Photocatalytic Strategy for Decyanative Transformations Enabled by Amine-Ligated Boryl Radical.

Decyanation after α-functionalization by exploiting the inherent properties of cyano groups enables the strategic assembly of a carbon scaffold. Herein, we demonstrate an amine-ligated boryl radical-mediated cyano group transfer (CGT) strategy of malononitriles under photocatalytic conditions. This strategy allows for the cleavage of C(sp)-CN and the formation of C(sp)-D and C(sp) to realize decyanative deuteration and cyclization via radical-polar crossover.

Molecular Design of Hole-Collecting Materials for Co-Deposition Processed Perovskite Solar Cells: A Tripodal Triazatruxene Derivative with Carboxylic Acid Groups.

High-performance and cost-effective hole-collecting materials (HCMs) are indispensable for commercially viable perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Here, we report an anchorable HCM composed of a triazatruxene core connected with three alkyl carboxylic acid groups (). In contrast to the phosphonic acid-containing tripodal analog (), molecules can form a hydrophilic monolayer on a transparent conducting oxide surface, which is beneficial for subsequent perovskite film deposition in the traditional layer-by-layer fabrication process.

Characterization of fungal carbonyl sulfide hydrolase belonging to clade D β-carbonic anhydrase.

Carbonyl sulfide hydrolase (COSase) is a unique enzyme that exhibits high activity towards carbonyl sulfide (COS) but low carbonic anhydrase (CA) activity, despite belonging to the CA family. COSase was initially identified in a sulfur-oxidizing bacterium and later discovered in the ascomycete Trichoderma harzianum strain THIF08. The COSase from T.

Sensory Characteristics and Impact of Flavanol-Rich Grape and Blueberry Extract on Blood Flow Velocity and Oxidative Stress.

Background: Several epidemiological studies and intervention trials have demonstrated that grapes and blueberries, which are rich in flavanols, can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. However, the mechanisms of action of these compounds remain unclear due to their low bioavailability.

Objective: This study aimed to characterize the sensory properties, blood flow velocity, and oxidative stress of a polyphenol rich grape and blueberry extract (PEGB) containing approximately 16% flavanols (11% monomers and 4% dimers).

Selective adsorption of unmethylated DNA on ZnO nanowires for separation of methylated DNA.

DNA methylation is a crucial epigenetic modification used as a biomarker for early cancer progression. However, existing methods for DNA methylation analysis are complex, time-consuming, and prone to DNA degradation. This work demonstrates selective capture of unmethylated DNAs using ZnO nanowires without chemical or biological modifications, thereby concentrating methylated DNA, particularly those with high methylation levels that can predict cancer risk.

Electrochemical oxidative dearomatization of electron-deficient phenols using Br/Br catalysis.

An electrochemical method for the oxidative dearomatization of electron-deficient phenols by employing tetrabutylammonium bromide as a mediator under aqueous biphasic conditions is reported. This approach represents a safer alternative to the use of stoichiometric chemical oxidants and enables oxidative dearomative spirolactonization and spiroetherification reactions. Compared to previous approaches based on direct electrolysis, this strategy expands the substrate scope to electron-deficient phenols.

Contributions of Both the Eastman Entropy of Transfer and Electric Double Layer to the Electromotive Force of Ionic Thermoelectric Supercapacitors.

Recently, ionic thermoelectric supercapacitors have gained attention because of their high open circuit voltages, even for ions that are redox inactive. As a source of open circuit voltage (electromotive force), an asymmetry in electric double layers developed by the adsorption of ions at the electrode surfaces kept at different temperatures has previously been proposed. As another source, the Eastman entropy of transfer, which is related to the Soret coefficient, has been considered.

Influence of irrigation with oxygen plasma treated metal contaminated water on plant growth.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of plasma treated metal contaminated water, used for irrigation, on plant growth. Zinc (Zn) is a commonly used metal that can enter the environment through industrial processes. It may be released as particles into the atmosphere or discharged as wastewater into waterways or the ground.

Multiple Near-Infrared Chromisms of a Heteromerous Overcrowded Ethylene with Large Permanent Dipole Moment.

