Nature‐Inspired Depolymerization of Soda Lignin: Light‐Induced Free Radical Promoted Cleavage of β‐O‐4 Bonds

The development of sustainable valorization methods for lignin is a challenging task because the vast majority of the reported studies involve either harsh conditions or expensive transition metal catalysts. Inspired by the sunlight degradation of lignin compounds, known as lignin yellowing, the use of a commercially available cheap organic photoinitiator, namely, phenacyl bromide (PAB) is reported here, for the efficient cleavage of lignin model compound 2‐phenoxyacetophenone (2‐PAP) and for the depolymerization of soda pulped lignin (SL) under UV‐A irradiation and ambient conditions. Real‐time NMR investigations of the photoreaction between 2‐PAP and PAB shed light on the possible reaction mechanisms involving different radical species, HBr, and molecular oxygen. Interestingly, combined spectral, chromatographic, powder X‐ray diffraction, and thermal studies of the photoreaction between PAB and SL indicate the formation of guaiacyl alcohol as the main product. The unprecedented performance of PAB is attributed to the excess generation of phenacyl radicals, the generation of photolabile brominated species, and HBr playing key roles in the cleavage of β‐O‐4 linkages. This work represents a new edge for sustainable lignin valorization under mild reaction conditions and offers the opportunity for large‐scale production of valuable aromatics using technical lignins as feedstock.

Pizza Oven Processing of Organohalide Perovskites (POPOP): A Simple, Versatile and Efficient Vapor Deposition Method

Hybrid vapor deposition is one of the most appealing processes for perovskite photovoltaics fabrication, thanks to its versatile nature. By using sequentially different vapor deposition processes tailored to the inorganic and organic perovskite precursors' peculiarities, this type of process gives access to the full potential of vapor deposition. While vapor deposition of metal halides is well understood and mastered, vapor deposition of organohalide species is much more delicate (degradation of vapors, high vapor pressure, setup‐specific constraints). Here, a novel close space sublimation system is reported and in‐depth insights on the conversion into perovskite of a metal halide template are provided. In this evolution of the process, the substrate coated with metal halide template and the organohalide source are loaded together in a dedicated holder, then transferred into a vacuum chamber on a heating element already at temperature setpoint. The system enables a simple, fast, low‐cost, and easy‐to‐reproduce organohalide vapor deposition process. The formation of the perovskite in situ and identification different conversion regimes are studied. Furthermore, the influence of the chemical environment and chamber design on the process are discussed. Compositional tuning and additive engineering in the process are processed and fabricate proof of concept photovoltaic devices reaching high fill factors of 80% and 17% power conversion efficiency for a bandgap of 1.63 eV.

The first Turkish family with a novel biallelic missense variant of the ALKBH8 gene: A study on the clinical and variant spectrum of ALKBH8 ‐related intellectual developmental disorders

Abstract ABH8, the protein encoded by the ALKBH8 gene, modifies tRNAs by methylating their anticodon wobble uridine residues. The variations in the ALKBH8 gene are associated with the “intellectual developmental disorder, autosomal recessive type 71” (MIM: 618504) phenotype in the OMIM database. This phenotype is characterized by global developmental delay, facial dysmorphic features, and psychiatric problems. To date, 12 patients from five distinct families carrying variants of the ALKBH8 gene have been reported in the literature. In the present study, we report the first Turkish family harboring a novel homozygous missense variant, NM_138775.3:c.1874G > C (p.Arg625Pro), in the last exon of the ALKBH8 gene. Two affected siblings in this family showed signs of global developmental delay and intellectual disability. Based on the dysmorphological assessment of the cases, fifth finger clinodactyly and fetal fingertip pads were prominent, in addition to the dysmorphic findings similar to those reported in previous studies. Minor dysmorphic limb anomalies in relation to this phenotype have not yet been previously reported in the literature. Our computational studies revealed the potential deleterious effects of the Arg‐to‐Pro substitution on the structure and stability of the ABH8 methyltransferase domain. In the present report, the first Turkish family with an ultrarare disease associated with the ALKBH8 gene was reported, and a novel deleterious variant in the ALKBH8 gene and additional clinical features that were not reported with this condition have been reported.

