bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ti(OBu)4/B(OBu)3: Deciphering the mechanism for the formation of high molecular weight poly(butylene succinate)
Authors: Savitha K. S. , Senthil Kumar M. , Jagadish R. L. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractWe report the use of titanium tetraalkoxide in combination with trialkyl borate as an efficient catalyst system For the synthesis of high molecular weight PBS. It is observed that, the addition of trialkyl borates during polycondensation reaction results in the formation of high molecular weight PBS. This might be due to the activation of free terminal carboxylic acids in PBS oligomer by trialkyl borates via the formation of highly reactive acyloxyboron intermediate. A plausible mechanism for the activation of free terminal carboxylic acids by trialkoxy borates has also been proposed.
Double‐network PVA/gelatin/borax hydrogels with self‐healing, strength, stretchable, stable, and transparent properties
Authors: Yu Huanyang , Zhao Li , Wang Liyan 
Published: March 2023

AbstractHydrogels have displayed great potential applications in biological intelligent devices, tissue engineering and electronic wearable fields. As the two most important factors limiting the application of hydrogels, strength and self‐healing ability have always been the focus of research, but the incompatibility between them has not been resolved. It is worth noting that double‐network structure and the introduction of reversible bonds show great promise as a feasible scheme to solve the above problems. Herein, the PVA/G/B double‐network hydrogels were developed by a simple synthesis process and exhibited excellent properties, including strong tensile strength (~787 kPa), high elongation at break (~200%), excellent self‐healing properties (healing efficiency exceeds 93%), good dimensional stability and transparency. This study provides an effective method for designing hydrogels with high strength, stretchability, stability, transparency and excellent self‐healing properties based on the gelatin reinforcing strategy.
Achieving superior fire safety for TPU 3D‐printed workpiece with EP/PBz/PDMS coating
Authors: He Qian , Wu Wei , Hu Huanbo , Rui Zhengguo , Ye Junjian , Wang Yi , Wang Zhengyi 
Published: March 2023

AbstractTo reduce the possibility of the TPU 3D‐printed workpiece causing a fire, a flame‐retardant coating containing phosphorus, nitrogen, silicon, and benzene rings was fabricated on the TPU workpiece surface. When the MSDS content in the coating is 30 phr, the coated TPU composites LOL reached 29.5%, achieved V‐0 rating at the UL‐94 test and its peak heat release rate was reduced by 71.3% in the cone calorimeter test. When the MSDS content was increased to 20 phr, a continuous char layer was observed. Moreover, the EP/PBz/PDMS coating improved the thermal stability and tensile strength of TPU 3D‐printed workpiece. When the coating burns, it forms a dense charcoal layer, which isolates oxygen. The substrate wrapped by the charcoal layer undergoes a carbonization reaction when heated, preventing the substrate from burning further, resulting in improved flame retardancy, smoke suppression and dripping resistance of TPU.
Catalytic role in Biginelli reaction: Synthesis and biological property studies of 2‐oxo/thioxo‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydropyrimidines
Authors: Kamat Vinuta , Reddy Dinesh S. , Kumar Amit 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThe Biginelli reaction has received significant consideration in recent years due to its easily accessible aldehyde, urea/thiourea, and active methylene compounds. When it comes to pharmacological applications, the Biginelli reaction end‐products, the 2‐oxo‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydropyrimidines, are vital in pharmacological applications. Due to the ease of carrying out the Biginelli reaction, it offers a number of exciting prospects in various fields. Catalysts, however, play an essential role in Biginelli's reaction. In the absence of a catalyst, it is difficult to form products with a good yield. Many catalysts have been used in search of efficientmethodologies, including biocatalysts, Brønsted/Lewis acids, heterogeneous catalysts, organocatalysts, and so on. Nanocatalysts are currently being applied in the Biginelli reaction to improve the environmental profile as well as speed up the reaction process. This review describes the catalytic role in the Biginelli reaction and pharmacological application of 2‐oxo/thioxo‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydropyrimidines. This study provides information that will facilitate the development of newer catalytic methods for the Biginelli reaction, by academics as well as industrialists. It also offers a broad scope for drug design strategies, which may enable the development of novel and highly effective bioactive molecules.
Optimal interval controller design for uncertain systems
Authors: Guan Shouping , Li Jiashuo , Dong Panpan 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThe interval controller design is a hot issue for uncertain systems, whereas how to design an optimal interval controller under the premise of ensuring system stability is a difficult problem that needs further study. This paper mainly aims at the single input single output uncertain system to propose an optimal interval controller based on the Kharitonov theorem and an interval optimization algorithm, which can guarantee the stability and optimization of a closed‐loop interval system. According to the Kharitonov theorem, the optimal interval controller design can be transformed into an optimal controller synthesis issue of multiple vertex objects. An interval particle swarm optimization (IPSO) algorithm is then used to optimize the quadratic performance index with interval variables for each vertex object to obtain the solution domains of the controller parameters, and the vertex method is utilized to prevent interval width expansion or divergence in the iteration. Finally, the intersections of the solution domains for all vertex objects are obtained as the optimal interval solution of interval controller parameters. In addition, the stability verification approach of the closed‐loop system and the empirical rule to select the interval particle width are given. Simulation results for typical examples demonstrate that the designed interval controller not only performs optimally but also can robustly stabilize the interval system.
Study on extraction and characterization of new antibiotics violacein from engineered Escherichia coli VioABCDE‐SD
Authors: Huang Chunyan , Chu Xiaoting , Hui Wenyang , Xie Chengjia , Xu Xian 
Published: March 2023

