Thermal Effects of Microwave Reduced-Graphene-Oxide Coated Polyester Fabric on a Simulated Human Skin in Cool and Neutral Air Temperatures

Batteryless wearable technology has wide applications. In particular, human body surface temperature controlling fabrics can help regulate skin temperature in heat or cold. This study investigated surface temperature distribution of the fabrics coated with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) on simulated human body skin conditions at 18 degrees C (cool) and 27 degrees C (neutral) ambient air temperatures. Polyester fabrics were spin-coated with a graphene-oxide (GO) solution of 0.2 wt%. Preparation of rGO was processed by using a microwave oven (MW-rGO). Non-treated fabric (CON) was compared to GO and MW-rGO. The surface temperature of a hot plate was maintained at 35 degrees C or 40 degrees C. The test fabrics were put on the heated hot plate or non-heated-outer portions of the hot plate. Surface temperatures of MW-rGO on the heated hot plate at an air temperature of 18 degrees C (cool) were higher than those of non-treated fabric (CON) under the same conditions (p < 0.01). No effects from the graphene treatment were found on non-heated portions of the graphene oxide fabric (GO) or the reduced graphene oxide fabric (MW-rGO). On the non-heated portions, surface temperatures were higher at the location closer to the hot plate compared to the location farther from the hot plate (p < 0.05). These results partially represent thermal effects of MW-rGO under a specific environment and heat source. Our findings enable an application of reduced graphene oxide to body temperature regulating clothing.

Analysis of clinical information and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction for early diagnosis of enteroviral meningitis

PurposeMeningitis is among the most common infections affecting the central nervous system. It can be difficult to determine the exact pathogen responsible for the infection and patients are often treated with empiric antibiotics. This study was conducted to identify the most common clinical characteristics of enteroviral meningitis in children and evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for early detection of an enterovirus.MethodsWe analyzed the medical records of children admitted to Korea University Medical Center and diagnosed with meningitis on the basis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis and RT-PCR from CSF and other samples from January 2010 to August 2013.ResultsA total of 333 patients were enrolled and classified into four groups based on diagnosis: enteroviral meningitis (n=110), bacterial meningitis (n=23), other viral meningitis (n=36), and unknown etiology (n=164). Patients with bacterial meningitis were younger than those in the other groups (P<0.001). Pleocytosis in CSF was similar across all groups. Of patients in the enteroviral meningitis group, 92.7% were diagnosed based on RT-PCR findings. Mean length of hospital stay for patients with enteroviral meningitis was 6.08 days, which was significantly shorter than that for patients with meningitis of bacterial etiology (19.73 days, P<0.001).ConclusionDiagnosis of enteroviral meningitis before viral culture results are available is possible using RT-PCR. Accurate diagnosis reduces the length of hospital stay and helps to avoid unnecessary empiric antibiotic treatment

A Super-Oxidized Radical Cationic Icosahedral Boron Cluster

While the icosahedral closo-[B₁₂H₁₂]²⁻ cluster does not display reversible electrochemical behavior, perfunctionalization of this species via substitution of all 12 B–H vertices with alkoxy or benzyloxy (OR) substituents engenders reversible redox chemistry, providing access to clusters in the dianionic, monoanionic, and neutral forms. Here, we evaluated the electrochemical behavior of the electron-rich B₁₂(O-3-methylbutyl)₁₂ (1) cluster and discovered that a new reversible redox event that gives rise to a fourth electronic state is accessible through one-electron oxidation of the neutral species. Chemical oxidation of 1 with [N(2,4-Br₂C₆H₃)₃]·⁺ afforded the isolable [1]·⁺ cluster, which is the first example of an open-shell cationic B₁₂ cluster in which the unpaired electron is proposed to be delocalized throughout the boron cluster core. The oxidation of 1 is also chemically reversible, where treatment of [1]·⁺ with ferrocene resulted in its reduction back to 1. The identity of [1]·⁺ is supported by EPR, UV–vis, multinuclear NMR (¹H, ¹¹B), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic characterization

A Super-Oxidized Radical Cationic Icosahedral Boron Cluster

While the icosahedral closo-[B₁₂H₁₂]²⁻ cluster does not display reversible electrochemical behavior, perfunctionalization of this species via substitution of all 12 B–H vertices with alkoxy or benzyloxy (OR) substituents engenders reversible redox chemistry, providing access to clusters in the dianionic, monoanionic, and neutral forms. Here, we evaluated the electrochemical behavior of the electron-rich B₁₂(O-3-methylbutyl)₁₂ (1) cluster and discovered that a new reversible redox event that gives rise to a fourth electronic state is accessible through one-electron oxidation of the neutral species. Chemical oxidation of 1 with [N(2,4-Br₂C₆H₃)₃]·⁺ afforded the isolable [1]·⁺ cluster, which is the first example of an open-shell cationic B₁₂ cluster in which the unpaired electron is proposed to be delocalized throughout the boron cluster core. The oxidation of 1 is also chemically reversible, where treatment of [1]·⁺ with ferrocene resulted in its reduction back to 1. The identity of [1]·⁺ is supported by EPR, UV–vis, multinuclear NMR (¹H, ¹¹B), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic characterization

Liver-Specific Deletion of Mouse CTCF Leads to Hepatic Steatosis via Augmented PPARγ Signaling

