Analysis of Ca1-xSrxCO3 phases generated by competitive Sr2+ replacement in pre-formed aragonite.

The ratio of Sr/Ca ions in marine biogenic minerals is considered advantageous for tracking geochemical and biomineralization processes that occur in the oceans. It is debatable, though, whether the ratio in biominerals such as coral skeleton is simply related to values in the seawater environment or controlled by the organism. Recent data show that coral larvae produce partially disordered immature aragonite in Mg-containing Sr-poor calcifying fluids, which transforms into well-ordered aragonite in Mg-depleted Sr-enriched environments, upon animal metamorphosis into the sessile polyp state. Inspired by the process in young coral, we explored in vitro substitution of Ca by Sr in aragonite by exposing aragonite crystals precipitated a priori to Sr solutions with variable concentrations. The resulting biphasic material, comprised of Sr-doped aragonite and Ca-doped strontianite, was carefully analyzed for foreign cation substitution in each polymorph. This allowed to establish a linear correlation between Sr levels in mineralizing solutions and Sr in aragonite as well as Ca in strontianite. It indicated that ca. 5-fold higher Sr solution concentration is needed for substitution in the crystal to reach the level found in corals. It also provided with Sr levels required for a putative strontianite phase to form.

Cold and Liquid Crystal Properties of Square-Planar Copper(II) Versus Nickel(II)-iminophenolate/naphthalen-2-olate Schiff Base Complexes.

Reaction of  the phenolate or naphthalen-2-olate based Schiff base ligands, (E)-1-((2-ethylphenylimino)methyl)phenol (HL1) or (E)-1-((2-ethylphenylimino)methyl)naphthalen-2-ol (HL2) with nickel(II) and copper(II) acetate provides the complexes bis[(E)-1-((2-ethylphenylimino)methyl)phenolato-ĸ2N,O]Ni/Cu(II), [Ni(L1)2] (1) and [Cu(L1)2] (2), or bis[(E)-1-((2-ethylphenylimino)methyl)naphthalen-2-olato-ĸ2N,O]Ni/Cu(II), [Ni(L2)2] (3) and [Cu(L2)2] (4), respectively. Single crystal X-ray structure determinations for 1, 3 and 4 reveal N2,O2-metal coordination of two chelating Schiff base ligands in a square-planar geometry. Powder X-ray diffractograms confirm the phase purity of the bulk microcrystalline samples. Thermal analyses by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarized light microscopic (PLM) indicate the copper(II) complexes to exhibit cold crystal (2) and liquid crystal (4) property. Cyclic voltammograms suggest an irreversible electrochemical process with two one electron charge transfer processes in N,N-dimethylformamide. Variable temperature magnetic measurements at the solid-state prove the diamagnetic nature of the low-spin Ni2+ centres in 1 or 3, as expected from the square-planar coordination geometry with rather strong ligands. The complexes expose medium level of antioxidant activity in methanol. Optimized geometry and excited state property by DFT/TD-DFT correspond well to the experimental results of the electronic and molecular structure at the ground state.

From Smoothies to Dialysis: The Impact of Oxalate Nephropathy.

Oxalate nephropathy is a rare cause of acute kidney injury that can lead to end-stage renal disease. This case report describes a 54-year-old male with type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease who presented for a routine clinic follow-up. Laboratory tests revealed significant deterioration in renal function with an unrevealing history and symptoms suggestive of the process. Initial investigations for worsening renal function were inconclusive, prompting a renal biopsy that confirmed acute tubular injury with abundant calcium oxalate deposits. Further investigation into dietary history revealed that the patient regularly consumed high-oxalate foods, such as spinach and kale smoothies, under the impression they were beneficial for his diabetes. Despite the initiation of hemodialysis, the patient did not recover renal function and remains dialysis-dependent. This case underscores the need for a high index of suspicion for oxalate nephropathy in chronic kidney disease patients presenting with unexplained acute kidney injury. Diagnosis is confirmed through renal biopsy and should be considered in patients with relevant dietary histories.

Ion-Pairing Chromonic Liquid Crystals via Alternately Stacked Assembly of Amphiphilic Charged π-Electronic Systems.

