bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In vitro and in vivo biological evaluation of Lappaconitine derivatives as potential anti‐inflammatory agents
Authors: Xiao Yan , Han Meng , Chen Ying , Li Yu‐Zhu , Zhang Yin‐Yong , Chen Lin , Huang Shuai , Zhou Xian‐Li
Published: December 2023

Natural products and their derivatives are a precious treasure in the pursuit of potent anti‐inflammatory drugs. In this work, we measured the toxicity of 78 LA derivatives at 20 μM using MTT, then we evaluated the NO release of compounds without obvious toxicity in LPS‐induced RAW.264.7 by Griess reagent, we identified three compounds, namely compounds 6, 19, 70, which exhibited promising anti‐inflammatory potential. These compounds exhibited IC50 values of 10.34±2.05 μM, 18.18±4.80 μM and 15.66±0.88 μM. In addition, through ELISA kits, compounds 6, 19, 70 significantly reduce the production of inflammatory factors (TNF‐α, IL‐6, IL‐1β). Real‐time PCR and western blot analysis showed that compounds 6, 19, 70 inhibited the mRNA and protein expression of iNOS and COX‐2. Notably, compound 6 exhibited the most potent inhibitory activity. In vitro, it inhibits LPS‐induced phosphorylation of NF‐κB p65, IκBα, ERK1/2, JNK, and p38 MAPKs in RAW264.7 cells. In vivo, compound 6 potently inhibits the secretion of inflammatory mediators and neutrophil activation in ALI mice. Our findings suggest that compound 6 may be a potential anti‐inflammatory drug.
Two New Compounds Isolated from the Itea omeiensis and Their Anti‐oxidant Activities
Authors: Feng Yunqian , Jian Jinzhen , Cheng Longdie , Luo Guoyong , Yang Wude
Published: December 2023

Two new compounds (1–2) together with ten known compounds (3–12) were isolated for the first time from the 95 % EtOH extract of aerial parts of Itea omeiensis. Their structures were elucidated based on extensive spectroscopic analyses and comparison with published data. The structure of 1 was further confirmed through single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis, and circular dichroism (CD) spectrum in combination with acid hydrolysis was employed for the absolute configuration determination of 2. Compound 1 was the first 2‐arylbenzo[b]furan with an extra six‐membered lactone ring from Itea plants. Anti‐oxidant assays indicated that compound 1 possessed significant radical scavenging effects on 1,1‐Diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′‐Azino‐bis(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) (ABTS⋅+) with IC50 values of 0.14 and 0.06 mg/mL, respectively, which were comparable to the positive control of ascorbic acid. However, no obvious anti‐hepatocellular carcinoma activity was observed for compounds 1 and 2.
Enhancing 2‐Pyrone Synthase Efficiency by High‐Throughput Mass‐Spectrometric Quantification and In Vitro/In Vivo Catalytic Performance Correlation
Authors: Zhou Yu , Zhou Shuaizhen , Lyons Scott , Sun Haoran , Sweedler Jonathan V. , Lu Yi
Published: December 2023

Engineering efficient biocatalysts is essential for metabolic engineering to produce valuable bioproducts from renewable resources. However, due to the complexity of cellular metabolic networks, it is challenging to translate success in vitro into high performance in cells. To meet such a challenge, an accurate and efficient quantification method is necessary to screen a large set of mutants from complex cell culture and a careful correlation between the catalysis parameters in vitro and performance in cells is required. In this study, we employed a mass‐spectrometry based high‐throughput quantitative method to screen new mutants of 2‐pyrone synthase (2PS) for triacetic acid lactone (TAL) biosynthesis through directed evolution in E. coli. From the process, we discovered two mutants with the highest improvement (46 fold) in titer and the fastest kcat (44 fold) over the wild type 2PS, respectively, among those reported in the literature. A careful examination of the correlation between intracellular substrate concentration, Michaelis‐Menten parameters and TAL titer for these two mutants reveals that a fast reaction rate under limiting intracellular substrate concentrations is important for in‐cell biocatalysis. Such properties can be tuned by protein engineering and synthetic biology to adopt these engineered proteins for the maximum activities in different intracellular environments.
Decoding unusual MR findings: Spinal cord edema in atypical cervical spondylotic myelopathy—A case report and literature review
Authors: Zhu Qingrun , Wang Dachuan
Published: December 2023

We report a case of a young man with a slow progression of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). Cervical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a mild cervical discbulging at C5–C6 and an area of atypically enlarged intramedullary high signal intensity extending from C4–C7 (T2‐weighted) with contrast enhancement at C5–C6 (T1‐weighted). Neurological and radiological diagnoses tend to favor demyelinating diseases, which interfere with the diagnosis of CSM. Patients were followed up and examined by MRI at 3 months, 1 year, and 2 years after surgery. The patient's symptoms improved immediately postoperatively. The functional result according to the modified Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score improved from 10 to 13 within 3 months. He continued to improve neurologically over the first postoperative year. Two years postoperatively, a T2‐weighted MRI showed that the edema signal had disappeared completely, and a fat‐saturated T2‐weighted MRI showed only slight abnormal signal. The numbness and weakness of the extremities had improved, and his JOA score was 16. Spinal cord edema is occasionally seen with CSM. In the case presented, the contrast enhancement was localized at the site of the greatest narrowing of the spinal canal and compression of the spinal cord. This coincidence was the best indicator of a mechanical cause of the spinal cord changes. This feature should increase physician's confidence in distinguishing CSM from intramedullary tumors and myelitis. Surgical decompression may be beneficial in improving neurologic outcomes.
An Improved Manganese Pincer Catalyst for low Temperature Hydrogenation of Carbon Monoxide to Methanol
Authors: Neitzel Gordon , Razzaq Rauf , Spannenberg Anke , Stier Kenta , Checinski Marek P. , Jackstell Ralf , Beller Matthias
Published: December 2023

