bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Self‐healing waterborne polyurethane elastomers based on synergistic hydrogen, disulfide and borate bonding for composite conductors
Authors: Chen Ming , Ren Mengqing , Chen Jiaming , Lu Yajun , Shi Qingsong , Wu Lili 
Published: May 2024

AbstractAs a functional material, polyurethane elastomers have found different applications in a variety of fields such as flexible electronics and smart coatings, but due to the damage during use, they are often endowed with self‐healing properties. However, conventional intrinsically self‐healing polyurethanes often don't balance excellent mechanical and self‐healing properties, so it has become crucial to prepare polyurethane elastomers with excellent self‐healing properties and high mechanical properties. In this study, a self‐healing waterborne polyurethane elastomers (IP‐DTDAx‐BAy‐WPU‐n) was synthesized based on 4, 4‐diaminodiphenyl sulfide (DTDA) boronic acid (BA). The disulfide bond has high motility at low temperatures and induces molecular‐level healing at the damaged interface, contributing to good repair under mild conditions. The borate ester bond limits intermolecular chain slippage and improves the mechanical properties as a dynamic cross‐linking point, while its dynamic reversible effect can synergistically improve the self‐healing ability. The results show that the synthesized elastomer films have good mechanical properties (strength 23.21 MPa, elongation at break 1259.08%, toughness 83.28 MJ m−3), good elastic recovery and self‐healing properties (93%). Furthermore, a composite conductors (IP‐DTDAx‐BAy‐WPU/AgNWs) with self‐healing properties was prepared by compositing AgNWs nanowires with polyurethane elastomers, which laid the foundation for its application in flexible electronic devices and wearable sensing devices.
Capillarity Constructed Open Siphon for Sustainable Drainage
Authors: Chen Fenglin , Cheng Ziyang , Gao Can , Li Chuxin , Zhang Chengqi , Yu Cunlong , Dong Zhichao , Jiang Lei 
Published: May 2024

AbstractSiphon is an effective method to transfer liquid from a higher to a lower level, which has many applications in hygienic design, clinical apparatus, and hydraulic engineering. Traditional operation requires energy to overcome gravity and establish flow in a closed system. Achieving sustainable high flux siphon drainage without energy input remains a challenge due to viscous dissipation. Here, an unexpected open siphon behavior on the South American pitcher plant Heliamphora minor consisting of trichomes covered pitcher and a wedge‐shaped sheath is examined. Exploiting the concept of Digital Twin, a new biomimetic research method by transforming the biological sample to a virtual 3D model is proposed and unveiled that maintained connection of wicking on sub‐millimeter long trichomes due to asymmetric pressure distribution and ascending in wedge sheath under unbalanced pressure forms continuous surface flow. Exploring this mechanism, a biomimetic siphon device achieving continuous high flux exposed to ambient air is constructed. Besides, particles floating on the meniscus in the outside wedge move under a curvature gradient as water ascends, which implies a biological nutrient capture method and new dust collection manner in the drainage system. Applying the underlying principle enhances the siphon efficiency of floor drains and has the potential for other liquid transfer device design improvements.
Restricting Conformational Space: A New Blueprint for Electrically Switchable Self‐Assembled Monolayers
Authors: Kirsch Peer , Dlugosch Julian M. , Kamiyama Takuya , Pfeiffer Christian , Seim Henning , Resch Sebastian , Voges Frank , Lieberman Itai , Nalakath Abin Nas , Liu Yangbiao , Zharnikov Michael , Tornow Marc 
Published: May 2024