AbstractTo better understand the characteristic properties of violacein biosynthesized by engineered Escherichia coli VioABCDE‐SD, a convenient and simplified method was designed to extract violacein and its stability, antimicrobial activity, and antioxidant capacity were analyzed. Different from the traditional extraction methods, our new method is easier and less time consuming and can directly obtain violacein dry powder product with a higher extraction rate. Low temperature, dark condition, neutral pH, reducing agents, Ba2+, Mn2+, Ni2+, Co2+, and some food additives of sucrose, xylose, and glucose were conducive to maintaining its stability. The violacein also exhibited surprisingly high bacteriostatic action against Gram‐positive Bacillus subtilis, Deinococcus radiodurans R1, and Staphylococcus aureus and Gram‐negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa, but no effect on E. coli. The violacein of VioABCDE‐SD exhibited strong antioxidant activity, with the scavenging rate of 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl free radicals reaching 60.33%, the scavenging efficiency of hydroxyl radical scavenging reaching 56.34%, and the total antioxidant capacity reaching 0.63 U/mL. Violacein from VioABCDE‐SD can be synthesized directionally with better stability, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties compared with that from the original strain Janthinobacterium sp. B9‐8. Therefore, our study indicated that violacein from engineered E. coli VioABCDE‐SD was a kind of new antibiotic with potential biological activities, which may have potential utility in multiple areas such as pharmacological, cosmetics, and healthy food industries.
Effective‐by‐method for the preparation of folic acid‐coated TiO2 nanoparticles with high targeting potential for apoptosis induction against bladder cancer cells (T24)
Authors: Hanna Demiana H. , Aziz Marina M. , Shafee E. El. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThe research's goal is to create the surfaces of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) in a layer of folic acid (FA) that can effectively target human bladder cancer cells (T24). An efficient method for creating FA‐coated TiO2 NPs was used, and many tools have been used to analyze its physicochemical properties. The cytotoxic effects of FA‐coated NPs on T24 cells and the mechanisms of apoptosis generation were examined employing a variety of methodologies. The prepared FA‐coated TiO2 NPs suspensions with a hydrodynamic diameter around 37 nm and a negative surface charge of −30 mV reduced T24 cell proliferation with stronger IC50 value (21.8 ± 1.9 μg/ml) than TiO2 NPs (47.8 ± 2.5 μg/ml). This toxicity resulted in apoptosis induction (16.63%) that was caused through enhanced reactive oxygen species formation and stopping the cell cycle over G2/M phase. Moreover, FA–TiO2 NPs raised the expression levels of P53, P21, BCL2L4, and cleaved Caspase‐3, while decreasing Bcl‐2, Cyclin B, and CDK1 in treated cells. Overall, these findings revealed efficient targeting of the FA–TiO2 NPs resulted in increasing cellular internalization caused increased apoptosis in T24 cells. As a result, FA–TiO2 NPs might be a viable treatment for human bladder cancer.
Microwell‐based flow culture increases viability and restores drug response in prostate cancer spheroids
Authors: Payne Marie C. , Ho SumYat , Hashimoto Takao , Imboden Sara , Diaz Johnny A. , Lee Brandon S. , Rupert Melissa J. , Cai Nathan Y. , Goldstein Andrew S. , Lin Neil Y. C. 
Published: March 2023

