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Purpose: This study aimed to investigate whether the serum extracellular newly identified receptor for advanced glycation end products binding protein (EN-RAGE) and the soluble form of RAGE (sRAGE) measured at diagnosis are associated with all-cause mortality in patients with microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA). Materials and Methods: Serum EN-RAGE and sRAGE were measured in 75 immunosuppressive drug-naïve MPA and GPA patients using an immunoassay, with their clinical and laboratory data reviewed. The optimal cut-off point of EN-RAGE and sRAGE was calculated by finding the threshold with the maximum sum of sensitivity and specificity. In addition, the least absolute shrink-age and selection operator regression was adopted to select variables included in the multivariable Cox proportional hazards (PH) regression model. Results: The median age of the patients was 67.0 years, and 34% were male. Neither serum EN-RAGE nor sRAGE at diagnosis was correlated with the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score. Furthermore, no correlation was observed between serum EN-RAGE and sRAGE. Deceased patients had significantly lower serum EN-RAGE and higher serum sRAGE at diagnosis compared to surviving patients. Patients with serum EN-RAGE at diagnosis ≤84.37 ng/mL and serum sRAGE at diagnosis ≥1.82 ng/mL showed significantly lower survival probabilities compared to those without. In multivariable Cox PH regression model, only serum sRAGE at diagnosis ≥1.82 ng/mL, rather than serum EN-RAGE at diagnosis ≤84.37 ng/mL, was independently associated with all-cause mortality (hazard ratio 7.094). Conclusion: This study is the first to demonstrate that serum sRAGE at diagnosis may independently predict all-cause mortality during follow-up in patients with MPA and GPA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estrogens in river systems can significantly impact aquatic ecosystems. This study aimed to investigate the multiphase partitioning of estrogens in Wulo Creek, Taiwan, which receives animal feedlot wastewater, to understand their distribution and potential environmental implications. Water samples were separated into suspended particulate matter (SPM), colloidal, and soluble phases using centrifugation and cross-flow ultrafiltration. Concentrations of estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (E2), and estriol (E3) in each phase were analyzed using LC/MS/MS. Partition coefficients were calculated to assess estrogen distribution among phases. Estrogens were predominantly found in the soluble phase (85.8–87.3%). The risk assessment of estrogen equivalent (EEQ) values suggests that estrogen concentration in water poses a higher risk compared to SPM, with a majority of the samples indicating a high risk to aquatic organisms. The colloidal phase contained 12.7–14.2% of estrogens. The log KCOC values (4.72–4.77 L/kg-C) were significantly higher than the log KOC and log KPOC values (2.02–3.40 L/kg-C) for all estrogens. Colloids play a critical role in estrogen distribution in river systems, potentially influencing their fate, transport, and biotoxicity. This finding highlights the importance of considering colloidal interactions in assessing estrogen behavior in aquatic environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Brain insulin resistance and deficiency is a consistent feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Insulin resistance can be mediated by the surface expression of the insulin receptor (IR). Cleavage of the IR generates the soluble IR (sIR). METHODS: We measured the levels of sIR present in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from individuals along the AD diagnostic spectrum from two cohorts: Seattle (n = 58) and the Consortium for the Early Identification of Alzheimer's Disease‐Quebec (CIMA‐Q; n = 61). We further investigated the brain cellular contribution for sIR using human cell lines. RESULTS: CSF sIR levels were not statistically different in AD. CSF sIR and amyloid beta (Aβ)42 and Aβ40 levels significantly correlated as well as CSF sIR and cognition in the CIMA‐Q cohort. Human neurons expressing the amyloid precursor protein "Swedish" mutation generated significantly greater sIR and human astrocytes were also able to release sIR in response to both an inflammatory and insulin stimulus. DISCUSSION: These data support further investigation into the generation and role of sIR in AD. Highlights: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) soluble insulin receptor (sIR) levels positively correlate with amyloid beta (Aβ)42 and Aβ40.CSF sIR levels negatively correlate with cognitive performance (Montreal Cognitive Assessment score).CSF sIR levels in humans remain similar across Alzheimer's disease diagnostic groups.Neurons derived from humans with the "Swedish" mutation in which Aβ42 is increased generate increased levels of sIR.Human astrocytes can also produce sIR and generation is stimulated by tumor necrosis factor α and insulin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estrogens in river systems can significantly impact aquatic ecosystems. This study aimed to investigate the multiphase partitioning of estrogens in Wulo Creek, Taiwan, which receives animal feedlot wastewater, to understand their distribution and potential environmental implications. Water samples were separated into suspended particulate matter (SPM), colloidal, and soluble phases using centrifugation and cross-flow ultrafiltration. Concentrations of estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (E2), and estriol (E3) in each phase were analyzed using LC/MS/MS. Partition coefficients were calculated to assess estrogen distribution among phases. Estrogens were predominantly found in the soluble phase (85.8–87.3%). The risk assessment of estrogen equivalent (EEQ) values suggests that estrogen concentration in water poses a higher risk compared to SPM, with a majority of the samples indicating a high risk to aquatic organisms. The colloidal phase contained 12.7–14.2% of estrogens. The log KCOC values (4.72–4.77 L/kg-C) were significantly higher than the log KOC and log KPOC values (2.02–3.40 L/kg-C) for all estrogens. Colloids play a critical role in estrogen distribution in river systems, potentially influencing their fate, transport, and biotoxicity. This finding highlights the importance of considering colloidal interactions in assessing estrogen behavior in aquatic environments.

Herein, we characterized vacuum-evaporated thin-films of several new naphthalene tetracarboxylic diimide derivatives (C12-NTCDI-R) as n-type organic thin-film transistor (TFT) materials. They have head and tail structure with dodecyl chain and phenylalkyl (benzyl or phenylethyl) groups. By introducing fluorine groups into the phenylalkyl groups, the electron transport properties were enhanced. In addition, modifying the substrate surfaces with a fluorine-rich polymer material and annealing at the appropriate temperature allowed the TFT devices with C12-NTCDI-F2Bn (R = 3,5-difluorobenzyl) to reach a maximum electron mobility (μ e) of 0.11 cm2 V−1 s−1. Furthermore, the alteration of the number of methylene carbons in the side chain of phenylalkyl groups in C12-NTCDI-R (namely, phenylethyl was used as R) affected the thermal behavior of their molecules during the thin-film formation. For the TFT device with C12-NTCDI-PhEt (R = phenylethyl), the μ e reached the maximum value of 0.16 cm2 V−1 s−1 by just surface modification, without annealing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract INTRODUCTION Brain insulin resistance and deficiency is a consistent feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Insulin resistance can be mediated by the surface expression of the insulin receptor (IR). Cleavage of the IR generates the soluble IR (sIR). METHODS We measured the levels of sIR present in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from individuals along the AD diagnostic spectrum from two cohorts: Seattle (n = 58) and the Consortium for the Early Identification of Alzheimer's Disease‐Quebec (CIMA‐Q; n = 61). We further investigated the brain cellular contribution for sIR using human cell lines. RESULTS CSF sIR levels were not statistically different in AD. CSF sIR and amyloid beta (Aβ)42 and Aβ40 levels significantly correlated as well as CSF sIR and cognition in the CIMA‐Q cohort. Human neurons expressing the amyloid precursor protein “Swedish” mutation generated significantly greater sIR and human astrocytes were also able to release sIR in response to both an inflammatory and insulin stimulus. DISCUSSION These data support further investigation into the generation and role of sIR in AD. Highlights Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) soluble insulin receptor (sIR) levels positively correlate with amyloid beta (Aβ)42 and Aβ40. CSF sIR levels negatively correlate with cognitive performance (Montreal Cognitive Assessment score). CSF sIR levels in humans remain similar across Alzheimer's disease diagnostic groups. Neurons derived from humans with the “Swedish” mutation in which Aβ42 is increased generate increased levels of sIR. Human astrocytes can also produce sIR and generation is stimulated by tumor necrosis factor α and insulin.