Background &amp; Aims: The liver is the major organ for metabolizing lipids, and malfunction of the liver leads to various diseases. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is rapidly becoming a major health concern worldwide and is characterized by abnormal retention of excess lipids in the liver. CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) is a highly conserved zinc finger protein that regulates higher-order chromatin organization and is involved in various gene regulation processes. Here, we sought to determine the physiological role of CTCF in hepatic lipid metabolism. Methods: We generated liver-specific, CTCF-ablated and/or CD36 whole-body knockout mice. Overexpression or knockdown of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)γ in the liver was achieved using adenovirus. Mice were examined for development of hepatic steatosis and inflammation. RNA sequencing was performed to identify genes affected by CTCF depletion. Genome-wide occupancy of H3K27 acetylation, PPARγ, and CTCF were analyzed by chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing. Genome-wide chromatin interactions were analyzed by in situ Hi-C. Results: Liver-specific, CTCF-deficient mice developed hepatic steatosis and inflammation when fed a standard chow diet. Global analysis of the transcriptome and enhancer landscape revealed that CTCF-depleted liver showed enhanced accumulation of PPARγ in the nucleus, which leads to increased expression of its downstream target genes, including fat storage-related gene CD36, which is involved in the lipid metabolic process. Hepatic steatosis developed in liver-specific, CTCF-deficient mice was ameliorated by repression of PPARγ via pharmacologic blockade or adenovirus-mediated knockdown, but hardly rescued by additional knockout of CD36. Conclusions: Our data indicate that liver-specific deletion of CTCF leads to hepatosteatosis through augmented PPARγ DNA-binding activity, which up-regulates its downstream target genes associated with the lipid metabolic process. © 2021 The Authors1

Boron-rich Clusters as Molecular Cross-linkers for Hierarchical Hybrid Materials

Covalent cross-linking plays an important role for materials to form robust networks with enhanced thermal/mechanical properties compared to pristine materials. However, there are a limited number of cross-linkers that can produce rigid 3-dimensional networks, leading to significant modifications of properties in materials. Our group has developed a “molecular cross-linking” approach whereby perhydroxylated dodecaborate clusters ([B12(OH)12]2-) are incorporated in the network of metal oxides to create hierarchical hybrid materials. These clusters, capable of withstanding harsh thermal and oxidizing conditions required for the synthesis of many metal oxides, allow the formation of hybrid metal oxides. We showcase how the robust [B12(OH)12]2- cluster can be successfully cross-linked with TiO2 with dramatically altered photo-physical and electrochemical properties. The comprehensive structural characterization of this material reveals the formation of a hybrid molecular boron oxide material that consists of a cross-linked network of intact boron clusters and TiO2 nanocrystals in the anatase phase. The unique structure of this hybrid metal oxide consequently engenders unprecedentedly superior electro- and photochemical properties than that of pristine TiO2. Furthermore, we expand this molecular cross-linking approach to other metal oxides such as WO3 for energy storage applications. In addition, we explore the possibility to cross-link [B12(OH)12]2- clusters to organic monomers to create densely cross-linked polymeric materials. We found out the molecular boron-rich cluster can act as an inorganic polyol equivalent in the synthesis of polyurethane-based materials, serving as a molecular cross-linker. We highlight incorporating [B12(OH)12]2- building blocks can effectively improve the thermal stability of the resultant polyurethane materials compared to analogous polymers made from carbon-based polyols. The successful modification of the materials ranging from inorganic metal oxides to organic polymeric materials highlights the value of molecular cross-linking as a noble strategy to alter the properties of materials for diverse applications

Boron-rich Clusters as Molecular Cross-linkers for Hierarchical Hybrid Materials

Covalent cross-linking plays an important role for materials to form robust networks with enhanced thermal/mechanical properties compared to pristine materials. However, there are a limited number of cross-linkers that can produce rigid 3-dimensional networks, leading to significant modifications of properties in materials. Our group has developed a “molecular cross-linking” approach whereby perhydroxylated dodecaborate clusters ([B12(OH)12]2-) are incorporated in the network of metal oxides to create hierarchical hybrid materials. These clusters, capable of withstanding harsh thermal and oxidizing conditions required for the synthesis of many metal oxides, allow the formation of hybrid metal oxides. We showcase how the robust [B12(OH)12]2- cluster can be successfully cross-linked with TiO2 with dramatically altered photo-physical and electrochemical properties. The comprehensive structural characterization of this material reveals the formation of a hybrid molecular boron oxide material that consists of a cross-linked network of intact boron clusters and TiO2 nanocrystals in the anatase phase. The unique structure of this hybrid metal oxide consequently engenders unprecedentedly superior electro- and photochemical properties than that of pristine TiO2. Furthermore, we expand this molecular cross-linking approach to other metal oxides such as WO3 for energy storage applications. In addition, we explore the possibility to cross-link [B12(OH)12]2- clusters to organic monomers to create densely cross-linked polymeric materials. We found out the molecular boron-rich cluster can act as an inorganic polyol equivalent in the synthesis of polyurethane-based materials, serving as a molecular cross-linker. We highlight incorporating [B12(OH)12]2- building blocks can effectively improve the thermal stability of the resultant polyurethane materials compared to analogous polymers made from carbon-based polyols. The successful modification of the materials ranging from inorganic metal oxides to organic polymeric materials highlights the value of molecular cross-linking as a noble strategy to alter the properties of materials for diverse applications