Spontaneous bone regeneration achieved through one-step alignment of human mesenchymal stem cell-embedded collagen.

Optimizing cell-matrix interactions for effective bone regeneration remains a significant hurdle in tissue engineering. This study presents a novel approach by developing a human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs)-embedded 3D aligned collagen for enhanced bone regeneration. A one-step mechanical strain was applied to a mixture of hMSCs and collagen, producing an hMSC-embedded, aligned 3D collagen hydrogel patch that mimics the natural bone matrix.

Tuning Hydrogen Binding on Ru Sites by Ni Alloying on MoO Enables Efficient Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution for Anion Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis.

Ruthenium (Ru)-based electrocatalysts have shown promise for anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE) due to their ability to facilitate water dissociation in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). However, their performance is limited by strong hydrogen binding, which hinders hydrogen desorption and water re-adsorption. This study reports the development of RuNi nanoalloys supported on MoO, which optimize the hydrogen binding strength at Ru sites through modulation by adjacent Ni atoms.

Real-Time Tunable Gas Sensing Platform Based on SnO Nanoparticles Activated by Blue Micro-Light-Emitting Diodes.

Micro-light-emitting diodes (μLEDs) have gained significant interest as an activation source for gas sensors owing to their advantages, including room temperature operation and low power consumption. However, despite these benefits, challenges still exist such as a limited range of detectable gases and slow response. In this study, we present a blue μLED-integrated light-activated gas sensor array based on SnO nanoparticles (NPs) that exhibit excellent sensitivity, tunable selectivity, and rapid detection with micro-watt level power consumption.

Evolutionary Conservation in Protein-Protein Interactions and Structures of the Elongator Sub-Complex ELP456 from and Yeast.

The Elongator complex plays a pivotal role in the wobble uridine modification of the tRNA anticodon. Comprising two sets of six distinct subunits, namely, Elongator proteins (ELP1-ELP6) and associated proteins, the holo-Elongator complex demonstrates remarkable functional and structural conservation across eukaryotes. However, the precise details of the evolutionary conservation of the holo-Elongator complex and its individual sub-complexes (i.

Fabrication and validation of flexible neural electrodes based on polyimide tape and gold sheet.

This research was conducted to apply polyimide tape, which has the advantages of low price ans strong adhesive strength, to the neural electrode process. In addition, to maximize the low-cost characteristics, a fabrication process based on UV laser patterning rather than a photolithography process was introduced. The fabrication process started by attaching the gold sheet on the conductive double-sided tape without being torn or crushed.

Amygdala electrical stimulation for operant conditioning in rat navigation.

There have been several attempts to navigate the locomotion of animals by neuromodulation. The most common method is animal training with electrical brain stimulation for directional cues and rewards; the basic principle is to activate dopamine-mediated neural reward pathways such as the medial forebrain bundle (MFB) when the animal correctly follows the external commands. In this study, the amygdala, which is the brain region responsible for fear modulation, was targeted for punishment training.

Pupillometry as a window to detect cognitive aging in the brain.

Unlabelled: This study investigated whether there are aging-related differences in pupil dilation (pupillometry) while the cognitive load is manipulated using digit- and word-span tasks. A group of 17 younger and 15 cognitively healthy older adults performed digit- and word-span tasks. Each task comprised three levels of cognitive loads with 10 trials for each level.

Ultrasound neuromodulation of cultured hippocampal neurons.

Ultrasound is becoming an emerging and promising method for neuromodulation due to its advantage of noninvasiveness and its high spatial resolution. However, the underlying principles of ultrasound neuromodulation have not yet been elucidated. We have herein developed a new in vitro setup to study the ultrasonic neuromodulation, and examined various parameters of ultrasound to verify the effective conditions to evoke the neural activity.

Liquid Crystal Polymer-Based Miniaturized Fully Implantable Deep Brain Stimulator.

A significant challenge in improving the deep brain stimulation (DBS) system is the miniaturization of the device, aiming to integrate both the stimulator and the electrode into a compact unit with a wireless charging capability to reduce invasiveness. We present a miniaturized, fully implantable, and battery-free DBS system designed for rats, using a liquid crystal polymer (LCP), a biocompatible and long-term reliable material. The system integrates the simulator circuit, the receiver coil, and a 20 mm long depth-type microelectrode array in a dome-shaped LCP package that is 13 mm in diameter and 5 mm in height.

