Modulator Of Activity Research Articles

Revealing the impact of modified modules flexibility on gemcitabine prodrug nanoassemblies for effective cancer therapy

Prodrug nanoassemblies combine the advantages of prodrug strategies and nanotechnology have been widely utilized for delivering antitumor drugs. These prodrugs typically comprise active drug modules, response modules, and modification modules. Among them, the modification modules play a critical factor in improving the self-assembly ability of the parent drug. However, the impact of the specific structure of the modification modules on prodrug self-assembly remains elusive. In this study, two gemcitabine (GEM) prodrugs are developed using 2-octyl-1-dodecanol (OD) as flexible modification modules and cholesterol (CLS) as rigid modification modules. Interestingly, the differences in the chemical structure of modification modules significantly affect the assembly performance, drug release, cytotoxicity, tumor accumulation, and antitumor efficacy of prodrug nanoassemblies. It is noteworthy that the prodrug nanoassemblies constructed with flexible modifying chains (OD) exhibit improved stability, faster drug release, and enhanced antitumor effects. Our findings elucidate the significant impact of modification modules on the construction of prodrug nanoassemblies.

Advancements in the Research of New Modulators of Nitric Oxide Synthases Activity.

Nitric oxide (NO) has been defined as the "miracle molecule" due to its essential pleiotropic role in living systems. Besides its implications in physiologic functions, it is also involved in the development of several disease states, and understanding this ambivalence is crucial for medicinal chemists to develop therapeutic strategies that regulate NO production without compromising its beneficial functions in cell physiology. Although nitric oxide synthase (NOS), i.e., the enzyme deputed to the NO biosynthesis, is a well-recognized druggable target to regulate NO bioavailability, some issues have emerged during the past decades, limiting the progress of NOS modulators in clinical trials. In the present review, we discuss the most promising advancements in the research of small molecules that are able to regulate NOS activity with improved pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic profiles, providing an updated framework of this research field that could be useful for the design and development of new NOS modulators.

Abstract We083: A new mouse model for the study of cardiogenic TFs Tbx5 , Gata4 , and Mef2c during cardiogenesis

Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are be caused by mutations in genes that drive cardiac development, such as Tbx5 , Gata4 , and Mef2c . Cardiac development, and its transcriptional regulators are also regulated by microRNAs (miRs). These small RNAs target the transcripts of genes in numerous cardiac cell types during embryonic development. We and others have shown that the miR-200 family modulates the transcripts of cardiogenic transcription factors (TFs) Tbx5 , Gata4 , and Mef3c. However, the relationship between these miRs and cardiogenic TFs during in vivo cardiac development is poorly understood. During cardiogenesis, miR-200 family members are highly expressed (E14.5) but reduced in adults (3mo) (Ct Value: miR-200a : 24.3 ± 0.59 v 38.3 ± 0.21; miR-200c : 25.0 ± 0.64 v 32.5 ± 0.16). Using our miR-200 family inhibitor mice models (PMIS), we have found these miRs are required for cardiac development. PMIS-miR-200 embryos are found with a ventral septal defect and poor ventricle wall development, which is lethal by e16.5. At e14.5, PMIS-miR-200 hearts have a significant increase in expression of Tbx5, Gata4, and Mef2c compared to Wild-Type. This induced expression of these TFs is seen within CMs of the ventricle at E14.5. snMulti-Omics of WT and PMIS-miR-200 hearts found a population of CMs enriched in the PMIS-miR-200 hearts. These CMs are marked by expression of Tbx5 , Nppa , and Sox5 . RNA velocity analysis found these CMs to be “progenitor-like” and associated with an early pseudotime. Expression of Tbx5 , Nppa , and Sox5 correlated along the pseudotime with the “progenitor-like” CMs. ATAC-seq showed enrichment of Tbx5 and Mef2c motifs within this new CM cell state. Conclusions: The miR-200 family is a modulator of cardiogenic TFs expression and activity during development. Inhibition of miR-200 induces a CM cell state with “progenitor-like” qualities. Future directions will determine the role of miR- 200 in adult cardiac disease, such as ischemic injury. Our work provides new insights into gene dosage, modulated by miRs, that is required and necessary during cardiac development.

