Inclusion of gold ions in tiara-like nickel hexanuclear nanoclusters.

Tiara-like metal nanoclusters (TNCs) composed of group 10 transition metals and thiolates can easily change their number of polymerization and include various molecules or metal ions as guests within their ring structures. Therefore, they are expected to be applied in sensing, storage, and catalyst materials based on their selective inclusion characteristics. However, there are very few reports regarding the principles of selective inclusion for guest molecules/ions in TNCs.

Synthesis of new functionalized bioactive S-substituted indolyl-triazoles as cytotoxic and apoptotic agents through multi-targeted kinase inhibition.

The search for new anticancer compounds is a major focus for researchers in chemistry, biology, and medicine. Cancer affects people of all ages and regions, with rising incidence rates. It does not discriminate by age or gender, making it a significant threat to humanity.

Copromicroscopic Diagnosis and Prevalence of Parasitic Infections in Animals in Sitio Ibayo, San Mateo, Rizal, Philippines: Establishing a Sentinel Study for Zoonotic Disease Surveillance.

Background: This study investigates the prevalence and intensity of parasitic infections in animal fecal samples collected from Sitio Ibayo, San Mateo, Rizal, Philippines, a suburban community considered a potential sentinel site for zoonotic disease surveillance.

Methods: Using cross-sectional sampling, 132 animal fecal samples were collected in the area exhaustively. Samples were processed through direct smear with saline solution and Lugol's iodine and flotation technique using mini- and fill-FLOTAC.

Electrochemical Small-Angle X-ray Scattering for Potential-Dependent Structural Analysis of Redox Enzymes.

Various methods exist for exploring different aspects of these mechanisms. However, techniques for investigating structural differences between the reduced and oxidized forms of an enzyme are limited. Here, we propose electrochemical small-angle X-ray scattering (EC-SAXS) as a novel method for potential-dependent structural analysis of redox enzymes and redox-active proteins.

Amodiaquine Analogs Are Potent Inhibitors of Interleukin-6 Production Induced by Activation of Toll-Like Receptors Recognizing Pathogen Nucleic Acids.

Excessive inflammatory responses to viral infections, known as cytokine storms, are caused by overactivation of endolysosomal Toll-like receptors (TLRs) (TLR3, TLR7, TLR8, and TLR9) and can be lethal, but no specific treatment is available. Some quinoline derivatives with antiviral activity were tried during the recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, but showed serious toxicity, and their efficacy for treating viral cytokine storms was not established. Here, in order to discover a low-toxicity quinoline derivative as a candidate for controlling virally induced inflammation, we synthesized a series of derivatives of amodiaquine (ADQ), a quinoline approved as an antimalarial, and tested their effects on TLRs-mediated production of inflammatory cytokines and cell viability in vitro.

Platinum-Acetylide Complexes as Nonfullerene Acceptors in Organic Photovoltaic Systems.

Three distinct n-type semiconductors were derived from a platinum-trialkyl phosphine complex; to lower their LUMO levels, various indene derivatives were incorporated using thiophene (PtTIC ()), thieno[3,2-]thiophene (PtT2IC ()), and 4-cyclopenta[2,1-:3,4-']dithiophene (PtCDTIC ()) as the acetylide donor units. Single-crystal X-ray diffractometry analysis revealed translinear platinum-acetylide complexation in all cases. The strong (═O···S) interactions between the oxygen atoms of the indene acceptor units and the sulfur atoms of the thiophene-derived donor units induced a highly planar orientation among the heterocyclic ligands, featuring π-π interactions between the planes.

Ligand-Dependent Intracluster Interactions in Electrochemical CO Reduction Using Cu Nanoclusters.

The electrochemical CO reduction reaction (CORR) has been extensively studied because it can be leveraged to directly convert CO into valuable hydrocarbons. Among the various catalysts, copper nanoclusters (Cu NCs) exhibit high selectivity and efficiency for producing CORR products owing to their unique geometric/electronic structures. However, the influence of protective ligands on the CORR performance of Cu NCs remains unclear.

Structural Analysis of Interfacial Films of Oil/Water Emulsions Prepared by Emulsification via Lamellar Gels.

