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The purpose of this paper is to investigate the measurable impact of Buddhist liberal arts courses on college students' ability to engage in self-reflection. This study uses the data gathered to establish, through statistical analysis, any correlations between two variables—Buddhist liberal arts as courses as the independent variable and self-reflection intelligence as the continuous dependent variable. First, the following results of the study show that the mean of the four self-reflection sub-categories for the students who found that the courses were helpful was higher than that of the students who found that they were not helpful: self-awareness (4.10 ± 0.49 > 3.90 ± 0.87), self-design (3.84 ± 0.66 > 3.40 ± 0.97), self-regulation (4.01 ± 0.04 > 3.48 ± 0.18), and self-examination (4.21 ± 0.03 > 3.94 ± 0.15), respectively. Second, the mean of the four self-reflection sub-categories for students who experienced a positive change of their perception in the courses was higher than that of students who experienced a negative change, as follows: self-awareness (4.08 ± 0.50 > 3.75 ± 0.82), self-design (3.84 ± 0.68 > 3.51 ± 0.93), self-regulation (4.00 ± 0.59 > 3.56 ± 0.67), and self-examination (4.17 ± 0.49 > 4.04 ± 0.73), respectively. This study illuminates the role of Buddhist-related liberal arts courses in higher education, specifically in fostering students' self-reflection skills. It offers valuable insights into educational practices aimed at enhancing self-reflection levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gas sensors are of great interest to portable and miniaturized sensing technologies with applications ranging from air quality monitoring to explosive detection and medical diagnostics, but the existing chemiresistive NO2 sensors still suffer from issues such as poor sensitivity, high operating temperature, and slow recovery. Herein, a high‐performance NO2 sensors based on all‐inorganic perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) is reported, achieving room temperature operation with ultra‐fast response and recovery time. After tailoring the halide composition, superior sensitivity of ≈67 at 8 ppm NO2 is obtained in CsPbI2Br PNC sensors with a detection level down to 2 ppb, which outperforms other nanomaterial‐based NO2 sensors. Furthermore, the remarkable optoelectronic properties of such PNCs enable dual‐mode operation, i.e., chemiresistive and chemioptical sensing, presenting a new and versatile platform for advancing high‐performance, point‐of‐care NO2 detection technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Curcumin is a natural polyphenol that is extracted from the rhizomes of the turmeric plant (Curcuma longa), a member of the ginger family. It has been used for centuries in traditional Indian and Chinese medicine for its medicinal properties, including anti‐inflammatory, antioxidant and antitumor effects. SVCT2 (Solute Carrier Family 23 Member 2, also known as SLC23A2) is a protein that plays a role in the transport of Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) into cells. SVCT2 plays an important role in tumor progression and metastasis, however, the molecular mechanisms of curcumin on SVCT2 have not been studied to date. Curcumin treatment inhibited proliferation and migration of cancer cells in a dose dependent manner. We found that curcumin reduced the expression of SVCT2 in cancer cells with a wild type p53, but not in those with a mutant type of p53. SVCT2 downregulation also reduced the MMP2 activity. Taken together, our results indicate that curcumin inhibited human cancer cell growth and migration by regulating SVCT2 through a downregulating p53. These findings provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms of curcumin's anticancer effects and potential therapeutic strategies for the treatment of metastatic migration. Significance statement: SVCT2, a protein responsible for Vitamin C transport, plays a role in tumor progression and metastasis, and the molecular mechanisms of curcumin's effects on SVCT2 are unknown. However, curcumin treatment reduced SVCT2 expression in cancer cells with a wild type p53, inhibiting cancer cell growth and migration. Curcumin's ability to downregulate SVCT2 provides new insights into potential therapeutic strategies for metastatic migration treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to reveal the influence of Wŏnhyo's Kisillon so (Wŏnhyoso) on Chinese commentaries on the Awakening of Faith in Mahāyāna (AFM), which is regarded as important in East Asian Buddhism. Previous studies focused only on the influence on Fazang's Qixinlun shu (Fazangshu), but it should be noted that the Wŏnhyoso also had an effect on the understanding of the AFM in China. First, by comparing the usage of "shenjie" in the Fazangshu and in the Wŏnhyoso, one can identify Wŏnhyoso's unique interpretation. The Wŏnhyoso defines it as "mystical understanding as the nature of One Mind in the aspect of thusness and the nature of the mind of original enlightenment in the aspect of arising and ceasing", whereas the Fazangshu defines "shenjie" as "an excellent comprehension". Next, examining the usage of "shenjie" of the Wŏnhyoso in the later commentaries on the AFM after Fazang, such as the Shilun, the Zanxuanshu, the Puguanji, the Zongmishu, the Bixueji, the Shulue, and the Huiyue, has confirmed the influence of the Wŏnhyoso in Chinese Buddhism. In addition, the relationships between Chinese commentaries on the AFM were also clarified based on the commentaries' acceptance of "shenjie". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The technological developments of metal–organic framework (MOF) for selective adsorption and sensing have been achieved in recent years. Herein, we report two stilbene‐based MOFs, denoted as Zn3(SDC)3(bpy) (1) and Zn(SDC)(bpy)·2DMF (2). MOFs 1 and 2 were synthesized in pure form by controlling the organic linker ratio and were used for the adsorptive removal of dye molecules. Despite their low adsorption capacities, the MOFs were more selective toward cationic dye (methylene blue) than anionic dye (methyl orange). The unique fluorescent property of the MOFs was harnessed for the sensing of harmful organic molecules. Interestingly, the fluorescence of 1′ was quenched by aromatic analytes containing amine and nitro functional groups. However, 2′ only showed modest fluorescence quenching by nitrobenzene. The quenching efficiency of nitrobenzene had a low detection limit for 1′ and 2′ (14.28 and 25.42 μM, respectively). These MOFs can be used as adsorbents and highly sensitive chemical sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children's spatial mapping starts out particularly sensitive to 3D wall‐like boundaries and develops over early childhood to flexibly include other boundary types. This study investigated whether spatial boundaries influence children's episodic memory, as in adults, and whether this effect is modulated by boundary type. Eighty‐one Korean children (34 girls, 36–84 months old) re‐enacted a sequence of three discrete hiding events within a space containing one of three boundaries: 3D wall, aligned objects, or 2D line. Children's memory of events occurring on one side of the boundary developed earlier than those that crossed the boundary. At first, this interaction only applied to the 3D wall and extended to other boundary types with age, suggesting that children's changing spatial representations influence their episodic memory development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reveals the mediating effect of musculoskeletal complaints (MSCs) and the moderating effect of job resources on the relationship between job demands and presenteeism of workers in dependent self-employment (DSE). Recently, as the number of workers in DSE has increased, the importance of adjusting job demands to control presenteeism, address MSCs, and develop job resources has increased. Objectives: We tested the effects of job demands on presenteeism to investigate the mediation of musculoskeletal complaints (MSCs) and the moderating effects of job resources among dependent self-employment (DSE) workers in Korea. Methods: Using data from the fifth Korean Working Conditions Survey, we analyzed 2252 workers, and a two-step regression analysis was used to test the mediated effect of MSCs and moderated the effect of job resources on the relationship between job demand and presenteeism. Results: Musculoskeletal complaints mediate the relationship between job demands and presenteeism. Job control moderated the relationship between MSCs and presenteeism among the job resources. However, the conditional indirect effect of job demands on presenteeism through MSCs was independent of job resource levels among DSE workers. Conclusions: Various strategies are needed to address MSCs and enhance job resources for DSE workers, which might diminish the negative effect of job demands on presenteeism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Semi-supervised Video Object Segmentation (SVOS), there is a critical emphasis on enhancing the memory and readout mechanisms for frame matching, especially in relation to temporal dynamics. Current methods predominantly use 2D CNNs for encoding video frames, which unfortunately neglects the crucial aspect of addressing temporal variations in individual frames and their associated masks during the encoding process. One potential solution would be to implement temporal models such as 3D CNNs instead of 2D CNNs, but this significantly increases computational requirements, making it impractical for real-world SVOS applications. In this paper, we introduce the Grouped Temporal Recalibration with Attention for Convolutional Encoders (G-TRACE), a novel plug-and-play module that is compatible with various existing SVOS frameworks. G-TRACE uses hierarchical memory-centric attention and integrates effortlessly with 2D CNNs, offering a novel approach to temporal modeling that operates orthogonally to traditional frame matching methods. Extensive evaluations on four widely-used benchmarks demonstrate that our method consistently delivers significant performance improvements over various baseline models. • Captures Temporal Variations: Effectively handles previously overlooked time-based changes in frame encoding. • Innovates Frame Encoding: Improves spatial and temporal context capture, potentially replacing self-attention mechanisms. • Hierarchical Memory Grouping: Introduces a two-tier strategy for efficient feature capture and memory utilization. • Enhances Feature Quality: Provides a richer understanding of video sequences through advanced memory-based attention. • Empirical Superiority: Demonstrates consistent performance improvements across key SVOS benchmarks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogels are hydrophilic polymer materials that provide a wide range of physicochemical properties as well as are highly biocompatible. Biomedical researchers are adapting these materials for the ever-increasing range of design options and potential applications in diagnostics and therapeutics. Along with innovative hydrogel polymer backbone developments, designing polymer additives for these backbones has been a major contributor to the field, especially for expanding the functionality spectrum of hydrogels. For the past decade, researchers invented numerous hydrogel functionalities that emerge from the rational incorporation of additives such as nucleic acids, proteins, cells, and inorganic nanomaterials. Cases of successful commercialization of such functional hydrogels are being reported, thus driving more translational research with hydrogels. Among the many hydrogels, here we reviewed recently reported functional hydrogels incorporated with polymer additives. We focused on those that have potential in translational medicine applications which range from diagnostic sensors as well as assay and drug screening to therapeutic actuators as well as drug delivery and implant. We discussed the growing trend of facile point-of-care diagnostics and integrated smart platforms. Additionally, special emphasis was given to emerging bioinformatics functionalities stemming from the information technology field, such as DNA data storage and anti-counterfeiting strategies. We anticipate that these translational purpose-driven polymer additive research studies will continue to advance the field of functional hydrogel engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • New electron donor–acceptor-type organic emitters exhibit a negative ΔE ST. • The negative ΔE ST is confirmed using PL, TCSPC, and eDFT calculations. • High external quantum efficiencies of around 30% are achieved. Emitters having a negative energy difference between their lowest singlet and triplet excited states are promising candidates for developing next-generation organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) because their inverted singlet and triplet (IST) excited states enable exothermic reverse intersystem crossing, which results in a fast rate constant for reverse intersystem crossing and facilitates the efficient harvesting of triplet excitons. This study reports the development of organic emitters comprising 5,9-dioxa-13b-boranaphtho[3,2,1- de ]anthracene as an electron acceptor and 10 H -spiro[acridine-9,9′-fluorene] as an electron donor that exhibit IST-excited states. We confirmed the presence of IST excited states in our emitters using photoluminescence spectroscopy, time-correlated single-photon counting, and excited-state density functional theory calculations. In addition, by varying the number of electron donors and the dihedral angles between the electron donor and acceptor, we identified the underlying reasons for the inversion of the singlet and triplet states. Furthermore, we achieved high external quantum efficiencies of up to 30 % by utilizing the IST emitters as emitting layers in OLEDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to evaluate what sources principally affect the chemical compositions in the catchment of the upper Nakdong River, South Korea where bedrock mostly consists of silicates as a natural factor. From October 7th to 9th, 2015, thirty-three water samples were collected, including samples from tributaries which run alongside mines. We analyzed the major anions, cations, trace elements and water isotopes of the samples and the analyzed data are divided into four groups by principle component analysis (PCA). We determined that most of the water samples are influenced by water-rock interactions when we consider the PCA results and the chemical weathering equation line. However, six samples have excess concentrations of sulfate and plot below the equation line. These samples were mostly from streams beside a zinc-cadmium smelter, which was also consistent with the PCA results. Samples near populated area could also be separated into a group via domestic pollution. Based on the PCA and chemical results, the chemical compositions of the river can be affected by two anthropogenic inputs: mine wastes and domestic contaminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been noted that the motion control of a hydraulic robotic excavator has some difficulties in excavator mechanical structure variations, disturbance, non-linearity of complex dynamics of the hydraulic manipulator, and so on. In this paper, a new discrete model-free robust controller is proposed for robotic excavator motion control based on the time delay control (TDC) combined with terminal sliding mode control (TSMC). The proposed controller formulation consists of TDC without acceleration information and TSMC with nonlinear desired error dynamics. Less computational effort and sensing signals are required with this controller, which can decrease the influence of noise by eliminating the acceleration information. Furthermore, the designed terminal sliding error dynamics provide robotic excavator motion control with high position tracking accuracy. The proposed controller was implemented on a 30 ton Volvo hydraulic robotic excavator, and its effectiveness was verified. The achieved end-effector position tracking accuracy was within 2 cm for a curved surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this work, the gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli strain BL21(DE3) (with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in its outer membrane) and its modified ClearColi™ strain (lacking LPS) were used for the separation of anti-LPS antibodies from human serum by the following steps: (1) binding of the serum proteins to BL21(DE3); (2) dissociation of the bound proteins (including anti-LPS antibodies) from BL21(DE3) with acid; (3) filtering of the dissociated proteins using ClearColi to remove unwanted proteins; and (4) separation of the antibody fraction by protein-A column chromatography. The binding properties of the separated antibodies were analyzed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting to confirm their selective binding to LPS on the outer membrane of BL21(DE3), and by thermophoretic immunoassay to estimate their dissociation constant. The in vitro applicability of the separated anti-LPS antibodies was demonstrated through a fluorescence assay of BL21(DE3), after immobilizing the antibodies onto a modified microplate surface. The electrochemical detection of BL21(DE3) was also achieved after immobilizing the anti-LPS antibodies onto a gold electrode. Highlights • Anti-lipopolysaccharide (LPS) antibodies were separated from human serum. • The antibody was separated by using (1) BL21(DE3) and then (2) ClearColi without LPS. • Binding properties of the antibody was analyzed by using FACS and thermophoresis. • Fluorescent and electrochemical immunoassays were demonstrated by using the immobilized antibody. