bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Biomimetic In Vitro Model of the Kidney Filtration Barrier Using Tissue‐Derived Glomerular Basement Membrane
Authors: Wang Dan , Sant Snehal , Ferrell Nicholas 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe glomerular filtration barrier (GFB) filters the blood to remove toxins while retaining high molecular weight proteins in the circulation. The glomerular basement membrane (GBM) and podocytes, highly specialized epithelial cells, are critical components of the filtration barrier. The GBM serves as a physical barrier to passage of molecules into the filtrate. Podocytes adhere to the filtrate side of the GBM and further restrict passage of high molecular weight molecules into the filtrate. Here, a 3D cell culture model of the glomerular filtration barrier to evaluate the role of the GBM and podocytes in mediating molecular diffusion is developed. GBM is isolated from mammalian kidneys to recapitulate the composition and mechanics of the in vivo basement membrane. The GFB model exhibits molecular selectivity that is comparable to the in vivo filtration barrier. The GBM alone provides a stringent barrier to passage of albumin and Ficoll. Podocytes further restrict molecular diffusion. Damage to the GBM that is typical of diabetic kidney disease is simulated using hypochlorous acid and results in increased molecular diffusion. This system can serve as a platform to evaluate the effects of GBM damage, podocyte injury, and reciprocal effects of altered podocyte–GBM interactions on kidney microvascular permeability.
Anticoagulant Hydrogel Tubes with Poly(ɛ‐Caprolactone) Sheaths for Small‐Diameter Vascular Grafts
Authors: Zhang Chunliang , Xie Qian , Cha Ruitao , Ding Li , Jia Liujun , Mou Lei , Cheng Shiyu , Wang Nuoxin , Li Zulan , Sun Yang , Cui Chuanjue , Zhang Yu , Zhang Yan , Zhou Fengshan , Jiang Xingyu 
Published: July 2021

AbstractSmall‐diameter vascular grafts (inner diameter < 6 mm) are useful in treating cardiovascular diseases. The off‐the‐shelf small‐diameter vascular grafts for clinical applications remain a great limitation owing to their thrombogenicity or intimal hyperplasia. Herein, bilayer anticoagulant hydrogel tubes with poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) sheaths are prepared by freeze‐thawing and electrospinning, which contain nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC)/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)‐heparin/poly‐L‐lysine nanoparticles tube as an inner layer and PCL sheath as an outer layer. The structure, anticoagulant property, and biocompatibility of the inner layer are studied. The effects of thickness of the outer layer on perfusion performance and mechanical property of hydrogel tubes with PCL sheaths (PCL‐NFC/PVA‐NPs tubes) are investigated. The effect of compliance of PCL‐NFC/PVA‐NPs tubes on their blood flow is studied by numerical simulation. The tissue compatibility and the patency of PCL‐NFC/PVA‐NPs tubes are evaluated by implantation in subcutaneous tissue of rats and carotid artery of rabbits. PCL‐NFC/PVA‐NPs tubes have prominent anticoagulation, sufficient burst pressure and good compliance similar to native arteries. PCL‐NFC/PVA‐NPs tubes facilitate infiltration of host cells and achieve active proliferation of recruited cells, which will be a promising candidate for small‐diameter vascular grafts.
Near‐Infrared Light‐Triggered Polyprodrug/siRNA Loaded Upconversion Nanoparticles for Multi‐Modality Imaging and Synergistic Cancer Therapy
Authors: Kuang Gaizhen , Lu Hongtong , He Shasha , Xiong Hejian , Yu Jie , Zhang Qingfei , Huang Yubin 
Published: July 2021

