Synthesis and functional evaluation of proteinogenic amino acid-derived synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists related to MPP-5F-PICA, MMB-5F-PICA, and MDMB-5F-PICA.

Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs) comprise the second largest class of new psychoactive substances (NPS), and typically α-amino acid moieties are incorporated as part of their design. Limited investigation has been performed into elucidating structure-activity relationships around commonly used α-amino acid-derived head groups, mainly with valine and -leucine-derived compounds previously described. As such, proactive synthesis, characterisation and pharmacological evaluation were performed to explore structure-activity relationships of 15 α-amino acid derivatives, with both the natural isomers and their enantiomers at CB and CB investigated using a fluorescence-based membrane potential assay.

Nanomaterials for gas sensing and delivery.

Run Zhang, Songjun Zeng, and Rona Chandrawati introduce the themed issue 'Nanomaterials for gas sensing and delivery'.

Covalent-organic framework nanobionics for robust cytoprotection.

We present a novel study introducing a durable and robust covalent-organic framework (COF) nanocoating, developed on living cells. This COF nanocoating demonstrates remarkable resistance against a diverse range of lethal stressors, including high temperature, extreme pH, ultraviolet radiation, toxic metal ions, organic pollutants, and strong oxidative stress. Notably, the nanocoating exhibits exceptional cell survival enhancement under high temperature and strongly acidic conditions, an aspect yet unexplored in the case of metal-organic framework nanocoatings and other nanomaterials.

An aqueous photo-controlled polymerization under NIR wavelengths: synthesis of polymeric nanoparticles through thick barriers.

We report an aqueous and near-infrared (NIR) light mediated photoinduced reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (photo-RAFT) polymerization system using tetrasulfonated zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPcS ) as a photocatalyst. Owing to the high catalytic efficiency and excellent oxygen tolerance of this system, well-controlled polyacrylamides, polyacrylates, and polymethacrylates were synthesized at fast rates without requiring deoxygenation. Notably, NIR wavelengths possess enhanced light penetration through non-transparent barriers compared to UV and visible light, allowing high polymerization rates through barriers.

Removal of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from water by ceric(iv) ammonium nitrate.

Ceric(iv) ammonium nitrate (CAN) in aqueous medium acts as an excellent precipitating agent for perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). The Ce(iv) center plays a crucial role. Interestingly, Ce(iii) chloride showed much less effectiveness under similar conditions.

Decisional needs of patients considering preimplantation genetic testing: a systematic review.

This systematic review reports on the needs and sources of support in patients' decision-making regarding the uptake of preimplantation genetic testing (PGT). Five databases were searched systematically to capture qualitative and quantitative studies. A total of 2336 studies were screened by title and abstract.

Planned missing data designs and methods: Options for strengthening inference, increasing research efficiency and improving animal welfare in ecological and evolutionary research.

Ecological and evolutionary research questions are increasingly requiring the integration of research fields along with larger data sets to address fundamental local- and global-scale problems. Unfortunately, these agendas are often in conflict with limited funding and a need to balance animal welfare concerns. Planned missing data design (PMDD), where data are randomly and deliberately missed during data collection, combined with missing data procedures, can be useful tools when working under greater research constraints.

A case of percutaneous tricuspid valve infective endocarditis vegetation debulking using the AngioJet rheolytic catheter system-A novel therapeutic use.

In patients with fulminant tricuspid valve infective endocarditis precluded from cardiothoracic intervention based on comorbidities or clinical status, percutaneous vegetation debulking utilizing the AngioJet rheolytic catheter system appears a viable rescue option to achieve source control.

Monitoring the heterogeneity in single cell responses to drugs using electrochemical impedance and electrochemical noise.

Impedance spectroscopy is a widely used technique for monitoring cell-surface interactions and morphological changes, typically based on averaged signals from thousands of cells. However, acquiring impedance data at the single cell level, can potentially reveal cell-to-cell heterogeneity for example in response to chemotherapeutic agents such as doxorubicin. Here, we present a generic platform where light is used to define and localize the electroactive area, thus enabling the impedance measurements for selected single cells.

Stable monovalent aluminum(i) in a reduced phosphomolybdate cluster as an active acid catalyst.

Low-valent aluminum Al(i) chemistry has attracted extensive research interest due to its unique chemical and catalytic properties but is limited by its low stability. Herein, a hourglass phosphomolybdate cluster with a metal-center sandwiched by two benzene-like planar subunits and large steric-hindrance is used as a scaffold to stabilize low-valent Al(i) species. Two hybrid structures, (HO)(Hbpe)[Al(HO)]{[Al(PMo OH)]·7HO (abbr.

Rapid and ultrasensitive electrochemical detection of circulating tumor DNA by hybridization on the network of gold-coated magnetic nanoparticles.

An accurate and robust method for quantifying the levels of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is vital if this potential biomarker is to be used for the early diagnosis of cancer. The analysis of ctDNA presents unique challenges because of its short half-life and ultralow abundance in early stage cancers. Here we develop an ultrasensitive electrochemical biosensor for rapid detection of ctDNA in whole blood.

