bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The in vitro and in vivo skin‐whitening activity of Ectoine through enhanced autophagy in melanocytes and keratinocytes and zebrafish model
Authors: Jane Wei‐Chen , Chen Siang‐Jyun , Hseu Jhih‐Hsuan , Chen Xuan‐Zao , Pandey Sudhir , Chang Hsueh‐Wei , Yang Hsin‐Ling , Hseu You‐Cheng , Yu Yung‐Luen
Published: February 2025

Ectoine, a natural bacterial osmolyte, suppressed UVA irradiated‐α‐melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH) stimulated melanogenesis through antioxidant Nrf2 pathways in human keratinocytes; however, the underlying skin whitening mechanisms were not elucidated. The depigmenting efficiency of Ectoine (0–400 μM) through antimelanogenesis and melanin degradation by autophagy promotion was investigated in melanoma (B16F10) and melanin‐feeding keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells and in vivo zebrafish model. MTT assay, Western blotting, GFP‐LC3 puncta, AVO formation, melanin assay, immunofluorescence staining, TEM techniques, siLC3 transfection, and zebrafish model were utilized. Ectoine‐induced autophagy in B16F10 and HaCaT cells was shown by enhanced LC3‐II accumulation, autophagosome GFP‐LC3 puncta, autolysosome AVOs formation, ATG4B downregulation, and Beclin‐1/Bcl‐2 dysregulation. The immunoprecipitation data revealed that Ectoine increased the association between LC3‐II and p62 proteins in B16F10 and HaCaT cells. Importantly, antioxidant NAC pretreatment antagonized the Ectoine‐induced ATG4B diminution in B16F10 and HaCaT cells. Ectoine inhibited melanogenesis by suppressing melanosome gp100, tyrosinase, TRP‐1/‐2, and/or melanin formation via autophagy in α‐MSH‐stimulated B16F10 and melanin‐feeding HaCaT cells. TEM findings displayed that Ectoine increased melanosome‐engulfing autophagosomes and autolysosomes in α‐MSH‐stimulated B16F10 and melanin‐feeding HaCaT cells. Ectoine‐inhibited melanogenesis in α‐MSH‐stimulated B16F10 cells and melanin‐feeding HaCaT cells was reversed by pretreatment with the autophagy inhibitor 3‐MA or LC3 silencing. In vivo study demonstrated that Ectoine (5 mM) suppressed endogenous body pigmentation by antimelanogenesis and melanin degradation through autophagy induction in a zebrafish model. The in vitro and in vivo study demonstrated that Ectoine inhibits melanogenesis and enhances melanin degradation by triggering autophagy. Ectoine could be utilized as a whitening ingredient in cosmetic formulations.
Perovskite Oxides for Electrocatalytic Hydrogen/Oxygen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Lu Lu , Sun Mingzi , Wu Tong , Lu Qiuyang , Chen Baian , Hei Chan Cheuk , Ho Wong Hon , Li Zikang , Huang Bolong
Published: February 2025

Since the excessive exploitation of fossil fuels will cause wars for oil, developing sustainable and eco‐friendly energy resources to solve the energy crisis and realize the carbon‐neutrality goal has been a hot issue. Water electrolysis has been acknowledged as a promising technology for hydrogen (H2)/oxygen (O2) evolution reaction (HER/OER) since the overall water splitting reaction rates can be well controlled by applying appropriate electrode voltage. Whereas the sluggish electrochemical reactions kinetics on both the cathode and anode have greatly restricted the energy conversion efficiency. Thus, developing highly active electrocatalysts to reduce the overpotentials required for electrolytic HER/OER is of great significance in increasing the utilization rates of electrical power and lowering production costs. ABO3‐structured perovskite‐oxides based electrocatalysts possess the merits of low cost, high structural stability, and lattice compatibility, and thus they have attracted intense research attention in recent decays. To inspire both theoretical and experimental researchers to design novel perovskite‐oxide electrocatalysts for efficient HER/OER, the fundamental electrode reaction mechanisms, the effects of synthetic methods on material morphologies, recently reported perovskite‐oxide electrocatalysts and effective tuning strategies on enhancing the electrocatalytic activities of existing perovskite‐oxides have been fully discussed in this review.
Development of Chiral‐At‐Ruthenium Mesoionic Carbene Catalysts
Authors: Demirel Nemrud , Moths Paul , Xie Xiulan , Ivlev Sergei I. , Meggers Eric
Published: February 2025

Building on our previously established chiral‐at‐metal approach, in which the overall chirality of the transition metal catalyst is solely determined by a stereogenic metal center, we here present a new addition to the family of C2‐symmetric chiral‐at‐ruthenium catalysts. These are C2‐symmetric chiral ruthenium complexes featuring strongly σ‐donating 1,2,3‐triazol‐5‐ylidene mesoionic carbene (MIC) ligands. The complexes demonstrate excellent catalytic activity and enantioselectivity in a nitrene‐mediated ring‐closing C(sp3)−H amination of an aliphatic azide, leading to the formation of an N‐Boc‐protected chiral pyrrolidine. This study highlights the potential of this new class of chiral mesoionic carbene ruthenium complexes to further enhance or modify the reactivity of ruthenium‐based chiral‐at‐metal catalysts.
Molecular Engineering of Cordycepin Derivatives for Enhanced Biological Activity and Stability
Authors: Gu Yiming , Yu Wei , Li Xiang , Fan Yingjie , Liu Yanan , Tummatorn Jumreang , Jiang Siyu , Yang Jingyue
Published: February 2025