A manganese pincer complex Mn‐2 for the homogeneously catalysed conversion of CO/H2 to methanol was developed using a novel PNP ligand design. Compared to the previous state‐of‐the‐art catalyst system Mn‐1, the presented Mn‐2 with different substituents at the P‐atoms led to a significant increase of the reaction rate (TOF up to >1600 h−1).
Plasma Technology Applications in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Systems
Authors: Luo Yingxin , Li Xiang , Zhang Xiaolei , Liu Jianxin , Deng Xiaoqing
Published: December 2023

Fuel cells have become a prominent research focus in the realm of clean energy, owing to their attributes of environmental sustainability, high efficiency, and renewable potential. The catalytic activity of electrode materials and the characteristics of proton exchange membranes are considered pivotal determinants of fuel cell performance. Plasma is abundant in high‐energy electrons and active species, proven to be a rapid, facile, and green approach for the preparation and treatment of catalytic materials and polymers. This review presents recent applications of plasma technology in proton exchange membrane fuel cells across four key dimensions: cathodes, anodes, proton exchange membranes, and process enhancement, including the preparation and treatment of noble metal catalysts, non‐noble metal catalysts, non‐metal catalysts, and polymer membranes. Furthermore, critical issues of plasma technology applied in PEMFCs were also discussed.
MOF‐Supported Heterogeneous Catalysts for Hydroformylation Reactions: A Minireview
Authors: Samanta Partha , Canivet Jerome
Published: December 2023

Transition metal‐catalyzed hydroformylation reaction of olefins is one of the most important transformations in the perspective of both industrial applications and academic research. This synthetic process provides a straightforward and easy way for the transformations of inexpensive feedstock (mostly different alkene molecules) to valuable aldehyde compounds, which are considered as major building blocks for several essential chemical products. Inspired and motivated by the tremendous success of homogeneous catalysis for hydroformylation reactions, paramount interests have been raised for the design and development of active heterogeneous catalysts owning advantages from both molecular and material sciences. Crystalline metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) as solid support to immobilize active catalysts for the hydroformylation reaction have shown appealing promises as heterogeneous catalysts. This review sketches out a decade of developments of MOF‐based heterogeneous catalysts for the hydroformylation of olefins while discussing both advantages and limitations for their implementation beyond the lab scale.
Nanoparticles in Electrochemical Immunosensors – A Concept and Perspective
Authors: Polli Francesca , Simonetti Federica , Surace Luca , Agostini Marco , Favero Gabriele , Mazzei Franco , Zumpano Rosaceleste
Published: December 2023

Nanoparticle‐based electrochemical immunosensors are fascinating and promising screening systems that rely on the affinity binding between antibodies and antigens, allowing the specific detection of diverse types of targets (e. g., proteins, hormones, antibodies). The employment of nanoparticles in the realization of such devices dramatically improves the selectivity, sensitivity, and the transducer surface area for effectively immobilizing the bioreceptor or target molecules. During the last years, the nanoparticles design and fabrication was mainly focused on taking advantage from synergistic effects due to the coupling of different materials. In this review, we summarize the very recent advancements in this regard, with specific emphasis to nanoparticle syntheses procedures, antibody oriented immobilization strategies and transduction techniques. Moreover, the last trends and applications have been extensively discussed along with the remaining challenges and future perspectives.
Evaluation of a Ru‐bipod Complex as a Redox Transducer for Membrane‐Based Voltammetry of Anions**
Authors: Kalaei Nasib , Ide Mitsutoshi , Haga Masa‐aki , Arrigan Damien W. M.
Published: December 2023

Molecular redox compounds show promise for the development of solid contact ion selective electrodes (SC‐ISEs) for anion determinations. In this work, a hydrophobic bis‐tridentate Ru‐bipod complex was studied as a molecular redox transducer in voltammetric SC‐ISEs. Thin film voltammetric behavior was achieved in films comprised of the Ru‐bipod complex, polyvinylchloride (PVC) and a plasticiser, nitrophenyloctylether (NPOE). Importantly, the choice of plasticiser had a significant effect on the SC‐ISE response of the Ru‐bipod complex; i. e., voltammetric responses of the Ru‐bipod complex in NPOE films were sharper and more intense than in bis(2‐ethylhexyl) sebacate (DOS) films. Moreover, addition of tetradodecylammonium tetrakis(4‐chlorophenyl)borate (ETH 500) to the membrane had an unfavorable impact on detection of anions due to oxidation of this salt in the film. Although the thin film electrode showed close‐to‐Nernstian behavior in anion responses, the detection responses in the presence of very hydrophilic anions such as sulfate ion were shifted to higher potentials (>1 V) with a subsequent loss of sensitivity. Overall, the Ru‐bipod complex operates as a simple transducer in SC‐ISEs with benefits in anion detection.
Layered Oxide Material as a Highly Stable Na‐ion Source and Sink for Investigation of Sodium‐ion Battery Materials
Authors: Wu Fanglin , Li Huihua , Diemant Thomas , Mullaliu Angelo , Zhang Huang , Passerini Stefano
Published: December 2023

