Anti-MRSA and cytotoxic activities of different solvent extracts from Artemisia herba-alba grown in Shubak, Jordan.

Background: Globally, resistance to antimicrobial drugs is a major hazard to public health. Infections that were once easily treatable with antibiotics are becoming harder to control, leading to prolonged illnesses, increased mortality rates, and higher healthcare costs. Aim: This study intended to assess the antimicrobial, specifically the anti-Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and anticancer properties of different extracts obtained from A. herba-alba (AHA). Methods: The antibacterial tests of AHA were performed on two Gram-negative bacterial strains (Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumonia), two Gram-positive bacterial strains (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and Staphylococcus aureus). Initial screening for antibacterial activities was conducted using the well diffusion technique. Subsequently, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined through the broth-dilution assay. The anticancer test was carried out in vitro on a human colorectal carcinoma cell line (HCT-116) using MTT assay. Results: Among all extracts, n-hexane extract of AHA was the most effective against S. aureus with the highest inhibition zone (24.67 mm ± 0.58) compared to standard antibiotic (erythromycin, 24.00 mm) followed by the methanolic extract against MRSA (24.00 mm ± 1.73). The methanol extract of AHA showed the highest antibacterial activity against MRSA. The results of MIC and MBC of the AHA methanol extract against MRSA were 1.17 ± 1.09 and 9.375 ± 0.0 mg/ml, respectively, demonstrating therapeutically significant antibacterial activity. Ethyl acetate extract has no antibacterial activity against E. coli and K. pneumonia. The findings indicated that the methanol extract of AHA exhibited the highest efficacy against the colorectal carcinoma cell line (HCT-116), with an IC50 value of 126.61 ± 13.35 µg/ml. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the methanol extract of AHA could be considered as a potential agent to serve as a source of antibacterial and anticancer compounds.

Utilizing Artificial Intelligence Among Patients With Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Diabetes mellitus, a condition characterized by dysregulation of blood glucose levels, poses significant health challenges globally. This meta-analysis and systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of artificial intelligence (AI) in managing diabetes, underpinned by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The review scrutinized articles published between January 2019 and February 2024, sourced from six electronic databases: Web of Science, Google Scholar, PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and MEDLINE, using keywords such as "Artificial intelligence use in medicine, Diabetes management, Health technology, Machine learning, Diabetic patients, AI applications, and Health informatics." The analysis revealed a notable variance in the prevalence of diabetes symptoms between patients managed with AI models and those receiving standard treatments or other machine learning models, with a risk ratio (RR) of 0.98 (95% CI: 0.88-1.08, I2 = 0%). Sub-group analyses, focusing on symptom detection and management, consistently showed outcomes favoring AI interventions, with RRs of 0.97 (95% CI: 0.87-1.08, I2 = 0%) for symptom detection and 0.97 (95% CI: 0.56-1.57, I2 = 0%) for management, respectively. The findings underscore the potential of AI in enhancing diabetes care, particularly in early disease detection and personalized lifestyle recommendations, addressing the significant health risks associated with diabetes, including increased morbidity and mortality. This study highlights the promising role of AI in revolutionizing diabetes management, advocating for its expanded use in healthcare settings to improve patient outcomes and optimize treatment efficacy.

Uniaxial-Oriented Chiral Perovskite for Flexible Full-Stokes Polarimeter.

Full-Stokes polarization detection, with high integration and portability, offers an efficient path toward next-gen multi-information optoelectronic systems. Nevertheless, current techniques relying on optical filters create rigid and bulky configurations, limiting practicality. Here, a flexible, filter-less full-Stokes polarimeter featuring a uniaxial-oriented chiral perovskite film is first reported. It is found that, the strategic manipulation of the surfactant-mediated Marangoni effect during blade coating, is crucial for guiding an equilibrious mass transport to achieve oriented crystallization. Through this approach, the obtained uniaxial-oriented chiral perovskite films inherently possess anisotropy and chirality, and thereby with desired sensitivity to both linearly polarized light and circularly polarized light vectors. The uniaxial-oriented crystalline structure also improves photodetection, achieving a specific detectivity of 5.23 × 1013 Jones, surpassing non-oriented devices by 10×. The as-fabricated flexible polarimeters enable accurate capture of full-Stokes polarization without optical filters, exhibiting slight detection errors for the Stokes parameters: ΔS1 = 9.2%, ΔS2 = 8.6%, and ΔS3 = 6.5%, approaching the detection accuracy of optics-filter polarimeters. This proof of concept also demonstrates applications in matrix polarization imaging.