To address the metabolic instability of cordycepin induced by adenosine deaminase (ADA) and to enhance its bioactivity, this study developed eleven novel cordycepin derivatives using molecular engineering techniques. By incorporating sterically hindered protective groups and modifying the glycosyl moiety, the research aimed to improve both stability and efficacy. Antibacterial tests revealed that five derivatives showed significantly greater activity against pathogenic strains compared to cordycepin, with better compatibility with probiotics. Compound 2 c demonstrated moderate antitumor activity against K562 and MGC‐803 cells, with IC50 values of 42.21 μM and 27.79 μM, respectively. Additionally, compound 4 b demonstrated notable DPPH free radical scavenging ability. These compounds also showed improved stability in ADA solutions, providing valuable insights into the structure‐activity relationships of cordycepin derivatives.
Insight into the Coupling of HgS and CuO with Metal‐Organic Frameworks Support in Electrocatalytic Oxygen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Hupele Mitali , Raj Ritu , Rai Shikha , Sen Tapasi , Kanta Haldar Krishna
Published: February 2025

This study investigates the coupling of mercury sulfide (HgS) and copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles with metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) as a support material for enhancing the electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The integration of HgS and CuO into the MOF framework aims to leverage the unique electronic and structural properties of both the nanoparticles and the MOFs to improve catalytic performance. Metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs), particularly ZIF‐67, are investigated for their potential to catalyze water‐splitting reactions due to their high porosity and large specific surface areas. The strategic incorporation of HgS and CuO into ZIF‐67 significantly enhances its electrocatalytic properties, resulting in remarkable performance metrics: a low overpotential of 246 mV at 10 mA/cm2, a Tafel slope of 123 mV/dec, an expanded electrochemical active surface area (ECSA) of 23.56 cm2, and a reduced charge transfer resistance of 34.86 Ω. This integration enhances porosity and increases active surface area, which is crucial for improved catalytic performance. This investigation introduces an innovative methodology for fabricating highly efficient electrocatalysts, positioning HgS/CuO/ZIF‐67 as a promising candidate for oxygen evolution reactions in alkaline media. The findings highlight the potential of this novel nanocomposite in future clean energy applications, particularly in the realm of water‐splitting technologies.
Continuous‐Flow Synthesis of BiVO4 Nanoparticles: From Laboratory Scale to Practical Systems
Authors: Robles Christian , Montañés Laura , Mesa Camilo A. , Iglesias Diego , Rabelo Helena , Spadaro Maria Chiara , Arbiol Jordi , Redondo Jesús , Schiller Frederik , Barja Sara , Julián‐López Beatriz , Gutiérrez‐Blanco Ana , Sans Víctor , Giménez Sixto
Published: February 2025

Cost‐effective and efficient photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting stands out as one of the most promising strategies to address sustainable energy supply in the form of green H2. Large‐area photoelectrodes featuring precise chemical and morphological control are key components for a practical solar‐to‐hydrogen conversion. Herein, we report the continuous flow synthesis of BiVO4 nanoparticles (NPs) by using a simple microreactor configuration. The solution containing the as‐prepared NPs enables the deposition of BiVO4 photoanodes with areas up to 52 cm2 through a simple and scalable chemical bath deposition method. On the other hand, surface protection by an ultrathin Al2O3 overlayer grown by atomic layer deposition (ALD) increases the performance of the 1 cm2 BiVO4 photoanodes ~30 %, exhibiting a photocurrent density of ~2.0 mA⋅cm−2 at 1.23 V vs. the Reversible Hydrogen Electrode in the presence of a sacrificial hole scavenger. The optimized continuous flow synthesis provides an affordable methodology for the fabrication of cost‐effective, large‐scale photoanodes, which could potentially be applied for different photoelectrochemical reactions.
Robust Detection of Ecstasy‐Like and Adulterants Through ASAP‐MS and DD‐SIMCA
Authors: Soares Rafael D. , John Danielle K. , Thomé Marcos P. , Corrêa Patrícia S. , Souza Klester S. , Ferrão Marco F.
Published: February 2025

Ecstasy is a complex and hazardous substance, and its identification is increasingly challenging. Conventional analytical methods have limitations in terms of sensitivity and selectivity, and more precise techniques are time‐consuming and necessitate sample preparation. ASAP‐MS and DD‐SIMCA are two methods that have the potential to address these issues. This research delves into the efficacy of ASAP‐MS and DD‐SIMCA as a rapid and dependable approach for detecting ecstasy and its adulterants. PCA was conducted as an initial exploration, with the first three principal components (PCs) capturing 69% of the overall data variability. The score plot of PC1 × PC3 revealed the distribution of samples containing MDA and MDMA. The DD‐SIMCA model exhibited high sensitivity in identifying the target samples (MDA) and relatively high specificity in training and test sets. These results underscore the effectiveness of ASAP‐MS, PCA, and DD‐SIMCA for precise identification of ecstasy and its adulterants, indicating their potential in drug identification and analysis. We observed that the chemometric model associated with ASAP‐MS was able to accurately identify, when compared to the results obtained by the standard technique, the constituents of ecstasy tablets, even in the presence of adulterants. Furthermore, the method could detect emerging psychoactive substances that are typically not targeted by traditional analytical approaches. These findings suggest that ASAP‐MS and DD‐SIMCA could be valuable tools in forensic drug analysis laboratories. The method is rapid, reliable, and versatile for identifying a wide range of ecstasy and its adulterants.
Wild Bee Assemblages and Pollination Networks of Managed Emergent Wetlands in Central New York, USA
Authors: Jacobson Molly M. , Schummer Michael L. , Fierke Melissa K. , Chesshire Paige R. , Leopold Donald J.
Published: February 2025