Investigating Na‐ion battery (SIB) materials is complicated by the absence of a well‐performing (reference) electrode material since sodium metal cannot be considered as a quasi‐reference electrode. Taking advantage of the activity of both Ni and Mn, herein, the P2‐type and Mn‐rich Na0.6Ni0.22Al0.11Mn0.66O2 (NAM) material, known to be an excellent positive electrode, is investigated as a negative electrode. To prove NAM stability as both positive and negative electrode, symmetric cells have been assembled without pre‐sodiation, which showed a reversible capacity of 73 mA h g−1 and a remarkable capacity retention of 82.6 % after 500 cycles. The outstanding cycling performance is ascribed to the high stability of the active material at both the highest and lowest Na‐ion storage plateaus and the rather limited electrolyte decomposition and solid‐electrolyte‐interphase (SEI) formation occurring. The long‐term stability of NAM at both electrodes enables its use as a “reference” electrode for the investigation of other positive and negative electrode materials for SIBs, resembling the role played by lithium titanate (LTO) and lithium iron phosphate (LFP) in LIBs.
Recent Development in Reversible Solid Oxide Fuel Cells: Theory, Integration and Prospective
Authors: Yang Yiping , Lei Jinyong , Huang Xurui , Liao Zihao , Liu Yang , Tu Zhengkai
Published: December 2023

Reversible solid oxide fuel cell (RSOC) has gained widespread attention due to their potential for high efficiency in implementing multi‐energy distributed systems. When high power demand is required, RSOC can operate in the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) mode, directly converting the chemical energy from hydrogen or other renewable fuels into electricity. When excess electricity is available, RSOC can operate in the solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) mode, producing fuels through the electrolysis of water or co‐electrolysis of water and carbon dioxide. The reversible operation of RSOC enables the direct conversion between chemical energy and electricity, offering a promising solution for clean and sustainable energy with low cost and high round‐trip efficiency. This paper introduces the research background and working principles of RSOC, provides a detailed overview of the current research status of electrolyte, fuel electrode, and oxygen electrode materials, discusses the optimization design of RSOC stacks and energy utilization strategies in the system. In addition, the future development directions of RSOC were also explored, which is of significant importance for the commercialization of RSOC.
Enhancing Fluorescence in Both Solution and Solid States Induced by Imine Cage Formation
Authors: Bhandari Pallab , Ahmed Shakil , Saha Rajib , Mukherjee Partha Sarathi
Published: December 2023

Developing luminescent materials that exhibit strong emissions in both solution and solid phases is highly desirable and challenging. Herein, we report imine‐bond directed formation of a rigid organic cage (TPE‐cage) that was synthesized by [2+4] imine condensation of a TPE‐cored tetra‐aldehyde (TPE‐TA) with a clip‐like diamine (XA) to illustrate confinement‐induced fluorescence enhancement. Compared to the non‐emissive TPE‐TA (ϕF=0.26 %) in the dichloromethane (DCM) solution, the TPE‐cage achieved a remarkable (~520‐fold) emission enhancement (ϕF=70.38 %). In contrast, a monomeric tetra‐imine model compound (TPE‐model) showed only a minor enhancement (ϕF=0.56 %) in emission compared to the parent tetra‐aldehyde TPE‐TA. The emission of TPE‐cage was further enhanced by ~1.5‐fold (ϕF=80.96 %) in the aggregated state owing to aggregation‐induced emission enhancement (AIEE). This approach establishes the potential for synthesizing luminescent materials with high emission in both solution and solid‐state by employing a single‐step imine condensation reaction.
N‐Alkylimidazol‐5‐yl‐substituted Nitronyl Nitroxides and Their Mononuclear Cu(II) Complexes: Synthesis, Structure and Magnetic Properties
Authors: Golomolzina Irina V. , Tolstikov Svyatoslav E. , Smirnova Kristina A. , Fokin Sergey V. , Letyagin Gleb A. , Romanenko Galina V. , Bogomyakov Artem S.
Published: December 2023

A novel synthetic approach has been employed to synthesize a series of new nitronyl nitroxides: 2‐(1‐propyl‐1H‐imidazol‐5‐yl)‐ (Ln−Pr), 2‐(1‐isopropyl‐1H‐imidazol‐5‐yl)‐ (Li−Pr) and 2‐(1‐butyl‐1H‐imidazol‐5‐yl)‐4,4,5,5‐tetramethyl‐4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐imidazole‐3‐oxide‐1‐oxyl (Ln−Bu). The reaction of Cu(hfac)2 with LR in a 1 : 2 ratio yields mononuclear heterospin complexes [Cu(hfac)2(LR)2] (LR=Ln‐Pr, Li‐Pr, Ln‐Bu), which have a similar crystal structure to the “jumping” crystals [Cu(hfac)2(LMe)2] that exhibit chemomechanical activity. It was shown that an increase in the alkyl substituent R leads to changes in the crystal packing of the molecules and the absence of chemomechanical activity. Furthermore, it was found that two polymorph modifications of the heterospin complex [Cu(hfac)2(Ln−Pr)2] can be obtained, and magnetic properties of [Cu(hfac)2(Ln−Pr)2] strongly depend on the angle between the planes of the paramagnetic fragment O•–N‐C=N→O and the imidazole ring in Ln−Pr.
Sand control screen selection for cased dual‐annulus gas offshore wells based on scaled laboratory tests
Authors: Miri Rahman , Salimi Mahmoud , Stewart Suzanne , Bermudez Gonzalez Jose Manuel , Mazo Suárez Camilo , Nouri Alireza
Published: December 2023