Surgical versus medical management of patients with primary hyperaldosteronism and indeterminate adrenal vein sampling: A 10-year experience of the Cleveland Clinic.

In patients with primary hyperaldosteronism (PA), adrenal vein sampling (AVS) can identify patients suitable for unilateral adrenalectomy. However, in AVS with an indeterminate aldosterone-to-cortisol lateralization (ACL) ratio of 3.0-4.0, clinical guidance is unclear. The authors screened all patients undergoing AVS at the Cleveland Clinic from October 2010 to January 2021 and identified 18 patients with indeterminate ACL results. Ten underwent adrenalectomy and eight continued medical management. The surgical group was younger (58.5 vs. 68 years, p = .17), and more likely to have a unilateral imaging adrenal abnormality (90% vs. 38%, p = .043) and a lower contralateral suppression index (0.63 vs. 1.1, p = .14). Post-treatment, the surgical group had a significant reduction in diastolic blood pressure (-5.5 mmHg, p = .043) and aldosterone (4.40 vs. 35.80 ng/mL, p = .035) and required fewer anti-hypertensive medications (2 vs. 3, p = .015). These findings may support the benefit of adrenalectomy in a select group of patients with indeterminate ACL.

Fluoride Removal Using Nanofiltration-Ranged Polyamide Thin-Film Nanocomposite Membrane Incorporated Titanium Oxide Nanosheets.

Drinking water defluoridation has attracted significant attention in the scientific community, from which membrane technology, by exploring thin film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes, has demonstrated a great potential for treating fluoride-contaminated water. This study investigates the development of a TFN membrane by integrating titanium oxide nanosheets (TiO2 NSs) into the polyamide (PA) layer using interfacial polymerization. The characterization results suggest that successfully incorporating TiO2 NSs into the PA layer of the TFN membrane led to a surface with a high negative charge, hydrophilic properties, and a smooth surface at the nanoscale. The TFN membrane, containing 80 ppm of TiO2 NSs, demonstrated a notably high fluoride rejection rate of 98%. The Donnan-steric-pore-model-dielectric-exclusion model was employed to analyze the effect of embedding TiO2 NSs into the PA layer of TFN on membrane properties, including charge density (Xd), the pore radius (rp), and pore dielectric constant (εp). The results indicated that embedding TiO2 NSs increased Xd and decreased the εp by less than the TFC membrane without significantly affecting the rp. The resulting TFN membrane demonstrates promising potential for application in water treatment systems, providing an effective and sustainable solution for fluoride remediation in drinking water.

Sex differences in clinical features, utilization of oral anticoagulant agents, and 1-year outcome in Middle Eastern patients with atrial fibrillation.

OBJECTIVE: Studies have revealed that sex can predict differences in multiple aspects of atrial fibrillation (AF). These differences are underreported in the Middle East. This study aims to describe sex-specific differences in risk factors, symptomatology, management, and outcomes in Middle Eastern patients with AF. METHODS: The JoFib (Jordan-Atrial-Fibrillation) study is an observational, prospective, multicenter, nationwide registry in AF. Comparisons were made between female and male patients using Pearson chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests. Multivariable regression models were constructed to investigate whether the female sex was predictive of any AF-related outcomes (all-cause death, cardiovascular death, ischemic stroke or systemic embolism [IS/SE], major bleeding, and clinically relevant non-major bleeding). RESULTS: Of 2,020 patients with AF, 54% (n = 1091) were females. Females with AF were older (median age 71 vs. 69, p <.001), but had less heart failure (20.9% vs. 27.2%, p = .001) and coronary artery disease (7.5% vs. 14.7%, p <.001). Females with AF were more symptomatic (74.7% vs. 66.5%, p <.001) and frequently received anticoagulant therapy (84.4% vs. 78.9%, p = .001). Rhythm control was pursued less frequently in females (23.4% vs. 27.3%, p = .04). All studied outcomes occurred with similar frequencies in females and males, and sex was not significantly predictive of any outcome. CONCLUSION: Females with AF are more symptomatic, yet they are treated less with rhythm control. Despite higher risk, females have similar risk-adjusted all-cause cardiovascular death and stroke rates compared to males. Future studies should explore how treatments and interventions can influence quality-of-life and cardiovascular outcomes in females with AF.

