Chemosensors have attracted considerable attention among the numerous strategies for detecting organic molecules in water. A turn-off mechanism was previously employed for the construction of a ...cyclodextrin (CD) chemosensor. This mechanism is greatly effective but has several shortcomings. In order to overcome these shortcomings, new fluorescent chemosensors NC0αCD, NC0βCD, and NC0γCD, which were (7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)amine-modified α-CD, β-CD, and γ-CD, respectively, were prepared. Their guest selectivities were different from those of previously reported CD chemosensors. Here, the mechanism of new CD chemosensors was investigated using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and molecular mechanics calculations. The fluorescence intensity of NC0βCD and NC0γCD slightly decreased and largely increased, respectively, upon the addition of ursodeoxycholic acid as a guest. This is due to the fact that the fluorophore of NC0βCD moved away to the hydrophilic bulk water to form hydrogen bonds between the host and the guest, while the fluorophore of NC0γCD remained located at the primary hydroxy side of the γ-CD unit to form a stable inclusion complex with hydrogen bonds between the fluorophore and the guest. NC0αCD also acted as a turn-on chemosensor for small guests, which could not be detected by the previous CD chemosensors. The motion restriction of the fluorophore through the generation of inclusion complexes could also contribute to increase in fluorescence intensity.
The evolution of flight is a key innovation that may enable the extreme diversification of insects. Nonetheless, many species-rich, winged insect groups contain flightless lineages. The loss of ...flight may promote allopatric differentiation due to limited dispersal power and may result in a high speciation rate in the flightless lineage. Here we show that loss of flight accelerates allopatric speciation using carrion beetles (Coleoptera: Silphidae). We demonstrate that flightless species retain higher genetic differentiation among populations and comprise a higher number of genetically distinct lineages than flight-capable species, and that the speciation rate with the flightless state is twice that with the flight-capable state. Moreover, a meta-analysis of 51 beetle species from 15 families reveals higher genetic differentiation among populations in flightless compared with flight-capable species. In beetles, which represent almost one-fourth of all described species, repeated evolution of flightlessness may have contributed to their steady diversification since the Mesozoic era.
Electrolyzed waters, containing mainly hypochlorous acid, are used in dental practice because of their high microbicidal effect. For wider use, three neutral electrolyzed water-based gels, namely, ...HOCl-containing aqueous gels were prepared with a thickening/gelling agent in this study. We evaluated their microbicidal effects against four strains and storage stabilities indicated by available chlorine concentration. Immediately after preparation, all gels (70 ppm) could completely remove microbes by a 3-min treatment. The gel prepared with xanthan gum remarkably reduced its available chlorine concentration even under shaded and refrigerated storage conditions, failing to maintain its microbicidal effect following 1-day storage, whereas other gels, prepared with carboxyvinyl polymer or agar, maintained effective concentration (>20 ppm), with high microbicidal effects following 9-day and 21-day storage, respectively. Neutral electrolyzed water-based gels might be useful to remove oral microbes. Based on our results, agar is the most suitable thickening/gelling agent from the viewpoint of storage stability.
The local strain measurement method using nanometer-scaled micro grids printed on the surface of a specimen by an electron lithography technique (the micro-grid method) has been established. ...Microscopic deformation behavior of the ferrite–bainite steels with different bainite volume fraction, 16% and 40% of bainite, was evaluated. Strain localization in the ferrite phase adjacent to the ferrite/bainite boundary was clearly observed and visualized. Highly strained regions expanded toward the inner region of the ferrite phase and connected each other with an increase of macroscopic strain. The existence of hard bainite phase plays an important role for inducing strain localization in the ferrite phase by plastic constraint in the boundary parallel to the tensile direction. In order to obtain further understanding of microscopic deformation behavior, finite element analysis using the representative volume element, which is expressed by the axisymmetric unit cell containing a hard phase surrounded by a soft phase matrix, was conducted. It was found that the macroscopic stress–strain behavior of ferrite–bainite steels was well simulated by the unit cell models. Strain concentration in the ferrite phase was highly enhanced for the ferrite-40% bainite steel, and this imposed higher internal stress in the bainite phase, resulting in higher strain hardening rate in the early stage of the deformation. However, smaller ferrite volume fraction of ferrite-40% bainite steel induced bainite plastic deformation in order to fulfill the macroscopic strain of the steel. Accordingly, strain hardening capacity of the ferrite-40% bainite steel was reduced to a significant degree, resulting in a smaller uniform elongation than the ferrite-16% bainite steel.
Bipartite graphs can describe various systems in real world. In this study, we define a new problem class for optimizing the cost or profit associated with state changes in systems represented by ...bipartite graphs and propose a heuristic approach based on a fast greedy algorithm. We present the problem setting of the network circuit and device removal problem as a real-world problem and demonstrate the superiority of the proposed method for large-scale applications. This study contributes to the understanding and solving of various optimization problems in industrial fields, providing a comprehensive approach to cost (profit) optimization problems associated with state changes in systems represented by bipartite graphs.
With an increase in the complexity of society, solving multi-objective optimization problems (MOPs) has become crucial. In this study, we introduced a novel method called “quadratic unconstrained ...binary optimization based on the weighted normal” for solving MOPs using Ising machines, such as quantum annealing and digital annealer (DA), in the field of combinatorial optimization. The proposed method applies the penalty-based boundary intersection method to Ising machines under a setting limited to linear objective functions and maximizes the speed and performance of the DA, which is a quadratic unconstrained binary optimization-specific solver. We demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed method by solving a real-world problem with a nonconvex shaped Pareto front (component combination problem). The results suggested that the proposed method could handle both convex- and nonconvex-shaped Pareto fronts, expanding the potential applications of Ising machines to solving complex MOPs. This development could significantly enhance decision-making processes, particularly in achieving sustainable development goals.