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Nurses play crucial roles in cardiopulmonary resuscitation after perioperative cardiac arrest (PCA), and the level of nurse staffing is thought to influence the survival rate for cardiac arrest. However, no previous study has investigated the survival rate after PCA in Korea. In addition, nurse staffing levels in Korea are relatively low and their legal standard is not widely followed. Objectives This study investigated the relationships between nurse staffing level and survival after PCA in Korean hospitals using inpatient National Health Insurance (NHI) claim data. Methods The study used NHI claim data on patient and hospital characteristics for 2140 patients undergoing craniotomy or percutaneous angioplasty from January to December 2009. Because the information about nurse staffing in NHI claim data categorized nursing grade according to the nurse-to-bed ratio, the nurse staffing level was transformed from the nurse-to-patient ratio using the bed occupancy rate. The general ward and ICU nurse staffing levels were then categorized into major violation, violation, adherence, and major adherence according to the medical law standard. The association between nurse staffing level and survival after PCA was analyzed using logistic regression analyses with a generalized estimation model. Results The survival rate was higher for patients in hospitals with major adherence [odds ratio (OR) = 1.53, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.13–2.07] ICUs nurse staffing than for those in hospitals with adherence nurse staffing, and lower for patients in hospitals with violation (OR = 0.50, 95% CI = 0.26–0.93) or major violation (OR = 0.45, 95% CI = 0.21–0.97) general ward nurse staffing than for those in hospitals with adherence nurse staffing. Policies to ensure adherence to the medical law standard for nurse staffing levels is necessary to enhance the safety of patients experiencing PCA in Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This paper suggests a novel way of dramatically improving the Naïve Bayes text classifier with our semantic tensor space model for document representation. In our work, we intend to achieve a perfect text classification with the semantic Naïve Bayes learning that incorporates the semantic concept features into term feature statistics; for this, the Naïve Bayes learning is semantically augmented under the tensor space model where the ‘concept’ space is regarded as an independent space equated with the ‘term’ and ‘document’ spaces, and it is produced with concept-level informative Wikipedia pages associated with a given document corpus. Through extensive experiments using three popular document corpora including Reuters-21578, 20Newsgroups , and OHSUMED corpora, we prove that the proposed method not only has superiority over the recent deep learning-based classification methods but also shows nearly perfect classification performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is an important component of healthy aging. Elderly individuals living alone with health risks have rapidly increased in South Korea. Inadequate social support has been associated with poor HRQoL in elderly individuals who are currently living alone. Although studies of HRQoL in elderly subjects who live alone have been conducted, studies of the relationships between social support and HRQoL have rarely targeted the elderly individuals living alone. Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify the factors that are related to HRQoL among the elderly individuals living alone in South Korea. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used. Five hundred seventeen elderly individuals who were living alone in community dwellings and aged 65 years or older were included. The structured questionnaires included the 12-item Short-Form Health Survey, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, demographic characteristics, health status, and behavior factors. A descriptive analysis and hierarchical multivariate logistic regression were conducted to examine significant correlations between the variables. Results: The mean score of the Physical Component Summary was 43.00 (± 4.82), and the mean score of the Mental Component Summary (MCS) was 45.94 (± 7.21). After controlling for demographic characteristics, health status, and behavior factors, support from significant others was negatively associated with the Physical Component Summary scores, whereas support from significant others, family, and friends was positively associated with the MCS scores. Conclusions: Social support emerged as an important factor in the HRQoL domains of the MCS of the participants. Future interventions should focus more on implementing effective social support strategies to improve HRQoL in elderly individuals who live alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports on a pedagogical project aimed at helping second language (L2) learners of English develop the ability to detect and appropriately interpret spoken sarcasm. The study used a pre- and posttest procedure to assess the development of learners’ ability to both detect sarcasm and impute appropriate speaker intentions and attitudes conveyed through sarcastic utterances as result of a 10-week instructional program. The study also used interviews to gauge changes in learners’ conceptual understanding of English sarcasm. Beyond improving learners’ ability in the L2, a side effect of the project was that learners reported an enhanced awareness of the use and functions of sarcasm in their first language (L1), Korean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A highly efficient and straightforward approach for the synthesis of spiroepoxy chroman-4-one derivatives was developed using a visible light-enabled tandem radical strategy. The reaction is initiated by the formation of an acyl radical that undergoes intramolecular radical cyclization and epoxidation. The optimal result was obtained with 1 mol% of Ru(bpy)3Cl2⋅6H2O, TBHP, and K2CO3 in i-PrOAc at room temperature with irradiation from a blue LED. This unprecedented tandem approach utilizes a broad range of substrates, and provides a convenient and powerful synthetic tool for accessing the synthetically useful spiroepoxy chroman-4-ones and their nitrogen-containing derivatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of the introduction of oxygen vacancies on commercial ZnO by hydrogen reduction on the adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue is investigated. Commercial ZnO was reduced at 500 °C by a 10% H 2 /Ar gas with a temperature programmed reduction method. Both pristine and reduced photocatalysts were characterized by TPR, FE-SEM, EDS, XPS, XRD, BET, and PL analyses. The bandgap of the photocatalysts was estimated by Tauc plot method. The characterization results indicated that the morphology and crystallinity of the nanoparticles remained unchanged after the reduction treatment, while the ratio of the oxygen vacancy to the lattice oxygen was increased. Furthermore, the maximum valence band of the photocatalyst experienced an upward shift from 2.43 to 2.67 eV which resulted in a decrease of the bandgap from 3.22 eV in commercial ZnO to 3.07 eV in the reduced photocatalyst. To investigate the effect of hydrogen reduction on the adsorption in the dark and photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue, experiments were performed using both commercial and reduced photocatalysts at a pH range between 3 and 11. Our recently developed kinetic