In this study, a new assembly strategy for lyotropic chromonic liquid crystals (LCLCs) is proposed using iπ-iπ interactions, mainly comprising electrostatic and dispersion forces, between charged π-electronic systems to form stacking structures supported by the hydration of triethylene glycol (TEG) units.  Meso-TEG-aryl-substituted porphyrin AuIII complex, an amphiphilic π-electronic cation, showed diverse states and assembly modes in ion pairs depending on the coexisting counteranions.  The PCCp- ion pair formed a hexagonal columnar (Colh) LC phase based on a charge-by-charge assembly, suggesting the formation of an ordered arrangement of charged p-electronic systems through iπ-iπ interactions, with reduced interactions between the TEG chains.  Furthermore, in the presence of water, LCLC behaviors in the Colh and nematic columnar phases according to the amount of water were observed for the PCCp- ion pair via iπ-iπ interactions.  Magnetic-field-induced orientation of the charge-by-charge columnar structures upon dehydration was observed.  Furthermore, single-stranded charge-by-charge columnar structures, as components of the LCLCs, were observed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

Magnetotransport and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy of MnSb12Te19: a new member of MnSb2nTe3n+1family.

The quest for intrinsically ferromagnetic topological materials is a focal point in the study of topological phases of matter, as intrinsic ferromagnetism plays a vital role in realizing exotic properties such as the anomalous Hall effect (AHE) in quasi-two-dimensional materials, and this stands out as one of the most pressing concerns within the field. Here, we investigate a novel higher order member of the MnSb2nTe3n+1family, MnSb12Te19, for the first time combining magnetotransport and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) measurements. Our magnetic susceptibility experiments identify ferromagnetic transitions at temperatureTc= 18.7 K, consistent with our heat capacity measurements (T= 18.8 K). The AHE is observed for the field along thec-axis belowTc. Our study of Shubinikov-de-Haas oscillations provides evidence for Dirac fermions withπBerry phase. Our comprehensive investigation reveals that MnSb12Te19exhibits a FM ground state along with AHE, and hole-dominated transport properties consistent with ARPES measurements.

Fipronil-infused sodium polyacrylate gels provide effective management of Argentine ants in conservation areas.

BACKGROUND: Various types of hydrogel compounds have recently been developed for controlling invasive and pest ants in a range of environmental settings including agricultural, urban and natural areas. The current study evaluated the potential of sodium polyacrylate (ACR) hydrogels to effectively deliver liquid baits to Argentine ants. RESULTS: Relative to standard polyacrylamide (PAM) hydrogels, individual ACR hydrogel particles were approximately five-fold heavier; this may affect how ants interact with the bait particles, and further influence bait uptake and efficacy. Additionally, ACR hydrogels had significantly higher water absorption capacity and significantly slower rate of water loss, especially during the first 2 h. The efficacy of ACR hydrogel bait containing 0.005% fipronil and various attractants was evaluated on laboratory colonies. Results demonstrated that ACR hydrogel acceptance is significantly increased by the addition of feeding attractants. In addition, a field trial was performed in a nature reserve invaded by Argentine ants to evaluate the efficacy of ACR hydrogel bait. The field trial demonstrated that ACR hydrogel bait containing 0.005% fipronil with various attractants is highly effective and that ant densities throughout the baited plots declined by >99% within 7 days. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study demonstrate that: (i) fipronil is highly effective for Argentine ant control in natural areas when used in low concentrations (0.005%); (ii) ACR hydrogels are an effective tool for delivering liquid baits to Argentine ants; and (iii) hydrogel baits augmented with various attractants including salt, protein and pheromone are highly attractive to Argentine ants. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Realization of ultra-compact and high contrast ratio all-optical 4-to-2 encoder based on 2D photonic crystals.

Optical encoders are widely used circuits in digital systems. One of the most critical features of an optical encoder is the power values in two logic states; low and high. The difference between these two values is expressed with the contrast ratio (CR) parameter. This research has designed and simulated an optical encoder based on a two-dimensional (2D) photonic crystal with four inputs and two outputs. The results show that the proposed structure has low power in low mode and high intensity in high mode. This difference in two logical modes has caused the proposed encoder to have CR = 19.8 dB, which is improved compared to previous works. Also, the proposed structure is very compact and its footprint is as small as 96.88 µm2. The data speed for the designed encoder is B R = 2 Tb/s . This encoder can be used in high-speed optical integrated circuits with low error according to the obtained values.