The objective of this study is to prepare a new poly(aryl ether ketone) (PAEK) with low dielectric constant, high transparency and heat resistance by introducing fluorine atoms and phenolphthalein (PHPH) groups into the polymer backbone. The chemical structure of PAEK random copolymers was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD),, and the molecular weight of PAEK was determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). It is found that these random copolymers are soluble in common organic solvents, especially low boiling point solvents, such as CHCl3, tetrahydrofuran (THF) and dimethylacetamide (DMAc). Transparent, uniform and flexible films were prepared by casting from DMAc solvent. The PAEK copolymers exhibit high glass transition temperature (163–220 °C by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and 168–227 °C by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA)) and thermal stability with 5% weight loss temperatures of 461–525 °C. The PAEK films show good mechanical properties with tensile strengths of 50–62 MPa. The dielectric constant (k) is only 2.31–3.08, and the loss tangent is only 0.003–0.009 at 1 MHz. All films exhibit excellent optical transparency, their UV cutoff wavelength is shorter than 386 nm, and the transmittance at 450 nm is higher than 80%.

Human complement receptor 1 (CR1) is a membrane-bound regulator of complement that has been the subject of recent attempts to generate soluble therapeutic compounds comprising different fragments of its extracellular domain. This review will focus on the extracellular domain of CR1 and detail how its highly duplicated domains work both separately and together to mediate binding to its main ligands C3b and C4b, and to inhibit the classical, lectin, and alternative pathways of the complement cascade via the mechanisms of decay acceleration activity (DAA) and co-factor activity (CFA). Understanding the molecular basis of CR1 activity is made more complicated by the presence not only of multiple ligand binding domains within CR1 but also the fact that C3b and C4b can interact with CR1 as both monomers, dimers, and heterodimers. Evidence for the interaction of CR1 with additional ligands such as C1q will also be reviewed. Finally, we will bring the mechanistic understanding of CR1 activity together to provide an explanation for the differential complement pathway inhibition recently observed with CSL040, a soluble CR1-based therapeutic candidate in pre-clinical development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Se evaluó el método de fundición con infiltración al vacío en lecho de partículas solubles para la obtención espumas metálicas de aluminio de poros abiertos con diferentes tamaños de poros. Como partículas solubles se utilizaron granos de cloruro de sodio (NaCl) con tamaños de grano de 560–1120 μm y 1120–2240 μm, lo que permitió evaluar la variación de la densidad relativa y el grado de porosidad de las espumas en función de la variación del tamaño de grano. Para la obtención de las espumas se utilizó un molde abierto en cuyo interior se produce la infiltración del aluminio en el lecho de partículas. El vacío se practica en el molde por un conducto colocado en la parte inferior del mismo y el aluminio fundido se vierte por la parte superior del molde. Las espumas metálicas de celda abierta obtenidas, presentan poros irregulares y una densidad promedio de 0,308 y 0,246 y porosidad de 0,7545 y 0,692 para tamaños de partículas de NaCl de 560–1120 μm y 1120–2240 μm respectivamente, ambas con un alto grado de porosidad (10 poros por pulgada cuadrada). Esto podría deberse al amplio rango de tamaño de partículas utilizado, lo cual denota que una cierta cantidad de poros tendrían ligamentos y paredes celulares más finas que otros, por tanto, requieren menos cantidad de metal.

Abstract Background Immune checkpoints are crucial for the maintenance of subtle balance between self-tolerance and effector immune responses, but the role of soluble immune checkpoints (sICs) in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) infection remains unknown. We assessed the levels of multiple sICs in individuals with distinct M. tb infection status, and their dynamic changes during anti-tuberculosis treatment. Methods We enrolled 24 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, among which 10 patients were diagnosed with tuberculous pleurisy (TBP), 10 individuals with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), and 10 healthy volunteers from Wuxi Fifth People’s Hospital and Huashan Hospital between February 2019 and May 2021. Plasma concentrations of thirteen sICs were measured at enrollment and during anti-tuberculosis treatment using luminex-based multiplex assay. sICs levels in tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE) and their relations to laboratory test markers of TPE were also assessed in TBP patients. Results The circulating levels of sPD-1, sPD-L1, sCTLA-4, sBTLA, sGITR, sIDO, sCD28, sCD27 and s4-1BB were upregulated in tuberculosis patients than in healthy controls. A lower sPD-L1 level was found in LTBI individuals than in tuberculosis patients. In TBP patients, the levels of sPD-1, sPD-L2, sCD28, sCD80, sCD27, sTIM-3, sLAG-3, sBTLA, s4-1BB and sIDO increased significantly in TPE than in plasma. In TPE, sBTLA and sLAG-3 correlated positively with the adenosine deaminase level. sIDO and sCD80 correlated positively with the lactate dehydrogenase level and the percentage of lymphocytes in TPE, respectively. Meanwhile, sCD27 correlated negatively with the specific gravity and protein level in TPE. In tuberculosis patients, the circulating levels of sBTLA and sPD-L1 gradually declined during anti-tuberculosis treatment. Conclusions We characterized the changing balance of sICs in M. tb infection. And our results revealed the relations of sICs to laboratory test markers and treatment responses in tuberculosis patients, indicating that certain sICs may serve as potential biomarkers for disease surveillance and prognosis of tuberculosis.

Abstract Background Use of diets with increased concentrations of dietary fiber is thought to be beneficial in the management of dogs with large bowel diarrhea. Objective To determine whether feeding a diet with high concentrations of soluble and insoluble fiber to dogs with acute colitis would be superior to feeding a diet with typical fiber levels. Animals A total of 52 dogs with acute signs of large bowel diarrhea housed in an animal shelter were entered into the study; 11 dogs per diet completed the protocol. Methods In this randomized, prospective study, dogs with a fecal score of 4, 5, 6, or 7 and signs of acute colitis were fed a high fiber diet (4.54% soluble; 15.16% insoluble fiber) or a standard diet (0.6% soluble; 5.33% insoluble fiber) and fecal scores compared over the course of the study with significance defined as P 4 were greater (P = .0001) in the dogs fed the standard diet (29/48 samples; 60%; 95% CI: 45‐74) compared to the high fiber diet (8/50 samples; 16%; 95% CI: 7‐29). Conclusions and Clinical Importance The results support feeding the high fiber diet described herein to dogs with acute large bowel diarrhea.

