"Cloth-to-Clothes-Like" Fabrication of Soft Actuators.

Inspired by adaptive natural organisms and living matter, soft actuators appeal to a variety of innovative applications such as soft grippers, artificial muscles, wearable electronics, and biomedical devices. However, their fabrication is typically limited in laboratories or a few enterprises since specific instruments, strong stimuli, or specialized operation skills are inevitably involved. Here a straightforward "cloth-to-clothes-like" method to prepare soft actuators with a low threshold by combining the hysteretic behavior of liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) with the exchange reaction of dynamic covalent bonds, is proposed. Due to the hysteretic behavior, the LCEs (resemble "cloth") effectively retain predefined shapes after stretching and releasing for extended periods. Subsequently, the samples naturally become soft actuators (resemble "clothes") via the exchange reaction at ambient temperatures. As a post-synthesis method, this strategy effectively separates the production of LCEs and soft actuators. LCEs can be mass-produced in bulk by factories or producers and stored as prepared, much like rolls of cloth. When required, these LCEs can be customized into soft actuators as needed. This strategy provides a robust, flexible, and scalable solution to engineer soft actuators, holding great promise for mass production and universal applications.

Developing an Approach for Calculating Theoretical Minimum Hydrogen Consumption during Catalytic Hydrotreating of Diesel.

Identifying the unnecessary H2 consumption existing in diesel hydrotreating process and calculating theoretical minimum H2 consumption are extremely critical for reducing H2 consumption in consideration of carbon reduction and resource utilization improvement. In this work, chemical reactions happened during diesel hydrotreating were categorized into hydrodesulfurization (HDS), hydrodenitrogenation (HDN), saturation of monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (MAHs), saturation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), hydrogenation of olefins (HGO) and hydrocracking reactions (HCR). Then, in order to gain insights into where and how much H2 can be reduced, the ideal molecular compositions of the products were analyzed when theoretical minimum H2 was achieved for each type of reactions, which can give a genuine value of average relative molecular weight and average number of moles of H2 consumed per mole of reactants, leading to the establishment of method for calculating theoretical minimum H2 consumption. Additionally, the above method was used to calculate theoretical minimum H2 consumption of five diesel feedstocks with different properties to study the influence of content of S, N and PAHs in the feed on theoretical minimum H2 consumption. This method can provide guidance for experiments of H2 consumption reduction, and also help the refineries to save potential costs of H2.

Pathways to Next-Generation Fire-Safe Alkali-Ion Batteries.

High energy and power density alkali-ion (i.e., Li+ , Na+ , and K+ ) batteries (AIBs), especially lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), are being ubiquitously used for both large- and small-scale energy storage, and powering electric vehicles and electronics. However, the increasing LIB-triggered fires due to thermal runaways have continued to cause significant injuries and casualties as well as enormous economic losses. For this reason, to date, great efforts have been made to create reliable fire-safe AIBs through advanced materials design, thermal management, and fire safety characterization. In this review, the recent progress is highlighted in the battery design for better thermal stability and electrochemical performance, and state-of-the-art fire safety evaluation methods. The key challenges are also presented associated with the existing materials design, thermal management, and fire safety evaluation of AIBs. Future research opportunities are also proposed for the creation of next-generation fire-safe batteries to ensure their reliability in practical applications.

Elastomers Grow into Actuators.

It is common knowledge that when an elastomer (rubber) is stretched, its length will be maintained if its two ends are fixed. Here, it is serendipitously found that when an elastomer is slowly elongated further to achieve buckling under such conditions, the final length is much longer than the pre-stretched length. This allows the design of untethered autonomous synthetic-material-based soft robots that do not need any other chemical or electrical energy sources or external stimuli after the pre-strain is installed. Once the growth starts, the elongation continues to proceed even when the applied force is removed. Moreover, the elastomer, after growing, eventually forms a robust soft actuator that can be reshaped for different purposes. Few synthetic materials can grow like this, so far. This investigation shows that the material has an uncommon liquid crystal phase. Contrary to normal liquid crystals, it becomes birefringent only at high temperatures. The formation and the reshaping of the resulting soft actuators relate to a usually unnoticed reversible reaction. The work is promising to promote further understanding of dynamic covalent chemistry and liquid crystal elastomers, as well as to foster new designs and high-impact applications of bioinspired sustainable soft actuators in areas other than soft robots.

Merging the Interfaces of Different Shape-Shifting Polymers Using Hybrid Exchange Reactions.

Sophisticated shape-shifting structures and integration of advanced functions often call for different-chemistry-based polymers (such as epoxy and polyurethane) in a unified system. However, permanent cross-links pose crucial obstacles to be seamless. Here, merging interfaces via hybrid exchange reactions among different dynamic covalent bonds (including ester, urethane, thiourethane, boronic-ester, and oxime-ester linkages) is proposed, breaking the long-lasting restriction that these widely used bonds only undergo self-exchange reactions. Model compound studies are conducted to verify that hybrid exchange reactions occur. As demonstrations, different liquid crystal elastomers are tenaciously joined into coherent assemblies, with the desired biomimetic structures (e.g., flying fish containing stiff and flexible parts) and rare deformation modes (e.g., flower blooming upon both heating and cooling). Besides connecting polymers, hybrid exchange reactions also facilitate the creation of new materials through cross-fusion of different polymers. In addition to the polymers used in this work, hybrid exchange reactions can be adapted to other polymers based on similar mechanisms and beyond. Besides shape-shifting-related areas (e.g., soft robots, flexible electronics, and biomedical devices), it may also foster innovation in other fields involving general polymers, as well as promote deeper understanding of dynamic covalent chemistry.