model, taking into account non-equilibrium adsorption and photocatalytic degradation via radicals (in solution) and electron-holes (at the photocatalyst surface), was used to describe the experimental data. The results showed that the concentration of active sites of the photocatalyst increased by ∼ 20% after the hydrogen reduction, resulting in higher adsorption and photocatalytic degradation. The highest adsorption takes place at pH 3, while the degradation rate and quantum yield reach their maximal value at pH 11. Finally, the definition of quantum yield is revisited in terms of actual degradation, rather than liquid concentration differences. [Display omitted] • Introduction of oxygen vacancies by H 2 reduction on commercial ZnO. • Continuous kinetic modeling of adsorption in dark and photocatalytic degradation. • Effect of pH on adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue. • Accurate quantum yield calculation by excluding the adsorptions from total removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the authors investigate the factors associated with misperception of breast cancer risk, including unrealistic optimism and unrealistic pessimism, among Korean-American women (KAW). Baseline data were collected between March 2010 and October 2011 from 421 KAW aged 40–65 years who participated in a community-based randomized intervention trial designed to promote breast and cervical cancer screening. Multivariate multinomial regression was performed to identify correlates of misperception of breast cancer risk among KAW. A total of 210 KAW (49.9%) had breast cancer risk perception consistent with their objective risk, whereas 50.1% of KAW in the study had some form of misperception of risk. Specifically, 167 participants (39.7%) were unrealistically optimistic about their own breast cancer risk; 44 (10.5%) were unrealistically pessimistic. In multivariate multinomial logistic regression analysis, living with a partner and higher education were significantly associated with higher odds of having unrealistic optimism. High social support is associated with a lower likelihood of having a pessimistic risk perception. Higher worry is associated with a higher likelihood of having unrealistic pessimism. Misperception of breast cancer risk among KAW and related factors must be considered when developing behavioral interventions for this population. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: The number of immigrant women in Korea is rapidly increasing. Immigrant women in Korea experience a host of health problems associated with living in a new country. Community health workers (CHWs) may be effective at delivering health promotion programs to vulnerable groups such as recent immigrants. Purpose: Qualitative analysis was performed to identify the main themes characterizing the experiences of CHWs in recommending and guiding preventive screening tests for immigrant women. Methods: This focus-group study was designed to investigate the experiences and perceptions of CHWs. We conducted interviews with 15 Chinese immigrant women who served as CHWs in a cancer screening program. We asked questions about the attitudes and perceptions that CHWs had from their research experiences. Each interview was audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Results: Three main themes emerged: (a) recognizing the need for preventive healthcare, (b) becoming the CHWs who help people to be healthy, and (c) challenges to overcome to make CHWs more active. The CHWs in this study were willing to help other Chinese immigrant women and to improve their competency to help more effectively. However, they recognized limitations on their ability to address problems when delivering a breast and cervical cancer screening program. Conclusions: When training CHWs for immigrants in Korea, frequent opportunities for consultation should be provided during program delivery to facilitate troubleshooting and help CHWs overcome challenges. A program that utilizes CHWs for various minority groups is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nickel(II) dichloride complexes with a pyridine-chelated imidazo[1,5-a]pyridin-3-ylidene py-ImPy ligand were developed as novel catalyst precursors for acrylate synthesis reaction from ethylene and carbon dioxide (CO2), a highly promising sustainable process in terms of carbon capture and utilization (CCU). Two types of ImPy salts were prepared as new C,N-bidentate ligand precursors; py-ImPy salts (3, 4a–4e) having a pyridine group at C(5) on ImPy and a N-picolyl-ImPy salt (10) having a picolyl group at N atom on ImPy. Nickel(II) complexes such as py-ImPyNi(II)Cl2 (7, 8a–8e) and N-picolyl-ImPyNi(II)Cl2 (12) were synthesized via transmetalation protocol from silver(I) complexes, py-ImPyAgCl (5, 6a–6e) and N-picolyl-ImPyAgCl (11). X-ray diffraction analysis of nickel(II) complexes (7, 8b, 12) showed a monomeric distorted tetrahedral geometry and a six-membered chelate ring structure. py-ImPy ligands formed a more planar six-membered chelate with the nickel center than did N-picolyl-ImPy ligand. py-ImPyNi(II)Cl2 complexes (8a–8e) with tert-butyl substituents exhibited noticeable catalytic activity in acrylate synthesis from ethylene and CO2 (up to 108% acrylate). Interestingly, the use of additional additives including monodentate phosphines increased catalytic activity up to 845% acrylate (TON 8). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid development of mixed‐halide perovskites has established a versatile optoelectronic platform owing to their extraordinary physical properties, but there remain challenges toward achieving highly reliable synthesis and performance, in addition, post‐synthesis approaches for tuning their photoluminescence properties after device fabrication remain limited. In this work, an effective approach is reported to leveraging hot electrons generated from plasmonic nanostructures to regulate the optical properties of perovskites. A plasmonic metasurface composed of Au nanoparticles can effectively tailor both photoluminescence and location‐specific phase segregation of mixed‐halide CsPbI2Br thin films. The ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy measurements reveal hot electron injection on the timescale of hundreds of femtoseconds. Photocurrent measurements confirm the hot‐electron‐enhanced photon‐carrier conversion, and in addition, gate‐voltage tuning of phase segregation is observed because of correlated carrier injection and halide migration in the perovskite films. Finally, the characteristics of the gate‐modulated light emission are found to conform to a rectified linear unit function, serving as nonlinear electrical‐to‐optical converters in artificial neural networks. Overall, the hot electron engineering approach demonstrated in this work provides effective location‐specific control of the phase and optical properties of halide perovskites, underscoring the potential of plasmonic metasurfaces for advancing perovskite technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the various types of solid‐state proton conductors (SSPCs), metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as significant importance in the field of proton‐exchange membrane fuel‐cell (PEMFCs) applications. Herein, we have synthesized a three‐dimensional trinuclear zinc‐based metal–organic framework, denoted as Zn‐SDC‐MOF by modification of reported synthetic conditions, where stilbenedicarboxylic acid (H2SDC) and 4,4′‐bipyridine (bpy) are employed as an organic linker unit. With motivation of air stable trinuclear Zn‐SDC MOFs, we have analyzed the water stability behavior of this compound. It resulted in exceptional water stability performance over 3 weeks as confirmed by powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD) analysis. Moreover, this MOF compounds have shown modest proton conductive performance of 0.8 × 10−3 S cm−1, at 95% relative humidity (RH) and 298 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlighted with improved long-term thermal and environmental stability, all-inorganic metal halide perovskites exhibit tunable physical properties, cost-effective synthesis, and satisfactory optoelectronic performance, attracting increasing research interest worldwide. However, a less explored feature of these materials is their strong spin–orbit coupling (SOC), which is the hidden force influencing not only band structure but also properties including magnetoresistance, spin lifetime, and