A metastasis-associated pannexin-1 mutant (Panx1) forms a minimalist ATP release channel.

A truncated form of the ATP release channel pannexin 1 (Panx1), Panx1, is enriched in metastatic breast cancer cells and has been proposed to mediate metastatic cell survival by increasing ATP release through mechanosensitive Panx1 channels. However, whether Panx1 on its own [without the presence of wild-type Panx1 (wtPanx1)] mediates ATP release has not been tested. Here, we show that Panx1 by itself can form a constitutively active membrane channel, capable of releasing ATP even in the absence of wtPanx1.

Microporous annealed particle hydrogels in cell culture, tissue regeneration, and emerging application in cancer immunotherapy.

Microporous annealed particle (MAP) hydrogels consist of densely crosslinked and annealed hydrogel particles. Compared to common hydrogels, the inherent porosity within and among these hydrogel particles offers interconnected channels for substance exchange in addition to sufficient growth space for cells, thereby forming a three-dimensional culture system that highly mimics the in vivo microenvironment. Such characteristics enable MAP hydrogels to adapt to various requirements of biomedical applications, along with their excellent injectability and mechanical properties.

The subcutaneous tunneled periareolar approach in lung resection performed through uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery.

The approach for traditional uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (Uni-VATS) is typically located on the lateral chest wall, the resulting pain and visible scars may have a negative psychological impact on patients. We present our preliminary experience with the subcutaneous tunneled periareolar approach (STPA) in lung resection performed through Uni-VATS for treating pulmonary nodules. From December 2023 through to June 2024, five patients underwent this procedure, including three cases of the wedge resection, one case of the lobectomy, and one case of the segmentectomy.

Cell Migration in Endometriosis Responds to Omentum-Derived Molecular Cues Similar to Ovarian Cancer.

Endometriosis is common and poses significant morbidity of lasting impact to young, pre-menopausal women, while ovarian cancer is a lethal gynecologic condition. Both conditions need better treatment. The human omentum is an apron of adipose tissue in the abdominopelvic cavity, the same space in which endometriosis and ovarian cancer manifest.

First Report of Goji Fruit Rot Caused by in Ningxia, China.

Goji berry (Lycium barbarum L.) is a fruit with high nutritional and medicinal value, widely cultivated in northwest China (Wang et al. 2023).

Single-cell RNA sequencing generates an atlas of normal tibia cartilage under mechanical loading conditions.

Chondrocytes in articular cartilage can secrete extracellular matrix to maintain cartilage homeostasis. It is well known that articular cartilage chondrocytes are sensitive to mechanical loading and that mechanical stimuli can be translated to biological processes. This study provides deep insight into the impact of mechanical loading on chondrocytes via single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq).

Analyzing corneal biomechanical response in orthokeratology with differing back optic zone diameter: A comparative finite element study.

Purpose: To investigate the impact of orthokeratology (ortho-k) lenses with different back optic zone diameter (BOZD) on the biomechanical response of the cornea, focusing on contact pressure, displacement, and stress distribution.

Method: Finite element models were developed to simulate varying corneal curvatures (39.0D, 42.

Comparative effectiveness of different surgical timings on neurological outcomes for cranioplasty: Protocol for a prospective non-randomized controlled trial.

Background: Cranioplasty (CP), a surgical procedure that restores cranial integrity and potentially enhances neurological outcomes, is commonly performed following decompressive craniectomy for various reasons. However, there is considerable controversy and variation regarding the optimal timing for cranioplasty, particularly concerning its impact on neurological functional outcomes. This paper outlines the protocol for a multicenter, non-randomized controlled trial designed to investigate whether the timing of cranioplasty influences neurological outcomes.

The association between endogenous sex hormones and knee osteoarthritis in women: a population-based cohort study.

Background: To describe the associations of endogenous sex hormones with the prevalence and occurrence of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) in women.

Methods: We included 178,280 women (mean 56.0 years) from the UK Biobank who had data on sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), testosterone, or estradiol at baseline.

1,2-Allenic Ketone-Based Fluorogenic Probes for Imaging of S-Sulfinylation in Living Cells.

Cysteine S-sulfinylation is an important oxidative post-translational modification on proteins that regulates a variety of cell and protein functions. Aberrant S-sulfinylation contributes to a range of human pathologies, such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. However, efforts to elucidate the roles of S-sulfinylation in physiology and disease have been hampered due to the lack of methodology for the selective and direct monitoring of this modification in living cells.

Robust p-d Orbital Coupling in PtCoIn@Pt Core-shell Catalysts for Durable Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells.

Pt-based catalysts are playing increasingly important roles in fuel cells owing to their high catalytic activity. However, harsh electrocatalytic conditions often trigger atomic migration and dissolution in these catalysts, causing rapid performance deterioration. Here, we introduce a novel L10-PtCoIn@Pt core-shell catalyst, where indium (In) was incorporated into a PtCo matrix.

Non-Invasive Assessment of Dynamic Cerebral Blood Flow Using Near-Field Coupling and Synchronized Electrocardiography.

Dynamic assessment of cerebral blood flow (CBF) is crucial for the prevention and treatment of cerebrovascular diseases. Near-field coupling (NFC), due to its non-invasive and continuous advantages, holds significant promise in the dynamic assessment of CBF compared to traditional detection methods. However, challenges related to individual differences persist.

MiR-3202-DTL signaling axis impedes NSCLC malignancy via regulating the ubiquitination-proteasome degradation of p21.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a highly prevalent and aggressive malignancy, where early diagnosis and therapeutic intervention are pivotal for enhancing patient prognosis. Nonetheless, the lack of reliable biomarkers remains a substantial hurdle in clinical practice. In this study, we identified dysregulated microRNAs (miRNAs) in NSCLC, revealing a significant downregulation of miR-3202 and an upregulation of miR-3182.

