Insights into an indolicidin-derived low-toxic anti-microbial peptide's efficacy against bacterial cells while preserving eukaryotic cell viability.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a current solution to combat antibiotic resistance, but they have limitations, including their expensive production process and the induction of cytotoxic effects. We have developed novel AMP candidate (peptide 3.1) based on indolicidin, among the shortest naturally occurring AMP.

Post-Modification Approach for Self-Exfoliated Synthesis of Pyridinium Sulfobetaine Covalent Organic Frameworks for Enhanced Lithium-Ion Conductivity.

While covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have been extensively investigated in the field of organic electrolyte materials, there is potential for further enhancement of their room-temperature ionic conductivity. This study introduces a novel methodology to induce self-exfoliation in the parent COF during synthesis through a postmodification technique. This process yields covalent organic nanosheets that feature pyridinium sulfobetaine groups, referred to as PS-CON.

Temporal variations in the surface aragonite saturation state of the Yellow Sea: Observations at the Socheongcho Ocean Research Station during 2017-2022.

Accurately constraining the natural variability of the carbonate system is essential for evaluating long-term changes in coastal areas, which result from the absorption of anthropogenic CO. This is particularly important given the significant variation in physical and biological processes in these regions. In this regard, the analysis of surface carbonate chemistry in the Yellow Sea was conducted using discrete seawater samples obtained from the Socheongcho Ocean Research Station (37.

Acidity in rainwater and airborne suspended particles in the southwestern coast of the East Sea (Sea of Japan): Their potential impact on seawater total alkalinity.

Our understanding of the impact of atmospheric acid deposition on marine carbonate system remains limited, largely due to a lack of data regarding acidity present in atmospheric particles and precipitation. Previous research has relied on the electroneutrality-based ion balance method for indirect estimation of atmospheric acidity. In this study, atmospheric samples collected at a coastal site of South Korea were mixed with seawater to measure the change in seawater total alkalinity (ΔTA) associated with atmospheric proton loading.

Thyroxine metabolite-derived 3-iodothyronamine (T1AM) and synthetic analogs as efficient suppressors of transthyretin amyloidosis.

Aggregation and fibrillization of transthyretin (TTR) is a fatal pathogenic process that can cause cardiomyopathic and polyneuropathic diseases in humans. Although several therapeutic strategies have been designed to prevent and treat related pathological events, there is still an urgent need to develop better strategies to improve potency and wider applicability. Here, we present our study demonstrating that 3-iodothyronamine (T1AM) and selected thyronamine-like compounds can effectively prevent TTR aggregation.

Formation of Highly Stable 1,2-Dicarbonyl Organic Radicals from Cyclic (Alkyl)(amino)carbenes.

Two air-stable organic radicals derived from oxalyl chloride and cAAC were synthesized, resulting in the unexpected formation of a known (amino)(carboxy) radical cation ([]BF) and the oxidative formation of a 1,2-dicarbonyl radical cation ([]BF) from a neutral 3-oxetanone compound (). The highly strained and newly discovered was obtained by a single-electron reduction of []BF with a mild reducing agent. This result differs from the generation of NHC-based 1,2-dicarbonyl radicals, indicating the uniqueness of cAAC.

Single Quantum Dot Selection and Tailor-Made Photonic Device Integration using a Nanoscale-Focus Pinspot.

Among the diverse platforms of quantum light sources, epitaxially grown semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) are one of the most attractive workhorses for realizing quantum photonic technologies owing to their outstanding brightness and scalability. However, the spatial and spectral randomness of most QDs severely hinders the construction of large-scale photonic platforms. In this work, a methodology is presented to deterministically integrate single QDs with tailor-made photonic structures.

Synthesis and Characterization of Zinc(II), Cadmium(II), and Palladium(II) Complexes with the Thiophene-Derived Schiff Base Ligand.

Zn(II), Pd(II), and Cd(II) complexes, (M = Zn, Pd; X = Br, Cl) and (X = Cl, Br; = , 2), supported by the ()- , -dimethyl- -(thiophen-2-ylmethylene)ethane-1,2-diamine ( ) ligand are synthesized and structurally characterized. Density functional theory (DFT) electronic structure calculations and variable-temperature NMR support the presence of two conformers and a dynamic interconversion process of the minor conformer to the major one in solution. It is found that the existence of two relevant complex conformers and their respective ratios in solution depend on the central metal ions and counter ions, either Cl or Br.

Discrimination of Copper Molten Marks through a Fire Reproduction Experiment Using Microstructure Features.

The copper molten marks at a fire site provide important clues for determining the causes of fire. Four factors have been presented to quantitatively discriminate copper molten marks, namely the fraction of (001) component perpendicular to the demarcation line, the grain aspect ratio, the fraction of Σ3 boundaries, and the fraction of maximum grain size. However, only laboratory-level results of these parameters have been presented, and their applicability in actual fires is yet to be verified.

Dramatically Enhanced Reactivity of Fullerenes and Tetrazine towards the Inverse-Electron-Demand Diels-Alder Reaction inside a Porous Porphyrinic Cage.

Inverse-electron-demand Diels-Alder reaction (IEDDA) between fullerenes and 1,2,4,5-tetrazine generally requires harsh conditions and long reaction times due to their strong electron-accepting nature. Herein, we report a dramatic enhancement in the reactivity of the fullerenes (C /C )-tetrazine reaction inside a porous Zn-porphyrinic cage (Zn-PB) under sustainable conditions by installing a tetrazine-based axle (LA) via metal-ligand coordination bond, which modulates the cavity size to facilitate the encapsulation of fullerenes. Upon encapsulation, the close proximity of fullerenes and the tetrazine group of LA dramatically increase their reactivity towards the IEDDA reaction to form fullerene-tetrazine adducts.