MRS2 missense variation at Asp216 abrogates inhibitory Mg2+ binding, potentiating cell migration and apoptosis resistance.

Mitochondrial magnesium (Mg2+) is a crucial modulator of protein stability, enzymatic activity, ATP synthesis, and cell death. Mitochondrial RNA splicing protein 2 (MRS2) is the main Mg2+ channel in the inner mitochondrial membrane that mediates influx into the matrix. Recent cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) human MRS2 structures exhibit minimal conformational changes at high and low Mg2+, yet the regulation of human MRS2 and orthologues by Mg2+ binding to analogous matrix domains has been well established. Further, a missense variation at D216 has been identified associated with malignant melanoma and MRS2 expression and activity is implicated in gastric cancer. Thus, to gain more mechanistic and functional insight into Mg2+ sensing by the human MRS2 matrix domain and the association with proliferative disease, we assessed the structural, biophysical, and functional effects of a D216Q mutant. We show that the D216Q mutation is sufficient to abrogate Mg2+-binding and associated conformational changes including increased α-helicity, stability, and monomerization. Further, we reveal that the MRS2 matrix domains interact with ~μM affinity, which is weakened by up to two orders of magnitude in the presence of Mg2+ for wild-type but unaffected for D216Q. Finally, we demonstrate the importance of Mg2+ sensing by MRS2 to prevent matrix Mg2+ overload as HeLa cells overexpressing MRS2 show enhanced Mg2+ uptake, cell migration, and resistance to apoptosis while MRS2 D216Q robustly potentiates these cancer phenotypes. Collectively, our findings further define the MRS2 matrix domain as a critical Mg2+ sensor that undergoes conformational and assembly changes upon Mg2+ interactions dependent on D216 to temper matrix Mg2+ overload.

Parallel/Series Connected Standardized Active Switching Modules for High Power DCCBs in MVDC Networks

Parallel/Series Connected Standardized Active Switching Modules for High Power DCCBs in MVDC Networks

The relevance of vascular adjustments to hemodynamic control in the face of temperature change in Crotalus durissus.

The presence of cardiac shunts in ectothermic tetrapods is thought to be consistent with active vascular modulations for proper hemodynamic support. Local control of blood flow modulates tissue perfusion and thus systemic conductance (Gsys) is assumed to increase with body temperature (Tb) to accommodate higher aerobic demand. However, the general increase of Gsys presses for a higher right-to-left (R-L) shunt, which reduces arterial oxygen concentration. In contrast, Tb reduction leads to a Gsys decrease and a left-to-right shunt, which purportedly increases pulmonary perfusion and plasma filtration in the respiratory area. This investigation addressed the role of compensatory vascular adjustments in the face of the metabolic alterations caused by Tb change in the South American rattlesnake (Crotalus durissus). Cardiovascular recordings were performed in decerebrated rattlesnake preparations at 10, 20 and 30°C. The rise in Tb increased metabolic demand, and correlated with an augmentation in heart rate. Although cardiac output increased, systemic stroke volume reduced while pulmonary stroke volume remained stable. Although that resulted in a proportionally higher increase in pulmonary blood flow, the R-L shunt was maintained. While the systemic compliance of large arteries was the most relevant factor in regulating arterial systemic blood pressure, peripheral conductance of pulmonary circulation was the major factor influencing the final cardiac shunt. Such dynamic adjustment of systemic compliance and pulmonary resistance for shunt modulation has not been demonstrated before and contrasts with previous knowledge on shunt control.