To effectively protect wild bee pollinators and the services they provide, it is critical to gather data on their distributions, life histories, and interactions with plants among a diversity of habitat types. Wetlands are underrepresented in bee surveys, despite having a great diversity of flowering plants and known importance to hundreds of species of wildlife. In this 2‐year survey of a restored wetland complex in Central New York, over 9000 bees were collected, representing ≥ 109 species in 25 genera. We recorded 337 unique plant–pollinator associations, including those previously undocumented for the wetland obligate masked bee, Hylaeus nelumbonis (Robertson). Floral resources and bee genera were most diverse in August, and network analyses indicated September networks were the most connected, nested, and least modular. Floral resources also shifted towards being more native over the course of the season. Results show that emergent wetlands support diverse guilds of pollinators in the latter half of the growing season, and that wetland management can produce diverse conditions conducive to wild bee habitat.
Thiacloprid Exposure Induces Oxidative Stress, Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress, and Apoptosis in the Liver of Mauremys reevesii
Authors: Lin Shuqin , Xiao Yunjuan , Li Siyu , Tang Liyan , Shi Haitao , Hong Meiling , Ding Li
Published: February 2025

Among neonicotinoid insecticides, thiacloprid (THI) is extensively utilized in agricultural practices, which poses a potential toxicity risk to aquatic fauna. Turtles, integral to aquatic ecosystems, have not yet been comprehensively assessed for their vulnerability to THI exposure. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of THI on oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS), and apoptosis in aquatic turtles. We categorized Mauremys reevesii into three groups: a control group and two experimental groups exposed to environmentally relevant (4.5 μg/mL) and high (15 mg/mL) concentrations of THI, respectively. Transcriptome analysis revealed that genes significantly associated with the elimination of superoxide radicals, organelle inner membrane functions, peroxiredoxin activity, and apoptotic pathways were abundantly expressed in the high‐concentration THI group. Notably, exposure to high concentrations of THI led to a marked increase in glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, whereas catalase (CAT) activity declined and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels rose, indicating the presence of oxidative stress. Moreover, THI upregulated the expression of the ER stress marker GRP78. Simultaneously, the mRNA levels of pivotal unfolded protein response genes, including AFT6, AFT4, IRE1α, CHOP, XBP1, and eIF2α, were significantly elevated in response to THI exposure. Furthermore, high concentrations of THI significantly activated the activities of caspase‐3, caspase‐8, and caspase‐9 enzymes in the liver tissue. The expression of anti‐apoptotic gene Bcl‐2 was downregulated, whereas the pro‐apoptotic genes Bax and caspase‐3 were upregulated, leading to an increase in hepatic apoptotic cells following THI exposure. Collectively, our study indicates that THI can induce hepatic damage in turtles through the promotion of oxidative stress, ERS, and apoptosis. These findings gain a deeper understanding of the toxic effects of THI on keystone species in aquatic ecosystems, thereby improving our overall understanding of their environmental impacts.
Real‐Time Sensing Technology of Mixed Gas Concentrations Using Multiple Micromachined Thermal Conductivity Detectors
Authors: Akimoto Yosuke , Wang Ping , Kurui Yoshihiko , Fujiwara Naoya , Hiramatsu Naoki , Ishibashi Fumitaka , Yamazaki Yui , Kitagawa Ryota , Yamazaki Hiroaki , Kojima Akihiro
Published: February 2025

This paper presents a new method for fast simultaneous monitoring of individual gas concentrations in a gas mixture by using small micromachined sensors. The developed method uses output data from multiple micromachined thermal conductivity detectors of different sensitivities. We confirmed that the fabricated sensors can accurately determine the concentrations of each of three gases in a mixture. The prototype sensor module was miniaturized to less than 1/72th the size of conventional gas chromatography (GC) equipment. Demonstration tests were conducted in a CO2 electrolysis cell for CO2 capture and utilization technologies, and each gas concentration was successfully monitored 176 times faster than conventional GC could for a mixture of H2, CO2, and CO gases.
Oxidative Depolymerization of Lignin to Monophenolic Compounds Catalyzed by Spinel CuCo2O4
Authors: Zhou Yijie , Wang Chun , Pan Cheng , Zhang Lei , Fan Guozhi , Wu Zhenzhen
Published: February 2025

Lignin is the only natural polymer compound containing a benzene ring on earth, and its conversion to monophenolic compounds is attracting more attention. Cu‐dopped CuCo2O4 is synthesized and further used to catalyze the oxidative conversion of lignin to monophenolic compounds. It is found that the conversion of lignin is affected by the molar ratio of Cu to Co, the amounts of catalyst and H2O2, reaction temperature and time, and CuCo2O4 exhibits excellent catalytic performance. Under the optimized reaction conditions, the total yield of monophenolic compounds reaches 21.7%. CuCo2O4 also possesses good recyclable performance, and the total yield of monophenolic compounds slightly drops to 17.6% after four cycles. A plausible mechanism for the conversion of lignin to monophenolic compounds is proposed. During the depolymerization of lignin, CO and CC bonds are broken to form monophenols. This work provides an effective catalyst for the conversion of lignin to monophenol and expands the way of high‐value utilization of biomass.
Exploring Healthcare Access Challenges Among South Asian Migrants in Australia: A Mixed‐Method Study
Authors: Nisar Mehwish , Costa Nathalia , Kolbe‐Alexander Tracy , Khan Asaduzzaman
Published: February 2025

Issue Addressed

Healthcare access disparities, particularly among migrant populations, are escalating. This research focuses on exploring aspects related to healthcare access disparities in the rapidly growing South Asian communities in Australia, which bear a disproportionate burden of chronic diseases.