This paper assessed and ranked several alternatives to control sand production in a well recompletion effort of offshore gas wells that have experienced massive sanding. The aim was to select an appropriate thru‐liner sand control system to increase well productivity. Four different screen types were evaluated, including a wire‐wrapped screen (WWS), slotted liner (SL), punched screen (PS), and a new multi‐layer open cell matrix polymer (OCMP) filter resembling gravel‐pack. The performance of screens regarding sand production and plugging was evaluated using a sand retention testing facility featuring a custom‐made device that mimics the unique well completion configuration. Further, a novel testing setup was constructed to assess the erosion potential of screens subject to high‐velocity gas and sand flow. All assessments were conducted under the representative actual well conditions. Laboratory tests indicate the superior performance of the OCMP filter compared to the other three options. Even though SL, WWS, and PS performed similarly in sanding, the WWS posed a higher erosion risk, with PS following in second place. The plugging tendency of the WWS was the least among all the options, whereas the PS had the highest tendency. Despite this, the WWS's sanding performance is expected to decline due to its vulnerability to erosion. Overall, the testing results indicated that the OCMP filter provides a promising solution to the issue of sand production in the gas wells being evaluated. However, the interaction of the OCMP filter with potential treatment chemicals in the wells should be tested before it can be used.
A Disulfide‐Based Poly(ether‐b‐amide) Copolymer with Rapid Self‐healing Ability under Moderate Conditions†
Authors: Lu Weijian , Zhu Ping , Zhao Ying , Wang Dujin , Dong Xia
Published: December 2023

Comprehensive Summary

A disulfide‐based poly(ether‐b‐amide) copolymer with rapid self‐healing capability under moderate conditions was synthesized from 4,4’‐dithiodibutyric acid (DTDBA), isophorondiamine (IPDA) and poly(tetramethylene oxide) (PTMO) based on a two‐step method. The incorporation of IPDA with asymmetric structure and substantial steric hindrance not only effectively decreased the number of regular H‐bonds, but also inhibited the crystallization of polyamide segments, imparting the synthesized poly(ether‐b‐amide) copolymer with an amorphous structural feature. Based on the coordination of segmental diffusion and recombination of disulfide bonds and hydrogen bonds, the scratches and damaged mechanical properties of PEBADS‐I611 could be completely self‐healed after healing at 40 °C for only 11 min and 3 h, respectively.
A High‐Contrast Autolysosome Probe for Detecting Interaction between Autophagosomes and Autolysosomes in Mitophagy†
Authors: Wang Weihua , Han Chu , Xie Shengjie , Cong Zisong , Yang Zixuan , Feng Yuxin , Xiang Limin , Song Heng
Published: December 2023

Comprehensive Summary

Autophagy is a multi‐step cell metabolism process in which cells remove damaged and unwanted materials. During autophagy, autophagosomes fuse with lysosomes to form autophagosomes. Autophagosomal membrane components are recycled from autolysosomes through the autophagosomal components recycling (ACR), while lysosomal components circulate on the autolysosomal surface through the autophagic lysosome reformation (ALR) process. Autolysosomes contain components from autophagosomes and lysosomes. However, whether there is a fusion between autolysosome and autophagosome or lysosome at the organelle level remains unknown. In this study, a pH and viscosity dual‐controlled mitochondria‐targeting fluorescent probe Mito‐Q was designed based on an asymmetric norcyanine to achieve the high‐contrast imaging of mitochondria‐containing autolysosomes. Mito‐Q not only effectively detected mitochondrial viscosity changes and mitophagy with high sensitivity, but more importantly, the fusion of mitochondria‐containing autolysosomes and autophagosomes (FMAA) was observed during autophagy by the real‐time confocal imaging of HeLa cells.
Cooperative and Bifunctional Adsorbent‐Catalyst Materials for In‐situ VOCs Capture‐Conversion
Authors: Mondal Sukanta K. , Aina Peter , Rownaghi Ali A. , Rezaei Fateme
Published: December 2023

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are gases that are emitted into the air from products or processes and are major components of air pollution that significantly deteriorate air quality and seriously affect human health. Different types of metals, metal oxides, mixed‐metal oxides, polymers, activated carbons, zeolites, metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) and mixed‐matrixed materials have been developed and used as adsorbent or catalyst for diversified VOCs detection, removal, and destruction. In this comprehensive review, we first discuss the general classification of VOCs removal materials and processes and outline the historical development of bifunctional and cooperative adsorbent‐catalyst materials for the removal of VOCs from air. Subsequently, particular attention is devoted to design of strategies for cooperative adsorbent‐catalyst materials, along with detailed discussions on the latest advances on these bifunctional materials, reaction mechanisms, long‐term stability, and regeneration for VOCs removal processes. Finally, challenges and future opportunities for the environmental implementation of these bifunctional materials are identified and outlined with the intent of providing insightful guidance on the design and fabrication of more efficient materials and systems for VOCs removal in the future.
Deep ultraviolet 266 nm laser excitation for flow cytometry
Authors: Telford William
Published: December 2023

