Injectable Self-Healing and Anti-Dissolving Low-Molecular-Weight Hydrogels Enabled by Ionic Cross-Linking for Cell Encapsulation.

Injectable behavior is often observed in polymer-based hydrogels yet is rarely achieved in low-molecular-weight hydrogels (LMWHs), the realization of which may boost the development of new soft materials for biomedical applications. Here, we report on injectable self-healing and antidissolving LMWHs that are formed through a simple ionic cross-linking strategy, showing a fundamental application for the encapsulation of living cells. The LMWHs are formed by simply mixing Ca with negatively charged supramolecular polymers.

Effects of lactic acid bacteria fermentation on the physicochemical and structural characteristics of starch in blends of glutinous and japonica rice.

In this study, the effects of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) fermentation on the physicochemical and structural characteristics of mixed starches in blends of glutinous and japonica rice were investigated. Five starter cultures improved in varying degrees the hydration ability, transparency, and freeze-thaw stability of the mixed starches. Mixed starch I, prepared by fermentation of Lactobacillus acidophilus HSP001, exhibited optimal water-holding capacity, solubility, and swelling power.

Inhibitory effect and mechanism of a compound essential oils on Cladophora glomerata.

Cladophora glomerata (C. glomerata) is a typical macroalgae inducing green tide and affecting economic benefits in aquaculture. A high-efficiency, environment friendly compound essential oils (CEOs) was provided to control C.

The Influence of Etiology and Stimulation Target on the Outcome of Deep Brain Stimulation for Chronic Neuropathic Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objectives: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) to treat chronic neuropathic pain has shown variable outcomes. Variations in pain etiologies and DBS targets are considered the main contributing factors, which are, however, underexplored owing to a paucity of patient data in individual studies. An updated meta-analysis to quantitatively assess the influence of these factors on the outcome of DBS for chronic neuropathic pain is warranted, especially considering that the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) has emerged recently as a new DBS target.

Large-Scale Preparation of Uniform Millet Bread-like Durable Benzoxazine-Phthalonitrile Foam with Outstanding Mechanical and Thermal Properties.

It is essentially important to develop durable polymer foams for services in high-temperature conditions. The current study reported the preparations and properties of a high-performance benzoxazine-phthalonitrile (BZPN) foam by utilizing azodicarbonamide and tween-80 as the blowing agent and stabilizer, respectively. Rheological and curing studies indicated that the appropriate foaming temperature for BZPN foam is below 180 °C, and its foaming viscosity window is below 20 Pa·s.

The Caulobacter crescentus DciA promotes chromosome replication through topological loading of the DnaB replicative helicase at replication forks.

The replicative DNA helicase translocates on single-stranded DNA to drive replication forks during chromosome replication. In most bacteria the ubiquitous replicative helicase, DnaB, co-evolved with the accessory subunit DciA, but how they function remains incompletely understood. Here, using the model bacterium Caulobacter crescentus, we demonstrate that DciA plays a prominent role in DNA replication fork maintenance.

Algicidal Effects of a High-Efficiency Algicidal Bacterium Y1 on the Toxic Bloom-Causing Dinoflagellate .

is a typical toxic bloom-forming dinoflagellate, causing serious damage to aquatic ecosystems and human health. Many bacteria have been isolated, having algicidal effects on harmful algal species, while few algicidal bacteria have been found to be able to lyse Herein, an algicidal bacterium, Y1, with algicidal activity to the toxic dinoflagellate , was isolated from Jiaozhou Bay, China, and the physiological responses to oxidative stress in were further investigated to elucidate the mechanism involved in Y1. Y1 exhibited a significant algicidal effect (86.

Hyperdirect connectivity of opercular speech network to the subthalamic nucleus.

How the basal ganglia participate in the uniquely human behavior of speech is poorly understood, despite their known role in modulating critical aspects of cognitive and motor behavior. The subthalamic nucleus (STN) is well positioned to facilitate basal ganglia functions critical for speech. Using electrocorticography in patients undergoing awake deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery, evidence is reported for a left opercular hyperdirect pathway in humans via stimulating the STN and examining antidromic-evoked activity in the left temporal, parietal, and frontal opercular cortex.

Lateralized and Region-Specific Thalamic Processing of Lexical Status during Reading Aloud.

To explore whether the thalamus participates in lexical status (word vs nonword) processing during spoken word production, we recorded local field potentials from the ventral lateral thalamus in 11 essential tremor patients (three females) undergoing thalamic deep-brain stimulation lead implantation during a visually cued word and nonword reading-aloud task. We observed task-related beta (12-30 Hz) activity decreases that were preferentially time locked to stimulus presentation, and broadband gamma (70-150 Hz) activity increases, which are thought to index increased multiunit spiking activity, occurring shortly before and predominantly time locked to speech onset. We further found that thalamic beta activity decreases bilaterally were greater when nonwords were read, demonstrating bilateral sensitivity to lexical status that likely reflects the tracking of task effort; in contrast, greater nonword-related increases in broadband gamma activity were observed only on the left, demonstrating lateralization of thalamic broadband gamma selectivity for lexical status.

Lateralized Effect of Thalamic Deep Brain Stimulation Location on Verbal Abstraction.

Background: Regionalized thalamic activity has been implicated in language function, and yet the effect of thalamic deep brain stimulation (DBS) on language-related clinical outcomes is underexplored.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine if the location of stimulation within the thalamus correlates with changes in language-related neuropsychological outcomes following DBS for essential tremor.

Methods: Thirty patients with essential tremor underwent comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations before and after DBS surgery targeting the ventral intermediate nucleus of the thalamus.

The Use of Remote Programming for Spinal Cord Stimulation for Patients With Chronic Pain During the COVID-19 Outbreak in China.

Objectives: Due to the impact of COVID-19 epidemic, face-to-face follow-up treatments for patients with chronic pain and implanted spinal cord stimulation (SCS) devices are forced to be delayed or stopped. This has led to more follow ups being done remotely. Meanwhile, with the development of 4G/5G networks, smartphones, and novel devices, remote programming has become possible.

Subthalamic Nucleus and Sensorimotor Cortex Activity During Speech Production.

The sensorimotor cortex is somatotopically organized to represent the vocal tract articulators such as lips, tongue, larynx, and jaw. How speech and articulatory features are encoded at the subcortical level, however, remains largely unknown. We analyzed LFP recordings from the subthalamic nucleus (STN) and simultaneous electrocorticography recordings from the sensorimotor cortex of 11 human subjects (1 female) with Parkinson's disease during implantation of deep-brain stimulation (DBS) electrodes while they read aloud three-phoneme words.

[Chemical Constituents from Cynanchum paniculatum].

Objective: To investigate the chemical constituents from Gynanchum paniculatum.

Methods: The constituents were isolated and purified by silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, and preparative TLC. Their structures were identified on the basis of spectral data and physiochemical characteristics.

Pre-existing mutations in reverse transcriptase of hepatitis B virus in treatment-naive Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis B.

High rate of viral replication and lacking of proofreading activity in hepatitis B virus (HBV) polymerase lead to the generation of mutations in HBV virus. Mutations in the reverse transcriptase (RT) region of HBV polymerase are demonstrated to be strongly associated with drug resistance during antiviral treatment. However, the presence of mutations as well as its clinical significance in treatment-naïve hepatitis patients (defined as pre-existing mutations) need to be further investigated.

A high-affinity CDR-grafted antibody against influenza A H5N1 viruses recognizes a conserved epitope of H5 hemagglutinin.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus infection is still a potential threat to public health worldwide. While vaccines and antiviral drugs are currently under development, neutralizing antibodies could offer an alternative strategy to prevent and treat H5N1 virus infection. In the present study, we had developed a humanized antibody against H5N1 viruses from mouse-derived hybridoma in order to minimize its immunogenicity for potential clinical application.

Prostaglandin E synthase is regulated in postnatal mouse testis.

Prostaglandins have important roles in the male reproductive system. In this study, we report on the distribution and regulation of cPGES during postnatal development of mouse testis. The expression of cPGES was weak in testis 5 days after birth and increased through the 10th and 15th day.

[Comparison of transurethral detaching resection and plasmakinetic transurethral resection of the prostate for benign prostatic hyperplasia].

Objective: To compare the clinical effects of transurethral detaching resection (TUDRP) and plasmakinetic transurethral resection of the prostate (PKRP) for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Methods: We collected by the single blind method the clinical data of 81 cases of BPH treated by PKRP (n=41) and TUDRP (n=40), and compared the two groups of patients in their age, preoperative prostate volume, weight of the resected gland, operation time, intraoperative bleeding, time of postoperative Foley's catheter retention, and pre- and post-operative IPSS.

Results: The post-operative IPSS was significantly higher in the PKRP than in the TUDRP group (9.