singlet-triplet splitting. This review provides an overview of the fundamental aspects and the latest progress of the SOC and debate regarding Rashba effects in all-inorganic metal halide perovskites, providing critical insight into the physical phenomena and potential applications. Meanwhile, crystal structures and photophysics of all-inorganic perovskite are discussed in the context of SOC, along with the related experimental and characterization techniques. Furthermore, a recent understanding of the band topology in the all-inorganic halide perovskites is introduced to push the boundary even further for the novel applications of all-inorganic halide perovskites. Finally, an outlook is given on the potential directions of breakthroughs via leveraging the SOC in halide perovskites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inside cover picture, provided by Sungwoo Hong and co ‐ workers, illustrates a highly efficient and straightforward approach for the synthesis of spiroepoxy chroman ‐ 4 ‐ one derivatives with light irradiation using a blue LED under mild reaction conditions. During the reaction, the aldehyde generated in situ from the benzyl alcohol could further undergo visible light ‐ mediated internal radical cyclization and epoxidation, allowing the rapid generation of valuable and synthetically useful spiroepoxy chroman ‐ 4 ‐ ones and their nitrogen ‐ containing derivatives. Details of this work can be found in the communication on pages 3945 – 3949 (S. Jung, J. Kim, S. Hong, Adv. Synth. Catal. 2017, 359, 3945 – 3949; DOI: 10.1002/adsc.201701072). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cation‐binding salen nickel catalysts were developed for the enantioselective alkynylation of trifluoromethyl ketones in high yield (up to 99 %) and high enantioselectivity (up to 97 % ee). The reaction proceeds with substoichiometric quantities of base (10–20 mol % KOt‐Bu) and open to air. In the case of trifluoromethyl vinyl ketones, excellent chemo‐selectivity was observed, generating 1,2‐addition products exclusively over 1,4‐addition products. UV‐vis analysis revealed the pendant oligo‐ether group of the catalyst strongly binds to the potassium cation (K+) with 1:1 binding stoichiometry (Ka=6.6×105 m−1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cation‐binding salen nickel catalysts were developed for the enantioselective alkynylation of trifluoromethyl ketones in high yield (up to 99 %) and high enantioselectivity (up to 97 % ee). The reaction proceeds with substoichiometric quantities of base (10–20 mol % KOt‐Bu) and open to air. In the case of trifluoromethyl vinyl ketones, excellent chemo‐selectivity was observed, generating 1,2‐addition products exclusively over 1,4‐addition products. UV‐vis analysis revealed the pendant oligo‐ether group of the catalyst strongly binds to the potassium cation (K+) with 1:1 binding stoichiometry (Ka=6.6×105 m−1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Exploring the effect of various fused multi-level features on RHP. • Designing a WTI mechanism to obtain decoupled modality representation. • Introducing a gated fusion method to fuse multi-level features for RHP. Predicting the online review helpfulness is of great significance to consumers due to it affects consumers' purchase decisions to a large extent. To generate accurate helpfulness predictions for online reviews, we need to consider all multi-modal messages including texts and images. Although extensive works have acquired great advances in the Review Helpfulness Prediction (RHP) task, there remain challenges in achieving a fine-grained fusion of the two heterogeneous modalities. Therefore, we propose a novel RHP method DMFN, which exploits the multi-level information of both texts and images to enhance the fine-detail representation of multimodal data. We further employ a weighted token-wise interaction to preserve finer-grained information in a lightweight way. Architecturally, DMFN consists of three parts, a multi-granularity feature generation part, a weighted token-wise interaction part, and a gated multi-level fully fusion part. The first part is built to fully extract the visual and linguistic features from multimodal reviews. The second part is designed to decouple the multi-granularity content and then sufficiently utilize the pair-wise correlations to obtain a disentangled manifold for multimodal inputs. The last part is constructed to adaptively integrate cross-modal features, and it controls the fusion of different features at multiple scales. Extensive experiment results on our collected RHP datasets from Yelp.com and Amazon.com show that our proposed approach is significantly superior to other existing benchmark RHP methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a critical role in the development and progression of lung cancer by promoting its invasiveness and metastasis. Using integrative analyses of the public lung cancer database, we found that the expression levels of the tight junction proteins, zonula occluden (ZO)-1 and ZO-2, were lower in lung cancer tissues, including both lung adenocarcinoma and lung squamous cell carcinoma than in normal lung tissues analyzed using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Although the ectopic expression or knockdown of ZO-1 and ZO-2 did not affect the growth of lung cancer cells, they significantly regulated cell migration and invasion. When M0 macrophages were co-cultured with ZO-1 or ZO-2 knockdown Calu-1 cells, M2-like polarization was efficiently induced. Conversely, co-culture of M0 THP-1 cells with A549 cells stably expressing ZO-1 or ZO-2 significantly reduced M2 differentiation. We also identified G protein subunit alpha q (GNAQ) as a potential ZO-1- and ZO-2-specific activator through analysis of correlated genes with the TCGA lung cancer database. Our results suggest that the GNAQ-ZO-1/2 axis may play a tumor-suppressive role in lung cancer development and progression and highlight ZO-1 and ZO-2 as key EMT- and tumor microenvironment-suppressive proteins. These findings provide new insights for the development of targeted therapies for lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: Research progress on inorganic perovskites quantum dots is reviewed from three aspects: physical properties, synthesis approaches, and electronic applications. Inorganic perovskite quantum dots have been exploited as either the active layers or the additives in high-performance transistors and memories. Challenges and outlook on future advancement of perovskites quantum dots-based electronics are elaborated. Metal halide perovskites have generated significant attention in recent years because of their extraordinary physical properties and photovoltaic performance. Among these, inorganic perovskite quantum dots (QDs) stand out for their prominent merits, such as quantum confinement effects, high photoluminescence quantum yield, and defect-tolerant structures. Additionally, ligand engineering and an all-inorganic composition lead to a robust platform for ambient-stable QD devices. This review presents the state-of-the-art research progress on inorganic perovskite QDs, emphasizing their electronic applications. In detail, the physical properties of inorganic perovskite QDs will be introduced first, followed by a discussion of synthesis methods and growth control. Afterwards, the emerging applications of inorganic perovskite QDs in electronics, including transistors and memories, will be presented. Finally, this review will provide an outlook on potential strategies for advancing inorganic perovskite QD technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Kinetic modeling of MB sensitization of ZnO catalyst in photocatalytic dye removal. • Novel kinetic model by integration of reversible adsorption in photocatalysis. • Effect of oxygen vacancies on ZnO by H 2 -reduction on dye sensitization. • Impact of pH on adsorption and degradation of methylene blue and methyl orange. • Quantification of quantum yield by catalyst activity and dye sensitizer. Dye sensitization enhances catalyst reactivity using dye molecules to amplify light absorption. Researchers debate using dyes as model compounds due to uncertainty about whether degradation is driven by dye or the catalyst. Instead of avoiding this question, our approach involves understanding and quantifying the distinct roles of each component in the degradation process. This study investigated methylene blue (MB) sensitization of ZnO using a binary dye mixture of MB and methyl orange. A comprehensive kinetic model was developed to account for the function of MB sensitizer by simultaneously tracking the interaction of dyes across the catalyst surface and solution in pH range of 3 to 11. The effects of pH on dye adsorption were incorporated using dye speciation (pK a). The dye removal was kinetically modeled considering reversible adsorption/desorption and surface/aqueous degradation by the interaction between active radicals (in the solution) and electron-holes (on the catalyst surface). Additionally, the source of the generated electron hole (i.e., ZnO or MB sensitizer) was considered separately. Oxygen vacancy effects on dye adsorption and sensitization were explored through hydrogen reduction of ZnO at 500 °C. Characterization techniques assessed oxygen vacancy presence, while quantum yield calculations quantified MB sensitization's contribution to dye degradation versus the catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

