Survival properties and spread rates in non-autonomous spread models.

As time progresses, the transmission pattern of a disease may change. To more precisely determine the spread behaviors of the disease, we develop non-autonomous topological and random spread models. In this article, we validate the survival characteristics of these spread models and elucidate their connection with mixing properties using the associated ξ-matrices or spread mean matrices.

Site-Specific Histidine Aza-Michael Addition in Proteins Enabled by a Ferritin-Based Metalloenzyme.

Histidine modifications of proteins are broadly based on chemical methods triggering N-substitution reactions such as aza-Michael addition at histidine's moderately nucleophilic imidazole side chain. While recent studies have demonstrated chemoselective, histidine-specific modifications by further exploiting imidazole's electrophilic reactivity to overcome interference from the more nucleophilic lysine and cysteine, achieving site-specific histidine modifications remains a major challenge due to the absence of spatial control over chemical processes. Herein, through X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy structural studies, we describe the rational design of a nature-inspired, noncanonical amino-acid-incorporated, human ferritin-based metalloenzyme that is capable of introducing site-specific post-translational modifications (PTMs) to histidine in peptides and proteins.

Nerve growth factor gene polymorphisms may be associated with heroin dependence in women but do not mediate specific personality traits.

Heroin dependence (HD) is a complex disease with a substantial genetic contribution and is associated with traits of impulsivity and specific personality traits. The neurotrophic factor nerve growth factor (NGF) may mediate the reward processes in HD. This study aims to investigate whether NGF gene polymorphisms are associated with the co-occurrence of HD and impulsivity/specific personality traits in HD patients.

Mechanically Robust and Electrically Conductive Hybrid Hydrogel Electrolyte Enabled by Simultaneous Dual In Situ Sol-Gel Technique and Free Radical Copolymerization.

Mechanically robust and ionically conductive hydrogels poly(acrylamide-co-2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonate-lithium)/TiO/SiO (P(AM-co-AMPSLi)/TiO/SiO) with inorganic hybrid crosslinking are fabricated through dual in situ sol-gel reaction of vinyltriethoxysilane (VTES) and tetrabutyl titanate (TBOT), and in situ radical copolymerization of acrylamide (AM), 2-acrylamide-2-methylpropanesulfonate-lithium (AMPSLi), and vinyl-SiO. Due to the introduction of the sulfonic acid groups and Li by the reaction of AMPS with LiCO, the conductivity of the ionic hydrogel can reach 0.19 S m.