bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Biomass Solid‐State Electrolyte with Abundant Ion and Water Channels for Flexible Zinc–Air Batteries
Authors: Dou Haozhen , Xu Mi , Zhang Zhen , Luo Dan , Yu Aiping , Chen Zhongwei 
Published: April 2024

AbstractFlexible zinc–air batteries are the leading candidates as the next‐generation power source for flexible/wearable electronics. However, constructing safe and high‐performance solid‐state electrolytes (SSEs) with intrinsic hydroxide ion (OH−) conduction remains a fundamental challenge. Herein, by adopting the natural and robust cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) as building blocks, the biomass SSEs with penetrating ion and water channels are constructed by knitting the OH−‐conductive CNFs and water‐retentive CNFs together via an energy‐efficient tape casting. Benefiting from the abundant ion and water channels with interconnected hydrated OH− wires for fast OH− conduction under a nanoconfined environment, the biomass SSEs reveal the high water‐uptake, impressive OH− conductivity of 175 mS cm−1 and mechanical robustness simultaneously, which overcomes the commonly existed dilemma between ion conductivity and mechanical property. Remarkably, the flexible zinc–air batteries assemble with biomass SSEs deliver an exceptional cycle lifespan of 310 h and power density of 126 mW cm−2. The design methodology for water and ion channels opens a new avenue to design high‐performance SSEs for batteries.
SRSF1 Is Required for Mitochondrial Homeostasis and Thermogenic Function in Brown Adipocytes Through its Control of Ndufs3 Splicing
Authors: Yuan Ningyang , Shen Lei , Peng Qian , Sha Rula , Wang Zhenzhen , Xie Zhiqi , You Xue , Feng Ying 
Published: April 2024

AbstractRNA splicing dysregulation and the involvement of specific splicing factors are emerging as common factors in both obesity and metabolic disorders. The study provides compelling evidence that the absence of the splicing factor SRSF1 in mature adipocytes results in whitening of brown adipocyte tissue (BAT) and impaired thermogenesis, along with the inhibition of white adipose tissue browning in mice. Combining single‐nucleus RNA sequencing with transmission electron microscopy, it is observed that the transformation of BAT cell types is associated with dysfunctional mitochondria, and SRSF1 deficiency leads to degenerated and fragmented mitochondria within BAT. The results demonstrate that SRSF1 effectively binds to constitutive exon 6 of Ndufs3 pre‐mRNA and promotes its inclusion. Conversely, the deficiency of SRSF1 results in impaired splicing of Ndufs3, leading to reduced levels of functional proteins that are essential for mitochondrial complex I assembly and activity. Consequently, this deficiency disrupts mitochondrial integrity, ultimately compromising the thermogenic capacity of BAT. These findings illuminate a novel role for SRSF1 in influencing mitochondrial function and BAT thermogenesis through its regulation of Ndufs3 splicing within BAT.
Rationally Engineering pH Adaptation of Acid‐Induced Arginine Decarboxylase from Escherichia coli to Alkaline Environments to Efficiently Biosynthesize Putrescine
Authors: Wang Li , Ding Bo , Hu Xiangyang , Li Guohui , Deng Yu 
Published: April 2024

AbstractAcid‐induced arginine decarboxylase AdiA is a typical homo‐oligomeric protein biosynthesizing alkaline nylon monomer putrescine. However, upon loss of the AdiA decamer oligomeric state at neutral and alkaline conditions the activity also diminishes, obstructing the whole‐cell biosynthesis of alkaline putrescine. Here, a structure cohesion strategy is proposed to change the pH adaptation of AdiA to alkaline environments based on the rational engineering of meridional and latitudinal oligomerization interfaces. After integrating substitutions of E467K at the latitudinal interface and H736E at the meridional channel interface, the structural stability of AdiA decamer and its substrate transport efficiency at neutral and alkaline conditions are improved. Finally, E467K_H736E is well adapted to neutral and alkaline environments (pH 7.0–9.0), and its enzymatic activity is 35‐fold higher than that of wild AdiA at pH 8.0. Using E467K_H736E in the putrescine synthesis pathway, the titer of putrescine is up to 128.9 g·L−1 with a conversion of 0.94 mol·mol−1 in whole‐cell catalysis. Additionally, the neutral pH adaptation of lysine decarboxylase, with a decamer structure similar to AdiA, is also improved using this cohesion strategy, providing an option for pH‐adaptation engineering of other oligomeric decarboxylases.
Thrombospondin‐1 Regulates Trophoblast Necroptosis via NEDD4‐Mediated Ubiquitination of TAK1 in Preeclampsia
Authors: Hu Haoyue , Ma Jing , Peng You , Feng Rixuan , Luo Chenling , Zhang Minyi , Tao Zixin , Chen Lu , Zhang Tao , Chen Wenqian , Yin Qian , Zhai Jinguo , Chen Jun , Yin Ailan , Wang Chi Chiu , Zhong Mei 
Published: April 2024