Effect of Matricaria aurea Essential Oils on Biofilm Development, Virulence Factors and Quorum Sensing-Dependent Genes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The emergence of drug-resistant microorganisms presents a substantial global public health threat. The increase in pathogens resistant to commonly prescribed antibiotics underscores the urgent requirement to explore alternative treatment strategies. This study adopts a novel approach by harnessing natural resources, specifically essential oils (EO), to combat bacterial pathogenicity. The primary aim of this research was to analyze the chemical composition of the aerial part of the Matricaria aurea (M. aureas) EO and evaluate its potential for inhibiting quorum sensing (QS) and disrupting biofilm formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa). The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS) analysis unveiled that α-bisabolol oxide A constituted the predominant portion, comprising 64.8% of the total, with ß-bisabolene at 6.3% and α-farnesene at 4.8% following closely behind. The antibiofilm efficacy was observed at concentrations of 0.3, 0.15, and 0.08 mg/mL, demonstrating negligible effects on cell viability. Furthermore, the EO from M. aurea effectively inhibited the formation of P. aeruginosa biofilms by diminishing aggregation, hydrophobicity, and swarming motility. Significantly, the EO treatment resulted in a conspicuous decrease in the production of pyocyanin, rhamnolipid, and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), along with a reduction in the enzymatic activity of protease and chitinase. The EO effectively hindered QS by disrupting QS mechanisms, resulting in a marked decline in the secretion of N-Acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) molecules and the expression of phazA1 and aprA genes. This investigation offers compelling evidence supporting the potential of M. aurea EO as a promising therapeutic candidate for addressing infectious diseases induced by biofilm formation.

Precision Nutrition Unveiled: Gene-Nutrient Interactions, Microbiota Dynamics, and Lifestyle Factors in Obesity Management.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a complex metabolic disorder that is associated with several diseases. Recently, precision nutrition (PN) has emerged as a tailored approach to provide individualised dietary recommendations. AIM: This review discusses the major intrinsic and extrinsic components considered when applying PN during the management of obesity and common associated chronic conditions. RESULTS: The review identified three main PN components: gene-nutrient interactions, intestinal microbiota, and lifestyle factors. Genetic makeup significantly contributes to inter-individual variations in dietary behaviours, with advanced genome sequencing and population genetics aiding in detecting gene variants associated with obesity. Additionally, PN-based host-microbiota evaluation emerges as an advanced therapeutic tool, impacting disease control and prevention. The gut microbiome's composition regulates diverse responses to nutritional recommendations. Several studies highlight PN's effectiveness in improving diet quality and enhancing adherence to physical activity among obese patients. PN is a key strategy for addressing obesity-related risk factors, encompassing dietary patterns, body weight, fat, blood lipids, glucose levels, and insulin resistance. CONCLUSION: PN stands out as a feasible tool for effectively managing obesity, considering its ability to integrate genetic and lifestyle factors. The application of PN-based approaches not only improves current obesity conditions but also holds promise for preventing obesity and its associated complications in the long term.

A DFT approach to correlate the physical characteristics of novel chalcopyrites ASbN2(A = Li, Na) for green technology.

Semiconductor chalcopyrite compounds have been a subject of research interest due to their diverse range of physical properties that have captured the attention of scientists. In this ongoing research, we have examined the physical characteristics of LiSbN2 and NaSbN2 chalcopyrites using DFT. The modified Becke-Johnson (mBJ) potential is utilized for the computation of electronic structures. The stability is attained with negative formation energies and optimization curves. A bandgap of 2.60 eV in LiSbN2 and 3.15 eV in NaSbN2 has been achieved, which is further endorsed by the density of states. An in-depth analysis of the optical properties unveils the potential utility of LiSbN2 and NaSbN2 in various photovoltaic devices, attributed to its pronounced absorption in the UV spectrum. The transport characteristics are also assessed through various transport characteristics. The large electrical conductivity and ZT values for both chalcopyrite compounds are attained. Due to their remarkable capability to convert heat into electricity, these materials display potential for use in thermoelectric devices.

Synthesis, thermoluminescence characterizations, and photon attenuation parameters of MgAl2 O4 structure doped with different ions.