A model-based brain switch via periodic motor imagery modulation for asynchronous brain-computer interfaces

Objective. Brain switches provide a tangible solution to asynchronized brain-computer interface, which decodes user intention without a pre-programmed structure. However, most brain switches based on electroencephalography signals have high false positive rates (FPRs), resulting in less practicality. This research aims to improve the operating mode and usability of the brain switch. Approach. Here, we propose a novel virtual physical model-based brain switch that leverages periodic active modulation. An optimization problem of minimizing the triggering time subject to a required FPR is formulated, numerical and analytical approximate solutions are obtained based on the model. Main results. Our motor imagery (MI)-based brain switch can reach 0.8FP/h FPR with a median triggering time of 58 s. We evaluated the proposed brain switch during online device control, and their average FPRs substantially outperformed the conventional brain switches in the literature. We further improved the proposed brain switch with the Common Spatial Pattern (CSP) and optimization method. An average FPR of 0.3 FPs/h was obtained for the MI-CSP-based brain switch, and the average triggering time improved to 21.6 s. Significance. This study provides a new approach that could significantly reduce the brain switch’s FPR to less than 1 Fps/h, which was less than 10% of the FPR (decreasing by more than a magnitude of order) by other endogenous methods, and the reaction time was comparable to the state-of-the-art approaches. This represents a significant advancement over the current non-invasive asynchronous BCI and will open widespread avenues for translating BCI towards clinical applications.

Light-activated CRISPR-Cas12a for amplified imaging of microRNA in cell cycle phases at single-cell levels.

An ortho-nitrobenzyl phosphate ester-caged nucleic acid hairpin structure coupled to the CRISPR-Cas12a complex is introduced as a functional reaction module for the light-induced activation of the CRISPR-Cas12a (LAC12a) machinery toward the amplified fluorescence detection of microRNA-21 (miRNA-21). The LAC12a machinery is applied for the selective, in vitro sensing of miRNA-21 and for the intracellular imaging of miRNA-21 in different cell lines. The LAC12a system is used to image miRNA-21 in different cell cycle phases of MCF-7 cells. Moreover, the LAC12a machinery integrated in cells enables the two-photon laser confocal microscopy-assisted, light-stimulated spatiotemporal, selective activation of the CRISPR-Cas12a miRNA-21 imaging machinery at the single-cell level and the evaluation of relative expression levels of miRNA-21 at distinct cell cycle phases. The method is implemented to map the distribution of cell cycle phases in an array of single cells.

Active site modulation in UiO-66(Ce) MOFs by Al3+ doping for boosting photocatalysis

A series of Al3+-doped UiO-66(Ce) MOFs (U(CexAl1−x)) was developed to reveal the roles of metal doping on active site formation and substrate activation in photocatalytic selective transformation of amines to imines. Al3+ doping induced crystal structure distortion to form coordinately unsaturated metal (Al, Ce) sites as Lewis acid sites to chemisorb and activate benzylamine (BA). In situ FTIR revealed that the Al site with stronger acid strength facilitated BA activation. The activation degree of N–H bonds in BA was evaluated by changes of calculated force constant. The intermediate products were confirmed through time-dependent in situ FTIR. The Al3+-doped sample U(Ce0.90Al0.10), the optimal catalyst, showed a significantly increased BA conversion (97.6 %) than that (47.5 %) of undoped sample, which was attributed to enough active sites and the optimal charge mobility. Finally, the present study proposes a synergistic photocatalytic mechanism associated with molecular activation to demonstrate selective oxidation pathways at the molecular level.