An effective approach to stabilize emulsions is to increase the rigidity of oil-water (O/W) interfacial films by adsorbing molecular assemblies such as lamellar phases around the emulsion particles. In this study, we aimed to analyze the structure of a lamellar phase adsorbed at an O/W interface and to clarify the effect of the structure and physicochemical properties of the lamellar phase on the dispersion stability of emulsions. The adsorption of the lamellar phase at the O/W interface of the emulsions was confirmed by freeze-fracture transmission electron microscopy of O/W emulsions prepared by diluting and dispersing gels formed with polyglycerol fatty acid esters, water, and cetyl isooctanoate (CIO).

Intricate Low-Symmetry Ag Capsules Formed by Anion-Templated Self-Assembly of the Stereoisomers of an Unsymmetric Ligand.

Metal-organic cages and capsules exhibit space-specific functions based on their discrete hollow structures. To acquire enzyme-like asymmetric or intricate structures, they have been modified by desymmetrization with two or more different ligands. There is a need to establish new strategies that can desymmetrize structures in a simple way using only one type of ligand, which is different from the mixed-ligand approach.

Synthesis of Bis(diimino)palladium Nanosheets as Highly Active Electrocatalysts for Hydrogen Evolution.

Development of efficient electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reactions (HERs) is necessary to achieve environmentally friendly and sustainable hydrogen production. To reduce cost and to circumvent the scarcity of platinum, the most efficient catalyst for HER, it is essential to develop catalysts using ubiquitous base metals or minimal amounts of precious metals. Bis(diimino)metal (MDI) coordination nanosheets are potential HER catalysts because their electric conductivities, two-dimensionality, and porous structures provide large surface areas and efficient mass and electron transfer.

Characterization of liquid-thickness distribution in micropores on elastic surface under sliding and pressurizing conditions.

To improve the performance of studless tires on ice surfaces, the mechanism of liquid film removal must be elucidated. In this study, an experimental system is developed to simulate the running conditions of a studless tire, and the microscopic liquid film flow generated between the rubber surface and glass is observed to evaluate the liquid thickness distribution. Liquid film removal by micropores on foamed rubber samples is investigated by visualizing the liquid thickness in the micropores.

Ultrafine Rhodium-Chromium Mixed-Oxide Cocatalyst with Facet-Selective Loading for Excellent Photocatalytic Water Splitting.

The development of water-splitting photocatalysts capable of generating green hydrogen (H) from water and sunlight is crucial for achieving carbon neutrality. Further enhancement of the photocatalytic water-splitting activity is essential to realizing this objective. Photocatalysts with specific exposed crystal facets can facilitate efficient charge separation of electrons/holes, thereby achieving high activity for water splitting.

Water splitting over transition metal-doped SrTiO photocatalysts with response to visible light up to 660 nm.

Highly efficient water splitting under visible light irradiation was achieved using Ir, Sb, and Al-codoped SrTiO of a single particulate metal oxide photocatalyst by a solid-state reaction followed by flux treatment using SrCl and loading of a RhCrO cocatalyst. The photocatalytic activity was improved by AlO addition to the flux treatment, and doping of small amounts of Ir and Sb. It is notable that the water splitting over the photocatalyst proceeded with response to visible light up to 660 nm.

Chlomito: a novel tool for precise elimination of organelle genome contamination from nuclear genome assembly.

Introduction: Accurate reference genomes are fundamental to understanding biological evolution, biodiversity, hereditary phenomena and diseases. However, many assembled nuclear chromosomes are often contaminated by organelle genomes, which will mislead bioinformatic analysis, and genomic and transcriptomic data interpretation.

Methods: To address this issue, we developed a tool named Chlomito, aiming at precise identification and elimination of organelle genome contamination from nuclear genome assembly.

Chemical synthetic approaches to mimic the TRAIL: promising cancer therapeutics.

Apoptosis is programmed cell death that eliminates undesired cells to maintain homeostasis in metazoan. Aberration of this process may lead to cancer genesis. The tumor necrosis factor related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) induces apoptosis in cancer cells after ligation with death receptors (DR4/DR5) while sparing most normal cells.

Modulation between capacitor and conductor for a redox-active 2D bis(terpyridine)cobalt(II) nanosheet via anion-exchange.