Abstract3D cancer spheroids represent a highly promising model for study of cancer progression and therapeutic development. Wide‐scale adoption of cancer spheroids, however, remains a challenge due to the lack of control over hypoxic gradients that may cloud the assessment of cell morphology and drug response. Here, we present a Microwell Flow Device (MFD) that generates in‐well laminar flow around 3D tissues via repetitive tissue sedimentation. Using a prostate cancer cell line, we demonstrate the spheroids in the MFD exhibit improved cell growth, reduced necrotic core formation, enhanced structural integrity, and downregulated expression of cell stress genes. The flow‐cultured spheroids also exhibit an improved sensitivity to chemotherapy with greater transcriptional response. These results demonstrate how fluidic stimuli reveal the cellular phenotype previously masked by severe necrosis. Our platform advances 3D cellular models and enables study into hypoxia modulation, cancer metabolism, and drug screening within pathophysiological conditions.
Terpenoids with Cytotoxic Activity from Roots of Ardisia crispa
Authors: Yin Xin , Hu Rui‐Hang , Long Xing‐Xiang , Zhou Yong‐Qiang , Wei Xin , Zhang Shuang , Feng Ting‐Ting , Zhou Ying 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThree new terpenoids, ardisiacrispins G‐I (1, 4 and 8), and eight known compounds, cyclamiretin A (2), psychotrianoside G (3), 3‐hydroxy‐β‐damascone (5), megastigmane (6), corchoionol C (7), zingiberoside B (9), angelicoidenol (10), trans‐linalool‐3,6‐oxide‐β‐D‐glucopyranoside (11) were isolated from the roots of Ardisia crispa. The chemical structures of all isolated compounds were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses, such as HR‐ESI‐MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectra. Ardisiacrispin G (1) represents the oleanolic‐type scaffold featuring a rare 15,16‐ epoxy system. All compounds were evaluated for the cytotoxicity against two cancer cell lines (U87 MG and HepG2) in vitro. Compounds 1, 8 and 9 exhibited moderate cytotoxic activity with IC50 values ranging from 7.6±1.1 to 28.8±3.2 μM.
Detection and Imaging of Active Substances in Early Atherosclerotic Lesions Using Fluorescent Probes
Authors: Li Jin , Xu Jiheng , Zhang Wei , Li Ping , Zhang Wen , Wang Hui , Tang Bo 
Published: March 2023

AbstractAtherosclerosis (AS) is a vascular disease caused by chronic inflammation and lipids that is the main cause of myocardial infarction, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases. Atherosclerosis is often difficult to detect in its early stages due to the absence of clinically significant vascular stenosis. This is not conducive to early intervention or treatment of the disease. Over the past decade, researchers have developed various imaging methods for the detection and imaging of atherosclerosis. At the same time, more and more biomarkers are being found that can be used as targets for detecting atherosclerosis. Therefore, the development of a variety of imaging methods and a variety of targeted imaging probes is an important project to achieve early assessment and treatment of atherosclerosis. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the optical probes used to detect and target atherosclerosis imaging in recent years, and describes the current challenges and future development directions.
Effect of potato pulp on the staling and nutritional properties of wheat steamed bread
Authors: Cao Yanfei 
Published: March 2023