Reprogrammable metasurface design for NIR beam steering and active filtering

Reprogrammable metasurfaces enable active modulation of light at subwavelength scales. Operating in the microwave, terahertz, and mid-infrared ranges, these metasurfaces find applications in communications, sensing, and imaging. Electrically tunable metasurfaces operating in the near-infrared (NIR) range are crucial for light detection and ranging (LiDAR) applications. Achieving a NIR reprogrammable metasurface requires individual gating of nano-antennas, emphasizing effective heat management to preserve device performance. To this end, here we propose an electrically tunable Au–vanadium dioxide (VO2) metasurface design on top of a one-dimensional Si–Al2O3 photonic crystal (PC), positioned on a SiC substrate. Each individual Au–VO2 nano-antenna is switched from an Off to ON state via Joule heating, enabling the programming of the metasurface using 1-bit (binary) control. While operating as a nearly perfect reflector at λ0=1.55μm , the materials, thickness, and number of the layers in the PC are carefully chosen to ensure it acts as a thermal metamaterial. Moreover, with high optical efficiency (R ∼ 40% at λ0 ), appropriate thermal performance, and feasibility, the metasurface also enables broadband programmable beam steering in the 1.4−1.7μm range for a wide steering angle range. This metasurface design also offers active control over NIR light transmittance, reflectance and absorptance in the wavelength range of 0.75−3μm . These characteristics render the device practical for LiDAR and active filtering.

MicroRNAs role in telomere length maintenance and telomerase activity in tumor cells.

MiRNAs, a class of non-coding RNA molecules, have emerged as critical modulators of telomere length and telomerase activity by finely tuning the expression of target genes (and not gene targets) within signaling pathways involved in telomere homeostasis. The primary objective of this systematic review was to compile and synthesize the existing body of knowledge on the role, association, and involvement of miRNAs in telomere length. Additionally, the review explored the regulation, function, and activation mechanism of thehuman telomerase reverse transcriptase(hTERT) gene and telomerase activity in tumor cells. A comprehensive analysis of 47 selected articles revealed 40 distinct miRNAs involved in these processes. These miRNAs were shown to exert their function, in both clinical cases and cell line models, either directly or indirectly, regulating hTERT and telomerase activity through distinct molecular mechanisms. The regulatory roles of these miRNAs significantly affected major cancer phenotypes, with outcomes largely dependent on the tissue type and the cellular actions within the tumor cells, whereby they functioned as oncogenes or tumor suppressors. These findings strongly support the pivotal role of miRNAs in modulating telomere length and telomerase activity, thereby contributing to the intricate and complex regulation of telomere homeostasis in tumor cells.Moreover, they emphasize the potential of targeting miRNAs and key regulatory genes as therapeutic strategies to disrupt cancer cell growth and promote senescence, offering promising avenues for novel cancer treatments.

The development of teacher interns' competencies of science instructional design and implementation using STEM activity based on DIY, Tinker and maker frameworks

The objective of this research was to examine the impact of STEM activity based on Diy, Tinker and Maker frameworks on developing teacher interns' competency in science instructional design and implementations. These activities involve the integration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics principles, fostering self-regulated learning, creativity, and innovation among students. The research encompassed the design of five STEM activity modules, including a UVC Box Experiment, Digital pH Meter, Air Sensor, Startup & Rare Earth Board Game, and Motion Sensor activity, which were shared with teacher interns via Google Classroom using tutorial videos, slides, and additional materials to enhance their skills. An examination of 26 lesson plans from 13 teacher interns was carried out through content analysis, within a learning model guided by High Impact Practices (HIPs) spanning six domains: well-structured lessons, project-based learning, reflection, learning progression framework, student-centered approach, and Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK). The results showed that the application of the DIY, Tinker, and Maker framework through STEM activities effectively improves teacher interns' competencies in science instructional design and implementation. Particularly noteworthy was the gradual enhancement observed from the initial to the subsequent implementation across all HIPs domains, especially in showcasing TPACK. Nonetheless, the research also identified variations in competency levels, prompting contemplation among students. The importance of developing activities that stimulate student reflection emerged as a key point to consider. This indicates that STEM activities based on the concepts of DIY, Tinker, and Maker should emphasize such reflective practices. The insights obtained from this study could advance the enhancement of teacher interns' skills and encourage further exploration of the topics discussed.