AbstractTunnel junctions comprising self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) from liquid crystal‐inspired molecules show a pronounced hysteretic current–voltage response, due to electric field‐driven dipole reorientation in the SAM. This renders these junctions attractive device candidates for emerging technologies such as in‐memory and neuromorphic computing. Here, the novel molecular design, device fabrication, and characterization of such resistive switching devices with a largely improved performance, compared to the previously published work are reported. Those former devices suffer from a stochastic switching behavior limiting reliability, as well as from critically small read‐out currents. The present progress is based on replacing Al/AlOx with TiN as a new electrode material and as a key point, on redesigning the active molecular material making up the SAM: a previously present, flexible aliphatic moiety has been replaced by a rigid aromatic linker, thereby introducing a molecular “ratchet”. This restricts the possible molecular conformations to only two major states of opposite polarity. The above measures have resulted in an increase of the current density by five orders of magnitude as well as in an ON/OFF conductance ratio which is more than ten times higher than the individual scattering ranges of the high and low resistance states.
Hydrogen Bonding Competition Mediated Phase Separation with Abnormal Moisture‐Induced Stiffness Boosting
Authors: Xu Jian , Wu Baohu , Hou Lei , Wu Peiyi 
Published: May 2024

AbstractMoisture usually deteriorates polymers’ mechanical performance owing to its plasticizing effect, causing side effects in their practical load‐bearing applications. Herein, a simple binary ionogel consisting of an amphiphilic polymer network and a hydrophobic ionic liquid (IL) is developed with remarkable stiffening effect after moisture absorption, demonstrating a complete contrast to water‐induced softening effect of most polymer materials. Such a moisture‐induced stiffening behavior is induced by phase separation after hydration of this binary ionogel. Specifically, it is revealed that hydrogen (H)‐bonding structures play a dominant role in the humidity‐responsive behavior of the ionogel, where water will preferentially interact with polymer chains through H‐bonding and break the polymer‐IL H‐bonds, thus leading to phase separation structures with modulus boosting. This work may provide a facile and effective molecular engineering route to construct mechanically adaptive polymers with water‐induced dramatic stiffening for diverse applications.
Borocarbonitride Catalyzed Ethylbenzene Oxidative Dehydrogenation: Activity Enhancement via Encapsulation of Mn Clusters inside the Tube
Authors: Zhang Xuefei , Dai Xueya , Xie Zailai , Qi Wei 
Published: May 2024

AbstractBorocarbonitride (BCN) catalysts, boasting multiple redox sites, have shown considerable potential in alkane oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) to olefin molecules. However, their catalytic efficiency still lags behind that of leading commercial catalysts, primarily due to the limited reactivity of oxygen functional groups. In this study, a groundbreaking hybrid catalyst is developed, featuring BCN nanotubes (BCNNTs) encapsulated with manganese (Mn) clusters, crafted through a meticulous supramolecular self‐assembly and postcalcination strategy. This novel catalyst demonstrates a remarkable enhancement in activity, achieving 30% conversion and ≈100% selectivity toward styrene in ethylbenzene ODH reactions. Notably, its performance surpasses both pure BCNNTs and those hosting Mn nanoparticles. Structural and kinetic analyses unveil a robust interaction between BCNNTs and the Mn component, substantially boosting the catalytic activity of BCNNTs. Furthermore, density functional theory (DFT) calculations elucidate that BCNNTs encapsulated with Mn clusters not only stabilize key intermediates (─B─O─O─B─) but also enhance the nucleophilicity of active sites through electron transfer from the Mn cluster to the BCNNTs. This electron transfer mechanism effectively lowers the energy barrier for ─C─H cleavage, resulting in a 13% improvement in catalytic activity compared to pure BCNNTs.
Ionic Pairs‐Engineered Fluorinated Covalent Organic Frameworks Toward Direct Air Capture of CO2
Authors: Qiu Liqi , Lei Ming , Wang Caiqi , Hu Jianzhi , He Lilin , Ivanov Alexander S. , Jiang De‐en , Lin Hongfei , Popovs Ilja , Song Yanpei , Fan Juntian , Li Meijia , Mahurin Shannon M. , Yang Zhenzhen , Dai Sheng 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe covalent organic frameworks (COFs) possessing high crystallinity and capability to capture low‐concentration CO2 (400 ppm) from air are still underdeveloped. The challenge lies in simultaneously incorporating high‐density active sites for CO2 insertion and maintaining the ordered structure. Herein, a structure engineering approach is developed to afford an ionic pair‐functionalized crystalline and stable fluorinated COF (F‐COF) skeleton. The ordered structure of the F‐COF is well maintained after the integration of abundant basic fluorinated alcoholate anions, as revealed by synchrotron X‐ray scattering experiments. The breakthrough test demonstrates its attractive performance in capturing (400 ppm) CO2 from gas mixtures via O─C bond formation, as indicated by the in situ spectroscopy and operando nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy using 13C‐labeled CO2 sources. Both theoretical and experimental thermodynamic studies reveal the reaction enthalpy of ≈−40 kJ mol−1 between CO2 and the COF scaffolds. This implies weaker interaction strength compared with state‐of‐the‐art amine‐derived sorbents, thus allowing complete CO2 release with less energy input. The structure evolution study from synchrotron X‐ray scattering and small‐angle neutron scattering confirms the well‐maintained crystalline patterns after CO2 insertion. The as‐developed proof‐of‐concept approach provides guidance on anchoring binding sites for direct air capture (DAC) of CO2 in crystalline scaffolds.
Dynamic responses of reinforced concrete silo considering pile–soil‐structure–granular solid interaction
Authors: Yang Jinping , Sun Kaixin , Gao Meng , Li Peizhen 
Published: May 2024