High dimensional flow cytometry relies on multiple laser sources to excite the wide variety of fluorochromes now available for immunophenotyping. Ultraviolet lasers (usually solid state 355 nm) are a critical part of this as they excite the BD Horizon™ Brilliant Ultraviolet (BUV) series of polymer fluorochromes. The BUV dyes have increased the number of simultaneous fluorochromes available for practical high‐dimensional analysis to greater than 40 for spectral cytometry. Immunologists are now seeking to increase this number, requiring both novel fluorochromes and additional laser wavelengths. A laser in the deep ultraviolet (DUV) range (from ca. 260 to 320 nm) has been proposed as an additional excitation source, driven by the on‐going development of additional polymer dyes with DUV excitation. DUV lasers emitting at 280 and 320 nm have been previously validated for flow cytometry but have encountered practical difficulties both in probe excitation behavior and in availability. In this article, we validate an even shorter DUV 266 nm laser source for flow cytometry. This DUV laser provided minimal excitation of the BUV dyes (a desirable characteristic for high‐dimensional analysis) while demonstrating excellent excitation of quantum nanoparticles (Qdots) serving as surrogate fluorochromes for as yet undeveloped DUV excited dyes. DUV 266 nm excitation may therefore be a viable candidate for expanding high‐dimensional flow cytometry into the DUV range and providing an additional incidental excitation wavelength for spectral cytometry. Excitation in a spectral region with strong absorption by nucleic acids and proteins (260–280 nm) did result in strong autofluorescence requiring care in fluorochrome selection. DUV excitation of endogenous molecules may nevertheless have additional utility for label‐free analysis applications.
Exploring the links among peripheral immunity, biomarkers, cognition, and neuroimaging in Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Li Jie‐Qiong , Zhang Ya‐Ru , Wang Hui‐Fu , Guo Yu , Shen Xue‐Ning , Li Meng‐Meng , Song Jing‐Hui , Tan Lan , Xie An‐Mu , Yu Jin‐Tai
Published: December 2023

INTRODUCTION

We analyzed relationships among peripheral immunity markers, cognition, Alzheimer's disease (AD)‐related biomarkers, and neuroimaging to understand peripheral immunity involvement in AD.

METHODS

Peripheral immunity markers were assessed in AD, non‐AD neurodegenerative disorders, and controls, examining their connections with cognition, AD‐related biomarkers, and neuroimaging using multiple regression models.

RESULTS

The study included 1579 participants. Higher levels of white blood cell, neutrophil, monocyte, neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (PLR), systemic immune‐inflammation index (SII), and lower lymphocyte‐to‐monocyte ratio (LMR) were associated with cognitive decline and more severe anxiety and depression. The impact of lower LMR, lymphocyte count, and higher NLR on cognitive decline is mediated through cerebrospinal fluid amyloid beta (Aβ) levels. Additionally, increased PLR, NLR, and SII were associated with brain atrophy and hippocampal Aβ deposition (amyloid positron emission tomography).

DISCUSSION

Peripheral immunity markers offer a non‐invasive and cost‐effective means of studying AD‐related pathophysiological changes, providing valuable insights into its pathogenesis and treatment.

Highlights

Peripheral immunity markers linked to cognitive decline and anxiety/depression.

Low LMR, LYM, and high NLR linked to reduced CSF Aβ, impacting cognition.

High PLR, NLR, SII associated with brain atrophy and hippocampal Aβ deposition
Ecomorphological convergence in the walking leg dactyli of two clades of ascidian‐ and mollusc‐associated shrimps (Decapoda: Caridea: Palaemonidae)
Authors: de Gier Werner , Helleman Pepijn , van den Oever Jurriaan , Fransen Charles H. J. M.
Published: December 2023

Symbiotic species, living within or on the surface of host organisms, may evolve a wide range of adaptations as a result of various selection pressures, host specificity of the symbiont and the nature of the symbiosis. In tropical marine coral reef ecosystems, palaemonid shrimps (Crustacea: Decapoda: Caridea) live in association with at least five different invertebrate phyla. Host switches between (distantly) related host groups, and the thereby associated selection pressures were found to play a major role in the diversification of these shrimp lineages, giving rise to various host‐specific adaptations. Two lineages of palaemonid shrimp, which have switched from an ectosymbiotic association towards endosymbiosis, are studied for their morphological diversification and possible convergence. Special attention is given to the between‐phyla host switches involving ascidian and bivalve hosts, which are characteristic for these lineages. Using landmark‐based (phylo)morphospace analyses and Scanning Electron Microscopy, the walking leg dactylus shape and the microstructures on these dactyli are studied. No specific bivalve‐ or ascidian‐associated morphotypes were found, but morphological convergence in dactylus morphology was found in various species within the two studied clades with similar host groups. In addition, multiple lineages of bivalve‐associated species appear to be morphologically diverging more than their ascidian‐associated relatives, with ‘intermediate’ morphotypes found near host‐switching events.
Amazonian mixed‐species flocks demonstrate flexible preferences for vertical forest structure
Authors: Coddington Charles P. J. , Cooper W. Justin , Rutt Cameron L. , Mokross Karl , Amaral Bruna R. , Stouffer Philip C. , Luther David A.
Published: December 2023