Enhancement of high-density lipoprotein-associated protease inhibitor activity prevents atherosclerosis progression

Background and aimsInflammatory cells within atherosclerotic lesions secrete proteolytic enzymes that contribute to lesion progression and destabilization, increasing the risk for an acute cardiovascular event. Elastase is a serine protease, secreted by macrophages and neutrophils, that may contribute to the development of unstable plaque. We previously reported interaction of endogenous protease-inhibitor proteins with high-density lipoprotein (HDL), including alpha-1-antitrypsin, an inhibitor of elastase. These findings support a potential role for HDL as a modulator of protease activity. In this study, we test the hypothesis that enhancement of HDL-associated elastase inhibitor activity is protective against atherosclerotic lesion progression. MethodsWe designed an HDL-targeting protease inhibitor (HTPI) that binds to HDL and confers elastase inhibitor activity. Lipoprotein binding and the impact of HTPI on atherosclerosis were examined using mouse models. Histology and immunofluorescence staining of aortic root sections were used to examine the impact of HTPI on lesion morphology and inflammatory features. ResultsHTPI is a small (1.6 kDa) peptide with an elastase inhibitor domain, a soluble linker, and an HDL-targeting domain. When incubated with human plasma ex vivo, HTPI predominantly binds to HDL. Intravenous administration of HTPI to mice resulted in its binding to plasma HDL and increased elastase inhibitor activity on isolated HDL. Accumulation of HTPI within plaque was observed after administration to Apoe−/− mice. To examine the effect of HTPI treatment on atherosclerosis, prevention and progression studies were performed using Ldlr−/− mice fed Western diet. In both study designs, HTPI-treated mice had reduced lipid deposition in plaque. ConclusionsThese data support the hypothesis that HDL-associated anti-elastase activity can improve the atheroprotective potential of HDL and highlight the potential utility of HDL enrichment with anti-protease activity as an approach for stabilization of atherosclerotic lesions.

Docking and Simulation Studies on Novel Analogues of 3,4,5-Trihydroxy Benzoic Acid as HSP90Alpha Inhibitors

Abstract: HSP90 assists as a crucial molecular chaperone that responds to environmental stressors and helps in the survival of cells in microorganisms. This protein is integral to the stress response, aiding in the stabilization of various proteins essential for microbial survival. Consequently, the ability of a number of tissues to adjust to endogenous stress depends critically on appropriate chaperone activity. Modulators of chaperone activity, however, have emerged as a novel and developing area of drug discovery due to the association between changed chaperone function and the development of numerous illnesses. Inhibition of HSP90alpha can disrupt proper protein folding, thus impairing growth and virulence in fungi. In this work, we selected novel leads of gallic acid derivatives with the help of OSIRIS Property Explorer and DruLiTo software. Selected leads were subjected to ADME-T studies for further screening. Docking and molecular simulation studies on selected compounds were performed using Schrodinger v21 and GROMACS software to predict the bioactivity of novel leads of 3,4,5 trihydroxy benzoic acid for suppression of the HSP90alpha enzyme. Compounds 4N, 18N, 15N, and 14N showed good docking scores of -6.5, -6.4, -5.91, and -5.98, respectively, which was comparable to standard ciprofloxacin. Compound 4N and compound 14N demonstrated notable binding interactions and were selected for further investigation through molecular dynamics studies with HSP90alpha (PDB ID: 1YC1). RMSD, H BOND, and RMSF analysis confirmed the stable binding of compounds 4N and 14 N with the HSP90 enzyme. The RMSF plot showed less than 0.35 nm fluctuation for the HSP90alpha enzyme in complex with different ligands. It can be concluded that ligand binding can cause stability to the conformation of the protein. Compounds 4N and 14N are considered to be the best theoretical lead, which can further be studied experimentally as HSP90 alpha inhibitors for antimicrobial activity. other: Ongoing research aims to uncover more insights into the specific mechanisms of action, optimize structural features for enhanced efficacy, and explore potential synergies with existing antimicrobial agents. As a result, these derivatives hold promise as candidates for the development of novel antimicrobial agents with a broad spectrum of activity against bacteria and fungi