SummaryThe columned‐supported reinforced concrete silo models with different filling conditions considering soil‐structure dynamic interaction (SSI) are established based on the finite element program ANSYS to thoroughly investigate the complex interaction mechanism of the soil–pile–silo structure with granular solid. The dynamic characteristics and seismic responses of the SSI system and fixed‐base condition are analyzed and compared when the filling conditions are empty‐filled state, half‐filled state and full‐filled state. The numerical results reveal that the SSI effect reduces the seismic acceleration response of columned‐supported silos effectively. However, in terms of displacement, the SSI effect often amplifies the relative deformation of the supporting column and the cylindrical silos. Furthermore, the SSI effect often increases the relative dynamic lateral pressure of the storage material in the half‐filled silo condition. In the full‐filled silo condition, the relative dynamic lateral pressure at the top and bottom of the storage material is increased by the SSI effect; while it is decreased in the middle part of the granular solid, demonstrating that the SSI effect could change and increase the seismic responses of the silo structure in certain areas. Therefore, the investigation provides a comprehensive insight into the interaction mechanism of the pile–soil–silo structure with different filling conditions.
Glycyrrhizic acid attenuates the malignant biological properties of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease‐related hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Huang Xueqing , You Dengwei , An Tianzhi , Zhao Xuya , Jiang Tianpeng , Huang Zhi 
Published: May 2024

AbstractGlycyrrhizic acid (GA) has effects on anti‐hepatic fibrosis, anti‐tumor and prevention from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression. Yet, the capacity of GA to ameliorate the advance of HCC pertinent to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remains to be clarified. We used the CCK‐8 method to detect the optimal treatment concentration and time for L‐02 cells, palmitic acid (PA)‐induced L‐02 cells and HepG2 cells, and selected 40 μM and 48 h to treat PA‐induced L‐02 cells and 60 μM for 24 h to treat HepG2 cells. Moreover, functional associations of HepG2 cells were elucidated through various assays. The results showed that GA demonstrated enhances lipid deposition and alleviates the inflammatory response in L‐02 cells induced by palmitic acid. Simultaneously, we found that GA inhibits the proliferation, migration, and invasion while promoting apoptosis in HepG2 cells. In pursuit of constructing of HCC model rats, a combination of high‐fat diets and diethylnitrosamine was utilized. The results showed that GA significantly decreased the liver index, body weight, liver weight, and the number of nodules in HCC model rats. Moreover, GA mitigated infiltration and heightened apoptosis in these rats. Mechanistically, GA notably attenuated the KKβ/NF‐κB pathway in both HepG2 cells and the HCC model rats. In conclusion, GA functions as an inhibitor in the progression of NAFLD‐related HCC cells, which might be relevant to the KKβ/NF‐κB pathway. Therefore, GA is a potential drug for NAFLD‐related HCC treatment.
Using single‐cell RNA sequencing and bulk RNA sequencing data to reveal a correlation between smoking and neutrophil activation in esophageal carcinoma patients
Authors: Ba Yunhuan , Gu Xinyu 
Published: May 2024

