Semiautomated Production of Cell-Free Biosensors.

Cell-free synthetic biology biosensors have potential as effective diagnostic technologies for the detection of chemical compounds, such as toxins and human health biomarkers. They have several advantages over conventional laboratory-based diagnostic approaches, including the ability to be assembled, freeze-dried, distributed, and then used at the point of need. This makes them an attractive platform for cheap and rapid chemical detection across the globe.

Amphipathic Antimicrobial Peptides Illuminate a Reciprocal Relationship between Self-assembly and Cytolytic Activity.

Amphipathic character, encoded within polar sequence patterns of antimicrobial peptides, is a critical structural feature that influences membrane disruptive behavior. Similarly, polar sequence patterns induce self-assembly of amphipathic peptides, which results in the formation of ordered supramolecular structures. The relationship between self-assembly and membrane activity remains an open question of relevance for the development of effective antimicrobial peptides.

Type A Aortic Dissection Following Abdominal Solid Organ Transplantation: Population-Level Outcomes in the United States.

Background: This study aims to analyze the patient characteristics, clinical outcomes, and contemporary trends concerning type A aortic dissection (TAAD) in previous recipients of abdominal solid organ transplantation (ASOT) in the United States.

Methods: The National Inpatient Sample was queried to identify all patients aged ≥18 with TAAD and a history of ASOT (TAAD-ASOT) between 2002 and 2015Q3 using ICD-9 diagnosis and procedure codes. Baseline characteristics and in-hospital outcomes were compared between TAAD-ASOT patients and TAAD patients without a history of ASOT (TAAD-non-ASOT).

Mechanisms and Origins of Regioselectivity in Rare-Earth-Catalyzed C-H Functionalization of Anisoles and Thioanisoles.

The direct catalytic C-H functionalization of aromatic compounds such as anisoles and thioanisoles is of great interest and significance. However, achieving precise regioselectivity remains a major challenge. In this study, we conducted comprehensive density functional theory calculations to explore the mechanisms of rare-earth-catalyzed regioselective C-H alkylation, borylation, and silylation of anisole and thioanisole.

The transcription factor GmbZIP131 enhances soybean salt tolerance by regulating flavonoid biosynthesis.

Detoxifying reactive oxygen species (ROS) that accumulate under saline conditions is crucial for plant salt tolerance. The Salt Overly Sensitive (SOS) pathway functions upstream, while flavonoids act downstream, in ROS scavenging under salt stress. However, the potential crosstalk between the SOS pathway and flavonoids in regulating salt stress responses and the associated mechanisms remain largely unexplored.

A High-Modulus Dual-Cross-Linked Shell Promoting Phosphorus-Carbon Composites for Stable and High-Rate Lithium Ion Storage.

Phosphorus is considered an ideal anode material for lithium ion storage by virtue of its high theoretical capacity and moderate lithiation potential. However, issues such as large volume expansion of phosphorus leading to an electrical loss of contact and instability of the solid electrolyte interface hinder its practical performance. Improvement strategies that can effectively suppress volume expansion and provide stable electrical contacts are urgently needed.

Design, Synthesis, and Nematicidal Activity of Novel Amide Derivatives Containing an 1,2,4/1,3,4-Oxadiazole Moiety against .

To discover novel structural nematicides, 79 amide compounds containing 1,2,4/1,3,4-oxadiazole moiety were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for nematicidal efficacy against second-stage juveniles of (). Notably, some compounds exhibited superior nematicidal efficacy, for example, the LC values of compounds , , , , , , , and were 7.4, 31.

Effect of Diethanolamine after Carbon Dioxide Absorption and Desorption on Mechanical Strength of Cement Mortar and Mechanism.

Diethanolamine (DEA) can be used not only as a cement admixture but also to capture carbon dioxide (CO). However, the waste liquid treatment still faces the problems of high energy consumption and increasing environmental burden. The effects of DEA waste liquid (WL-DEA) with multiple cycles of CO absorption and desorption on the setting time, hydration temperature, mechanical strength, and microstructure of cement-based materials were explored.

Microenvironment Tailoring for Electrocatalytic CO Reduction: Effects of Interfacial Structure on Controlling Activity and Selectivity.