The Effect of Electroconvulsive and Magnetic Seizure Therapy (MST) on Cortical Thickness in Schizophrenia.

Background: Identifying ways to conduct brain stimulation that match the clinical efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) without the side effects of ECT is an important goal in schizophrenia (SCS). Magnetic seizure therapy (MST) is a potential alternative, which has shown considerable efficacy but with mild cognitive impairment.

Objective: This study compared the clinical efficacy and cognitive side effects of ECT and MST.

LightVA: Lightweight Visual Analytics with LLM Agent-Based Task Planning and Execution.

Visual analytics requires analysts to constantly plan and execute analysis tasks based on observations and generate visualizations and support analysis for gaining insights from data. Completing this process requires significant effort, emphasizing the necessity for a more intelligent and lightweight visual analytics process. Large language model agents have shown capabilities in logic inference and code generation, offering the potential to lower development costs and enhance the versatility of visual analytics.

Size Effect of Surface Defects Dictates Reactivity for Nitrogen Electrofixation.

Electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (eNRR) offers a sustainable pathway for ammonia (NH3) production. Defect engineering has emerged as a promising strategy to enhance eNRR activity; however, it can concurrently amplify the competing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), posing challenges for achieving high selectivity. Herein, VOx with systematically tuned defect sizes was engineered to establish a structure-activity relationship between defect size and eNRR performance.

Efficient crystal structure prediction based on the symmetry principle.

Crystal structure prediction (CSP) is an evolving field aimed at discerning crystal structures with minimal prior information. Despite the success of various CSP algorithms, their practical applicability remains circumscribed, particularly for large and complex systems. Here, to address this challenge, we show an evolutionary structure generator within the MAGUS (Machine Learning and Graph Theory Assisted Universal Structure Searcher) framework, inspired by the symmetry principle.

Revealing the Transcriptional and Metabolic Characteristics of Sebocytes Based on the Donkey Cell Transcriptome Atlas.

Worldwide, donkeys (Equus asinus) are valued for their meat and milk, and in China also for the medical value of their skin. Physiological characteristics are key to the donkey's adaptability, including their digestive, respiratory, and reproductive systems, which enable them to survive and work in a variety of environments. However, the understanding of donkey physiological characteristics at the cellular level remains poor.

Analysis of the composition, characteristics, and antifungal properties of cutin in goji berry fruits at different developmental stages.

Cutin is the main component of the fruit cuticle framework and plays a role in resisting biological stress. However, little is known about the cutin composition and antifungal properties of goji berry ( L.).

Investigations into Replacing Calcined Clay with Sewage Sludge Ash in Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC3).

The effects of replacing calcined clay with sewage sludge ash (SSA) treated under room temperature and high temperature ranging from 500 °C to 900 °C in limestone calcined clay cement (LC3) have been investigated in this paper. The optimal calcination temperature for SSA was found to be 800 °C based on the results of strength and microstructure observations. The main inorganic components of sludge ash are FeO, SiO, AlO, and CaO, which are very similar to the components of calcined clay in LC3, but with a very high content of FeO (55-61%) and PO (9-10%).

Diurnal variations in corneal biomechanics in healthy young adults.

Purpose: To assess the diurnal changes in corneal biomechanics in healthy young adults.

Methods: At Wenzhou Medical University Eye Hospital in China, a prospective case series. Each healthy subject had six Corvis ST examinations, from 10:00 on a first day to 6:00 on the following day, at 4-hour intervals.

[Creation of new glabrous and salt-tolerant rice germplasm along the Yellow River by CRISPR-Cas9-mediated editing of ].

The gene has previously been reported to positively regulate trichome development and negatively regulate salt and drought stress tolerance in rice. However, it is not clear whether this gene can be used for gene editing to create new germplasm of glabrous leaf and salt-tolerant rice. In this study, we created six rice mutants by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing of from 'Xinfeng 2', 'Xinkedao 31', and 'Xindao 25', the main rice cultivars along the Yellow River.

Theoretical design of 2D 2 SiNOX (X = H, F, and Cl) phases: a new family of flexible wide bandgap semiconductors.

By first-principles calculations, a new family of two-dimensional (2D) 2 SiNOX (X = H, F, and Cl) phases were rationally designed by theoretical exfoliation of bulk layered α-LiSiON compounds, taking advantage of the in- and out-of-plane bonding anisotropy of the bulk parental compound. It is found that 2D 2 SiNOX phases have wide direct and quasi-direct bandgaps of 4.99-6.

Prediction on a Missing Ferroelectric Butterfly Phosphorus Allotrope and Its Energy-Favorable Low-Dimensional Forms.

Elemental phosphorus exhibits a remarkable diversity of allotropes, including black, white, and violet phosphorus, each with unique structural and electronic properties. Recently, phosphorus has experienced a renaissance in scientific interest for its potential applications across various fields. Among these, the red phosphorus (RP) possesses a considerable variety of stacking configurations.

Discovery of β-amino acid substituted naphthalene sulfonamide derivatives as potent Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1-nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Keap1-Nrf2) protein-protein interaction inhibitors for ulcerative colitis management.

The transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a key regulator of cellular defense system against oxidative insults. Directly inhibiting the Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1)-Nrf2 protein-protein interaction (PPI) has emerged as a promising approach to activate Nrf2 for the treatment of diseases associated with oxidative stress. Herein, we identified β-amino acids as privileged structural fragments for designing novel naphthalene sulfonamide-based Keap1-Nrf2 PPI inhibitors.