Microbiota associated with caries and apical periodontitis: A next-generation sequencing study.

Aim: This study investigated the correlation between microbiota of caries-free enamel and caries-affected dentine biofilms and that of root canals with primary apical periodontitis, by using an Illumina MiSeq platform.

Methodology: Biofilm from caries-free enamel surface (Biofilm-C) or caries-affected dentine (Biofilm-E) and root canal paper point samples (Canal) were collected from 31 teeth with primary apical periodontitis. Microbial composition was analysed by amplicon sequencing that targeted the V3-V4 region of 16S rRNA gene.

A vaccine platform targeting lung-resident memory CD4 T-cells provides protection against heterosubtypic influenza infections in mice and ferrets.

Lung tissue-resident memory T (T) cells induced by influenza vaccination are crucial for heterosubtypic immunity upon re-exposure to the influenza virus, enabling rapid and robust responses upon reactivation. To enhance the efficacy of influenza vaccines, we induce the generation of lung T cells following intranasal vaccination with a commercial influenza vaccine adjuvanted with NexaVant (NVT), a TLR3 agonist-based adjuvant. We demonstrate that intranasal immunization with the NVT-adjuvanted vaccine provides improved protection against influenza virus infections by inducing the generation of CD4 T cells in the lungs in a type I interferon-dependent manner.

Iridium Single-Atom-Ensembles Stabilized on Mn-Substituted Spinel Oxide for Durable Acidic Water Electrolysis.

Exploring single-atom-catalysts for the acidic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is of paramount importance for cost-effective hydrogen production via acidic water electrolyzers. However, the limited durability of most single-atom-catalysts and Ir/Ru-based oxides under harsh acidic OER conditions, primarily attributed to excessive lattice oxygen participation resulting in metal-leaching and structural collapse, hinders their practical application. Herein, an innovative strategy is developed to fabricate short-range Ir single-atom-ensembles (Ir) stabilized on the surface of Mn-substituted spinel CoO (Ir-CMO), which exhibits excellent mass activity and significantly improved durability (degradation-rate: ≈2 mV h), outperforming benchmark IrO (≈44 mV h) and conventional Ir on pristine-CoO for acidic OER.

Exploring the Effects of the Photochromic Response and Crystallization on the Local Structure of Noncrystalline Niobium Oxide.

Niobium oxide (NbO) is a versatile semiconductor material with photochromic properties. This study investigates the local structure of noncrystalline, short-range-ordered niobium oxide synthesized via a sol-gel method. X-ray atomic pair distribution function analysis unravels the structural arrangements within the noncrystalline materials at a local scale.

Improvement in Biocompatibility and Biointegration of Human Acellular Dermal Matrix through Vacuum Plasma Surface Treatment.

Efforts are ongoing to enhance the functionality of human acellular dermal matrices (hADMs), which are extensively utilized in reconstructive surgeries. Among these efforts, plasma treatments, particularly vacuum plasma treatments, have recently emerged in the medical field. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of a vacuum plasma treatment in enhancing the biocompatibility and biointegration of hADMs.

Solar-Light-Driven Photocatalytic Oxidative Coupling of Phenol Derivatives over Bismuth-Based Porous Metal Halide Perovskites.

The selective oxidative coupling of phenol derivatives, involving carbon-carbon (C-C) and carbon-oxygen (C-O) bond formation, has emerged as a critical approach in the synthesis of natural products. However, achieving precise control over the selectivity in coupling reactions of unsubstituted phenols utilizing solar light as the driving force remains a big challenge. In this study, we report a series of porous CsBiX (X=Cl, Br, I) photocatalysts with tailored band gaps and compositions engineered for efficient solar-light-driven oxidative phenol coupling.

The relative isoform expression levels of isocitrate dehydrogenase in breast cancer: IDH2 is a potential target in MDA-MB-231 cells.

Purpose: The isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) family plays an essential role in metabolism and energy production. The relative expression levels of IDH isoforms (IDH1, IDH2, and IDH3) have prognostic significance in several malignancies, including breast carcinoma. However, the IDH isozyme expression levels in different cancer stages and types have not been determined in breast carcinoma tissues.

Accuracy and availability of automated urine output monitoring in the operating room using a smart scale.

Purpose: Urine output (UO) is an important intraoperative parameter that is not yet electronically monitored. We compared an automatic urinometer (AU) based on a smart scale with a manual urinometer (MU).