To engineer a dissolvable Al-Mg-Ga-Sn aluminum alloy material suitable for multi-stage hydraulic fracturing and sealing tools, an array of alloys was fabricated using high-temperature casting with varying concentrations of Ga and Sn. The compositions were designed such that the ratio of Ga to Sn remained constant at 1. The objective was to examine the influence of Ga and Sn content on the mechanical properties of the alloys and their reactivity with water. Results indicated that with 1.0 wt% of both Ga and Sn, the alloy displayed a ultimate tensile strength (σ b) of 182±1 MPa, elongation (δ) of 33.8±0.8 %, reduction of area (φ) of 11.6±0.9 %, yield strength (σ Sc) of 161±1 MPa, relative compressibility (δ) of 63.0±1.0 %, and relative expansion of the cross-section (φ) of 170.8±0.9 %. Additionally, when subjected to water at 90℃, the alloy achieved a maximum dissolution rate of 3.0±1 g·h-1·cm-2. Upon contact with an aqueous environment, an electrochemical reaction ensues where aluminum atoms in the matrix lose electrons, transforming into Al3+ ions within the solution. Concurrently, Sn2+ and Ga2+ ions migrate to the surface oxide film, substituting Al3+ ions at the grain boundaries, which induces vacancies in the oxide film, reducing its resistance to further ionic penetration and densification loss. This study elucidates the macroscopic process mechanism of the interaction between water-soluble alloys and aqueous media, and proposes a corresponding microscopic mechanism. • Al-Mg-Ga-Sn soluble aluminium alloy can be completely dissolved in water and aqueous solution. • This alloy exhibits high ductility, demonstrated by an elongation rate of 33.82%. • The dissolution behaviour of the alloy is regulated by both gallium and tin elements. • The use of this material to make sealing tools can greatly improve the efficiency of extraction. • This material introduces a pioneering concept to the development of soluble metal composite materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human complement receptor 1 (CR1) is a membrane-bound regulator of complement that has been the subject of recent attempts to generate soluble therapeutic compounds comprising different fragments of its extracellular domain. This review will focus on the extracellular domain of CR1 and detail how its highly duplicated domains work both separately and together to mediate binding to its main ligands C3b and C4b, and to inhibit the classical, lectin, and alternative pathways of the complement cascade via the mechanisms of decay acceleration activity (DAA) and co-factor activity (CFA). Understanding the molecular basis of CR1 activity is made more complicated by the presence not only of multiple ligand binding domains within CR1 but also the fact that C3b and C4b can interact with CR1 as both monomers, dimers, and heterodimers. Evidence for the interaction of CR1 with additional ligands such as C1q will also be reviewed. Finally, we will bring the mechanistic understanding of CR1 activity together to provide an explanation for the differential complement pathway inhibition recently observed with CSL040, a soluble CR1-based therapeutic candidate in pre-clinical development.

Nearly 95% of streptavidin which is expressed in Escherichia coli found as an inclusion body. Protein expressed in an inclusion body form requires further steps for the folding process related to its purification. Whereas the purity level of the recombinant streptavidin is very crucial mainly for the specification test in diagnostic system. In this study, we designed synthetic gene of streptavidin to be fused with maltose-binding protein (MBP) gene to enhance its solubility when expressed in E. coli BL21 (pD861-MBP: 327892) and purified using amylose resin with gradient column buffer. Based on the SDS-PAGE characterization, the majority of recombinant streptavidin was found in soluble than that of insoluble form. Recombinant streptavidin was found at its suitable size at 56.6 kDa in the soluble protein fraction with a concentration of 537.42 mg/L. The purest fraction of streptavidin recombinant was obtained at the 58th fraction in a concentration of 0.86 mg/L with purity level of 98.77%. Compared to the initial crude protein extract, the level of purity is lower, 6.03%. In summary, the MBP purification method improves the purity level and enhances the solubility of the recombinant streptavidin.

Novel high-performance D-π-D-A-D type polymeric electrochromic materials consisting of phenylene π-bridged core alternated with the donor cyclopentadithiophene derivatives and the D-A-D moiety thiophene-diketopyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole-thiophene (TDPPT), differing by the ratio of donor to acceptor units incorporated, were achieved by Suzuki cross-coupling reaction. The polymer films displayed intense dual visible absorptions in their neutral states, which were modulated both in the positions and relative intensities by regulating the chemical composition as well as the donor-to-acceptor ratio in the polymer backbone, allowing the facile manipulation of the neutral-state colors. The polymer PBDC-1 exhibited a deep green neutral-state color. PBDC-2 and PBDC-3 also demonstrated two strong and broad absorptions, but a relative small gap of transmission in the orange-yellow region, giving the films dark yellowish-black color. In situ optical monitoring revealed that all the polymers underwent surprising multi-color variations upon the redox cycling, simultaneous with fast switching speeds, high coloration efficiencies, and large optical contrasts.