How species interact with human‐disturbed environments is a central focus of conservation biology. Within disturbed landscapes, regenerating forests have potential to provide habitat for forest species, especially as increasing amounts of primary forest are lost. As secondary forest regenerates beside primary forest, it increases habitat heterogeneity. However, relatively little is known about the influence of habitat heterogeneity on space use. In this study, we analyzed the topography and vertical vegetation structure of regenerating forest, small forest fragments, and undisturbed rainforest in the central Amazon to determine (1) how these structural characteristics influence understory mixed‐species flock space use and (2) how the vegetative preferences of flocks varied across a disturbance gradient. We first used behavioral observations to quantify the vertical foraging niche of flocks and then associated variation in horizontal space use with the three‐dimensional features of forest structure. Surprisingly, we found that flock space use was not consistently associated with any variable, even though available habitat differed both within and across forest types. Overall, the best predictors were elevation and leaf area density within the subcanopy (16–25 m), yet most flock foraging occurred in the midstory (6–15 m). Together, these results indicate that while flocks may have certain habitat preferences, these preferences are flexible or idiosyncratic and do not correspond to a specific vertical profile. For example, flocks spent a disproportionate amount of time in low elevations when available, but not all flocks had access to low‐lying areas within their home ranges. Although other studies show flock size and diversity can be highly sensitive to habitat disturbance, mixed‐species flocks demonstrate remarkable plasticity as a unit, virtually saturating undisturbed and disturbed forest at our site, as long as regeneration has passed a certain threshold.
Two Synthesis Approaches of the 2H‐Tetrahydro‐4,6‐dioxo‐1,2‐oxazine Ring System of Alchivemycins A and B
Authors: Ishibashi Osamu , Meguro Yasuhiro , Kuwahara Shigefumi , Enomoto Masaru
Published: December 2023

The 2H‐tetrahydro‐4,6‐dioxo‐1,2‐oxazine (TDO) ring, a rare structural motif embedded in the molecular architecture of alchivemycins, is synthesized from 2,2,6‐trimethyl‐4H‐1,3‐dioxin‐4‐one via two routes. Both routes involve the intramolecular trapping of an acylketene intermediate by an internal hydroxy group to form the TDO ring as a key step. The first synthesis was achieved in 29 % overall yield from the starting material by a four‐step sequence featuring a DMAP−CaCl2‐mediated O‐ to C‐acyl migration reaction to install an acyl group at the C5 position of the TDO ring. The second synthesis was completed in 8 % overall yield from the same starting material as the first one through five steps by exploiting a photo‐induced double bromination reaction.
Additional Lighting Effects for Photovoltaic Improvements in the Performance of Solar Cells
Authors: Lupšić Katarina , Validžić Ivana Lj.
Published: December 2023

The basic function of the water flow lens (WFL) system is to cool, decrease, and increase light intensity with inevitable spectral oscillations, but in reality, that manipulation helps to better understand the possible additional optical and light effects and, thus, the nature of light itself, in the hopes of making significant progress toward the use of solar energy. According to the published research on a variety of solar devices, including commercial monocrystalline and amorphous Si‐solar cells, differently designed Sb2S3‐based solar cells made of synthesized undoped and doped semiconductors, and dye‐sensitized solar cells (Dyesol/Greatcell Solar DSL 30 NRD‐T) with varying sensitizers and cosensitizers, photovoltaic performance using the WFL system can show significant improvements in all tested conditions. Based on all previous results on different solar devices, many potential explanations for demonstrating common extra‐light effects for an increase in the performance of solar cells are experimentally compared and discussed. The theoretical history of the nature of light is reviewed, and our findings are commented on along with new disclosure.
Capacity Prediction Method of Lithium‐Ion Battery in Production Process Based on Improved Random Forest
Authors: Liu Zhengyu , Tang Liandong , Wang Hao , Huang Zaijun
Published: December 2023

Measuring capacity in the grading process is an important step in battery production. The traditional capacity acquisition method requires considerable time and energy consumption; therefore, an accurate capacity estimation is crucial in reducing production costs. Herein, a capacity prediction method for lithium‐ion batteries based on improved random forest (RF) is proposed. This method extracts features from the voltage data of the entire formation process and the first 25% of the grading process, saving 56.7% of the energy consumption and 74.6% of the time in the grading process. The importance of these features is ranked by RF, the best feature subset is selected, and the RF algorithm with parameters optimized by the genetic algorithm is applied to establish a capacity prediction model. The results show that the proposed model can accurately predict the capacity, with root mean square error (RMSE) and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) values of only 191.89 mAh and 0.13%, respectively. Compared with other regression algorithms, the model shows a lower RMSE and MAPE and a higher capacity prediction accuracy for low‐capacity cells.
Does the absence or presence of sleep spindles on EEG have prognostic value for cognitive outcome in children with infantile epileptic spasms syndrome? A systematic literature review
Authors: Lähdetie Jaana , Muñoz‐Ruiz Miguel , Kokki Hannu
Published: December 2023

Infantile Epileptic Spasms Syndrome (IESS) is an epileptic encephalopathy in childhood that affects infants under the age of two years. When spasm series occur, prognosis for cognitive outcome is poor in the majority of cases. The encephalopathy in IESS includes delayed maturation of normal sleep phenomena in the EEG, such as sleep spindles. Children with intellectual disabilities often have abnormal sleep, and children with sleep problems have difficulties learning at school. We examined whether there is evidence of prognostic value of detection of sleep spindles in the EEG of children with IESS on their future cognitive development. A systematic literature search yielded five studies touching this question. They were evaluated by two scorers independently. The lack of normal sleep patterns including lack of sleep spindles was used as a biomarker of poor cognitive outcome. Positive (PPV) and Negative (NPV) prognostic values were calculated. A summary of all five studies indicates a PPV of 82% and an NPV of 45%. Given the small amount of data, the retrospective quality of most studies, and the differences in the outcome parameters reported, it is prudent to say that currently available data do not allow us to conclude whether spindles have a specific and independent role in the cognitive prognosis of affected children. Since sleep spindles are needed for memory consolidation and demonstrate the active role of sleep for learning and memory, the hypothesis remains that their absence in the EEG may indicate an increased risk of cognitive delay, but more supporting data are needed to reach such a firm conclusion.
Numerical and experimental investigation of an Archimedes screw turbine for open channel water flow application
Authors: Abbas Zeshan , Waqas Muhammad , Khan Saad Saleem , Khatoon Rabia , Larkin Stephen , Zhao Lun
Published: December 2023

Low‐head turbines are becoming an agricultural imperative due to their high efficiency, low cost, ability to operate at low flow rates and minimal environmental impact. Therefore, the Archimedes screw turbine (AST) can play a leading role for producing electric power, especially in Pakistan's rural areas where most of the places have less than 1 m head. In this research work, performance evaluation of AST was carried out at different flow velocities in terms of power coefficient and torque generated. Design parameters such as blade width, blade pitches, and blade rotational angles are also used for performance evaluation. For this purpose, computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analyses of AST blades were conducted at different water flow velocities (e.g., 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, and 3.5 m/s). ANSYS FLUENT was used for AST blade simulations using three different design parameters such as blade width, blade pitch, and blade rotational angles. Additionally, CFD simulations have inherent errors and uncertainties that may lead to findings and deviations from their exact or real values. To prevent these uncertainties and errors, an experimental study was also conducted to provide validation for the CFD simulation results. The results revealed from CFD simulations for optimized design parameters were then compared with experimental data. From the results, it was examined that the numerical findings were in good agreement with the experiment data. The highest power coefficient and power output values were obtained under optimized design parameters such as inner and outer diameter, blade pitch, blade width, blade rotation angles and shaft length (e.g., 40 mm, 120 mm, 130 mm, 2 mm, 60°, and 850 mm respectively). The findings can be useful to implement the AST unit for those places where the available water head is ranging from 1 to 6.5 m and a flow rate of 0.2–6.5 m3/s, especially for rural areas of Pakistan.
Terrestrial Isopods Generate Microplastics from Low-Density Polyethylene Without Effects on Survival
Authors: Musgrave C. , Prosser Ryan S.
Published: December 2023

With concern growing regarding the impact of microplastics (MPs) on terrestrial ecosystems, it is important to assess the role invertebrates may play in the fate of MPs within these ecosystems. Commonly, MPs enter these environments through improperly discarded waste or the application of treated biosolids and/or wastewater on agricultural soils. The present study investigated whether three species of terrestrial isopod (Porcellio scaber, Porcellio laevis, and Porcellionides pruinosus) ingest plastic debris and generate MPs during exposures varying from 24 h to 14 days and whether this may have an adverse effect on their health. Test vessels were designed to expose isopods to plastic fragments in the form of polyethylene plastic foam. Isopods were exposed to plastic that was either (1) pristine, or (2) weathered in a soil and water solution prior to incorporation in test vessels. When exposed to weathered polyethylene, all three species generated MPs (minimum–maximum size values for all durations inclusive: P. laevis = 114–1673 µm, P. scaber = 99–1635 µm, P. pruinosus = 85–1113 µm) through the consumption of macroplastic fragments with no observed impact on their health. In the shorter-duration exposures, the number of MPs generated by the isopod species in the present study was highly variable between experimental vessels (minimum–maximum generated MPs for 14-day exposure: P. laevis = 25–420, P. scaber = 50–583, P. pruinosus = 48–311). However, as the exposure durations increased, there was a clear trend of increasing MP generation, indicating that the isopods continued to consume the plastic fragments as long as the surface was weathered. A significant difference in the size of generated MPs was observed as well, with smaller isopod species generating smaller MP fragments on average. The results of the present study confirm that certain species of isopod can contribute to the generation of MPs, which constitutes an additional pathway of MP exposure to soil ecosystems. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:784–792. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
The sensory evaluation and antimicrobial efficacy of Lactobacillus acidophilus supernatant on Salmonella enteritidis in milk
Authors: Kamali Abbas , Hosseini Hedayat , Mahmoudi Razzagh , Pakbin Babak , Gheibi Nematollah , Mortazavian Amir Mohammad , Shojaei Saeideh
Published: December 2023

