Search Results (119)

Background and Clinical Significance: Primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma (C-ALCL) is a CD30-positive T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder that can clinically resemble various non-melanoma skin cancers, making diagnosis challenging. Although histopathology remains the diagnostic gold standard, non-invasive imaging modalities such as dermoscopy and reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) are increasingly used as complementary tools to support the differential diagnosis. To date, no data on RCM features of C-ALCL have been described. Case Presentation: We report the case of an 80-year-old man presenting with a rapidly enlarging nodule on the lateral aspect of his right eyelid, providing a detailed account of dermoscopic and RCM findings integrated with clinicopathological correlation. Dermoscopy revealed a red-orange homogeneous background with white streaks, and polymorphic vascular structures, while subsequent RCM (Vivascope 3000 probe) demonstrated marked architectural disarray of the epidermis and dermoepidemal junction, with prominent epidermal involvement characterized by aggregates of highly reflective cells. In the absence of alternative diagnostic patterns, these features raised suspicion for a cutaneous lymphoproliferative disorder, which was later confirmed by histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses. Conclusions: Our findings support the value of RCM as a practical tool in guiding differential diagnosis and biopsy, particularly for rapidly growing lesions located in anatomically sensitive areas. Full article

This study systematically investigated the pretreatment effects of diol-based DESs (deep eutectic solvents) on Pinus massoniana Lamb. (P. massoniana). A diol-based DES system (Choline chloride (ChCl): AlCl₃: BDO) was developed to degrade and disassemble P. massoniana, thereby facilitating saccharification and achieving the utilization of high-value lignin. The DES-based pretreatment achieved a glucan recovery yield of 92.95% and a xylan yield of 71.73% at 130 °C. Meanwhile, the lignin removal yields reached 61.96% at 130 °C, and the lignin recovered from DES fractionation was also preserved well; moreover, the β-O-4′ linkage content was retained at approximately 51.63%. DES was also demonstrated to be promising for promoting cellulose saccharification, lignin fractionation and enzymatic hydrolysis. The preservation mechanism was speculated to involve the introduction of diol -OH groups at the C_α-position of the lignin β-O-4′ structure via etherification. In addition, FT-IR indicated that the main structure of cellulose in P. massoniana remained unchanged after pretreatment. The grafting of diol onto the C_α-position of the β-O-4′ linkages was confirmed by 2D-HSQC, which could inhibit lignin further condensation; ³¹P NMR revealed that the total phenolic -OH content increased significantly and was enhanced by pretreatment, which indicated that methoxy and ether bond groups were reduced. Full article

To overcome the high cost, marine ecological risks of traditional coral sand reinforcement, and the insufficient mechanical performance of standalone Enzyme-Induced Carbonate Precipitation (EICP), this study proposes a novel soil improvement method integrating EICP with aluminum chloride hexahydrate (AlCl₃·6H₂O). The objectives are to identify optimal EICP curing parameters, evaluate AlCl₃·6H₂O’s enhancement effect, and reveal the synergistic micro-mechanism. Through aqueous solution, unconfined compressive strength, permeability, X-ray diffraction (XRD), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) tests, this study systematically investigated the reaction conditions, mechanical properties, anti-seepage performance, mineral composition, and pore structure. The results demonstrate that EICP achieves the best curing effect under specific conditions: temperature of 30 °C, pH of 8, and cementing solution concentration of 1 mol/L. Under these optimal conditions, the unconfined compressive strength of EICP-solidified coral sand columns reaches 761.6 kPa, and the permeability coefficient is reduced by one order of magnitude compared to unsolidified samples. Notably, AlCl₃·6H₂O incorporation yields a significant synergistic effect, boosting the UCS to 2389.1 kPa (3.14 times standalone EICP) and further reducing permeability by 26%. Micro-mechanism analysis reveals that AlCl₃·6H₂O acts both by generating cementitious aggregates that provide nucleation sites for uniform calcite deposition and by accelerating the transformation of metastable aragonite and vaterite to stable calcite, thereby enhancing cementation stability. This study delivers a cost-effective, eco-friendly solution for coral sand reinforcement, providing practical technical support for marine engineering in environments like the South China Sea. By addressing the core limitations of conventional bio-cementation, it opens new avenues for advancing soil improvement science and applications. Full article