Ionic polymers are intriguing materials whose functionality arises from the synergy between ionic polymer backbones and counterions. A key method for enhancing their functionality is the post-synthetic ion-exchange reaction, which is instrumental in improving the chemical and physical properties of polymer backbones and introducing of the functionalities of the counterions. Electronic interaction between host polymer backbone and guest ions plays pivotal roles in property modulation.

Changing the gravity vector direction by inverted culture enhances radiation-induced cell damage.

In recent years, it has become clear that the cytotoxicity of γ-irradiation of cells is increased under microgravity conditions. However, there has been no study of the effect of the gravity vector direction, rather than the magnitude, on γ-ray-induced cytotoxicity. Therefore, in this study, we inverted cultures of human bronchial epithelium BEAS-2B cells and human lung cancer A549 cells in order to change the gravity vector direction by 180° with respect to the cells and observed the cellular response to radiation in this state.

Induction of Paraptotic Cell Death in Cancer Cells by Triptycene-Peptide Hybrids and the Revised Mechanism of Paraptosis II.

In previous work, we reported on iridium(III) (Ir(III)) complex-peptide hybrids as amphiphilic conjugates (IPH-ACs) and triptycene-peptide hybrids as amphiphilic conjugates (TPH-ACs) and found that these hybrid compounds containing three cationic KK(K)GG peptide units through C-C alkyl linkers induce paraptosis II, which is one of the nonapoptotic programmed cell death (PCD) types in Jurkat cells and different from previously reported paraptosis. The details of that study revealed that the paraptosis II induced by IPH-ACs (and TPH-ACs) proceeds via a membrane fusion or tethering of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria, and Ca transfer from the ER to mitochondria, which results in a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential () in Jurkat cells. However, the detailed mechanistic studies of paraptosis II have been conducted only in Jurkat cells.

Dye-Containing Polymers with π-Extened Diketopyrropyrrole Derivatives for Semi-Transparent Organic Photovoltaics.

Dye-containing polymers P1 (PEDPP-OT-BDT) and P2 (PEDPP-OT-BDTT) including a π-extended diketopyropyrrole (DPP) derivative and electron-rich thiophene fused ring units (4,8-bis((2-ethylhexyl)oxy)benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b']dithiophene for P1 and 4,8-bis(5-(2-ethylhexyl)thiophen-2-yl)benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b']dithiophene for P2) were synthesized as narrow band gap dyes. A π-extended DPP (EDPP-OT-BrPh), fragment of the polymers P1 and P2, was obtained by extending the π-conjugation of DPP using Ru(III)-catalyzed C-H and N-H activation reported by Gońka et al. in 2019, exhibiting a high quantum yield (ϕ=0.

Porous Supramolecular Crystalline Probe that Detects Non-Covalent Interactions Involved in Molecular Recognition of Furanic Compounds.

Selective separation and conversion of furan-based biomass-derived compounds, which are closely related to biorefineries, is currently an important issue. To improve their performance, it is important to deepen the understanding of non-covalent interactions that act on the molecular recognition of furanic compounds on separation or catalyst matrices. Here, a new method is reported to comprehensively visualize such intermolecular interactions using a porous supramolecular crystalline probe with polar and non-polar binding sites within a low-symmetric nanochannel consisting of four isomeric Pd -macrocycles.

Co‑expression of and is associated with poor prognosis, and is required for the survival of ALDH1‑positive pancreatic cancer stem cells.

Solute carrier family 20 member 1 (SLC20A1) is a sodium/inorganic phosphate symporter, which has been identified as a prognostic marker in several types of cancer, including pancreatic cancer. However, to the best of our knowledge, the association between expression and cancer stem cell (CSC) markers, such as aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1), in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), and the role of in PDAC CSCs remains unclear. In the present study, a genomic dataset of primary pancreatic cancer (The Cancer Genome Atlas, Pan-Cancer Atlas) was downloaded and analyzed.

Geometric relationship between the projected surface area and mass of a plastic particle.

The quantification of the mass of meso/microplastic (MMP) particles is crucial for assessing the global inventory of ocean plastics and assessing environmental and human health risks. Herein, linear regression models between mass and projected surface area on a log scale were established by directly measuring the masses of 4390 MMP particles collected at 35 sites in 17 Japanese rivers with an ultramicrobalance. The linear regression models estimated mass concentrations more accurately than any previous method based on geometric volume assuming several three-dimensional shapes.