The performance of the electrocatalytic CO reduction reaction (CORR) is highly dependent on the microenvironment around the cathode. Despite efforts to optimize the microenvironment by modifying nanostructured catalysts or microporous gas diffusion electrodes, their inherent disorder presents a significant challenge to understanding how interfacial structure arrangement within the electrode governs the microenvironment for CORR. This knowledge gap limits fundamental understanding of CORR while also hindering efforts to enhance CORR selectivity and activity.

Allergenicity Reduction of Shrimp () via Fucoidan-Mediated Covalent Modification: Insights from Epitope Modifying Effect.

Covalent modification is an effective strategy for reducing allergenicity to individual allergens, but there are few studies on this strategy modifying specific amino acids within epitopes under the influence of food matrix. This study used fucoidan to covalently modify shrimp () and combined mass spectrometry and bioinformatics techniques to explore epitope modification. The results showed that lower concentrations (<2.

Ferroelectricity and Strong Spin-Orbit Coupling to Enhance Molecular Spin-Electric Coupling.

The electric control of magnetism has been considered to be promising for molecular spintronics and quantum information. However, the spin-electric coupling strength appears to be insufficient for application in most cases. Two major factors capable of amplifying the relative effect are spin-orbit coupling and ferroelectricity.

Non-targeted metabolomic study in plasma in rats with post-traumatic osteoarthritis model.

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the differential expression profiles of plasma metabolites in rat models of post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) and elucidate the roles of metabolites and their pathways in the progression of PTOA using bioinformatics analysis.

Method: Plasma samples were collected from 24 SD female rats to model PTOA, and metabolomic assays were conducted. The samples were divided into three groups: the surgically induced mild PTOA group (Group A: 3 weeks postoperative using the modified Hulth model; age 2 months), the surgically induced severe PTOA group (Group B: 5 weeks postoperative using the modified Hulth model; age 2 months), and the normal control group (Group C: healthy rats aged 2 months).

Green-Solvent Synthesis for In Situ Growth of Perovskite Phosphors without Ligand Assistance.

Cesium-lead halide perovskite nanomaterials have been considered new-generation emitters that can meet the requirements of high photoluminescence efficiency and the high color standard of Rec. 2020. However, their practical application is currently hindered by the challenge of achieving better stability and growth in green solvents.

High-performance magnesium organic batteries using renewable biomolecule-based cathode.

Rechargeable magnesium batteries (RMBs) exhibit significant potential in large-scale energy storage due to their features of high volumetric capacity, resistance to dendrite formation, and abundant magnesium resources. However, the high polarity of divalent Mg2+ ions results in sluggish diffusion kinetics in conventional inorganic cathode materials, adversely affecting reversible capacity and rate performance. Organic materials such as pyrene-4,5,9,10-tetrone (PTO) and 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTCDA), achieve rapid and reversible intercalation of magnesium ions through carbonyl enolization, but these materials are challenged by high cost, complex preparation, and poor environmental friendliness.

Clinical stage-specific prognostic impact of adequate lymphadenectomy in early-stage lung cancer.

Objectives: To assess the prognostic impact of adequate lymphadenectomy and determine the optimal nodal assessment for different clinical stages of lung cancer.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 1214 patients with clinical stage I-III non-small cell lung cancer who had preoperative PET/CT and curative surgery (2006-2017). Patients were categorized based on whether they had adequate [R0] or inadequate lymphadenectomy [R(un)].

Influenza 5xM2e mRNA lipid nanoparticle vaccine confers broad immunity and significantly enhances the efficacy of inactivated split vaccination when coadministered.

Current influenza vaccines are not effective in conferring protection against antigenic variants and pandemics. To improve cross-protection of influenza vaccination, we developed a 5xM2e messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine encoding the tandem repeat conserved ectodomain (M2e) of ion channel protein M2 derived from human, swine, and avian influenza A viruses. The lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-encapsulated 5xM2e mRNA vaccine was immunogenic, eliciting high levels of M2e-specific IgG antibodies, IFN-γ+ T cells, T follicular helper cells, germinal center phenotypic B cells, and plasma cells.

