid method to identify HGBCL. However, due to the scarcity of cases, only limited data about the immunophenotypic features of HGBCL by multiparametric flow cytometry are available. In addition, identification of HGBCL cells by this technique may be challenging due to clinical, pathological, and biological features that can overlap with other distinct lymphoid malignancies, including Burkitt lymphoma (BL), diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and even B acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B‐ALL). In this study, we aimed to characterize the detailed immunophenotypic portrait of HGBCL, evaluating by multiparametric flow cytometry (MFC) the expression of 26 markers on biological samples obtained from a cohort of 10 newly‐diagnosed cases and comparing their level of expression with normal peripheral blood (PB) B lymphocytes (n = 10 samples), tumoral cells from patients diagnosed with B‐ALL (n = 30), BL (n = 13), or DLBCL (n = 22). We then proposed a new and simple approach to rapidly distinguish disseminated forms of HGBCL, BL, and DLBCL, using the combination of MFC data for CD38, BCL2, and CD39, the three most discriminative markers explored in this study. We finally confirmed the utility of the scoring system previously proposed by Khanlari to distinguish HGBCL cells from B lymphoblasts of B‐ALL. In conclusion, we described a distinct immunophenotypic portrait of HGBCL cells and proposed a strategy to differentiate these cells from other aggressive B lymphoma entities in biological samples.