Alumina nanoparticles have broad applications in catalysis, electronics, and the construction sector, and are widely incorporated as additives in coating formulations to enhance mechanical durability and functional performance. This work focuses on the green synthesis of aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) nanoparticles using lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) extract. Aluminum nitrate [Al(NO₃)₃] and aluminum chloride (AlCl₃) were used with extract. The reaction was carried out at 70 °C for 1 h at 250 rpm and then thermal treatments at 700 °C and 900 °C were applied. The results showed that nanoparticles synthesized from the AlCl₃ and calcined at 700 °C exhibited a smaller particle size (36 ± 14 nm) as compared with those synthesized from the [Al(NO₃)₃] and calcined at 700 °C (49 ± 25 nm). Despite both precursors yielding nanoparticles, the peaks related to the γ-Al₂O₃ crystal phase were observed in the AlCl₃ at 700 °C calcination. Conversely, the nanoparticles synthesized from the [Al(NO₃)₃] required a high temperature treatment at 900 °C to display this stable crystal phase. This study reports an easy and cost-effective green chemistry route to obtain γ-Al₂O₃ nanoparticles, highlighting the importance of the selection of precursors as a critical step to achieve a sustainable and low-energy process, suggesting the potential applications in paints with multifunctional properties. Full article

We have fabricated amorphous tin oxide (a-SnO_x) thin-film transistors (TFTs) with Al₂O₃ gate insulator from deep eutectic solvents (DESs). DESs were formed using the chloride derivates of each precursor (SnCl₂, or AlCl₃) mixed with urea. The DESs were then used as precursors for the semiconductor and dielectric. Our target was to form extremely thin semiconductor film, and a sufficient high capacitance insulator. We characterized the physical and chemical properties of the DES-derived thin films by X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). We could evaluate that the highest content of metal–oxygen bonds was from the DES condition SnCl₂–urea = 1:3. At a low 300 °C budget temperature, we could fabricate a 3.2 nm thick a-SnO_x layer and 30 nm thick Al₂O₃, from which the TFT demonstrated a mobility of 80 ± 17 cm²/Vs, threshold voltage of −0.29 ± 0.06 V, and subthreshold swing of 88 ± 11 mV/dec. The proposed process is adequate with the back-end of the line (BEOL) process, but it is also eco-friendly because of the use of DESs. Full article

The electronic effects of Lewis acids (LAs) in reducing the activation energies of Alder-ene (AE) reactions have been studied within the Molecular Electron Density Theory (MEDT). To this end, the AE reactions of 2-methylbutadiene (2MBD) with formaldehyde (CHO) in the presence of three LAs with increasing acidic character, BH₃, BF₃, and AlCl₃, have been studied. Topological analysis of the electron density and the evaluation of the DFT-based reactivity indices indicate that LAs do not modify the electronic structure of the carbonyl group but markedly increase the electrophilic character of CHO. LAs not only strongly accelerate the AE reactions, but also modify the molecular mechanisms, changing them from a non-concerted two-stage one-step mechanism to a two-step one. Topological analyses of the electron density at the transition state structures (TSs) indicate that while the formation of the new C-C single bond has begun, the departure of the hydrogen has not yet started. A Relative Interacting Atomic Energy (RIAE) analysis of the activation energies allows the establishment of the electronic effects of LAs on the AE reactions. LAs increase the global electron density transfer (GEDT) occurring in polar AE reactions; this phenomenon markedly stabilizes the CHO framework at the TSs, decreasing the RIAE relative energies. Full article