KRAS plays a crucial role in regulating cell survival and proliferation and is one of the most commonly mutated oncogenes in human cancers. The novel KRASG12D inhibitor, MRTX1133, demonstrates promising antitumor efficacy in vitro and in vivo. However, the development of acquired resistance in treated patients presents a considerable challenge to sustained therapeutic effectiveness. In response to this challenge, we conducted site-specific mutagenesis screening to identify potential secondary mutations that could induce resistance to MRTX1133. We screened a range of KRAS G12D variants harboring potential secondary mutations, and 44 representative variants were selected for in-depth validation of the pooled screening outcomes. We identified eight variants (G12D with V9E, V9W, V9Q, G13P, T58Y, R68G, Y96W, and Q99L) that exhibited substantial resistance, with V9W showing notable resistance, and downstream signaling analyses and structural modeling were conducted. We observed that secondary mutations in KRAS G12D can lead to acquired resistance to MRTX1133 and BI-2865, a novel pan-KRAS inhibitor, in human cancer cell lines. This evidence is critical for devising new strategies to counteract resistance mechanisms and, ultimately, enhance treatment outcomes in patients with KRAS G12D -mutant cancers. • Secondary mutation in KRASG12D induces resistance to MRTX1133. • Site-specific mutagenesis screening identifies resistance-conferring variants. • The V9W mutation in KRASG12D shows significant resistance. • Downstream signaling analyses and structural modeling were utilized. • These insights aid in devising strategies against acquired resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Design of high energy density lithium storage materials is one of the everlasting issues in energy storage systems to realize a fully clean and sustainable energy grid. Here, 2,9-dimethyl quinacridone was selected as a precursor to prepare carbon-based electrode via low temperature heat-treatment process from 750 °C to 1050 °C. The pyro-polymerization of 2,9-dimethyl quinacridone induced a distinctive morphological transformation from rice husk-shaped 2,9-dimethyl quinacridone to carbon nanofibers. Electrode fabricated from pigment derived carbon nanofibers (PCNF) pyrolyzed at 750 °C maintained 878 mAh g-1 at a current density of 1 A g-1 and good Coulombic efficiency up to 98% after 1000 cycles. Furthermore, it delivered 337 mAh g-1 at a high current density of 25 A g-1. The superior performance was attributed to the stable structure of pristine 2,9-dimethyl quinacridone giving high thermal stability and crystallinity owing to well-defined π-π and hydrogen bonding interactions, thus rendering a stable microstructure with a large d-spacing of (002) plane of 3.580 Å, as well as efficient surface redox reactions. Density functional theory calculations indicated that the large interlayer distance could facilitate fast lithium ion insertion/extraction because of a ∼38% lower energy barrier for lithium ion insertion than compared with graphite. A lithium battery anode was fabricated from 2,9-dimethyl quinacridone (CI pigment red 122) derived carbon nanofibers (PCNF) via facile pyro-polymerization. The surface redox reactions as well as the enlarged interlayer distance and specific surface area of PCNF electrode were found to improve the accessibility and the surface storage sites for lithium ion with fast diffusion kinetics to lower cell resistance and ultimately cell performance. [Display omitted] • A soft carbon electrode prepared from an organic pigment via low temperature heat-treatment. • Pyro-polymerization induced a morphological transformation from rice husk-shaped precursor to carbon nanofibers. • Pseudocapacitive behavior enhanced lithium ion storage and redox kinetics. • DFT calculation supported superior electrochemical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The removal of nitric oxide (NO), which is an aggregation agent for fine dust that causes air pollution, from exhaust gas has been considered an important treatment in the context of environmental conservation. Herein, we propose a sustainable electrochemical NO removal system based on the reversible Fe2+/Fe3+-ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) redox reaction, which enables continuous NO capture and storage at ambient temperature without the addition of any sacrificial agents. We have designed a flow-type reaction system in which the NO absorption and emission can be separately conducted in the individual reservoirs of the catholyte and anolyte with the continuous regeneration of Fe2+-EDTA by the electrochemical reduction in Fe3+-EDTA. A continuous flow reaction using a silver cathode and glassy carbon anode showed that the concentrations of Fe2+ and Fe3+-EDTA in the electrolyte were successfully maintained at a 1:1 ratio, which demonstrates that the proposed system can be applied for continuous NO capture and storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated a novel kinetic model of the adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange, an anionic dye, using a commercial ZnO and reduced commercial ZnO photocatalysts. The results were compared and discussed with our previous study on methylene blue, a cationic dye, providing new insights into the interaction of the catalyst with molecules with different charges. The kinetic model was applied to describe adsorption in the dark, followed by photocatalytic degradation under simulated sunlight. In addition, the predicted pK a values of methyl orange were estimated using the kinetic model, which were found to be 4.40 and 9.34. The effect of ZnO oxygen vacancies (created through hydrogen reduction at 500 °C) on the adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange was investigated. The existence and effects of oxygen vacancies on ZnO were analyzed using TPR, PL, XPS, XRD, FE-SEM, EDS, BET, Tauc plot, Mott-Schottky, and cyclic Voltammetry. The appearance of oxygen vacancies was clearly observed by the characterization results, while the morphology of the nanoparticles was found to be unchanged. Additionally, the band gap of ZnO was decreased from 3.22 to 3.07 eV, and the maximum valence band of the catalyst was increased from 2.43 to 2.67 eV due to the reduction pretreatment. The findings suggest that the photocatalytic degradation rate of the reduced ZnO substantially increased. However, the adsorption removal of the anionic dye declined, which could be attributed to the more negative zeta potential of ZnO after hydrogen reduction. Finally, the quantum yield of photocatalytic process was calculated and compared with the results of methylene blue. [Display omitted] • The impact of oxygen vacancies on adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange by ZnO. • A new approach to modeling the kinetics of continuous adsorption and photocatalytic degradation. • The influence of pH on the speciation of anionic dye and its adsorption and degradation mechanism. • Determination of pK a values by utilizing experimental data on adsorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report epitaxially grown new two-dimensional metal–organic framework (MOF) thin films on a self-assembled monolayer (SAM). We fabricated these epitaxial thin-films using stepwise layer-by-layer seeding followed by solvothermal treatment. The MOF thin films exhibit ultrafast structural flexibility (through breathing) compared to their bulk