Singlet fission (SF) is expected to exceed the theoretical limit of the solar cell efficiency. Quintet (Q) state generation in triplet–triplet pair is essential for preventing the unwanted loss of ...SF-born multiexciton through singlet channels, although little is known on the primary multiexciton spin dynamics following the intermolecular SF. In this study, time-resolved EPR revealed the intermolecular multiexciton dynamics, energetics and geometries in aggregated 6,13-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)pentacene and 2-phenyl-6,11-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)tetracene in diluted frozen solution. We have demonstrated sublevel selective generations of excited quintet states (|Q0⟩, |Q–1⟩ and |Q–2⟩) by singlet–quintet (SQ) mixings during triplet-exciton diffusions within geminate multiexcitons. The present fundamental characteristics of the quintet generations shows strong impact of coexistence of molecularly ordered “hot spot” and disordered regions for exergonic SQ mixings driven by entropy, thereby paving a new avenue for rational designs of organic devices with controlled multiexciton dynamics by optimizing film morphologies.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy has become an increasingly popular treatment for orthopaedics and sports-related injuries, and various clinically available PRP preparation methods exist. However, ...the differences in PRP quality among numerous preparation methods remain unclear. Specifically, the benefit of including leukocytes in the PRP product remains controversial, and few studies have been conducted to evaluate the effects of the interaction between platelets and leukocytes on the growth factor concentrations. The aim of the present study was to compare the biological characteristics of PRPs focusing on the leukocyte concentration and composition.
Leucocyte rich (LR)-PRP, leucocyte poor (LP)-PRP, and pure-PRP were prepared from the peripheral blood of 6 healthy male volunteers (mean age: 31.3 years). The concentrations of platelets, leukocytes, erythrocytes, growth factors (transforming growth factor-beta 1: TGF-β1; fibroblast growth factor-basic: FGF-b; platelet-derived growth factor-BB: PDGF-BB; vascular endothelial growth factor: VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) from each of the PRP samples were measured. Considering the interaction between platelets and leukocytes, correlations between platelets/leukocytes and growth factors/MMP-9 were analyzed using partial correlation coefficients.
The platelet concentration did not differ among the three PRP preparation methods. Conversely, the leukocyte concentration was dramatically different: 14.9 ± 4.5 (10(3)/μl) in LR-PRP, 2.4 ± 1.3 (10(3)/μl) in LP-PRP, 0.2 ± 0.2 (10(3)/μl) in pure-PRP. The platelet concentration positively correlated with all growth factors. On the other hand, the leukocyte concentration positively correlated with PDGF-BB and the VEGF concentration, while it negatively correlated with FGF-b. Regarding catabolic factors, the MMP-9 concentration strongly correlated with the leukocyte concentration, while there was no correlation between the platelet and MMP-9 concentrations.
These findings demonstrate that leukocytes strongly influence the quality of PRPs. Therefore, modifying the PRP preparation method according to the pathology is essential to achieve better clinical results with PRP therapy.
The CD274 (PD-L1)/PDCD1 (PD-1) pathway is crucial for the modulation of immune responses and self-tolerance. Aberrantly expressed CD274 allows tumor cells to evade host immune system and is ...considered to be a mechanism of adaptive immune resistance. Inhibition of the CD274/PDCD1 immune checkpoint offers a promising new therapeutic strategy. Although CD274-expressing tumor cells have been identified in different types of tumors including colorectal cancer, clinicopathologic profile of these CD274-positive tumors has not been extensively studied. In this study, 454 primary colorectal carcinomas were analyzed histologically and immunohistochemically for CD274, mismatch repair (MMR) proteins, intestinal differentiation marker (CDX2), and stem cell markers (ALCAM, ALDH1A1, and SALL4). CD274-positive colorectal carcinomas (54/454 (12%)) usually (83%) involved the right or transverse colon with poorly differentiated and solid/medullary histology. On the basis of multivariate logistic regression analysis, CD274 positivity was significantly associated with poorly differentiated histotype (OR: 3.32; 95% CI: 1.46-7.51; P=0.004), MMR deficiency (OR: 10.0; 95% CI: 4.66-21.5; P<0.001), and 'stem-like' immunophenotype defined by the loss or weak expression of CDX2 and ALCAM-positivity (OR: 5.51; 95% CI: 1.66-18.3; P=0.005). Mutation analysis of 66 arbitrary selected colorectal carcinomas revealed that CD274-positive tumors usually (88%) carried the BRAF V600E mutation. Thus, colorectal carcinomas defined by CD274 positivity displayed features associated with tumors arising via the serrated neoplasia pathway. Moreover, colorectal carcinomas characterized by lack of CDX2 and prominent expression of ALCAM frequently (71%) showed CD274 positivity. This might suggest association of CD274 expression with 'stem-like' phenotype. Further evaluation of a larger cohort or experimental analyses would be needed to confirm this notion.
The purpose of this study is to clarify physical and chemical changes in surfaces of CAD/CAM composites caused by alumina airborne-particle abrasion and its effect on adhesive bonding. Our study ...involved three dispersed filler (DF)-based and a polymer-infiltrated ceramic network (PICN)-based CAD/CAM composites. Changes in the surface morphologies of the composites were examined, and surface free energy (SFE) analysis was performed based on Owens-Wendt theory. The influence of the abrasion on the bond strengths of CAD/CAM composites to the resin cement was characterized by shear bond strength (SBS) test. The abrasion increased the roughness of the composites. The SFE analysis showed that the abrasion significantly increased the dispersive component but decreased the polar component of the SFE associated with the DF-based composites, while no change occurred for those of the PICN-based composite. The abrasion slightly improved the SBSs for the DF-based composites but not that of the PICN-based composite.
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