Methods

This study employed an exploratory sequential mixed‐method approach (qualitative followed by quantitative), with five focus group discussions (six to eight participants each) and an online survey (n = 460). NVivo and SPSS were used for qualitative and quantitative analysis, respectively.

Results

The study participants are from South Asia, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Thematic analysis of focus group discussions identified factors influencing healthcare service utilisation among migrants, including a preference for home remedies over doctor consultations, language barriers, limited access to relevant information, high costs of specialist and dental care, dissatisfaction with rushed doctor interactions and system‐related concerns. One in six survey respondents encountered challenges in accessing timely healthcare, with the most frequently reported barriers being prolonged waiting times (72%), out‐of‐pocket expenses (48%), and limited awareness and availability of services (36%). Migrants with multiple chronic diseases faced the highest barriers to accessing timely healthcare (57.8%), with significantly higher odds of encountering these barriers than those with no or one chronic condition (OR = 0.436, 95% CI = 0.222–0.856).

Conclusions

South Asian migrants face challenges to access affordable, timely, patient‐centred healthcare. A robust collaboration between services, healthcare providers and the community is essential for sustainable solutions.

So What?

Reducing waiting times and language barriers, improving awareness of available services and enhancing access to affordable specialist and dental services are imperative to foster equitable healthcare outcomes for Australia's diverse population.
Multi‐omics reveals different signatures of obesity‐prone and obesity‐resistant mice
Authors: Wang Congcong , Lin Jinhua , Duan Meng , He Jialing , Halizere Simayi , Chen Ningxin , Chen Xinyu , Jiao Ye , He Wei , Dyar Kenneth A. , Yang Fei , Zhu Shankuan
Published: February 2025

Obesity‐prone (OP) and obesity‐resistant (OR) individuals demonstrate significant metabolic differences, potentially influenced by variations in the gut microbiome. However, the influence of host–microbiota interactions on obesity susceptibility remains unknown. We performed an integrative multi‐omics approach to explore microbial, metabolic, and genetic differences in high‐fat diet (HFD)‐fed OP and OR mice, with additional analyses of gut microbiota variations in humans. In OP mice, the dynamic gut microbiota was characterized by a stable presence of Longibaculum, while Kineothrix predominated in OR mice. We termed both as keystone bacteria. Beyond these, eight dominant bacterial genera were significantly associated with bile acid metabolites and amino acids. Three of these genera were also identified in OR humans and showed positive correlations with genes that may support intestinal barrier function. We identified 22 specific amino acid profiles as potential biomarkers for obesity susceptibility, along with significantly increased levels of ten non‐12‐OH bile acids in fecal of OR mice. In vivo, mouse experiments demonstrated that ursodeoxycholic and hyodeoxycholic acids could reduce HFD‐induced obesity. Additionally, the colon of OP mice displayed a higher presence of inflammatory cells. These findings suggest that host–microbiota interactions may contribute to phenotypic differences between OP and OR. Our study offers insights into crucial intestinal markers associated with obesity, providing a valuable resource for advancing the understanding of obesity‐prone and obesity‐resistant phenotypes.
Bilayer or Not: Revisiting the Structural Nature of HBV Subviral Particles
Authors: Liu Haitao , Garg Sonal , Hu Jianming , Wang Joseph Che‐Yen
Published: February 2025

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) subviral particles (SVPs) are primarily stabilized by protein–protein interactions, with discrete lipid patches playing a supporting role, rather than forming a conventional lipid bilayer, challenging classical assumptions about viral membrane architecture.
Functional analysis of the transcription factor CcUNE10 in red and blue LED light‐induced coloration of mandarin fruit
Authors: Han Jin , Wang Huali , Meng Kuo , Han Saiying , Ai Yeru , Zeng Kaifang , Deng Lili
Published: February 2025

BACKGROUND

The peel and flesh of early maturing mandarin fruit in the Chongqing region do not reach maturity at the same time.

RESULTS

It was found that red and blue LED light could promote color change in these fruit by inducing the degradation of chlorophyll and the synthesis of carotenoids. Blue LED light was more effective in inducing the synthesis of carotenoids. Analysis of transcriptome data revealed that the transcription factor CcUNE10 (Ciclev10020053mg) may participate in the regulation of mandarin fruit peel coloration under both red and blue LED light. Analysis of the CcUNE10 biological information showed that CcUNE10 is highly homologous to Arabidopsis AtUNE10, and has transcriptionally active elements that are localized in the nucleus and responsive to light, abscisic acid, and growth factors. On the second day following infection, tobacco leaves with heterologous transient overexpression of CcUNE10 showed a significant reduction in chlorophyll b and chlorophyllide b (P < 0.05). Mandarin fruit with transient overexpression of CcUNE10 also showed a significant yellow phenotype on the third day, with a significantly accelerated reduction of chlorophyll and its metabolites (P < 0.05). Significant up‐regulation was observed in the genes CcCHlH, CcChlase2, CcNYC1, and CcPAO, which are related to chlorophyll degradation (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