Al-SiC composite coatings were successfully fabricated through the process of electrodeposition utilizing an AlCl₃-LiAlH₄-benzene-THF system. This method allows for the incorporation of silicon carbide (SiC) particles into the aluminum matrix, enhancing the coating’s properties. The study examined various factors that influence the coating characteristics, including current density, temperature, and the quantity of SiC particles added to the formula. The findings revealed that these parameters significantly affect the resulting surface morphology, corrosion resistance, and hardness of the Al-SiC composite coatings. Specifically, the analysis demonstrated that the Al-SiC composite coating produced optimal surface morphology, which is crucial for its performance and durability in various applications. when the current density is 50 mA/cm², the bath temperature is at 30 °C, and the addition amount of SiC particles is optimized to 40 g/L. Combined with electrochemical experimental data, the corrosion resistance of the composite coating prepared under this condition was significantly improved. The results of scanning electron microscopy showed that the surface of the composite coating prepared under this process parameter was uniform and dense, without obvious holes and cracks, and the SiC particles were uniformly distributed in the coating with high density. Through the hardness test of composite coatings with different SiC particle contents, it was found that in the research interval, when the SiC particle content was less than 3 wt%, the hardness of the coating changed relatively slowly. As the amount of SiC particles surpassed 4 wt%, there was a notable increase in hardness. At a SiC concentration of 5%, the coating exhibited a hardness level of 152.1 HV. Full article

A transition metal-free synthesis of 1,2,5-trisubstituted 1H-indoles by a deprotonation–S_NAr cyclization sequence from 1-aryl-2-(2-fluoro-5-nitrophenyl)ethan-1-one (deoxy-benzoin) Schiff bases is reported. The starting deoxybenzoins were prepared by Friedel-Crafts acylation of activated aromatic compounds by 2-(2-fluoro-5-nitrophenyl)acetyl chloride with AlCl₃ or the corresponding acid with (CH₃SO₂)₂O. The Schiff bases were generated by slow distillation of toluene (18–24 h) from a heated solution of each deoxybenzoin (1 equiv) with a benzyl- or phenethylamine, a high-boiling aliphatic amine, or an aniline derivative (5 equiv). Subsequent addition of N,N-dimethylformamide, 2 equiv of anhydrous K₂CO₃, and heating at 90–95 °C for 18–24 h completed the synthesis. Benzyl-, phenethyl-, and high-boiling amines gave excellent yields while the heating requirements for the initial condensation made volatile aliphatic amines difficult to use and gave low yields. Aniline reactivities correlated with substituent-derived base strength, although modified conditions allowed some yields to be improved. Several anticipated competing processes had minimal impact on the outcome of the cyclizations. Full article

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by cholinergic deficits and neuronal damage, making acetylcholinesterase (AChE) a crucial therapeutic target. Cyanidin derivatives, sourced from the diet as anthocyanins, exhibit neuroprotective properties, yet comparative investigations are scarce. This research explored the neuroprotective impacts of five cyanidin derivatives, namely cyanidin-3-O-(trans-p-coumaroyl)-diglycoside (C3GG), cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside (C3R), cyanidin-3-O-arabinoside (C3A), cyanidin-3-O-sophoroside (C3S), and cyanidin-3-O-xyloside (C3X), utilizing an aluminum-chloride (AlCl₃)-induced zebrafish model of AD. The administration of these compounds ameliorated zebrafish locomotor impairments, suppressed AChE activity, decreased brain oxidative stress levels, upregulated AD-related gene expression, and mitigated brain tissue pathological changes. Molecular docking and dynamics simulations indicated that cyanidin derivatives exhibit robust binding affinity and stable binding to AChE. Particularly, C3R demonstrated the most potent multi-faceted neuroprotective effects among the tested derivatives, suggesting its potential as a promising lead compound for AD therapy. Full article