Construction and Analysis of lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA Network Identify an Eight-Gene Signature as a Potential Prognostic Factor in Kidney Renal Papillary Cell Carcinoma (KIRP).

Aims: This study was conducted to establish the potential competing endogeneous RNA (ceRNA) network for predicting prognoses in kidney papillary renal cell carcinoma (KIRP) and explore novel therapeutic targets. Methods: The edgeR package in R was used to determine differentially expressed messenger RNAs (mRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs), based on data from The Cancer Gene Atlas Program (TCGA) and the Genotype Expression (GTEx) databases. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was performed to filter out the mRNAs or lncRNAs that were strongly related to KIRP. The miRNAs that possibly sponged by differentially expressed RNAs lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) were screened using miRcode. Starbase, miRDB, and TargetScan sets were utilized to predict target mRNAs to corresponding miRNAs. LASSO and multivariate Cox regression analyses were applied for the determination of potential prognostic significance. Finally, the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA network was constructed. Results: A total of 1739 DEmRNAs and 1599 DElncRNAs were identified in KIRP. WGCNA analysis suggested that DEmRNAs in the blue module and DElncRNAs in the turquoise module were closely correlated with KIRP. An 8-gene signature was constructed, which had prognostic significance and predictive value in KIRP. Of note, a lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA network (including 18 lncRNAs, 5 miRNAs, and 7 mRNAs) was established. Conclusion: This investigation constructed a new lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA network, and proposed some genes that may be novel targets, as well as a theoretical basis for the treatment of patients with KIRP.

Scalable Spray Drying Production of Amorphous V2 O5 -EGO 2D Heterostructured Xerogels for High-Rate and High-Capacity Aqueous Zinc Ion Batteries.

Rechargeable aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) are promising in stationary grid energy storage due to their advantages in safety and cost-effectiveness, and the search for competent cathode materials is one core task in the development of ZIBs. Herein, the authors design a 2D heterostructure combining amorphous vanadium pentoxide and electrochemically produced graphene oxide (EGO) using a fast and scalable spray drying technique. The unique 2D heterostructured xerogel is achieved by controlling the concentration of EGO in the precursor solution. Driven by the improved electrochemical kinetics, the resultant xerogel can deliver an excellent rate capability (334 mAh g-1 at 5 A g-1 ) as well as a high specific capacity (462 mAh g-1 at 0.2 A g-1 ) as the cathode material in ZIB. It is also shown that the coin cell constructed based on spray-dried xerogel can output steady, high energy densities over a broad power density window. This work provides a scalable and cost-effective approach for making high performance electrode materials from cheap sources through existing industrialized materials processing.

FK506 binding protein 10: a key actor of collagen crosslinking in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most common type of malignant tumor in the kidney. With numbers of patients whose physical condition or tumor stage not suitable for radical surgery, they only have a narrow choice of using VEGF/mTOR targeted drugs to control their tumors, but ccRCC often shows resistance to these drugs. Therefore, identifying a new therapeutic target is of urgent necessity. In this study, for the first time, we concluded from bioinformatics analyses and in vitro research that FK506 binding protein 10 (FKBP10), together with its molecular partner Lysyl hydroxylase 2 (LH2/PLOD2), participate in the process of type I collagen synthesis in ccRCC via regulating crosslinking of pro-collagen chains. Our findings may provide a potential therapeutic target to treat ccRCC in the future.

A magnetic solder for assembling bulk covalent adaptable network blocks.

Covalent adaptable networks (CANs) represent a novel covalently cross-linked polymer that is capable of being reprocessed and recycled relying on reversible covalent bond structures and present exceptional opportunities in a wide range of prospective applications. However, it is genuinely difficult to fabricate bulk CAN blocks with solid-core geometries that possess complex shapes or multiple materials, which are crucial in cutting-edge fields such as soft robotics, flexible electronic devices and biomedical engineering. Here we report a welding technique to strategically construct complex and heterogeneous 3D CAN structures by utilizing a solder doped with magnetic nanoparticles. The solder is able to induce a bond exchange reaction at the interface between the to-be-welded pieces. Using this method, not only CAN bulks with the same materials can be welded to form complex geometries, distinctive bulks with different physical properties and chemical compositions can also be connected to fabricate multimaterial devices. Besides, this method can be used to repair damaged CAN materials and efficiently recycle scrap CAN materials, which can effectively save resources and protect the environment. The universality and robustness of this strategy is expected to promote CAN application in broader functional polymer fields.

Seamless multimaterial 3D liquid-crystalline elastomer actuators for next-generation entirely soft robots.