An overcrowded ethylene composed of electron-donating anion, naphthoxide, and electron-accepting cation, acridinium, has been synthesized. It is in equilibrium between a folded conformer having a smaller permanent dipole moment with visible light absorption and a twisted conformer having a larger permanent dipole moment with NIR light absorption. The overcrowded ethylene shows multiple NIR chromisms, such as solvatochromism, thermochromism, mechanochromism, vapochromism, halochromism, and amphoteric electrochromisms, which are caused by the conformational change between folded and twisted conformers or by controlling the energy difference between the HOMO of the donor moiety and the LUMO of the acceptor moiety.

Self-assembled doxorubicin prodrug riding on the albumin express train enable tumor targeting and bio-activation.

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a vital anthracycline chemotherapeutic drug, yet presenting significant challenges due to its severe cardiotoxicity. While Doxil enhances the pharmacokinetics and reduces the cardiotoxicity of DOX solution (DOX sol), it shows limitations of low drug loading capacity and inadequate cellular uptake. To overcome these issues, this study developed a novel disulfide bond-linked DOX-maleimide prodrug (DSSM).

Evaluation of dose calculation method with a combination of Monte Carlo method and removal-diffusion equation in heterogeneous geometry for boron neutron capture therapy.

Clinical research in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) has been conducted worldwide. Currently, the Monte Carlo (MC) method is the only dose calculation algorithm implemented in the treatment planning system for the clinical treatment of BNCT. We previously developed the MC-RD calculation method, which combines the MC method and the removal-diffusion (RD) equation, for fast dose calculation in BNCT.

Frequency-domain thermoreflectance with beam offset without the spot distortion for accurate thermal conductivity measurement of anisotropic materials.

The measurement of thermal conductivities of anisotropic materials and atomically thin films is pivotal for the thermal design of next-generation electronic devices. Frequency-domain thermoreflectance (FDTR) is a pump-probe technique that is known for its accurate and straightforward approach to determining thermal conductivity and stands out as one of the most effective methodologies. Existing research has focused on advancing a measurement system that incorporates beam-offset FDTR.

Enhanced Production of Rebaudioside D and Rebaudioside M through V155T Substitution in the Glycosyltransferase UGT91D2 from .

Steviol glycosides (SGs) are noncaloric natural sweeteners found in the leaves of stevia (). These diterpene glycosides are biosynthesized by attaching varying numbers of monosaccharides, primarily glucose, to steviol aglycone. Rebaudioside (Reb) D and Reb M are highly glucosylated SGs that are valued for their superior sweetness and organoleptic properties, yet they are present in limited quantities in stevia leaves.

Direct Click Bonding of Dissimilar Solid Materials Based on the Catalyst-Free Huisgen 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition.

Here, "direct click bonding" of solid materials is proposed, which is the direct bonding of solid surfaces via the formation of covalent bonds without any adhesive. The present study shows that the Cu-free Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction proceeds between solid surfaces displaying cyclooctyne and azide groups, and it achieved the strong bonding of dissimilar solid materials as a macroscopic reaction. The bonding strength obtained is sufficiently high for practical use, and the strength can be controlled by the surface density of the cyclooctyne groups.

Photocurrent Generation by Plant Light-Harvesting Complexes is Enhanced by Lipid-Linked Chromophores in a Self-Assembled Lipid Membrane.

The light-harvesting pigment-protein complex II (LHCII) from plants can be used as a component for biohybrid photovoltaic devices, acting as a photosensitizer to increase the photocurrent generated when devices are illuminated with sunlight. LHCII is effective at photon absorption in the red and blue regions of the visible spectrum, however, it has low absorption in the green region (550-650 nm). Previous studies have shown that synthetic chromophores can be used to fill this spectral gap and transfer additional energy to LHCII, but it was uncertain whether this would translate into an improved performance for photovoltaics.

Multiple myeloma-associated non-crystalline proximal tubulopathy and crystalline cast nephropathy: Biochemical and structural features of disease-causing monoclonal kappa light chains.