Patients And Methods: This prospective study investigated the hourly UO of 35 preoperative patients with an indwelling urinary catheter using AU, MU, and cylinder measurements.

In Vivo Efficacy of an Injectable Human Acellular Dermal Matrix.

Background: Human acellular dermal matrix (hADM) has found applications in a variety of settings, particularly in breast surgery. The most common hADM is a sheet. Recently, an injectable hADM has been introduced; we compared the biocompatibility and long-term structural integrity of, an injectable hADM and a sheet-type hADM in mice.

Effects of preoperative education using virtual reality on preoperative anxiety and information desire: a randomized clinical trial.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of preoperative education using virtual reality (VR) on preoperative anxiety and information desire. The participants were randomly assigned to the VR group and control group. The VR group received preoperative education using VR content describing preoperative and postoperative processes and their management, and the control group received preoperative education with traditional verbal education.

Unveiling the Protonation Kinetics-Dependent Selectivity in Nitrogen Electroreduction: Achieving 75.05 % Selectivity.

While higher selectivity of nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) to ammonia (NH ) is always achieved in alkali, the selectivity dependence on nitrogen (N ) protonation and mechanisms therein are unrevealed. Herein, we profile how the NRR selectivity theoretically relies upon the first protonation that is collectively regulated by proton (H) abundance and adsorption-desorption, along with intermediate-*NNH formation. By incorporating electronic metal modulators (M=Co, Ni, Cu, Zn) in nitrogenase-imitated model-iron polysulfide (FeSx), a series of FeMSx catalysts with tailorable protonation kinetics are obtained.

Efficient Nitrate Conversion to Ammonia on f-Block Single-Atom/Metal Oxide Heterostructure Local Electron-Deficiency Modulation.

Exploring single-atom catalysts (SACs) for the nitrate reduction reaction (NO; NitRR) to value-added ammonia (NH) offers a sustainable alternative to both the Haber-Bosch process and NO-rich wastewater treatment. However, due to the insufficient electron deficiency and unfavorable electronic structure of SACs, resulting in poor NO-adsorption, sluggish proton (H*) transfer kinetics, and preferred hydrogen evolution, their NO-to-NH selectivity and yield rate are far from satisfactory. Herein, a systematic theoretical prediction reveals that the local electron deficiency of an -block Gd single atom (Gd) can be significantly regulated upon coordination with oxygen-defect-rich NiO (Gd-D-NiO) support.

Eribulin Mesylate Improves Cisplatin-Induced Cytotoxicity of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer by Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase 1/2 Activation.

; Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is associated with poor patient prognosis because of its multiple molecular features. Thus, more effective treatment for TNBC is urgently needed. This study determined the possible involvement of ERK1/2 activation in cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity in TNBC by providing additional eribulin treatment.

Unraveling the Function of Metal-Amorphous Support Interactions in Single-Atom Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution.

Amorphization of the support in single-atom catalysts is a less researched concept for promoting catalytic kinetics through modulating the metal-support interaction (MSI). We modeled single-atom ruthenium (Ru ) supported on amorphous cobalt/nickel (oxy)hydroxide (Ru-a-CoNi) to explore the favorable MSI between Ru and the amorphous skeleton for the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Differing from the usual crystal counterpart (Ru-c-CoNi), the electrons on Ru are facilitated to exchange among local configurations (Ru-O-Co/Ni) of Ru-a-CoNi since the flexibly amorphous configuration induces the possible d-d electron transfer and medium-to-long range p-π orbital coupling, further intensifying the MSI.

Moving beyond bimetallic-alloy to single-atom dimer atomic-interface for all-pH hydrogen evolution.

Single-atom-catalysts (SACs) afford a fascinating activity with respect to other nanomaterials for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), yet the simplicity of single-atom center limits its further modification and utilization. Obtaining bimetallic single-atom-dimer (SAD) structures can reform the electronic structure of SACs with added atomic-level synergistic effect, further improving HER kinetics beyond SACs. However, the synthesis and identification of such SAD structure remains conceptually challenging.

Restructuring highly electron-deficient metal-metal oxides for boosting stability in acidic oxygen evolution reaction.