In summary, red and blue LED light led to color change in mandarin fruit by inducing chlorophyll degradation and carotenoid synthesis. CcUNE10 may play an important role in red and blue LED irradiation‐induced degradation of chlorophyll. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.
Disturbance Observer–Based Adaptive Dynamic Event‐Triggered Control for a Class of Nonlinear Systems With Input Saturation
Authors: Chen Lu , Chen Weimin , Wang Lanning
Published: February 2025

For the adaptive tracking control of a class of nonlinear systems with asymmetric input saturation and external disturbances, a novel dynamic event‐triggered neural network control scheme on the foundation of full‐state constraints is proposed. Firstly, by adding a compensation term into the traditional dynamic surface control framework, the filtering error ignored generally is eliminated. Secondly, a nonlinear disturbance observer is constructed to observe the compound interference united by external disturbances and approximation errors based on the approximation ability of neural network. Thirdly, an auxiliary variable is combined with a smooth function used to deal with the saturated input function to offset the influence of input saturation constraints. In addition, for ensuring that all states of the system are constrained by preset time‐varying ranges, the adaptive control method and dynamic event‐triggered condition are posed with the help of barrier Lyapunov function. Then, the tracking performance and the boundness of all signals in the closed‐loop system can be guaranteed by employing the presented adaptive control approach with dynamic event‐triggered mechanism, as well as the Zeno behavior does not appear. Finally, the validity of the designed control method can be demonstrated in simulation examples.
Deep Learning‐Based Accelerated MR Cholangiopancreatography Without Fully‐Sampled Data
Authors: Kim Jinho , Nickel Marcel Dominik , Knoll Florian
Published: February 2025

The purpose of this study was to accelerate MR cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) acquisitions using deep learning‐based (DL) reconstruction at 3 and 0.55 T. A total of 35 healthy volunteers underwent conventional twofold accelerated MRCP scans at field strengths of 3 and 0.55 T. We trained DL reconstructions using two different training strategies, supervised (SV) and self‐supervised (SSV), with retrospectively sixfold undersampled data obtained at 3 T. We then evaluated the DL reconstructions against standard techniques, parallel imaging (PI) and compressed sensing (CS), focusing on peak signal‐to‐noise ratio (PSNR) and structural similarity (SSIM) as metrics. We also tested DL reconstructions with prospectively accelerated acquisitions and evaluated their robustness when changing fields strengths from 3 to 0.55 T. DL reconstructions demonstrated a reduction in average acquisition time from 599/542 to 255/180 s for MRCP at 3 T/0.55 T. In both retrospective and prospective undersampling, PSNR and SSIM of DL reconstructions were higher than those of PI and CS. At the same time, DL reconstructions preserved the image quality of undersampled data, including sharpness and the visibility of hepatobiliary ducts. In addition, both DL approaches produced high‐quality reconstructions at 0.55 T. In summary, DL reconstructions trained for highly accelerated MRCP enabled a reduction in acquisition time by a factor of 2.4/3.0 at 3 T/0.55 T while maintaining the image quality of conventional acquisitions.
Metarhizium fungi as plant symbionts
Authors: Tang Xingyuan , Wang Xinmiao , Cheng Xianxian , Wang Xinru , Fang Weiguo
Published: February 2025

Metarhizium fungi are pathogens of arthropods, with several early‐diverged species infecting lizards or mushrooms. Most Metarhizium species are also beneficial plant symbionts, and they mainly colonize rhizosphere and rhizoplane with some strains colonizing leaves and stems. The development of Metarhizium and plant association commence either by the attachment of spores to roots or rhizosphere colonization. Rhizosphere hyphae are further attracted to roots by nutrient‐rich root exudates, facilitating rhizoplane colonization. Both undifferentiated and differentiated (characterized by appressorial formation) hyphae can penetrate between root epidermal cells, with sporadical colonization. Plant‐derived reactive oxygen species play a crucial role in limiting root cell colonization by Metarhizium. Metarhizium utilizes plant‐derived sugars and fatty acids for the growth while transferring insect‐derived nitrogen to the plants. Additionally, Metarhizium facilitates plant’s utilization of environmental phosphorus, zinc, and iron via increasing the bioavailability of these nutrients. Metarhizium colonization can improve plant resistance to herbivores, microbial pathogens, and abiotic stresses. Given their versatile benefits to plants, Metarhizium has been developed as insecticides, fertilizers, and plant immunity promoters. In addition to terrestrial ecosystems, recent studies report that Metarhizium also inhabits aquatic and wetland ecosystems, which could further enhance the understanding of their biology and ecology and widen their applications.
Racial and ethnic disparities in clinical trials for pediatric obesity
Authors: Coughlin Catherine G. , Zoltick Emilie S. , Stanford Fatima Cody , Ong Mei‐Sing
Published: February 2025

Objective

The objective of this study was to examine the representation of historically marginalized racial and ethnic groups in pediatric obesity clinical trials.

Methods

We performed a cross‐sectional analysis of clinical trials in pediatric obesity (participants aged ≤18 years) that were registered in ClinicalTrials.gov, were completed from January 2013 to August 2023, and were conducted in the United States. We quantified disparities in trial enrollment by calculating the enrollment‐prevalence disparity (EPD) for each racial and ethnic group.

Results

A total of 260 trials met eligibility criteria, of which 128 trials (49.2%) reported race and/or ethnicity data. Enrollment of White, Hispanic, and Black children roughly reflects disease burden in these populations. However, relative to disease burden, Asian (EPD, −3.7%; IQR, −3.7% to 1.8%; p < 0.0001), American Indian and Alaska Native (EPD, −2.1%; IQR, −2.1% to −2.1%; p < 0.0001), and Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander (EPD, −0.6%; IQR, −0.6% to −0.6%; p < 0.0001) children were significantly underrepresented in these trials.