Liquid-crystalline elastomers (LCEs) are excellent soft actuator materials for a wide range of applications, especially the blooming area of soft robotics. For entirely soft LCE robots to exhibit high dexterity and complicated performance, several components are typically required to be integrated together in one single robot body. Here, we show that seamless multicomponent/multimaterial three-dimensional (3D) LCE robots can be created via simultaneously welding and aligning LCE materials with different chemical compositions and physical properties without other additives such as tapes and glues (just like metal welding). Both welding and aligning of the LCE materials rely on thermal polymerization of preformed LCE films with reactive acrylate groups. This method provides an easy way to robustly fabricate arbitrary 3D desirable geometries with strongly stable reversible actuations and multifunctionalities, which greatly enlarges and benefits the future applications and manufacturing of LCE soft robots.

Reprocessable Thermoset Soft Actuators.

Widely used traditional thermosets are good candidates for construction of 3D soft actuators because of their excellent stability; however, it is generally acknowledged that they cannot be reprocessed. The time-temperature equivalence principle enables reprocessing of traditional liquid crystalline epoxy thermosets (LCETs) into 3D soft actuators. Even though the transesterification reaction of LCETs is extremely slow, it is fast enough to induce a topology rearrangement and subsequent reprocessing when prolonging the transesterification time according to aforementioned principle. Therefore, LCETs can be aligned by a simple procedure. The alignment is quite stable at high temperature and remains after more than 1000 heating-cooling actuation cycles. The resulting 3D soft actuators are remouldable, reprogrammable, reconfigurable, weldable, self-healable, recyclable, and stable, which is impossible for any traditional thermosets and is therefore a compelling advance in terms of the applications open to 3D soft actuators.

Graphene platelets enhanced pressureless- sintered B4C ceramics.

B4C ceramics with different contents of graphene platelets (GPL) were synthesized by a pressureless process in Ar atmosphere. The influences of GPL on mechanical properties, thermal conductivity and electrical resistivity of the B4C ceramics were investigated. Mechanical properties ran up to optimal condition with hardness of 29.1 GPa, bending strength of 383.9 GPa and fracture toughness of 5.72 MPa m1/2 with 0.8 wt% GPL separately. Thermal conductivity and electrical resistivity reached extreme values of 26.35 W m-1 k-1 and 0.1 Ω cm-1. Performances of the ceramics were mainly affected by the generation of non-functional-GPL and the result indicated that a large amount of non-functional-GPL could contribute to poorer overall performance. Meanwhile, two particular pullout mechanisms concerning toughness enhancing was discussed in detail.

Dynamin2 GTPase contributes to invadopodia formation in invasive bladder cancer cells.

Cancer cell invasion is mediated by actin-based membrane protrusions termed invadopodia. Invadopodia consist of "core" F-actin bundles associated with adhesive and proteolytic machineries promoting cell invasion by degrading extracellular matrix (ECM). Formation of the F-actin core in invadopodia is regulated by various actin-binding proteins including Arp2/3 complex and cortactin. Dynamin GTPase localizes to the invadopodia and is implicated in cancer cell invasion, but its precise role at the invadopodia remained elusive. In this study, we examined the roles of dynamin at the invadopodia of bladder cancer cells. Although all three dynamin isoforms (dynamin1, 2 and 3) are expressed in human bladder cancer cell line T24, only dynamin2 localizes to the invadopodia. Inhibition of dynamin2 function, using either RNA interference (RNAi) or the dynamin specific inhibitor Dynasore, caused defects in invadopodia formation and suppressed invasive activity of T24 bladder cancer cells. Structure-function analysis using dynamin2 deletion fragments identified the proline/arginine-rich domain (PRD) of dynamin2 as indispensable for invadopodia formation and invasiveness of T24 cells. Thus, dynamin2 contributes to bladder cancer invasion by controlling invadopodia formation in bladder cancer cells and may prove a valuable therapeutic target.

Expression of a dynamin 2 mutant associated with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease leads to aberrant actin dynamics and lamellipodia formation.

Specific mutations in dynamin 2 are linked to Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), an inherited peripheral neuropathy. However, the effects of these mutations on dynamin function, particularly in relation to the regulation of the actin cytoskeleton remain unclear. Here, selected CMT-associated dynamin mutants were expressed to examine their role in the pathogenesis of CMT in U2OS cells. Ectopic expression of the dynamin CMT mutants 555Δ3 and K562E caused an approximately 50% decrease in serum stimulation-dependent lamellipodia formation; however, only K562E caused aberrations in the actin cytoskeleton. Immunofluorescence analysis showed that the K562E mutation resulted in the disappearance of radially aligned actin bundles and the simultaneous appearance of F-actin clusters. Live-cell imaging analyses showed F-actin polymers of decreased length assembled into immobile clusters in K562E-expressing cells. The K562E dynamin mutant colocalized with the F-actin clusters, whereas its colocalization with clathrin-coated pit marker proteins was decreased. Essentially the same results were obtained using another cell line, HeLa and NG108-15 cells. The present study is the first to show the association of dynamin CMT mutations with aberrant actin dynamics and lamellipodia, which may contribute to defective endocytosis and myelination in Schwann cells in CMT.