In this work, different ion co-doped Mg1-x Al2 O4 nanophosphors, coded as M5Cr-5La A, M5Cr-5Cu A, M0.07Si-0.03Ce A, and M0.05Ti-0.05La A, where 5Cr-5La, 5Cr-5Cu, 0.07Si-0.03Ce, and 0.05Ti-0.05La representing the added ions (mol%), were prepared using the sol-gel method. Phase structure, transmission electron microscope (TEM) images, and element feasibility were checked using X-ray diffraction, TEM analysis, and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy. Their thermoluminescence (TL) response was checked using a 5 Gy γ-test dose. The M0.05Ti-0.05La A sample was found to be best for the TL response with an ~1.1 times response compared with that of the MTS-700 commercial detector. A wide range of dose-responses for the M0.05Ti-0.05La A sample was found up to a 20 Gy γ-dose with the lowest detectable dose of ⁓23 µGy. Photon attenuation parameter results were Zeff ⁓10, which mean that the M0.05Ti-0.05La A sample could be considered as a near tissue equivalent material. Due to this study, the M0.05Ti-0.05La A sample can be considered as a promising detector for application in personal and medical dosimetric monitoring.

Nuclear deformation regulates YAP dynamics in cancer associated fibroblasts.

Cells cultured on stiff 2D substrates exert high intracellular force, resulting in mechanical deformation of their nuclei. This nuclear deformation (ND) plays a crucial role in the transport of Yes Associated Protein (YAP) from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. However, cells in vivo are in soft 3D environment with potentially much lower intracellular forces. Whether and how cells may deform their nuclei in 3D for YAP localization remains unclear. Here, by culturing human colon cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) on 2D, 2.5D, and 3D substrates, we differentiated the effects of stiffness, force, and ND on YAP localization. We found that nuclear translocation of YAP depends on the degree of ND irrespective of dimensionality, stiffness and total force. ND induced by the perinuclear force, not the total force, and nuclear membrane curvature correlate strongly with YAP activation. Immunostained slices of human tumors further supported the association between ND and YAP nuclear localization, suggesting ND as a potential biomarker for YAP activation in tumors. Additionally, we conducted quantitative analysis of the force dynamics of CAFs on 2D substrates to construct a stochastic model of YAP kinetics. This model revealed that the probability of YAP nuclear translocation, as well as the residence time in the nucleus follow a power law. This study provides valuable insights into the regulatory mechanisms governing YAP dynamics and highlights the significance of threshold activation in YAP localization. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Yes Associated Protein (YAP), a transcription cofactor, has been identified as one of the drivers of cancer progression. High tumor stiffness is attributed to driving YAP to the nucleus, wherein it activates pro-metastatic genes. Here we show, using cancer associated fibroblasts, that YAP translocation to the nucleus depends on the degree of nuclear deformation, irrespective of stiffness. We also identified that perinuclear force induced membrane curvature correlates strongly with YAP nuclear transport. A novel stochastic model of YAP kinetics unveiled a power law relationship between the activation threshold and persistence time of YAP in the nucleus. Overall, this study provides novel insights into the regulatory mechanisms governing YAP dynamics and the probability of activation that is of immense clinical significance.

Mind In Vitro Platforms: Versatile, Scalable, Robust, and Open Solutions to Interfacing with Living Neurons.

Motivated by the unexplored potential of in vitro neural systems for computing and by the corresponding need of versatile, scalable interfaces for multimodal interaction, an accurate, modular, fully customizable, and portable recording/stimulation solution that can be easily fabricated, robustly operated, and broadly disseminated is presented. This approach entails a reconfigurable platform that works across multiple industry standards and that enables a complete signal chain, from neural substrates sampled through micro-electrode arrays (MEAs) to data acquisition, downstream analysis, and cloud storage. Built-in modularity supports the seamless integration of electrical/optical stimulation and fluidic interfaces. Custom MEA fabrication leverages maskless photolithography, favoring the rapid prototyping of a variety of configurations, spatial topologies, and constitutive materials. Through a dedicated analysis and management software suite, the utility and robustness of this system are demonstrated across neural cultures and applications, including embryonic stem cell-derived and primary neurons, organotypic brain slices, 3D engineered tissue mimics, concurrent calcium imaging, and long-term recording. Overall, this technology, termed "mind in vitro" to underscore the computing inspiration, provides an end-to-end solution that can be widely deployed due to its affordable (>10× cost reduction) and open-source nature, catering to the expanding needs of both conventional and unconventional electrophysiology.