Oriented Titanium-MOF Membrane for Hydrogen Purification.

Precise hydrogen sorting from purge gas (H2/N2) and coke gas (H2/CH4), commonly carried out by cryogenic distillation, still suffers from low separation efficiency, high energy consumption, and considerable capital cost. Though still in its infancy, membrane technology offers a potential to achieve more efficient hydrogen purification. In this study, an optimum separation of hydrogen towards both methane and nitrogen via a kinetically-driven mechanism is realized through preferred orientation control of a MOF membrane. Relying on the 0.3 nm-sized window aligned vertical to the substrate, b-oriented Ti-MOF membrane exhibits ultra-high hydrogen selectivity, surpassing the upper bound limit of separating H2/N2 and H2/CH4 gas pairs attained so far by inorganic membranes. This spectacular selectivity is combined with a high H2 permeability owing to the synergistic effect of the 1 nm-sized MOF channel.

Topology-driven collective dynamics of nematic colloidal entanglement.

Entanglement in a soft condensed matter system is enabled in the form of entangled disclination lines by using colloidal particles in nematic liquid crystals. These topological excitations are manifested as colloidal entanglement at equilibrium. How to further utilize nonequilibrium disclination lines to manipulate colloidal entanglement remains a nontrivial and challenging task. In this work, we use experiments and simulations to demonstrate the reconfigurations of nematic colloidal entanglement in light-driven spatiotemporal evolutions of disclination lines. Colloidal entanglement can sense subtle changes in the topological structures of disclination lines and realize chirality conversion. This conversion is manifested as the "domino effect" of the collective rotation of colloids in the disclination lines. By programming the topological patterns and the geometry of the disclination lines, colloidal entanglement can be assembled and split. More remarkably, a double-helix entangled structure can be formed by controlling the changes in the morphology of the disclination lines. Thus, this work will provide opportunities to program colloidal composites for smart materials and micromachines.

Lyotropic liquid crystal emulsions of LAVR-289: Influence of internal mesophase structure on cytotoxicity and in-vitro antiviral activity.

Emerging and reemerging viruses pose significant public health threats, underscoring the urgent need for new antiviral drugs. Recently, a novel family of antiviral acyclic nucleoside phosphonates (ANP) composed of a 4-(2,4-diaminopyrimidin-6-yl)oxy-but-2-enyl phosphonic acid skeleton (O-DAPy nucleobase) has shown promise. Among these, LAVR-289 stands out for its potent inhibitory effects against various DNA viruses. Despite its efficacy, LAVR-289s poor water solubility hampers effective drug delivery. To address this, innovative delivery systems utilizing lipidic derivatives have been explored for various administration routes. Submicron lyotropic liquid crystals (LLCs) are particularly promising drug carriers for the encapsulation, protection, and delivery of lipophilic drugs like LAVR-289. This study focuses on developing submicron-sized lipid mesophase dispersions, including emulsified L2 phase, cubosomes, and hexosomes, by adjusting lipidic compounds such as Dimodan® U/J, Lecithins E80, and Miglyol® 812 N. These formulations aim to enhance the solubility and bioavailability of LAVR-289. In vitro evaluations demonstrated that LAVR-289-loaded LLCs at a concentration of 1 µM efficiently inhibited vaccinia virus in infected human cells, with no observed cytotoxicity. Notably, hexosomes exhibited the most favorable antiviral outcomes, suggesting that the internal mesophase structure plays a critical role in optimizing the therapeutic efficacy of this drug class.

Electro-Optic Response of Polymer-Stabilized Cholesteric Liquid Crystals with Different Polymer Concentrations.