AbstractStimuli‐responsive nanosystems have been widely applied as effective modalities for drug/gene co‐delivery in cancer treatment. However, precise spatiotemporal manipulations of drug/gene co‐delivery, as well as multi‐modality imaging‐guided cancer therapy, still remain a daunting challenge. Here, multifunctional polyprodrug/siRNA loaded upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) are reported that combine computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance (MR), and upconversion luminescence (UCL) tri‐modality imaging and near‐infrared (NIR) light‐activated drug/gene on‐demand delivery. The photoactivatable platinum(IV) (Pt(IV))‐backbone polymers (PPt) and the siRNA targeting polo‐like kinase 1 (Plk1) are loaded on the surface of polyethyleneimine (PEI)‐coated UCNPs (PUCNP) to obtain the multifunctional polyprodrug/siRNA loaded UCNPs (PUCNP@Pt@siPlk1). The PUCNP@Pt@siPlk1 can be served as a “nanotransducer” to convert NIR light (980 nm) into local ultraviolet (UV) to visible light for the cleavage of photosensitive PPt, resulting in the simultaneous on‐demand release of high toxic platinum(II) (Pt(II)) and siPlk1. Meanwhile, the PUCNP@Pt@siPlk1 has CT, T1‐weighted MR, and UCL tri‐modality imaging abilities. Based on these merits, PUCNP@Pt@siPlk1 displayed excellent synergistic therapeutic efficacy via image‐guided and NIR light‐activated platinum‐based chemotherapy and RNA interfering in vitro and in vivo. Thus, this developed nanosystem with NIR light‐controlled drug/gene delivery and multi‐modality imaging abilities, will display great potential in combining chemotherapy and gene therapy.
Superior All‐Solid‐State Batteries Enabled by a Gas‐Phase‐Synthesized Sulfide Electrolyte with Ultrahigh Moisture Stability and Ionic Conductivity
Authors: Lu Pushun , Liu Lilu , Wang Shuo , Xu Jieru , Peng Jian , Yan Wenlin , Wang Qiuchen , Li Hong , Chen Liquan , Wu Fan 
Published: July 2021

AbstractSulfide solid electrolytes (SEs) are recognized as one of the most promising candidates for all‐solid‐state batteries (ASSBs), due to their superior ionic conductivity and remarkable ductility. However, poor air stability, complex synthesis process, low yield, and high production cost obstruct the large‐scale application of sulfide SEs. Herein, a one‐step gas‐phase synthesis method for sulfide SEs with oxide raw materials in ambient air, completely getting rid of the glovebox and thus making large‐scale production possible, is reported. By adjusting substituted elements and concentrations, the ionic conductivity of Li4‐xSn1‐xMxS4 can reach 2.45 mS cm−1, which represents the highest value among all reported moist‐air‐stable and recoverable lithium‐ion sulfide SEs reported. Furthermore, ASSBs with air/water‐exposed and moderate‐temperature‐treated Li3.875Sn0.875As0.125S4 even maintains superior performances with the highest reversible capacity (188.4 mAh g−1) and the longest cycle life (210 cycles), which also breaks the record. Therefore, it may become one of the most critical breakthroughs during the development of sulfide ASSBs toward its practical application and commercialization.
Metal–Nitrogen–Carbon Catalysts of Specifically Coordinated Configurations toward Typical Electrochemical Redox Reactions
Authors: Wang Yongxia , Cui Xiangzhi , Peng Luwei , Li Lulu , Qiao Jinli , Huang Haitao , Shi Jianlin 
Published: July 2021

AbstractMetal–nitrogen–carbon (M–N–C) material with specifically coordinated configurations is a promising alternative to costly Pt‐based catalysts. In the past few years, great progress is made in the studies of M–N–C materials, including the structure modulation and local coordination environment identification via advanced synthetic strategies and characterization techniques, which boost the electrocatalytic performances and deepen the understanding of the underlying fundamentals. In this review, the most recent advances of M–N–C catalysts with specifically coordinated configurations of M–Nx (x = 1–6) are summarized as comprehensively as possible, with an emphasis on the synthetic strategy, characterization techniques, and applications in typical electrocatalytic reactions of the oxygen reduction reaction, oxygen evolution reaction, hydrogen evolution reaction, CO2 reduction reaction, etc., along with mechanistic exploration by experiments and theoretical calculations. Furthermore, the challenges and potential perspectives for the future development of M–N–C catalysts are discussed.
Nanoscale Noncollinear Spin Textures in Thin Films of a D2d Heusler Compound
Authors: Sharma Ankit K. , Jena Jagannath , Rana Kumari Gaurav , Markou Anastasios , Meyerheim Holger L. , Mohseni Katayoon , Srivastava Abhay K. , Kostanoskiy Ilya , Felser Claudia , Parkin Stuart S. P. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractMagnetic nano‐objects, namely antiskyrmions and Bloch skyrmions, have been found to coexist in single‐crystalline lamellae formed from bulk crystals of inverse tetragonal Heusler compounds with D2d symmetry. Here evidence is shown for magnetic nano‐objects in epitaxial thin films of Mn2RhSn formed by magnetron sputtering. These nano‐objects exhibit a wide range of sizes with stability with respect to magnetic field and temperature that is similar to single‐crystalline lamellae. However, the nano‐objects do not form well‐defined arrays, nor is any evidence found for helical spin textures. This is speculated to likely be a consequence of the poorer homogeneity of chemical ordering in the thin films. However, evidence is found for elliptically distorted nano‐objects along perpendicular crystallographic directions within the epitaxial films, which is consistent with elliptical Bloch skyrmions observed in single‐crystalline lamellae. Thus, these measurements provide strong evidence for the formation of noncollinear spin textures in thin films of Mn2RhSn. Using these films, it is shown that individual nano‐objects can be deleted using a local magnetic field from a magnetic tip and collections of nano‐objects can be similarly written. These observations suggest a path toward the use of these objects in thin films with D2d symmetry as magnetic memory elements.
Ultrasensitive Biomolecule‐Less Nanosensor Based on β‐Cyclodextrin/Quinoline Decorated Graphene Oxide toward Prompt and Differentiable Detection of Corona and Influenza Viruses
Authors: Hashemi Seyyed Alireza , Bahrani Sonia , Mousavi Seyyed Mojtaba , Omidifar Navid , Arjmand Mohammad , Behbahan Nader Ghaleh Golab , Ramakrishna Seeram , Lankarani Kamran Bagheri , Moghadami Mohsen , Firoozsani Mohammad 
Published: July 2021

