Synergistic Catalysts with Fe Single Atoms and Fe3C Clusters for Accelerated Oxygen Adsorption Kinetics in Oxygen Reduction Reaction.

The design of cost-effective and efficient catalysts based on transition metal-based electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is crucial yet challenging for energy-conversion devices like metal-air batteries. In this work, we present a cost-effective strategy for preparing catalysts consisting of single-atomic Fe sites and Fe3C clusters encapsulated in nitrogen-doped carbon layers (FeSA-Fe3C/NC). The FeSA-Fe3C/NC electrocatalyst demonstrates outstanding ORR performance in alkaline electrolytes, achieving a high half-wave potential (E1/2 = 0.

Multi-gene metabolic engineering of Pichia pastoris to synthesize ectoine.

As a promising osmolyte, ectoine has been widely applied in cosmetics, food, and pharmaceutical industries in recent years, therefore its biomanufacturer has attracted increasing interest. Ectoine-producing isolates were previously screened from halophilic microorganisms. After ectoine synthetase was identified, genetic engineering of Escherichia coli, Corynebacterium glutamicum, and Hansenula polymorpha were employed to produce ectoine.

Inhibition of the expression of TRIM63 alleviates ventilator-induced diaphragmatic dysfunction by modulating the PPARα/PGC-1α pathway.

Background: Ventilator-induced diaphragmatic dysfunction (VIDD) significantly affects the prognosis of critically ill patients and has attracted considerable attention. Tripartite motif-containing protein 63 (TRIM63) plays a pivotal role in muscle protein degradation and muscle mass regulation. Its overexpression is closely associated with VIDD; however, data on the specific effects of TRIM63 on this pathological process remain insufficient.

Effect of different ultrasound powers on the stability of native/thermally denatured myofibrillar protein-inulin emulsion.

The study examined the stability of emulsions made from native and thermally denatured myofibrillar proteins with inulin, using ultrasound treatments ranging from 200 to 800 W. After ultrasound treatment, the droplet size decreased, especially the particle size of MPs-600 W-inulin emulsion reached 1 μm. In addition, by measuring the oxidation stability of oil, it was found that ultrasound could inhibit emulsion oxidation, and the PV of MPs-600 W droplets reached 5.

Mendelian randomization of plasma proteomics identifies novel ALS-associated proteins and their GO enrichment and KEGG pathway analyses.

Background: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive and fatal neurological disorder with an increasing incidence rate. Despite advances in ALS research over the years, the precise etiology and pathogenic mechanisms remain largely elusive.

Objective: To identify novel plasma proteins associated with ALS through Mendelian randomization methods in large-scale plasma proteomics and to provide potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for ALS treatment.

Enhanced interfacial stabilization of high internal phase emulsion using goose liver protein via ultrasonication fortified interfacial curcumin complexation.

The interfacial complexation between goose liver protein (GLP) and oily dispersed curcumin in impacting the protein interfacial dynamics and high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) stabilization was validated. Results from surface hydrophobicity, size, atomic force microscopy, and fluorescence quenching showed that pre-ultrasonication (100 W, 300 W and 500 W) conduced to pronounced heterogeneous hydrophobic interaction that elevated GLP adsorption and association at the interface. The synergistic curcumin complexation with medium ultrasonication (300 W) maximized GLP interfacial deposition and elasticity (11.

Operando-informed precatalyst programming towards reliable high-current-density electrolysis.

Electrocatalysts support crucial industrial processes and emerging decarbonization technologies, but their design is hindered by structural and compositional changes during operation, especially at application-relevant current densities. Here we use operando X-ray spectroscopy and modelling to track, and eventually direct, the reconstruction of iron sulfides and oxides for the oxygen evolution reaction. We show that inappropriate activation protocols lead to uncontrollable Fe oxidation and irreversible catalyst degradation, compromising stability and reliability and precluding predictive design.

Autoantibody Profiles and Prognostic Significance in Severe Fever With Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS) Patients.

To examine the relationship between autoantibodies, inflammatory cytokines, and coagulation abnormalities in patients with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) and assess their potential as prognostic markers. A total of 105 SFTS patients and 85 healthy controls (HCs) were included. Serum levels of antinuclear antibodies (ANAs), anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs), anti-endothelial cell antibodies (AECAs), antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs), as well as inflammatory cytokines and chemokines were measured to evaluate their correlation with prognosis.