Breast Cancer Resistance Protein: Structure, Localization, Functions, Significance for Rational Pharmacotherapy

INTRODUCTION: Currently, investigation of efflux transport systems of an organism is an important scientific and practical task permitting to more deeply investigate the pharmacokinetics of medical drugs and to optimize pharmacotherapy of a number of diseases. The super family of ABC transporters plays a significant role in transport of biobiotics, the processes of absorption, distribution and excretion of medical drugs from an organism, in realization of undesired drug-drug interactions and development of pharmacoresistance. An important representative of this super family is breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP). AIM: Systematization of the data on BCRP structure, localization, functions, substrates and modulators of its activity. This literature review presents modern data on the molecular and spatial structure of BCRP, its localization in the cell, in organs and tissues. The data from studies of the functions of BCRP in an organism, of its role in the development of undesired drug-drug interactions at different stages of pharmacokinetics are summarized. An up-to-date list of medicinal drugs that are substrates and inhibitors of BCRP is given. Modern approaches to testing medical drugs for belonging to BCRP substrates or modulators of its activity are disclosed. CONCLUSION: The significance of BCRP consists in the existence of a wide range of drugs that are its substrates or modulators of its activity. Upon that, of increasing significance is the investigation both of new and long-known medicinal substances for their belonging to substrates, inducers or inhibitors of breast cancer resistance protein, in order to increase the effectiveness of pharmacotherapy and reduce the risk of undesired drug interactions. Search for non-drug substrates and modulators of BCRP activity permits to obtain new markers for conducting effective studies of safe pharmacokinetics both in vitro and in vivo.

Efficient wideband tunable radio frequency-optical conversion via triply resonant photonic molecules.

Electro-optic (EO) transduction of weak radio frequency (RF) and millimeter-wave signals, such as those received by an antenna, onto laser sidebands for processing in the optical domain requires efficient EO modulators. Microrings offer spatial density and efficiency advantages over Mach-Zehnder modulators (MZMs), but conventional single-ring modulators suffer a fundamental trade-off between resonantly enhanced conversion efficiency and the RF carrier frequency that it can accommodate. Dual-cavity "photonic molecule" modulators resolve this trade-off, allowing high efficiency independent of the RF carrier frequency by providing separate resonant supermodes to enhance the laser local oscillator (LO) and the narrowband RF-detuned sideband. However, the RF frequency is fixed at design time by geometry, with efficiency dropping quickly for RF carriers away from the design value. We propose a novel, to the best of our knowledge, triple-cavity configuration with an off-resonant middle ring acting as an effective tunable coupler between two active modulator cavities. This configuration provides wideband tunability of the target RF carrier while maintaining efficient sideband conversion. When the middle ring is passive (high Q), this configuration provides wide RF tunability with no efficiency penalty over the fixed dual-cavity case and could become an important building block for future RF/mm-wave photonic integrated circuits (PICs).

Spatially asymmetrical copper dimer in ceria as an efficiently synergistic oxidation catalyst

Accurate and facile construction of atomically dispersed active sites is fundamentally important in heterogeneous catalysis. Herein, by applying a unique H2-He pretreatment, we successfully synthesize spatially asymmetrical dimeric Cu stabilized by CeO2. Integrated microscopic and spectroscopic characterizations, together with DFT calculations have revealed the redispersion of Cu species on CeO2 support is accompanied by the formation of Cu dimers with one Cu atom embedded into CeO2 lattice and the neighboring Cu atom supported on-top. The obtained dual-Cu atom catalyst demonstrates its general applicability in emission control scenarios or hydrogen fuel cell for automobile applications with excellent performances. Ab initio calculations reveal that such dimeric Cu sites on CeO2 promote reactant adsorption and lattice oxygen activation, owing to the synergistic effect of unique dimeric Cu structure. This work highlights the great potential of gas pretreatment in the fabrication of dual-atom catalysts, which is widely applicable to active site modulation in advanced oxidation catalysts.