The poor catalyst stability in acidic oxidation evolution reaction (OER) has been a long-time issue. Herein, we introduce electron-deficient metal on semiconducting metal oxides-consisting of Ir (Rh, Au, Ru)-MoO embedded by graphitic carbon layers (IMO) using an electrospinning method. We systematically investigate IMO's structure, electron transfer behaviors, and OER catalytic performance by combining experimental and theoretical studies.

Large-Scale Production of Bacteriophage Φ CS01 in Bioreactors via a Two-Stage Self-Cycling Process.

is an opportunistic pathogenic bacterium found in powdered infant formula and is fatal to neonates. Antibiotic resistance has emerged owing to overuse of antibiotics. Therefore, demand for high-yield bacteriophages as an alternative to antibiotics has increased.

Unraveling the Synergy of Chemical Hydroxylation and the Physical Heterointerface upon Improving the Hydrogen Evolution Kinetics.

Efficient transition metal oxide electrocatalysts for the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) have received intensive attention to energy conversion but are limited by their sluggish water dissociation and unfavorable hydrogen migration and coupling. Herein, systematic density functional theory (DFT) predicts that on representative NiO, the hydroxylation (OH) and heterointerface coupled with metallic Cu can respectively reduce the energy barrier of water dissociation and facilitate hydrogen spillover. Motivated by theoretical predictions, we subtly designed a delicate strategy to realize the electrochemical OH modification in KOH with moderate concentration (HO-NiO) and to channel rapid hydrogen spillover at the heterointerface of HO-NiO and Cu, ensuring an enhanced HER kinetic.

Phase-selective active sites on ordered/disordered titanium dioxide enable exceptional photocatalytic ammonia synthesis.

Photocatalytic N fixation to NH defect creation on TiO to activate ultra-stable N[triple bond, length as m-dash]N has drawn enormous scientific attention, but poor selectivity and low yield rate are the major bottlenecks. Additionally, whether N preferentially adsorbs on phase-selective defect sites on TiO in correlation with appropriate band alignment has yet to be explored. Herein, theoretical predictions reveal that the defect sites on disordered anatase (A) preferentially exhibit higher N adsorption ability with a reduced energy barrier for a potential-determining-step (*N to NNH*) than the disordered rutile (R) phase of TiO.

Implant Delivery Technique for Prepectoral Reconstruction after Endoscopic-assisted Nipple-sparing Mastectomy.

Prepectoral breast reconstruction through a small axillary incision during endoscopic-assisted nipple-sparing mastectomy or robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy is difficult. Cases involving implants covered with an acellular dermal matrix (ADM) are particularly difficult. Therefore, a new delivery technique for ADM-covered implants is needed.

Binder-free TiO hydrophilic film covalently coated by microwave treatment.

A binder-free attachment method for TiO on a substrate has been sought to retain high active photocatalysis. Here, we report a binder-free covalent coating of phase-selectively disordered TiO on a hydroxylated silicon oxide (SiO) substrate through rapid microwave treatment. We found that Ti-O-Si and Ti-O-Ti bonds were formed through a condensation reaction between the hydroxyl groups of the disordered TiO and Si substrate, and the disordered TiO nanoparticles themselves, respectively.

Genetic Analysis and Characterization of a Bacteriophage ØCJ19 Active against Enterotoxigenic .

Enterotoxigenic (ETEC) is the major pathogenic that causes diarrhea and edema in post-weaning piglets. In this study, we describe the morphology and characteristics of ØCJ19, a bacteriophage that infects ETEC, and performed genetic analysis. Phage ØCJ19 belongs to the family .

Polystyrene microplastic particles: In vitro pulmonary toxicity assessment.

Microplastics (MPs) have become a global environmental concern. Recent studies have shown that MPs, of which the predominant type is often polystyrene (PS; known as PS-MPs), can extend to and affect remote, sparsely inhabited areas via atmospheric transport. Although exposure to inhaled MPs may induce lung dysfunction, further experimental verification of the pulmonary toxic potential of MPs and the mechanism underlying the toxicity is needed.

Whole-Genome Sequencing and Genomic Analysis of a Virulent Bacteriophage Infecting Bacillus cereus.

Objective: Infants with a weak immune system are prone to infection with Bacillus cereus, which is commonly found in natural environments. With the aim of achieving better control of this pathogenic bacterium, in the present study we characterized a new bacteriophage, ΦBC01.

Methods: Bacteriophage particles were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy.