Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xinpeng Hu, Xiaodan Zhao, Iong Ying Loh, Jie Yan, Zhisong Wang
Summary: This study demonstrates the sustained force generation capability of an artificial molecular motor at the single-molecule level, showcasing its autonomous chemically fueled operation and self-directed walking. The results suggest a reasonably efficient chemomechanical conversion of the motor compared to biomotors, with implications for similar force-demanding applications.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shidong Song, Antoni Llopis-Lorente, Alexander F. Mason, Loai K. E. A. Abdelmohsen, Jan C. M. van Hest
Summary: This study showcases a tunable experimental platform to gain insight into the dynamics of active particles in environments with restricted 3D topology. The results indicate that confinement leads to anomalous diffusion and decreased motility, which is predominantly governed by the theoretically predicted hydrodynamic effect within this platform.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2022)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Emma Elkjaer, Mai B. Mikkelsen, Johannes Michalak, Douglas S. Mennin, Mia S. O'Toole
Summary: This systematic review and meta-analysis examined motor alterations in individuals with depression and anxiety disorders compared to healthy individuals, as well as the effects of experimental manipulations of the motor system within these clinical groups. The findings indicate that there are significant motor differences between clinical and healthy groups, and manipulating the motor system can have effects on affective outcomes.
JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Danelle Rolle-McFarland, Yingzi Liu, Farshad Mostafaei, S. Elizabeth Zauber, Yuanzhong Zhou, Yan Li, Quiyan Fan, Wei Zheng, Linda H. Nie, Ellen M. Wells
Summary: This study investigated the association between manganese and motor function in Chinese workers. The results showed that blood manganese was negatively associated with hand tremor intensity and frequency, and positively associated with Purdue Pegboard Assembly Score. On the other hand, bone manganese was negatively associated with finger-tapping performance and mean sway, and positively associated with hand tremor frequency. These findings suggest that blood manganese is related to better postural hand tremor and fine motor control, while bone manganese is related to worse motor coordination and hand tremor but less postural sway.
Review
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Jannik Ehrich, David A. A. Sivak
Summary: We review recent progress on describing the thermodynamic properties of multi-component molecular machines using autonomous bipartite Markovian dynamics. The first and second laws can be split into separate versions applicable to each subsystem of a two-component system, allowing for the analysis of energy and information flows between subsystems. Applying this framework to molecular-scale sensors allows for the derivation of tighter bounds on their energy requirement. The study of two-component strongly coupled machines provides insights into their operation as conventional power transducers or information engines.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Serena Arnaboldi, Gerardo Salinas, Aleksandar Karajic, Patrick Garrigue, Tiziana Benincori, Giorgia Bonetti, Roberto Cirilli, Sabrina Bichon, Sebastien Gounel, Nicolas Mano, Alexander Kuhn
Summary: One key method for designing bioinspired machines is transferring concepts from nature to man-made structures by integrating biomolecules into artificial mechanical systems, allowing the conversion of molecular information into macroscopic action. Hybrid bioelectrochemical swimmers can convert chiral information into enantiospecific macroscopic trajectories, with potential biomedical applications and food quality testing.
Article
Orthopedics
Bilge Nur Yardimci-Lokmanoglu, Christa Einspieler, Gulsen Sirtbas, Dogan Porsnok, Zeynep Arikan, Ayse Livanelioglu, Akmer Mutlu
Summary: This study examined the movement and postural changes of infants with Down syndrome under different exteroceptive conditions. Infants with Down syndrome had lower Motor Optimality Scores compared to neurotypical infants, but showed significant improvements in posture when exposed to a rough-textured surface.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Muhammad Afzal, Jinsoo Park, Jessie S. Jeon, Muhammad Akmal, Tae-Sung Yoon, Hyung Jin Sung
Summary: An acoustofluidic method utilizing traveling surface acoustic waves (TSAWs) was proposed for triseparation of proteins conjugated with microparticles in a microchannel. The method successfully achieved simultaneous separation of three different kinds of proteins (thrombin, IgE, and mCardinal2) using TSAW-driven acoustic radiation force in the experimental demonstration.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Donato Colella, Andrea Guerra, Giulia Paparella, Ettore Cioffi, Antonella Di Vita, Alessandro Trebbastoni, Alfredo Berardelli, Matteo Bologna
Summary: The study found that MCI patients had reduced rhythmic movement but no other motor abnormalities, which correlated with frontal dysfunction scores. Cortical excitability measures were normal in patients, while plasticity was reduced.
CLINICAL NEUROPHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hui Hu, Fu Zhou, Baojuan Wang, Xin Chang, Tianyue Dai, Ruifen Tian, Yifei Wan, Xiayan Wang, Guangfeng Wang
Summary: This study demonstrates a newly updated autonomously operated and highly integrated 3D DNA walker in a tumor microenvironment, which successfully amplified signals and performed miRNA imaging bioanalytical tasks in living cells.
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Kang Shen, Xinyou Ke, Fan Yang, Weibo Wang, Cheng Zhang, Chris Yuan
Summary: This study explores the energy consumption, efficiency improvement, and greenhouse gas emissions of a mid-size autonomous EV driven by in-wheel motors. The results show that an IWM-driven AEV can save energy during slope driving and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON TRANSPORTATION ELECTRIFICATION
(2023)
Review
Biophysics
Elisa Romero Avila, Sybele E. Williams, Catherine Disselhorst-Klug
Summary: Muscular coordination is crucial for movement and interaction with the environment. Electromyography (EMG) has been used for over 50 years to study the control of individual muscles or muscle groups by the central nervous system, providing insights into both fine and gross motor functions. Non-invasive EMG methods, such as surface EMG (sEMG) and High-Density EMG (HDsEMG), have found applications in various fields, including biomechanics, sports and exercise, ergonomics, rehabilitation, diagnostics, and device control. However, despite the exponential growth in the number of publications on non-invasive EMG methods, the relevance of EMG in movement sciences has not developed as expected, possibly due to the neglect of muscle mechanics in movement science research.
JOURNAL OF BIOMECHANICS
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Eun Jung Hwang, Jeffrey E. Dahlen, Madan Mukundan, Takaki Komiyama
Summary: It has been found that the dependence on the motor cortex during long-term learning is not fixed, but can dynamically change. Movements that achieve higher consistency are less dependent on the motor cortex, and superior motor performance can affect neural circuit reorganization.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence
Xuelong Sun, Qinbing Fu, Jigen Peng, Shigang Yue
Summary: Autonomous navigation, consisting of goal approaching and collision avoidance, is a fundamental and crucial capacity of robots and animals. Researchers and engineers have been fascinated by insect-inspired solutions for these two key problems in navigation. However, previous studies have only focused on one of the problems at a time. In this study, an insect-inspired algorithm is proposed to integrate both goal approaching and collision avoidance mechanisms, resulting in robust and efficient navigation performance. This study represents an important step towards a coordinated control system that combines different functionalities of insect-like navigation.
Article
Polymer Science
Ming-Lin Yeh, Geng-Ming Chang, Yi-Je Juang
Summary: This study proposed and demonstrated the conformal coating of microparticles with a positively charged polyelectrolyte using an acoustofluidic microchip. The results showed that the microfluidic approach achieved rapid and uniform coating of microparticles. The zeta potentials of the coated microparticles exhibited charge reversal, with little variation influenced by the microchannel width or PAH concentration.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Qi Zhang, Stefano Crespi, Ryojun Toyoda, Romain Costil, Wesley R. Browne, Da-Hui Qu, He Tian, Ben L. Feringa
Summary: By utilizing hydrogen bonds, control over the chirality of disulfide bonds is achieved to enable intramolecular and supramolecular chirality transfers, showcasing the accessibility of dynamic stereochemical space through noncovalent chirality transmission encoded in homochiral amino acid building blocks.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Linda E. Eijsink, Andy S. Sardjan, Esther G. Sinnema, Hugo den Besten, Keimpe J. van den Berg, Jitte Flapper, Rogier van Gemert, Ben L. Feringa, Wesley R. Browne
Summary: The curing process of bis-methacrylate-styrene resins was monitored using EPR and Raman spectroscopy. The results show the appearance and persistence of methacrylate and polystyrene radical species during the polymerization. Temperature and conversion rate also impact the radical signals.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chaoyi Yao, Hongyu Lin, Brian Daly, Yikai Xu, Warispreet Singh, H. Q. Nimal Gunaratne, Wesley R. Browne, Steven E. J. Bell, Peter Nockemann, Meilan Huang, Paul Kavanagh, A. Prasanna de Silva
Summary: This article introduces a new method to control electron/proton transfers in water by capturing or releasing molecules. By using shape-switchable hosts and inclusive binding of metal complexes, reaction rates can be controlled and it has important applications in photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, and luminescent sensing.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Simon Krause, Jack D. Evans, Volodymyr Bon, Stefano Crespi, Wojciech Danowski, Wesley R. Browne, Sebastian Ehrling, Francesco Walenszus, Dirk Wallacher, Nico Grimm, Daniel M. Tobbens, Manfred S. Weiss, Stefan Kaskel, Ben L. Feringa
Summary: The study explores the application of photoswitches as light-responsive triggers for phase transitions of porous materials. By incorporating an azobenzene photoswitch in the backbone of a metal-organic framework, the researchers achieve light-induced structural contraction and gas adsorption control in the porous network. The complex mechanism of light-gated breathing is established, revealing a novel light-induced deformation mechanism of constrained azobenzene photoswitches.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Johann B. B. Kasper, Pattama Saisaha, Maurits de Roo, Mitchell J. J. Groen, Laia Vicens, Margarida Borrell, Johannes W. W. de Boer, Ronald Hage, Miquel Costas, Wesley R. R. Browne
Summary: This study elucidates the mechanism and reactive species involved in the oxidation of alkenes and alcohols with H2O2 under the presence of a specific catalyst. The findings suggest that a certain reactive species can engage in both alkene and alcohol oxidation reactions, exhibiting selectivity.
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Jorn D. Steen, Daniel R. Duijnstee, Wesley R. Browne
Summary: Molecular switching has become a key functionality in addressable materials and surfaces. However, the wide variation in interfaces studied, from single-molecule devices to two-dimensional self-assembled monolayers and thin films, poses challenges in their use and characterization. The low number density of molecules on modified interfaces and the complexity of characterizing molecular function further complicate the analysis. This review discusses the techniques and approaches used for characterizing molecular switches applied to interfaces and emphasizes the importance of understanding the limitations and quirks of specific techniques through the use of model compounds.
SURFACE SCIENCE REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Palas Roy, Wesley R. Browne, Ben L. Feringa, Stephen R. Meech
Summary: Controlling molecular translation at the nanoscale is a key objective for development of synthetic molecular machines. Recently developed third generation photochemically driven molecular motors (3GMs) offer the possibility of converting light energy into translational motion. Detailed understanding of their excited state dynamics facilitates the development of 3GMs.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Johann B. Kasper, Laia Vicens, C. Maurits de Roo, Ronald Hage, Miquel Costas, Wesley R. Browne
Summary: Mononuclear MnII oxidation catalysts with aminopyridine-based ligands achieve high TON enantioselective epoxidation of alkenes with H2O2. The electronic effect of peripheral ligand substituents plays a role in the enantioselectivity and maximum TON. The use of low temperatures and slow addition of H2O2 reduces competing H2O2 disproportionation and improves TONs for alkene oxidation.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Palas Roy, Andy S. Sardjan, Wojciech Danowski, Wesley R. Browne, Ben L. Feringa, Stephen R. Meech
Summary: In this study, a novel push-pull overcrowded alkene motor was synthesized and characterized by steady-state and ultrafast time-resolved electronic spectroscopy. It was found that tuning the charge transfer character in the excited state has a significant effect on the photoisomerization yield, providing new routes for precise control of motor efficiency.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
W. J. Niels Klement, Jorn D. Steen, Wesley R. Browne
Summary: Electrochemistry and electrochemical reactions play a crucial role in the transition to a sustainable chemical industry. To understand these reactions, time-, potential-, and spatially resolved analysis is necessary. This study demonstrates the use of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and resonance Raman spectroscopy for spatially and time-resolved analysis of solution composition at and near the electrode surface. The results show the potential of this approach in elucidating electro(catalytic) reactions at electrode interfaces. Rating: 7/10
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Harmke S. Siebe, Andy S. Sardjan, Sarina C. Massmann, Jitte Flapper, Keimpe J. van den Berg, Niek N. H. M. Eisink, Arno P. M. Kentgens, Ben L. Feringa, Akshay Kumar, Wesley R. Browne
Summary: Renewable polysaccharide feedstocks are widely used in bio-based food packaging, coatings, and hydrogels. However, their physical properties often require chemical modification, such as oxidation using periodate, to achieve desired characteristics. In this study, gum arabic was found to undergo oxidation primarily in the rhamnose and arabinose subunits, while galacturonic acids were unaffected. The oxidation process resulted in the formation of substituted dioxanes instead of aldehydes, which has implications for crosslinking strategies in the development of renewable polysaccharide-based materials.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Cosima Staehler, Lars Grunenberg, Maxwell W. Terban, Wesley R. Browne, Daniel Doellerer, Michael Kathan, Martin Etter, Bettina Lotsch, Ben L. Feringa, Simon Krause
Summary: The incorporation of molecular machines into porous framework structures has the potential to enhance various functions such as nano actuation and molecular transport. In this study, a light-driven molecular motor was synthesized and integrated into polymers and covalent organic frameworks (COF). The structural and dynamic properties of the resulting solids were analyzed using spectroscopic, diffraction, and theoretical methods. A crystalline 2D COF with stacked hexagonal layers containing 20 mol% molecular motors was successfully synthesized. The COF exhibited high pore volume and surface area. The supramolecular assembly and motor dynamics of the COF layers were also investigated. This research provides important insights for the analysis, design, and synthesis of motorized porous framework materials.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Johan Bootsma, Wesley R. Browne, Jitte Flapper, Bas de Bruin
Summary: In this study, photoactive complexes were found to enable photochemical control over alkyd paint curing without the need for antiskinning agents. This approach provides greater flexibility in the curing process and outperforms commonly used cobalt- and manganese-based catalysts.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Nadja A. Simeth, Paula de Mendoza, Victor R. A. Dubach, Marc C. A. Stuart, Julien W. Smith, Tibor Kudernac, Wesley R. Browne, Ben L. Feringa
Summary: Molecular recognition-driven self-assembly using single-stranded DNA as a template is a promising method to obtain complex structures from simple building blocks. In this study, the beneficial properties of a photoresponsive biohybrid hydrogel were controlled with light, adding an extra level of function to the system. The structural response of the hydrogel at both the microscopic and macroscopic scale was studied, revealing remarkable shape-memory properties and shape manipulation capabilities.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Ruben Feringa, Harmke S. Siebe, W. J. Niels Klement, Jorn D. Steen, Wesley R. Browne
Summary: The study demonstrates that immobilizing photochromic molecular switches in a PMMA polymer matrix allows for tuning of color and transparency. By utilizing the primary inner filter effect and the layered construction of the films, only a single excitation wavelength is required for photochemical switching.
MATERIALS ADVANCES
(2022)