New material technology boasts high-performance carbon dioxide absorption

Tohoku University

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Synthesis of PILs based on P[DADMA][Cl]. 

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Credit: Kouki Oka et al.

A joint research team from Nitto Boseki Co., Ltd. (Nittobo) and Tohoku University has revealed that Poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs) can achieve high carbon dioxide (CO₂) adsorption when their counter anions are exchanged. This discovery provides a critical new design guideline for the development of high-performance CO2 recovery devices and gas separation membranes.

The research was led by Associate Professor Kouki Oka of the Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, with the results published online in the chemical engineering journal Reaction Chemistry & Engineering on March 9, 2026.

PILs are known for their strong ability to attract CO₂ and for their stability as solid materials. However, conventional anion exchange methods struggle to remove inorganic salts, which are by-products of the manufacturing process. These impurities make it difficult to accurately evaluate the materials' true performance.

The joint research team--which also includes Kazuhiko Igarashi, Senior Technical Supervising SV at Nittobo--successfully removed inorganic salts by precisely purifying the PILs. They discovered that increasing the size of the counter anion significantly improves the CO2 adsorption capacity. Notably, the material using the largest anion achieved an adsorption capacity seven times greater than the raw material.

Developing efficient ways to capture and separate CO₂ from the atmosphere and industrial emissions is an urgent challenge in addressing global warming. PILs are considered promising materials for this purpose because they combine the high CO₂ affinity of ionic liquids with the stability and ease of processing of polymers. In particular, PILs with a quaternary ammonium structure are known to perform well. However, until now, the effects of residual metal ions from inorganic salts formed during synthesis have not been fully studied.

In this work, the researchers focused on poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (P[DADMA][Cl]), a material with a high density of positive charges. They replaced the chloride (Cl⁻) ion with three anions of different sizes--acetate (AcO⁻), thiocyanate (SCN⁻), and trifluoromethanesulfonate (TFMS⁻)--to examine how anion size affects CO₂ adsorption.

A key achievement was completely removing inorganic salt impurities. The researchers used Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) to confirm the total disappearance of chlorine from the raw material and any reaction by-products, ensuring the production of high-purity PILs.

The results clearly showed that CO₂ adsorption increases as the size of the anion increases. The material with the largest anion (TFMS⁻) achieved the highest performance, with an adsorption capacity seven times greater than the starting material.

This research has established a new performance-enhancing approach of "precisely designing the anion size" for PILs. The findings are expected to contribute significantly to the future enhancement of CO2 capture systems and gas separation membranes.

 

CO₂ and N₂ adsorption isotherms of P[DADMA][Cl] (black), P[DADMA][AcO] (green), P[DADMA][TFMS] (red), measured at 298 K

 

Estimated based on DFT calculations (B3LYP/6-31+G (d,p)). b: CO₂ adsorption amount at 100 kPa. c:N₂ adsorption amount at 100 kPa. CO₂ and N₂ adsorption amount of PILs.

Credit

Kouki Oka et al.

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Journal

Reaction Chemistry & Engineering

DOI

10.1039/D5RE00535C 

Article Title

Reaction Chemistry & Engineering

 

Invisible smart bug fights gum disease

KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.

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How the engineered HEpM remodel the periodontal microenvironment.

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Credit: Lili Chen

Periodontitis—a chronic inflammatory disease that damages the gums and bones supporting teeth—affects nearly half of adults worldwide. Current treatments often fail because they cannot simultaneously eliminate stubborn bacterial biofilms and calm the runaway inflammation that follows.

Now, researchers have engineered a living bacterium that does both, in the right order.

In a study published in Dental Research, a team of researchers from China and Australi started with Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN), a harmless probiotic, and gave it three clever upgrades. First, they loaded it with nanoparticles containing metronidazole, an antibiotic that only becomes active in the oxygen‑free environment of a diseased gum pocket. Second, they equipped the bacterium with a hemoglobin from a bacterium that loves oxygen (Vitreoscilla). This "invisible cloak" protects the probiotic from its own antibiotic. Finally, they added a heat-sensitive genetic switch that turns on an antioxidant enzyme (superoxide dismutase) only when triggered by a mild warm stimulus.

"We wanted a therapy that respects the natural course of the disease—first clean up the harmful microbes, then resolve the inflammation," says senior and co-corresponding author Lili Chen. "Our design allows us to remotely activate the anti‑inflammatory phase precisely when the first job is done."

In a rat model of periodontitis, the two‑stage treatment dramatically reduced the key pathogens P. gingivalis and F. nucleatum and restored a healthy-like oral microbiome. After heat activation, the engineered bacteria lowered oxidative stress and promoted repair of the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone. Single-cell sequencing revealed that fibroblasts became the central hub of tissue‑regenerating signals.

"What if something goes wrong? To that end, we built in a fail‑safe: the same hemoglobin that acts as an 'invisible cloak' also serves as a natural sonosensitizer," shares Chen. "Additionally, we introduced a short, low‑energy ultrasound pulse (1 W/cm², 5 min), which safely lyses the engineered bacteria with no trace left behind."

"This is the first time a living bacterium has been programmed to execute a temporal, two‑step therapeutic program inside the body," says co-corresponding author Yuzhou Wu. "The platform could be adapted for other inflammatory diseases where microbial imbalance and oxidative stress play a role."

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Contact the author: Lili Chen, Department of Stomatology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Development and Regeneration, School of Stomatology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, P. R. China. E-mail: chenlili1030@hust.edu.cn.

The publisher KeAi was established by Elsevier and China Science Publishing & Media Ltd to unfold quality research globally. In 2013, our focus shifted to open access publishing. We now proudly publish more than 200 world-class, open access, English language journals, spanning all scientific disciplines. Many of these are titles we publish in partnership with prestigious societies and academic institutions, such as the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC).

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DOI

10.1016/j.dtrs.2025.100002 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Animals

Article Title

An "anaerobic invisible" genetically engineered bacterium for periodontitis treatment through temporal modulation on microenvironment

Don't rush into braces with disc displacement: experts reveal the science of sequential therapy

KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.

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This illustration was drafted by Prof. Yang himself and finished by his students. It depicts the sequential strategy for combined joint–mandible–occlusion diagnosis and treatment. Before and after the disc reduction surgery, preoperative orthodontics, postoperative jaw position adjustment and stabilization, and postoperative comprehensive orthodontic treatment are performed.

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Credit: Guo Bai and Qianyang Xie

A new study published in Dental Research reveals that while proper orthodontics can help a healthy jaw joint, incorrect treatment can worsen disc displacement and even cause bone loss. The authors, from Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, created a "Joint-Mandible-Occlusion" sequential model: first surgically reposition the disc, then address teeth alignment. This approach aims to fix the joint first to ensure stable, long-term results for both bite and facial appearance.

"The aim is to promote balanced bilateral joint growth in growing patients and maintain joint stability in adults," says co-corresponding author Chu Yang. "This idea underpins a pioneering approach to treating temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc displacement, a common yet often misunderstood condition."

The authors noted that teenagers with receding chins or crooked teeth are usually told their issues were purely dental. "But the real cause is often the jaw joint itself: when the articular disc— a cartilage shock absorber—slips, it can erode the jawbone's condyle over time, leading to facial asymmetry, receding chins and misaligned bites," adds Yang. "This changes treatment entirely."

"Notably, traditional orthodontics alone often relapses, as the joint problem remains unaddressed. For adolescents, this unlocks balanced jaw growth; for adults, it stops bone erosion and restores joint stability," says Yang. "Many patients feel no pain, unknowingly suffering silent bone loss. Screening joint health before orthodontics is key—this root-cause approach delivers stable, long-term results, improving bite, facial harmony and jaw health."

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Contact the author: Please contact Guo Bai and Qianyang Xie from Department of Oral Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University via surgeonb@163.com and Xieqianyang86@126.com.

The publisher KeAi was established by Elsevier and China Science Publishing & Media Ltd to unfold quality research globally. In 2013, our focus shifted to open access publishing. We now proudly publish more than 200 world-class, open access, English language journals, spanning all scientific disciplines. Many of these are titles we publish in partnership with prestigious societies and academic institutions, such as the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC).

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DOI

10.1016/j.dtrs.2025.100001 

Method of Research

Literature review

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Anterior disc displacement in the temporomandibular joint and orthodontic treatment

 

Metformin’s real power may be in the gut

Type 2 diabetes drug slows mitochondrial energy production in gut cells, forcing gut to metabolize excess sugar

Northwestern University

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Corresponding author Navdeep Chandel in his lab in Chicago.

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Credit: Kristin Samuelson, Northwestern University

• Supplement berberine — ‘nature’s Ozempic’ — appears to engage the same pathway as metformin in the gut 
• Pre-clinical study’s findings help explain several gut-related clinical effects of people who take metformin
• An effective strategy for controlling blood sugar could be modulating mitochondrial metabolism in the gut 

CHICAGO --- For decades, physicians and scientists thought metformin, the leading Type 2 diabetes medication taken by millions worldwide, mainly targets the liver to suppress glucose production. But a new Northwestern University study in mice has found this “wonder drug” instead focuses primarily on the gut, acting to prevent glucose levels rising in the blood by driving glucose utilization inside cells lining the intestine. 

The body relies on glucose as a fast and versatile fuel, but too much glucose can lead to insulin resistance and ultimately damage blood vessels and organs. The study found metformin slows mitochondrial energy production in gut cells, forcing the intestine to metabolize extra sugar. 

“Metformin essentially helps the intestine suck the glucose out of the bloodstream, which further highlights that the gut plays a major role in regulating blood sugar levels,” said corresponding author Navdeep Chandel, professor of biochemistry and molecular genetics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. 

The study will be published May 8 in Nature Metabolism. 

The study builds off findings from previous work in Chandel’s lab, which found metformin lowers blood sugar by blocking a specific part of the cell’s energy-making machinery called mitochondrial complex I, a key enzyme in cellular respiration. The new study furthers that work by pinpointing the specific tissue targeted by metformin. The findings suggest directing drugs or supplements to the gut could be an effective strategy for controlling blood sugar, Chandel said.  

Chandel also is the David W. Cugell, MD, Professor of Medicine (Pulmonology and Critical Care), Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics and an investigator with the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. The study’s first author is Zach Sebo, a postdoctoral fellow in the Chandel lab who will soon start his own research group at the University of Kansas School of Medicine.

“Our study suggests that revisiting assumptions about metformin’s mechanism may offer a more detailed understanding of how it works,” Sebo said.

Parallels with berberine, ‘nature’s Ozempic’ 

The findings also reveal unexpected parallels with berberine, a popular plant-derived, over-the-counter supplement often used to control blood sugar. Berberine has recently gained attention on social media as “nature’s Ozempic,” though experts caution that evidence is still limited, and it should not be used as a substitute for approved medications. The study found berberine appears to engage the same pathway as metformin in the intestine. 

“Metformin has decades of clinical evidence behind it, whereas supplements like berberine are far less rigorously tested,” Chandel said. “If you're going to use berberine, you may as well use the real deal.”

Gut-related clinical observations from metformin users explained

Lastly, the findings help explain the following clinical observations of people who take metformin. According to Chandel, people on metformin:

• Tend to have lower blood sugar after meals. Metformin turns the gut into a “sponge” that soaks up extra sugar.
• Have lower levels of circulating citrulline, which is made only by mitochondria in small‑intestine cells. If metformin inhibits mitochondria, citrulline production drops. 
• Have increased levels of GDF15, a hormone linked to reduced appetite and weight loss. The gut senses energy stress and sends out GDF15, which tells the brain to eat less and adjust metabolism.

“People have always wondered how one drug can do 10 things,” Chandel said. “Well, it can do that if the drug is hitting a big node in a cell, and hitting mitochondria in a cell is a big node. So, if you can get into those cells and inhibit mitochondria, it's going to have huge effects.”

More about how the study worked

The study used a mouse model, genetically engineered to express a yeast enzyme (NDI1) that mimics mitochondrial complex I but is resistant to inhibition by metformin. By expressing NDI1 specifically in intestinal cells, those gut cells resist metformin’s effects. In these mice, the drug’s ability to lower blood glucose was significantly reduced, demonstrating that inhibition of mitochondrial complex I in the gut is a key driver of its therapeutic action.

Other Northwestern study authors include Ram Chakrabarty, Rogan Grant, Karis D’Alessandro, Alec Koss, Jenna Blum, Shawn Davidson and Colleen Reczek.

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Journal

Nature Metabolism

DOI

10.1038/s42255-026-01530-y 

Article Publication Date

8-May-2026

 

X-shaped sleepers improve load transfer under impact on railway tracks

KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.

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HOW THE X-SHAPED SLEEPER COMPARES WITH CONVENTIONAL I-SHAPED SLEEPERS IN LOAD TRANSFER AND STRESS DISTRIBUTION.

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Credit: Cheng Chen

Researchers at Wuhan University of Technology have discovered that an X-shaped railway sleeper can change how impact loads travel through ballasted track—reducing peak sleeper acceleration by 23% and average ballast contact forces by 40% compared to conventional I-shaped sleepers.

Ballasted track accounts for the vast majority of railway lines worldwide, with wheel-rail impact representing one of its primary threats. Track irregularities caused by rail and wheel wear, uneven settlement, or joint defects cause wheels to momentarily lose contact with the rails before striking back at high velocity, generating impact forces that can reach three to four times the static wheel load.

"Under impact loading, conventional I-shaped sleepers create sparse but highly concentrated force chains beneath the sleeper, focusing stress on a small number of ballast particles and accelerating ballast degradation," explains the study's first author, Cheng Chen, an associate professor in geotechnical engineering. "Our proposed X-shaped sleeper, with its distinctive bidirectional V-shaped configuration, significantly increases the contact area with the ballast. However, the mechanical behavior and load transfer mechanisms at the X-shaped sleeper-ballast interface under impact loading remained unclear—this is precisely the key question our study set out to address."

The research team found that, unlike the sparse, high-intensity force chains formed beneath conventional I-shaped sleepers, the unique geometry of the X-shaped sleeper breaks down impact loads into a dense, uniform network of force chains.

"This spatially diffused load transfer mechanism effectively reduces stress concentrations, enhances interlocking between ballast particles, and allows impact energy to be dissipated across a broader area—significantly improving the overall stability and impact resistance of the trackbed," shares Chen. "Under impact loading, conventional I-shaped sleepers tend to generate localized high-intensity force chains that accelerate ballast breakage."

The X-shaped sleeper, by contrast, reconstitutes the force chain network, achieving a fundamental shift from concentrated load-bearing to spatial diffusion. "We hope our research inspires further exploration to enhance trackbed stability, ultimately delivering safer and more comfortable railway journeys for the public," adds Chen.

The team's findings are published in the KeAi journal Journal of Railway Science and Technology.

###

Contact the author: Cheng Chen, School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China. chengchen87@whut.edu.cn

The publisher KeAi was established by Elsevier and China Science Publishing & Media Ltd to unfold quality research globally. In 2013, our focus shifted to open access publishing. We now proudly publish more than 200 world-class, open access, English language journals, spanning all scientific disciplines. Many of these are titles we publish in partnership with prestigious societies and academic institutions, such as the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC).

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DOI

10.1016/j.jrst.2026.02.001 

Method of Research

Computational simulation/modeling

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Numerical Study of Load Transfer in Conventional and X-Shaped Sleeper-Ballast Systems under Impact Loading

 

Study finds multiple PFAS, the man-made ‘forever chemicals’, in 98.5% of people tested in US study

Across more than 10,500 samples examined, 98.8% had at least one PFAS in their blood

Taylor & Francis Group

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Man-made 'forever chemicals' have been detected in 98.8% of blood tests, in a new study which examined more than 10,500 samples.

The findings are the latest indication to suggest that nearly every single person in the US is living with PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) – and usually multiple – in their system.

The results, published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, show that most individuals (98.5%) were, in fact, carrying multiple types of these environmentally persistent chemicals in their blood.

The paper demonstrates one of the largest-ever sample sizes determining PFAS levels in blood.

PFAS are a group of approximately 10,000, so-called, forever chemicals – as they do not degrade easily and build-up in the environment and human body. Used for decades, they can be found in thousands of day-to-day items ranging from clothes and cooking utensils to electronics and medical equipment. They live in our food, water and homes.

The dangers of all PFAS are not fully known; however, previous studies have linked some of them to serious complications, including cancer, infertility, high cholesterol, and weakened immunity.

One of the PFAS most commonly detected in this new study (in 97.9% of samples) was perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (linear PFOA), which is already recognised as being linked to adverse health conditions – including potential impacts on the immune system, liver, and thyroid – prompting action, internationally, for its restriction.

Commenting on the results, lead author, Dr Laura Labay, Principal Toxicologist at NMS Labs – the leading independent provider of professional laboratory testing services in the USA – says it is hoped their new dataset can offer future interventions.

“This large dataset provides a real-world snapshot of how multiple PFAS commonly occur together in people. By identifying these shared exposure patterns, the study offers a greater understanding of what widespread, combined PFAS exposure may mean for human health. We hope these findings will help inform future risk-assessment efforts, guide research on harmful PFAS mixtures, and ultimately support clearer clinical and public-health guidance.”

The data in this report were derived from 10,566 serum and plasma samples, of which a PFAS co-positivity assessment was performed by the NMS Labs team. Most samples (10,478) were tested for 13 different PFAS, whilst 88 samples were tested for 18 PFAS. 58 unique chemical combinations were found when testing for 13 PFAS and 16 different combinations were found when testing for 18 PFAS.

Overall, they found 98.8% of samples contained at least one PFAS. Only 19 samples (0.18%) contained a single PFAS, at the lower limit of the reporting threshold (0.1 ng/mL).

Across both testing panels, the most common combination included five PFAS, including historically used PFOS and PFOA as well as their replacement chemicals, frequently found in consumer products such as nonstick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics, and firefighting foam. This combination was detected in 2,754 samples, or 26.1% of those tested.

“These findings reinforce that PFAS exposure rarely occurs as isolated compounds,” Dr Labay adds.

“Instead, individuals typically carry body burdens comprising five or more PFAS with differing bioaccumulation properties and half-lives. The high prevalence and consistency of specific PFAS combinations highlight the importance of mixture-based interpretation in biomonitoring, particularly given PFAS’ potential to affect multiple biological systems in the body.”

The authors detail that limitations of the paper include that not all PFAS potentially present in the samples may have been considered, which may have led to underestimation.

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Journal

Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene

DOI

10.1080/15459624.2025.2601605 

Method of Research

Observational study

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

PFAS co-positivities identified in more than 10,000 serum/plasma samples

Our Synthetic Environment - Libcom.org

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by M Bookchin · Cited by 243 — Our Synthetic Environment. Murray Bookchin ... Recent changes in our synthetic environment have created new problems that are as ... preservatives, and chemical "technological aids," many of which may impair his health. His waterways and ...