Conclusions

With the exception of Black and Hispanic children, historically marginalized racial groups were underrepresented in pediatric obesity trials, signifying a need to improve diversity of participants in these trials. Additionally, there are substantial gaps in the documentation of race and ethnicity information. Concerted efforts are needed to ensure adequate reporting of race and ethnicity information in clinical trials.
School‐Based Mental Health Practices Within a Multi‐Tiered System of Support: A Mixed Methods Investigation of Targeted and Intensive Services
Authors: Ormiston Heather E. , Nygaard Malena A. , Husmann Polly
Published: February 2025

Research supports the use of multi‐tiered systems of support (MTSS) for meeting student academic, behavioral, and socioemotional needs. MTSS is viewed as an ideal model to deliver school‐based mental health (SBMH) services to students. However, limited research has examined what this framework for service delivery looks like in practice. Utilizing a national participant sample and a mixed‐methods convergent (quan + QUAL) design, the purpose of this study is to examine participant use of MTSS for SBMH and to examine practitioners' perspectives on the implementation of Tier 2 and 3 services. Respondents in our current sample indicated a level of uncertainty regarding the identification of students for SBMH services and the delivery of Tier 2 and Tier 3 services, particularly as this relates to special education. Additionally, respondents indicated “insufficient” supports for the provision of Tier 3 services. Limitations, implications for practice, and future directions are discussed.
Personality and Sleep Psychopathology: Associations Between the DSM‐5 Maladaptive Trait Domains and Multiple Sleep Problems in an Adult Population
Authors: Zakiei Ali , Khazaie Habibolah , Alimoradi Mohammadreza , El Rafihi‐Ferreira Renatha , Moradi Mohammad‐Taher , Komasi Saeid
Published: February 2025

Given the lack of sufficient studies exploring the nature of sleep problems from the perspective of the alternative model of personality disorders (AMPD) proposed by the DSM‐5, the present study is aimed at determining the associations between five trait domains such as negative affectivity and sleep problems (insomnia, parasomnia, hypersomnia, circadian rhythm sleep disorder, restless legs syndrome, and sleep‐disordered breathing) in an adult population. Adults aged 18–65 from western Iran were invited to the study via virtual platforms (N = 928; 62% female) and responded online to the Brief Form of Personality Inventory for DSM‐5 and the Holland Sleep Disorder Questionnaire to assess sleep problems. The regression analyses indicated that the AMPD trait domains could significantly predict both specific sleep problems (R2 ranges from 0.13 to 0.17; all p ≤ 0.001) and total score of sleep problems (R2 = 0.23; p < 0.001). Psychoticism (β ranges from 0.26 to 0.39; all p < 0.001) and negative affectivity (β ranges from 0.14 to 0.29; all p ≤ 0.002) were the strongest specific domains associated with all sleep problems. The findings highlighted links between maladaptive domains of the AMPD and multiple sleep problems. The unique profiles of each sleep problem are useful in selecting treatments tailored to specific sleep problems in adults.
Synthesis and Metal Ion Adsorption Properties of a Dense Triazole Polymer Carrying Cysteine Residues
Authors: Ejima Ryo , Nakahata Masaki , Kamon Yuri , Hashidzume Akihito
Published: February 2025

Copper(I)‐catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) is promising as a reaction to synthesize functional polymers consisting of 1,2,3‐triazole units. Recently, we reported a series of dense 1,2,3‐triazole polymers of 4‐azido‐5‐hexynoic acid derivatives. Herein, we designed a new water‐soluble dense 1,2,3‐triazole polymer carrying amino acid residues in the side chains, that is, poly(N‐(4‐azido‐5‐hexynoyl)cysteine) (poly(AC)), bearing L‐cysteine as a ligand for metal ions. CuAAC polymerization of a protected monomer followed by deprotection and neutralization yielded the sodium salt of poly(AC) (poly(AC)Na). The adsorption capacity of poly(AC)Na with Cd2+ was investigated with a colorimetric assay. Furthermore, the interactions for poly(AC) with group 12 metal ions (Zn2+, Cd2+, and Hg2+) were investigated using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and transmittance measurements. Utilizing the colorimetric assay data, the Cd2+ adsorption capacity per unit weight of poly(AC)Na was evaluated to be 4–5 mmol g−1, comparable to those of Cd2+ adsorbents reported previously. The ITC data demonstrated that the interactions of poly(AC)Na with Zn2+, Cd2+, and Hg2+ were predominantly exothermic. Based on the ITC data, apparent dissociation constants of interactions were roughly estimated to be in the order of 10−5–10−4 M, which are comparable to those for metal‐binding biomolecules. The transmittance data indicated that the poly(AC)Na/CdCl2 system underwent phase separation.
Barriers to Homeownership Among Young People in Australia: Unpacking Competing Hypotheses
Authors: Ong ViforJ Rachel , Hewton Jack , Phelps Christopher
Published: February 2025