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesPotato has high nutritional value because of its carbohydrate, protein, dietary fiber, and antioxidant. Wheat flour replaced by potato pulp (PP) can be an effective way to improve nutritive values of steamed bread and promote potato consumption. The objective of the study was to investigate the influences of PP on the staling and nutritional properties of steamed bread.FindingsAfter storage for 3 days, the moisture content of the steamed bread that contained more than 20% PP (40.22%–39.70%) was lower than that of control (40.30%). The staling rates of samples ranged from 17% to 31%; among all samples, steamed bread with 40%–50% potato pulp exhibited the lowest staling rates value of 31% (p < .05). The amylopectin retrogradation enthalpy of steamed bread increased with increased PP addition. The total phenolic content (TPC) of samples that contained PP (0.51–0.80 mg GAE/g dry weight [DW]) were higher than that of the control (0.32 mg GAE/g DW). The lysine contents of the steamed bread with PP increased by 8%–36% compared with those of the control. The addition of 10%–30% PP had a complementary effect on the amino acid composition in the steamed bread that contained only wheat flour.ConclusionsOverall, the incorporation of PP adversely affected the storage of steamed bread but improved its antioxidant capacity and nutritional properties.Significance and NoveltyThe study would contribute to better understanding of the effect of potato pulp on the staling and nutritional properties of wheat steamed bread and provide valuable guidance for in‐depth application of potato pulp in the wheat‐based products.
Structure Based Discovery of Inhibitors of CYP125 and CYP142 from Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Katariya Mona M. , Snee Matthew , Tunnicliffe Richard B. , Kavanagh Madeline E. , Boshoff Helena I. M. , Amadi Cecilia N. , Levy Colin W. , Munro Andrew W. , Abell Chris , Leys David , Coyne Anthony G. , McLean Kirsty J. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractMycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) was responsible for approximately 1.6 million deaths in 2021. With the emergence of extensive drug resistance, novel therapeutic agents are urgently needed, and continued drug discovery efforts required. Host‐derived lipids such as cholesterol not only support Mtb growth, but are also suspected to function in immunomodulation, with links to persistence and immune evasion. Mtb cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes facilitate key steps in lipid catabolism and thus present potential targets for inhibition. Here we present a series of compounds based on an ethyl 5‐(pyridin‐4‐yl)‐1H‐indole‐2‐carboxylate pharmacophore which bind strongly to both Mtb cholesterol oxidases CYP125 and CYP142. Using a structure‐guided approach, combined with biophysical characterization, compounds with micromolar range in‐cell activity against clinically relevant drug‐resistant isolates were obtained. These will incite further development of much‐needed additional treatment options and provide routes to probe the role of CYP125 and CYP142 in Mtb pathogenesis.
Novel Pyrimidine‐Based Iridium Complexes with Bulky Charge‐Carrier Groups as Dopants for Highly Efficient Green Polymer Light‐Emitting Diodes
Authors: Xie Gang , Li Xin , Pan Yang , Huang Shuo , Xu Jiarong , Wang Zhiping , Yin Shungao , Liang Aihui 
Published: March 2023

AbstractTwo new pyrimidine‐based iridium complexes with triphenylamine and tetraphenylsilane, namely (TPAPr)2IrAcac and (TPSPr)2IrAcac, were fully synthesized and characterized. Both of the targeted iridium complexes exhibit excellent thermal stability and high photoluminescence quantum yields. Compared to (TPAPr)2IrAcac, (TPSPr)2IrAcac achieved its highest PLQY and current efficiency (CE) at higher dopant concentration probably because of its bulky tetraphenylsilane group, which can effectively suppress the concentration quenching. However, according to DFT studies, (TPSPr)2IrAcac shows faster non‐radiative transitions due to the presence of more excited‐state distortions than (TPAPr)2IrAcac. As a result, Green phosphorescent polymer light‐emitting diodes (PLEDs) containing (TPAPr)2IrAcac and (TPSPr)2IrAcac as dopants exhibit exceptional device performance with peak CE values of 38.24 and 36.06 cd A−1, respectively. (TPAPr)2IrAcac exhibited a superior efficiency than (TPSPr)2IrAcac because of its high Φp, low RMSD value, and efficient energy transfer from the host to the guest. More importantly, the PLEDs based on (TPAPr)2IrAcac and (TPSPr)2IrAcac show stable phosphorescent emission with Commission Internationale de L'Eclairage (CIE) coordinates of (0.313, 0.497) and (0.299, 0.483), respectively. This work points out a viable method for creating phosphorescent iridium complexes based on pyrimidine for high‐efficiency organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs).
Dynamic Approach to Synthetic Lectin for Glucose with Boosted Binding Affinity through C−H Hydrogen Bonds
Authors: Zhai Canjia , Xu Chengkai , Cui Yunpeng , Wojtas Lukasz , Liu Wenqi 
Published: March 2023