Multifunctional modification is a feasible means of improving the high value-added application of lignin. In this study, a novel pH-responsive lignin was synthesized via a green and efficient ultraviolet-induced thiol-yne reaction. Chemical structure analyses confirmed that the thiol-yne reaction was successful, and that the tertiary amino groups were attached to the lignin macromolecules. The weight-average molecular weight of the modified lignin increased to 13600 mol/g compared to kraft lignin at 8700 mol/g. The nitrogen and sulfur contents of the grafted chains were 2.86% and 4.36%, respectively. Additionally, the introduced tertiary amino groups induced the pH-responsive behavior of the modified lignin. To fully utilize the modified lignin, it was used to make hydrogels that exhibited varying swelling ratios at different pH values. Therefore, the pH-responsive lignin produced in this study exhibits excellent potential for high value-added applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is part of a research project deals with the study of the possible use of by-product materials such as fly ash (FA) and silica fume (SF) with Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) in ternary system in different applicable measured properties of concrete. In this research, six concrete mixtures with water/cement ratios 0.4 and 0.5 have been investigated. Trial mixes were carried out to produce concrete with same slump and air content percentage. Also, the influence of using fly ash and silica fume with Portland cement on the concrete performance against chloride attack has been studied. The potentiometric apparatus was used to measure the chloride concentrations through the concrete samples by titration chemical analysis. In addition, the diffusion coefficients were determined for the tested specimens. It is concluded that the addition of fly ash and silica fume to Portland cement in ternary system improved concrete resistance to chloride attack and reduced its diffusion coefficient as well as can be reasonably used in concrete industry with considerable proportions. Moreover, the change in the cementitious materials content, type and their replacement percent have significant effect in the studied properties of concrete. Furthermore, results show that the total and soluble chloride content for zone 10~20 mm and zone 20~30 mm are very low. This result leads that such type of concrete needs less concrete cover depth which leads to protect the reinforcement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fully conjugated polyazomethines (PAZs) exhibit large amounts of micropores among their many short branches in relatively planar structures based on their fully conjugated configuration. However, these fully conjugated structures cause insolubility and non‐processability of the PAZs because they may have strong stacking interactions due to their planar structures. In this paper, to overcome this problem, three short lengths of oligodimethylsiloxane (ODMS) grafts (x = 9, 18 and 39) were introduced by end‐capping reaction of aldehydes at the end of insoluble PAZs with amino‐terminated ODMSs as end‐capping agents. As a result, the insoluble PAZs became almost soluble (solubility > 95–100%) and their molecular weight could be estimated using gel permeation chromatography (Mw = 15.9 × 103 g mol−1). PAZ‐embedded mixed‐matrix membranes (MMMs) were fabricated using blend solutions containing only small amounts (1.0 wt%) of the solubilized PAZs with ODMS grafts and crosslinked polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The PAZs/PDMS MMMs showed ultrahigh permeability to oxygen which achieved 8600 barrer without a decrease of the original permselectivity of PDMS. The excellent oxygen permeability of the PAZs/PDMS MMMs may be caused by an effective increase of porosity based on the fully conjugated PAZ nanosheet. © 2022 Society of Industrial Chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate whether the serum extracellular newly identified receptor for advanced glycation end products binding protein (EN-RAGE) and the soluble form of RAGE (sRAGE) measured at diagnosis are associated with all-cause mortality in patients with microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA)., Materials and Methods: Serum EN-RAGE and sRAGE were measured in 75 immunosuppressive drug-naïve MPA and GPA patients using an immunoassay, with their clinical and laboratory data reviewed. The optimal cut-off point of EN-RAGE and sRAGE was calculated by finding the threshold with the maximum sum of sensitivity and specificity. In addition, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression was adopted to select variables included in the multivariable Cox proportional hazards (PH) regression model., Results: The median age of the patients was 67.0 years, and 34% were male. Neither serum EN-RAGE nor sRAGE at diagnosis was correlated with the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score. Furthermore, no correlation was observed between serum EN-RAGE and sRAGE. Deceased patients had significantly lower serum EN-RAGE and higher serum sRAGE at diagnosis compared to surviving patients. Patients with serum EN-RAGE at diagnosis ≤84.37 ng/mL and serum sRAGE at diagnosis ≥1.82 ng/mL showed significantly lower survival probabilities compared to those without. In multivariable Cox PH regression model, only serum sRAGE at diagnosis ≥1.82 ng/mL, rather than serum EN-RAGE at diagnosis ≤84.37 ng/mL, was independently associated with all-cause mortality (hazard ratio 7.094)., Conclusion: This study is the first to demonstrate that serum sRAGE at diagnosis may independently predict all-cause mortality during follow-up in patients with MPA and GPA., Competing Interests: The authors have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose., (© Copyright: Yonsei University College of Medicine 2024.)

The stability of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) is crucial for their applications in demanding environments. However, increasing the stability of COFs often comes with challenges such as higher synthesis difficulty, lower crystal quality, and reduced controllability during synthesis, making it difficult to regulate dimensions and morphology, thereby impacting the processing and shaping of stable COFs. Herein, the study presents a novel confined polymerization approach guided by hydrogen bonding preassembly to synthesize a soluble and stable COF featuring β-ketoenamine linkage. The presence of relatively weaker hydrogen bonds accelerates the orderly arrangement of monomers, ensuring appropriate spacing, and orientations among functional groups. This facilitates efficient covalent polymerization, leading to the creation of the framework while minimizing the "self-correction" mechanism during crystal growth, thereby enhancing the efficiency of COF synthesis. Furthermore, this method offers precise control over the size of the synthesized COF. The resulting crystalline COF can be toggled between dissolution and precipitation states, facilitating the fabrication of mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) through leveraging the solubility properties of COF. Overall, this pioneering strategy yields valuable insights for advancing weak bond assembly-mediated confined polymerization approaches, the controlled synthesis of stable COFs, and the preparation and processing of soluble COFs in diverse applications., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Mixed-valence cerium oxide nanoparticles (nanoceria) have been investigated with pronounced interest due to a wide range of biomedical and industrial applications that arises from its remarkable redox catalytic properties. However, there is no understanding of how to control the formation of these two types of nanoceria to obtain Ce3+/Ce4+ ratios required in various applications. In this work, using a soluble borate glass, nanoceria with specific ratios of Ce3+/Ce4+ are created and extracted via controlled glass-melting parameters. Glass embedded with nanoceria as well as nanoceria extracted from the glass were studied via XANES and fitted with the Multivariate Curve Resolution (MCR) technique to calculate the ratio of Ce3+/Ce4+. Results show that mixed-valence nanoceria with specific ratios are hermetically sealed within the glass for long durations. When the glass dissolves, the mixed-valence nanoceria are released, and the extracted nanoceria have unchanged Ce3+/Ce4+ ratios. Furthermore, TEM investigation on released nanoceria show that the nanoceria consist of several different structures. Although nanocrystal structures of Ce7O12, Ce11O20, and Ce2O3 contribute to the reduced state, a new quasi-stable phase of CeO1.66 has been observed as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Immune checkpoints are crucial for the maintenance of subtle balance between self-tolerance and effector immune responses, but the role of soluble immune checkpoints (sICs) in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) infection remains unknown. We assessed the levels of multiple sICs in individuals with distinct M. tb infection status, and their dynamic changes during anti-tuberculosis treatment.Methods: We enrolled 24 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, among which 10 patients were diagnosed with tuberculous pleurisy (TBP), 10 individuals with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), and 10 healthy volunteers from Wuxi Fifth People's Hospital and Huashan Hospital between February 2019 and May 2021. Plasma concentrations of thirteen sICs were measured at enrollment and during anti-tuberculosis treatment using luminex-based multiplex assay. sICs levels in tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE) and their relations to laboratory test markers of TPE were also assessed in TBP patients.Results: The circulating levels of sPD-1, sPD-L1, sCTLA-4, sBTLA, sGITR, sIDO, sCD28, sCD27 and s4-1BB were upregulated in tuberculosis patients than in healthy controls. A lower sPD-L1 level was found in LTBI individuals than in tuberculosis patients. In TBP patients, the levels of sPD-1, sPD-L2, sCD28, sCD80, sCD27, sTIM-3, sLAG-3, sBTLA, s4-1BB and sIDO increased significantly in TPE than in plasma. In TPE, sBTLA and sLAG-3 correlated positively with the adenosine deaminase level. sIDO and sCD80 correlated positively with the lactate dehydrogenase level and the percentage of lymphocytes in TPE, respectively. Meanwhile, sCD27 correlated negatively with the specific gravity and protein level in TPE. In tuberculosis patients, the circulating levels of sBTLA and sPD-L1 gradually declined during anti-tuberculosis treatment.Conclusions: We characterized the changing balance of sICs in M. tb infection. And our results revealed the relations of sICs to laboratory test markers and treatment responses in tuberculosis patients, indicating that certain sICs may serve as potential biomarkers for disease surveillance and prognosis of tuberculosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose a device simulation method that quantitatively represents the film profile characteristics. We simulated device characteristics according to pile‐up size and quantitatively confirmed relationship between film profile and device performance. We checked the device characteristics by changing the ratio of the pile‐up area to the planar area in units of pixels and changing the pile‐up stacking thickness. As a result, when ratio of the flat area in active area is 80% or more and the thickness difference is less than 10%, we obtained device efficiency of 90% and more compared to the ideal device (perfectly flat device) for red, green and blue devices. We could also confirm the reliability of the simulation method through device fabrication. And we expect that this study can contribute to improving the characteristics of the panel and device of solution processed OLED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have intrinsic properties, such as self-renewal ability and pluripotency, which are also shown in embryonic stem cells (ESCs). The challenge of improving the iPSC generation efficiency has been an important issue and there have been many attempts to develop iPSC generation methods. In this research, we added Lin28, known as one of the reprogramming factors, in the form of a soluble recombinant protein from E. coli to improve the efficiency of human iPSC (hiPSC) generation, in respect of alkaline phosphatase (AP)-positive colonies. To deliver Lin28 inside the cells, we generated a soluble Lin28-30Kc19 fusion protein, with 30Kc19 at the C-terminal domain of Lin28. 30Kc19, a silkworm hemolymph-derived protein, was fused due to its cell-penetrating and protein-stabilizing properties. The Lin28-30Kc19 was treated to human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs), in combination with four defined reprogramming factors (Oct4, Sox2, c-Myc, and Klf4). After 14 days of cell culture, we confirmed the generated hiPSCs through AP staining. According to the results, the addition of Lin28-30Kc19 increased the number and size of generated AP-positive hiPSC colonies. Through this research, we anticipate that this recombinant protein would be a valuable material for increasing the efficiency of hiPSC generation and for enhancing the possibility as a substitute of the conventional method.