A triple-benefit strategy of microstructure, electronic property and active site modulation on ZnIn2S4 photocatalyst by Sn atom doping

To overcome the high cost and complex preparation of cocatalysts in photocatalytic H₂ production, this study pioneers a triple-benefit strategy in visible-light-absorbing semiconductors through microstructure optimization, electronic property modulation, and active site modification in two-dimensional (2D) hexagonal ZnIn₂S₄ (ZIS) via Sn atom doping. Facilely synthesized through a one-step hydrothermal method without surfactants, 4–6 nm thick Sn-doped ZIS nanosheets exhibit reduced charge recombination by preventing excessive self-assembly and aggregation. Density Functional Theory (DFT) and X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (XAFS) confirm Sn’s substitution for Zn on (001) surface, shifting the Fermi level into the conduction band to facilitate electron migration and charge separation. This adjustment also modulates the electronic properties of adjacent S atoms, triggering the inert basal plane for an enhanced H₂ evolution reaction kinetics. Consequently, Sn-ZIS achieves a H₂ evolution rate of 62.18 μmol h−1 under visible light, significantly outperforming pure ZIS and Pt@ZIS by 6.7 and 3.5 times, respectively.

Synergistic effect of iron tailings, steel slag and red mud cementitious materials on mechanical and microstructure properties

Utilizing industrial solid waste for cementitious materials addresses ecological environmental pollution, and contributes significantly to reducing carbon emission, thus fostering sustainable development. The cementitious materials were prepared using three types of solid waste: red mud (RM), iron tailings (IR) and steel slag (SS) in this study. The impact of the synergistic interaction between RM-IR-SS on the mechanical properties was investigated. Additionally, the hydration products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetry derivative thermogravimetry (TG) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The results showed that the optimum strength reached 11.83 MPa after curing 28 d with a composition of 30 % RM, 40 % IR, 30 % SS a solid-liquid ratio of 0.35 and an alkaline activator module of 1.30. RM was found to be rich in OH−, which formed an alkaline solution upon contact with water. This solution, in interaction with alkaline activators, effectively dissolved large amount of Si and Al substances from RM, IR and SS. The dissolved Na+, Ca2+, [Al(OH)6]3-, [H3SiO4]-, [H3AlO4]2-, and OH− reacted to generate ettringite, C–S–H, and C(N)-A-S-H gels. The diffusion of these gel and ettringite, coupled with the reduction of porosity, formed a dense matrix structure, which improved the mechanical properties. The research establishes a solid foundation for the optimal utilization of alkali, calcareous, and silica-aluminum solid waste, further contributing to a more sustainable industrial ecosystem through their synergistic utilization as building materials.

Autonomous Thermal Modulator Based on Gold Film‐Coated Liquid Crystal Elastsomer

AbstractRadiative cooling has been recently intensively explored for thermal management and enhancing energy efficiency. Yet, traditional materials with singular emissivity fall short in dynamic thermal management, highlighting the need for materials that can adjust their thermal radiation in real time. Active modulation methods, requiring external stimuli such as mechanical stretch, electric potential, or humidity change, offer adaptability but can increase energy use and complexity. Passive approaches, using materials' inherent thermal‐responsive properties, face manufacturing and scalability challenges. Here, a scalable yet effective passive approach is introduced for adaptive thermal modulation based on gold (Au) and liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) with a reversible response to environmental temperature changes. This modulator enables a “low thermal resistance” state through actuation‐induced microcracks that expose a high‐emissivity polymer substrate, and a “high thermal resistance” state by closing these microcracks and forming a high thermal resistance air gap between the modulator and the target object. The flexible design and fixed external dimensions of the Au‐LCE thermal modulator make it adaptable to various surface geometries. Furthermore, by adjusting the LCE's chemical composition, the modulator's transition temperature can be tailored, broadening its applications from enhancing building energy efficiency to improving clothing thermal comfort.