Postbiotics are metabolites derived from living probiotic bacteria like Lactobacillus strains, during the fermentation process and/or produced in pure form on laboratory scales. These compounds, depending on the type of probiotic from which they are prepared, have specific antibacterial agents such as: organic acids, bacteriocins, short‐chain fatty acids, and peptides. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of Lactobacillus acidophilus supernatant (LAS) on the growth pattern of Salmonella enteritidis at fluctuating temperatures and the sensory evaluation of milk that contains this probiotic. Baranyi and Roberts's model determined the best‐fit curve for the microbial growth. According to mathematical equations, the highest and lowest specific growth (μmax) rates of S. enteritidis were obtained at 0.055 h−1 and 0.0059 h−1 and also highest and lowest maximum generation time (MGT) values were obtained at 20.06 h and 8.85 h, respectively. Sensory evaluation by the Triangel test reveals that LAS could not establish a significant (p > .05) adverse effect on milk perceptible. Regarding the results obtained in the present study, LAS, without causing adverse sensory change, could act as a safe food additive for the control of bacterial pathogens and reducing food waste, particularly in milk and milk‐containing food products.
The art of specimen orientation: Two‐dimensional maps for oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Divakar Prashanthi , Kim Stephanie S. , Kerr Darcy A. , Pettus Jason R. , Paydarfar Joseph A.
Published: December 2023

The goal of surgical treatment for oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma (SCCa) is resection to negative margins. Current methods of orienting resection specimens often do not give a comprehensive view, especially in oropharynx SCCa where specimens can lack anatomic landmarks. We created standardized two‐dimensional maps of oropharynx anatomy drawn to scale to improve communication between surgeons and pathologists. Notes regarding surgery including anatomic landmarks, areas of concern, additional margins, and relevant clinical information were added to the map. The maps guided pathology work‐up, and the pathologist could communicate details back to the surgeon on how the specimen was sectioned or locations of microscopic foci to direct future treatment and clinical monitoring. The use of two‐dimensional maps for oropharynx SCCa specimens offers a standardized solution to address the challenges of anatomic orientation. These maps summarized key pathological information, preserved clinical details from the specimens, and guided multidisciplinary conferences when planning adjuvant treatment.
Trajectories of sentiment in 11,816 psychoactive narratives
Authors: Friedman Sam Freesun , Ballentine Galen
Published: December 2023

Objective

Can machine learning (ML) enable data‐driven discovery of how changes in sentiment correlate with different psychoactive experiences? We investigate by training models directly on text testimonials from a diverse 52‐drug pharmacopeia.

Methods

Using large language models (i.e. BERT) and 11,816 publicly‐available testimonials, we predicted 28‐dimensions of sentiment across each narrative, and then validated these predictions with adjudication by a clinical psychiatrist. BERT was then fine‐tuned to predict biochemical and demographic information from these narratives. Lastly, canonical correlation analysis linked the drugs' receptor affinities with word usage, revealing 11 statistically‐significant latent receptor‐experience factors, each mapped to a 3D cortical Atlas.

Results

These methods elucidate a neurobiologically‐informed, sequence‐sensitive portrait of drug‐induced subjective experiences. The models' results converged, revealing a pervasive distinction between the universal psychedelic heights of feeling in contrast to the grim, mundane, and personal experiences of addiction and mental illness. Notably, MDMA was linked to “Love”, DMT and 5‐MeO‐DMT to “Mystical Experiences” and “Entities and Beings”, and other tryptamines to “Surprise”, “Curiosity” and “Realization".

Conclusions

ML methods can create unified and robust quantifications of subjective experiences with many different psychoactive substances and timescales. The representations learned are evocative and mutually confirmatory, indicating great potential for ML in characterizing psychoactivity.
The CD40/CD40 ligand dyad and its downstream effector molecule ISG54 in relating acute neuroinflammation with persistent, progressive demyelination
Authors: Hazra Bishal , Das Sarma Jayasri
Published: December 2023

Although Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is primarily thought to be an autoimmune condition, its possible viral etiology must be taken into consideration. When mice are administered neurotropic viruses like mouse hepatitis virus MHV‐A59, a murine coronavirus, or its isogenic recombinant strain RSA59, neuroinflammation along with demyelination are observed, which are some of the significant manifestations of MS. MHV‐A59/RSA59 induced neuroinflammation is one of the best‐studied experimental animal models to understand the viral‐induced demyelination concurrent with axonal loss. In this experimental animal model, one of the major immune checkpoint regulators is the CD40‐CD40L dyad, which helps in mediating both acute‐innate, innate‐adaptive, and chronic‐adaptive immune responses. Hence, they are essential in reducing acute neuroinflammation and chronic progressive adaptive demyelination. While CD40 is expressed on antigen‐presenting cells and endothelial cells, CD40L is expressed primarily on activated T cells and during severe inflammation on NK cells and mast cells. Experimental evidences revealed that genetic deficiency of both these proteins can lead to deleterious effects in an individual. On the other hand, interferon‐stimulated genes (ISGs) possess potent antiviral properties and directly or indirectly alter acute neuroinflammation. In this review, we will discuss the role of an ISG, ISG54, and its tetratricopeptide repeat protein Ifit2; the genetic and experimental studies on the role of CD40 and CD40L in a virus‐induced neuroinflammatory demyelination model.