Analysis of the Formation of Eosinophilic Pleural Effusion.

Background: Eosinophilic pleural effusion constitutes a captivating and salient subject for exploration. In order to find out the reasons behind the formation of eosinophilic pleural effusion, we chose this study, hoping to gradually unravel its mysterious veil.

Methods: The absolute value and percentage of eosinophils in healthy people (normal control group), the peripheral blood of patients, and the pleural effusion of patients were compared to analyze their characteristics.

Synergistic inactivation and mechanism of thermosonication treatment combined with germinants and licorice extracts against Paraclostridium bifermentans.

Spore contamination is a critical factor that contributes to food spoilage and economic losses in the food industry. In this study, we employed a "germination-inactivation-inhibition" strategy to effectively inactivate Paraclostridium bifermentans spores. We systematically screened and optimized the germinants, thermosonication conditions, and inhibitors to determine the most effective combination for spore inactivation.

Absorption-Reflection-Transmission Power Coefficient Guiding Gradient Distribution of Magnetic MXene in Layered Composites for Electromagnetic Wave Absorption.

The morphological distribution of absorbent in composites is equally important with absorbents for the overall electromagnetic properties, but it is often ignored. Herein, a comprehensive consideration including electromagnetic component regulation, layered arrangement structure, and gradient concentration distribution was used to optimize impedance matching and enhance electromagnetic loss. On the microscale, the incorporation of magnetic Ni nanoparticles into MXene nanosheets (Ni@MXene) endows suitable intrinsic permittivity and permeability.

First Report of Causing Bark Cracking on L. in China.

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) is a tree of the Moraceae family and widely cultivated due to its fruit with diverse medicinal and nutritional properties in China. In June 2022, a serious bark cracking disease was observed on jackfruit in the 2400-acre orchards of Hekou, Yunnan (E103°52'39″ N22°34'14″). The disease mainly harms tree trunks and branches.

Cuffless Blood Pressure Monitor for Home and Hospital Use.

Cardiovascular diseases, particularly hypertension, pose a significant threat to global health, often referred to as a "silent killer". Traditional cuff-based blood pressure monitors have limitations in terms of convenience and continuous monitoring capabilities. As an alternative, cuffless blood pressure monitors offer a promising approach for the detection and prevention of hypertension.

System-specific aquaculture annual growth rates can mitigate the trilemma of production, pollution and carbon dioxide emissions in China.

The aquaculture sector faces a trilemma of simultaneously boosting production, decreasing nutrient discharges and reducing CO emissions. Here we evaluate the growth trajectories and ecological footprints of different aquaculture systems in China, considering both business as usual and ecological transformation scenarios, and anticipate the evolution of sustainable aquaculture in the post-carbon neutrality era. We explore a two-step approach involving ecological transformation and green aquaculture.

The haploid induction ability analysis of various mutation of OsMATL and OsDMPs in rice.

Background: The high-frequency induction rate of haploid is crucial for double haploid (DH) breeding. The combination of multiple haploid-induced genes, such as ZmPLA1/MATL/NLD and ZmDMP, can synergistically enhance the haploid induction rate (HIR) in maize. However, the potential synergistic effects between OsMATL and OsDMP genes in rice remain unclear.

LYVE1 and IL1RL1 are mitochondrial permeability transition-driven necrosis-related genes in heart failure.

Background: Heart failure is linked to increased hospitalization and mortality. Mitochondrial permeability transition-driven necrosis is associated with cardiovascular diseases, but its role in heart failure is unclear. This study aimed to identify and validate genes related to mitochondrial permeability transition-driven necrosis in heart failure, potentially leading to new drug targets and signaling pathways.

The BES1/BZR1 transcriptional factor SlBES2 regulates photosynthetic apparatus in tomato fruit.

Background: Fruit photosynthetic apparatus development comprises a series of biological processes which is essential in determining fruit development and quality formation. However, the understanding of the regulation of fruit photosynthetic apparatus development remains poor.