AbstractA biomimetic receptor for glucose has been developed with high affinity and selectivity. The receptor was efficiently synthesized in three steps through dynamic imine chemistry followed by imine‐to‐amide oxidation. The receptor features two parallel durene panels, forming a hydrophobic pocket for [CH⋅⋅⋅π] interactions, and two pyridinium residues directing four amide bonds towards the pocket. These pyridinium residues not only improve solubility but also provide polarized C−H bonds for hydrogen bonding. Experimental data and DFT calculations show that these polarized C−H bonds significantly enhance substrate binding. These findings demonstrate the power of dynamic covalent chemistry for creating molecular receptors and using polarized C−H bonds for boosted carbohydrate recognition in water, providing a foundation for developing glucose‐responsive materials and sensors.
Not Just Another Methanation Catalyst: Depleted Uranium Meets Nickel for a High‐Performing Process Under Autothermal Regime
Authors: Truong‐Phuoc Lai , Nhut Jean‐Mario , Sall Secou , Tuci Giulia , Rossin Andrea , Papaefthimiou Vasiliki , Duong‐Viet Cuong , Petit Corinne , Arab Mehdi , Jourdan Alex , Vidal Loic , Giambastiani Giuliano , Pham‐Huu Cuong 
Published: March 2023

AbstractInvited for this month's cover are collaborating teams from academia—the French ICPEES and IS2M of Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS) and the Italian ICCOM of Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR)—and industry with the participation of the ORANO group. The cover picture shows a CO2‐to‐CH4 process promoted by nickel nanoparticles supported on depleted uranium oxide under exceptionally low temperature values or autothermal conditions. The Research Article itself is available at 10.1002/cssc.202201859.
Singed and vinculin play redundant roles in cell migration by regulating F‐actin
Authors: Khaitan Vandita , Shill Kinsuk , Chatterjee Poulami , Mukherjee Sandipan , Majumder Pralay 
Published: March 2023

AbstractIntroductionDrosophila Singed (mammalian Fascin) is an actin‐binding protein that is known mainly for bundling parallel actin filaments. Among many functions of Singed, it is required for cell motility for both Drosophila and mammalian systems. Increased Fascin‐1 levels positively correlate with greater metastasis and poor prognosis in human cancer. Border cell cluster, forms and migrates during Drosophila egg chamber development, shows higher expression of Singed compared with other follicle cells. Interestingly, loss of singed in border cells does not lead to any effect other than delay.ResultIn this work, we have screened many actin‐binding proteins in search of functional redundancy with Singed for border cell migration. We have found that Vinculin works with Singed to regulate border cell migration, albeit mildly. Although Vinculin is known for anchoring F‐actin to the membrane, knockdown of both singed and vinculin leads to a reduced level of F‐actin and changes in protrusion characteristics in border cells. We have also observed that they may act together to control microvilli length of brush border membrane vesicles and the shape of egg chambers in Drosophila.ConclusionsWe may conclude that singed and vinculin work together to control F‐actin and these interactions are consistent across multiple platforms.
A spatially explicit model for density that accounts for availability: a case study with Mojave desert tortoises
Authors: Zylstra Erin R. , Allison Linda J. , Averill‐Murray Roy C. , Landau Vincent , Pope Nathaniel S. , Steidl Robert J. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractEstimating population density and identifying those areas where density is changing through time are central to prioritizing conservation and management strategies. Obtaining reliable estimates of density and trends can be challenging, however, especially for long‐lived species that are rare, have broad geographic distributions, and are difficult to detect reliably during field surveys. We developed a hierarchical model for distance‐sampling data that characterizes spatial variation in density at two scales and simultaneously estimates regional trends while accounting for variation in detection probability and availability across surveys. We applied the model to data collected over a 20‐year period (2001–2020) in an area that encompassed most of the geographic range of the Mojave desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii). Density of adult tortoises varied with multiple biotic and abiotic features, including topography, aspect, geology, and seasonal precipitation and temperature regimes. Across the entire period and study area, the density of adult tortoises decreased by an average of 1.8% per year (95% CI = −3.5% to −0.2%). Trends varied geographically, however, with the steepest declines in the western part of the range (−4.1%, −6.9% to −1.3%). Accounting for habitat loss across our study area, the abundance of this threatened species declined by an estimated 129,000 adults (36%) between 2001 and 2020. Our modeling approach extends traditional distance‐sampling frameworks by accounting for ecological and observational processes that could mask spatiotemporal variation in density and, at the same time, provides spatially explicit estimates to guide conservation and management strategies for tortoises and other rare species.