Polymer-stabilized cholesteric liquid crystals (PSCLCs) have emerged as promising candidates for one-dimensional photonic lattices that enable precise tuning of the photonic band gap (PBG). This work systematically investigates the effect of polymer concentrations on the AC electric field-induced tuning of the PBG in PSCLCs, in so doing it explores a range of concentrations and provides new insights into how polymer concentration affects both the stabilization of cholesteric textures and the electro-optic response. We demonstrate that low polymer concentrations (≈3 wt. %) cause a blue shift in the short wavelength band edge, while high concentrations (≈10 wt. %) lead to a contraction and deterioration of the reflection band. Polarization optical microscopy was conducted to confirm the phase transition induced by the application of an electric field. The observations confirm that increased polymer concentration stabilizes the cholesteric texture. Particularly, the highly desired fingerprint texture was stabilized in a sample with 10 wt. % of the polymer, whereas it was unstable for lower polymer concentrations. Additionally, higher polymer concentrations also improved the dissymmetry factor and stability of the lasing emission, with the dissymmetry factor reaching the value of around 2 for samples with 10 wt. % of polymer additive. Our results provide valuable comprehension into the design of advanced PSCLC structures with tunable optical properties, enhancing device performance and paving the way for innovative photonic applications.

Miscibility Studies of Bismesogen CBnCB Forming Nematic Twist-Bend Phase with Cyanobiphenyls nCB.

This work aims to determine how the nematic twist-bend phase (NTB) of bismesogens containing two rigid parts of cyanobiphenyls connected with a linking chain containing n = 7, 9, and 11 methylene groups behaves in mixtures with structurally similar cyanobiphenyls nCB, n = 4-12, 14. The whole phase diagrams are presented for the CB7CB-nCB system. For the other systems, CB9CB-nCB and CB11CB-nCB, only curves corresponding to NTB-N phase transition are presented. Based on the temperature-concentration range of the existence of NTB phase, it was established that an increase in the alkyl chain length of CBnCB causes an increase in the stability of the NTB phase. But surprisingly, an increase in the alkyl chain length of nCB compounds does not change the slope of the NTB-N equilibrium line on phase diagrams. It is slightly bigger when the nCB compound has the same length of alkyl chain as the length of the linking group of a bismesogen. XRD studies were carried out for two mixtures.

A Template Method Leads to Precisely Synthesize SiO2@Fe3O4 Nanoparticles at the Hundred-Nanometer Scale.

Constructing photonic crystals with core-shell structured nanoparticles is an important means for applications such as secure communication, anti-counterfeiting marking, and structural color camouflage. Nonetheless, the precise synthesis technology for core-shell structured nanoparticles at the hundred-nanometer scale faces significant challenges. This paper proposes a controlled synthesis method for core-shell structured nanoparticles using a template method. By using 100 nm diameter silica nanospheres as templates and coating them with a ferroferric oxide shell layer, SiO2@Fe3O4 core-shell structured nanoparticles with regular morphology and good uniformity can be obtained. The study experimentally investigated the effects of feed amount, modifiers, temperature, and feed order on the coating effect, systematically optimizing the preparation process. Centrifugal driving technology was used to achieve structural colors in the visible wavelength range. Additionally, the method successfully created well-defined and uniform core-shell structured nanoparticles using 200 nm diameter silica nanospheres as templates, demonstrating that this controllable synthesis method can effectively produce core-shell structured nanoparticles over a wide range of particle sizes. The template method proposed in this paper can significantly improve morphological regularity and size uniformity while effectively reducing the preparation cost of core-shell structured nanoparticles.

Crystal structure of new quaternary intermetallic compounds R2MoSi2C (R = Y, Gd).

The discovery of novel quaternary intermetallic compounds R2MoSi2C (R = Y, Gd) in the R-Mo-Si-C system is reported. Their crystal structure was investigated using single-crystal X-ray diffraction. It is shown that the Y2MoSi2C and Gd2MoSi2C compounds crystallize in the tetragonal space group P4/mbm (Pearson symbol tP12) with unit-cell parameters a = 6.9525 (18) Å, c = 4.1962 (16) Å, and a = 6.9945 (16) Å, c = 4.2020 (14) Å, respectively.

Bioinspired Wearable Hydrogel Composite with Sustained Drug-Release for Wound Healing and Naked-Eye Visual Early Warning of Wound Dehiscence.