AbstractBackgroundCigarette smoking is considered as a major risk factor for esophageal carcinoma (ESCA) patients. Neutrophil activation plays a key role in cancer development and progression. However, the relationship between cigarette smoking and neutrophils in ESCA patients remained unclear.MethodsSingle‐cell RNA sequencing (scRNA‐seq) and bulk RNA sequencing data were obtained from public databases. Uniform manifold approximation and projection (UMAP) was used to perform downscaling and clustering based on scRNA‐seq data. The module genes associated with smoking in ESCA patients were filtered by weighted gene co‐expression network analysis (WGCNA). Using the “AUCell” package, the enrichment of different cell subpopulations and gene collections were assessed. “CellChat” and “CellphoneDB” were used to infer the probability and significance of ligand–receptor interactions between different cell subpopulations.ResultsWGCNA was performed to screened module genes associated with smoking in ESCA patients from MEdarkquosie, MEturquoise, and MEgreenyellow. Next, eight cell clusters were identified, and using the AUCell score, we determined that neutrophil clusters were more active in the gene modules associated with smoking in ESCA patients. Two neutrophil subtypes, Neutrophils 1 and Neutrophils 2, exhibited greater enrichment in inflammatory response regulation, intercellular adhesion, and regulation of T cell activation. Furthermore, we found that neutrophils may pass through AMPT‐(ITGA5 + ITGB1) and ICAM1‐AREG in order to promote the development of ESCA, and that the expression levels of the receptor genes insulin‐degrading enzyme and ITGB1 were significantly and positively correlated with cigarette smoking per day.ConclusionCombining smoking‐related gene modules and scRNA‐seq, the current findings revealed the heterogeneity of neutrophils in ESCA and a tumor‐promoting role of neutrophils in the tumor microenvironment of smoking ESCA patients.
Diagnosis and treatment of metastatic uterine lymphoma in a chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera)
Authors: McLaughlin Alicia , Tripp Chelsea , Hostnik Eric , Travis Anna‐Maria , LaDouceur Elise 
Published: May 2024

