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[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0306862.].

Scintillators that exhibit X-ray-excited luminescence have great potential in radiation detection, X-ray imaging, radiotherapy, and non-destructive testing. However, most reported scintillators are limited to inorganic or organic crystal materials, which have some obstacles in repeatability and processability. Here we present a facile strategy to achieve the X-ray-excited organic phosphorescent scintillation from amorphous copolymers through the copolymerization of the bromine-substituted chromophores and acrylic acid. These polymeric scintillators exhibit efficient X-ray responsibility and decent phosphorescent quantum yield up to 51.4% under ambient conditions. The universality of the design principle was further confirmed by a series of copolymers with multi-color radioluminescence ranging from green to orange-red. Moreover, we demonstrated their potential application in X-ray radiography. This finding not only outlines a feasible principle to develop X-ray responsive phosphorescent polymers, but also expands the potential applications of polymer materials with phosphorescence features. The authors achieved the X-ray-excited organic phosphorescent scintillation from copolymers through copolymerization of bromine-substituted chromophores and acrylic acid and demonstrated their potential application in X-ray radiography.

Heavy oil production and transportation are often restricted by high viscosity, poor mobility, and unfavorable low-temperature flow behavior, especially in waxy systems. While conventional polymer-based additives improve flow, they suffer from inadequate thermal stability, poor dispersibility in complex crude oil matrices, and insufficient multifunctionality. To address these issues, a nano-SiO[sub.2]-based organic-inorganic hybrid flow improver, denoted as NSDA, was synthesized via in situ free-radical copolymerization of styrene, docosyl methacrylate, acrylic acid, and acrylamide on 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (KH-570)-modified silica surfaces. Characterization revealed that this core-shell nanohybrid structure significantly improved thermal stability and oil-phase dispersibility, maintaining nanoscale dispersion in xylene. A remarkable viscosity reduction rate of 90.2% was achieved, accompanied by a substantial pour point depression of 11 °C using only 0.5 wt% of NSDA in Liaohe heavy oil. This dual-functional performance is mainly attributed to the combined effects of the robust nano-SiO[sub.2] core and the multifunctional polymer shell, Specifically, the performance is driven by synergistic wax crystal regulation at low temperatures, alongside weakened intermolecular associations among polar heavy components and nanoparticle-assisted dispersion that govern viscosity reduction.

A low-angle-dependent photonic crystal hydrogel (LAD-PCH) material was developed to simultaneously detect and remove uranyl ions (UO.sub.2.sup.2+). Different from traditional SiO.sub.2 photonic crystal hydrogel with the problem of angle dependency, the LAD-PCH material overcomes the restriction of observation direction. The LAD-PCH is a composite material with the photonic crystal array of 180-nm monodisperse CdS@SiO.sub.2 particles embedded into the functional hydrogel. As one UO.sub.2.sup.2+ can bind to multiple carboxyl groups and amide groups, the functional hydrogel fabricated by acrylic acid and acrylamide will shrink after chelating. These changes in the hydrogel volume alter the array spacing and trigger a blue shift of diffraction wavelength and naked-eye visual color changes of LAD-PCH. The color can vary from orange-red to orange, yellow, green, and cyan, corresponding to the determination range of 100 pM-100 [mu]M. The LAD-PCH material detects UO.sub.2.sup.2+ sensitively as the lowest detectable concentration is about 100 pM, and removes UO.sub.2.sup.2+ high-efficiently as the maximum adsorption capacity of U(VI) is about 1010 mg g.sup.-1 at 298 K. This LAD-PCH material is convenient and has potential to simultaneously monitor and remove UO.sub.2.sup.2+ from uranium-polluted water.

Haemonchus contortus is a blood-feeding gastrointestinal parasite that impacts grazing sheep, causing economic losses in animal production. Due to its anthelmintic resistance, alternative antiparasitic treatments like plant-based anthelmintics are necessary to explore. Artemisia cina (Asteraceae) is a plant whose n-hexane extract and ethyl acetate extract exhibit anthelmintic activity against H. contortus, the n-hexane more active. To discover additional bioactive metabolites, a chemical analysis was performed on ethyl acetate extract, which presented an LC.sub.90 of 3.30 mg/mL and allowed the isolation of 11-[(1R,5S,7R,8R,10S,)-1,8-dihydroxy-5,10-dimethyl-4-oxodecahydroazulen-7-yl] acrylic acid. This new sesquiterpene was identified through one and two-dimensional NMR. The compound was named cinic acid and displayed an LC.sub.50 of 0.13 (0.11-0.14) mg/mL and LC.sub.90 of 0.40 (0.37-0.44) mg/mL, which, compared with ethyl acetate extract larvicidal activity, was 256-fold more active at LC.sub.50 and 15.71-fold at LC.sub.90 . In this study, a new sesquiterpene with larvicidal activity against H. contortus L.sub.3 infective larvae was isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of Artemisia cina.

The design of novel binder systems is required for the high capacity silicon (Si) anodes which usually undergo huge volume change during the charge/discharge cycling. Here, we introduce a poly (acrylic acid sodium)-grafted-carboxymethyl cellulose (NaPAA- g -CMC) copolymer as an excellent binder for Si anode in lithium ion batteries (LIBs). The NaPAA- g -CMC copolymer was prepared via a free radical graft polymerization method by using CMC and acrylic acid as precursors. Unlike the linear, one-dimensional binders, the NaPAA- g -CMC copolymer binder is expected to present multi-point interaction with Si surface, resulting in enhanced binding ability with Si particles as well as with the copper (Cu) current collectors and building a stable solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer on the Si surface. The NaPAA- g -CMC based Si anode shows much better cycle stability and higher coulombic efficiency than those made with the well-known linear polymeric binders such as CMC and NaPPA.