Wound healing is critical to the structural and functional restoration of damaged tissue. However, effective wound closure and healing are always great challenges in regenerative engineering. This study provided bioinspired wearable hydrogel composites with drug-releasing hydrogel and nonclose-packed photonic crystals (NPCs) for wound therapy and naked-eye visual early warning of wound dehiscence. Molecular dynamics models and drug-releasing results illustrated the sustained drug release of ibuprofen, and the mechanical properties of the drug-releasing hydrogel were optimized with 1410% tensile strain by introducing fish collagen; their biocompatibility and adhesion were also improved. The structural color of the NPCs blue-shifted from 630 to 500 nm with 15.0% strain, and the original color was customized with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) concentration and acrylamide content. Compared with the gauze and the traditional hydrogels, the composite provided a moist environment and an effectively closed wound; the debridement and released drug avoided inflammation, and the rat wound was healed 40.5% on the third day and essentially 100% on the 14th day. The work provided a novel strategy for wound healing and naked-eye visual early warning when a wound deforms, which is expected to promote the synergistic development of clinical treatment and visualized early warning.

Repurposing weather modification for cloud research showcased by ice crystal growth.

The representation of cloud processes in models is one of the largest sources of uncertainty in weather forecast and climate projections. While laboratory settings offer controlled conditions for studying cloud processes, they cannot reproduce the full range of conditions and interactions present in natural cloud systems. To bridge this gap, here we leverage weather modification, specifically glaciogenic cloud seeding, to investigate ice growth rates within natural clouds. Seeding experiments were conducted in supercooled stratus clouds (at - 8 to - 5 ∘ C) using an uncrewed aerial vehicle, and the created ice crystals were measured 4-10 min downwind by in situ and ground-based remote sensing instrumentation. We observed substantial variability in ice crystal growth rates within natural clouds, attributed to variations in ice crystal number concentrations and in the supersaturation, which is difficult to reproduce in the laboratory and which implies faster precipitation initiation than previously thought. We found that for the experiments conducted at - 5.2 ∘ C, the ice crystal populations grew nearly linearly during the time interval from 6 to 10 min. Our results demonstrate that the targeted use of weather modification techniques can be employed for fundamental cloud research (e.g. ice growth processes, aerosol-cloud interactions), helping to advance cloud microphysics parameterizations and to improve weather forecasts and climate projections.

An alternative method to the Takagi-Taupin equations for studying dark-field X-ray microscopy of deformed crystals.

This study introduces an alternative method to the Takagi-Taupin equations for investigating the dark-field X-ray microscopy (DFXM) of deformed crystals. In scenarios where dynamical diffraction cannot be disregarded, it is essential to assess the potential inaccuracies of data interpretation based on the kinematic diffraction theory. Unlike the Takagi-Taupin equations, this new method utilizes an exact dispersion relation, and a previously developed finite difference scheme with minor modifications is used for the numerical implementation. The numerical implementation has been validated by calculating the diffraction of a diamond crystal with three components, wherein dynamical diffraction is applicable to the first component and kinematic diffraction pertains to the remaining two. The numerical convergence is tested using diffraction intensities. In addition, the DFXM image of a diamond crystal containing a stacking fault is calculated using the new method and compared with the experimental result. The new method is also applied to calculate the DFXM image of a twisted diamond crystal, which clearly shows a result different from those obtained using the Takagi-Taupin equations.

Facile Synthesis of Soft Core-Shell Nanospheres for Constructing Multiresponsive Photonic Crystal Security Patterns.

Responsive photonic crystals (RPCs) presenting tunable structural colors under external stimuli are widely applied in the fields of dynamic displays, sensors, and anticounterfeiting. However, the development of multiresponsive photonic crystal (MRPC) films possessing versatile variable optical properties remains a significant challenge due to the tedious synthetic procedure of multifunctional building blocks and complex assembly processes, thereby constraining their extensive applications. In the present work, a series of soft nanospheres with a hydrophobic cores and responsive hydrophilic shells have been synthesized by a facile one-step surfactant-free emulsion polymerization method. The MRPC patterns were then prepared by depositing soft nanosphere emulsions onto the 3D-printed substrates with a topological structure followed by drying at room temperature. The shells of soft nanospheres deformed and fused with each other, resulting in the formation of transparent MRPC film patterns. The MRPC patterns exhibited brilliant structural color in a wet state but lost the color again after complete drying. Such a reversible structural color was ascribed to the change of the refractive index (RI) of the hydrophilic shell layers of nanospheres according to wetting/drying state shifting. Moreover, the on-demand designed MRPC patterns could rapidly respond to external stimuli of temperature, pH, and organic solvents in a reversible manner, and multichannel encrypted security labels were also demonstrated. We postulate that our facile and feasible approach can be applied to the systematic design and large-scale production of MRPC patterns for a variety of applications.

Optimization of pulsed electric fields-assisted thawing process conditions and its effect on the quality of Zhijiang duck meat.

Freezing storage is a common preservation method for industrialized duck meat. However, both the frozen storage and thawing processes of meat can affect meat quality. Therefore, appropriate thawing methods are crucial for maintaining good meat quality. In this study, a pulsed electric field (PEF) was used for thawing zhijiang duck meat and the freshed duck meats were used as control. Optimization of the PEF-assisted thawing process and its effect on the quality of zhijiang duck meat were analyzed. Our data showed that the shear force in the 2 kV/cm PEF-assisted thawing group was the lowest in PEF-assisted thawing groups. The color of zhijiang duck meat in the 2 kV/cm PEF-assisted thawing group was optimal. The 2 kV/cm PEF-assisted thawing could improve the texture characteristics of zhijiang duck meat and enhance water holding capacity of zhijiang duck meat. PEF-assisted thawing could better maintain the microstructure of zhijiang duck meat. Our data showed that if the intensity or duration of PEF treatment is too high, the quality of duck meat will actually decrease. Therefore, appropriate parameters should be selected in practical applications, which will provide a reference for the application of PEF-assisted thawing on the market.

Phylogeny and ultrastructure of a non-toxigenic dinoflagellate Amphidoma fulgens sp. nov. (Amphidomataceae, Dinophyceae), with a wide distribution across Asian Pacific.

Amphidoma languida, a marine thecate dinoflagellate that produces the lipophilic toxin azaspiracids (AZAs), is primarily found in the Atlantic. Although this species has not been recorded in the Asian Pacific, environmental DNAs related to Am. languida have been widely detected in the region by metabarcoding analysis. Their morphology and AZA production remain unclear. In this study, the morphology, ultrastructure, phylogeny, and AZA production of nine Amphidoma strains isolated from Japan, Malaysia, and Philippines were investigated. Phylogenetic trees inferred from rDNAs (SSU, ITS, and LSU rDNA) showed monophyly of the nine Pacific strains and were sister to the Am. languida clade, including the toxigenic strains from the Atlantic. Cells were ellipsoid, 8.7-16.7 µm in length and 7.4-14.0 µm in width, with a conspicuous apical pore complex. A large nucleus in the hyposome, parietal chloroplast with a spherical pyrenoid in the episome, and refractile bodies were observed. Thecal tabulation was typical of Amphidoma, Po, cp, X, 6', 6'', 6C, 5S, 6''', 2''''. A ventral pore was located on the anterior of 1' plate, beside the suture to 6' plate. The presence of a ventral depression, on the anterior of anterior sulcal plate, was different from Am. languida. A large antapical pore, containing approximately 10 small pores, was observed. Cells were apparently smaller than Am. trioculata, a species possessing three pores (ventral pore, ventral depression, and antapical pore). TEM showed the presence of crystalline structures, resembling guanine crystals, and cytoplasmic invaginations into the pyrenoid matrix. Flagellar apparatus lacking the striated root connective is similar to peridinioids and related dinoflagellates. AZAs were not detected from the Pacific strains by LC-MS/MS. This non-toxigenic Amphidoma species, here we propose as Amphidoma fulgens sp. nov., is widely distributed in the Asian Pacific. Moreover, molecular comparison also suggested that most of the environmental DNA sequences previously reported as Am. languida or related sequences from the Asian Pacific were attributable to Am. fulgens.