Characterization and comparative evaluation of polysulfone and polypropylene hollow fiber membranes for blood oxygenators

Blood oxygenators are used to saturate oxygen levels and remove carbon dioxide from the body during cardiopulmonary bypass. Although the natural lung is hydrophilic, commercially used oxygenator materials are hydrophobic. Surface hydrophobicity weakens blood compatibility, as long‐term contact with the blood environment may lead to different degrees of blood activity. Polysulfone may be considered an alternative hydrophilic material in the design of oxygenators. Therefore, it may be directed toward developing hydrophilic membranes. This study aims to investigate the feasibility of achieving blood gas transfer with a polysulfone‐based microporous hollow fiber membrane and compare it with the commercially available polypropylene membranes. Structural differences in the membrane morphology, surface hydrophilicity, tortuosity, mass transfer rate, and material properties under different operation conditions of temperature and flow rates are reported. The polysulfone membrane has a water contact angle of 81.3 ° , whereas a commercial polypropylene membrane is 94.5 ° . The mass transfer resistances (s/m) for the polysulfone and polypropylene membranes are calculated to be 4.8 × 10 4 and 1.5 × 10 4 at 25°C, respectively. The module made of polysulfone was placed in the cardiopulmonary bypass circuit in parallel with the commercial oxygenator, and pH, pO 2 , pCO 2 levels, and metabolic activity were measured in blood samples.

A comprehensive assessment of the cholinergic‐supporting and cognitive‐enhancing effects of Rosa damascena Mill. (Damask rose) essential oil on scopolamine‐induced amnestic rats

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative condition characterized by gradual loss of cognitive abilities (dementia) and is a major public health problem. Here, we aimed at investigating the effects of Rosa damascena essential oil (RDEO) on learning and memory functions in a rat model of amnesia induced by scopolamine, as well as on changes in acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, M 1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) expression, and brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in the extracted brain tissues. Methods The control, amnesia (scopolamine, 1 mg/kg/i.p.) and treatment (RDEO, 100 μL/kg/p.o. or galantamine, 1.5 mg/kg/i.p.) groups were subjected to Morris water maze and new object recognition tests. AChE activity was assayed by ELISA, and M 1 mAChR and BDNF concentration changes were determined by western blotting. Also, using computational tools, human M 1 mAChR was modeled in an active conformation, and the major components of RDEO were docked onto this receptor. Results According to our behavioral tests, RDEO was able to mitigate the learning and memory impairments caused by scopolamine in vivo. Our in vitro assays showed that the observed positive effects correlated well with a decrease in AChE activity and an increase in M 1 mAChR and BDNF levels in amnestic rat brains. We also demonstrated in an in silico setting that the major components of RDEO, specifically ‐citronellol, geraniol, and nerol, could be accommodated favorably within the allosteric binding pocket of active‐state human M 1 mAChR and anchored here chiefly by hydrogen‐bonding and alkyl–π interactions. Conclusion Our findings offer a solid experimental foundation for future RDEO‐based medicinal product development for patients suffering from AD.

Detecting language network alterations in mild cognitive impairment using task‐based fMRI and resting‐state fMRI: A comparative study

Objective The objective of this study was to investigate the functional changes associated with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) using independent component analysis (ICA) with the word generation task functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and resting‐state fMRI. Methods In this study 17 patients with MCI and age and education‐matched 17 healthy individuals as control group are investigated. All participants underwent resting‐state fMRI and task‐based fMRI while performing the word generation task. ICA was used to identify the appropriate independent components (ICs) and their associated networks. The Dice Coefficient method was used to determine the relevance of the ICs to the networks of interest. Results IC‐14 was found relevant to language network in both resting‐state and task‐based fMRI, IC‐4 to visual, and IC‐28 to dorsal attention network (DAN) in word generation task‐based fMRI by Sorento‐Dice Coefficient. ICA showed increased activation in language network, which had a larger voxel size in resting‐state functional MRI than word generation task‐based fMRI in the bilateral lingual gyrus. Right temporo‐occipital fusiform cortex, right hippocampus, and right thalamus were also activated in the task‐based fMRI. Decreased activation was found in DAN and visual network MCI patients in word generation task‐based fMRI. Conclusion Task‐based fMRI and ICA are more sophisticated and reliable tools in evaluation cognitive impairments in language processing. Our findings support the neural mechanisms of the cognitive impairments in MCI.