Our main result states that if G is a finitely generated soluble group having a normal Abelian subgroup A, such that G/A and are nilpotent (respectively, finite-by-nilpotent, periodic-by-nilpotent, nilpotent-by-finite, finite-by-supersoluble, supersoluble-by-finite) for all (x, a) ∈ G × A, then so is G. We deduce that if 픛 is a subgroup and quotient closed class of groups and if all 2-generated Abelian-by-cyclic groups of 픛 are nilpotent (respectively, finite-by-nilpotent, periodic-by-nilpotent, nilpotent-by-finite, finite-by-supersoluble, supersoluble-by-finite), then so are all finitely generated soluble groups of 픛. We give examples that show that our main result is not true for other classes of groups, like the classes of Abelian, supersoluble, and FC-groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nearly 95% of streptavidin which is expressed in Escherichia coli found as an inclusion body. Protein expressed in an inclusion body form requires further steps for the folding process related to its purification. Whereas the purity level of the recombinant streptavidin is very crucial mainly for the specification test in diagnostic system. In this study, we designed synthetic gene of streptavidin to be fused with maltose-binding protein (MBP) gene to enhance its solubility when expressed in E. coli BL21 (pD861-MBP: 327892) and purified using amylose resin with gradient column buffer. Based on the SDS-PAGE characterization, the majority of recombinant streptavidin was found in soluble than that of insoluble form. Recombinant streptavidin was found at its suitable size at 56.6 kDa in the soluble protein fraction with a concentration of 537.42 mg/L. The purest fraction of streptavidin recombinant was obtained at the 58th fraction in a concentration of 0.86 mg/L with purity level of 98.77%. Compared to the initial crude protein extract, the level of purity is lower, 6.03%. In summary, the MBP purification method improves the purity level and enhances the solubility of the recombinant streptavidin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Use of diets with increased concentrations of dietary fiber is thought to be beneficial in the management of dogs with large bowel diarrhea. Objective: To determine whether feeding a diet with high concentrations of soluble and insoluble fiber to dogs with acute colitis would be superior to feeding a diet with typical fiber levels. Animals: A total of 52 dogs with acute signs of large bowel diarrhea housed in an animal shelter were entered into the study; 11 dogs per diet completed the protocol. Methods: In this randomized, prospective study, dogs with a fecal score of 4, 5, 6, or 7 and signs of acute colitis were fed a high fiber diet (4.54% soluble; 15.16% insoluble fiber) or a standard diet (0.6% soluble; 5.33% insoluble fiber) and fecal scores compared over the course of the study with significance defined as P <.05. Results: All dogs fed the high fiber diet (11/11; 100%) had a fecal score <5 on the day of adoption or day 9, which was statistically different (P <.04) than dogs fed the standard diet (6/11 dogs; 55%; 95% CI: 23‐83). The proportions of stools with a fecal score >4 were greater (P =.0001) in the dogs fed the standard diet (29/48 samples; 60%; 95% CI: 45‐74) compared to the high fiber diet (8/50 samples; 16%; 95% CI: 7‐29). Conclusions and Clinical Importance: The results support feeding the high fiber diet described herein to dogs with acute large bowel diarrhea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1,2-Bis(4-aminophenyl)-4,5-bis(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-1H-imidazole, as a new asymmetric aromatic diamine, was synthesized and used for preparation of novel fluorinated polyamides (PAs) containing tetraphenyl imidazole moieties in the main chain by low-temperature polycondensation of the diamine with various aromatic dicarboxylic acid dichlorides. The resulting PAs were amorphous and their weight-average and number-average molecular weight were in the range of 22,500–34,600 and 12,600–16,800 g/mol, respectively. These PAs exhibited low moisture uptake of 0.97–2.15%, and good thermal stability with 10% weight loss temperatures of 445–453 °C and char yields of 57–61% at 800 °C in nitrogen. All obtained PAs showed good flame retardancy with limited oxygen index value of 39.9–41.9, and were readily soluble in a variety of organic solvents such as N,N-dimethyl acetamide, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone, dimethylsulfoxide, pyridine, tetrahydrofuran and acetone at room temperature, and formed low-colored and flexible thin films via solution casting. They also exhibited strong UV–vis absorption in the range of 290–320 nm in solution and in films, and their films exhibited high optical transparency with a cutoff wavelength in the 328–365 nm range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A survey of the chemical way to determine the amount of different phosphorus forms in calcareous soils was carried out on 22 calcareous soils fertilized for many years with phosphate fertilizers from central and southern Iraq. Extraction methods were developed by combining the technique of individual traditional methods of different forms with sequentially extraction technology. Soil samples were collected from surface (0-30 cm) and subsurface (30-60 cm) horizons. Forms of soluble, ready available, organic and total phosphorus were extracted independently and in addition to the successive extraction were carried out according to Jiang and Gu (1989) method. The amount of soluble and available phosphorus extracted were low and ranged from 0.17 to 2.12 mg kg-1 and 7.28 and 34.3 mg kg-1 respectively. Organic phosphorus was medium and the values ranged 30.9 and 93.1 mg kg-1 while the total phosphorus content was high and the values ranged between 206.9 and 570.6 mg kg-1. The quantities of phosphorus extracted sequentially by chemical extracts and the possibility of diagnosing different forms of phosphorus associated with calcium Ca2-P, Ca8-P and Ca10-P (apatite) in addition to P associated with OM and free iron and aluminum oxides. The average values of Ca2-P, Ca8-P, Fe-P and occluded (O-P) extracted were nearly similar and the values were 20.47, 25.28, 25.4, and 26.23 mg kg-1 respectively while the Ca10-P was much higher (194.54 mg kg-1) than the other forms.