AbstractA 4‐year‐old, entire, female chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera) presented to an emergency veterinary hospital for laboured breathing, lethargy and hyporexia. Physical exam findings and diagnostic imaging were supportive of uterine disease. An ovariohysterectomy was performed, and histopathology diagnosed incompletely resected uterine lymphoma. A rotating outpatient chemotherapy protocol containing oral prednisolone (0.5 mg/kg), subcutaneous L‐asparaginase (400 iu/kg), oral cyclophosphamide (200 mg/m2) and subcutaneous cytosine arabinoside (50 mg/kg) was initiated. The patient tolerated chemotherapeutics well based on normal behaviour, appetite, exam findings and serial bloodwork values. One hundred two days after initial presentation, the patient was euthanased due to a decline in clinical condition. Postmortem examination and histopathology confirmed metastasis of lymphoma to the brain, mediastinum, mesentery, liver and spleen. No evidence of organ damage due to chemotherapeutics was noted histologically. Postmortem immunohistochemistry confirmed the diagnosis of lymphoma. Further studies are needed to guide chemotherapeutic dosing and treatment of lymphoma in chinchillas.
Male elephant management in AZA institutions: Current status and priorities for the future
Authors: LaDue Chase A. , Davis Maura , Emory Rachel , Snyder Rebecca J. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractAsian elephant (Elephas maximus) and African savanna elephant (Loxodonta africana) populations collectively managed by ex‐situ facilities accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) face sustainability challenges. Among the priorities to strengthen animal wellbeing and population sustainability is male elephant management. We conducted a survey of AZA facilities currently housing male elephants to assess the status, challenges, and priorities in three areas of male elephant management: musth, socialization, and semen collection. Surveys were administered to elephant care teams at AZA‐accredited institutions between November 2022 and February 2023, and we received responses from 34 institutions (91.9% of AZA‐accredited facilities holding adult male elephants), housing 32 adult male Asians and 26 adult male Africans. Most facilities prioritized breeding and male socialization over musth management and semen collection (although most facilities acknowledged that all these efforts are important), citing leadership support and staffing as most important to achieve male management goals. Behaviors most commonly accompanying musth included reduced appetite, difficulty training or shifting, human‐directed aggression, and interest in females. Musth timing was variable between males and facilities. Most males were well‐socialized with females and/or other males, though elephant compatibility and facility design were limiting factors in managing socialization. Although 60.6% of facilities collected semen or were training for semen collection, very few male elephants could reliably provide viable semen samples, challenging assisted reproductive efforts that could bolster population sustainability in both species. Together, our results provide a better understanding of the state of male elephant management, offering specific areas deserving of research and development to enhance wellbeing and sustainability.
New-generation biofilm effective antimicrobial peptides and a real-time anti-biofilm activity assay: CoMIC
Authors: Polat Tuba , Soyhan İrem , Cebeci Sinan , İldeniz Tuğba Arzu Özal , Gök Özgül , Elmas Merve Açıkel , Mozioğlu Erkan , Ünübol Nihan 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Nowadays, it is very important to produce new-generation drugs with antimicrobial properties that will target biofilm-induced infections. The first target for combating these microorganisms, which are the source itself. Antimicrobial peptides, which are more effective than antibiotics due to their ability to kill microorganisms and use a different metabolic pathway, are among the new options today. The aim of this study is to develop new-generation antibiotics that inhibit both biofilm-producing bacteria and the biofilm itself. For this purpose, we designed four different peptides by combining two amino acid forms (D- and L-) with the same sequence having alpha helix structures. It was found that the combined use of these two forms can increase antimicrobial efficacy more than 30-fold. These results are supported by molecular modeling and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), at the same time cytotoxicity (IC50) and hemotoxicity (HC50) values remained within the safe range. Furthermore, antibiofilm activities of these peptides were investigated. Since the existing biofilm inhibition methods in the literature do not technically simulate the exact situation, in this study, we have developed a real-time observable biofilm model and a new detection method based on it, which we call the CoMIC method. Findings have shown that the NET1 peptide with D-leucine amino acid in its structure and the NET3 peptide with D-arginine amino acid in its structure are effective in inhibiting biofilm. As a conclusion, our peptides can be considered as potential next-generation broad-spectrum antibiotic molecule/drug candidates that might be used in biofilm and clinical important bacteria.

Key points
• Antimicrobial peptides were developed to inhibit both biofilms producing bacteria and the biofilm itself.
• CoMIC will fill a very crucial gap in understanding biofilms and conducting the necessary quantitative studies.
• Molecular modelling studies, NET1 peptide molecules tends to move towards and adhere to the membrane within nanoseconds.
Pectin methylesterase activities in reproductive tissues of maize plants with different haplotypes of the Ga1 and Ga2 cross incompatibility systems
Authors: Bapat Amruta R. , Scott M. Paul 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Key message
Total PME activity in reproductive tissues was related to haplotypes at maize cross incompatibility loci, suggesting that these loci function by controlling PME activity.

Abstract
In maize, the pollination outcome depends on the haplotypes of the interacting male gametophyte (germinated pollen) and female sporophyte (silk) at several cross-incompatibility loci. Functional alleles (-S haplotypes) of the cross-incompatibility loci Ga1 and Ga2, both encode two pectin methylesterases (PMEs), one that is expressed in silk and the other in pollen. We examined total PME activity in reproductive tissues containing functional and null haplotypes at the Ga1 or Ga2 loci. In pollinated silks, there was a correlation between total PME activity and the -S haplotype pollen in both Ga1 and Ga2 systems. We did not detect a significant relationship between PME activity and pollination outcome of either system. We re-examined previously reported active site amino acid substitutions in PMEs encoded by cross incompatibility loci. We observed that different active site substitutions are present in the pollen and silk PMEs of cross incompatibility loci and these differences are conserved across Ga1, Ga2 and Tcb-1. This work establishes a relationship between total PME activity and the haplotypes of the Ga1 locus in pollinated silks.