samples upon uptake of organic guest molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extraordinary electronic, optical, and mechanical characteristics of 2D materials make them promising candidates for optoelectronics, specifically in infrared (IR) detectors owing to their flexible composition and tunable optoelectronic properties. This review presents the recent progress in IR detectors composed of 2D materials and their hybrid structures, including graphene, black phosphorous, transition metal dichalcogenides, halide perovskite as well as other new layered materials and their heterostructures. The focus is on the short‐wave, mid‐wave, and long‐wave infrared regimes, which pose a grand challenge for rational materials and device designs. The dependence of the device performance on the optical and electronic properties of 2D materials is extensively discussed, aiming to present the general strategies for designing optoelectronic devices with optimal performance. Furthermore, the recent results on 2D material‐based heterostructures are presented with an emphasis on the relationship between band alignment, charge transfer, and IR photodetection. Finally, a summary is given as well as the discussion of existing challenges and future directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generally, detoxification fabrics are defined as fabrics that remove or inhibit the production of toxic compounds, especially chemical warfare agents such as nerve gas agents. They are usually prepared using a complicated and time-consuming method. This study suggests a facile treatment method for preparing detoxification fabrics against nerve gas agents using polyethyleneimine and microwave curing. The detoxification properties of polyethyleneimine and microwave-treated polypropylene nonwoven fabric were evaluated using diisopropylfluoro-phosphate, which is a nerve agent simulant. The treated polypropylene fabric decontaminated 53.6% of diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP) in 2 h at 32 °C, and the half-life of DFP on the surface of the treated fabric was 122 min. The result indicates that the treated fabric can act as a basic organocatalyst for the DFP hydrolysis and has a shorter half-life owing to the large number of amine groups. Therefore, the facile treatment method has the potential for use in the preparation of detoxification fabrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surface chemistry of colloidal quantum dots (CQD) play a crucial role in fabricating highly efficient and stable solar cells. However, as‐synthesized PbS CQDs are significantly off‐stoichiometric and contain inhomogeneously distributed S and Pb atoms at the surface, which results in undercharged Pb atoms, dangling bonds of S atoms and uncapped sites, thus causing surface trap states. Moreover, conventional ligand exchange processes cannot efficiently eliminate these undesired atom configurations and defect sites. Here, potassium triiodide (KI3) additives are combined with conventional PbX2 matrix ligands to simultaneously eliminate the undercharged Pb species and dangling S sites via reacting with molecular I2 generated from the reversible reaction KI3 ⇌ I2 + KI. Meanwhile, high surface coverage shells on PbS CQDs are built via PbX2 and KI ligands. The implementation of KI3 additives remarkably suppresses the surface trap states and enhances the device stability due to the surface chemistry optimization. The resultant solar cells achieve the best power convention efficiency of 12.1% and retain 94% of its initial efficiency under 20 h continuous operation in air, while the control devices with KI additive deliver an efficiency of 11.0% and retains 87% of their initial efficiency under the same conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organolead trihalide perovskites have emerged as a new class of competitive solution‐processed semiconductors due to their unique optoelectronic properties. However, poor ambient stability and charge transport are the Achilles' heel of hybrid perovskites, thus limiting their applications. In this work, microwave‐assisted synthesis is applied for the first time to rapidly grow perovskite single crystals embedded with single‐wall carbon nanotubes. These nanotube‐in‐perovskite single crystals are endowed with a carrier mobility one order of magnitude higher than the pure counterpart and the related photodetectors show an ultrafast photo‐response speed (5 and 80 ns for rise and decay time, respectively). The fast and uniform heating of microwave irradiation facilitates the synthesis of ambient‐stable crystals with nanoscale additives, paving the way to creating a wide range of mixed‐dimensional perovskite‐based nanocomposites with optimal properties and device performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Biophysical aspects of in vivo tissue microenvironments include microscale mechanical properties, fibrillar alignment, and architecture or topography of the extracellular matrix (ECM). These aspects act in concert with chemical signals from a myriad of diverse ECM proteins to provide cues that drive cellular responses. Here, we used a bottom-up approach to build fibrillar architecture into 3D amorphous hydrogels using magnetic-field driven assembly of paramagnetic colloidal particles functionalized with three types of human ECM proteins found in vivo. We investigated if cells cultured in matrices comprised of fibrils of the same size and arranged in similar geometries will show similar behavior for each of the ECM proteins tested. We were able to resolve spatial heterogeneities in microscale mechanical properties near aligned fibers that were not observed in bulk tissue mechanics. We then used this platform to examine factors contributing to cell alignment in response to topographical cues in 3D laminin-rich matrices. Multiple human cell lines extended protrusions preferentially in directions parallel or perpendicular to aligned fibers independently of the ECM coating. Focal adhesion proteins, as measured by paxillin localization, were mainly diffuse in the cytoplasm, with few puncta localized at the protrusions. Integrin β1 and fascin regulated protrusion extension but not protrusion alignment. Myosin II inhibition did not reduce observed protrusion length. Instead, cells with reduced myosin II activity generated protrusions in random orientations when cultured in hydrogels with aligned fibers. Similarly, myosin II dependence was observed in vivo, where cells no longer aligned along the abluminal surfaces of blood vessels upon treatment with blebbistatin. These data suggest that myosin II can regulate sensing of topography in 3D engineered matrices for both normal and transformed cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal‐free, visible‐light‐induced site‐selective heteroarylation of remote C(sp3)−H bonds has been accomplished through the design of N‐alkoxyheteroarenium salts serving as both alkoxy radical precursors and heteroaryl sources. The transient alkoxy radical can be generated by the single‐electron reduction of an N‐alkoxypyridinium substrate by a photoexcited quinolinone catalyst. Subsequent radical translocation of the alkoxy radical forms a nucleophilic alkyl radical intermediate, which undergoes addition to the substrate to achieve remote C(sp3)−H heteroarylation. This cascade strategy provides a powerful platform for remote C(sp3)−H heteroarylation in a controllable and selective manner and is well suited for late‐stage functionalization of complex bioactive molecules. Remote access: Metal‐free, visible‐light‐induced site‐selective heteroarylation of remote C(sp3)−H bonds has been accomplished through the design of a class of N‐alkoxyheteroarenium salts serving as both alkoxy radical precursors and heteroaryl sources. This strategy features a photoredox radical cascade process involving the sequential fragmentation of an N‐alkoxyheteroarenium substrate, 1,5‐HAT reaction, and pyridylation, and is well suited for late‐stage functionalization of complex bioactive molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal‐free, visible‐light‐induced site‐selective heteroarylation of remote C(sp3)−H bonds has been accomplished through the design of N‐alkoxyheteroarenium salts serving as both alkoxy radical precursors and heteroaryl sources. The transient alkoxy radical can be generated by the single‐electron reduction of an N‐alkoxypyridinium substrate by a photoexcited quinolinone catalyst. Subsequent