Factors affecting the subsurface aragonite undersaturation layer in the Pacific Arctic region.

This study evaluated interannual variation in the subsurface aragonite undersaturation zone (Ω layer) in the Pacific Arctic Ocean, using data from the 2016-2019 period. The upper boundary (DEP) of the Ω layer generally formed at a depth where the contribution of corrosive Pacific water was approximately 98 %. The intensity of the Beaufort Gyre associated with freshwater accumulation mainly determined interannual variation in DEP, but the direction of its effect was opposite west and east of ~166°W.

Potential Method to Distinguish Copper Molten Marks Using Boundary and Grain Characteristics.

The microstructure of molten marks changes according to ambient temperatures, when a short circuit occurs. Investigation of microstructural changes is important for understanding the properties of copper and examining the cause of a fire. In this study, the boundary characteristics and grain-size distribution of molten marks-primary-arc beads (PABs), which short-circuited at room temperature (25 °C), and secondary-arc beads (SABs), which short-circuited at high temperatures (600 °C, 900 °C)-were compared using electron backscatter diffraction.

Monthly and seasonal variations in the surface carbonate system and air-sea CO flux of the Yellow Sea.

Surface carbonate chemistry in the Yellow Sea was investigated based on discrete seawater samples collected from 2017 to 2020 at the Socheongcho Ocean Research Station (S-ORS; 37.423°N, 124.738°E).

Contagious Aggregation: Transmittable Protein Aggregation in Cellular Communities Initiated by Synthetic Cells.

Aggregation of amyloidogenic proteins causing neurodegenerative diseases is an uncontrollable and contagious process that is often associated with lipid membranes in a highly complex physiological environment. Although several approaches using natural cells and membrane models have been reported, systematic investigations focusing on the association with the membranes are highly challenging, mostly because of the lack of proper molecular tools. Here, we report a new supramolecular approach using a synthetic cell system capable of controlling the initiation of protein aggregation and mimicking various conditions of lipid membranes, thereby enabling systematic investigations of membrane-dependent effects on protein aggregation by visualization.

Visualization of lipophagy using a supramolecular FRET pair.

A rationally designed supramolecular FRET pair consisting of cyanine3-cucurbit[7]uril (Cy3-CB[7]) and boron-dipyrromethene 630/650-adamantylammonium (BDP-AdA) can be used to visualize organelle-specific autophagy events. The intracellular accumulations of Cy3-CB[7] in lysosomes and BDP-AdA in lipid droplets (LDs) and the formation of an intracellular host-guest complex between Cy3-CB[7] and BDP-AdA resulting in FRET signals allow us to visualize the fusion of LDs with lysosomes, namely, lipophagy. This study demonstrates the potential of supramolecular imaging based on bio-orthogonal host-guest interactions in the investigation of selective autophagy events.

One-pot Synthesis of a Truncated Cone-shaped Porphyrin Macrocycle and Its Self-assembly into Permanent Porous Material.

Here, we report the synthesis of a truncated cone-shaped triangular porphyrinic macrocycle, P L , via a single step imine condensation of a cis-diaminophenylporphyrin and a bent dialdehyde-based linker as building units. X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that the truncated cone-shaped P L molecules are stacked on top of each other by π⋯π and CH⋯π interactions, to form 1.7 nm wide hollow columns in the solid state.

Atmospheric deposition of inorganic nutrients to the Western North Pacific Ocean.

We evaluated the potential impacts of atmospheric deposition on marine productivity and inorganic carbon chemistry in the northwestern Pacific Ocean (8-39°N, 125-157°E). The nutrient concentration in atmospheric total suspended particles decreased exponentially with increasing distance from the closest land-mass (Asia), clearly revealing anthropogenic and terrestrial contributions. The predicted mean depositional fluxes of inorganic nitrogen were approximately 34 and 15 μmol m d to the west and east of 140°E, respectively, which were at least two orders of magnitude greater than the inorganic phosphorus flux.

Countermeasure for security loophole caused by asymmetric correlations of reference frame independent quantum key distribution with fewer quantum states.

One of the challenging issues in free-space quantum key distribution (QKD) is the requirement of active compensation of the reference frame between the transmitter and receiver. Reference frame independent (RFI) QKD removes active compensation, but it requires more quantum states. A recent proposal can effectively reduce the required quantum states, but this can be achieved assuming the correlations defined in RFI QKD are symmetric.

Programmable Synthesis of Silver Wheels.

The synthesis of sandwich-shaped multinuclear silver complexes with planar penta- and tetranuclear wheel-shaped silver units and a central anion, [Ag()(A)](OTf), , = 4 or 5 and A = OH or F or Cl, is reported, along with complete spectroscopic and structural characterization. An NMR mechanistic study reveals that silver complexes were formed in the following order: → → → . The central hydroxides in and exhibit exotic physical properties due to the confined environment inside the complex.

Diphenyl-Methane Based Thyromimetic Inhibitors for Transthyretin Amyloidosis.

Thyromimetics, whose physicochemical characteristics are analog to thyroid hormones (THs) and their derivatives, are promising candidates as novel therapeutics for neurodegenerative and metabolic pathologies. In particular, sobetirome (GC-1), one of the initial halogen-free thyromimetics, and newly synthesized IS25 and TG68, with optimized ADME-Tox profile, have recently attracted attention owing to their superior therapeutic benefits, selectivity, and enhanced permeability. Here, we further explored the functional capabilities of these thyromimetics to inhibit transthyretin (TTR) amyloidosis.