Decreasing the aggregation of photosensitizers to facilitate energy transfer for improved photodynamic therapy.

The mode of energy transfer between photosensitizers and oxygen determines the yield of singlet oxygen (O), crucial for photodynamic therapy (PDT). However, the aggregation of photosensitizers promotes electron transfer while inhibiting pure energy transfer, resulting in the generation of the hypotoxic superoxide anion (O) and consumption of substantial oxygen. Herein, we achieve the reduction of the aggregation of photosensitizers to inhibit electron transfer through classical chemical crosslinking, thereby boosting the production of O.

Simulation of Normally-Off Vertical GaN MOSFET with a Novel Enhanced Sidewall Channel by Selective Area Growth.

In the present study, a novel normally-off vertical GaN MOSFET with an enhanced AlGaN/GaN channel on the sidewall has been proposed using the technology computer-aided design (TCAD) simulation. By using the selective area growth process, the trench structure and the enhanced sidewall channel are formed simultaneously, which is beneficial to enhance the conduction capability compared with the conventional trenched MOSFET. It demonstrates that a proper hole concentration and thickness of the p-GaN layer are key parameters to balance the threshold voltage, on-state resistance, and off-state breakdown voltage, resulting in the highest Baliga's figure of merit value.

On-Chip Stimulated Raman Scattering Imaging and Quantification of Molecular Diffusion in Aqueous Microfluidics.

Numerous chemical reactions and most life processes occur in aqueous solutions, where the physical diffusion of small molecules plays a vital role, including solvent water molecules, solute biomolecules, and ions. Conventional methods of measuring diffusion coefficients are often limited by technical complexity, large sample consumption, or significant time cost. Here, we present an optical imaging method to study molecular diffusion by combining stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy with microfluidics: a "Y"-shaped microfluidic channel forming two laminar flows with a stable concentration gradient across the interface.

Multiple Exciton Generation on Doped Wide-Band Semiconductor Photoanode with Hierarchical Quantum Structure.

The multiple exciton generation (MEG) effect, which produces multiple photo-generated charge carriers from a single high-energy photon absorption by a semiconductor with a narrow bandgap, has the potential to revolutionize photovoltaic, photoelectric detection, and other technologies. Here, this work finds that the surface carbon-modified wide-bandgap photoanode with hierarchical quantum structure can drive a photoelectrochemical reaction with a quantum efficiency exceeding 145% by the first time. More studies reveal that the presence of the MEG effect in the MEG-CdS photoanode is attributed to the formation of high-quality surface C-modified CdS quantum nanosheets on CdS bulk film by in situ, this hierarchical quantum structure leads to quantum confinement effects that increase effective Coulomb interaction for driving MEG and decrease competition for thermal exciton cooling.

Novel synaptic markers predict early tau pathology and cognitive deficit in an asymptomatic population at risk of Alzheimer's disease.

Cognitive dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease (AD) correlates closely with pathology in the neuronal microtubule-associated protein tau. Tau pathology may spread via neural synapses. In a population of cognitively unimpaired elderly at elevated risk of AD, we investigated four cerebrospinal (CSF) markers of synaptic dysfunction and degeneration.

P300/RNA polymerase II mediates induction of the teleost viral RNA sensor MDA5 through the interferon regulatory factor IRF11.

Melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) initiates type I interferon (IFN) production by detecting cytosolic viral RNA. Mammalian MDA5 is an IFN-inducible gene and controlled by IFN regulatory factor 1 (IRF1). Teleost MDA5 also induces type I IFN production in response to viruses, yet its regulation remains largely unexplored.

Dietary Astragalus polysaccharides enhance potency of inactivated Pseudomonas plecoglossicida vaccine in large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea).

Dietary Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) get wide application in aquaculture due to their excellent immunoregulatory effects. However, little is known about the effects of dietary APS on vaccine potency in fish. In the present study, large yellow croakers (Larimichthys crocea) were injected with formalin-inactivated Pseudomonas plecoglossicida after APS feeding for 14 d and then challenged by live P.

Acupuncture and cellular mechanisms: the role of foxo transcription factors in autophagy and senescence.

The current narrative review was planned to elucidate the interplay between acupuncture, a cornerstone of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and the modulation of cellular mechanisms via Forkhead box O transcription factors, focussing on autophagy and cellular senescence. Autophagy, essential for cellular health, and cellular senescence, associated with aging and age-related diseases, are both significantly influenced by Forkhead box O transcription factors among other regulatory factors and pathways. These factors, known to diminish with age, play a pivotal role in promoting longevity.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel β-carbolines as antitumor agents via targeting autophagy in colorectal cancer.

A series of novel β-carbolines with a flexible amino side chain at positions 1 and 3, respectively, were designed, synthesized and evaluated as potential antitumor agents. The results revealed that most of the compounds exhibited a broad spectrum of antiproliferative activity with IC value lower than 20 μM against human tumor cell lines. Among them, compound 2f was the most potent antiproliferative agent with IC value below 5.

Nitrogen regulation in polyester-based carbons and adsorption of gaseous benzene and ethyl acetate.