Sustainability factors affecting caregivers' toy preferences: An evaluation of e‐commerce best sellers in Turkey

Abstract Toys make a considerable clutter in homes over time unless managed responsibly. Given the ease of buying anything these days, especially toys, due to the rise of online shopping (Richards et al., 2020), toy piles can grow quickly. Current literature on the sustainability of toys is based on physical touch points, such as material, design, assembly, or transport, and suggested methods to enhance sustainability performance up to the “before‐use” phase. Our study focuses on how consumers address the issue of sustainability in toys, from the moment they intend to buy a toy to the time they terminate the toys' use, with a focus on green purchase behavior. We used data from a survey to depict 220 Turkish caregivers' perceptions of sustainability with snowball sampling to build an analytic hierarchy process system. The aim was to understand caregivers' approaches to toy sustainability factors in general and to interpret their motivations for green purchase activity. Among the eight sustainability criteria explicitly set for toys, child development‐related factors dominated durability, while price was found to be ineffective. This study of six best‐selling toys for 3–6‐year‐olds on a shopping site revealed that long‐term use is crucial for sustainability in toys. We observed that digital platforms are insufficient to convey the sustainability features of products, and thus propose a concept that evaluates the sustainability performance of toys and advises the consumer about the sustainability potential of the toys on the sales site.

Correction: Functional Assays Evaluating Immunosuppression Mediated by Myeloid‐Derived Suppressor Cells

Locally released dexamethasone and its effects on osteogenic activity at implant‐tissue interface

The osseointegration of titanium implants within the host tissue holds crucial importance. The introduction of functional coatings at tissue—implant interface enhances the bioactivity of titanium implants, improves their therapeutic outcomes, and enhances the effectiveness of treatments. In this study, we focused on enhancing the bioactivity of titanium‐based implant materials by coating the titanium surfaces with chitosan microspheres, which are loaded with osseointegration‐promoting agent dexamethasone (DEX). Initially, chitosan microspheres were successfully produced, followed by DEX loading through diffusion, resulting in a drug loading efficiency of around 50.2 (wt %). The subsequent drug release profile displayed a 24‐hour duration, releasing approximately 32.6 (wt %) of the loaded DEX. In cell proliferation assays using human osteosarcoma (SAOS‐2) cells, Ti surfaces coated with DEX‐loaded chitosan microspheres initially exhibited lower cell numbers compared with DEX‐free ones. This observation was attributed to transient osteogenic differentiation effects of DEX, since a notable increase in cell proliferation was observed on the 7th day. Von Kossa staining revealed mineralization beginning on the 14th day, particularly evident in DEX‐loaded samples. Moreover, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity displayed a pattern of initial increase and subsequent decrease, with DEX release from chitosan microspheres showing a clear influence on the osteogenic differentiation, especially on the 7th day. These findings align with literature, highlighting DEX's potential to enhance osteogenic differentiation and cellular behavior on chitosan microsphere‐coated titanium surfaces. This study emphasizes the promising implications for functionalizing surfaces of implant materials with DEX‐loaded chitosan microspheres to improve their biocompatibility and bioactivity.

Therapeutic effects of pentoxifylline in propionic acid‐induced autism symptoms in rat models: A behavioral, biochemical, and histopathological study

Abstract Objective The role of propionic acid (PPA) in eliciting behaviors analogous to autism in rat models is a documented phenomenon. This study examines the therapeutic implications of pentoxifylline—an agent traditionally used for peripheral vascular diseases—on these autism‐like behaviors by modulating brain proteins and reducing pro‐inflammatory cytokines like tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) in a rat model. Methods This research involved 30 male Wistar albino rats, which were divided into three distinct groups: a baseline control set, a PPA‐treated cluster receiving a 250 mg/kg/day dose of PPA via intraperitoneal injection for a span of five days followed by saline orally, and a PPA group administered an oral dose of pentoxifylline at 300 mg/kg/day over 15 days. Subsequent to the treatment phase, euthanasia was carried out for the extraction of brain and blood samples, which were then analyzed for histopathological and biochemical markers. Results The pentoxifylline‐treated subjects demonstrated a significant mitigation in the manifestation of autistic‐like behaviors, as assessed through a triad of social interaction tests. A noteworthy decline in TNF‐α levels was observed, alongside a significant rise in the concentration of adenosine triphosphate and nerve growth factor in brain tissue (p < 0.05). Histopathological analysis underscored a reduction in oxidative stress and a significant preservation of neuronal cell types, specifically pyramidal neurons in the hippocampal CA1 and CA3 regions and Purkinje cells in the cerebellum (p < 0.001). Conclusion Pentoxifylline treatment has been found to effectively reduce the behavioral symptoms associated with autism, as well as biochemical and histopathological disruptions induced by PPA in rat models, highlighting its potential as a neurotherapeutic agent.