AbstractPreeclampsia (PE) is considered as a disease of placental origin. However, the specific mechanism of placental abnormalities remains elusive. This study identified thrombospondin‐1 (THBS1) is downregulated in preeclamptic placentae and negatively correlated with blood pressure. Functional studies show that THBS1 knockdown inhibits proliferation, migration, and invasion and increases the cycle arrest and apoptosis rate of HTR8/SVneo cells. Importantly, THBS1 silencing induces necroptosis in HTR8/SVneo cells, accompanied by the release of damage‐associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). Necroptosis inhibitors necrostatin‐1 and GSK′872 restore the trophoblast survival while pan‐caspase inhibitor Z‐VAD‐FMK has no effect. Mechanistically, the results show that THBS1 interacts with transforming growth factor B‐activated kinase 1 (TAK1), which is a central modulator of necroptosis quiescence and affects its stability. Moreover, THBS1 silencing up‐regulates the expression of neuronal precursor cell‐expressed developmentally down‐regulated 4 (NEDD4), which acts as an E3 ligase of TAK1 and catalyzes K48‐linked ubiquitination of TAK1 in HTR8/SVneo cells. Besides, THBS1 attenuates PE phenotypes and improves the placental necroptosis in vivo. Taken together, the down‐regulation of THBS1 destabilizes TAK1 by activating NEDD4‐mediated, K48‐linked TAK1 ubiquitination and promotes necroptosis and DAMPs release in trophoblast cells, thus participating in the pathogenesis of PE.
A Dual‐Cation Exchange Membrane Electrolyzer for Continuous H2 Production from Seawater
Authors: Ren Yongwen , Fan Faying , Zhang Yaojian , Chen Lin , Wang Zhe , Li Jiedong , Zhao Jingwen , Tang Bo , Cui Guanglei 
Published: April 2024

AbstractDirect seawater splitting (DSS) offers an aspirational route toward green hydrogen (H2) production but remains challenging when operating in a practically continuous manner, mainly due to the difficulty in establishing the water supply–consumption balance under the interference from impurity ions. A DSS system is reported for continuous ampere‐level H2 production by coupling a dual‐cation exchange membrane (CEM) three‐compartment architecture with a circulatory electrolyte design. Monovalent‐selective CEMs decouple the transmembrane water migration from interferences of Mg2+, Ca2+, and Cl− ions while maintaining ionic neutrality during electrolysis; the self‐loop concentrated alkaline electrolyte ensures the constant gradient of water chemical potential, allowing a specific water supply–consumption balance relationship in a seawater–electrolyte–H2 sequence to be built among an expanded current range. Even paired with commercialized Ni foams, this electrolyzer (model size: 2 × 2 cm2) continuously produces H2 from flowing seawater with a rate of 7.5 mL min−1 at an industrially relevant current of 1.0 A over 100 h. More importantly, the energy consumption can be further reduced by coupling more efficient NiMo/NiFe foams (≈6.2 kWh Nm−3 H2 at 1.0 A), demonstrating the potential to further optimize the continuous DSS electrolyzer for practical applications.
Boosting 2000‐Fold Hypergolic Ignition Rate of Carborane by Substitutes Migration in Metal Clusters
Authors: Huang Jia‐Hong , Ji Ao‐Qi , Wang Zhao‐Yang , Wang Qian‐You , Zang Shuang‐Quan 
Published: April 2024