Genetic evidence for the suppressive role of zebrafish vhl targeting mavs in antiviral innate immunity during RNA virus infection.

The von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor gene VHL is a classic tumor suppressor that has been identified in family members with clear cell renal cell carcinomas, central nervous system and retinal hemangioblastomas, phaeochromocytomas, and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. The well-defined function of VHL is to mediate proteasomal degradation of hydroxylated hypoxia-inducible factor α proteins, resulting in the downregulation of hypoxia-responsive gene expression. Previously, we reported that VHL inhibits antiviral signaling by targeting mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein (MAVS) for proteasomal degradation.

Clinical significance of positron emission tomography-computed tomography in the classification of thymic tumors.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the possibility of positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET-CT) in identifying histological classification of thymic tumors.

Methods: Patients diagnosed as thymic tumors and accepted PET-CT scans were included. Thymic tumors were classified into three subgroups: low risk thymoma (A, AB and B1), high risk thymoma (B2, B3) and thymic carcinoma (TC).

Copper-Catalyzed -Heteroannulation of [60]Fullerene with Aryl Sulfonamides and Paraformaldehyde: Synthesis and Functionalization of [60]Fullerene-Fused Imidazolidines.

The Cu(II)-catalyzed -heteroannulation reaction of [60]fullerene (C) with aryl sulfonamides and paraformaldehyde has been disclosed for the synthesis of diverse C-fused imidazolidines, of which one or both of the ArSO moieties could be removed selectively. Further transformations into the unexpected bicyclic 1,2,3,4-adduct and C-fused imidazolidinium iodide salt have also been demonstrated. A plausible reaction mechanism is proposed on the basis of control experiments.

Rapid clonal expansion and somatic hypermutation contribute to the fate of SARS-CoV-2 broadly neutralizing antibodies.

Several vaccines and immunization strategies, including inactivated vaccines, have proven effective in eliciting antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), providing an opportunity to characterize the antibody response. In this study, we investigated the monoclonal antibody responses elicited by wild-type SARS-CoV-2 inactivated vaccination compared to those elicited by natural infection and mRNA vaccination. The analysis showed that antibodies encoded by biased germline genes were shared between SARS-CoV-2 vaccinated and naturally infected individuals.

Aggregatin is a mitochondrial regulator of MAVS activation to drive innate immunity.

Mitochondrial antiviral-signaling protein (MAVS) is a key adapter protein required for inducing type I interferons (IFN-Is) and other antiviral effector molecules. The formation of MAVS aggregates on mitochondria is essential for its activation; however, the regulatory mitochondrial factor that mediates the aggregation process is unknown. Our recent work has identified the protein Aggregatin as a critical seeding factor for β-amyloid peptide aggregation.

Ammonium chloride mitigates the amplification of fish virus by blocking autophagy-dependent replication.

Ammonia fertilizer, primarily composed of ammonium chloride, is widely used in pond fish farming throughout Asia. Despite the belief that it possesses antiviral properties, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) has been demonstrated to act as a potent inhibitor of autophagy, which is used by many fish viruses to promote their proliferation during infection.

Deep learning based on ultrasound images predicting cervical lymph node metastasis in postoperative patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

Objectives: To develop a deep learning (DL) model based on ultrasound (US) images of lymph nodes for predicting cervical lymph node metastasis (CLNM) in postoperative patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC).

Methods: Retrospective collection of 352 lymph nodes from 330 patients with cytopathology findings between June 2021 and December 2023 at our institution. The database was randomly divided into the training and test cohort at an 8:2 ratio.

Co-Exposure to Polystyrene Microplastics and Bisphenol A Contributes to the Formation of Liver Fibrosis in Mice through Inhibition of the BMAL1/E-Cad Signaling Pathway.

The food safety risks posed by exposure to polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) and bisphenol A (BPA) have become an issue worldwide. However, the toxic effects of PS-MPs and BPA coexposure on the mammalian liver remain elusive. In this study, we found that PS-MPs and BPA coexposure have synergistic toxic effects on AML12 cells and the mouse liver.