Background and purpose: Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a cytokine with a wide range of therapeutic applications although expression of GM-CSF in Escherichia coli (E. coli) usually leads to formation of insoluble aggregates mostly lack biological activity. The aim of this study was to compare the soluble expression level of GM-CSF in three E. coli strains, BL21 (DE3), SHuffle® T7 and Origami™ 2 (DE3). Experimental approach: The effect of different temperatures and inducer concentrations on soluble expression of GM-CSF was evaluated. The soluble GM-CSF was subjected to endotoxin removal and purification using nickel-nitrilotriacetic acid (Ni-NTA) affinity chromatography, ultrafiltration. The biological activity of produced GM-CSF was evaluated based on its growth promotion effect on TF-1 cell lines by MTT assay method. Findings / Results: A significant improvement of the soluble yield of GM-CSF (about 30% of GM-CSF was expressed as soluble proteins) was observed when protein expression was induced at 30 °C with 0.5 mM isopropyl β- d-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) in E. coli Shuffle T7. The soluble GM-CSF with a high purity up to 95 % and specific activity of 1.25 × 104 IU/μg was obtained. Conclusion and implications: The proposed strategy here can be used to improve the soluble expression of other hard-to-express proteins with similar structural properties (i.e., containing disulfide binds or cysteine).

Background: Cancer immunotherapy has had an important role in oncologic therapeutics for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using checkpoint inhibitors. We will explore the possible prognosis biomarker candidates such as: soluble OX40 (sOX40), OX40L (sOX40L), Glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor family-related receptor (GITR), and their ligand (GITRL), 4-1BB or tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily 9 (TNFRS9) and inducible T cell co-stimulator (ICOS) in peripheral blood of NSCLC patients., Methods: Fifty-eight patients were diagnosed with advanced NSCLC between January 2019 and March 2020., Results: High sOX40 and low s4-1BB levels in smokers compared non-smoker NSCLC patients. Lower sOX40L levels were found in the male than female (p < 0.05). High sOX40 and sGITRL in stage III compared to the stage IV (p < 0.05). With follow-up at 21.4 months, 44.1% and 91.1% were alive in the sGITR high and sGITR low groups, respectively (p = 0.02), and 73.3% and 27.7% were alive in the sGITRL high and sGITRL low groups, respectively (p = 0.02). At 22 months, 38.7% and 92.3% were alive in the sOX40L high and sOX40L low groups, respectively (p = 0.01)., Conclusion: sGITR, sGITRL, and sOX40L levels were potential prognostic biomarkers and could have an important role as new targets of immunotherapy in NSCLC patients. sGITR, sGITRL, sOX40L, and sOX40 levels were associated with smoking, sex, stage, and age in NSCLC., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

The set of finitely generated subgroups of the group PL_+(I) of orientation-preserving piecewise-linear homeomorphisms of the unit interval includes many important groups, most notably R. Thompson's group F. Here, we show that every finitely generated subgroup G

Paramylon from Euglena gracilis is an insoluble crystalline β-1,3-glucan which have pharmaceutical and nutraceuticals applications. The present study aims to check the prebiotic potential of paramylon derived from heterotrophically grown E. gracilis in bioreactor. The Paramylon was extracted using sodium dodecyl sulfate from E. gracilis biomass. The Fourier Transform-Infra Red spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy demonstrated the isolated paramylon to be equivalent to that of analytical standard. The prebiotic activity of E. gracilis cell extract and isolated paramylon was studied. E. gracilis cell extract as well as isolated paramylon led to cell number enhancement of Lacfid (Lactobacillus) strain exhibiting the prebiotic activities.

Thiadiazolobenzotriazole (TBZ)‐containing donor‐acceptor (D–A) type polymers are rarely investigated as electrochromic materials, although they have made important progress in the fields of organic transistors and solar cells. In this work, a new class of soluble D–A type electrochromic polymer is designed using the alkyl substituted TBZ units as the acceptor, the alkyl substituted 3,4‐propylenedioxythiophene (ProDOT) units as the donor, and benzene (B) units as the π‐bridge. Through altering the molar ratio of ProDOT/B/TBZ, three polymers named PPBT‐1, PPBT‐2 and PPBT‐3 are chemically synthesized. After various characterizations, it is found that all the polymers display saturated green in their neutral states and switch to transparent gray upon oxidation with narrow optical bandgaps, and moreover, they demonstrate high optical contrast, rapid switching speed, and excellent coloration efficiency particularly in the near infrared region. The impacts of different donor‐acceptor feed ratios on electrochromic performances are mainly reflected in the optical, electrochemical and kinetic properties. In contrast to PPBT‐1 and PPBT‐3, PPBT‐2 show the best performances with the most appropriate ProDOT/B/TBZ ratio of 2/3/1 in its backbone. These positive results provide a theoretical basis for the research of electrochromic polymers based on TBZ units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Hemin is a potent iron supplement. A major limitation of the applicability of hemin is its extremely low aqueous solubility and bioavailability. The aim of this work is to prepare hemin nanoparticles with improved solubility. Transmission electron microscopic images showed that hemin nanoparticles with different initial concentrations of hemin (0.1 and 0.5 mg/mL) were tadpole-shaped (head of approximately 200 nm and tail of 100 nm) and sphere-shaped (50–100 nm), respectively. Moreover, hemin nanoparticles exhibited higher solubility than free hemin. The solubility of sphere-shaped nanoparticles was 308.2-fold higher than that of pure hemin at 25 °C. The hemin nanoparticles were stable in acidic conditions and displayed excellent thermal stability. These results suggested that hemin nanoparticles could serve as a potential iron supplement with potential applications in the food, biomedical, and photodynamic-photothermal therapy fields.