AbstractHypergolic propellants rely on fuel and oxidizer that spontaneously ignite upon contact, which fulfill a wide variety of mission roles in launch vehicles and spacecraft. Energy‐rich carboranes are promising hypergolic fuels, but triggering their energy release is quite difficult because of their ultrastable aromatic cage structure. To steer the development of carborane‐based high‐performance hypergolic material, carboranylthiolated compounds integrated with atomically precise copper clusters are presented, yielding two distinct isomers, Cu14B‐S and Cu14C‐S, both possessing similar ligands and core structures. With the migration of thiolate groups from carbon atoms to boron atoms, the ignition delay (ID) time shortened from 6870 to 3 ms when contacted with environmentally benign oxidizer high‐test peroxide (HTP, with a H2O2 concentration of 90%). The extraordinarily short ignition ID time of Cu14B‐S is ranking among the best of HTP‐active hypergolic materials. The experimental and theoretical findings reveal that benefitting from the migration of thiolate groups, Cu14B‐S, characterized by an electron‐rich metal kernel, displays enhanced reducibility and superior charge transfer efficiency. This results in exceptional activation rates with HTP, consequently inducing carborane combustion and the simultaneous release of energy. This fundamental investigation shed light on the development of advanced green hypergolic propulsion systems.
Self‐Healing Ionogel‐Enabled Self‐Healing and Wide‐Temperature Flexible Zinc‐Air Batteries with Ultra‐Long Cycling Lives
Authors: Li Hongli , Xu Fuchang , Li Yang , Sun Junqi 
Published: April 2024

AbstractHydrogel‐based zinc‐air batteries (ZABs) are promising flexible rechargeable batteries. However, the practical application of hydrogel‐based ZABs is limited by their short service life, narrow operating temperature range, and repair difficulty. Herein, a self‐healing ionogel is synthesized by the photopolymerization of acrylamide and poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether acrylate in 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium dicyanamide with zinc acetate dihydrate and first used as an electrolyte to fabricate self‐healing ZABs. The obtained self‐healing ionogel has a wide operating temperature range, good environmental and electrochemical stability, high ionic conductivity, satisfactory mechanical strength, repeatable and efficient self‐healing properties enabled by the reversibility of hydrogen bonding, and the ability to inhibit the production of dendrites and by‐products. Notably, the self‐healing ionogel has the highest ionic conductivity and toughness compared to other reported self‐healing ionogels. The prepared self‐healing ionogel is used to assemble self‐healing flexible ZABs with a wide operating temperature range. These ZABs have ultra‐long cycling lives and excellent stability under harsh conditions. After being damaged, the ZABs can repeatedly self‐heal to recover their battery performance, providing a long‐lasting and reliable power supply for wearable devices. This work opens new opportunities for the development of electrolytes for ZABs.
Large‐scale computational screening of highly effective zeolites for trace PH3 capture from hydrogen
Authors: Yan Kexin , Tong Gui , Gao Weiqun , Li Bihong , Sun Weizhen , Zhao Ling 
Published: April 2024

AbstractDeveloping highly efficient adsorbents to remove trace PH3 from circulating H2 is essential for electronic‐grade silica production. Here, the pure PH3 adsorption and PH3/H2 separation performances of 103 all‐silica zeolites under various operating conditions were simulated using grand canonical Monte Carlo simulation. Based on our well‐validated force field, the optimal ranges of zeolites and the most decisive factors for pure PH3 adsorption and separation were identified by the combination of quantitative structure–activity relationship, Pearson coefficient, and adsorption density profile. Finally, the top 17 zeolites were identified through TSA, PSA, and VSA processes, which typically feature 10‐membered rings as limiting pores. Structures with 1D channels show the best performance. Some 2D and 3D zeolites (i.e., IMF, ITH, ITR, MEL, TUN), which are characterized by interconnected straight channels with cavities at channel intersections, also exhibit high selective adsorption capacities for PH3. This work provides direction for the design of novel zeolites.
Supertwisted Chiral Gyroid Mesophase in Chiral Rod‐Like Compounds
Authors: Wang Yan , Yang Shu‐Gui , Li Ya‐Xin , Cao Yu , Liu Feng , Zeng Xiang‐Bing , Cseh Liliana , Ungar Goran 
Published: April 2024