AbstractRapid mutation of airborne pathogenic viruses, e.g., SARS‐CoV‐2, and their similar symptoms with flu or influenza, raises an urgent demand for the development of biomolecule‐less nanosensors capable of rapid, sensitive, specific, and differentiable detection of viruses in a single potential window to distinguish infected people from healthy ones through a precise and prompt manner that do not require highly purified biological receptors. To address this vital requirement, a label‐free, and biomolecule‐less nanosensor is designed and developed based on the modified graphene oxide (GO) with NHS/EDC activated β‐cyclodextrin/8 hydroxyquinoline (8HQ) complex toward rapid (in 1 min) and differentiable detection of betacoronaviruses (viz., SARS‐CoV‐2) and influenza viruses (viz., H1N1 and H3N2) in a single potential window. The outcome of the process shows that the employed process leads to considerable soar in the electrical conductivity, porosity, active surface area, available active sites for trapping viruses, and sensitivity of the nanosensor that leads to rapid, sensitive, specific, and simultaneous detection of selected pathogenic viruses with a superiorly low detection limit (DL) and high sensitivity. Obtained results highlight the potential of the developed nanoplatform as a capable screening tool for quick detection of infected people.
Boosting the Efficiency of CZTS/Si Tandem Solar Cells Using In2O3 Layer in CZTS Top Cell
Authors: Doumit Nicole , Soro Kahatie , Ozocak Aylin , Batut Nathalie , Schellmanns Ambroise , Saintaime Eddy , Ntsoenzok Esidor 
Published: July 2021

AbstractWhile single‐junction solar cells may be capable of attaining AM1.5 theoretical efficiency of 33.16%, infinite multijunction (MJ, Tandem) solar cells will have a limiting efficiency of 86.8%. Tandem solar cells based on crystalline silicon (c‐Si) bottom cells are therefore attracting great interest. An interesting candidate for the top cell absorber is represented by copper zinc tin sulfide Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS). In this work, the CZTS/Si tandem solar cell is optimized by using indium oxide / Cadmium sulfide (In2O3/CdS) hybrid buffer. This present work reports CZTS/Si solar cell with an open‐circuit voltage VOC of over 0.942 V and a JSC of 34.7 mA cm−² by adding In2O3 layer in the CZTS top cell. The added In2O3 layer has a thickness of 0.022 µm and is n‐doped with a concentration of 1e20 cm−3. Compared with a CZTS/Si in which the hybrid buffer is of CdS, the efficiency is increased from 13.5% to 28.4%. These hybrid In2O3/CdS buffers provide a promising way to reduce the VOC deficit and further boost the efficiency of CZTS/Si solar cells.
Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Nanomachining Mechanism between Monocrystalline and Polycrystalline Silicon Carbide
Authors: Liu Bing , Yang Haijie , Xu Zongwei , Wang Dongai , Ji Hongwei 
Published: July 2021

