Optimizing Activators Regenerated by Electron Transfer for Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization of Methyl Methacrylate Initiated by Ethyl 2-bromopropionate

In this study, we used ethyl 2-bromopropionate (EBrP) as an initiator of activators regenerated by electron transfer for atom transfer radical polymerization (ARGET ATRP) of methyl methacrylate (MMA). We investigated in detail the effect on polymerization of different kinds of reducing agents and ligands, the amounts of the reducing agent and catalyst, and reaction temperature. We determined the molecular weight and dispersity of the polymers by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The results reveal glucose to be the best reducing agent for this system. The monomer conversion increased with increases in the reaction temperature and in the feeding amounts of the reducing agent and catalyst. The optimum amount of the reducing agent and minimal amount of catalyst required depend on the particular system. For example, we polymerized MMA with 200 ppm of catalyst and 15-fold of glucose/CuCl2 resulting in a PMMA with high Mn (Mn,GPC = 48 700, Mn,theo = 48 500) and low dispersity (1.27). The first-order kinetics show that the molecular weights increased linearly with the monomer conversion and are consistent with the theoretical values, the chain extension reaction and end group analysis results also demonstrate that the characteristics of polymerization process belong to a typical "living"/controlled radical polymerization. Moreover, 1H-NMR analysis results indicate the stereoregularity of the polymer is given priority over syndiotactic architecture and the effect of the type of ligand on the stereoregularity is very slight

Comparative Study of the Amount of Re-released Hemoglobin from α-Thalassemia and Hereditary Spherocytosis Erythrocytes

Hemoglobin release test (HRT), which is established by our lab, is a new experiment to observe the re-released hemoglobin (Hb) from erythrocytes. In this study, one-dimension HRT, double dimension HRT, and isotonic and hypotonic HRT were performed to observe the re-released Hb from the blood samples of normal adult, hereditary spherocytosis (HS), and α-thalassemia. The results showed that compared with normal adult, the re-released Hb from HS blood sample was decreased significantly; however, the re-released Hb from α-thalassemia blood sample was increased significantly. The mechanism of this phenomenon was speculated to have relation with the abnormal amount of membrane-binding Hb

Cumulative sum learning curve analysis of tubularized incised plate repair for hypospadias: a study of a single surgeon with a single surgical procedure

PurposeTo ascertain the quantity of instances by which a single surgeon achieves competency and proficiency in using tubularized incised plate (TIP) technique for the repair of distal and mid-shaft hypospadias using the cumulative sum (CUSUM) analysis.MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated patients with distal and mid-shaft hypospadias who were treated by a single surgeon between 2015 and 2021, using a single primary TIP technique with a de-epithelialized Byars flap. Data including type of hypospadias, age at surgery, curvature, operation time (OT), length of the reconstructed urethra, and postoperative outcomes were collected and assessed. CUSUM was used to assess the trends in OT and complication rate (CR) in order to generate the learning curve. The evolution of OT and CR can be divided into three phases: learning, competence, and proficiency.ResultsCUSUM identified three phases in the learning curves of all TIP repairs. The median OT decreased from 135 min [interquartile range (IQR) = 125–155] to 92 min (IQR = 80–100) (P < 0.001), CR decreased from 28 (28%) to 8 (5.3%) (P < 0.001), and reoperations decreased from 15 (15.2%) to 4 (2.6%) (P < 0.001). According to the CUSUM learning curve, technical competency plateaued after the 99th case, and both OT and CR entered a significantly declining proficiency phase after the 231st case. Further, when the neourethral length exceeded the total average, total complications, urethrocutaneous fistula, and reoperations increased (P = 0.013, P = 0.006, and P = 0.028, respectively).ConclusionsOur study suggests that surgeons performing TIP repair may reach technical competency and achieve proficiency after operating on 99,231 cases, respectively. Moreover, the longer the neourethral length, the higher is the CR

Unprecedented strength in pure iron via high-pressure induced nanotwinned martensite

Martensitic transformation can easily induce a maximum hardness value of 800–900 HV (Vickers hardness) for steels with carbon contents of 0.6 wt.% and above. However, the occurrence of martensitic transformation in pure iron requires exceptionally high cooling rates (105–106°C/s), and the maximum achievable hardness is only about 150 HV. Here we report an extreme hardness of 830 HV in pure iron obtained through high pressure induced martensitic transformation at a rather slow cooling rate of just 10°C/s. This unprecedented strength originates from the formation of twin-related martensitic laths with an average thickness of 3.8 nm

Noseleaf Dynamics during Pulse Emission in Horseshoe Bats

Horseshoe bats emit their biosonar pulses nasally and diffract the outgoing ultrasonic waves by conspicuous structures that surrounded the nostrils. Here, we report quantitative experimental data on the motion of a prominent component of these structures, the anterior leaf, using synchronized laser Doppler vibrometry and acoustic recordings in the greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum). The vibrometry data has demonstrated non-random motion patterns in the anterior leaf. In these patterns, the outer rim of the walls of the anterior leaf twitches forward and inwards to decrease the aperture of the noseleaf and increase the curvature of its surfaces. Noseleaf displacements were correlated with the emitted ultrasonic pulses. After their onset, the inward displacements increased monotonically towards their maximum value which was always reached within the duration of the biosonar pulse, typically towards its end. In other words, the anterior leaf’s surfaces were moving inwards during most of the pulse. Non-random motions were not present in all recorded pulse trains, but could apparently be switched on or off. Such switches happened between sequences of consecutive pulses but were never observed between individual pulses within a sequence. The amplitudes of the emitted biosonar pulse and accompanying noseleaf movement were not correlated in the analyzed data set. The measured velocities of the noseleaf surface were too small to induce Doppler shifts of a magnitude with a likely significance. However, the displacement amplitudes were significant in comparison with the overall size of the anterior leaf and the sound wavelengths. These results indicate the possibility that horseshoe bats use dynamic sensing principles on the emission side of their biosonar system. Given the already available evidence that such mechanisms exist for biosonar reception, it may be hypothesized that time-variant mechanisms play a pervasive role in the biosonar sensing of horseshoe bats

Unveiling the neuroprotective potential of dietary polysaccharides: a systematic review

Central nervous system (CNS) disorders present a growing and costly global health challenge, accounting for over 11% of the diseases burden in high-income countries. Despite current treatments, patients often experience persistent symptoms that significantly affect their quality of life. Dietary polysaccharides have garnered attention for their potential as interventions for CNS disorders due to their diverse mechanisms of action, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects. Through an analysis of research articles published between January 5, 2013 and August 30, 2023, encompassing the intervention effects of dietary polysaccharides on Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, depression, anxiety disorders, autism spectrum disorder, epilepsy, and stroke, we have conducted a comprehensive review with the aim of elucidating the role and mechanisms of dietary polysaccharides in various CNS diseases, spanning neurodegenerative, psychiatric, neurodevelopmental disorders, and neurological dysfunctions. At least four categories of mechanistic bases are included in the dietary polysaccharides’ intervention against CNS disease, which involves oxidative stress reduction, neuronal production, metabolic regulation, and gut barrier integrity. Notably, the ability of dietary polysaccharides to resist oxidation and modulate gut microbiota not only helps to curb the development of these diseases at an early stage, but also holds promise for the development of novel therapeutic agents for CNS diseases. In conclusion, this comprehensive review strives to advance therapeutic strategies for CNS disorders by elucidating the potential of dietary polysaccharides and advocating interdisciplinary collaboration to propel further research in this realm