The homeownership prospects of young people are declining globally. There have been widespread public concerns regarding barriers posed by unaffordable housing markets and tighter borrowing constraints, but equally a recognition that parental assistance can overcome these constraints. At the same time, public commentary often suggests that young people exhibit behaviours that are not conducive to saving for home purchase. This paper tests the relative importance of competing hypotheses regarding the barriers to homeownership among young people using the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey. We find strong evidence that affordability constraints in the form of unaffordable housing markets and binding borrowing constraints are key barriers to homeownership. These constraints can be mitigated in the presence of intergenerational support as receipt of parental transfers in excess of AU$5000 quadruples the odds of achieving ownership. Poor saving habits, short‐term financial planning and labour market precarities have negative impacts on homeownership prospects, but they are relatively less important drivers of homeownership attainment than affordability constraints and parental transfers.
Impact of SiO2 Current Blocking Layer on Optical Characteristics of GaN‐Based Microdisk Laser Diodes
Authors: Xu Xiangyu , Liu Zhaoqiang , Zhang Yonghui , Tian Kangkai , Chu Chunshuang , Wei Xuecheng , Zhang Zihui
Published: February 2025

The current blocking layer (CBL) technology plays a crucial role in the electrical injected GaN‐based microdisk laser diodes (LDs) because it effectively reduces the threshold current and mitigates self‐heating effect. Herein, the impact of SiO2 CBL on the optical performance of blue microdisk LDs by finite‐difference time‐domain (FDTD) simulation method is researched on. Simulation results demonstrate that the optical power of microdisk LDs initially increases and then decreases with an increase of CBL size, due to alterations in the lateral and longitudinal optical filed distribution caused by changes in CBL size. However, the CBL with too large size also increases the diffraction loss. Therefore, the proposed design strategy of the CBL for microdisk LDs is that the dimensions shall be tuned to ensure perfect alignment between wave‐guided mode field distribution and the gain active region, while minimizing the radius of SiO2 CBL.
Estimating the Strength of Binding Affinity via Delta–Delta‐G for Hit Screening After a Deming Regression Calibration
Authors: Tatikola Kanaka , Cabrera Javier
Published: February 2025

In compound hit screening, an important chemical property is target binding affinity, represented by a parameter ΔΔG. You can measure ΔΔG experimentally (ΔΔGexp) or by calculations via simulations (ΔΔGcalc). Because it is expensive to measure ΔΔG experimentally, only a few experimental runs are performed. The relationship between the experimental data and the calculated results is a straight line with a slope that is not necessarily one. The goal is to estimate the linear relationship between ΔΔGexp and ΔΔGcalc by fitting a Deming regression model that will be used to predict future values of ΔΔGtrue based on the obtained ΔΔGcalc.
New Methods for Two‐Stage Treatment Switching Estimation
Authors: Jackson Dan , Ran Di , Zhang Fanni , Ouwens Mario , Druker Vitaly , Sweeting Michael , Hettle Robert , White Ian R.
Published: February 2025

Treatment switching is common in randomized trials of oncology treatments. For example, control group patients may receive the experimental treatment as a subsequent therapy. One possible estimand is the effect of trial treatment if this type of switching had instead not occurred. Two‐stage estimation is an established approach for estimating this estimand. We argue that other estimands of interest instead describe the effect of trial treatments if the proportion of patients who switched was different. We give precise definitions of such estimands. By motivating estimands using real‐world data, decision‐making in universal health care systems is facilitated. Focusing on estimation, we show that an alternative choice of secondary baseline, the time of first subsequent treatment, is easily defined, and widely applicable, and makes alternative estimands amenable to two‐stage estimation. We develop methodology using propensity scores, to adjust for confounding at a secondary baseline, and a new quantile matching technique that can be used to implement any parametric form of the post‐secondary baseline survival model. Our methodology was motivated by a recent immuno‐oncology trial where a substantial proportion of control group patients subsequently received a form of immunotherapy.
Sample Size Estimation for Correlated Count Data With Changes in Dispersion
Authors: Hou Jintong , McClure Leslie A. , Jaeger Savina , Robinson Lucy F.
Published: February 2025

Clinical endpoints based on repeated measurements arise in many clinical research studies, and require specialized methods for sample size and power calculations. In clinical trials that measure counts over time, such as bleeding events in hemophilia, the dispersion of their distributions might change upon treatment and the measurements might be correlated. The generalized estimating equations (GEE) approach has been widely used for modeling correlated data and comparing rates. In this paper, we investigate the properties of GEE when applied to count outcomes with changes in dispersion. We derive general closed‐form formulas to estimate sample size when the dispersion parameters and distributions of count data vary across two correlated measurements based on the GEE approach. These formulas allow for power and sample size estimation for intra‐participant comparison of rates before and after an intervention, randomized controlled trials with equal allocation, or matched pairs designs. These formulas are derived for the following distributions: Poisson, negative binomial, zero‐inflated Poisson, and zero‐inflated negative binomial distributions, and do not assume that measurements before and after an intervention come from the same distribution. Furthermore, we propose modified methods for estimating sample size and confidence intervals for the negative binomial distributions to overcome Type I error inflation, which is especially useful for large changes in the negative binomial dispersion parameter. We perform simulations, and evaluate the performance of the empirical power and Type I error over a range of parameters. Applications and R functions implementing the methods are also provided.
Investigation on Diabetes and Mechanism of Thiadiazole–Schiff Base as Therapeutic Hybrid: Enzyme Activity and Molecular Docking Studies
Authors: Iqbal Tayyiaba , Khan Shoaib , Hussain Rafaqat , Hawsawi Mohammed B. , Mehmood Tariq , Tahir Yameena , Alluhaibi Mustafa S. , Alharbi Majed
Published: February 2025