Effects of cochlear implantation on cognitive decline in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Hearing loss has been reported as the most significant modifiable risk factor for dementia, but it is still unknown whether auditory rehabilitation can practically prevent cognitive decline. We aim to systematically analyze the longitudinal effects of auditory rehabilitation via cochlear implants (CIs).

Methods: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched relevant literature published from January 1, 2000 to April 30, 2022, using electronic databases, and selected studies in which CIs were performed mainly on older adults and follow-up assessments were conducted in both domains: speech perception and cognitive function.

Beyond NPK: Mineral Nutrient-Mediated Modulation in Orchestrating Flowering Time.

Flowering time in plants is a complex process regulated by environmental conditions such as photoperiod and temperature, as well as nutrient conditions. While the impact of major nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium on flowering time has been well recognized, the significance of micronutrient imbalances and their deficiencies should not be neglected because they affect the floral transition from the vegetative stage to the reproductive stage. The secondary major nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, and sulfur participate in various aspects of flowering.

Association between Dental Diseases and Oral Hygiene Care and the Risk of Dementia: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objectives: To investigate the associations of dental diseases and oral hygiene care with the risk of dementia.

Design: Retrospective longitudinal cohort study.

Setting And Participants: We conducted a population-based study of individuals in the Korean National Health Insurance System.

Cortical astrocytes modulate dominance behavior in male mice by regulating synaptic excitatory and inhibitory balance.

Social hierarchy is established as an outcome of individual social behaviors, such as dominance behavior during long-term interactions with others. Astrocytes are implicated in optimizing the balance between excitatory and inhibitory (E/I) neuronal activity, which may influence social behavior. However, the contribution of astrocytes in the prefrontal cortex to dominance behavior is unclear.

Association of Dental Diseases and Oral Hygiene Care With the Risk of Heart Failure in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

Background To evaluate the association of dental diseases and oral hygiene care with incidence of heart failure (HF) among patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods and Results This study included 173 927 patients with type 2 diabetes aged ≥40 years, who underwent Korean National Health Insurance Service health examinations in 2008 and were followed up until the end of 2017. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs for HF were estimated using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis.

Multicomponent Metal Oxide- and Metal Hydroxide-Based Electrocatalysts for Alkaline Water Splitting.

Developing cost-effective, highly catalytic active, and stable electrocatalysts in alkaline electrolytes is important for the development of highly efficient anion-exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE). To this end, metal oxides/hydroxides have attracted wide research interest for efficient electrocatalysts in water splitting owing to their abundance and tunable electronic properties. It is very challenging to achieve an efficient overall catalytic performance based on single metal oxide/hydroxide-based electrocatalysts due to low charge mobilities and limited stability.

Recent Advances in Water-Splitting Electrocatalysts Based on Electrodeposition.

Green hydrogen is being considered as a next-generation sustainable energy source. It is created electrochemically by water splitting with renewable electricity such as wind, geothermal, solar, and hydropower. The development of electrocatalysts is crucial for the practical production of green hydrogen in order to achieve highly efficient water-splitting systems.

Fast Reconfigurable Electrode Array Based on Titanium Oxide for Localized Stimulation of Cultured Neural Network.

Planar microelectrode arrays have become standard tools for neural-network analysis. However, these predefined micropatterned devices lack adaptability to target-specific cells within a cultured network. Herein, we fabricated a reconfigurable TiO electrode array with an anatase-brookite bicrystalline polymorphous mesoporous layer.

Atomically dispersed iridium catalysts on silicon photoanode for efficient photoelectrochemical water splitting.

Stabilizing atomically dispersed single atoms (SAs) on silicon photoanodes for photoelectrochemical-oxygen evolution reaction is still challenging due to the scarcity of anchoring sites. Here, we elaborately demonstrate the decoration of iridium SAs on silicon photoanodes and assess the role of SAs on the separation and transfer of photogenerated charge carriers. NiO/Ni thin film, an active and highly stable catalyst, is capable of embedding the iridium SAs in its lattices by locally modifying the electronic structure.

Somatosensory ECoG-based brain-machine interface with electrical stimulation on medial forebrain bundle.

Brain-machine interface (BMI) provides an alternative route for controlling an external device with one's intention. For individuals with motor-related disability, the BMI technologies can be used to replace or restore motor functions. Therefore, BMIs for movement restoration generally decode the neural activity from the motor-related brain regions.