Nitrogen doping effectively improves the adsorption properties of activated carbons towards volatile organic compounds (VOCs); however, the role of nitrogen elements with various chemical valence states need further evaluation. In this work, waste polyester fabrics were used as a low-cost source to prepare activated carbon, and melamine, pyridine, dimethylamine, and pyrrole were selected as nitrogen sources to compare their nitrogen-doping ability. The adsorption of low-concentration benzene and ethyl acetate on the resultant carbons and the effects of nitrogen, including its valence states and contents, were investigated.

Glycerophospholipid metabolic disorders and gender difference of cantharidin-induced hepatotoxicity in rats: Lipidomics and MALDI mass spectrometry imaging analysis.

The hepatotoxicity mechanism of cantharidin (CTD), a major active component of Mylabris was explored based on liver lipidome alterations and spatial distributions in female and male rats using lipidomics and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI). After oral CTD exposure, the livers of female rats were screened for 104 differential lipids including lysophosphatidylethanolamine(LysoPE)(20:2/0:0) and diacylglycerol(DG)(18:2/22:4), whereas the livers of male rats were screened for 76 differential lipids including fatty acid(FA)(24:6) and DG(18:0/22:4). According to the MALDI-MSI results, female rats exhibited 12 differential lipids with alteration in the abundance and spatial distribution of phosphatylcholine(PC), phosphatidylethanolamine(PE), lysophosphatidylcholine(LysoPC), and LysoPE in the liver lesion area.

Environmental therapy: interface design strategies for color graphics to assist navigational tasks in patients with visuospatial disorders through an analytic hierarchy process based on CIE color perception.

Introduction: Environmental therapy theory has been applied in the research of disease prevention, and the effectiveness of using color and graphic designs to assist patients with spatial orientation has been confirmed. Visual-spatial impairments are common symptoms associated with cognitive decline. However, the interaction and driving factors between these impairments and spatial color and graphic designs remain unclear.

Extreme-Phenotype Genome-Wide Association Analysis for Growth Traits in Spotted Sea Bass () Using Whole-Genome Resequencing.

Spotted sea bass () is an important marine economic fish in China, ranking third in annual production among marine fish. However, a declined growth rate caused by germplasm degradation has severely increased production costs and reduced economic benefits. There is an urgent need to develop the fast-growing varieties of and elucidate the genetic mechanisms underlying growth traits.

Functional characterization of large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea) Peroxiredoxin IV (PrxIV) gene promoter.

Peroxiredoxin IV (PrxIV), which possesses an N-terminal signal peptide, is the only secretable protein in Prx family. PrxIV can protect cells against reactive oxygen species (ROS) and act as a DAMP to promote infection-independent immune response. However, the characterization and regulation of promoters of PrxIV genes are rarely reported.

An Inhalable Nanoshield for Effective Prevention of Influenza Virus Infections.

Influenza virus (IV) infection currently poses a serious and continuing threat to the global public health. Developing effective prevention strategies is important to defend against infection and spread of IV. Here, we developed a triple-protective nanoshield against IV infection in the lungs, formed by self-assembling DSPE-PEG amphiphilic polymers encapsulating the flu-preventive antiviral drug Arbidol internally.

Analyzing the differences and correlations between key metabolites and dominant microorganisms in different regions of Daqu based on off-target metabolomics and high-throughput sequencing.

Daqu is usually produced in an open environment, which makes its quality unstable. The microbial community of Daqu largely determines its quality. Therefore, in order to improve the fermentation characteristics of Daqu, samples were collected from Jinsha County (MT1), Xishui County (MT2), and Maotai Town (MT3) in Guizhou Province to explore the microbial diversity of Daqu and its impact on Daqu's metabolites.

Dual effects of targeting neuropilin-1 in lenvatinib-resistant hepatocellular carcinoma: inhibition of tumor growth and angiogenesis.

In the era of immunotherapy, lenvatinib (LEN) still holds an important position in the sequential treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the sustained therapeutic effect of LEN is not sufficient, and there is a need to address the development of resistance. Neuropilin-1 (NRP1) is known to act as a coreceptor for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), Met, and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2), which have been reported to be involved in LEN resistance.

The child the apple eats: processing of argument structure in Mandarin verb-final sentences.

Mandarin Chinese is typologically unusual among the world's languages in having flexible word order despite a near absence of inflectional morphology. These features of Mandarin challenge conventional linguistic notions such as subject and object and the divide between syntax and semantics. In the present study, we tested monolingual processing of argument structure in Mandarin verb-final sentences, where word order alone is not a reliable cue.

Quantitatively Dissecting Triple Roles of Dynactin in Dynein-Driven Transport of Influenza Virus by Quantum Dot-Based Single-Virus Tracking.

After entering host cells by endocytosis, influenza A virus (IAV) is transported along microfilaments and then transported by dynein along microtubules (MTs) to the perinuclear region for genome release. Understanding the mechanisms of dynein-driven transport is significant for a comprehensive understanding of IAV infection. In this work, the roles of dynactin in dynein-driven transport of IAV were quantitatively dissected using quantum dot-based single-virus tracking.