AbstractAmong the intriguing bicontinuous self‐assembled structures, the gyroid cubic is the most ubiquitous. It is found in block and star polymers, surfactants with or without solvent, in thermotropic liquid crystals with end‐ or side‐chains, and in biosystems providing structural color and modelling cell mitosis. It contains two interpenetrating networks of opposite chirality and is thus achiral if, as usual, the content of the two nets is the same. However, we now find that this is not the case for strongly chiral compounds. While achiral molecules follow the opposite twists of nets 1 and 2, molecules with a chiral center in their rod‐like core fail to follow the 70° twist between junctions in net 2 and instead wind against it by −110° to still match the junction orientation. The metastable chiral gyroid is a high‐entropy high‐heat‐capacity mesophase. The homochirality of its nets makes the CD signal of the thienofluorenone compounds close to that in the stable I23 phase with 3 isochiral nets.
Molecular Ratchets and Kinetic Asymmetry: Giving Chemistry Direction
Authors: Borsley Stefan , Leigh David A. , Roberts Benjamin M. W. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractOver the last two decades ratchet mechanisms have transformed the understanding and design of stochastic molecular systems—biological, chemical and physical—in a move away from the mechanical macroscopic analogies that dominated thinking regarding molecular dynamics in the 1990s and early 2000s (e.g. pistons, springs, etc), to the more scale‐relevant concepts that underpin out‐of‐equilibrium research in the molecular sciences today. Ratcheting has established molecular nanotechnology as a research frontier for energy transduction and metabolism, and has enabled the reverse engineering of biomolecular machinery, delivering insights into how molecules ‘walk’ and track‐based synthesisers operate, how the acceleration of chemical reactions enables energy to be transduced by catalysts (both motor proteins and synthetic catalysts), and how dynamic systems can be driven away from equilibrium through catalysis. The recognition of molecular ratchet mechanisms in biology, and their invention in synthetic systems, is proving significant in areas as diverse as supramolecular chemistry, systems chemistry, dynamic covalent chemistry, DNA nanotechnology, polymer and materials science, molecular biology, heterogeneous catalysis, endergonic synthesis, the origin of life, and many other branches of chemical science. Put simply, ratchet mechanisms give chemistry direction. Kinetic asymmetry, the key feature of ratcheting, is the dynamic counterpart of structural asymmetry (i.e. chirality). Given the ubiquity of ratchet mechanisms in endergonic chemical processes in biology, and their significance for behaviour and function from systems to synthesis, it is surely just as fundamentally important. This Review charts the recognition, invention and development of molecular ratchets, focussing particularly on the role for which they were originally envisaged in chemistry, as design elements for molecular machinery. Different kinetically asymmetric systems are compared, and the consequences of their dynamic behaviour discussed. These archetypal examples demonstrate how chemical systems can be driven inexorably away from equilibrium, rather than relax towards it.
Vertically Concentrated Quantum Wells Enabling Highly Efficient Deep‐Blue Perovskite Light‐Emitting Diodes
Authors: Xia Yu , Song Bin , Zhang Zhipeng , Wang Kai‐Li , Li Yu‐Han , Li Nan , Chen Chun‐Hao , Chen Jing , Xing Guichuan , Wang Zhao‐Kui 
Published: April 2024

