Half-integer topological defects paired via string micelles in polar liquids.

Ferroelectric nematic (N) liquid crystals present a compelling platform for exploring topological defects in polar fields, while their structural properties can be significantly altered by ionic doping. In this study, we demonstrate that doping the ferroelectric nematic material RM734 with cationic polymers enables the formation of polymeric micelles that connect pairs of half-integer topological defects. Polarizing optical microscopy reveals that these string defects exhibit butterfly textures, featured with a 2D polarization field divided by Néel-type kink walls into domains exhibiting either uniform polarization or negative splay and bend deformations.

Chiral π domain walls composed of twin half-integer surface disclinations in ferroelectric nematic liquid crystals.

Ferroelectric nematic liquid crystals are polar fluids characterized by microscopic orientational ordering and macroscopic spontaneous polarizations. Within these fluids, domain walls that separate regions of different polarizations are ubiquitous. We demonstrate that the π walls in films of the polar fluids consist of twin half-integer surface disclinations spaced horizontally, enclosing a subdomain where the polarization exhibits left- or right-handed π twists across the film.

Portable Electroanalytical Platform Based on Eco-Friendly Biomass-Based Hydrogels with Bimetallic MOF Composites for Trace Acetaminophen Determination.

Accurate acetaminophen (APAP) determination using smartphone-based portable sensing hinges on developing sensing interfaces with effective catalytic performance and high electron transfer efficiency. Herein, we report that various Ni-based bimetallic-organic framework materials (MOFs) were synthesized through the hydrothermal method. These MOFs were incorporated with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) during the synthesis of chitosan-cationic guar gum hydrogels (HG).

Gene expression profiles based on maternal plasma cfDNA nucleosome footprints indicate fetal development and maternal immunity changes during pregnancy progress.

Background: Pregnancy significantly alters the maternal immune system, affecting fetal development. The collection of tissues from the human placenta and fetus is not ethically or practically feasible at various gestational stages, thus limiting the study of gene expression in the fetus and placenta. Recent studies have shown that plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) nucleosome patterns can predict gene expression in the source tissue, offering insights into an individual's health status.

Molecular condensation of the CO/NF-YB/NF-YC/FT complex gates floral transition in Arabidopsis.

The plant master photoperiodic regulator CONSTANS (CO) interacts with Nuclear Factor-Y subunits B2 (NF-YB2) and C9 (NF-YC9) and transcriptionally activates the florigen gene FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT), regulating floral transition. However, the molecular mechanism of the functional four-component complex assembly in the nucleus remains elusive. We report that co-phase separation of CO with NF-YB2/NF-YC9/FT precisely controls heterogeneous CO assembly and FT transcriptional activation.

Viscoelastic plastic creep constitutive model based on energy conservation law and strain energy theory.

On the basis of the law of conservation of energy, the three stages of rock creep are analyzed. The reasons for the difficulty in studying the accelerated creep stage of rocks using the traditional creep model are expounded. The triaxial creep deformation law and critical point parameter values of rocks are obtained by carrying out rock creep tests under different confining pressures.

NeuroTD: A Time-Frequency Based Multimodal Learning Approach to Analyze Time Delays in Neural Activities.

Studying temporal features of neural activities is crucial for understanding the functions of neurons as well as underlying neural circuits. To this end, recent researches employ emerging techniques including calcium imaging, Neuropixels, depth electrodes, and Patch-seq to generate multimodal time-series data that depict the activities of single neurons, groups of neurons, and behaviors. However, challenges persist, including the analysis of noisy, high-sampling-rate neuronal data, and the modeling of temporal dynamics across various modalities.

Strategies for the treatment of hormone receptor-positive HER2-low breast cancer based on clinical practice: a round table discussion.

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-low breast cancer is a newly identified targetable subset of breast tumors, and its clinical characteristics and treatment strategies are controversial. The emergence of novel anti-HER2 antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) has brought promising approaches for HER2-low breast cancer treatment. Several clinical trials have validated the efficacy and safety of trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-Dxd) in HER2-low breast cancer at different treatment settings.

Giant spindle cell rhabdomyosarcoma in an adult thorax: A case report.