Functional nanomaterials with enzyme-mimicking activities, termed as nanozymes, have found wide applications in various fields. However, the deviation between the working and optimal pHs of nanozymes has been limiting their practical applications. Here we develop a strategy to modulate the microenvironmental pHs of metal–organic framework (MOF) nanozymes by confining polyacids or polybases (serving as Brønsted acids or bases). The confinement of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) into the channels of peroxidase-mimicking PCN-222-Fe (PCN = porous coordination network) nanozyme lowers its microenvironmental pH, enabling it to perform its best activity at pH 7.4 and to solve pH mismatch in cascade systems coupled with acid-denatured oxidases. Experimental investigations and molecular dynamics simulations reveal that PAA not only donates protons but also holds protons through the salt bridges between hydroniums and deprotonated carboxyl groups in neutral pH condition. Therefore, the confinement of poly(ethylene imine) increases the microenvironmental pH, leading to the enhanced hydrolase-mimicking activity of MOF nanozymes. This strategy is expected to pave a promising way for designing high-performance nanozymes and nanocatalysts for practical applications. NCOMMS-24-44031B Nanozymes have found wide applications in various fields, but the deviation between the working and optimal pHs of nanozymes limits their practical applications. Here, the authors report a strategy to modulate the microenvironmental pHs of metal–organic framework nanozymes, enabling them to exhibit optimal activity under neutral pH conditions.

Background Achieving rapid and secure hemostasis of the vascular access point is important for patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (HD). We developed a polyacrylic acid-polyvinylpyrrolidone (PAA-PVP) complex that absorbs moisture such as blood or sterilizing solution, forms a hydrogel, and adheres to the body’s surface, thereby exerting a powerful hemostatic effect. This study aims to compare the effect of PAA-PVP complex versus a conventional non-woven fabric pad on hemostasis at the needle puncture vascular access site in patients on HD. Methods This open-label crossover randomized controlled trial will include 50 participants who undergo thrice-weekly HD. Participants in whom hemostasis requires more than 10 min by compression using a conventional pad or who have a severe skin problem at the needle puncture vascular access site will be excluded from the study. Participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either the PAA-PVP complex or conventional pads. Three consecutive weekly hemostatic tests will be performed at 11, 9, 7, 5, 3, and 1 min. The study will employ an individual 3+3 design in which participants in whom hemostasis is achieved in all three sessions in a week will be challenged to a shorter time in the three sessions of the next week. Those in whom hemostasis is achieved in two of three sessions will be tested at the same time point in the three sessions of the next week. The study treatment will be terminated if hemostasis is achieved in only one or none of the sessions, and the minimum time with three consecutive successes will be recorded as the hemostasis time. The primary endpoint, the hemostasis time on the arterial side of the vascular access, will be analyzed using mixed-effect models for repeated measures and include the hemostatic technique and group, period, and individual effects as covariates. Discussion The study will provide evidence on whether the PAA-PVP complex reduces hemostasis time of the vascular access compared to conventional pad in patients on HD. Trial registration jRCTs032220597 (Japan Registry of Clinical Trials; registered on January 30, 2023, https://jrct.niph.go.jp/latest-detail/jRCTs032220597 ).

To prepare superabsorbent hydrogels, starch-graft-poly(acrylic acid) reinforced by cellulose nanofibers (CNF), was synthesized through free radical graft polymerization. The results of its biocompatibility tests exhibited that by increasing incubation time from 1 to 5 days, the numbers of living cells were increased on both reinforced and unreinforced hydrogels. However, the fraction of cells on the surfaces of the reinforced hydrogel is comparable to unreinforced samples. The swelling amounts in NaCl, CaCl2, and AlCl3 solutions were 193 ± 9, 110 ± 8, and 99 ± 7 (gwater/gabsorbent) for 5 wt% CNF-reinforced hydrogels and 109 ± 8, 62 ± 7, and 56 ± 6 (gwater/gabsorbent) for unreinforced hydrogels, respectively. Compressive strength and Young’s modulus of 5 wt% CNF-assisted hydrogels were also 63.3 and 31.6 kPa corresponding to 69% and 140% improvements compared with unreinforced one. The graft polymerization of acrylic acid monomer was controlled by monomer content and cross-linking percentage, in order to achieve the highest swelling capacity for hydrogels. Hydrogel swelling in water was 312 gwater/gabsorbent for unreinforced hydrogel and 523 gwater/gabsorbent for 5 wt% CNF-reinforced sample and water absorption kinetics results was in agreement with the pseudo-second-order model. The prepared CNF-reinforced starch-graft-poly(acrylic acid) hydrogels can be used in a wide range of medical application due to the enhanced hydrophilicity, mechanical strength, and biocompatibility.Graphic abstract

A composite polymer, hydroxyapatite/poly(acrylamide-acrylic acid), was synthesized by gamma-induced polymerization. The factors affecting the sorption process were evaluated. The removal increased with time and achieved equilibrium after 1 h for all initial concentration ranges (10–50 mg/L). The highest removal of Sr(II) was achieved using 50 mg/L at pH 6. The sorption process was found to follow a pseudo-first-order mechanism. The equilibrium data are best described by the Langmuir model, with a monolayer capacity of 53.59 mg/g. The values of thermodynamic parameters indicate that the sorption process is endothermic ( ΔH > 0), increases randomness ( ΔS > 0) and is spontaneous ( ΔG < 0). The results imply that the composite could be used as a promising low-cost material for the removal of radionuclides from radioactive waste.