radical translocation of the alkoxy radical forms a nucleophilic alkyl radical intermediate, which undergoes addition to the substrate to achieve remote C(sp3)−H heteroarylation. This cascade strategy provides a powerful platform for remote C(sp3)−H heteroarylation in a controllable and selective manner and is well suited for late‐stage functionalization of complex bioactive molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Applications of prime editing are often limited due to insufficient efficiencies, and it can require substantial time and resources to determine the most efficient pegRNAs and prime editors (PEs) to generate a desired edit under various experimental conditions. Here, we evaluated prime editing efficiencies for a total of 338,996 pairs of pegRNAs including 3,979 epegRNAs and target sequences in an error-free manner. These datasets enabled a systematic determination of factors affecting prime editing efficiencies. Then, we developed computational models, named DeepPrime and DeepPrime-FT, that can predict prime editing efficiencies for eight prime editing systems in seven cell types for all possible types of editing of up to 3 base pairs. We also extensively profiled the prime editing efficiencies at mismatched targets and developed a computational model predicting editing efficiencies at such targets. These computational models, together with our improved knowledge about prime editing efficiency determinants, will greatly facilitate prime editing applications. [Display omitted] • The selection of optimal prime editors and guide RNAs is difficult • The prime editing efficiencies of 338,996 pairs of pegRNAs and targets were evaluated • Deep-learning models (DeepPrime and DeepPrime-FT) predict prime editing efficiencies • DeepPrime-Off, another model, predicts off-target effects of prime editing An approach to identify the best guide RNAs for prime editing that couples insights from high-throughput analysis of >300,000 guide RNAs with deep learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although droplet microfludics is a promising technology for handling a number of liquids of a single type of analyte, it has limitations in handling thousands of different types of analytes for multiplex assay. Here, we present a novel “liquid-capped encoded microcapsule”, which is applicable to various liquid format assays. Various liquid drops can be graphically encoded and arrayed without repeated dispensing processes, evaporation, and the risk of cross-contamination. Millions of nanoliter-scale liquids are encapsulated within encoded microcapsules and self-assembled in microwells in a single dispensing process. The graphical code on the microcapsule enables identification of randomly assembled microcapsules in each microwell. We conducted various liquid phase assays including enzyme inhibitor screening, virus transduction, and drug-induced apoptosis tests. The results showed that our liquid handling technology can be utilized widely for various solution phase assays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to introduce a new surgical technique, that involves modified Candy-package wiring followed by IM nailing fixation and to determine the clinical and radiological results obtained in patients with unstable intertrochanteric fractures with a lesser trochanter fragment.Materials and Methods: This study included 22 patients who were undergone proximal IM nailing with lesser trochanter wiring between January 2014 to June 2015. All patients were treated with minimally invasive technique of candy-package wiring for lesser trochanter fragments. The mean age was 75.8 years (range, 53-88) and average follow-up period was 15.1 months (range, 12-24). Each patient was followed up for a minimum of 12 months and their clinical and radiological results were analyzed.Results: The mean period required for fracture union was 16.6 weeks. (range, 8-25) and union was successfully completed in all cases. The WOMAC scores at the last F/U visit (average; 45.4, range; 21-75) were not significantly different to pre-trauma status (average; 36.5, range; 19-59) (p=0.087). In comparison of ambulatory capacity prior to trauma, ambulatory aggravation was noted in four cases (18.2%), and eighteen cases (81.8%) was sustained walking ability of prior of trauma. Wiring breakage was found in two cases and heterotrophic ossification in one case. There were no functional deficeit related to the radiologic finding in these patients. With regard to postoperative complications, were no cut-outs, breakage, or pullout of screws.Conclusion: When surgically repairing unstable intertrochanteric fractures with lesser trochanter comminution using proximal IM nailing method, the modified Candy-packaging wiring technique increases the fixation force at the fracture site. Thus, through this technique, both firm fixation of the lesser trochanter and more stable bony union were obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shape-encoded silica microparticles for use in multiplexed bioassays were fabricated by using optofluidic maskless lithography (OFML) and tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) polymerization. These encoded silica microparticles exhibit excellent bioconjugation properties and negligible non-specific analyte adsorption. Encoded silica microparticles could be useful in a wide variety of applications, including DNA- and protein-based diagnostics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study demonstrates a simple approach for fabricating a 3D-μPAD from a single sheet of paper by double-sided printing and lamination. First, a wax printer prints vertically symmetrical and asymmetrical wax patterns onto a double-sided paper surface. Then, a laminator melts the printed wax patterns to form microfluidic channels in the paper sheet. The vertically symmetrical wax patterns form vertical channels when the melted wax patterns make contact with each other. The asymmetrical wax patterns form lateral and vertical channels at the cross section of the paper when the printed wax patterns are melted to a lower height than the thickness of the single sheet of paper. Finally, the two types of wax patterns form a 3D microfluidic network to move fluid laterally and vertically in the single sheet of paper. This method eliminates major technical hurdles related to the complicated and tedious alignment, assembly, bonding, and punching process. This 3D-μPAD can be used in a multiplex digital assay to measure the concentration of a target analyte in a sample solution simply by counting the number of colored bars at a fixed time. It does not require any external instruments to perform digital measurements. Therefore, we expect that this approach could be an instrument-free assay format for use in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) is the etiological agent of enzootic bovine leukosis, which is the most common neoplastic disease of cattle. BLV infects cattle worldwide, imposing a severe economic impact on the dairy cattle industry. However, there are no comprehensive studies on the distribution of BLV in the Philippines, and the genetic characteristics of Philippine BLV strains are unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to detect BLV infections in the Philippines and determined their genetic variability. Blood samples were obtained from 1116 cattle from different farms on five Philippine islands, and BLV provirus was detected by BLV-CoCoMo-qPCR-2 and nested PCR targeting BLV long terminal repeats. Out of 1116 samples, 108 (9.7 %) and 54 (4.8 %) were positive for BLV provirus, as determined by BLV-CoCoMo-qPCR-2 and nested PCR, respectively. Of the five islands, Luzon Island showed the highest prevalence of BLV infection (23.1 %). Partial env gp51 genes from 43 samples, which were positive for BLV provirus by both methods, were sequenced for phylogenetic analysis. Phylogenetic analysis based on a 423-bp fragment of the env gene revealed that Philippine BLV strains clustered into either genotype 1 or genotype 6. Substitutions were mainly found in antigenic determinants, such as the CD4 T-cell epitope, the CD8 T-cell epitope, the second neutralizing domain, B and E epitopes, and these substitutions varied according to genotype. This study provides comprehensive information regarding BLV infection levels in the Philippines and documents the presence of two BLV genotypes, genotypes 1 and 6, in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]