Biochar is a promising material for phosphorus (P) removal from water, but its surface chemistry can limit adsorption efficiency. In this study, biochars produced at 440 °C and 880 °C from the same feedstock were functionalized post-pyrolysis using aqueous solutions of AlCl₃, CaCl₂, and FeCl₃ at two concentrations (0.5 M and 2.0 M). The aim of this work was to assess how both pyrolysis temperature and post-pyrolysis activation with different metals affect the surface charge of biochar and its capacity to retain P from aqueous solution. The treated materials were characterized for pH, point of zero charge (pH_pzc), and phosphorus retention from solution. Results showed that Al- and Fe-activation significantly reduced the biochar pH and shifted the pH_pzc to more acidic values, enhancing electrostatic attraction toward phosphate species. Phosphorus adsorption was most effective for biochar obtained at 440 °C and treated with AlCl₃ and FeCl₃, achieving up to 10.2 mg P g⁻¹. These findings highlight the importance of surface charge modulation in tuning biochar performance for phosphate removal from aqueous solution. Based on the obtained results, electrostatic attraction was the main mechanism by which activated biochar adsorbed P from aqueous solution. Full article

Background/Objectives: ALK+ Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL) is an aggressive T-cell lymphoma that is characterized by expression of the Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK), which is induced by the t(2;5) chromosomal rearrangement, leading to the expression of the NPM-ALK fusion oncogene. Most previous preclinical models of ALK+ ALCL were based on overexpression of the NPM-ALK cDNA from heterologous promoters. Due to the enforced expression, this approach is prone to artifacts arising from synthetic overexpression, promoter competition and insertional variation. Methods: To improve the existing ALCL models and more closely recapitulate the oncogenic events in ALK+ ALCL, we employed CRISPR/Cas-based chromosomal engineering to selectively introduce translocations between the Npm1 and Alk gene loci in murine cells. Results: By inducing precise DNA cleavage at the syntenic loci on chromosome 11 and 17 in a murine IL-3-dependent Ba/F3 reporter cell line, we generated de novo Npm-Alk translocations in vivo, leading to IL-3-independent cell growth. To verify efficient recombination, we analyzed the expression of the NPM-ALK fusion protein in the recombined cells and could also show the t(11;17) in the IL-3 independent Ba/F3 cells. Subsequent functional testing of these cells using an Alk-inhibitor showed exquisite responsiveness towards Crizotinib, demonstrating strong dependence on the newly generated ALK fusion oncoprotein. Furthermore, a comparison of the gene expression pattern between Ba/F3 cells overexpressing the Npm-Alk cDNA with Ba/F3 cells transformed by CRISPR-mediated Npm-Alk translocation indicated that, while broadly overlapping, a set of pathways including the unfolded protein response pathway was increased in the Npm-Alk overexpression model, suggesting increased reactive changes induced by exogenous overexpression of Npm-Alk. Furthermore, we observed clustered expression changes in genes located in chromosomal regions close to the breakpoint in the new CRISPR-based model, indicating positional effects on gene expression mediated by the translocation event, which are not part of the older models. Conclusions: Thus, CRISPR-mediated recombination provides a novel and more faithful approach to model oncogenic translocations, which may lead to an improved understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of ALCL and enable more accurate therapeutic models of malignancies driven by oncogenic fusion proteins. Full article

Bio-based ionic conductive hydrogels have attracted significant attention for use in wearable electronic sensors due to their inherent flexibility, ionic conductivity, and biocompatibility. However, achieving a balance between high ionic conductivity and mechanical robustness remains a significant challenge. In this study, we present a simple yet effective strategy for fabricating a polyelectrolyte–chitin double-network hydrogel (CAA) via the copolymerization of acrylamide (AM) and acrylic acid (AA) with chitin in an AlCl₃-ZnCl₂-H₂O ternary molten salt system. The synergistic interactions of dynamic metal ion coordination bonds and hydrogen bonding impart the CAA hydrogel with outstanding mechanical properties, including a fracture strain of 1765.5% and a toughness of 494.4 kJ/m³, alongside a high ionic conductivity of 1.557 S/m. Moreover, the hydrogel exhibits excellent thermal stability across a wide temperature range (−50 °C to 25 °C). When employed as a wearable sensor, the hydrogel demonstrates a rapid response time (<0.2 s), remarkable durability over 95 cycles with less than 5% resistance drift, and high sensitivity in detecting various human joint motions (e.g., finger, knee, and elbow bending). It presents a scalable strategy for biomass-derived flexible electronics that harmonizes mechanical robustness with electromechanical performance. Full article