Nonequilibrium phase transition of a one dimensional system reaches the absorbing state by two different ways.

We study the nonequilibrium phase transitions from the absorbing phase to the active phase for the model of diseases spreading (Susceptible-Infected-Refractory-Susceptible (SIRS)) on a regular one-dimensional lattice. In this model, particles of three species (S, I, and R) on a lattice react as follows: [Formula: see text] with probability [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] after infection time [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] after recovery time [Formula: see text]. In the case of [Formula: see text], this model has been found to have two critical thresholds separating the active phase from absorbing phases. The first critical threshold [Formula: see text] corresponds to a low infection probability and the second critical threshold [Formula: see text] corresponds to a high infection probability. At the first critical threshold [Formula: see text], our Monte Carlo simulations of this model suggest the phase transition to be of directed percolation class (DP). However, at the second critical threshold [Formula: see text] we observe that the system becomes so sensitive to initial values conditions which suggest the phase transition to be a discontinuous transition. We confirm this result using order parameter quasistationary probability distribution and finite-size analysis for this model at [Formula: see text].

Synapses without tension fail to fire in an in vitro network of hippocampal neurons.

Neurons in the brain communicate with each other at their synapses. It has long been understood that this communication occurs through biochemical processes. Here, we reveal that mechanical tension in neurons is essential for communication. Using in vitro rat hippocampal neurons, we find that 1) neurons become tout/tensed after forming synapses resulting in a contractile neural network, and 2) without this contractility, neurons fail to fire. To measure time evolution of network contractility in 3D (not 2D) extracellular matrix, we developed an ultrasensitive force sensor with 1 nN resolution. We employed Multi-Electrode Array and iGluSnFR, a glutamate sensor, to quantify neuronal firing at the network and at the single synapse scale, respectively. When neuron contractility is relaxed, both techniques show significantly reduced firing. Firing resumes when contractility is restored. This finding highlights the essential contribution of neural contractility in fundamental brain functions and has implications for our understanding of neural physiology.

Medical Student Experiences and Perceptions of ChatGPT and Artificial Intelligence: Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionize the way medicine is learned, taught, and practiced, and medical education must prepare learners for these inevitable changes. Academic medicine has, however, been slow to embrace recent AI advances. Since its launch in November 2022, ChatGPT has emerged as a fast and user-friendly large language model that can assist health care professionals, medical educators, students, trainees, and patients. While many studies focus on the technology's capabilities, potential, and risks, there is a gap in studying the perspective of end users. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to gauge the experiences and perspectives of graduating medical students on ChatGPT and AI in their training and future careers. METHODS: A cross-sectional web-based survey of recently graduated medical students was conducted in an international academic medical center between May 5, 2023, and June 13, 2023. Descriptive statistics were used to tabulate variable frequencies. RESULTS: Of 325 applicants to the residency programs, 265 completed the survey (an 81.5% response rate). The vast majority of respondents denied using ChatGPT in medical school, with 20.4% (n=54) using it to help complete written assessments and only 9.4% using the technology in their clinical work (n=25). More students planned to use it during residency, primarily for exploring new medical topics and research (n=168, 63.4%) and exam preparation (n=151, 57%). Male students were significantly more likely to believe that AI will improve diagnostic accuracy (n=47, 51.7% vs n=69, 39.7%; P=.001), reduce medical error (n=53, 58.2% vs n=71, 40.8%; P=.002), and improve patient care (n=60, 65.9% vs n=95, 54.6%; P=.007). Previous experience with AI was significantly associated with positive AI perception in terms of improving patient care, decreasing medical errors and misdiagnoses, and increasing the accuracy of diagnoses (P=.001, P<.001, P=.008, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The surveyed medical students had minimal formal and informal experience with AI tools and limited perceptions of the potential uses of AI in health care but had overall positive views of ChatGPT and AI and were optimistic about the future of AI in medical education and health care. Structured curricula and formal policies and guidelines are needed to adequately prepare medical learners for the forthcoming integration of AI in medicine.

Broadband Near-Infrared Emission from 0D Hybrid Copper Halides.