Various tubular diseases in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) are caused by monoclonal immunoglobulin light chains (LCs). However, the physicochemical characteristics of the disease-causing LCs contributing to the onset of MM-associated tubular diseases remain unclear. We herein report a rare case of MM-associated combined tubulopathies: non-crystalline light chain proximal tubulopathy (LCPT) and crystalline light chain cast nephropathy (LCCN).

Autonomous ribosome biogenesis in vitro.

Ribosome biogenesis is pivotal in the self-replication of life. In Escherichia coli, three ribosomal RNAs and 54 ribosomal proteins are synthesized and subjected to cooperative hierarchical assembly facilitated by numerous accessory factors. Realizing ribosome biogenesis in vitro is a critical milestone for understanding the self-replication of life and creating artificial cells.

Hydration and Biodistribution of Zwitterionic Dendrimers Conjugating a Sulfobetaine Monomer and Polymers.

Zwitterionic polymers exhibit strong hydration, high biocompatibility, and antifouling properties. Dendrimers are regularly branched polymers, which are used in the drug delivery system (DDS). In this study, we synthesized zwitterionic monomer- and polymer-conjugated dendrimers as a biocompatible nanoparticle to investigate the relation between the hydration property and biodistribution.

Formation Dynamics of Thermally Stable 1D/3D Perovskite Interfaces for High-Performance Photovoltaics.

Direct understanding of the formation and crystallization of low-dimensional (LD) perovskites with varying dimensionalities employing the same bulky cations can offer insights into LD perovskites and their heterostructures with 3D perovskites. In this study, the secondary amine cation of N-methyl-1-(naphthalen-1-yl)methylammonium (M-NMA) and the formation dynamics of its corresponding LD perovskite are investigated. The intermolecular π-π stacking of M-NMA and their connection with inorganic PbI octahedrons within the product structures control the formation of LD perovskite.

Atmospheric Pressure Mass Spectrometry Imaging Using Electrospray-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization with Gas Transportation through a Heated Tube and Minimal Sample Preparation.

Mass spectrometry (MS) is a valuable tool that enables label-free analysis and the ability to measure multiple molecules. The atmospheric pressure MS imaging (MSI) method usually requires tedious sample preparation. A simple ionization method with minimal sample preparation is needed for high-throughput analysis.

Chemical modulation and defect engineering in high-performance GeTe-based thermoelectrics.

Thermoelectric technology plays an important role in developing sustainable clean energy and reducing carbon emissions, offering new opportunities to alleviate current energy and environmental crises. Nowadays, GeTe has emerged as a highly promising thermoelectric candidate for mid-temperature applications, due to its remarkable thermoelectric figure of merit () of 2.7.

Single-isomer bis(pyrrolidino)fullerenes as electron-transporting materials for tin halide perovskite solar cells.

Although fullerene bisadducts are promising electron-transporting materials for tin halide perovskite solar cells, they are generally synthesized as a mixture of isomeric products that require a complicated separation process. Here, we introduce a phenylene-bridged bis(pyrrolidino)fullerene, Bis-PC, which forms only a single isomer due to geometrical restriction. When used in a tin perovskite solar cell with a PEAFASnI (PEA: phenylethylammonium and FA: formamidinium) light absorption layer, the resulting open-circuit voltage ( ) was 0.

Compositional analysis of traditional liquid gold with separation of compounds containing heavy atoms in ion mobility-mass spectrometry.

"Liquid gold" has been traditionally used for over a century to decorate ceramicware, but its chemical composition has not been thoroughly investigated. One of the keys to successfully characterizing liquid gold, which is a complex mixture, is to distinguish Au-containing products from other chemicals. In this paper, we propose a separation based on the difference in collision cross section, of which chemicals with heavy atoms are relatively smaller than those without in ion mobility-mass spectrometry (IM-MS).

Sn-carbon nanocomposite anode for all-solid-state chloride-ion batteries operating at room temperature.

All-solid-state chloride-ion batteries promise high theoretical energy density and room-temperature operation. However, conventional Sn anodes suffer from low material utilization attributed to large particle size and volume expansion. Here, nano-sized Sn particles in an N-doped carbon framework are used as an anode, resulting in ∼12% higher capacity compared to conventional Sn, due to improved Sn utilization and suppression of volume expansion.