Spindle cell rhabdomyosarcoma (SCRM), a rare and distinct subtype of RM, predominantly affects children. While SCRM can manifest in the head and neck regions of adults, primary occurrences in the thorax are exceedingly uncommon. In the present study, a 24-year-old female patient was admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University (Zunyi, China) with a 10-month history of dull pain in the right side of the chest.

Synthesis, structure and biological activity of silver(I) complexes containing triphenylphosphine and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug ligands.

Two Ag(I) complexes containing triphenylphosphine and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug ligands were synthesized and investigated using various spectroscopic studies and single crystal X-ray crystallography. The binding properties of tolfenamic acid, ibuprofen and the two complexes with DNA and BSA were investigated using UV or fluorescence spectroscopy. The results showed that two Ag(I) complexes bound to DNA by the intercalation mode and interacted with BSA using a static quenching procedure.

Overlooked Role of Electrostatic Interactions in HER Kinetics on MXenes: Beyond the Conventional Descriptor Δ ∼ 0 to Identify the Real Active Site.

Understanding the atomic-level mechanism of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) on MXene materials is crucial for developing affordable HER catalysts, while their complex surface terminations present a substantial challenge. Herein, employing constant-potential grand canonical density functional theory calculations, we elucidate the reaction kinetics of the HER on MXenes with various surface terminations by taking experimentally reported MoC as a prototype. We observe a contradictory scenario on MoC MXene when using conventional thermodynamic descriptor Δ (hydrogen binding energy).

LINC00365 promotes miR-221-5p to inhibit pyroptosis via Dicer in colorectal cancer.

Pyroptosis, a newly discovered form of programmed cell death, is involved in the occurrence, development and drug resistance of a variety of tumors and has attracted increasing attention in recent years. LINC00365 is a novel lncRNA that has rarely been reported before. We previously reported that LINC00365 expression in colorectal cancer is closely associated with poor patient outcomes.

Histone deacetylase inhibition enhances extracellular vesicles from muscle to promote osteogenesis via miR-873-3p.

Regular physical activity is widely recognized for reducing the risk of various disorders, with skeletal muscles playing a key role by releasing biomolecules that benefit multiple organs and tissues. However, many individuals, particularly the elderly and those with clinical conditions, are unable to engage in physical exercise, necessitating alternative strategies to stimulate muscle cells to secrete beneficial biomolecules. Histone acetylation and deacetylation significantly influence exercise-induced gene expression, suggesting that targeting histone deacetylases (HDACs) could mimic some exercise responses.

Neddylation signaling inactivation by tetracaine hydrochloride suppresses cell proliferation and alleviates vemurafenib-resistance of melanoma.

Tetracaine, a local anesthetic, exhibits potent cytotoxic effects on multiple cancer; however, the precise underlying mechanisms of its anti-cancer activity remain uncertain. The anti-cancer activity of tetracaine was found to be the most effective among commonly used local anesthetics in this study. After tetracaine treatment, the differentially expressed genes in melanoma cells were identified by the RNAseq technique and enriched in the lysosome signaling pathway, cullin family protein binding, and proteasome signaling pathway through Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes.

Exosomes from myoblasts induced by hypoxic preconditioning improved ventricular conduction by increasing Cx43 expression in hypothermia ischemia reperfusion hearts.

Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion arrhythmia after cardiac surgery is common and seriously affects quality of life. Remote ischemic preconditioning can reduce the myocardial damage caused by severe ischemia. However, the underlying mechanism is not well understood.

Access to Piperazine-Fused Pyrrolocarbazoles Enabled by Acid-Catalyzed Stereoselective Hydroarylation of Ynamide-Indoles and Subsequent Diels-Alder Reactions/Aromatizations.

Pyrrolocarbazole skeletons are well known to possess a variety of biological activities that might be therapeutically useful in the treatment of cancers. Herein, an acid-catalyzed stereoselective hydroarylation/Diels-Alder cycloaddition/aromatization of ynamide-indoles is described. We newly designed and synthesized a variety of piperazine-fused pyrrolocarbazole derivatives that could be further applied to the synthesis of potent Wee1 inhibitors.

competitively Binds to G3BPs and Activates MTORC1 to Enhance HER2 Positive Breast Cancer Trastuzumab Tolerance.

About 20% of breast cancer patients are positive for HER2. The efficacy of current treatments is limited by primary and secondary resistance to trastuzumab. tRNA-derived fragments (tRFs) have shown crucial regulatory roles in various cancers.