Metal halides have attracted increasing attention owing to their outstanding optoelectronic properties and tunable emission characteristics. Among these, low-dimensional metal halides have emerged as a novel and efficient luminescent material, primarily attributed to their broad spectral emission induced by self-trapped excitons (STEs). However, achieving highly efficient deep red and near-infrared (NIR) emission in metal halides remains a challenge. In this study, we report a novel zero-dimensional (0D) copper-based metal halide [Na2(DMSO)8]Cu4Br6 as the NIR light source, which exhibits a full width at half-maximum (FWHM) of 195 nm peaking at 685 nm, an impressive quantum efficiency of 68% and a large Stokes shift of 299 nm. Through comprehensive spectral analysis and meticulous data calculations, we substantiate that the emission originates from STEs formed within the 0D structure. Furthermore, we demonstrate the potential application of [Na2(DMSO)8]Cu4Br6 as an invisible light source in night vision by combining it with a commercially available 365 nm ultraviolet (UV) chip. This work not only enriches the family of low-dimensional metal halide materials but also inspires the potential of low-dimensional metal halides in night vision applications.

Prospective utilization of boron nitride and beryllium oxide nanotubes for Na, Li, and K-ion batteries: a DFT-based analysis.

CONTEXT: In the present work, we investigated the adsorption mechanism of natural sodium (Na), potassium (K), and lithium (Li) atoms and their respective ion on two nanostructures: boron-nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) and beryllium-oxide nanotubes (BeONTs). The main goal of this research is to calculate the gain voltage for Na, K, and Li ionic batteries. Density function theory (DFT) calculations indicated that the adsorption energy between Na + is higher than that of the other cations, and this is particularly clear in the BeONT. Furthermore, gain voltage calculations showed that BNNTs generate a higher potential than BeONTs, with the most significant difference observed in BNNT/Na + . This research provides theoretical insights into the potential uses of these nanostructures as anodes in Na, K, and Li-ion batteries. METHOD: Density function theory used to compute the ground state properties for BeONT and BNNT with and without selected atoms and their ions (Li, K, and Na). B3LYP used for exchange correlation between electrons and ions, and 6-31G* basis set used for all atoms and ions. Gauss Sum 2.2 software used for estimate the density of state (DOS) for all structure under investigation.

Targeting mGluR group III for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Glutamate, an excitatory neurotransmitter, is essential for neuronal function, and it acts on ionotropic or metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs). A disturbance in glutamatergic signaling is a hallmark of many neurodegenerative diseases. Developing disease-modifying treatments for neurodegenerative diseases targeting glutamate receptors is a promising avenue. The understudied group III mGluR 4, 6-8 are commonly found in the presynaptic membrane, and their activation inhibits glutamate release. Thus, targeted mGluRs therapies could aid in treating neurodegenerative diseases. This review describes group III mGluRs and their pharmacological ligands in the context of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and Huntington's diseases. Attempts to evaluate the efficacy of these drugs in clinical trials are also discussed. Despite a growing list of group III mGluR-specific pharmacological ligands, research on the use of these drugs in neurodegenerative diseases is limited, except for Parkinson's disease. Future efforts should focus on delineating the contribution of group III mGluR to neurodegeneration and developing novel ligands with superior efficacy and a favorable side effect profile for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Multidentate Chelation Achieves Bilateral Passivation toward Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells with Minimized Energy Losses.

Defects in the electron transport layer (ETL), perovskite, and buried interface will result in considerable nonradiative recombination. Here, a bottom-up bilateral modification strategy is proposed by incorporating arsenazo III (AA), a chromogenic agent for metal ions, to regulate SnO2 nanoparticles. AA can complex with uncoordinated Sn4+/Pb2+ in the form of multidentate chelation. Furthermore, by forming a hydrogen bond with formamidinium (FA), AA can suppress FA+ defects and regulate crystallization. Multiple chemical bonds between AA and functional layers are established, synergistically preventing the agglomeration of SnO2 nanoparticles, enhancing carrier transport dynamics, passivating bilateral defects, releasing tensile stress, and promoting the crystallization of perovskite. Ultimately, the AA-optimized power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the methylammonium-free (MA-free) devices (Rb0.02(FA0.95Cs0.05)0.98PbI2.91Br0.03Cl0.06) is boosted from 20.88% to 23.17% with a high open-circuit voltage (VOC) exceeding 1.18 V and ultralow energy losses down to 0.37 eV. In addition, the optimized devices also exhibit superior stability.