Mixed-valence cerium oxide nanoparticles (nanoceria) have been investigated with pronounced interest due to a wide range of biomedical and industrial applications that arises from its remarkable redox catalytic properties. However, there is no understanding of how to control the formation of these two types of nanoceria to obtain Ce3+/Ce4+ ratios required in various applications. In this work, using a soluble borate glass, nanoceria with specific ratios of Ce3+/Ce4+ are created and extracted via controlled glass-melting parameters. Glass embedded with nanoceria as well as nanoceria extracted from the glass were studied via XANES and fitted with the Multivariate Curve Resolution (MCR) technique to calculate the ratio of Ce3+/Ce4+. Results show that mixed-valence nanoceria with specific ratios are hermetically sealed within the glass for long durations. When the glass dissolves, the mixed-valence nanoceria are released, and the extracted nanoceria have unchanged Ce3+/Ce4+ ratios. Furthermore, TEM investigation on released nanoceria show that the nanoceria consist of several different structures. Although nanocrystal structures of Ce7O12, Ce11O20, and Ce2O3 contribute to the reduced state, a new quasi-stable phase of CeO1.66 has been observed as well.

Semaphorin 4D (Sema4D) is a glycoprotein that is expressed by several tumors and immune cells. It can function as a membrane bound protein or as a cleaved soluble protein (sSema4D). We sought to investigate the translational potential of plasma sSema4D as an immune marker in plasma of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Paired peripheral blood and tumor tissue samples of 104 patients with HNSCC were collected at the same time point to allow for real time analysis. Scoring of the histological inflammatory subtype (HIS) was carried out using Sema4D immunohistochemistry on the tumor tissue. sSema4D was detected in plasma using direct ELISA assay. Defining elevated sSema4D as values above the 95th percentile in healthy controls, our data showed that sSema4D levels in plasma were elevated in 25.0% (95% CI, 16.7–34.9%) of the patients with HNSCC and showed significant association with HIS immune excluded (HIS-IE) (p = 0.007), Sema4D+ve tumor cells (TCs) (p = 0.018) and PD-L1+ve immune cells (ICs) (p = 0.038). A multi-variable logistic regression analysis showed that HIS was significantly (P = 0.004) associated with elevated sSema4D, an association not explained by available patient-level factors. Using the IO-360 nanoString platform, differential gene expression (DGE) analysis of 10 HNSCC tumor tissues showed that patients with high sSema4D in plasma (HsS4D) clustered as IFN-γ negative tumor immune signature and were mostly HIS-IE. The IC type in the HsS4D paired tumor tissue was predominantly myeloid, while the lymphoid compartment was higher in the low sSema4D (LsS4D). The Wnt signaling pathway was upregulated in the HsS4D group. Further analysis using the IO-360, 770 gene set, showed significant non-inflamed profile of the HsS4D tumors compared to the LsS4D. In conclusion, our data reveals an association between sSema4D and the histological inflammatory subtype.

Background: Coffee is one of the most consumed beverages in the world; however, it may contain toxic compounds such as ochratoxin A (OTA). Objectives: Determine the OTA's presence in different types of coffee, intended for beverage preparation and marketed in Colombia through the application of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and analyze its relationship with the physical, physicochemical and microbiological properties. Methods: 8 samples of coffee commercialized in the Colombian market were selected, in which the OTA content was determined by applying the ELISA method. Likewise, a microbiological analysis was performed, and physicochemical properties were determined, such as moisture content, aw, percentage total dissolved solids (%TDS), and extraction yield (%EY). Physical properties such as free-flow densities, compacted bulk densities (CBD), porosity, average particle size (ASP), and color. The data were treated with multivariate analysis using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Cluster Analysis (CA) to quantitatively investigate the relationships between the coffee samples concerning their physical, physicochemical properties, and OTA content. LSD test was applied with a significance level of 95 % and Pearson correlation test. Results: All the samples had OTA content, but only 2 exceeded the limits allowed by the regulations, with a maximum value of 15.449 μg/Kg, which represents 31.449 % of the tolerable daily intake according to the parameters defined by Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA). According to the PCA and CA, the samples were grouped harmonically according to the type of coffee associated with its commercial presentation and industrial process, OTA content, and ASP. OTA content was significantly and positively correlated (p < 0.05) with %EY, %TDS, ASP, porosity, CBD and moisture. Conclusions: The coffees marketed in Colombia showed a variable range of OTA, where soluble coffees had higher OTA contents than roasted coffees, and 25 % of the coffees analyzed do not meet the levels defined by Colombian regulations. The OTA content in coffee is related to properties that define the ability to extract solutes from coffee. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of polyimide (PI) films were prepared through a two-step polycondensation process via chemical imidization using five commercial aromatic dianhydrides and a novel diamine containing an imidazole unit and trifluoromethyl groups, i.e., 4,4′-(((4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazole-1,2-diyl)bis(4,1-phenylene))bis(oxy)) bis(3-(trifluoromethyl)aniline) (referred to as diamine 3). The number average molecular weights of the resulting PIs ranged from 1.57 × 104 to 3.17 × 104 g·mol−1 with polydispersity indices between 2.53 and 3.60, which were obtained through gel permeation chromatography measurements using a polystyrene standard. All the PIs prepared using diamine 3 were amorphous because of the large side group and kink structure of the diamine. They are soluble in common high-boiling point solvents, such as N-methyl pyrrolidone, dimethyl acetamide, and m-cresol, as well as several low-boiling point solvents, including chloroform and tetrahydrofuran. They exhibit the thermal stability with 10% weight loss temperatures in the range of 545 to 562 °C and 5% weight loss temperatures in the range of 500 to 541 °C in a nitrogen atmosphere. Their glass transition temperatures exceed 245 °C. All the resulting PI films show transmittances of over 74% in the visible light region ranging from 400 to 760 nm. The tensile strength of the PI films is in the range of 30.1 to 52.8 MPa, while the tensile modulus ranges from 1.0 to 1.7 GPa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigated film profile and device performance in pixel of 80ppi, 144ppi and 200ppi with 2nd harmonic structure which had thicker HIL and HTL. Pile‐up phenomena depended on ink formulation and pixel size and target film thickness. The excessive pile‐up was occurred in smaller pixel with same ink. Profiles were improved with changing the first layer ink that it had suppressed pile‐up in 200ppi size pixel. Device performance was also achieved in 200ppi size pixel compared with 80ppi size pixel device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Semaphorin 4D (Sema4D) is a glycoprotein that is expressed by several tumors and immune cells. It can function as a membrane bound protein or as a cleaved soluble protein (sSema4D). We sought to investigate the translational potential of plasma sSema4D as an immune marker in plasma of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Paired peripheral blood and tumor tissue samples of 104 patients with HNSCC were collected at the same time point to allow for real time analysis. Scoring of the histological inflammatory subtype (HIS) was carried out using Sema4D immunohistochemistry on the tumor tissue. sSema4D was detected in plasma using direct ELISA assay. Defining elevated sSema4D as values above the 95th percentile in healthy controls, our data showed that sSema4D levels in plasma were elevated in 25.0% (95% CI, 16.7–34.9%) of the patients with HNSCC and showed significant association with HIS immune excluded (HIS-IE) (p = 0.007), Sema4D+ve tumor cells (TCs) (p = 0.018) and PD-L1+ve immune cells (ICs) (p = 0.038). A multi-variable logistic regression analysis showed that HIS was significantly (P = 0.004) associated with elevated sSema4D, an association not explained by available patient-level factors. Using the IO-360 nanoString platform, differential gene expression (DGE) analysis of 10 HNSCC tumor tissues showed that patients with high sSema4D in plasma (HsS4D) clustered as IFN- γ negative tumor immune signature and were mostly HIS-IE. The IC type in the HsS4D paired tumor tissue was predominantly myeloid, while the lymphoid compartment was higher in the low sSema4D (LsS4D). The Wnt signaling pathway was upregulated in the HsS4D group. Further analysis using the IO-360, 770 gene set, showed significant non-inflamed profile of the HsS4D tumors compared to the LsS4D. In conclusion, our data reveals an association between sSema4D and the histological inflammatory subtype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