In an approach to combat diabetes mellitus, a widely spread noncommunicable disease (NCDs), a novel series of compounds (1–18) containing substituted thiadiazole bearing Schiff base derivative was synthesized and evaluated against enzymes causing diabetes mellitus. The results confirm that most of the compounds were found active and exhibit excellent biological activity as compared to the standard drug acarbose. Their minimal inhibitory concentrations for both enzymes lie in a range between 18.10 ± 0.30 and 2.10 ± 0.30 µM for α‐amylase and 19.20 ± 0.30 µM and 2.70 ± 0.80 µM for α‐glucosidase in contrast with the reference drug having IC50 of 4.30 ± 0.40 and 5.10 ± 0.70 µM. The most active analogs were found to be 2, 4, 7, 9, and 15, which displayed few‐fold higher potency than the control drug. Structural evaluation was conducted using various spectroscopic techniques such as 1H NMR, 13C NMR and HREIMS for all the synthesized derivatives, and in silico molecular docking studies of all the active analogs confirms the interactions between ligand and binding proteins.
Enhanced Wire‐Shaped Micro‐Supercapacitor Treated with a Continuous Surface Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet Approach
Authors: Kim Minju , Kim Woo Jong , Kim Min Kyeong , Seo Jeongwoo , Song Saegyoung , Kim Dong Il , Sim Byeongchan , Lee Huigu , Lee Minjeong , Ryu Gyeong Hee , Hong John , Hong Jin Pyo
Published: February 2025

Microscale, wire‐shaped flexible supercapacitors are gaining significant attention due to the growing demand for wearable electronics and microrobotic technologies. Among various materials, copper sulfide stands out as an ideal candidate because of its superior electrochemical properties, which can be attributed to its nanostructured composition. This structure enhances the surface area, reduces ion transport distances, and improves charge–discharge kinetics. However, conventional electrode synthesis methods—such as annealing and hydrothermal processes—are limited by long production times and scalability issues, making them unsuitable for wire‐shaped supercapacitor development. In this study, an innovative fabrication technique using an atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) for both surface treatment and material synthesis is proposed. By integrating the APPJ with a winding mechanism, roll‐to‐roll processing for continuous production is enabled, significantly enhancing the scalability of the manufacturing process. The fabricated wire‐shaped microscale electrodes demonstrate high specific capacitance (153.39 mF cm−2), specific energy density (15.48 µWh cm−2), and excellent capacitance retention (91.32%) after 30 000 charge–discharge cycles. Furthermore, a wire‐shaped solid‐state flexible asymmetric supercapacitor is assembled using the fabricated electrodes in a coaxial configuration. The supercapacitor exhibits exceptional flexibility and energy storage performance, underscoring the practical applicability of the proposed method for advanced electronics.
Anticholinergic drugs and dementia risk: Using stem cell–based studies to complement pharmacoepidemiology
Authors: Schwarze‐Taufiq Tiara A. , Pranoto Inez K. A. , Hui Katherine , Kinoshita Chizuru , Yu Onchee , Crane Paul K. , Gray Shelly L. , Young Jessica E.
Published: February 2025

BACKGROUND

Anticholinergic (AC) use remains common in older adults despite evidence of safety risks, including increased risk in dementia. Pharmacoepidemiology studies from various populations report associations between specific anticholinergic classes – antidepressants and bladder antimuscarinics – and increased dementia incidence. However, it is difficult to determine whether these associations are directly caused by the neurotoxic effects of anticholinergic drugs or by the underlying health conditions which the medications are taken for, known as confounding by indication. Here, we leverage human induced pluripotent stem cells‐derived‐neurons (hiPSC‐Ns) to complement the pharmacoepidemiology studies by directly examining the effects of various anticholinergic classes on dementia‐related cellular phenotypes.

METHODS

We treated human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)–derived neurons with eight drugs representing different AC medication classes, including antidepressants, bladder antimuscarinics, antihistamines, and antispasmodics. We analyzed these neurons for cytotoxicity, amyloid beta (Aβ) peptide levels in the conditioned medium, and the level of intracellular phosphorylated tau from these cultures.

RESULTS

We observed that antidepressants and bladder antimuscarinics were consistently cytotoxic, whereas antihistamines and antispasmodics did not show overt cytotoxicity at the times and concentrations that we tested. Some of the cytotoxic medications altered the amounts of Aβ1‐42 peptides, but there were no significant differences in the intracellular ratio of phosphorylated tau/total tau between AC drug treatments.

CONCLUSIONS

These results corroborate population‐based studies and suggest a molecular basis for the differences in dementia risk observed according to AC class. This warrants future work examining the effect of AC medications on hiPSC‐derived cells from multiple subjects and examining other molecular outcomes including synaptic function and neuroinflammation in hiPSC‐based models.

Highlights

Certain classes of anticholinergic (AC) medications are linked to dementia.

Human‐induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) models are used to directly test the cytotoxicity of AC medications.

AC classes that are associated with dementia are more neurotoxic.
Problematizing and Reappraising Critiques of “Ethno‐Nationalism”: Collective Self‐Determination, Liberal Democracy, and Human Rights in Dynamic Synergy
Authors: Schimmel Noam
Published: February 2025

This commentary argues that the typically left‐wing critique of ethnic‐national self‐determination is often inadvertently neo‐imperial and forces a largely Anglo‐American theory and practice of democracy on other states and peoples who have different identities, values, cultures, and conceptions and practices of democracy that are well within the normative boundaries of the framework of international law and international human rights law. In so doing, it discriminates against many peoples and ethnic groups who organize themselves politically in ways that give expression to both liberal democracy and ethnic‐national collective identity—in dynamic relationship, sometimes in tension, but not in fundamentally mutually exclusive and contradictory ways as they are often depicted and inaccurately and unfairly accused.