Reversible Deactivation Radical Polymerization: From Polymer Network Synthesis to 3D Printing.

3D printing has changed the fabrication of advanced materials as it can provide customized and on-demand 3D networks. However, 3D printing of polymer materials with the capacity to be transformed after printing remains a great challenge for engineers, material, and polymer scientists. Radical polymerization has been conventionally used in photopolymerization-based 3D printing, as in the broader context of crosslinked polymer networks.

Sensor array for wireless remote monitoring of carbon dioxide and methane near carbon sequestration and oil recovery sites.

Carbon sequestration and enhanced oil recovery are two important geochemical applications currently deployed using carbon dioxide (CO), a prevalent greenhouse gas. Despite the push to find ways to use and store excess CO, the development of a large-area monitoring system is lacking. For these applications, there is little literature reporting the development and testing of sensor systems capable of operating in remote areas without maintenance and having significantly low cost to allow their deployment across a large land area.

A low temperature organic synthesis of monodispersed NiRu nanocrystals for CO methanation.

In this study, monodispersed NiRu nanocrystals with a diameter of 3 nm were synthesized at 90 °C a tuning hot-inject method to lower the temperature of the organic phase synthesis of monodispersed nanomaterials. The key factor for the nanocrystalline formation of NiRu alloy nanocrystals was summarized in detail. Simultaneously, the synergistic effect of Ni and Ru in CO methanation was explored.

Cascade reaction engineering on zirconia-supported mesoporous MFI zeolites with tunable Lewis-Brønsted acid sites: a case of the one-pot conversion of furfural to γ-valerolactone.

Catalytic cascade reactions are strongly desired as a potential means of combining multistep reactions into a single catalytic reactor. Appropriate catalysts composed of multi-reactive sites to catalyze cascade reactions in a sequential fashion are central to such efforts. Here, we demonstrate a bifunctional zeolite catalyst with close proximity of Brønsted and Lewis acid sites through the synthesis of a mesoporous ZrO[Al]MFI nanosponge (NS).

Prevalence and Prognostic Association of a Clinical Diagnosis of Depression in Adult Congenital Heart Disease: Results of the Boston Adult Congenital Heart Disease Biobank.

Background In adults with acquired heart disease, depression is common and associated with adverse outcomes. Depression may also be important in adults with congenital heart disease (CHD). Methods and Results We conducted a cohort study of outpatients with CHD, aged ≥18 years, enrolled in a prospective biobank between 2012 and 2017.

Selective oxidation of methacrolein to methacrylic acid over HPMoVO/CN-SBA-15.

Molybdovanadylphosphoric acid (HPMV) was supported on a carbon nitride-modified SBA-15 (CN-SBA-15) molecular sieve to enhance its catalytic performance for oxidation of methacrolein (MAL) to methacrylic acid (MAA). HPMV/CN-SBA exhibited increased catalytic activity (20%) and five times greater MAA selectivity (98.9%) compared to bulk HPMV.

Modulating Activity through Defect Engineering of Tin Oxides for Electrochemical CO Reduction.

The large-scale application of electrochemical reduction of CO, as a viable strategy to mitigate the effects of anthropogenic climate change, is hindered by the lack of active and cost-effective electrocatalysts that can be generated in bulk. To this end, SnO nanoparticles that are prepared using the industrially adopted flame spray pyrolysis (FSP) technique as active catalysts are reported for the conversion of CO to formate (HCOO), exhibiting a FE of 85% with a current density of -23.7 mA cm at an applied potential of -1.

Hydrogen generation from a sodium borohydride-nickel core@shell structure under hydrolytic conditions.

Sodium borohydride (NaBH) is an attractive hydrogen carrier owing to its reactivity with water: it can generate 4 equivalents of H by hydrolysis (NaBH + 4HO → NaB(OH) + 4H). Since using NaBH in the solid state is the most favorable way to achieve a high gravimetric hydrogen storage capacity (theoretical maximum of 7.3 wt%), we have investigated the possibility of developing a core@shell nanocomposite (NaBH@Ni) where a metallic nickel catalyst facilitating the hydrolysis is directly supported onto NaBH nanoparticles.

Reviewing research priorities in weed ecology, evolution and management: a horizon scan.

Weedy plants pose a major threat to food security, biodiversity, ecosystem services and consequently to human health and wellbeing. However, many currently used weed management approaches are increasingly unsustainable. To address this knowledge and practice gap, in June 2014, 35 weed and invasion ecologists, weed scientists, evolutionary biologists and social scientists convened a workshop to explore current and future perspectives and approaches in weed ecology and management.

Lanthanide-Doped Upconversion Nanoparticles: Emerging Intelligent Light-Activated Drug Delivery Systems.

The development of drug delivery systems (DDSs) using near infrared (NIR) light and upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) has generated intensive interest over the past five years. These NIR-initiated DDSs not only offer a high degree of spatial and temporal determination of therapeutic release but also provide precise control over the released dosage. Furthermore, these nanoplatforms confer several advantages over conventional light-based DDSs-NIR offers better tissue penetration depth and a reduced risk of cellular photo-damage caused by exposure to light at high-energy wavelengths (e.