Results: In this study, we identified a transcriptional factor SlBES2, the closest homolog of BES1 and BZR1 in tomato BES1 family, is highly expressed in fruit at mature green (MG) stage and exhibited transcriptional inhibition activity.

Enhancing plasmonic structured illumination microscopy with surface plasmon coupled emission.

Plasmonic structured illumination microscopy (PSIM) is a super-resolution technique that utilizes surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) with higher frequency as the structured light; thus, it is able to break the diffraction limit with a 3-4 times resolution enhancement. However, the low efficiency of near-field fluorescence collection results in a low imaging signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of PSIM. In this paper, we propose a method to enhance the performance of PSIM with surface plasmon coupled emission (SPCE).

Biomimetic bone cartilage scaffolds based on trilayer methacrylated hydroxyapatite/GelMA composites for full-thickness osteochondral regeneration.

Since cartilage injury is often accompanied by subchondral bone damage, conventional single-phase materials cannot accurately simulate the osteochondral structure or repair osteochondral injury. In this work, a gradient gelatin-methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogel scaffold was constructed by a layer-by-layer stacking method to realize full-thickness regeneration of cartilage, calcified cartilage and subchondral bone. Of note, to surmount the inadequate mechanical property of GelMA hydrogel, nanohydroxyapatite (nHA) was incorporated and further functionalized with hydroxyethyl methacrylate (nHA-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, nHAMA) to enhance the interfacial adhesion with the hydrogel, resulting in better mechanical strength akin to human bone.

ChatGPT vs Expert-Guided Care Pathways for Postesophagectomy Symptom Management.

Background: The objective of this study was to compare generative artificial intelligence-initiated care pathways, using ChatGPT, with expert-guided consensus-initiated care pathways from AskMayoExpert (AME) for symptom management of esophageal cancer patients after esophagectomy.

Methods: A formal protocol for development of 9 AME care pathways was followed for specific patient-identified domains after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. Domain scores were measured and assessed through the Upper Digestive Disease tool.

Feasibility study of PET/CT for the detection and localization of nervous system damage caused by trimethyltin chloride.

Trimethyltin chloride (TMT), an organotin compound with potent neurotoxicity, is widely used as a heat stabilizer for plastics. However, the precise pathogenic mechanism of TMT remains incompletely elucidated, and there persists a dearth of sensitive detection methodologies for early diagnosis of TMT. In this study, Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with 10 mg/kg TMT to simulate acute exposure in humans.

One-Off Irrigation Combined Subsoiling and Nitrogen Management Enhances Wheat Grain Yield by Optimizing Physiological Characteristics in Leaves in Dryland Regions.

Irrigation practice, tillage method, and nitrogen (N) management are the three most important agronomic measures for wheat ( L.) production, but the combined effects on grain yield and wheat physiological characteristics are still poorly understood. We conducted a three-year split-split field experiment at the junction of the Loess Plateau and Huang-Huai-Hai Plain in China.

Exploring the Trade-Off in the Variational Information Bottleneck for Regression with a Single Training Run.

An information bottleneck (IB) enables the acquisition of useful representations from data by retaining necessary information while reducing unnecessary information. In its objective function, the Lagrange multiplier β controls the trade-off between retention and reduction. This study analyzes the Variational Information Bottleneck (VIB), a standard IB method in deep learning, in the settings of regression problems and derives its optimal solution.

LBNP: Learning features between neighboring points for point cloud classification.

Inspired by classical works, when constructing local relationships in point clouds, there is always a geometric description of the central point and its neighboring points. However, the basic geometric representation of the central point and its neighborhood is insufficient. Drawing inspiration from local binary pattern algorithms used in image processing, we propose a novel method for representing point cloud neighborhoods, which we call Point Cloud Local Auxiliary Block (PLAB).

Tumor burden with AFP improves survival prediction for TACE-treated patients with HCC: An international observational study.

Background & Aims: Current prognostic models for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) are not extensively validated and widely accepted. We aimed to develop and validate a continuous model incorporating tumor burden and biology for individual survival prediction and risk stratification.

Methods: Overall, 4,377 treatment-naive candidates for whom TACE was recommended, from 39 centers in five countries, were enrolled and divided into training, internal validation, and two external validation datasets.