Black, needle-like single crystals of [Pd@Bi₁₀][AlCl₄]₄ were synthesized in a one-pot reaction between PdCl₂, Bi, and BiCl₃ at 180 °C in the Lewis acidic ionic liquid (LAIL) medium [BMIm]Cl∙4.2AlCl₄ (BMIm = 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction revealed that the compound crystallizes in the triclinic space group P$\overline{1}$ with the unit cell parameters a = 11.0233(5) Å, b = 26.1892(14) Å, c = 26.2687(14) Å, α = 90.842(2)°, β = 92.1940(10)°, γ = 91.164(2)°, closely matching its platinum-containing analog. The structure features pentagonal antiprismatic [Pd@Bi₁₀]⁴⁺ cluster cations charge-balanced by tetrahedral [AlCl₄]⁻ anions. Bonding and charge analysis reveal unoptimized Pd–Bi and strong Bi–Bi covalent interactions consistent with electronegativity trends and the previously reported host–guest model. Electronic structure calculations performed with the TB-LMTO-ASA program show that [Pd@Bi₁₀][AlCl₄]₄ exhibits semiconducting behavior, suggesting a bandgap opening of 0.71 eV. Full article

The lactic acid (LA) production from corn stover using Lewis acid catalysts was optimized. Initially, an equimolar mixture of Al(III)/Sn(II) was used as a catalytic system at 190 °C with 5 wt% biomass. Increasing the catalyst concentration led to higher LA production, showing the optimal results at 16 mM. A low catalyst concentration mainly produced furfural and HMF, dehydration products from the corn stover sugars. Higher catalyst concentration increased LA yield but also produced the degradation of the glucose dehydration products into levulinic and formic acids, reducing LA selectivity. Al(III) was essential for LA formation, while Sn(II) was less effective due to its lower solubility, shown by the presence of Sn(II) in the solid residue after treatments. A total of 16 mM Al(III) yielded the highest LA levels at 190 °C, 7.4 g/L, and 20.7% yield. Increasing the temperature to 210 °C accelerated the LA production while also achieving the lowest energy consumption, which was 0.47 kWh/g LA at the highest LA production point. However, longer treatments at this temperature caused LA degradation. AlCl₃ has been identified as an ideal catalyst for biomass conversion to LA, being inexpensive and low in toxicity. Full article

The catalytic performance of α-diiminonickel complexes is highly sensitive to structural modifications in their ligand frameworks. In this study, a series of unsymmetrical 2,3-bis(arylimino)butane-nickel complexes featuring ortho-2,6-dibenzhydryl groups as sterically demanding motifs and para-methyl groups as electron-donating enhancers were proposed and synthesized. These nickel complexes were thoroughly characterized using FTIR, elemental analysis, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction (for Ni4 and Ni5), revealing deviations from ideal tetrahedral geometry. Upon activation with Et₂AlCl, these complexes demonstrated exceptional ethylene polymerization activity, achieving a remarkable value of 13.67 × 10⁶ g PE mol⁻¹ (Ni) h⁻¹ at 20 °C. Notably, even at 80 °C, the nickel complexes maintained a high activity of 1.97 × 10⁶ g PE mol⁻¹ (Ni) h⁻¹, showcasing superiority compared to previously reported unsymmetrical 2,3-bis(arylimino)butane-nickel complexes. The resulting polyethylenes exhibited ultra-high molecular weights (M_w: 3.33–19.47 × 10⁵ g mol⁻¹) and tunable branching densities (84–217/1000C), which were effectively controlled by polymerization temperature. Moreover, the mechanical properties of the polyethylenes, including tensile strength (σ_b = 0.74–16.83 MPa), elongation at break (ε_b = 271–475%), and elastic recovery (SR = 42–74%), were finely tailored by optimizing molecular weight, crystallinity, and branching degree. The prepared polyethylenes displayed outstanding elastic recovery, a hallmark of high-performance thermoplastic elastomers, making them promising candidates for advanced material applications. Full article