10,10-Bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy)-3-methylphenyl]-9(10 H)-anthrone, as a new aromatic diamine, was synthesized from 9(10 H)-anthrone by three-step procedure. Low-temperature polycondensation of this diamine with various aromatic dicarboxylic acid dichlorides produced a series of new cardo poly(ether amide)s with moderate to high inherent viscosities of 0.86–1.43 dL g−1 while the weight-average and number-average molecular weights were in the range of 48,600–59,800 and 29,800–35,600 g mol−1, respectively. All the polymers were readily soluble in polar solvents such as N, N -dimethylacetamide (DMAc), N, N -dimethylformamide, N -methyl-2-pyrrolidinone, dimethyl sulfoxide, and pyridine, and afforded transparent, flexible, and strong films upon casting from DMAc solvent. These polymers had glass transition temperatures of 254–297°C, 10% weight loss temperatures of 493–505°C, and char yields of 61–64% at 800°C in nitrogen. All polymers were amorphous and their films exhibited tensile strength of 80.7–101.4 MPa, elongation at break of 8.0–12.8%, and tensile modulus of 1.9–2.6 GPa. These polymers had low moisture uptake in the range of 2.13–4.02% and high transparency with an ultraviolet–visible absorption cutoff wavelength in the 322–375 nm range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Brain insulin resistance and deficiency is a consistent feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Insulin resistance can be mediated by the surface expression of the insulin receptor (IR). Cleavage of the IR generates the soluble IR (sIR)., Methods: We measured the levels of sIR present in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from individuals along the AD diagnostic spectrum from two cohorts: Seattle ( n  = 58) and the Consortium for the Early Identification of Alzheimer's Disease-Quebec (CIMA-Q; n  = 61). We further investigated the brain cellular contribution for sIR using human cell lines., Results: CSF sIR levels were not statistically different in AD. CSF sIR and amyloid beta (Aβ)42 and Aβ40 levels significantly correlated as well as CSF sIR and cognition in the CIMA-Q cohort. Human neurons expressing the amyloid precursor protein "Swedish" mutation generated significantly greater sIR and human astrocytes were also able to release sIR in response to both an inflammatory and insulin stimulus., Discussion: These data support further investigation into the generation and role of sIR in AD., Highlights: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) soluble insulin receptor (sIR) levels positively correlate with amyloid beta (Aβ)42 and Aβ40.CSF sIR levels negatively correlate with cognitive performance (Montreal Cognitive Assessment score).CSF sIR levels in humans remain similar across Alzheimer's disease diagnostic groups.Neurons derived from humans with the "Swedish" mutation in which Aβ42 is increased generate increased levels of sIR.Human astrocytes can also produce sIR and generation is stimulated by tumor necrosis factor α and insulin., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest. Author disclosures are available in the supporting information., (© 2024 The Author(s). Alzheimer's & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Alzheimer's Association.)

A survey of the chemical way to determine the amount of different phosphorus forms in calcareous soils was carried out on 22 calcareous soils fertilized for many years with phosphate fertilizers from central and southern Iraq. Extraction methods were developed by combining the technique of individual traditional methods of different forms with sequentially extraction technology. Soil samples were collected from surface (0-30 cm) and subsurface (30-60 cm) horizons. Forms of soluble, ready available, organic and total phosphorus were extracted independently and in addition to the successive extraction were carried out according to Jiang and Gu (1989) method. The amount of soluble and available phosphorus extracted were low and ranged from 0.17 to 2.12 mg kg-1 and 7.28 and 34.3 mg kg-1 respectively. Organic phosphorus was medium and the values ranged 30.9 and 93.1 mg kg-1 while the total phosphorus content was high and the values ranged between 206.9 and 570.6 mg kg-1. The quantities of phosphorus extracted sequentially by chemical extracts and the possibility of diagnosing different forms of phosphorus associated with calcium Ca2-P, Ca8-P and Ca10-P (apatite) in addition to P associated with OM and free iron and aluminum oxides. The average values of Ca2-P, Ca8-P, Fe-P and occluded (O-P) extracted were nearly similar and the values were 20.47, 25.28, 25.4, and 26.23 mg kg-1 respectively while the Ca10-P was much higher (194.54 mg kg-1) than the other forms.

New diamine, 4-(4-diphenylphosphino)phenyl-2,6-bis(4-aminophenyl)pyridine, was prepared, and the related polyamides (PAs) bearing 2,6-diphenylpyridyl units and pendant diphenylphosphinophenyl groups were synthesized by direct polycondensation of this diamine and various aromatic diacids in N -methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP) using triphenyl phosphite and pyridine as condensing agents. The resulting PAs with inherent viscosities of 0.78–1.06 dL g−1 are readily soluble in polar aprotic solvents such as NMP, N, N- dimethylacetamide, and dimethylsulfoxide as well as less polar solvents such as m -cresol and pyridine. All the PAs are amorphous and could be solution-cast into transparent, flexible, and tough films, which have tensile strengths of 68.2–88.8 MPa, tensile moduli of 1.9–2.4 GPa, and elongations at break of 5.4–10.3%. These polymer films also exhibit high optical transparence with the UV cutoff wavelength in the 361–412 nm range. These PAs display glass transition temperatures of 316–332°C, 10% mass loss temperatures of 524–553°C, and more than 48% residues at 800°C in nitrogen, respectively. Their high char yields and good limited oxygen index values ranging from 39 to 44 indicate the prepared PAs show good thermal stability and flame-retardant property. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RGB printing method has been widely regarded as a potential tool for manufacturing high resolution, large size OLED applications, with the help of recent progresses of soluble OLED materials and ink‐jet printing equipment. However, there are still technical hurdles which remain in order for inkjet‐printed OLED displays to move from prototype to mass production scale. In this report, recent R&D trends will be reviewed of device performances, ink‐jet printing equipment, as well as inkjet‐printed OLED products recently demonstrated by display panel makers for various applications. Moreover, key technical issues will be discussed to be overcome in order for mass production, such as an ink formulation, a high resolution ink‐jet printing, inter‐mixing between printed layers, thickness uniformity of printed layers, etc. Lastly, our recent progress will be presented, of a power consumption, color gamut, and lifetime of inkjet‐printed panel with pixel resolution over 200ppi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]