AbstractDeep‐blue perovskite light‐emitting diodes (PeLEDs) based on quasi‐two‐dimensional (quasi‐2D) systems exist heightened sensitivity to the domain distribution. The top‐down crystallization mode will lead to a vertical gradient distribution of quantum well (QW) structure, which is unfavorable for deep‐blue emission. Herein, a thermal gradient annealing treatment is proposed to address the polydispersity issue of vertical QWs in quasi‐2D perovskites. The formation of large‐n domains at the upper interface of the perovskite film can be effectively inhibited by introducing a low‐temperature source in the annealing process. Combined with the utilization of NaBr to inhibit the undesirable n=1 domain, a vertically concentrated QW structure is ultimately attained. As a result, the fabricated device delivers a narrow and stable deep‐blue emission at 458 nm with an impressive external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 5.82 %. Green and sky‐blue PeLEDs with remarkable EQE of 21.83 % and 17.51 % are also successfully achieved, respectively, by using the same strategy. The findings provide a universal strategy across the entire quasi‐2D perovskites, paving the way for future practical application of PeLEDs.
‘It Just Makes Sense to Me’: A qualitative study exploring patient decision‐making and experiences with prostate MRI during active surveillance for prostate cancer
Authors: Sutherland Ryan , Gross Cary P. , Ma Xiaomei , Jeong Farah , Seibert Tyler M. , Cooperberg Matthew R. , Catalona William J. , Ellis Shellie D. , Loeb Stacy , Schulman‐Green Dena , Leapman Michael S. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractIntroductionAlthough prostate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is commonly used in the diagnosis, staging and active surveillance of prostate cancer, little is known about patient perspectives on MRI.MethodsWe performed a qualitative study consisting of in‐depth, semi‐structured interviews of patients with low‐ and intermediate‐risk prostate cancer managed with active surveillance. Interviews focused on experiences with and knowledge of prostate MRI and MRI‐ultrasound fusion biopsy during active surveillance. We purposively sampled patients who received prostate MRI as part of their clinical care, conducted interviews until reaching thematic saturation and performed conventional content analysis to analyse data.ResultsTwenty patients aged 51–79 years (mean = 68 years) participated in the study. At diagnosis, 17 (85%) had a Gleason grade group 1, and three (15%) had a grade group 2 tumour. Overall, participants viewed prostate MRI as a valuable tool that accurately localizes and monitors prostate cancer over time, and they considered prostate MRI central to active surveillance monitoring. We identified five thematic categories related to MRI use: (1) the experiential aspects of undergoing an MRI scan; (2) the experience of visualizing one's own prostate and prostate cancer; (3) adequacy of provider explanations of MRI results; (4) confidence in prostate MRI in decision‐making; and (5) the role of prostate MRI in longitudinal follow‐up, including an interest in using MRI to modify the timing of, or replace, prostate biopsy.ConclusionPatients value prostate MRI as a tool that enhances their confidence in the initial diagnosis and monitoring of prostate cancer. This work can inform future studies to optimize patient experience, education and counselling during active surveillance for prostate cancer.
Feasibility study of virtual reality in audiovisual environment: Assessment of university cafeteria acoustic environment
Authors: Zehua Wen , Xiaoyang Guo 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThis study primarily focuses on investigating whether virtual reality scenarios can authentically replicate real‐life audio‐visual environments. The authenticity of audio‐visual environments plays a crucial role in both the design and VR fields today. Only when the authenticity of audio‐visual interactive experiences is validated as feasible can virtual reality technology demonstrate positive impacts. We assessed the annoyance levels subjectively under different audio‐visual conditions: a real cafeteria environment and a simulated cafeteria environment. Participants were tasked with the same activities in both environments. After each experiment, they indicated their levels of annoyance by completing a questionnaire. The results indicated a significant positive correlation between the overall subjective annoyance levels in both experiments and the subjective annoyance levels associated with different behaviors. This suggests that under identical audio conditions, virtual reality scenarios more effectively replicate the real noise environment. Furthermore, we have uncovered that certain objective factors influence the expression of authenticity. Optimizing these factors may potentially further enhance the feasibility of virtual reality technology in audio‐visual environments.
Diversified realistic face image generationGANfor human subjects in multimedia content creation
Authors: Kumar Lalit , Singh Dushyant Kumar 
Published: April 2024

AbstractFace image generation plays an important role in generating innovative and unique multimedia content using the GAN model. With these qualities of the GAN model, they have numerous challenges in the human face image generation. The problems encountered in the generation of facial images are like blurriness in images, incomplete details in the generated facial images, high computational power requirements, and so forth. In this manuscript, we proposed a GAN model that utilizes the composite strength of VGG‐16 and ResNet‐50's models to overcome those difficulties. It uses VGG‐16 to build a discriminator model to discriminate between real and fake images. The generator model utilizes a combination of components from the ResNet‐50 and VGG‐16 models to enhance the image generation process at each iteration, resulting in the creation of realistic face images. The proposed DRFI GAN (Diversified and Realistic Face Image Generation GAN) model's generator achieves an impressive low FID score of 20.50, which is less than existing state‐of‐the‐art approaches. Furthermore, our findings indicate that the images generated by the DRFI GAN model exhibit 10%–15% greater efficiency and realism with reduced training time compared to existing state‐of‐the‐art methods with lower FID scores.