AbstractAs an advanced ceramics material, silicon carbide (SiC) is extensively applied in numerous industries. In this study, molecular dynamics method is used to comparatively investigate the nanomachining mechanism between monocrystalline SiC (mono‐SiC) and polycrystalline SiC (poly‐SiC) ceramics. Four simulations are performed for the two materials with and without ultrasonic vibration‐assisted machining (UVAM). The diamond tool is set as a non‐rigid body and vibrated along the depth direction with 100 GHz in frequency and 0.5 nm in amplitude. The effects of material and ultrasonic vibration on the nanomachining mechanism of SiC are analyzed in depth, including the surface generation, subsurface damage, and tool wear. It is determined that the machinability of SiC ceramics can be effectively improved by UVAM. The machining‐induced damage extent of poly‐SiC is more serious than that of mono‐SiC. It is also found that UVAM can effectively reduce the machining‐induced damage, decrease the machining resistance, and increase the possibility of ductile removal, but bring about a slightly larger tool wear.
Adaptive Self‐Sealing Suction‐Based Soft Robotic Gripper
Authors: Song Sukho , Drotlef Dirk‐Michael , Son Donghoon , Koivikko Anastasia , Sitti Metin 
Published: July 2021

AbstractWhile suction cups prevail as common gripping tools for a wide range of real‐world parts and surfaces, they often fail to seal the contact interface when engaging with irregular shapes and textured surfaces. In this work, the authors propose a suction‐based soft robotic gripper where suction is created inside a self‐sealing, highly conformable and thin flat elastic membrane contacting a given part surface. Such soft gripper can self‐adapt the size of its effective suction area with respect to the applied load. The elastomeric membrane covering edge of the soft gripper can develop an air‐tight self‐sealing with parts even smaller than the gripper diameter. Such gripper shows 4 times higher adhesion than the one without the membrane on various textured surfaces. The two major advantages, underactuated self‐adaptability and enhanced suction performance, allow the membrane‐based suction mechanism to grip various three‐dimensional (3D) geometries and delicate parts, such as egg, lime, apple, and even hydrogels without noticeable damage, which can have not been gripped with the previous adhesive microstructures‐based and active suction‐based soft grippers. The structural and material simplicity of the proposed soft gripper design can have a broad use in diverse fields, such as digital manufacturing, robotic manipulation, transfer printing, and medical gripping.
Real‐Time Functional Assay of Volumetric Muscle Loss Injured Mouse Masseter Muscles via Nanomembrane Electronics
Authors: Kim Hojoong , Kwon Young‐Tae , Zhu Carol , Wu Fang , Kwon Shinjae , Yeo Woon‐Hong , Choo Hyojung J. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractSkeletal muscle has a remarkable regeneration capacity to recover its structure and function after injury, except for the traumatic loss of critical muscle volume, called volumetric muscle loss (VML). Although many extremity VML models have been conducted, craniofacial VML has not been well‐studied due to unavailable in vivo assay tools. Here, this paper reports a wireless, noninvasive nanomembrane system that integrates skin‐wearable printed sensors and electronics for real‐time, continuous monitoring of VML on craniofacial muscles. The craniofacial VML model, using biopsy punch‐induced masseter muscle injury, shows impaired muscle regeneration. To measure the electrophysiology of small and round masseter muscles of active mice during mastication, a wearable nanomembrane system with stretchable graphene sensors that can be laminated to the skin over target muscles is utilized. The noninvasive system provides highly sensitive electromyogram detection on masseter muscles with or without VML injury. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the wireless sensor can monitor the recovery after transplantation surgery for craniofacial VML. Overall, the presented study shows the enormous potential of the masseter muscle VML injury model and wearable assay tool for the mechanism study and the therapeutic development of craniofacial VML.
Versatile Ice Microneedles for Transdermal Delivery of Diverse Actives
Authors: Zhang Xiaoxuan , Fu Xiao , Chen Guopu , Wang Yuetong , Zhao Yuanjin 
Published: July 2021

AbstractMicroneedles are regarded as an emerging and promising transdermal drug delivery strategy. Great efforts are devoted to getting rid of their material restrictions and imparting them with abilities to carry various drugs. Here, inspired by ice formation in nature and based on characteristics of different frozen materials, the authors present novel ice microneedles made from versatile soft materials using a simple freezing template‐based fabrication stratagem for effective transdermal delivery of diverse actives. Their strategy can convert microneedles with almost all water‐containing components from softness into hardness for guaranteeing satisfactory penetration, thus removing their material component limitations. As all fabrication procedures are mild and actives can maintain activity during these processes, the ice microneedles can carry and deliver various actives from small molecules and macromolecules to even living organisms. They have demonstrated that these ice microneedles can easily penetrate mouse and swine skins using a microneedle injector, with their active‐carried tips left inside after their ice base melts. Thus, by loading heparin, erythropoietin, or biosafe Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) inside the ice microneedles to treat mouse models, the practical values of these microneedles are well displayed, indicating their bright prospects in universal drug delivery systems.
Chemical Vapor Deposition of Highly Conjugated, Transparent Boron Carbon Nitride Thin Films
Authors: Giusto Paolo , Cruz Daniel , Heil Tobias , Tarakina Nadezda , Patrini Maddalena , Antonietti Markus 
Published: July 2021

AbstractTernary materials made up only from the lightweight elements boron, carbon, and nitrogen are very attractive due to their tunable properties that can be obtained by changing the relative elemental composition. However, most of the times, the synthesis requires to use up to three different precursor and very high temperatures for the synthesis. Moreover, the low reciprocal solubility of boron nitride and graphene often leads to BN‐C composite materials due to phase segregation. Herein, an innovative method is presented to prepare BCN thin films by chemical vapor deposition from a single source precursor, melamine diborate. The deposition occurs homogenously at relatively low temperatures generating very high degree of sp2 conjugation. The as‐prepared thin films possess high transparency and refractive index values in the visible range that are of interest for reflective mirrors and lenses. Furthermore, they are wide‐bandgap semiconductor with very positive valence band, making these materials very stable against oxidation of interest as protective coating and charge transport layer for solar cells. The simple chemical vapor deposition method that relies on commonly available and low‐hazard precursor can open the way for application of BCN thin films in optics, optoelectronics, and beyond.
Control of Domain States in Rhombohedral Lead Zirconate Titanate Films via Misfit Strains and Surface Charges
Authors: Vorotiahin Ivan S. , Morozovska Anna N. , Eliseev Eugene A. , Genenko Yuri A. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractUsing the Landau–Ginzburg–Devonshire approach and numerical modeling, an influence of the misfit strain and surface screening charges as well as the role of the flexoelectric effect have been studied in the case of a rhombohedral lead zirconate titanate ferroelectric/ferroelastic thin film with an anisotropic misfit caused by a substrate. The magnitude and sign of the misfit strain influence the domain structure, providing misfit‐dependent phases with different favorable polarization components. Whilst strong enough compressive misfit strains favor a phase with orthorhombic‐like polarization directions, strong tensile misfits only yield in‐plane polarization components. The strength of surface screening conditions the existence of closure domain structures and, by increasing, supports the single‐domain state. The flexoelectric effect exhibits a weak influence on the phase diagram of multi‐domain states when compared with the phase diagram of single‐domain states. Its effect, however, becomes significant in the case of skyrmion topological states spontaneously formed near the film surface when compressive misfit strains are applied. Cooperative influence of the misfit strain, surface screening charges, and temperature can set a thin rhombohedral ferroelectric film into a number of different polar and structural states, whereby the role of the flexoelectric effect is pronounced for topologically nontrivial structures.
Mixed‐methods exploration of students' motivation in using augmented reality in neuroanatomy education with prosected specimens
Authors: Bölek Kerem A. , De Jong Guido , Van der Zee Catharina E. E. M. , van Cappellen van Walsum Anne‐Marie , Henssen Dylan J. H. A. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe use of augmented reality (AR) in teaching and studying neuroanatomy has been well researched. Previous research showed that AR‐based learning of neuroanatomy has both alleviated cognitive load and was attractive to young learners. However, how the attractiveness of AR effects student motivation has not been discovered. Therefore, the motivational effects of AR were investigated in this research by the use of quantitative and qualitative methods. Motivation elicited by the GreyMapp‐AR, an AR application, was investigated in medical and biomedical sciences students (n = 222; mean age: 19.7 ± 1.4 years) using the instructional measure of motivation survey (IMMS). Additional components (i.e., attention, relevance, confidence, and satisfaction) were also evaluated with motivation as measured by IMMS. Additionally, 19 students underwent audio‐recorded individual interviews which were transcribed for qualitative analysis. Males regarded the relevance of AR significantly higher than females (P < 0.024). Appreciation of the GreyMapp‐AR program was found to be significantly higher in students studying biomedical sciences as compared to students studying medicine (P < 0.011). Other components and scores did not show significant differences between student groups. Students expressed that AR was beneficial in increasing their motivation to study subcortical structures, and that AR could be helpful and motivating for preparing an anatomy examination. This study suggests that students are motivated to study neuroanatomy by the use of AR, although the components that make up their individual motivation can differ significantly between groups of students.